Haggai 1

Dear RTB’ers,

Haggai. We met him last month: Now the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them. Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them, supporting them. (Ezra 5:1-2; see also Ezra 6:14.) Presumably Haggai and Zechariah were among those first exiles who returned to Jerusalem around 538 BC. You may recall that these exiles built an altar and offered sacrifices, then began rebuilding the temple – but were halted by opposition from neighboring peoples. Here’s the timeline that I posted just over a month ago:

• 537 BC, Jews return from Babylon to Jerusalem
• 536 BC, Work on the temple begun
• 536-520 BC, Opposition and work on the temple stopped
• 520 BC, Work on the temple renewed under Darius
• 516 BC, Temple completed

So, after a 16-year delay, the Lord spoke through Haggai and Zechariah and the people got back to work on the temple, finishing the work in four years. Well done!

From Haggai, Then the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?” (vv. 3-4a)

Carol and I remember our early trips to Central Europe (Poland, Czechia, Slovakia), where the interiors of peoples’ houses were nicely finished and well furnished, while the exteriors (especially the common areas) had peeling paint, litter scattered everywhere, weeds more abundant than grass. Sounds a bit like Jerusalem in 520 BC! There was little motivation under Communism to fix up those common areas – better to leave it all behind when you closed the doors to your own home. Then after 1989 when the Berlin Wall fell those peoples embraced the freedoms that they had not known before and some 20-30 years later, we have seen striking differences from what we had known earlier. Impressive!

Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD. (v. 12) Also impressive!!

So, anything lying undone in your life…??

Blessings.

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See also: September 10 (2023) / Ezra 3:1-4:5; 4:24-5:1; Haggai.

Psalm 106:34-48

Dear RTB’ers,

Today the psalmist continues his recitation of Israel’s misdeeds, covering their time in the Promised Land – first with a nod to the book of Joshua (Ps. 106:34-35), then on to Judges and I and II Kings, closing with a link to their Exile in Babylon (Ps. 106:46-47). This last verse clearly suggests that the psalmist wrote this Psalm from Babylon: Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to Your holy name and glory in Your praise. (v. 47) My Study Bible noted that no other conquering nation ever treated the Jews gently or with respect.

Finally, the psalmist closes Book 4 of the Psalms with a concluding doxology: Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the LORD! (v. 48) His praise is our praise!

Blessings.

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See also: September 30 (2022) / Psalm 106:34-48.

Psalm 106:1-33

Dear RTB’ers,

Rebellion. Today’s reading is almost a repeat from yesterday’s Psalm 105, but with more details on Israel’s sinfulness, mostly during their Wilderness wanderings.

Do you feel like you have read the following verse before? They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass. (v. 20) If so, you are probably thinking of Romans 1:22-23, Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. No doubt Paul had Psalm 106 in mind as he wrote Romans 1!

And us… How often do we recall Scripture in our daily lives? Perhaps it’s a song that we sing at church that is Scripture based, often perfectly quoted. Any little thing can trigger a verse or a passage. Think on that today. Remember the Lord as you go about your this-and-that stuff. Praise Him for all that He is and all that He does! Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever! (v. 1)

Blessings.

See also:

• September 27 (2022) / Psalm 106:1-12
• September 28 (2022) / Psalm 106:13-23
• September 29 (2022) / Psalm 106:24-33

Psalm 105

Dear RTB’ers,

The Lord speaking, “To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance.” (v. 11) Then the outcome: And He gave them the lands of the nations, and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples’ toil… (v. 44) I am not one to question the Lord; He is God, I am not. But I’ve long wondered about the “ethics” of the Israelites taking the Promised Land, in the book of Joshua. There were people living there; the Israelites did battle and conquered them and gained their houses, their livestock, their produce, and subjected the people as servants. It’s how it was back then, and in Joshua we simply read of the battles. But today’s one verse says more than I typically consider: they took possession of the fruit of the peoples’ toil…

I typically don’t spend much time thinking about the subjection of these peoples and of all that they have lived for. But today’s verse stuck out for me. How about you?

Blessings.

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See also:

• September 24 (2022) / Psalm 105:1-15
• September 25 (2022) / Psalm 105:16-36
• September 26 (2022) / Psalm 105:37-45

Psalm 104

Dear RTB’ers,

Today, a Psalm focused on God’s physical creation, much of it (as STS noted) closely related to the Genesis creation account.

I saw a major focus on water. First, the waters above became the waters below: …the waters stood above the mountains. At Your rebuke they fled; at the sound of Your thunder they took to flight. The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place that You appointed for them. (vv. 6b-8) Then he spoke of the inland waters (Ps. 104:10-13), the springs giving drink to the beasts and the birds. Those inland waters also provide nourishment for trees and ground-grown produce (Ps. 104:14-16). Finally, the psalmist mentions the seas and the animals therein (Ps. 104:25-26).

