Work for food that endures to eternal life

Sunday 2021.10.31

In my New Testament reading today, I read chapters 5 and 6 of the Gospel according to John.

In John chapter 6 verses 27 to 29, our Lord Iesus told the crowds of people who came to him for more food after he had fed 5,000 of them with five loaves and two fish on the previous day, not to work for food that perishes but instead for food that brings about eternal life. When the people asked him what kind of work this is, Iesus replied, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent".

John 6:27 - 29 NRSV New Revised Standard Version

27Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.’ 28Then they said to him, ‘What must we do to perform the works of God?’ 29Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’

Further on in verses 47 to 51, our Lord told the Jews who were murmuring against him that he is the living bread that came down from heaven, and that whoever believes in him has eternal life.

John 6:47 - 51 NRSV

47Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.’

Over the last nine years, I have written my observations about the words of our Lord Iesus in John chapter 6 in my devotional blog, links below:

• The Heavenly Man (2010)
• The Heavenly Man (2012)
• Words of Life (2017)
• Iesus, ascending to where he was before (2019)

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Iesus the Anointed One, let us work for food that endures to eternal life. Let us hold fast to our belief in our Lord Iesus, the Living Bread from Heaven, whom God has sent.

In the Beginning was the Word

Friday 2021.10.29

Today is the Sixth Day of the Biblical Week. It is Preparation Day. Let us make preparations to rest for the Seventh Day Sabbath which will begin after sunset this evening.

In the New Testament today, I began reading the Gospel according to John, covering the first two chapters.

The Gospel of John begins with a detailed description of the origin, advent, and purpose of the Word of God. The first eighteen verses of chapter one tells us at least eight things about the Word of God.

(1) The Word was with God in the beginning.

John 1:1 - 2 ASV American Standard Version

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.

(2) All things were created through the Word.

John 1:3 ASV

3 All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made.

(3) Life and Light was in the Word

John 1:4 - 5 ASV

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not.

(4) The Word came into the world but the world did not recognise him. His own people rejected him.

John 1:9 - 11 ASV

9 There was the true light, even the light which lighteth every man, coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and they that were his own received him not.

(5) Whoever received him by believing on his name was given the right to become children of God.

John 1:12 - 13 ASV

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

(6) The Word came into this world physically, "in the flesh".

John 1:14 ASV

14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.

(7) John the Baptist bore witness of the Word and the Grace and Truth of God that came by the Word.

John 1:15 - 17 ASV

15 John beareth witness of him, and crieth, saying, This was he of whom I said, He that cometh after me is become before me: for he was before me.
16 For of his fulness we all received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

(8) The Word was in the bosom of God the Father, was the Only Begotten Son of God, and had declared God to us.

John 1:18 ASV

18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

They rested according to the Commandment

Thursday 2021.10.28

In the New Testament today, I finished reading the last three chapters of the Gospel of Luke from the King James Version.

Luke chapter 23 verses 54 to 56 tells us that, after the crucifixion and burial of our Lord Iesus the Anointed One, it was approaching sunset of Preparation Day (the Sixth Day) and the Sabbath was drawing near. Having looked at how the body of our Lord was laid in the tomb prepared by Joseph of Arimathea, the women who followed Iesus returned home, prepared spices and ointments and rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.

Luke 23:54 - 56 KJV

54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord, tomorrow will be Preparation Day, the Sixth Day of the Week. Like the women who followed Iesus in Luke chapter 23, let us prepare to rest on the sabbath according to the Fourth Commandment after sunset tomorrow.

Job lost all he had in one day

Wednesday 2021.10.27

Today in my Old Testament reading I read began reading the Book of Job, covering the first five chapters.

Job chapter 1 tells us that Job was a wealthy man. He had 7 sons and 3 daughters. He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 she-asses, and very many servants.

All these were taken away from Job in one day.

Verses 20 to 22 tells of Job's well known response to his great loss:

Job 1:20 - 22 RSV Revised Standard Version
Then Job arose, and rent his robe, and shaved his head, and fell upon the ground, and worshipped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”
In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

Job was a patient man. In the Epistle General of James, a reference is made about the steadfastness of Job in chapter 5 verse 11, how his steadfastness brought forth the purpose of God in his life:

James 5:11 RSV Behold, we call those happy who were steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

Brothers and Sisters in Iesus the Anointed One. Let us learn from the example of Job, to remain patient and steadfast in times of great loss and adversity.

