​Key Verse
13 With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.
 
Meditation
God’s sovereign grace will not allow us to be defeated by difficulties or defined by circumstances. God’s guaranteed win welcomes us to hope in Him! God’s promised rescue must renew our rejoicing. From caves of darkness, God’s victory compels His people to join His chorus of conquest. From the depths of despair we are free to hope in the Lord and His victory.
 
Today’s Psalm is a quilt composed with fabric from Psalm 57 and Psalm 60, later lyrics for exiled Israel. David wrote Psalm 57 in a cave, hiding for his life from Saul’s pursuit. Psalm 60 was written from David’s despair, after he was betrayed by colleagues. Praise arises from the pit of both problematic circumstances, helpful orientation when Israel was exiled among the nations.
 
The heart with hope is steadfast (v. 1), secure to sing and celebrate when it appears the enemy is winning (v. 2). Hope from the heart gives thanks when it looks like the world has tanked (v. 3) and trusts in God’s faithfulness when it looks like life is failing (v. 4). When life is grimy, the steadfast and secure heart gives glory to God (v. 5) by trusting our Father to work good for His children and glory for His name (v. 6).
 
A heart with hope holds onto this handle: “With God we shall do valiantly” (v. 13). Paul puts it this way, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) Christian hope knows God will redeem all He allows, transforming difficulties into delightful testimonies by working good for us and glory for Him.
 
Today’s Reading
My heart is steadfast, O God!
    I will sing and make melody with all my being!
2 Awake, O harp and lyre!
    I will awake the dawn!
3 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
    I will sing praises to you among the nations.
4 For your steadfast love is great above the heavens;
    your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
    Let your glory be over all the earth!
6 That your beloved ones may be delivered,
    give salvation by your right hand and answer me!
7 God has promised in his holiness:
    “With exultation I will divide up Shechem
    and portion out the Valley of Succoth.
8 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;
    Ephraim is my helmet,
    Judah my scepter.
9 Moab is my washbasin;
    upon Edom I cast my shoe;
    over Philistia I shout in triumph.”
10 Who will bring me to the fortified city?
    Who will lead me to Edom?
11 Have you not rejected us, O God?
    You do not go out, O God, with our armies.
12 Oh grant us help against the foe,
    for vain is the salvation of man!
13 With God we shall do valiantly;
    it is he who will tread down our foes.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Are you defined by your circumstances and feel defeated by your difficulties? Where is your hope?
 
-Which characteristics from today’s reading that describe a heart hoping in God’s victory are the most difficult to manifest? Why?
 
-How can you hold to hope in the Lord from your heart, trusting that with Him you will do valiantly? Where do you need to apply this victory?
 
Key Verse
13 With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.

Key Verse
33 Ner was the father of Kish, Kish of Saul, Saul of Jonathan…
 
Meditation
Jesus is the key to unlock the mystery of every word, every name, and every situation of the Old Testament, helping readers see God’s redemptive purposes while providing gospel application.
 
“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he (Jesus) interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” Luke 24:27
 
Today’s reading is the genealogy of Saul, an important list of names for both Ezra’s audience returning from exile and for modern readers who encounter the narrative of Saul’s death in chapter 10 (yes, the genealogies of 1 Chronicles soon end and narrative begins). Saul was the first king of Israel (read about him in 1 Samuel), a descendent of Benjamin who was Jacob’s son through Rachel. Saul’s son Jonathan did not take his father’s throne because of Saul’s disobedience (1 Samuel 13:8-15). 
 
Saul’s rule left Israel longing for a greater king, one who was “after (God’s) own heart.” Enter David, the king to whom God promised he would forever have an heir on the throne (2 Samuel 7). Psalm 89:36-37 celebrates David’s throne existing “as long as the sun and moon,” a promise reaching back to Genesis 3:15 and pushing God’s story forward to fullness in Jesus Christ. Jesus is king David’s greater offspring who will “reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15). Jesus is the ultimate “son of David” (Matthew 1:1) whose “kingdom will have no end” (Luke 1:32-33).
 
Saul’s story, then, only makes sense when we see how Saul leads us to our Savior. Jesus is the King of Kings who chose His people for Himself.
 
