June 18 - Evening
"The Lord says to my lord:
'Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.'
The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, 'Rule in the midst of your enemies!'
Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb.
The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: 'You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.'
The Lord is at your right hand; he will crush kings on the day of his wrath. He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth.
He will drink from a brook along the way, and so he will lift his head high."
- Psalms 110:1-7
The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, 'Rule in the midst of your enemies!'
Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb.
The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: 'You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.'
The Lord is at your right hand; he will crush kings on the day of his wrath. He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth.
He will drink from a brook along the way, and so he will lift his head high."
- Psalms 110:1-7
The Son of David
Psalm 110 is unique in the sense that Jesus himself used it in Mark 12:35-37 (Matthew 22:41-45; Luke 20:42) to reference himself, his ascension and his coming reign. This clearly indicates the prophetic value of David’s words in Psalm 110. Likewise, the writer of Hebrews (Heb. 1:13) and Peter on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:34-35) quote Psalm 110:1 to refer to Jesus, his deity, his ascension and his ultimate victory over all his enemies.
This divine king, the Messiah, is also recognized in Psalm 110:4 as a priest chosen by God to serve him forever. This is an interpretation confirmed in Hebrews 7:21 where Jesus is identified as the priest of a covenant better than the covenant represented by the Levitical priesthood. Zechariah spoke in similar fashion of the Messiah building his own Temple to rule from as royalty while serving as the priest. The same verses, Zechariah 6:12-13, call this divine king the “Branch,” which is a reference back to “the branch” from the line of David prophicied by Jeremiah in Jeremiah 23:5:
“Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord. It is he who shall build the temple of the Lord and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” – Zechariah 6:12-13
David knew he himself would not build the Temple, but that the Temple planned in his day was to be built by his son Solomon. Yet, David also knew Solomon could never serve as a priest in this Temple because, first, the Law forbid it and, second, the Levitical priesthood had already been established and was already functioning. This is the way Jesus understood Psalm 110 because he was quick to point out to his challengers (the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the Scribes of Mark 12 and Matthew 22) that it was very interesting that David begins Psalm 110 saying: “The Lord say to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’“
After Jesus had answered a series of questions from the religious leaders that were designed to embarrass Jesus, Matthew records Jesus responding to their loaded questions with a complicated question of his own. Jesus presentation of his question based on Psalm 110 and the resulting conversation is recorded by Matthew like this:
Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet” ’? If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions. (Matthew 22:41-46)
Some other points of interest in this prophetic Psalm are:
Exegeomai (Gr) – to recount (Eng) – the Greek word exegeomai means:
- “to recount”
- “to explain”
- “to narrate”
- “to explain”
- “to interpret”
- Luke 24:35 – the two disciples from the road to Emmaus exegeomai to the Eleven concerning Jesus’ appearing to them
- Acts 10:8 – Cornelius exegeomai to two servants about the angel and sent them to get Peter
- Acts 15:12 – Barnabas and Paul exegeomai to the Jerusalem Council about the miraculous signs God did among Gentiles in 48 AD
- Acts 15:14 – Peter exegeomai at the Jerusalem Council concerning God taking Gentiles for salvation.
- Acts 21:19 – Paul exegeomai to the Jerusalem church in 57 AD concerning his ministry among the Gentiles
- John uses exegeomai in John 1:18, “The only Son…has made him known.” Jesus provided an exegesis, a laying open, of God the Father and the Word.
Am I more concerned about being served than serving? Did I consider other people today more than I did myself? I will serve and be aware of others now and tomorrow.
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Personal
Listen to someone in need
Church
Manifestation of
Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Nation
Education
World
Iceland
Someone to Quote
"Teaching is empowering a person with understandable and useful information."
- Galyn Wiemers
Something to Ponder
In the United States the Midwest most closely resembles the religious makeup of the overall population.
The South, by a wide margin, has the heaviest concentration of members of evangelical Protestant churches.
The Northeast has the greatest concentration of Catholics.
The West has the largest proportion of unaffiliated people, including the largest proportion of atheists and agnostics.
(The Pew Forum, source)
The South, by a wide margin, has the heaviest concentration of members of evangelical Protestant churches.
The Northeast has the greatest concentration of Catholics.
The West has the largest proportion of unaffiliated people, including the largest proportion of atheists and agnostics.
