Thursday, 9 Tevet 5784 / December 21, 2023
Day 355 Readings
Torah: Parshat Vayigash, 5th Portion Bereshit (Genesis) 46:8-46:27
Genesis 46:8-27
New American Standard Bible 1995
Those Who Came to Egypt
8 Now these are the names of the sons of Israel, Jacob and his sons, who went to Egypt: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn. 9 The sons of Reuben: Hanoch and Pallu and Hezron and Carmi. 10 The sons of Simeon: [a]Jemuel and Jamin and Ohad and [b]Jachin and [c]Zohar and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman. 11 The sons of Levi: [d]Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 12 The sons of Judah: Er and Onan and Shelah and Perez and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan). And the sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul. 13 The sons of Issachar: Tola and [e]Puvvah and [f]Iob and Shimron. 14 The sons of Zebulun: Sered and Elon and Jahleel. 15 These are the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan-aram, with his daughter Dinah; [g]all his sons and his daughters numbered thirty-three. 16 The sons of Gad: [h]Ziphion and Haggi, Shuni and [i]Ezbon, Eri and [j]Arodi and Areli. 17 The sons of Asher: Imnah and Ishvah and Ishvi and Beriah and their sister Serah. And the sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel. 18 These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Leah; and she bore to Jacob these sixteen persons. 19 The sons of Jacob’s wife Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. 20 Now to Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, bore to him. 21 The sons of Benjamin: Bela and Becher and Ashbel, Gera and Naaman, [k]Ehi and Rosh, [l]Muppim and [m]Huppim and Ard. 22 These are the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob; there were fourteen persons in all. 23 The sons of Dan: [n]Hushim. 24 The sons of Naphtali: [o]Jahzeel and Guni and Jezer and [p]Shillem. 25 These are the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Rachel, and she bore these to Jacob; there were seven persons in all. 26 All the persons belonging to Jacob, who came to Egypt, [q]his direct descendants, not including the wives of Jacob’s sons, were sixty-six persons in all, 27 and the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt were [r]two; all the persons of the house of Jacob, who came to Egypt, were seventy.
Bible Study Together
1 Chronicles 15
New American Standard Bible 1995
Plans to Move the Ark to Jerusalem
1 Now David built houses for himself in the city of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 2 Then David said, “No one is to carry the ark of God but the Levites; for the Lord chose them to carry the ark of God and to minister to Him forever.” 3 And David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to its place which he had prepared for it. 4 David gathered together the sons of Aaron and the Levites: 5 of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, and 120 of his [a]relatives; 6 of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, and 220 of his relatives; 7 of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, and 130 of his relatives; 8 of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, and 200 of his relatives; 9 of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, and 80 of his relatives; 10 of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, and 112 of his relatives.
11 Then David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab, 12 and said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ households of the Levites; consecrate yourselves both you and your relatives, that you may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel to the place that I have prepared for it. 13 Because you did not carry it at the first, the Lord our God made an outburst on us, for we did not seek Him according to the ordinance.” 14 So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel. 15 The sons of the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles thereon, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord.
16 Then David spoke to the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their relatives the singers, with instruments of music, harps, lyres, loud-sounding cymbals, to raise sounds of joy. 17 So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel, and from his relatives, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and from the sons of Merari their relatives, Ethan the son of Kushaiah, 18 and with them their relatives of the second rank, Zechariah, [b]Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom and Jeiel, the gatekeepers. 19 So the singers, Heman, Asaph and Ethan were appointed to sound aloud cymbals of bronze; 20 and Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah, with [c]harps tuned to alamoth; 21 and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel and Azaziah, to lead with [d]lyres tuned to the sheminith. 22 Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was in charge of the singing; he gave instruction in singing because he was skillful. 23 Berechiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers for the ark. 24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah and Eliezer, the priests, blew the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah also were gatekeepers for the ark.
25 So it was David, with the elders of Israel and the captains over thousands, who went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-edom with joy. 26 Because God was helping the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. 27 Now David was clothed with a robe of fine linen with all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers and Chenaniah the leader of the singing with the singers. David also wore an ephod of linen. 28 Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting, and with sound of the horn, with trumpets, with loud-sounding cymbals, with harps and lyres.
