Month: October 2025

TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
  Jeremiah 2:31-4:18
  Colossians 1:1-17
  Psalm 76:1-12
  Proverbs 24:21-22

Jeremiah 2:35 — This echoes Luke 5:32. God is begging sinners to acknowledge they are sinners.

Jeremiah 3:1 — This is in sharp contrast to Islam which states that if a man divorces his wife a third time, she cannot go back to her ex-husband unless she marries someone in between! To get around this, there arose “Nikah Halala,” a temporary marriage/consummation/divorce to permit the woman to remarry the first husband. However, the Prophet Muhammad cursed those who practiced Nikah Halala.

Jeremiah 3:3 — God can withhold physical blessing from those who are in spiritual rebellion.

Jeremiah 3:10 — Notice the word “feignedly” (KJV) which means “simulated, pretended, or insincere.” Do we have whole-hearted repentance or just simulated repentance? Have we admitted that we have not obeyed His voice (Jeremiah 3:13)?

A Model of the Ark of the Covenant

Jeremiah 3:16 — Ellicott highlights the contrast between this verse and 2 Maccabees 2:4-5 because the symbol of the presence of the LORD will be replaced with the Presence of the LORD Himself!

Jeremiah 4:3 — ”Break up my fallow ground!”

Colossians 1:4-5 — In contrast to the Corinthians who had to be taught about faith, love, and hope (1 Corinthians 13:13), the Colossians are commended for their faith in Jesus, love for the saints, and hope in heaven!

Colossians 1:9 — I’m usually quick to let people know I’m praying for them – and I try to pray right away for them – but how often do we cease to pray as opposed to ceasing not to pray?

Colossians 1:10 — May we walk worthy of the LORD!

Colossians 1:17 — From Chuck Missler:

There is thus an active force imposed on the universe, which actively holds the very atoms of the material world together moment by moment, day by day, century by century.

https://www.khouse.org/articles/1997/60/

Psalm 76:7 — From Charles Spurgeon:

Thou, even thou, art to be feared.

Not Sennacherib, nor Nisroch his god, but Jehovah alone, who with a silent rebuke had withered all the monarch’s host.

“Fear him, ye saints, and then ye shall have nothing else to fear.”

The fear of man is a snare, but the fear of God is a great virtue, and has great power for good over the human mind. God is to be feared profoundly, continually, and alone. Let all worship be to him only. And who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry? Who indeed? The angels fell when their rebellion provoked his justice; Adam lost his place in Paradise in the same manner; Pharaoh and other proud monarchs passed away at his frown; neither is there in earth or hell any who can abide the terror of his wrath. How blest are they who are sheltered in the atonement of Jesus, and hence have no cause to fear the righteous anger of the Judge of all the earth.

http://www.romans45.org/spurgeon/treasury/ps076.htm

Proverbs 24:21 — And speaking of the fear of the Lord … yes, it is good to fear the LORD!

Share how reading through the Bible has been a blessing to you! E-mail us at 2018bible@vcyamerica.org or call and leave a message at 414-885-5370.

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Image Credit: Rea, Cam. “Ark of the Covenant: A Weapon, a Throne, a Temple – Part I.” Ancient Origins Members Site, members.ancient-origins.net/ark-covenant-0.

TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
  Jeremiah 1:1-2:30
  Philippians 4:1-23
  Psalm 75:1-10
  Proverbs 24:17-20

Jeremiah 1:2-3 — Welcome to Jeremiah, the words of the “Weeping Prophet!” Jeremiah’s prophecy started in 627 BC under Josiah the Reformer who was about the same age as Jeremiah. This is in the middle of the three-stage revival:

• AGE 15: Josiah sought God (633 BC)
• AGE 19: Josiah purged idols (629 BC)
• AGE 26: Josiah repairs temple and finds lost book (623 BC)

“Before I Formed You …”¹

Jeremiah 1:6 — Who else had an excuse for why they could not speak? Moses (Exodus 4:10)!

