Monday, December 20, 2021

Bible Readings for December 20, 2021

Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages are Haggai 1:1–2:23; Revelation 11:1-9; Psalm 139:1-24; and Proverbs 30:15-16. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.  


Haggai 1-2:23 (Contemporary English Version)

Haggai 1

Rebuild the Temple
 1On the first day of the sixth month of the second year that Darius was king of Persia, a] the LORD told Haggai the prophet to speak his message to the governor of Judah and to the high priest. So Haggai told Governor Zerubbabel and High Priest Joshua b]   2-5that the LORD All-Powerful had said to them and to the people: You say this isn't the right time to build a temple for me. But is it right for you to live in expensive houses, c] while my temple is a pile of ruins? Just look at what's happening.
   6You harvest less than you plant, you never have enough to eat or drink, your clothes don't keep you warm, and your wages are stored in bags full of holes.
   7Think about what I have said!
   8But first, go to the hills and get wood for my temple, so I can take pride in it and be worshiped there.
   9You expected much, but received only a little. And when you brought it home, I made that little disappear. Why have I done this? It's because you hurry off to build your own houses, while my temple is still in ruins.
   10That's also why the dew doesn't fall and your harvest fails.
   11And so, at my command everything will become barren--your farmland and pastures, your vineyards and olive trees, your animals and you yourselves. All your hard work will be for nothing.
   12Zerubbabel and Joshua, together with the others who had returned from exile in Babylonia, obeyed the LORD's message spoken by his prophet Haggai, and they started showing proper respect for the LORD.
   13Haggai then told them that the LORD had promised to be with them.
   14So the LORD God All-Powerful made everyone eager to work on his temple, especially Zerubbabel and Joshua.
   15And the work began on the twenty-fourth day of that same month.
   

Haggai 2

The Glorious New Temple
 1-2On the twenty-first day of the next month, d] the LORD told Haggai the prophet to speak this message to Governor Zerubbabel, High Priest Joshua, and everyone else:   3Does anyone remember how glorious this temple used to be? Now it looks like nothing.
   4But cheer up! Because I, the LORD All-Powerful, will be here to help you with the work,
   5just as I promised your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt. Don't worry. My Spirit is e] right here with you.
   6Soon I will again shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.
   7I will shake the nations, and their treasures f] will be brought here. Then the brightness of my glory will fill this temple.
   8All silver and gold belong to me,
   9and I promise that this new temple will be more glorious than the first one. I will also bless this city g] with peace.   
The Past and the Future
 10On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, h] the LORD God All-Powerful told the prophet Haggai   11to ask the priests for their opinion on the following matter:
   12Suppose meat ready to be sacrificed to God is being carried in the folds of someone's clothing, and the clothing rubs against some bread or stew or wine or olive oil or any other food. Would those foods that were touched then become acceptable for sacrifice?
   "Of course not," the priests answered.
   13Then Haggai said, "Suppose someone has touched a dead body and is considered unacceptable to worship God. If that person touches these foods, would they become unclean?"
   "Of course they would," the priests answered.
   14So the LORD told Haggai to say:
   That's how it is with this entire nation. Everything you do and every sacrifice you offer is unacceptable to me.
   15But from now on, things will get better. Before you started laying the foundation for the temple,
   16you recalled what life was like in the past. i] When you wanted twenty bushels of wheat, there were only ten, and when you wanted fifty jars of wine, there were only twenty.
   17I made all of your hard work useless by sending mildew, mold, and hail--but you still did not return to me, your LORD.
   18Today you have completed the foundation for my temple, so listen to what your future will be like.
   19Although you have not yet harvested any grain, grapes, figs, pomegranates, j] or olives, I will richly bless you in the days ahead.   
God's Promise to Zerubbabel
 20That same day the LORD spoke to Haggai again and said:   21Tell Governor Zerubbabel of Judah that I am going to shake the heavens and the earth
   22and wipe out kings and their kingdoms. I will overturn war chariots, and then cavalry troops will start slaughtering each other.
   23But tell my servant Zerubbabel that I, the LORD All-Powerful, have chosen him, and he will rule in my name. k]
   
Footnotes:
  1. Haggai 1:1 sixth month. . . king of Persia: Elul, the sixth month of the Hebrew calendar, from about mid-August to mid-September; the second year of the rule of Darius was 520 B.C.
  2. Haggai 1:1 Governor. . . Joshua: Hebrew "Governor Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and High Priest Joshua son of Jehozadak."
  3. Haggai 1:2 expensive houses: Either houses with paneled interiors or with roofs; the temple was not yet completely rebuilt at this time.
  4. Haggai 2:1 the next month: Tishri (also called Ethanim), the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar, from about mid-September to mid-October (see the note at 1.1).
  5. Haggai 2:5 My Spirit is: Or "I am."
  6. Haggai 2:7 their treasures: Hebrew "what they most desire."
  7. Haggai 2:9 city: Or "temple."
  8. Haggai 2:10 ninth month: Chislev, the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar, from about mid-November to mid-December.
  9. Haggai 2:16 you recalled. . . past: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  10. Haggai 2:19 pomegranates: A bright red fruit that looks like an apple.
  11. Haggai 2:23 rule in my name: The Hebrew text has "be my signet ring," which signified authority.


