Reading, Reflection & Prayer: Thu, 24 Aug – Hosea 8-14 ~ sow the wind, reap the whirlwind

Reading, Reflection & Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: 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 seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Please Read: Hosea 8-14 (NLT) – click here

Reflection & Prayer

Israel Planted the Wind, Will Harvest the Whirlwind

Hosea 8:1-4, 7 (NLT) – “Sound the alarm! The enemy descends like an eagle on the people of the Lord, for they have broken my covenant and revolted against my law. Now Israel pleads with me, ‘Help us, for you are our God!’ But it is too late. The people of Israel have rejected what is good, and now their enemies will chase after them. The people have appointed kings without my consent, and princes without my approval. By making idols for themselves from their silver and gold, they have brought about their own destruction….
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“They have planted the wind and will harvest the whirlwind….”
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Israel’s Punishment

Hosea 9:7, 17 (NLT) – The time of Israel’s punishment has come; the day of payment is here. Soon Israel will know this all too well.
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My God will reject the people of Israel because they will not listen or obey. They will be wanderers, homeless among the nations.

The Lord’s Judgment against Israel

Hosea 10:1-2, 4 (NLT) – How prosperous Israel is—a luxuriant vine loaded with fruit. But the richer the people get, the more pagan altars they build. The more bountiful their harvests, the more beautiful their sacred pillars. The hearts of the people are fickle; they are guilty and must be punished.
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They spout empty words and make covenants they don’t intend to keep. So injustice springs up among them like poisonous weeds in a farmer’s field.

Hosea 10:11-15 (NLT) – “Israel is like a trained heifer treading out the grain—an easy job she loves. But I will put a heavy yoke on her tender neck. I will force Judah to pull the plow and Israel to break up the hard ground. I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’ “But you have cultivated wickedness and harvested a thriving crop of sins. You have eaten the fruit of lies — trusting in your military might, believing that great armies could make your nation safe. Now the terrors of war will rise among your people…. When the day of judgment dawns, the king of Israel will be completely destroyed.

The Lord’s Love for Israel

Hosea 11:1-2, 6-7 (NLT) – “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt. But the more I called to him, the farther he moved from me….
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War will swirl through their cities; their enemies will crash through their gates. They will destroy them, trapping them in their own evil plans. For my people are determined to desert me. They call me the Most High, but they don’t truly honor me.

Hosea 11:8-11 (NLT) – “Oh, how can I give you up, Israel? How can I let you go? How can I destroy you…? My heart is torn within me, and my compassion overflows. No, I will not unleash my fierce anger. I will not completely destroy Israel, for I am God and not a mere mortal. I am the Holy One living among you, and I will not come to destroy. For someday the people will follow me. I, the Lord, will roar like a lion. And when I roar, my people will return trembling from the west. Like a flock of birds, they will come from Egypt. Trembling like doves, they will return from Assyria. And I will bring them home again,” says the Lord.

Charges against Israel and Judah

Hosea 11:12, 12:14 (NLT) – Israel surrounds me with lies and deceit, but Judah still obeys God and is faithful to the Holy One.
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The people of Israel have bitterly provoked the Lord, so their Lord will now sentence them to death in payment for their sins.

The Lord’s Anger against Israel

Hosea 13:4-11 (NLT) – “I have been the Lord your God ever since I brought you out of Egypt. You must acknowledge no God but me, for there is no other savior. I took care of you in the wilderness, in that dry and thirsty land. But when you had eaten and were satisfied, you became proud and forgot me. So now I will attack you like a lion, like a leopard that lurks along the road. Like a bear whose cubs have been taken away, I will tear out your heart. I will devour you like a hungry lioness and mangle you like a wild animal. “You are about to be destroyed, O Israel — yes, by me, your only helper. Now where is your king? Let him save you! Where are all the leaders of the land, the king and the officials you demanded of me? In my anger I gave you kings, and in my fury I took them away.

Healing for the Repentant

Hosea 14:1-4 (NLT) – Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for your sins have brought you down. Bring your confessions, and return to the Lord. Say to him, “Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us, so that we may offer you our praises. Assyria cannot save us, nor can our warhorses. Never again will we say to the idols we have made, ‘You are our gods.’ No, in you alone do the orphans find mercy.” The Lord says, “Then I will heal you of your faithlessness; my love will know no bounds, for my anger will be gone forever.

