The Daily Bible Readings for WEDNESDAY, November 4, 2020

 

The Daily Readings
WEDNESDAY, November 4, 2020
Psalm 128; Joshua 10:12-14; Matthew 15:1-9
The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)

Today’s Verse-of-the-Day:

2 Corinthians 3:6

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

The Law revealed God’s righteous requirements to us—standards we could never hope to meet on our own (Rom. 7:7). On the other hand, the Spirit gives us life because He draws us to faith in Christ’s provision on the Cross.

Today’s Readings:

Psalm 128
It shall be well with you

1 Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways.

2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.

4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.

5 The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.

6 Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.

Commentary
Sometimes called the Marriage Song, Psalm 128 has been associated with weddings for centuries. Christian marriage builds on this rich legacy. Those desiring to flourish in their marriage can meditate on this psalm (in addition to studying other Scriptures about marriage). According to the psalmist, wisdom for marriage and family begins with the fear of the Lord (v. 4). A marriage blessed by the Lord is one in which a husband and wife choose to walk in the Lord’s ways (v. 1). Pray for the marriages in your sphere of influence. Ask that these marriages know the blessing and peace of the Lord (vv. 1, 4–6).

Joshua 10:12-14
Sun and moon stand still

10:12 Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.

13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.

14 And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the Lord fought for Israel.

Commentary
The meanest and most feeble, who have just begun to trust the Lord, are as much entitled to be protected as those who have long and faithfully been his servants. It is our duty to defend the afflicted, who, like the Gibeonites, are brought into trouble on our account, or for the sake of the gospel. Joshua would not forsake his new vassals. How much less shall our true Joshua fail those who trust in Him! We may be wanting in our trust, but our trust never can want success. Yet God's promises are not to slacken and do away, but to quicken and encourage our endeavors. Notice Joshua's great faith and the power of God answering it by the miraculous staying of the sun that the day of Israel's victories might be made longer. Joshua acted on this occasion by impulse on his mind from the Spirit of God. According to the modern terms of astronomy, it was not necessary that Joshua speak or the miracle be recorded. The sun appeared to the Israelites over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Ajalon, and there they appeared to be stopped on their course for one whole day. Is anything too hard for the Lord? forms a sufficient answer to ten thousand difficulties, which objectors have in every age started against the truth of God as revealed in his written word. A proclamation was hereby made to the neighboring nations, Behold the works of the Lord, and say, What nation is there so great as Israel, who has God so nigh unto them?

Matthew 15:1-9
Lips that misrepresent the heart

15:1 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,

2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.

5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;

6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Commentary
Additions to God’s laws reflect upon his wisdom as if he had left out something which was needed and which man could supply; in one way or another, they always lead men to disobey God. How thankful ought we to be for the written word of God! Never let us think that the religion of the Bible can be improved by any human addition, either in doctrine or practice. Our blessed Lord spoke of their traditions as inventions of their own and pointed out one instance in which this was very clear, that of their transgressing the fifth commandment. When a parent’s wants called for assistance, they pleaded that they had devoted to the temple all they could spare, even though they did not part with it, and therefore their parents must expect nothing from them. This was making the command of God of no effect. The doom of hypocrites is put in a little compass; “In vain do they worship me.” It will neither please God nor profit themselves; they trust in vanity, and vanity will be their recompense.

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel lessons are from The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV).

The Daily Bible Readings are selected from the Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, a three-year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year A. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2020, we will be in Year B. The year which ended at Advent 2019 was Year C. These readings complement the Sunday and festival readings: Thursday through Saturday readings help prepare the reader for the Sunday ahead; Monday through Wednesday readings help the reader reflect and digest what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
The Daily Readings for WEDNESDAY, November 4, 2020
Psalm 128; Joshua 10:12-14; Matthew 15:1-9 (KJV)