15 Tishrei 5994 / 30 September 2023
Day 273 Readings
Torah: Vezot Hab'rachah, 7th Portion Devarim (Deuteronomy) 34
9 Now Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands on him; and the sons of Israel listened to him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses. 10 Since that time no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, 11 for all the signs and wonders which the Lord sent him to perform in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh, all his servants, and all his land— 12 and for all the mighty [e]power and all the great terror which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.
Haftarah V’zot HaBrachah: Joshua 1
5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall [a]divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may [b]prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you[c] shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
B’rit Hadashah suggested readings for Parashah V’zot HaBrachah: Mattityahu (Matthew) 17:1–9;
5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” 8 When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
Y’hudah (Jude) 3–4, 8–10
New King James Version
8 Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of [a]dignitaries. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, in [b]contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves.
Hazak, hazak, v’nit’chazek!
Be strong, be strong, and let us be strengthened!
Bible Study Together
Joshua 16
8 The border went out from Tappuah westward to the Brook Kanah, and [g]it ended at the sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim according to their families. 9 The separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages.
10 And they did not drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day and have become forced laborers.
Joshua 17
3 But Zelophehad the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but only daughters. And these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 4 And they came near before Eleazar the priest, before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the rulers, saying, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us an [i]inheritance among our brothers.” Therefore, according to the commandment of the Lord, he gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers.
Matthew 17:24-27
27 Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a [c]piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”
Mark 9:33-37
35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” 36 Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”
365 Daily Kingdom Living
To Be With Christ
What happens when we die is a question many ask and this is true even of believers in Christ. Apostle Paul was very clear as to what the answer to this question is - he was confident that on his death he would be with Christ. In his letter to the Philippians, he actually states that it would be to his gain to die and be with Christ but he knew he would live a little longer as he had more to complete for God's purposes in building Christ's kingdom. Let us be encouraged by this: Death is not something into the unknown but only into the presence of Jesus our Lord and saviour, the one who loves us. And like Paul, let us live the life God gives us in serving Christ so that we can say with Paul - for me to live is Christ, to die is gain!
Prayer: Lord God, thank you for this encouragement in the Bible, your word to us. We do not need to fear death knowing that we will be with you. Keeping this in front of us, let us use the life you give us to serve you with all our hearts. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Scripture
Isaiah 60
1 Arise, shine;For your light has come!And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,And deep darkness the people;But the Lord will arise over you,And His glory will be seen upon you.3 The Gentiles shall come to your light,And kings to the brightness of your rising.
4 “Lift up your eyes all around, and see:They all gather together, they come to you;Your sons shall come from afar,And your daughters shall be nursed at your side.5 Then you shall see and become radiant,And your heart shall swell with joy;Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you.6 The multitude of camels shall cover your land,The dromedaries of Midian and Ephah;All those from Sheba shall come;They shall bring gold and incense,And they shall proclaim the praises of the Lord.7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together to you,The rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you;They shall ascend with acceptance on My altar,And I will glorify the house of My glory.
8 “Who are these who fly like a cloud,And like doves to their roosts?9 Surely the coastlands shall wait for Me;And the ships of Tarshish will come first,To bring your sons from afar,Their silver and their gold with them,To the name of the Lord your God,And to the Holy One of Israel,Because He has glorified you.
10 “The sons of foreigners shall build up your walls,And their kings shall minister to you;For in My wrath I struck you,But in My favor I have had mercy on you.11 Therefore your gates shall be open continually;They shall not be shut day or night,That men may bring to you the wealth of the Gentiles,And their kings in procession.12 For the nation and kingdom which will not serve you shall perish,And those nations shall be utterly ruined.
13 “The glory of Lebanon shall come to you,The cypress, the pine, and the box tree together,To beautify the place of My sanctuary;And I will make the place of My feet glorious.14 Also the sons of those who afflicted youShall come bowing to you,And all those who despised you shall fall prostrate at the soles of your feet;And they shall call you The City of the Lord,Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
15 “Whereas you have been forsaken and hated,So that no one went through you,I will make you an eternal excellence,A joy of many generations.16 You shall drink the milk of the Gentiles,And milk the breast of kings;You shall know that I, the Lord, am your SaviorAnd your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
17 “Instead of bronze I will bring gold,Instead of iron I will bring silver,Instead of wood, bronze,And instead of stones, iron.I will also make your officers peace,And your magistrates righteousness.18 Violence shall no longer be heard in your land,Neither [a]wasting nor destruction within your borders;But you shall call your walls Salvation,And your gates Praise.
