Tuesday, 7 Tevet 5784 / December 19, 2023
Day 353 Readings
Torah: Parshat Vayigash, 3rd Portion (Bereshit (Genesis) 45:8-45:27)
Genesis 45:8-27
New American Standard Bible 1995
8 Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. 10 You shall [a]live in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children and your flocks and your herds and all that you have. 11 There I will also provide for you, for there are still five years of famine to come, and you and your household and all that you have would be impoverished.”’ 12 Behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth which is speaking to you. 13 Now you must tell my father of all my splendor in Egypt, and all that you have seen; and you must hurry and bring my father down here.” 14 Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. 15 He kissed all his brothers and wept on them, and afterward his brothers talked with him.
16 Now when the [b]news was heard in Pharaoh’s house [c]that Joseph’s brothers had come, it [d]pleased Pharaoh and his servants. 17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your beasts and [e]go to the land of Canaan, 18 and take your father and your households and come to me, and I will give you the [f]best of the land of Egypt and you will eat the fat of the land.’ 19 Now you are ordered, ‘Do this: [g]take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father and come. 20 Do not [h]concern yourselves with your goods, for the [i]best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”
21 Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them wagons according to the [j]command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey. 22 To [k]each of them he gave changes of garments, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of garments. 23 To his father he sent [l]as follows: ten donkeys loaded with the [m]best things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and sustenance for his father [n]on the journey.
24 So he sent his brothers away, and [o]as they departed, he said to them, “Do not [p]quarrel on the journey.” 25 Then they went up from Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob. 26 They told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and indeed he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” But [q]he was stunned, for he did not believe them. 27 When they told him all the words of Joseph that he had spoken to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived.
Bible Study Together
2 Samuel 5:17-25
New American Standard Bible 1995
War with the Philistines
17 When the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek out David; and when David heard of it, he went down to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines came and spread themselves out in the valley of Rephaim. 19 Then David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” 20 So David came to Baal-perazim and [a]defeated them there; and he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore he named that place [b]Baal-perazim. 21 They abandoned their idols there, so David and his men carried them away.
22 Now the Philistines came up once again and spread themselves out in the valley of Rephaim. 23 When David inquired of the Lord, He said, “You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the [c]balsam trees. 24 It shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the [d]balsam trees, then you shall act promptly, for then the Lord will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” 25 Then David did so, just as the Lord had commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from [e]Geba [f]as far as Gezer.
1 Chronicles 14:8-17
New American Standard Bible 1995
Philistines Defeated
8 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up in search of David; and David heard of it and went out against them. 9 Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the valley of Rephaim. 10 David inquired of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? And will You give them into my hand?” Then the Lord said to him, “Go up, for I will give them into your hand.” 11 So they came up to Baal-perazim, and David [a]defeated them there; and David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore they named that place [b]Baal-perazim. 12 They abandoned their gods there; so David gave the order and they were burned with fire.
13 The Philistines made yet another raid in the valley. 14 David inquired again of God, and God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; circle around [c]behind them and come at them in front of the [d]balsam trees. 15 It shall be when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall go out to battle, for God will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” 16 David did just as God had commanded him, and they struck down the army of the Philistines from [e]Gibeon even as far as Gezer. 17 Then the fame of David went out into all the lands; and the Lord brought the fear of him on all the nations.
1 Chronicles 11:4-9
New American Standard Bible 1995
Jerusalem, Capital City
4 Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there. 5 The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You shall not enter here.” Nevertheless David captured the stronghold of Zion (that is, the city of David). 6 Now David had said, “Whoever strikes down a Jebusite first shall be chief and commander.” Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became chief. 7 Then David dwelt in the stronghold; therefore it was called the city of David. 8 He [a]built the city all around, from the [b]Millo even to the surrounding area; and Joab [c]repaired the rest of the city. 9 David became greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with him.
2 Samuel 5:4-13
New American Standard Bible 1995
4 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. 5 At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.
6 Now the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, and they said to [a]David, “You shall not come in here, but the blind and lame will turn you away”; [b]thinking, “David cannot enter here.” 7 Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Zion, that is the city of David. 8 David said on that day, “Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him reach the lame and the blind, who are hated by David’s soul, through the water tunnel.” Therefore they say, “The blind or the lame shall not come into the house.” 9 So David lived in the stronghold and called it the city of David. And David built all around from the [c]Millo and inward. 10 David became greater and greater, for the Lord God of hosts was with him.
11 Then Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar trees and carpenters and stonemasons; and they built a house for David. 12 And David realized that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.
13 Meanwhile David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron; and more sons and daughters were born to David.
Mark 10:13-16
New American Standard Bible 1995
Jesus Blesses Little Children
13 And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” 16 And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.