Today’s Reading
Benjamin fathered Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third, 2 Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth. 3 And Bela had sons: Addar, Gera, Abihud, 4 Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, 5 Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram. 6 These are the sons of Ehud (they were heads of fathers' houses of the inhabitants of Geba, and they were carried into exile to Manahath): 7 Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera, that is, Heglam, who fathered Uzza and Ahihud.8 And Shaharaim fathered sons in the country of Moab after he had sent away Hushim and Baara his wives. 9 He fathered sons by Hodesh his wife: Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam, 10 Jeuz, Sachia, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of fathers' houses. 11 He also fathered sons by Hushim: Abitub and Elpaal. 12 The sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham, and Shemed, who built Ono and Lod with its towns, 13 and Beriah and Shema (they were heads of fathers' houses of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who caused the inhabitants of Gath to flee); 14 and Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth.15 Zebadiah, Arad, Eder, 16 Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were sons of Beriah. 17 Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber, 18 Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal. 19 Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi, 20 Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel, 21 Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei. 22 Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, 23 Abdon, Zichri, Hanan, 24 Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah, 25 Iphdeiah, and Penuel were the sons of Shashak. 26 Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, 27 Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zichri were the sons of Jeroham. 28 These were the heads of fathers' houses, according to their generations, chief men. These lived in Jerusalem.
29 Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon, and the name of his wife was Maacah. 30 His firstborn son: Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab, 31 Gedor, Ahio, Zecher, 32 and Mikloth (he fathered Shimeah). Now these also lived opposite their kinsmen in Jerusalem, with their kinsmen. 33 Ner was the father of Kish, Kish of Saul, Saul of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab and Eshbaal;34 and the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal; and Merib-baal was the father of Micah. 35 The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz.36 Ahaz fathered Jehoaddah, and Jehoaddah fathered Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri fathered Moza. 37 Moza fathered Binea; Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son. 38 Azel had six sons, and these are their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel. 39 The sons of Eshek his brother: Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third. 40 The sons of Ulam were men who were mighty warriors, bowmen, having many sons and grandsons, 150. All these were Benjaminites.
Richly Dwelling
-Why is it important to see this genealogy connecting God’s redemptive story both backwards and forwards, finding fullness in Jesus?
 
-Where do you identify with ancient Israel, ruined by unfaithful kings and longing for the true King of Kings whose rule is beneficial and restorative?
 
-What can you do, specifically, to welcome the rule of king Jesus in your life?
 
Key Verse
33 Ner was the father of Kish, Kish of Saul, Saul of Jonathan…

​Key verse
7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?
 
Meditation
Returning to God is evidenced in turning away from seeking the things of God through money. God alone provides the security, significance, status, strength, sustenance, and satisfaction for which our heart hungers. 
 
In today’s reading, Malachi promises the coming judgement of God (vv. 1-7) before highlighting two astounding realties of God: First, God does not change (therefore, Israel is not consumed- v. 6). Second, because Israel has rebelled against God, He invites them to “return” to Him (v. 7). How? Through worshipping the Lord with tithes. 
 
The Old Testament tithe honored God and was used to support Levites (Numbers 18:21), provide for the vulnerable (Deuteronomy 14:28-29), and fuel corporate celebration in God’s presence (Deuteronomy 14:23-26). Malachi’s difficult diagnosis for Israel was that they were robbing God by withholding their tithes and offerings in worship (vv. 8-9). The remedy? Return to the Lord by testing His promises, provision, and prescription for our money.
 
Malachi pleads with the people to return to God by reviving worship through giving the full tithe (vv. 8-9). God promises disproportionate generosity in response, His covenant blessings evidenced in opening the windows of Heaven and emptying Heaven’s treasure upon His people (v. 10). This promise is ultimately fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus who, though He was rich, became poor so that believers may become rich in grace and love (2 Corinthians 8:9).
 
Knowing the riches of Heaven through Jesus reveals that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35) and empowers open-handed, cheerful, worship of God through our money (Proverbs 11:25, 2 Corinthians 9:5-7).
 
 
Today’s Reading
“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.

Robbing God
6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. 7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. 12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.

