September 12

Luke 22:54-62

Peter Denies Jesus

[54] Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. [55] And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. [56] Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” [57] But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” [58] And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” [59] And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” [60] But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. [61] And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” [62] And he went out and wept bitterly.

Hebrews 7:11-28

Jesus Compared to Melchizedek

[11] Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? [12] For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. [13] For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. [14] For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

[15] This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, [16] who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. [17] For it is witnessed of him, 

    “You are a priest forever,

        after the order of Melchizedek.”

    [18] For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness [19] (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

[20] And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, [21] but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: 

    “The Lord has sworn

        and will not change his mind,

    ‘You are a priest forever.’”

    [22] This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

[23] The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, [24] but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. [25] Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

[26] For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. [27] He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. [28] For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.

Proverbs 24:1-22

    [1] Be not envious of evil men,

        nor desire to be with them, 

    [2] 

    for their hearts devise violence,

        and their lips talk of trouble.

    [3] 

    By wisdom a house is built,

        and by understanding it is established; 

    [4] 

    by knowledge the rooms are filled

        with all precious and pleasant riches. 

    [5] 

    A wise man is full of strength,

        and a man of knowledge enhances his might, 

    [6] 

    for by wise guidance you can wage your war,

        and in abundance of counselors there is victory. 

    [7] 

    Wisdom is too high for a fool;

        in the gate he does not open his mouth.

    [8] 

    Whoever plans to do evil

        will be called a schemer. 

    [9] 

    The devising of folly is sin,

        and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind.

    [10] 

    If you faint in the day of adversity,

        your strength is small. 

    [11] 

    Rescue those who are being taken away to death;

        hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. 

    [12] 

    If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”

        does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?

    Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,

        and will he not repay man according to his work?

    [13] 

    My son, eat honey, for it is good,

        and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. 

    [14] 

    Know that wisdom is such to your soul;

        if you find it, there will be a future,

        and your hope will not be cut off.

    [15] 

    Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous;

        do no violence to his home; 

    [16] 

    for the righteous falls seven times and rises again,

        but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.

    [17] 

    Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,

        and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, 

    [18] 

    lest the LORD see it and be displeased,

        and turn away his anger from him.

    [19] 

    Fret not yourself because of evildoers,

        and be not envious of the wicked, 

    [20] 

    for the evil man has no future;

        the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

    [21] 

    My son, fear the LORD and the king,

        and do not join with those who do otherwise, 

    [22] 

    for disaster will arise suddenly from them,

        and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?

Isaiah 31

Woe to Those Who Go Down to Egypt

    [1] Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help

        and rely on horses,

    who trust in chariots because they are many

        and in horsemen because they are very strong,

    but do not look to the Holy One of Israel

        or consult the LORD! 

    [2] And yet he is wise and brings disaster;

        he does not call back his words,

    but will arise against the house of the evildoers

        and against the helpers of those who work iniquity. 

    [3] The Egyptians are man, and not God,

        and their horses are flesh, and not spirit.

    When the LORD stretches out his hand,

        the helper will stumble, and he who is helped will fall,

        and they will all perish together.

    [4] For thus the LORD said to me,

    “As a lion or a young lion growls over his prey,

        and when a band of shepherds is called out against him

    he is not terrified by their shouting

        or daunted at their noise,

    so the LORD of hosts will come down

        to fight on Mount Zion and on its hill. 

    [5] Like birds hovering, so the LORD of hosts

        will protect Jerusalem;

    he will protect and deliver it;

        he will spare and rescue it.”

    [6] Turn to him from whom people have deeply revolted, O children of Israel. [7] For in that day everyone shall cast away his idols of silver and his idols of gold, which your hands have sinfully made for you.

    [8] “And the Assyrian shall fall by a sword, not of man;

        and a sword, not of man, shall devour him;

    and he shall flee from the sword,

        and his young men shall be put to forced labor. 

    [9] His rock shall pass away in terror,

        and his officers desert the standard in panic,”

    declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion,

        and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.

Isaiah 32

A King Will Reign in Righteousness

    [1] Behold, a king will reign in righteousness,

        and princes will rule in justice. 

    [2] Each will be like a hiding place from the wind,

        a shelter from the storm,

    like streams of water in a dry place,

        like the shade of a great rock in a weary land. 

