Tuesday, 22 Kislev 5784 / December 5, 2023
Day 339 Readings
Torah: Parshat Vayeishev, 3rd Portion Bereshit (Genesis) 37:23-36
Genesis 37:23-36
New American Standard Bible
23 So it came about, when Joseph [a]reached his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the [b]multicolored tunic that was on him; 24 and they took him and threw him into the pit. Now the pit was empty, without any water in it.
25 Then they sat down to eat [c]a meal. But as they raised their eyes and looked, behold, a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, with their camels carrying labdanum resin, balsam, and [d]myrrh, [e]on their way to bring them down to Egypt. 26 And Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it for us to kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27 Come, and let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. 28 Then some Midianite traders passed by, so they pulled him out and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and sold [f]him to the Ishmaelites for [g]twenty shekels of silver. So they brought Joseph into Egypt.
29 Now Reuben returned to the pit, and behold, Joseph was not in the pit; so he tore his garments. 30 He returned to his brothers and said, “The boy is not there; as for me, where am I to go?” 31 So they took Joseph’s tunic, and slaughtered a male goat, and dipped the tunic in the blood; 32 and they sent the [h]multicolored tunic and brought it to their father and said, “We found this; please [i]examine it to see whether it is your son’s tunic or not.” 33 Then he [j]examined it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A vicious animal has devoured him; Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!” 34 So Jacob tore his clothes, and put on a sackcloth undergarment over his waist, and mourned for his son many days. 35 Then all his sons and all his daughters got up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. And he said, “Surely I will go down to Sheol in mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him. 36 Meanwhile, the [k]Midianites sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, Pharaoh’s officer, the captain of the bodyguard.
Bible Study Together
1 Samuel 25:39-26:25
1 Samuel 25
New American Standard Bible
David Marries Abigail
39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has pleaded the cause of the shame inflicted on me by the hand of Nabal, and has kept back His servant from evil. The Lord has also returned the evildoing of Nabal on his own head.” Then David sent [a]a proposal to Abigail, to take her as his wife. 40 When the servants of David came to Abigail at Carmel, they spoke to her, saying, “David has sent us to you to take you to him as his wife.” 41 And she got up and bowed with her face to the ground, and said, “Behold, your slave is a servant to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.” 42 Then Abigail got up quickly, and rode on a donkey, with her five female attendants who [b]accompanied her; and she followed the messengers of David and became his wife.
43 David had also taken Ahinoam of Jezreel, and they both became his wives.
44 But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was from Gallim.
1 Samuel 26
David Again Spares Saul
1 Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not keeping himself hidden on the hill of Hachilah, which is opposite [c]Jeshimon?” 2 So Saul set out and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, [d]taking with him three thousand chosen men of Israel, to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph. 3 And Saul camped on the hill of Hachilah, which is opposite [e]Jeshimon, beside the road, and David was staying in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul had come after him into the wilderness, 4 David sent out spies, and he learned that Saul was definitely coming. 5 David then set out and came to the place where Saul had camped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army; and Saul was lying in the circle of the camp, and the people were camped around him.
6 Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, saying, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.” 7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night, and behold, Saul lay sleeping inside the circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people were lying around him. 8 Then Abishai said to David, “Today God has handed your enemy over to you; now then, please let me [f]pin him with the spear to the ground with one thrust, and I will not [g]do it to him a second time.” 9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not [h]kill him, for who can reach out with his hand against the Lord’s anointed and remain innocent?” 10 David also said, “As the Lord lives, the Lord certainly will strike him, or his day will come that he dies, or he will go down in battle and [i]perish. 11 The Lord forbid that I would reach out with my hand against the Lord’s anointed! But now please take the spear that is at his head and the jug of water, and let’s go.” 12 So David took the spear and the jug of water that were at Saul’s head, and they left; and no one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone awaken, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them.
13 Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the mountain at a distance with a large area between them. 14 And David called to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Will you not answer, Abner?” Then Abner replied, “Who are you who calls to the king?” 15 So David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not guarded your lord the king? For one of the people came to [j]kill the king your lord! 16 This thing that you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, all of you undoubtedly [k]must die, because you did not guard your lord, the Lord’s anointed. And now, see where the king’s spear is and the jug of water that was at his head!”
17 Then Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord the king.” 18 He also said, “Why then is my lord pursuing his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hand? 19 Now then, please let my lord the king listen to the words of his servant. If the Lord has incited you against me, may He [l]accept an offering; but if it is [m]people, cursed [n]are they before the Lord, because they have driven me out today so that I would have no share in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20 Now then, do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord; for the king of Israel has come out to search for a single flea, just as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”
21 Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not harm you again since my life was precious in your sight this day. Behold, I have played the fool and have made a very great mistake.” 22 David replied, “Behold, the spear of the king! Now have one of the young men come over and take it. 23 And the Lord will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Lord handed you over to me today, but I refused to reach out with my hand against the Lord’s anointed. 24 Therefore behold, just as your life was highly valued in my sight this day, so may my life be highly valued in the sight of the Lord, and may He rescue me from all distress.” 25 Then Saul said to David, “Blessed are you, my son David; you will both accomplish much and assuredly prevail.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.
Luke 15:11-32
31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you [o]have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’”
365 Daily Kingdom Living
Concern About Justice For The Poor
The righteous man is concerned about justice for the oppressed and the poor. The righteous man involves himself in causes that affect the welfare of the oppressed and the poor because he recognises the sacredness of life, that all human beings are created in the image of God. The righteous man is willing to risk himself in confronting injustice.
