Read To Me Daily Semester 3Sample

JEREMIAH 7-8:
In Jeremiah and several other prophetic books, it is important to observe where quotes begin and end, and who is speaking. The section headings are also very helpful to our understanding. Modern translators and editors use the headings to help readers understand such things as who is speaking and the meaning of Hebrew figures of speech.

Yesterday's reading had this ironic statement spoken by the Lord:

5:19 When they ask why I did all these things, tell them, Jeremiah, that just as they turned away from me and served foreign gods in their own land, so they will serve strangers in a land that is not theirs.”

PSALM 141:
If Psalm 141 was written before David’s affair with Bathsheba, then David received the answer to his prayer in verse 5. Nathan did what David prayed for there. This psalm contains gems that are well worth digging for and meditating on.

JOHN 19b:
Today we return to John chapter 19. I believe that John saw— and wanted us to feel— the extreme irony in many events that we have read. Such ironic events and statements didn’t happen by accident. It was not an accident that the mob who came to arrest Jesus stumbled back and fell when he said, “I am He.” That was— and still is— a sign from God. All of the statements of Pilate and the chief priests drip with irony which they could not see, but which we can. Examples are,
“I find no fault with this man!”
“Behold your king!”
“We have no king but Caesar!”
“What is truth?”
“Don’t release him, we want Barabbas!”

Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, David prayed,
“Save me, Lord, from evildoers;
keep me safe from violent people.”
But no one saved you from evildoers and violent people.

David said,
“Their tongues are like deadly snakes;
their words are like a cobra’s poison.”
But no one protected You from poisonous tongues.

David cried out,
“The proud have set a trap for me;
They have laid their snares,
and along the path they have set traps to catch me.”
But You allowed yourself to be caught in the snares of the proud.

How ironically right the chief priests were when they shouted, “The only king we have is the Emperor!” And how ironically right Pilate was in saying, “I find no reason to condemn him,” and, “Here is your king.” Lord, in our world also, the truth is so often twisted, so Pilate is again ironically right with his skeptical rhetorical question, “What is truth?” In your resurrection You have shown the answer, and may all the world finally realize, God’s Word is truth, and one day every knee will bow to You as the King of all kings!