(The Pew Forum, source)
Here’s a Fact
Artaxerxes of Ezra 4:7 and 7:1-21; Nehemiah 2:1 and 5:14 and 13:6 also has his name preserved from his own time because of these:
- Silver bowl inscription of Artaxerxes I
- The Elephantine Papyri
- His tomb at Persepolis
Proverb
"Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor."
- Proverbs 18:12
- Proverbs 18:12
Coach’s Corner
A handshake, a smile or a friendly greeting are simple, but effective ways of making your world a better place.
Jeremiah 5
New International Version (NIV)
Not One Is Upright
5
“Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city.
2
Although they say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’ still they are swearing falsely.”
3
Lord, do not your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain; you crushed them, but they refused correction. They made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent.
4
I thought, “These are only the poor; they are foolish, for they do not know the way of the Lord, the requirements of their God.
5
So I will go to the leaders and speak to them; surely they know the way of the Lord, the requirements of their God.” But with one accord they too had broken off the yoke and torn off the bonds.
6
Therefore a lion from the forest will attack them, a wolf from the desert will ravage them, a leopard will lie in wait near their towns to tear to pieces any who venture out, for their rebellion is great and their backslidings many.
7
“Why should I forgive you? Your children have forsaken me and sworn by gods that are not gods. I supplied all their needs, yet they committed adultery and thronged to the houses of prostitutes.
8
They are well-fed, lusty stallions, each neighing for another man’s wife.
9
Should I not punish them for this?” declares the Lord. “Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this?
10
“Go through her vineyards and ravage them, but do not destroy them completely. Strip off her branches, for these people do not belong to the Lord.
11
The people of Israel and the people of Judah have been utterly unfaithful to me,” declares the Lord.
12
They have lied about the Lord; they said, “He will do nothing! No harm will come to us; we will never see sword or famine.
13
The prophets are but wind and the word is not in them; so let what they say be done to them.”
14 Therefore this is what the Lord God Almighty says:
“Because the people have spoken these words, I will make my words in your mouth a fire and these people the wood it consumes.
15
People of Israel,” declares the Lord, “I am bringing a distant nation against you— an ancient and enduring nation, a people whose language you do not know, whose speech you do not understand.
16
Their quivers are like an open grave; all of them are mighty warriors.
17
They will devour your harvests and food, devour your sons and daughters; they will devour your flocks and herds, devour your vines and fig trees. With the sword they will destroy the fortified cities in which you trust.
18 “Yet even in those days,” declares the Lord, “I will not destroy you completely. 19 And when the people ask, ‘Why has the Lord our God done all this to us?’ you will tell them, ‘As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your own land, so now you will serve foreigners in a land not your own.’
20
“Announce this to the descendants of Jacob and proclaim it in Judah:
21
Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear:
22
Should you not fear me?” declares the Lord. “Should you not tremble in my presence? I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross. The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it.
23
But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts; they have turned aside and gone away.
24
They do not say to themselves, ‘Let us fear the Lord our God, who gives autumn and spring rains in season, who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.’
25
Your wrongdoings have kept these away; your sins have deprived you of good.
26
“Among my people are the wicked who lie in wait like men who snare birds and like those who set traps to catch people.
27
Like cages full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; they have become rich and powerful
28
and have grown fat and sleek. Their evil deeds have no limit; they do not seek justice. They do not promote the case of the fatherless; they do not defend the just cause of the poor.
29
Should I not punish them for this?” declares the Lord. “Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this?
30
“A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land:
31
The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?
New International Version (NIV)
Not One Is Upright
5
“Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city.
2
Although they say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’ still they are swearing falsely.”
3
Lord, do not your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain; you crushed them, but they refused correction. They made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent.
4
I thought, “These are only the poor; they are foolish, for they do not know the way of the Lord, the requirements of their God.
5
So I will go to the leaders and speak to them; surely they know the way of the Lord, the requirements of their God.” But with one accord they too had broken off the yoke and torn off the bonds.
6
Therefore a lion from the forest will attack them, a wolf from the desert will ravage them, a leopard will lie in wait near their towns to tear to pieces any who venture out, for their rebellion is great and their backslidings many.
