July 30 - Morning

"The sinners in Zion are terrified; trembling grips the godless:

'Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting burning?'

Those who walk righteously and speak what is right, who reject gain from extortion and keep their hands from accepting bribes, who stop their ears against plots of murder and shut their eyes against contemplating evil— they are the ones who will dwell on the heights, whose refuge will be the mountain fortress. Their bread will be supplied, and water will not fail them. Your eyes will see the king in his beauty and view a land that stretches afar."

- Isaiah 33:14-17

Who Among us Will Survive The Lord's Presence?

33:10-16 This is God’s response to the people’s helplessness and their crying out to him. He has been waiting for them. 33:10 Always after God tells you to “wait” there will come a time when he says “now” and he means “now”. In this verse there are three “nows”:

Now will I arise
Now will I be exalted
Now will I be lifted up

Only when we are focused on God and waiting will we hear his “now” clearly. 33:11-12 All of Assyria’s plans and power where nothing but fuel for the fire ignited by their own words against God. 33:13-16 These verses describe how each group of people respond to God’s interaction in history. 33:13 Isaiah is speaking here to the Gentiles. Isaiah was a prophet to the nations. Here he calls to the nations to pay attention and acknowledge the Lord. Similar to Psalm 2:10-12,

Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. - Psalm 2:10-12

33:14 Isaiah now speaks to the unrepentant Jews in Jerusalem These are Jews who had rejected Isaiah’s message and now have seen it come to pass. Suddenly they realize they cannot endure or live in the presence of this holy God. Whenever God manifest himself the first thing people sense is a feeling of sinfulness. God revealed in his glory our need for righteousness becomes the focus of our thoughts, then our statements and ultimately our actions. See Isaiah’s reaction to God in Isaiah 6:5 God’s character and God’s power cannot be separated. Isaiah 33:15 Who can survive the appearance of God?
1. He who walks righteously
2. He who speaks what is right
3. He who rejects fain from extortion
4. He who keeps his hand from accepting bribes
5. He who stops his ears against plots of murder
6. He who shuts his eyes against contemplating evil

Psalm 15 “Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?”
1. He whose walk is blameless
2. He who does what is righteous
3. He who speaks the truth
4. He who has no slander
5. He who does his neighbor no wrong
6. He who casts no slur
7. He who despises a vile man
8. He who honors those who fear the Lord
9. He who keeps his oath
10. He who lends his money without usury
11. He who does not accept a bribe

This man “will never be shaken.” Psalm 24:3-6 “Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?"
1. He who has clean hands
2. He who has a pure heart
3. He who does not lift up his soul to an idol
4. He who does not swear by what is false

This man “will receive. . .
1. blessing from the Lord
2. vindication from God his Savior

“Such is the generation of those who seek him” 33:16-22 - This is the blessed state of the righteous man

Shaba (Hb) – to swear (Eng) - The Hebrew word shaba means “to swear,” and “to take an oath.” Shaba is used as a reference to making a promise. But, the Hebrew word shaba indicates more than a promise, but that there are stipulations that must be met or there are consequences. In 1 Samuel 20:17 David and Jonathan make a shaba which includes expectation and contract like arrangements.

I will speak with a clear heart.
I will act with clean hands.
I will pursue righteousness.

Bible Reading Descriptions Here

Personal

Physical strength

Church

Spiritual Warfare understanding and victory

Nation

daily update

Illegal drugs

World

daily update

Kazakhstan

Toni and Galyn sitting inside the Jerusalem city wall on the NW corner beside an arrow loop that looks out over the approaching enemy from the north

The Temple Mount area of Solomon's platform compared to the Hasmonean's size and the Herodian size after extensions were added.
(Details)

Someone to Quote

"Trying to do the Lord''s work in your own strength is the most confusing, exhausting, and tedious of all work. But when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the ministry of Jesus just flows out of you."
- Corrie Ten Boom

Something to Ponder

All of the stones, both very large and small, for Solomon’s Temple and for the retaining wall around the Temple Mount were cut at the quarry and brought to the Temple Mount construction site ready for placement. The stones came precisely cut and were assembled together without the stone mason’s needing to hammer or chisel the stones to fit. This is recorded in 1 Kings 6:7, “In building the temple, only blocks dressed at the quarry were used, and no hammer, chisel or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built.

