June 17 - Morning
"Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s."
- Psalms 103:2-5
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s."
- Psalms 103:2-5
The Benefits of the Lord
David writes this psalm in praise of the Lord’s many benefits made available to fallen man in the midst of his sin, sickness and hopeless suffering. Man would be eternally entangled in the darkest anguish of soul and body without the Lord’s intervention which motivated by his character that is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” (Ps. 103:8)
David tells his own self (or, his own soul) to “Bless the Lord” (or, to “Praise the Lord”) and to “forget not all his benefits.” (Ps. 103:2). This information David is recalling to his soul includes the benefits of:
- Forgiveness of the sins that separate us from the Lord’s mercy
- Healing of the diseases that result from sin and separation from the Lord of Life
- Redemption, or the purchasing back, from the pit of despair, death and eternal damnation
- Establishment of a covenant (contract) of partnership (relationship) that guarantees love and mercy from the righteous God and Rule of the universe
- Satisfaction of our needs, desires and goals with good results and good things
- Renewal of our lost youth, lost time and lost opportunities (“youth renewed like the eagles”) with the vigor of our most effective days. (The eagle would lose its old feathers and replace them with new, fresh ones. This gave the image of newness of life, renewed youth and restored vigor for new opportunities.)
Yd (Hb) – to perceive, to know (Eng) - The Hebrew root word yd is common in Semitic languages. Forms of yd are found 1,068 x in the Hebrew of the OT and 51 x in the Aramaic of the OT.
Yd indicates “the sensory awareness of objects and circumstances in one’s environment
attained through involvement with them and through the information of others.”
(Quote from Theologtical Lexicon of OT, vol. 2, p. 511 by Jenni and Westermann.)
Do I wake up every morning and remind myself of the benefits of knowing the Lord? Forgiveness. Healing. Redemption. Renewal!
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
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USA and Israel relationship
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Someone to Quote
"The Bible is the greatest of all books; to study it is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals."
- Charles C. Ryrie
Something to Ponder
Test your knowledge of who said or wrote these Bible verses:
Go HERE and click "start"
Go HERE and click "start"
Here’s a Fact
Between 130-202 AD Irenaeus quotes, cites or refers to every one of our New Testament books except two: Philemon and 3 John.
Proverb
"An evil man is bent only on rebellion; a merciless official will be sent against him."
- Proverbs 17:11
- Proverbs 17:11
Coach’s Corner
You have heard it said, “It is not merely what you know, but who you know that counts.” This is true, but in many cases it should be said, “It is not just what you know, but who knows you know it that counts.”
1 Samuel 26
New International Version (NIV)
David Again Spares Saul’s Life
26 The Ziphites went to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which faces Jeshimon?”
2 So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph, with his three thousand select Israelite troops, to search there for David. 3 Saul made his camp beside the road on the hill of Hakilah facing Jeshimon, but David stayed in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul had followed him there, 4 he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.
5 Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of the army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the camp, with the army encamped around him.
6 David then asked Ahimelek the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?”
“I’ll go with you,” said Abishai.
7 So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.
8 Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t strike him twice.”
9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? 10 As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.”
12 So David took the spear and water jug near Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep.
13 Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. 14 He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, “Aren’t you going to answer me, Abner?”
Abner replied, “Who are you who calls to the king?”
15 David said, “You’re a man, aren’t you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn’t you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. 16 What you have done is not good. As surely as the Lord lives, you and your men must die, because you did not guard your master, the Lord’s anointed. Look around you. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were near his head?”
17 Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is that your voice, David my son?”
David replied, “Yes it is, my lord the king.” 18 And he added, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of? 19 Now let my lord the king listen to his servant’s words. If the Lord has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. If, however, people have done it, may they be cursed before the Lord! They have driven me today from my share in the Lord’s inheritance and have said, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20 Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea—as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”
21 Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have been terribly wrong.”
22 “Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of your young men come over and get it. 23 The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. 24 As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble.”
25 Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, David my son; you will do great things and surely triumph.”
So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.
New International Version (NIV)
David Again Spares Saul’s Life
26 The Ziphites went to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which faces Jeshimon?”
2 So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph, with his three thousand select Israelite troops, to search there for David. 3 Saul made his camp beside the road on the hill of Hakilah facing Jeshimon, but David stayed in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul had followed him there, 4 he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.
5 Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of the army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the camp, with the army encamped around him.
6 David then asked Ahimelek the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?”
“I’ll go with you,” said Abishai.
7 So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.
8 Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t strike him twice.”
9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? 10 As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.”
12 So David took the spear and water jug near Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep.
13 Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. 14 He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, “Aren’t you going to answer me, Abner?”
Abner replied, “Who are you who calls to the king?”
