November 3, 2015. Daily Reading: II Chronicles 16-20. Background: II Chronicles 11-15. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 16 The final years of Asa: For much of this chapter, see II Kings 15:17-24. The only part that is added here is verses 7-10, in which the Lord speaks to Asa through Hanani the seer rebuking him for relying…
Category: Christianity
Numbers 33-36: Preparing the way before entering the promised land.
November 2, 2015. Daily Reading: Numbers 33-36. Back ground: Numbers 29-32. Concepts and Connections. Numbers 33 The path of the exodus and the warning from God: This chapter records the path of the journey of the children of Israel took from their exodus of Egypt all the way to their encampment by the Jordan just before…
James 1-3: Practical Christianity.
November 1, 2015. Daily Reading: James 1-3. Background: The book of James was most likely authored by James the brother of Jesus who was a prominent leader in the Jerusalem church and well recognized among the apostles (see Acts 12:17, 15:13-22, I Corinthians 15:7, Galatians 1:19 and 2:9), though he apparently didn’t become a follower…
Acts 1-4: Witnesses.
October 31, 2015. Daily Reading: Acts 1-4. Background: The book of Acts is Luke’s second writing to Theophilus (see background to Luke), who was probably a Roman, perhaps even a high ranking Roman, which continues the story of the unfolding of the gospel. His first book detailed the life and ministry of Jesus Christ through eye…
Jonah 1-4: The prophet who hated people.
October 30, 2015. Daily Reading: Jonah 1-4. Background: The book of Jonah is the fifth of the minor prophets and tells quite a story of a prophet who tried to run from his call from God. This story is a favorite children’s story, though the version that is told to children is often very different…
Ecclesiastes 1-2: All is vanity.
October 29, 2015. Daily Reading: Ecclesiastes 1-2. Background: The book of Ecclesiastes is one of the most interesting and different books found in scripture. The words of the preacher, or teacher (or even gatherer- Hebrew “Qoheleth”) are traditionally ascribed to Solomon, though modern scholarship doesn’t take too well to this idea. The author never names…
Psalm 116-118: The love of the Lord endures forever.
October 28, 2015. Daily Reading: Psalm 116-118. Background: Psalm 114-115. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 116 The Lord delivers: This is a psalm of thanks to the Lord, acknowledging the Lord’s hearing and answering the prayers of the psalmist, delivering him from the snares of death and Sheol. The psalmist proclaims his love for the Lord…
II Chronicles 11-15: Rehoboam, Abijah and Asa.
October 27, 2015. Daily Reading: II Chronicles 11-15. Background: II Chronicles 6-10. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 11 Rehoboam: As the kingdom was divided in the previous chapter because of Rehoboam’s folly, we find him at the beginning of the chapter mounting an army to take back the tribes of Israel who were in rebellion against…
Numbers 29-32: Offerings, avenging and inheritance.
October 26, 2015. Daily Reading: Numbers 29-31. Background: Numbers 25-28. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 29 Offerings in the seventh month: The seventh month was a busy month for the Israelites, as they had several memorials and feasts set aside to worship the Lord. Here, Moses is given instructions about the offerings that were to be…
Hebrews 11-13: The outcome of faith.
October 25, 2015. Daily Reading: Hebrews 11-13. Background: Hebrews 9-10. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 11 The hall of faith: After demonstrating Christ as the bringer of a new and better covenant, showing Him though the Hebrew scriptures, the Hebrew writer goes onto here what is often referred to as the hall of faith. Defining faith…
Obadiah: The oracle against Edom.
October 23, 2015. Daily Reading: Obadiah. Background: Few clues are given in the text of this prophet to estimate the date and time periods that Obadiah prophesied. Different dates have been discussed based on contextual clues (such as Edom’s future raiding when Jerusalem is attacked), the two main suggestions being c. 850 BC, which would make…
Proverbs 30-31: Appendixes.
October 22, 2014. Daily Reading: Proverbs 30-31. Background: Proverbs 28-29. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 30 The words of Agur: As we approach the final two chapters of the book of proverbs, it is interesting to note that these are not proverbs of Solomon, but attributed to other people (though some would say that these people…
Twenty Eight Eighteen 