Read To Me Daily Semester 4Sample

HABAKKUK 3:
Yesterday in the book of Habakkuk, we heard him bring his complaints to God about God’s justice. And God answered, in effect, that after he uses the Babylonians, their time of judgment will come. In chapter 2 verse 3, God gives this assurance: 

Hab. 2:3b GNT It may seem slow in coming, but wait for it; it will certainly take place, and it will not be delayed.

Then the next verse ends with a famous promise:

Hab. 2:4 GNT And this is the message: ‘Those who are evil will not survive, but those who are righteous will live because they are faithful to God.’”

That verse, as it is often quoted in the NT, is a little different since it was quoted from the Septuagint.

Two more powerful and often quoted verses bear repeating:

Hab. 2:14 For as the waters fill the sea,
the earth will be filled with an awareness of the glory
of the Lord.
Hab. 2:20 NLT But the Lord is in his holy Temple.
Let all the earth be silent before him.”

Re-reading ISAIAH 55:
Note that in Revelation we have already read— and will read again— words like the beginning of Isaiah 55:

Is. 55:1 NLT “Is anyone thirsty?
Come and drink—
even if you have no money!

Remember also that Jesus in John chapters 4 and 7 offered living water and streams of water that would bubble from within.

This chapter 55 is so rich! But we don’t have time for me to comment on every verse. As a Bible translator, the promise we base our very lives upon is found in verse 11.

REVELATION 9:
In Revelation 8, we saw the results of the first four trumpet blasts. This, like the seals, is another vision of God’s justice finally being expressed in judgment. Note that the enactment of this punishment was preceded by the prayers of God’s holy people. (That’s is how NLT translates ‘saints’. And that word means us, we have been purified by Christ!) Think of it! At last, the answers to prayers for God’s justice like heard from the martyrs in Revelation 6 and like in Habakkuk’s prayer will start to be answered. 

Let’s pray.
Our heavenly Father, how awesome will be your judgment when it comes! And we have read your pronouncement today in Habakkuk: “Those who are evil will not survive, but those who are righteous will live because they are faithful to God.” So Lord God, please watch over us as You have promised, so that we will have strength and wisdom to stay faithful to You in these evil days. When it comes, your judgment will be just and deserved, so everyone will be silent. No one will claim that your judgment is capricious. Father, please fulfill the prophecy that says that “the earth will be as full of the knowledge of the Lord’s glory as the seas are full of water.” And we pray that you would do it by spreading your Word, which as Isaiah said, never fails to do what you plan for it. It always accomplishes what you send it to do. Thank you for your promises that we have read in Isaiah and will read in Revelation that are still in force: Today is the day for people who are thirsty to come. Let many find living water today. You will freely satisfy all who come to You today. Without money, You will give each one the finest grain, wine, and milk. We can’t pay for this! But let us exchange our very lives instead. Rather than living for ourselves today, help us to live for You.