I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
Personal Instructions9 Do your best to come to me soon. 10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. 12 Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15 Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. 16 At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.20 Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. 21 Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers.
22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.
 
Meditation
Paul’s last words recorded in Scripture challenge the Church to persevere by pressing in to fellowship. We love celebrating new beginnings in Christ! We also need to seek after and celebrate finishing well for Christ. God’s grace invites us to discern how we faithfully finish the race marked out for us.
 
“The time of my departure has come,” writes Paul (6). “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (7). Paul was preparing to meet Jesus face to face, to receive his reward for stewarding his life and labor for his Savior (8). God’s grace sustained Paul. God’s people remain Paul’s priority.
 
Individually Paul wants a man he has discipled to fulfill the ministry to which Christ has called him (5). Paul admonishes Timothy to use the gifts of grace given by Christ, to preach the word, teach, and shepherd (1-4). The priority for Timothy is accompanied with a challenge- There will be resistance to the authority of God’s word. As Paul has endured in ministry so must Timothy.
 
Corporately Paul presses into the Church and prioritizes mutual participation. Paul is writing his final letter and asks to receive people to encourage him and practical items like books and a cloak. Paul gives a timeline- “Do your best to come before winter” (21). Even as Paul is passing, he continues to press into the Church.
 
Perseverance is not a solo activity. We need people to pour into and people to pour into us. We need one another to persevere and finish well.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Are you surprised by seeing Paul’s priority to press into God’s people even as he is preparing to die?
 
-Why do we need one another to persevere in our faith?
 
-How can you respond to God’s grace by pressing into discipling relationships marked with reciprocity and mutual participation?
 
Key Verse
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

​Woe is me! For I have become
    as when the summer fruit has been gathered,
    as when the grapes have been gleaned:
there is no cluster to eat,
    no first-ripe fig that my soul desires.
2 The godly has perished from the earth,
    and there is no one upright among mankind;
they all lie in wait for blood,
    and each hunts the other with a net.
3 Their hands are on what is evil, to do it well;
    the prince and the judge ask for a bribe,
and the great man utters the evil desire of his soul;
    thus they weave it together.
4 The best of them is like a brier,
    the most upright of them a thorn hedge.
The day of your watchmen, of your punishment, has come;
    now their confusion is at hand.
5 Put no trust in a neighbor;
    have no confidence in a friend;
guard the doors of your mouth
    from her who lies in your arms;
6 for the son treats the father with contempt,
    the daughter rises up against her mother,
the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
    a man's enemies are the men of his own house.
7 But as for me, I will look to the Lord;
    I will wait for the God of my salvation;
    my God will hear me.
8 Rejoice not over me, O my enemy;
    when I fall, I shall rise;
when I sit in darkness,
    the Lord will be a light to me.

9 I will bear the indignation of the Lord
    because I have sinned against him,
until he pleads my cause
    and executes judgment for me.
He will bring me out to the light;
    I shall look upon his vindication.
10 Then my enemy will see,
    and shame will cover her who said to me,
    “Where is the Lord your God?”
My eyes will look upon her;
    now she will be trampled down
    like the mire of the streets.
11 A day for the building of your walls!
    In that day the boundary shall be far extended.
12 In that day they will come to you,
    from Assyria and the cities of Egypt,
and from Egypt to the River,
    from sea to sea and from mountain to mountain.
13 But the earth will be desolate
    because of its inhabitants,
    for the fruit of their deeds.
 
14 Shepherd your people with your staff,
    the flock of your inheritance,
who dwell alone in a forest
    in the midst of a garden land;
let them graze in Bashan and Gilead
    as in the days of old.
15 As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt,
    I will show them[e] marvelous things.
16 The nations shall see and be ashamed of all their might;
they shall lay their hands on their mouths;
    their ears shall be deaf;
17 they shall lick the dust like a serpent,
    like the crawling things of the earth;
they shall come trembling out of their strongholds;
    they shall turn in dread to the Lord our God,
    and they shall be in fear of you.
God's Steadfast Love and Compassion
18 Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity
    and passing over transgression
    for the remnant of his inheritance?
He does not retain his anger forever,
    because he delights in steadfast love.
19 He will again have compassion on us;
    he will tread our iniquities underfoot.
You will cast all our sins
    into the depths of the sea.
20 You will show faithfulness to Jacob
    and steadfast love to Abraham,
as you have sworn to our fathers
    from the days of old.
 
Meditation
The steadfast love of the Lord will triumph. God will have compassion and His promises will prevail. Jesus has established victory. Jesus will come again to fully apply His victory.
 
This case against Israel, to explain the coming judgement (6:1-7:7), laments the loss of godliness (1-2), the total elimination of moral standards in society (3-4), and the loss of trust in everyone and everything (5-6). The only hope we have is to “look to the Lord” and “wait for the God of (our) salvation” (7).
 
The salvation of God is comprehensive. Light will overcome darkness, enemies will be defeated and God’s people vindicated (9-13). God Himself will shepherd the salvation and display His mighty acts as He did in the exodus from Egypt, subduing nations to worship and serve the Lord (14-17). With the cosmic display of sovereign grace God will extend His steadfast love by pardoning iniquity, showing compassion, removing sin, and fulfilling His covenant promises (18-20).
 
