April 24 - Morning
"When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal...
The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked,
'Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?'...
...The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, 'Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”...
...Fifty men from the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan...
...The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, 'The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.'
And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him."
- Second Kings 2:1, 3, 5, 7, 15
...The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, 'Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”...
...Fifty men from the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan...
...The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, 'The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.'
And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him."
- Second Kings 2:1, 3, 5, 7, 15
Elijah’s Public Ascension Again Demonstrates the Worthlessness of Baal
In the Old Testament believers (and, unbelievers) would not “go up to heaven” at death, but would “go down to Sheol.” This is seen in Genesis, Job, Psalms, etc. (Genesis 25:7-8; 42:38; 37:35; Job 7:9; 21:13; 5:26; 17:16; 1 Kings 2:10; Psalms 16:10; 139:2; 30:3; Isaiah 57:9; Acts 2:27 (Diagram; Details). Sheol, or “grave” as it is translated in English Bibles, was the realm of the dead in the underworld. The righteous would be released from Sheol upon Jesus' death and resurrection and would then enter heaven, the presence of the throne of God.
So, it is very interesting that Elijah is “going up.” The phrase that says Elijah was about to be taken “to heaven in a whirlwind” in 2:1 is literally “in the storm of the heavens.” This does not necessarily mean Elijah went into heaven where the throne of God is located, since Jesus says in John 3:13,
“No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven – the Son of Man.”
Elijah and Elisha pass through three cities, each with a local school and residence for the prophets (Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho - Map) called the "company of the prophets" (literally "sons of the prophtets").
Elijah's, Elisha’s and their students' were opposed by Baal, or Hadad, the storm god who was the “rider/driver of the clouds.” Baal, or Hadad, was said to ride on his chariot of the clouds with fire and lightning. But, while all the prophets were watching the true Lord took his true prophet in a chariot of fire that descended out of the sky and ascended back into the sky. This was the very domain of Baal celebrated by Jezebel and her followers.
This would mean Elijah’s removal from the earth was a demonstration of the Lord’s authority (similar to fire coming from heaven on Mount Carmel from Elijah’s YHWH and the Baal of Jezebel and her false prophets). After this demonstration of power and dominion Elijah would have then gone the way of all the earth and entered Sheol, the underworld (called Paradise by Jesus on the cross and others in the days of the New Testament, or Abraham’s Side) to wait for the resurrection of Jesus.
Another key element of this historical account is that Elijah’s powerful and faithful ministry was to continue through the man Elisha. These were dark days of Israel and this supernatural confirmation strengthen and secured the prophets and the believers in the depths of a dark confused society.
Tob (Hb) – Good (Eng) – tob is the Hebrew word that means “good,” “pleasing,” “right,” “best,” “favorable” and “festive.” Tob describes land in Exodus 3:8 and 1 Samuel 8:14. Rebekah is described as tob, or “very beautiful,” in Genesis 24:16. Men, such as Gideon in Judges 8:32, are said to die at a tob age, or “a ripe old age.”
Do I both believe and obey?
Do I demonstrate that I trust the Word of God by responding with the appropriate action?
I desire to learn God's Word and then allow that Word to direct my thoughts, words and actions.
Do I demonstrate that I trust the Word of God by responding with the appropriate action?
I desire to learn God's Word and then allow that Word to direct my thoughts, words and actions.
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Personal
Children
Church
Boldness in the face of opposition
Nation
Global presence
World
Colombia
Late night class at the Western Wall.
Watch a brief 16 second video of this class that Galyn uploaded with his cell phone below:
Watch a brief 16 second video of this class that Galyn uploaded with his cell phone below:
Someone to Quote
“A little philosophy inclineth man’s mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men’s minds about to religion.” – Sir Francis Bacon
Something to Ponder
Propitiation – the universal concept of an angry God who must be pleased or satisfied before any good or blessing can occur. The work of Christ on the cross satisfies all the claims of divine holiness, righteousness, and justice so that God is propitiated. Many times you hear a man say that Christ satisfies him, when in reality, that was never really an issue. Christ has always been the bread of life and the water of life which satisfies man. The problem is that God was not satisfied. Our biggest concern is not whether we are satisfied with God, but whether God is satisfied with Christ. Jesus Christ is our propitiation before God, and God is satisfied or propitiated with Christ.
Here’s a Fact
In Jerusalem the western hill (Mount Zion today) had water cisterns cut into its eastern slope facing David’s original city. These cisterns were eventually used as tombs before Hezekiah included this western ridge into the city of Jerusalem by enclosing it with the extension of the wall around 701 BC.
