​Key Verse
9 He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord!
 
Meditation
God’s infinite glory compels His people to praise Him, singing Hallelujah to the eternal One who lifts the lowly, picks up the poor, and brings blessing from barrenness.
 
Today’s psalm is bookended with “Hallelujah!” (vv. 1, 9), details God’s vast glory (above all nations and the heavens! vv. 3-4), and offers reason for praising the Lord (He looks down on the lowly, poor, and empty vv. 5-6). God’s lavish love lifts the lowly and gives life to all, so His people join the cosmic chorus of praising the Lord.
 
This psalm echoes Hannah’s song in 1 Samuel 2 , Hannah being one of six scriptural examples of God bringing blessing from barrenness: Sarai became the mother of many nations (Genesis 11:30); Rebekah (Genesis 25:21) and Rachel (Genesis 29:31) were matriarchs through whom the line of Christ came. Samson’s mother (Judges 13) and the Shunammite woman whom Elisha healed (2 Kings 4:8-44) join the list of women through whom God brought impossible life. God alone gives life. God alone brings something out of nothing. God alone looks upon the lowly, picks up the poor, and brings blessing from bareness!
 
Mary’s song celebrates the same redemptive realities (Luke 1:46-55), the bareness of her hope transformed to blessing through the Savior in her womb. Jesus is the One whose glory is over all nations and the Heavens, He who became lowly that His people may be lifted up. Jesus became poor that believers might become rich in love. Hallelujah must rise from our hearts! All His people must praise the Lord who alone brings blessing from barrenness.
 
 
Today’s Reading
Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
    praise the name of the Lord!
2 Blessed be the name of the Lord
    from this time forth and forevermore!
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting,
    the name of the Lord is to be praised!
 
4 The Lord is high above all nations,
    and his glory above the heavens!
5 Who is like the Lord our God,
    who is seated on high,
6 who looks far down
    on the heavens and the earth?

7 He raises the poor from the dust
    and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8 to make them sit with princes,
    with the princes of his people.
9 He gives the barren woman a home,
    making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord!
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you in this Psalm, especially the revelation of God’s infinite glory and the intimate ways He cares for his people? Does this increase your hope and security in the Lord’s sovereign care?
 
-God brings something out of nothing (Hebrews 11:3). Where do you need the hope of God’s sovereign care to bring life? A difficult relationship, questions about the future, addiction, family planning… Ask Jesus to lift your lowly heart and pick up your poor spirit.
 
-Take time to sing praise with this Psalm. The psalm begins and ends with, “Hallelujah!” Pause to praise God’s holy name with the lyrics from today’s reading.
 
Key Verse
9 He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord!

​Key Verse
2 In that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel.
 
Meditation
Jesus brings God’s eternal, divine realities into the everyday lives of His people.

Today’s reading continues the theme we saw in Isaiah 3: God is both Judge and Redeemer, purifying a people for Himself so they may live in His presence forever. In Isaiah 4, we meet the Messianic figure called “The Branch” (v. 2), the One through whom God will accomplish this.

“Take away our reproach!” (v. 1) is the cry of a people longing for judgment to be lifted and their circumstances transformed. God answers this longing through The Branch, the One who will display God’s mercy and steadfast love by becoming the substitute who bears the penalty for sin, restoring God’s presence to His people and producing lasting fruit in all who abide in Him.

Through The Branch, the Lord promises to “wash away” the sin of His people and “remove the bloodstains” from their midst (v. 4). Then comes the beautiful reversal: “Then the Lord will create…” (v. 5). What He removed in judgment in Isaiah 3:1, 18, He now restores in grace, renewing His people and re-establishing His protective, comforting presence among His people (vv. 5–6). Scripture later identifies this Branch as the shoot from the root of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1), a King greater than David (Jeremiah 23:5), and the Servant of the Lord (Zechariah 3:8). The Branch is the Messiah, the hope and salvation of God’s people (Jeremiah 33:15).

Jesus is The Branch, “the root and the offspring of David” (Revelation 22:16). Jesus brings God’s eternal desire to dwell with His people into our present experience. As our covenant representative and substitute, He satisfies the penalty of our sin and promises that He will never leave or forsake those who belong to Him.

