February 13: Psalm 87; Psalm 90; Psalm 136; Isaiah 61:10–62:5; 2 Timothy 4:1–8; Mark 10:46–52 - a podcast by Crossway

Psalm 87 (Listen)

Glorious Things of You Are Spoken

A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. A Song.

87   On the holy mount stands the city he founded;
2     the LORD loves the gates of Zion
    more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
3   Glorious things of you are spoken,
    O city of God. Selah


4   Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon;
    behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush¹—
    “This one was born there,” they say.
5   And of Zion it shall be said,
    “This one and that one were born in her”;
    for the Most High himself will establish her.
6   The LORD records as he registers the peoples,
    “This one was born there.” Selah


7   Singers and dancers alike say,
    “All my springs are in you.”

(ESV)

Psalm 90 (Listen)

Book Four

From Everlasting to Everlasting

A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.

90   Lord, you have been our dwelling place¹
    in all generations.
2   Before the mountains were brought forth,
    or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
    from everlasting to everlasting you are God.


3   You return man to dust
    and say, “Return, O children of man!”²
4   For a thousand years in your sight
    are but as yesterday when it is past,
    or as a watch in the night.


5   You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,
    like grass that is renewed in the morning:
6   in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
    in the evening it fades and withers.


7   For we are brought to an end by your anger;
    by your wrath we are dismayed.
8   You have set our iniquities before you,
    our secret sins in the light of your presence.


9   For all our days pass away under your wrath;
    we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
10   The years of our life are seventy,
    or even by reason of strength eighty;
  yet their span³ is but toil and trouble;
    they are soon gone, and we fly away.
11   Who considers the power of your anger,
    and your wrath according to the fear of you?


12   So teach us to number our days
    that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13   Return, O LORD! How long?
    Have pity on your servants!
14   Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
    that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15   Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
    and for as many years as we have seen evil.
16   Let your work be shown to your servants,
    and your glorious power to their children.
17   Let the favor⁴ of the Lord our God be upon us,
    and establish the work of our hands upon us;
    yes, establish the work of our hands!

(ESV)

Psalm 136 (Listen)

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever

136   Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.
2   Give thanks to the God of gods,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.
3   Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;


4   to him who alone does great wonders,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
5   to him who by understanding made the heavens,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
6   to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
7   to him who made the great lights,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
8   the sun to rule over the day,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
9   the moon and stars to rule over the night,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;


10   to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
11   and brought Israel out from among them,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
12   with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
13   to him who divided the Red Sea in two,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
14   and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
15   but overthrew¹ Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
16   to him who led his people through the wilderness,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;


17   to him who struck down great kings,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
18   and killed mighty kings,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
19   Sihon, king of the Amorites,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
20   and Og, king of Bashan,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
21   and gave their land as a heritage,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
22   a heritage to Israel his servant,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.


23   It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
24   and rescued us from our foes,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
25   he who gives food to all flesh,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.


26   Give thanks to the God of heaven,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.

(ESV)

Isaiah 61:10–62:5 (Listen)

10   I will greatly rejoice in the LORD;
    my soul shall exult in my God,
  for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
    he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
  as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
    and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11   For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,
    and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up,
  so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise
    to sprout up before all the nations.

Zion’s Coming Salvation

62   For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
    and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet,
  until her righteousness goes forth as brightness,
    and her salvation as a burning torch.
2   The nations shall see your righteousness,
    and all the kings your glory,
  and you shall be called by a new name
    that the mouth of the LORD will give.
3   You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD,
    and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
4   You shall no more be termed Forsaken,¹
    and your land shall no more be termed Desolate,²
  but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,³
    and your land Married;⁴
  for the LORD delights in you,
    and your land shall be married.
5   For as a young man marries a young woman,
    so shall your sons marry you,
  and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
    so shall your God rejoice over you.

(ESV)

2 Timothy 4:1–8 (Listen)

Preach the Word

4 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound¹ teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

(ESV)

Mark 10:46–52 (Listen)

Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus

46 And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” 50 And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” 52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.

(ESV)