27 Tishrei 5994 / 12 October 2023
Day 285 Readings
Torah: Bereishit, 5th Portion Bereshit (Genesis) 4:19-22
19 Then Lamech took for himself two wives: the name of one was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah. 20 And Adah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal. He was the father of all those who play the harp and [a]flute. 22 And as for Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every craftsman in bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah.
Bible Study Together:
Judges 3:1-11
Idolatry Leads to Servitude
1 Now these are the nations that the Lord left, to test Israel by them (that is, all the Israelites who had not [a]experienced any of the wars of Canaan; 2 only in order that the generations of the sons of Israel might [b]be taught war, [c]those who had not [d]experienced it previously). 3 These nations are: the five governors of the Philistines and all the Canaanites and the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon as far as [e]Lebo-hamath. 4 They were left to test Israel by them, to find out if they would [f]obey the commandments of the Lord, which He had commanded their fathers [g]through Moses.
The First Judge Frees Israel
9 But the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord, and the Lord raised up a deliverer for the sons of Israel to set them free, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. 10 And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel. When he went to war, the Lord handed over to him Cushan-rishathaim king of [j]Mesopotamia, so that [k]he prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim. 11 Then the land was at rest for forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
Psalm 24
New American Standard Bible
The King of Glory Entering Zion.
A Psalm of David.
1 The earth is the Lord’s, and [a]all it contains,The world, and those who live in it.
2 For He has founded it upon the seas And established it upon the rivers.
3 Who may ascend onto the hill of the Lord?And who may stand in His holy place?
4 One who has clean hands and a pure heart,Who has not lifted up his soul to deceitAnd has not sworn deceitfully.
5 He will receive a blessing from the Lord And [b]righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 [c]This is the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face—even Jacob. Selah
7 Lift up your heads, you gates,And be lifted up, you [d]ancient doors,That the King of glory may come in!
8 Who is the King of glory?The Lord strong and mighty,The Lord mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, you gates,And lift them up, you [e]ancient doors,That the King of glory may come in!
10 Who is this King of glory?The Lord of armies,He is the King of glory. Selah
1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1
23 All things are permitted, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted, but not all things [a]build people up. 24 No one is to seek his own advantage, but rather that of his [b]neighbor. 25 Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions, for the sake of conscience; 26 for the earth is the Lord’s, and [c]all it contains. 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions, for the sake of conscience. 28 But if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of that one who informed you and for the sake of conscience; 29 Now by “conscience” I do not mean your own, but the other person’s; for why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered about that for which I give thanks?
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God. 32 Do not offend Jews or Greeks, or the church of God; 33 just as I also please everyone in all things, not seeking my own benefit but the benefit of the many, so that they may be saved.
1 Corinthians 11
Christian Order
1 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
365 Daily Kingdom Living
Defend The Defenceless
Every society has some who are rich and powerful and others who are marginalized. The writer of this psalm recognised the basic unfairness of the imbalance, while at the same time asking God to be the impartial judge to defend, rescue, deliver and protect those in need. Perhaps this is our calling as well.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, examine my heart. Do I too quickly side with those with influence and money, while ignoring those who need help? Help me not to be swayed by externals; help me to treat all people honestly and fairly, reflecting your impartiality. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Scripture
Jeremiah 19
3 and say, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, you kings of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem. This is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel says: “Behold I am going to bring a disaster upon this place, at which the ears of everyone that hears of it will tingle. 4 Since they have abandoned Me and have made this place foreign, and have burned [c]sacrifices in it to other gods that neither they nor their forefathers nor the kings of Judah had ever known, and since they have filled this place with the blood of the innocent 5 and have built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as burnt offerings to Baal, a thing which I did not command nor speak of, nor did it ever enter My [d]mind; 6 therefore, behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when this place will no longer be called Topheth or the Valley of Ben-hinnom, but rather the Valley of Slaughter.
8 I will also turn this city into an object of horror and [e]hissing; everyone who passes by it will be appalled and [f]hiss because of all its [g]disasters. 9 And I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they will eat one another’s flesh during the siege and in the hardship with which their enemies and those who seek their life will torment them.”’
10 “Then you are to break the jar in the sight of the men who accompany you, 11 and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord of armies says: “To the same extent I will break this people and this city, just as one breaks a potter’s vessel, which cannot again be repaired; and they will bury their dead in Topheth, [h]because there is no other place for burial. 12 This is how I will treat this place and its inhabitants,” declares the Lord, “so as to make this city like Topheth.
