Bible in a Year Blog

5 responses to “February 23rd One Year Bible Readings”

1. 

   Skip

   February 23, 2008

   Psalm 40:5 stood out to me today. “…Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.” How true this verse is to all of us. God’s plans for each and every one of us ARE much too numerous to list in any form. If you sit in a quite place and meditate on how many wonderful deeds and wonderful things have happened to you, you can just keep going on and on and on. And if you include the wonderful things around you, and also include your family and friends, I’m sure that the list would take longer than our lifetime to create. God has done so many wonderful deeds in my life and I’m sure in yours too!
   John 6:46 also stood out to me. “46 After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray.” Throughout the Bible we read about Jesus going off by himself to pray to the father. There is definitely something special about having a quite place where you can be alone with God in prayer. I am very fortunate that I have such a place. About a mile from my house there is a place that we call Indian Tower. It is a tower that was built on the highest point in the town and was used during the Indian wars as a look out for attacks. It is an open tower with a spiral staircase in the center. From the top you can see the entire valley for miles in all directions. What a beautiful sight and what a wonderful place to be alone with God. I go there often when I need that alone time. It not only gives me a place to be alone with God, but being able to see for miles in all directions also puts life in perspective, reassuring me that God is in control.
   Yours in Christ
   Skip

   Loading...

   Reply
2. 

   John A.

   February 23, 2008

   Psalm 40:1-10
   What do we know? This Psalm is written to be sung in public worship, and it is written by David. But who is the singer? Based on Hebrews 10, the singer is Jesus Christ. The Holy spirit was writing through David putting the words of Jesus Christ to this “Song of Delieverance”.
   Hebrews10:5-7 (same as Psalm 40:6-8 given Septuagint translation)
   “Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
   “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
   but a body you prepared for me;
   6with burnt offerings and sin offerings
   you were not pleased.
   7Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
   I have come to do your will, O God.'” NIV
   ======================================================
   What is Christ singing about?
   1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
   he turned to me and heard my cry.
   Jesus trusted in the Father – he waited patiently in the grave, and ultimately God heard Jesus’ cry (for salvation/resurrection).
   “God’s help comes, not too soon, lest we should not know
   the blessedness of trusting in the dark, and not too late,
   lest we should know the misery of trusting in vain.” – David Jeremiah
   Verse 2: Jesus is resurrected.
   Verse 3: God puts a song in Jesus’ mouth in Praise to God. God does it – we do not do it on our own. Even after salvation it is God who does works through us.
   ======================================================
   4 Blessed is the man
   who makes the LORD his trust,
   who does not look to the proud,
   to those who turn aside to false gods.
   Blessed – Hebrew for blessed or HAPPY. there is great Joy in trusting in the Lord, for we will finally fulfill that NEED we have of being connected to the Creator. We do not look to the proud (who have rejected God).
   ======================================================
   Jesus’ submission to God’s plan
   In verse 6 we step out of time into eternity. To the words Jesus spoke in heaven before He came to earth.
   Jesus continues with a commitment to obedience, a desire to surrender his heart and will completely to his Father.
   “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,..”
   It says that this was historical reality, but God never really wanted it. It says these sacrifices were “not required” and “not desired.” The blood of lambs and bulls and goats was not what God was after. Jesus understood that God gave these sacrifices as an object lesson. What God was after was a restoration of the relationship between God and man. The sacrifices symbolized what Jesus was coming to do, and pointed out the needs of man towards their God.
   “but my ears you have pierced” – whether this was symbolic of a bond-servant who lovingly wanted to stay and serve his master (by having his ear pierced), or Jesus having his ears opened to be able to hear and obey God on earth – the idea here is one of submission.
   “Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—
   it is written about me in the scroll.”
   Like Isaiah, and unlike Moses originally in Midian – Jesus says – Here I am – I will do it – I will do what has been decided before time began.
   “I desire to do your will, O my God;
   your law is within my heart.”
   Jesus came to make himself completely available to God, voluntarily without any external pressure. It happened because he had internalized God’s Law-ultimate reality, the greatest good revealed in the Scriptures. It had been written on his heart, and it controlled everything he said and did.
   Jesus gave us the example. Is any Christian, anyone who has accepted Jesus as His LORD and Savior, to do any less? We need to go back to Psalm 25 (first twelkve verses) – and develop the heart like David that is exemplified in Christ. Trust, be humble, submit, and be in reverence/awe of God. The heart that Jesus exemplified perfectly.
   ======================================================
   9 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;
   I do not seal my lips,
   as you know, O LORD.
   10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
   I speak of your faithfulness and salvation.
   I do not conceal your love and your truth
   from the great assembly.
   Can anyone deny that this is what Jesus did? So hundreds of years before Christ came – David describes – death, resurrection, Jesus’ attitude towards God and His ministry. All this in sharp contrast to what the Priest’s of the temple thought the Messiah would do on earth – be a man, a king, and mighty military power.