Hosea 14:9 (NLT) – Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those with discernment listen carefully. The paths of the Lord are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them. But in those paths sinners stumble and fall.
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“Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono” – the motto of the state of Hawaii. It is commonly translated as : The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.

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“Heal Our Land” – Kari Jobe

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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Reading, Reflection & Prayer: Wed, 23 Aug – Proverbs 20 ~ God knows your heart

Reading, Reflection & Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening – (Northumbria Community)

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: 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 seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Please Read: Proverbs 20 (NLT) – click here

Reflection & Prayer

Proverbs 20:9 (NLT) – Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free from sin”?

Proverbs 20:27 (NLT) – The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive.

Lord God. you have my heart; reveal all waywardness and wickedness within me. Give me ears to hear and eyes to see –

+ that I may eat and drink with moderation, as one who brings honor to your name
+ that I may avoid quarreling and welcome good advice from others
+ that I may work hard and enjoy the good fruit of my labor in its season
+ that I may deal with others wisely and evenhandedly
+ that I may be a loyal friend who keeps confidences and avoids gossip
+ that I may value your wisdom and trust in your justice and providential care
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1 John 1:8-9 (NLT) – If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

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Lord God: Thank you for the unfailing love and faithfulness you have shown me through your Son, Jesus Christ – his life, his death and his resurrection – that I may receive your forgiveness, and live freely and confidently to the glory of your name. Amen.
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“Lord, You Have My Heart” – Delirious?

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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Reading, Reflection & Prayer: Tue, 22 Aug – 1 Chronicles 10-14 ~ the ascendancy of David

Reading, Reflection & Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening – (Northumbria Community)

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: 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 seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Please Read: 1 Chronicles 10-14 (NLT) – click here

Reflection & Prayer

1 Chronicles 10-14New Living Translation (NLT)

The Death of King Saul

1 Chronicles 10:13-14 (NLT) – So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord. He failed to obey the Lord’s command, and he even consulted a medium instead of asking the Lord for guidance. So the Lord killed him and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.

David Becomes King of All Israel

1 Chronicles 11:1-3 (NLT) – Then all Israel gathered before David at Hebron and told him, “We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who really led the forces of Israel. And the Lord your God told you, ‘You will be the shepherd of my people Israel. You will be the leader of my people Israel.’”

So there at Hebron, David made a covenant before the Lord with all the elders of Israel. And they anointed him king of Israel, just as the Lord had promised through Samuel.

David Captures Jerusalem

1 Chronicles 11:4-5, 7-9 (NLT) – Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (or Jebus, as it used to be called), where the Jebusites, the original inhabitants of the land, were living. The people of Jebus taunted David, saying, “You’ll never get in here!” But David captured the fortress of Zion, which is now called the City of David.
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David made the fortress his home, and that is why it is called the City of David. He extended the city from the supporting terraces[b] to the surrounding area, while Joab rebuilt the rest of Jerusalem. And David became more and more powerful, because the Lord of Heaven’s Armies was with him.

David Attempts to Move the Ark

1 Chronicles 13:1-14 (NLT) – David consulted with all his officials, including the generals and captains of his army. Then he addressed the entire assembly of Israel as follows: “If you approve and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send messages to all the Israelites throughout the land, including the priests and Levites in their towns and pasturelands. Let us invite them to come and join us. It is time to bring back the Ark of our God, for we neglected it during the reign of Saul.”

The whole assembly agreed to this, for the people could see it was the right thing to do. So David summoned all Israel, from the Shihor Brook of Egypt in the south all the way to the town of Lebo-hamath in the north, to join in bringing the Ark of God from Kiriath-jearim. Then David and all Israel went to Baalah of Judah (also called Kiriath-jearim) to bring back the Ark of God, which bears the name of the Lord who is enthroned between the cherubim. They placed the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab’s house. Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart. David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments—lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the Ark. Then the Lord’s anger was aroused against Uzzah, and he struck him dead because he had laid his hand on the Ark. So Uzzah died there in the presence of God.

