ESV: Literary Study Bible

May 9: Psalm 128, Numbers 9:1-14, Isaiah 45, Colossians 1:1-20

Fri, 09 May 2008 00:01:00 -0400

Psalm 128 (Listen)

Blessed Is Everyone Who Fears the LORD

A Song of Ascents.

128:1 Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD,
who walks in his ways!
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
  within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
  around your table.
Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
  who fears the LORD.

The LORD bless you from Zion!
  May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
  all the days of your life!
May you see your children's children!
  Peace be upon Israel!

Numbers 9:1-14 (Listen)

The Passover Celebrated

9:1 And the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, “Let the people of Israel keep the Passover at its appointed time. On the fourteenth day of this month, at twilight, you shall keep it at its appointed time; according to all its statutes and all its rules you shall keep it.” So Moses told the people of Israel that they should keep the Passover. And they kept the Passover in the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at twilight, in the wilderness of Sinai; according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the people of Israel did. And there were certain men who were unclean through touching a dead body, so that they could not keep the Passover on that day, and they came before Moses and Aaron on that day. And those men said to him, “We are unclean through touching a dead body. Why are we kept from bringing the LORD's offering at its appointed time among the people of Israel?” And Moses said to them, “Wait, that I may hear what the LORD will command concerning you.”

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If any one of you or of your descendants is unclean through touching a dead body, or is on a long journey, he shall still keep the Passover to the LORD. In the second month on the fourteenth day at twilight they shall keep it. They shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They shall leave none of it until the morning, nor break any of its bones; according to all the statute for the Passover they shall keep it. But if anyone who is clean and is not on a journey fails to keep the Passover, that person shall be cut off from his people because he did not bring the LORD's offering at its appointed time; that man shall bear his sin. And if a stranger sojourns among you and would keep the Passover to the LORD, according to the statute of the Passover and according to its rule, so shall he do. You shall have one statute, both for the sojourner and for the native.”

Isaiah 45 (Listen)

Cyrus, God's Instrument

45:1 Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus,
  whose right hand I have grasped,
to subdue nations before him
  and to loose the belts of kings,
to open doors before him
  that gates may not be closed:
“I will go before you
  and level the exalted places,
I will break in pieces the doors of bronze
  and cut through the bars of iron,
I will give you the treasures of darkness
  and the hoards in secret places,
that you may know that it is I, the LORD,
  the God of Israel, who call you by your name.
For the sake of my servant Jacob,
  and Israel my chosen,
I call you by your name,
  I name you, though you do not know me.
I am the LORD, and there is no other,
  besides me there is no God;
  I equip you, though you do not know me,
that people may know, from the rising of the sun
  and from the west, that there is none besides me;
  I am the LORD, and there is no other.
I form light and create darkness,
  I make well-being and create calamity,
  I am the LORD, who does all these things.

“Shower, O heavens, from above,
  and let the clouds rain down righteousness;
let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit;
  let the earth cause them both to sprout;
  I the LORD have created it.

“Woe to him who strives with him who formed him,
  a pot among earthen pots!
Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’
  or ‘Your work has no handles’?
Woe to him who says to a father, ‘What are you begetting?’
  or to a woman, ‘With what are you in labor?’”

Thus says the LORD,
  the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him:
“Ask me of things to come;
  will you command me concerning my children and the work of my hands?
I made the earth
  and created man on it;
it was my hands that stretched out the heavens,
  and I commanded all their host.
I have stirred him up in righteousness,
  and I will make all his ways level;
he shall build my city
  and set my exiles free,
not for price or reward,”
  says the LORD of hosts.

The LORD, the Only Savior

Thus says the LORD:
“The wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush,
  and the Sabeans, men of stature,
shall come over to you and be yours;
  they shall follow you;
  they shall come over in chains and bow down to you.
They will plead with you, saying:
  ‘Surely God is in you, and there is no other,
  no god besides him.’”

Truly, you are a God who hides himself,
  O God of Israel, the Savior.
All of them are put to shame and confounded;
  the makers of idols go in confusion together.
But Israel is saved by the LORD
  with everlasting salvation;
you shall not be put to shame or confounded
  to all eternity.

