August 6 - Evening
"Because the Lord revealed their plot to me, I knew it, for at that time he showed me what they were doing.
I had been like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter;
I did not realize that they had plotted against me, saying,
'Let us destroy the tree and its fruit; let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name be remembered no more.'
But you, Lord Almighty, who judge righteously and test the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance on them, for to you I have committed my cause.
Therefore this is what the Lord says about the people of Anathoth who are threatening to kill you, saying,
'Do not prophesy in the name of the Lord or you will die by our hands!'
— therefore this is what the Lord Almighty says: 'I will punish them. Their young men will die by the sword, their sons and daughters by famine. Not even a remnant will be left to them, because I will bring disaster on the people of Anathoth in the year of their punishment.' ”
- Jeremiah 11:18-23
'Let us destroy the tree and its fruit; let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name be remembered no more.'
But you, Lord Almighty, who judge righteously and test the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance on them, for to you I have committed my cause.
Therefore this is what the Lord says about the people of Anathoth who are threatening to kill you, saying,
'Do not prophesy in the name of the Lord or you will die by our hands!'
— therefore this is what the Lord Almighty says: 'I will punish them. Their young men will die by the sword, their sons and daughters by famine. Not even a remnant will be left to them, because I will bring disaster on the people of Anathoth in the year of their punishment.' ”
- Jeremiah 11:18-23
Hometown Haters Will Hate the Hometown Prophet
There was a plan to kill Jeremiah that the Lord revealed to Jeremiah. Even though the Lord warned Jeremiah at the beginning of his ministry by telling him that his words would not be accepted and people would oppose him (Jeremiah 1:17-19), Jeremiah like all of us, assumed that people would be ready to hear the truth and pleased with the hope the Lord offers to those who embrace his Word. So, Jeremiah is caught off-guard when his life is threatened by the people of his own hometown, the priestly village of Anathoth.
“I had been like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter; I did not realize that they had plotted against me.” - Jeremiah 11:19
The reason for the hatred of the local boy by his own townsfolk would include the fact that Jeremiah had sided with King Josiah’s reforms. These reforms included the shutting down of the high places located in all the villages and towns throughout the land of Judah. The shutting down of the Anathoth high place religious center effected the economy, the prestige and the job opportunities.
In his twelfth year he (King Josiah) began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles and idols. Under his direction the altars of the Baals were torn down; he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them, and smashed the Asherah poles and the idols. These he broke to pieces and scattered over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. He burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and so he purged Judah and Jerusalem. - 2 Chronicles 34:3-5
In this case, imagine Jeremiah as a talk show host that supported the president’s policy!
The people realized Jeremiah was speaking words as a prophet and that his words would either have a supernatural effect and come to pass, or Jeremiah’s words would have a social effect and turn public opinion. Jeremiah’s priestly relatives knew the only way to stop a prophet and the influence of his words (be it spiritual or social) was to “destroy” the prophet himself. In other words, uproot the tree in order to prevent the fruit from forming.
Eidolon (Gr) – idol (Eng) – the Greek word eidolon is translated “idol” in Acts 7:41 and
1 Corinthians 12:2. The meaning of the word eidolon is “phantom” and “likeness.”
Eidolon is built on the Greek word eidos which literally means “that which is seen.”
Am I willing to give up public support and friendly relationships for the speaking the Truth?
I will speak the Truth in Love with the understanding that no matter how gracious I am some times the only thing people want from me is silence.
I will speak the Truth in Love with the understanding that no matter how gracious I am some times the only thing people want from me is silence.
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Personal
Greater desire to know God
Church
Avoid legalism
Nation
Minorities
World
South Korea
Someone to Quote
“The purpose of the government is to maintain order not impose the Christian faith.”
- Galyn Wiemers
Something to Ponder
93% of John’s material in the Gospel of John does not appear in the synoptic gospels (Mt., Mk., Lk.). The gospel of John was written for both believing and non-believing Greek readers. John’s introduction is full of Greek thought. Clearly John is writing to a non-Jewish group sometime after the destruction of the temple in 70 AD since he explains Jewish customs, translates Jewish names, and locates sites in Israel. John’s purpose is to present Jesus as divine. He begins his book by saying “the Word became flesh” (1:1) and ends by quoting Thomas as saying, “My Lord and My God” (20:28). John’s purpose statement can befound in 20:30-31:
“These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
John records seven signs done by Jesus and follows each of them up with a discourse taught by Jesus to explain the intended meaning of the sign.
