The Daily Bible Readings for Saturday, April 30, 2022

 

The Daily Bible Readings
Saturday, April 30, 2022
Psalm 30; Genesis 18:1-8; Luke 14:12-14
with commentaries from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible

Today’s Verse of the Day:
Ephesians 4:15

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

If as believers we all serve the one true God, then why shouldn’t His love express itself in us through unity (Eph. 4:1–16)? It really should. Therefore, “be like-minded, live in peace” (2 Cor. 13:11).

Today’s Lectionary Readings:
From the Psalter
Psalm 30
My Wailing Turns to Dancing

1 I will exalt you, Lord,
     for you lifted me out of the depths
     and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
2 Lord my God, I called to you for help,
     and you healed me.
3 You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead;
     you spared me from going down to the pit.

4 Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people;
     praise his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
     but his favor lasts a lifetime;
  weeping may stay for the night,
     but rejoicing comes in the morning.

6 When I felt secure, I said,
     “I will never be shaken.”
7 Lord, when you favored me,
     you made my royal mountain stand firm;
  but when you hid your face,
     I was dismayed.

8 To you, Lord, I called;
     to the Lord I cried for mercy:
9 “What is gained if I am silenced,
     if I go down to the pit?
  Will the dust praise you?
     Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
10 Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me;
      Lord, be my help.”

11 You turned my wailing into dancing;
      you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
      Lord my God, I will praise you forever.

Commentary

Praise to God for deliverance (vv. 1-5); Others encouraged by his example (vv. 6-12).

Verses 1-5: The great things the Lord has done for us, both by his providence and by his grace, bind us in gratitude to do all we can to advance his kingdom among men, though the most we can do is but little. God's saints in heaven sing to him; why should not those on earth do the same? Not one of all God's perfections carries in it more terror to the wicked, or more comfort to the godly, than his holiness. It is a good sign that we are in some measure partakers of his holiness, if we can heartily rejoice at the remembrance of it. Our happiness is bound up in the Divine favor; if we have that, we have enough, whatever else we want; but as long as God's anger continues, so long the saints' weeping continues.

Verses 6-12: When things are well with us, we are very apt to think that they will always be so. When we see our mistake, it becomes us to think with shame upon our carnal security as our folly. If God hide his face, a good man is troubled, though no other calamity befall him. But if God, in wisdom and justice, turn from us, it will be the greatest folly if we turn from him. No; let us learn to pray in the dark. The sanctified spirit, which returns to God, shall praise him, shall be still praising him; but the services of God's house cannot be performed by the dust; it cannot praise him; there is none of that device or working in the grave, for it is the land of silence. We ask aright for life, when we do so that we may live to praise him. In due time God delivered the psalmist out of his troubles. Our tongue is our glory, and never more so than when employed in praising God. He would persevere to the end in praise, hoping that he should shortly be where this would be the everlasting work. But let all beware of carnal security. Neither outward prosperity, nor inward peace, here, are sure and lasting. The Lord, in his favor, has fixed the believer's safety firm as the deep-rooted mountains, but he must expect to meet with temptations and afflictions. When we grow careless, we fall into sin, the Lord hides his face, our comforts droop, and troubles assail us.

From the Pentateuch
Genesis 18:1-8
Abraham and Sarah’s Hospitality to the Lord

18:1 The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.

3 He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.”

“Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.”

6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.”

7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.

Commentary

The Lord appears to Abraham.

Abraham was waiting to entertain any weary traveler, for inns were not to be met with as among us. While Abraham was thus sitting, he saw three men coming. These were three heavenly beings in human bodies. Some think they were all created angels; others, that one of them was the Son of God, the Angel of the covenant. Washing the feet is customary in those hot climates, where only sandals are worn. We should not be forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares (Heb. 13:2); nay, the Lord of angels himself; as we always do, when for his sake we entertain the least of his brethren. Cheerful and obliging manners in showing kindness, are great ornaments to piety. Though our condescending Lord vouchsafes not personal visits to us, yet still by his Spirit he stands at the door and knocks; when we are inclined to open, he deigns to enter; and by his gracious consolations he provides a rich feast, of which we partake with him (Rev. 3:20).

From the Gospels
Luke 14:12-14
Welcome Those in Need to Your Table

14:12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Commentary

Christ teaches humility.

Our Savior here teaches, that works of charity are better than works of show. But our Lord did not mean that a proud and unbelieving liberality should be rewarded, but that his precept of doing good to the poor and afflicted should be observed from love to him.

Today’s Lectionary Readings are selected from the Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, a three-year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year C. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2022, we will be in Year A. The year which ended at Advent 2021 was Year B. 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 Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel lessons are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Commentaries from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible.