June 7 - Evening
"For you, God, tested us;
you refined us like silver.
You brought us into prison
and laid burdens on our backs.
You let people ride over our heads;
we went through fire and water,
but you brought us to a place of abundance.
I will come to your temple with burnt offerings
and fulfill my vows to you—
vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke
when I was in trouble.
I will sacrifice fat animals to you
and an offering of rams;
I will offer bulls and goats.
- Selah -
Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!"
- Psalms 66:10-20
- Selah -
Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!"
- Psalms 66:10-20
Testing
Psalm 66 begins by calling people from all the earth to worship God. A series of imperatives (the voice of a command) are used in verse 66:1-4. These commands are paused for a Selah which is followed by an invitation to everyone to see what God has done and why he should be praised (66:6-9).
In verses 66:10-12 the psalmist reviews the process of testing the people of God underwent as they, not merely waited, but were prepared by the process of refining that brought them “to a place of abundance.” (66:12) The preparation process of testing and refining was not easy, in fact, its description is harsh. The Hebrew verb translated “test” in 66:10 is also used when describing the refining of metal. This testing is not meant to destroy the person (or, the metal), but to develop the person (or, purify the metal).
The tests (66:10-12) included:
- “prison” which would likely have involved oppression by a government and false accusations.
- “burdens on our backs” which involved harsh physical labor.
- “men ride over our heads” indicating people were one of the sources of the testing.
- “fire and water” are used to identify two opposite extremes which indicated the testing was comprehensive.
The result of God’s process of training, testing, purifying and preparing his people is beautifully summed up in the second half of 66:12:
“…but you brought us to a place of abundance.”
Examples of God using this process to refine his people for greatness is also seen in these verses:
- Deuteronomy 8:2-5
- Psalm 11:5
- Psalm 26:2 - "test" me, examine heart and mind
- Psalm 139:23 - "test" me
- Jeremiah 9:7 - "test" people because of sin
- Jeremiah 11:20 - "test" heart and mind
- Jeremiah 12:3 - "test" thoughts
- Jeremiah 17:10
- Jeremiah 20:12
- Ezekiel 22:17-22
- Zechariah 13:9
- Malachi 3:2-3
Psalm 66:13-15 indicates that while these people were in the midst of the testing they sought God and made vows to honor him when their testing was finished.
“I will come to your temple with burnt offerings and fulfill my vows to you – vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke when I was in trouble.”
In 66:16 the psalmist begins to testify to other people about what God has done. The writers experience in testing and in deliverance into abundance is proclaimed and accompanied with teaching that clarifies these practices while in testing:
- Cried out to God in prayer (66:17, 18, 19)
- Praised God (66:17)
- Rejected sin (66:18)
Eudia (Gr) – good weather (Eng) – the Greek word eudia is mentioned one time in the NT when Jesus mentions good weather in Matthew 16:2-3 along with cheimon (bad weather). Cheimon also means winter and is used by John in John 10:22 to identify when the Feast of Dedication is celebrated. Cheimon is also used by Paul when he requests Timothy to come visit him before cheimon (the winter of 67 AD) in 2 Timothy 4:21.
I will consider my hardships as tests, trials and discipline from the Lord. I will be faithful to God.
I will learn and grow from situations. I will experience deliverance of the Lord.
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Personal
Ask for Godly counsel and friends
Church
Perseverance in service to saints
Nation
Government spending
World
Guam
Someone to Quote
"Those, therefore, who delivered up their souls to death for Christ’s Gospel — how could they have spoken to men in agreement with already established opinions? If this had been the course they adopted, they would not have suffered. But since they did preach things contrary to those people who did not assent to the truth, for that reason they suffered. It is evident, therefore, that they did not relinquish the truth, but with all boldness preached to the Jews and Greeks."
- Irenaeus, 185 AD
Something to Ponder
Here’s a Fact
The existence of biblical king Pekah of northern Israel in 2 Kings 15:27 is confirmed by Assryian records of Tiglath-pileser III
Proverb
"A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength;
for waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisers."
- Proverbs 24:5-6
for waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisers."
- Proverbs 24:5-6
Coach’s Corner
Don’t miss living today.
Isaiah 10
New International Version (NIV)
10
Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees,
2
to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.