Jeremiah 2:3 — This was visualized in the engraved plate that the high priest wore (Exodus 39:30). How ironic! The people were separated unto the LORD (holy), and yet they left the LORD (Jeremiah 2:5).

Jeremiah 2:8 — The ignorant lawyers (students of God’s Law, not man’s law), the transgressing pastors, and the unprofitable prophets of Baal pursued sinful activities. Sadly, even today we consistently hear of pastors who admit to marital infidelity or financial scandal. Their sinfulness brings ill repute against the LORD.

Jeremiah 2:11 — Hath a nation changed their gods? Egypt was a polytheist nation except for a brief period under Akhenaten, but then under famous King Tut, they returned quickly back to polytheism. There has long been recognized a connection between cult (religion) and culture (nation). As Christianity overtook paganism in the Roman empire, the Roman empire itself crumbled. The Protestant Reformation led to civil war in the pre-modern-German “Holy Roman Empire.” The English executed a king (Charles I) as they transitioned to Puritanism.

King Tut Ankh Amun Golden Mask²

Jeremiah 2:19 — The scariest thing to happen to a believer is when God lets their own wickedness correct them! God does not need to add additional punishment, He can let them experience the natural result of their own choices.

Philippians 4:1 — Notice the contrast between Jeremiah 2:29 (where Jeremiah expresses God’s disgust for His people) and this passage where Paul calls his audience “dearly beloved” brethren.

Philippians 4:4 — Rejoice in the LORD always!

Philippians 4:8 — From Earl Martin:

Philippians 4:9 — Earl Martin has done a great job putting this verse to music as well.

Philippians 4:13 — I love the Babylon Bee’s satire on the misuse of this verse:

• Context Of Philippians 4:13 Officially Abandoned
• Context: Paul Wrote Philippians 4:13 After Narrowly Winning Church Softball Game
• Devastated Stephen Curry Discovers Context Of Philippians 4:13

Philippians 4:17 — This is the same Greek word (λόγον) as used in Jesus’ parables – Matthew 12:36 (giving account of our idle words), Matthew 18:23 (taking account of debts), Matthew 25:19 (the Master reckoning with the talents), and Luke 16:2 (unjust steward’s account of thy stewardship). Then in Romans 14:12 we are told that we will give an account (λόγον) to God. How can we add fruit to our other-worldly account? Giving to God.

Philippians 4:22 — Jesus has followers everywhere even in Caesar’s household!

Psalm 75:6-7 — It’s amazing to see throughout history surprising election results:

“Dewey Defeats Truman”³

Looking for a Hanging Chad
2000 Presidential Election⁴

And don’t forget Nate Silver – the king of modern poll-analysis, on his election morning final prediction:

2016 Final Election Prediction⁵

Proverbs 24:17-20 — Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls, nor be envious of his success. Whether he is “rising” or “falling” (that’s irrelevant), keep your eye on the LORD and not on evil men!

Share how reading through the Bible has been a blessing to you! E-mail us at 2018bible@vcyamerica.org or call and leave a message at 414-885-5370.

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Image¹ Credit: “Before I Formed You Pro-Life Bumper Sticker – Walmart.com.” Walmart.com, www.walmart.com/ip/Before-I-Formed-You-Pro-Life-Bumper-Sticker/5110830548.
Image² Credit: Steve Evans, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Image³ Credit: Nix, Elizabeth. “‘Dewey Defeats Truman’: The Election Upset Behind the Photo | HISTORY.” HISTORY, 15 Apr. 2025, www.history.com/articles/dewey-defeats-truman-election-headline-gaffe.
Image⁴ Credit: Alan Diaz[1], Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Image⁵ Credit: “Final Election Predictions, Last-Minute Political Humor, and a Silver Lining to the Dark Cloud of 2016.” International Liberty, 8 Nov. 2016, danieljmitchell.wordpress.com/2016/11/08/final-election-predictions-last-minute-political-humor-and-a-silver-lining-to-the-dark-cloud-of-2016.