BR-32 Chronological Bible Read (August 6-12)

My Bible is so full of underlines, this week, Chronos! I couldn’t possibly include them all, here. Drop me a note if I missed something you found useful or inspiring.

This scripture sums up the last few weeks:
“When I led your ancestors out of Egypt, it was not burnt offerings and sacrifices I wanted from them. This is what I told them: ‘Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!’ “But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward.”
‭‭(Jeremiah‬ ‭7:22-24‬)

There is a "forward" and we are supposed to go that direction. I realize I may be over-simplifying, but it doesn't seem all that complicated to me ... challenging, maybe, but not complicated.

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

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The Almost-Missed-It Department:
From Week 30: On July 25th, we read “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!” (‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭52:7‬). This is echoed in Romans 10:13-15. Another NT point made with an OT scripture!


This week's highlights:
At first, we alternate between Jeremiah and Daniel; they overlap in the same timeframe. The well-known "fiery furnace" shows up, along with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Also: Jeremiah questions the Lord's justice! And, on August 12th, God shows Jeremiah a vision of good and bad figs. There's a lesson for us in that about who is seemingly punished (the exiles) and who is seemingly saved (those not carried away to Babylon).

August 6th - Jeremiah 20:9 - Famous scripture phrase and Jesus reference all in one ... Fire in my bones! (Jeremiah says God’s "word" burns in him "like a fire on my bones!" Eventually, that burning word became flesh and walked the earth.)

August 7th - Daniel 3:22 - None of my Sunday School teachers ever mentioned the fate of the soldiers who threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Adednego into the fiery furnace.

August 7th - Jeremiah 7:11 - Jesus reference: "Den of Thieves" is what Jesus shouts when he cleanses the Temple.

August 8th - Jeremiah 8:22 (and on August 5th; Jeremiah 46:11) There always was a balm in Gilead (a city known for its physicians and healing medicines)

August 8th - Jeremiah 9:24 - Compare to Paul's letters 1Cor 1:31 & 2Cor 10:17 (Boasting only in the Lord)

August 8th - Jeremiah 11:19 - Jesus reference: "like a lamb to the slaughter"

August 9th - Jeremiah 13:23 - Can a leopard change its spots?

August 9th - Jeremiah 15:10b - Shakespeare reference: Polonius somewhat garbled this when giving advice to his son, Laertes, in Hamlet: "Neither a borrower nor a lender be."

August 10th - Jeremiah 17:9-10 - Famous scripture phrase: The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.

August 10th - Jeremiah 18:6-8 — Here is an Old Testament scripture where God declares He is the potter and we are the clay.

August 11th - Jeremiah 23:5-6 — Famous because it is usually rendered "branch of David" (i.e., Branch Davidians) and is actually a reference to Jesus.

August 11th — Jeremiah 23:23-24 — God declares that He is omnipresent.

August 12th — Jeremiah 24:1-10 — The good and bad figs metaphor. Note that the good figs represented those who were carried off into exile. Just because what’s happening seems bad, it isn’t necessarily actually bad. Something to ponder.

August 12th - Jeremiah 29:1-15 Here is the famous and often repeated "I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jer 29:11). However, when you read it in context, you understand that this was a promise God made to the exiled Israelites ... not to school graduates about to enter the workforce.

Next week:
I think we will be finishing up with Jeremiah's prophecies; primarily to Judah, its exiles, and against Babylon. Then, we enter into Ezekiel's prophecies (himself among those exiled to Babylon, with some overlap in the timeframe of Jeremiah); plus, what some call an extraterrestrial encounter!

BR-31 Chronological Bible Read (July 30 - August 5)

The Key verse this week, Chronos, is also my main highlight:
“Thus says the Lord: Stand by the roads and look; and ask for the eternal paths, where the good, old way is; then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah‬ ‭6:16a‬ [July 31st]

Don't miss the link to Jesus and His easy yolk in Matthew 11:29, of course. But, how about the link to "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?" I love that this Jeremiah passage is the key source to part of an old hymn. It's been titled "Down to the River to Pray" and "The Good Old Way," among others. It's been around since the 1800's in one form or another, so a little variety is probably not a surprise. If you haven't heard it in church, you may have heard it during the movie where they sing “...studying about that good, old way.”
Click Here to watch a video clip from the movie, with Allison Krause singing the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fztz_Vr9uHk&app=desktop

Blessings,
Steve
_________________________

We’re reading The One Year Chronological Bible, New Living Translation (Tyndale). It’s best with your own copy. Or, copy and paste this link to the daily reading schedule:
http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/readingplan/oneyearchronologicalbiblereadingplan.pdf

_________________________

This week's highlights:

The prophecies of Jeremiah started last week, but I'm going to include my comments this week when we read the bulk of the book. We also get more histories, as well as the prophecies of: Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah.