3
What will you do on the day of reckoning, when disaster comes from afar? To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your riches?
4
Nothing will remain but to cringe among the captives or fall among the slain.
Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.
God’s Judgment on Assyria
5
“Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my anger, in whose hand is the club of my wrath!
6
I send him against a godless nation, I dispatch him against a people who anger me, to seize loot and snatch plunder, and to trample them down like mud in the streets.
7
But this is not what he intends, this is not what he has in mind; his purpose is to destroy, to put an end to many nations.
8
‘Are not my commanders all kings?’ he says.
9
‘Has not Kalno fared like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad, and Samaria like Damascus?
10
As my hand seized the kingdoms of the idols, kingdoms whose images excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria—
11
shall I not deal with Jerusalem and her images as I dealt with Samaria and her idols?’”
12 When the Lord has finished all his work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, he will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for the willful pride of his heart and the haughty look in his eyes. 13 For he says:
“‘By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, because I have understanding. I removed the boundaries of nations, I plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their kings.
14
As one reaches into a nest, so my hand reached for the wealth of the nations; as people gather abandoned eggs, so I gathered all the countries; not one flapped a wing, or opened its mouth to chirp.’”
15
Does the ax raise itself above the person who swings it, or the saw boast against the one who uses it? As if a rod were to wield the person who lifts it up, or a club brandish the one who is not wood!
16
Therefore, the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will send a wasting disease upon his sturdy warriors; under his pomp a fire will be kindled like a blazing flame.
17
The Light of Israel will become a fire, their Holy One a flame; in a single day it will burn and consume his thorns and his briers.
18
The splendor of his forests and fertile fields it will completely destroy, as when a sick person wastes away.
19
And the remaining trees of his forests will be so few that a child could write them down.
The Remnant of Israel
20
In that day the remnant of Israel, the survivors of Jacob, will no longer rely on him who struck them down but will truly rely on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.
21
A remnant will return, a remnant of Jacob will return to the Mighty God.
22
Though your people be like the sand by the sea, Israel, only a remnant will return. Destruction has been decreed, overwhelming and righteous.
23
The Lord, the Lord Almighty, will carry out the destruction decreed upon the whole land.
24 Therefore this is what the Lord, the Lord Almighty, says:
“My people who live in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrians, who beat you with a rod and lift up a club against you, as Egypt did.
25
Very soon my anger against you will end and my wrath will be directed to their destruction.”
26
The Lord Almighty will lash them with a whip, as when he struck down Midian at the rock of Oreb; and he will raise his staff over the waters, as he did in Egypt.
27
In that day their burden will be lifted from your shoulders, their yoke from your neck; the yoke will be broken because you have grown so fat.
28
They enter Aiath; they pass through Migron; they store supplies at Mikmash.
29
They go over the pass, and say, “We will camp overnight at Geba.” Ramah trembles; Gibeah of Saul flees.
30
Cry out, Daughter Gallim! Listen, Laishah! Poor Anathoth!
31
Madmenah is in flight; the people of Gebim take cover.
32
This day they will halt at Nob; they will shake their fist at the mount of Daughter Zion, at the hill of Jerusalem.
33
See, the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will lop off the boughs with great power. The lofty trees will be felled, the tall ones will be brought low.
34
He will cut down the forest thickets with an ax; Lebanon will fall before the Mighty One.
New International Version (NIV)
10
Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees,
2
to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.
3
What will you do on the day of reckoning, when disaster comes from afar? To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your riches?
4
Nothing will remain but to cringe among the captives or fall among the slain.
Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.
God’s Judgment on Assyria
5
“Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my anger, in whose hand is the club of my wrath!
6
I send him against a godless nation, I dispatch him against a people who anger me, to seize loot and snatch plunder, and to trample them down like mud in the streets.
7
But this is not what he intends, this is not what he has in mind; his purpose is to destroy, to put an end to many nations.
8
‘Are not my commanders all kings?’ he says.
9
‘Has not Kalno fared like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad, and Samaria like Damascus?
10
As my hand seized the kingdoms of the idols, kingdoms whose images excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria—
11
shall I not deal with Jerusalem and her images as I dealt with Samaria and her idols?’”
12 When the Lord has finished all his work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, he will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for the willful pride of his heart and the haughty look in his eyes. 13 For he says:
“‘By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, because I have understanding. I removed the boundaries of nations, I plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their kings.
