The Daily Bible Readings for Tuesday, November 30, 2021

 

The Daily Bible Readings
Monday, November 29, 2021
Psalm 90; 2 Samuel 7:18-29; Revelation 22:12-16
with commentaries from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible

Introduction

In today’s lectionary readings, Psalm 90 is the only song of Moses in the psalms. The thought is that the Lord shelters and protects His people, and He is also their home. We read in Second Samuel David’s prayer of thanksgiving. David’s prayer is full of the breathings of devout affection toward God. He had low thoughts of his own merits. All we have must be looked upon as Divine gifts. He speaks very highly and honorably of the Lord’s favors to him. He humbly glorifies God for His goodness and boldly asks that the promise be fulfilled as spoken. In our readings in John’s Apocalypse, Jesus declares: I am coming quickly. We can never miss the note of urgency and warning in all that Jesus tells us about His coming. His message is always to be ready! Notice in our reading that Jesus does not say that He will render to each person according to what they profess to believe. He says that He will render to each one according to what each has done (verse 12). Our verse of the day is a warning that the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear, the elements will burn and dissolve, and the earth and the works done on it will be exposed for all to see.

Today’s Verse of the Day:
2 Peter 3:10-11

The day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives.

The “day of the Lord” refers to the day when God brings judgment on his enemies and salvation for his people. Through history there have been a series of “days of the Lord,” such as the destruction of nations (Isa 22:2–25; Jer 46:10), the crucifixion (Mt 27:45–54) and the day of Pentecost (Ac 2:1–41). Each of these mini “days of the Lord” anticipates the climactic day of the Lord, when at the end of human history God will bring final judgment on his enemies and final salvation for his people. In the New Testament the day of the Lord is often referred to as the day of Jesus Christ (1Co 1:8; Php 1:6,10; 2:16; 2Th 1:5–12).

Three things will happen on the day of the Lord. First, the heavens will disappear. Second, the elements (which in Peter’s day referred to the earth, air, wind, and fire) will burn and dissolve. This language envisions either the complete destruction of the world or, more likely, its purification. Third, the earth and the works done on it will be exposed for all to see (cf. Mt 10:26; Ro 2:15–16).

Today’s Lectionary Readings:
From the Psalter
Psalm 90
Prayer for Life from God

1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place
     throughout all generations.
2 Before the mountains were born
     or you brought forth the whole world,
     from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

3 You turn people back to dust,
     saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.”
4 A thousand years in your sight
     are like a day that has just gone by,
     or like a watch in the night.
5 Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death—
     they are like the new grass of the morning:
6 In the morning it springs up new,
     but by evening it is dry and withered.

7 We are consumed by your anger
     and terrified by your indignation.
8 You have set our iniquities before you,
     our secret sins in the light of your presence.
9 All our days pass away under your wrath;
     we finish our years with a moan.
10 Our days may come to seventy years,
      or eighty, if our strength endures;
   yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,
      for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
11 If only we knew the power of your anger!
      Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due.
12 Teach us to number our days,
      that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

13 Relent, Lord! How long will it be?
      Have compassion on your servants.
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
      that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
      for as many years as we have seen trouble.
16 May your deeds be shown to your servants,
      your splendor to their children.

17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
      establish the work of our hands for us—
      yes, establish the work of our hands.

Commentary

Verses 1-6: It is supposed that this psalm refers to the sentence passed on Israel in the wilderness, Psalms 90:14. The favor and protection of God are the only sure rest and comfort of the soul in this evil world. Christ Jesus is the refuge and dwelling-place to which we may repair. We are dying creatures, all our comforts in the world are dying comforts, but God is an ever-living God, and believers find him so. When God, by sickness, or other afflictions, turns men to destruction, he thereby calls men to return unto him to repent of their sins, and live a new life. A thousand years are nothing to God's eternity: between a minute and a million of years there is some proportion; between time and eternity there is none. All the events of a thousand years, whether past or to come, are more present to the Eternal Mind, than what was done in the last hour is to us. And in the resurrection, the body and soul shall both return and be united again. Time passes unobserved by us, as with men asleep; and when it is past, it is as nothing. It is a short and quickly-passing life, as the waters of a flood. Man does but flourish as the grass, which, when the winter of old age comes, will wither; but he may be mown down by disease or disaster.

Verses 7-11: The afflictions of the saints often come from God's love; but the rebukes of sinners, and of believers for their sins, must be seen coming from the displeasure of God. Secret sins are known to God, and shall be reckoned for. See the folly of those who go about to cover their sins, for they cannot do so. Our years, when gone, can no more be recalled than the words that we have spoken. Our whole life is toilsome and troublesome; and perhaps, in the midst of the years we count upon, it is cut off. We are taught by all this to stand in awe. The angels that sinned know the power of God's anger; sinners in hell know it; but which of us can fully describe it? Few seriously consider it as they ought. Those who make a mock at sin, and make light of Christ, surely do not know the power of God's anger. Who among us can dwell with that devouring fire?

Verses 12-17: Those who would learn true wisdom, must pray for Divine instruction, must beg to be taught by the Holy Spirit; and for comfort and joy in the returns of God's favor. They pray for the mercy of God, for they pretend not to plead any merit of their own. His favor would be a full fountain of future joys. It would be a sufficient balance to former griefs. Let the grace of God in us produce the light of good works. And let Divine consolations put gladness into our hearts, and a luster upon our countenances. The work of our hands, establish thou it; and, in order to that, establish us in it. Instead of wasting our precious, fleeting days in pursuing fancies, which leave the possessors for ever poor, let us seek the forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance in heaven. Let us pray that the work of the Holy Spirit may appear in converting our hearts, and that the beauty of holiness may be seen in our conduct.

From the Historical Books
2 Samuel 7:18-29
The Flowering of David’s Line

7:18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:

“Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 19 And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant—and this decree, Sovereign Lord, is for a mere human!

20 “What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, Sovereign Lord. 21 For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.

22 “How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. 23 And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? 24 You have established your people Israel as your very own forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.

25 “And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, 26 so that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!’ And the house of your servant David will be established in your sight.

27 “Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. 28 Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. 29 Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever.”

Commentary

David's prayer is full of the breathings of devout affection toward God. He had low thoughts of his own merits. All we have, must be looked upon as Divine gifts. He speaks very highly and honorably of the Lord's favors to him. Considering what the character and condition of man is, we may be amazed that God should deal with him as he does. The promise of Christ includes all; if the Lord God be ours, what more can we ask, or think of? Ephesians 3:20. He knows us better than we know ourselves; therefore let us be satisfied with what he has done for us. What can we say more for ourselves in our prayers, than God has said for us in his promises? David ascribes all to the free grace of God. Both the great things He had done for him, and the great things He had made known to him. All was for his word's sake, that is, for the sake of Christ the eternal Word. Many, when they go to pray, have their hearts to seek, but David's heart was found, that is, it was fixed; gathered in from its wanderings, entirely engaged to the duty, and employed in it. That prayer which is from the tongue only, will not please God; it must be found in the heart; that must be lifted up and poured out before God. He builds his faith, and hopes to speed, upon the sureness of God's promise. David prays for the performance of the promise. With God, saying and doing are not two things, as they often are with men; God will do as he hath said. The promises of God are not made to us by name, as to David, but they belong to all who believe in Jesus Christ, and plead them in his name.

From the Apocalypse of John
Revelation 22:12-16
Jesus as the Fulfillment of David’s Line

22:12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

Commentary

The Lord Jesus spake by the angel, solemnly confirming the contents of this book, particularly of this last vision. He is the Lord God faithful and true. Also by his messengers; the holy angels showed them to holy men of God. They are things that must shortly be done; Christ will come quickly, and put all things out of doubt. Never let us think that a dead or disobedient faith will save us, for the First and the Last has declared that those alone are blessed who do his commandments. It is a book that shuts out form heaven all wicked and unrighteous persons, particularly those who love and make lies, therefore cannot itself be a lie. There is no middle place or condition. Jesus, who is the Spirit of prophecy, has given his churches this morning-light of prophecy, to assure them of the light of the perfect day approaching. All is confirmed by an open and general invitation to mankind, to come and partake freely of the promises and of the privileges of the gospel.

Today’s Lectionary Readings are selected from the Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, a three-year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year C. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2022, we will be in Year A. The year which ended at Advent 2021 was Year B. 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 Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel lessons are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Commentaries from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible.