BR-22 Chronological Bible Read (May 28 — June 3)

It’s Proverbs, Chronos, all week long!

Throughout Proverbs, on almost every page, the “fool” is regarded negatively. What's not clear from the reading is what that word actually means. In scripture, "Fool" does not refer to someone who is just being silly. It always means someone who is morally bankrupt, a person without virtue.

These are not silly people. These are empty people ... empty people who have no idea just how empty they are.

I can sum up Proverbs, pretty easily: pity —and mostly avoid— the fools.

For extra credit, check out the Dunning-Kruger Effect for a modern take on this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning–Kruger_effect

Blessings,
Steve
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We are reading The One Year Chronological Bible (New Living Translation - Tyndale). The best way is with your own copy of this Bible translation. Or, copy and paste this link to the daily reading schedule:
http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/readingplan/oneyearchronologicalbiblereadingplan.pdf

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My fave scripture this week:

Proverbs 10:12. Compare it to 1st Peter 4:8 to see why. Okay, I admit, you need to read it in a different translation to get the best effect: “Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.” (‭‭New King James Version‬‬, but other translations carry a similar message). Under the new dispensation —ushered in by Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection— the idea that “love covers a multitude of sins”: just sounds so new. But Peter didn’t just make that up out of thin air, and it wasn’t new with the teachings of Jesus. It had been there, deeply embedded in God’s wisdom literature for centuries.

[Note: Jesus and his close disciples often did this kind of thing ... brought existing teaching forward and highlighted it. Why? Because the “spiritual leaders” of that day were ignoring what had been right in front of them for centuries.]

These are a few of my favorite things:

Did you find some Proverbs you liked more than others? ... maybe some you did not like? Some of these strike me as true; but some I take issue with, not accepting them as universally applicable even though they are presented as if they are.

Here are some Proverbs I liked:
8:30 - "And when He [God] marked off the earth's foundations, I [Wisdom] was the architect at His side."
11:25 - "...those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed."
11:27 - "...if you search for evil, it will find you!"
14:4 - "Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest."
14:31 - "Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but helping the poor honors Him."
17:12 - "It is safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to confront a fool caught in foolishness(!)"

Here are some Proverbs I question:

Do you agree? Disagree? Agree to disagree? Let me know.

14:10 - "Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can fully share its joy." (That seems off. Surely we can let others in to help ameliorate our bitterness and to share in our joy.)

16:31 - "Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life." (It is the rare person who doesn't get gray hair ... just sayin')

18:23 - "The poor plead for mercy; the rich answer with insults." This leaves the impression that to be wealthy automatically means someone is a bad person ... makes me skeptical of the translation. I like the Common English Version (CSV) because I think it captures the true message of the passage: i.e., that the poor must exercise care when they speak, while the rich, because of their position and wealth, can act with near impunity and answer just about any way they want ... “The poor must beg for help, but the rich can give a harsh reply.” http://bible.com/392/pro.18.23.cev Or, consider The Scriptures 2009 version ... “The poor speaks beseechingly, But the rich answers fiercely.” http://bible.com/316/pro.18.23.ts2009

RESPONSES & REACTIONS NEXT WEEK!

BR-21 Chronological Bible Read (May 21-27)

How's the chronological approach going for you? Does it help or hinder to read the Bible this way?

For me, it’s like we’re Chrononauts (time travelers), getting the opportunity to peek in on the lives of those who came before us.

One thing I've noticed reading this way: there's always something running along beside the story. By that I mean, it's not just the history. There are also family genealogies, land grants, worship assignments, building plans and implementations, poetry (psalms), and, now, wisdom literature. After we’ve read and absorbed all those wise instructions and sayings, we'll start layering in the prophecies.

These non-linear pieces take on fresh meaning when they are placed in order like this. At the very least, I get an idea about what the contemporaries were doing and thinking when they first heard them.
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This week, time travelers, I located an article I really liked about reading through the Bible. I found it encourging ... and guilt-relieving. Maybe you will, too.
https://livingbydesign.org/yearly-bible-reading-plan/?utm_content=bufferaa9fe&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Blessings,
Steve

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We are reading The One Year Chronological Bible (New Living Translation - Tyndale). The best way is with your own copy of this Bible translation. Or, copy and paste this link to the daily reading schedule:
http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/readingplan/oneyearchronologicalbiblereadingplan.pdf

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Note: as has been happening, many of the Chronicles passages echo the King’s passages. A skim of the second may be enough to ensure you’ve not missed anything especially important.