David was angry because the Lord’s anger had burst out against Uzzah. He named that place Perez-uzzah (which means “to burst out against Uzzah”), as it is still called today.

David was now afraid of God, and he asked, “How can I ever bring the Ark of God back into my care?” So David did not move the Ark into the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-edom of Gath. The Ark of God remained there in Obed-edom’s house for three months, and the Lord blessed the household of Obed-edom and everything he owned.

David’s Palace

1 Chronicles 14:1-2 (NLT) – Then King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar timber, and stonemasons and carpenters to build him a palace. And David realized that the Lord had confirmed him as king over Israel and had greatly blessed his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

David Conquers the Philistines

1 Chronicles 14:8-17 (NLT) – When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David was told they were coming, so he marched out to meet them. The Philistines arrived and made a raid in the valley of Rephaim. So David asked God, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”

The Lord replied, “Yes, go ahead. I will hand them over to you.”

So David and his troops went up to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. “God did it!” David exclaimed. “He used me to burst through my enemies like a raging flood!” So they named that place Baal-perazim (which means “the Lord who bursts through”). The Philistines had abandoned their gods there, so David gave orders to burn them.

But after a while the Philistines returned and raided the valley again. And once again David asked God what to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” God replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees. When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, go out and attack! That will be the signal that God is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.” So David did what God commanded, and they struck down the Philistine army all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

So David’s fame spread everywhere, and the Lord caused all the nations to fear David.
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And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” – Mark 10:46-47 (NLT)

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Jesus Messiah, Son of David, have mercy on me.

+ You are the long-awaited Deliverer; God’s promise fulfilled, God’s hope revealed.

+ You are the Lord, in You resides all dominion and power; I put my trust in You.

Give me eyes to see Your presence and power at work around me; heal the sick, give sight to the blind, set the captives free, usher in the Year of the Lord’s favor – that all will confess You as Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
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“Son of David” – Dustin Kensrue

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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Reading, Reflection & Prayer: Mon, 21 Aug – Numbers 5-8 ~ May the Lord bless you and protect you….

Reading, Reflection & Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening – (Northumbria Community)

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: 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 seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Please Read: Numbers 5-8 (NLT) – click here

Reflection & Prayer

Nazirite Laws

Numbers 6 :2-3 (NLT) – “If any of the people, either men or women, take the special vow of a Nazirite, setting themselves apart to the Lord in a special way, they must give up wine and other alcoholic drinks….”

Numbers 6:5-8 (NLT) – “They must never cut their hair throughout the time of their vow, for they are holy and set apart to the Lord. Until the time of their vow has been fulfilled, they must let their hair grow long. And they must not go near a dead body during the entire period of their vow to the Lord. Even if the dead person is their own father, mother, brother, or sister, they must not defile themselves, for the hair on their head is the symbol of their separation to God. This requirement applies as long as they are set apart to the Lord….”

The Priestly Blessing

Numbers 6:23-27 (NLT) – “Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing:

‘May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’

Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them.”

Offerings of Dedication

Numbers 7:1-2 (NLT) – On the day Moses set up the Tabernacle, he anointed it and set it apart as holy. He also anointed and set apart all its furnishings and the altar with its utensils. Then the leaders of Israel—the tribal leaders who had registered the troops—came and brought their offerings….”

Numbers 7:89 (NLT) – Whenever Moses went into the Tabernacle to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—that rests on the Ark of the Covenant. The Lord spoke to him from there.

The Levites Dedicated

Numbers 8:6, 9-11 (NLT) – “Now set the Levites apart from the rest of the people of Israel and make them ceremonially clean….. Then assemble the whole community of Israel, and present the Levites at the entrance of the Tabernacle. When you present the Levites before the Lord, the people of Israel must lay their hands on them. Raising his hands, Aaron must then present the Levites to the Lord as a special offering from the people of Israel, thus dedicating them to the Lord’s service….”

Numbers 8:24-26 (NLT) – “This is the rule the Levites must follow: They must begin serving in the Tabernacle at the age of twenty-five, and they must retire at the age of fifty. After retirement they may assist their fellow Levites by serving as guards at the Tabernacle, but they may not officiate in the service. This is how you must assign duties to the Levites.”

