The One Year Bible TLB (81 page)
Read The One Year Bible TLB Online
Authors: Tyndale
Yet even so the people kept on sinning and refused to believe in miracles.
33
So he cut their lives short and gave them years of terror and disaster.
34
Then at last, when he had ruined them, they walked awhile behind him; how earnestly they turned around and followed him!
35
Then they remembered that God was their Rock—that their Savior was the God above all gods.
36
But it was only with their words that they followed him, not with their hearts;
37
their hearts were far away. They did not keep their promises.
38
Yet he was merciful and forgave their sins and didn’t destroy them all. Many and many a time he held back his anger.
39
For he remembered that they were merely mortal men, gone in a moment like a breath of wind.
40
Oh, how often they rebelled against him in those desert years and grieved his heart.
41
Again and again they turned away and tempted God to kill them, and limited the Holy One of Israel from giving them his blessings.
42
They forgot his power and love and how he had rescued them from their enemies;
43
they forgot the plagues he sent upon the Egyptians in Tanis
*
—
44
how he turned their rivers into blood so that no one could drink,
45
how he sent vast swarms of flies to fill the land, and how the frogs had covered all of Egypt!
46
He gave their crops to caterpillars. Their harvest was consumed by locusts.
47
He destroyed their grapevines and their sycamores with hail.
48
Their cattle died in the fields, mortally wounded by huge hailstones from heaven. Their sheep were killed by lightning.
49
He loosed on them the fierceness of his anger, sending sorrow and trouble. He dispatched against them a band of destroying angels.
50
He gave free course to his anger and did not spare the Egyptians’ lives, but handed them over to plagues and sickness.
51
Then he killed the eldest son
*
in each Egyptian family—he who was the beginning of its strength and joy.
52
But he led forth his own people like a flock, guiding them safely through the wilderness.
53
He kept them safe, so they were not afraid. But the sea closed in upon their enemies and overwhelmed them.
54
He brought them to the border of his land of blessing, to this land of hills he made for them.
55
He drove out the nations occupying the land and gave each tribe of Israel its apportioned place as its home.
No real harm befalls the good, but there is constant trouble for the wicked.
22
God delights in those who keep their promises and abhors those who don’t.
23
A wise man doesn’t display his knowledge, but a fool displays his foolishness.
April 828
“Israel is a stupid nation;
Foolish, without understanding.
29
Oh, that they were wise!
Oh, that they could understand!
Oh, that they would know what they are getting into!
30
How could one single enemy chase a thousand of them,
And two put ten thousand to flight,
Unless their Rock had abandoned them,
Unless the Lord had destroyed them?
31
But the rock of other nations
Is not like our Rock;
Prayers to their gods are valueless.
32
They act like men of Sodom and Gomorrah:
Their deeds
*
are bitter with poison;
33
They drink the wine of serpent venom.
34
But Israel
*
is my special people,
Sealed as jewels within my treasury.
35
Vengeance is mine,
And I decree the punishment of all her enemies:
Their doom is sealed.
36
The Lord will see his people righted,
And will have compassion on them when they slip.
He will watch their power ebb away,
Both slave and free.
37
Then God will ask,
‘Where are their gods—
The rocks they claimed to be their refuge?
38
Where are these gods now,
To whom they sacrificed their fat and wine?
Let those gods arise,
And help them!
39
Don’t you see that I alone am God?
I kill and make live.
I wound and heal—
No one delivers from my power.
40-41
I raise my hand to heaven
And vow by my existence,
That I will whet the lightning of my sword!
And hurl my punishments upon my enemies!
42
My arrows shall be drunk with blood!
My sword devours the flesh and blood
Of all the slain and captives.
The heads of the enemy
Are gory with blood.’
43
Praise his people,
Gentile nations,
For he will avenge his people,
Taking vengeance on his enemies,
Purifying his land
And his people.”
44-45
When Moses and Joshua had recited all the words of this song to the people,
46
Moses made these comments:
“Meditate upon all the laws I have given you today, and pass them on to your children.
47
These laws are not mere words—they are your life! Through obeying them you will live long, plentiful lives in the land you are going to possess across the Jordan River.”
48
That same day, the Lord said to Moses,
49
“Go to Mount Nebo in the mountains of Abarim, in the land of Moab across from Jericho. Climb to its heights and look out across the land of Canaan, the land I am giving to the people of Israel.
50
After you see the land, you must die and join your ancestors, just as Aaron, your brother, died in Mount Hor and joined them.
51
For you dishonored me among the people of Israel at the springs of Meribah-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin.
52
You will see spread out before you the land I am giving the people of Israel, but you will not enter it.”