THIS WEEK (1st Kings 3 through 9, and Proverbs 1 through 4)

1. It's “The Solomon Show” pretty much all week. He establishes his reign over Israel (as well as extra-Israel areas that were part of the original Promised Land as God described it to Abraham). He builds the Temple and he builds a few palaces or palatial residences; at least one separate residence for Pharaoh's daughter. He sets up all of the governmental structure.

2. May 21st - Possibly the most unusual words in scripture (1st Kings 3:16-28):
"two prostitutes came to the king to have an argument settled." And then, almost as strange: “And so they argued back and forth before the king.” I find myself wondering: did just anyone come before Solomon to settle disputes? Or, was this some special the-king-will-hear-from-the-people day? Was it some special occasion? I just cannot imagine a modern national leader, dictator, or sovereign slotted into this story in place of Solomon.

3. May 23rd - the passage comments on how very long were the poles they used to transport the Ark to the new Temple (1Kimgs8:1-11). Looks like they finally learned: do not touch the Ark!

4. May 25th - The Queen of Sheba (1Kings 10:1-13): Solomon really knew how to impress a visiting dignitary! Note her purpose for visiting.

4. May 27th - Great kick-off to the wisdom literature with the first first four chapters of Proverbs. Note the gender of Wisdom, the consequences of ignoring her, and her role in creation! Also, we begin the comparison between Wisdom and "the immoral woman."

5. My personal takeaway: a king who kneels before God is in no danger of falling.

NEXT WEEK
We move on to the main bout between Wisdom and "the immoral woman." The writer sets them up as diametrically opposed forces between which we must choose. It's a fight to the finish!

Following this, we get days and days of aphorisms: do you see any we should find particularly useful, now, in our own lives? Or are they artifacts of that time and place?

BR-20 Chronological Bible Read (May 14-20)

Can you believe we’ve read almost 2/3 of the psalms!

... and we’re done with them for a while. The next big group of them show up in the first two weeks in July. After that, there are only a handful remaining.

This week and next week: we move into the history of Solomon’s reign, including the building and dedication of the Temple.

And, next week: our first taste of Proverbs!

Blessings,
Steve
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We are reading The One Year Chronological Bible (New Living Translation - Tyndale). The best way is with your own copy of this Bible translation. Or, copy and paste this link to the daily reading schedule:
http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/readingplan/oneyearchronologicalbiblereadingplan.pdf

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I have received some great questions and comments from readers over the years we've been doing this daily Bible read. Here are some great ones about Psalms.

Who were the Psalms for (and how did we get them)?
I am wondering for whom the psalms were written: God? David? Other people? And, related, how did we get them?

1. QUESTION: “I keep wondering how the written psalms were passed along to us. While some seem specifically written to a person (example Psalm 39 to Jeduthun, director of music) others are very personal conversations between the Psalmist and God. Did the Psalmist (David) write down these intensely personal thoughts with the intention of sharing them with others?"

ANSWER: Israelites were referred to as "People of the Book." This was partly due to the preservation of the so-called "Books of Moses" in written form. But also because they continued to write everything down ... the words of the kings, the battles, the history of the Promised Land settlement, religious matters, etc. Sadly, we don't have all the books. But the ones we have include 150 psalms.

The psalms were intended for use in worship. Often, you will see an inscription at the beginning of a psalm, such as, "To Jeduthun, Director of Music." These are transmittal notices; as if to say, "Send this one over to the worship team so they can get it ready to perform at the next service." Also, when the king wrote the psalm, it was always preserved. But even those for which we are not certain about authorship, they became part of the worship music for the Temple, and were thus preserved (like a hymnal).

Many of them were very personal, and that was a large part of their attractiveness as worship songs. People could connect to them because they could relate.

2. QUESTION: ”I have a question about Psalm 22:16 that I'd never thought about before. Do you think David had some foreknowledge that Jesus would be crucified (‘pierced my hands and feet’), perhaps revealed to him by the Spirit Also, this and other psalms note it is to be sung to the tune of ____. How interesting if we could actually hear these tunes!”

ANSWER: Most scholars consider psalm 22 to be prophetic, as well as some other psalms, too. It’s important to recall that, with regard to David, the Holy Spirit fell on him and remained on him ... the first time this was specifically stated of someone.