Revelation 11:1-9 (Contemporary English Version)


Revelation 11

The Two Witnesses

 1An angel gave me a measuring stick and said:   Measure around God's temple. Be sure to include the altar and everyone worshiping there. 2But don't measure the courtyard outside the temple building. Leave it out. It has been given to those people who don't know God, and they will trample all over the holy city for forty-two months. 3My two witnesses will wear sackcloth, a] while I let them preach for one thousand two hundred sixty days. 4These two witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand in the presence of the Lord who rules the earth. 5Any enemy who tries to harm them will be destroyed by the fire that comes out of their mouths. 6They have the power to lock up the sky and to keep rain from falling while they are prophesying. And whenever they want to, they can turn water to blood and cause all kinds of terrible troubles on earth.
    7After the two witnesses have finished preaching God's message, the beast that lives in the deep pit will come up and fight against them. It will win the battle and kill them. 8Their bodies will be left lying in the streets of the same great city where their Lord was nailed to a cross. And that city is spiritually like the city of Sodom or the country of Egypt.
    9For three and a half days the people of every nation, tribe, language, and race will stare at the bodies of these two witnesses and refuse to let them be buried.
Footnotes:
  1. Revelation 11:3 sackcloth: See the note at 6.12.


Psalm 139:1-24 (Contemporary English Version)


Psalm 139

(A psalm by David for the music leader.)
The LORD Is Always Near

 1You have looked deep   into my heart, LORD,
   and you know all about me.
    2You know when I am resting
   or when I am working,
   and from heaven
   you discover my thoughts.
    3You notice everything I do
   and everywhere I go.
    4Before I even speak a word,
   you know what I will say,
    5and with your powerful arm
   you protect me
   from every side.
    6I can't understand all of this!
   Such wonderful knowledge
   is far above me.
    7Where could I go to escape
   from your Spirit
   or from your sight?
    8If I were to climb up
   to the highest heavens,
   you would be there.
   If I were to dig down
   to the world of the dead
   you would also be there.
    9Suppose I had wings
   like the dawning day
   and flew across the ocean.
    10Even then your powerful arm
   would guide and protect me.
    11Or suppose I said, "I'll hide
   in the dark
   until night comes
   to cover me over."
    12But you see in the dark
   because daylight and dark
   are all the same to you.
    13You are the one
   who put me together
   inside my mother's body,
    14and I praise you
   because of
   the wonderful way
   you created me.
   Everything you do is marvelous!
   Of this I have no doubt.
    15Nothing about me
   is hidden from you!
   I was secretly woven together
   deep in the earth below,
    16but with your own eyes
   you saw
   my body being formed.
   Even before I was born,
   you had written in your book
   everything I would do.
    17Your thoughts are far beyond
   my understanding,
   much more than I
   could ever imagine.
    18I try to count your thoughts,
   but they outnumber the grains
   of sand on the beach.
   And when I awake,
   I will find you nearby.
    19How I wish that you would kill
   all cruel and heartless people
   and protect me from them!
    20They are always rebelling
   and speaking evil of you. a] 21You know I hate anyone
   who hates you, LORD,
   and refuses to obey.
    22They are my enemies too,
   and I truly hate them.
    23Look deep into my heart, God,
   and find out everything
   I am thinking.
    24Don't let me follow evil ways,
   but lead me in the way
   that time has proven true. 
Footnotes:
  1. Psalm 139:20 you: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 20.



Proverbs 30:15-16 (Contemporary English Version)


15Greed a] has twins, each named "Give me!"
   There are three or four things
   that are never satisfied:
    16The world of the dead
   and a childless wife,
   the thirsty earth
   and a flaming fire. 
Footnotes:
  1. Proverbs 30:15 Greed: Or " A leech."






Thought for the Day
 

“About that time Emperor Augustus gave orders for the names of all the people to be listed in record books. So Joseph had to leave Nazareth in Galilee and go to Bethlehem in Judea. Long ago Bethlehem had been King David's hometown, and Joseph went there because he was from David's family. Mary was engaged to Joseph and traveled with him to Bethlehem. She was soon going to have a baby,” (Luke 2:1, 4-5 - Contemporary English Version) Jesus was born as a king, and his kingdom surrounds us always. And we can live as his subjects by showing the love and compassion he commanded us to show.


Quote for the Day


American actress who appeared in films during the Golden Age of Hollywood, Irene Dunne wrote, "A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle."



Joke for Today

Seeing her friend Marcia wearing a new locket, Ashley asks if there is a memento of some sort inside.

“Yes,” says Marcia, “a lock of my husband’s hair.”

“But Larry’s still alive?”

“I know, but his hair is gone.”























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 churches fulfill their purpose as lighthouses for Christ.

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