Prayer: Holy God, give me a heart of compassion for the oppressed and the poor. Help me to be aware and sensitive to the plight of the oppressed and to be concerned for the poor. Show me how to use my life to help them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture
Hosea 1
2 When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, “Go, take for yourself a wife [a]inclined to infidelity, and children of infidelity; for the land commits flagrant infidelity, [b]abandoning the Lord.” 3 So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. 4 And the Lord said to him, “Name him Jezreel; for in just a little while I will [c]punish the house of Jehu for the bloodshed of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. 5 On that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.”
6 Then she conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. And [d]the Lord said to him, “Name her [e]Lo-ruhamah, for I will no longer take pity on the house of Israel, that I would ever forgive them. 7 But I will take pity on the house of Judah and save them by the Lord their God, and will not save them by bow, sword, battle, horses, or horsemen.”
8 When she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived and gave birth to a son. 9 And [f]the Lord said, “Name him [g]Lo-ammi, because you are not My people, and I am not [h]your God.”
10 [i]Yet the number of the sons of IsraelWill be like the sand of the sea,Which cannot be measured or counted;And in the placeWhere it is said to them,“You are not My people,”It will be said to them,“You are the sons of the living God.”11 And the sons of Judah and the sons of Israel will be gathered together,And they will appoint for themselves one leader,And they will go up from the land,For the day of Jezreel will be great.
Hosea 2
1 [j]Say to your brothers, “[k]Ammi,” and to your sisters, “[l]Ruhamah.”
2 “Dispute with your mother, dispute,Because she is not my wife, and I am not her husband;But she must remove her infidelity from her faceAnd her adultery from between her breasts,3 Otherwise, I will strip her nakedAnd expose her as on the day she was born.I will also make her like a wilderness,Make her like desert land,And put her to death with thirst.
Restoration of Israel
14 “Therefore, behold, I am going to persuade her,Bring her into the wilderness,And speak [t]kindly to her.15 Then I will give her her vineyards from there,And the [u]Valley of Achor as a door of hope.And she will [v]respond there as in the days of her youth,As in the day when she went up from the land of Egypt.16 And it will come about on that day,” declares the Lord,“That you will call Me [w]my husbandAnd no longer call Me my [x]Baal.17 For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth,So that they will no longer be [y]mentioned by their names.18 On that day I will also make a covenant for themWith the animals of the field,The birds of the sky,And the crawling things of the ground.And I will [z]eliminate the bow, the sword, and war from the land,And will let them lie down in safety.19 I will betroth you to Me forever;Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice,In favor and in compassion,20 And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness.Then you will know the Lord.
21 “And it will come about on that day that I will respond,” declares the Lord.“I will respond to the heavens, and they will respond to the earth,22 And the earth will respond to the grain, to the new wine, and to the oil,And they will respond to [aa]Jezreel.23 I will sow her for Myself in the land.I will also have compassion on [ab]her who had not obtained compassion,And I will say to [ac]those who were not My people,‘You are My people!’And [ad]they will say, ‘You are my God!’”
Hosea 3
Hosea’s Redemption of Gomer
3 Then the Lord said to me, “Go again, love [ae]a woman who is loved by her [af]husband, yet is committing adultery, as the Lord loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love [ag]raisin cakes.” 2 So I purchased her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver, and a [ah]homer and a [ai]lethech of barley. 3 Then I said to her, “You shall live with me for many days. You shall not play the prostitute, nor shall you have another man; so I will also be toward you.” 4 For the sons of Israel will live for many days without a king or leader, without sacrifice or memorial stone, and without ephod or [aj]household idols. 5 Afterward the sons of Israel will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king; and they will come trembling to the Lord and to His goodness in the last days.
1 John 5
Overcoming the World
1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the [a]Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the [b]Father loves the child born of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and [c]follow His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For [d]whoever has been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.
5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not [e]with the water only, but [f]with the water and [g]with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 [h]the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are [i]in agreement. 9 If we receive the testimony of people, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son. 10 The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. 11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 The one who has the Son has the life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.
This Is Written That You May Know
13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence which we have [j]before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.
16 If anyone sees his brother or sister [k]committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and [l]God will, for him, give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death; I am not saying that he should ask about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.
18 We know that no one who has been born of God [m]sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols.
Psalm 124
New American Standard Bible
Praise for Rescue from Enemies.
A Song of Ascents, of David.
1 “Had it not been the Lord who was on our side,”Let Israel say, 2 “Had it not been the Lord who was on our side When people rose up against us, 3 Then they would have swallowed us alive,When their anger was kindled against us; 4 Then the waters would have flooded over us,The stream would have [a]swept over our souls; 5 Then the raging waters would have [b]swept over our souls.”
6 Blessed be the Lord,Who has not given us [c]to be torn by their teeth. 7 Our souls have escaped like a bird from the trapper’s snare;The snare is broken and we have escaped. 8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
Proverbs 29:2-4
New American Standard Bible
2 When the righteous [a]increase, the people rejoice,But when a wicked person rules, people groan. 3 A man who loves wisdom makes his father glad,But he who involves himself with prostitutes wastes his wealth. 4 The king gives stability to the land by justice,But a person who takes bribes ruins it.
Dear ABBA
Baruk Ata Adonai Elohim Melek Ha Olam YESHUA!!!! I dreamt of Aunt Benita last night and she was very cute but she did not look old but very young, almost like Nanay Emilita, so I pray for her and Stephen to be in YOUR Presence and to be filled with YOUR Spirit because this is now my assignment today in the name of YESHUA Amen!