Three things, and four

Tuesday 2021.10.26

This afternoon I read through Proverbs 28 to 31 for my Old Testament reading using the New International Version.

Proverbs chapter 30 is written by Agur ben Jakeh. It contains a set of utterances meant to be read in the hearing of Uthiel. Among the most notable words of wisdom in this chapter are classifications of things in life that come in sets of four, namely

1. Four things that never say enough v.15 - 16
2. Four things too amazing to understand v.18 - 19
3. Four things that make the earth tremble v.21 - 23
4. Four things small but exremely wise v.24 - 28, and
5. Four things that are stately in stride v.29 - 31

Proverbs 30:15 - 16 NIV

‘There are three things that are never satisfied,
four that never say, “Enough!”:
---- the grave
---- and the barren womb;
---- land, which is never satisfied with water,
---- and fire, which never says, “Enough!”

Proverbs 30:18 - 19 NIV

There are three things that are too amazing for me,
four that I do not understand:
---- the way of an eagle in the sky,
---- the way of a snake on a rock,
---- the way of a ship on the high seas,
---- and the way of a man with a young woman.

Proverbs 30:21 - 23 NIV

Under three things the earth trembles,
under four it cannot bear up:
---- a servant who becomes king,
---- a godless fool who gets plenty to eat,
---- a contemptible woman who gets married,
---- and a servant who displaces her mistress.

Proverbs 30:24 - 28 NIV

Four things on earth are small,
---- yet they are extremely wise:
ants are creatures of little strength,
---- yet they store up their food in the summer;
hyraxes are creatures of little power,
---- yet they make their home in the crags;
locusts have no king,
---- yet they advance together in ranks;
a lizard can be caught with the hand,
---- yet it is found in kings’ palaces.

Proverbs 30:29 - 31 NIV

There are three things that are stately in their stride,
four that move with stately bearing:
---- a lion, mighty among beasts, who retreats before nothing;
---- a strutting cock,
---- a he-goat,
---- and a king secure against revolt.

Why did the master praise the dishonest steward?

Monday 2021.10.25 15:33 hrs

Today, for my New Testament reading, I read through chapters 16 and 17 of the Gospel of Luke

Luke 16:1 - 12 records the Parable of the Dishonest Steward (or Dishonest Manager), a parable that I had for many years found rather puzzling, even disturbing, because of two things mentioned in it.

Firstly, in verse 8 our Lord tells us in this parable that the Master praised his dishonest manager for "doing such a shrewd thing". Why would the Master praise his employee after getting cheated by him?

Secondly, in verse 9, our Lord tells his followers to "make friends for yourselves with worldly wealth, so that when it gives out, you will be welcomed in the eternal home". What friends do we make with our worldly wealth? Who are these friends who will welcome us in eternity?

Luke 16:1 - 12 GNB

1Jesus said to his disciples, “There was once a rich man who had a servant who managed his property. The rich man was told that the manager was wasting his master's money, 2so he called him in and said, ‘What is this I hear about you? Hand in a complete account of your handling of my property, because you cannot be my manager any longer.’ 3The servant said to himself, ‘My master is going to dismiss me from my job. What shall I do? I am not strong enough to dig ditches, and I am ashamed to beg. 4Now I know what I will do! Then when my job is gone, I shall have friends who will welcome me in their homes.’

5“So he called in all the people who were in debt to his master. He asked the first one, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6‘100 barrels of olive oil,’ he answered. ‘Here is your account,’ the manager told him; ‘sit down and write fifty.’ 7Then he asked another one, ‘And you — how much do you owe?’ ‘A thousand sacks of wheat,’ he answered. ‘Here is your account,’ the manager told him; ‘write 800.’

8“As a result the master of this dishonest manager praised him for doing such a shrewd thing; because the people of this world are much more shrewd in handling their affairs than the people who belong to the light.”

9And Jesus went on to say, “And so I tell you: make friends for yourselves with worldly wealth, so that when it gives out, you will be welcomed in the eternal home. 10Whoever is faithful in small matters will be faithful in large ones; whoever is dishonest in small matters will be dishonest in large ones. 11If, then, you have not been faithful in handling worldly wealth, how can you be trusted with true wealth? 12And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to someone else, who will give you what belongs to you?

Eight years ago in September 2013, after pondering over this passage, I came to two conclusions about the parable which I discussed in detail in a devotional blog post, linked below:

• One Parable, Two Lessons

Who has woe? Who has sorrow?

Sunday 2021.10.24

On this First Day of the Biblical Week, I read Proverbs 22 to 24 from the Old Testament using the New King James Version.

Proverbs 23 contains a poetic passage about the perils of being addicted to wine. It concludes with the statement, "When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?", a poignant reminder of the endless whirlpool into which a drunkard descends.

Proverbs 23:29 - 35 NKJV
Who has woe?
---- Who has sorrow?
Who has contentions?
---- Who has complaints?
Who has wounds without cause?
---- Who has redness of eyes?

Those who linger long at the wine,
---- Those who go in search of mixed wine.

Do not look on the wine when it is red,
---- When it sparkles in the cup,
---- When it swirls around smoothly;

At the last it bites like a serpent,
---- And stings like a viper.
Your eyes will see strange things,
---- And your heart will utter perverse things.

Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea,
---- Or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying:
“They have struck me, but I was not hurt;
---- They have beaten me, but I did not feel it.

When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?”

Build up treasure in heaven, Keep your lamps burning

Saturday 2021.10.23

Shabbat Shalom. Today is the Seventh Day of the Biblical Week. Let us keep the Fourth Commandment by resting from all our work until sunset this evening.

This morning from the New Testament, I read Luke chapters 12 and 13 using J.N.Darby's Translation.

Luke chapter 12 carries an account of our Lord Iesus the Anointed One teaching the people to build up an everlasting treasure in heaven by giving alms. Immediately after saying this, our Lord goes on to remind his followers to keep their lamps burning and watch for the Lord's return.

Luke 12:29 - 37 JND J N Darby's Translation
29 And *ye*, seek not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink, and be not in anxiety;
30 for all these things do the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that ye have need of these things;
31 but seek his kingdom, and all these things shall be added to you.
32 Fear not, little flock, for it has been the good pleasure of your Father to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell what ye possess and give alms; make to yourselves purses which do not grow old, a treasure which does not fail in the heavens, where thief does not draw near nor moth destroy.
34 For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.
35 Let your loins be girded about, and lamps burning;
36 and *ye* like men who wait their own lord whenever he may leave the wedding, that when he comes and knocks, they may open to him immediately.
37 Blessed are those bondmen whom the lord on coming shall find watching; verily I say unto you, that he will gird himself and make them recline at table, and coming up will serve them.

The above passage brought up one question in my thoughts,
"Is building up treasure in heaven (giving alms) part and parcel of watching and waiting for the return of our Lord Iesus? Do we keep our lamps burning by continually giving to the poor and needy?"

These are questions I ponder over on this day of Shabbat.

The Lord Iesus was filled with the Holy Spirit

Friday 2021.10.22

Today is the Sixth Day of the Biblical Week. It is Preparation Day. Let us finish all our tasks for the week and prepare to rest for the Seventh Day Sabbath which will begin at sunset this evening.

This afternoon my New Testament reading covered chapters 10 and 11 of the Gospel of Luke from the RBV.

Luke chapter 10 verse 21 records the account of our Lord Iesus the Anointed One praising God for revealing His Kingdom to simple, uneducated people, whom he referred to as "babes", and hiding it from those who think of themselves as "learned and intelligent".

Luke 10:21 RBV

"At that time Iesus exulted in the Holy Spirit and said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have concealed this from the learned and intelligent and have revealed it to babes. Yes, Father, for thus it was pleasing in Your presence. . . ."

Note that verse 21 above begins by saying that our Lord Iesus "exulted in the Holy Spirit" when he uttered his praise to God, the Lord of heaven and earth. This reminds me of two earlier instances in the Gospel of Luke where our Lord was described as being filled with the Holy Spirit.

