26 Tishrei 5994 / 11 October 2023
Day 284 Readings
Torah: Bereishit, 4th Portion Bereshit (Genesis) 3:22-4:18
Genesis 3
22 Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— 23 therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
Genesis 4
Cain Murders Abel
1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore [a]Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.” 2 Then she bore again, this time his brother [b]Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And [c]in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering,
13 And Cain said to the Lord, “My [g]punishment is greater than I can bear! 14 Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me.”
15 And the Lord said to him, [h]“Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him.
The Family of Cain
16 Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of [i]Nod on the east of Eden. 17 And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son—Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad begot Mehujael, and Mehujael begot Methushael, and Methushael begot Lamech.
Bible Study Together
Psalm 106
New King James Version
Joy in Forgiveness of Israel’s Sins
106 Praise[a] the Lord!
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!For His mercy endures forever.
2 Who can [b]utter the mighty acts of the Lord?Who can declare all His praise?3 Blessed are those who keep justice,And [c]he who does righteousness at all times!
4 Remember me, O Lord, with the favor You have toward Your people.Oh, visit me with Your salvation,5 That I may see the benefit of Your chosen ones,That I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation,That I may glory with [d]Your inheritance.
8 Nevertheless He saved them for His name’s sake, That He might make His mighty power known.
9 He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it dried up; SoHe led them through the depths, As through the wilderness.
10 Hesaved them from the hand of him who hatedthem, And redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
11 The waters covered their enemies; There was not one of them left.
12 Then they believed His words; They sang His praise.
16 When they envied Moses in the camp,And Aaron the saint of the Lord,17 The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan,And covered the faction of Abiram.18 A fire was kindled in their company;The flame burned up the wicked.
19 They made a calf in Horeb,And worshiped the molded image.20 Thus they changed their gloryInto the image of an ox that eats grass.21 They forgot God their Savior,Who had done great things in Egypt,22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham,Awesome things by the Red Sea.23 Therefore He said that He would destroy them,Had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach,To turn away His wrath, lest He destroy them.
24 Then they despised the pleasant land;They did not believe His word,25 But complained in their tents,And did not heed the voice of the Lord.26 Therefore He raised His hand in an oath against them,To [e]overthrow them in the wilderness,27 To [f]overthrow their descendants among the [g]nations,And to scatter them in the lands.
28 They joined themselves also to Baal of Peor,And ate sacrifices [h]made to the dead.29 Thus they provoked Him to anger with their deeds,And the plague broke out among them.30 Then Phinehas stood up and intervened,And the plague was stopped.31 And that was accounted to him for righteousnessTo all generations forevermore.
32 They angered Him also at the waters of [i]strife,So that it went ill with Moses on account of them;33 Because they rebelled against His Spirit,So that he spoke rashly with his lips.
34 They did not destroy the peoples,Concerning whom the Lord had commanded them,35 But they mingled with the GentilesAnd learned their works;36 They served their idols,Which became a snare to them.37 They even sacrificed their sonsAnd their daughters to demons,38 And shed innocent blood,The blood of their sons and daughters,Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan;And the land was polluted with blood.39 Thus they [j]were defiled by their own works,And played[k] the harlot by their own deeds.
40 Therefore the wrath of the Lord was kindled against His people,So that He abhorred His own inheritance.41 And He gave them into the hand of the Gentiles,And those who hated them ruled over them.42 Their enemies also oppressed them,And they were brought into subjection under their hand.43 Many times He delivered them;But they rebelled in their counsel,And were brought low for their iniquity.
44 Nevertheless He regarded their affliction,When He heard their cry;45 And for their sake He remembered His covenant,And relented according to the multitude of His mercies.46 He also made them to be pitiedBy all those who carried them away captive.
47 Save us, O Lord our God,And gather us from among the Gentiles,To give thanks to Your holy name,To triumph in Your praise.
48 Blessed be the Lord God of IsraelFrom everlasting to everlasting!And let all the people say, “Amen!”
[l]Praise the Lord!
1 Corinthians 10
New King James Version
Old Testament Examples
1 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us [a]tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now [b]all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our [c]admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to [d]bear it.
Flee from Idolatry
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the [e]communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.
18 Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices [f]partakers of the altar? 19 What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? 20 Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons. 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?
365 Daily Kingdom Living
Our Heart Needs To Be Renewed
The bible says that our heart is deceitful beyond cure. That our heart is like a stone, with no feeling, and no response to God's love. Only the Gospel can transform the heart of stone to a heart of flesh. The transformed inner heart is far more important than the outward devoted Christian.
Prayer: Father Lord, thank you for your love and gospel. Pray you continue to draw us close to you and renew our hearts each and every day. Our hearts respond to your love and calling so that we are able to love with all our hearts. In Jesus' name I Pray, Amen.
Scripture
Jeremiah 17
5 Thus says the Lord:
“Cursed is the man who trusts in manAnd makes flesh his [b]strength,Whose heart departs from the Lord.6 For he shall be like a shrub in the desert,And shall not see when good comes,But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness,In a salt land which is not inhabited.
