Read To Me Daily Semester 4Sample

ZEPHANIAH 3:
Today we read the last chapter of Zephaniah. In chapter 2, we heard words that were much like what we heard recently in Isaiah 49 and 55:

Zep. 2:2 NLT Gather [together] before judgment begins,
before your time to repent is blown away like chaff.
Act now, before the fierce fury of the LORD falls
and the terrible day of the LORD’s anger begins.
3 Seek the LORD, all who are humble,
and follow his commands.
Seek to do what is right
and to live humbly.
Perhaps even yet the LORD will protect you—
protect you from his anger on that day of destruction.

Note that God repeatedly says, “What you need to do to get right with me, do it NOW. Don’t put it off!”

ISAIAH 57:
In chapter 56 of Isaiah, we heard how God’s plan includes even eunuchs and foreigners— which includes us. The chapter ended with a condemnation of Israel’s leaders which was filled with irony. The people who listened to Jesus when he said that he is the Good Shepherd, would likely have thought back to Isaiah’s words:

Is. 56:11 NLT Like greedy dogs, they are never satisfied.
They are ignorant shepherds,
all following their own path
and intent on personal gain.
12 “Come,” they say, “let’s get some wine and have a party.
Let’s all get drunk.
Then tomorrow we’ll do it again
and have an even bigger party!”

REVELATION 11:
As we read Revelation 11 today, we are still in the interlude before the 7th trumpet. In chapter 10 John saw a mighty angel come to earth holding a little and open scroll, the seven thunders spoke. That— in prophetic language, indicates God’s voice. John took the scroll, and as commanded ate it. This is not the first time a prophet has been told to eat a scroll. Do you remember the name of the other prophet? The mighty angel stood on the land and the sea. The sea symbolizes the kingdom of darkness, so his standing on land and sea indicates that the message the angel brings will impact the whole world even including Satan’s kingdom.

Let’s pray.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the wonderful words in Isaiah that say that your temple is to be a house of prayer for people of all nations. Thank You for this message being repeated again and again in your Word. And thank You also for the promise that people who cannot have children but who are dedicated to faithfully keeping your covenant will be given a name in your temple that exceeds the honor of having children. Like John receiving the little scroll, we thank You Father that You have given your Word to us. We are not told what the Seven Thunders said. You haven’t revealed everything. But the book we have been given is open, not sealed. We may read it. And You say in Isaiah 55 that your Word will always bear fruit and be effective. Some messages in your Word do seem bitter to us, but only because we know that people in the world will not want to accept your Word and do what it says. Oh, but to us, your word is so sweet to the taste. May your Word be like a fire inside of us, so that we can’t hold it in but must speak about it today.