Today our passages are Isaiah 43:14–45:10; Ephesians 3:1-21; Psalm 68:1-18; and Proverbs 24:1-2. 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 Steet, Weirton, West Virginia or through PayPal by using the link below.
Isaiah 43:14-45:10 (Contemporary English Version)
The LORD Will Prepare the Way
14I, the LORD, will rescue you!
I am Israel's holy God,
and this is my promise:
For your sake, I will send
an army against Babylon
to drag its people away,
crying as they go. [a]
15I am the LORD, your holy God,
Israel's Creator and King.
16I am the one who cut a path
through the mighty ocean.
17I sent an army to chase you
with chariots and horses;
now they lie dead,
unable to move.
They are like an oil lamp
with the flame snuffed out.
Forget the Past
The LORD said:
18Forget what happened long ago!
Don't think about the past.
19I am creating something new.
There it is! Do you see it?
I have put roads in deserts,
streams [b] in
thirsty lands. 20Every wild animal
honors me,
even jackals [c]
and owls. I provide water in deserts--
streams in thirsty lands
for my chosen people.
21I made them my own nation,
so they would praise me.
22I, the LORD, said to Israel:
You have become weary,
but not from worshiping me.
23You have not honored me
by sacrificing sheep
or other animals.
And I have not burdened you
with demands for sacrifices
or sweet-smelling incense.
24You have not brought
delicious spices for me
or given me the best part
of your sacrificed animals.
Instead, you burden me down
with your terrible sins.
25But I wipe away your sins
because of who I am.
And so, I will forget
the wrongs you have done.
26Meet me in court!
State your case
and prove
that you are right.
28That's why I don't allow
your priests to serve me;
I let Israel be destroyed
and your people disgraced.
Isaiah 44
The LORD's Promise to Israel
1People of Israel,
I have chosen you
as my servant.
2I am your Creator.
You were in my care
even before you were born.
Israel, don't be terrified!
You are my chosen servant,
my very favorite. [f]
3I will bless the thirsty land
by sending streams of water;
I will bless your descendants
by giving them my Spirit.
4They will spring up like grass
[g] or
like willow trees
near flowing streams.
5They will worship me
and become my people.
They will write my name
on the back of their hands. [h]
6I am the LORD All-Powerful,
the first and the last,
the one and only God.
Israel, I have rescued you!
I am your King.
7Can anyone compare with me?
If so, let them speak up
and tell me now.
Let them say what has happened
since I made my nation
long ago,
and let them tell
what is going to happen. [i]
8Don't tremble with fear!
Didn't I tell you long ago?
Didn't you hear me?
I alone am God--
no one else is a mighty rock. [j]
Idols Can't Do a Thing
The LORD said:
9Those people who make idols
are nothing themselves,
and the idols they treasure
are just as worthless.
Worshipers of idols are blind,
stupid, and foolish.
10Why make an idol or an image
that can't do a thing?
11Everyone who makes idols
and all who worship them
are mere humans,
who will end up
sadly disappointed.
Let them face me in court
and be terrified.
Idols and Firewood
12A metalworker shapes an idol
by using a hammer [k]
and heat from the fire.
In his powerful hand
he holds a hammer,
as he pounds the metal
into the proper shape.
But he gets hungry and thirsty
and loses his strength.
13Some woodcarver measures
a piece of wood,
then draws an outline.
The idol is carefully carved
with each detail exact.
At last it looks like a person
and is placed in a temple.
14Either cedar, cypress, oak,
or any tree from the forest
may be chosen.
Or even a pine tree planted
by the woodcarver
and watered by the rain.
15Some of the wood is used
to make a fire for heating
or for cooking.
One piece is made into an idol,
then the woodcarver bows down
and worships it.
16He enjoys the warm fire
and the meat that was roasted
over the burning coals.
17Afterwards, he bows down
to worship the wooden idol.
"Protect me!" he says.
"You are my god."
18Those who worship idols are
stupid and blind! 19They don't have
enough sense to say to themselves, "I made a fire with half of the wood and
cooked my bread and meat on it. Then I made something worthless with the other
half. Why worship a block of wood?"
20How can anyone be stupid
enough to trust something that can be burned to ashes? [l] No
one can save themselves like that. Don't they realize that the idols they hold
in their hands are not really gods?