13 “Your words have been hard against me, says the Lord. But you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?’ 14 You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts? 15 And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape.’”

The Book of Remembrance
16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name. 17 “They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. 18 Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from this passage in regards to restoring right worship through returning to God reflected in right giving of what He has given to us?
 
-Why is true generosity an overflow of knowing God’s grace and love?
 
-Where do you need to respond to God’s grace in Christ through demonstrating the act of grace in giving and being generous? How can you grow in the grace of giving, knowing you cannot out give God?
 
Key verse
7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?

First Things First: When we reject God's providence we seek to shrink God down to something we understand. This  breaks the second commandment, remaking God into an image we can manage by removing the mystery of His divinity. Leaders such as John Mark Comer margin out the majesty of God's timeless eternality when they address God's providence with hostility to Christian history (This article helpfully addresses Comer’s  position).  God is eternal, existing outside of time, and the reality of His providence is designed to give strength and security to saints living in a world of pain and problems. 

Providence and God
The Latin root to our English word “providence” literally means to see (vidēre, the same root word as “video”) before (pro-), simply defined as “to foresee, look ahead.” The Bible teaches that God foresees everything before, but the word “providence” applied to God means much more. “By His wise and most holy providence, according to His infallible foreknowledge and the free immutable counsel of His own will” (WCF 5.1), God preserves all of His creatures, works through all creation, and directs all things for His appointed end.  This is true for the tiniest of creatures:
 
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.” (Matthew 10:29)
 
The toughest family situations and global tragedies:
 
“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” (Genesis 50:20, Joseph speaking in a global famine, to his brothers who sold him into slavery)
 
God's providence applies to seemingly insignificant details of our life. Consider:
 
“The book of Esther, where God’s name is never mentioned, but everything from a beauty contest (Esther 2:18) to insomnia (Esther 6:1-3) serve to advance God’s purposes.” (Kevin DeYoung, Daily Doctrine, p 96)
 
God is the creator of the world, and He “upholds, directs, disposes, and governs all creatures, actions, and things” (WCF 5.1), clearly described in the Bible  as God
 
“… working all things according to the counsel of His will.” (Ephesians 1:11)

 God is not the author of evil and He cannot sin:
“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.” (James 1:13)
 
Our fallen world is spoiled by Adam’s choice to sin against God, and until Jesus returns in glory, the wicked will prosper and the saved will struggle in sanctification:
“For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” (Psalm 73:3)

“For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”  (Hebrews 10:14)
 
Mysteriously, God foresaw and allows the choice of our personal sins as well as the most detestable deeds in human history (the climax of which is the crucifixion of Jesus Christ- see Acts 4:27-30). Yet God does so without destroying the integrity of human liberty or His holy character. This means humans are responsible for our sin and that God is not the author of evil (and He cannot sin).
 
In a nutshell....
In the first Church sermon after Pentecost, Peter attributes Jesus’ crucifixion to God’s definite plan and foreknowledge while maintaining total responsibility from human choice and action:

“This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” (Acts 2:23 ).
 
This means there is mystery where we, like Joseph’s brothers, freely choose to sin against our brothers and against God… but somehow we do so according to the will of God (read Genesis 37-50). The Bible acknowledges both God's sovereign providence and human responsibility without feeling the need to bring clarity to the mystery. Seeing this reality should make human decisions MORE significant, not less. 
 
“Therefore, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” (2 Peter 1:10)

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. " (1 John 1:9)
 
Providence and God's People
All these truths stand together: God sovereignly rules every detail of life through His providence; human beings freely yet sinfully choose their own way; evil is real; and through even human sin and the brokenness of a fallen world, God works all things according to His holy and glorious purpose.

Kevin DeYoung says it well:
“God is God because He has the power to do what He wants, the wisdom to carry it out, and the sovereign authority to immutably appoint whatsoever shall come to pass.” (Kevin DeYoung, p 97). 
 