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,And whose hope is the Lord.8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,Which spreads out its roots by the river,And will not [c]fear when heat comes;But its leaf will be green,And will not be anxious in the year of drought,Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
9 “The heart is deceitful above all things,And [d]desperately wicked;Who can know it?10 I, the Lord, search the heart,I test the [e]mind,Even to give every man according to his ways,According to the fruit of his doings.
11 “As a partridge that [f]broods but does not hatch,So is he who gets riches, but not by right;It will leave him in the midst of his days,And at his end he will be a fool.”
12 A glorious high throne from the beginningIs the place of our sanctuary.13 O Lord, the hope of Israel,All who forsake You shall be ashamed.
“Those who depart from MeShall be written in the earth,Because they have forsaken the Lord,The fountain of living waters.”
Jeremiah Prays for Deliverance
14 Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed;Save me, and I shall be saved,For You are my praise.15 Indeed they say to me,“Where is the word of the Lord?Let it come now!”16 As for me, I have not hurried away from being a shepherd who follows You,Nor have I desired the woeful day;You know what came out of my lips;It was right there before You.17 Do not be a terror to me;You are my hope in the day of doom.18 Let them be ashamed who persecute me,But do not let me be put to shame;Let them be dismayed,But do not let me be dismayed.Bring on them the day of doom,And destroy[g] them with double destruction!
Hallow the Sabbath Day
19 Thus the Lord said to me: “Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, by which the kings of Judah come in and by which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem; 20 and say to them, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, you kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who enter by these gates. 21 Thus says the Lord: “Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem; 22 nor carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day, nor do any work, but hallow the Sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers. 23 But they did not obey nor incline their ear, but [h]made their neck stiff, that they might not hear nor receive instruction.
24 “And it shall be, if you heed Me carefully,” says the Lord, “to bring no burden through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but hallow the Sabbath day, to do no work in it, 25 then shall enter the gates of this city kings and princes sitting on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their princes, accompanied by the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city shall remain forever. 26 And they shall come from the cities of Judah and from the places around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin and from the [i]lowland, from the mountains and from the [j]South, bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings and incense, bringing sacrifices of praise to the house of the Lord.
27 “But if you will not heed Me to hallow the Sabbath day, such as not carrying a burden when entering the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.” ’ ”
Jeremiah 18
The Potter and the Clay
1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying: 2 “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.” 3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the [a]wheel. 4 And the vessel that he [b]made of clay was [c]marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.
5 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 6 “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! 7 The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, 8 if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. 9 And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, 10 if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it.
11 “Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.” ’ ”
God’s Warning Rejected
12 And they said, “That is hopeless! So we will walk according to our own plans, and we will every one [d]obey the dictates[e] of his evil heart.”
13 Therefore thus says the Lord:
“Ask now among the Gentiles,Who has heard such things?The virgin of Israel has done a very horrible thing.14 Will a man [f]leave the snow water of Lebanon,Which comes from the rock of the field?Will the cold flowing waters be forsaken for strange waters?
15 “Because My people have forgotten Me,They have burned incense to worthless idols.And they have caused themselves to stumble in their ways,From the ancient paths,To walk in pathways and not on a highway,16 To make their land desolate and a perpetual hissing;Everyone who passes by it will be astonishedAnd shake his head.17 I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy;I will [g]show them the back and not the faceIn the day of their calamity.”
1 Thessalonians 3
New King James Version
Concern for Their Faith
1 Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, 2 and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, 3 that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. 4 For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. 5 For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.
Encouraged by Timothy
6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you— 7 therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. 8 For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.
9 For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, 10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?
Prayer for the Church
11 Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. 12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, 13 so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
Psalm 81
1 Sing aloud to God our strength;Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob.2 Raise a song and strike the timbrel,The pleasant harp with the lute.
3 Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon,At the full moon, on our solemn feast day.4 For this is a statute for Israel,A law of the God of Jacob.5 This He established in Joseph as a testimony,When He went throughout the land of Egypt,Where I heard a language I did not understand.
6 “I removed his shoulder from the burden;His hands were freed from the baskets.7 You called in trouble, and I delivered you;I answered you in the secret place of thunder;I tested you at the waters of [b]Meribah. Selah
8 “Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you!O Israel, if you will listen to Me!9 There shall be no foreign god among you;Nor shall you worship any foreign god.10 I am the Lord your God,Who brought you out of the land of Egypt;Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11 “But My people would not heed My voice,And Israel would have none of Me.12 So I gave them over to [c]their own stubborn heart,To walk in their own counsels.
13 “Oh, that My people would listen to Me,That Israel would walk in My ways!14 I would soon subdue their enemies,And turn My hand against their adversaries.15 The haters of the Lord would pretend submission to Him,But their [d]fate would endure forever.16 He would have fed them also with [e]the finest of wheat;And with honey from the rock I would have satisfied you.”
Proverbs 25:6-8
6 Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king,And do not stand in the place of the great;
7 For it is better that he say to you,“Come up here,” Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have seen.
8 Do not go hastily to [a]court;For what will you do in the end,When your neighbor has put you to shame?