Proverb
"Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter."
- Proverbs 24:11
- Proverbs 24:11
Coach’s Corner
Great men are remembered in movies and books, but not committees and boards.
Joshua 11
New International Version (NIV)
Northern Kings Defeated
11 When Jabin king of Hazor heard of this, he sent word to Jobab king of Madon, to the kings of Shimron and Akshaph, 2 and to the northern kings who were in the mountains, in the Arabah south of Kinnereth, in the western foothills and in Naphoth Dor on the west; 3 to the Canaanites in the east and west; to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites and Jebusites in the hill country; and to the Hivites below Hermon in the region of Mizpah. 4 They came out with all their troops and a large number of horses and chariots—a huge army, as numerous as the sand on the seashore. 5 All these kings joined forces and made camp together at the Waters of Merom to fight against Israel.
6 The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them, slain, over to Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots.”
7 So Joshua and his whole army came against them suddenly at the Waters of Merom and attacked them, 8 and the Lord gave them into the hand of Israel. They defeated them and pursued them all the way to Greater Sidon, to Misrephoth Maim, and to the Valley of Mizpah on the east, until no survivors were left. 9 Joshua did to them as the Lord had directed: He hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots.
10 At that time Joshua turned back and captured Hazor and put its king to the sword. (Hazor had been the head of all these kingdoms.) 11 Everyone in it they put to the sword. They totally destroyed them, not sparing anyone that breathed, and he burned Hazor itself.
12 Joshua took all these royal cities and their kings and put them to the sword. He totally destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded. 13 Yet Israel did not burn any of the cities built on their mounds—except Hazor, which Joshua burned. 14 The Israelites carried off for themselves all the plunder and livestock of these cities, but all the people they put to the sword until they completely destroyed them, not sparing anyone that breathed. 15 As the Lord commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses.
16 So Joshua took this entire land: the hill country, all the Negev, the whole region of Goshen, the western foothills, the Arabah and the mountains of Israel with their foothills, 17 from Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir, to Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon. He captured all their kings and put them to death. 18 Joshua waged war against all these kings for a long time. 19 Except for the Hivites living in Gibeon, not one city made a treaty of peace with the Israelites, who took them all in battle. 20 For it was the Lord himself who hardened their hearts to wage war against Israel, so that he might destroy them totally, exterminating them without mercy, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
21 At that time Joshua went and destroyed the Anakites from the hill country: from Hebron, Debir and Anab, from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua totally destroyed them and their towns. 22 No Anakites were left in Israelite territory; only in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod did any survive.
23 So Joshua took the entire land, just as the Lord had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Then the land had rest from war.
New International Version (NIV)
Northern Kings Defeated
11 When Jabin king of Hazor heard of this, he sent word to Jobab king of Madon, to the kings of Shimron and Akshaph, 2 and to the northern kings who were in the mountains, in the Arabah south of Kinnereth, in the western foothills and in Naphoth Dor on the west; 3 to the Canaanites in the east and west; to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites and Jebusites in the hill country; and to the Hivites below Hermon in the region of Mizpah. 4 They came out with all their troops and a large number of horses and chariots—a huge army, as numerous as the sand on the seashore. 5 All these kings joined forces and made camp together at the Waters of Merom to fight against Israel.
6 The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them, slain, over to Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots.”
7 So Joshua and his whole army came against them suddenly at the Waters of Merom and attacked them, 8 and the Lord gave them into the hand of Israel. They defeated them and pursued them all the way to Greater Sidon, to Misrephoth Maim, and to the Valley of Mizpah on the east, until no survivors were left. 9 Joshua did to them as the Lord had directed: He hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots.
10 At that time Joshua turned back and captured Hazor and put its king to the sword. (Hazor had been the head of all these kingdoms.) 11 Everyone in it they put to the sword. They totally destroyed them, not sparing anyone that breathed, and he burned Hazor itself.
12 Joshua took all these royal cities and their kings and put them to the sword. He totally destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded. 13 Yet Israel did not burn any of the cities built on their mounds—except Hazor, which Joshua burned. 14 The Israelites carried off for themselves all the plunder and livestock of these cities, but all the people they put to the sword until they completely destroyed them, not sparing anyone that breathed. 15 As the Lord commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses.