29 It happened when the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and celebrating; and she despised him in her heart.
2 Samuel 6:12-16
New American Standard Bible 1995
The Ark Is Brought to Jerusalem
12 Now it was told King David, saying, “The Lord has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, on account of the ark of God.” David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with gladness. 13 And so it was, that when the bearers of the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. 14 And David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, and David was [a]wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouting and the sound of the trumpet.
16 Then it happened as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.
Matthew 19:13-15
New American Standard Bible 1995
Jesus Blesses Little Children
13 Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, “[a]Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15 After laying His hands on them, He departed from there.
365 Daily Kingdom Living
Finally … Justice
If you have neither money nor connections, you are vulnerable. You can't buy protection; you have no power or influence. No one cares. Except God. The Psalmist reminds us that God is the ultimate arbiter of justice and fairness. When He stands up for the poor and helpless, the abusers and exploiters have cause for serious fear.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to share your concern for justice and protection for those in our society who are most vulnerable. Forgive me for times I've overlooked injustice glaring me in the face. Help me to see the world through your eyes, and to be your hands and feet here and now in this country. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Scripture
Zechariah 1
New American Standard Bible 1995
A Call to Repentance
1 In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah the prophet, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo saying, 2 “The Lord was very angry with your fathers. 3 Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Return to Me,” declares the Lord of hosts, “that I may return to you,” says the Lord of hosts. 4 “Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Return now from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.”’ But they did not listen or give heed to Me,” declares the Lord. 5 “Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? 6 But did not My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, overtake your fathers? Then they repented and said, ‘As the Lord of hosts purposed to do to us in accordance with our ways and our deeds, so He has dealt with us.’”’”
Patrol of the Earth
7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah the prophet, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, as follows: 8 I saw at night, and behold, a man was riding on a red horse, and he was standing among the myrtle trees which were in the ravine, with red, sorrel and white horses behind him. 9 Then I said, “My lord, what are these?” And the angel who was speaking with me said to me, “I will show you what these are.” 10 And the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered and said, “These are those whom the Lord has sent to [a]patrol the earth.” 11 So they answered the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees and said, “We have [b]patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth is [c]peaceful and quiet.”
12 Then the angel of the Lord said, “O Lord of hosts, how long will You have no compassion for Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, with which You have been indignant these seventy years?” 13 The Lord answered the angel who was speaking with me with [d]gracious words, comforting words. 14 So the angel who was speaking with me said to me, “Proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and Zion. 15 But I am very angry with the nations who are at ease; for while I was only a little angry, they [e]furthered the disaster.” 16 Therefore thus says the Lord, “I will return to Jerusalem with compassion; My house will be built in it,” declares the Lord of hosts, “and a measuring line will be stretched over Jerusalem.”’ 17 Again, proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “My cities will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.”’”
18 [f]Then I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, there were four horns. 19 So I said to the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these?” And he answered me, “These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.” 20 Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen. 21 I said, “What are these coming to do?” And he said, “These are the horns which have scattered Judah so that no man lifts up his head; but these craftsmen have come to terrify them, to throw down the horns of the nations who have lifted up their horns against the land of Judah in order to scatter it.”
Zechariah 2
God’s Favor to Zion
1 [g]Then I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 So I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see how wide it is and how long it is.” 3 And behold, the angel who was speaking with me was going out, and another angel was coming out to meet him, 4 and said to him, “Run, speak to that young man, saying, ‘Jerusalem will be inhabited [h]without walls because of the multitude of men and cattle within it. 5 For I,’ declares the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire [i]around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’”
6 “[j]Ho there! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the Lord, “for I have dispersed you as the four winds of the heavens,” declares the Lord. 7 “Ho, Zion! Escape, you who are living with the daughter of Babylon.” 8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, “After [k]glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the [l]apple of His eye. 9 For behold, I will wave My hand over them so that they will be plunder for their slaves. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me. 10 Sing for joy and be glad, O daughter of Zion; for behold I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,” declares the Lord. 11 “Many nations will join themselves to the Lord in that day and will become My people. Then I will dwell in your midst, and you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you. 12 The Lord will [m]possess Judah as His portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.
