Tag: prophecy

Daily Word

Daniel

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Daniel – History and future unfold. Daniel is the 27th of 39 books in the Old Testament, between Ezekiel and Hosea. You probably want to use the table of contents in your bible to find it. Go ahead and read any introduction your bible includes to get a feel for it.

We just finished Zephaniah, which was the last recorded prophecy concerning the destruction of Jerusalem along with the parallel prophecy for end times that is to come. Daniel begins when the Babylonian siege has just occurred. People must have felt hopeless, realizing that all the warnings they received and dismissed had come to pass. That is my opinion, but Daniel stands out as one who never even hints at anything like that.

The last chapter has a verse I hope you’ll cling to as you read, and as you walk through your own trials in this life.

“And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” Daniel 12:3

In Ephesians 6:24, we read about incorruptible faith. (Sept 29, 2022 post) Daniel has it. Get ready for an adventure! Go ahead and read chapter 1 now and we will talk about it tomorrow.

Daily Word

Zephaniah

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Read Zephaniah 1 and any introduction your bible includes – Zephaniah gets right to the point. He says (he prophesies, or speaks God’s own words for the people), “I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth.” :2 Then he goes on to broaden the listeners’ understanding of what God sees and is about to do.

I found verse :6 oddly beautiful and comforting. It shows God’s heart and expectation: “And I will destroy those who used to worship me but now no longer do. They no longer ask for the LORD’s guidance or seek my blessings.”

Beloved, drifting breaks God’s heart. The LORD actually wants his children to seek his guidance and blessings. It is for our good and his glory that we remain close. The people Zephaniah is addressing have wandered into the dangerous territory of abandoning God. When love letters, then warnings do not get heard, punishment is necessary. Good parents always discipline their children to bring them back to right behavior.

Next we read, “Stand in silence in the presence of the Sovereign Lord….” :7a, and my own heart longed for silence. It takes effort in our busy world to get silent time before the LORD, to turn off the distractions of life, to quiet our mouth and mind enough to bask in his presence, but again, this is a protection for us. As Pastor John Piper puts it, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.”

Beloved, as you read, think about how you are hearing the words. We know that God is good all the time and all the time God is good… are you able to hold on to that here in this passage? No one likes punishment, but at times it is all that can save us. Will you take this passage as a cue to inventory your heart and make every correction the Holy Spirit leads you to?

Daily Word

Genesis 49

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Read Genesis 49 – Prophecy  and blessings – Jacob called his sons together with a prophetic benediction for each one that we will see confirmed with time.  It is a sober time. 

Reuben, Jacob’s first born, lost his standing when he had sexual relations with his father’s concubine,  Bilhah.  He is called as stable as water.  

Simeon and Levi, next in line, also lost their standing over their cruelty and wrath in Shechem.

Beloved, there is godly and ungodly anger.  Theirs was ungodly because it was rooted in bitterness and wrath… It was motivated by self righteousness.  God’s Word says in Ephesians 4:26, “In your anger do not sin.”  And in Ephesians 4:31 we are told to get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger.

And now,  Judah, from whom King David and later, Jesus, would come.   He is pronounced the one whom his brothers will praise.  Jacob says,  “Judah is a lion’s whelp. ” Later, Jesus is described as a lion from the tribe of Judah. (Revelation 5:5) 

Jacob’s words over his sons will be confirmed in the land divisions (covered in Joshua), and in Jesus’s life and ministry… It is remarkable and a stretch above me to put it all together.

Beloved, soak in as much as you can and ask God to give you wisdom and insight as you go. 🙏 

Daily Word

Acts 21

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Read Acts 21 – I remember being pregnant. (my son teased me and said I lost my entire make audience with this opener. Stay with me, Gents!) It was such an incredible time, filled with joy at the creation taking place inside me, and dreams of what my little girl, then my little boy, would be like.  But delivery bewildered me.  How was this giant baby going to come out?  I knew women much weaker than me did it – and did it more than once – but logically, it was a scary thought!  I see a similarity in Paul’s purpose.  He has the beautiful Gospel to share, yet many prophets tell him it will be difficult for him in Jerusalem.  He will be bound.  He will be turned over to the Gentiles.  The believers begged him not to go, :11-12.  Paul accepted that he was risking jail and even death, but it was for the sake of the Lord Jesus, and he would not be persuaded otherwise. 