Jesus ushers divine, eternal, realities into present circumstances for all His people.
 
 
Today’s Reading
​And seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying, “We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes, only let us be called by your name; take away our reproach.”

The Branch of the Lord Glorified
2 In that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel. 3 And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem, 4 when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning.5 Then the Lord will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory there will be a canopy. 6 There will be a booth for shade by day from the heat, and for a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the redeeming realities of “the Branch”?
 
-God’s love is shown in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). This is clearly an ancient plan with powerful implications for your present circumstances. Where do you need to receive this love? Who in your life needs to know this love? Pray for them and look for Divine appointments to share this love with those He puts in your path.
 
Key Verse
2 In that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel.

​Key Verse
“You are the sons of the Lord your God. You shall not cut yourselves or make any baldness on your foreheads for the dead.2 For you are a people holy to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
 
Meditation
Our deepest beliefs solidify our sense of identity. Our behaviors are rooted in our beliefs, so redeeming the fruit of our behavior begins with redeeming the root of our beliefs. 
 
Jesus Christ redeems His people and gives a new identity: Children of God. Children of God are no longer slaves but sons (Galatians 4:4-6) who receive the Spirit of God to cry out to God as our Father (Romans 8:15-17).
 
In today’s reading, Moses solidifies Israel’s identity as before he details behavioral expectation in the promised land. “You are sons of the Lord… people holy to the Lord… the Lord has chosen you to be a treasured possession…” (vv. 1-2, 21). God had chosen Israel (Deuteronomy 7:6-11) and adopted them as His son (Deuteronomy 1:31; 8:5). Israel was God’s treasured possession (Exodus 19:5) and belief in this secure identity was intended to give birth to behavior that would set them apart in the Promised Land.
 
Fruitful obedience sprouts forth from the belief that we are children of God. From Moses, Israel was to “Not eat any abomination…” (vv. 3-21) or “eat the tithe of your grain…” (v. 23). Tithing is a response to redemption and resource to reflect God’s character by providing for the sojourner, fatherless, and widow (vv. 21-29).
 
Christians are “beloved children of God” commanded to “walk in love as Christ has loved us, giving Himself for us…” (Ephesians 5:1-2). Our deepest-rooted beliefs shape the steps of our life, redeeming the fruit of our behavior to reflect God’s character and resource God’s work.
 
Today’s Reading
“You are the sons of the Lord your God. You shall not cut yourselves or make any baldness on your foreheads for the dead.2 For you are a people holy to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

3 “You shall not eat any abomination. 4 These are the animals you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, 5 the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep. 6 Every animal that parts the hoof and has the hoof cloven in two and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat. 7 Yet of those that chew the cud or have the hoof cloven you shall not eat these: the camel, the hare, and the rock badger, because they chew the cud but do not part the hoof, are unclean for you. 8 And the pig, because it parts the hoof but does not chew the cud, is unclean for you. Their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch.

9 “Of all that are in the waters you may eat these: whatever has fins and scales you may eat. 10 And whatever does not have fins and scales you shall not eat; it is unclean for you.

11 “You may eat all clean birds. 12 But these are the ones that you shall not eat: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture,13 the kite, the falcon of any kind; 14 every raven of any kind; 15 the ostrich, the nighthawk, the sea gull, the hawk of any kind; 16 the little owl and the short-eared owl, the barn owl 17 and the tawny owl, the carrion vulture and the cormorant, 18 the stork, the heron of any kind; the hoopoe and the bat. 19 And all winged insects are unclean for you; they shall not be eaten. 20 All clean winged things you may eat.

21 “You shall not eat anything that has died naturally. You may give it to the sojourner who is within your towns, that he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner. For you are a people holy to the Lord your God.
“You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk.

Tithes
22 “You shall tithe all the yield of your seed that comes from the field year by year. 23 And before the Lord your God, in the place that he will choose, to make his name dwell there, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and flock, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always. 24 And if the way is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, when the Lord your God blesses you, because the place is too far from you, which the Lord your God chooses, to set his name there, 25 then you shall turn it into money and bind up the money in your hand and go to the place that the Lord your God chooses 26 and spend the money for whatever you desire—oxen or sheep or wine or strong drink, whatever your appetite craves. And you shall eat there before the Lord your God and rejoice, you and your household. 27 And you shall not neglect the Levite who is within your towns, for he has no portion or inheritance with you.

