Day 201 of My 5th Bible Study Journey - 20 July 2025 reflections
Day 2025, 20 July 2025
Today at
Calvary Community Church , Pastor Doug Zieber spoke on Empowerd ,
Unshakeable
Acts 22:30-23:11
Paul Before the Sanhedrin
30 (Ac 23:28; 21:33) On the next day, desiring to know exactly
why he was accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief
priests and all the Sanhedrin to assemble,
and he brought Paul down to stand before them.
[30] On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he
was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the
chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and
set him before them.
Acts 23
1 (Ac 24:16; 2Co 1:12) Paul looked at the Sanhedrin and said,
"Brothers, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day."
2 (Ac 24:1; Jn 18:22) The high priest Ananias ordered those who stood
by him to strike him on the mouth.
3 (Jn 7:51; Dt 25:1-2) Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you,
you whitewashed wall! Do you sit judging me according to the law,
yet order me to be struck contrary to the law?"
4 Those who stood by said, "Do you criticize God's high priest?"
5 (Ex 22:28) Paul said, "Brothers, I did not know that he was
the high priest. For it is written,
'You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.'(Ex 22:28.)"
6 (Ac 24:15; 24:21) Then Paul, knowing that one sect were Sadducees
and the other Pharisees, cried out among the Sanhedrin,
"Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of a Pharisee. I am being judged
for my hope in the resurrection of the dead."
7 When he had said this, dissension arose between the Pharisees
and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
8 (Mt 22:23; Lk 20:27) For the Sadducees say that there is
no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit. But the Pharisees acknowledge
them all.
9 (Ac 22:7; 22:17-18) There was a great outcry. The scribes that were
from the sect of Pharisees stood up and argued,
"We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or an angel has spoken
to him, let us not fight against God."
10 (Ac 22:24) When much dissension arose, fearing that Paul would be torn
to pieces by them, the commander ordered the soldiers to go down and take
him from them by force and bring him into the barracks.
11 (Ac 18:9; 19:21) The following night the Lord stood by him and said,
"Take courage, Paul. For as you have testified about Me in Jerusalem,
so you must also testify at Rome."
1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have
lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him
on the mouth.
3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for
sittest thou to judge me after the law,
and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?
5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest:
for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other
Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee,
the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called
in question.
7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees
and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor
spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees'
part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a
spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.
10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest
Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go
down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the
castle.
11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer,
Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear
witness also at Rome.
Acts 22:29
29 Therefore those who were about to examine Paul immediately backed away
from him. And the commander feared, knowing that he was a Roman citizen
and because he had bound him.
[29] Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him:
and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman,
and because he had bound him.
Acts 22:30
Paul Before the Sanhedrin
30 (Ac 23:28; 21:33) On the next day, desiring to know exactly
why he was accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief
priests and all the Sanhedrin to assemble,
and he brought Paul down to stand before them.
[30] On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he
was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the
chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and
set him before them.
Acts 23:1
1 (Ac 24:16; 2Co 1:12) Paul looked at the Sanhedrin and said,
"Brothers, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day."
1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have
lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
A) Live with Integrity
Acts 23:2-3
2 (Ac 24:1; Jn 18:22) The high priest Ananias ordered those who stood
by him to strike him on the mouth.
3 (Jn 7:51; Dt 25:1-2) Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you,
you whitewashed wall! Do you sit judging me according to the law,
yet order me to be struck contrary to the law?"
2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him
on the mouth.
3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for
sittest thou to judge me after the law,
and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
B) Trust God to See and Address Injustice
Acts 23:4-5
4 Those who stood by said, "Do you criticize God's high priest?"
5 (Ex 22:28) Paul said, "Brothers, I did not know that he was
the high priest. For it is written,
'You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.'(Ex 22:28.)"
4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?
5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest:
for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
C) Obey Godly and Earthly Authority
Acts 23:6-9a
6 (Ac 24:15; 24:21) Then Paul, knowing that one sect were Sadducees
and the other Pharisees, cried out among the Sanhedrin,
"Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of a Pharisee. I am being judged
for my hope in the resurrection of the dead."
7 When he had said this, dissension arose between the Pharisees
and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
8 (Mt 22:23; Lk 20:27) For the Sadducees say that there is
no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit. But the Pharisees acknowledge
them all.
9 (Ac 22:7; 22:17-18) There was a great outcry. The scribes that were
from the sect of Pharisees stood up and argued,
6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other
Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee,
the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called
in question.
7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees
and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor
spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees'
part arose, and strove,
D) Exercise Godly Wisdom in Difficult Situations
Mark 13:9b-11
9 (Mt 10:17-18; Mk 13:5) "You will be brought
before rulers and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them.
10 (Mt 24:14; Ro 10:18) And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.
11 (Mt 10:19-21; Lk 12:11-12) But when they arrest you and hand you over,
take no thought beforehand, or premeditate what you should speak.
But speak whatever is given you in that time, for it is not you who speaks,
but the Holy Spirit.
[9] and ye shall be brought before
rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.
[10] And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
[11] But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought
beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever
shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak,
but the Holy Ghost.
Acts 23:9b
"We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or an angel has spoken
to him, let us not fight against God."
saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a
spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.
Acts 5:38-39
38 (La 3:37; Mt 15:13) Now I tell you, keep away from these men
and leave them alone, because if this intention or this activity
is of men, it will come to nothing.
39 (Pr 21:30; Ac 7:51) But if it is of God, you will not be able
to overthrow them, lest perhaps you be found even fighting against God."
[38] And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for
if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
[39] But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found
even to fight against God.
Acts 23:10
10 (Ac 22:24) When much dissension arose, fearing that Paul would be torn
to pieces by them, the commander ordered the soldiers to go down and take
him from them by force and bring him into the barracks.
10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest
Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go
down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the
castle.
Acts 23:11
11 (Ac 18:9; 19:21) The following night the Lord stood by him and said,
"Take courage, Paul. For as you have testified about Me in Jerusalem,
so you must also testify at Rome."
11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer,
Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear
witness also at Rome.
E) Trust God's Sovereignty in Your Calling
Romans 8:28
28 (Gal 1:15; Ge 50:20) We know that all things work together for good
to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
[28] And we know that all things work together for good to them that love
God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
1) Isaiah 31,Isaiah 32,Isaiah 33,Isaiah 34
Isaiah 31
Woe to Those Who Trust Egypt
1 (Ps 20:7; Dt 17:16) Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,
and rely on horses,
and trust in chariots because they are many,
and in horsemen because they are very strong,
but they do not look to the Holy One of Israel
nor seek the Lord!
2 (Nu 23:19; Isa 45:7) Yet He also is wise and will bring disaster
and will not call back His words,
but will arise against the house of the evildoers
and against the help of those who work iniquity.
3 (Isa 9:17; Eze 28:9) Now the Egyptians are men and not God;
and their horses flesh and not spirit.
When the Lord shall stretch out His hand,
both he who helps shall fall
and he who is helped shall fall down,
and they all shall fail together.
4 (Am 3:8; Isa 42:13; Hos 11:10) For thus the Lord has spoken to me:
Like the lion, and the young lion,
roars over his prey,
against which a multitude of shepherds
is called out against him,
he will not be afraid of their voice,
nor disturbed at their noise,
so shall the Lord of Hosts come down
to fight for Mount Zion, and for its hill.
5 (Ps 91:4; Dt 32:11) Like flying birds,
so the Lord of Hosts will defend Jerusalem.
He will defend and deliver it;
He will pass over and preserve it.
6 (Isa 55:7; Jer 3:10) Turn to Him whom you have deeply betrayed,
O sons of Israel.
7 (Isa 2:20; 30:22) For in that day every man shall cast away
his idols of silver and his idols of gold which your own hands
have made for you as a sin.
8 (Isa 14:25; Ge 49:15) "Then the Assyrian shall fall by the sword
that is not of man,
and the sword not of man shall devour him.
So he shall not escape the sword,
and his young men shall become forced laborers.
9 (Dt 32:31; Isa 18:3) He shall cross over to his stronghold for fear,
and his princes shall be afraid of the banner,"
says the Lord, whose fire is in Zion, and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.
Isaiah 31
[1] Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and
trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are
very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the
LORD!
[2] Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his
words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the
help of them that work iniquity.
[3] Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not
spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall
fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail
together.
[4] For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young
lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth
against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the
noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion,
and for the hill thereof.
[5] As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending
also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.
[6] Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.
[7] For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his
idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin.
[8] Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and
the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee from the
sword, and his young men shall be discomfited.
[9] And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes
shall be afraid of the ensign, saith the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and
his furnace in Jerusalem.
Isaiah 32
The Kingdom of Righteousness
1 (Isa 9:6-7; Jer 33:15) See, a king shall reign in righteousness,
and princes shall rule justly.
2 (Isa 25:4; 7:14) A man shall be as a hiding place from the wind,
and a shelter from the tempest,
as rivers of water in a dry place,
as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.
3 (Isa 29:18) The eyes of those who see shall not be blinded,
and the ears of those who hear shall listen.
4 (Isa 29:24) The heart also of the hasty shall understand knowledge,
and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly.
5 (Isa 5:20) The vile person shall no more be called noble,
nor the rogue be spoken of as generous;
6 (1Sa 24:13; Isa 3:15) for the vile person will speak nonsense,
and his heart will work iniquity:
to practice hypocrisy and to utter error against the Lord,
to keep the hungry unsatisfied and to withhold drink from the thirsty.
7 (Jer 5:26-28; Isa 5:23) The instruments also of the rogue are evil;
he devises wicked schemes to destroy the poor with lying words,
even when the needy speaks right.
8 But the noble devises noble things, and by noble things he stands.
The Women of Jerusalem
9 (Isa 28:23; 3:16) Rise up, you women who are at ease,
hear my voice; you careless daughters, give ear to my speech.
10 (Isa 7:23) Within a year and a few days
you shall be troubled, you careless daughters;
for the vintage is ended
and the fruit gathering shall not come.
11 Tremble, you women who are at ease;
be troubled, you careless daughters;
strip, undress,
and put sackcloth on your waist.
12 Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields,
for the fruitful vine,
13 (Isa 22:2; 7:23) for the land of my people
in which thorns and briers shall come up,
yes, for all the joyful houses
and for the jubilant city;
14 (Isa 24:10; 24:12) because the palaces have been forsaken,
the populated city is forsaken.
The forts and towers shall be caves forever,
a joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks,
15 (Isa 29:17; 35:1-2) until the Spirit is poured on us from on high,
and the wilderness is a fruitful field,
and the fruitful field is counted as a forest.
The Peace of God's Reign
16 Then justice shall dwell in the wilderness,
and righteousness will abide in the fruitful field.
17 (Ps 119:165; Ro 14:17) The work of righteousness shall be peace,
and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.
18 (Hos 2:18-23; Zec 2:5) My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation
and in secure dwellings
and in quiet resting places;
19 (Isa 28:17; 26:5) and it shall hail when the forest comes down,
and the city shall be utterly laid low.
20 (Ecc 11:1; Isa 30:23-24) How blessed are you
who sow beside all waters,
who send out freely the ox and the donkey.
Isaiah 32
[1] Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in
judgment.
[2] And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from
the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great
rock in a weary land.
[3] And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them
that hear shall hearken.
[4] The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of
the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly.
[5] The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to
be bountiful.
[6] For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work
iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to
make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the
thirsty to fail.
[7] The instruments also of the churl are evil: he deviseth wicked devices
to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right.
[8] But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he
stand.
[9] Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless
daughters; give ear unto my speech.
[10] Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women: for the
vintage shall fail, the gathering shall not come.
[11] Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones:
strip you, and make you bare, and gird sackcloth upon your loins.
[12] They shall lament for the teats, for the pleasant fields, for the
fruitful vine.
[13] Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon
all the houses of joy in the joyous city:
[14] Because the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall
be left; the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild
asses, a pasture of flocks;
[15] Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be
a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.
[16] Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain
in the fruitful field.
[17] And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of
righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
[18] And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure
dwellings, and in quiet resting places;
[19] When it shall hail, coming down on the forest; and the city shall be
low in a low place.
[20] Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the
feet of the ox and the ass.
Isaiah 33
A Prophecy of Deliverance
1 (Isa 21:2; Mt 7:2) Woe to you, O destroyer,
though you were not destroyed, and he who is treacherous,
though others did not deal treacherously with you!
When you cease destroying, you shall be destroyed;
and when you finish dealing treacherously,
others shall deal treacherously with you.
2 (Isa 25:9; 26:8) O Lord, be gracious to us; we have waited for You.
Be our strength every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.
3 At the noise of the tumult, the people flee;
at the lifting up of Yourself, the nations scatter;
4 your spoil is gathered like the caterpillar gathers;
as locusts rush about, men rush about on it.
5 (Isa 2:17) The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high;
He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.
6 (Mt 6:33; Ps 112:1-3) He shall be the stability of your times,
a wealth of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge;
the fear of the Lord is His treasure.
7 (2Ki 18:18; Isa 36:22) Listen! Their valiant ones cry in the streets;
the ambassadors of peace weep bitterly.
8 (Jdg 5:6) The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceases.
He has broken the covenant, he has despised the cities,
he has no regard for man.
9 (Isa 35:2; 65:10) The earth mourns and languishes;
Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down.
Sharon is like a wilderness,
and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits.
Impending Judgment on Israel
10 (Ps 12:5) "Now I will rise," says the Lord,
"now I will be exalted,
now I will be lifted up.
11 (Ps 7:14; Isa 59:4) You have conceived chaff,
you shall bring forth stubble;
My breath, as fire, shall devour you.
12 (2Sa 23:6-7; Isa 27:4) The people shall be burned to lime,
as thorns cut up are burned in the fire."
13 (Ps 48:10; Isa 49:1) Hear what I have done, you who are far away;
and you who are near, acknowledge My might.
14 (Heb 12:29; Isa 66:24) The sinners in Zion are afraid;
fearfulness has seized the hypocrites:
"Who among us can live with the continual fire?
Who among us can live with everlasting burning?"
15 (Ps 119:37) He who walks righteously
and speaks uprightly,
he who rejects unjust gain
and shakes his hands from holding bribes,
who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed,
and shuts his eyes from seeing evil:
16 He shall dwell on high;
his place of defense shall be the impregnable rock;
his bread shall be given him,
his waters shall be sure.
The Land of the Majestic King
17 (Isa 6:5) Your eyes shall see the King in His beauty;
they shall see the land that is very far away.
18 (2Ki 18:14; 1Co 1:20) Your heart shall meditate on terror:
"Where is he who counts?
Where is he who weighs?
Where is he who counts the towers?"
19 (Isa 28:11; Dt 28:49-50) You shall not see a fierce people any more,
a people of unintelligible speech which no one comprehends,
of a stammering tongue which no one understands.
20 (Ps 46:5; Isa 32:18) Look upon Zion, the city of our appointed feasts;
your eyes shall see Jerusalem,
a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down;
not one of its stakes shall ever be removed,
nor shall any of its cords be broken.
21 (Ps 46:4-5) But there the glorious Lord will be to us
a place of broad rivers and streams
on which no boat with oars shall go
and on which no gallant ship shall pass,
22 (Jas 4:12; Ps 89:18) for the Lord is our judge,
the Lord is our lawgiver,
the Lord is our king;
He will save us.
23 (2Ki 7:8; Ps 68:12) Your tackle hangs loose;
it cannot hold the base of its mast securely,
nor spread out the sail.
Then the prey of an abundant spoil shall be divided;
the lame shall take the prey.
24 (Jer 50:20; 1Jn 1:7-9) The inhabitant shall not say, "I am sick";
the people who dwell there shall be forgiven their iniquity.
Isaiah 33
[1] Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest
treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt
cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to
deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.
[2] O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm
every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.
[3] At the noise of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of thyself
the nations were scattered.
[4] And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpiller:
as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them.
[5] The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with
judgment and righteousness.
[6] And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and
strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.
[7] Behold, their valiant ones shall cry without: the ambassadors of peace
shall weep bitterly.
[8] The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the
covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man.
[9] The earth mourneth and languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down:
Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits.
[10] Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift
up myself.
[11] Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as
fire, shall devour you.
[12] And the people shall be as the burnings of lime: as thorns cut up shall
they be burned in the fire.
[13] Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye that are near,
acknowledge my might.
[14] The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the
hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us
shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
[15] He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth
the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that
stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing
evil;
[16] He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of
rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.
[17] Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land
that is very far off.
[18] Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the
receiver? where is he that counted the towers?
[19] Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than
thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, that thou canst not understand.
[20] Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see
Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not
one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the
cords thereof be broken.
[21] But there the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and
streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship
pass thereby.
[22] For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our
king; he will save us.
[23] Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast,
they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided;
the lame take the prey.
[24] And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell
therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.
Isaiah 34
Judgment on the Nations
1 (Dt 32:1; Isa 41:1) Come near, O nations, to hear;
and listen, O peoples!
Let the earth hear, and all that is in it,
the world, and all that comes from it.
2 For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations
and His fury upon all their armies;
He has utterly destroyed them,
He has delivered them to the slaughter.
3 (Joel 2:20; Isa 34:7) Their slain also shall be cast out,
and their corpses shall emit their stench,
and the mountains shall be drenched with their blood.
4 (Mt 24:29; Eze 32:7-8) All the host of heaven shall be dissolved,
and the heavens shall be rolled together as a book;
and all their host shall fall down
as the leaf falls from the vine,
and as a falling fig from the fig tree.
5 (Mal 1:4; Isa 63:1 ) For My sword is filled in heaven;
see, it shall come down for judgment on Edom,
and on the people whom I have devoted to destruction.
6 (Isa 63:1; Jer 49:13) The sword of the Lord is filled with blood,
it is made full with fatness,
and with the blood of lambs and goats,
with the fat of the kidneys of rams.
For the Lord has a sacrifice in Bozrah,
and a great slaughter in the land of Edom.
7 (Nu 23:22; Ps 68:30) The wild oxen shall also fall with them,
and the young bulls with the mighty bulls;
so their land shall be soaked with blood,
and their dust become greasy with fat.
8 (Isa 63:4; 61:2) For it is the day of the vengeance of the Lord,
and the year of recompense for the cause of Zion.
9 (Dt 29:23; Ps 11:6 ) Its streams shall be turned into pitch,
and its dust into brimstone,
and its land shall become burning pitch.
10 (Rev 19:3; Isa 13:20) It shall not be quenched night or day;
its smoke shall go up forever.
From generation to generation it shall lie waste;
no one shall pass through it forever and ever.
11 (2Ki 21:13; La 2:8) But the cormorant and the hedgehog shall possess it,
the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it.
And He shall stretch out on it
the line of desolation,
and the plumb line of emptiness.
12 They shall call its nobles to the kingdom, but no one shall be there,
and all her princes shall be nothing.
13 (Jer 9:11; 10:22) Thorns shall come up in her palaces,
nettles and brambles in the fortresses;
and it shall be a habitation of jackals
and a home for owls.
14 (Isa 13:21-22) The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet
with the wolves, and the wild goat shall cry to its kind;
the screech owl also shall rest there
and find for herself a place of rest.
15 (Dt 14:13) There shall the tree snake make its nest and lay eggs,
and it shall hatch and gather them under its protection;
yes, there shall the vultures also be gathered,
every one with its kind.
16 (Isa 30:8) Seek from the book of the Lord, and read.
Not one of these shall be missing,
not one shall lack its mate.
For His mouth has commanded,
and His Spirit has gathered them.
17 (Isa 34:10; Ps 78:55) He has cast the lot for them,
and His hand has divided it to them by line.
They shall possess it forever,
from generation to generation they shall dwell in it.
Isaiah 34
[1] Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth
hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of
it.
[2] For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon
all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to
the slaughter.
[3] Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of
their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.
[4] And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be
rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf
falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.
[5] For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon
Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.
[6] The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness,
and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams:
for the LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land
of Idumea.
[7] And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the
bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat
with fatness.
[8] For it is the day of the LORD's vengeance, and the year of recompences
for the controversy of Zion.
[9] And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof
into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch.
[10] It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up
for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass
through it for ever and ever.
[11] But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and
the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of
confusion, and the stones of emptiness.
[12] They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none shall be
there, and all her princes shall be nothing.
[13] And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the
fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court
for owls.
[14] The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of
the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also
shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest.
[15] There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather
under her shadow: there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with
her mate.
[16] Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall
fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his
spirit it hath gathered them.
[17] And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it unto
them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation
shall they dwell therein.
2) Our Daily Bread for 20 July 2025 titled
Singing God's Praises by Kirsten Holmberg
2 Samuel 22:47-51
47 (Ps 89:26) The Lord lives; blessed be my rock.
May the God of the rock of my salvation be exalted,
48 (Ps 144:2; 94:1) the God who gave me retribution
and brought down peoples under me,
49 (Ps 140:1) who brought me out from my enemies.
You exalted me above those who rose up against me;
You delivered me from violent ones.
50 (Ro 15:9) Therefore, I praise You, O Lord, among the nations;
I sing praises to Your name.
51 (Ps 144:10; 2Sa 7:12-13) He is a tower of salvation for His king,
and He acts faithfully toward His anointed,
toward David and his descendants forever.
[47] The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the
rock of my salvation.
[48] It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me,
[49] And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me
up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from
the violent man.
[50] Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and
I will sing praises unto thy name.
[51] He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his
anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.
When Diana's vision began to deteriorate, she grew concerned. She'd also been
having trouble thinking and kept repeating herself. Her symptoms caused
doctors to believe it wasn't a problem with her eyes but something in her
brain. They learned she had a large tumour in her brain that needed to be
removed. Diana was concerned that the surgery would impair her ability
to sing - something she's passionate about and shares with her family.
So her surgeon did something incredible and kept her awake
for the pain-free surgery, asking her to sing during the procedure
so he’d know he'd preserved that part of her neurological circuitry.
The two even recorded a duet during the operation.
Like Diana, King David - who penned many of the Bible's psalms - was
passionate about singing. He often sang to God in both lament and joy.
When he was delivered from his enemies, he acknowledged that it was
God who set him "free from [his] enemies" (2 Samuel 22:49).
Because of God's good works, David declared, "I will praise you, Lord,
among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name" (v. 50).
God continues to be at work in the world and in each of our lives,
delivering us from the malady that plagues us all: sin. May we, like David,
set our hearts on singing God's praises for all He's done.
Reflect & Pray
What can you praise God for today? What invites you to worship Him in song?
Heavenly Father, I bring You praise for Your work in the world and in my life.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 1 Knowing God's Word Day 1 - God's Perspective
Philippians 4:13
13 (2Co 12:9-10; Eph 3:16) I can do all things because
of Christ who strengthens me.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Many of us live out self-fulfilling prophecies. We believe
what we tell ourselves - or what we have been told by others:
"You're stupid", "You're ugly", "You'll never amount to anything,"
"You can't do anything right."
We programme ourselves for spiritual failure as well.
"I just can't memorise Scripture," we say. "It comes and goes,
and I can't seem to get it to stay." Yet daily we memorise
volumes of information that is less significant than the
Scriptures - telephone numbers, identification codes,
songs lyrics, advertising jingles.
The answer to the dilemma of negativism is not positive
thinking, but right thinking - biblical thinking, according
to what the Bible reveals of God's perspective. God says,
"You are worthwhile. You are valued. You are loved. I created you
just as you are, and whatever I call you to do,
I will give you the strength to do it.
The context of Phillipians 4:13 shows that Paul had learned
this important secret of spiritual strength. Paul had known
poverty and plenty, trouble and victory. But he also knew
he did not have to let circumstances determine his response to God's will.
We need not be controlled by the negative messages life throws in our paths
- even those self-defeating pronouncements we make to ourselves.
Rather, we can respond according to God's perspective, with the
conviction that God has given us strength we need to meet the
challenges we face.
Application
a) What challenges do I face that make me realise my own insufficiencies?
IS memorising Scripture one of those challenges for me?
b) How does today's memory verse help me face those challenges?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
2 Chr 31:21
21 And in every deed that he undertook in the service of the house
of God and with the law and commandment to seek out his God,
he did this with all his heart, and he found success.
21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house
of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God,
he did it with all his heart, and prospered.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Protection in Times of Trouble
Ps 27:1-6
PSALMS 27
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom will I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
of whom will I be afraid?
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) When the wicked came against me
to eat my flesh -
my enemies and my foes -
they stumbled and fell.
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) Though an army should encamp against me,
my heart will not fear;
though war should rise against me,
in this will I be confident.
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) One thing I have asked from the Lord,
that will I seek after -
for me to dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to see the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in His temple.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) For in the time of trouble
He will hide me in His pavilion;
in the shelter of His tabernacle He will hide me;
He will set me up on a rock.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8 - 9) Now my head will be lifted up
above my enemies encircling me;
therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes,
came upon me to eat up my flesh,
They stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear:
Though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after;
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion:
In the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me;
he shall set me up upon a rock.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up,
Above mine enemies round about me:
Therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy;
I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2022 edition?)
Where do Muslims live?
Canada is a land of immigrants. And Muslims are coming in increasing numbers
to our shores. Where do they live? How can we pray for these areas? Use this as
your more effectively for Muslims in Canada.
Data for those population figures is extrapolated for the 2011 National
Household Survey and population growth projections by Pew Forum. These have
also been adjusted by +40% as reliable sources state that on 60% of Muslims
self-identify on government surveys and forms. These estimates are still on
the conservative end of the spectrum. Percentages represent that of the total
Canadian population, not provincial
BC - 136493 - 7.5%
AB - 195240 - 11%
SK - 17279 - 1%
MB - 21349 - 1.2%
ON - 1001542 - 55%
QC - 418946 - 23%
NB - 4543 - 0.003%
NS - 14629 - 0.1%
PEI - 1127 - 0.0006%
NFLD - 2065 - 0.001%
Yukon - 69 - 0.00004%
NWT - 473 - 0.0003%
NU - 86 - 0.00005%
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 "In the last days it shall be," says God,
"that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even on My menservants and maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below:
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]
Footnotes
Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
And
Thank you for praying through the
5 Days of Prayer for Sikhs.
"My name is Kam. I'm 29 years of age, and I grew up Sikh. As a teenager,
I struggled with depression, brokenness, and addiction to
cannabis. I didn't know how to stop or how to get help.
Then a friend invited me to church. As I spent time with Christians
and heard the message of the Gospel, I experienced the
love of Jesus Christ, and it was like nothing I'd known before.
One night I had a dream where I saw Him - a figure surrounded by
light who I knew was Jesus, the light of the world.
As I began to understand the gospel message, I encountered a reassuring and
confident solution to the problem of sin. I knew that I needed a solution
to my sin problem, and I gave my life to Christ.
Slowly, God began to heal my broken heart and my addiction.
Nine years have passed, and I am a devoted husband and a father
to two beautiful boys. I grow deeper in love with Jesus each day.
I ask you to continue praying with me, and others around the world, for Sikhs.
God is the only one who can draw people to Himself. He works in and through
the prayers of His people. I want Sikhs to know the freedom
and healing that is only available through Jesus Christ."
13 (Ro 14:17; 12:12) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy
and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope,
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
[13] Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that
ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
ROMANS 15:13
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
20th Day of the Month
a) Pray for the children of Canada, that they would come to know
Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord.
( Matthew 19:14
14 (Mt 18:3; Lk 18:16-17)
But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me,
and do not forbid them. For to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."
14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not,
to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
)
b) Pray that Christians will recognise that our struggle is not
against the natural world but against invisible spiritual forces.
(
Eph 6:12
12 (Eph 1:3; 1:21) For our fight is not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers
of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual forces
of evil in the heavenly places.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against
spiritual wickedness in high places.
)
Conclusion:
PRay to Lord Jesus Christ to be an unshakeabke witness in Him.
Pray to the Lord and pray to put your trust in Jesus Christ and no where else.
Pray to the Lord: "Heavenly Father, I bring You praise for Your work
in the world and in my life."
Pray to the Lord Jesus Jesus Christ who can strengthen you.
Pray to the Lord and pray to your work in the name of Jesus Christ.
Pray to the Lord and pray to know the Lord Jesus Christ as protector.
Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
Pray for the children of Canada, that they would come to know
Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord.
Pray that Christians will recognise that our struggle is not
against the natural world but against invisible spiritual forces.
Using Isaiah 52:7 as a guide
7 (Isa 40:9; Na 1:15; Ps 93:1) How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
who proclaims peace,
who brings good news of happiness,
who proclaims salvation,
who says to Zion,
"Your God reigns!"
[7] How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good
tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that
publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
thank God for the ministry taking place in remote mountaineous regions
of Tajikistan.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.