The first is in Luke 3:22 where the Holy Spirit descended upon our Lord in the form of a dove just after he was baptised by John the Baptist. The second instance is in the following chapter, in Luke 4:1, where our Lord was filled with the Holy Spirit when he returned from his baptism at the Jordan River, and was guided by the Spirit as he proceeded to the desert for 40 days of fasting.

Luke 3:21 - 22 RBV Revised Berkeley Version

When all the people were being baptised, Iesus too was baptized and, while he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit came down on him, in bodily shape like a dove, and a voice came from heaven, "You are My beloved Son; in you I am well pleased!"

Luke 4:1 RBV

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Iesus returned from the Jordan River and for 40 days was guided in the desert by the Spirit, . . .

After the death, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Iesus to the right hand of His Father, the apostle Peter spoke the following words when preaching the Gospel to the household of Cornelius the Centurion at Caesarea:

Acts 10: 37-38 KJV

You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, are you filled and guided by the Holy Spirit? Let us be always filled with the Holy Spirit. Like our Lord Iesus, let us exult in the Holy Spirit and give praise to God our Father in Heaven. Like the Anointed One, let us be guided by the Spirit of God in all we do.

Post Script:
Twelve years ago, in April 2009, I wrote a short devotion on this passage in Acts chapter 10, entitled, "An Act of God":

• An Act of God

He who guards his lips guards his life

Thursday 2021.10.21

For my Old Testament reading this afternoon, I read through Proverbs 13 to 15 using the NIV.

Proverbs 13 verse 3 carries a reminder for us to guard our speech, to be careful with what we say, for rash words can bring us into ruin.

Proverbs 13:3 NIV

He who guards his lips guards his life
---- but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.

I am also reminded of the teaching of the Apostle James in chapter 3 of his Epistle General about the tongue being "a world of evil" among the parts of our body, setting our life on fire.

James 3:3 - 6 NIV

3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

Brothers and Sisters, let us guard our speech. Let us restrain our lips. Let us bridle our tongues.

Two precious gems

Wednesday 2021.10.20

This afternoon I read Proverbs 10 to 12 for my Old Testament reading. In the New Testament, I read chapters 6 and 7 of the Gospel of Luke

Proverbs chapter 10 contains two gems of advice which have been precious to me since my university days more than forty years ago. They are found in verses 19 and 26

Proverbs 10:19 NKJV

In the multitude of words, sin is not lacking
---- but he who restrains his lips is wise.

Proverbs 10:26 NKJV

As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes
---- so is the sluggard to those who send him.

Taken together, these two gems of advice teaches us to talk less and work more, to refrain from careless chatter and to devote ourselves to diligent work.

Yehovah created Me first of all

Tuesday 2021.10.19

For my OT reading this afternoon, I read through Proverbs chapters 7 to 9 from the Good News Bible.

Proverbs chapter 8 contains a long passage where the Wisdom of God is personified, describing herself in the first person. I was surprised by verses 22 and 23 in particular which says Wisdom was created by Yehovah in the very beginning before the world began.

This made me wonder whether the Wisdom of God described here is identical to the Word of God described in John 1:1 - 2, "In the beginning the Word already existed; the Word was with God, and the Word was God. From the very beginning the Word was with God" (GNB).

Proverbs 8:12 - 31 GNB
12 I am Wisdom, and I have insight;
---- I have knowledge and sound judgement.
13 To honour the LORD is to hate evil;
---- I hate pride and arrogance, evil ways and false words.
14 I make plans and carry them out.
---- I have understanding, and I am strong.
15 I help kings to govern
---- and rulers to make good laws.
16 Every ruler on earth governs with my help,
---- officials and nobles alike.
17 I love those who love me;
---- whoever looks for me can find me.
18 I have riches and honour to give,
---- prosperity and success.
19 What you get from me is better than the finest gold,
---- better than the purest silver.
20 I walk the way of righteousness;
---- I follow the paths of justice,
21 giving wealth to those who love me,
---- filling their houses with treasures.
22 “The LORD created me first of all,
---- the first of his works, long ago.
23 I was made in the very beginning,
---- at the first, before the world began.
24 I was born before the oceans,
---- when there were no springs of water.
25 I was born before the mountains,
---- before the hills were set in place,
26 before God made the earth and its fields
---- or even the first handful of soil.
27 I was there when he set the sky in place,
---- when he stretched the horizon across the ocean,
28---- when he placed the clouds in the sky,
when he opened the springs of the ocean
29---- and ordered the waters of the sea to rise no further than he said.
I was there when he laid the earth's foundations.
30---- I was beside him like an architect,
I was his daily source of joy,
---- always happy in his presence —
31 happy with the world
---- and pleased with the human race.

Mary kept all these in her heart

Monday 2021.10.18

Today in the NT, I read Luke chapters 2 and 3.

Luke chapter 2 tells us of the events surrounding the birth of our Lord Iesus in Bethlehem of Judea and of his visits to Jerusalem in his childhood years. In particular, the chapter mentions two instances when Mary kept in her heart certain things that she heard: first from the shepherds who came to see the new born baby Iesus in the manger in Bethlehem, and second from Iesus himself when he was twelve years old when he stayed back to debate with learned men at the temple of Jerusalem.

Luke 2:15 - 19 KJV
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

Luke 2:46 - 51 KJV
And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.
51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

I wrote three devotional blogposts on "What Mary kept in her heart" eleven years ago in January 2010, links below:

• What Mary Kept in Her Heart Part One
• What Mary Kept in Her Heart Part Two
• What Mary Kept in Her Heart Part Three

Of such is the Kingdom of God

Friday 2021.10.15

Today is the Sixth Day of the Biblical Week. It is Preparation Day. Let us finish all our tasks for the week, tie up all loose ends, and prepare to rest for the Seventh Day Shabbat beginning at sunset this evening.

This afternoon my NT reading covered Mark chapters 9 and 10.

Mark chapter 10 contains an account of our Lord Iesou becoming much displeased with his disciples for rebuking some parents who brought their children to be touched by the Lord, telling his disciples that whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child will not enter into it. This passage contains the well known words of our Lord, "Suffer little children to come unto me . . . ".

About forty-five years ago, some time in 1977, I heard these words being sung in a song during Sunday Service in Wesley Methodist Church Kuala Lumpur. I would like to learn to sing that song again.

Mark 10:13 - 16 KJV

13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

In April last year, I wrote a poem using these words of our Lord, "Suffer little children", in my poetry blog, link below:

• Suffer Little Children

Ye leave the commandment of God, hold fast the tradition of men

Thursday 2021.10.14

Today, in the NT, I read the Gospel of Mark chapters 7 and 8 from the American Standard Version.

Mark chapter 7 verses 1 to 8 records the account of the Pharisees and scribes questioning our Lord about the failure of his disciples to adhere to their strict tradition of washing hands before meals, one of many other such traditions of bathing, and washing cups, pots and bronze vessels. In their view, failure to observe any of these "tradition of the elders" results in being defiled.

In verses 6 to 8, our Lord Iesous quoted Isaiah 29:13 (Esaias 29:13) from the Septuagint and rebuked them for leaving the commandment of God and instead adhering to the tradition of men.

Mark 7:1 - 8 ASV

1 And there are gathered together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, who had come from Jerusalem,
2 and had seen that some of his disciples ate their bread with defiled, that is, unwashen, hands.
3 (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands diligently, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders;
4 and when they come from the market-place, except they bathe themselves, they eat not; and many other things there are, which they have received to hold, washings of cups, and pots, and brasen vessels.)
5 And the Pharisees and the scribes ask him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with defiled hands?
6 And he said unto them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoreth me with their lips, But their heart is far from me.
7 But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men.
8 Ye leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men.

Esaias 29:13 LXX Brenton

And the Lord has said, This people draw nigh to me with their mouth, and they honour me with their lips, but their heart is far from me: but in vain do they worship me, teaching the commandments and doctrines of men.

The good man

Tuesday 2021.10.12

Today, in my reading of Psalms 111 to 118, I came across a not-so-well-known passage in Psalm 112 telling us that a good man shows favour and lends to others, and he will not be afraid of evil tidings because his heart is fixed upon trusting Yehovah.

