Parashah 8: Vayishlach (He sent) 32:4(3) –36:43

4 (3) Ya‘akov sent messengers ahead of him to ‘Esav his brother toward the land of Se‘ir, the country of Edom, 5 (4) with these instructions: “Here is what you are to say to my lord ‘Esav: ‘Your servant Ya‘akov says, “I have been living with Lavan and have stayed until now. 6 (5) I have cattle, donkeys and flocks, and male and female servants. I am sending to tell this news to my lord, in order to win your favor.” ’” 7 (6) The messengers returned to Ya‘akov saying, “We went to your brother ‘Esav, and he is coming to meet you; with him are four hundred men.”

8 (7) Ya‘akov became greatly afraid and distressed. He divided the people, flocks, cattle and camels with him into two camps, 9 (8) saying, “If ‘Esav comes to the one camp and attacks it, at least the camp that is left will escape.” 10 (9) Then Ya‘akov said, “God of my father Avraham and God of my father Yitz’chak, Adonai, who told me, ‘Return to your country and your kinsmen, and I will do you good’: 11 (10) I’m not worthy of all the love and faithfulness you have shown your servant, since I crossed the Yarden with only my staff. But now I have become two camps. 12 (11) Please! Rescue me from my brother ‘Esav! I’m afraid of him, afraid he’ll come and attack me, without regard for mothers or children. 13 (12) You said, ‘I will certainly do you good and make your descendants as numerous as the grains of sand by the sea, which are so many they can’t be counted.’”

Bible Study Together

1 Samuel 20

40 Then Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy and said to him, “Go, bring them to the city.” 41 When the boy was gone, David got up from the south side, then he fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times. And they kissed each other and wept together, until David wept immeasurably. 42 Then Jonathan said to David, “Go [e]in safety, since we have sworn to each other in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord will be between me and you, and between my [f]descendants and your [g]descendants forever.’” [h]So David set out and went on his way, while Jonathan went into the city.

1 Samuel 21

4 The priest answered David and said, “There is no ordinary bread [k]on hand, but there is consecrated bread, if only the young men have kept themselves from women.” 5 David answered the priest and said to him, “Be assured, women have been denied to us as previously when I left and the [l]bodies of the young men were consecrated, though it was an ordinary journey; how much more then will [m]their bodies be consecrated today?” 6 So the priest gave him consecrated bread; for there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence which was removed from its place before the Lord, in order to put hot bread in its place on the day it was taken away.

8 David said to Ahimelech, “Now is there no spear or sword [n]on hand? For I brought neither my sword nor my weapons [o]with me, because the king’s matter was urgent.” 9 Then the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you [p]killed in the Valley of Elah, behold, it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod; if you would take it for yourself, take it. For there is no other except it here.” And David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.”

10 Then David set out and fled that day from Saul, and went to Achish king of Gath. 11 But the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David, the king of the land? Did they not sing of this one as they danced, saying,

‘Saul has slain his thousands,And David his ten thousands’?”

12 David took these words [q]to heart and greatly feared Achish king of Gath. 13 So he disguised his sanity while in their sight and acted insanely in their [r]custody, and he scribbled on the doors of the gate, and drooled on his beard. 14 Then Achish said to his servants, “Look, you see the man is behaving like an insane person. Why do you bring him to me? 15 Do I lack insane people, that you have brought this one to behave like an insane person in my presence? Shall this one come into my house?”

365 Daily Kingdom Living

Be Alert And Clear-Minded

Overly sensitive people are hard to be with. They take unintentional offence or a casual word spoken out of turn as a personal sleight - causing themselves and others grief. Therefore, we need to be alert and of clear-mind as today's chosen verse, 1 Peter 5:8 describes.

Prayer: Lord, heal me from my wounds and hurts so Satan cannot attack me. I proclaim in Jesus’ name that I will take no notice of injuries, offences and wrongs committed against me, intentionally or otherwise. I will choose to forgive instead of living in constant conflict and trouble with people and with myself. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scripture

Daniel 3

28 Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and rescued His servants who put their trust in Him, [w]violating the king’s command, and surrendered their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or population of any language that speaks anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses made a rubbish heap, because there is no other god who is able to save in this way.” 30 Then the king made Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego prosperous in the province of Babylon.

1 Peter 5

Serve God Willingly

5 Therefore, I urge elders among you, as your fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and one who is also a [a]fellow partaker of the glory that is to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not [b]with greed but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as domineering over [c]those assigned to your care, but by [d]proving to be [e]examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading [f]crown of glory. 5 You [g]younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God is opposed to the proud, but He gives grace to the humble.

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you. 8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 [h]So resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your [i]brothers and sisters who are in the world. 10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.

12 Through Silvanus, our faithful brother [j](for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, [k]exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it! 13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love.

Peace be to you all who are in Christ.

Psalms 119:81-96

Kaph

81 My soul languishes for Your salvation;I [a]wait for Your word.82 My eyes fail with longing for Your [b]word,[c]While I say, “When will You comfort me?”83 Though I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,I do not forget Your statutes.84 How many are the days of Your servant?When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me?85 The arrogant have dug pits for me,People who are not in accord with Your Law.86 All Your commandments are faithful;They have persecuted me with a lie; help me!87 They almost destroyed me on earth,But as for me, I did not abandon Your precepts. 88 Revive me according to Your faithfulness,So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.

Lamedh

89 Forever, Lord,Your word stands in heaven.90 Your faithfulness continues [d]throughout generations;You established the earth, and it stands.91 They stand this day by Your ordinances,For all things are Your servants.92 If Your Law had not been my delight,Then I would have perished in my misery. 93 I will never forget Your precepts,For by them You have [e]revived me. 94 I am Yours, save me;For I have sought Your precepts. 95 The wicked wait for me to destroy me;I will diligently consider Your testimonies. 96 I have seen [f]a limit to all perfection;Your commandment is exceedingly broad.

Proverbs 28:14

New American Standard Bible

14 How blessed is the person who fears always, But one who hardens his heart will fall into disaster.

Sunday Grace

Parashah 8: Vayishlach (He sent) 32:4(3) –36:43

Scripture

Lamedh

Proverbs 28:14