Today at
Calvary Community Church , Pastor Doug Zieber spoke on Empowerd ,
Unshakeable
Acts 22:30-23:11
Paul Before the Sanhedrin
30 (Ac 23:28; 21:33) On the next day, desiring to know exactly
why he was accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief
priests and all the Sanhedrin to assemble,
and he brought Paul down to stand before them.
[30] On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he
was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the
chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and
set him before them.
Acts 23
1 (Ac 24:16; 2Co 1:12) Paul looked at the Sanhedrin and said,
"Brothers, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day."
2 (Ac 24:1; Jn 18:22) The high priest Ananias ordered those who stood
by him to strike him on the mouth.
3 (Jn 7:51; Dt 25:1-2) Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you,
you whitewashed wall! Do you sit judging me according to the law,
yet order me to be struck contrary to the law?"
4 Those who stood by said, "Do you criticize God's high priest?"
5 (Ex 22:28) Paul said, "Brothers, I did not know that he was
the high priest. For it is written,
'You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.'(Ex 22:28.)"
6 (Ac 24:15; 24:21) Then Paul, knowing that one sect were Sadducees
and the other Pharisees, cried out among the Sanhedrin,
"Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of a Pharisee. I am being judged
for my hope in the resurrection of the dead."
7 When he had said this, dissension arose between the Pharisees
and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
8 (Mt 22:23; Lk 20:27) For the Sadducees say that there is
no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit. But the Pharisees acknowledge
them all.
9 (Ac 22:7; 22:17-18) There was a great outcry. The scribes that were
from the sect of Pharisees stood up and argued,
"We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or an angel has spoken
to him, let us not fight against God."
10 (Ac 22:24) When much dissension arose, fearing that Paul would be torn
to pieces by them, the commander ordered the soldiers to go down and take
him from them by force and bring him into the barracks.
11 (Ac 18:9; 19:21) The following night the Lord stood by him and said,
"Take courage, Paul. For as you have testified about Me in Jerusalem,
so you must also testify at Rome."
1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have
lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him
on the mouth.
3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for
sittest thou to judge me after the law,
and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?
5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest:
for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other
Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee,
the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called
in question.
7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees
and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor
spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees'
part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a
spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.
10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest
Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go
down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the
castle.
11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer,
Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear
witness also at Rome.
Acts 22:29
29 Therefore those who were about to examine Paul immediately backed away
from him. And the commander feared, knowing that he was a Roman citizen
and because he had bound him.
[29] Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him:
and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman,
and because he had bound him.
Acts 22:30
Paul Before the Sanhedrin
30 (Ac 23:28; 21:33) On the next day, desiring to know exactly
why he was accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief
priests and all the Sanhedrin to assemble,
and he brought Paul down to stand before them.
[30] On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he
was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the
chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and
set him before them.
Acts 23:1
1 (Ac 24:16; 2Co 1:12) Paul looked at the Sanhedrin and said,
"Brothers, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day."
1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have
lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
A) Live with Integrity
Acts 23:2-3
2 (Ac 24:1; Jn 18:22) The high priest Ananias ordered those who stood
by him to strike him on the mouth.
3 (Jn 7:51; Dt 25:1-2) Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you,
you whitewashed wall! Do you sit judging me according to the law,
yet order me to be struck contrary to the law?"
2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him
on the mouth.
3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for
sittest thou to judge me after the law,
and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
B) Trust God to See and Address Injustice
Acts 23:4-5
4 Those who stood by said, "Do you criticize God's high priest?"
5 (Ex 22:28) Paul said, "Brothers, I did not know that he was
the high priest. For it is written,
'You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.'(Ex 22:28.)"
4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?
5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest:
for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
C) Obey Godly and Earthly Authority
Acts 23:6-9a
6 (Ac 24:15; 24:21) Then Paul, knowing that one sect were Sadducees
and the other Pharisees, cried out among the Sanhedrin,
"Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of a Pharisee. I am being judged
for my hope in the resurrection of the dead."
7 When he had said this, dissension arose between the Pharisees
and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
8 (Mt 22:23; Lk 20:27) For the Sadducees say that there is
no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit. But the Pharisees acknowledge
them all.
9 (Ac 22:7; 22:17-18) There was a great outcry. The scribes that were
from the sect of Pharisees stood up and argued,
6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other
Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee,
the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called
in question.
7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees
and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor
spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees'
part arose, and strove,
D) Exercise Godly Wisdom in Difficult Situations
Mark 13:9b-11
9 (Mt 10:17-18; Mk 13:5) "You will be brought
before rulers and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them.
10 (Mt 24:14; Ro 10:18) And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.
11 (Mt 10:19-21; Lk 12:11-12) But when they arrest you and hand you over,
take no thought beforehand, or premeditate what you should speak.
But speak whatever is given you in that time, for it is not you who speaks,
but the Holy Spirit.
[9] and ye shall be brought before
rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.
[10] And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
[11] But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought
beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever
shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak,
but the Holy Ghost.
Acts 23:9b
"We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or an angel has spoken
to him, let us not fight against God."
saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a
spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.
Acts 5:38-39
38 (La 3:37; Mt 15:13) Now I tell you, keep away from these men
and leave them alone, because if this intention or this activity
is of men, it will come to nothing.
39 (Pr 21:30; Ac 7:51) But if it is of God, you will not be able
to overthrow them, lest perhaps you be found even fighting against God."
[38] And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for
if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
[39] But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found
even to fight against God.
Acts 23:10
10 (Ac 22:24) When much dissension arose, fearing that Paul would be torn
to pieces by them, the commander ordered the soldiers to go down and take
him from them by force and bring him into the barracks.
10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest
Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go
down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the
castle.
Acts 23:11
11 (Ac 18:9; 19:21) The following night the Lord stood by him and said,
"Take courage, Paul. For as you have testified about Me in Jerusalem,
so you must also testify at Rome."
11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer,
Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear
witness also at Rome.
E) Trust God's Sovereignty in Your Calling
Romans 8:28
28 (Gal 1:15; Ge 50:20) We know that all things work together for good
to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
[28] And we know that all things work together for good to them that love
God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
1) Isaiah 31,Isaiah 32,Isaiah 33,Isaiah 34
Isaiah 31
Woe to Those Who Trust Egypt
1 (Ps 20:7; Dt 17:16) Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,
and rely on horses,
and trust in chariots because they are many,
and in horsemen because they are very strong,
but they do not look to the Holy One of Israel
nor seek the Lord!
2 (Nu 23:19; Isa 45:7) Yet He also is wise and will bring disaster
and will not call back His words,
but will arise against the house of the evildoers
and against the help of those who work iniquity.
3 (Isa 9:17; Eze 28:9) Now the Egyptians are men and not God;
and their horses flesh and not spirit.
When the Lord shall stretch out His hand,
both he who helps shall fall
and he who is helped shall fall down,
and they all shall fail together.
4 (Am 3:8; Isa 42:13; Hos 11:10) For thus the Lord has spoken to me:
Like the lion, and the young lion,
roars over his prey,
against which a multitude of shepherds
is called out against him,
he will not be afraid of their voice,
nor disturbed at their noise,
so shall the Lord of Hosts come down
to fight for Mount Zion, and for its hill.
5 (Ps 91:4; Dt 32:11) Like flying birds,
so the Lord of Hosts will defend Jerusalem.
He will defend and deliver it;
He will pass over and preserve it.
6 (Isa 55:7; Jer 3:10) Turn to Him whom you have deeply betrayed,
O sons of Israel.
7 (Isa 2:20; 30:22) For in that day every man shall cast away
his idols of silver and his idols of gold which your own hands
have made for you as a sin.
8 (Isa 14:25; Ge 49:15) "Then the Assyrian shall fall by the sword
that is not of man,
and the sword not of man shall devour him.
So he shall not escape the sword,
and his young men shall become forced laborers.
9 (Dt 32:31; Isa 18:3) He shall cross over to his stronghold for fear,
and his princes shall be afraid of the banner,"
says the Lord, whose fire is in Zion, and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.
Isaiah 31
[1] Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and
trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are
very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the
LORD!
[2] Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his
words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the
help of them that work iniquity.
[3] Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not
spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall
fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail
together.
[4] For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young
lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth
against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the
noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion,
and for the hill thereof.
[5] As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending
also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.
[6] Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.
[7] For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his
idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin.
[8] Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and
the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee from the
sword, and his young men shall be discomfited.
[9] And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes
shall be afraid of the ensign, saith the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and
his furnace in Jerusalem.
Isaiah 32
The Kingdom of Righteousness
1 (Isa 9:6-7; Jer 33:15) See, a king shall reign in righteousness,
and princes shall rule justly.
2 (Isa 25:4; 7:14) A man shall be as a hiding place from the wind,
and a shelter from the tempest,
as rivers of water in a dry place,
as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.
3 (Isa 29:18) The eyes of those who see shall not be blinded,
and the ears of those who hear shall listen.
4 (Isa 29:24) The heart also of the hasty shall understand knowledge,
and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly.
5 (Isa 5:20) The vile person shall no more be called noble,
nor the rogue be spoken of as generous;
6 (1Sa 24:13; Isa 3:15) for the vile person will speak nonsense,
and his heart will work iniquity:
to practice hypocrisy and to utter error against the Lord,
to keep the hungry unsatisfied and to withhold drink from the thirsty.
7 (Jer 5:26-28; Isa 5:23) The instruments also of the rogue are evil;
he devises wicked schemes to destroy the poor with lying words,
even when the needy speaks right.
8 But the noble devises noble things, and by noble things he stands.
The Women of Jerusalem
9 (Isa 28:23; 3:16) Rise up, you women who are at ease,
hear my voice; you careless daughters, give ear to my speech.
10 (Isa 7:23) Within a year and a few days
you shall be troubled, you careless daughters;
for the vintage is ended
and the fruit gathering shall not come.
11 Tremble, you women who are at ease;
be troubled, you careless daughters;
strip, undress,
and put sackcloth on your waist.
12 Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields,
for the fruitful vine,
13 (Isa 22:2; 7:23) for the land of my people
in which thorns and briers shall come up,
yes, for all the joyful houses
and for the jubilant city;
14 (Isa 24:10; 24:12) because the palaces have been forsaken,
the populated city is forsaken.
The forts and towers shall be caves forever,
a joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks,
15 (Isa 29:17; 35:1-2) until the Spirit is poured on us from on high,
and the wilderness is a fruitful field,
and the fruitful field is counted as a forest.
The Peace of God's Reign
16 Then justice shall dwell in the wilderness,
and righteousness will abide in the fruitful field.
17 (Ps 119:165; Ro 14:17) The work of righteousness shall be peace,
and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.
18 (Hos 2:18-23; Zec 2:5) My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation
and in secure dwellings
and in quiet resting places;
19 (Isa 28:17; 26:5) and it shall hail when the forest comes down,
and the city shall be utterly laid low.
20 (Ecc 11:1; Isa 30:23-24) How blessed are you
who sow beside all waters,
who send out freely the ox and the donkey.
Isaiah 32
[1] Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in
judgment.
[2] And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from
the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great
rock in a weary land.
[3] And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them
that hear shall hearken.
[4] The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of
the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly.
[5] The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to
be bountiful.
[6] For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work
iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to
make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the
thirsty to fail.
[7] The instruments also of the churl are evil: he deviseth wicked devices
to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right.
[8] But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he
stand.
[9] Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless
daughters; give ear unto my speech.
[10] Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women: for the
vintage shall fail, the gathering shall not come.
[11] Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones:
strip you, and make you bare, and gird sackcloth upon your loins.
[12] They shall lament for the teats, for the pleasant fields, for the
fruitful vine.
[13] Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon
all the houses of joy in the joyous city:
[14] Because the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall
be left; the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild
asses, a pasture of flocks;
[15] Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be
a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.
[16] Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain
in the fruitful field.
[17] And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of
righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
[18] And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure
dwellings, and in quiet resting places;
[19] When it shall hail, coming down on the forest; and the city shall be
low in a low place.
[20] Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the
feet of the ox and the ass.
Isaiah 33
A Prophecy of Deliverance
1 (Isa 21:2; Mt 7:2) Woe to you, O destroyer,
though you were not destroyed, and he who is treacherous,
though others did not deal treacherously with you!
When you cease destroying, you shall be destroyed;
and when you finish dealing treacherously,
others shall deal treacherously with you.
2 (Isa 25:9; 26:8) O Lord, be gracious to us; we have waited for You.
Be our strength every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.
3 At the noise of the tumult, the people flee;
at the lifting up of Yourself, the nations scatter;
4 your spoil is gathered like the caterpillar gathers;
as locusts rush about, men rush about on it.
5 (Isa 2:17) The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high;
He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.
6 (Mt 6:33; Ps 112:1-3) He shall be the stability of your times,
a wealth of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge;
the fear of the Lord is His treasure.
7 (2Ki 18:18; Isa 36:22) Listen! Their valiant ones cry in the streets;
the ambassadors of peace weep bitterly.
8 (Jdg 5:6) The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceases.
He has broken the covenant, he has despised the cities,
he has no regard for man.
9 (Isa 35:2; 65:10) The earth mourns and languishes;
Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down.
Sharon is like a wilderness,
and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits.
Impending Judgment on Israel
10 (Ps 12:5) "Now I will rise," says the Lord,
"now I will be exalted,
now I will be lifted up.
11 (Ps 7:14; Isa 59:4) You have conceived chaff,
you shall bring forth stubble;
My breath, as fire, shall devour you.
12 (2Sa 23:6-7; Isa 27:4) The people shall be burned to lime,
as thorns cut up are burned in the fire."
13 (Ps 48:10; Isa 49:1) Hear what I have done, you who are far away;
and you who are near, acknowledge My might.
14 (Heb 12:29; Isa 66:24) The sinners in Zion are afraid;
fearfulness has seized the hypocrites:
"Who among us can live with the continual fire?
Who among us can live with everlasting burning?"
15 (Ps 119:37) He who walks righteously
and speaks uprightly,
he who rejects unjust gain
and shakes his hands from holding bribes,
who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed,
and shuts his eyes from seeing evil:
16 He shall dwell on high;
his place of defense shall be the impregnable rock;
his bread shall be given him,
his waters shall be sure.
The Land of the Majestic King
17 (Isa 6:5) Your eyes shall see the King in His beauty;
they shall see the land that is very far away.
18 (2Ki 18:14; 1Co 1:20) Your heart shall meditate on terror:
"Where is he who counts?
Where is he who weighs?
Where is he who counts the towers?"
19 (Isa 28:11; Dt 28:49-50) You shall not see a fierce people any more,
a people of unintelligible speech which no one comprehends,
of a stammering tongue which no one understands.
20 (Ps 46:5; Isa 32:18) Look upon Zion, the city of our appointed feasts;
your eyes shall see Jerusalem,
a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down;
not one of its stakes shall ever be removed,
nor shall any of its cords be broken.
21 (Ps 46:4-5) But there the glorious Lord will be to us
a place of broad rivers and streams
on which no boat with oars shall go
and on which no gallant ship shall pass,
22 (Jas 4:12; Ps 89:18) for the Lord is our judge,
the Lord is our lawgiver,
the Lord is our king;
He will save us.
23 (2Ki 7:8; Ps 68:12) Your tackle hangs loose;
it cannot hold the base of its mast securely,
nor spread out the sail.
Then the prey of an abundant spoil shall be divided;
the lame shall take the prey.
24 (Jer 50:20; 1Jn 1:7-9) The inhabitant shall not say, "I am sick";
the people who dwell there shall be forgiven their iniquity.
Isaiah 33
[1] Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest
treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt
cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to
deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.
[2] O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm
every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.
[3] At the noise of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of thyself
the nations were scattered.
[4] And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpiller:
as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them.
[5] The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with
judgment and righteousness.
[6] And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and
strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.
[7] Behold, their valiant ones shall cry without: the ambassadors of peace
shall weep bitterly.
[8] The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the
covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man.
[9] The earth mourneth and languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down:
Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits.
[10] Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift
up myself.
[11] Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as
fire, shall devour you.
[12] And the people shall be as the burnings of lime: as thorns cut up shall
they be burned in the fire.
[13] Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye that are near,
acknowledge my might.
[14] The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the
hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us
shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
[15] He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth
the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that
stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing
evil;
[16] He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of
rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.
[17] Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land
that is very far off.
[18] Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the
receiver? where is he that counted the towers?
[19] Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than
thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, that thou canst not understand.
[20] Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see
Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not
one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the
cords thereof be broken.
[21] But there the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and
streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship
pass thereby.
[22] For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our
king; he will save us.
[23] Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast,
they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided;
the lame take the prey.
[24] And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell
therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.
Isaiah 34
Judgment on the Nations
1 (Dt 32:1; Isa 41:1) Come near, O nations, to hear;
and listen, O peoples!
Let the earth hear, and all that is in it,
the world, and all that comes from it.
2 For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations
and His fury upon all their armies;
He has utterly destroyed them,
He has delivered them to the slaughter.
3 (Joel 2:20; Isa 34:7) Their slain also shall be cast out,
and their corpses shall emit their stench,
and the mountains shall be drenched with their blood.
4 (Mt 24:29; Eze 32:7-8) All the host of heaven shall be dissolved,
and the heavens shall be rolled together as a book;
and all their host shall fall down
as the leaf falls from the vine,
and as a falling fig from the fig tree.
5 (Mal 1:4; Isa 63:1 ) For My sword is filled in heaven;
see, it shall come down for judgment on Edom,
and on the people whom I have devoted to destruction.
6 (Isa 63:1; Jer 49:13) The sword of the Lord is filled with blood,
it is made full with fatness,
and with the blood of lambs and goats,
with the fat of the kidneys of rams.
For the Lord has a sacrifice in Bozrah,
and a great slaughter in the land of Edom.
7 (Nu 23:22; Ps 68:30) The wild oxen shall also fall with them,
and the young bulls with the mighty bulls;
so their land shall be soaked with blood,
and their dust become greasy with fat.
8 (Isa 63:4; 61:2) For it is the day of the vengeance of the Lord,
and the year of recompense for the cause of Zion.
9 (Dt 29:23; Ps 11:6 ) Its streams shall be turned into pitch,
and its dust into brimstone,
and its land shall become burning pitch.
10 (Rev 19:3; Isa 13:20) It shall not be quenched night or day;
its smoke shall go up forever.
From generation to generation it shall lie waste;
no one shall pass through it forever and ever.
11 (2Ki 21:13; La 2:8) But the cormorant and the hedgehog shall possess it,
the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it.
And He shall stretch out on it
the line of desolation,
and the plumb line of emptiness.
12 They shall call its nobles to the kingdom, but no one shall be there,
and all her princes shall be nothing.
13 (Jer 9:11; 10:22) Thorns shall come up in her palaces,
nettles and brambles in the fortresses;
and it shall be a habitation of jackals
and a home for owls.
14 (Isa 13:21-22) The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet
with the wolves, and the wild goat shall cry to its kind;
the screech owl also shall rest there
and find for herself a place of rest.
15 (Dt 14:13) There shall the tree snake make its nest and lay eggs,
and it shall hatch and gather them under its protection;
yes, there shall the vultures also be gathered,
every one with its kind.
16 (Isa 30:8) Seek from the book of the Lord, and read.
Not one of these shall be missing,
not one shall lack its mate.
For His mouth has commanded,
and His Spirit has gathered them.
17 (Isa 34:10; Ps 78:55) He has cast the lot for them,
and His hand has divided it to them by line.
They shall possess it forever,
from generation to generation they shall dwell in it.
Isaiah 34
[1] Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth
hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of
it.
[2] For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon
all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to
the slaughter.
[3] Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of
their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.
[4] And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be
rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf
falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.
[5] For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon
Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.
[6] The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness,
and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams:
for the LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land
of Idumea.
[7] And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the
bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat
with fatness.
[8] For it is the day of the LORD's vengeance, and the year of recompences
for the controversy of Zion.
[9] And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof
into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch.
[10] It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up
for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass
through it for ever and ever.
[11] But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and
the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of
confusion, and the stones of emptiness.
[12] They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none shall be
there, and all her princes shall be nothing.
[13] And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the
fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court
for owls.
[14] The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of
the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also
shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest.
[15] There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather
under her shadow: there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with
her mate.
[16] Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall
fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his
spirit it hath gathered them.
[17] And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it unto
them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation
shall they dwell therein.
2) Our Daily Bread for 20 July 2025 titled
Singing God's Praises by Kirsten Holmberg
2 Samuel 22:47-51
47 (Ps 89:26) The Lord lives; blessed be my rock.
May the God of the rock of my salvation be exalted,
48 (Ps 144:2; 94:1) the God who gave me retribution
and brought down peoples under me,
49 (Ps 140:1) who brought me out from my enemies.
You exalted me above those who rose up against me;
You delivered me from violent ones.
50 (Ro 15:9) Therefore, I praise You, O Lord, among the nations;
I sing praises to Your name.
51 (Ps 144:10; 2Sa 7:12-13) He is a tower of salvation for His king,
and He acts faithfully toward His anointed,
toward David and his descendants forever.
[47] The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the
rock of my salvation.
[48] It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me,
[49] And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me
up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from
the violent man.
[50] Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and
I will sing praises unto thy name.
[51] He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his
anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.
When Diana's vision began to deteriorate, she grew concerned. She'd also been
having trouble thinking and kept repeating herself. Her symptoms caused
doctors to believe it wasn't a problem with her eyes but something in her
brain. They learned she had a large tumour in her brain that needed to be
removed. Diana was concerned that the surgery would impair her ability
to sing - something she's passionate about and shares with her family.
So her surgeon did something incredible and kept her awake
for the pain-free surgery, asking her to sing during the procedure
so he’d know he'd preserved that part of her neurological circuitry.
The two even recorded a duet during the operation.
Like Diana, King David - who penned many of the Bible's psalms - was
passionate about singing. He often sang to God in both lament and joy.
When he was delivered from his enemies, he acknowledged that it was
God who set him "free from [his] enemies" (2 Samuel 22:49).
Because of God's good works, David declared, "I will praise you, Lord,
among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name" (v. 50).
God continues to be at work in the world and in each of our lives,
delivering us from the malady that plagues us all: sin. May we, like David,
set our hearts on singing God's praises for all He's done.
Reflect & Pray
What can you praise God for today? What invites you to worship Him in song?
Heavenly Father, I bring You praise for Your work in the world and in my life.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 1 Knowing God's Word Day 1 - God's Perspective
Philippians 4:13
13 (2Co 12:9-10; Eph 3:16) I can do all things because
of Christ who strengthens me.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Many of us live out self-fulfilling prophecies. We believe
what we tell ourselves - or what we have been told by others:
"You're stupid", "You're ugly", "You'll never amount to anything,"
"You can't do anything right."
We programme ourselves for spiritual failure as well.
"I just can't memorise Scripture," we say. "It comes and goes,
and I can't seem to get it to stay." Yet daily we memorise
volumes of information that is less significant than the
Scriptures - telephone numbers, identification codes,
songs lyrics, advertising jingles.
The answer to the dilemma of negativism is not positive
thinking, but right thinking - biblical thinking, according
to what the Bible reveals of God's perspective. God says,
"You are worthwhile. You are valued. You are loved. I created you
just as you are, and whatever I call you to do,
I will give you the strength to do it.
The context of Phillipians 4:13 shows that Paul had learned
this important secret of spiritual strength. Paul had known
poverty and plenty, trouble and victory. But he also knew
he did not have to let circumstances determine his response to God's will.
We need not be controlled by the negative messages life throws in our paths
- even those self-defeating pronouncements we make to ourselves.
Rather, we can respond according to God's perspective, with the
conviction that God has given us strength we need to meet the
challenges we face.
Application
a) What challenges do I face that make me realise my own insufficiencies?
IS memorising Scripture one of those challenges for me?
b) How does today's memory verse help me face those challenges?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
2 Chr 31:21
21 And in every deed that he undertook in the service of the house
of God and with the law and commandment to seek out his God,
he did this with all his heart, and he found success.
21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house
of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God,
he did it with all his heart, and prospered.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Protection in Times of Trouble
Ps 27:1-6
PSALMS 27
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom will I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
of whom will I be afraid?
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) When the wicked came against me
to eat my flesh -
my enemies and my foes -
they stumbled and fell.
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) Though an army should encamp against me,
my heart will not fear;
though war should rise against me,
in this will I be confident.
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) One thing I have asked from the Lord,
that will I seek after -
for me to dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to see the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in His temple.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) For in the time of trouble
He will hide me in His pavilion;
in the shelter of His tabernacle He will hide me;
He will set me up on a rock.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8 - 9) Now my head will be lifted up
above my enemies encircling me;
therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes,
came upon me to eat up my flesh,
They stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear:
Though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after;
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion:
In the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me;
he shall set me up upon a rock.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up,
Above mine enemies round about me:
Therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy;
I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2022 edition?)
Where do Muslims live?
Canada is a land of immigrants. And Muslims are coming in increasing numbers
to our shores. Where do they live? How can we pray for these areas? Use this as
your more effectively for Muslims in Canada.
Data for those population figures is extrapolated for the 2011 National
Household Survey and population growth projections by Pew Forum. These have
also been adjusted by +40% as reliable sources state that on 60% of Muslims
self-identify on government surveys and forms. These estimates are still on
the conservative end of the spectrum. Percentages represent that of the total
Canadian population, not provincial
BC - 136493 - 7.5%
AB - 195240 - 11%
SK - 17279 - 1%
MB - 21349 - 1.2%
ON - 1001542 - 55%
QC - 418946 - 23%
NB - 4543 - 0.003%
NS - 14629 - 0.1%
PEI - 1127 - 0.0006%
NFLD - 2065 - 0.001%
Yukon - 69 - 0.00004%
NWT - 473 - 0.0003%
NU - 86 - 0.00005%
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 "In the last days it shall be," says God,
"that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even on My menservants and maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below:
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]
Footnotes
Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
And
Thank you for praying through the
5 Days of Prayer for Sikhs.
"My name is Kam. I'm 29 years of age, and I grew up Sikh. As a teenager,
I struggled with depression, brokenness, and addiction to
cannabis. I didn't know how to stop or how to get help.
Then a friend invited me to church. As I spent time with Christians
and heard the message of the Gospel, I experienced the
love of Jesus Christ, and it was like nothing I'd known before.
One night I had a dream where I saw Him - a figure surrounded by
light who I knew was Jesus, the light of the world.
As I began to understand the gospel message, I encountered a reassuring and
confident solution to the problem of sin. I knew that I needed a solution
to my sin problem, and I gave my life to Christ.
Slowly, God began to heal my broken heart and my addiction.
Nine years have passed, and I am a devoted husband and a father
to two beautiful boys. I grow deeper in love with Jesus each day.
I ask you to continue praying with me, and others around the world, for Sikhs.
God is the only one who can draw people to Himself. He works in and through
the prayers of His people. I want Sikhs to know the freedom
and healing that is only available through Jesus Christ."
13 (Ro 14:17; 12:12) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy
and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope,
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
[13] Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that
ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
ROMANS 15:13
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
20th Day of the Month
a) Pray for the children of Canada, that they would come to know
Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord.
( Matthew 19:14
14 (Mt 18:3; Lk 18:16-17)
But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me,
and do not forbid them. For to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."
14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not,
to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
)
b) Pray that Christians will recognise that our struggle is not
against the natural world but against invisible spiritual forces.
(
Eph 6:12
12 (Eph 1:3; 1:21) For our fight is not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers
of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual forces
of evil in the heavenly places.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against
spiritual wickedness in high places.
)
Conclusion:
PRay to Lord Jesus Christ to be an unshakeabke witness in Him.
Pray to the Lord and pray to put your trust in Jesus Christ and no where else.
Pray to the Lord: "Heavenly Father, I bring You praise for Your work
in the world and in my life."
Pray to the Lord Jesus Jesus Christ who can strengthen you.
Pray to the Lord and pray to your work in the name of Jesus Christ.
Pray to the Lord and pray to know the Lord Jesus Christ as protector.
Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
Pray for the children of Canada, that they would come to know
Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord.
Pray that Christians will recognise that our struggle is not
against the natural world but against invisible spiritual forces.
Using Isaiah 52:7 as a guide
7 (Isa 40:9; Na 1:15; Ps 93:1) How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
who proclaims peace,
who brings good news of happiness,
who proclaims salvation,
who says to Zion,
"Your God reigns!"
[7] How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good
tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that
publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
thank God for the ministry taking place in remote mountaineous regions
of Tajikistan.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.