   Loading...

   Reply
3. 

   John A.

   February 23, 2008

   Proverbs10:12
   “Hatred stirs up dissension,
   but love covers over all wrongs.”
   A hateful spirit isn’t satisfied to forgive and forget; it insists on raking up old grudges and quarrels. A heart of love draws a curtain of secrecy over the faults and failures of others. These faults and failures must, of course, be confessed and forsaken, but love does not gossip about them or keep the pot boiling.
   MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. 1997, c1995. Believer’s Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments . Thomas Nelson: Nashville

   Loading...

   Reply
4. 

   John A.

   February 23, 2008

   Mark 6:30-56
   Holding off on feeding five thousand until a later Gospel – but it is worthy to note that Jesus – the bread of life – could symbolically sustain the nation of Israel – through the grace and mercy of God the Father. Not just sustain, but overflowing in grace and mercy via the twelve leftover baskets.
   ======================================================
   Walking on Water
   Again – going to hold off except for:
   Mark 6:52 – “for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.” NIV
   How were there hearts hardened???? Was it as simple as not tying together that the man who could feed five thousand from a few loaves could certainly have the ability to walk on water?????
   I saw the numbers before, but it never struck me to connect them to the leftover baskets.
   The woman of blood had the disease twelve years, Jarius’ daughter was twelve, there were twelve disciples sent out two by two, and there were twelve baskets of leftover food.
   I believe God is a great one to give underlying clues as to what he is about. I think the number “twelve” in all these instances is to refer to the twelve tribes of Israel.
   I believe God is showing here that the Son of God had arrived and was there to heal (restore) the sick (in sin), raise the dead (provide a new life), and provide the “bread of eternal life” for the nation of Israel. Down to the big clue that there would be “twelve” apostles to carry out this mission after Christ left.
   The apostles kept thinking – who is this man??? They had still not connected the dots. Oh, they probably knew He was from God, but I think here they are still not acknowledging deity.
   How was their heart(s) hardened? My speculation is that they thought they were following the Messiah – but their concept of the Messiah was a man who would be raised up by God to rule on King David’s throne (and by the way throw out the hated Romans). They were probably thinking when the time is right – Jesus would take His rightful role. They were correct, but they misunderstood the role.
   With each passing act by Jesus – they had to keep asking themselves the question – Who is this man????? And with each sign and wonder Jesus is giving a clue.
   Here on the water Jesus even says. ‘Take courage. I am (ego eimi – Jehovah). Do not be afraid.’
   It will be a while before the disciples get it – and only then – when the Father removes the blinders and softens their heart so they can see the Truth that is Jesus Christ.

   Loading...

   Reply
5. 

   John A.

