Author: biblereadingchallenge

TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
  2 Samuel 9:1-11:27
  John 15:1-27
  Psalm 119:49-64
  Proverbs 16:1-3

2 Samuel 9:1 — Vows are important (Deuteronomy 23:21-23). David made a covenant with Saul before the LORD (1 Samuel 24:21), and with Jonathan (1 Samuel 18:3, 1 Samuel 20:42).

2 Samuel 10:5 — The esteem of the nation of Israel was in how the other nations treated the ambassadors from Israel. By treating them shamefully, they declared war on Israel. David was loyal to his servants and protected their reputation and that of the nation they served.

2 Samuel 11:1 — We have seen many great victories of David, now we see the words “But David …” When he should have been at work, he tarried. When one warned him (2 Samuel 11:3), he disregarded it. While he acted in an unethical military manner as an absentee king, he had a loyal soldier who acted ethically (2 Samuel 11:11). But David’s actions were plainly understood by the unethical Joab (2 Samuel 11:19).

King David Handing the Letter to Uriah by Pieter Lastman

2 Samuel 11:27 — The chapter that starts “But David …” ends with “But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.”

John 15:2 — The last lines of Ron Hamilton’s song “Rejoice in the LORD” echo this verse:

God strengthens His children, and purges in love.
My Father knows best, and I trust in His care;
Through purging, more fruit I will bear.

Ron Hamilton

John 15:5 — Some change the verse to say, “Without me ye can’t do everything.” Nope … it literally says, “You can do nothing without Jesus.” The challenge in ministry is that one can get caught up in doing things for Jesus, as opposed to doing things by Jesus. The scary admonition is what happens when we try to do things without Jesus … “they are burned” (John 15:6).

John 15: 7, 12, 13 — From Earl Martin (If Ye Abide in Me):

John 15:14 — Again, Jesus reiterates the connection between love, fellowship, and obedience.

Psalm 119:49 — What is the root of our hope? The Word of God in us. The memory of His judgments (Psalm 119:52). The melody of His statutes (Psalm 119:54). The motivation of His judgments (Psalm 119:62).

Proverbs 16:3 — How can we know what our thoughts should be? By giving our agenda to 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: Pieter Lastman, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
  2 Samuel 7:1-8:18
  John 14:15-31
  Psalm 119:33-48
  Proverbs 15:33

2 Samuel 7:2-4 — If a prophet is speaking for God, shouldn’t the prophet wait until after God has spoken to him before he says anything?

2 Samuel 7:13 — If the throne is forever, who is seated on the throne right now? From Jimmy DeYoung:

The promise of a house (Temple), Kingdom and throne for a descendant of King David from the Lord is known as the Davidic Covenant. This is a promise that will only fail if the day and the night are no longer in existence, Jeremiah 33:19-21.

For almost 6,000 years, we have had a night followed by a day – God’s promise to David is as true as the next moonlit night or majestic sunrise. The Davidic Covenant will be fulfilled by that member of the linage of King David, the person of Jesus Christ.

The complete fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant is yet future. It will be fulfilled when Jesus Christ returns to the Earth, to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem to set up His Kingdom by building His Temple on the Temple Mount (Zechariah 6:12-13) in Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 7:18, 22 — David maintains the right perspective. Personal humility – “Who am I … thy servant.” Praise for the LORD “thou art great … there is none like thee.”

2 Samuel 8:4 — ”Houghed” isn’t a word we use much today. From Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers:

Houghed, i.e., hamstrung, to render them incapable of use in war. (Comp. Joshua 11:6; Joshua 11:9.) This is meant to apply not only to the chariot horses, but to all those of the cavalry. Whether David’s reservation of the number needed for 100 chariots was wrong or not, is not said. David probably felt the need of these horses as a means of more rapid communication with the distant parts of his increasing empire; yet this act may have been the entering wedge for Solomon’s direct violation of Deuteronomy 17:16, by sending to Egypt to “multiply horses to himself.”