This chapter is a bright light of hope during dark days. The enemies of God will not prevail- they will be subdued and submit to serve the Lord. Darkness will not endure. Light will come and love will illuminate. Shame for sin, and judgement for breaking God’s law is not the final word. God gives forgiveness and new life, a chance to begin again for all who hope in Him!
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you about God’s case for judgement in verses 1-6?
 
-What stands out to you about God’s promised salvation in verses 7-20? Where do these promises fuel your faith and hope?
 
-Christ is the only one we can look to for salvation and the hope of our hearts to experience the covenant blessings of God. Which of the promises of salvation that He fulfills can you apply to your life and labor? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
19 He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.

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!
 
 
Meditation
God’s sovereign grace compels us to worship Him for His infinite and intimate care. Hallelujah to the Lord who lifts the lowly, picks up the poor, and brings blessing from barrenness!
 
God rules over all nations and all the universe (4). God is enthroned on high but looks down on the lowly, poor, and empty (5-6). God’s lavish love lifts up and gives life.
 
This psalm echoes Hannah’s song in 1 Samuel 2. Barren Hannah is 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 celebrating God’s salvation celebrates the same redemptive realities (Luke 1:46-55). God’s infinite rule over all nations and all the universe is demonstrated in Him becoming lowly and poor through the empty womb of Mary. Jesus lived to be lifted up on the cross so all who trust Him can be lifted to new life. By the Spirit Jesus was lifted out of the grave so the poor in spirit can be picked up to live a newness of life.
 
Hallelujah to the One who lifts the lowly and brings blessing from barrenness!
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you in this Psalm about the revelation of the infinite and intimate rule of God? 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!

The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, 2 to whom the word of the Lord came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. 3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, and until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the captivity of Jerusalem in the fifth month.
The Call of Jeremiah4 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” 7 But the Lord said to me,
“Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’;
for to all to whom I send you, you shall go,
and whatever I command you, you shall speak.
8 Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you,
declares the Lord.”
9 Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me,
“Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.
10 See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms,
to pluck up and to break down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant.”
11 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see an almond branch.” 12 Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.”
13 The word of the Lord came to me a second time, saying, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a boiling pot, facing away from the north.” 14 Then the Lord said to me, “Out of the north disaster[b]shall be let loose upon all the inhabitants of the land. 15 For behold, I am calling all the tribes of the kingdoms of the north, declares the Lord, and they shall come, and every one shall set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all its walls all around and against all the cities of Judah. 16 And I will declare my judgments against them, for all their evil in forsaking me. They have made offerings to other gods and worshiped the works of their own hands. 17 But you, dress yourself for work; arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them. 18 And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the Lord, to deliver you.”
 
Meditation
God wants you to understand your call through the finished work of Jesus. Every Christian is primarily called to Christ. By implication we all have a call to participate in God’s work of redemptive restoration in the world.
 
Jeremiah was called as a youth (5-6), appointed to be “a prophet to the nations.” From a nowhere town a few miles northeast of Jerusalem called “Anathoth” (1-2), Jeremiah considered himself no one worthy to communicate God’s word. God’s call was greater than circumstances and insecurities.
 
God chose Jeremiah and commanded him to not disqualify himself or be afraid (6-8). The one whom God calls He will empower with His presence and provision. God prepared Jeremiah to proclaim God’s infinite rule over the kings and kingdoms of the world.
 
God’s promised care (8) gave confidence for God’s commission (9-10). God would give the word and God would do the work. As Paul told Timothy, “The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24).
 
God’s confirmation came through two test visions, one of an almond branch and another of a boiling pot (11-19). The consequence of the confirmation was the command for Jeremiah to “dress for work, arise, and say to them everything that I command you… to not be dismayed for…I am with you,’ declares the Lord” (17-19).
 
God promises to care for the one He calls, consecrates, and commissions. God is faithful! Let’s get dressed for work.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Do you trust God’s care in the call He has on your life? Why or why not?
 
-How does the detail of God’s call to Jeremiah give you confidence in the call He has on your life?
 
-Take time to choose a verse from Scripture that reminds you of God’s faithfulness as you seek to glorify Him?  Write it down and put it somewhere you see it regularly.
 
Key Verse
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Gath and its villages out of the hand of the Philistines.
2 And he defeated Moab, and the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute.
3 David also defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah-Hamath, as he went to set up his monument at the river Euphrates. 4 And David took from him 1,000 chariots, 7,000 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. And David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but left enough for 100 chariots. 5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 men of the Syrians. 6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus, and the Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.7 And David took the shields of gold that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 And from Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a large amount of bronze. With it Solomon made the bronze sea and the pillars and the vessels of bronze.
9 When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadezer, king of Zobah, 10 he sent his son Hadoram to King David, to ask about his health and to bless him because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him; for Hadadezer had often been at war with Tou. And he sent all sorts of articles of gold, of silver, and of bronze. 11 These also King David dedicated to the Lord, together with the silver and gold that he had carried off from all the nations, from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek.
12 And Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, killed 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 13 Then he put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David's servants. And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.
David's Administration14 So David reigned over all Israel, and he administered justice and equity to all his people. 15 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 16 and Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests; and Shavsha was secretary; 17 and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were the chief officials in the service of the king.
 
