August 20, 2028

4Then the princes said to the king, “This man ought to be put to death. He is weakening the resolve of the soldiers left in this city and of all the people, by saying such things to them; he is not seeking the welfare of our people, but their ruin.” 5King Zedekiah answered: “He is in your hands,” for the king could do nothing with them. 6And so they took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern of Prince Malchiah, in the court of the guard, letting him down by rope. There was no water in the cistern, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud. 8and Ebed-melech went there from the house of the king and said to him, 9“My lord king, these men have done wrong in all their treatment of Jeremiah the prophet, throwing him into the cistern. He will starve to death on the spot, for there is no more bread in the city.” 10Then the king ordered Ebed-melech the Ethiopian: “Take three men with you, and get Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.”

2A - Surely, I wait for the LORD; who bends down to me and hears my cry, 3Draws me up from the pit of destruction, out of the muddy clay, Sets my feet upon rock, steadies my steps, 4And puts a new song in my mouth, a hymn to our God. Many shall look on in fear and they shall trust in the LORD. 18Though I am afflicted and poor, my Lord keeps me in mind. You are my help and deliverer; my God, do not delay!

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us 2while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God. 3Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart. 4In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.

27My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

49“I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! 50There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! 51Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; 53a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” Signs of the Times.