For thus says the LORD,
who created the heavens
  (he is God!),
who formed the earth and made it
  (he established it;
he did not create it empty,
  he formed it to be inhabited!):
“I am the LORD, and there is no other.
I did not speak in secret,
  in a land of darkness;
I did not say to the offspring of Jacob,
  ‘Seek me in vain.’
I the LORD speak the truth;
  I declare what is right.

“Assemble yourselves and come;
  draw near together,
  you survivors of the nations!
They have no knowledge
  who carry about their wooden idols,
and keep on praying to a god
  that cannot save.
Declare and present your case;
  let them take counsel together!
Who told this long ago?
  Who declared it of old?
Was it not I, the LORD?
  And there is no other god besides me,
a righteous God and a Savior;
  there is none besides me.

“Turn to me and be saved,
  all the ends of the earth!
  For I am God, and there is no other.
By myself I have sworn;
  from my mouth has gone out in righteousness
  a word that shall not return:
‘To me every knee shall bow,
  every tongue shall swear allegiance.’

“Only in the LORD, it shall be said of me,
  are righteousness and strength;
to him shall come and be ashamed
  all who were incensed against him.
In the LORD all the offspring of Israel
  shall be justified and shall glory.”

Colossians 1:1-20 (Listen)

Greeting

1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

The Preeminence of Christ

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (ESV)

Footnotes

[1] 45:2 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scroll, Septuagint level the mountains
[2] 45:11 A slight emendation yields will you question me about my children, or command me concerning the work of my hands?
[3] 45:19 Hebrew in emptiness
[4] 45:23 Septuagint every tongue shall confess to God
[5] 1:2 Or brothers and sisters. The plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) refers to siblings in a family. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, adelphoi may refer either to men or to both men and women who are siblings (brothers and sisters) in God's family, the church
[6] 1:7 Greek fellow bondservant
[7] 1:7 Some manuscripts our
[8] 1:12 Or patience, with joy giving thanks
[9] 1:12 Some manuscripts us
[10] 1:16 That is, by means of; or in

This reading plan is from the ESV Literary Study Bible.

May 8: Psalm 127, Numbers 8, Isaiah 44:6-28, Philippians 4:2-23

Thu, 08 May 2008 00:01:00 -0400

Psalm 127 (Listen)

Unless the LORD Builds the House

A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.

127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house,
  those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
  the watchman stays awake in vain.
It is in vain that you rise up early
  and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
  for he gives to his beloved sleep.

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
  the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
  are the children of one's youth.
Blessed is the man
  who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
  when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Numbers 8 (Listen)

The Seven Lamps

8:1 Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and say to him, When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.” And Aaron did so: he set up its lamps in front of the lampstand, as the LORD commanded Moses. And this was the workmanship of the lampstand, hammered work of gold. From its base to its flowers, it was hammered work; according to the pattern that the LORD had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand.

Cleansing of the Levites

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Take the Levites from among the people of Israel and cleanse them. Thus you shall do to them to cleanse them: sprinkle the water of purification upon them, and let them go with a razor over all their body, and wash their clothes and cleanse themselves. Then let them take a bull from the herd and its grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, and you shall take another bull from the herd for a sin offering. And you shall bring the Levites before the tent of meeting and assemble the whole congregation of the people of Israel. When you bring the Levites before the LORD, the people of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites, and Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD as a wave offering from the people of Israel, that they may do the service of the LORD. Then the Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, and you shall offer the one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering to the LORD to make atonement for the Levites. And you shall set the Levites before Aaron and his sons, and shall offer them as a wave offering to the LORD.

“Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the people of Israel, and the Levites shall be mine. And after that the Levites shall go in to serve at the tent of meeting, when you have cleansed them and offered them as a wave offering. For they are wholly given to me from among the people of Israel. Instead of all who open the womb, the firstborn of all the people of Israel, I have taken them for myself. For all the firstborn among the people of Israel are mine, both of man and of beast. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I consecrated them for myself, and I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel. And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the people of Israel, to do the service for the people of Israel at the tent of meeting and to make atonement for the people of Israel, that there may be no plague among the people of Israel when the people of Israel come near the sanctuary.”

