September 1 - Evening
"Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand." - Daniel 12:10
The Wise Understand and are Refined; The Wicked Do Not and Continue Wickedness
This devotion considers the meaning of the words “purified,” “spotless,” and “refined” as they are used in Daniel 12:10, which are some of the final words recorded by Daniel. The intervening historical period between Daniel’s life and the fulfillment of his prophetic message will serve as a time of purifying, cleansing and refining God’s people. “Purified” means “examined.” Trials, challenges and life in general examine all of us, but the godly men who know and understand God are purified through these trials. “Spotless” means “cleansed” which again describes the moral and spiritual condition that will occur in the wise men who seek God. “Refined” means “to be fused” or “to be cast in a mold.” It is the word that refers to a goldsmith melting away the impurities so they can be purged and the pure metal cast into the desired image. (See the same words used in Daniel 11:35)
Those who allow God’s Spirit and Word to change their character and their nature will do so because they understand the process and plan of God as it unfolds in history. But, during this time of refining believers, there will be many other people who will not understand God’s purpose for history and, as a result of their lack of understanding, they will continue to be wicked and live in rebellion towards God, his Truth and his nature. As history unfolds society will not continue to become better and better through social reform. Instead, the godly will face opposition that will refine them, while the wicked living during these same times will use the same experiences to enhance, justify and practice their wickedness.
amen (Gr) – “amen” (Eng) – a transliteration of the Hebrew “emen” used to confirm a statement. Translated “so be it,” “so it is,” “verily,” “truly,” “there you have it.” Used in synagogues by the congregation to confirm a prayer or oath spoken by someone else.
Is God purifying and refining me today?
I will allow God to use situations to conform me into the image of Christ and to strengthen my confidence in him.
I will allow God to use situations to conform me into the image of Christ and to strengthen my confidence in him.
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Personal
Marriage
Church
An outpouring of the Holy Spirit
Nation
President's administration
World
Micronesia - Mormons are very active
Someone to Quote
"One great power of sin is that it blinds men so that they do not recognize its true character." – Andrew Murray
Something to Ponder
It was not until the middle of the 1800’s that people were invited to come forward and make a decision for Christ and be born again. Charles Finney (1792-1875), the American preacher, was the first Christian in 1,800 years to practice this method.
Here’s a Fact
The Library in Nineveh built by Assyrian King Assurbanipal (640 BC and visited by Alexander the Great 331 BC) was excavated in 1872. Found were accounts of the ancient flood copied from documents in Babylon from before the time of Abraham.
Proverb
"My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them. If they say, 'Come along with us; let's lie in wait for someone's blood...do not go along with them...for their feet rush into sin...These men lie in wait for their own blood; they waylay only themselves!"
- Proverbs 1:10-16
- Proverbs 1:10-16
Coach’s Corner
There is a great future for believers. And, we will be there.
Nehemiah 12
New International Version (NIV)
Priests and Levites
12 These were the priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Joshua:
Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
2 Amariah, Malluk, Hattush,
3 Shekaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
4 Iddo, Ginnethon, Abijah,
5 Mijamin, Moadiah, Bilgah,
6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,
7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah and Jedaiah.
These were the leaders of the priests and their associates in the days of Joshua.
8 The Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and also Mattaniah, who, together with his associates, was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving. 9 Bakbukiah and Unni, their associates, stood opposite them in the services.
10 Joshua was the father of Joiakim, Joiakim the father of Eliashib, Eliashib the father of Joiada, 11 Joiada the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan the father of Jaddua.
12 In the days of Joiakim, these were the heads of the priestly families:
of Seraiah’s family, Meraiah;
of Jeremiah’s, Hananiah;
13 of Ezra’s, Meshullam;
of Amariah’s, Jehohanan;
14 of Malluk’s, Jonathan;
of Shekaniah’s, Joseph;
15 of Harim’s, Adna;
of Meremoth’s, Helkai;
16 of Iddo’s, Zechariah;
of Ginnethon’s, Meshullam;
17 of Abijah’s, Zikri;
of Miniamin’s and of Moadiah’s, Piltai;
18 of Bilgah’s, Shammua;
of Shemaiah’s, Jehonathan;
19 of Joiarib’s, Mattenai;
of Jedaiah’s, Uzzi;
20 of Sallu’s, Kallai;
of Amok’s, Eber;
21 of Hilkiah’s, Hashabiah;
of Jedaiah’s, Nethanel.
