Thursday, 25 Cheshvan 5784 / November 9, 2023

Day 313 Readings

Torah: Chayei Sarah, 5th Portion Bereshit (Genesis) 24:53-67 

53 And the servant brought out articles of silver and articles of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother. 54 Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night. When they got up in the morning, he said, “Send me away to my master.” 55 But her brother and her mother said, “Let the young woman stay with us a few days, say ten; afterward she may go.” 56 However, he said to them, “Do not delay me, since the Lord has prospered my way. Send me away so that I may go to my master.” 57 And they said, “We will call the young woman and [a]ask her.” 58 Then they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” And she said, “I will go.” 59 So they sent away their sister Rebekah and her nurse with Abraham’s servant and his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her,

“May you, our sister,Become thousands of ten thousands,And may your [b]descendants possessThe gate of those who hate them.”

61 Then Rebekah got up with her female attendants, and they mounted the camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and departed.

Isaac Marries Rebekah

62 Now Isaac had come back from [c]a journey to Beer-lahai-roi; for he was living in the [d]Negev. 63 Isaac went out to [e]meditate in the field toward evening; and he raised his eyes and looked, and behold, camels were coming. 64 Rebekah raised her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel. 65 She said to the servant, “Who is that man walking in the field to meet us?” And the servant said, “He is my master.” Then she took her [f]veil and covered herself. 66 The servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. 67 Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and he took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her; so Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

Bible Study Together

1 Samuel 4:12-22

18 When he mentioned the ark of God, [d]Eli fell off the seat backward beside the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for [e]he was old and heavy. And so he judged Israel for forty years.

19 Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas’ wife, was pregnant and about to give birth; and when she heard the news that the ark of God had been taken and that her father-in-law and her husband had died, she kneeled down and gave birth, because her pains came upon her. 20 And about the time of her death the women who were standing by her said to her, “Do not be afraid, for you have given birth to a son.” But she did not answer or pay attention. 21 And she named the boy [f]Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel,” because the ark of God had been taken and because of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 So she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, because the ark of God has been taken.”

1 Samuel 5

18 When he mentioned the ark of God, [d]Eli fell off the seat backward beside the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for [e]he was old and heavy. And so he judged Israel for forty years.

19 Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas’ wife, was pregnant and about to give birth; and when she heard the news that the ark of God had been taken and that her father-in-law and her husband had died, she kneeled down and gave birth, because her pains came upon her. 20 And about the time of her death the women who were standing by her said to her, “Do not be afraid, for you have given birth to a son.” But she did not answer or pay attention. 21 And she named the boy [f]Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel,” because the ark of God had been taken and because of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 So she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, because the ark of God has been taken.”

Luke 13:1-21

Call to Repent

13 Now on that very occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had [a]mixed with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus responded and said to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans just because they have suffered this fate? 3 No, I tell you, but unless you [b]repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or do you think that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse [c]offenders than all the other people who live in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

6 And He began telling this parable: “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. 7 And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Look! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree [d]without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ 8 But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, leave it alone for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; 9 and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’”

Healing on the Sabbath

10 Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And [e]there was a woman who for eighteen years had had a [f]sickness caused by a spirit; and she was bent over double, and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your sickness.” 13 And He laid His hands on her; and immediately she stood up straight again, and began glorifying God. 14 But the synagogue leader, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, began saying to the crowd in response, “There are six days during which work should be done; so come during them and get healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” 15 But the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites, does each of you on the Sabbath not untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it away to water it? 16 And this woman, a daughter of Abraham as she is, whom Satan has bound for [g]eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this restraint on the Sabbath day?” 17 And as He said this, all His opponents were being [h]humiliated; and the entire crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things being done by Him.

Parables of Mustard Seed and Leaven

18 So He was saying, “What is the kingdom of God like, and to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and threw into his own garden; and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches.”

20 And again He said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like [i]leaven, which a woman took and hid in three [j]sata of flour until it was all leavened.”

365 Daily Kingdom Living

In Stark Contrast

The writer of Hebrews spends a lot of time contrasting the sacrificial system before Calvary with the new covenant after. The old was good but imperfect. It required constant maintenance, a lot of work, a caste of Levitical priests, and the death of thousands of innocent animals. The new is perfect and complete in every way. No wonder the writer uses words like “much more” and “better” and “greater and perfect.” The contrast is spectacular!

