Bible Readings for November 30, 2015

Today our passages are Daniel 7:1-28; 1 John 1:1-10; Psalm 119:153-176; and Proverbs 28:23-24. The readings are from the Contemporary English Version. If you find these readings helpful, please consider sending an offering directly to Cove Presbyterian Church, 3404 Main Street, Weirton, West Virginia or through PayPal. 

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Daniel 7:1-28 (Contemporary English Version)

Daniel 7

Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts

 ^1-2Daniel wrote:    In the first year of King Belshazzar ^[a] of Babylonia, I had some dreams and visions while I was asleep one night, and I wrote them down. The four winds were stirring up the mighty sea, ³when suddenly four powerful beasts came out of the sea. Each beast was different. ⁴The first was like a lion with the wings of an eagle. As I watched, its wings were pulled off. Then it was lifted to an upright position and made to stand on two feet, just like a human, and it was given a human mind.
    ⁵The second beast looked like a bear standing on its hind legs. ^[b] It held three ribs in its teeth, and it was told, " Attack! Eat all the flesh you want." ⁶The third beast was like a leopard--except that it had four wings and four heads. It was given authority to rule.
    ⁷The fourth beast was stronger and more terrifying than the others. Its huge teeth were made of iron, and what it didn't grind with its teeth, it smashed with its feet. It was different from the others, and it had horns on its head--ten of them. ⁸Just as I was thinking about these horns, a smaller horn appeared, and three of the other horns were pulled up by the roots to make room for it. This horn had the eyes of a human and a mouth that spoke with great pride.
   
   

Judgment

Daniel wrote:

 ⁹Thrones were set up    while I was watching,
   and the Eternal God ^[c] took his place.
   His clothing and his hair
   were white as snow.
   His throne was a blazing fire
   with fiery wheels,
    ¹⁰and flames were dashing out
   from all around him.
   Countless thousands
   were standing there
   to serve him.
   The time of judgment began,
   and the books ^[d] were opened. ¹¹I watched closely to see what would happen to this smaller horn because of the arrogant things it was saying. Then before my very eyes, the fourth beast was killed and its body destroyed by fire. ¹²The other three beasts had their authority taken from them, but they were allowed to live a while longer. ^{[e] 13}As I continued to watch the vision that night, I saw what looked like
   a son of man ^[f] coming with the clouds of heaven,
   and he was presented
   to the Eternal God. ^{[g] 14}He was crowned king
   and given power and glory,
   so that all people
   of every nation and race
   would serve him.
   He will rule forever,
   and his kingdom is eternal,
   never to be destroyed.
   

The Meaning of Daniel's Vision

 ¹⁵Daniel wrote:    I was terrified by these visions, and I didn't know what to think. ¹⁶So I asked one of those standing there, ^[h] and he explained, ¹⁷" The four beasts are four earthly kingdoms. ¹⁸But God Most High will give his kingdom to his chosen ones, and it will be theirs forever and ever." ¹⁹I wanted to know more about the fourth beast, ^[i] because it was so different and much more terrifying than the others. What was the meaning of its iron teeth and bronze claws and of its feet that smashed what the teeth and claws had not ground and crushed? ²⁰I also wanted to know more about all ten of those horns on its head. I especially wanted to know more about the one that took the place of three of the others--the horn that had eyes and spoke with arrogance and seemed greater than the others. ²¹While I was looking, this horn attacked God's chosen ones and was winning the battle. ²²Then God Most High, the Eternal God, ^[j] came and judged in favor of his chosen ones, because the time had arrived for them to be given the kingdom. ²³Then I was told
   by the one standing there:
   " The fourth beast
   will be a fourth kingdom
   to appear on earth.
   It will be different
   from all the others--
   it will trample the earth
   and crush it to pieces.
    ²⁴All ten of those horns are kings
   who will come from this kingdom,
   and one more will follow.
   This horn will be different
   from the others,
   and it will conquer
   three other kings.
    ²⁵" This king will speak evil
   of God Most High,
   and he will be cruel
   to God's chosen ones.
   He will try to change God's Law
   and the sacred seasons.
   And he will be able to do this
   for a time, two times,
   and half a time. ^{[k] 26}But he will finally be judged,
   and his kingdom
   completely destroyed.
    ²⁷" Then the greatest kingdom of all
   will be given
   to the chosen ones
   of God Most High.
   His kingdom will be eternal,
   and all others will serve
   and obey him."
    ²⁸That was what I saw and heard. I turned pale with fear and kept it all to myself.
   