365 Daily Kingdom Living
God Opposes The Proud
There is one character trait that the Bible tells us is opposed by God and that is pride. “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” It is the humble and lowly in spirit that God lifts up and exalts while those who are proud, he opposes. Pride and self-exaltation in the Christian is a sure way to meet with the anger and opposition of God – let us take care to walk humbly and not let pride enter into our hearts.
Prayer: Lord, in all your greatness and majesty, you regard the lowly, the humble, the downtrodden with your favour upon them. At the same time, you do not come close to those who are proud and haughty. Let us be conscious of this and take care that we live humbly before you and with people we interact with – we do not want you to oppose us. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Scripture
Zephaniah 1
New American Standard Bible 1995
Day of Judgment on Judah
1 The word of the Lord which came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah:
2 “I will completely remove all thingsFrom the face of the [a]earth,” declares the Lord.3 “I will remove man and beast;I will remove the birds of the skyAnd the fish of the sea,And the [b]ruins along with the wicked;And I will cut off man from the face of the [c]earth,” declares the Lord.4 “So I will stretch out My hand against JudahAnd against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem.And I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place,And the names of the idolatrous priests along with the priests.5 “And those who bow down on the housetops to the host of heaven,And those who bow down and swear to the Lord and yet swear by [d]Milcom,6 And those who have turned back from following the Lord,And those who have not sought the Lord or inquired of Him.”
7 [e]Be silent before the Lord [f]God!For the day of the Lord is near,For the Lord has prepared a sacrifice,He has consecrated His guests.8 “Then it will come about on the day of the Lord’s sacrificeThat I will punish the princes, the king’s sonsAnd all who clothe themselves with foreign garments.
Zephaniah 2
Judgments on Judah’s Enemies
1 Gather yourselves together, yes, gather, O nation without [m]shame, 2 Before the decree [n]takes effect—The day passes like the chaff—Before the burning anger of the Lord comes upon you,Before the day of the Lord’s anger comes upon you. 3 Seek the Lord,All you humble of the [o]earthWho have carried out His [p]ordinances;Seek righteousness, seek humility.Perhaps you will be hiddenIn the day of the Lord’s anger.
4 For Gaza will be abandonedAnd Ashkelon a desolation;Ashdod will be driven out at noonAnd Ekron will be uprooted. 5 Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast,The nation of the [q]Cherethites!The word of the Lord is against you,O Canaan, land of the Philistines;And I will destroy youSo that there will be no inhabitant. 6 So the seacoast will be pastures,With [r]caves for shepherds and folds for flocks. 7 And the coast will beFor the remnant of the house of Judah,They will pasture on it.In the houses of Ashkelon they will lie down at evening;For the Lord their God will care for themAnd restore their fortune.
Zephaniah 3
8 “Therefore wait for Me,” declares the Lord, “For the day when I rise up as a witness.
Indeed, My decision is to gather nations, To assemble kingdoms,
To pour out on them My indignation, All My burning anger;
For all the earth will be devoured By the fire of My zeal.
9 “For then I will [ac]give to the peoples purified lips, That all of them may call on the name of the Lord,
To serve Him [ad]shoulder to shoulder.
10 “From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My [ae]worshipers, [af]My dispersed ones,
Will bring My offerings.
11 “In that day you will feel no shame Because of all your deeds
By which you have rebelled against Me; For then I will remove from your midst
Your proud, exulting ones, And you will never again be haughty on My holy mountain.
Revelation 10
New American Standard Bible 1995
The Angel and the Little Book
1 I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, clothed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire; 2 and he had in his hand a little book which was open. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left on the land; 3 and he cried out with a loud voice, as when a lion roars; and when he had cried out, the seven peals of thunder [a]uttered their voices. 4 When the seven peals of thunder had spoken, I was about to write; and I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken and do not write them.” 5 Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven, 6 and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it, that there will be delay no longer, 7 but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He [b]preached to His servants the prophets.
8 Then the voice which I heard from heaven, I heard again speaking with me, and saying, “Go, take the [c]book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.” 9 So I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. And he said to me, “Take it and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” 10 I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. 11 And they said to me, “You must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.”
Psalm 138
New American Standard Bible 1995
Thanksgiving for the Lord’s Favor.
A Psalm of David.
1 I will give You thanks with all my heart;I will sing praises to You before the gods. 2 I will bow down toward Your holy temple And give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your [a]truth; For You have magnified Your [b]word [c]according to all Your name. 3 On the day I called, You answered me;You made me bold with strength in my soul.
4 All the kings of the earth will give thanks to You, O Lord,When they have heard the words of Your mouth. 5 And they will sing of the ways of the Lord,For great is the glory of the Lord. 6 For though the Lord is exalted,Yet He regards the lowly,But the haughty He knows from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will [d]revive me;You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies,And Your right hand will save me.8 The Lord will accomplish what concerns me;Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting;Do not forsake the works of Your hands.
Proverbs 30:10
New American Standard Bible 1995
10 Do not slander a slave to his master, Or he will curse you and you will be found guilty.