3. COMMENT: “A psalm that has always stood out to me is Psalm 37. It's hard to attempt to understand injustice. When I see evil flourish in the world today, as in the OT world, it's hard. It's hard for me to read how unfairly women were treated in the OT and in many cultures today. And not only women; there is unfairness and injustice everywhere. I'm reminded that God's word calls me to help the oppressed and the abused, forgotten, etc., but Psalm 37 reminds me it is ultimately His responsibility to judge. ‘Don't worry about evil people who prosper... the LORD just laughs, for He sees their day of judgement coming.’"

NOTES
1. An OT Christology at Psalm 110 (May 14th). Recognize any of these prophetic references?
2. “Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God....” Psalm 50:14 (May 17th).
3. Solomon’s asks for wisdom! 2Chron 1:7ff (May 20th)
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The "Almost Missed It" Department
In our sprint through the scriptures, I almost missed commenting on this. Does it sound a little familiar? Among David's final instructions to Solomon was this gem: "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you." (May 4th, 1st Chronicles 28:20a) You can cross reference this with Hebrews 13:5.

PREVIEWS OF COMING ATTRACTIONS

Proverbs! - Ecclesiastes! - Song of Solomon! - Kings!

BR-19 Chronological Bible Read (May 7-13)

Wow, Chronos, I count 41 psalms this week!

That's a lot of psalms. While I can’t go over all of them, I am going to focus on a few key thoughts. Be on the lookout for them as we continue in Psalms.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the psalms we're reading. Any one or two that stand out for you? Specific ideas or encouragements you garnered from your reading? Questions?

Drop me a note and let me know.

Blessings,
Steve
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We are reading The One Year Chronological Bible (New Living Translation - Tyndale). The best way is with your own copy of this Bible translation. Or, copy and paste this link to the daily reading schedule:
http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/readingplan/oneyearchronologicalbiblereadingplan.pdf

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May 7: Who are your heroes?
Do they know? Do you enjoy them?
“The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them!”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭16:3‬ ‭

May 8: Who are your enemies?
Do they see you at God’s banquet?
“You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23:5‬a

May 9: What is your victory song?
Do you hear it? Do you sing it?
“For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭32:7‬

May 11: What sparks your joy?
“Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble. The Lord protects them and keeps them alive. He gives them prosperity in the land and rescues them from their enemies. The Lord nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭41:1-3‬

May 13: What is your encouragement?
“The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged. For the Lord hears the cries of the needy; he does not despise his imprisoned people.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭69:32-33‬


FORGIVING YOUR ENEMIES ... DAVID-STYLE!
One theme that stands out for me this week: enemies! Seems like almost every psalm references David's enemies. They are chasing him, gossiping about him, trying to kill him, lying to him, trying to steal the kingdom from him. And David is not shy about what he would like for God to do to/with his enemies.

For example-
Psalm 12, May 7th: "cut off their flattering lips"
Psalm 28, May 9th: "Give them the punishment they so richly deserve!"
Psalm 35, May 10th: "Let sudden ruin come upon them!"
Psalm 55, May 11th: "Let the grave swallow them alive!"
Psalm 68, May 13: "Melt them like wax in a fire!"

All of this seems to run counter to the teaching of Jesus: to love our enemies and to pray for them. But does it? Keep in mind that, while Psalms are poems and songs, they are also prayers, conversations between the Psalmist and God. Yes, David wishes all these horrible things to befall the enemies of himself, enemies of Israel, enemies of God. But take note: Instead of actually doing these things, himself, David brings it all to God in prayer!

Forgiving our enemies does not mean we have to like them, and it does not mean we have to pretend we do not desire revenge for all the bad they have done to us or those we love. What it does mean is that we have to bring all of that —the attacks, our anger and frustration, and, yes, our vengeful thoughts— to God. We must turn it all over to Him; release it all to Him. Then, and only then, can we truly forgive our enemies.


CHRISTOLOGIES IN THE PSALMS
God sent the Holy Spirit onto David in his youth and that spiritual anointing remained throughout his life. One of the most interesting things to result are the prophetic glimpses we see in some of the psalms.

At least two psalms were quoted by Jesus on the cross: Psalm 22:1 ("My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?!" ) and Psalm 31:5 ("Into your hand, I commit my spirit."). But there are others that reference His life, death, and resurrection.

Do any these ring a bell?
Psalm 16:10, May 7th
Psalm 22 (all of it), May 8th (Note: quoted on the cross)
Psalm 31, May 9th
Psalm 69:21, May 13th