15 David said, “You’re a man, aren’t you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn’t you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. 16 What you have done is not good. As surely as the Lord lives, you and your men must die, because you did not guard your master, the Lord’s anointed. Look around you. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were near his head?”
17 Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is that your voice, David my son?”
David replied, “Yes it is, my lord the king.” 18 And he added, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of? 19 Now let my lord the king listen to his servant’s words. If the Lord has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. If, however, people have done it, may they be cursed before the Lord! They have driven me today from my share in the Lord’s inheritance and have said, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20 Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea—as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”
21 Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have been terribly wrong.”
22 “Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of your young men come over and get it. 23 The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. 24 As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble.”
25 Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, David my son; you will do great things and surely triumph.”
So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.
Jeremiah 2
New International Version (NIV)
Israel Forsakes God
2 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem:
“This is what the Lord says:
“‘I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown.
3
Israel was holy to the Lord, the firstfruits of his harvest; all who devoured her were held guilty, and disaster overtook them,’” declares the Lord.
4
Hear the word of the Lord, you descendants of Jacob, all you clans of Israel.
5 This is what the Lord says:
“What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.
6
They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord, who brought us up out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness, through a land of deserts and ravines, a land of drought and utter darkness, a land where no one travels and no one lives?’
7
I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and made my inheritance detestable.
8
The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those who deal with the law did not know me; the leaders rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal, following worthless idols.
9
“Therefore I bring charges against you again,” declares the Lord. “And I will bring charges against your children’s children.
10
Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and look, send to Kedar and observe closely; see if there has ever been anything like this:
11
Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols.
12
Be appalled at this, you heavens, and shudder with great horror,” declares the Lord.
13
“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
14
Is Israel a servant, a slave by birth? Why then has he become plunder?
15
Lions have roared; they have growled at him. They have laid waste his land; his towns are burned and deserted.
16
Also, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have cracked your skull.
17
Have you not brought this on yourselves by forsaking the Lord your God when he led you in the way?
18
Now why go to Egypt to drink water from the Nile? And why go to Assyria to drink water from the Euphrates?
19
Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you. Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the Lord your God and have no awe of me,” declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.
20
“Long ago you broke off your yoke and tore off your bonds; you said, ‘I will not serve you!’ Indeed, on every high hill and under every spreading tree you lay down as a prostitute.
21
I had planted you like a choice vine of sound and reliable stock. How then did you turn against me into a corrupt, wild vine?
22
Although you wash yourself with soap and use an abundance of cleansing powder, the stain of your guilt is still before me,” declares the Sovereign Lord.
23
“How can you say, ‘I am not defiled; I have not run after the Baals’? See how you behaved in the valley; consider what you have done. You are a swift she-camel running here and there,
24
a wild donkey accustomed to the desert, sniffing the wind in her craving— in her heat who can restrain her? Any males that pursue her need not tire themselves; at mating time they will find her.
25
Do not run until your feet are bare and your throat is dry. But you said, ‘It’s no use! I love foreign gods, and I must go after them.’
26
“As a thief is disgraced when he is caught, so the people of Israel are disgraced— they, their kings and their officials, their priests and their prophets.
27
They say to wood, ‘You are my father,’ and to stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ They have turned their backs to me and not their faces; yet when they are in trouble, they say, ‘Come and save us!’
28
Where then are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them come if they can save you when you are in trouble! For you, Judah, have as many gods as you have towns.
29
“Why do you bring charges against me? You have all rebelled against me,” declares the Lord.
30
“In vain I punished your people; they did not respond to correction. Your sword has devoured your prophets like a ravenous lion.
31 “You of this generation, consider the word of the Lord:
“Have I been a desert to Israel or a land of great darkness? Why do my people say, ‘We are free to roam; we will come to you no more’?
32
Does a young woman forget her jewelry, a bride her wedding ornaments? Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number.
33
How skilled you are at pursuing love! Even the worst of women can learn from your ways.
34
On your clothes is found the lifeblood of the innocent poor, though you did not catch them breaking in. Yet in spite of all this
35
you say, ‘I am innocent; he is not angry with me.’ But I will pass judgment on you because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’
36
Why do you go about so much, changing your ways? You will be disappointed by Egypt as you were by Assyria.
37
You will also leave that place with your hands on your head, for the Lord has rejected those you trust; you will not be helped by them.
New International Version (NIV)
Israel Forsakes God
2 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem:
“This is what the Lord says:
“‘I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown.
3
Israel was holy to the Lord, the firstfruits of his harvest; all who devoured her were held guilty, and disaster overtook them,’” declares the Lord.
4
Hear the word of the Lord, you descendants of Jacob, all you clans of Israel.
5 This is what the Lord says:
“What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.
6
They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord, who brought us up out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness, through a land of deserts and ravines, a land of drought and utter darkness, a land where no one travels and no one lives?’
7
I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and made my inheritance detestable.