“These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
John records seven signs done by Jesus and follows each of them up with a discourse taught by Jesus to explain the intended meaning of the sign.
Here’s a Fact
Proverb
"Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes, for the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys upon your very life."
- Proverbs 6:25-26
- Proverbs 6:25-26
Coach’s Corner
The greatest miracle is salvation. The godliest spiritual manifestation is the transformed soul.
Daniel 8 New International Version (NIV)
Daniel’s Vision of a Ram and a Goat
8 In the third year of King Belshazzar’s reign, I, Daniel, had a vision, after the one that had already appeared to me. 2 In my vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa in the province of Elam; in the vision I was beside the Ulai Canal. 3 I looked up, and there before me was a ram with two horns, standing beside the canal, and the horns were long. One of the horns was longer than the other but grew up later. 4 I watched the ram as it charged toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against it, and none could rescue from its power. It did as it pleased and became great.
5 As I was thinking about this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between its eyes came from the west, crossing the whole earth without touching the ground. 6 It came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and charged at it in great rage. 7 I saw it attack the ram furiously, striking the ram and shattering its two horns. The ram was powerless to stand against it; the goat knocked it to the ground and trampled on it, and none could rescue the ram from its power. 8 The goat became very great, but at the height of its power the large horn was broken off, and in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven.
9 Out of one of them came another horn, which started small but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land. 10 It grew until it reached the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth and trampled on them. 11 It set itself up to be as great as the commander of the army of the Lord; it took away the daily sacrifice from the Lord, and his sanctuary was thrown down. 12 Because of rebellion, the Lord’s people and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.
13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, “How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled—the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, the surrender of the sanctuary and the trampling underfoot of the Lord’s people?”
14 He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated.”
The Interpretation of the Vision
15 While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there before me stood one who looked like a man. 16 And I heard a man’s voice from the Ulai calling, “Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the vision.”
17 As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate. “Son of man,” he said to me, “understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.”
18 While he was speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Then he touched me and raised me to my feet.
19 He said: “I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath, because the vision concerns the appointed time of the end. 20 The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia. 21 The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between its eyes is the first king. 22 The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same power.
23 “In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue, will arise. 24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people. 25 He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.
26 “The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.”
27 I, Daniel, was worn out. I lay exhausted for several days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding.
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.
Daniel’s Vision of a Ram and a Goat
8 In the third year of King Belshazzar’s reign, I, Daniel, had a vision, after the one that had already appeared to me. 2 In my vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa in the province of Elam; in the vision I was beside the Ulai Canal. 3 I looked up, and there before me was a ram with two horns, standing beside the canal, and the horns were long. One of the horns was longer than the other but grew up later. 4 I watched the ram as it charged toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against it, and none could rescue from its power. It did as it pleased and became great.
5 As I was thinking about this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between its eyes came from the west, crossing the whole earth without touching the ground. 6 It came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and charged at it in great rage. 7 I saw it attack the ram furiously, striking the ram and shattering its two horns. The ram was powerless to stand against it; the goat knocked it to the ground and trampled on it, and none could rescue the ram from its power. 8 The goat became very great, but at the height of its power the large horn was broken off, and in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven.
9 Out of one of them came another horn, which started small but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land. 10 It grew until it reached the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth and trampled on them. 11 It set itself up to be as great as the commander of the army of the Lord; it took away the daily sacrifice from the Lord, and his sanctuary was thrown down. 12 Because of rebellion, the Lord’s people and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.
13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, “How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled—the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, the surrender of the sanctuary and the trampling underfoot of the Lord’s people?”
14 He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated.”
The Interpretation of the Vision
15 While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there before me stood one who looked like a man. 16 And I heard a man’s voice from the Ulai calling, “Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the vision.”