Thus did Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the people of Israel to the Levites. According to all that the LORD commanded Moses concerning the Levites, the people of Israel did to them. And the Levites purified themselves from sin and washed their clothes, and Aaron offered them as a wave offering before the LORD, and Aaron made atonement for them to cleanse them. And after that the Levites went in to do their service in the tent of meeting before Aaron and his sons; as the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they did to them.

Retirement of the Levites

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “This applies to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall come to do duty in the service of the tent of meeting. And from the age of fifty years they shall withdraw from the duty of the service and serve no more. They minister to their brothers in the tent of meeting by keeping guard, but they shall do no service. Thus shall you do to the Levites in assigning their duties.”

Isaiah 44:6-28 (Listen)

Besides Me There Is No God

Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel
  and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:
“I am the first and I am the last;
  besides me there is no god.
Who is like me? Let him proclaim it.
  Let him declare and set it before me,
since I appointed an ancient people.
  Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen.
Fear not, nor be afraid;
  have I not told you from of old and declared it?
  And you are my witnesses!
Is there a God besides me?
  There is no Rock; I know not any.”

The Folly of Idolatry

All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame. Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing? Behold, all his companions shall be put to shame, and the craftsmen are only human. Let them all assemble, let them stand forth. They shall be terrified; they shall be put to shame together.

The ironsmith takes a cutting tool and works it over the coals. He fashions it with hammers and works it with his strong arm. He becomes hungry, and his strength fails; he drinks no water and is faint. The carpenter stretches a line; he marks it out with a pencil. He shapes it with planes and marks it with a compass. He shapes it into the figure of a man, with the beauty of a man, to dwell in a house. He cuts down cedars, or he chooses a cypress tree or an oak and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a cedar and the rain nourishes it. Then it becomes fuel for a man. He takes a part of it and warms himself; he kindles a fire and bakes bread. Also he makes a god and worships it; he makes it an idol and falls down before it. Half of it he burns in the fire. Over the half he eats meat; he roasts it and is satisfied. Also he warms himself and says, “Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire!” And the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol, and falls down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god!”

They know not, nor do they discern, for he has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand. No one considers, nor is there knowledge or discernment to say, “Half of it I burned in the fire; I also baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and have eaten. And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?” He feeds on ashes; a deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”

The LORD Redeems Israel

Remember these things, O Jacob,
  and Israel, for you are my servant;
I formed you; you are my servant;
  O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me.
I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud
  and your sins like mist;
return to me, for I have redeemed you.

Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it;
  shout, O depths of the earth;
break forth into singing, O mountains,
  O forest, and every tree in it!
For the LORD has redeemed Jacob,
  and will be glorified in Israel.

Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer,
  who formed you from the womb:
“I am the LORD, who made all things,
  who alone stretched out the heavens,
  who spread out the earth by myself,
who frustrates the signs of liars
  and makes fools of diviners,
who turns wise men back
  and makes their knowledge foolish,
who confirms the word of his servant
  and fulfills the counsel of his messengers,
who says of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be inhabited,’
  and of the cities of Judah, ‘They shall be built,
  and I will raise up their ruins’;
who says to the deep, ‘Be dry;
  I will dry up your rivers’;
who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd,
  and he shall fulfill all my purpose’;
saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’
  and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’”

Philippians 4:2-23 (Listen)

Exhortation, Encouragement, and Prayer

I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

God's Provision

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. (ESV)

Footnotes

[1] 127:4 Or sons
[2] 127:5 Or They shall not be put to shame when they speak with their enemies in the gate
[3] 8:24 Hebrew he; also verses 25, 26
[4] 8:26 Hebrew He ministers
[5] 44:7 Or Who like me can proclaim it?
[6] 44:23 Or will display his beauty
[7] 4:3 Or loyal Syzygus; Greek true yokefellow
[8] 4:14 Or have fellowship in
[9] 4:17 Or I seek the profit that accrues to your account

This reading plan is from the ESV Literary Study Bible.

May 7: Psalm 126, Numbers 7, Isaiah 43:1-44:5, Philippians 3:1-4:1

Wed, 07 May 2008 00:01:00 -0400

Psalm 126 (Listen)

Restore Our Fortunes, O LORD

A Song of Ascents.

126:1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,
  we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
  and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
  “The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us;
  we are glad.

Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
  like streams in the Negeb!
Those who sow in tears
  shall reap with shouts of joy!
He who goes out weeping,
  bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
  bringing his sheaves with him.

Numbers 7 (Listen)

Offerings at the Tabernacle's Consecration

7:1 On the day when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle and had anointed and consecrated it with all its furnishings and had anointed and consecrated the altar with all its utensils, the chiefs of Israel, heads of their fathers' houses, who were the chiefs of the tribes, who were over those who were listed, approached and brought their offerings before the LORD, six wagons and twelve oxen, a wagon for every two of the chiefs, and for each one an ox. They brought them before the tabernacle. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Accept these from them, that they may be used in the service of the tent of meeting, and give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service.” So Moses took the wagons and the oxen and gave them to the Levites. Two wagons and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their service. And four wagons and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because they were charged with the service of the holy things that had to be carried on the shoulder. And the chiefs offered offerings for the dedication of the altar on the day it was anointed; and the chiefs offered their offering before the altar. And the LORD said to Moses, “They shall offer their offerings, one chief each day, for the dedication of the altar.”

He who offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah. And his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.

On the second day Nethanel the son of Zuar, the chief of Issachar, made an offering. He offered for his offering one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nethanel the son of Zuar.

On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, the chief of the people of Zebulun: his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon.

On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, the chief of the people of Reuben: his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur.

On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, the chief of the people of Simeon: his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.

On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, the chief of the people of Gad: his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.

On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, the chief of the people of Ephraim: his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.

On the eighth day Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, the chief of the people of Manasseh: his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, the chief of the people of Benjamin: his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni.

On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, the chief of the people of Dan: his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ochran, the chief of the people of Asher: his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ochran.

On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, the chief of the people of Naphtali: his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan.

This was the dedication offering for the altar on the day when it was anointed, from the chiefs of Israel: twelve silver plates, twelve silver basins, twelve golden dishes, each silver plate weighing 130 shekels and each basin 70, all the silver of the vessels 2,400 shekels according to the shekel of the sanctuary, the twelve golden dishes, full of incense, weighing 10 shekels apiece according to the shekel of the sanctuary, all the gold of the dishes being 120 shekels; all the cattle for the burnt offering twelve bulls, twelve rams, twelve male lambs a year old, with their grain offering; and twelve male goats for a sin offering; and all the cattle for the sacrifice of peace offerings twenty-four bulls, the rams sixty, the male goats sixty, the male lambs a year old sixty. This was the dedication offering for the altar after it was anointed.

And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and it spoke to him.

Isaiah 43:1-44:5 (Listen)

Israel's Only Savior

43:1 But now thus says the LORD,
he who created you, O Jacob,
  he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
  I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
  and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
  and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the LORD your God,
  the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I give Egypt as your ransom,
  Cush and Seba in exchange for you.
Because you are precious in my eyes,
  and honored, and I love you,
I give men in return for you,
  peoples in exchange for your life.
Fear not, for I am with you;
  I will bring your offspring from the east,
  and from the west I will gather you.
I will say to the north, Give up,
  and to the south, Do not withhold;
bring my sons from afar
  and my daughters from the end of the earth,
everyone who is called by my name,
  whom I created for my glory,
  whom I formed and made.”

Bring out the people who are blind, yet have eyes,
  who are deaf, yet have ears!
All the nations gather together,
  and the peoples assemble.
Who among them can declare this,
  and show us the former things?
Let them bring their witnesses to prove them right,
  and let them hear and say, It is true.
“You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD,
  “and my servant whom I have chosen,
that you may know and believe me
  and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
  nor shall there be any after me.
I, I am the LORD,
  and besides me there is no savior.
I declared and saved and proclaimed,
  when there was no strange god among you;
  and you are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and I am God.
Also henceforth I am he;
  there is none who can deliver from my hand;
  I work, and who can turn it back?”

Thus says the LORD,
  your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“For your sake I send to Babylon
  and bring them all down as fugitives,
  even the Chaldeans, in the ships in which they rejoice.
I am the LORD, your Holy One,
  the Creator of Israel, your King.”

Thus says the LORD,
  who makes a way in the sea,
  a path in the mighty waters,
who brings forth chariot and horse,
  army and warrior;
they lie down, they cannot rise,
  they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:
“Remember not the former things,
  nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I am doing a new thing;
  now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
  and rivers in the desert.
The wild beasts will honor me,
  the jackals and the ostriches,
for I give water in the wilderness,
  rivers in the desert,
to give drink to my chosen people,
  the people whom I formed for myself
that they might declare my praise.

“Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob;
  but you have been weary of me, O Israel!
You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings,
  or honored me with your sacrifices.
I have not burdened you with offerings,
  or wearied you with frankincense.
You have not bought me sweet cane with money,
  or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices.
But you have burdened me with your sins;
  you have wearied me with your iniquities.

“I, I am he
  who blots out your transgressions for my own sake,
  and I will not remember your sins.
Put me in remembrance; let us argue together;
  set forth your case, that you may be proved right.
Your first father sinned,
  and your mediators transgressed against me.
Therefore I will profane the princes of the sanctuary,
  and deliver Jacob to utter destruction
  and Israel to reviling.

Israel the LORD's Chosen

44:1 “But now hear, O Jacob my servant,
  Israel whom I have chosen!
Thus says the LORD who made you,
  who formed you from the womb and will help you:
Fear not, O Jacob my servant,
  Jeshurun whom I have chosen.
For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
  and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring,
  and my blessing on your descendants.
They shall spring up among the grass
  like willows by flowing streams.
This one will say, ‘I am the LORD's,’
  another will call on the name of Jacob,
and another will write on his hand, ‘The LORD's,’
  and name himself by the name of Israel.”

Philippians 3:1-4:1 (Listen)

Righteousness Through Faith in Christ

3:1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Straining Toward the Goal

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

4:1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. (ESV)

Footnotes

[1] 7:13 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams
[2] 3:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 13, 17
[3] 3:3 Some manuscripts God in spirit
[4] 3:6 Greek in the law
[5] 4:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 8, 21

This reading plan is from the ESV Literary Study Bible.

May 6: Psalm 125, Numbers 6, Isaiah 42, Philippians 2:12-30

Tue, 06 May 2008 00:01:00 -0400

Psalm 125 (Listen)

The LORD Surrounds His People

A Song of Ascents.

125:1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
  which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
  so the LORD surrounds his people,
  from this time forth and forevermore.
For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
  on the land allotted to the righteous,
lest the righteous stretch out
  their hands to do wrong.
Do good, O LORD, to those who are good,
  and to those who are upright in their hearts!
But those who turn aside to their crooked ways
  the LORD will lead away with evildoers!
  Peace be upon Israel!

Numbers 6 (Listen)

The Nazirite Vow

6:1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When either a man or a woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the LORD, he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar made from wine or strong drink and shall not drink any juice of grapes or eat grapes, fresh or dried. All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, not even the seeds or the skins.

“All the days of his vow of separation, no razor shall touch his head. Until the time is completed for which he separates himself to the LORD, he shall be holy. He shall let the locks of hair of his head grow long.

“All the days that he separates himself to the LORD he shall not go near a dead body. Not even for his father or for his mother, for brother or sister, if they die, shall he make himself unclean, because his separation to God is on his head. All the days of his separation he is holy to the LORD.

“And if any man dies very suddenly beside him and he defiles his consecrated head, then he shall shave his head on the day of his cleansing; on the seventh day he shall shave it. On the eighth day he shall bring two turtledoves or two pigeons to the priest to the entrance of the tent of meeting, and the priest shall offer one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering, and make atonement for him, because he sinned by reason of the dead body. And he shall consecrate his head that same day and separate himself to the LORD for the days of his separation and bring a male lamb a year old for a guilt offering. But the previous period shall be void, because his separation was defiled.

