Daily Bible Reading - August 23, 2017

Today's Reading:

John 6:1-21

1 Chronicles 22:2-23:32

Zechariah 9

Listen to the Bible

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thoughts and Commentary on Today's Reading   

So often, when folks think of Bible prophecy, they think of "doom and gloom". Well, yes, there are sobering prophecies - quite a few in fact - some of which we've looked at in this blog. But not all future prophecies are fearful. Consider this encouraging prophecy from Zechariah 9. It is a prophecy which tells us how Yahweh will defend His people, delivering them from their enemies:

Zechariah 9:15-17 "And Yahweh shall be seen over them, and His Arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and Yahweh God shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south. Yahweh of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar. And Yahweh their God shall save them in that day as the flock of His people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon His land. For how great is His goodness, and how great is His beauty!..."

As we anticipate the sobering events coming in the Last Days, the watchmen (spiritual priests) on the Walls of Zion are instructed to speak words of encouragement to God's people. We are not to be afraid - not of the End-time events, nor of what today may hold. We are not to fear because our trust is in Yahweh. In Him we do hope. He has promised to fight for us!

Deuteronomy 20:1-4  "When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for Yahweh thy God is with thee...  And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,  And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; For Yahweh your God is He that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you."  

• He fights for us by answering our prayers - Psalm 91:15
  

• He fights for us by saving those we pray for - Psalm 2:8
  

• He fights for us by delivering us from evil - Job 5:19
  

• Yahweh even fights for us when He is allowing us to suffer - Romans 8:28.  For even then, there is a shield about us - the shield of His promise, which is that "all things work together for good to those who love God..."  In other words, God only allows us to suffer to the extent that He has determined is "good" in some way. Our suffering will be used of Him to bring salvation to someone witnessing it, or it is for our own character development - but we can rest assured in His promise that it is for good! And when He deems that our suffering is no longer for good, He will put it to a swift end. Nothing that isn't good is allowed in the lives of God's Children. I find that very encouraging - don't you?

In conclusion, I'd like to leave you with a short video for your encouragement.