Prayer: Dear Lord, I’m so thankful I live in the ‘much more’ era. Because of Calvary, the Holy Spirit indwells us; we have your power, your insights, and the evidence of your remarkable work through us. Help me share this remarkable good news with someone else today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scripture

Ezekiel 20

4 Will you judge them, will you judge them, son of man? Make known to them the abominations of their fathers; 5 and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “On the day when I chose Israel and [b]swore to the [c]descendants of the house of Jacob and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I [d]swore to them, saying, I am the Lord your God, 6 on that day I swore to them, to bring them out from the land of Egypt into a land that I had [e]selected for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all the lands. 7 And I said to them, ‘Throw away, each of you, the detestable things of his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.’ 8 But they rebelled against Me and were not willing to listen to Me; they did not throw away, each of them, the detestable things of their eyes, nor did they abandon the idols of Egypt.

“Then I [f]resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to [g]use up My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. 9 But I acted for the sake of My name, that it would not be defiled in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made Myself known to them by bringing them out of the land of Egypt. 10 So I took them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. 11 I gave them My statutes and informed them of My ordinances, which, if [h]a person [i]follows them, then he will live by them. 12 Also I gave them My Sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them, so that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them. 13 But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not walk in My statutes and they rejected My ordinances, which, if [j]a person [k]follows them, then he will live by them; and they greatly profaned My Sabbaths. Then I [l]resolved to pour out My wrath on them in the wilderness, to annihilate them. 14 But I acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be defiled before the eyes of the nations, before whose eyes I had brought them out. 15 Also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all the lands, 16 because they rejected My ordinances, and as for My statutes, they did not walk in them; they also profaned My Sabbaths, because their heart continually followed their idols. 17 Yet My eye spared them rather than destroying them, and I did not bring about their annihilation in the wilderness. 18 “Instead, I said to their [m]children in the wilderness, ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers or keep their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols.

19 I am the Lord your God; walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and [n]follow them. 20 Sanctify My Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, so that you may know that I am the Lord your God.’ 21 But the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, nor were they careful to [o]follow My ordinances which, if [p]a person [q]follows them, then he will live by them; they profaned My Sabbaths. So I [r]resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to [s]use up My anger against them in the wilderness. 22 But I withdrew My hand and acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be defiled in the sight of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 23 Also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them among the lands, 24 because they had not [t]complied with My ordinances, but had rejected My statutes and had profaned My Sabbaths, and their eyes were [u]on the idols of their fathers. 25 I also gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances by which they could not live; 26 and I pronounced them unclean because of their gifts, in that they made all [v]their firstborn pass through the fire so that I might make them desolate, in order that they might know that I am the Lord.”’

27 “Therefore speak to the house of Israel, son of man, and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Again, in this your fathers have blasphemed Me by being disloyal to Me. 28 When I had brought them into the land which I swore to give to them, then they saw every high hill and every tree thick with branches, and there they offered their sacrifices and there they presented the provocation of their offering. There also they made their soothing aroma and there they poured out their drink offerings. 29 Then I said to them, ‘What is the high place to which you go?’ So its name is called [w]Bamah to this day.”’ 30 Therefore, say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Will you defile yourselves in the way of your fathers and adulterously pursue their detestable things? 31 And [x]when you offer your gifts, when you make your sons pass through the fire, you are defiling yourselves with all your idols to this day. So shall I be inquired of by you, house of Israel? As I live,” declares the Lord God, “I certainly will not be inquired of by you. 32 And whatever comes [y]into your mind certainly will not come about, when you say: ‘We will be like the nations, like the families of the lands, serving wood and stone.’

God Will Restore Israel to Her Land

33 “As I live,” declares the Lord God, “with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out, I assuredly shall be king over you. 34 I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out; 35 and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face. 36 Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you,” declares the Lord God. 37 “I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; 38 and I will purge from you the rebels and those who revolt against Me; I will bring them out of the land where they reside, but they will not enter the [z]land of Israel. So you will know that I am the Lord.

39 “As for you, house of Israel,” this is what the Lord God says: “Go, serve, everyone of you his idols; [aa]but later you will certainly listen to Me, and My holy name you will no longer defile with your gifts and your idols. 40 For on My holy mountain, on the high mountain of Israel,” declares the Lord God, “there the entire house of Israel, all of them, will serve Me in the land; there I will accept them and there I will demand your contributions and the choicest of your gifts, with all your holy things. 41 [ab]As a soothing aroma I will accept you when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you are scattered; and I will show Myself to be holy among you in the sight of the nations. 42 And you will know that I am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the land which I swore to give to your forefathers. 43 And there you will remember your ways and all your deeds by which you have defiled yourselves; and you will loathe yourselves in your own [ac]sight for all the evil things that you have done. 44 Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I have dealt with you in behalf of My name, not according to your evil ways or according to your corrupt deeds, house of Israel,” declares the Lord God.’”

