Daily Devotions · June 28
Reading for June 28
Read the whole Bible in a year, a few chapters a day.
Amos 1–3 · Psalm 80 · 2 Timothy 4
Amos 1–3 · Psalm 80 · 2 Timothy 4, Berean Standard Bible
Amos 1
These are the words of Amos, who was among the sheepherders of Tekoa—what he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, in the days when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel. 2 He said: “The LORD roars from Zion and raises His voice from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds mourn, and the summit of Carmel withers.” 3 This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Damascus, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they threshed Gilead with sledges of iron. 4 So I will send fire upon the house of Hazael to consume the citadels of Ben-hadad. 5 I will break down the gates of Damascus; I will cut off the ruler from the Valley of Aven and the one who wields the scepter in Beth-eden. The people of Aram will be exiled to Kir,” says the LORD. 6 This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Gaza, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they exiled a whole population, delivering them up to Edom. 7 So I will send fire upon the walls of Gaza, to consume its citadels. 8 I will cut off the ruler of Ashdod and the one who wields the scepter in Ashkelon. I will turn My hand against Ekron, and the remnant of the Philistines will perish,” says the Lord GOD. 9 This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Tyre, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they delivered up a whole congregation of exiles to Edom and broke a covenant of brotherhood. 10 So I will send fire upon the walls of Tyre to consume its citadels.” 11 This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Edom, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because he pursued his brother with the sword and stifled all compassion; his anger raged continually, and his fury flamed incessantly. 12 So I will send fire upon Teman to consume the citadels of Bozrah.” 13 This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of the Ammonites, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to enlarge their territory. 14 So I will kindle a fire in the walls of Rabbah to consume its citadels amid war cries on the day of battle and a violent wind on the day of tempest. 15 Their king will go into exile—he and his princes together,” says the LORD.
Amos 2
This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Moab, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because he burned to lime the bones of Edom’s king. 2 So I will send fire against Moab to consume the citadels of Kerioth. Moab will die in tumult, amid war cries and the sound of the ram’s horn. 3 I will cut off the ruler of Moab and kill all the officials with him,” says the LORD. 4 This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Judah, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they reject the Law of the LORD and fail to keep His statutes; they are led astray by the lies in which their fathers walked. 5 So I will send fire upon Judah to consume the citadels of Jerusalem.” 6 This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Israel, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they sell the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals. 7 They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the earth; they push the needy out of their way. A man and his father have relations with the same girl and so profane My holy name. 8 They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. And in the house of their God, they drink wine obtained through fines. 9 Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, though his height was like that of the cedars, and he was as strong as the oaks. Yet I destroyed his fruit above and his roots below. 10 And I brought you up from the land of Egypt and led you forty years in the wilderness, that you might take possession of the land of the Amorite. 11 I raised up prophets from your sons and Nazirites from your young men. Is this not true, O children of Israel?” declares the LORD. 12 “But you made the Nazirites drink wine and commanded the prophets not to prophesy. 13 Behold, I am about to crush you in your place as with a cart full of grain. 14 Escape will fail the swift, the strong will not prevail by his strength, and the mighty will not save his life. 15 The archer will not stand his ground, the fleet of foot will not escape, and the horseman will not save his life. 16 Even the bravest of mighty men will flee naked on that day,” declares the LORD.
Amos 3
Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt: 2 “Only you have I known from all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.” 3 Can two walk together without agreeing where to go? 4 Does a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey? Does a young lion growl in his den if he has caught nothing? 5 Does a bird land in a snare where no bait has been set? Does a trap spring from the ground when it has nothing to catch? 6 If a ram’s horn sounds in a city, do the people not tremble? If calamity comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it? 7 Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets. 8 The lion has roared—who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken—who will not prophesy? 9 Proclaim to the citadels of Ashdod and to the citadels of Egypt: “Assemble on the mountains of Samaria; see the great unrest in the city and the acts of oppression in her midst.” 10 “For they know not how to do right,” declares the LORD. “They store up violence and destruction in their citadels.” 11 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: “An enemy will surround the land; he will pull down your strongholds and plunder your citadels.” 12 This is what the LORD says: “As the shepherd snatches from the mouth of the lion two legs or a piece of an ear, so the Israelites dwelling in Samaria will be rescued having just the corner of a bed or the cushion of a couch. 13 Hear and testify against the house of Jacob, declares the Lord GOD, the God of Hosts. 14 On the day I punish Israel for their transgressions, I will visit destruction on the altars of Bethel; the horns of the altar will be cut off, and they will fall to the ground. 15 I will tear down the winter house along with the summer house; the houses of ivory will also perish, and the great houses will come to an end,” declares the LORD.
Psalm 80
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” A Psalm of Asaph. Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, who leads Joseph like a flock; You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth 2 before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh. Rally Your mighty power and come to save us. 3 Restore us, O God, and cause Your face to shine upon us, that we may be saved. 4 O LORD God of Hosts, how long will Your anger smolder against the prayers of Your people? 5 You fed them with the bread of tears and made them drink the full measure of their tears. 6 You make us contend with our neighbors; our enemies mock us. 7 Restore us, O God of Hosts, and cause Your face to shine upon us, that we may be saved. 8 You uprooted a vine from Egypt; You drove out the nations and transplanted it. 9 You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land. 10 The mountains were covered by its shade, and the mighty cedars with its branches. 11 It sent out its branches to the Sea, and its shoots toward the River. 12 Why have You broken down its walls, so that all who pass by pick its fruit? 13 The boar from the forest ravages it, and the creatures of the field feed upon it. 14 Return, O God of Hosts, we pray! Look down from heaven and see! Attend to this vine— 15 the root Your right hand has planted, the son You have raised up for Yourself. 16 Your vine has been cut down and burned; they perish at the rebuke of Your countenance. 17 Let Your hand be upon the man at Your right hand, on the son of man You have raised up for Yourself. 18 Then we will not turn away from You; revive us, and we will call on Your name. 19 Restore us, O LORD God of Hosts; cause Your face to shine upon us, that we may be saved.
2 Timothy 4
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 From now on 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 to all who crave His appearing. 9 Make every effort to come to me quickly, 10 because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is useful to me in the ministry. 12 Tychicus, however, I have sent to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15 You too should beware of him, for he has vigorously opposed our message. 16 At my first defense, no one stood with me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be charged against them. 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles would hear it. So I was delivered from the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord will rescue me from every evil action and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, as well as the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus has remained at Corinth, and Trophimus I left sick in Miletus. 21 Make every effort to come to me before winter. Eubulus sends you greetings, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers. 22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.
Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain.
How to SOAP
Grab a journal and a pen. Read the chapters above and watch for the verse that stops you. Then take it through four steps.
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Scripture
Write out the verse that stood out to you.
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Observation
What is it saying? Who is speaking, and to whom?
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Application
What does it mean for your life today? Be specific.
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Prayer
Talk to God about it. Ask Him to help you live it.
Your SOAP journal
Write your SOAP here. Tap any verse in the reading to add it to Scripture. Your journal saves on this device only, so no one else sees it.
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Why daily devotions?
Devotions are time set aside each day to read God's Word and let Him speak. The point isn't checking off chapters. It's meeting with Him.
Ten or fifteen minutes is enough to start. Pick a time and a place and keep the appointment. Mornings work well for a lot of us, before the phone and the day start talking.
Missed a day? Don't start over. Read today's chapters and keep going.