22 The family heads of the Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan and Jaddua, as well as those of the priests, were recorded in the reign of Darius the Persian. 23 The family heads among the descendants of Levi up to the time of Johanan son of Eliashib were recorded in the book of the annals. 24 And the leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua son of Kadmiel, and their associates, who stood opposite them to give praise and thanksgiving, one section responding to the other, as prescribed by David the man of God.
25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the gates. 26 They served in the days of Joiakim son of Joshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra the priest, the teacher of the Law.
Dedication of the Wall of Jerusalem
27 At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres. 28 The musicians also were brought together from the region around Jerusalem—from the villages of the Netophathites, 29 from Beth Gilgal, and from the area of Geba and Azmaveth, for the musicians had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem. 30 When the priests and Levites had purified themselves ceremonially, they purified the people, the gates and the wall.
31 I had the leaders of Judah go up on top of the wall. I also assigned two large choirs to give thanks. One was to proceed on top of the wall to the right, toward the Dung Gate. 32 Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah followed them, 33 along with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, 35 as well as some priests with trumpets, and also Zechariah son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zakkur, the son of Asaph, 36 and his associates—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah and Hanani—with musical instruments prescribed by David the man of God. Ezra the teacher of the Law led the procession. 37 At the Fountain Gate they continued directly up the steps of the City of David on the ascent to the wall and passed above the site of David’s palace to the Water Gate on the east.
38 The second choir proceeded in the opposite direction. I followed them on top of the wall, together with half the people—past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall, 39 over the Gate of Ephraim, the Jeshanah Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate. At the Gate of the Guard they stopped.
40 The two choirs that gave thanks then took their places in the house of God; so did I, together with half the officials, 41 as well as the priests—Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah and Hananiah with their trumpets— 42 and also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam and Ezer. The choirs sang under the direction of Jezrahiah. 43 And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.
44 At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the contributions, firstfruits and tithes. From the fields around the towns they were to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the Law for the priests and the Levites, for Judah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites. 45 They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did also the musicians and gatekeepers, according to the commands of David and his son Solomon. 46 For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there had been directors for the musicians and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. 47 So in the days of Zerubbabel and of Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the musicians and the gatekeepers. They also set aside the portion for the other Levites, and the Levites set aside the portion for the descendants of Aaron.
New International Version (NIV)
Priests and Levites
12 These were the priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Joshua:
Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
2 Amariah, Malluk, Hattush,
3 Shekaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
4 Iddo, Ginnethon, Abijah,
5 Mijamin, Moadiah, Bilgah,
6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,
7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah and Jedaiah.
These were the leaders of the priests and their associates in the days of Joshua.
8 The Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and also Mattaniah, who, together with his associates, was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving. 9 Bakbukiah and Unni, their associates, stood opposite them in the services.
10 Joshua was the father of Joiakim, Joiakim the father of Eliashib, Eliashib the father of Joiada, 11 Joiada the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan the father of Jaddua.
12 In the days of Joiakim, these were the heads of the priestly families:
of Seraiah’s family, Meraiah;
of Jeremiah’s, Hananiah;
13 of Ezra’s, Meshullam;
of Amariah’s, Jehohanan;
14 of Malluk’s, Jonathan;
of Shekaniah’s, Joseph;
15 of Harim’s, Adna;
of Meremoth’s, Helkai;
16 of Iddo’s, Zechariah;
of Ginnethon’s, Meshullam;
17 of Abijah’s, Zikri;
of Miniamin’s and of Moadiah’s, Piltai;
18 of Bilgah’s, Shammua;
of Shemaiah’s, Jehonathan;
19 of Joiarib’s, Mattenai;
of Jedaiah’s, Uzzi;
20 of Sallu’s, Kallai;
of Amok’s, Eber;
21 of Hilkiah’s, Hashabiah;
of Jedaiah’s, Nethanel.
22 The family heads of the Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan and Jaddua, as well as those of the priests, were recorded in the reign of Darius the Persian. 23 The family heads among the descendants of Levi up to the time of Johanan son of Eliashib were recorded in the book of the annals. 24 And the leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua son of Kadmiel, and their associates, who stood opposite them to give praise and thanksgiving, one section responding to the other, as prescribed by David the man of God.
25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the gates. 26 They served in the days of Joiakim son of Joshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra the priest, the teacher of the Law.
Dedication of the Wall of Jerusalem
27 At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres. 28 The musicians also were brought together from the region around Jerusalem—from the villages of the Netophathites, 29 from Beth Gilgal, and from the area of Geba and Azmaveth, for the musicians had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem. 30 When the priests and Levites had purified themselves ceremonially, they purified the people, the gates and the wall.
31 I had the leaders of Judah go up on top of the wall. I also assigned two large choirs to give thanks. One was to proceed on top of the wall to the right, toward the Dung Gate. 32 Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah followed them, 33 along with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, 35 as well as some priests with trumpets, and also Zechariah son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zakkur, the son of Asaph, 36 and his associates—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah and Hanani—with musical instruments prescribed by David the man of God. Ezra the teacher of the Law led the procession. 37 At the Fountain Gate they continued directly up the steps of the City of David on the ascent to the wall and passed above the site of David’s palace to the Water Gate on the east.
38 The second choir proceeded in the opposite direction. I followed them on top of the wall, together with half the people—past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall, 39 over the Gate of Ephraim, the Jeshanah Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate. At the Gate of the Guard they stopped.
40 The two choirs that gave thanks then took their places in the house of God; so did I, together with half the officials, 41 as well as the priests—Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah and Hananiah with their trumpets— 42 and also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam and Ezer. The choirs sang under the direction of Jezrahiah. 43 And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.
44 At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the contributions, firstfruits and tithes. From the fields around the towns they were to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the Law for the priests and the Levites, for Judah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites. 45 They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did also the musicians and gatekeepers, according to the commands of David and his son Solomon. 46 For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there had been directors for the musicians and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. 47 So in the days of Zerubbabel and of Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the musicians and the gatekeepers. They also set aside the portion for the other Levites, and the Levites set aside the portion for the descendants of Aaron.
Ezekiel 19
New International Version (NIV)
A Lament Over Israel’s Princes
19 “Take up a lament concerning the princes of Israel 2 and say:
“‘What a lioness was your mother among the lions! She lay down among them and reared her cubs.
3
She brought up one of her cubs, and he became a strong lion. He learned to tear the prey and he became a man-eater.
4
The nations heard about him, and he was trapped in their pit. They led him with hooks to the land of Egypt.
5
“‘When she saw her hope unfulfilled, her expectation gone, she took another of her cubs and made him a strong lion.
6
He prowled among the lions, for he was now a strong lion. He learned to tear the prey and he became a man-eater.
7
He broke down their strongholds and devastated their towns. The land and all who were in it were terrified by his roaring.
8
Then the nations came against him, those from regions round about. They spread their net for him, and he was trapped in their pit.
9
With hooks they pulled him into a cage and brought him to the king of Babylon. They put him in prison, so his roar was heard no longer on the mountains of Israel.
10
“‘Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard planted by the water; it was fruitful and full of branches because of abundant water.
11
Its branches were strong, fit for a ruler’s scepter. It towered high above the thick foliage, conspicuous for its height and for its many branches.
12
But it was uprooted in fury and thrown to the ground. The east wind made it shrivel, it was stripped of its fruit; its strong branches withered and fire consumed them.
13
Now it is planted in the desert, in a dry and thirsty land.
14
Fire spread from one of its main branches and consumed its fruit. No strong branch is left on it fit for a ruler’s scepter.’
“This is a lament and is to be used as a lament.”
New International Version (NIV)
A Lament Over Israel’s Princes
19 “Take up a lament concerning the princes of Israel 2 and say:
“‘What a lioness was your mother among the lions! She lay down among them and reared her cubs.
3
She brought up one of her cubs, and he became a strong lion. He learned to tear the prey and he became a man-eater.
4
The nations heard about him, and he was trapped in their pit. They led him with hooks to the land of Egypt.
5
“‘When she saw her hope unfulfilled, her expectation gone, she took another of her cubs and made him a strong lion.
6
He prowled among the lions, for he was now a strong lion. He learned to tear the prey and he became a man-eater.
7
He broke down their strongholds and devastated their towns. The land and all who were in it were terrified by his roaring.
8
Then the nations came against him, those from regions round about. They spread their net for him, and he was trapped in their pit.
9
With hooks they pulled him into a cage and brought him to the king of Babylon. They put him in prison, so his roar was heard no longer on the mountains of Israel.
10
“‘Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard planted by the water; it was fruitful and full of branches because of abundant water.
11
Its branches were strong, fit for a ruler’s scepter. It towered high above the thick foliage, conspicuous for its height and for its many branches.
12
But it was uprooted in fury and thrown to the ground. The east wind made it shrivel, it was stripped of its fruit; its strong branches withered and fire consumed them.
13
Now it is planted in the desert, in a dry and thirsty land.
14
Fire spread from one of its main branches and consumed its fruit. No strong branch is left on it fit for a ruler’s scepter.’
“This is a lament and is to be used as a lament.”