Psalm 112 verse 9 in particular tells us that the good man disperses his wealth and gives to the poor, and his righteousness endures forever. This verse is quoted by the Apostle in 2 Corinthians chapter 9 verse 9 in his urging the believers in Corinth to give cheerfully.

Psalm 112:5 - 10 KJV

5 A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth:
- he will guide his affairs with discretion.
6 Surely he shall not be moved for ever:
- the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.
7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings:
- his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
8 His heart is established, he shall not be afraid,
- until he see his desire upon his enemies.
9 He hath dispersed,
- he hath given to the poor;
his righteousness endureth for ever;
- his horn shall be exalted with honour.
10 The wicked shall see it, and be grieved;
- he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away:
- - the desire of the wicked shall perish.

2 Corinthians 9:7 - 10 KJV

7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)

Brothers and Sisters in Christos the Anointed One, let us endeavour to give to the poor and needy, that our righteousness may endure forever, and that God will grant us sufficiency in all things, enabling us to abound in all good work.

A Priest forever, after the Order of Melchizedek

Monday 2021.10.11

This afternoon, as I read through Psalm 107 to 110 for my OT reading, I am reminded of the promise of Yehovah in Psalm 110 verse 4, an unchangeable promise made with an oath, that He will make our Messiah a priest forever, belonging to the Order of Melchizedek.

Psalm 110:4 KJV

The LORD hath sworn,
and will not repent,
Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Over the years, I have written several devotions and discussions on the teachings of scripture about this chosen Priest. The following are some of the links to my blog posts:

• 26Apr2010 : Jesus Our Mediator
• 05Mar2010 : Immanuel, God With Us
• 05Jul2012 : Adoni, the Anointed King
• 30Nov2012 : The Priest of God
• 23Nov2013 : Judah - the tribe chosen by YeHoVah
• 02Dec2013 : Son of the Most High, Prophet of the Most High
• 12Jul2014 : Although he was a Son, he learned obedience

He departed to a solitary place, and there prayed

Monday 2021.10.11

My NT reading today covers Mark chapters 1 and 2.

I am reminded from Mark 1 verse 35 that our Lord Iesou the Anointed One has set us an example of rising early in the morning, "a great while before day", to pray in a quiet place. I learned to do this during my secondary school days, and sometimes during my university years, by getting up at about five o'clock in the morning to pray and to read the Scriptures at my study table, all by myself. Perhaps I should return to this habit again.

Mark 1:35 KJV

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out,
and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

Two beautiful songs of praise

Saturday 2021.10.09

Shabbat Shalom.

This morning during my Bible Reading time, I came across two short passages from the Psalms that are used in two well known songs of praise.

This first is Psalm 86 verses 10 to 12, used as lyrics in the song "For Thou Art Great". The second passage is Psalm 89 verses 1 and 2, in the lyrics of "I will sing of the mercies of the LORD".

Psalm 86:10 - 12 KJV

10 For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.
11 Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
12 I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.

Psalm 89:1 - 2 KJV

1 I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.
2 For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.

No good thing will He withhold from the upright

Saturday 2021.10.09

Shabbat Shalom. Today is the Seventh Day of the Biblical Week. Let us rest from all our work according to the Fourth Commandment.

This morning for my OT reading, I finished reading Psalms 78 to 89, which are the last twelve Psalms in Book II (Psalm 73 - 89).

Psalm 84 contains a passage which I had memorised before back in 1978, about forty-three years ago. It tells us that spending time in prayer before God, "in thy courts" is far better than spending our time elsewhere. And God does not withhold any good thing from those who walk uprightly before Him.

Psalm 84:8 KJV

O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.

9

Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.

10

For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

11

For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

12

O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

To suffer, be killed, be raised from the dead

Tuesday 2021.10.05

For my NT reading today, I read Matthew chapters 16 and 17 using the American Standard Version.

Both chapters 16 and 17 of the Gospel of Matthew contain accounts of our Lord telling his disciples that he would go to Jerusalem, to suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, then to be killed and eventually to be raised by God from the dead.

Matthew 16:20 - 21 ASV

20 Then charged he the disciples that they should tell no man that he was the Christ.
21 From that time began Jesus to show unto his disciples, that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up

Matthew 17:22 - 23 ASV

22 And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be delivered up into the hands of men;
23 and they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised up. And they were exceeding sorry.

The disciples were told again by our Lord of his impending suffering, death and resurrection in Matthew chapter 20, while they were on the way to Jerusalem.

Matthew 20:18 - 19 JND

18 Behold we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man will be delivered up to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death;
19 and they will deliver him up to the nations to mock and to scourge and to crucify, and the third day he shall rise again.

Do you desire life and love to see many good days?

Sunday 2021.10.03 14:41 hrs

One of the passages I came across in my devotional reading this morning is from Psalm 34, verses 12 through 16.

The teaching in this passage is quoted by the Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 3:10 - 12, reminding us that the eyes of God are always watching over the righteous, and that His ears are open to their prayers. In contrast, the face of God is set against those who do evil.

The passage tells us that we should refrain from speaking evil, and instead do good, and pursue peace in our lives. In that way, we can see good days in our lives.

Psalm 34:12 - 16 KJV

12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

1 Peter 3:10 - 12 KJV

10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

Sacrifices and Offerings Thou didst not desire

Sunday 2021.10.03 11:22 hrs

This morning, as I was reading through Psalms 31 to 41, I was reminded of a well known passage in Psalm 40.

Psalm 40:6 - 8 is a Messianic prophecy, foretelling the coming of the Anointed One of God, who delights to do the will of His God by giving up his body as the sacrifice for all sins.

Being translated from the Masoretic texts, the KJV, like most English Translations, render Psalm 40:6 as "Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened . . ."

Psalm 40:6 - 8 KJV

6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

However, in the Septuagint, from which many verses are quoted in the New Testament, Psalm 40:6 (which is Psalm 39:7 in LXX) says, "Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not; but a body hast thou prepared me . . ."

Psalm 39:7 - 9 LXX Brenton

7 Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not; but a body hast thou prepared me: whole-burnt-offering and sacrifice for sin thou didst not require.
8 Then I said, Behold, I *come: in the volume of the book it is written concerning me,
9 I desired to do thy will, O my God, and thy law in the midst of mine heart.

The prophecy that "a body thou has prepared me" is quoted in the New Testament in Hebrews 10:5-9, where it is explained that God has taken away the first covenant of sacrifices and burnt offerings, and has established the second covenant of a single once-for-all-sacrifice - the sacrifice of the body of His Anointed one.

Hebrews 10:5 - 9 KJV

5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

Behold my Servant

Sunday 2021.10.03 11:04 hrs

For my NT reading today, I read the Gospel of Matthew chapters 12 and 13 using the Bible in Basic English. Tomorrow I will continue with Matthew 14 using the World English Bible.

In Matthew chapter 12, we read the account of the Pharisees meeting together to discuss how to destroy our Lord Iesous after our Lord healed a man of his withered hand in their synagogue on a Sabbath Day. Being aware of the Pharisees' council, our Lord withdrew from that place. Great crowds followed him, and he healed them all, charging them not to make him known.

Our Lord's quiet retreat from his enemies and his secret healing of all who followed him is described by Matthew in verses 18 to 21 as the fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah 42:1 - 3 and Isaiah 11:10.

Matthew 12:18 - 21 Bible in Basic English

18 See my servant, the man of my selection, my loved one in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit on him, and he will make my decision clear to the Gentiles.
19 His coming will not be with fighting or loud cries; and his voice will not be lifted up in the streets.
20 The crushed stem will not be broken by him; and the feebly burning light will he not put out, till he has made righteousness overcome all.
21 And in his name will the Gentiles put their hope.

Isaiah 42:1 - 3 KJV

Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.

Isaiah 11:10 KJV

And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

It is noteworthy that our Lord's fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah in "not with fighting nor loud cries" and in "crushed stem not be broken by him" results in the Gentiles putting their hope in Him.

Yes, the earthly ministry of the Lord Iesous is a ministry for the whole world. God has put His Spirit on the Lord Iesous to show his judgment to the Gentiles. In His Name will the Gentiles put their hope.

"Behold my servant . . . ", Isaiah 42:1 says. Let us behold our Lord, the Servant of God, in whom God delights, and upon whom God has put His Spirit. Let us put our hope in our Lord Iesous.

