Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Reciprocation
Judges 15 - "Do you not know that the Philistines are rulers over us? What then is this that you have done to us?" And he said to them, "As they did to me, so I have done to them."
Matthew 20:17-34 - "It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave...."
Esther 3 - ...their laws are different from those of all other people and they do not observe the king's laws....
2 Thessalonians 3 - ...do not grow weary of doing good.
Matthew 20:17-34 - "It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave...."
Esther 3 - ...their laws are different from those of all other people and they do not observe the king's laws....
2 Thessalonians 3 - ...do not grow weary of doing good.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
God's Autonomy
Judges 14 - Then his father and his mother said to him, "Is there no woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?" But Samson said to his father, "Get her for me, for she looks good to me." However, his father and mother did not know that it was of the LORD, for He was seeking an occasion against the Philistines.
Matthew 20:1-16 - "But he answered and said to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own?'"
Esther 2:1-11, 16-23 - ...Esther was taken to the king's palace into the custody of Hegai, who was in charge of the women. Now the young lady pleased him and found favor with him.
2 Thessalonians 2 - ...because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.
Matthew 20:1-16 - "But he answered and said to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own?'"
Esther 2:1-11, 16-23 - ...Esther was taken to the king's palace into the custody of Hegai, who was in charge of the women. Now the young lady pleased him and found favor with him.
2 Thessalonians 2 - ...because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Worthy of Your Calling
Judges 13 - So Manoah said to his wife, "We will surely die, for we have seen God." ut his wife said to him, "If the LORD had desired to kill us, He would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering from our hands, nor would He have shown us all these things, nor would He have let us hear things like this at this time."
Matthew 19:16-30 - "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
Esther 1 - But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command delivered by the eunuchs. Then the king became very angry and his wrath burned within him.
2 Thessalonians 1 - ...we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you....
Matthew 19:16-30 - "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
Esther 1 - But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command delivered by the eunuchs. Then the king became very angry and his wrath burned within him.
2 Thessalonians 1 - ...we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you....
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Second Courage
Genesis 42 - But Jacob did not send Joseph's brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, "I am afraid that harm may befall him."
Matthew 5:38-6:15 - "Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two."
Matthew 14:22-33 - Peter said to Him, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."
Matthew 5:38-6:15 - "Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two."
Matthew 14:22-33 - Peter said to Him, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Loaded Questions
Judges 12 - "Why did you cross over to fight against the sons of Ammon without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down on you."
Matthew 19:1-15 - Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?"
Nehemiah 13:15-22 - "What is this evil thing you are doing, by profaning the sabbath day? Did not your fathers do the same, so that our God brought on us and on this city all this trouble?"
1 Thessalonians 5:14-28 - ...examine everything carefully....
Matthew 19:1-15 - Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?"
Nehemiah 13:15-22 - "What is this evil thing you are doing, by profaning the sabbath day? Did not your fathers do the same, so that our God brought on us and on this city all this trouble?"
1 Thessalonians 5:14-28 - ...examine everything carefully....
Friday, July 13, 2007
Grace(less)land
Judges 11:12-28, 32-33 - But the king of the sons of Ammon disregarded the message which Jephthah sent him.
Matthew 18:21-35 - "But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, 'Pay back what you owe.'"
Nehemiah 13:1-14 - On that day they read aloud from the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and there was found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God, because they did not meet the sons of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them However, our God turned the curse into a blessing. So when they heard the law, they excluded all foreigners from Israel.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:13 - While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.
Matthew 18:21-35 - "But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, 'Pay back what you owe.'"
Nehemiah 13:1-14 - On that day they read aloud from the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and there was found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God, because they did not meet the sons of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them However, our God turned the curse into a blessing. So when they heard the law, they excluded all foreigners from Israel.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:13 - While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
The World Behind Me
Judges 11:1-11 - Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a valiant warrior, but he was the son of a harlot.
Matthew 18:1-20 - "If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell."
Nehemiah 12:27-31, 37-40, 43-47 - ...and on that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great joy, even the women and children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar.
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 - For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things....
Matthew 18:1-20 - "If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell."
Nehemiah 12:27-31, 37-40, 43-47 - ...and on that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great joy, even the women and children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar.
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 - For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things....