17 As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate. “Son of man,” he said to me, “understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.”
18 While he was speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Then he touched me and raised me to my feet.
19 He said: “I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath, because the vision concerns the appointed time of the end. 20 The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia. 21 The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between its eyes is the first king. 22 The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same power.
23 “In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue, will arise. 24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people. 25 He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.
26 “The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.”
27 I, Daniel, was worn out. I lay exhausted for several days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding.
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.
Zephaniah 3 New International Version (NIV)
Jerusalem
3
Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled!
2
She obeys no one, she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the Lord, she does not draw near to her God.
3
Her officials within her are roaring lions; her rulers are evening wolves, who leave nothing for the morning.
4
Her prophets are unprincipled; they are treacherous people. Her priests profane the sanctuary and do violence to the law.
5
The Lord within her is righteous; he does no wrong. Morning by morning he dispenses his justice, and every new day he does not fail, yet the unrighteous know no shame.
Jerusalem Remains Unrepentant
6
“I have destroyed nations; their strongholds are demolished. I have left their streets deserted, with no one passing through. Their cities are laid waste; they are deserted and empty.
7
Of Jerusalem I thought, ‘Surely you will fear me and accept correction!’ Then her place of refuge would not be destroyed, nor all my punishments come upon her. But they were still eager to act corruptly in all they did.
8
Therefore wait for me,” declares the Lord, “for the day I will stand up to testify. I have decided to assemble the nations, to gather the kingdoms and to pour out my wrath on them— all my fierce anger. The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger.
Restoration of Israel’s Remnant
9
“Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him shoulder to shoulder.
10
From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, my scattered people, will bring me offerings.
11
On that day you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shame for all the wrongs you have done to me, because I will remove from you your arrogant boasters. Never again will you be haughty on my holy hill.
12
But I will leave within you the meek and humble. The remnant of Israel will trust in the name of the Lord.
13
They will do no wrong; they will tell no lies. A deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouths. They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid.”
14
Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem!
15
The Lord has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm.
16
On that day they will say to Jerusalem, “Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp.
17
The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
18
“I will remove from you all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals, which is a burden and reproach for you.
19
At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you. I will rescue the lame; I will gather the exiles. I will give them praise and honor in every land where they have suffered shame.
20
At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes,” says the Lord.
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.
Jerusalem
3
Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled!
2
She obeys no one, she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the Lord, she does not draw near to her God.
3
Her officials within her are roaring lions; her rulers are evening wolves, who leave nothing for the morning.
4
Her prophets are unprincipled; they are treacherous people. Her priests profane the sanctuary and do violence to the law.
5
The Lord within her is righteous; he does no wrong. Morning by morning he dispenses his justice, and every new day he does not fail, yet the unrighteous know no shame.
Jerusalem Remains Unrepentant
6
“I have destroyed nations; their strongholds are demolished. I have left their streets deserted, with no one passing through. Their cities are laid waste; they are deserted and empty.
7
Of Jerusalem I thought, ‘Surely you will fear me and accept correction!’ Then her place of refuge would not be destroyed, nor all my punishments come upon her. But they were still eager to act corruptly in all they did.
8
Therefore wait for me,” declares the Lord, “for the day I will stand up to testify. I have decided to assemble the nations, to gather the kingdoms and to pour out my wrath on them— all my fierce anger. The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger.
Restoration of Israel’s Remnant
9
“Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him shoulder to shoulder.
10
From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, my scattered people, will bring me offerings.
11
On that day you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shame for all the wrongs you have done to me, because I will remove from you your arrogant boasters. Never again will you be haughty on my holy hill.
12
But I will leave within you the meek and humble. The remnant of Israel will trust in the name of the Lord.
13
They will do no wrong; they will tell no lies. A deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouths. They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid.”
14
Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem!
15
The Lord has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm.
16
On that day they will say to Jerusalem, “Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp.
17
The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
18
“I will remove from you all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals, which is a burden and reproach for you.
19
At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you. I will rescue the lame; I will gather the exiles. I will give them praise and honor in every land where they have suffered shame.
20
At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes,” says the Lord.
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.