“And this is the law for the Nazirite, when the time of his separation has been completed: he shall be brought to the entrance of the tent of meeting, and he shall bring his gift to the LORD, one male lamb a year old without blemish for a burnt offering, and one ewe lamb a year old without blemish as a sin offering, and one ram without blemish as a peace offering, and a basket of unleavened bread, loaves of fine flour mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers smeared with oil, and their grain offering and their drink offerings. And the priest shall bring them before the LORD and offer his sin offering and his burnt offering, and he shall offer the ram as a sacrifice of peace offering to the LORD, with the basket of unleavened bread. The priest shall offer also its grain offering and its drink offering. And the Nazirite shall shave his consecrated head at the entrance of the tent of meeting and shall take the hair from his consecrated head and put it on the fire that is under the sacrifice of the peace offering. And the priest shall take the shoulder of the ram, when it is boiled, and one unleavened loaf out of the basket and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them on the hands of the Nazirite, after he has shaved the hair of his consecration, and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD. They are a holy portion for the priest, together with the breast that is waved and the thigh that is contributed. And after that the Nazirite may drink wine.

“This is the law of the Nazirite. But if he vows an offering to the LORD above his Nazirite vow, as he can afford, in exact accordance with the vow that he takes, then he shall do in addition to the law of the Nazirite.”

Aaron's Blessing

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,

The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

“So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”

Isaiah 42 (Listen)

The LORD's Chosen Servant

42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold,
  my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him;
  he will bring forth justice to the nations.
He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice,
  or make it heard in the street;
a bruised reed he will not break,
  and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
  he will faithfully bring forth justice.
He will not grow faint or be discouraged
  till he has established justice in the earth;
  and the coastlands wait for his law.

Thus says God, the LORD,
  who created the heavens and stretched them out,
  who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people on it
  and spirit to those who walk in it:
“I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness;
  I will take you by the hand and keep you;
I will give you as a covenant for the people,
  a light for the nations,
  to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
  from the prison those who sit in darkness.
I am the LORD; that is my name;
  my glory I give to no other,
  nor my praise to carved idols.
Behold, the former things have come to pass,
  and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth
  I tell you of them.”

Sing to the LORD a New Song

Sing to the LORD a new song,
  his praise from the end of the earth,
you who go down to the sea, and all that fills it,
  the coastlands and their inhabitants.
Let the desert and its cities lift up their voice,
  the villages that Kedar inhabits;
let the habitants of Sela sing for joy,
  let them shout from the top of the mountains.
Let them give glory to the LORD,
  and declare his praise in the coastlands.
The LORD goes out like a mighty man,
  like a man of war he stirs up his zeal;
he cries out, he shouts aloud,
  he shows himself mighty against his foes.

For a long time I have held my peace;
  I have kept still and restrained myself;
now I will cry out like a woman in labor;
  I will gasp and pant.
I will lay waste mountains and hills,
  and dry up all their vegetation;
I will turn the rivers into islands,
  and dry up the pools.
And I will lead the blind
  in a way that they do not know,
in paths that they have not known
  I will guide them.
I will turn the darkness before them into light,
  the rough places into level ground.
These are the things I do,
  and I do not forsake them.
They are turned back and utterly put to shame,
  who trust in carved idols,
who say to metal images,
  “You are our gods.”

Israel's Failure to Hear and See

Hear, you deaf,
  and look, you blind, that you may see!
Who is blind but my servant,
  or deaf as my messenger whom I send?
Who is blind as my dedicated one,
  or blind as the servant of the LORD?
He sees many things, but does not observe them;
  his ears are open, but he does not hear.
The LORD was pleased, for his righteousness' sake,
  to magnify his law and make it glorious.
But this is a people plundered and looted;
  they are all of them trapped in holes
  and hidden in prisons;
they have become plunder with none to rescue,
  spoil with none to say, “Restore!”
Who among you will give ear to this,
  will attend and listen for the time to come?
Who gave up Jacob to the looter,
  and Israel to the plunderers?
Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned,
  in whose ways they would not walk,
  and whose law they would not obey?
So he poured on him the heat of his anger
  and the might of battle;
it set him on fire all around, but he did not understand;
  it burned him up, but he did not take it to heart.

Philippians 2:12-30 (Listen)

Lights in the World

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me. (ESV)

Footnotes

[1] 6:2 Nazirite means one separated, or one consecrated
[2] 6:4 Or Naziriteship
[3] 6:26 Or face
[4] 42:4 Or bruised
[5] 42:15 Or into coastlands
[6] 42:19 Or as the one at peace with me
[7] 2:22 Greek his
[8] 2:22 Greek child

This reading plan is from the ESV Literary Study Bible.

