Tag Archives: Read the Bible in a year

Daily Bible Study

September 28, 2020 Bible Study Gather Together With Those Who Humbly Seek The Lord

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I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Zephaniah and Haggai.

Zephaniah prophesies against Jerusalem and Judah.  He condemns the religious leaders who claim to follow the Lord, but worship other gods as well.  He references Molech in particular.  Molech worship was known for its child sacrifices.  We have in our society today religious leaders who proclaim themselves Christians who support, some who even promote, the practice of abortion.  But Zephaniah mentions that their were those who claimed to follow god who worshiped other idolatrous gods besides Molech, and today we have leaders who claim to be Christians, do not support abortion but do encourage people to partake in other idolatrous practices.

However, central to Zephaniah’s prophecy is his call for people to gather together and repent of their sins.  We should seek the Lord and humbly follow His commands, gathering together with those who do likewise to pray.  God’s judgement is coming, but if we gather together with those who humbly do God’s will and repent of our sins, God will protect us.

Haggai gives a message about taking the next step.  We have a tendency to look at the things we know God wants us to do and think that we need to wait until we get our lives in order to do them.  Perhaps we think we need to wait to do God’s will until we have established ourselves economically.  “I can’t tithe until I get the rest of my budget in order.”  Haggai tells us that if we wait until our bills are in order to give resources to God’s projects, our finances will never be in order.  Indeed he tells us that the best way to get our finances in order is to start spending some of our money to do God’s will.

 

Daily Bible Study

September 27, 2020 Bible Study God Is Coming To Rescue Those Who Put Their Faith In Him. Will We Be Those He Rescues, Or Those From Whom They Are Rescued?

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I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Nahum and Habakkuk.

Nahum wrote a prophecy similar to the one which the Book of Jonah suggests that Jonah preached in Nineveh.  Except that this time the people of Nineveh did not repent of their sins.  The rulers of Assyria thought they could do as they pleased and no one could hold them to account.  They were mistaken, when God decided to bring His judgement against them, Nineveh fell.  We see people who believe as the rulers of Assyria did, that they can do as they please and suffer no consequences.  Those who do not repent of their sins and turn to God will face God’s judgement.

Habakkuk has a similar theme to Nahum, except his prophecies are aimed first at the elites of Judah and then against the Babylonians.  God tells Habakkuk that He will bring down those who put their trust in wealth or power, those who use violence and deceit to gain.  The righteous will live and thrive by being faithful to God, by trusting in His love for them.  Nothing but sorrow awaits those who put their trust elsewhere.  The wicked may create many barriers between themselves and justice, but God will brush those barriers aside as He comes to redeem those who call on His name.  Terrible times are coming, but if you put your trust in God and do His will, He will come to your aid with overwhelming might.

Daily Bible Study

September 26, 2020 Bible Study

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I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

So, leading up to our anniversary, I wished my wife happy anniversary for 20 days culminating on our anniversary yesterday.  I was tempted to continue for 20 more days, but decided not to do so.  However, since I am writing these a few days in advance, I am going to thank my wife on here every day until I am writing on the day after our anniversary

Thank you for marrying me. Darling!

Today, I am reading and commenting on Micah 3-7.

Micah continues his prophecy against those who have positions of leadership, religious and secular and those who have become wealthy through dishonesty, violence, and extortion.  He condemns the government officials whose rules and regulations serve only those who bribe them, the preachers and teachers who only provide their services to those who pay them, and then tell them what they want to hear rather than teach God’s word.  I read Micah’s condemnation of these people and see it happening again today.  God will bring His judgement down on those who twist justice and hate what is good.  Yet, for all of the fact that humans keep doing these same things, Micah prophesies that the day will come when God will call all nations to Him.  In that day, God will mediate between nations and peoples.  He will bring peace to the earth so that no one will train for war anymore.  For all the terribleness we see in the world around us, God promises that one day He will bring about peace, prosperity, and justice.  We need not fear the terrible times which come first if we put our faith in God.

Daily Bible Study

September 25, 2020 Bible Study Desire That Sinners Repent, Not That They Be Punished

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I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

So, leading up to our anniversary, I wished my wife happy anniversary for 20 days culminating on our anniversary yesterday.  I was tempted to continue for 20 more days, but decided not to do so.  However, since I am writing these a few days in advance, I am going to thank my wife on here every day until I am writing on the day after our anniversary

Thank you for marrying me. Darling!

Today, I am reading and commenting on Jonah 1-4 and Micah 1-2.

