Thursday, October 25, 2007

October 25th - Day 298

Jeremiah 48-49:22



Jeremiah 48
A Message About Moab

1 Concerning Moab:

This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says:

"Woe to Nebo, for it will be ruined.

Kiriathaim will be disgraced and captured;

the stronghold [
a] will be disgraced and shattered.

2 Moab will be praised no more;

in Heshbon [
b] men will plot her downfall:

'Come, let us put an end to that nation.'

You too, O Madmen, [
c] will be silenced;

the sword will pursue you.

3 Listen to the cries from Horonaim,

cries of great havoc and destruction.

4 Moab will be broken;

her little ones will cry out. [
d]

5 They go up the way to Luhith,

weeping bitterly as they go;

on the road down to Horonaim

anguished cries over the destruction are heard.

6 Flee! Run for your lives;

become like a bush [
e] in the desert.

7 Since you trust in your deeds and riches,

you too will be taken captive,

and Chemosh will go into exile,

together with his priests and officials.

8 The destroyer will come against every town,

and not a town will escape.

The valley will be ruined

and the plateau destroyed,

because the LORD has spoken.

9 Put salt on Moab,

for she will be laid waste [
f] ;

her towns will become desolate,

with no one to live in them.

10 "A curse on him who is lax in doing the LORD's work!

A curse on him who keeps his sword from bloodshed!

11 "Moab has been at rest from youth,

like wine left on its dregs,

not poured from one jar to another—

she has not gone into exile.

So she tastes as she did,

and her aroma is unchanged.

12 But days are coming,"

declares the LORD,

"when I will send men who pour from jars,

and they will pour her out;

they will empty her jars

and smash her jugs.

13 Then Moab will be ashamed of Chemosh,

as the house of Israel was ashamed

when they trusted in Bethel.

14 "How can you say, 'We are warriors,

men valiant in battle'?

15 Moab will be destroyed and her towns invaded;

her finest young men will go down in the slaughter,"

declares the King, whose name is the LORD Almighty.

16 "The fall of Moab is at hand;

her calamity will come quickly.

17 Mourn for her, all who live around her,

all who know her fame;

say, 'How broken is the mighty scepter,

how broken the glorious staff!'

18 "Come down from your glory

and sit on the parched ground,

O inhabitants of the Daughter of Dibon,

for he who destroys Moab

will come up against you

and ruin your fortified cities.

19 Stand by the road and watch,

you who live in Aroer.

Ask the man fleeing and the woman escaping,

ask them, 'What has happened?'

20 Moab is disgraced, for she is shattered.

Wail and cry out!

Announce by the Arnon

that Moab is destroyed.

21 Judgment has come to the plateau—

to Holon, Jahzah and Mephaath,

22 to Dibon, Nebo and Beth Diblathaim,

23 to Kiriathaim, Beth Gamul and Beth Meon,

24 to Kerioth and Bozrah—

to all the towns of Moab, far and near.

25 Moab's horn [g] is cut off;

her arm is broken,"

declares the LORD.

26 "Make her drunk,

for she has defied the LORD.

Let Moab wallow in her vomit;

let her be an object of ridicule.

27 Was not Israel the object of your ridicule?

Was she caught among thieves,

that you shake your head in scorn

whenever you speak of her?

28 Abandon your towns and dwell among the rocks,

you who live in Moab.

Be like a dove that makes its nest

at the mouth of a cave.

29 "We have heard of Moab's pride—

her overweening pride and conceit,

her pride and arrogance

and the haughtiness of her heart.

30 I know her insolence but it is futile,"

declares the LORD,

"and her boasts accomplish nothing.

31 Therefore I wail over Moab,

for all Moab I cry out,

I moan for the men of Kir Hareseth.

32 I weep for you, as Jazer weeps,

O vines of Sibmah.

Your branches spread as far as the sea;

they reached as far as the sea of Jazer.

The destroyer has fallen

on your ripened fruit and grapes.

33 Joy and gladness are gone

from the orchards and fields of Moab.

I have stopped the flow of wine from the presses;

no one treads them with shouts of joy.

Although there are shouts,

they are not shouts of joy.