He is Elijah who was about to come

Saturday 2021.10.02

Shabbat Shalom. Today is the Seventh Day of the Biblical Week. Let us rest from all our work until sunset this evening.

For my NT reading today, I read chapters 10 and 11 of the Gospel according to Matthew using Young's Literal Translation.

Matthew chapter 11 records the account of our Lord Iesous asking the multitudes about who John the Baptist was. With pointed questions, our Lord asked, "What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet." (Matthew 11:7 - 9 YLT)

Then he told the multitudes in verse 10 that John the Baptist was the Messenger sent by God to prepare the way for the Messiah. It was a fulfilment of the prophecy written in Malachi 3:1.

Matthew 11:10 YLT

for this is he of whom it hath been written,
Lo, I do send My messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.

Malachi 3:1a NET

I am about to send my messenger, who will clear the way before me. . . .

Further on in Matthew 11 verses 11 to 14, our Lord continued to explain that John the Baptist was the return of Elijah, a fulfilment of the prophecy in Malachi 4:5 - 6. This fulfilment was also told to the priest Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, by the angel who appeared at the right side of the altar of incense when it was Zechariah's turn to burn incense in the Temple, in Luke 1:17.

Matthew 11:11 - 14 YLT

11 Verily I say to you, there hath not risen, among those born of women, a greater than John the Baptist, but he who is least in the reign of the heavens is greater than he.
12 `And, from the days of John the Baptist till now, the reign of the heavens doth suffer violence, and violent men do take it by force, 13 for all the prophets and the law till John did prophesy,
14 and if ye are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who was about to come;

Luke 1:17 TEV

He will go ahead of the Lord, strong and mighty like the prophet Elijah. He will bring fathers and children together again; he will turn disobedient people back to the way of thinking of the righteous; he will get the Lord's people ready for him.

Malachi 4:5 - 6 KJV

5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

In Matthew chapter 17, an account is written of our Lord's conversation with Peter, James, and John on their way going downhill from the Mount of Transfiguration, where the Lord Iesous told them, "Elijah has come already, and they knew him not . . ." The disciples understood that the Lord was referring to John the Baptist as Elijah.

Matthew 17:9 - 13 ASV

9 And as they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen from the dead.
10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elijah must first come?
11 And he answered and said, Elijah indeed cometh, and shall restore all things:
12 but I say into you, that Elijah is come already, and they knew him not, but did unto him whatsoever they would. Even so shall the Son of man also suffer of them.
13 Then understood the disciples that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

Eleven years ago, in March 2010, I wrote two blog posts about the messenger preparing the way for the Kingdom of Heaven mentioned in Malachi chapter 3 and 4. Then about four years later, I wrote another post on the preaching of the Kingdom of Heaven by our Lord Iesous, links below:

• A Prophecy of Two Messengers (2010)
• Fulfillment of the Prophecy of Two Messengers (2010)
• The Kingdom of God is at hand (2014)

YEHOVAH Adoneinu

Friday 2021.10.01

We have arrived at the Sixth Day of the biblical week again. Today is Preparation Day. It's time to finish all our tasks for the week, to tie up loose ends, and to prepare ourselves to rest on the Seventh Day Sabbath which will begin at sunset this evening.

This morning for my OT reading I read through Psalms 7 to 14 using the NIV.

Psalm 8 contains a call to Yehovah, the Name of our God, which is not clearly translated in most English Translations. For Example, in the NKJV, verses 1 and 9 are rendered as follows

Psalm 8:1 NKJV

O LORD, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth,
Who have set Your glory above the heavens!

Psalm 8:9 NKJV

O LORD, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth!

In Hebrew, the plea, "O LORD" contains the tetragrammaton, the Name of God "YHWH", or "YeHoVaH" (יהוה), and the expression "O LORD our Lord" is originally "YeHoVaH our Lord", or "YeHoVaH Adoneinu" (יהוה אֲדֹנֵינוּ). As such, a more meaningful and inspiring reading can be obtained from Psalm 8 when ascribing excellence to His Name, if we render verses 1 and 9 as follows:

Psalm 8:1

O YEHOVAH, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth,
Who have set Your glory above the heavens!

Psalm 8:9

O YEHOVAH, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth!