Wednesday, 30 Nissan 5784 / May 8, 2024
Day 494 Readings
Torah: Parshat Kedoshim, 4th Portion Vayikra (Leviticus) 19:33-19:37
Leviticus 19:33-37
English Standard Version
33 “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. 34 You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
35 “You shall do no wrong in judgment, in measures of length or weight or quantity. 36 You shall have just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin:[a] I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. 37 And you shall observe all my statutes and all my rules, and do them: I am the Lord.”
Bible Study Together
Isaiah 28
English Standard Version
Judgment on Ephraim and Jerusalem
1 Ah, the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim, and the fading flower of its glorious beauty, which is on the head of the rich valley of those overcome with wine!2 Behold, the Lord has one who is mighty and strong; like a storm of hail, a destroying tempest, like a storm of mighty, overflowing waters, he casts down to the earth with his hand.3 The proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim will be trodden underfoot;4 and the fading flower of its glorious beauty, which is on the head of the rich valley,will be like a first-ripe fig[a] before the summer: when someone sees it, he swallows it as soon as it is in his hand.
5 In that day the Lord of hosts will be a crown of glory,[b] and a diadem of beauty, to the remnant of his people,6 and a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.
7 These also reel with wine and stagger with strong drink;the priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, they are swallowed by[c] wine, they stagger with strong drink,they reel in vision, they stumble in giving judgment.8 For all tables are full of filthy vomit, with no space left.
9 “To whom will he teach knowledge, and to whom will he explain the message?Those who are weaned from the milk, those taken from the breast?10 For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.”
11 For by people of strange lips and with a foreign tonguethe Lord will speak to this people,12 to whom he has said,“This is rest; give rest to the weary;and this is repose”; yet they would not hear.13 And the word of the Lord will be to themprecept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little,that they may go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
A Cornerstone in Zion
14 Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scoffers, who rule this people in Jerusalem!15 Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have an agreement,when the overwhelming whip passes through it will not come to us,for we have made lies our refuge, and in falsehood we have taken shelter”;16 therefore thus says the Lord God,“Behold, I am the one who has laid[d] as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone,a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’17 And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plumb line;and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and waters will overwhelm the shelter.”18 Then your covenant with death will be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand;when the overwhelming scourge passes through, you will be beaten down by it.19 As often as it passes through it will take you; for morning by morning it will pass through, by day and by night;and it will be sheer terror to understand the message.20 For the bed is too short to stretch oneself on, and the covering too narrow to wrap oneself in.21 For the Lord will rise up as on Mount Perazim; as in the Valley of Gibeon he will be roused;to do his deed—strange is his deed! and to work his work—alien is his work!22 Now therefore do not scoff, lest your bonds be made strong;for I have heard a decree of destruction from the Lord God of hosts against the whole land.
23 Give ear, and hear my voice; give attention, and hear my speech.24 Does he who plows for sowing plow continually? Does he continually open and harrow his ground?25 When he has leveled its surface, does he not scatter dill, sow cumin, and put in wheat in rows and barley in its proper place, and emmer[e] as the border?26 For he is rightly instructed; his God teaches him.
27 Dill is not threshed with a threshing sledge, nor is a cart wheel rolled over cumin, but dill is beaten out with a stick, and cumin with a rod. 28 Does one crush grain for bread? No, he does not thresh it forever; [f]when he drives his cart wheel over it with his horses, he does not crush it.29 This also comes from the Lord of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom.
2 Kings 18:9-12
English Standard Version
9 In the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah, king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria and besieged it, 10 and at the end of three years he took it. In the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken. 11 The king of Assyria carried the Israelites away to Assyria and put them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes, 12 because they did not obey the voice of the Lord their God but transgressed his covenant, even all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded. They neither listened nor obeyed.
Matthew 26:69-75
English Standard Version
Peter Denies Jesus
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” 71 And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” 73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” 74 Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
ESV Readings
Scripture
Psalm 127
English Standard Version
Unless the Lord Builds the House
A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.
1 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.
3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children[a] of one's youth.
5 Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.[b]
Numbers 8
Isaiah 44:6
Philippians 4:2-23
English Standard Version
Exhortation, Encouragement, and Prayer
2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion,[a] help these women, who have labored[b] side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness[c] be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned[d] and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
God's Provision
10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
14 Yet it was kind of you to share[e] my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.[f] 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings
21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you.
22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household.
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Dear AVI,
Blessed are YOU King JESUS LORD of Heaven and Earth, KING of Glory! My husbandKING who loves me and looks after me, who understands my struggles and prays for me faithfully to be strong and be filled with YOUR grace. Toda for YOUR love and Grace O GOD that sustains me day after day. O GOD of mercy, please send us the right helpers to work with us who are dependable. Please take care of us O GOD. I need YOU O GOD, help us JESUS to walk in YOUR truth and Grace. I need YOU LORD, each and everyday. I am so filled with stress and troubles, I need YOU to deliver me from all the worldly stress and I ask YOU LORD for a husband who wants children who will raise them with me, building our home of love that gives glory and honor to YOU. I ask YOU LORD, for that NEW, bring me to that NEW O GOD, have mercy on me O GOD. I pray that YOU make me a housewife someday. Toda Raba for everything YOU are doing, toda for YOUR favor and love. I pray O GOD, help me to always see YOUR hand at work, YOUR faithfulness in spite of everything bad going on in this family. Help me to keep my eyes on YOU, focused and fixed on YOU. Help me to keep trusting YOU, keep waiting on YOU, to receive YOUR guidance. I pray that YOU will continue to save Stephen and call him and his family to enter YOUR Kingdom and that they will respond to YOU willingly following YOU. I pray for everything O GOD that concerns me, please take care of me, please help me O GOD. For YOU are the LORD my GOD who does great things for me because YOU are faithful and true and YOU are worthy of all praises that is due. YOU are the GREAT I AM the HOLY ONE, the HOLY ONE, the perfect ONE, the unfailing ONE, all powerful ONE, YOU are my GOD. Forgive all the iniquity of my heart, forgive the iniquity of my mouth, forgive all my sins O GOD and enable me to forgive those who have wronged me. Forgive O GOD and help me be all that YOU want me to be. I need YOU, I am nothing without YOU, I am lost and I am depressed without YOU. Give me strength to keep fighting for the things YOU have called me to fight.
In the Name of JESUS, My Savior and KING, Amen!