The Daily Readings
MONDAY, October 26, 2020
Psalm 119:41-48; Numbers 33:38-39; James 2:8-13
The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)
Today’s Verse-of-the-Day:
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.The word inspired means that Scripture was God-breathed. Throughout history, the Lord chose faithful individuals to communicate His message to the world. Through them, He gave us His Word as an instruction book to guide our lives and as an immoveable anchor to hold us steady in times of storm. The Bible is the final authority for our faith and what we believe, which God reveals to us through His Holy Spirit.
God gave us His Word for an important reason: our spiritual growth. The Holy Spirit works through Scripture to rebuke and correct us when we sin, to train us in righteousness, to equip us to do His will, and to grow us into His image so that we can become His effective ambassadors for the gospel.
Today’s Readings:
Psalm 119:41-48
I will keep God’s law
41 Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation, according to thy word.Commentary
42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.
43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.
44 So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.
45 And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.
46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.
47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.
48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.
Lord, I have by faith thy mercies in view; let me by prayer prevail to obtain them. And when the salvation of the saints is completed, it will plainly appear that it was not in vain to trust in God's word. We need to pray that we may never be afraid or ashamed to own God's truths and ways before men. And the psalmist resolves to keep God's law, in a constant course of obedience, without backsliding. The service of sin is slavery; the service of God is liberty. There is no full happiness or perfect liberty, but in keeping God's law. We must never be ashamed or afraid to own our religion. The more delight we take in the service of God, the nearer we come to perfection. Not only consent to his law as good but take pleasure in it as good for us. Let me put forth all the strength I have to do it. Something of this mind of Christ is in every true disciple.
Numbers 33:38-39
Death of Aaron
33:38 And Aaron the priest went up into mount Hor at the commandment of the Lord, and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the first day of the fifth month.Commentary
39 And Aaron was an hundred and twenty and three years old when he died in mount Hor.
Unexpectedly, the staging area of Mount Hor is singled out for special mention. It becomes the setting for a memorial notice to Aaron, the high priest, brother of Moses, who died here at the age of 123. Not only is his age given, but so is the date: the first day of the fifth month of the fortieth year. This is the second date in the list (the first being the date of their leaving Rameses on the fifteenth day of the first month of the first year). This means that the journeying from Tanis/Rameses to Mount Hor completes the forty years of desert wanderings.
The death of Aaron marks a pivotal date in the history of Israel. His death is regarded as having an atoning effect. Aaron was three years older than Moses. His great age was a mark of God's blessing in his life. By the mercy of the Lord, his time was extended to the very last year of Israel's desert experience, though his own sin kept him from living into the time of the conquest of the land.
The second notice given with respect to Israel's time at the staging area of Mount Hor is word concerning the king of Arad. Even the king who dwelled in the Negev of the land of Canaan knew of the coming of the people of Israel; the reference is to the story of 21:1-3, the first of Israel's victories on the military field—a promise for a new generation being different from their fathers.
2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:Commentary
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
James warned Jewish believers that if they renounced Christ, they would once again be enslaved by the law, which had no true power in their lives. Even if they kept every command, they could not rid themselves of the sins they had already committed. This is true for us. We can never be “good enough” to earn salvation or the grace that God gives so freely. We are either completely obedient to God by accepting Christ—who fulfills the law completely—or we are disobedient. We cannot have it both ways.
The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel lessons are from The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV).
The Daily Bible Readings are selected from the Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, a three-year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year A. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2020, we will be in Year B. The year which ended at Advent 2019 was Year C. These readings complement the Sunday and festival readings: Thursday through Saturday readings help prepare the reader for the Sunday ahead; Monday through Wednesday readings help the reader reflect and digest what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
The Daily Readings for MONDAY, October 26, 2020
Psalm 119:41-48; Numbers 33:38-39; James 2:8-13 (KJV)
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