Isaiah 61
1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,Because the Lord has anointed MeTo preach good tidings to the poor;He has sent Me to [b]heal the brokenhearted,To proclaim liberty to the captives,And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,And the day of vengeance of our God;To comfort all who mourn,3 To [c]console those who mourn in Zion,To give them beauty for ashes,The oil of joy for mourning,The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;That they may be called trees of righteousness,The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
4 And they shall rebuild the old ruins,They shall raise up the former desolations,And they shall repair the ruined cities,The desolations of many generations.5 Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks,And the sons of the foreignerShall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.6 But you shall be named the priests of the Lord,They shall call you the servants of our God.You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles,And in their glory you shall boast.7 Instead of your shame you shall have double honor,And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion.Therefore in their land they shall possess double;Everlasting joy shall be theirs.
8 “For I, the Lord, love justice;I hate robbery [d]for burnt offering;I will direct their work in truth,And will make with them an everlasting covenant.9 Their descendants shall be known among the Gentiles,And their offspring among the people.All who see them shall acknowledge them,That they are the posterity whom the Lord has blessed.”
10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,My soul shall be joyful in my God;For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.11 For as the earth brings forth its bud,As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth,So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
Isaiah 62
For Zion’s sake I will not [e]hold My peace,And for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest,Until her righteousness goes forth as brightness,And her salvation as a lamp that burns.2 The Gentiles shall see your righteousness,And all kings your glory.You shall be called by a new name,Which the mouth of the Lord will name.3 You shall also be a crown of gloryIn the hand of the Lord,And a royal diademIn the hand of your God.4 You shall no longer be termed Forsaken,[f]Nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate;[g]But you shall be called [h]Hephzibah, and your land [i]Beulah;For the Lord delights in you,And your land shall be married.5 For as a young man marries a virgin,So shall your sons marry you;And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,So shall your God rejoice over you.
6 I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem;They shall [j]never hold their peace day or night.You who [k]make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent,7 And give Him no rest till He establishesAnd till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
8 The Lord has sworn by His right handAnd by the arm of His strength:“Surely I will no longer give your grainAs food for your enemies;And the sons of the foreigner shall not drink your new wine,For which you have labored.9 But those who have gathered it shall eat it,And praise the Lord;Those who have brought it together shall drink it in My holy courts.”
10 Go through,Go through the gates!Prepare the way for the people;Build up,Build up the highway!Take out the stones,Lift up a banner for the peoples!
11 Indeed the Lord has proclaimedTo the end of the world:“Say to the daughter of Zion,‘Surely your salvation is coming;Behold, His reward is with Him,And His [l]work before Him.’ ”12 And they shall call them The Holy People,The Redeemed of the Lord;And you shall be called Sought Out,A City Not Forsaken.
Philippians 1:12-30
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that this will work out for my deliverance,[a] because of your prayers and the support I get from the Spirit of Yeshua the Messiah. 20 It all accords with my earnest expectation and hope that I will have nothing to be ashamed of; but rather, now, as always, the Messiah will be honored by my body, whether it is alive or dead. 21 For to me, life is the Messiah, and death is gain. 22 But if by living on in the body I can do fruitful work, then I don’t know which to choose. 23 I am caught in a dilemma: my desire is to go off and be with the Messiah — that is better by far — 24 but because of you, the greater need is to stay on in the body. 25 Yes, I am convinced of this; so I know I will stay on with you in order to help you progress in the faith and have joy in it. 26 Then, through my being with you again, you will have even greater reason for boasting about the Messiah Yeshua.
Psalms 72
1 Give the king Your judgments, O God,And Your righteousness to the king’s Son.2 He will judge Your people with righteousness,And Your poor with justice.3 The mountains will bring peace to the people,And the little hills, by righteousness.4 He will bring justice to the poor of the people;He will save the children of the needy,And will [a]break in pieces the oppressor.
5 [b]They shall fear YouAs long as the sun and moon endure,Throughout all generations.6 He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing,Like showers that water the earth.7 In His days the righteous shall flourish,And abundance of peace,Until the moon is no more.
8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea,And from the River to the ends of the earth.9 Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before Him,And His enemies will lick the dust.10 The kings of Tarshish and of the islesWill bring presents;The kings of Sheba and SebaWill offer gifts.11 Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him;All nations shall serve Him.
12 For He will deliver the needy when he cries,The poor also, and him who has no helper.13 He will spare the poor and needy,And will save the souls of the needy.14 He will redeem their life from oppression and violence;And precious shall be their blood in His sight.
15 And He shall live;And the gold of Sheba will be given to Him;Prayer also will be made for Him continually,And daily He shall be praised.
16 There will be an abundance of grain in the earth,On the top of the mountains;Its fruit shall wave like Lebanon;And those of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.
17 His name shall endure forever;His name shall continue as long as the sun.And men shall be blessed in Him;All nations shall call Him blessed.
18 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,Who only does wondrous things!19 And blessed be His glorious name forever!And let the whole earth be filled with His glory.Amen and Amen.
20 The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.
Proverbs 24:11-12
11 Yes, rescue those being dragged off to death — won’t you save those about to be killed?
12 If you say, “We knew nothing about it,” won’t he who weighs hearts discern it?
Yes, he who guards you will know it and repay each one as his deeds deserve.