21 Elul 5993 / 7 September 2023
Day 250 Readings
Torah: Nitzavim-Vayelech, 5th Portion Devarim (Deuteronomy) 31:7-31:13
New King James Version
7 Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. 8 And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”
10 And Moses commanded them, saying: “At the end of every seven years, at the appointed time in the year of release, at the Feast of Tabernacles, 11 when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. 12 Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully observe all the words of this law, 13 and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land which you cross the Jordan to possess.”
Bible Study Together
Deuteronomy 13:1-18
10 And Moses commanded them, saying: “At the end of every seven years, at the appointed time in the year of release, at the Feast of Tabernacles, 11 when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. 12 Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully observe all the words of this law, 13 and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land which you cross the Jordan to possess.”
Deuteronomy 28:1-14
1 “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God:
3 “Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country.
4 “Blessed shall be the [a]fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks.
5 “Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.
6 “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.
7 “The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.
Romans 16:17-27
17 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and [h]hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. 18 For such people are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own [i]appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. 19 For the report of your obedience has reached everyone; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good, and innocent in what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, 26 but now has been disclosed, and through the Scriptures of the prophets, in accordance with the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.
365 Daily Kingdom Living
All Is Enough
It is hard to imagine a sentence that has more absolutes in it. All grace. All things. All times. All you need. Every good work. The next time you are tempted to come up with an excuse for not doing what God has asked you to do, compare your reasons against these provisions. Paul is encouraging these believers in Corinth – and us – to give generously, because if that is how we sow, that is how we will reap.
Prayer: Dear Lord, I can see I need to think a little more like a farmer. I need to sow more generously if there is going to be a harvest. I need a longer perspective. Your abundant provision is for me to abound in good work. Help me to convert your generosity to me into my giving to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture
Song of Songs 7
“[a]How beautiful are your feet in sandals,[b]Prince’s daughter!The curves of your hips are like jewels,The work of the hands of an artist.2 Your navel is like a round gobletThat never lacks mixed wine;Your belly is like a heap of wheat,[c]Surrounded with lilies.3 Your two breasts are like two fawns,Twins of a gazelle.4 Your neck is like a tower of ivory,Your eyes like the pools in HeshbonBy the gate of Bath-rabbim;Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon,Which looks toward Damascus.5 Your head [d]crowns you like Carmel,And the flowing hair of your head is like purple threads;The king is captivated by your tresses.6 How beautiful and how delightful you are,[e]My love, with all your delights!7 [f]Your stature is like a palm tree,And your breasts are like its clusters.8 I said, ‘I will climb the palm tree,I will grasp its fruit stalks.’Oh, may your breasts be like clusters of the vine,And the fragrance of your [g]breath like apples,9 And your [h]mouth like the best wine!”
The Bride
“It goes down smoothly for my beloved,Flowing gently through the lips of those who are asleep.
The Union of Love
10 “I am my beloved’s,And his desire is for me.
Song of Songs 8
The Groom
4 “Swear to me, you daughters of Jerusalem:[j]Do not disturb or awaken my loveUntil she pleases.”
The Chorus
5 “Who is this coming up from the wilderness,Leaning on her beloved?”
The Bride
“Beneath the apple tree I awakened you; There your mother went into labor with you,There she was in labor and gave birth to you. 6 Put me like a seal over your heart,Like a seal on your arm.For love is as strong as death,[k]Jealousy is as severe as Sheol;Its flames are flames of fire,[l]The flame of the Lord.7 Many waters cannot quench love,Nor will rivers flood over it;If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love,It would be utterly despised.”
2 Corinthians 9
6 Now I say this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows [d]generously will also reap [e]generously. 7 Each one must do just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that, always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; 9 as it is written:
“He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor,His righteousness [f]endures forever.”
10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; 11 you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the [g]saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. 13 Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your [h]contribution to them and to all, 14 while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
Psalms 51
10 Create [i]in me a clean heart, God,And renew a steadfast spirit within me.11 Do not cast me away from Your presence,And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,And sustain me with a willing spirit.13 Then I will teach wrongdoers Your ways,And sinners will [j]be converted to You.
14 Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God, the God of my salvation;Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.15 Lord, [k]open my lips,So that my mouth may declare Your praise.16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;You do not take pleasure in burnt offering.17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;A broken and a contrite heart, God, You will not despise.
18 By Your favor do good to Zion;[l]Build the walls of Jerusalem.19 Then You will delight in [m]righteous sacrifices,In burnt offering and whole burnt offering;Then [n]bulls will be offered on Your altar.
Proverbs 22:24-25
24 Do not make friends with a person given to anger, Or go with a hot-tempered person,
25 Or you will learn his ways And [a]find a snare for yourself.