Read To Me Daily Semester 4Sample

DANIEL 3-4:
Matthew Henry describes the parts of the statue in Daniel 2:

1. The head of gold signified the Chaldean empire, then in being.
2. The breast and arms of silver signified the empire of the Medes and Persians.
3. The belly and thighs of brass signified the Grecian empire, founded by Alexander.
4. The legs and feet of iron signified the Roman empire. The Roman empire branched into ten kingdoms, as the toes of the feet of the statue. Some were weak as clay, others strong as iron. Endeavours were made to unite them, for strengthening the empire, but in vain. The stone cut out without hands, represented the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, which will be set up in the kingdoms of the world, upon the ruins of Satan's kingdom in them. This was the Stone which the builders refused, because it was not cut out by their hands, but it is become the head stone of the corner. Of the increase of Christ's government and peace there shall be no end. The Lord shall reign, not only to the end of time, but when time and days shall be no more. As far as events have gone, the fulfilling of this prophetic vision has been most exact and undeniable; future ages shall witness this Stone destroying the image, and filling the whole earth.

ISAIAH 24:
In our reading in Isaiah yesterday we heard the oracle against the proud seafaring city-state of Tyre.

2CORINTHIANS 4:10—5:15:
One of the hard things about 2 Corinthians for a translator is that ‘we’ in Greek is just like ‘we’ in English. The two languages do not distinguish between ‘we-speakers-excluding-listeners’ and ‘we-inclusive-of-listeners’. So which is it in places like we are reading in 2nd Corinthians? Well, primarily in chapter 4, I think that Paul is talking about ‘we apostles’. (Notice how the ‘we’ contrasts with ‘you/your’ in verses 12 and 15.) Note that analyzing Paul’s meaning that way does not mean that we can’t take what Paul says about himself and his friends and apply it to us as our ideal. Let’s determine to be like Paul in things like “fixing our gaze on things we cannot see.”

But in chapter 5, I believe Paul’s use of ‘we’ is inclusive of his hearers. We all have bodies that Paul pictures as our ‘earthly tent’.

Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, help us to refocus our eyes on your face. May your light shine ever brighter in our hearts. Lift our gaze past this world to your face. We praise you as the exact representation of the Father. Your reflection mirrored by us is still so dim and feeble. Transform us, Lord! May we be like John the Baptist who said, “Jesus must increase, and I must decrease.” May we learn the secret of being clay pots. When we are troubled, may we not be crushed because Something is inside. When we doubt and have many enemies, may we not despair, because You renew the light burning in our hearts. Though we are deeply hurt and our bodies feel like we are being crucified, may it be evident that our inner strength is from You, giving a beautiful testimony in spite of all our scars. May we— like the heroes of faith in Hebrews chapter 11, fix our attention on things worldly people cannot see (and principally again, on You, dear Lord), so that day after day our spirit is renewed, and our inner hurts are healed. And we know that an eternal weight of glory waits for us that is far greater than our trouble.