34 "The sound of their cry rises

from Heshbon to Elealeh and Jahaz,

from Zoar as far as Horonaim and Eglath Shelishiyah,

for even the waters of Nimrim are dried up.

35 In Moab I will put an end

to those who make offerings on the high places

and burn incense to their gods,"

declares the LORD.

36 "So my heart laments for Moab like a flute;

it laments like a flute for the men of Kir Hareseth.

The wealth they acquired is gone.

37 Every head is shaved

and every beard cut off;

every hand is slashed

and every waist is covered with sackcloth.

38 On all the roofs in Moab

and in the public squares

there is nothing but mourning,

for I have broken Moab

like a jar that no one wants,"

declares the LORD.

39 "How shattered she is! How they wail!

How Moab turns her back in shame!

Moab has become an object of ridicule,

an object of horror to all those around her."

40 This is what the LORD says:

"Look! An eagle is swooping down,

spreading its wings over Moab.

41 Kerioth [h] will be captured

and the strongholds taken.

In that day the hearts of Moab's warriors

will be like the heart of a woman in labor.

42 Moab will be destroyed as a nation

because she defied the LORD.

43 Terror and pit and snare await you,

O people of Moab,"

declares the LORD.

44 "Whoever flees from the terror

will fall into a pit,

whoever climbs out of the pit

will be caught in a snare;

for I will bring upon Moab

the year of her punishment,"

declares the LORD.

45 "In the shadow of Heshbon

the fugitives stand helpless,

for a fire has gone out from Heshbon,

a blaze from the midst of Sihon;

it burns the foreheads of Moab,

the skulls of the noisy boasters.

46 Woe to you, O Moab!

The people of Chemosh are destroyed;

your sons are taken into exile

and your daughters into captivity.

47 "Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab

in days to come,"

declares the LORD.

Here ends the judgment on Moab.

Jeremiah 49


A Message About Ammon

1 Concerning the Ammonites:

This is what the LORD says:

"Has Israel no sons?

Has she no heirs?

Why then has Molech [
i] taken possession of Gad?

Why do his people live in its towns?

2 But the days are coming,"

declares the LORD,

"when I will sound the battle cry

against Rabbah of the Ammonites;

it will become a mound of ruins,

and its surrounding villages will be set on fire.

Then Israel will drive out

those who drove her out,"

says the LORD.

3 "Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai is destroyed!

Cry out, O inhabitants of Rabbah!

Put on sackcloth and mourn;

rush here and there inside the walls,

for Molech will go into exile,

together with his priests and officials.

4 Why do you boast of your valleys,

boast of your valleys so fruitful?

O unfaithful daughter,

you trust in your riches and say,

'Who will attack me?'

5 I will bring terror on you

from all those around you,"

declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.

"Every one of you will be driven away,

and no one will gather the fugitives.

6 "Yet afterward, I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites,"

declares the LORD.

A Message About Edom

7 Concerning Edom:

This is what the LORD Almighty says:

"Is there no longer wisdom in Teman?

Has counsel perished from the prudent?

Has their wisdom decayed?

8 Turn and flee, hide in deep caves,

you who live in Dedan,

for I will bring disaster on Esau

at the time I punish him.

9 If grape pickers came to you,

would they not leave a few grapes?

If thieves came during the night,

would they not steal only as much as they wanted?

10 But I will strip Esau bare;

I will uncover his hiding places,

so that he cannot conceal himself.

His children, relatives and neighbors will perish,

and he will be no more.

11 Leave your orphans; I will protect their lives.

Your widows too can trust in me."

12 This is what the LORD says: "If those who do not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, why should you go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, but must drink it. 13 I swear by myself," declares the LORD, "that Bozrah will become a ruin and an object of horror, of reproach and of cursing; and all its towns will be in ruins forever."

14 I have heard a message from the LORD :

An envoy was sent to the nations to say,

"Assemble yourselves to attack it!

Rise up for battle!"

15 "Now I will make you small among the nations,

despised among men.

16 The terror you inspire

and the pride of your heart have deceived you,

you who live in the clefts of the rocks,

who occupy the heights of the hill.

