June 26 - Evening
"I cry aloud to the Lord;
I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.
I pour out before him my complaint;
before him I tell my trouble.
When my spirit grows faint within me,
it is you who watch over my way.
In the path where I walk
people have hidden a snare for me.
Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;
no one cares for my life.
I cry to you, Lord;
I say,
'You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.'
Listen to my cry,
for I am in desperate need;
rescue me from those who pursue me,
for they are too strong for me.
Set me free from my prison,
that I may praise your name.
Then the righteous will gather about me
because of your goodness to me!"
- Psalms 142
I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.
I pour out before him my complaint;
before him I tell my trouble.
When my spirit grows faint within me,
it is you who watch over my way.
In the path where I walk
people have hidden a snare for me.
Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;
no one cares for my life.
I cry to you, Lord;
I say,
'You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.'
Listen to my cry,
for I am in desperate need;
rescue me from those who pursue me,
for they are too strong for me.
Set me free from my prison,
that I may praise your name.
Then the righteous will gather about me
because of your goodness to me!"
- Psalms 142
My Portion in Life and Eternity
The super-script calls Psalm 142 a maskil in the Hebrew, but the meaning of this Hebrew word maskil is uncertain. This is why the word is left untranslated in many Bible translations. The verb form of maskil found in Nehemiah 8:8 could give the word maskil here the meaning of “sense-giving harmony” or “instructional lyrics set to music.”
This is a prayer that David set to music for the purpose of instructing others. This is the prayer or cry for help of an individual who approaches the Lord for help.
The psalmist’s confidence in the Lord remains unwavering in his season of crisis. In 142:5 the “you” referring to the Lord is emphatic, and could be stated as, “You, you are my refuge, my portion.” And, it is in this life where David walks and needs help that he has found no one to help (142:4). They have instead laid traps for him (142:3).
David writes the same as other men of faith who recorded in scripture their trust in the Lord. In the midst of a variety of extreme circumstances these writers of scripture, the men of faith, expressed their trust in the Lord by referring to him as “my portion” or “my ground of support.” This “ground of support” stabilized these men in all of life’s extreme situations:
Stability – Psalm 16:5, “Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.” Instruction – Psalm 119:57, “You are my portion, Lord; I have promised to obey your words. Lamenting – Lamentations 3:24, “I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” Thanksgiving – Psalm 73:26, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Considering the Lord as “my portion” should be understood not only in view of stability in life, but also as the only thing in life we get to inherit or keep when life is over.
This confidence in God and our considering him as our only inheritance in this life is particularly true when we find ourselves in a situation similar to David in 142:5 where he records that there is no one at his right side. The “right side” was the side your help and strength came from in battle or in a legal case. But, in David’s situation there was no one on his right side when he turned for help. Since there was no man who “had David’s back,” it was important for him to understand that in all things the Lord was his portion.
Epipotheo (Gr) – to long for (Eng) – In the NT epipotheo means an urge or an inclination that sometimes is fervent tenderness or emotion that grips the heart in a loving and favorable way. Epipotheo is found in these verses:
Do I remember to go to God for help when times are tough or do I try to solve problems in my own strength?
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Personal
Spiritual gift
Church
Favor with man
Nation
National Debt
World
India
Galyn points at stones that can be seen from the western retaining wall of Solomon's Temple (or, Solomon's Western Wall) (Details)
Someone to Quote
"Life is like trying to do a 5 piece puzzle with only 4 pieces. God is the 5th piece and you can't see the whole picture of life until you have that 5th piece."
- Sophie, 13 years old
- Sophie, 13 years old
Something to Ponder
Jesus repeatedly demonstrated that he believed the Jewish Old Testament was the true and accurate word of God:
• Adam and Eve (Mt. 19:3-5; Mark 10:6-8)
• Noah and the Flood (Mt. 24:38-39; Luke 17:26-27)
• Sodom and Lot (Mt. 10:15; Luke 17:28-29)
• Jonah (Mt. 12:40)
• Isaiah – Jesus quotes from both the first and second halves of Isaiah’s book, assigning the full book to Isaiah. (Mt. 12:17; 13:13-15)
• Elijah (Mt. 17:11-12)
• Daniel (Mt. 24:15)
• Abel (Mt. 23:35)
• Zechariah (Mt. 23:35)
• Abiathar (Mark 2:26)
• David (Mt. 22:45)
• Moses and the books of Moses (Mt. 8:4; Jn 5:46)
• Abraham (Mt. 8:11; Jn 8:39)
• Isaac (Mt. 8:11)
• Jacob (Mt. 8:11)
• Adam and Eve (Mt. 19:3-5; Mark 10:6-8)
• Noah and the Flood (Mt. 24:38-39; Luke 17:26-27)
• Sodom and Lot (Mt. 10:15; Luke 17:28-29)
• Jonah (Mt. 12:40)
• Isaiah – Jesus quotes from both the first and second halves of Isaiah’s book, assigning the full book to Isaiah. (Mt. 12:17; 13:13-15)
• Elijah (Mt. 17:11-12)
• Daniel (Mt. 24:15)
• Abel (Mt. 23:35)
• Zechariah (Mt. 23:35)
• Abiathar (Mark 2:26)
• David (Mt. 22:45)
• Moses and the books of Moses (Mt. 8:4; Jn 5:46)
• Abraham (Mt. 8:11; Jn 8:39)
• Isaac (Mt. 8:11)
• Jacob (Mt. 8:11)
Here’s a Fact
The Jewish Babylonian Talmud’s testimony written during the years 70-200 AD concerning Jesus states that “Jesus was hanged on Passover Eve” and “as nothing was brought forward in his defense, he was hanged…” It also states that Jesus “practiced sorcery and led Israel astray and enticed them into apostasy.” Due to Jesus’ lineage in the line of King David the Talmud also declares that, “Jesus…was near to the kingship.” This is all written in a document of the Jews that was recorded within 100 years, or so, of the Roman destruction of the Temple that Jesus forewarned would happen.
(Details 1, 2)
Proverb
"Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him."
- Proverbs 26:12
- Proverbs 26:12
Coach’s Corner
Realize that the phrase ‘sell your soul’ is more than a familiar saying. Our soul is the commodity we spend our days trading.
Habakkuk 3
New International Version (NIV)
Habakkuk’s Prayer
3 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. On shigionoth.
2
Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.
3
God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran. His glory covered the heavens and his praise filled the earth.
4
His splendor was like the sunrise; rays flashed from his hand, where his power was hidden.
5
Plague went before him; pestilence followed his steps.
6
He stood, and shook the earth; he looked, and made the nations tremble. The ancient mountains crumbled and the age-old hills collapsed— but he marches on forever.
7
I saw the tents of Cushan in distress, the dwellings of Midian in anguish.
8
Were you angry with the rivers, Lord? Was your wrath against the streams? Did you rage against the sea when you rode your horses and your chariots to victory?
9
You uncovered your bow, you called for many arrows. You split the earth with rivers;
10
the mountains saw you and writhed. Torrents of water swept by; the deep roared and lifted its waves on high.
11
Sun and moon stood still in the heavens at the glint of your flying arrows, at the lightning of your flashing spear.
12
In wrath you strode through the earth and in anger you threshed the nations.
13
You came out to deliver your people, to save your anointed one. You crushed the leader of the land of wickedness, you stripped him from head to foot.
14
With his own spear you pierced his head when his warriors stormed out to scatter us, gloating as though about to devour the wretched who were in hiding.
15
You trampled the sea with your horses, churning the great waters.
16
I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us.
17
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
18
yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
19
The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.
For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.
New International Version (NIV)
Habakkuk’s Prayer
3 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. On shigionoth.
2
Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.
3
God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran. His glory covered the heavens and his praise filled the earth.
4
His splendor was like the sunrise; rays flashed from his hand, where his power was hidden.
5
Plague went before him; pestilence followed his steps.
6
He stood, and shook the earth; he looked, and made the nations tremble. The ancient mountains crumbled and the age-old hills collapsed— but he marches on forever.
7
I saw the tents of Cushan in distress, the dwellings of Midian in anguish.
8
Were you angry with the rivers, Lord? Was your wrath against the streams? Did you rage against the sea when you rode your horses and your chariots to victory?
9
You uncovered your bow, you called for many arrows. You split the earth with rivers;
10
the mountains saw you and writhed. Torrents of water swept by; the deep roared and lifted its waves on high.
11
Sun and moon stood still in the heavens at the glint of your flying arrows, at the lightning of your flashing spear.
12
In wrath you strode through the earth and in anger you threshed the nations.
13
You came out to deliver your people, to save your anointed one. You crushed the leader of the land of wickedness, you stripped him from head to foot.
14
With his own spear you pierced his head when his warriors stormed out to scatter us, gloating as though about to devour the wretched who were in hiding.
15
You trampled the sea with your horses, churning the great waters.
16
I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us.
17
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
18
yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
19
The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.
For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.
2 Chronicles 17
New International Version (NIV)
Jehoshaphat King of Judah
17 Jehoshaphat his son succeeded him as king and strengthened himself against Israel. 2 He stationed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah and put garrisons in Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.
3 The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him. He did not consult the Baals 4 but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel. 5 The Lord established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor. 6 His heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord; furthermore, he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah.
7 In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah to teach in the towns of Judah. 8 With them were certain Levites—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah—and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. 9 They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the Lord; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people.
10 The fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not go to war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Some Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought him flocks: seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred goats.
12 Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful; he built forts and store cities in Judah 13 and had large supplies in the towns of Judah. He also kept experienced fighting men in Jerusalem. 14 Their enrollment by families was as follows:
From Judah, commanders of units of 1,000:
Adnah the commander, with 300,000 fighting men;
15 next, Jehohanan the commander, with 280,000;
16 next, Amasiah son of Zikri, who volunteered himself for the service of the Lord, with 200,000.
17 From Benjamin:
Eliada, a valiant soldier, with 200,000 men armed with bows and shields;
18 next, Jehozabad, with 180,000 men armed for battle.
19 These were the men who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout Judah.
New International Version (NIV)
Jehoshaphat King of Judah
17 Jehoshaphat his son succeeded him as king and strengthened himself against Israel. 2 He stationed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah and put garrisons in Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.
3 The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him. He did not consult the Baals 4 but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel. 5 The Lord established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor. 6 His heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord; furthermore, he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah.
7 In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah to teach in the towns of Judah. 8 With them were certain Levites—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah—and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. 9 They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the Lord; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people.
10 The fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not go to war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Some Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought him flocks: seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred goats.
12 Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful; he built forts and store cities in Judah 13 and had large supplies in the towns of Judah. He also kept experienced fighting men in Jerusalem. 14 Their enrollment by families was as follows:
From Judah, commanders of units of 1,000:
Adnah the commander, with 300,000 fighting men;
15 next, Jehohanan the commander, with 280,000;
16 next, Amasiah son of Zikri, who volunteered himself for the service of the Lord, with 200,000.
17 From Benjamin:
Eliada, a valiant soldier, with 200,000 men armed with bows and shields;
18 next, Jehozabad, with 180,000 men armed for battle.
19 These were the men who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout Judah.