Read To Me Daily Semester 4Sample

DANIEL 1:
Yesterday in Ezekiel, the land was divided in horizontal bands across the entire width of Israel. We will see the 12 gates of the New Jerusalem again in Revelation.

Today we start the little, but immensely important, book of Daniel. Daniel wrote this sometime between 540 and 530 BC. As Daniel will relate, he was an exile to Babylon starting from 605 BC. For comparison, Ezekiel tells us that he was deported to Babylonia in 597 (and his location beside the Chebar river might have been 75 miles southeast of Babylon). So Daniel would have come to Babylon only 8 years earlier. 

Daniel is a wonderful example of what God can do with someone completely surrendered to the Lord. Note Daniel’s devotional habits and how he and his friends completely trusted in God.

The book has two clear sections. The first narrates history, and contains the famous stories we all love. The second is prophecy and revelation. Again, like Ezekiel, much from Daniel reappears in the book of Revelation. And as for the question if Daniel was a real prophet, note that Jesus thought he was!

ISAIAH 22:
Yesterday’s prophecies in Isaiah dealt with Babylon, Edom, and Arabia.

2CORINTHIANS 2:14—3:
We start our reading in 2nd Corinthians today by re-reading the last paragraph of chapter 2. I scheduled those verses to be re-read because they set the stage for chapter 3.

Let’s pray.
Dear Lord Jesus, how far our churches fall short of the guidelines and examples given the New Testament! Most churches never put a member under discipline. And those that do seldom ever reach the stage where love is shown to the disciplined member so that he/she is restored to fellowship in that body. Help us Lord Jesus, because Satan so often defeats us and we too often fail to block his plans. Lord, give discernment to my listener if he or she is attending a church that treats God’s message as cheap merchandise. Paul’s testimony informs us that our best and most reasonable explanation of the Good News about Christ will be like a revolting stench in the nostrils of those people in whom You are not already working in their hearts. Help us to tell the Gospel just like Paul did, so that our words are sweet to those in whom You are working, but will still stink to those in whom You are not working. Like Paul, we cry out, “We’re not capable for such a task!” That’s why we ask for your Spirit to enable us today.