John 14:15 — This sounds like a theme of the Bible we have here in the Upper Room Discourse.

Psalm 119:33 — How can we obey? If the LORD teaches us, gives us understanding (Psalm 119:34), makes us follow the path (Psalm 119:35), inclines our heart (Psalm 119:36), turns our eyes (Psalm 119:37), quickens us in the way (Psalm 119:37), stablishes the word (Psalm 119:38), and keeps us from reproach (Psalm 119:39), we can obey.

Psalm 119:40 — Do we have any responsibility? Yes! We must long for the Law (Psalm 119:40), trust in the Word (Psalm 119:42), hope in the judgments (Psalm 119:43), keep the Law continually (Psalm 119:44), seek His precepts (Psalm 119:45), speak of His testimonies (Psalm 119:46), delight in the commandments (Psalm 119:47), and meditate on His statutes (Psalm 119:48)!

Proverbs 15:33 — Solomon saw this proverb demonstrated in David’s life, as we read about today. Humility brings honor.

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.

TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
  2 Samuel 4:1-6:23
  John 13:31-14:14
  Psalm 119:17-32
  Proverbs 15:31-32

2 Samuel 4:11 — David ushers in a higher ethical standard. Instead of a form of utilitarianism (the greatest good for the greatest number), David advances a Torah-based ethical system (Deuteronomy 24:16). What could be more utilitarian than assassinating one individual to save the lives of hundreds of soldiers? We read of something like this in John 11:50, and we’ll read about it again in John 18:14.

The City of David
Immediately south of the Temple Mount – this is what it looked like in the Apostle’s day. (2 Samuel 5:7)

2 Samuel 5:13 — David had been doing so well, and now he violates Deuteronomy 17:17. Thankfully, he listens to God in 2 Samuel 5:19 and 2 Samuel 5:23.

2 Samuel 5:21 — David follows Moses’ pattern from 450 years ago (Exodus 32:20).

2 Samuel 6:3 — David sins again (Numbers 4:5-15), and Uzzah dies (2 Samuel 6:7) as God warned (Numbers 4:15). Strangely, David is unfamiliar with Moses’ commands (2 Samuel 6:9).

John 13:34 — Moses gave 613 commandments, summarized into 10 “words.” Micah 6:8 summarizes the entire Law into three commands; Jesus boiled it down to two in Matthew 22:37-40. And because it is difficult to judge another’s love for God, loving God is best demonstrated by a love for one another.

John 13:35 — From Earl Martin (By This Shall All Men):

John 14:2 — A great promise set to music by Earl Martin:

John 14:2 — J.W. Pepper has a great song based on John 14:1-3 as well:

John 14:6 — Jesus is the way of life (Acts 2:28), the way of salvation (Acts 16:17), the source of instruction (Acts 18:25-26), an alleged heresy (Acts 24:14), the way of peace (Romans 3:17), the way of truth (2 Peter 2:2), and the way of righteousness (2 Peter 2:21).

Psalm 119:18 — A great prayer to pray before studying God’s Law.

Psalm 119:23 — How should we treat the Word? Meditate therein, delight therein (Psalm 119:24), and talk of it (Psalm 119:27).

Psalm 119:30 — From Earl Martin (I Have Chosen the Way of Truth):

Proverbs 15:32 — Correction is never easy to take, but it saves your soul and gives understanding!

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: Ariely, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
  2 Samuel 2:12-3:39
  John 13:1-30
  Psalm 119:1-16
  Proverbs 15:29-30

2 Samuel 2:22 — Reading about the drama within the battle may sound a bit absurd, but an understanding of ethics comes into play. At first, one may think that it’s just a matter of “doing the right thing,” but “doing the right thing” depends on one’s responsibilities. A lawyer’s job is not to determine legal guilt and punishment, his job is to represent the interest of his client and to ensure that the justice system does not become biased against the presumed guilty. Even if his client is guilty, the lawyer’s job is to make sure the prosecution has adequately proven its case. Similarly, a soldier’s job is not to decide the relative merits of the parties in the battle, but to obey those who have the rule over him (Romans 13). Abner warned Asahel twice because while Asahel was fast, Abner was better in hand-to-hand combat. Also, Abner likely knew that Joab was vengeful and unethical as a military commander (1 Kings 2:5).

