June 18 - Morning
"Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness,
prisoners suffering in iron chains,
because they rebelled against God’s commands
and despised the plans of the Most High.
So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron."
- Psalms 107:10-16
So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron."
- Psalms 107:10-16
Redeeming the Afflicted
Psalm 107 is a collection of the accounts of the afflicted and the oppressed being delivered, or “redeemed” by the Lord. The intention of this psalm is to call all the captives of the past and those currently in positions of oppression to praise the Lord for his acts of redemption. The full list of redemptive acts in Psalm 107 include:
- Redeeming the lost travelers out of the wilderness. (Ps. 107:4-9)
- Redeeming the prisoners from darkness, death, and the affliction of iron chains.(Ps. 107:10-16)
- Redeeming the sick and physically afflicted from death and distress (Ps. 107:17-22)
- Redeeming the sailors and their ships from the storm at sea and shipwreck (Ps. 107:23-32)
Often the sin of the oppressed that led them into their state of affliction is identified as:
- The prisoners who “had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High.”
- The sick who “were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction.”
- The lost travelers “cried to the Lord in their trouble.” (Ps. 107:6)
- The prisoners “cried to the Lord in their trouble.” (Ps. 107:13)
- The sick “cried to the Lord in their trouble.” (Ps. 107:19)
- The sailors “cried to the Lord in their trouble.” (Ps. 107:28)
So, “give thanks to the Lord, for he is good...Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!” (Ps. 107:1-2) Confess your sins and cry out to the Lord today.
Thr (Hb) – to be pure (Eng) – In the Hebrew text the word thr refers to physical, ethical and religious purity. In Jeremiah 13:27 Jeremiah speaks of Jerusalem’s need for thr. In Jeremiah 33:8 he promises Israel that God will provide thr (or, “purification”) for Jerusalem. Malachi speaks of the Lord purifying the priests on the Day of Yahweh in Malachi 3:3.
I will give thanks to the Lord today for He is good!
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Personal
To say peaceful words
Church
Deliverance
Nation
Scientists and Theologians
World
Iceland
Toni looks over the wall of a winepress at the spout that drained into the collection vat in the Nabatean city of Avdat. (Details)
Someone to Quote
"The primary purpose of the church is to teach the mystery of God, first, to Pagans, and, then, to believers."
- Galyn Wiemers
- Galyn Wiemers
Something to Ponder
Jesus promises the believer these things in John 16:
- The Comforter
- Guidance
- Teaching
- His Prayer
- His Return
- Answered Prayer
- Peace
- Victory
- The Comforter
- Guidance
- Teaching
- His Prayer
- His Return
- Answered Prayer
- Peace
- Victory
Here’s a Fact
Around 95 AD Clement of Rome knew of these twelve New Testament documents and referred to them in his writings: Matthew, Mark, Luke, Romans, 1 Corinthians, Ephesians, 1 Timothy, Titus, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter.
Proverb
"The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it an unscalable wall."
- Proverbs 18:11
- Proverbs 18:11
Coach’s Corner
Today many people talk about networking as if it were the golden road to success. The simple truth remains: The network is itself seeking the man with skill and expertise. Spend time developing your game, instead of developing your network.
1 Samuel 27
New International Version (NIV)
David Among the Philistines
27 But David thought to himself, “One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul. The best thing I can do is to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me anywhere in Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.”
2 So David and the six hundred men with him left and went over to Achish son of Maok king of Gath. 3 David and his men settled in Gath with Achish. Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, the widow of Nabal. 4 When Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him.
5 Then David said to Achish, “If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be assigned to me in one of the country towns, that I may live there. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?”
6 So on that day Achish gave him Ziklag, and it has belonged to the kings of Judah ever since. 7 David lived in Philistine territory a year and four months.
8 Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites and the Amalekites. (From ancient times these peoples had lived in the land extending to Shur and Egypt.) 9 Whenever David attacked an area, he did not leave a man or woman alive, but took sheep and cattle, donkeys and camels, and clothes. Then he returned to Achish.