Though you build your nest as high as the eagle's,

from there I will bring you down,"

declares the LORD.

17 "Edom will become an object of horror;

all who pass by will be appalled and will scoff

because of all its wounds.

18 As Sodom and Gomorrah were overthrown,

along with their neighboring towns,"

says the LORD,

"so no one will live there;

no man will dwell in it.

19 "Like a lion coming up from Jordan's thickets

to a rich pastureland,

I will chase Edom from its land in an instant.

Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this?

Who is like me and who can challenge me?

And what shepherd can stand against me?"

20 Therefore, hear what the LORD has planned against Edom,

what he has purposed against those who live in Teman:

The young of the flock will be dragged away;

he will completely destroy their pasture because of them.

21 At the sound of their fall the earth will tremble;

their cry will resound to the Red Sea. [
j]

22 Look! An eagle will soar and swoop down,

spreading its wings over Bozrah.

In that day the hearts of Edom's warriors

will be like the heart of a woman in labor.


Footnotes:


  1. Jeremiah 48:1 Or / Misgab
  2. Jeremiah 48:2 The Hebrew for Heshbon sounds like the Hebrew for plot .
  3. Jeremiah 48:2 The name of the Moabite town Madmen sounds like the Hebrew for be silenced .
  4. Jeremiah 48:4 Hebrew; Septuagint / proclaim it to Zoar
  5. Jeremiah 48:6 Or like Aroer
  6. Jeremiah 48:9 Or Give wings to Moab, / for she will fly away
  7. Jeremiah 48:25 Horn here symbolizes strength.
  8. Jeremiah 48:41 Or The cities
  9. Jeremiah 49:1 Or their king ; Hebrew malcam ; also in verse
  10. Jeremiah 49:21 Hebrew Yam Suph ; that is, Sea of Reeds


2 Timothy 4:1-22



2 Timothy 4


1In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

6For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Personal Remarks

9Do your best to come to me quickly, 10for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

14Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.

16At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. 18The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

19Greet Priscilla[a] and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. 20Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. 21Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers.

22The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.


Footnotes:


  1. 2 Timothy 4:19 Greek Prisca, a variant of Priscilla


Psalm 95-96:13



Psalm 95


1 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD;

let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving

and extol him with music and song.

3 For the LORD is the great God,

the great King above all gods.

4 In his hand are the depths of the earth,

and the mountain peaks belong to him.

5 The sea is his, for he made it,

and his hands formed the dry land.

6 Come, let us bow down in worship,

let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;

7 for he is our God

and we are the people of his pasture,

the flock under his care.

Today, if you hear his voice,

8 do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, [a]

as you did that day at Massah [
b] in the desert,

9 where your fathers tested and tried me,

though they had seen what I did.

10 For forty years I was angry with that generation;

I said, "They are a people whose hearts go astray,

and they have not known my ways."

11 So I declared on oath in my anger,

"They shall never enter my rest."

Psalm 96


1 Sing to the LORD a new song;

sing to the LORD, all the earth.

2 Sing to the LORD, praise his name;

proclaim his salvation day after day.

3 Declare his glory among the nations,

his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

4 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;

he is to be feared above all gods.

5 For all the gods of the nations are idols,

but the LORD made the heavens.

6 Splendor and majesty are before him;

strength and glory are in his sanctuary.

7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations,

ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;

bring an offering and come into his courts.

9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of his [c] holiness;

tremble before him, all the earth.

10 Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns."

The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;

he will judge the peoples with equity.

11 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;

let the sea resound, and all that is in it;

12 let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them.

Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;

13 they will sing before the LORD, for he comes,

he comes to judge the earth.

He will judge the world in righteousness

and the peoples in his truth.


Footnotes:


  1. Psalm 95:8 Meribah means quarreling .
  2. Psalm 95:8 Massah means testing .
  3. Psalm 96:9 Or LORD with the splendor of


Proverbs 26:9-12



9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard's hand

is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.


10 Like an archer who wounds at random

is he who hires a fool or any passer-by.

11 As a dog returns to its vomit,

so a fool repeats his folly.

12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

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