Today our passages are Zechariah 14:1-21; Revelation
20:1-15; Psalm 148:1-14; and Proverbs 31:8-9. 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.
Zechariah 14:1-21
War and Victory
14 The Lord will have
his day. And when it comes, everything that was ever taken from Jerusalem will
be returned and divided among its people. 2 But first, he will bring many nations to attack
Jerusalem—homes will be robbed, women raped, and half of the population dragged
off, though the others will be allowed to remain.
3 The Lord will
attack those nations like a warrior fighting in battle. 4 He will take his stand on the Mount of Olives east of
Jerusalem, and the mountain will split in half, forming a wide valley that runs
from east to west. 5 Then you people will escape from the Lord’s mountain, through this valley, which reaches to
Azal.[a] You will run in all directions, just as
everyone did when the earthquake struck[b] in the time of King Uzziah of Judah.
Afterwards, theLord my God
will appear with his holy angels.
6 It will be a bright day that won’t turn cloudy.[c] 7 And the Lord has
decided when it will happen—this time of unending day.
8 In both summer and winter, life-giving streams will flow
from Jerusalem, half of them to the Dead Sea in the east and half to the
Mediterranean Sea in the west. 9 Then there will be only one Lord who rules
as King and whose name is worshiped everywhere on earth.
10-11 From Geba down to Rimmon[d] south of Jerusalem, the entire country will
be turned into flatlands, with Jerusalem still towering above. Then the city
will be full of people, from Benjamin Gate, Old Gate Place, and Hananel Tower in
the northeast part of the city over to Corner Gate in the northwest and down to
King’s Wine Press in the south. Jerusalem will always be secure and will never
again be destroyed.
12 Here is what the Lord will do to
those who attack Jerusalem: While they are standing there, he will make their
flesh rot and their eyes fall from their sockets and their tongues drop
out. 13 The Lord will make
them go into a frenzy and start attacking each other, 14-15 until even the people of Judah turn against those in
Jerusalem.[e] This same terrible disaster will also strike
every animal nearby, including horses, mules, camels, and donkeys. Finally,
everything of value in the surrounding nations will be collected and brought to
Jerusalem—gold, silver, and piles of clothing.
16 Afterwards, the survivors from those nations that
attacked Jerusalem will go there each year to worship the King, the Lord All-Powerful, and to celebrate the Festival
of Shelters. 17 No rain will fall on the land of anyone in any country
who refuses to go to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord All-Powerful. 18-19 This horrible disaster will strike the Egyptians and
everyone else who refuses to go there for the celebration.
20-21 At that time the words “Dedicated to the Lord” will be engraved on the bells worn by horses. In
fact, every ordinary cooking pot in Jerusalem will be just as sacred to the Lord All-Powerful as the bowls used at the altar.
Any one of them will be acceptable for boiling the meat of sacrificed animals,
and there will no longer be a need to sell special pots and bowls.[f]
Footnotes:
- 14.5 to Azal: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. The location of Azal is unknown.
- 14.5 earthquake struck: See Amos 1.1.
- 14.6 a bright. . . cloudy: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- 14.10 From Geba down to Rimmon: Approximately the northern and southern borders of Judah before the exile (see 2 Kings 23.8); Geba is about ten miles north of Jerusalem, and Rimmon is about ten miles north of Beersheba.
- 14.13-15 each other. . . Jerusalem: Or “each other. 14-15 But the people of Judah will fight on the side of Jerusalem.”
- 14.20,21 special pots and bowls: Since all pots and bowls will be considered acceptable for use in the temple, there will be no more need for merchants to sell special ones to those people who come to offer sacrifices.
Revelation 20:1-15
The Thousand Years
20 I saw an angel come down from heaven, carrying the
key to the deep pit and a big chain. 2 He chained the dragon for a thousand years. It is that
old snake, who is also known as the devil and Satan. 3 Then the angel threw the dragon into the pit. He locked
and sealed it, so that a thousand years would go by before the dragon could fool
the nations again. But after that, it would have to be set free for a little
while.
4 I saw thrones, and sitting on those thrones were the ones
who had been given the right to judge. I also saw the souls of the people who
had their heads cut off because they had told about Jesus and preached God’s
message. They were the same ones who had not worshiped the beast or the idol,
and they had refused to let its mark be put on their hands or foreheads. They
will come to life and rule with Christ for a thousand years.