The focus on water – not surprising. We can live without food for a long time, but not without water.

The psalmist begins and ends with praise: Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty… Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD! (vv. 1, 35b) Yes, splendor and majesty – in Him and in His creation…!

Blessings.

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See also:

• September 22 (2022) / Psalm 104:1-23
• September 23 (2022) / Psalm 104:24-35

Psalm 103

Dear RTB’ers,

Today, a Psalm celebrating God’s mercy in our times of trouble and His grace in blessing us with good things. Two verses stood out for me; I could not decide between them, so I’ve included both: He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. In this first verse we see His mercy, in the second we see His love. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him. (vv. 10-11) Mercy and love – together, grace!!

Finally, Bless the LORD, all His works, in all places of His dominion. (v. 22a) This verse made me wonder how well nature knows its Creator. For example, we know that trees are alive, but at what level do they think and feel? Especially with respect to their Creator…?? I recall the story of Jesus calming the storm in our Jesus Storybook Bible, how when He spoke the wind and waves recalled His voice from when He created them. They obeyed His “Be still” command and the sea calmed. Awesome!

Blessings.

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See also:

• August 30 (2022) / Psalm 103:1-10
• August 31 (2022) / Psalm 103:11-22

Psalm 102

Dear RTB’ers,

Bastille Day!

Both STS and my Study Bible suggest that today’s Psalm 102 was written by an individual toward the end of the Exile. The “restoration of Zion” verses 13-22 confirm that for me. The earlier verses also spoke to me of a man in a deep depression, especially verse 4b, “I forget to eat my bread.”

I posted a few days ago that those of us in our later years have a responsibility to pour ourselves into our youth and young adults. Today’s verse 18 echoes that charge in a different context, to people not yet born: Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD.

I had not seen it, but my Study Bible noted that Ps. 102:25-27 is quoted by the author of Hebrews as Heb. 1:10-12, with those verses ascribed to Jesus, God’s Son. Here are those verses. Read them again, adding “Jesus” to the “You” pronouns. (i.e., “You, Jesus”: Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but You are the same, and Your years have no end.

Blessings.

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See also:

• August 28 (2022) / Psalm 102:1-17
• August 29 (2022) / Psalm 102:18-28

Psalms 99-101

Dear RTB’ers,

Three psalms today, even though STS has only two psalms on the first assignment (Psalms 99-100). We are still making up for missing four days last year. Today’s readings will be the final correction for those omissions.

Equity, justice, righteousness. (Ps. 99:4) I fear that we are far afield in our country today – and have been for many years, especially with equity and righteousness. Even justice, surprisingly, with a Supreme Court as dramatically split as the whole of the American people. I fear for God’s judgment upon this nation.

It would have been easy to post Psalm 100 in full and call it an RTB post for the day.

David’s list of characteristics of evildoers (the wicked): perverse, slanderous, haughty/arrogant, deceitful, those who fall away (the unfaithful). Anyone in your circle of friends who exhibits any of these characteristics? David says, “…no one who … (fill in the blank) … shall continue before my eyes.” (Ps. 101:7b, slightly edited) So, anyone you know…?? Time to move on…??

Blessings.

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See also:

• August 25 (2022) / Psalm 99
• August 26 (2022) / Psalm 100
• August 27 (2022) / Psalm 101

Psalms 97-98

Dear RTB’ers,

Another two psalms today… Hopefully you all have been reading the additional posts from 2022. We noted in those comments from back then that we are in the midst of eight “Kingship” psalms, a groups of psalms praising the Lord God as King of all creation. Today’s reading reminds us of that from the very first verse, the first three words, “The LORD reigns”. Then we see His majesty extolled in both psalms today as the psalmists tell us of the beauty and the power of the Lord in all creation. Yes, the Lord reigns!

I wondered yesterday, but didn’t comment on it (Ps. 96:13), what the Israelites from three millennia ago thought about the Lord’s coming: Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity. (vv. 98:8-9) What sort of a “coming” did they expect? We post-Crucifixion, post-Resurrection Christians have some idea of what to expect of Jesus’ return, but that’s in part because we have seen what He had done when He was with us, plus we had His own words describing the end times. But I wonder what those Israelites thought way back when…!

Blessings.

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See also:

• August 23 (2022) / Psalm 97
• August 24 (2022) / Psalm 98

Psalms 95-96

Dear RTB’ers,

Two Psalms today, both of which are full of praise to the Lord, our King, our Maker. In Psalm 96 the author encourages the people to speak out! Tell the world of God’s salvation, of His glory, of His kingship: Sing to the LORD, bless His name; tell of His salvation from day to day. (v. 96:2) Also verses 3 and 10, Declare His glory among the nations… and Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns…”. Jesus, Himself, gave us all the same word: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:19-20a) It’s not just His word, it’s also His command! Go…

Blessings.

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See also:

• August 21 (2022) / Psalm 95
• August 22 (2022) / Psalm 96