Here’s a Fact

An earthquake is mentioned by Amos and Zechariah as the earthquake that occurred during King Uzziah's reign (792-740) could be associated with a 7.8-8.2 magnitude earthquake from around 750 BC (+ or – 30 years) that left earthquake debris at Hazor, Gezer, Lachish and three other sites. Besides Amos 1:1 and Zechariah 14:5, there is also Isaiah’s mention the temple columns and threshold shaking during the last year of King Uzziah, or 740 BC, in Isaiah 6:1-4. (Details 1, 2.)

Proverb

"It is not for kings, O Lemuel - not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, lest they drink and forget what the law decrees, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights."
- Proverbs 31:4-5

Coach’s Corner

Personal growth increases your personal potential. The failure to learn and the refusal to change is the rejection of increasing your opportunity for success.

1 Kings 5New International Version (NIV)
Preparations for Building the Temple
5 [a]When Hiram king of Tyre heard that Solomon had been anointed king to succeed his father David, he sent his envoys to Solomon, because he had always been on friendly terms with David. 2 Solomon sent back this message to Hiram:
3 “You know that because of the wars waged against my father David from all sides, he could not build a temple for the Name of the Lord his God until the Lord put his enemies under his feet. 4 But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or disaster. 5 I intend, therefore, to build a temple for the Name of the Lord my God, as the Lord told my father David, when he said, ‘Your son whom I will put on the throne in your place will build the temple for my Name.’
6 “So give orders that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. My men will work with yours, and I will pay you for your men whatever wages you set. You know that we have no one so skilled in felling timber as the Sidonians.”
7 When Hiram heard Solomon’s message, he was greatly pleased and said, “Praise be to the Lord today, for he has given David a wise son to rule over this great nation.”
8 So Hiram sent word to Solomon:
“I have received the message you sent me and will do all you want in providing the cedar and juniper logs. 9 My men will haul them down from Lebanon to the Mediterranean Sea, and I will float them as rafts by sea to the place you specify. There I will separate them and you can take them away. And you are to grant my wish by providing food for my royal household.”
10 In this way Hiram kept Solomon supplied with all the cedar and juniper logs he wanted, 11 and Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand cors[b] of wheat as food for his household, in addition to twenty thousand baths[c][d] of pressed olive oil. Solomon continued to do this for Hiram year after year. 12 The Lord gave Solomon wisdom, just as he had promised him. There were peaceful relations between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.
13 King Solomon conscripted laborers from all Israel—thirty thousand men. 14 He sent them off to Lebanon in shifts of ten thousand a month, so that they spent one month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor. 15 Solomon had seventy thousand carriers and eighty thousand stonecutters in the hills, 16 as well as thirty-three hundred[e] foremen who supervised the project and directed the workers. 17 At the king’s command they removed from the quarry large blocks of high-grade stone to provide a foundation of dressed stone for the temple. 18 The craftsmen of Solomon and Hiram and workers from Byblos cut and prepared the timber and stone for the building of the temple.
Footnotes:

1 Kings 5:1 In Hebrew texts 5:1-18 is numbered 5:15-32.
1 Kings 5:11 That is, probably about 3,600 tons or about 3,250 metric tons
1 Kings 5:11 Septuagint (see also 2 Chron. 2:10); Hebrew twenty cors
1 Kings 5:11 That is, about 120,000 gallons or about 440,000 liters
1 Kings 5:16 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 2 Chron. 2:2,18) thirty-six hundred