10 When Achish asked, “Where did you go raiding today?” David would say, “Against the Negev of Judah” or “Against the Negev of Jerahmeel” or “Against the Negev of the Kenites.” 11 He did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he thought, “They might inform on us and say, ‘This is what David did.’” And such was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory. 12 Achish trusted David and said to himself, “He has become so obnoxious to his people, the Israelites, that he will be my servant for life.”
New International Version (NIV)
David Among the Philistines
27 But David thought to himself, “One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul. The best thing I can do is to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me anywhere in Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.”
2 So David and the six hundred men with him left and went over to Achish son of Maok king of Gath. 3 David and his men settled in Gath with Achish. Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, the widow of Nabal. 4 When Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him.
5 Then David said to Achish, “If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be assigned to me in one of the country towns, that I may live there. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?”
6 So on that day Achish gave him Ziklag, and it has belonged to the kings of Judah ever since. 7 David lived in Philistine territory a year and four months.
8 Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites and the Amalekites. (From ancient times these peoples had lived in the land extending to Shur and Egypt.) 9 Whenever David attacked an area, he did not leave a man or woman alive, but took sheep and cattle, donkeys and camels, and clothes. Then he returned to Achish.
10 When Achish asked, “Where did you go raiding today?” David would say, “Against the Negev of Judah” or “Against the Negev of Jerahmeel” or “Against the Negev of the Kenites.” 11 He did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he thought, “They might inform on us and say, ‘This is what David did.’” And such was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory. 12 Achish trusted David and said to himself, “He has become so obnoxious to his people, the Israelites, that he will be my servant for life.”
Jeremiah 4
New International Version (NIV)
4
“If you, Israel, will return, then return to me,” declares the Lord. “If you put your detestable idols out of my sight and no longer go astray,
2
and if in a truthful, just and righteous way you swear, ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’ then the nations will invoke blessings by him and in him they will boast.”
3 This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and to Jerusalem:
“Break up your unplowed ground and do not sow among thorns.
4
Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, circumcise your hearts, you people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, or my wrath will flare up and burn like fire because of the evil you have done— burn with no one to quench it.
Disaster From the North
5
“Announce in Judah and proclaim in Jerusalem and say: ‘Sound the trumpet throughout the land!’ Cry aloud and say: ‘Gather together! Let us flee to the fortified cities!’
6
Raise the signal to go to Zion! Flee for safety without delay! For I am bringing disaster from the north, even terrible destruction.”
7
A lion has come out of his lair; a destroyer of nations has set out. He has left his place to lay waste your land. Your towns will lie in ruins without inhabitant.
8
So put on sackcloth, lament and wail, for the fierce anger of the Lord has not turned away from us.
9
“In that day,” declares the Lord, “the king and the officials will lose heart, the priests will be horrified, and the prophets will be appalled.”
10 Then I said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! How completely you have deceived this people and Jerusalem by saying, ‘You will have peace,’ when the sword is at our throats!”
11 At that time this people and Jerusalem will be told, “A scorching wind from the barren heights in the desert blows toward my people, but not to winnow or cleanse; 12 a wind too strong for that comes from me. Now I pronounce my judgments against them.”
13
Look! He advances like the clouds, his chariots come like a whirlwind, his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us! We are ruined!
14
Jerusalem, wash the evil from your heart and be saved. How long will you harbor wicked thoughts?
15
A voice is announcing from Dan, proclaiming disaster from the hills of Ephraim.
16
“Tell this to the nations, proclaim concerning Jerusalem: ‘A besieging army is coming from a distant land, raising a war cry against the cities of Judah.
17
They surround her like men guarding a field, because she has rebelled against me,’” declares the Lord.
18
“Your own conduct and actions have brought this on you. This is your punishment. How bitter it is! How it pierces to the heart!”
19
Oh, my anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain. Oh, the agony of my heart! My heart pounds within me, I cannot keep silent. For I have heard the sound of the trumpet; I have heard the battle cry.
20
Disaster follows disaster; the whole land lies in ruins. In an instant my tents are destroyed, my shelter in a moment.
21
How long must I see the battle standard and hear the sound of the trumpet?
22
“My people are fools; they do not know me. They are senseless children; they have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil; they know not how to do good.”
23
I looked at the earth, and it was formless and empty; and at the heavens, and their light was gone.
24
I looked at the mountains, and they were quaking; all the hills were swaying.
25
I looked, and there were no people; every bird in the sky had flown away.
26
I looked, and the fruitful land was a desert; all its towns lay in ruins before the Lord, before his fierce anger.
27 This is what the Lord says:
“The whole land will be ruined, though I will not destroy it completely.
28
Therefore the earth will mourn and the heavens above grow dark, because I have spoken and will not relent, I have decided and will not turn back.”
29
At the sound of horsemen and archers every town takes to flight. Some go into the thickets; some climb up among the rocks. All the towns are deserted; no one lives in them.
30
What are you doing, you devastated one? Why dress yourself in scarlet and put on jewels of gold? Why highlight your eyes with makeup? You adorn yourself in vain. Your lovers despise you; they want to kill you.
31
I hear a cry as of a woman in labor, a groan as of one bearing her first child— the cry of Daughter Zion gasping for breath, stretching out her hands and saying, “Alas! I am fainting; my life is given over to murderers.”
New International Version (NIV)
4
“If you, Israel, will return, then return to me,” declares the Lord. “If you put your detestable idols out of my sight and no longer go astray,
2
and if in a truthful, just and righteous way you swear, ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’ then the nations will invoke blessings by him and in him they will boast.”
3 This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and to Jerusalem:
“Break up your unplowed ground and do not sow among thorns.
4
Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, circumcise your hearts, you people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, or my wrath will flare up and burn like fire because of the evil you have done— burn with no one to quench it.
Disaster From the North
5
“Announce in Judah and proclaim in Jerusalem and say: ‘Sound the trumpet throughout the land!’ Cry aloud and say: ‘Gather together! Let us flee to the fortified cities!’
6
Raise the signal to go to Zion! Flee for safety without delay! For I am bringing disaster from the north, even terrible destruction.”
7
A lion has come out of his lair; a destroyer of nations has set out. He has left his place to lay waste your land. Your towns will lie in ruins without inhabitant.
8
So put on sackcloth, lament and wail, for the fierce anger of the Lord has not turned away from us.
9
“In that day,” declares the Lord, “the king and the officials will lose heart, the priests will be horrified, and the prophets will be appalled.”
10 Then I said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! How completely you have deceived this people and Jerusalem by saying, ‘You will have peace,’ when the sword is at our throats!”
11 At that time this people and Jerusalem will be told, “A scorching wind from the barren heights in the desert blows toward my people, but not to winnow or cleanse; 12 a wind too strong for that comes from me. Now I pronounce my judgments against them.”
13
Look! He advances like the clouds, his chariots come like a whirlwind, his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us! We are ruined!
14
Jerusalem, wash the evil from your heart and be saved. How long will you harbor wicked thoughts?
15
A voice is announcing from Dan, proclaiming disaster from the hills of Ephraim.
16
“Tell this to the nations, proclaim concerning Jerusalem: ‘A besieging army is coming from a distant land, raising a war cry against the cities of Judah.
17
They surround her like men guarding a field, because she has rebelled against me,’” declares the Lord.
18
“Your own conduct and actions have brought this on you. This is your punishment. How bitter it is! How it pierces to the heart!”
19
Oh, my anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain. Oh, the agony of my heart! My heart pounds within me, I cannot keep silent. For I have heard the sound of the trumpet; I have heard the battle cry.
20
Disaster follows disaster; the whole land lies in ruins. In an instant my tents are destroyed, my shelter in a moment.
21
How long must I see the battle standard and hear the sound of the trumpet?
22
“My people are fools; they do not know me. They are senseless children; they have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil; they know not how to do good.”
23
I looked at the earth, and it was formless and empty; and at the heavens, and their light was gone.
24
I looked at the mountains, and they were quaking; all the hills were swaying.
25
I looked, and there were no people; every bird in the sky had flown away.
26
I looked, and the fruitful land was a desert; all its towns lay in ruins before the Lord, before his fierce anger.
27 This is what the Lord says:
“The whole land will be ruined, though I will not destroy it completely.
28
Therefore the earth will mourn and the heavens above grow dark, because I have spoken and will not relent, I have decided and will not turn back.”
29
At the sound of horsemen and archers every town takes to flight. Some go into the thickets; some climb up among the rocks. All the towns are deserted; no one lives in them.
30
What are you doing, you devastated one? Why dress yourself in scarlet and put on jewels of gold? Why highlight your eyes with makeup? You adorn yourself in vain. Your lovers despise you; they want to kill you.
31
I hear a cry as of a woman in labor, a groan as of one bearing her first child— the cry of Daughter Zion gasping for breath, stretching out her hands and saying, “Alas! I am fainting; my life is given over to murderers.”
Proverbs 27-28
New International Version (NIV)
27
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
2
Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.
3
Stone is heavy and sand a burden, but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.
4
Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?
5
Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
6
Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
7
One who is full loathes honey from the comb, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.
8
Like a bird that flees its nest is anyone who flees from home.
9
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.
10
Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family, and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you— better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.
11
Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart; then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.
12
The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
13
Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger; hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.
14
If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse.
15
A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;
16
restraining her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand.
17
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
18
The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit, and whoever protects their master will be honored.
19
As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.
20
Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are human eyes.
21
The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but people are tested by their praise.
22
Though you grind a fool in a mortar, grinding them like grain with a pestle, you will not remove their folly from them.
23
Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds;
24
for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.
25
When the hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered in,
26
the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field.
27
You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family and to nourish your female servants.
28
The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
2
When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.
3
A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.
4
Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked, but those who heed it resist them.
5
Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.
6
Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse.
7
A discerning son heeds instruction, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.
8
Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.
9
If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable.
10
Whoever leads the upright along an evil path will fall into their own trap, but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.
11
The rich are wise in their own eyes; one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.
12
When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.
13
Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
14
Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.
15
Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.
16
A tyrannical ruler practices extortion, but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.
17
Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder will seek refuge in the grave; let no one hold them back.
18
The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit.
19
Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.
20
A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.
21
To show partiality is not good— yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.
22
The stingy are eager to get rich and are unaware that poverty awaits them.
23
Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor rather than one who has a flattering tongue.
24
Whoever robs their father or mother and says, “It’s not wrong,” is partner to one who destroys.
25
The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the Lord will prosper.
26
Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.
27
Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.
28
When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.
New International Version (NIV)
27
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
2
Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.
3
Stone is heavy and sand a burden, but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.
4
Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?
5
Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
6
Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
7
One who is full loathes honey from the comb, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.
8
Like a bird that flees its nest is anyone who flees from home.
9
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.
10
Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family, and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you— better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.
11
Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart; then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.
12
The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
13
Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger; hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.
14
If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse.
15
A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;
16
restraining her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand.
17
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
18
The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit, and whoever protects their master will be honored.
19
As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.
20
Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are human eyes.
21
The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but people are tested by their praise.
22
Though you grind a fool in a mortar, grinding them like grain with a pestle, you will not remove their folly from them.
23
Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds;
24
for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.
25
When the hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered in,
26
the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field.
27
You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family and to nourish your female servants.
28
The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
2
When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.
3
A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.
4
Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked, but those who heed it resist them.
5
Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.
6
Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse.
7
A discerning son heeds instruction, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.
8
Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.
9
If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable.
10
Whoever leads the upright along an evil path will fall into their own trap, but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.
11
The rich are wise in their own eyes; one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.
12
When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.
13
Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
14
Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.
15
Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.
16
A tyrannical ruler practices extortion, but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.
17
Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder will seek refuge in the grave; let no one hold them back.
18
The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit.
19
Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.
20
A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.
21
To show partiality is not good— yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.
22
The stingy are eager to get rich and are unaware that poverty awaits them.
23
Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor rather than one who has a flattering tongue.
24
Whoever robs their father or mother and says, “It’s not wrong,” is partner to one who destroys.
25
The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the Lord will prosper.
26
Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.
27
Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.
28
When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.