July 29th - Jeremiah 1:7 "Don't say 'I am too young!'" God does not accept our age as a reason to not serve Him.

July 29th - Jeremiah 2:13 Jesus reference: "fountain of living water"

July 30th - Jeremiah 4:3&4 THIS IS SO RICH!
“Plow up the hard ground of your hearts!”
“Do not waste your good seed among thorns.” (X-ref Matthew 13:1-9)
"Circumcise your hearts" (X-ref to Deut 10:16 & 30:6, Rom 2:29)

July 31st - 2Kings 22:3-20 - They discover a scroll of the Law of God. When the King hears what is written there, he despairs at the nation’s sins. The High Priest consults “...the Prophet Huldah. She was the wife of Shallum....” God gives her the prophetic message for the King and for the nation.

August 1st - Nahum 1:7 The Lord is "a strong refuge when trouble comes." Sound familiar?

August 2nd - Habakkuk 2:4 "The righteous live by faith” (Compare to Rom 1:17, Gal 3:11, & Heb 10:37-38).

August 2nd - Habakkuk 2:20 "The Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before him."
Hear it sung at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROQnzyl97Io

August 3rd - Zephaniah 2:10 says the enemies of the Lord's people will "receive the wages of their pride" because they scoff at God's people.

August 3rd - 2 Chronicles 35:20-23 ... Good to keep in mind that God does in fact sometimes speak to those we may choose as our enemies. It's not always about us.

August 4th - Jeremiah 22:3 “This is what the Lord says: Be fair-minded and just. Do what is right! Help those who have been robbed; rescue them from their oppressors. Quit your evil deeds! Do not mistreat foreigners, orphans, and widows. Stop murdering the innocent!”

August 4th - Jeremiah 26:13 “But if you will stop your sinning and begin to obey the Lord your God, he will change his mind about this disaster that he has announced against you.”

August 5th - One of my favorite passages (Jeremiah 36:21-32) God tells Jeremiah to write down all of his prophecies; giving one last chance for the people to hear them and repent. But, after hearing, the king cuts them up and tosses them into the fire!!
God's response? He tells Jeremiah, "Get another scroll ...."
I LOVE THIS!! Just start all over, Jeremiah, and we'll do it again. God will not let His mercy be denied!!


Next week:
At first, we alternate between Jeremiah and Daniel; they overlap in the same timeframe. The well known "fiery furnace" shows up, along with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Also: Jeremiah questions the Lord's justice! Also, on August 12th, God shows Jeremiah a vision of good and bad figs. There's a lesson for us in that about who is seemingly punished (the exiles) and who is seemingly saved (those not carried away to Babylon).

BR-30 Chronological Bible Read (July 23-29)

Hang in there. We're going to make it. Only 22 weeks to go 👍

I usually place these clips in the notes, below. But this one is just too good to wait. We are privileged to read Isaiah 40, especially verses 26-31, one of my favorite passages in scripture. Perhaps you've heard the song based on that portion of the chapter (Wings of Eagles).

If you saw the movie, Chariots of Fire (and you should if you haven't), you may recall the following, very powerful clip. Olympic runner, Eric Liddell, preaches from Isaiah 40. When pressured by the Crown and by the Church of England to compete on a Sunday in his 1924 Olympic event, Eric refused, opting to preach at a local church, instead.
CLICK HERE to view it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjF59VB0h6g&app=desktop

Blessings,
Steve
_________________________

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

_________________________


This week's key verse:
(July 27th - I added the bullet points) -
“...this is the kind of [worship] I want:

•Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;
•lighten the burden of those who work for you.

•Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people.
•Share your food with the hungry, and
•give shelter to the homeless.
•Give clothes to those who need them, and
•do not hide from relatives who need your help.

Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.

Then when you call, the Lord will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.

•Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.
•Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!
•Feed the hungry, and
•help those in trouble.

Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.”
(‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭58:6-10‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

This week’s highlights (Lots of Jesus this week):
July 23rd - Isaiah 40:3-5 (Compare to Matt 3:3, Mark 1:3, and Luke 3:4-6).

July 23rd - Isaiah 42:1-7 (Jesus).

July 24th - Isaiah 45:15 God moves in mysterious ways!

July 24th - Isaiah 45:23b (Jesus - Every knee will bow ...).

July 25th - Isaiah 48:22 & 57:21 (No rest for the wicked ...)

July 25th - Isaiah 49:6 (Jesus)

July 25th - Isaiah 50:6-7 (Jesus)

July 26th - Isaiah 52:14 through 53:1-12 “...He will bear all their sins.” (Jesus!)

July 26th - Isaiah 56:7b (Jesus quoted this when driving the money changers from the Temple)

July 27th - Isaiah 59:15b-18 (The ORIGINAL Armor of God! ... Compare to Ephesians 6:10)

July 27th - Isaiah 61:1-2 (Jesus read this in the Synagogue and proclaimed it was fulfilled in their presence!)

July 28th - Isaiah 65:17 (A new Heaven and a new Earth!)

On July 29th, we see the start of Josiah’s reign as King. He was King when Jeremiah began his prophecies. Josiah was eight years old when he became king, 16 when he began to seek God, and 20 when he commenced destroying the idols and false gods in Jerusalem and the surrounding area. Josiah was 21 when Jeremiah began prophesying.


Next week:
The prophecies of Jeremiah started this week, but I'm going to push comments off until next week when we read the bulk of the book. We also get more histories, as well as the prophecies of: Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah.

BR-29 Chronological Bible Read (July 16-22)

How's the reading going, Chronos? I would love to hear from you.

This week is packed full of famous passages, scriptures we have all heard or read; some particular to Christmas, but others that often just crop up in sermons and hymns (as well as a few that Jesus referenced while preaching and ministering). I'll note a few, below; let me know if I missed any key ones.

Blessings,
Steve
_________________________

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

_________________________

Key verse (July 20th):

“...the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
‭‭Micah‬ ‭6:8‬ ‭New Living Translation
http://bible.com/116/mic.6.8.nlt

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
‭‭Micah‬ ‭6:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬ Translation
http://bible.com/111/mic.6.8.niv


This week's highlights:

July 16 - Go Set A Watchman! (This phrase from Isaiah 21:6 is actually about the fall of Babylon, the mighty nation that had crushed nation after nation, leaving devastation in its wake. But it also figures into the title of a sort-of-prequel to Harper Lee’s amazing novel, To Kill a Mockingbird).

July 16 - In Isaiah 22:14, God declares they will never be forgiven for a certain sin. Do you know what that sin is? Back up to verse 11 and read to the end of verse 14. Do you see it? A warning to us, perhaps?

July 17 - God will (someday) "wipe away all tears" Isaiah 25:8.

July 17 - Isaiah 26:9 "in the morning I will earnestly seek you." Hear Rich Mullins sing it:
CLICK HERE or copy and paste this url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-b7TQMoZsM

July 17 - "His terrible swift sword" from the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" is at Isaiah 26:27.

July 18 - Isaiah 32:2 "like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a parched land" echoes the lyrics of a famous hymn. Do you know it?

July 19 - To me, it seems Isaiah 35:1-10 is all about Jesus. Do you agree?

July 19 - Micah 3:11 was referenced by Jesus when he upbraided the "scribes and teachers of the law" for stealing widows houses.

July 19 - Micah 4:3 "...hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks." And they will learn war no more!

July 19 - Micah 5:2-5a is a prophecy of Jesus

July 22 - (2nd Kings 20, Isaiah 38, & 2nd Chronicles 32) Hezekiah's prayer and God's surprising answer! ("I have heard your prayer and seen your tears.")

Next week:
More prophecies of Isaiah; esp Isaiah 42:1-9 (July 23rd) and Isaiah 45 prophecies the rise of Cyrus, an actual historical figure (July 24th), Isaiah 49:6 (July 25th), Isaiah 50:5-7 (July 25th), Isaiah 52:13-53:12 (July 26th), and Isaiah 61:1-2 (July 27th)

NOTE: On July 23, we get that wonderful “Wings of Eagles” passage from Isaiah 40 that was presented so powerfully in the movie, Chariots of Fire.