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
The Battle You Picked
Judges 10 - "Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your distress."
Matthew 17:14-27 - "However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me."
Nehemiah 10:28-11:2 - As for the peoples of the land who bring wares or any grain on the sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the sabbath or a holy day; and we will forego the crops the seventh year and the exaction of every debt.
1 Thessalonians 3 - Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone, and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith, so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this.
Matthew 17:14-27 - "However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me."
Nehemiah 10:28-11:2 - As for the peoples of the land who bring wares or any grain on the sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the sabbath or a holy day; and we will forego the crops the seventh year and the exaction of every debt.
1 Thessalonians 3 - Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone, and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith, so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Man:Law::God:Promises
Judges 9:41-57 - But a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech's head, crushing his skull.
Matthew 17:1-13 - Elijah is coming and will restore all things; but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands."
Nehemiah 9:22-38 - "However, You are just in all that has come upon us; For You have dealt faithfully, but we have acted wickedly."
1 Thessalonians 2 - ...for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews, who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out.
Matthew 17:1-13 - Elijah is coming and will restore all things; but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands."
Nehemiah 9:22-38 - "However, You are just in all that has come upon us; For You have dealt faithfully, but we have acted wickedly."
1 Thessalonians 2 - ...for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews, who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out.
Monday, July 09, 2007
One thought locked in the breast, another ready on the tongue.
Judges 9:22-40 - When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, "Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains." But Zebul said to him, "You are seeing the shadow of the mountains as if they were men."
Matthew 16:13-28 - And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven."
Nehemiah 9:1-21 - "They refused to listen, And did not remember Your wondrous deeds which You had performed among them; So they became stubborn and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt."
1 Thessalonians 1 - ...our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
Matthew 16:13-28 - And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven."
Nehemiah 9:1-21 - "They refused to listen, And did not remember Your wondrous deeds which You had performed among them; So they became stubborn and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt."
1 Thessalonians 1 - ...our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Desperate Doubt
Genesis 41:1-49, 54-57 - Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying, "I would make mention today of my own offenses."
Matthew 25:14-30 - "And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.'"
Exodus 6:1-13 - But Moses spoke before the LORD, saying, "Behold, the sons of Israel have not listened to me; how then will Pharaoh listen to me, for I am unskilled in speech?"
Mark 9:14-29 - Immediately the boy's father cried out and said, "I do believe; help my unbelief."
Matthew 25:14-30 - "And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.'"
Exodus 6:1-13 - But Moses spoke before the LORD, saying, "Behold, the sons of Israel have not listened to me; how then will Pharaoh listen to me, for I am unskilled in speech?"
Mark 9:14-29 - Immediately the boy's father cried out and said, "I do believe; help my unbelief."
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Living by Analogy
Judges 9:1-21 - "Once the trees went forth to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us!' But the olive tree said to them, 'Shall I leave my fatness with which God and men are honored, and go to wave over the trees?'"
Matthew 16:1-12 - But He replied to them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' And in the morning, 'There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times?"
Nehemiah 8:13-18 - The entire assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in them.
Acts 28:16-31 - GO TO THIS PEOPLE AND SAY, "YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; AND YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE...."
Matthew 16:1-12 - But He replied to them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' And in the morning, 'There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times?"
Nehemiah 8:13-18 - The entire assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in them.
Acts 28:16-31 - GO TO THIS PEOPLE AND SAY, "YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; AND YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE...."
Friday, July 06, 2007
History is the recollection of our gratitudes.
Judges 8:22-35 - Thus the sons of Israel did not remember the LORD their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side; nor did they show kindness to the household of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) in accord with all the good that he had done to Israel.
Matthew 15:21-39 - "Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."
Nehemiah 8:1-12 - Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law.
Acts 28:1-15 - Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us courteously three days. And it happened that the father of Publius was lying in bed afflicted with recurrent fever and dysentery; and Paul went in to see him and after he had prayed, he laid his hands on him and healed him. After this had happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and getting cured. They also honored us with many marks of respect; and when we were setting sail, they supplied us with all we needed.
Matthew 15:21-39 - "Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."
Nehemiah 8:1-12 - Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law.
Acts 28:1-15 - Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us courteously three days. And it happened that the father of Publius was lying in bed afflicted with recurrent fever and dysentery; and Paul went in to see him and after he had prayed, he laid his hands on him and healed him. After this had happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and getting cured. They also honored us with many marks of respect; and when we were setting sail, they supplied us with all we needed.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Duty
Judges 8:1-21 - Gideon said, "All right, when the LORD has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will thrash your bodies with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers."
Matthew 15:1-20 - "But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever I have that would help you has been given to God," he is not to honor his father or his mother.' And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition."
Ezra 10:1-17 - Then all the assembly replied with a loud voice, "That's right! As you have said, so it is our duty to do. But there are many people; it is the rainy season and we are not able to stand in the open. Nor can the task be done in one or two days, for we have transgressed greatly in this matter."
Acts 27:27-44 - Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, "Unless these men remain in the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved."
Matthew 15:1-20 - "But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever I have that would help you has been given to God," he is not to honor his father or his mother.' And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition."
Ezra 10:1-17 - Then all the assembly replied with a loud voice, "That's right! As you have said, so it is our duty to do. But there are many people; it is the rainy season and we are not able to stand in the open. Nor can the task be done in one or two days, for we have transgressed greatly in this matter."
Acts 27:27-44 - Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, "Unless these men remain in the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved."
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
"Courage is fear that has said its prayers."
Judges 7 - When Gideon came, behold, a man was relating a dream to his friend. And he said, "Behold, I had a dream; a loaf of barley bread was tumbling into the camp of Midian, and it came to the tent and struck it so that it fell, and turned it upside down so that the tent lay flat." His friend replied, "This is nothing less than the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel; God has given Midian and all the camp into his hand."
Matthew 14:22-36 - When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!"
Ezra 9 - "O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens."
Acts 27:1-26 - "Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives."
Matthew 14:22-36 - When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!"
Ezra 9 - "O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens."
Acts 27:1-26 - "Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives."
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Iconoclasms
Judges 6:28-40 - Then the men of the city said to Joash, "Bring out your son, that he may die, for he has torn down the altar of Baal, and indeed, he has cut down the Asherah which was beside it." But Joash said to all who stood against him, "Will you contend for Baal, or will you deliver him? Whoever will plead for him shall be put to death by morning. If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because someone has torn down his altar."
Matt. 14:1-21 - "It is not lawful for you to have her."
Ezra 8:15, 21–32, 36 - For I was ashamed to request from the king troops and horsemen to protect us from the enemy on the way, because we had said to the king, "The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who forsake Him."
Acts 26 - "And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities."
Matt. 14:1-21 - "It is not lawful for you to have her."
Ezra 8:15, 21–32, 36 - For I was ashamed to request from the king troops and horsemen to protect us from the enemy on the way, because we had said to the king, "The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who forsake Him."
Acts 26 - "And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities."
Monday, July 02, 2007
Paltry Commendations of Mankind
Judges 6:1-23 - "O Lord, how shall I deliver Israel? Behold, my family is the least in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father's house."
Matthew 13:44-58 - "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? Is not this the carpenter's son?"
Ezra 7:1, 6-28 - "I, even I, King Artaxerxes, issue a decree to all the treasurers who are in the provinces beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, may require of you, it shall be done diligently...."
Acts 25 - "But I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death; and since he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him. Yet I have nothing definite about him to write to my lord."
Matthew 13:44-58 - "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? Is not this the carpenter's son?"
Ezra 7:1, 6-28 - "I, even I, King Artaxerxes, issue a decree to all the treasurers who are in the provinces beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, may require of you, it shall be done diligently...."
Acts 25 - "But I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death; and since he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him. Yet I have nothing definite about him to write to my lord."
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Manifest Destiny
Genesis 37:2-35 - Then his brothers said to him, "Are you actually going to reign over us? Or are you really going to rule over us?" So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.
Matthew 5:1-16 - "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden...."
Deuteronomy 10:12-15,17-11:1 - "He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing. So show your love for the alien...."
John 8:21-36 - "We are Abraham's descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, 'You will become free'?"
Matthew 5:1-16 - "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden...."
Deuteronomy 10:12-15,17-11:1 - "He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing. So show your love for the alien...."
John 8:21-36 - "We are Abraham's descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, 'You will become free'?"