    [3] Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed,

        and the ears of those who hear will give attention. 

    [4] The heart of the hasty will understand and know,

        and the tongue of the stammerers will hasten to speak distinctly. 

    [5] The fool will no more be called noble,

        nor the scoundrel said to be honorable. 

    [6] For the fool speaks folly,

        and his heart is busy with iniquity,

    to practice ungodliness,

        to utter error concerning the LORD,

    to leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied,

        and to deprive the thirsty of drink. 

    [7] As for the scoundrel—his devices are evil;

        he plans wicked schemes

    to ruin the poor with lying words,

        even when the plea of the needy is right. 

    [8] But he who is noble plans noble things,

        and on noble things he stands.

    Complacent Women Warned of Disaster

    [9] Rise up, you women who are at ease, hear my voice;

        you complacent daughters, give ear to my speech. 

    [10] In little more than a year

        you will shudder, you complacent women;

    for the grape harvest fails,

        the fruit harvest will not come. 

    [11] Tremble, you women who are at ease,

        shudder, you complacent ones;

    strip, and make yourselves bare,

        and tie sackcloth around your waist. 

    [12] Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields,

        for the fruitful vine, 

    [13] for the soil of my people

        growing up in thorns and briers,

    yes, for all the joyous houses

        in the exultant city. 

    [14] For the palace is forsaken,

        the populous city deserted;

    the hill and the watchtower

        will become dens forever,

    a joy of wild donkeys,

        a pasture of flocks; 

    [15] until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high,

        and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,

        and the fruitful field is deemed a forest. 

    [16] Then justice will dwell in the wilderness,

        and righteousness abide in the fruitful field. 

    [17] And the effect of righteousness will be peace,

        and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. 

    [18] My people will abide in a peaceful habitation,

        in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places. 

    [19] And it will hail when the forest falls down,

        and the city will be utterly laid low. 

    [20] Happy are you who sow beside all waters,

        who let the feet of the ox and the donkey range free.

Isaiah 33

O LORD, Be Gracious to Us

    [1] Ah, you destroyer,

        who yourself have not been destroyed,

    you traitor,

        whom none has betrayed!

    When you have ceased to destroy,

        you will be destroyed;

    and when you have finished betraying,

        they will betray you.

    [2] O LORD, be gracious to us; we wait for you.

        Be our arm every morning,

        our salvation in the time of trouble. 

    [3] At the tumultuous noise peoples flee;

        when you lift yourself up, nations are scattered, 

    [4] and your spoil is gathered as the caterpillar gathers;

        as locusts leap, it is leapt upon.

    [5] The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high;

        he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness, 

    [6] and he will be the stability of your times,

        abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge;

        the fear of the LORD is Zion’s treasure.

    [7] Behold, their heroes cry in the streets;

        the envoys of peace weep bitterly. 

    [8] The highways lie waste;

        the traveler ceases.

    Covenants are broken;

        cities are despised;

        there is no regard for man. 

    [9] The land mourns and languishes;

        Lebanon is confounded and withers away;

    Sharon is like a desert,

        and Bashan and Carmel shake off their leaves.

    [10] “Now I will arise,” says the LORD,

        “now I will lift myself up;

        now I will be exalted. 

    [11] You conceive chaff; you give birth to stubble;

        your breath is a fire that will consume you. 

    [12] And the peoples will be as if burned to lime,

        like thorns cut down, that are burned in the fire.”

    [13] Hear, you who are far off, what I have done;

        and you who are near, acknowledge my might. 

    [14] The sinners in Zion are afraid;

        trembling has seized the godless:

    “Who among us can dwell with the consuming fire?

        Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?” 

    [15] He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly,

        who despises the gain of oppressions,

    who shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe,

        who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed

        and shuts his eyes from looking on evil, 

    [16] he will dwell on the heights;

        his place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks;

        his bread will be given him; his water will be sure.

    [17] Your eyes will behold the king in his beauty;

        they will see a land that stretches afar. 

    [18] Your heart will muse on the terror:

        “Where is he who counted, where is he who weighed the tribute?

        Where is he who counted the towers?” 

    [19] You will see no more the insolent people,

        the people of an obscure speech that you cannot comprehend,

        stammering in a tongue that you cannot understand. 

    [20] Behold Zion, the city of our appointed feasts!

        Your eyes will see Jerusalem,

        an untroubled habitation, an immovable tent,

    whose stakes will never be plucked up,

        nor will any of its cords be broken. 

    [21] But there the LORD in majesty will be for us

        a place of broad rivers and streams,

    where no galley with oars can go,

        nor majestic ship can pass. 

    [22] For the LORD is our judge; the LORD is our lawgiver;

        the LORD is our king; he will save us.

    [23] Your cords hang loose;

        they cannot hold the mast firm in its place

        or keep the sail spread out.

    Then prey and spoil in abundance will be divided;

        even the lame will take the prey. 

    [24] And no inhabitant will say, “I am sick”;

        the people who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity.

God Gave You a Conscience

“I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men. ACTS 24:15-16

 

PONDER THIS

Conscience is that inner voice—the judge God has put within our breasts—that accuses us or excuses us for our actions. Now conscience can’t make you be good or bad: it’s just the alarm that goes off when you are wrong, or it’s peace that affirms when you do right. We hear people say, “Let conscience be your guide.” But that’s not a foolproof method. You can let conscience be your guide sometimes, but not all the time. You can only let conscience be your guide to the degree that God guides your conscience.

A good conscience is a conscience free of offense toward God and toward men. If you don’t have that kind of conscience, you’ll never be able to stand criticism or endure persecution.

If you want to have a good conscience before God and men, you must ask if there is any unconfessed sin in your heart. The next question is if there are any problems between you and a brother or sister that you’ve not made right. I’m not talking about what they have done to you; I’m talking about what you have done to them. Have you offended somebody? If so, you need to deal with these sins and confess them to God—repenting and pursuing reconciliation with Him and with those you’ve offended.

What is your default reaction when you offend someone? What does a Christ-like response look like?

What is the state of your conscience? Does it bother you or are you at peace like Paul?

PRACTICE THIS

If needed, pursue reconciliation with someone you have offended.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

7 Reasons Not to Worry, Part 1

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:25–26)

We are going to spend three days on this part of Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 6:25–34, Jesus is dealing specifically with anxiety about food and clothing. But, in fact, it relates to all anxiety.

Even in America, with its extensive welfare system, anxiety over finances and housing and food and clothing can be intense. Not to mention Christians who live in situations where much greater poverty threatens life. But Jesus says in verse 30 that our anxiety comes from little faith in our Father’s promise of future grace: “O you of little faith.”

These verses (25–34) contain at least seven promises designed by Jesus to help us fight the good fight against unbelief and be free from anxiety. (Today we look at Promises 1 and 2 — then over the next two days at the rest.)

Promise #1: “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25)

Since your body and your life are vastly more complex and difficult to provide than food and clothing are, and yet God has, in fact, created and provided you with both, then surely he will be able and willing to provide you with food and clothing.

Moreover, no matter what happens, God will raise your body someday and preserve your life and body for his eternal fellowship.

Promise #2: “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26)

If God is willing and able to feed such insignificant creatures as birds who cannot do anything to bring their food into being — as you can by farming — then he will certainly provide what you need, because you are worth a lot more than birds. You, unlike the birds, have the amazing capacity to glorify God by trusting, obeying, and thanking God.

John Piper 

September 11

Luke 22:47-53

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

[47] While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, [48] but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” [49] And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” [50] And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. [51] But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. [52] Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? [53] When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

Hebrews 7:1-10

The Priestly Order of Melchizedek

[1] For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, [2] and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. [3] He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.

[4] See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! [5] And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. [6] But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. [7] It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. [8] In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. [9] One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, [10] for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

Proverbs 23:19-35

    [19] 

    Hear, my son, and be wise,

        and direct your heart in the way. 

    [20] 

    Be not among drunkards

        or among gluttonous eaters of meat, 

    [21] 

    for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,

        and slumber will clothe them with rags.

    [22] 

    Listen to your father who gave you life,

        and do not despise your mother when she is old. 

    [23] 

    Buy truth, and do not sell it;

        buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding. 

    [24] 

    The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;

        he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him. 

    [25] 

    Let your father and mother be glad;

        let her who bore you rejoice.

    [26] 

    My son, give me your heart,

        and let your eyes observe my ways. 

    [27] 

    For a prostitute is a deep pit;

        an adulteress is a narrow well. 

    [28] 

    She lies in wait like a robber

        and increases the traitors among mankind.

    [29] 

    Who has woe? Who has sorrow?

        Who has strife? Who has complaining?

    Who has wounds without cause?

        Who has redness of eyes? 

    [30] 

    Those who tarry long over wine;

        those who go to try mixed wine. 

    [31] 

    Do not look at wine when it is red,

        when it sparkles in the cup

        and goes down smoothly. 

    [32] 

    In the end it bites like a serpent

        and stings like an adder. 

    [33] 

    Your eyes will see strange things,

        and your heart utter perverse things. 

    [34] 

    You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea,

        like one who lies on the top of a mast. 

    [35] 

    “They struck me,” you will say, “but I was not hurt;

        they beat me, but I did not feel it.

    When shall I awake?

        I must have another drink.”

Isaiah 29

The Siege of Jerusalem

    [1] Ah, Ariel, Ariel,

        the city where David encamped!

    Add year to year;

        let the feasts run their round. 

    [2] Yet I will distress Ariel,

        and there shall be moaning and lamentation,

        and she shall be to me like an Ariel. 

    [3] And I will encamp against you all around,

        and will besiege you with towers

        and I will raise siegeworks against you. 

    [4] And you will be brought low; from the earth you shall speak,

        and from the dust your speech will be bowed down;

    your voice shall come from the ground like the voice of a ghost,

        and from the dust your speech shall whisper.

    [5] But the multitude of your foreign foes shall be like small dust,

        and the multitude of the ruthless like passing chaff.

    And in an instant, suddenly, 

    [6]     you will be visited by the LORD of hosts

    with thunder and with earthquake and great noise,

        with whirlwind and tempest, and the flame of a devouring fire. 

    [7] And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel,

        all that fight against her and her stronghold and distress her,

        shall be like a dream, a vision of the night. 

    [8] As when a hungry man dreams, and behold, he is eating,

        and awakes with his hunger not satisfied,

    or as when a thirsty man dreams, and behold, he is drinking,

        and awakes faint, with his thirst not quenched,

    so shall the multitude of all the nations be

        that fight against Mount Zion.

    [9] Astonish yourselves and be astonished;

        blind yourselves and be blind!

    Be drunk, but not with wine;

        stagger, but not with strong drink! 

    [10] For the LORD has poured out upon you

        a spirit of deep sleep,

    and has closed your eyes (the prophets),

        and covered your heads (the seers).

    [11] And the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed. When men give it to one who can read, saying, “Read this,” he says, “I cannot, for it is sealed.” [12] And when they give the book to one who cannot read, saying, “Read this,” he says, “I cannot read.”

    [13] And the Lord said:

    “Because this people draw near with their mouth

        and honor me with their lips,

        while their hearts are far from me,

    and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men, 

    [14] therefore, behold, I will again

        do wonderful things with this people,

        with wonder upon wonder;

    and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,

        and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.”

    [15] Ah, you who hide deep from the LORD your counsel,

        whose deeds are in the dark,

        and who say, “Who sees us? Who knows us?” 

    [16] You turn things upside down!

    Shall the potter be regarded as the clay,

    that the thing made should say of its maker,

        “He did not make me”;

    or the thing formed say of him who formed it,

        “He has no understanding”?

    [17] Is it not yet a very little while

        until Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field,

        and the fruitful field shall be regarded as a forest? 

    [18] In that day the deaf shall hear

        the words of a book,

    and out of their gloom and darkness

        the eyes of the blind shall see. 

    [19] The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD,

        and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel. 

    [20] For the ruthless shall come to nothing

        and the scoffer cease,

        and all who watch to do evil shall be cut off, 

    [21] who by a word make a man out to be an offender,

        and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate,

        and with an empty plea turn aside him who is in the right.

    [22] Therefore thus says the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: 

    “Jacob shall no more be ashamed,

        no more shall his face grow pale. 

    [23] For when he sees his children,

        the work of my hands, in his midst,

        they will sanctify my name;

    they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob

        and will stand in awe of the God of Israel. 

    [24] And those who go astray in spirit will come to understanding,

        and those who murmur will accept instruction.”

Isaiah 30

Do Not Go Down to Egypt

    [1] “Ah, stubborn children,” declares the LORD,

    “who carry out a plan, but not mine,

    and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit,

        that they may add sin to sin; 

    [2] who set out to go down to Egypt,

        without asking for my direction,

    to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh

        and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt! 

    [3] Therefore shall the protection of Pharaoh turn to your shame,

        and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt to your humiliation. 

    [4] For though his officials are at Zoan

        and his envoys reach Hanes, 

    [5] everyone comes to shame

        through a people that cannot profit them,

    that brings neither help nor profit,

        but shame and disgrace.”

    [6] An oracle on the beasts of the Negeb. 

    Through a land of trouble and anguish,

        from where come the lioness and the lion,

        the adder and the flying fiery serpent,

    they carry their riches on the backs of donkeys,

        and their treasures on the humps of camels,

        to a people that cannot profit them. 

    [7] Egypt’s help is worthless and empty;

        therefore I have called her

        “Rahab who sits still.”

    A Rebellious People

    [8] And now, go, write it before them on a tablet

        and inscribe it in a book,

    that it may be for the time to come

        as a witness forever. 

    [9] For they are a rebellious people,

        lying children,

    children unwilling to hear

        the instruction of the LORD; 

    [10] who say to the seers, “Do not see,”

        and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us what is right;

    speak to us smooth things,

        prophesy illusions, 

    [11] leave the way, turn aside from the path,

        let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.” 

    [12] Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel,

    “Because you despise this word

        and trust in oppression and perverseness

        and rely on them, 

    [13] therefore this iniquity shall be to you

        like a breach in a high wall, bulging out and about to collapse,

        whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant; 

    [14] and its breaking is like that of a potter’s vessel

        that is smashed so ruthlessly

    that among its fragments not a shard is found

        with which to take fire from the hearth,

        or to dip up water out of the cistern.”

    [15] For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel,

    “In returning and rest you shall be saved;

        in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”

    But you were unwilling,  [16] and you said,

    “No! We will flee upon horses”;

        therefore you shall flee away;

    and, “We will ride upon swift steeds”;

        therefore your pursuers shall be swift. 

    [17] A thousand shall flee at the threat of one;

        at the threat of five you shall flee,

    till you are left

        like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain,

        like a signal on a hill.

    The LORD Will Be Gracious

    [18] Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you,

        and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.

    For the LORD is a God of justice;

        blessed are all those who wait for him.

    [19] For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you. [20] And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. [21] And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. [22] Then you will defile your carved idols overlaid with silver and your gold-plated metal images. You will scatter them as unclean things. You will say to them, “Be gone!”

[23] And he will give rain for the seed with which you sow the ground, and bread, the produce of the ground, which will be rich and plenteous. In that day your livestock will graze in large pastures, [24] and the oxen and the donkeys that work the ground will eat seasoned fodder, which has been winnowed with shovel and fork. [25] And on every lofty mountain and every high hill there will be brooks running with water, in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. [26] Moreover, the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day when the LORD binds up the brokenness of his people, and heals the wounds inflicted by his blow.

    [27] Behold, the name of the LORD comes from afar,

        burning with his anger, and in thick rising smoke;

    his lips are full of fury,

        and his tongue is like a devouring fire; 

    [28] his breath is like an overflowing stream

        that reaches up to the neck;

    to sift the nations with the sieve of destruction,

        and to place on the jaws of the peoples a bridle that leads astray.

    [29] You shall have a song as in the night when a holy feast is kept, and gladness of heart, as when one sets out to the sound of the flute to go to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel. [30] And the LORD will cause his majestic voice to be heard and the descending blow of his arm to be seen, in furious anger and a flame of devouring fire, with a cloudburst and storm and hailstones. [31] The Assyrians will be terror-stricken at the voice of the LORD, when he strikes with his rod. [32] And every stroke of the appointed staff that the LORD lays on them will be to the sound of tambourines and lyres. Battling with brandished arm, he will fight with them. [33] For a burning place has long been prepared; indeed, for the king it is made ready, its pyre made deep and wide, with fire and wood in abundance; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of sulfur, kindles it.