C
September 2
Daniel
4:1-37; 2 Kings 25:27-30; Jeremiah 52:31-34; Daniel 7:1-28
Wonderful
Father, I suppose all of this is just barely vague enough that those who refuse
to believe that which should be obvious manage to justify their ungodly
ways. But of course, many honest
historians have been converted by the wonderful accuracy and actual clarity in
this reading. How awesome You are, O Ancient of Days.
How worthy You are, O Son of Man, Who has
redeemed us with Your own perfection, flesh, and blood. Another truth revealed here strongly refutes
those who would teach that the physical life of saints in this current world is
always without pain and problems. This
egocentric way of thinking clearly clashes with the text of Your Word before us
today, Lord. Your plan and purposes are
centered around Christ, the Son with Whom You are
well-pleased. May His Name be forever praised. Amen.
September 3
Daniel
8:1-27; 5:1-31; 2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Daniel 9:1-27
My
Father, I am quite curious this morning about the prayer of Daniel in chapter
9, relative to the timing of Cyrus’ decree.
As I read Daniel’s prayer it seems to me it might be better placed in
this chronological setting, before the decree of Cyrus; and considered more
prominently in the timing of things.
Obviously, all of this can only be properly realized, however, within
the context of Your sovereignty. The referrals to the prophecy of Cyrus’
decree all refer to Jeremiah, but the one that always comes to my mind is
Isaiah’s explicit prophecy that specifically named Cyrus a century or more
before his birth. It seems that it would
be interesting to follow Daniel through the routines of his day for an extended
period (maybe a year or two). We know
something of his daily acts of reverence, but it seems interesting to consider
all the things possibly thrown at him daily and his handling of them. Lord, grant us such wisdom. Amen.
September 4
Ezra
1:1-4; Daniel 6:1-28; Ezra 1:5-20; Nehemiah 7:4-25
God
of our salvation, Yeshua, You never forget Your people. How can You ever forget that which You, as a loving Shepherd, care
so perfectly for? We are so inclined to
describe You and explain You within the parameters of
humanity, but even when You came to Earth as a human, we find ourselves still
unable to master the mysteries of Your loving ways with our human thoughts and
words. You have graciously given to us
the ability to apprehend Your love, but we act
unsatisfied with apprehension, and demand instead, comprehension. I don’t think such will ever be available
even in heaven. It is part of why we
praise You – You are God – You are worthy – You are
love. Cyrus appears to have been
overtaken by it; Darius seems to have yielded to it; and Daniel knew it all
along. Your decrees are certain. They are not bound by our feeble
limitations. Amen.
September 5
Ezra
2:21-70; Nehemiah 7:26-73a
My
loving Father, one page and a full heart – where do I begin? There has always been a strong mindset in Your people to maintain a proper recognition of their
heritage. Other people have kept records
of family trees, genealogical records, and such; but I think never quite to the
degree of diligence as the children of Israel.
But these that lost track of their records – not in their hearts and
minds – but rather a provable trail of generations; this hurts my heart to
read, especially regarding the priests.
Father, there are so many contemporary lessons we might draw from this,
but I don’t think that is what compels my pen right now. I just have to believe those priests searched
diligently, maybe even frantically at times.
In the end, they were only left with a gracious concession of eating the
sacred food in a special ministerial setting.
It is bittersweet, but I have to say, Lord, I love to read of the
beautiful worship of giving money before
they left their own towns. Indeed, You are worthy, our Lord!
Amen.
September 6
Ezra
3:1-13; Psalm 92:1-15; 126:1-6; Daniel 10:1 to
Father,
many things here, but my heart is drawn to the praises of the Psalms and to the
words of the angelic person who appeared to Daniel. I am especially drawn to the words of his
current activity, and the response to Daniel’s prayers, as well as the
influences that hindered this person, who is thought to be Gabriel. O Father, these people who have returned to
Jerusalem and settled in the surrounding towns appear so truly broken and
hungry to obey You and worship You. They have discovered the humility that leads
to joy and the circle that perpetuates such virtues and blessings. Their songs lift You
and I am lifted when I read them. I am
also intrigued, Father, by the actions of this person who appeared to Daniel;
his business of protection of Cyrus and his apparent constant battling of those
who resist his purposes. But he knows
the future and he must have an invincible confidence in the Lord. Amen.