Psalm 94New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 94
1
The Lord is a God who avenges.     O God who avenges, shine forth.
2
Rise up, Judge of the earth;     pay back to the proud what they deserve.
3
How long, Lord, will the wicked,     how long will the wicked be jubilant?
4
They pour out arrogant words;     all the evildoers are full of boasting.
5
They crush your people, Lord;     they oppress your inheritance.
6
They slay the widow and the foreigner;     they murder the fatherless.
7
They say, “The Lord does not see;     the God of Jacob takes no notice.”
8
Take notice, you senseless ones among the people;     you fools, when will you become wise?
9
Does he who fashioned the ear not hear?     Does he who formed the eye not see?
10
Does he who disciplines nations not punish?     Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge?
11
The Lord knows all human plans;     he knows that they are futile.
12
Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord,     the one you teach from your law;
13
you grant them relief from days of trouble,     till a pit is dug for the wicked.
14
For the Lord will not reject his people;     he will never forsake his inheritance.
15
Judgment will again be founded on righteousness,     and all the upright in heart will follow it.
16
Who will rise up for me against the wicked?     Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?
17
Unless the Lord had given me help,     I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.
18
When I said, “My foot is slipping,”     your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.
19
When anxiety was great within me,     your consolation brought me joy.
20
Can a corrupt throne be allied with you—     a throne that brings on misery by its decrees?
21
The wicked band together against the righteous     and condemn the innocent to death.
22
But the Lord has become my fortress,     and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.
23
He will repay them for their sins     and destroy them for their wickedness;     the Lord our God will destroy them.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Isaiah 54-56New International Version (NIV)
The Future Glory of Zion
54
“Sing, barren woman,     you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy,     you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman     than of her who has a husband,” says the Lord.
2
“Enlarge the place of your tent,     stretch your tent curtains wide,     do not hold back; lengthen your cords,     strengthen your stakes.
3
For you will spread out to the right and to the left;     your descendants will dispossess nations     and settle in their desolate cities.
4
“Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame.     Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth     and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.
5
For your Maker is your husband—     the Lord Almighty is his name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;     he is called the God of all the earth.
6
The Lord will call you back     as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit— a wife who married young,     only to be rejected,” says your God.
7
“For a brief moment I abandoned you,     but with deep compassion I will bring you back.
8
In a surge of anger     I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness     I will have compassion on you,”     says the Lord your Redeemer.
9
“To me this is like the days of Noah,     when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you,     never to rebuke you again.
10
Though the mountains be shaken     and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken     nor my covenant of peace be removed,”     says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
11
“Afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted,     I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise,[a]     your foundations with lapis lazuli.
12
I will make your battlements of rubies,     your gates of sparkling jewels,     and all your walls of precious stones.
13
All your children will be taught by the Lord,     and great will be their peace.
14
In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you;     you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed;     it will not come near you.
15
If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing;     whoever attacks you will surrender to you.
16
“See, it is I who created the blacksmith     who fans the coals into flame     and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc;
17
    no weapon forged against you will prevail,     and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,     and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.
Invitation to the Thirsty
55
“Come, all you who are thirsty,     come to the waters; and you who have no money,     come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk     without money and without cost.
2
Why spend money on what is not bread,     and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,     and you will delight in the richest of fare.
3
Give ear and come to me;     listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you,     my faithful love promised to David.
4
See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,     a ruler and commander of the peoples.
5
Surely you will summon nations you know not,     and nations you do not know will come running to you, because of the Lord your God,     the Holy One of Israel,     for he has endowed you with splendor.”
6
Seek the Lord while he may be found;     call on him while he is near.
7
Let the wicked forsake their ways     and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,     and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
8
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,     neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
9
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,     so are my ways higher than your ways     and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10
As the rain and the snow     come down from heaven, and do not return to it     without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish,     so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:     It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire     and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
12
You will go out in joy     and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills     will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field     will clap their hands.
13
Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,     and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown,     for an everlasting sign,     that will endure forever.”
Salvation for Others
56 This is what the Lord says:
“Maintain justice     and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand     and my righteousness will soon be revealed.
2
Blessed is the one who does this—     the person who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it,     and keeps their hands from doing any evil.”
3
Let no foreigner who is bound to the Lord say,     “The Lord will surely exclude me from his people.” And let no eunuch complain,     “I am only a dry tree.”
4 For this is what the Lord says:
“To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,     who choose what pleases me     and hold fast to my covenant—
5
to them I will give within my temple and its walls     a memorial and a name     better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name     that will endure forever.
6
And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord     to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord,     and to be his servants, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it     and who hold fast to my covenant—
7
these I will bring to my holy mountain     and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices     will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called     a house of prayer for all nations.”
8
The Sovereign Lord declares—     he who gathers the exiles of Israel: “I will gather still others to them     besides those already gathered.”
God’s Accusation Against the Wicked
9
Come, all you beasts of the field,     come and devour, all you beasts of the forest!
10
Israel’s watchmen are blind,     they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs,     they cannot bark; they lie around and dream,     they love to sleep.
11
They are dogs with mighty appetites;     they never have enough. They are shepherds who lack understanding;     they all turn to their own way,     they seek their own gain.
12
“Come,” each one cries, “let me get wine!     Let us drink our fill of beer! And tomorrow will be like today,     or even far better.”
Footnotes:

Isaiah 54:11 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.