March 15, 2015. Daily Reading: I Corinthians 9-10. Background: I Corinthians 7-8. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 9 1. Paul’s defense to the Corinthians: In this chapter, Paul defends his apostleship and talks about his and Barnabas’ rights in the Lord in comparison to the rest of the body of Christ. Two things may have been at…
Category: Christianity
Matthew 26-28: The death, burial and resurrection.
March 14, 2015. (3.14.15. 9:26:53) Daily Reading: Matthew 26-28. Background: Matthew 23-25. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 26 1. Foreshadowing: As He has told His disciples on a number of occasions, Jesus once again tells them that He is about to be delivered over to be crucified. His hour had come and they would soon be tested…
Isaiah 51-55: The gospel according to Isaiah.
March 13, 2015. Daily Reading: Isaiah 51-55. Background: Isaiah 45-50. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 51 Zion’s coming comfort: In chapter 51, the oracle calls to the righteous of the land, to the people of God, to proclaim the coming comfort that would come from the Lord. This call goes out to a people who might…
Psalm 27-29: The Lord’s glory.
March 11, 2015. Today’s Reading: Psalm 27-29. Background: Psalm 24-26. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 27 “Whom shall I fear?”: As in many of the psalms, David directs our minds here to the power and protection of the Lord when we are in His fold. Since the Lord is his light, salvation and stronghold, David assures all…
Ruth 1-4: Redemption.
March 10, 2015. Daily Reading: Ruth 1-4. Background: The book of Ruth details a story of two widowed woman, a mother and her daughter-in-law, in the time when Judges lead Israel. The book was likely composed or finalized during the time of the kings, specifically during the reign of David or immediately following, judging from…
Genesis 36-39: The early life of Joseph and his brothers.
March 9, 2015. Daily Reading: Genesis 36-39. Background: Genesis 32-35. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 36 Esau’s (Edom) descendants: The lineage of Esau is full of many names that likely sound unfamiliar and do not have detailed stories about the lives of those named, as the plan of God was to be fulfilled through Jacob and…
I Corinthians 7-8: Marriage and freedom.
March 8, 2015. Daily Reading: I Corinthians 7-8. Background: I Corinthians 4-6. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 7 1. Marriage and singleness: In this rather famous chapter, Paul lays out some guidelines for the Corinthians about marriage because they had written to him concerning the matter. It is possible, judging by the quotation that Paul uses that…
Matthew 23-25: Woes, signs and parables.
March 7, 2015. Daily Reading: Matthew 23-25. Background: Matthew 20-22. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 23 Seven woe’s to the scribes and Pharisees: In this passage, Jesus talks very openly and distinctly about the scribes and the Pharisees. It does not seem that He is too worried about whether or not they would take offense at His…
Isaiah 45-50: Prophecy of Babylon’s fall and the call of the Lord’s people.
March 6, 2015. Daily Reading: Isaiah 45-50. Background: Isaiah 40-44. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 45 1. God uses who He will: As the people are in Babylonian captivity, the Lord as raise up a king, according to His plan from the days of old, to concur Babylon and deliver the children of Israel. This king was…
Job 18-19: Bildad and Job.
March 5, 2015. Daily Reading: Job 18-19. Background: Job 15-17. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 18 1. Self-centered comfort: As Bildad once again addresses Job to answer his comments, it would seem that he is more interested in his own self interest than that of comforting Job. Tensions were likely high, especially after all the back and…
Psalm 24-26: Glory and instruction.
March 4, 2015. Daily Reading: Psalm 24-26. Background: Psalm 21-23. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 24 The King of Glory: The 24th psalm has mainly one subject: the King of Glory. This phrase is repeated five times in the final stanza, as repetition is a common technique in Hebrew poetry, must like rhyme is a common…
Judges 17-21: Perversion in Israel.
March 3, 2015. Daily Reading: Judges 17-21. Background: Judges 11-16. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 17 1. “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes”: The final section in Judges is one that might be very hard to read through, especially if you are not prepared for stories like these to be in the bible….
Twenty Eight Eighteen 