September 7
Daniel
Almighty
Father in heaven, this section is so perfectly organized in showing the terror
and deliverance of the End Times, and then breaking out into wonderful songs of
praise that recognize Who You really are and ascribe to You the attributes that
man can only bow before. I love the verse
that invites, “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord
our Maker; for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock
under His care.” Father, what pain and
futility could be eliminated from lives and from this world, if only people
would accept such an invitation. There
are so many people caught up in the futility of “tail-chasing” (like a dog
running around in circles), trying to reach a goal of security and peace,
trying to outrun their inevitable rendezvous with the last heartbeat that
approaches so rapidly. O that we might
find rest – the rest that comes from drawing near to
the Shepherd, Who is tireless in His protection and attention. Amen.
September 8
Psalm
97:1-12; 98:1-9; 99:1-9; 100:1-5; Ezra 4:1-5, 24;
Haggai
1:1 to
My
wonderful Creator Who calls me His child – how can I take this in, my
Lord? The songs of joy and victory seem
to be such wonderful outlets to blend our voices – to sing with Your saints. Your
righteousness is revealed from the heavens - in Christ. Your judgments are revealed to the creation,
to that which You love, to that which You have, are,
and will redeem. Whether the pastures
are green or the plains are arid, Your fairness and
holiness flow like twin rivers. How
could You do all this, my Father, my gracious
Lord? I know it is not a question to be
answered, but one to which we must bow.
Our faithfulness can be so fickled, so
fluctuating, even as the rebuilding of Your temple
progresses and stops and starts. Is it
not the same with our bodies, which Paul describes as Your
temple? Thank You, Father, for never
forgetting or forsaking us, even when we do.
Amen.
September 9
Zechariah
1:1 to
Father,
all knowledge of Your ways is released from Your hands
only by Your gracious decree. None can
know, unless You allow. This prophet reminds me a little bit of
Ezekiel in some of his encounters.
Zechariah may be even more bold and inquisitive. The focus on Joshua, the high priest, is a
little surprising, but very pleasing. Because
even as I was noting the irony of his name, which means “salvation is of God”
or “Jesus,” You place a crown on his head and refer to his name as being the
same as “the Branch.” Hundreds of years
before the angel will tell Joseph to call Mary’s baby, Jesus, You, O Lord, are
telling us that His name will be Jesus.
But then, have You not been telling us that
throughout Your Word, from Genesis until now?
Have You not always taught the people that
salvation must come from You – that only God can justify. No man can bypass Your
grace to access You! Thank You,
Lord. Amen.
September 10
Zechariah
7:1 to
Father
of the Way, the Truth, and the Life, every day is another day of Your conquering, sacrificial love. And it is good to be overwhelmed with
thoughts of such love. This may seem
somewhat remote from the reading, but I would guide all who might read here, go
back to God’s text afterwards and consider it again. Are not His mercies new every morning? My God, Your anger is terrible, but it is
only for a moment – Your mercy is far more relentless. The ministry of Zechariah seemed to be
balanced, which ironically, a balanced ministry is dangerous, because it means
the truth will not be squelched simply because of being concerned that it may
not be well received. But it is equally
true that the “easier” messages are just as eagerly shared. May I stand true, my Lord, to Your Word, as
these prophets did so fearlessly. Amen.
September 11
Psalm
118:1-29; 129:1-8; 148:1-14; 149:1-9; 150:1-6;
Ezra
6:19-22; Zechariah 9:1-17
Father,
that finish by Zechariah sounds like the millennium
reign of Christ. Nevertheless, I could
not help but notice how saturated these Psalms (and really the whole text) were
with words about our Savior. I began to
wonder, Father, would I see it? If I
lived in Old Testament times and had all the Old Testament writings available
to read over and over, would I see it?
