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dfroza · 4 years

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Today’s reading in the ancient book of Proverbs and Psalms

for Saturday, August 22 of 2020 with Proverbs 22 and Psalm 22 accompanied by Psalm 64 for the 64th day of Summer and Psalm 85 for day 235 of the year

[Proverbs 22]

A beautiful reputation is more to be desired than great riches,

and to be esteemed by others is more honorable

than to own immense investments.

The rich and the poor have one thing in common:

the Lord God created each one.

A prudent person with insight foresees danger coming

and prepares himself for it.

But the senseless rush blindly forward

and suffer the consequences.

Laying your life down in tender surrender before the Lord

will bring life, prosperity, and honor as your reward.

Twisted and perverse lives are surrounded by demonic influence.

If you value your soul, stay far away from them.

Dedicate your children to God

and point them in the way that they should go,

and the values they’ve learned from you will be with them for life.

If you borrow money with interest,

you’ll end up serving the interests of your creditors,

for the rich rule over the poor.

Sin is a seed that brings a harvest;

you’ll reap a heap of trouble with every seed you plant.

For your investment in sins pays a full return—

the full punishment you deserve!

When you are generous to the poor,

you are enriched with blessings in return.

Say goodbye to a troublemaker and you’ll say goodbye

to quarrels, strife, tension, and arguments,

for a troublemaker traffics in shame.

The Lord loves those whose hearts are holy,

and he is the friend of those whose ways are pure.

God passionately watches over

his deep reservoir of revelation-knowledge,

but he subverts the lies of those who pervert the truth.

A slacker always has an excuse for not working—

like “I can’t go to work. There’s a lion outside!

And murderers too!”

Sex with an adulteress is like falling into the abyss.

Those under God’s curse jump right in to their own destruction.

Although rebellion is woven into a young man’s heart,

tough discipline can make him into a man.

There are two kinds of people headed toward poverty:

those who exploit the poor

and those who bribe the rich.

[Sayings of the Wise Sages]

Listen carefully and open your heart.

Drink in the wise revelation that I impart.

You’ll become winsome and wise

when you treasure the beauty of my words.

And always be prepared to share them at the appropriate time.

For I’m releasing these words to you this day,

yes, even to you, so that your living hope

will be found in God alone,

for he is the only one who is always true.

Pay attention to these excellent sayings of three-fold things.

For within my words you will discover true and reliable revelation.

They will give you serenity so that you can reveal

the truth of the word of the one who sends you.

Never oppress the poor

or pass laws with the motive of crushing the weak.

For the Lord will rise to plead their case

and humiliate the one who humiliates the poor.

Walk away from an angry man

or you’ll embrace a snare in your soul

by becoming bad-tempered just like him.

Why would you ever guarantee a loan for someone else

or promise to be responsible for his debts?

For if you fail to pay you could lose your shirt!

The previous generation has set boundaries in place.

Don’t you dare move them just to benefit yourself.

If you are uniquely gifted in your work,

you will rise and be promoted.

You won’t be held back—

you’ll stand before kings!

The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 22 (The Passion Translation)

[Psalm 22]

A Prophetic Portrait of the Cross

For the Pure and Shining One

King David’s song of anguish

To the tune of “The Deer at the Dawning of the Day”

God, my God!

Why would you abandon me now?

Why do you remain distant,

refusing to answer my tearful cries in the day

and my desperate cries for your help in the night?

I can’t stop sobbing.

Where are you, my God?

Yet I know that you are most holy; it’s indisputable.

You are God-Enthroned, surrounded with songs,

living among the shouts of praise of your princely people.

Our fathers’ faith was in you—

through the generations they trusted and believed in you

and you came through.

Every time they cried out to you in their despair,

you were faithful to deliver them;

you didn’t disappoint them.

But look at me now; I am like a woeful worm,

crushed, and I’m bleeding crimson.

I don’t even look like a man anymore.

I’ve been abused, despised, and scorned by everyone!

Mocked by their jeers, despised with their sneers,

as all the people poke fun at me, spitting their insults,

saying, “Is this the one who trusted in God?

Is this the one who claims God is pleased with him?

Now let’s see if your God will come to your rescue!

We’ll just see how much he delights in you!”

Lord, you delivered me safely from my mother’s womb.

You are the one who cared for me ever since I was a baby.

Since the day I was born, I’ve been placed in your custody.

You’ve cradled me throughout my days.

I’ve trusted in you and you’ve always been my God.

So don’t leave me now; stay close to me!

For trouble is all around me and there’s no one else to help me.

I’m surrounded by many violent foes;

mighty forces of evil are swirling around me

who want to break me to bits and destroy me.