13 “[n]Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord; for He is aroused from His holy habitation.”
Revelation 12
New American Standard Bible 1995
The Woman, Israel
1 A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; 2 and she was with child; and she *cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.
The Red Dragon, Satan
3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. 4 And his tail *swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.
The Male Child, Christ
5 And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to [a]rule all the [b]nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she *had a place prepared by God, so that there [c]she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
The Angel, Michael
7 And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 8 and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole [d]world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying,
“Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even [e]when faced with death. 12 For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who [f]dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”
13 And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. 14 But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she *was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the [g]presence of the serpent. 15 And the serpent [h]poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. 16 [i]But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon [j]poured out of his mouth. 17 So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her [k]children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
Psalm 140
New American Standard Bible 1995
Prayer for Protection against the Wicked.
For the choir director. A Psalm of David.
1 Rescue me, O Lord, from evil men;Preserve me from violent men 2 Who devise evil things in their hearts;They continually stir up wars. 3 They sharpen their tongues as a serpent; Poison of a viper is under their lips. [a]Selah.
4 Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; Preserve me from violent men Who have [b]purposed to [c]trip up my feet. 5 The proud have hidden a trap for me, and cords;They have spread a net by the [d]wayside; They have set snares for me. Selah.
6 I said to the Lord, “You are my God; Give ear, O Lord, to the voice of my supplications. 7 “O [e]God the Lord, the strength of my salvation,You have covered my head in the day of [f]battle. 8 “Do not grant, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; Do not promote his evil device, that they not be exalted. Selah.
9 “As for the head of those who surround me, May the mischief of their lips cover them. 10 “May burning coals fall upon them; May they be cast into the fire, Into [g]deep pits from which they cannot rise. 11 “May a [h]slanderer not be established in the earth;May evil hunt the violent man [i]speedily.”
12 I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflictedAnd justice for the poor.13 Surely the righteous will give thanks to Your name;The upright will dwell in Your presence.
Proverbs 30:15-16
New American Standard Bible 1995
15 The leech has two daughters,“Give,” “Give.”There are three things that will not be satisfied,Four that will not say, “Enough”:16 [a]Sheol, and the barren womb,Earth that is never satisfied with water,And fire that never says, “Enough.”
Dear AVI,
Baruch Ata Adonai Melek Ha Olam, Blessed are YOU O KING of the Universe, Holy One of Israel who favors Zion!!! There is No One Like YOU! How amazing are YOU! Truly amazing in all YOUR ways! Toda for the wonderful dinner at Fili Hotel last night celebrating Deric's birthday and for the exercise YOU gave me before sleeping at home as I looked for more clothes to wear from Mom's closet. Thank YOU for the vitamins that I take for the good health that all my family enjoys and even our dogs and the provision of abundance to further YOUR kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. AVI thank YOU even for the opportunity to encourage Nelson Dy who used to go to WWCF when we were children, to go back to church and put YOU first above all things because YOU are soon coming back to earth. O GOD, Almighty, toda for this morning that I seek YOU, YOU reveal and show me the blue print of YOUR plans this coming Year! That is what amazes me, how YOU show me what to do and yesterday especially for leading me quickly to the right program that will help me and our business. Toda for providing all the right people in our midst to help us record all things into the new Accounting System that will be using called Lite Clerk. It was YOU and I praise YOU for the quickening of my Spirit yesteray and how Deric witnessed it as I worked while he drove us to Mandaue Warehouse. YOU are truly Great and Amazing! O LORD, I pray that Stephen will not be late in our meeting that he will be there earlier than expected I pray that YOU quicken his Spirit as well because he is YOUR Servant so I pray that YOU pour out YOUR Spirit upon him so that he will rule the Nations with an iron rod and bring justice to it!!! How I pray O GOD that YOU be the glory in our midst, a wall of fire surrounding and protecting us, encircling us, igniting us to do YOUR will. For YOU deserve all the praises all the glory all the honor and the power, Everything belongs to YOU!
Ba HaShem YESHUA HaMashiach, In the Name of JESUS the Messiah, AMen!