MORNING REFLECTION
READY: Prepare yourself to read this psalm by singing.
READ: Read through the text twice. Read the first time focusing on worshiping God. Read a second time focusing on the admonitions that God is directing towards His people.
REFLECT: Meditate on the verse, “Open your mouth wide and I will fill it”. Allow God to speak to you of all the good things He wants to fill you with. God has delivered you from the land of Egypt. Determine that you won’t go back to Egypt to be filled.
REPENT: God grieves in v. 11 because He longs to fill His people but He says, “But my people did not listen to my voice and Israel would not submit to me.” Repent of the ways that you have resisted God as He has tried to fill you with good things.
REJOICE: Praise God for the way He feeds you. Praise Him for the finest of wheat and for the honey from the rock that He has ready to satisfy you.
EVENING READING Mark 6:13-29
The Death of John the Baptist
13They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. 14 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’* name had become known. Some were* saying, ‘John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.’ 15But others said, ‘It is Elijah.’ And others said, ‘It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.’ 16But when Herod heard of it, he said, ‘John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.’ 17 For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod* had married her. 18For John had been telling Herod, ‘It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.’ 19And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, 20for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed;* and yet he liked to listen to him. 21But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. 22When his daughter Herodias* came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.’ 23And he solemnly swore to her, ‘Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.’ 24She went out and said to her mother, ‘What should I ask for?’ She replied, ‘The head of John the baptizer.’ 25Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, ‘I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.’ 26The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s* head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, 28brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. 29When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
EVENING REFLECTION
READY: Prepare yourself to read the tragedy of the John the Baptist. Ask God to reveal Himself in the midst of this story.
READ: Read the text. Focus on why John the Baptist was imprisoned, what happens at Herod’s birthday, and how that leads to tragedy.
REFLECT: Reflect on how Herod allowed himself to be manipulated. He ended up carrying out Herodias’ grudge though he himself feared John, believed him to be a holy man and his original intention had been to protect John.
REPENT: Think of the situations where you have allowed situations and people to manipulate you to do things you don’t agree with.
REJOICE: As you end your day, spend time in praise and worship. Allow worship to lift your heart and any heaviness you have encountered today and in the season of lent.
