Daily Text and Bible Reading: Friday, June 27 [Press play below]
Press play below to hear today's Bible Chapters: Psalms 43 through 47
Examining the Scriptures Daily
Friday, June 27
Put faith in his prophets, and you will be successful. 2 Chronicles 20.20.
After the days of Moses and Joshua, Jehovah raised up judges to guide his people. Then, during the time of the kings, Jehovah appointed prophets to guide his people. Faithful kings heeded the counsel of the prophets. For example, King David humbly accepted correction from the prophet Nathan.
[Quotation] 2 Samuel 12.7: Then Nathan said to David: “You are the man! This is what Jehovah the God of Israel says: ‘I myself anointed you as king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul. [End Quotation]
[Quotation] 2 Samuel 12.13: David then said to Nathan: “I have sinned against Jehovah.” Nathan replied to David: “Jehovah, in turn, forgives your sin. You will not die. [End Quotation]
[Quotation] 1 Chronicles 17.3 and 4: On that very night, the word of God came to Nathan, saying: 4 “Go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what Jehovah says: “You are not the one who will build the house for me to dwell in. [End Quotation]
King Jehoshaphat relied on the prophet Jahaziel for guidance and encouraged the people of Judah to “put faith in [God’s] prophets.”
[Quotation] 2 Chronicles 20.14 and 15: Then in the middle of the congregation, the spirit of Jehovah came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah son of Benaiah son of Jeiel son of Mattaniah the Levite of the sons of Asaph. 15 He said: “Pay attention, all Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat! Here is what Jehovah says to you, ‘Do not be afraid or be terrified because of this large crowd, for the battle is not yours but God’s. [End Quotation]
When in distress, King Hezekiah turned to the prophet Isaiah.
[Quotation] Isaiah 37.1 through 6: As soon as King Hezekiah heard this, he ripped his garments apart and covered himself with sackcloth and went into the house of Jehovah. 2 Then he sent Eliakim, who was in charge of the household, Shebna the secretary, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz. 3 They said to him: “This is what Hezekiah says, ‘This day is a day of distress, of rebuke, and of disgrace; for the children are ready to be born, but there is no strength to give birth. 4 Perhaps Jehovah your God will hear the words of the Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his lord sent to taunt the living God, and he will call him to account for the words that Jehovah your God has heard. So offer up a prayer in behalf of the remnant who have survived.’” 5 So the servants of King Hezekiah went in to Isaiah, 6 and Isaiah said to them: “This is what you should say to your lord, ‘This is what Jehovah says: “Do not be afraid because of the words that you heard, the words with which the attendants of the king of Assyria blasphemed me. [End Quotation]
Each time the kings followed Jehovah’s guidance, they were blessed and the nation was protected.
[Quotation] 2 Chronicles 20.29 and 30: And the dread of God came upon all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that Jehovah had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 Thus the kingdom of Jehoshaphat had no disturbance, and his God continued to give him rest on every side. [End Quotation]
[Quotation] 2 Chronicles 32.22: So Jehovah saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of King Sennacherib of Assyria and from the hand of all others and gave them rest on every side. [End Quotation]
It was obvious that Jehovah was using his prophets to guide his people.
Watchtower February 2024 page 21 paragraph 8
Today's Bible Chapters: Psalms 43 through 47
43.1 Judge me, O God, Defend my legal case against a disloyal nation. Rescue me from the man of deception and unrighteousness.
43.2 For you are my God, my fortress. Why have you cast me off? Why must I walk about sad because of the oppression by my enemy?
43.3 Send out your light and your truth. May these lead me; May they guide me to your holy mountain and to your grand tabernacle.
43.4 Then I will come to the altar of God, To God, my exceeding joy. And I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.
43.5 Why am I in despair? Why is this turmoil within me? Wait for God, For I will yet praise him as my Grand Savior and my God.
To the director. Of the sons of Korah. Maskil.
44.1 O God, we have heard with our own ears, Our forefathers have recounted to us, The deeds you accomplished in their days, In the days of long ago.
44.2 With your hand you drove away nations And settled our forefathers there. You crushed nations and drove them out.
44.3 It was not by their own sword that they took possession of the land, And their own arm did not bring them victory. Rather, it was by your right hand and your arm and the light of your face, For you took pleasure in them.