Or even today, if all I had was the Old Testament and no access to a New
Testament – would I see Jesus in Your Word?
I do now, of course. It is rich,
real, and everywhere. Surely I would,
but I would no doubt have to read many times, listen intently, and think deeply
during all the sacrifices and festivals.
I have to believe my heart would be as hard as any of them, and it would
come slowly and difficult. But the
picture of Christ is so vivid, it would begin to emerge from where it was all
along – wondrously, beautifully, and I would see Jesus, my Savior. Blessed be Your holy
Word. Amen.
September 12
Zechariah
10:1 to
Father,
I feel somehow quieted today in the “face” of these terrible, wonderful words
of that which is to come. I am also
hurting. The weight of the spiritually
suffering and the lost is felt. O, not
what You feel! I know that.
Lord, I know that. The cross
shows so vividly, and even the “Garden Torment” before the cross, and even the
condescension from Your ultimate royalty into the womb
of the virgin shows that! You feel – You
are moved – somehow, in some way, as You see Your plan
unfold. You know the end from the
beginning, but You feel. Yes, Your Son proves You
are pleased and You are angry and You are compassionate. Most of all, You are
love. And until we turn to You the gnawing on our souls will never stop. Thank You, Father, for Your Spirit, Who
convicts, breaks, restores, teaches, comforts, and empowers. Change me, Father, for Your
glory, so vividly that others will be changed as they encounter me and learn of
You. Amen.
September 13
Esther
1:1 to
Father,
Esther appears to me such a beautiful book in Your Word. I think there are many criticisms circulated
regarding the book, one of which is the lack of a reference to You. But it seems to
me that the book as a whole is a reference (quite directly) to You. And it seems to
me there is a beautiful, silent saturation of Your Spirit here. To provide ministerial exegesis seems to me a
delightful challenge, even though I must admit I have read little commentary
and can recall very little of that. The
first thing that comes to mind, Father, is the book of Esther is Your Word and
Your Word is truth. It might be wondered
if the truth of Esther is to be enjoyed strictly in a historical manner or may
it provide allegorical truth for us to delve perhaps a little deeper into the
revelation of Jesus Christ in Your Word?
Father, I think it is both. Amen.
September 14
Esther
5:1 to
Holy
Lord, nothing in all the Earth escapes Your eye, and I
think if we bring that lesson from this book of Esther, we have done well. But there are so many other lessons to be
received. Yesterday I mentioned to You my suspicions of the allegorical value and I see even
more evidence of that in the reading today.
But let no minister neglect to teach the direct historical lessons
clearly evident as they teach verse-by-verse or thought-by-thought. There are rich lessons, as well as
thought-provoking discussion questions to be drawn. The concern for the absence of Your name throughout the book often makes me think it was
truly intended as allegory, but I always wonder about the mentality of limiting
Your name to phonics. Your name
represents all You are. It is all You are,
Your attributes, etc. Even the 7 sons of
Sceva would testify to that! Blessed be Your Name! Amen.
September 15
Esther
My
Father in heaven, the account of Mordecai reminds me a little bit of the
account of Joseph. How you raised them
both from positions of (essentially) slavery to positions second only to the great
rulers of the time. They are
exhilarating accounts that many consider fiction, but then they are both at
least, somewhat verifiable from historical records, especially the later one
regarding Mordecai. They cannot be
intellectually dismissed. They can only
be wisely believed and learned from, or foolishly
rejected to one’s destruction. It seems,
Father, that the more time passes – the older I get – the more I marvel (in
sadness) at those who reject Your Words.
And so many of them, by what I have seen, actually believe Your Word is
true. But they still reject it, because
they think it (belief) will lead them to loss of control, or just loss of the
“gusto of life.” There is a sense in
which they are both wrong and right.
Forgive them, Father, and draw them to You. Amen.
September 16
Psalm
106:1-48; Ezra 7:1 to
My
Father, the clarity is staggering to the unbeliever (or should be) – only You can so move the hearts of kings and rulers. You direct them continually for Your purpose, which is in Your Son, our Lord. But gracious, Sovereign Lord, we are so
blind. Truly, You
orchestrate the universe within a single cell, and within the galaxies, and
within the hearts of all. This means my
heart too! And I am so grateful. I am thankful that the likes of me can call,
can cry out through my Lord Jesus Christ to You, my Father, the Creator and
Sustainer of all that is, and I will be heard!
But even more important, You know infinitely
more about my wellbeing than me, and so even though Your children touch Your
heart, You will re-direct them from all spiritual harm. And while they may feel pain from that
re-direction, it is working a far greater good – Your glory! Amen.
September 17
Ezra
Gracious
Father, thank You for Ezra. When even
one man can become so completely surrendered to You,
what a wonderful thing it is to witness the developments. There is praise to You,
intercession for the brothers, regret for sin, awareness of the fierce anger
and discipline of God, humility, and intense brokenness. I could go on, Father, but I think it better
to pause, and pray, O God, let it be again and again and again. My Father, raise up an army of Ezra’s who are
completely committed to Your purpose; who are uncompromising with a culture
that is “in-your-face” demanding compromise; and who know they are strangers
and pilgrims in a strange land on a brief journey. We have a commission, and we have been given Your purpose. What
man do we need? Grip us Father – with Your grace, grip us – our heart, that we would remember the
fatherless and widows. Amen.
September 18
Nehemiah
1:1 to
Our
Father, how awesome You are! And how easy it is for our view of You and Your purpose to become narrow and fogged in our self-centered
busyness. It is almost as if we think You are asleep, Father; somehow not really working or active
or personal; when the truth is, You are intimate in even the tiniest details of
literally everything. Every atom of
every molecule is composed of forces that cannot be cohesive, and yet that
which confounds the most brilliant of those minds which study such things,
holds those atoms together tirelessly.
Father, without Your attention, nothing is that
is. And Nehemiah knew it, and the people
of Jerusalem picked up on it, and proceeded forward right through obstacle
after obstacle, each one trusting You. Some folks repaired the section of the wall
adjacent to their house, while others traveled from outside to be part of the
miracle. Praise God! Amen.
September 19
Nehemiah
5:1 to 7:3; Psalm 1:1-6; 107:1-43
O
my Father, please do not allow the wisdom in this reading to escape me because
of my feeble inattention or other neglect.
It is simply too important – too rich.
If I could just ingest this as Your Spirit would intend, my children
would benefit, my coworkers also, and any others who might give audience. From the first sentence to the last (whoever
is wise, let him heed the things and consider the great love of the Lord). Your guidance is so vivid, and I desire it,
my Lord. Nehemiah just seems born to
lead, but perhaps it would be better noted that he was born for Your purpose, and blessed were all his actions along the
way. An interesting thing about the
Psalms is how incredibly the first one sets the tone for all of them. It begins with the word, “Blessed’ and it
might be well paraphrased, “Blessed is the man who reads through and heeds all
these Psalms.” Amen.
September 20
Psalm
111:1-10; 112:1-10; 117:1-2; 119:1-72
Dear
Lord, our lack of attention to, and application of, Your Word is the reason for
so many maladies of life. But Father,
for those reading, I should probably clarify.
I am not so much referring to the maladies of life as I am meaning how
we handle the maladies of life. Calamity will
come. Question is: will I look to Your
Word? As all security is removed from my
life, will I know – will I trust – will I remember that You
are good? O my Lord – my dear Lord, Your
Word searches my heart and Your Spirit convicts and purges and fills. I will rejoice in Your
great mercies on the mountaintop and in the valleys; but far more important, I
will praise You on the uphill incline, as my legs become heavy, and my lungs no
longer compensate. I will give thanks
and praise to the Lord Almighty, Who gives me His wonderful Word and Spirit to
sustain me. Amen.
September 21
Psalm
119:73-176
My
Father, and my glorious Savior, Jesus Christ, with Your Spirit within, I
worship You this day.
You are indeed the hope of life and the life of hope. Because only a relationship with You can grant freedom and peace in this troubled, earthly
life, as well as the future eternal. I
think the most important word that flowed from the writer’s inspired heart was
the word, “Your.” He always used that
possessive pronoun as he looked beyond himself.
The greatest failure of our present day is the failure to look outside
oneself. Even our churches are
digressing into ministries of self-esteem and self-focus. But the writer here is beautifully, wonderfully
obsessed with Your statutes, Your laws, Your precepts,
Your decrees, and on and on. But the
most gratifying reference of this writer is “Your salvation.” That is what he looked for – hoped for. He trusted in the Savior to come, as I
do! Amen.
September 22
Psalm
121:1-8; 122:1-9; 123:1-4; 128:1-6; 130:1-8; 134:1-3;
Psalm
135:1-21; 136:1-26
Dear
Lord and loving Father, forgive me for my material inclinations and worldliness
– all those ways and things that cause more and more desensitization to Your presence, Your love, Your care, Your promises, Your
assurances, and Your perfection in all things.
The words here of Your ruling and blessing from
Zion, I suppose are references of things yet to come; but I am also aware of
Your teaching to a Samaritan woman that God is not tied to a location. You told her that worship should be spiritual
and genuine, rather than based on location and ritual. Our minds are so weak and fickled. Such Psalms as these are profitable to hide
in our hearts. Father, please help those I encounter today to see you – to see
hope. How can people who are so hopeless
be so resistant of life guided by their Creator? Only one reason – sin. Indeed, we have all walked in that path. Thank You for grace, my dear Lord. Amen.
September 23
Psalm
146:1-10; 147:1-20; Nehemiah 7:73b to 9:37
My
Father, we should never search farther than the heavens or the hillsides or any
of the miracles we see – to find cause to thank and praise You. Even the miracle of sight itself is a grand reason
for praise. And even if we have not
known all the evidences of Your love through other
senses. Father, even if we have felt
desensitized to all of life, our breath still continues to respond to that
first time when You breathed into our beings and we
became living souls. Even from our
mother’s womb You designed us uniquely with our own
special code, the name that no one else can know – You named us. I think of the confession apparently recited
by Ezra and I am inclined to compare confession to repentance. I think they flow together rather than one
before another, for to confess is the process of a mind changing. And You hear. Amen.
September 24
Nehemiah
9:38 to 11:36
Holy
Father, the restoration of Your people begins to
evolve. Apparently, Nehemiah believes
that a covenant could be a productive tool to help keep the people focused on
the proper worship of God. It seems to
have worked. Everything the people do
seems to be with their eyes toward Jerusalem, and ultimately, toward the Temple
and the worship of God. Whether the
various groups are placed effectively throughout the lands surrounding
Jerusalem or whether they brought their families and settled directly in the
Holy City, they all had a mind for worship.
This included productivity in their crops and herds, so that their firstfruits and tithes would be a blessing to God’s house
and His priests and servants. Father, I
pray that all Your people today would have an eye
(both eyes) for Your work at all times in their jobs and homes. Amen.
September 25
1
Chronicles 9:16-34; Nehemiah 12:1-47
Father,
I think there are very few who have ever investigated the difference between
“contributions, firstfruits and tithes.” I think if such a study was made and then
taught exactly as the biblical study revealed, there would likely be many
frightened modern and postmodern churchgoers.
Frightened by their own realization that they had just
heard the truth. Of course, there
would be few who would be joyously excited by the new, more liberal parameters
for blessing the ministers of God, the teachers of the Word, the facilities,
and the work of God in general. They
would be blessed because such teaching would confirm that what they have been
giving was biblical, or encourage them in increasing their giving. Also, realizing careful genealogies thousands
of years after their recording makes me wish I could join the Levite singers on
the freshly repaired walls of Jerusalem.
Amen.