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Lord God: You alone are the source of all goodness in our lives; our peace, our prosperity, our children, our security, our property, our happiness, our health – all good things come from You.

+ It’s by Your grace that we receive Your good gifts – thank You Lord.

+ And, it’s by Your grace that we long for that day when we shall see You face-to-face smiling upon us.

Set us apart as a holy people, a people who belong to You, that we might love and serve you, and show others Your goodness to us through Jesus Christ our Savior, who has called us out of darkness into His wonderful light. In His name, we pray. Amen.
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“Aaronic Benediction” – Joshua Aaron & Misha Goetz

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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Reading, Reflection & Prayer: Sat, 19 Aug – 1 Timothy 4-5 ~ practical pastoral advice

Reading, Reflection & Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening – (Northumbria Community)

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: 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 seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Please Read: 1 Timothy 4-5 (NLT) – click here

Reflection & Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ: we pray for your Church, that she might be presented to you as your bride – pure and spotless – when you return.

Train for godliness

1 Timothy 4:7-8 (NLT) – Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”

1 Timothy 4:12-13 (NLT) – Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them.

+ Thank you, Lord, for pastors and priests – may they be shepherds after your own heart, who will feed your people with knowledge and understanding.

Treat others respectfully

1 Timothy 5:1-2 (NLT) – Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers. Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters.

+ Thank you, Lord, for every person you have adopted into our church families – men and women, young and old – may we show one another the same consideration, courtesy, and deference as we would to those in our natural families.

consideration, thoughtfulness, attentiveness, politeness, courtesy, civility, deference

Take care of families

1 Timothy 5:3-4 (NLT) – Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her. But if she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God.

+ Thank you, Lord, for families – may we support and care for one another, especially our parents and grandparents when they are in need; and may we do so cheerfully and generously.

Support for older widows

1 Timothy 5:9-10 (NLT) – A widow who is put on the list for support must be a woman who is at least sixty years old and was faithful to her husband. She must be well respected by everyone because of the good she has done. Has she brought up her children well? Has she been kind to strangers and served other believers humbly? Has she helped those who are in trouble? Has she always been ready to do good?

+ Thank you, Lord, for the elderly among us, especially those who have lived faithful, godly, lives – may your people provide the comfort and support they require, especially when there is no family available to care for them.

+ Thank you, Lord, for your selfless servants around the world who are caring for the elderly, the sick, and the dying in Jesus’ name.

Not for younger widows

1 Timothy 5:11-14 (NLT) – The younger widows should not be on the list, because their physical desires will overpower their devotion to Christ and they will want to remarry. Then they would be guilty of breaking their previous pledge. And if they are on the list, they will learn to be lazy and will spend their time gossiping from house to house, meddling in other people’s business and talking about things they shouldn’t. So I advise these younger widows to marry again, have children, and take care of their own homes. Then the enemy will not be able to say anything against them.

+ Thank you, Lord, for giving us the wisdom required to utilize the Church’s resources to build up your people and set them free, rather than creating dependency and encouraging laziness. We pray especially for those to whom you have called to serve as financial stewards – may they administer your resources with fairness and justice.

Treat elders respectfully

1 Timothy 5:17 19-20(NLT) – Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.
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Do not listen to an accusation against an elder unless it is confirmed by two or three witnesses. Those who sin should be reprimanded in front of the whole church; this will serve as a strong warning to others.

+ Thank you, Lord, for those who serve as elders in the Church – may they receive the respect that is due their office, and may they be diligent, hard-working, servants of your people. Protect their families, that they may serve as positive models of Christian living.

All will be revealed

1 Timothy 5:24-25 (NLT) – Remember, the sins of some people are obvious, leading them to certain judgment. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later. In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light.

Lord Jesus Christ: we await for your return in glory when all will be revealed. Help us to love one another, and encourage one another through all the ambiguities of life in your Church. May we always believe the best about one another and graciously administer your kindness and mercy; you alone knows what’s truly in our hearts.

To you be all honor and glory in the Church, throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
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“The Church’s One Foundation” – Egmore Wesley Church, Chennai, India