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Daily Bible Reading
December 14 - Bible-in-a-Year
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Ezekiel 20
Chapter 20
Israel's Rebellion
1 In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, some of Israel's elders came to consult the Lord ,(a) and they sat down in front of me. 2 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 3 "Son of man, speak with the elders of Israel and tell them: This is what the Lord God says: Are you coming to consult Me? As I live, I will not be consulted by you."(b) This is the declaration of the Lord God .
4 "Will you pass judgment against them, will you pass judgment, son of man? Explain the detestable practices of their fathers to them.(c) 5 Say to them: This is what the Lord God says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore an oath[a](d) to the descendants of Jacob's house and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt. I swore to them, saying: I am Yahweh your God.(e) 6 On that day I swore[b] to them that I would bring them out(f) of the land of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey,(g) the most beautiful of all lands.(h) 7 I also said to them: Each of you must throw away the detestable things that are before your eyes and not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt.(i) I am Yahweh your God.(j)
8 "But they rebelled against Me and were unwilling to listen to Me. None of them threw away the detestable things that were before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I considered pouring out My wrath on them,(k) exhausting My anger against them within the land of Egypt. 9 But I acted because of My name,(l) so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations they were living among, in whose sight I had made Myself known to Israel by bringing them out of Egypt.
10 "So I brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them into the wilderness.(m) 11 Then I gave them My statutes and explained My ordinances to them—the person who does them will live by them.(n) 12 I also gave them My Sabbaths to serve as a sign between Me and them,(o) so they will know that I am Yahweh who sets them apart as holy.
13 "But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness.(p) They did not follow My statutes and they rejected My ordinances—the person who does them will live by them.(q) They also completely profaned My Sabbaths.(r) So I considered pouring out My wrath on them in the wilderness to put an end to them.(s) 14 But I acted because of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 15 However, I swore[c] to them(t) in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them—the most beautiful of all lands, flowing with milk and honey— 16 because they rejected My ordinances, profaned My Sabbaths, and did not follow My statutes. For their hearts went after their idols.(u) 17 But I spared them from destruction and did not bring them to an end in the wilderness.(v)
18 "Then I said to their children in the wilderness: Don't follow the statutes of your fathers, defile yourselves with their idols, or keep their ordinances.(w) 19 I am Yahweh your God. Follow My statutes, keep My ordinances, and practice them.(x) 20 Keep My Sabbaths holy,(y) and they will be a sign between Me and you, so you may know that I am Yahweh your God.
21 "But the children rebelled against Me.(z) They did not follow My statutes or carefully keep My ordinances—the person who does them will live by them. They also profaned My Sabbaths. So I considered pouring out My wrath on them and exhausting My anger against them in the wilderness. 22 But I withheld My hand and acted because of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I brought them out. 23 However, I swore[d] to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries.(aa) 24 For they did not practice My ordinances but rejected My statutes and profaned My Sabbaths, and their eyes were fixed(ab) on their fathers' idols. 25 I also gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances(ac) they could not live by. 26 When they made every firstborn pass through the fire,(ad) I defiled them through their gifts in order to devastate them so they would know that I am Yahweh.(ae)
27 "Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them: This is what the Lord God says: In this way also your fathers blasphemed Me by(af) committing treachery against Me: 28 When I brought them into the land that I swore[e] to give them and they saw any high hill or leafy tree,(ag) they offered their sacrifices and presented their offensive offerings there. They also sent up their pleasing aromas and poured out their drink offerings there. 29 So I asked them: What is this high place you are going to? And it is called High Place to this day.
30 "Therefore say to the house of Israel: This is what the Lord God says: Are you defiling yourselves the way your fathers did,(ah) and prostituting yourselves with their detestable things? 31 When you offer your gifts, making your children pass through the fire,(ai) you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. So should I be consulted by you, house of Israel? As I live"—this is the declaration of the Lord God —"I will not be consulted by you!
Israel's Restoration
32 "When you say, ‘Let us be like the nations, like the peoples of other countries, worshiping wood and stone,'(aj) what you have in mind will never happen.(ak) 33 As I live"—the declaration of the Lord God —"I will rule over you with a strong hand, an outstretched arm,(al) and outpoured wrath. 34 I will bring you from the peoples and gather you from the countries where you were scattered,(am) with a strong hand, an outstretched arm,(an) and outpoured wrath. 35 I will lead you into the wilderness of the peoples(ao) and enter into judgment with you there face to face. 36 Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt,(ap) so I will enter into judgment with you." This is the declaration of the Lord God . 37 "I will make you pass under the rod(aq) and will bring you into the bond of the covenant. 38 And I will also purge you of those who rebel and transgress against Me.(ar) I will bring them out of the land where they live as foreign residents, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.
39 "As for you, house of Israel, this is what the Lord God says: Go and serve your idols, each of you. But afterward you will surely listen to Me, and you will no longer defile My holy name with your gifts and idols.(as) 40 For on My holy mountain, Israel's high mountain"—the declaration of the Lord God —"there the entire house of Israel, all of them,(at) will serve Me in the land. There I will accept them and will require your contributions and choicest gifts,(au) all your holy offerings. 41 When I bring you from the peoples and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, I will accept you as a pleasing aroma. And I will demonstrate My holiness through you in the sight of the nations.(av) 42 When I lead you into the land of Israel, the land I swore[f] to give your fathers, you will know that I am Yahweh.(aw) 43 There you will remember your ways and all your deeds that you have defiled yourselves with,(ax) and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil things you have done.(ay) 44 You will know that I am Yahweh,(az) house of Israel, when I have dealt with you because of My name(ba) rather than according to your evil ways and corrupt acts." This is the declaration of the Lord God .