45 [ad]Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 46 “Son of man, set your face toward the south, and speak prophetically against the south and prophesy against the forest [ae]land of the Negev, 47 and say to the forest of the Negev, ‘Hear the word of the Lord: this is what the Lord God says: “Behold, I am going to kindle a fire in you, and it will consume every [af]green tree in you, as well as every dry tree; the blazing flame will not go out and [ag]the entire surface from south to north will be scorched by it. 48 And all [ah]mankind will see that I, the Lord, have kindled it; it will not go out.”’” 49 Then I said, “Oh, Lord God! They are saying of me, ‘Is he not just speaking in riddles?’”

Hebrews 9:11-28

11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things [a]having come, He entered through the greater and more perfect [b]tabernacle, not made by hands, that is, not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all time, [c]having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the [d]ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the [e]cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through [f]the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

15 For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the violations that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. 16 For where there is a [g]covenant, there must of necessity [h]be the death of the one who made it. 17 For a [i]covenant is valid only when people are dead, [j]for it is never in force while the one who made it lives. 18 Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled both the [k]tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. 22 And almost all things are cleansed with blood, according to the Law, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

23 Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these things, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a holy place made by hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Holy Place year by year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been revealed to put away sin [l]by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And just as it is destined for people to die once, and after this comes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.

Psalm 107

New American Standard Bible

BOOK 5

The Lord Rescues People from Many Troubles.

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,For His mercy is everlasting.2 The redeemed of the Lord shall say so,Those whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy3 And gathered from the lands,From the east and from the west,From the north and from the [a]south.

4 They wandered in the wilderness in a [b]desert region;They did not find a way to [c]an inhabited city.5 They were hungry [d]and thirsty;Their souls felt weak within them.6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;He saved them from their distresses.7 He also had them walk on a [e]straight way,To go to [f]an inhabited city.8 They shall give thanks to the Lord for His mercy,And for His [g]wonders to the sons of mankind!9 For He has satisfied the [h]thirsty soul,And He has filled the hungry soul with what is good.

10 There were those who lived in darkness and in [i]the shadow of death,Prisoners in misery and [j]chains,11 Because they had rebelled against the words of GodAnd rejected the plan of the Most High.12 Therefore He humbled their heart with labor;They stumbled and there was no one to help.13 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;He saved them from their distresses.14 He brought them out of darkness and [k]the shadow of deathAnd broke their bands apart.15 They shall give thanks to the Lord for His mercy,And for His [l]wonders to the sons of mankind!16 For He has shattered gates of bronzeAnd cut off bars of iron.

17 Fools, because of [m]their rebellious way,And because of their guilty deeds, were afflicted.18 Their souls loathed all kinds of food,And they came close to the gates of death.19 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;He saved them from their distresses.20 He sent His word and healed them,And saved them from their [n]destruction.21 They shall give thanks to the Lord for His mercy,And for His [o]wonders to the sons of mankind!22 They shall also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,And tell of His works with joyful singing.

23 Those who go down to the sea in ships,Who do business on great waters;24 They have seen the works of the Lord,And His [p]wonders in the deep.25 For He spoke and raised a stormy wind,Which lifted the waves [q]of the sea.26 They rose up to the heavens, they went down to the depths;Their soul melted away in their misery.27 They reeled and staggered like a drunken person,And [r]were at their wits’ end.28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,And He brought them out of their distresses.29 He caused the storm to be still,So that the waves [s]of the sea were hushed.30 Then they were glad because they were quiet,So He guided them to their desired harbor.31 They shall give thanks to the Lord for His mercy,And for His [t]wonders to the sons of mankind!32 They shall also exalt Him in the congregation of the people,And praise Him at the seat of the elders.

33 He turns rivers into a [u]wilderness,And springs of water into a thirsty ground;34 And a fruitful land into a salt waste,Because of the wickedness of those who dwell in it.35 He turns a [v]wilderness into a pool of water,And a dry land into springs of water;36 And He has the hungry live there,So that they may establish [w]an inhabited city,37 And sow fields and plant vineyards,And [x]gather a fruitful harvest.38 He also blesses them and they multiply greatly,And He does not let their cattle decrease.

39 When they become few and lowlyBecause of oppression, misery, and sorrow,40 He pours contempt upon noblemenAnd makes them wander in a pathless wasteland.41 But He sets the needy [y]securely on high, away from affliction,And makes his families like a flock.42 The upright see it and are glad;But all injustice shuts its mouth. 43 Who is wise? He is to pay attention to these things,And consider the mercy of the Lord.

Proverbs 27:11

11 Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, So that I may reply to one who taunts me.