28 “At the end of every three years you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in the same year and lay it up within your towns.29 And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.
 
Richly dwelling
-Why is it significant that Moses roots his direction to Israel in their identity?
 
-What does your behavior reveal about your deepest beliefs concerning your identity, your sense of security, and significance?
 
-How does the secure identity Jesus gives us revive our desire to delight in His ways and walk in love as He has loved us?
 
Key Verse
“You are the sons of the Lord your God. You shall not cut yourselves or make any baldness on your foreheads for the dead.2 For you are a people holy to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

Key Verse
22 A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. 
 
Meditation
The extraordinary grace of God brings true freedom to all who believe. Jesus was condemned as guilty so that sinners like you and me could be forgiven and free. Because Jesus substituted Himself in our place, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Him (Romans 8:1).
 
In today’s reading, Jesus stands accused before Pilate (vv. 1-2). Yet Pilate immediately declares, “I find no guilt in this man” (v. 4)... a verdict echoing through the chapter like sound through a canyon. Pilate repeats it two more times (vv. 14, 22), Herod confirms it (v. 15), and even the dying criminal beside Jesus confesses, “This man has done nothing wrong” (v. 41). Five times Jesus’ innocence is proclaimed, yet He is still mocked, beaten, and crucified (vv. 24-49), while guilty Barabbas walks free (vv. 18-25).
 
This is the great exchange foretold by Isaiah: the innocent Messiah bearing the sins of the guilty so the guilty might be declared righteous (Isaiah 53:4–6). Jesus, who “knew no sin,” became sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus committed no sin (1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5), yet He died as the pure and spotless Lamb for sinners (1 Peter 1:18–19).
 
We earn death through our sin, but we receive life through the death of Christ (Romans 6:23). God’s righteous anger against sin is satisfied in Jesus’ sacrifice (1 John 4:10). Through the guiltless One who took our guilt, we are reconciled to God (Colossians 1:12–14) and freed forever from condemnation.
 
Today’s Reading
Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.”3 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.”4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” 5 But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.”

Jesus Before Herod
6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. 9 So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him.11 And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. 12 And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.

13 Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15 Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. 16 I will therefore punish and release him.”

Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified
18 But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— 19 a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. 20 Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22 A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” 23 But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.

The Crucifixion
26 And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. 28 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

The Death of Jesus
44 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour,45 while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49 And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.

Jesus Is Buried
50 Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments.

On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today's reading, especially the emphasis on Jesus' guiltlessness?

-Why is it easy for you to believe but difficult for you to receive the reality that Jesus was a guiltless substitute for you, that you may be found without condemnation in Him?

-Because this is true, what difference (specifically) does this make for you?
​
Key Verse
22 A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. 

​Key Verse
38 All these, men of war, arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with a whole heart to make David king over all Israel. Likewise, all the rest of Israel were of a single mind to make David king. 
 
Meditation
The world needs Christians to respond to God’s grace with whole hearted courage to serve God’s anointed king with a single mind.
 
In today’s reading, Ezra recalls Israel’s mighty men coming to the king “with a whole heart” and a “single mind” (v. 38). He identifies Benjaminite ambidextrous marksmen (vv. 2–6), elite warriors from Gad (vv. 8–15), and loyal troops from Manasseh (vv. 19–22) among the thousands who pledged loyalty to David (vv. 23–37). These mighty men were the elite of the elite, “the least was a match for a hundred men and the greatest for a thousand” (v. 14). Together they came to “help” (vv. 1, 17, 21, 22) establish David’s kingdom.
 
God gathers leaders to serve His anointed king. The mighty men were with David in the wilderness at Ziklag (v. 1) and at coronation in Hebron (v. 38). They came together “until there was a great army, like an army of God” (v. 22). Their loyalty was anchored in God’s choosing David as king (v. 18) and their pledge to use their skills to serve king David with a single mind calls courage from Christians today.
 
Christians are not to consider how to become “mighty warriors” for God before we contemplate how to respond to God’s grace by being “whole hearted” servants of the true King called to have a “single mind” to give Jesus glory in everything. Jesus was a mighty warrior for us, the king who fought for His people by giving His life as the penalty of our sin. In view of this mercy, we must be whole hearted, single minded, servants of our King.


