February 2, 2015. Daily Reading: Genesis 15-19. Background: Genesis 9-14. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 15 Re-telling the promise, established via covenant: At the beginning of this chapter, Abram has just returned form rescuing Lot from Chedorlaomer king of Elam and the kings that accompanied him in battle against Sodom and Gomorrah. After returning successfully, the word of…
Author: Walt, Ph.D.
Romans 9-11: The plan of God.
February 1, 2015. Daily Reading: Romans 9-11. Background: Romans 7-8. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 9 1. Israel, God’s chosen people: Sometimes in Christianity, we forget about the importance of Israel and where it all began. In Genesis 12, God called Abraham (at that time his name was Abram) out of his land to go into…
Matthew 8-10: Miracles and teaching.
January 31, 2015. Daily Reading: Matthew 8-10. Background: Matthew 5-7. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 8 1. Faith in Jesus’ power: This chapter focuses heavily on Jesus’ healing miracles after He came down off the mountain where He gave the sermon on the mount. In the next chapter we will see more of the purpose of…
Isaiah 18-22: Prophecy with the end in mind.
January 30, 2015. A note on the sections of Isaiah (and probably later prophecy), I would be lying if I said that prophecy in the middle of Isaiah is simple or that I have all the answers and can tell you exactly what is going on (there is much argument even amongst scholars as to…
Job 8: When we think we have all the answers.
January 29, 2015. Daily Reading: Job 8. Background: Job 6-7. After Job has given his response to Eliphaz, Bildad makes a plea to Job that he should repent. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 8 1. We have all the answers when we aren’t the one suffering: Sometimes when a friend or family member is suffering and…
Psalm 9-11: Righteousness and refuge.
January 28, 2015. Daily Reading: Psalm 9-11. Background: Psalm 6-8. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 9 The Lord’s Righteousness: A common motif throughout the psalms is praising God for His righteousness. The character of the Lord is shown throughout these praises as He gives judgement to the faithful and the wicked according to their lifestyle. This…
Joshua 16-20: Signs of trouble during the fulfilling of the promise.
January 27, 2015. Daily Reading: Joshua 16-20. Background: Joshua 11-15. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 16 Starting to slide: There is a phrase that comes up a couple of times in these chapters that indicates the beginning of the backslide of Israel. In Exodus 33:50-56, God gave the command to Moses to drive out all the inhabitants…
Genesis 9-14: New beginnings.
January 26, 2015. Daily Reading: Genesis 9-14. Background: Genesis 6-8. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 9 1. A new beginning and a new covenant: After Noah and his family were brought safely through the flood via the ark, it was time for a new beginning and a new covenant between God and man. There were a few…
Romans 7-8: Flesh versus Spirit.
January 25, 2015. Daily Reading: Romans 7-8. Background: Romans 5-6. Concepts and Connections: Chapter 7 1. Old Law and Christ: As we have seen from the previous chapters, Paul is making an argument of the difference between being under the Old Law given by Moses and being in Christ. Though the law in an of…
Matthew 5-7: The sermon on the mount.
January 24, 2015. Daily Reading: Matthew 5-7. Background: Matthew 3-4. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 5 1. The Beatitudes: The beatitudes are some of the most well known words of Jesus amongst Christians. They are the first words recorded at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and have had a lasting effect throughout the generations. One way…
Isaiah 12-17: Oracles of destruction.
January 23, 2015. Daily Reading: Isaiah 12-17. Background: Isaiah 6-11. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 12 Praising the Lord for His steadfast love and salvation: After oracles of the coming destruction and captivity and oracles of the Messiah, the prophet’s words turn to praise and honor for the Great King, Almighty, Lord of hosts. There is…
Job 6-7: Questioning God.
January 22, 2015. Daily Reading: Job 6-7. Background: Job 3-5. Before these two chapters, Job has lost everything, his three friends have come to visit him, they have sat in silence for seven days before Job began to talk and lament his life. After his first lament, Job’s friend Eliphaz speaks up in rebuttal, trying…
Twenty Eight Eighteen 