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  Bible reading for Oct 13 -- 14 Oct 13 -- Ezekiel 46 and Psalm 102 Oct 14 -- Ezekiel 47 and Psalm 103 ================   "And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes." (Ezekiel 47:9) THE PRINCE, THE PRIESTS, AND THE RIVER (ch 46-47). We are continuing to read about Ezekiel's vision of the temple, the city, the leaders, the ministers, and the geography. It is visionary language, and it is in the future from Ezekiel's perspective. There are connections here with Revelation, and also with the Mosaic laws in Leviticus. In these chapters we see that the prince is to lead worship by his example; there are instructions about gates, gifts, offerings, holy spaces, and preparation of food. There springs from the temple a remarkable, ever-expanding stream of fresh water. Also, there is to be fair di...

Bible reading for February 1--2 Feb 1 -- Esther 9-10 and Romans 4 Feb 2 -- Job 1 and Romans 5 The weather forecast is predicting a snow and ice storm for our region. Since we often loose power during those times I am getting the next Bible reading post out early. Enjoy! "For Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Ahasuerus, and he was great among the Jews and popular with the multitude of his brothers, for he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people." (Esther 10:3) GOD UNSEEN, BEHIND THE SCENES . The book of Esther tells us about the historical events behind the Jewish feast of Purim. At the end not only are the Jews spared, but Mordecai, like Joseph in Egypt many generations earlier, is exalted to the second highest position in the empire. The book reveals God's providence not by miraculous power but by the seemingly coincidental. He is behind the scenes, as it were. Things that might be described as chance or random are actually incidents ...

Bible reading for January 25--26 Jan 25 -- Esther 2 and Acts 25 Jan 26 -- Esther 3 and Acts 26 "In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, they cast lots) before Haman day after day; and they cast it month after month till the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar." (Esther 3:7)  READING ESTHER. Reading the book of Esther is to be immersed into a different culture and a distant time in history. This book precedes the events of Ezra and Nehemiah (5th century BC) and most Jews are still living in the Babylonian culture, now under Persian rule. We read of the decadence of imperial life, the abuse of power, the subjugation of women, much drinking, intrigue, and passionate hatred. In the midst of this we see a warm family relationship comprised of Mordecai, an older Jewish man of integrity, who cares for his orphaned younger cousin, Hadassah, whose Persian name is Esther (meaning "star"). These two...

Bible reading for Nov 16.  1 Chronicles 7-8. "All of these were men of Asher, heads of fathers' houses, approved, mighty warriors, chiefs of the princes. Their number enrolled by genealogies, for service in war, was 26,000 men." (7:40) PRE AND POST. The genealogies and numbers recorded here come from the time before the Babylonian exile (pre-exilic), during the period of King David (7:2). We'll see, beginning in chapter 9, the post-exilic census numbers are much lower. One purpose of the census of the tribes was to determine the number of soldiers available in the event of war. As we read 1 and 2 Chronicles we will also see some variations in numbers being reported, which may differ from Samuel and Kings. These may be due to scribal errors in copying, the rounding of numbers, or differing method of reckoning. See more in this introduction .    ===============   Hebrews 11. "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God mus...

Bible reading for Nov 4.  2 Kings 17. "'You shall not fear other gods, but you shall fear the LORD your God, and he will deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.' However, they would not listen, but they did according to their former manner." (2 Kings 17:38-40)  FALL OF SAMARIA. This chapter reports the Assyrian siege against Samaria and the resulting fall of the northern kingdom in 722/21 BC. The divine explanation is given in full. The northern tribes are lost, not in the sense that they are off wandering somewhere, but that they are resettled and mixed with the surrounding peoples. Their ethnic identity will be mixed (vv 6, 24). It's a sad conclusion to the story of the northern kingdom of Israel. Here's the summary: "'And the statutes and the rules and the law and the commandment that he wrote for you, you shall always be careful to do. You shall not fear other gods, and you shall not forget the covenant that I have made with you. You sha...

Bible reading for October 27.  2 Kings 8. "Yet the LORD was not willing to destroy Judah, for the sake of David his servant, since he promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever." (2 Kings 8:19)   GOD'S TIMING AND PURPOSE. The Shunammite woman left her land for a season, but returns and receives her property back in a remarkable, providential timing (vv 1-6). Then the sad story of Elisha, Ben-Hadad, and Hazael (vv 7-15).  Jehoram becomes a wicked ruler over Judah, much like the kings of Israel. Edom rebels against Judah and Jehoram dies after an eight-year reign. Ahaziah becomes king in Judah (the south), ruling only one year. And Joram (the north) gets injured in battle with Syria. For all their alliances and military power, the two nations, Judah and Israel, are not faring well. We catch a glimpse of God's purpose in preserving Judah: it is for the sake of King David, to give a lamp to his lineage until the Light of the world would come. This Lamp, of co...

Bible reading for October 23.  2 Kings 4. "So she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her. When the vessels were full, she said to her son, 'Bring me another vessel.' And he said to her, 'There is not another.' Then the oil stopped flowing." (2 Kings 4:5-6) SUPERNATURAL SUPPLY . We read of four remarkable miracles in this chapter. The "sons of the prophets" (v 1) were the disciples who followed and studied under the prophets (v 38). These miracles are similar, but not exactly, to Elijah's in 1 Kings 17. And these look forward to (foreshadow), even more amplified, the miracles of our Lord in feeding the multitudes, raising the dead, and giving children back to parents. He said, "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). These miracles also teach us of God's continued, ongoing care for us. He provides what his people need, and more. The p...

Bible reading for September 21.  2 Samuel 17. "For the LORD had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the LORD might bring harm upon Absalom." (2 Samuel 17:14)  THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD is seen in the ways David is protected from the schemes of Absalom. The counsel of Hushai rather than Ahithophel's is acted upon (vv 1-14). The unnamed woman hides the messengers from Absalom's soldiers (vv 15-21), reminding us of the actions of Rahab (Josh 2:1-7). And David's company is able to cross the Jordan, and were supplied with food, bedding, livestock, and other supplies by friendly supporters (vv 22-29). This foreshadows our own rejected King, Jesus. Even from birth our Lord was protected from the evil schemes of violent rulers (Matt 2:12-16). He was appointed by God to be Messiah, and though his reign was (and is) rejected by many, his kingdom will never be destroyed (Psalm 2; Isa 9:7; 49:23; 52:14-15). God guides the events of history for his good pur...

Bible reading for September 7.  2 Samuel 1. "Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!" (2 Samuel 1:19)  FALLEN.   The appearance of an Amalekite at Saul's death was a twist of irony,  given the events of 1 Samuel 15.  Perhaps Saul had revived somewhat from his own sword wound, then to be killed by this man, or perhaps this man just came upon the scene and took trophies and hoped for some reward from David. Either way, the Amalekite dies for his treachery. Despite Saul's hostility toward him, David grieves the loss of Israel's first king and his sons in battle. His psalm honors Saul and Jonathan, and gives credit for their contributions to the national security and prosperity that Israel experienced over his forty-year reign. David is not bitter, angry, or vengeful, but gives honor where honor is due.  REFLECT. Sometimes we may come to have a view of a prominent leader that is tarnished by his or her faults...

Bible reading for Aug 27.  I Samuel 19. "Then a harmful spirit from the LORD came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing the lyre. And Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he eluded Saul, so that he struck the spear into the wall. And David fled and escaped that night." (1 Samuel 19:9-10)  GOD PROTECTS DAVID. We continue to see Saul's erratic behavior and his obsession with destroying David. The Lord delivers David from Saul on several occasions through various means. The strangest perhaps is in the latter half of the chapter where Saul's messengers (probably soldiers), and later Saul himself, are overcome by the Spirit of God and engage in prophesying. Being moved by the Spirit to give praise to God in word and song is certainly appropriate for believers, for God's children. But here it seems to be a way of preventing the group from acting on their murderous plans. Or perhaps this is a dem...

Bible reading for July 31.  Judges 14. "His father and mother did not know that it was from the LORD, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines ruled over Israel." (Judges 14:4)  SAMSON'S LOVE LIFE. We see that Samson, who is to be a deliverer, actually succumbs to the compromising influence of their Philistine overlords. People were inter-marrying and the book of Judges shows how pagan influences have affected the people of Israel. They are being culturally absorbed. But Samson's romance will not be a "happily ever after" one. Samson's love life will cause increasing conflict between the Israelites and the Philistines, and that needed to happen.    GOD'S PLAN. In God's wise providence Samson's impulsive and sinful decisions work for the greater good of God's plan (v 4; cf 1 Kgs 12:15). We have seen this before with Joseph's brothers (Gen 45:5; 50:20) and especially in the cr...

Bible reading for July 29.  Judges 12. "Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in his city in Gilead." (Judges 12:7) NICKELS AND NOSES. In chapter 12 we finish the story of Jephthah, followed by brief mentions of Ibzan, Elon (not Musk), and Abdon (from about 1130 to 1080 BC). As you read Judges it may seem that people are fighting all the time. These battles, however, are spread out over several hundred years, so there were often intervals of peace. But the battles become the high point, especially as the tribes are delivered from nearby oppressors. One thing we note also is the numbers of sons, daughters, donkeys, etc., some of these judges had. It represents their wealth and influence, and perhaps the blessing of God. However, it may also show how the powerful tended to gather wives and property for themselves (Deut 17:17; cf Gen 4:19), and we will see this problem arise with the later kings of Israel and Judah.   ...

Bible reading for Feb 11:  Genesis 44; Mark 14. "For your servant became a pledge of safety for the boy to my father, saying, 'If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father all my life.' Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the boy as a servant to my lord, and let the boy go back with his brothers." (Gen 44:32-33)  Judah steps in (Gen 44).   Another crisis arises, and Judah takes responsibility to be Benjamin's surety, as he promised his father. We see here not only Judah's care for his younger brother, but also his love for his father .  He is concerned for the overwhelming sadness that Jacob would face at the loss of another son (44:31).  Read yesterday's post here.  ===================    "And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives."   (Mark 14:26)  Money reveals hearts (14:1-11).   There is a contrast between the woman who spared no ex...