Footnotes:

1. Daniel 7:1 first year of King Belshazzar: 554 B.C.
2. Daniel 7:5 standing on its hind legs: Or " higher on one side than the other" or " with a paw lifted up."
3. Daniel 7:9 Eternal God: Aramaic " Ancient of Days."
4. Daniel 7:10 books: Containing the record of the good and evil that each person has done.
5. Daniel 7:12 a while longer: Aramaic " for a time and a season."
6. Daniel 7:13 son of man: Or " human." In Aramaic " son of man" may mean a human or even " oneself" (" I" or " me" ). Jesus often used the phrase " the Son of Man" when referring to himself.
7. Daniel 7:13 Eternal God: See the note at 7.9.
8. Daniel 7:16 one of those standing there: Possibly an angel sent to interpret the visions or one of those thousands mentioned in verse 10.
9. Daniel 7:19 fourth beast: See verses 7,8.
10. Daniel 7:22 Eternal God: See the note at 7.9.
11. Daniel 7:25 for. . . time: Or " for a year, two years, and half a year."

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1 John 1:1-10 (Contemporary English Version)

1 John 1

 ¹The Word that gives life    was from the beginning,
   and this is the one
   our message is about.
   Our ears have heard,
   our own eyes have seen,
   and our hands touched
   this Word.
    ²The one who gives life appeared! We saw it happen, and we are witnesses to what we have seen. Now we are telling you about this eternal life that was with the Father and appeared to us. ³We are telling you what we have seen and heard, so that you may share in this life with us. And we share in it with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. ⁴We are writing to tell you these things, because this makes us ^[a] truly happy.

God Is Light

 ⁵Jesus told us that God is light and doesn't have any darkness in him. Now we are telling you.     ⁶If we say that we share in life with God and keep on living in the dark, we are lying and are not living by the truth. ⁷But if we live in the light, as God does, we share in life with each other. And the blood of his Son Jesus washes all our sins away. ⁸If we say that we have not sinned, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth isn't in our hearts. ⁹But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away.
    ¹⁰If we say that we have not sinned, we make God a liar, and his message isn't in our hearts. ^[b]

Footnotes:

1. 1 John 1:4 us: Some manuscripts have "you."
2. 1 John 1:10 and his message isn't in our hearts: Or "because we have not accepted his message."

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Psalm 119:153-176 (Contemporary English Version)

¹⁵³I have not forgotten your Law!
   Look at the trouble I am in,
   and rescue me.
    ¹⁵⁴Be my defender and protector!
   Keep your promise
   and save my life.
    ¹⁵⁵Evil people won't obey you,
   and so they have no hope
   of being saved.
    ¹⁵⁶You are merciful, LORD!
   Please do the right thing
   and save my life.
    ¹⁵⁷I have a lot of brutal enemies,
   but still I never turn
   from your laws.
    ¹⁵⁸All of those unfaithful people
   who refuse to obey you
   are disgusting to me.
    ¹⁵⁹Remember how I love your laws,
   and show your love for me
   by keeping me safe.
    ¹⁶⁰All you say can be trusted;
   your teachings are true
   and will last forever.
    ¹⁶¹Rulers are cruel to me
   for no reason.
   But with all my heart
   I respect your words,
    ¹⁶²because they bring happiness
   like treasures taken in war.
    ¹⁶³I can't stand liars,
   but I love your Law.
    ¹⁶⁴I praise you seven times a day
   because your laws are fair.
    ¹⁶⁵You give peace of mind
   to all who love your Law.
   Nothing can make them fall.
    ¹⁶⁶You are my only hope
   for being saved, LORD,
   and I do all you command.
    ¹⁶⁷I love and obey your laws
   with all my heart.
    ¹⁶⁸You know everything I do.
   You know I respect every law
   you have given.
    ¹⁶⁹Please, LORD, hear my prayer
   and give me the understanding
   that comes from your word.
    ¹⁷⁰Listen to my concerns
   and keep me safe,
   just as you have promised.
    ¹⁷¹If you will teach me your laws,
   I will praise you ¹⁷²and sing
   about your promise,
   because all of your teachings
   are what they ought to be.
    ¹⁷³Be ready to protect me
   because I have chosen
   to obey your laws.
    ¹⁷⁴I am waiting for you
   to save me, LORD.
   Your Law makes me happy.
    ¹⁷⁵Keep me alive,
   so I can praise you,
   and let me find help
   in your teachings.
    ¹⁷⁶I am your servant,
   but I have wandered away
   like a lost sheep.
   Please come after me,
   because I have not forgotten
   your teachings.

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Proverbs 28:23-24 (Contemporary English Version)

²³Honest correction
   is appreciated
   more than flattery.
    ²⁴If you cheat your parents
   and don't think it's wrong,
   you are a common thief.

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Verse of the Day

“The day of the Lord's return will surprise us like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a loud noise, and the heat will melt the whole universe. Then the earth and everything on it will be seen for what they are. Everything will be destroyed. So you should serve and honor God by the way you live.” - 2 Peter 3:10-11

Today's passage is from the Contemporary English Version.

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Thought for the Day

German—and later French—theologian, organist, philosopher, physician, and medical missionary in Africa, also known for his historical work on Jesus, Albert Schweitzer wrote, “The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.”