Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages are Micah 1:1–4:13; Revelation 6:1-17; Psalm 134:1-3; and Proverbs 30:1-4. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.
Micah 1-4:13 (Contemporary English Version)
Micah 1
Judgment on Samaria
2Listen, all of you! Earth and everything on it,pay close attention.
The LORD God accuses you
from his holy temple. d] 3And he will come down
to crush underfoot
every pagan altar.
4Mountains will melt
beneath his feet
like wax beside a fire.
Valleys will vanish like water
rushing down a ravine.
5This will happen because of
the terrible sins of Israel,
the descendants of Jacob.
Samaria has led Israel to sin,
and pagan altars at Jerusalem
have made Judah sin.
6So the LORD will leave Samaria
in ruins--
merely an empty field
where vineyards are planted.
He will scatter its stones
and destroy its foundations.
7Samaria's idols will be smashed,
and the wages
of temple prostitutes e] will be destroyed by fire.
Silver and gold from those idols
will then be used
by foreigners
as payment for prostitutes.
Judah Is Doomed
8Because of this tragedy, f] I go barefoot and naked. My crying and weepingsound like howling wolves
or ostriches.
9The nation is fatally wounded.
Judah is doomed.
Jerusalem will fall.
10Don't tell it in Gath!
Don't even cry.
Instead, roll in the dust
at Beth-Leaphrah. g] 11Depart naked and ashamed,
you people of Shaphir. h] The town of Bethezel i] mourns because no one from Zaanan j] went out to help. k] 12Everyone in Maroth l] hoped for the best,
but the LORD sent disaster
down on Jerusalem.
13Get the war chariots ready,
you people of Lachish. m] You led Jerusalem into sin,
just as Israel did. n] 14Now you will have to give
a going-away gift o] to Moresheth. p] Israel's kings will discover
that they cannot trust
the town of Achzib. q] 15People of Mareshah, r] the LORD will send someone
to capture your town.
Then Israel's glorious king
will be forced to hide
in Adullam Cave. s] 16Judah, shave your head
as bald as a buzzard
and start mourning.
Your precious children t] will be dragged off
to a foreign country.
Micah 2
Punishment for Those Who Abuse Their Power
1Doomed! You're doomed! At night you lie in bed,making evil plans.
And when morning comes,
you do what you've planned
because you have the power.
2You grab any field or house
that you want;
you cheat families
out of homes and land.
3But here is what the LORD says:
"I am planning trouble for you.
Your necks will be caught
in a noose,
and you will be disgraced
in this time of disaster."
4When that happens,
this sorrowful song
will be sung about you:
"Ruined! Completely ruined!
The LORD has taken our land
and given it to traitors." u] 5And so you will never again
own property
among the LORD's people.
6"Enough of your preaching!"
That's what you tell me.
"We won't be disgraced,
so stop preaching!"
7Descendants of Jacob,
is it right for you to claim
that the LORD did what he did
because he was angry?
Doesn't he always bless
those who do right?
8My people, you have even stolen
clothes right off the backs
of your unsuspecting soldiers
returning home from battle.
9You take over lovely homes
that belong to the women
of my nation.
Then you cheat their children
out of the inheritance
that comes from the LORD. v] 10Get out of here, you crooks!
You'll find no rest here.
You're not fit to belong
to the LORD's people,
and you will be destroyed. w] 11The only prophet you want
is a liar who will say,
"Drink and get drunk!"
A Promise of Hope
12I, the LORD, promise to bring togetherthe people of Israel
who have survived.
I will gather them,
just as a shepherd
brings sheep together,
and there will be many.
13I will break down the gate
and lead them out--
then I will be their king.
Micah 3
Evil Rulers and Lying Prophets
1Listen to me, you rulers of Israel!You know right from wrong,
2but you prefer to do evil
instead of what is right.
You skin my people alive.
You strip off their flesh,
3break their bones,
cook it all in a pot,
and gulp it down.
4Someday you will beg the LORD
to help you,
but he will turn away
because of your sins.
5You lying prophets promise
security for anyone
who gives you food,
but disaster for anyone
who refuses to feed you.
Here is what the LORD says
to you prophets:
6"You will live in the dark,
far from the sight of the sun,
with no message from me.
7You prophets and fortunetellers
will all be disgraced,
with no message from me."
8But the LORD has filled me
with power and his Spirit.
I have been given the courage
to speak about justice
and to tell you people of Israel
that you have sinned.
9So listen to my message,
you rulers of Israel!
You hate justice
and twist the truth.
10You make cruelty and murder
a way of life in Jerusalem.
11You leaders accept bribes
for dishonest decisions.
You priests and prophets
teach and preach,
but only for money.
Then you say,
"The LORD is on our side.
No harm will come to us."
12And so, because of you,
Jerusalem will be plowed under
and left in ruins.
Thorns will cover the mountain
where the temple now stands.
Micah 4
Peace and Prosperity
1In the future, the mountain with the LORD's templewill be the highest of all.
It will reach above the hills,
and every nation
will rush to it.
2People of many nations
will come and say,
"Let's go up to the mountain
of the LORD God of Jacob
and worship in his temple."
The LORD will teach us his Law
from Jerusalem,
and we will obey him.
3He will settle arguments
between distant
and powerful nations.
They will pound their swords
and their spears
into rakes and shovels;
they will never again make war
or attack one another.
4Everyone will find rest
beneath their own fig trees
or grape vines,
and they will live in peace.
This is a solemn promise
of the LORD All-Powerful.
5Others may follow their gods,
but we will always follow
the LORD our God.
The LORD Will Lead His People Home
6The LORD said: At that timeI will gather my people--
the lame and the outcasts,
and all into whose lives
I have brought sorrow.
7Then the lame and the outcasts
will belong to my people
and become a strong nation.
I, the LORD, will rule them
from Mount Zion forever.
8Mount Zion in Jerusalem,
guardian of my people,
you will rule again.
9Jerusalem, why are you crying?
Don't you have a king?
Have your advisors gone?
Are you suffering
like a woman in childbirth?
10Keep on groaning with pain,
you people of Jerusalem!
If you escape from your city
to the countryside,
you will still be taken
as prisoners to Babylonia.
But later I will rescue you
from your enemies.
11Zion, because of your sins
you are surrounded
by many nations who say,
"We can hardly wait
to see you disgraced." x] 12But they don't know
that I, the LORD,
have gathered them here
to grind them like grain.
13Smash them to pieces, Zion!
I'll let you be like a bull
with iron horns
and bronze hoofs.
Crush those nations
and bring their wealth to me,
the LORD of the earth.
Footnotes:
- Micah 1:1 Moresheth: A town in southern Judah not far from Gath. In verse 14 it is called Moresheth-Gath.
- Micah 1:1 Samaria and Jerusalem: Samaria was the capital of the northern kingdom (Israel), and Jerusalem was the capital of the southern kingdom (Judah).
- Micah 1:1 Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah: Jotham, the son of Uzziah, ruled Judah 740-736 B.C.; Ahaz, the son of Jotham, ruled 736-716 B.C.; Hezekiah, the son of Ahaz, ruled 716-687 B.C.
- Micah 1:2 holy temple: Possibly the one in heaven, though it may be the Jerusalem temple.
- Micah 1:7 wages of temple prostitutes: At pagan temples, people had sex with prostitutes as a way of worshiping the idols, and the money earned in this way was used to support the pagan religion.
- Micah 1:8 this tragedy: Either the destruction of Samaria (verses 6,7) or the coming destruction of Judah and Jerusalem.
- Micah 1:10 Gath. . . Beth-Leaphrah: Gath was a Philistine city; Beth-Leaphrah is unknown, but in Hebrew it sounds like "House of Dust."
- Micah 1:11 Shaphir: Mentioned only here in the Old Testament; in Hebrew "Shaphir" means "beautiful."
- Micah 1:11 Bethezel: Mentioned only here in the Old Testament; in Hebrew "Bethezel" means "house next door."
- Micah 1:11 Zaanan: Mentioned only here in the Old Testament; in Hebrew "Zaanan" means "one who goes out."
- Micah 1:11 The town. . . help: Or "No one from Zaanan refused to desert their town, and Bethezel mourns because it is left undefended."
- Micah 1:12 Maroth: Mentioned only here in the Old Testament; in Hebrew "Maroth" means "bitter."
- Micah 1:13 Lachish: The chief city of southwest Judah, about thirty miles from Jerusalem.
- Micah 1:13 led. . . sin. . . did: Or "You led Jerusalem and Israel into sin." In Hebrew "Lachish" sounds like "a team of horses (that pulls a war chariot)." And the sin may be that Lachish led the nation to trust the power of war chariots instead of the LORD. But the sin could be idolatry or some false teachings that were brought in from Egypt by way of Lachish.
