4 Cheshvan 5994 / 19 October 2023
Day 292 Readings
Torah: Noach, 5th Portion Bereshit (Genesis) 9:8-17
12 God said, “This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for [b]all future generations; 13 I have set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall [c]serve as a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. 14 It shall come about, when I make a cloud appear over the earth, that the rainbow will be seen in the cloud, 15 and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 When the rainbow is in the cloud, then I will look at it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.”
Bible Study Together
Judges 9:1-21
16 “Now then, if you have acted with [m]honesty and integrity in making Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and [n]have dealt with him [o]as he deserved— 17 for my father fought for you, and [p]risked his life and saved you from the hand of Midian; 18 but in fact you have risen against my father’s house today and have killed his sons, seventy men, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female slave, king over the [q]leaders of Shechem, because he is your relative— 19 so if you have acted with [r]honesty and integrity toward Jerubbaal and his house this day, be joyful about Abimelech, and may he also be joyful about you. 20 But if not, may fire come out of Abimelech and consume the [s]leaders of Shechem and [t]Beth-millo; and may fire come out of the [u]leaders of Shechem and from [v]Beth-millo, and consume Abimelech.” 21 Then Jotham escaped and fled, and went to Beer; and he stayed there because of his brother Abimelech.
Titus 3:1-15
Godly Living
1 Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2 to slander no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing every consideration for all people. 3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He richly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs [a]according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This statement is trustworthy; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and beneficial for people. 9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are useless and worthless. 10 Reject a [b]divisive person after a first and second warning, 11 knowing that such a person has deviated from what is right and is sinning, being self-condemned.
Personal Concerns
12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Diligently help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way so that nothing is lacking for them. 14 Our people must also learn to engage in good [c]deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unproductive.
15 All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith.
Grace be with you all.
365 Daily Kingdom Living
Abba Father Wants Intimacy With His Children
In book of James it is said “Draw near to God, he will draw near to you.” God our Abba Father wants to have a close relationship with His children. Most of the time, we as children don’t have time for our heavenly father because we are too busy to pray or talk to our Abba Father. God wants us to be with Him, God wants us to share our hearts, our feelings and our struggles to Him. Our Abba Father wants to tell us His hidden great things when we come to him.
Prayer: Forgive us for allowing our schedules get in the way of you. Pray we long for your presence and long to spend time with you in prayer, praise and worship. Give us desire for building an intimate relationship with you. Help us to share and journal our feelings, our thoughts and our ways before you each day. In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.
Scripture
Jeremiah 33
1 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the second time, while he was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, saying, 2 “This is what the Lord says, He who made [a]the earth, the Lord who formed it to create it, He whose name is the Lord: 3 ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and [b]mighty things, which you do not know.’
10 “This is what the Lord says: ‘Yet again there will be heard in this place, of which you say, “It is a waste, without man and without animal,” that is, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted, without man and without inhabitant and without animal, 11 the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the groom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who say,
“Give thanks to the Lord of armies,For the Lord is good,For His mercy is everlasting,”
as they bring a thanksgiving offering into the house of the Lord. For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were at first,’ says the Lord.
12 “This is what the Lord of armies says: ‘There will again be in this place which is waste, without man or animal, and in all its cities, a pasture for shepherds who rest their flocks. 13 In the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the lowland, in the cities of the Negev, in the land of Benjamin, in the areas surrounding Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, the flocks will again pass under the hands of the one who counts them,’ says the Lord.
The Davidic Kingdom
14 ‘Behold, days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch of David sprout; and He shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth. 16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety; and this is the name by which it will be called: the Lord is our righteousness.’ 17 For this is what the Lord says: ‘[e]David shall not lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel; 18 [f]and the Levitical priests shall not lack a man before Me to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to prepare sacrifices [g]continually.’”
19 And the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, 20 “This is what the Lord says: ‘If you can break My covenant for the day and My covenant for the night, so that day and night do not occur at their proper time, 21 then My covenant with David My servant may also be broken, so that he will not have a son to reign on his throne, and with the Levitical priests, My ministers. 22 As the heavenly [h]lights cannot be counted, and the sand of the sea cannot be measured, so I will multiply the [i]descendants of My servant David and the Levites who serve Me.’”