14
As one reaches into a nest, so my hand reached for the wealth of the nations; as people gather abandoned eggs, so I gathered all the countries; not one flapped a wing, or opened its mouth to chirp.’”
15
Does the ax raise itself above the person who swings it, or the saw boast against the one who uses it? As if a rod were to wield the person who lifts it up, or a club brandish the one who is not wood!
16
Therefore, the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will send a wasting disease upon his sturdy warriors; under his pomp a fire will be kindled like a blazing flame.
17
The Light of Israel will become a fire, their Holy One a flame; in a single day it will burn and consume his thorns and his briers.
18
The splendor of his forests and fertile fields it will completely destroy, as when a sick person wastes away.
19
And the remaining trees of his forests will be so few that a child could write them down.
The Remnant of Israel
20
In that day the remnant of Israel, the survivors of Jacob, will no longer rely on him who struck them down but will truly rely on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.
21
A remnant will return, a remnant of Jacob will return to the Mighty God.
22
Though your people be like the sand by the sea, Israel, only a remnant will return. Destruction has been decreed, overwhelming and righteous.
23
The Lord, the Lord Almighty, will carry out the destruction decreed upon the whole land.
24 Therefore this is what the Lord, the Lord Almighty, says:
“My people who live in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrians, who beat you with a rod and lift up a club against you, as Egypt did.
25
Very soon my anger against you will end and my wrath will be directed to their destruction.”
26
The Lord Almighty will lash them with a whip, as when he struck down Midian at the rock of Oreb; and he will raise his staff over the waters, as he did in Egypt.
27
In that day their burden will be lifted from your shoulders, their yoke from your neck; the yoke will be broken because you have grown so fat.
28
They enter Aiath; they pass through Migron; they store supplies at Mikmash.
29
They go over the pass, and say, “We will camp overnight at Geba.” Ramah trembles; Gibeah of Saul flees.
30
Cry out, Daughter Gallim! Listen, Laishah! Poor Anathoth!
31
Madmenah is in flight; the people of Gebim take cover.
32
This day they will halt at Nob; they will shake their fist at the mount of Daughter Zion, at the hill of Jerusalem.
33
See, the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will lop off the boughs with great power. The lofty trees will be felled, the tall ones will be brought low.
34
He will cut down the forest thickets with an ax; Lebanon will fall before the Mighty One.
Proverbs 15
New International Version (NIV)
15
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2
The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.
3
The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.
4
The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
5
A fool spurns a parent’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.
6
The house of the righteous contains great treasure, but the income of the wicked brings ruin.
7
The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not upright.
8
The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.
9
The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.
10
Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path; the one who hates correction will die.
11
Death and Destruction lie open before the Lord— how much more do human hearts!
12
Mockers resent correction, so they avoid the wise.
13
A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.
14
The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
15
All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16
Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil.
17
Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred.
18
A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.
19
The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.
20
A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.
21
Folly brings joy to one who has no sense, but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.
22
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
23
A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word!
24
The path of life leads upward for the prudent to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead.
25
The Lord tears down the house of the proud, but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.
26
The Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked, but gracious words are pure in his sight.
27
The greedy bring ruin to their households, but the one who hates bribes will live.
28
The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.
29
The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
30
Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.
31
Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise.
32
Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.
33
Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honor.
New International Version (NIV)
15
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2
The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.
3
The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.
4
The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
5
A fool spurns a parent’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.
6
The house of the righteous contains great treasure, but the income of the wicked brings ruin.
7
The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not upright.
8
The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.
9
The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.
10
Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path; the one who hates correction will die.
11
Death and Destruction lie open before the Lord— how much more do human hearts!
12
Mockers resent correction, so they avoid the wise.
13
A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.
14
The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
15
All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16
Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil.
17
Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred.
18
A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.
19
The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.
20
A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.
21
Folly brings joy to one who has no sense, but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.
22
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
23
A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word!
24
The path of life leads upward for the prudent to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead.
25
The Lord tears down the house of the proud, but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.
26
The Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked, but gracious words are pure in his sight.
27
The greedy bring ruin to their households, but the one who hates bribes will live.
28
The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.
29
The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
30
Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.
31
Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise.
32
Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.
33
Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honor.