Daily Text and Bible Reading: Wednesday, July 16 [Press play below]
Press play below to hear today's Bible Chapters: Psalms 130 through 138
Examining the Scriptures Daily
Wednesday, July 16
Jehovah knows that the reasonings of the wise men are futile. 1 Corinthians 3.20.
We must avoid resorting to using human reasoning. If we look at matters from a human standpoint, we may leave out Jehovah and his standards.
[Quotation] 1 Corinthians 3.19: For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, for it is written: “He catches the wise in their own cunning.” [End Quotation]
“The wisdom of this world” often appeals to fleshly desires. A few Christians in Pergamum and Thyatira adopted the idolatrous and immoral views common in those cities. Jesus sent strong counsel to both congregations for their toleration of sexual immorality.
[Quotation] Revelation 2.14: “‘Nevertheless, I have a few things against you, that you have there those adhering to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality. [End Quotation]
[Quotation] Revelation 2.20: “‘Nevertheless, I do hold this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and misleads my slaves to commit sexual immorality and to eat things sacrificed to idols. [End Quotation]
Today, we face pressure to adopt wrong viewpoints. Family members and acquaintances may appeal to our emotions and encourage us to compromise. For example, they may claim that giving in to our desires does not matter and that the Bible’s moral standards are outdated. At times, we might reason that the direction Jehovah gives us is not sufficient. We might even be tempted to “go beyond the things that are written.”
[Quotation] 1 Corinthians 4.6: Now, brothers, these things I have applied to myself and Apollos for your good, that through us you may learn the rule: “Do not go beyond the things that are written,” so that you may not be puffed up with pride, favoring one against the other. [End Quotation]
Watchtower July 2023 page 16 paragraphs 10 and 11
Today's Bible Chapters: Psalms 130 through 138
A Song of the Ascents.
130.1 From the depths I call to you, O Jehovah.
130.2 O Jehovah, hear my voice. May your ears pay attention to my pleas for help.
130.3 If errors were what you watch, O Jah, Then who, O Jehovah, could stand?
130.4 For with you there is true forgiveness, So that you may be held in awe.
130.5 I hope in Jehovah, my whole being hopes in him; I wait for his word.
130.6 I eagerly wait for Jehovah, More than watchmen wait for the morning, Yes, more than watchmen wait for the morning.
130.7 Let Israel keep waiting for Jehovah, For Jehovah is loyal in his love, And he has great power to redeem.
130.8 He will redeem Israel from all their errors.
A Song of the Ascents. Of David.
131.1 O Jehovah, my heart is not haughty, Nor are my eyes lofty; Nor do I aspire to things too great, Or to things that are beyond me.
131.2 No, but I have calmed and quieted my soul Like a weaned child with its mother; I am contented like a weaned child.
131.3 Let Israel wait for Jehovah From now on and forever.
A Song of the Ascents.
132.1 O Jehovah, remember David And all his suffering;
132.2 How he swore to Jehovah, How he vowed to the Powerful One of Jacob:
132.3 “I will not go into my tent, my home. I will not lie upon my couch, my bed;
132.4 I will not allow my eyes to sleep, Nor my eyelids to slumber
132.5 Until I find a place for Jehovah, A fine residence for the Powerful One of Jacob.”
132.6 Look! We heard about it in Ephrathah; We found it in the fields of the forest.
132.7 Let us come into his residence; Let us bow down at his footstool.
132.8 Rise up, O Jehovah, to come to your resting-place, You and the Ark of your strength.
132.9 May your priests be clothed with righteousness, And may your loyal ones shout joyfully.
132.10 For the sake of David your servant, Do not reject your anointed one.
132.11 Jehovah has sworn to David; He will surely not go back on his word: “One of your offspring, I will place on your throne.
132.12 If your sons keep my covenant And my reminders that I teach them, Their sons too Will sit on your throne forever.”
132.13 For Jehovah has chosen Zion; He has desired it for his dwelling place:
132.14 “This is my resting-place forever; Here I will dwell, for this is my desire.
132.15 I will richly bless it with provisions; I will satisfy its poor with bread.
132.16 Its priests I will clothe with salvation, And its loyal ones will shout joyfully.
132.17 There I will make the strength of David grow. I have prepared a lamp for my anointed one.
132.18 I will clothe his enemies with shame, But the crown on his head will flourish.”
A Song of the Ascents. Of David.
133.1 Look! How good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!
133.2 It is like fine oil poured on the head That runs down the beard, Aaron’s beard, And runs down onto the collar of his garments.
133.3 It is like the dew of Hermon That descends on the mountains of Zion. That is where Jehovah decreed his blessing —Life everlasting.
A Song of the Ascents.
134.1 Praise Jehovah, All you servants of Jehovah, You who stand in the house of Jehovah during the nights.
134.2 Raise your hands in holiness And praise Jehovah.
134.3 May Jehovah, the Maker of heaven and earth, Bless you from Zion.
135.1 Praise Jah! Praise the name of Jehovah; Offer praise, you servants of Jehovah,
135.2 You who are standing in the house of Jehovah, In the courtyards of the house of our God.
135.3 Praise Jah, for Jehovah is good. Sing praises to his name, for it is pleasant.
135.4 For Jah has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel for his special property.
135.5 For I well know that Jehovah is great; Our Lord is greater than all other gods.
135.6 Jehovah does everything he pleases to do In heaven and on earth, in the seas and all the depths.
135.7 He causes clouds to ascend from the ends of the earth; He makes lightning for the rain; He brings the wind out of his storehouses.
135.8 He struck down the firstborn of Egypt, Both man and beast.
135.9 He sent signs and miracles among you, O Egypt, Against Pharaoh and all his servants.
135.10 He struck down many nations And killed mighty kings
135.11 —Sihon the king of the Amorites, Og the king of Bashan, And all the kingdoms of Canaan.
135.12 He gave their land as an inheritance, An inheritance to Israel his people.
135.13 O Jehovah, your name endures forever. O Jehovah, your fame endures for all generations.
135.14 For Jehovah will defend his people, And he will feel compassion for his servants.
135.15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, The work of human hands.
135.16 A mouth they have, but they cannot speak; Eyes, but they cannot see;
135.17 Ears they have, but they cannot hear. There is no breath in their mouth.
135.18 The people who make them will become just like them, As will all those who trust in them.
135.19 O house of Israel, praise Jehovah. O house of Aaron, praise Jehovah.
135.20 O house of Levi, praise Jehovah. You who fear Jehovah, praise Jehovah.
135.21 May Jehovah be praised from Zion, The One residing in Jerusalem. Praise Jah!
136.1 Give thanks to Jehovah, for he is good; His loyal love endures forever.
136.2 Give thanks to the God of gods, For his loyal love endures forever.
136.3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords, For his loyal love endures forever.
136.4 He alone does great wonders, For his loyal love endures forever.
136.5 He skillfully made the heavens, For his loyal love endures forever.
136.6 He spread out the earth over the waters, For his loyal love endures forever.
136.7 He made the great lights, For his loyal love endures forever,
136.8 The sun to rule over the day, For his loyal love endures forever,
136.9 The moon and the stars to rule over the night, For his loyal love endures forever.
136.10 He struck down Egypt’s firstborn, For his loyal love endures forever.
136.11 He brought Israel out from their midst, For his loyal love endures forever,
136.12 With a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, For his loyal love endures forever.
136.13 He split the Red Sea in two, For his loyal love endures forever.
136.14 He caused Israel to pass through the middle of it, For his loyal love endures forever.
136.15 He shook off Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea, For his loyal love endures forever.
136.16 He led his people through the wilderness, For his loyal love endures forever.
136.17 He struck down great kings, For his loyal love endures forever.
136.18 He killed mighty kings, For his loyal love endures forever,
136.19 Sihon the king of the Amorites, For his loyal love endures forever,
136.20 And Og the king of Bashan, For his loyal love endures forever.
136.21 He gave their land as an inheritance, For his loyal love endures forever,
136.22 An inheritance to Israel his servant, For his loyal love endures forever.
136.23 He remembered us when we were low, For his loyal love endures forever.
136.24 He kept rescuing us from our adversaries, For his loyal love endures forever.
136.25 He gives food to every living thing, For his loyal love endures forever.
136.26 Give thanks to the God of the heavens, For his loyal love endures forever.
137.1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat. We wept when we remembered Zion.
137.2 Upon the poplar trees in her midst, We hung our harps.
137.3 For there our captors asked us for a song, Those mocking us wanted amusement: “Sing for us one of the songs of Zion.”
137.4 How can we sing the song of Jehovah On foreign soil?
137.5 If I should forget you, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand be forgetful.
137.6 Let my tongue stick to my palate If I do not remember you, If I do not place Jerusalem above My greatest reasons for rejoicing.
137.7 Remember, O Jehovah, What the Edomites said on the day Jerusalem fell: “Tear it down! Tear it down to its foundations!”
137.8 O daughter of Babylon, who is soon to be devastated, Happy will be the one who rewards you With the treatment you inflicted on us.
137.9 Happy will be the one who seizes your children And dashes them against the rocks.
Of David.
138.1 I will praise you with all my heart. In the face of other gods, I will sing praises.
138.2 I will bow down toward your holy temple, And I will praise your name Because of your loyal love and your faithfulness. For you have magnified your saying and your name above everything else.
138.3 On the day I called, you answered me; You made me bold and strong.
138.4 All the kings of the earth will praise you, O Jehovah, For they will have heard the promises you have spoken.
138.5 They will sing about the ways of Jehovah, For the glory of Jehovah is great.
138.6 Though Jehovah is high, he takes note of the humble, But the haughty he knows only from a distance.
138.7 Even when I walk in the midst of danger, you will preserve me alive. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my enemies; Your right hand will save me.
138.8 Jehovah will accomplish all things in my behalf. O Jehovah, your loyal love endures forever; Do not forsake the works of your hands.