7
“Why should I forgive you? Your children have forsaken me and sworn by gods that are not gods. I supplied all their needs, yet they committed adultery and thronged to the houses of prostitutes.
8
They are well-fed, lusty stallions, each neighing for another man’s wife.
9
Should I not punish them for this?” declares the Lord. “Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this?
10
“Go through her vineyards and ravage them, but do not destroy them completely. Strip off her branches, for these people do not belong to the Lord.
11
The people of Israel and the people of Judah have been utterly unfaithful to me,” declares the Lord.
12
They have lied about the Lord; they said, “He will do nothing! No harm will come to us; we will never see sword or famine.
13
The prophets are but wind and the word is not in them; so let what they say be done to them.”
14 Therefore this is what the Lord God Almighty says:
“Because the people have spoken these words, I will make my words in your mouth a fire and these people the wood it consumes.
15
People of Israel,” declares the Lord, “I am bringing a distant nation against you— an ancient and enduring nation, a people whose language you do not know, whose speech you do not understand.
16
Their quivers are like an open grave; all of them are mighty warriors.
17
They will devour your harvests and food, devour your sons and daughters; they will devour your flocks and herds, devour your vines and fig trees. With the sword they will destroy the fortified cities in which you trust.
18 “Yet even in those days,” declares the Lord, “I will not destroy you completely. 19 And when the people ask, ‘Why has the Lord our God done all this to us?’ you will tell them, ‘As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your own land, so now you will serve foreigners in a land not your own.’
20
“Announce this to the descendants of Jacob and proclaim it in Judah:
21
Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear:
22
Should you not fear me?” declares the Lord. “Should you not tremble in my presence? I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross. The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it.
23
But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts; they have turned aside and gone away.
24
They do not say to themselves, ‘Let us fear the Lord our God, who gives autumn and spring rains in season, who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.’
25
Your wrongdoings have kept these away; your sins have deprived you of good.
26
“Among my people are the wicked who lie in wait like men who snare birds and like those who set traps to catch people.
27
Like cages full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; they have become rich and powerful
28
and have grown fat and sleek. Their evil deeds have no limit; they do not seek justice. They do not promote the case of the fatherless; they do not defend the just cause of the poor.
29
Should I not punish them for this?” declares the Lord. “Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this?
30
“A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land:
31
The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?
Proverbs 29
New International Version (NIV)
29
Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.
2
When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.
3
A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
4
By justice a king gives a country stability, but those who are greedy for bribes tear it down.
5
Those who flatter their neighbors are spreading nets for their feet.
6
Evildoers are snared by their own sin, but the righteous shout for joy and are glad.
7
The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.
8
Mockers stir up a city, but the wise turn away anger.
9
If a wise person goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.
10
The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity and seek to kill the upright.
11
Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.
12
If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked.
13
The poor and the oppressor have this in common: The Lord gives sight to the eyes of both.
14
If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will be established forever.
15
A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.
16
When the wicked thrive, so does sin, but the righteous will see their downfall.
17
Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire.
18
Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.
19
Servants cannot be corrected by mere words; though they understand, they will not respond.
20
Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them.
21
A servant pampered from youth will turn out to be insolent.
22
An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.
23
Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.
24
The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies; they are put under oath and dare not testify.
25
Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.
26
Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.
27
The righteous detest the dishonest; the wicked detest the upright.
New International Version (NIV)
29
Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.
2
When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.
3
A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
4
By justice a king gives a country stability, but those who are greedy for bribes tear it down.
5
Those who flatter their neighbors are spreading nets for their feet.
6
Evildoers are snared by their own sin, but the righteous shout for joy and are glad.
7
The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.
8
Mockers stir up a city, but the wise turn away anger.
9
If a wise person goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.
10
The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity and seek to kill the upright.
11
Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.
12
If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked.
13
The poor and the oppressor have this in common: The Lord gives sight to the eyes of both.
14
If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will be established forever.
15
A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.
16
When the wicked thrive, so does sin, but the righteous will see their downfall.
17
Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire.
18
Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.
19
Servants cannot be corrected by mere words; though they understand, they will not respond.
20
Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them.
21
A servant pampered from youth will turn out to be insolent.
22
An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.
23
Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.
24
The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies; they are put under oath and dare not testify.
25
Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.
26
Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.
27
The righteous detest the dishonest; the wicked detest the upright.