“Be prepared—all dressed and ready—
36
for your Lord’s return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks.
37
There will be great joy for those who are ready and waiting for his return. He himself will seat them and put on a waiter’s uniform and serve them as they sit and eat!
38
He may come at nine o’clock at night—or even at midnight. But whenever he comes, there will be joy for his servants who are ready!
39
“Everyone would be ready for him if they knew the exact hour of his return—just as they would be ready for a thief if they knew when he was coming.
40
So be ready all the time. For I, the Messiah,
*
will come when least expected.”
41
Peter asked, “Lord, are you talking just to us or to everyone?”
42-44
And the Lord replied,
“I’m talking to any faithful, sensible man whose master gives him the responsibility of feeding the other servants. If his master returns and finds that he has done a good job, there will be a reward—his master will put him in charge of all he owns.
45
“But if the man begins to think, ‘My Lord won’t be back for a long time,’ and begins to whip the men and women he is supposed to protect, and to spend his time at drinking parties and in drunkenness—
46
well, his master will return without notice and remove him from his position of trust and assign him to the place of the unfaithful.
47
He will be severely punished, for though he knew his duty he refused to do it.
48
“But anyone who is not aware that he is doing wrong will be punished only lightly. Much is required from those to whom much is given, for their responsibility is greater.
49
“I have come to bring fire to the earth, and, oh, that my task were completed!
50
There is a terrible baptism ahead of me, and how I am pent up until it is accomplished!
51
“Do you think I have come to give peace to the earth?
No!
Rather, strife and division!
52
From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or perhaps the other way around.
53
A father will decide one way about me; his son, the other; mother and daughter will disagree; and the decision of an honored mother-in-law
*
will be spurned by her daughter-in-law.”
54
Then he turned to the crowd and said,
“When you see clouds beginning to form in the west, you say, ‘Here comes a shower.’ And you are right.
55
“When the south wind blows you say, ‘Today will be a scorcher.’ And it is.
56
Hypocrites! You interpret the sky well enough, but you refuse to notice the warnings all around you about the crisis ahead.
57
Why do you refuse to see for yourselves what is right?
58
“If you meet your accuser on the way to court, try to settle the matter before it reaches the judge, lest he sentence you to jail;
59
for if that happens, you won’t be free again until the last penny is paid in full.”
Yet though he did all this for them, they still rebelled against the God above all gods and refused to follow his commands.
57
They turned back from entering the Promised Land and disobeyed as their fathers had. Like a crooked arrow, they missed the target of God’s will.
58
They made him angry by erecting idols and altars to other gods.
59
When God saw their deeds, his wrath was strong and he despised his people.
60
Then he abandoned his Tabernacle at Shiloh, where he had lived among mankind,
61
and allowed his Ark to be captured; he surrendered his glory into enemy hands.
62
He caused his people to be butchered because his anger was intense.
63
Their young men were killed by fire, and their girls died before they were old enough to sing their wedding songs.
64
The priests were slaughtered, and their widows died before they could even begin their lament.
Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and never succeed.
April 9This is the blessing Moses, the man of God, gave to the people of Israel before his death:
2
“The Lord came to us at Mount Sinai,
And dawned upon us from Mount Seir;
He shone from Mount Paran,
Surrounded by ten thousands of holy angels,
*
And with flaming fire at his right hand.
3
How he loves his people—
His holy ones are in his hands.
They followed in your steps, O Lord.
They have received their directions from you.
4
The laws I have given
Are your precious possession.
5
The Lord became king in Jerusalem,
Elected by a convocation of the leaders of the tribes!
6
Let Reuben live forever
And may his tribe increase!”
7
And Moses said of Judah:
“O Lord, hear the cry of Judah
And unite him with Israel;
Fight for him against his enemies.”
8
Then Moses said concerning the tribe of Levi:
“Give to godly Levi
Your Urim and your Thummim.
You tested Levi at Massah and at Meribah;
9
He obeyed your instructions
and destroyed many sinners,
*
Even his own children, brothers, fathers, and mothers.
10
The Levites shall teach God’s laws to Israel
And shall work before you at the incense altar
And the altar of burnt offering.
11
O Lord, prosper the Levites
And accept the work they do for you.
Crush those who are their enemies;
Don’t let them rise again.”
12
Concerning the tribe of Benjamin, Moses said:
“He is beloved of God
And lives in safety beside him.
God surrounds him with his loving care,
And preserves him from every harm.”
13
Concerning the tribe of Joseph, he said:
“May his land be blessed by God
With the choicest gifts of heaven
And of the earth that lies below.
14
May he be blessed
With the best of what the sun makes grow;
Growing richly month by month,
15
With the finest of mountain crops
And of the everlasting hills.