Meditation
God’s sovereign grace invites you to live from His sure victory.
 
God promised David he would subdue all of his enemies (17:10). God fulfilled his promise by giving David victory in every direction and over every enemy he fought. “The Lord gave David victory wherever he went” (6).
 
David and his army lived from victory, taking plunder from every enemy God subdued. David took territory, weaponry, chariots, and wealth. David’s victory brought peace along with the bounty, both of which would be utilized by Solomon to build God’s temple (8). All David plundered he placed before the Lord and committed to God’s kingdom (11).
 
God was faithful to fulfill his promise to David to subdue his enemies. God was also faithful to fulfill His other promises to David, too, especially the promise of an eternal ruler who would come from David’s lineage (17:14-16). Jesus is David’s greater offspring who is the fullness of God’s promise and He offers a complete victory for Christians to live from.
 
The rule of King Jesus will extend to include every enemy being put under His feet, the last enemy being death (1 Corinthians 15:24-26). The sure victory of Jesus includes the triumph of Jesus extending to crush Satan (Romans 16:20), sin, sickness, and sorrow (Revelation 21).
 
God’s sovereign grace invites you to live from His sure victory. In Christ we have nothing to fear and we can use all that He has given us to build His Kingdom.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Do you live from the victory of God? Why or why not?
 
-How does God’s proven faithfulness fuel faith, hope, confidence, and love?
 
-What are three specific ways you can live victoriously in Christ?
 
Key Verse
And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil from beaten olives for the lamp, that a light may be kept burning regularly. 3 Outside the veil of the testimony, in the tent of meeting, Aaron shall arrange it from evening to morning before the Lord regularly. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. 4 He shall arrange the lamps on the lampstand of pure gold before the Lord regularly.
Bread for the Tabernacle5 “You shall take fine flour and bake twelve loaves from it; two tenths of an ephah[b] shall be in each loaf. 6 And you shall set them in two piles, six in a pile, on the table of pure gold[c] before the Lord. 7 And you shall put pure frankincense on each pile, that it may go with the bread as a memorial portion as a food offering to the Lord. 8 Every Sabbath day Aaron shall arrange it before the Lord regularly; it is from the people of Israel as a covenant forever.9 And it shall be for Aaron and his sons, and they shall eat it in a holy place, since it is for him a most holy portion out of the Lord's food offerings, a perpetual due.”
Punishment for Blasphemy10 Now an Israelite woman's son, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the people of Israel. And the Israelite woman's son and a man of Israel fought in the camp, 11 and the Israelite woman's son blasphemed the Name, and cursed. Then they brought him to Moses. His mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan. 12 And they put him in custody, till the will of the Lord should be clear to them.
13 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 14 “Bring out of the camp the one who cursed, and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him. 15 And speak to the people of Israel, saying, Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. 16 Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.
An Eye for an Eye17 “Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death.18 Whoever takes an animal's life shall make it good, life for life. 19 If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him,20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him. 21 Whoever kills an animal shall make it good, and whoever kills a person shall be put to death. 22 You shall have the same rule for the sojourner and for the native, for I am the Lord your God.” 23 So Moses spoke to the people of Israel, and they brought out of the camp the one who had cursed and stoned him with stones. Thus the people of Israel did as the Lord commanded Moses.
 
Meditation
God gives grace to restore His presence with His people. And we ALL need the grace of God offered through the finished work of Jesus!
 
God’s passion for presence in personal relationship is reinforced in verses 1-9, summarized by saying “When the lamp is lit, incense ignited, and bread is on the table then someone is home.” The someone is the Lord who longs to be present with His people.
 
How can a holy God be present with an unholy people? Grace alone. We all need Jesus!
 
The narrative is difficult, a son killed for taking the Lord’s name in vain (10-16). The principles of justice are more familiar but equally difficult to grasp (17-23). The modern reader is left wondering… How is this revelation of God consistent with what we read in the New Testament?
 
Jesus quotes this section in Matthew 5:38-42 illustrating the highest interpretation of the law: Love, not retaliation, is the mark of a righteous person. But where do we see love in the killing of a son (10-14)? The cross of Christ.
 
Leviticus is establishing a judicial precedent for God’s people living in a theocracy, illustrating the truth Romans 3:23 teaches, that the wages of sin is death. The cross is judicial satisfaction, God’s love for the lost demonstrated in paying the penalty our sin deserves. By the grace of God offered through the death of the Son of God we are free to come home to the Father’s love, restored in presence and personal relationship with our God.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you about the tie of today’s reading to the work of Christ, grace giving ground for restored presence with God?
 
-How does the judicial precedent laid out in this Scripture and the judicial satisfaction through Christ drive home the grace of God?
 
-Where can you grow to be more intentional in celebrating the grace of God in Christ, rejoicing in the presence of your redeemer? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
15 And speak to the people of Israel, saying, Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin.