Today’s Reading: Lam 4:1–5:22, Rom 16:1–27, Prov 31:10–31

Today’s Theme: Doxology

Today, with every passage commented on, we give a closing praise (doxology, just like the end of Romans) to God, for the year that has passed and we look forward to 2017. We learn small but important lessons along the way which will position us well, to be used to the glory of God in the New Year.

I want to take a moment now to thank God for the privilege of serving Him, by commenting each day of 2016 on the word of God according to our daily bible reading plan, which takes us through the entire bible each year.

I want to especially thank Michael Hosannah and Aimee Grippman who have both worked faithfully on alternate weeks to proof read, edit and enhance the daily notes, to improve this resource for everyone.

I also want to thank Pastor Dennis for asking us to do this. We hope that through these notes you have been encouraged, strengthened, enlightened and empowered.

This is the final daily reading notes in the current series and in this format. Every word has been written to the glory of God and for the joy and building up of the Church. May you continue to grow in Jesus as you read, think about, study and apply the word of God in the new year.

Live for Him, with everything!

Lamentations 4:1–5:22

The Lord reigns

But you, O Lord, reign forever; your throne endures to all generations.(Lamentations 5:19, ESV)

As this year ends, we say yes Lord, You are both sovereign and good, reign in our lives, we bless Your name now and forever.

Restore us o Lord

Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old—(Lamentations 5:21, ESV)

Jeremiah appeals to God for restoration. Let us consider this prayer for our own lives as we contemplate the close of this year and entering a brand new year tomorrow.

Romans 16:1–27

Work together

Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,(Romans 16:3, ESV)

This is a husband and wife team (Aquila was a common Roman name for a man). As we enter the new year, let us consider how we can work together and support one another like this great example of a husband and wife working together to the glory of God.

Avoid some people

I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.(Romans 16:17, ESV)

We should avoid those seeking to cause division and those seeking to go contrary to the teaching of the Gospel. Let us remain in unity around the truth of the gospel of God, which is what we have read about during this month, in the letter to the Romans.

Don’t serve yourself

For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.(Romans 16:18, ESV)

Lord, keep us from the trap of serving ourselves as we enter the new year, help us to serve and honour each other to the glory of Your name.

Crush Satan

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.(Romans 16:20, ESV)

It is not us, but God who crushes Satan under our feet. So be filled with God in the new year, the one who crushes Satan by the great victory He has won in Christ.

We look forward to the final crushing of Satan under the feet of God’s people, which will be accomplished at the second coming of Christ, where Satan will be finished off, to the glory of God and the joy of all peoples.

God is able

Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages(Romans 16:25, ESV)

Thank you Lord that You are able to strengthen us. Stand on this truth as we enter the new year, you do not cross over in your own strength, but with Our God who is able to strengthen you according to the great promises of the gospel of God.

Obedient faith

but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—(Romans 16:26, ESV)

Lord, thank you for the revelation of the Gospel so that we can come to not just faith, but obedient faith.

May 2017 be marked by our obedience to the Gospel’s call.

Proverbs 31:10–31

Be productive

She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.(Proverbs 31:24, ESV)

The wife can certainly help bring in money for the household. Again, like we see earlier with the husband and wife team, the bible was teaching godly equality, while the surrounding cultures and religions saw women as lower class citizens.

As the bride of Christ we can take a lesson from this, that we should be productive and fruitful. May this be the case for each of us, individually and collectively in 2017.

Build up the home

She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.(Proverbs 31:27, ESV)

Just because a woman can help to bring in money, it does not change the fact that the home is her domain and responsibility in God’s design for the family and society.

Again as believers, we learn from this that we must not be idle but look well to the ways of the Bridegroom’s house, the church. Let us work together in ministry, with care, love, vigour and joy, to the glory of God, throughout 2017.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on Romans 16

Today’s Reading: Lam 3:1–66, Rom 15:22–33, Prov 31:1–9

Today’s Theme: Strive in Prayer

Today there is a general theme of prayer.

We learn that prayer is not automatic as if God had no personality or choice in either hearing our prayers or in the way He answers. Other religions see God as a force to be tapped into with no power of choice or essence of person to refuse our requests, which is not the biblical picture of God.

We also learn about God graciously taking up our case and the call for us to strive in prayer with our leaders.

We should always pray that God’s will be done regardless of our own requests or plans.

The final lesson is that the temporary escape from problems through drink, is of no benefit, and in keeping with our theme, we should bring our cares to God in prayer.

Lamentations 3:1–66

The steadfast love of the Lord

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.(Lamentations 3:22–23, ESV)

This is where that wonderful hymn ‘the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases…’ is taken from.

We should consider this truth and rejoice in it, that God’s steadfast love never ends and He shows us new mercy every morning, which should fill our hearts with joy and assurance in His love.

Prayers are not automatic

you have wrapped yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can pass through.(Lamentations 3:44, ESV)

We must not presume on God hearing anyone’s prayers, God actively chooses to ignore some prayers if they are said in hypocrisy, for example. God is personally active and voluntarily involved in the hearing and answering of each individual prayer made to Him.

God has taken up our case

“You have taken up my cause, O Lord; you have redeemed my life.(Lamentations 3:58, ESV)

Lord, thank you for taking up our case, fighting for us and paying the price to redeem us.

Romans 15:22–33

Strive in prayer

I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,(Romans 15:30, ESV)

There must be striving and purpose in our prayers for our leaders, that God would hear and answer our prayers and take up our case.

By God’s will

so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.(Romans 15:32, ESV)

We should always say by God’s will, we make our plans and set about to work, praying the Lord’s will be done. This is an important element of our general prayers that Jesus taught us and we must not forget it.

Proverbs 31:1–9

Escaping does not help

let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.(Proverbs 31:7, ESV)

The purpose of wine and strong drink… no thanks, escaping is not the answer!

Earlier in this passage we read that a King should not drink wine and strong drink so that they can always use good judgement.

Instead of escaping with drink, bring your requests to God in prayer.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Romans 15

Today’s Reading: Lam 1:1–2:22, Rom 15:8–21, Prov 30:1–33

Today’s Theme: Christ our Hope

Jesus is the great hope of Israel and the nations of the world, He is the one who was promised and has come to confirm God’s word and make good on God’s promises. We can have true hope in Jesus, He is the only way to salvation, joy and peace.

Lamentations 1:1–2:22

Consider the future

Her uncleanness was in her skirts; she took no thought of her future; therefore her fall is terrible; she has no comforter. “O Lord, behold my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed!”(Lamentations 1:9, ESV)

Lord, help us to always consider our future in everything we do. What we do today has an effect on what happens tomorrow. You cannot sin and win.

The yoke of sin

“My transgressions were bound into a yoke; by his hand they were fastened together; they were set upon my neck; he caused my strength to fail; the Lord gave me into the hands of those whom I cannot withstand.(Lamentations 1:14, ESV)

Our own transgressions become a yoke around our neck and go on to be our conqueror and slave master. This is why we thank God for the freedom from sin found in the cross.

Don’t rebel against God’s word

“The Lord is in the right, for I have rebelled against his word; but hear, all you peoples, and see my suffering; my young women and my young men have gone into captivity.(Lamentations 1:18, ESV)

The Lord is right to Judge those who stand against His word. The lesson is clear, don’t resist but accept and uphold God’s word.

The word restores

Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions; they have not exposed your iniquity to restore your fortunes, but have seen for you oracles that are false and misleading.(Lamentations 2:14, ESV)

When we expose ourselves to the Word of God, we can be restored.

Romans 15:8–21

Actual promise confirmed

For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,(Romans 15:8, ESV)

The promises made to the Hebrew Patriarchs was not some mystical, allegorical promise, these were actual promises given by God and fulfilled in Jesus.

God confirms His word

and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.”(Romans 15:9, ESV)

When we as Gentiles see that God fulfilled His word to the Jews, we are comforted that He will confirm His word for us too, and glorify Him for His mercy.

The hope of the nations

And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.”(Romans 15:12, ESV)

This and the previous three promises show where God’s plan and heart has always been concerning the nations of the world. Jesus is the hope of the nations as well as the hope of Israel.

Abound in hope

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.(Romans 15:13, ESV)

In order for us to abound in hope we must be filled with Joy and Peace in our faith, how can we have hope if we are miserable?… Rejoice.

The Holy Spirit at work

For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;(Romans 15:18–19, ESV)

Paul had a full ministry that went beyond words, it was marked by deeds and the power of the Holy Spirit at work.

A holy ambition

and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation,(Romans 15:20, ESV)

This is a holy ambition, to reach the unreached with the gospel of God.

Proverbs 30:1–33

God our shield

Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.(Proverbs 30:5, ESV)

He is not a shield to everyone, just to those who take refuge in Him.

Don’t add to the bible

Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.(Proverbs 30:6, ESV)

This applies to what God is saying in the bible too, there are traditions and translations that add the apocryphal books to the bible, which is adding to God’s word, which is a sin.

We see those who try to change and reinterpret the word of God today, in the so called liberal movement. They have done away with miracles, do not believe that Jesus is the son of God or that salvation is needed, they believe the bible is just the words of men and not the divinely inspired and inerrant word of God.

We stand against these lies and attacks of the enemy and affirm that God has divinely inspired and preserved His holy word. We cover this in The Gospel video made by WWMF Media, where we demonstrate that no other ancient book has anywhere near as many close to original manuscripts to rely on as the bible does.

Give and give

The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. Three things are never satisfied; four never say, “Enough”:(Proverbs 30:15, ESV)

This seems to be the spirit of the age we are in now, it is the insatiable greed of capitalism and materialism. We are instead called to lives of contentment and generosity.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on Romans 15