8
The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those who deal with the law did not know me; the leaders rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal, following worthless idols.
9
“Therefore I bring charges against you again,” declares the Lord. “And I will bring charges against your children’s children.
10
Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and look, send to Kedar and observe closely; see if there has ever been anything like this:
11
Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols.
12
Be appalled at this, you heavens, and shudder with great horror,” declares the Lord.
13
“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
14
Is Israel a servant, a slave by birth? Why then has he become plunder?
15
Lions have roared; they have growled at him. They have laid waste his land; his towns are burned and deserted.
16
Also, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have cracked your skull.
17
Have you not brought this on yourselves by forsaking the Lord your God when he led you in the way?
18
Now why go to Egypt to drink water from the Nile? And why go to Assyria to drink water from the Euphrates?
19
Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you. Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the Lord your God and have no awe of me,” declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.
20
“Long ago you broke off your yoke and tore off your bonds; you said, ‘I will not serve you!’ Indeed, on every high hill and under every spreading tree you lay down as a prostitute.
21
I had planted you like a choice vine of sound and reliable stock. How then did you turn against me into a corrupt, wild vine?
22
Although you wash yourself with soap and use an abundance of cleansing powder, the stain of your guilt is still before me,” declares the Sovereign Lord.
23
“How can you say, ‘I am not defiled; I have not run after the Baals’? See how you behaved in the valley; consider what you have done. You are a swift she-camel running here and there,
24
a wild donkey accustomed to the desert, sniffing the wind in her craving— in her heat who can restrain her? Any males that pursue her need not tire themselves; at mating time they will find her.
25
Do not run until your feet are bare and your throat is dry. But you said, ‘It’s no use! I love foreign gods, and I must go after them.’
26
“As a thief is disgraced when he is caught, so the people of Israel are disgraced— they, their kings and their officials, their priests and their prophets.
27
They say to wood, ‘You are my father,’ and to stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ They have turned their backs to me and not their faces; yet when they are in trouble, they say, ‘Come and save us!’
28
Where then are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them come if they can save you when you are in trouble! For you, Judah, have as many gods as you have towns.
29
“Why do you bring charges against me? You have all rebelled against me,” declares the Lord.
30
“In vain I punished your people; they did not respond to correction. Your sword has devoured your prophets like a ravenous lion.
31 “You of this generation, consider the word of the Lord:
“Have I been a desert to Israel or a land of great darkness? Why do my people say, ‘We are free to roam; we will come to you no more’?
32
Does a young woman forget her jewelry, a bride her wedding ornaments? Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number.
33
How skilled you are at pursuing love! Even the worst of women can learn from your ways.
34
On your clothes is found the lifeblood of the innocent poor, though you did not catch them breaking in. Yet in spite of all this
35
you say, ‘I am innocent; he is not angry with me.’ But I will pass judgment on you because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’
36
Why do you go about so much, changing your ways? You will be disappointed by Egypt as you were by Assyria.
37
You will also leave that place with your hands on your head, for the Lord has rejected those you trust; you will not be helped by them.
Proverbs 25
New International Version (NIV)
More Proverbs of Solomon
25 These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
2
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.
3
As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
4
Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel;
5
remove wicked officials from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness.
6
Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence, and do not claim a place among his great men;
7
it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,” than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.
What you have seen with your eyes
8
do not bring hastily to court, for what will you do in the end if your neighbor puts you to shame?
9
If you take your neighbor to court, do not betray another’s confidence,
10
or the one who hears it may shame you and the charge against you will stand.
11
Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given.
12
Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.
13
Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him; he refreshes the spirit of his master.
14
Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of gifts never given.
15
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
16
If you find honey, eat just enough— too much of it, and you will vomit.
17
Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house— too much of you, and they will hate you.
18
Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.
19
Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
20
Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on a wound, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
23
Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.
24
Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
25
Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.
26
Like a muddied spring or a polluted well are the righteous who give way to the wicked.
27
It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.
28
Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.
New International Version (NIV)
More Proverbs of Solomon
25 These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
2
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.
3
As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
4
Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel;
5
remove wicked officials from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness.
6
Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence, and do not claim a place among his great men;
7
it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,” than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.
What you have seen with your eyes
8
do not bring hastily to court, for what will you do in the end if your neighbor puts you to shame?
9
If you take your neighbor to court, do not betray another’s confidence,
10
or the one who hears it may shame you and the charge against you will stand.
11
Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given.
12
Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.
13
Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him; he refreshes the spirit of his master.
14
Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of gifts never given.
15
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
16
If you find honey, eat just enough— too much of it, and you will vomit.
17
Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house— too much of you, and they will hate you.
18
Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.
19
Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
20
Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on a wound, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
23
Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.
24
Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
25
Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.
26
Like a muddied spring or a polluted well are the righteous who give way to the wicked.
27
It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.
28
Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.