Jeremiah 20
Jeremiah’s Unpopular Ministry
7 O Lord, You [b]induced me, and I was persuaded;You are stronger than I, and have prevailed.I am [c]in derision daily;Everyone mocks me.8 For when I spoke, I cried out;I shouted, “Violence and plunder!”Because the word of the Lord was made to meA reproach and a derision daily.9 Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him,Nor speak anymore in His name.”But His word was in my heart like a burning fireShut up in my bones;I was weary of holding it back,And I could not.10 For I heard many [d]mocking:“Fear on every side!”“Report,” they say, “and we will report it!”All my acquaintances watched for my stumbling, saying,“Perhaps he can be induced;Then we will prevail against him,And we will take our revenge on him.”
11 But the Lord is with me as a mighty, awesome One.Therefore my persecutors will stumble, and will not prevail.They will be greatly ashamed, for they will not prosper.Their everlasting confusion will never be forgotten.12 But, O Lord of hosts,You who test the righteous,And see the [e]mind and heart,Let me see Your vengeance on them;For I have pleaded my cause before You.
13 Sing to the Lord! Praise the Lord!For He has delivered the life of the poorFrom the hand of evildoers.
1 Thessalonians 4
New American Standard Bible
Sanctification and Love
1 Finally then, brothers and sisters, we request and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction from us as to how you ought to [a]walk and please God (just as you actually do [b]walk), that you excel even more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you [c]by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you know how to [d]possess his own [e]vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in [f]lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 and that no one violate the rights and take advantage of his brother or sister in the matter, because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you previously and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for [g]impurity, but in sanctification. 8 Therefore, the one who rejects this is not rejecting man, but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.
9 Now as to the love of the brothers and sisters, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 for indeed you practice it toward all the brothers and sisters who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to excel even more, 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we instructed you, 12 so that you will [h]behave properly toward outsiders and [i]not be in any need.
Those Who Died in Christ
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who [j]are asleep, so that you will not grieve as indeed the rest of mankind do, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep [k]through Jesus. 15 For we say this to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive [l]and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a [m]shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore, [n]comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 5
The Day of the Lord
1 Now as to the periods and [o]times, brothers and sisters, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night. 3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction [p]will come upon them like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, so that the day would overtake you [q]like a thief; 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; 6 so then, let’s not sleep as [r]others do, but let’s be alert and [s]sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we are of the day, let’s be [t]sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. 11 Therefore, [u]encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing.
Christian Conduct
12 But we ask you, brothers and sisters, to recognize those who diligently labor among you and [v]are in leadership over you in the Lord, and give you [w]instruction, 13 and that you regard them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. 14 We urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the [x]unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek what is good for one another and for all people. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit, 20 do not utterly reject [y]prophecies, 21 but examine everything; hold firmly to that which is good, 22 abstain from every [z]form of evil.
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will do it.
25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us[aa].
26 Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. 27 I put you under oath by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.
28 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Psalm 82
New American Standard Bible
Unjust Judgments Rebuked.
A Psalm of Asaph.
1 God takes His position in [a]His assembly;He judges in the midst of the gods. 2 How long will you judge unjustlyAnd show partiality to the wicked? Selah 3 Vindicate the weak and fatherless;Do justice to the afflicted and destitute. 4 Rescue the weak and needy;Save them from the hand of the wicked.
5 They do not know nor do they understand;They walk around in darkness;All the foundations of the earth are shaken. 6 [b]I said, “You are gods,And all of you are sons of the Most High. 7 Nevertheless you will die like men,And fall like one of the princes.” 8 Arise, God, judge the earth!For You possess all the nations.
Proverbs 25:9-10
9 [a]Argue your case with your neighbor, And do not reveal the secret of another,
10 Or one who hears it will put you to shame, And the evil report about you will not [b]pass away.
Dear Yousef,
Hi How are you Habibi??? I am sure you have no time to do anything else because you would probably be busy fighting for Israel and I too pray for Israel. This war came as a complete shock, and I am broken for Israel but praying that they will finally receive YESHUA their Messiah. You know you will always be my forever crush but I have some news for you... I have finally fallen in love with someone in my City and he is someone, I just met because GOD used him to saved me and my family from so much trouble. He is nothing like I imagined! Quiet the opposite from what I wanted but very similar to you in such a way that he is highly intelligent and he is so hard working just as you are about the cause that you care about. The only difference is he is not born in Zion but born in my Nation. But at least I am assured by GOD that finally I can be happily married to someone who is real and who exists in my life. GOD is doing such a beautiful thing for me and I don't want you to worry about me anymore. Thank you for being who you are! Take care Mosab and stay blessed! I will see you in the Kingdom of Heaven where our greatest Love - JESUS the KING awaits for us.
Love your Sister,
Marie