5-6 These people are the first to be raised to life, and
they are especially blessed and holy. The second death[a] has no power over them. They will be priests
for God and Christ and will rule with them for a thousand years.
No other dead people were raised to life until a
thousand years later.
Satan Is Defeated
7 At the end of the thousand years, Satan will be set
free. 8 He will fool the countries of Gog and Magog, which are at
the far ends of the earth, and their people will follow him into battle. They
will have as many followers as there are grains of sand along the beach, 9 and they will march all the way across the earth. They
will surround the camp of God’s people and the city that his people love. But
fire will come down from heaven and destroy the whole army. 10 Then the devil who fooled them will be thrown into the
lake of fire and burning sulfur. He will be there with the beast and the false
prophet, and they will be in pain day and night forever and ever.
The Judgment at the Great White Throne
11 I saw a great white throne with someone sitting on it.
Earth and heaven tried to run away, but there was no place for them to go. 12 I also saw all the dead people standing in front of that
throne. Every one of them was there, no matter who they had once been. Several
books were opened, and then the book of life[b] was opened. The dead were judged by what
those books said they had done.
13 The sea gave up the dead people who were in it, and
death and its kingdom also gave up their dead. Then everyone was judged by what
they had done. 14 Afterwards, death and its kingdom were thrown into the
lake of fire. This is the second death.[c] 15 Anyone whose name wasn’t written in the book of life was
thrown into the lake of fire.
Psalm 148:1-14
Come Praise the Lord
148 Shout praises to the Lord!
Shout the Lord’s praises
in the highest heavens.
2 All of you angels,
and all who serve him above,
come and offer praise.
Shout the Lord’s praises
in the highest heavens.
2 All of you angels,
and all who serve him above,
come and offer praise.
3 Sun and moon,
and all of you bright stars,
come and offer praise.
4 Highest heavens,
and the water
above the highest heavens,[a]
come and offer praise.
and all of you bright stars,
come and offer praise.
4 Highest heavens,
and the water
above the highest heavens,[a]
come and offer praise.
5 Let all things praise
the name of the Lord,
because they were created
at his command.
6 He made them to last forever,
and nothing can change
what he has done.[b]
the name of the Lord,
because they were created
at his command.
6 He made them to last forever,
and nothing can change
what he has done.[b]
7 All creatures on earth,
you obey his commands,
so come praise the Lord!
you obey his commands,
so come praise the Lord!
8 Sea monsters and the deep sea,
fire and hail,
snow and frost,
and every stormy wind,
come praise the Lord!
fire and hail,
snow and frost,
and every stormy wind,
come praise the Lord!
9 All mountains and hills,
fruit trees and cedars,
10 every wild and tame animal,
all reptiles and birds,
come praise the Lord!
fruit trees and cedars,
10 every wild and tame animal,
all reptiles and birds,
come praise the Lord!
11 Every king and every ruler,
all nations on earth,
12 every man and every woman,
young people and old,
come praise the Lord!
all nations on earth,
12 every man and every woman,
young people and old,
come praise the Lord!
13 All creation, come praise
the name of the Lord.
Praise his name alone.
The glory of God is greater
than heaven and earth.
the name of the Lord.
Praise his name alone.
The glory of God is greater
than heaven and earth.
14 Like a bull with mighty horns,
the Lord protects
his faithful nation Israel,
because they belong to him.
Shout praises to the Lord!
the Lord protects
his faithful nation Israel,
because they belong to him.
Shout praises to the Lord!
Proverbs 31:8-9
8 But you must defend
those who are helpless
and have no hope.
9 Be fair and give justice
to the poor and homeless.
those who are helpless
and have no hope.
9 Be fair and give justice
to the poor and homeless.
Verse for the Day
[ Jesus Is the Way to the Father ] Jesus said to his disciples, “Don’t be
worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me. There are many rooms in my
Father’s house. I wouldn’t tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there
to prepare a place for each of you. After I have done this, I will come back and
take you with me. Then we will be together.
John
14:1-3 CEV
Today's passage is from the Contemporary
English Version.
Thought
for the Day
American abolitionist and author, Harriet Beecher
Stowe wrote, “The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid
and deeds left undone.”
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