44.4 You are my King, O God; Command complete victory for Jacob.
44.5 By your power we will drive back our adversaries; In your name we will trample down those who rise up against us.
44.6 For I do not trust in my bow, And my sword cannot save me.
44.7 It was you who saved us from our adversaries, You who humiliated those who hate us.
44.8 To God we will offer praise all day long, And we will give thanks to your name forever.
(Selah)
44.9 But now you have cast us off and humiliated us, And you do not go out with our armies.
44.10 You keep making us retreat from our adversary; Those who hate us take whatever they want.
44.11 You hand us over to be devoured like sheep; You have scattered us among the nations.
44.12 You sell your people for next to nothing; You make no profit from the sale.
44.13 You make us a reproach to our neighbors, An object of ridicule and jeering to those all around us.
44.14 You make us an object of scorn among the nations, Something for the peoples to shake their heads at.
44.15 I feel humiliated all day long, And I am overwhelmed by my shame,
44.16 On account of the sound of their taunts and insults, Because of our enemy who is taking revenge.
44.17 All of this has come upon us, yet we have not forgotten you, And we have not violated your covenant.
44.18 Our heart has not deviated; Our footsteps do not stray from your path.
44.19 But you have crushed us where the jackals dwell; You have covered us with deep shadow.
44.20 If we have forgotten the name of our God Or if we spread out our hands in prayer to a foreign god,
44.21 Will not God discover this? He is aware of the secrets of the heart.
44.22 For your sake we are being put to death all day long; We have been accounted as sheep for slaughtering.
44.23 Rouse yourself. Why do you keep sleeping, O Jehovah? Awake! Do not keep casting us off forever.
44.24 Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction and our oppression?
44.25 For we have been brought down to the dust; Our bodies are pressed to the ground.
44.26 Rise up as our helper! Rescue us because of your loyal love.
To the director; set to “The Lilies.” Of the sons of Korah. Maskil. A song of love.
45.1 My heart is stirred by something good. I say: “My song is about a king.” May my tongue be the stylus of a skilled copyist.
45.2 You are the most handsome of the sons of men. Gracious speech flows from your lips. That is why God has blessed you forever.
45.3 Strap your sword on your side, O mighty one, In your dignity and your splendor.
45.4 And in your splendor go on to victory; Ride in the cause of truth and humility and righteousness, And your right hand will accomplish awe-inspiring things.
45.5 Your arrows are sharp, making peoples fall before you; They pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies.
45.6 God is your throne forever and ever; The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness.
45.7 You loved righteousness, and you hated wickedness. That is why God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of exultation more than your companions.
45.8 All your garments are scented with myrrh and aloeswood and cassia; From the grand ivory palace, stringed instruments make you rejoice.
45.9 The daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor. The royal consort has taken her stand at your right hand, adorned in gold of Ophir.
45.10 Listen, O daughter, pay attention and incline your ear; Forget your people and your father’s house.
45.11 And the king will long for your beauty, For he is your lord, So bow down to him.
45.12 The daughter of Tyre will come with a gift; The wealthiest of men will seek your favor.
45.13 Inside the palace the king’s daughter is absolutely magnificent; Her clothing is adorned with gold.
45.14 She will be brought to the king in richly woven garments. The virgin companions following her are brought in before you.
45.15 They will be brought with rejoicing and joy; They will enter into the king’s palace.
45.16 Your sons will take the place of your forefathers. You will appoint them as princes in all the earth.
45.17 I will make your name known throughout all generations to come. That is why peoples will praise you forever and ever.
To the director. Of the sons of Korah. According to the Alamoth style. A song.
46.1 God is our refuge and strength, A help that is readily found in times of distress.
46.2 That is why we will not fear, though the earth undergoes change, Though the mountains topple into the depths of the sea,
46.3 Though its waters roar and foam over, Though the mountains rock on account of its turbulence.
(Selah)
46.4 There is a river the streams of which make the city of God rejoice, The holy grand tabernacle of the Most High.
46.5 God is in the city; it cannot be overthrown. God will come to its aid at the break of dawn.
46.6 The nations were in an uproar, the kingdoms were overthrown; He raised his voice, and the earth melted.
46.7 Jehovah of armies is with us; The God of Jacob is our secure refuge.
(Selah)
46.8 Come and witness the activities of Jehovah, How he has done astonishing things on the earth.
46.9 He is bringing an end to wars throughout the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the military wagons with fire.
46.10 “Give in and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.”
46.11 Jehovah of armies is with us; The God of Jacob is a secure refuge for us.
(Selah)
To the director. Of the sons of Korah. A melody.
47.1 All you peoples, clap your hands. Shout in triumph to God with joyful cries.
47.2 For Jehovah the Most High is awe-inspiring; He is the great King over all the earth.
47.3 He subdues peoples under us; He puts nations under our feet.
47.4 He chooses our inheritance for us, The pride of Jacob, whom he loves.
(Selah)
47.5 God has ascended amid joyful shouting; Jehovah, amid the sound of the horn.
47.6 Sing praises to God, sing praises. Sing praises to our King, sing praises.
47.7 For God is King of all the earth; Sing praises, and show insight.
47.8 God has become King over the nations. God sits on his holy throne.
47.9 The leaders of the peoples have gathered together With the people of the God of Abraham. For the rulers of the earth belong to God. He is highly exalted.