Beloved, don’t let hard things scare you away from doing whatever the Lord lays on your heart to do. 

Sure enough, Paul arrives in Jerusalem and meets with James and all the elders of the Jerusalem church.  He gives a detailed account to them, and I found myself wondering if this was the very account that Luke used to write Acts.  (21:19) 

Paul soon gets arrested, a riot ensues, and that is where he gets his platform to address the crowd with the Roman commander’s protection… Our chapter ends with that cliffhanger.   The Bible is exciting! I can’t wait to see what happens tomorrow – 😍☝💯

Daily Word

1 Kings 13

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Read 1 Kings 13 – Drama unfolds –

King Jeroboam of the 10 northern tribes, receives unfavorable news from a prophet.  His solution is to point at the prophet, shouting, “Seize that man!”  The Lord instantly caused his hand to be paralyzed in the pointing position.  He could not pull it back, as the altar cracked and ashes spewed out… just as the prophet declared (13:1-5).  Jeroboam pleads for his hand, the prophet prays, and the Lord restores it. 

Jeroboam wants to give the prophet a gift and a nice meal, but the prophet was instructed by the Lord not eat or drink anything in Israel. 

On his way back to Judah, an older prophet meets him and offers him food and drink.  The old prophet assures the young prophet that an angel of the Lord told him to do this – BUT HE WAS LYING!!! (13:18) A lying prophet – lying to another prophet – what terrible times…

We will face terrible times, it will be hard to know who to trust.  That is why we must each train ourselves to discern the Lords voice, reading the bible as we are, being rooted in church, and praying without ceasing… dig deeper with John 3:16, John 14:6, Ephesians 6:10-18 and 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22.

Daily Word

1 Kings 12

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Read 1 Kings 12 – It’s getting complicated… then again, it always does when one strays from the LORD. Solomon’s sin opened the door to discipline that would ripple for hundreds of years. Rehoboam, Solomon’s only son the bible records, wisely seeks advice from his father’s counselors, but then foolishly rejects it. He turns to his peers for advice and hears what his ego was looking for. Maybe you have rejected your parents or grandparents advice, and gone your own way. It might have felt empowering at the time, but hindsight proved otherwise. The prophecy of Ahijah(1Kings11:29-39) is fulfilled, according to God’s will, remember, even when things seem messy, God is still in control(12:15). Moving forward, “Israel” refers to the 10 tribes of the North. “Judah” refers to southern tribes of Benjamin and Judah. Hang on to your hats!☝️☝️☝️👑☝️☝️☝️

Daily Word

1 Kings 11

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Read 1 Kings 11 – Oh boy – God gave guidelines for the kings of Israel long before there were kings.  Are you ready to dig a little?  Deuteronomy 17:14-20 (the 5th book in the bible) outlines what a king should and should not do – and Solomon blew through all of it.  He had such favor – he had such wisdom – and he messed it all up!  THE KING MUST NOT TAKE MANY WIVES FOR HIMSELF, BECAUSE THEY WILL TURN HIS HEART AWAY FROM THE LORD.  Deut.17:17 (1Kings 11:2 recalled this)  Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines, and sure enough, he starts building shrines for the detestable gods of his wives.  The Lord was very angry with Solomon (11:9) and punishment is served (11:29-39).  Israel will be divided, 10 tribes to the north and 2 to the south, a remnant of the Lord’s promise to David.  Privilege is dangerous, one can easily think they don’t need God.  But the Lord is a jealous God (see Exodus 20:5), and He doesn’t miss a thing.☝️🙏🏻🙌