Scripture says it better:
“… for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose…” (Isaiah 46:9-10)
 
What does all of this mean for my life and leadership? (At Least) five things:

1. Worship. God is king of everything, and this should make our heart sing (Psalm 104:24).
2. God’s “providence” is “pro”- His people. God is working “all things” for the good of His people and the glory of His name (Romans 8:28-32).
3. You can (and must) have security in God and His sovereign plan, during seasons of pain and problems as well as times of plenty and prosperity. Peace, security, humility, and hope mark the person who is persuaded by God’s providence. 
4. God’s providence fuels Christian faithfulness both personally and practically. Personally, we must align our choices with God’s revealed will (Proverbs 3:5-6). Practically, we seek first God and His kingdom as we trust He will provide all we need (Matthew 6:33). All of what we do in Jesus’ name is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). Likewise, we must embrace extreme ownership for our sinful choices.
5. God has revealed the culmination of history in the consummation of His kingdom (Revelation 21-22). We know where the story is going, so we must work to bring the realities of His will for redemptive history to every moment of our life.

Key Verse
5 Not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart are you going in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations the Lord your God is driving them out from before you, and that he may confirm the word that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
 
Meditation
God is faithful to His covenant promises because of His steadfast love, not because we have earned His favor or obligated His faithfulness. Horatius Bonar captures the power of God’s covenant grace in his under celebrated hymn, “Not what my hands have done”. Bonar begins each stanza celebrating God’s covenant faithfulness by repeating, Not what my hands have done… Truly, “God has saved us not because of works done in righteousness, but according to His great mercy…” (Titus 3:5).
 
In today’s reading, Moses prepares God’s people for the Promised Land through reinforcing the ground of God’s grace on which they are to walk forward. “Do not say in your heart… it is because of my righteousness that the Lord has brought me to possess this land…” (vv. 4, 5, 6). God’s promises are not delivered because of the works of our hands but “that He may confirm the word that (He) has sworn…” (v. 5). God is faithful to His promises because God relates to His people through covenant.
 
Moses reminds Israel of the depth of their stubborn hearts through the clear example of their rebellion: making the golden calf (Exodus 32). Remarkably, the God who redeemed Israel from slavery in Egypt would not allow their rebellion in the wilderness to be the end of the story. God delivered on His promises because of HIS covenantal faithfulness, not Israel’s. Jesus puts flesh on this reality through His representative life, death, and resurrection. All who believe experience God’s covenant promises because of Jesus' work, not because of what our hands have done.
 
Today’s Reading
“Hear, O Israel: you are to cross over the Jordan today, to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than you, cities great and fortified up to heaven, 2 a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you have heard it said, ‘Who can stand before the sons of Anak?’ 3 Know therefore today that he who goes over before you as a consuming fire is the Lord your God. He will destroy them and subdue them before you. So you shall drive them out and make them perish quickly, as the Lord has promised you.

4 “Do not say in your heart, after the Lord your God has thrust them out before you, ‘It is because of my righteousness that the Lord has brought me in to possess this land,’ whereas it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is driving them out before you. 5 Not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart are you going in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations the Lord your God is driving them out from before you, and that he may confirm the word that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

6 “Know, therefore, that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people. 7 Remember and do not forget how you provoked the Lord your God to wrath in the wilderness. From the day you came out of the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against the Lord. 8 Even at Horeb you provoked the Lord to wrath, and the Lord was so angry with you that he was ready to destroy you. 9 When I went up the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant that the Lord made with you, I remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights. I neither ate bread nor drank water. 10 And the Lord gave me the two tablets of stone written with the finger of God, and on them were all the words that the Lord had spoken with you on the mountain out of the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly. 11 And at the end of forty days and forty nights the Lord gave me the two tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant. 12 Then the Lord said to me, ‘Arise, go down quickly from here, for your people whom you have brought from Egypt have acted corruptly. They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them; they have made themselves a metal image.’