May 5: Psalm 124, Numbers 5, Isaiah 41, Philippians 1:27-2:11

Mon, 05 May 2008 00:01:00 -0400

Psalm 124 (Listen)

Our Help Is in the Name of the LORD

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

124:1 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side—
  let Israel now say—
if it had not been the LORD who was on our side
  when people rose up against us,
then they would have swallowed us up alive,
  when their anger was kindled against us;
then the flood would have swept us away,
  the torrent would have gone over us;
then over us would have gone
  the raging waters.

Blessed be the LORD,
  who has not given us
  as prey to their teeth!
We have escaped like a bird
  from the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken,
  and we have escaped!

Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.

Numbers 5 (Listen)

Unclean People

5:1 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Command the people of Israel that they put out of the camp everyone who is leprous or has a discharge and everyone who is unclean through contact with the dead. You shall put out both male and female, putting them outside the camp, that they may not defile their camp, in the midst of which I dwell.” And the people of Israel did so, and put them outside the camp; as the LORD said to Moses, so the people of Israel did.

Confession and Restitution

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, When a man or woman commits any of the sins that people commit by breaking faith with the LORD, and that person realizes his guilt, he shall confess his sin that he has committed. And he shall make full restitution for his wrong, adding a fifth to it and giving it to him to whom he did the wrong. But if the man has no next of kin to whom restitution may be made for the wrong, the restitution for wrong shall go to the LORD for the priest, in addition to the ram of atonement with which atonement is made for him. And every contribution, all the holy donations of the people of Israel, which they bring to the priest, shall be his. Each one shall keep his holy donations: whatever anyone gives to the priest shall be his.”

A Test for Adultery

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, If any man's wife goes astray and breaks faith with him, if a man lies with her sexually, and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband, and she is undetected though she has defiled herself, and there is no witness against her, since she was not taken in the act, and if the spirit of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife who has defiled herself, or if the spirit of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife, though she has not defiled herself, then the man shall bring his wife to the priest and bring the offering required of her, a tenth of an ephah of barley flour. He shall pour no oil on it and put no frankincense on it, for it is a grain offering of jealousy, a grain offering of remembrance, bringing iniquity to remembrance.

“And the priest shall bring her near and set her before the LORD. And the priest shall take holy water in an earthenware vessel and take some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle and put it into the water. And the priest shall set the woman before the LORD and unbind the hair of the woman's head and place in her hands the grain offering of remembrance, which is the grain offering of jealousy. And in his hand the priest shall have the water of bitterness that brings the curse. Then the priest shall make her take an oath, saying, ‘If no man has lain with you, and if you have not turned aside to uncleanness while you were under your husband's authority, be free from this water of bitterness that brings the curse. But if you have gone astray, though you are under your husband's authority, and if you have defiled yourself, and some man other than your husband has lain with you, then’ (let the priest make the woman take the oath of the curse, and say to the woman) ‘the LORD make you a curse and an oath among your people, when the LORD makes your thigh fall away and your body swell. May this water that brings the curse pass into your bowels and make your womb swell and your thigh fall away.’ And the woman shall say, ‘Amen, Amen.’

“Then the priest shall write these curses in a book and wash them off into the water of bitterness. And he shall make the woman drink the water of bitterness that brings the curse, and the water that brings the curse shall enter into her and cause bitter pain. And the priest shall take the grain offering of jealousy out of the woman's hand and shall wave the grain offering before the LORD and bring it to the altar. And the priest shall take a handful of the grain offering, as its memorial portion, and burn it on the altar, and afterward shall make the woman drink the water. And when he has made her drink the water, then, if she has defiled herself and has broken faith with her husband, the water that brings the curse shall enter into her and cause bitter pain, and her womb shall swell, and her thigh shall fall away, and the woman shall become a curse among her people. But if the woman has not defiled herself and is clean, then she shall be free and shall conceive children.

“This is the law in cases of jealousy, when a wife, though under her husband's authority, goes astray and defiles herself, or when the spirit of jealousy comes over a man and he is jealous of his wife. Then he shall set the woman before the LORD, and the priest shall carry out for her all this law. The man shall be free from iniquity, but the woman shall bear her iniquity.”

Isaiah 41 (Listen)

Fear Not, For I Am with You

41:1 Listen to me in silence,
  O coastlands;
  let the peoples renew their strength;
let them approach, then let them speak;
  let us together draw near for judgment.

Who stirred up one from the east
  whom victory meets at every step?
He gives up nations before him,
  so that he tramples kings underfoot;
he makes them like dust with his sword,
  like driven stubble with his bow.
He pursues them and passes on safely,
  by paths his feet have not trod.
Who has performed and done this,
  calling the generations from the beginning?
I, the LORD, the first,
  and with the last; I am he.

The coastlands have seen and are afraid;
  the ends of the earth tremble;
  they have drawn near and come.
Everyone helps his neighbor
  and says to his brother, “Be strong!”
The craftsman strengthens the goldsmith,
  and he who smooths with the hammer him who strikes the anvil,
saying of the soldering, “It is good”;
  and they strengthen it with nails so that it cannot be moved.

But you, Israel, my servant,
  Jacob, whom I have chosen,
  the offspring of Abraham, my friend;
you whom I took from the ends of the earth,
  and called from its farthest corners,
saying to you, “You are my servant,
  I have chosen you and not cast you off”;
fear not, for I am with you;
  be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Behold, all who are incensed against you
  shall be put to shame and confounded;
those who strive against you
  shall be as nothing and shall perish.
You shall seek those who contend with you,
  but you shall not find them;
those who war against you
  shall be as nothing at all.
For I, the LORD your God,
  hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, “Fear not,
  I am the one who helps you.”

Fear not, you worm Jacob,
  you men of Israel!
I am the one who helps you, declares the LORD;
  your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
Behold, I make of you a threshing sledge,
  new, sharp, and having teeth;
you shall thresh the mountains and crush them,
  and you shall make the hills like chaff;
you shall winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away,
  and the tempest shall scatter them.
And you shall rejoice in the LORD;
  in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory.

When the poor and needy seek water,
  and there is none,
  and their tongue is parched with thirst,
I the LORD will answer them;
  I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
I will open rivers on the bare heights,
  and fountains in the midst of the valleys.
I will make the wilderness a pool of water,
  and the dry land springs of water.
I will put in the wilderness the cedar,
  the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive.
I will set in the desert the cypress,
  the plane and the pine together,
that they may see and know,
  may consider and understand together,
that the hand of the LORD has done this,
  the Holy One of Israel has created it.

The Futility of Idols

Set forth your case, says the LORD;
  bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob.
Let them bring them, and tell us
  what is to happen.
Tell us the former things, what they are,
  that we may consider them,
that we may know their outcome;
  or declare to us the things to come.
Tell us what is to come hereafter,
  that we may know that you are gods;
do good, or do harm,
  that we may be dismayed and terrified.
Behold, you are nothing,
  and your work is less than nothing;
  an abomination is he who chooses you.

I stirred up one from the north, and he has come,
  from the rising of the sun, and he shall call upon my name;
he shall trample on rulers as on mortar,
  as the potter treads clay.
Who declared it from the beginning, that we might know,
  and beforehand, that we might say, “He is right”?
There was none who declared it, none who proclaimed,
  none who heard your words.
I was the first to say to Zion, “Behold, here they are!”
  and I give to Jerusalem a herald of good news.
But when I look, there is no one;
  among these there is no counselor
  who, when I ask, gives an answer.
Behold, they are all a delusion;
  their works are nothing;
  their metal images are empty wind.

Philippians 1:27-2:11 (Listen)

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Christ's Example of Humility

2:1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (ESV)

Footnotes

[1] 5:2 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13
[2] 5:7 Hebrew they shall confess their sin that they have committed
[3] 5:15 An ephah was about 3/5 bushel or 22 liters
[4] 41:2 Or whom righteousness calls to follow?
[5] 41:23 Or that we may both be dismayed and see
[6] 41:27 Or Formerly I said
[7] 1:27 Greek Only behave as citizens worthy
[8] 2:5 Or which was also in Christ Jesus
[9] 2:7 Greek bondservant

This reading plan is from the ESV Literary Study Bible.