The LORD Won't Forget His People
21People of Israel,
you are my servant,
so remember all of this.
Israel, I created you,
and you are my servant.
I won't forget you. [m]
22Turn back to me!
I have rescued you
and swept away your sins
as though they were clouds.
Sing Praises to the LORD
23Tell the heavens and the earth
to start singing!
Tell the mountains
and every tree in the forest
to join in the song!
The LORD has rescued his people;
now they will worship him.
The LORD Created Everything
24Israel, I am your LORD.
I am your source of life,
and I have rescued you.
I created everything
from the sky above
to the earth below.
25I make liars of false
prophets
and fools of fortunetellers.
I take human wisdom
and turn it into nonsense.
26I will make the message
of my prophets come true.
They are saying, "Jerusalem
will be filled with people,
and the LORD will rebuild
the towns of Judah."
27I am the one who commands
the sea and its streams
to run dry.
28I am also the one who says,
"Cyrus will lead my people
and obey my orders.
Jerusalem and the temple
will be rebuilt."
Isaiah 45
Cyrus Obeys the LORD's Commands
1The LORD said to Cyrus, his chosen one:
I have taken hold
of your right hand
to help you capture nations
and remove kings from power.
City gates will open for you;
not one will stay closed.
2As I lead you,
I will level mountains [n]
and break the iron bars
on bronze gates of cities.
3I will give you treasures
hidden in dark
and secret places.
Then you will know that I,
the LORD God of Israel,
have called you by name.
4Cyrus, you don't even know me!
But I have called you by name
and highly honored you [o]
because of Israel,
my chosen servant.
5Only I am the LORD!
There are no other gods.
I have made you strong,
though you don't know me.
6Now everyone from east to west
will learn that I am the LORD.
No other gods are real.
7I create light and darkness,
happiness and sorrow.
I, the LORD, do all of this.
8Tell the heavens
to send down justice
like showers of rain.
Prepare the earth
for my saving power
to sprout
and produce justice
that I, the LORD, create. [p]
The LORD's Mighty Power
The LORD said:
9Israel, you have no right
to argue with your Creator.
You are merely a clay pot
shaped by a potter.
The clay doesn't ask,
"Why did you make me this way?
Where are the handles?"
10Children don't have the right
to demand of their parents,
"What have you done
to make us what we are?"
Footnotes:
- Isaiah 43:14 crying as they go: Or "in their glorious ships."
- Isaiah 43:19 streams: The Standard Hebrew Text; the Dead Sea Scrolls "paths."
- Isaiah 43:20 jackals: Desert animals related to wolves, but smaller.
- Isaiah 43:27 earliest ancestor: Jacob, also known as Israel.
- Isaiah 43:27 leaders: Probably prophets, but perhaps also priests and kings.
- Isaiah 44:2 my very favorite: Or "Jeshurun."
- Isaiah 44:4 like grass: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Isaiah 44:5 write. . . hands: To show that they belong to the LORD and to Israel.
- Isaiah 44:7 Let them say. . . happen: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Isaiah 44:8 mighty rock: See the note at 17.10.
- Isaiah 44:12 by using a hammer: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Isaiah 44:20 How. . . ashes: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Isaiah 44:21 I won't forget you: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Isaiah 45:2 mountains: The Dead Sea Scrolls and one ancient translation; the Standard Hebrew Text "rising waves."
- Isaiah 45:4 But. . . you: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Isaiah 45:8 Prepare. . . create: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
Ephesians 3:1-21 (Contemporary English Version)
Ephesians 3
Paul's Mission to the Gentiles
1Christ Jesus made me his prisoner, so that I could help you Gentiles. 2You have surely heard about God's kindness in choosing me to help you. 3In fact, this letter tells you a little about how God has shown me his mysterious ways. 4As you read the letter, you will also find out how well I really do understand the mystery about Christ. 5No one knew about this mystery until God's Spirit told it to his holy apostles and prophets. 6And the mystery is this: Because of Christ Jesus, the good news has given the Gentiles a share in the promises that God gave to the Jews. God has also let the Gentiles be part of the same body.
7God treated me with kindness.
