Daily Reader's Bible - Flipbook - Page 16
is Wickedness,” and he pushed her back into
the basket and closed the heavy lid again.
Then I looked up and saw two women flying
toward us, gliding on the wind. They had wings
like a stork, and they picked up the basket and
flew into the sky.
“Where are they taking the basket?” I asked
the angel.
He replied, “To the land of Babylonia, where
they will build a temple for the basket. And
when the temple is ready, they will set the
basket there on its pedestal.”
Then I looked up again and saw four chariots coming from between two bronze mountains. The first chariot was pulled by red horses,
the second by black horses, the third by white
horses, and the fourth by powerful dappled-gray
horses. “And what are these, my lord?” I asked
the angel who was talking with me.
The angel replied, “These are the four spirits
of heaven who stand before the Lord of all the
earth. They are going out to do his work. The
chariot with black horses is going north, the
chariot with white horses is going west, and
the chariot with dappled-gray horses is going
south.”
The powerful horses were eager to set out
to patrol the earth. And the LORD said, “Go and
patrol the earth!” So they left at once on their
patrol.
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Then the LORD summoned me and said,
“Look, those who went north have vented
the anger of my Spirit there in the land of the
north.”
Then I received another message from the
LORD: “Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah will bring
gifts of silver and gold from the Jews exiled in
Babylon. As soon as they arrive, meet them at
the home of Josiah son of Zephaniah. Accept
their gifts, and make a crown from the silver
and gold. Then put the crown on the head of
Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Tell
him, ‘This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies
says: Here is the man called the Branch. He
will branch out from where he is and build the
Temple of the LORD. Yes, he will build the Temple
of the LORD. Then he will receive royal honor
and will rule as king from his throne. He will
also serve as priest from his throne, and there
will be perfect harmony between his two roles.’
“The crown will be a memorial in the
Temple of the LORD to honor those who gave
it—Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Josiah son
of Zephaniah.”
People will come from distant lands to rebuild the Temple of the LORD. And when this
happens, you will know that my messages
have been from the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
All this will happen if you carefully obey what
the LORD your God says.
O LORD, MY ROCK AND MY REDEEMER
[PSALM 19]
For the choir director: A psalm of David.
The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship.
Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make him known.
They speak without a sound or word;
their voice is never heard.
Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
and their words to all the world.
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God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.
It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding.
It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race.
The sun rises at one end of the heavens
and follows its course to the other end.
Nothing can hide from its heat.
The instructions of the LORD are perfect,
reviving the soul.
The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
The commandments of the LORD are right,
bringing joy to the heart.
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