September 26
Nehemiah
13:1-31; Joel 1:1 to 2:32
Holy
Father, why is it that we lose grip on that fact so easily – the fact that You are holy. It is
surprising to me to read about and imagine someone like Nehemiah in
operation. Of course, I am referring to
his reactions to discovering flagrant disobedience regarding the things of
God. The only actions I can think of as
radically violent are those of Jesus in the Temple toward the money changers
and merchants. He was righteously
indignant to the point of great physical energy. This is interesting to me, and also
sobering. Father, may
I love righteous behavior more than life and detest impropriety in Your
assembly more than… Joel spoke or wrote
so clearly of Your judgment, my Father. But ironically, the message I took from the
book is that it is never too late (in this life) to repent. Even as judgment is swooping in, You still desire repentance and belief in the Son of
God. Praise You. Amen.
September 27
Joel
3:1-21; Malachi 1:1 to 4:6
My
wonderful Father, tomorrow I begin reading the New Testament. Today I completed the reading of what Jesus
and the writers of the New Testament called the Scriptures. Father, what did I learn? If I had never read the New Testament, would
I have learned about Jesus or would I be like the Pharisee who learned very
well about everything except Jesus? One
of the first things we learn in the New Testament is that there were some,
maybe many, who were looking eagerly for the Messiah. Would my reading of the Old Testament lead me
to look for Jesus? Would I be one of
them? I have discovered over the last
few years that Jesus (the salvation of God) is every where
in the Old Testament, every chapter. And
I have learned that most in the pulpits don’t see Him there, and don’t believe
that Old Testament characters could be saved by grace through faith in the
“Salvation of God” (Jesus). Too bad. Amen.
September 28
Luke
1:1-80
My
Father, my Savior, I love You. I know I show it poorly, but I also know it
is true. Thank You for saving me. Thank You for the miracle of Elizabeth’s
pregnancy to prepare hearts for Jesus through John the Baptist. Thank You for encouraging and confirming Your attention to Mary, the virgin peasant girl, who
obviously loved You so much that she accepted the miracle that “rational” minds
call impossible. I can’t help but feel a
little of the excitement stirring in the villages of the hill country of
Judea. They had waited for centuries and
now it seemed that God was about to do a special thing. Zechariah knew Who
was in the womb of Mary. “The Lord, the
God of Israel has come and has redeemed His people” (verse 68). This continues to shock people today, my
Father, and draws so much ridicule; but ironically, those who ridicule live
without hope, utterly without hope. Open
their hearts, merciful Lord. Amen.
September 29
Matthew
1:18-25; Luke 2:1-20; Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38; 2:21-40
My
loving Father, You did it! A Savior is
born! He is Christ the Lord! On this first Christmas, the shepherds called
this event: This thing that has happened!
Then they say that “…the Lord has told us…” Father, it seems so neat to me that these
shepherds were essentially saying that the Lord told them about the Lord’s
birth (His own birth)! That is a wonder
that my mind will simply have to bow to.
Father, it also fascinates me to consider the women listed in Matthew’s
genealogy of Christ. They were
apparently all Gentiles except Tamar. It
actually could be argued that Sarai and Abram were as
well. These ladies were very interesting
characters and the message inherent in Matthew’s inclusion of them in a
genealogy of Jews is a message that continues all the way into Paul’s ministry
to the world. It is unthinkable to write
this without the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Thank You, Lord. Amen.
September 30
Matthew
2:1-23; Luke 2:41-52; Mark 1:1-8; Matthew 3:1-12;
Luke
3:1-20; John 1:1-28
My
Savior, You are the coming Lord. John
the Baptist responded to Your call in the 15th
year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar to proclaim the coming of the Lord and to
call to repentance. Father, we should be
doing the same. If ever there was a
reading that should leave the skeptic unsettled regarding his course, it should
be this one. O my Father, You are
perfect in the fulfillment of the ancient prophecies. You are perfect in Your
setting of the “fullness of time.” You
are perfect in Your representation through Your
Son. Your love glows in every word,
every action, and in every thing before us as Your children, called to Your purpose. How delightful You
are to me. I shudder to consider those
who persist in the dark hopelessness of life without You. Such a life is death. Help me show You to
them. You are my Rock! Amen.
Ó
2007 C. E. Briggs