June 27 - Evening
"The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and faithful in all he does.
The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.
The Lord watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy."
- Psalms 145:15-20
and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and faithful in all he does.
The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.
The Lord watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy."
- Psalms 145:15-20
The Gospel of Psalm 145
Psalm 145 is an acrostic psalm beginning with, “Let me exalt”, which begins with aleph the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet in the word ‘aromimkha. There are 21 verses instead of 22 for the 22 Hebrew letters because the 14th Hebrew letter nun is missing. But, a Qumran manuscript (Dead Sea Scrolls) has contains the nun verse.
In verses 145:15-20 there are five basic points that sum up God’s nature and man’s relationship with the Lord:
- 145:15a – Dependent on the Lord:
All of the creation and every creature is dependent on the Lord. - 145:15b-16 – The Lord is Good:
The Lord’s character is goodness so he willingly meets the desires of every living thing! - 145:17 – The Lord will not Compromise His Righteousness:
The Lord is righteous in his nature and faithful to act in agreement with those ways of righteousness. - 145:18 – Men are Compromised, but the Lord is Gracious to the Humble:
Those who realize they (like everyone) fall short of the Lord’s standards of righteousness may call on him for help! - 145:19-20 – Men are Separated Based on their Response to the Lord:
Those who come to him will be delivered and satisfied. Those who continue in their own way will be destroyed.
Eugenes (Gr) – Well-born or Noble (Eng) – the Greek word eugenes is often found in inscriptions referring to people’s social standing, but not to their political position. Eugenes refers to people with excellent lineage and descendants of wealthy parents. Eugenes comes from a long line of rich or virtuous ancestors. In Luke 19:12 Jesus introduces his listeners to a eugenes in the parable of the minas. Paul tells the Corinthians believers that not many of them are eugenes (1 Corinthians 1:26).
I will meditate on the Lord's goodness and graciousness. I will be humble and fear Him.
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Personal
Eyes to see needs that you can meet
Church
Grow in love for God
Nation
Medicare
World
India
The inscription on this reused stone, originally used in a Romoan statue of Emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161 AD) set on the Temple Mount, reads :
"To Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Augustus Pius The father of the fatherland, pontifex, augur Decreed by the Decurions"
This inscription stone was placed upside down above the Double Gate in the southern wall of the Temple Mount.
(Close up Photo of inscription. Photo from a distance.)
"To Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Augustus Pius The father of the fatherland, pontifex, augur Decreed by the Decurions"
This inscription stone was placed upside down above the Double Gate in the southern wall of the Temple Mount.
(Close up Photo of inscription. Photo from a distance.)
Someone to Quote
"It were better to have no opinion of God at all than such a one as is unworthy of him; for the one is unbelief - the other is contempt."
- Plutarch
- Plutarch
Something to Ponder
New Testament Apocryphal books that are not considered part of the Christian canon of Scripture and many are pseudographs:
The Gospel of Thomas
Oxyrhynchus 1224 Gospel
The Egerton Gospel
The Gospel of Peter
Secret Mark
The Gospel of the Egyptians
The Gospel of the Hebrews
The Apocalypse of Peter
The Secret Book of James
The Preaching of Peter
The Gospel of the Ebionites
The Gospel of the Nazoreans
The Oxyrhynchus 840 Gospel
The Traditions of Matthias
The Gospel of Mary
The Dialogue of the Savior
The Gospel of the Savior
The Epistula Apostolorum
The Infancy Gospel of James
The Infancy Gospel of Thomas
The Acts of Peter
The Acts of John
The Acts of Paul
The Acts of Andrew
The Acts of Peter and the Twelve
The Book of Thomas the Contender
The Acts of Thomas
(Access these books and read them here.)
The Gospel of Thomas
Oxyrhynchus 1224 Gospel
The Egerton Gospel
The Gospel of Peter
Secret Mark
The Gospel of the Egyptians
The Gospel of the Hebrews
The Apocalypse of Peter
The Secret Book of James
The Preaching of Peter
The Gospel of the Ebionites
The Gospel of the Nazoreans
The Oxyrhynchus 840 Gospel
The Traditions of Matthias
The Gospel of Mary
The Dialogue of the Savior
The Gospel of the Savior
The Epistula Apostolorum
The Infancy Gospel of James
The Infancy Gospel of Thomas
The Acts of Peter
The Acts of John
The Acts of Paul
The Acts of Andrew
The Acts of Peter and the Twelve
The Book of Thomas the Contender
The Acts of Thomas
(Access these books and read them here.)
Here’s a Fact
Excavation of the city of Jericho indicate walls that were destroyed about 2400 BC. The city was rebuilt and the remains of Jericho called City IV was destroyed about 1400 BC which agrees with the invasion of Jericho by Joshua. The archaeological remains of City IV reveal that the city was first destroyed by an earthquake and then set on fire. The burnt debris is three feet thick in some places with remains of pottery, utensils and carbonized grain which indicates a quick siege with no time allowed for fleeing.
(Details)
Proverb
"The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it."
- Proverbs 27:12
- Proverbs 27:12
Coach’s Corner
Every man wants to feel value and be considered worthy. Value and worth are something you can give to anybody at any time.
Jeremiah 45
New International Version (NIV)
A Message to Baruch
45 When Baruch son of Neriah wrote on a scroll the words Jeremiah the prophet dictated in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, Jeremiah said this to Baruch: 2 “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch: 3 You said, ‘Woe to me! The Lord has added sorrow to my pain; I am worn out with groaning and find no rest.’ 4 But the Lord has told me to say to you, ‘This is what the Lord says: I will overthrow what I have built and uproot what I have planted, throughout the earth. 5 Should you then seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them. For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the Lord, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life.’”
New International Version (NIV)
A Message to Baruch
45 When Baruch son of Neriah wrote on a scroll the words Jeremiah the prophet dictated in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, Jeremiah said this to Baruch: 2 “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch: 3 You said, ‘Woe to me! The Lord has added sorrow to my pain; I am worn out with groaning and find no rest.’ 4 But the Lord has told me to say to you, ‘This is what the Lord says: I will overthrow what I have built and uproot what I have planted, throughout the earth. 5 Should you then seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them. For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the Lord, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life.’”
1 Kings 19
New International Version (NIV)
Elijah Flees to Horeb
19 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”
3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.
The Lord Appears to Elijah
And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
The Call of Elisha
19 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. 20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.”
“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”
21 So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.
New International Version (NIV)
Elijah Flees to Horeb
19 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”
3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.
The Lord Appears to Elijah
And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
The Call of Elisha
19 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. 20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.”
“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”
21 So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.