First Jonah 1-4

Often times when I read the story of Jonah I want to break it down into parts.  In fact, many times when I have heard sermons based on Jonah they are only on one part.  There is nothing wrong with that, but the Book of Jonah is short and we should, from time to time, look at it as a whole .  When God gave Jonah a message for Nineveh Jonah did not want to deliver it because he did not want the people of Nineveh to repent and be saved from God’s judgement.  Later he felt more grief over the death of a plant which had provided him shade than he felt over the possible suffering and death of the people of Nineveh.  The message of the Book of Jonah is that we should desire that sinful people turn from their sins and be saved, even if they have caused us, or others we care about, to suffer.  We should not desire that those who sin suffer for their sins.  We should desire that they cease to sin, and thus avoid that suffering.  As followers of Christ, we gain more when sinners repent than when they are punished.

Then Micah 1-2

I take Micah’s prophecy as being directed at those whose livelihood is dependent on the government.  Reading Micah’s condemnation of Samaria and Jerusalem I am reminded that the five richest counties in the United States are those surrounding Washington, DC.  I do not think this means that this passage is only of relevance to those who live in those counties.  Rather, it is a warning to those who make their living from managing the levers of power.  Micah’s message is not that it is wrong to make one’s living from managing the levers of power, after all, someone must do so.  No, Micah is condemning those who use their access to the levers of power to defraud and oppress others.

Daily Bible Study

September 24, 2020 Bible Study Relaxing At Ease While Ignoring What Is Truly Going Wrong

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I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

So, leading up to our anniversary, I wished my wife happy anniversary for 20 days culminating on our anniversary yesterday.  I was tempted to continue for 20 more days, but decided not to do so.  However, since I am writing these a few days in advance, I am going to thank my wife on here every day until I am writing on the day after our anniversary

Thank you for marrying me. Darling!

Today, I am reading and commenting on Amos 6-9 and Obadiah.

The primary target of Amos’ prophecies was Israel, the Northern Kingdom, but today’s passage includes warnings to the elite of both Jerusalem and Samaria.  He warns that they were more concerned with enjoying their luxuries than with the threats to their nation, threats which their actions exacerbated. I see too many people today who are more concerned with their comfort and ease than with doing the right thing.

I was originally planned to do a completely separate section on Obadiah, but as I read it I saw that it really continued the theme.  Obadiah prophesied that the people of Edom thought themselves safe because they lived among the cliffs in a place which was difficult for an enemy to gain access.  They thought that from such a fortress they could safely do harm to others.  Amos spoke of those who put their trust in wealth and Obadiah of those who put their trust in fortifications.  In both cases, they thought these things would protect them from the consequences of their sin.  The same is true today.  There are people who think their wealth will keep them safe from the trouble they stir up, and others who think they are protected from the same trouble by their physical location.  Instead of putting our trust in things of this world we need to put our trust in God.

 

Daily Bible Study

September 23, 2020 Bible Study Do Not Wish For the Day of Judgement to Arrive

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I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Twenty years ago today, my wife gave me the best birthday present I ever wish for; she said “I do.”  We have now been married for 20 wonderful years.

  Happy Anniversary Darling!

Today, I am reading and commenting on Amos 1-5.

When Amos began to prophesy, he started with condemnations and warnings against the nations surrounding Israel and Judah.  He warned them that they would pay a price for the sins they had committed, that God would judge them for the crimes they had committed against God’s people.  Part of me thinks that Amos first spoke out against these other nations because he was angered by the things they had done to his people and foresaw that they would pay for their sins.  Another part of me thinks that perhaps he started with them to make sure that the people of Israel knew that God’s judgement was not just on them for their sins.  In either case, Amos’ prophecies against the neighboring nations, and his prophecy against Judah, were sincere, but relatively perfunctory.  His prophecies against Israel (the Northern Kingdom) were much more detailed.

Amos reports that God had called some of the people of Israel to be prophets and others to dedicate their lives to serving Him, but the people of Israel had told the prophets to shut up and forced those dedicated to God to break their vows.  They trampled on the poor and bullied the oppressed.  God sent warnings, droughts, plagues, etc., but they did not listen.  They hated honest judges and despised those who told the truth.  People keep their mouth shut because to speak against evil is to invite attack.  All of this sounds familiar to me.  And Amos’ warning does as well: hate evil and do what is good, turn to God and seek justice.  And perhaps the most important part of his warning: do not wish for the day of judgement to arrive.  This reminds me of those who are today calling for a violent revolution, but it also applies to those who seek a strong crackdown, wishing violence against those we perceive to be the enemy may come back to bite us.

Daily Bible Study

September 22, 2020 Bible Study Let Us Turn To God with Prayer, Fasting, and Mourning

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I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

In the year 2000, on the 23rd day of this month, my wife married me.  So here we are on day 19 of the 20 days that I am going to wish her Happy Anniversary for 20 years of marriage.  Happy Anniversary Darling!

Today, I am reading and commenting on Joel 1-3.