Fire in the South
45 [g]The word of the Lord came to me: 46 "Son of man, face the south and preach against it. Prophesy against the forest land in the Negev,(bb) 47 and say to the forest there: Hear the word of the Lord ! This is what the Lord God says: I am about to ignite a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree and every dry tree in you. The blazing flame will not be extinguished, and every face from the south to the north will be scorched by it. 48 Then all people will see that I, Yahweh, have kindled it.(bc) It will not be extinguished."
49 Then I said, "Oh, Lord God , they are saying of me, ‘Isn't he just posing riddles?'"(bd)
Isaiah 49
Chapter 49
The Servant Brings Salvation
1 Coastlands,[a] listen to me;
distant peoples, pay attention.
The
Lord
called(a) me before I was born.
He named me while I was in my mother's womb.(b)
2 He made my words like a sharp sword;(c)
He hid me in the shadow of His hand.(d)
He made me like a sharpened arrow;
He hid me in His quiver.
3 He said to me, "You are My Servant, Israel;(e)
I will be glorified in him."
4 But I myself said: I have labored in vain,
I have spent my strength for nothing and futility;
yet my vindication is with the
Lord
,
and my reward is with my God.
5 And now, says the
Lord
,
who formed me from the womb to be His Servant,
to bring Jacob back to Him
so that Israel might be gathered to Him;
for I am honored in the sight of the
Lord
,
and my God is my strength—
6 He says,
"It is not enough for you to be My Servant
raising up the tribes of Jacob
and restoring the protected ones of Israel.
I will also make you a light for the nations,(f)
to be My salvation to the ends of the earth."(g)
7 This is what the
Lord
,
the Redeemer(h) of Israel, his Holy One, says
to one who is despised,
to one abhorred by people,[b](i)
to a servant of rulers:
"Kings will see and stand up,
and princes[c] will bow down,
because of the
Lord
, who is faithful,
the Holy One of Israel(j)—and He has chosen you."(k)
8 This is what the Lord says:
I will answer you in a time of favor,
and I will help you in the day of salvation.(l)
I will keep you, and I will appoint you
to be a covenant for the people,(m)
to restore the land,
to make them possess the desolate inheritances,
9 saying to the prisoners: Come out,(n)
and to those who are in darkness: Show yourselves.
They will feed along the pathways,
and their pastures will be on all the barren heights.(o)
10 They will not hunger or thirst,
the scorching heat or sun will not strike them;
for their compassionate One will guide them,
and lead them to springs of water.(p)
11 I will make all My mountains into a road,
and My highways will be raised up.(q)
12 See, these will come from far away,
from the north and from the west,[d](r)
and from the land of Sinim.[e][f]
13 Shout for joy, you heavens!(s)
Earth, rejoice!
Mountains break into joyful shouts!
For the
Lord
has comforted His people,(t)
and will have compassion on His afflicted ones.(u)
Zion Remembered
14 Zion says, "The
Lord
has abandoned me;
The Lord has forgotten me!"
15 "Can a woman forget her nursing child,
or lack compassion for the child of her womb?
Even if these forget,
yet I will not forget you.
16 Look, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;(v)
your walls are continually before Me.
17 Your builders[g] hurry;
those who destroy and devastate you will leave you.
18 Look up, and look around.
They all gather together; they come to you.(w)
As I live"—
this is the
Lord
's declaration—
"you will wear all your children[h] as jewelry,
and put them on as a bride does.
19 For your waste and desolate places
and your land marked by ruins—
will now be indeed too small for the inhabitants,(x)
and those who swallowed you up will be far away.
20 Yet as you listen, the children
that you have been deprived of will say,
‘This place is too small for me;
make room for me so that I may settle.'(y)
21 Then you will say within yourself,
‘Who fathered these for me?
I was deprived of my children and unable to conceive,
exiled and wandering—
but who brought them up?
See, I was left by myself—
but these, where did they come from?'"[i]
22 This is what the Lord God says:
Look, I will lift up My hand to the nations,
and raise My banner to the peoples.(z)
They will bring your sons in their arms,
and your daughters will be carried on their shoulders.(aa)
23 Kings will be your foster fathers,
and their queens[j] your nursing mothers.(ab)
They will bow down to you
with their faces to the ground,
and lick the dust at your feet.(ac)
Then you will know that I am Yahweh;(ad)
those who put their hope in Me
will not be put to shame.(ae)
24 Can the prey be taken from the mighty,
or the captives of the righteous[k] be delivered?
25 For this is what the
Lord
says:
"Even the captives of a mighty man will be taken,
and the prey of a tyrant will be delivered;
I will contend with the one who contends with you,
and I will save your children.
26 I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh,(af)
and they will be drunk with their own blood
as with sweet wine.
Then all flesh will know
that I, Yahweh, am your Savior,(ag)
and your Redeemer,(ah) the Mighty One of Jacob."(ai)
Philippians 2:1-11
Chapter 2
Christian Humility
1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love,(a) if any fellowship with the Spirit,(b) if any affection and mercy,(c) 2 fulfill my joy by thinking the same way,(d) having the same love,(e) sharing the same feelings, focusing on one(f) goal. 3 Do nothing out of rivalry(g) or conceit,(h) but in humility(i) consider others as more important(j) than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look out not only for his own interests,(k) but also for the interests of others.(l)
Christ's Humility and Exaltation
5 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,
6 who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God(m)
as something to be used for His own advantage.[a]
7 Instead He emptied Himself(n)
by assuming the form of a slave,(o)
taking on the likeness of men.(p)
And when He had come as a man
in His external form,
8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.(q)
9 For this reason God highly exalted Him(r)
and gave Him the name
that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow(s)—
of those who are in heaven(t) and on earth
and under the earth(u)—
11 and every tongue(v) should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,[b]
to the glory(w) of God the Father.
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