Mar 9

Exodus 20
Job 38
Luke 23
2Corinthians 8

Daily Readings:

Exodus 20

1 ¶  And God spake all these words, saying,

2  I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3  Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4  Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

5  Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

6  And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

7  Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

8  Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9  Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

10  But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

11  For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

12 ¶  Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

13  Thou shalt not kill.

14  Thou shalt not commit adultery.

15  Thou shalt not steal.

16  Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

17  Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

18 ¶  And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.

19  And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

20  And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.

21  And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.

22 ¶  And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.

23  Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.

24  An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.

25  And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.

26  Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.

Job 38

1 ¶  Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

2  Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

3  Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

4 ¶  Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

5  Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

6  Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

7  When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8  Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

9  When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,

10  And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,

11  And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

12 ¶  Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;

13  That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

14  It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.

15  And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.

16  Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?

17  Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?

18  Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.

19  Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,

20  That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?

21  Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?

22  Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,

23  Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

24  By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?

25 ¶  Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;

26  To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

27  To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?

28  Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

29  Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

30  The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

31  Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?

32  Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?

33  Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

34  Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?

35  Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?

36  Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?

37  Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,

38  When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?

39  Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,

40  When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?

41  Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.

Luke 23

1 ¶  And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.

2  And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.

3  And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.

4  Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

5  And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.

6  When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.

7  And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.

8  And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

9  Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

10  And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.

11  And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.

12  And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

13 ¶  And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,

14  Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:

15  No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.

16  I will therefore chastise him, and release him.

17  (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)

18  And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:

19  (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)

20  Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.

21  But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.

22  And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.

23  And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.

24  And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.

25  And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

26 ¶  And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.

27  And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.

28  But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

29  For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

30  Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

31  For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

32 ¶  And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.

33  And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

34  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

35  And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

36  And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,

37  And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

38  And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

39  And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

40  But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

41  And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

42  And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

43  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

44 ¶  And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

45  And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

46  And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

47  Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

48  And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.

49  And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

50 ¶  And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:

51  (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.

52  This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.

53  And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.

54  And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

55  And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.

56  And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

2 Corinthians 8

1 ¶  Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

2  How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

3  For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;

4  Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

5  And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

6  Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

7 ¶  Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

8  I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

9  For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

10  And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.

11  Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.

12  For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

13  For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:

14  But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

15  As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

16 ¶  But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.

17  For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.

18  And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;

19  And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:

20  Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:

21  Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

22  And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.

23  Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.

24  Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.

Mediation of the Day: from Charles J Rolls’ book, ‘The Indescribable Christ’

F3-F01 The Forerunner F3-F02 The Forerunner F3-F03 The Forerunner

This entry was posted in Daily Readers, M'Cheyne's Reader, March. Bookmark the permalink.