Joel is the only Old Testament prophet whose sole focus is on a natural disaster.  His description suggests that there were four waves of locusts which completely devastated the food supply of Israel.  The prophet called for the people of Israel to turn to God and dedicate their hearts to Him in the face of a natural disaster.  A call which we should echo and heed when we see similar disasters. Right now, the people of the western United States, where they are experiencing devastating forest fires, should turn to God with fasting, weeping, and mourning.  The rest of the world which is facing the devastation caused in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic should do likewise.  This is not a time for ritualistic mourning, but rather for deep soul searching.  Let us repent of our sins and beg God to pour out His Spirit upon us in the manner which Joel describes.  A dark time is coming, but those who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Daily Bible Study

September 21, 2020 Bible Study Plant the Seeds of Righteousness, or Cultivate a Crop of Wickedness, You Choose

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I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

In the year 2000, on the 23rd day of this month, my wife married me.  So here we are on day 18 of the 20 days that I am going to wish her Happy Anniversary for 20 years of marriage.  Happy Anniversary Darling!

Today, I am reading and commenting on Hosea 8-14.

In a passage such as this one I tend to avoid the part that people pull out of it for an easy topic, but in today’s passage that part really is the central point.  Hosea tells us that God has called us to plow up the hard ground of our hearts.  Hosea is not the only prophet to give us this message.  Hosea also tells us that God has told us to plant seeds of righteousness so that we can harvest a crop of love, but instead of doing so we have cultivated wickedness.  Which brings us to the circumstances we see in the world around us.  We have protest and riots about perceived injustice, but no one pays attention that these perceived injustices happened because people sowed crime and hostility.  Rather than encourage people to sow the seeds of righteousness so that they can harvest a crop of love, some leaders are cultivating a crop of wickedness.  I want to point out that for the point I am making today it is irrelevant if the perceived injustices are real or not.  Real or not, acting with righteousness will bring healing and love which will correct the problem.  Our choices in this life are: we can sow the seeds of righteousness and harvest a crop of love, or we can cultivate wickedness and harvest destruction.  You can never build anything with destruction.

 

 

 

Daily Bible Study

September 20, 2020 Bible Study Loving Others Is More Important Than Rituals

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I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

In the year 2000, on the 23rd day of this month, my wife married me.  So here we are on day 17 of the 20 days that I am going to wish her Happy Anniversary for 20 years of marriage.  Happy Anniversary Darling!

Today, I am reading and commenting on Hosea 1-7.

When I read Hosea I feel sorry for both Hosea and for his children; Hosea because God commanded him to marry a prostitute, his children because of the names he gave them.  That was the point of this.  We should feel sorry for God, and we should feel shame.  God has offered us faithful love and we have been unfaithful.  Yet despite our unfaithfulness, God has redeemed us, has bought us back from the slavery into which we sold ourselves, just as Hosea bought his wife back from wherever it was that she had sold herself.

However, the place where Hosea’s prophecy truly strikes home comes in Chapter 4.  Hosea starts the chapter by speaking about the violence, dishonesty, and lack of knowledge of God in the land, and its consequences.  As a result of those evil behaviors people are wasting away, but not just the people, the animals and plants are disappearing (sound familiar?).  The important point he makes is that we don’t get to blame others for this state of affairs.  People do not know God because those of us who have been called into what my faith tradition calls the priesthood of believers has refused to know Him, and thus teach others about Him.  We need to recognize how we may benefit when others sin.  Are we like the priests whom Hosea mentions here who profit from the sin offerings people make to gain forgiveness for their sins?  Or, do we gain a sense that we are better than those “wicked sinners”?

Whatever our answers to those questions, we need to look address our own failings rather than point out the failings of others.  God would rather we show love to our fellows than offer Him sacrifices.  It is more important to know God than to follow religious rituals.  Rather than pointing fingers at others for what is wrong in this world, let us strive to know God and show His love to those around us.

Daily Bible Study

September 19, 2020 Bible Study The Wise Will Shine and Lead Others To Righteousness

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I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

In the year 2000, on the 23rd day of this month, my wife married me.  So here we are on day 16 of the 20 days that I am going to wish her Happy Anniversary for 20 years of marriage.  Happy Anniversary Darling!

Today, I am reading and commenting on Daniel 11-12.

The events outlined in Chapter 11 represent the wars between the Seleucid and Ptolemaic Empires as they would have been perceived by the people living in Judea.  It was a reminder to the Jewish people that God was in control and that these troubling times would come to an end according to His plans.  Then in the summation of this vision in Chapter 12 we learn some things which should both encourage and frighten us.  A time of great anguish will come and only those whose names have been written in the book will be rescued.  In addition, at some point those who are dead and buried will rise up, some for everlasting life, but some for everlasting disgrace.  Let us strive to be among the wise who shine as a beacon to lead others to righteousness.