The Golden Calf
13 “Furthermore, the Lord said to me, ‘I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stubborn people. 14 Let me alone, that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven. And I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than they.’ 15 So I turned and came down from the mountain, and the mountain was burning with fire. And the two tablets of the covenant were in my two hands. 16 And I looked, and behold, you had sinned against the Lord your God. You had made yourselves a golden calf. You had turned aside quickly from the way that the Lord had commanded you. 17 So I took hold of the two tablets and threw them out of my two hands and broke them before your eyes. 18 Then I lay prostrate before the Lord as before, forty days and forty nights. I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all the sin that you had committed, in doing what was evil in the sight of the Lord to provoke him to anger. 19 For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure that the Lord bore against you, so that he was ready to destroy you. But the Lord listened to me that time also. 20 And the Lord was so angry with Aaron that he was ready to destroy him. And I prayed for Aaron also at the same time. 21 Then I took the sinful thing, the calf that you had made, and burned it with fire and crushed it, grinding it very small, until it was as fine as dust. And I threw the dust of it into the brook that ran down from the mountain.

22 “At Taberah also, and at Massah and at Kibroth-hattaavah you provoked the Lord to wrath. 23 And when the Lordsent you from Kadesh-barnea, saying, ‘Go up and take possession of the land that I have given you,’ then you rebelled against the commandment of the Lord your God and did not believe him or obey his voice. 24 You have been rebellious against the Lord from the day that I knew you.

25 “So I lay prostrate before the Lord for these forty days and forty nights, because the Lord had said he would destroy you. 26 And I prayed to the Lord, ‘O Lord God, do not destroy your people and your heritage, whom you have redeemed through your greatness, whom you have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 27 Remember your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Do not regard the stubbornness of this people, or their wickedness or their sin, 28 lest the land from which you brought us say, “Because the Lord was not able to bring them into the land that he promised them, and because he hated them, he has brought them out to put them to death in the wilderness.” 29 For they are your people and your heritage, whom you brought out by your great power and by your outstretched arm.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the covenant faithfulness of God to bring His people into His promises? Why is it important to remember God allows us to enter into the fullness of His promises by His grace and His work alone?
 
-Where do you forget this in life, acting entitled to God’s promises through your performance (as if God is obligated to bless you for your obedience)?
 
-The work of Jesus alone gives us access to the promises of God through personal relationship with Him. What are good works you need to repent of, turning freshly to the work of Jesus, so the covenant grace of God can be more evident in your life and love?
 
Key Verse
5 Not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart are you going in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations the Lord your God is driving them out from before you, and that he may confirm the word that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

​Key Verse
17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
 
Meditation
My children used to ride in my arms, holding my shirt with one tiny hand and pointing direction with the other. I loved their total trust as we joyfully explored the world together. God’s grace invites you to trust His love in the same way, resting in the arms of our heavenly Father who desires to carry you through life.
 
Total trust pervades today’s reading. Jesus teaches that prayer should reflect child-like confidence in God by always praying and never giving up (vv. 1-8). Some people, however, trust in themselves for righteousness (v. 9) or their riches (vv. 18-30). Jesus declares that those who humble themselves and trust the Lord will be exalted (vv. 9-14), like the blind beggar who trusted in Jesus alone for healing and help (vv. 35-43).
 
We are invited to have faith like a child (vv. 15-17), to rest in the person and promises of our Father with whole hearted abandonment. There is peace in our Father’s arms, but there is also a problem with our hearts: We trust in other things. We cling to wealth, appearance, achievements, work, our own control, and wisdom of the age… rather than our Father.
 
As our representative, Jesus totally trusted the Father and faithfully gave Himself on our behalf. “Going to Jerusalem…” (v. 31) Jesus trusted the Father’s word, that “everything that was written… will be accomplished” (vv. 31-34). When Jesus died, He bore our penalty for misplaced trust to offer believers the promise of forgiveness, freedom, and restoration through the grace of returning to Him with faith like a child, trusting His love and work for all our life and labor. 
 
 
Today’s Reading
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man.3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Let the Children Come to Me
15 Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

The Rich Ruler
18 And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” 21 And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24 Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” 28 And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” 29 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time
31 And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32 For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. 33 And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” 34 But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.

Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar
35 As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” 42 And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.”43 And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you in today’s reading, especially the diagnosis of where your trust is placed?
 
-Where can you grow in deepening your trust in the Lord? The passage offers several categories to consider: Prayer, righteousness, money, hope, and healing. Which hits home for you?
 
-How does the faithfulness of Jesus to totally trust the Lord, and then die in the place of those of us who do not, compel you to more deeply trust the love of our Father?
 
Key Verse
17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”