Curses pour from their mouths!

They’re like ravenous, roaring lions tearing their prey.

Now I’m completely exhausted; I’m spent.

Every joint of my body has been pulled apart.

My courage has vanished and

my inward parts have melted away.

I’m so thirsty and parched—dry as a bone.

My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.

And now you’ve left me in the dust for dead.

They have pierced my hands and my feet.

Like a pack of wild dogs they tear at me,

swirling around me with their hatred.

They gather around me like lions to pin my hands and feet.

All my bones stick out.

Look at how they all gloat over me and stare!

With a toss of the dice they divide my clothes among themselves,

gambling for my garments!

Lord, my God, please don’t stay far away.

For you are my only might and strength.

Won’t you come quickly to my rescue?

Give me back my life.

Save me from this violent death.

Save my precious one and only

from the power of these demons!

Save me from all the power of the enemy,

from this roaring lion raging against me

and the power of his dark horde.

I will praise your name before all my brothers;

as my people gather I will praise you in their midst.

Lovers of Yahweh, praise him!

Let all the true seed of Jacob glorify him with your praises.

Stand in awe of him, all you princely people,

the offspring of Israel!

For he has not despised my cries of deep despair.

He’s my first responder to my sufferings,

and he didn’t look the other way when I was in pain.

He was there all the time, listening to the song of the afflicted.

You’re the reason for my praise; it comes from you and goes to you.

I will keep my promise to praise you before all who fear you

among the congregation of your people.

I will invite the poor and broken,

and they will come and eat until satisfied.

Bring Yahweh praise and you will find him.

Your hearts will overflow with life forever!

From the four corners of the earth,

the peoples of the world will remember and return to the Lord.

Every nation will come and worship him.

For the Lord is King of all, who takes charge of all the nations.

There they are! They’re worshiping!

The wealthy of this world will feast in fellowship with him

right alongside the humble of heart,

bowing down to the dust, forsaking their own souls.

They will all come and worship this worthy King!

His spiritual seed shall serve him.

Future generations will hear from us

about the wonders of the Sovereign Lord.

His generation yet to be born will glorify him.

And they will all declare, “It is finished!”

The Book of Psalms, Poem 22 (The Passion Translation)

[Psalm 64]

For the worship leader. A song of David.

O True God, hear my voice! Listen to my complaint!

Guard my life; keep me safe from my enemy’s threats.

Hide me from the sinful circle that conspires against me,

from the band of rebels out to make trouble,

Who sharpen their tongues into swords,

who take aim with poisonous words like arrows.

They hide in the shadows and shoot at the innocent;

they shoot at them without warning and without any fear.

They persist in their evil purpose

and plan in secret to lay their traps.

And they say, “Who will see them?”

They plot their offense with precision and say,

“Now we have the perfect crime.”

The human heart and mind are deep and complex.

But without hesitation the True God will shoot at them;

His arrow will surely wound them.

He will use their very own words to bring them to destruction;

all who see will be appalled at what happens to them.

Then everyone will fear the True God;

they will proclaim His deeds

and will reflect upon all He has done.

The righteous will delight in the Eternal

and will take shelter in Him.

All those with an honest heart will glorify Him!

The Book of Psalms, Poem 64 (The Voice)

[Psalm 85]

Mercy and Truth

For the Pure and Shining One

A prophetic song, composed by the sons of Korah

Lord, your love has poured out

so many amazing blessings on our land!

You’ve restored Jacob’s destiny from captivity.

You’ve forgiven our many sins and covered

every one of them in your love.

Pause in his presence

So now it’s obvious that your blazing anger has ended and

the furious fire of wrath has been extinguished by your mercy.

So bring us back to loving you, God our Savior.

Restore our hearts so that we’ll never again

feel your anger rise against us.

Will you forever hold a grudge?

Will your anger endure for all time?

Revive us again, O God! I know you will! Give us a fresh start!

Then all your people will taste your joy and gladness.

Pour out even more of your love on us!

Reveal more of your kindness and restore us back to you!

Now I’ll listen carefully for your voice

and wait to hear whatever you say.

Let me hear your promise of peace—

the message every one of your godly lovers longs to hear.

Don’t let us in our ignorance turn back from following you.

For I know your power and presence shines on all your lovers.

Your glory always hovers over all who bow low before you.

Your mercy and your truth have married each other.

Your righteousness and peace have kissed.

Flowers of your faithfulness are blooming on the earth.

Righteousness shines down from the sky.

Yes, the Lord keeps raining down blessing after blessing,

and prosperity will drench the land with a bountiful harvest.

For deliverance and peace are his forerunners,

preparing a path for his steps.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 85 (The Passion Translation)

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