16 So Joshua took this entire land: the hill country, all the Negev, the whole region of Goshen, the western foothills, the Arabah and the mountains of Israel with their foothills, 17 from Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir, to Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon. He captured all their kings and put them to death. 18 Joshua waged war against all these kings for a long time. 19 Except for the Hivites living in Gibeon, not one city made a treaty of peace with the Israelites, who took them all in battle. 20 For it was the Lord himself who hardened their hearts to wage war against Israel, so that he might destroy them totally, exterminating them without mercy, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
21 At that time Joshua went and destroyed the Anakites from the hill country: from Hebron, Debir and Anab, from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua totally destroyed them and their towns. 22 No Anakites were left in Israelite territory; only in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod did any survive.
23 So Joshua took the entire land, just as the Lord had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Then the land had rest from war.
Joshua 11
New International Version (NIV)
Northern Kings Defeated
11 When Jabin king of Hazor heard of this, he sent word to Jobab king of Madon, to the kings of Shimron and Akshaph, 2 and to the northern kings who were in the mountains, in the Arabah south of Kinnereth, in the western foothills and in Naphoth Dor on the west; 3 to the Canaanites in the east and west; to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites and Jebusites in the hill country; and to the Hivites below Hermon in the region of Mizpah. 4 They came out with all their troops and a large number of horses and chariots—a huge army, as numerous as the sand on the seashore. 5 All these kings joined forces and made camp together at the Waters of Merom to fight against Israel.
6 The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them, slain, over to Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots.”
7 So Joshua and his whole army came against them suddenly at the Waters of Merom and attacked them, 8 and the Lord gave them into the hand of Israel. They defeated them and pursued them all the way to Greater Sidon, to Misrephoth Maim, and to the Valley of Mizpah on the east, until no survivors were left. 9 Joshua did to them as the Lord had directed: He hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots.
10 At that time Joshua turned back and captured Hazor and put its king to the sword. (Hazor had been the head of all these kingdoms.) 11 Everyone in it they put to the sword. They totally destroyed them, not sparing anyone that breathed, and he burned Hazor itself.
12 Joshua took all these royal cities and their kings and put them to the sword. He totally destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded. 13 Yet Israel did not burn any of the cities built on their mounds—except Hazor, which Joshua burned. 14 The Israelites carried off for themselves all the plunder and livestock of these cities, but all the people they put to the sword until they completely destroyed them, not sparing anyone that breathed. 15 As the Lord commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses.
16 So Joshua took this entire land: the hill country, all the Negev, the whole region of Goshen, the western foothills, the Arabah and the mountains of Israel with their foothills, 17 from Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir, to Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon. He captured all their kings and put them to death. 18 Joshua waged war against all these kings for a long time. 19 Except for the Hivites living in Gibeon, not one city made a treaty of peace with the Israelites, who took them all in battle. 20 For it was the Lord himself who hardened their hearts to wage war against Israel, so that he might destroy them totally, exterminating them without mercy, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
21 At that time Joshua went and destroyed the Anakites from the hill country: from Hebron, Debir and Anab, from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua totally destroyed them and their towns. 22 No Anakites were left in Israelite territory; only in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod did any survive.
23 So Joshua took the entire land, just as the Lord had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Then the land had rest from war.
New International Version (NIV)
Northern Kings Defeated
11 When Jabin king of Hazor heard of this, he sent word to Jobab king of Madon, to the kings of Shimron and Akshaph, 2 and to the northern kings who were in the mountains, in the Arabah south of Kinnereth, in the western foothills and in Naphoth Dor on the west; 3 to the Canaanites in the east and west; to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites and Jebusites in the hill country; and to the Hivites below Hermon in the region of Mizpah. 4 They came out with all their troops and a large number of horses and chariots—a huge army, as numerous as the sand on the seashore. 5 All these kings joined forces and made camp together at the Waters of Merom to fight against Israel.
6 The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them, slain, over to Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots.”
7 So Joshua and his whole army came against them suddenly at the Waters of Merom and attacked them, 8 and the Lord gave them into the hand of Israel. They defeated them and pursued them all the way to Greater Sidon, to Misrephoth Maim, and to the Valley of Mizpah on the east, until no survivors were left. 9 Joshua did to them as the Lord had directed: He hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots.
10 At that time Joshua turned back and captured Hazor and put its king to the sword. (Hazor had been the head of all these kingdoms.) 11 Everyone in it they put to the sword. They totally destroyed them, not sparing anyone that breathed, and he burned Hazor itself.
12 Joshua took all these royal cities and their kings and put them to the sword. He totally destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded. 13 Yet Israel did not burn any of the cities built on their mounds—except Hazor, which Joshua burned. 14 The Israelites carried off for themselves all the plunder and livestock of these cities, but all the people they put to the sword until they completely destroyed them, not sparing anyone that breathed. 15 As the Lord commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses.
16 So Joshua took this entire land: the hill country, all the Negev, the whole region of Goshen, the western foothills, the Arabah and the mountains of Israel with their foothills, 17 from Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir, to Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon. He captured all their kings and put them to death. 18 Joshua waged war against all these kings for a long time. 19 Except for the Hivites living in Gibeon, not one city made a treaty of peace with the Israelites, who took them all in battle. 20 For it was the Lord himself who hardened their hearts to wage war against Israel, so that he might destroy them totally, exterminating them without mercy, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
21 At that time Joshua went and destroyed the Anakites from the hill country: from Hebron, Debir and Anab, from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua totally destroyed them and their towns. 22 No Anakites were left in Israelite territory; only in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod did any survive.
23 So Joshua took the entire land, just as the Lord had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Then the land had rest from war.
2 Samuel 21
New International Version (NIV)
The Gibeonites Avenged
21 During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the Lord. The Lord said, “It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.”
2 The king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not a part of Israel but were survivors of the Amorites; the Israelites had sworn to spare them, but Saul in his zeal for Israel and Judah had tried to annihilate them.) 3 David asked the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? How shall I make atonement so that you will bless the Lord’s inheritance?”
4 The Gibeonites answered him, “We have no right to demand silver or gold from Saul or his family, nor do we have the right to put anyone in Israel to death.”
“What do you want me to do for you?” David asked.
5 They answered the king, “As for the man who destroyed us and plotted against us so that we have been decimated and have no place anywhere in Israel, 6 let seven of his male descendants be given to us to be killed and their bodies exposed before the Lord at Gibeah of Saul—the Lord’s chosen one.”
So the king said, “I will give them to you.”
7 The king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the Lord between David and Jonathan son of Saul. 8 But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Aiah’s daughter Rizpah, whom she had borne to Saul, together with the five sons of Saul’s daughter Merab, whom she had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite. 9 He handed them over to the Gibeonites, who killed them and exposed their bodies on a hill before the Lord. All seven of them fell together; they were put to death during the first days of the harvest, just as the barley harvest was beginning.
10 Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest till the rain poured down from the heavens on the bodies, she did not let the birds touch them by day or the wild animals by night. 11 When David was told what Aiah’s daughter Rizpah, Saul’s concubine, had done, 12 he went and took the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead. (They had stolen their bodies from the public square at Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hung them after they struck Saul down on Gilboa.) 13 David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from there, and the bones of those who had been killed and exposed were gathered up.
14 They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish, at Zela in Benjamin, and did everything the king commanded. After that, God answered prayer in behalf of the land.
Wars Against the Philistines
15 Once again there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines, and he became exhausted. 16 And Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of Rapha, whose bronze spearhead weighed three hundred shekels and who was armed with a new sword, said he would kill David. 17 But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, saying, “Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel will not be extinguished.”
18 In the course of time, there was another battle with the Philistines, at Gob. At that time Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Saph, one of the descendants of Rapha.
19 In another battle with the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver’s rod.
20 In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha. 21 When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimeah, David’s brother, killed him.
22 These four were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men.
New International Version (NIV)
The Gibeonites Avenged
21 During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the Lord. The Lord said, “It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.”
2 The king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not a part of Israel but were survivors of the Amorites; the Israelites had sworn to spare them, but Saul in his zeal for Israel and Judah had tried to annihilate them.) 3 David asked the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? How shall I make atonement so that you will bless the Lord’s inheritance?”
4 The Gibeonites answered him, “We have no right to demand silver or gold from Saul or his family, nor do we have the right to put anyone in Israel to death.”
“What do you want me to do for you?” David asked.
5 They answered the king, “As for the man who destroyed us and plotted against us so that we have been decimated and have no place anywhere in Israel, 6 let seven of his male descendants be given to us to be killed and their bodies exposed before the Lord at Gibeah of Saul—the Lord’s chosen one.”
So the king said, “I will give them to you.”
7 The king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the Lord between David and Jonathan son of Saul. 8 But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Aiah’s daughter Rizpah, whom she had borne to Saul, together with the five sons of Saul’s daughter Merab, whom she had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite. 9 He handed them over to the Gibeonites, who killed them and exposed their bodies on a hill before the Lord. All seven of them fell together; they were put to death during the first days of the harvest, just as the barley harvest was beginning.
10 Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest till the rain poured down from the heavens on the bodies, she did not let the birds touch them by day or the wild animals by night. 11 When David was told what Aiah’s daughter Rizpah, Saul’s concubine, had done, 12 he went and took the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead. (They had stolen their bodies from the public square at Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hung them after they struck Saul down on Gilboa.) 13 David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from there, and the bones of those who had been killed and exposed were gathered up.
14 They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish, at Zela in Benjamin, and did everything the king commanded. After that, God answered prayer in behalf of the land.
Wars Against the Philistines
15 Once again there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines, and he became exhausted. 16 And Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of Rapha, whose bronze spearhead weighed three hundred shekels and who was armed with a new sword, said he would kill David. 17 But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, saying, “Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel will not be extinguished.”
18 In the course of time, there was another battle with the Philistines, at Gob. At that time Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Saph, one of the descendants of Rapha.
19 In another battle with the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver’s rod.
20 In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha. 21 When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimeah, David’s brother, killed him.
22 These four were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men.
Psalm 81
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 81
For the director of music. According to gittith. Of Asaph.
1
Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob!
2
Begin the music, strike the timbrel, play the melodious harp and lyre.
3
Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon, and when the moon is full, on the day of our festival;
4
this is a decree for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.
5
When God went out against Egypt, he established it as a statute for Joseph.
I heard an unknown voice say:
6
“I removed the burden from their shoulders; their hands were set free from the basket.
7
In your distress you called and I rescued you, I answered you out of a thundercloud; I tested you at the waters of Meribah.
8
Hear me, my people, and I will warn you— if you would only listen to me, Israel!
9
You shall have no foreign god among you; you shall not worship any god other than me.
10
I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.
11
“But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me.
12
So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.
13
“If my people would only listen to me, if Israel would only follow my ways,
14
how quickly I would subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!
15
Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever.
16
But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”
___
Psalm 88
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 88
A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. For the director of music. According to mahalath leannoth. A maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.
1
Lord, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you.
2
May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry.
3
I am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to death.
4
I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like one without strength.
5
I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care.
6
You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.
7
Your wrath lies heavily on me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.
8
You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot escape;
9
my eyes are dim with grief.
I call to you, Lord, every day; I spread out my hands to you.
10
Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do their spirits rise up and praise you?
11
Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction?
12
Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?
13
But I cry to you for help, Lord; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14
Why, Lord, do you reject me and hide your face from me?
15
From my youth I have suffered and been close to death; I have borne your terrors and am in despair.
16
Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me.
17
All day long they surround me like a flood; they have completely engulfed me.
18
You have taken from me friend and neighbor— darkness is my closest friend.
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 81
For the director of music. According to gittith. Of Asaph.
1
Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob!
2
Begin the music, strike the timbrel, play the melodious harp and lyre.
3
Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon, and when the moon is full, on the day of our festival;
4
this is a decree for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.
5
When God went out against Egypt, he established it as a statute for Joseph.
I heard an unknown voice say:
6
“I removed the burden from their shoulders; their hands were set free from the basket.
7
In your distress you called and I rescued you, I answered you out of a thundercloud; I tested you at the waters of Meribah.
8
Hear me, my people, and I will warn you— if you would only listen to me, Israel!
9
You shall have no foreign god among you; you shall not worship any god other than me.
10
I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.
11
“But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me.
12
So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.
13
“If my people would only listen to me, if Israel would only follow my ways,
14
how quickly I would subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!
15
Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever.
16
But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”
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Psalm 88
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 88
A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. For the director of music. According to mahalath leannoth. A maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.
1
Lord, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you.
2
May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry.
3
I am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to death.
4
I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like one without strength.
5
I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care.
6
You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.
7
Your wrath lies heavily on me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.
8
You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot escape;
9
my eyes are dim with grief.
I call to you, Lord, every day; I spread out my hands to you.
10
Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do their spirits rise up and praise you?
11
Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction?
12
Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?
13
But I cry to you for help, Lord; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14
Why, Lord, do you reject me and hide your face from me?
15
From my youth I have suffered and been close to death; I have borne your terrors and am in despair.
16
Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me.
17
All day long they surround me like a flood; they have completely engulfed me.
18
You have taken from me friend and neighbor— darkness is my closest friend.