Monday
Haggai 1
On August 29 of the second year of King Darius’s reign, the Lord gave a message through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest.
2
“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: The people are saying, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.’”
3
Then the Lord sent this message through the prophet Haggai:
4
“Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins?
5
This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you!
6
You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes!
7
“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you!
8
Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord.
9
You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses.
10
It’s because of you that the heavens withhold the dew and the earth produces no crops.
11
I have called for a drought on your fields and hills—a drought to wither the grain and grapes and olive trees and all your other crops, a drought to starve you and your livestock and to ruin everything you have worked so hard to get.”
12
Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of God’s people began to obey the message from the Lordtheir God. When they heard the words of the prophet Haggai, whom the Lord their God had sent, the people feared the Lord.
13
Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave the people this message from the Lord: “I am with you, says the Lord!”
14
So the Lord sparked the enthusiasm of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the enthusiasm of Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the enthusiasm of the whole remnant of God’s people. They began to work on the house of their God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
15
on September 21[
c
] of the second year of King Darius’s reign.
Tuesday
Zechariah 10
Ask the Lord for rain in the spring,
for he makes the storm clouds.
And he will send showers of rain
so every field becomes a lush pasture.
2
Household gods give worthless advice,
fortune-tellers predict only lies,
and interpreters of dreams pronounce
falsehoods that give no comfort.
So my people are wandering like lost sheep;
they are attacked because they have no shepherd.
3
“My anger burns against your shepherds,
and I will punish these leaders.[
a
]
For the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has arrived
to look after Judah, his flock.
He will make them strong and glorious,
like a proud warhorse in battle.
4
From Judah will come the cornerstone,
the tent peg,
the bow for battle,
and all the rulers.
5
They will be like mighty warriors in battle,
trampling their enemies in the mud under their feet.
Since the Lord is with them as they fight,
they will overthrow even the enemy’s horsemen.
Wednesday
Zechariah 10
(
“I will strengthen Judah and save Israel[
b
];
I will restore them because of my compassion.
It will be as though I had never rejected them,
for I am the Lord their God, who will hear their cries.
7
The people of Israel[
c
] will become like mighty warriors,
and their hearts will be made happy as if by wine.
Their children, too, will see it and be glad;
their hearts will rejoice in the Lord.
8
When I whistle to them, they will come running,
for I have redeemed them.
From the few who are left,
they will grow as numerous as they were before.
9
Though I have scattered them like seeds among the nations,
they will still remember me in distant lands.
They and their children will survive
and return again to Israel.
10
I will bring them back from Egypt
and gather them from Assyria.
I will resettle them in Gilead and Lebanon
until there is no more room for them all.
11
They will pass safely through the sea of distress,[
d
]
for the waves of the sea will be held back,
and the waters of the Nile will dry up.
The pride of Assyria will be crushed,
and the rule of Egypt will end.
12
By my power[
e
] I will make my people strong,
and by my authority they will go wherever they wish.
I, the Lord, have spoken!”
Thursday
Malachi 4
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, “The day of judgment is coming, burning like a furnace. On that day the arrogant and the wicked will be burned up like straw. They will be consumed—roots, branches, and all.
2
“But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.
3
On the day when I act, you will tread upon the wicked as if they were dust under your feet,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
4
“Remember to obey the Law of Moses, my servant—all the decrees and regulations that I gave him on Mount Sinai for all Israel.
5
“Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives.
6
His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse.”
Friday
Bonus: Psalm 100
Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
2
Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
3
Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4
Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
5
For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation.