- Micah 1:14 going-away gift: The gift (dowry) that a bride's father gave her when she left the home of her parents to live with the family of her husband. In Hebrew the word for "bride" or "fiancee" sounds like "Moresheth."
- Micah 1:14 Moresheth: Hebrew "Moresheth-Gath"; the home of Micah (see verse 1).
- Micah 1:14 Achzib: Meaning "lie" or "deception" was near Adullam Cave (verse 15), where David hid from King Saul (see 1 Samuel 22.1,2). Micah probably means that the people of Israel (including their king) will have to run for their lives, but will find that all hope for escape is merely a "lie" (see verse 15).
- Micah 1:15 Mareshah: Sounds something like the Hebrew word for "conqueror" and was only a few miles northeast of Lachish.
- Micah 1:15 Adullam Cave: See the note at 1.14.
- Micah 1:16 precious children: The towns mentioned in verses 10-15.
- Micah 2:4 The LORD. . . traitors: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Micah 2:9 inheritance. . . LORD: The Hebrew text has "my glory," which refers to the inheritance of land that the LORD had promised his people.
- Micah 2:10 destroyed: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Micah 4:11 We. . . disgraced: Or "We'll pull up your skirt and expose your nakedness!"
Revelation 6:1-17 (Contemporary English Version)
Revelation 6
Opening the Seven Seals
1At the same time that I saw the Lamb open the first of the seven seals, I heard one of the four living creatures shout with a voice like thunder. It said, "Come out!" 2Then I saw a white horse. Its rider carried a bow and was given a crown. He had already won some victories, and he went out to win more. 3When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come out!" 4Then another horse came out. It was fiery red. And its rider was given the power to take away all peace from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another. He was also given a big sword.
5When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come out!" Then I saw a black horse, and its rider had a balance scale in one hand. 6I heard what sounded like a voice from somewhere among the four living creatures. It said, "A quart of wheat will cost you a whole day's wages! Three quarts of barley will cost you a day's wages too. But don't ruin the olive oil or the wine."
7When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come out!" 8Then I saw a pale green horse. Its rider was named Death, and Death's Kingdom followed behind. They were given power over one fourth of the earth, and they could kill its people with swords, famines, diseases, and wild animals.
9When the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of everyone who had been killed for speaking God's message and telling about their faith. 10They shouted, "Master, you are holy and faithful! How long will it be before you judge and punish the people of this earth who killed us?"
11Then each of those who had been killed was given a white robe and told to rest for a little while. They had to wait until the complete number of the Lord's other servants and followers would be killed.
12When I saw the Lamb open the sixth seal, I looked and saw a great earthquake. The sun turned as dark as sackcloth, a] and the moon became as red as blood. 13The stars in the sky fell to earth, just like figs shaken loose by a windstorm. 14Then the sky was rolled up like a scroll, b] and all mountains and islands were moved from their places. 15The kings of the earth, its famous people, and its military leaders hid in caves or behind rocks on the mountains. They hid there together with the rich and the powerful and with all the slaves and free people. 16Then they shouted to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us! Hide us from the one who sits on the throne and from the anger of the Lamb. 17That terrible day has come! God and the Lamb will show their anger, and who can face it?"
Footnotes:- Revelation 6:12 sackcloth: A rough, dark-colored cloth made from goat or camel hair and used to make grain sacks. It was worn in times of trouble or sorrow.
- Revelation 6:14 scroll: See the note at 5.1.
5When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come out!" Then I saw a black horse, and its rider had a balance scale in one hand. 6I heard what sounded like a voice from somewhere among the four living creatures. It said, "A quart of wheat will cost you a whole day's wages! Three quarts of barley will cost you a day's wages too. But don't ruin the olive oil or the wine."
7When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come out!" 8Then I saw a pale green horse. Its rider was named Death, and Death's Kingdom followed behind. They were given power over one fourth of the earth, and they could kill its people with swords, famines, diseases, and wild animals.
9When the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of everyone who had been killed for speaking God's message and telling about their faith. 10They shouted, "Master, you are holy and faithful! How long will it be before you judge and punish the people of this earth who killed us?"
11Then each of those who had been killed was given a white robe and told to rest for a little while. They had to wait until the complete number of the Lord's other servants and followers would be killed.
12When I saw the Lamb open the sixth seal, I looked and saw a great earthquake. The sun turned as dark as sackcloth, a] and the moon became as red as blood. 13The stars in the sky fell to earth, just like figs shaken loose by a windstorm. 14Then the sky was rolled up like a scroll, b] and all mountains and islands were moved from their places. 15The kings of the earth, its famous people, and its military leaders hid in caves or behind rocks on the mountains. They hid there together with the rich and the powerful and with all the slaves and free people. 16Then they shouted to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us! Hide us from the one who sits on the throne and from the anger of the Lamb. 17That terrible day has come! God and the Lamb will show their anger, and who can face it?"
Footnotes:
- Revelation 6:12 sackcloth: A rough, dark-colored cloth made from goat or camel hair and used to make grain sacks. It was worn in times of trouble or sorrow.
- Revelation 6:14 scroll: See the note at 5.1.
Psalm 134:1-3 (Contemporary English Version)
Psalm 134
(A song for worship.)
Praising the LORD at Night
1Everyone who serves the LORD, come and offer praises.
Everyone who has gathered
in his temple tonight,
2lift your hands in prayer
toward his holy place
and praise the LORD.
3The LORD is the Creator
of heaven and earth,
and I pray that the LORD
will bless you from Zion.
Everyone who has gathered
in his temple tonight,
2lift your hands in prayer
toward his holy place
and praise the LORD.
3The LORD is the Creator
of heaven and earth,
and I pray that the LORD
will bless you from Zion.
Proverbs 30:1-4 (Contemporary English Version)
Proverbs 30
The Sayings of Agur
1These are the sayings and the message
of Agur son of Jakeh.
Someone cries out to God,
"I am completely worn out!
How can I last? a] 2I am far too stupid
to be considered human.
3I never was wise,
and I don't understand
what God is like."
4Has anyone gone up to heaven
and come back down?
Has anyone grabbed hold
of the wind?
Has anyone wrapped up the sea
or marked out boundaries
for the earth?
If you know of any
who have done such things,
then tell me their names
and their children's names.
1These are the sayings and the message
of Agur son of Jakeh.
Someone cries out to God,
"I am completely worn out!
How can I last? a] 2I am far too stupid
to be considered human.
3I never was wise,
and I don't understand
what God is like."
4Has anyone gone up to heaven
and come back down?
Has anyone grabbed hold
of the wind?
Has anyone wrapped up the sea
or marked out boundaries
for the earth?
If you know of any
who have done such things,
then tell me their names
and their children's names.
of Agur son of Jakeh.
Someone cries out to God,
"I am completely worn out!
How can I last? a] 2I am far too stupid
to be considered human.
3I never was wise,
and I don't understand
what God is like."
4Has anyone gone up to heaven
and come back down?
Has anyone grabbed hold
of the wind?
Has anyone wrapped up the sea
or marked out boundaries
for the earth?
If you know of any
who have done such things,
then tell me their names
and their children's names.
Thought for the Day
“Then the angel told Mary, 'Don't be afraid! God is pleased with you, and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of God Most High. The Lord God will make him king, as his ancestor David was. He will rule the people of Israel forever, and his kingdom will never end.'” (Luke 1:30-33 - Contemporary English Version) Jesus came as a king. But rather than freeing his people from an earthly power, he frees us from the slavery of sin and the power of death. As such, his kingdom is indeed eternal.
Quote for the Day
“Then the angel told Mary, 'Don't be afraid! God is pleased with you, and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of God Most High. The Lord God will make him king, as his ancestor David was. He will rule the people of Israel forever, and his kingdom will never end.'” (Luke 1:30-33 - Contemporary English Version) Jesus came as a king. But rather than freeing his people from an earthly power, he frees us from the slavery of sin and the power of death. As such, his kingdom is indeed eternal.
American author and photographer, Elias Weiss Friedman wrote, “Dogs of all ages teach us about love and bring a pure sense of joy to our lives. They give us so much yet ask for so little in return.”
Joke for Today
Sergeant: "Private, I think the enemy soldiers are hiding in the woods. I want you to go in there and flush them out for us."
Private: "Yes, sir! But if you see a bunch of guys running out the woods, don’t shoot the one in front, sir!"
A Prayer Request
As Christians, we can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Below is the need that we're laying before God today.
That our leaders deal with this global emergency without boasting and blaming.
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