23 And the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, 24 “Have you not observed what these people have asserted, saying, ‘The two families which the Lord chose, He has rejected them’? So they despise My people as no longer being a nation [j]in their sight. 25 This is what the Lord says: ‘If My covenant for day and night does not continue, and I have not established the [k]fixed patterns of heaven and earth, 26 then I would reject the [l]descendants of Jacob and David My servant, so as not to take from his [m]descendants rulers over the [n]descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But I will restore their fortunes and have mercy on them.’”
Jeremiah 34
8 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people who were in Jerusalem, to proclaim [q]release to them: 9 that each person was to set his male servant free and each his female servant, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, so that no one would keep them, his Jewish brother or sister, in bondage. 10 And all the officials and all the people obeyed who had entered into the covenant that each person was to set his male servant free and each his female servant, so that no one would keep them in bondage any longer; they obeyed, and set them free. 11 But afterward they turned around and took back the male servants and the female servants whom they had set free, and brought them into subjection as male servants and as female servants.
12 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 13 “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: ‘I made a covenant with your forefathers on the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, saying, 14 “At the end of seven years each of you shall set free his Hebrew brother who [r]has been sold to you and has served you for six years, and you shall send him out free from you.” But your forefathers did not obey Me nor incline their ear to Me. 15 Although recently you had turned and done what is right in My sight, each one proclaiming [s]release to his neighbor, and you had made a covenant before Me in the house which is called by My name. 16 Yet you turned and profaned My name, and each person [t]took back his male servant and each his female servant whom you had set free according to their desire, and you brought them into subjection to be your male and female servants.’
17 “Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘You have not obeyed Me in proclaiming [u]release, each one to his brother and each to his neighbor. Behold, I am proclaiming a [v]release to you,’ declares the Lord, ‘to the sword, to the plague, and to the famine; and I will make you a terror to all the kingdoms of the earth. 18 I will give the people who have violated My covenant, who have not fulfilled the words of the covenant which they made before Me, when they cut the calf in two and passed between its parts— 19 the officials of Judah and the officials of Jerusalem, the high officials and the priests, and all the people of the land who passed between the parts of the calf— 20 I will hand them over to their enemies and to those who seek their lives. And their dead bodies will be food for the birds of the sky and the animals of the earth. 21 Zedekiah king of Judah and his officials I will also hand over to their enemies and to those who seek their lives, and to the army of the king of Babylon which has withdrawn from you. 22 Behold, I am going to give a command,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will bring them back to this city, and they will fight against it and take it and burn it with fire; and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation without inhabitant.’”
1 Timothy 4
Abandonment of Faith
1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will [a]fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3 who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; 5 for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.
A Good Minister’s Discipline
6 In pointing out these things to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the good doctrine which you have been following. 7 But [b]stay away from worthless stories that are typical of old women. Rather, [c]discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; 8 for bodily training is just slightly beneficial, but godliness is beneficial for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. 10 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all mankind, especially of believers.
11 [d]Prescribe and teach these things. 12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example [e]of those who believe. 13 Until I come, give your attention to the public [f]reading, to exhortation, and teaching. 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was granted to you through words of prophecy with the laying on of hands by the [g]council of elders. 15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. 16 Pay close attention to yourself and to the teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
Psalm 89:1-3
The Lord’s Covenant with David and Israel’s Afflictions.
A [a]Maskil of [b]Ethan [c]the Ezrahite.
1 I will sing of the graciousness of the Lord forever;To all generations I will make Your faithfulness known with my mouth.2 For I have said, “Graciousness will be built up forever;In the heavens You will establish Your faithfulness.” 3 “I have made a covenant with My chosen;I have sworn to My servant David,
Proverbs 25:23-24
New American Standard Bible
23 The north wind brings rain,And a [a]gossiping tongue brings an angry face.
24 It is better to live on a corner of the roof,Than [b]in a house shared with a contentious woman.