November 10, 2015. Daily Reading: II Chronicles 21-24. Background: II Chronicles 16-20. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 21 Jehoram: After the death of Jehoshaphat, his firstborn son Jehoram assumed the throne in his place. When he took the throne, he killed his brothers and some of the princes of Israel to establish his reign. Jehoram did…
Tag: journey through the Bible
Deuteronomy 1-3: Remembering history.
November 9, 2015. Daily reading: Deuteronomy 1-3. Background: The book of Deuteronomy is a unique book in the Hebrew scriptures, really standing independently from the previous books of the law and the subsequent books of history as it comprises aspects of both. The name is derived from a statement made in Deuteronomy 17:18 which talks…
James 4-5: Drawing near to God.
November 8, 2015. Daily Reading: James 4-5. Background: James 1-3. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 4 Drawing near to God: In this chapter James deals with the ever present threat of worldliness, offering practical wisdom to fight against the desires of the flesh. Notice how James doesn’t lay the blame on worldliness, however, but rather on…
Acts 5-6: The expansion of the gospel.
November 7, 2015. Daily Reading: Acts 5-6. Background: Acts 1-4. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 5 1. Lying to God: At the beginning of this chapter, Luke tells a story that was sure to have set a precedent of truthfulness in the early church, teaching the disciples a lesson in pride, attention and lying. We too…
Micah 1-7: Judgment and restoration.
November 6, 2015. Daily Reading: Micah 1-7. Background: The book of Micah is the sixth of the twelve minor prophets in Hebrew scripture and contains the word of the Lord delivered through the prophet Micah in the 8th century BC. A contemporary of Isaiah, Amos and Hosea, Miach’s ministry spanned from approximately 737–696 BC in the land…
Ecclesiastes 3-4: Time, the eternal and the finite.
November 5, 2015. Daily Reading: Ecclesiastes 3-4. Background: Ecclesiastes 1-2. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 3 1. A time for everything: The first eight verses of this chapter comprise what is perhaps one of the most well known passages in the book. In beautiful poetry, the preacher makes the point that there is a time for…
Psalm 119: For the love of the Law.
November 4, 2015. Daily Reading: Psalm 119. Background: Psalm 116-118. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 119 The love of the Law: This psalm is a very unique psalm that is set apart from the other psalms in length and focus. With 176 verses, psalm 119 is the longest psalm in the book (longer than any other given…
II Chronicles 16-20: Jehoshaphat.
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…
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…
Twenty Eight Eighteen 