Read To Me Daily Semester 3Намуна

JONAH 1-2:
For quite a few years when I was just reading the Bible without a set reading plan, I enjoyed a break from reading the books of history after Second Kings, moving to the prophets. And our first is Jonah, who was mentioned back in 2 Kings 14.  

Note that the little story of Jonah is masterfully written. Little details poke out everywhere. Jonah has a downward journey. He goes down from Jerusalem to Joppa, then down again into the hold of the boat, and then down into the underworld of the ocean. He wasn't just being disobedient. He was saying, “I'm turning in my prophet's mantle.”

Bob Deffinbaugh writes this in his online essay: “Let’s face it, don’t you find that our text has reversed the heroes and the villains? … we would have expected Jonah to be the hero, while the heathen sailors would certainly have been expected to be the villains. This was certainly the perspective of Jonah, and of the Israelites, whom he typified. Yet in our text it is the sailors who pray, while Jonah does not. The sailors sought to deal with sin on the ship, not Jonah. The sailors end up worshiping God, [while Jonah grumbled against God//not Jonah]. The sailors have compassion on Jonah, while he seems to have little concern for the danger in which he has put them. Clearly this chapter turns our expectations inside-out.”

And I add: Even the fish comes out better than Jonah. He obeyed. The pagans of Nineveh and their king also come out looking better than Jonah. They repent.

PSALM 136:
Today’s poem, Psalm 136, is the most famous antiphonal psalm. If you normally play the audio for one of the YouVersion Bibles and if it won’t bother anyone around you, I suggest that you join in with the reader on the antiphonal responses: His love is eternal.

JOHN 17:
Jesus’ high priestly prayer in John 17 is considered the pinnacle of the upper room discourse.

Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, we thank You that now we understand the figures of speech that the disciples had difficulty understanding. Help us to think past the surface and go deeper, because the things You revealed hold deeper meaning for today. And we pray also to You, heavenly Father, praising You as our sovereign God who deserves our highest praise! You do whatever you wish in heaven and in every part of the earth. Lord, rise up, and make all the world see that You are not represented by any idol or statue made by human hands. And You have complete victory over all the demons represented by idols. We trust in You, Lord, as the psalmist said, that “You will defend your people and take pity on your servants.” And now, oh Spirit of God, please continue to lead us into the full truth. In your mission to glorify Jesus, prepare us fully to be his representatives in this world. Help us to realize heavenly peace here on earth, because we are united and one with Jesus. And help us now as we pray for all sorts of things that will bring glory to Jesus.