His power worked in me, and it became my job to spread the good news. 8I am the least important of all God's
people. But God was kind and chose me to tell the Gentiles that because of
Christ there are blessings that cannot be measured. 9God, who created everything, wanted me to help everyone
understand the mysterious plan that had always been hidden in his mind. 10Then God would use the church to show the
powers and authorities in the spiritual world that he has many different kinds
of wisdom.
11God did this according to his
eternal plan. And he was able to do what he had planned because of all that
Christ Jesus our Lord had done. 12Christ now gives us courage and confidence, so that we
can come to God by faith. 13That's why
you should not be discouraged when I suffer for you. After all, it will bring
honor to you.
Christ's Love for Us
14I kneel in prayer to the Father. 15All beings in heaven and on earth receive their life from him. [a] 16God is wonderful and glorious. I pray that his Spirit will make you become strong followers 17and that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. Stand firm and be deeply rooted in his love. 18I pray that you and all of God's people will understand what is called wide or long or high or deep. [b] 19I want you to know all about Christ's love, although it is too wonderful to be measured. Then your lives will be filled with all that God is. 20-21I pray that Christ Jesus and the church will forever bring praise to God. His power at work in us can do far more than we dare ask or imagine. Amen.
Footnotes:
- Ephesians 3:15 receive their life from him: Or know who they really are because of him.
- Ephesians 3:18 what is called wide or long or high or deep: This may refer to the heavenly Jerusalem or to God's love or wisdom or to the meaning of the cross.
Psalm 68:1-18 (Contemporary English Version)
Psalm 68
(A psalm and a song by David for the music leader.)
God Will Win the Battle
1Do something, God!
Scatter your hateful enemies.
Make them turn and run.
2Scatter them like smoke!
When you come near,
make them melt
like wax in a fire.
3But let your people be happy
and celebrate because of you.
4Our God, you are the one
who rides on the clouds,
and we praise you.
Your name is the LORD,
and we celebrate
as we worship you.
5Our God, from your sacred home
you take care of orphans
and protect widows.
6You find families
for those who are lonely.
You set prisoners free
and let them prosper, [a]
but all who rebel will live
in a scorching desert.
7You set your people free,
and you led them
through the desert.
8God of Israel,
the earth trembled,
and rain poured down.
You alone are the God
who rules from Mount Sinai.
9When your land was thirsty,
you sent showers
to refresh it.
10Your people settled there,
and you were generous
to everyone in need.
11You gave the command,
and a chorus of women told
what had happened:
12"Kings and their armies
retreated and ran,
and everything they left
is now being divided.
13And for those who stayed back
to guard the sheep,
there are metal doves
with silver-coated wings
and shiny gold feathers."
14God All-Powerful, you
scattered
the kings
like snow falling
on Mount Zalmon. [b]
15Our LORD and our God,
Bashan is a mighty mountain
covered with peaks.
16Why is it jealous of Zion,
the mountain you chose
as your home forever?
17When you, LORD God, appeared
to your people [c] at
Sinai, you came with thousands
of mighty chariots.
18When you climbed
the high mountain,
you took prisoners with you
and were given gifts.
Your enemies didn't want you
to live there,
but they gave you gifts.
Footnotes:
- Psalm 68:6 and let them prosper: Or " and give them a song."
- Psalm 68:14 Mount Zalmon: The location of this mountain is not known.
- Psalm 68:17 to your people: Or " in all your holiness" or " in your holy place."
Proverbs 24:1-2 (Contemporary English Version)
Proverbs 24
-19-
1 Don't be jealous of crooks
or want to be their friends.
2All they think about
and talk about
is violence and cruelty.
“Keep on being brave! It will bring you great rewards. Learn to be patient,
so that you will please God and be given what he has promised.” - Hebrews
10:35-36
Today's passage is from the Contemporary
English Version.
Thought for the Day
English art historian, man of letters, antiquarian and Whig politician, Horace Walpole wrote, “The world is a comedy to those that think; a tragedy to those that feel.”
A Joke for Today
One night, a wife found her husband standing over their baby’s crib. Silently she watched him.
As he stood looking down at the sleeping infant, she saw on his face a mixture of emotions: disbelief, doubt, delight, amazement, enchantment, even skepticism.
Touched by this unusual display and the deep emotions it aroused, with eyes glistening she slipped her arm around her husband. “A penny for your thoughts,” she said.
“It’s amazing!” he replied. “I just can’t see how anybody can make a crib like that for only $67.50.”
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