 
Today’s Reading
Now these are the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he could not move about freely because of Saul the son of Kish. And they were among the mighty men who helped him in war. 2 They were bowmen and could shoot arrows and sling stones with either the right or the left hand; they were Benjaminites, Saul's kinsmen. 3 The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, both sons of Shemaah of Gibeah; also Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; Beracah, Jehu of Anathoth, 4 Ishmaiah of Gibeon, a mighty man among the thirty and a leader over the thirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad of Gederah, 5 Eluzai,  Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite; 6 Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites;7 And Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

8 From the Gadites there went over to David at the stronghold in the wilderness mighty and experienced warriors, expert with shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions and who were swift as gazelles upon the mountains: 9 Ezer the chief, Obadiah second, Eliab third, 10 Mishmannah fourth, Jeremiah fifth, 11 Attai sixth, Eliel seventh, 12 Johanan eighth, Elzabad ninth, 13 Jeremiah tenth, Machbannai eleventh. 14 These Gadites were officers of the army; the least was a match for a hundred men and the greatest for a thousand. 15 These are the men who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it was overflowing all its banks, and put to flight all those in the valleys, to the east and to the west.

16 And some of the men of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David. 17 David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come to me in friendship to help me, my heart will be joined to you; but if to betray me to my adversaries, although there is no wrong in my hands, then may the God of our fathers see and rebuke you.”18 Then the Spirit clothed Amasai, chief of the thirty, and he said,

“We are yours, O David,
    and with you, O son of Jesse!
Peace, peace to you,
    and peace to your helpers!
    For your God helps you.”
Then David received them and made them officers of his troops.

19 Some of the men of Manasseh deserted to David when he came with the Philistines for the battle against Saul. (Yet he did not help them, for the rulers of the Philistines took counsel and sent him away, saying, “At peril to our heads he will desert to his master Saul.”) 20 As he went to Ziklag, these men of Manasseh deserted to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of thousands in Manasseh. 21 They helped David against the band of raiders, for they were all mighty men of valor and were commanders in the army. 22 For from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like an army of God.

23 These are the numbers of the divisions of the armed troops who came to David in Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, according to the word of the Lord.24 The men of Judah bearing shield and spear were 6,800 armed troops. 25 Of the Simeonites, mighty men of valor for war, 7,100. 26 Of the Levites 4,600. 27 The prince Jehoiada, of the house of Aaron, and with him 3,700.28 Zadok, a young man mighty in valor, and twenty-two commanders from his own fathers' house. 29 Of the Benjaminites, the kinsmen of Saul, 3,000, of whom the majority had to that point kept their allegiance to the house of Saul. 30 Of the Ephraimites 20,800, mighty men of valor, famous men in their fathers' houses. 31 Of the half-tribe of Manasseh 18,000, who were expressly named to come and make David king. 32 Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command.33 Of Zebulun 50,000 seasoned troops, equipped for battle with all the weapons of war, to help David[c] with singleness of purpose. 34 Of Naphtali 1,000 commanders with whom were 37,000 men armed with shield and spear. 35 Of the Danites 28,600 men equipped for battle. 36 Of Asher 40,000 seasoned troops ready for battle. 37 Of the Reubenites and Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh from beyond the Jordan, 120,000 men armed with all the weapons of war.

38 All these, men of war, arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with a whole heart to make David king over all Israel. Likewise, all the rest of Israel were of a single mind to make David king. 39 And they were there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their brothers had made preparation for them. 40 And also their relatives, from as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, came bringing food on donkeys and on camels and on mules and on oxen, abundant provisions of flour, cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, and wine and oil, oxen and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the warriors who whole heartily came to serve king David with one mind?
 
-Are you whole hearted in your service to King Jesus? Do you have “one mind” to glorify Him and “one mind” with others seeking to glorify Him?
 
-Jesus is the king who fights for us, the mighty man who makes eternal life possible. How, specifically, does knowing the grace of Jesus compel you to be whole hearted and single minded for Jesus?
 
Key Verse
38 All these, men of war, arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with a whole heart to make David king over all Israel. Likewise, all the rest of Israel were of a single mind to make David king.