   February 23, 2008

   Posts are a little light today, so I want to share with you something I posted last year. On almost every page of the Old Testament – God is pointing to and proclaiming Jesus Christ to the nation of Israel. This is what I think Jesus taught the disciples on the “Road to Emmaus”.
   ======================================================
   Had seen individual explanations of Old Testament books pointing to Christ, but first time I found it altogether. From sermon of Stephen Davey, First Colonial Baptist church.
   . Genesis – He is the prophesied seed who
   will crush the serpent’s head; He is the
   brother betrayed by His kinsmen, whose
   betrayal will lead to their deliverance;
   . Exodus – He is the great “I AM”; He is the
   Passover Lamb whose blood protects His
   people from the angel of death and the
   wrath of God; He is manna from heaven
   and water from the rock;
   . Leviticus – He is the tabernacle of God
   among men:
   . He is the brazen alter – signifying His
   death which gives entrance;
   . He is the brazen laver – promising to
   cleanse us from every sin;
   . He is the bread – signifying food that
   gives everlasting life;
   . He is the golden lamp stand – the light
   of the world that will never be
   extinguished;
   . He is the altar of incense – perpetually
   interceding on our behalf;
   . He is the veil – through Him is the only
   access into the presence of God;
   . He is the ark – He embodies that holy
   place where heaven touches earth;
   . He is the Holy of Holies – in Him
   dwells all the fullness of the Godhead.
   . Numbers – He is the great hope in whom
   all can safely put their trust; He is the great
   High Priest who will never fail;
   . Deuteronomy – He is the Lord our God; He
   is the city of refuge where criminals may
   run for protection;
   . Joshua – He is the champion over every
   enemy that stands in the way of God’s
   people;
   . Judges – He is the angel of God,
   empowering the weak and pursuing the
   wandering; He is the perfection of grace
   and patience toward His wandering people;
   . Ruth – He is the wealthy landowner who
   redeems His gentile bride from hopeless
   poverty; placing her in the family line of
   royalty; giving her the right to everything
   of His vast estate;
   . I and II Samuel – He is the name of the
   Lord, in whose strength young men of faith
   conquer enemies and slay giants;
   . Kings and Chronicles – He is the sovereign
   King behind and above all kingdoms, both
   pagan and God-fearing;
   . Ezra – He is the keeper of divine promise to
   Israel and the hand that liberates His people
   from bondage;
   . Nehemiah – He is the re-builder of broken
   lives and the restorer of broken fellowship;
   . Esther – He is behind the scenes,
   outsmarting the evil one and seeing that His
   remnant remain, whispering into the ear of
   a young queen that for such a time as this,
   she has been crowned.
   . Job – He is the majestic One who rides
   upon the wind and commands the lightning;
   He is the Lord of mystery who does not
   explain life, but reveals He is sovereign
   over all of life;
   . Psalms – He is the rock of refuge, the
   Shepherd of the sheep, the tower of shelter,
   the sweet honey of revelation, thirst quenching
   water, a crucified Savior, and a
   sin forgiving Redeemer;
   . Proverbs – He is everlasting wisdom;
   divine counsel for those who accept His
   invitation to turn aside and listen;
   . Ecclesiastes – He is eternal satisfaction
   over every earthly desire; He is the One to
   be remembered in the days our youth;
   . Song of Solomon – He is the Bridegroom
   who pursues His bride, stopping at nothing
   until she is safely in His arms;
   . Isaiah – He is Emmanuel, the suffering
   Savior, the One crushed for our iniquities
   and the coming Prince of Peace whose
   strong shoulder will one day bear the
   governments of the world;
   . Jeremiah – He is the branch of
   righteousness who brings justice and
   equity; He is the promised One who will
   write a new covenant on the hearts of His
   people;
   . Lamentations – He is the father who
   disciplines the sons He loves;
   . Ezekiel – He is resurrection power,
   breathing life into dry bones and bringing
   life from death; He is the faithful leader re-gathering
   His wandering flock;
   . Daniel – He is the stone, cut without hands,
   rejected by kingdoms, yet smiting the false
   image and filling the earth with His glory;
   He is the one whose Kingdom will not end;
   . Hosea – He is the faithful husband of the
   faithless wife;
   . Joel – He is the hope of His people, the
   strength of the children of Israel;
   . Amos – He is the wrath of God against
   oppressors; He is the promise of vineyards
   and gardens where His children will one
   day rest;
   . Obadiah – He ascends Mount Zion as the
   deliverer who judges the kingdoms of this
   world and inaugurates His own everlasting
   reign;
   . Jonah – He is the fulfillment of the sign that
   after three days and three nights, the Son of
   Man will come forth vindicating the
   righteousness of God and resurrection
   power;
   . Micah – He is the One who pardons our
   iniquities; who does not retain His anger
   forever; who delights in unchanging love;
   He is the one who treads our iniquities
   under His feet; who casts all our sins into
   the depths of the sea;
   . Nahum – He is slow to anger and great in
   power; of Him the mountains quake and the
   hills dissolve, yet He is a safe haven for all
   who hide in Him;
   . Habakkuk – He is radiant like sunlight;
   whose strength makes our feet like the
   hinds feet, and makes us walk on high
   places;
   . Zephaniah – He is the One who will gather
   those who grieve and those who are lame
   and those who are outcast; He is the One
   who will turn their shame and despair into
   everlasting praise;
   . Haggai – He is the victorious Lord of hosts
   who will shake the heavens and the earth as
   He overthrows the nations of this world; He
   is the One who will wear His chosen people
   as jewels around His omnipotent fingers;
   . Zechariah – He stands with His redeemed
   on the Mount of Olives; His holiness will
   be praised, even by the inscriptions on the
   bells of horses’ bridles as they gallop
   through the city of His glory – “Holy to the
   Lord” will be their praise for the Messiah;
   . Malachi – He is the divine Refiner, sitting
   over the smelting pot of His universe,
   purifying His chosen people as silver and
   gold; He is the great King, who does not
   change; and for all those who believe in
   Him, He will one day rise with healing in
   His wings!

   Loading...

   Reply