16
May he be blessed with the best gifts
Of the earth and its fullness,
And with the favor of God who appeared
In the burning bush.
Let all these blessings come upon Joseph,
The prince among his brothers.
17
He is a young bull in strength and splendor,
With the strong horns of a wild ox
To push against the nations everywhere;
This is my blessing on the multitudes of Ephraim
And the thousands of Manasseh.”
18
Of the tribe of Zebulun, Moses said:
“Rejoice, O Zebulun, you outdoorsmen,
And Issachar, you lovers of your tents;
19
They shall summon the people
To celebrate their sacrifices with them.
Lo, they taste the riches of the sea
And the treasures of the sand.”
20
Concerning the tribe of Gad, Moses said:
“A blessing upon those who help Gad.
He crouches like a lion,
With savage arm and face and head.
21
He chose the best of the land for himself
Because it is reserved for a leader.
He led the people
Because he carried out God’s penalties for Israel.”
22
Of the tribe of Dan, Moses said:
“Dan is like a lion’s cub
Leaping out from Bashan.”
23
Of the tribe of Naphtali, Moses said:
“O Naphtali, you are satisfied
With all the blessings of the Lord;
The Mediterranean coast and the Negeb
Are your home.”
24
Of the tribe of Asher:
“Asher is a favorite son,
Esteemed above his brothers;
He bathes his feet in oil.
25
May you be protected with strong bolts
Of iron and bronze,
And may your strength match the length of your days!
26
There is none like the God of Jerusalem—
He descends from the heavens
In majestic splendor to help you.
27
The eternal God is your refuge,
And underneath are the everlasting arms.
He thrusts out your enemies before you;
It is he who cries, ‘Destroy them!’
28
So Israel dwells safely,
Prospering in a land of corn and wine,
While the gentle rains descend from heaven.
29
What blessings are yours, O Israel!
Who else has been saved by the Lord?
He is your shield and your helper!
He is your excellent sword!
Your enemies shall bow low before you,
And you shall trample on their backs!”
About this time he [Jesus] was informed that Pilate had butchered some Jews from Galilee as they were sacrificing at the Temple in Jerusalem.
2
“Do you think they were worse sinners than other men from Galilee?”
he asked.
“Is that why they suffered?
3
Not at all! And don’t you realize that you also will perish unless you leave your evil ways and turn to God?
4
“And what about the eighteen men who died when the Tower of Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem?
5
Not at all! And you, too, will perish unless you repent.”
6
Then he used this illustration:
“A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if he could find any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed.
7
Finally he told his gardener to cut it down. ‘I’ve waited three years and there hasn’t been a single fig!’ he said. ‘Why bother with it any longer? It’s taking up space we can use for something else.’
8
“‘Give it one more chance,’ the gardener answered. ‘Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer.
9
If we get figs next year, fine; if not, I’ll cut it down.’”
10
One Sabbath as he was teaching in a synagogue,
11
he saw a seriously handicapped woman who had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to straighten herself.
12
Calling her over to him Jesus said,
“Woman, you are healed of your sickness!”
13
He touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised and thanked God!
14
But the local Jewish leader in charge of the synagogue was very angry about it because Jesus had healed her on the Sabbath day. “There are six days of the week to work,” he shouted to the crowd. “Those are the days to come for healing, not on the Sabbath!”
15
But the Lord replied,
“You hypocrite! You work on the Sabbath! Don’t you untie your cattle from their stalls on the Sabbath and lead them out for water?
16
And is it wrong for me, just because it is the Sabbath day, to free this Jewish woman from the bondage in which Satan has held her for eighteen years?”
17
This shamed his enemies. And all the people rejoiced at the wonderful things he did.
18
Now he began teaching them again about the Kingdom of God:
“What is the Kingdom like?”
he asked.
“How can I illustrate it?
19
It is like a tiny mustard seed planted in a garden; soon it grows into a tall bush and the birds live among its branches.
20-21
“It is like yeast kneaded into dough, which works unseen until it has risen high and light.”
Then the Lord rose up as though awakening from sleep, and like a mighty man aroused by wine,
66
he routed his enemies; he drove them back and sent them to eternal shame.
67
But he rejected Joseph’s family, the tribe of Ephraim,
68
and chose the tribe of Judah—and Mount Zion, which he loved.
69
There he built his towering temple, solid and enduring as the heavens and the earth.
70
He chose his servant David, taking him from feeding sheep
71-72
and from following the ewes with lambs; God presented David to his people as their shepherd, and he cared for them with a true heart and skillful hands.
Anxious hearts are very heavy, but a word of encouragement does wonders!