The Daily Bible Readings for Saturday, May 14, 2022

 

The Daily Bible Readings
Saturday, May 14, 2022
Psalm 148; Daniel 7:27; Revelation 11:16-19
with commentaries from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible

Today’s Verse of the Day:
Psalm 139:13-14

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

John faithfully fulfilled the calling given to him even before his birth, which was announced by the angel Gabriel to his father Zacharias (Luke 1:11–19). Likewise, God created you for a very special purpose. Even before you were born, He had great plans for you as well (Ps. 139:13–16; Eph. 2:10).

Today’s Lectionary Readings:
From the Psalter
Psalm 148
God’s Splendor is Over Earth and Heaven

1 Praise the Lord.

  Praise the Lord from the heavens;
     praise him in the heights above.
2 Praise him, all his angels;
     praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
3 Praise him, sun and moon;
     praise him, all you shining stars.
4 Praise him, you highest heavens
     and you waters above the skies.

5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
     for at his command they were created,
6 and he established them for ever and ever—
     he issued a decree that will never pass away.

7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
     you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
8 lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
     stormy winds that do his bidding,
9 you mountains and all hills,
     fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals and all cattle,
      small creatures and flying birds,
11 kings of the earth and all nations,
      you princes and all rulers on earth,
12 young men and women,
      old men and children.

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
      for his name alone is exalted;
      his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
14 And he has raised up for his people a horn,
      the praise of all his faithful servants,
      of Israel, the people close to his heart.

Commentary

The creatures placed in the upper world called on to praise the Lord (vv. 1-6); Also the creatures of this lower world, especially his own people (vv. 7-14).

Verses 1-6: We, in this dark and sinful world, know little of the heavenly world of light. But we know that there is above us a world of blessed angels. They are always praising God, therefore the psalmist shows his desire that God may be praised in the best manner; also we show that we have communion with spirits above, who are still praising him. The heavens, with all contained in them, declare the glory of God. They call on us, that both by word and deed, we glorify with them the Creator and Redeemer of the universe.

Verses 7-14: Even in this world, dark and bad as it is, God is praised. The powers of nature, be they ever so strong, so stormy, do what God appoints them, and no more. Those that rebel against God's word, show themselves to be more violent than even the stormy winds, yet they fulfill it. View the surface of the earth, mountains and all hills; from the barren tops of some, and the fruitful tops of others, we may fetch matter for praise. And assuredly creatures which have the powers of reason, ought to employ themselves in praising God. Let all manner of persons praise God. Those of every rank, high and low. Let us show that we are his saints by praising his name continually. He is not only our Creator, but our Redeemer; who made us a people near unto him. We may by "the Horn of his people" understand Christ, whom God has exalted to be a Prince and a Savior, who is indeed the defense and the praise of all his saints, and will be so for ever. In redemption, that unspeakable glory is displayed, which forms the source of all our hopes and joys. May the Lord pardon us, and teach our hearts to love him more and praise him better.

From the Historical Books
Daniel 7:27
A Dominion for the Holy Ones of the Most High

7:27 Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’

Commentary

Interpretation of Daniel's vision of Christ's kingdom.

This refers to the second coming of our blessed Lord, when the saints shall triumph in the complete fall of Satan's kingdom. The saints of the Most High shall possess the kingdom for ever. Far be it from us to infer from hence, that dominion is founded on grace. It promises that the gospel kingdom shall be set up; a kingdom of light, holiness, and love; a kingdom of grace, the privileges and comforts of which shall be the earnest and first-fruits of the kingdom of glory. But the full accomplishment will be in the everlasting happiness of the saints, the kingdom that cannot be moved. The gathering together the whole family of God will be a blessedness of Christ's coming.

From the Apocalypse of John
Revelation 11:16-19
God’s Reign at the End of Time

11:16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:

   “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
      the One who is and who was,
   because you have taken your great power
      and have begun to reign.
18 The nations were angry,
      and your wrath has come.
   The time has come for judging the dead,
      and for rewarding your servants the prophets
   and your people who revere your name,
      both great and small—
   and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”

19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.

Commentary

Under the seventh trumpet, all anti-christian powers are to be destroyed and there will be a glorious state of Christ's kingdom upon earth.

In the reign of antichrist, God's law was laid aside, and made void by traditions and decrees; the Scriptures were locked up from the people, but now they are brought to the view of all. This, like the ark, is a token of the presence of God returned to his people, and his favor toward them in Jesus Christ, as the Propitiation for their sins. The great blessing of the Reformation was attended with very awful providences; as by terrible things in righteousness God answered the prayers presented in his holy temple now opened.

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.