2 Samuel 3:13 — Is this a violation of Deuteronomy 24:4? James Burton Coffman thinks so:

Young pointed out that what David did (by taking Michal back as his wife) was against God’s law. “According to the law of Deuteronomy 24:1-4, David could not legitimately receive his wife back after her marriage to Paltiel.” This action must therefore be reckoned among the shameful sins of this “man after God’s own heart.” There was only one way in which David was entitled to be so-called, and that lay in his absolute refusal to love and trust any other god except the Lord God. Even when condemned for his gross and lustful sins, David continued to confess his unworthiness, seek God’s forgiveness, and pledge again to walk in the paths of righteousness.

Or was it a political move?

David wanted to give himself a greater claim to Saul’s throne as his son-in-law.

https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/2-samuel-3/

2 Samuel 3:28 — While some think of war is “entirely unethical,” most people believe that there are definitely ethics that need to be displayed in war. As feared, Joab murdered Abner in revenge for the killing of his brother (2 Samuel 3:26-27). Even in war, honor is the code.

John 13:1 — How touching is it that even when Jesus knew He would die, He still loved His disciples unto the end.

A Lesson in Humility by Harold Copping

John 13:14 — Are we supposed to be engaged in footwashing today?

There is no indication in the New Testament, or in the Christian literature of the first three centuries, that our Lord was understood to have instituted an ordinance [feet-washing] by the acts and words under consideration [in John 13].Feet-washing was a common and needed act of hospitality in Palestine at the time, and the teaching that Christ intended to convey was the manifestation of the spirit of brotherly love in acts of humble service. . . The earliest reference to the ceremonial use of feet-washing is in the canon of the synod of Elvira (A.D. 306) where it is condemned.

A Manual of Church History

Psalm 119:1 — Welcome to the longest psalm in the Bible! Organized into 8-verse stanzas in an alphabetical (Hebrew) array, this passage is home to the richest descriptions of the Word of God in the Bible. These verses talk about the Law (vs. 1), testimonies (vs. 2), ways (vs. 3), precepts (vv. 4-5), commandments (vs. 6), judgments (vs. 7), and statutes (vs. 8).

Psalm 119:9 — How can we change? Heeding God’s Word and hiding God’s Word (Psalm 119:11).

Proverbs 15:29 — A great way to make sure your prayer is heard by God is to repent.

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: Harold Copping, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
  2 Samuel 1:1-2:11
  John 12:20-50
  Psalm 118:19-29
  Proverbs 15:27-28

2 Samuel 1:8 — Did the Amalekite kill Saul or did Saul kill himself? From GotQuestions.org:

The clear answer from the biblical text is that Saul killed himself and that the Amalekite’s story was a fabrication. The biblical text records the story the Amalekite gave but does not affirm it as true …

This would be the correct order of events: Saul is wounded in battle and then kills himself by falling on his own sword. An Amalekite comes across his dead body and takes his crown and armlet. The next day, the Philistines find Saul’s body, behead him, strip him of his armor, send the report, and fasten his body to the wall of Beth Shan (1 Samuel 31:10).

2 Samuel 2:1 — Good things happen after a king “enquires of the LORD.”

The Gentiles Ask to See Jesus (Les gentils demandent à voir Jésus) by James Tissot

John 12:24-26 — Listening to Jesus must have been difficult. Fruit comes from dying. Loving life loses it; hating life keeps it. Servants are honored. The Eternal One will die (John 12:34). God opened the eyes of the blind (Matthew 9:30), but He blinded the eyes of the seeing (John 12:40).

John 12:37 — Notice the different groups:

• The uncircumcised outsider Greeks wanting to learn (John 12:21)
• The Hebrew crowd who saw the miracles but didn’t believe (John 12:37)
• The chief rulers who believed but didn’t confess (John 12:42-43)

Very few fall into the category of a vocal believer.

Psalm 118:24 — Bob Jones Academy performed a song based on this verse.

Psalm 118:28 — A great blend of the immanence of God and the transcendence of God.

Proverbs 15:28 — Interesting parallel to Proverbs 10:19.

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: James Tissot, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
  1 Samuel 29:1-31:13
  John 11:55-12:19
  Psalm 118:1-18
  Proverbs 15:24-26

1 Samuel 29:8 — Loyalty is good, but when the enemies of your boss are God’s people, there’s a problem. Thankfully, God worked in the hearts of the Philistines to kick David out of the army (1 Samuel 29:4).

1 Samuel 30:9 — Thankfully, David is back to talking to the LORD!

1 Samuel 30:23 — David reminds the troops that they didn’t get the victory by their own strength but by the LORD’s provision.

The Roman Ruins of Bet-Shean

1 Samuel 31:12 — Why did the men of Jabesh-Gilead rescue the bodies of Saul and his sons? In 1 Samuel 11:11, Saul delivered the men of Jabesh-Gilead from the Ammonites, who would only accept the surrender of the Israelites if they allowed their right eyes to be gouged out.

John 12:3 — Imagine if Mary said, “I can do this next time Jesus passes through town.” If God lays something on your heart, do it today!

John 12:10 — This is one of the funniest verses in the Bible … didn’t they think Jesus might raise him again?

Psalm 118:5 — Praise the LORD for when He has delivered you from distress.

Proverbs 15:26 — Are you getting the idea that God hates sin?

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: Someone35, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
  1 Samuel 26:1-28:25
  John 11:1-54
  Psalm 117:1-2
  Proverbs 15:22-23

1 Samuel 26:1 — The last time we saw Saul, he declared that David was more righteous than he (1 Samuel 24:17), that David would be king (1 Samuel 24:20), and he obtained from David a pledge to protect his descendants (1 Samuel 24:22). Now the Ziphites, who had been egging Saul on previously (1 Samuel 23:19), are egging him on again.

1 Samuel 26:6 — It’s interesting that while God would drive out the Hittite people, He speaks well of individual Hittites: Ephron (Genesis 23:10), Ahimelech (1 Samuel 26:6), and Uriah (2 Samuel 23:39).

1 Samuel 26:25 — While some of Saul’s benedictions were empty, this one is true.

1 Samuel 27:1 — Gad had previously warned David to remain in the land of Judah. David does not appear to have consulted the LORD about his decision to escape to the Philistines.

1 Samuel 28:10 — Ironic that the king who was commanded by the LORD to execute all the witches (Exodus 22:18, Deuteronomy 18:10) now swears by the LORD to protect a witch. Instead of the witch dying, Saul would die (1 Samuel 28:19).

John 11:35 — Nobody understood Jesus. His disciples forgot John 10:18 and were afraid of the Jews. They didn’t understand His sayings (John 11:12). They weren’t sure what to say, but that didn’t stop them from talking (John 11:16). Martha believed in the resurrection from afar, but did she really believe that Jesus was the resurrection (John 11:24)? Mary’s understanding was limited by her human knowledge that death was irreversible (John 11:32). Martha was trying to stop Jesus from working (John 11:39).

Church of St Paul Knightsbridge (Westminster, England)
The tiled panels around the walls of the nave, created in the 1870s by Daniel Bell

John 11:53 — After Jesus brings Lazarus back from the dead, the religious leaders determined to put Jesus to death. Interestingly, what Caiaphas planned to happen was for a greater purpose that he didn’t know about (John 11:51).

Psalm 117:1 — My family had a Christmas tradition where each of us would recite a verse or passage of Scripture. We were surprised one Christmas when my grandfather asked, “What is the longest psalm in the Bible?” “Psalm 119” was the reply. He then started: “Psalm 117 …” and quoted the shortest psalm in the Bible. Just two verses, but they are calling us to praise the LORD because of His merciful kindness for us and His eternal Word.

Proverbs 15:22 — As someone would remind me on the importance of a second opinion, “wise is the counsel of many.”

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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TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
  1 Samuel 24:1-25:44
  John 10:22-42
  Psalm 116:1-19
  Proverbs 15:20-21

En Gedi Waterfall

1 Samuel 24:1 — En Gedi is a must see on your tour of Israel. The area contains a lot of dry cliffs, but the occasional waterfall amazes the senses!

1 Samuel 24:6 — Even when your cause seems justified – it’s never right to do wrong in order to get a chance to do right. Let God be judge (1 Samuel 24:15).

1 Samuel 25:18 — We’ve been reading in Proverbs about what wisdom looks like, now we see it in action. A wife interceding to save her husband by appeasing a wrathful adversary. God even delivered her from her unwise husband (1 Samuel 25:38). David waited until God dealt with Nabal. If only he did the same with Uriah …

John 10:28 — Want eternal life? Go to the Giver of Eternal Life!

Psalms 116:12 — What indeed! What is our reasonable service? Romans 12:1!

Psalm 116:15 — When an elderly relative of mine was about to pass away, one of the pastors who was with us reminded us of this verse.

Proverbs 15:21 — Relaxation and recreation are fine – but do you get your joy from folly?

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: Grauesel, CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons

TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
  1 Samuel 22:1-23:29
  John 10:1-21
  Psalm 115:1-18
  Proverbs 15:18-19

The Cave of Adullam

1 Samuel 22:5 — Sometimes you’re hurt by people who claim to be Christians, and as a result you want to swear off dealing with Christians ever again. Perhaps in response you just want to deal with “honest pagans.” But even though you can be hurt again, God calls us to fellowship with other believers (Hebrews 10:25) because no matter how much we think our situation is beyond hope, God is in control!

1 Samuel 22:8 — The King of Israel is sad that “there is none of you that is sorry for me.”

1 Samuel 22:18 — If Jesus was comparing the Pharisees to Doeg, Doeg had shed the blood of 85 priests who stood helplessly, as well as the entire city of Nob. What did the Pharisees do to the Son of God?

1 Samuel 23:4 — Notice the patience of the LORD. The same God who was so patient with Gideon, is also patient with David. God spoke to him and promised him victory twice, even though David was afraid.

1 Samuel 23:21 — Blessing people in the name of the LORD for helping you kill your loyal subject that you have made into an adversary … huh?

John 10:1-21 — Notice some of the characters in this parable:

• The thief/robber – introduced in vs. 1
• The hireling – introduced in vs. 12
• The shepherd – introduced in vs. 2

Have you noticed the similarities between this and the parable of the wicked husbandmen (Matthew 21:33-46, Mark 12:1-12, Luke 20:9-19)?

In John 10:10-11 we see the action. The hireling flees, the thief kills, and the Shepherd dies. Yet, unlike the other parables, we are told the end of the story: in John 10:17-18 the Shepherd rises again!

Some other takeaways from this passage:

• John 10:8, 16 – Who you hear indicates what you are
• John 10:9-10 – Who you follow indicates where you go

Mr. Rogers of PBS fame asked his wife before he died, “Am I a sheep?” On the internet you have two responses (notice which incorporates more Scripture):

• “Love yourself”, or
• “Your goodness isn’t enough”

John 10:4 — Young Samuel didn’t know God’s voice, but then he had a personal encounter with the LORD. Eventually, he was able to recognize His voice.

John 10:18 — Jesus is prophesying His death and resurrection, and yet the disciples that He loved did not realize this.

Psalm 115:1 — A good admonition against pride.

Psalm 115:13 — If I want God’s blessing, what should I do?

Proverbs 15:18 — Let’s be peacemakers!

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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TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
  1 Samuel 20:1-21:15
  John 9:1-41
  Psalm 113:1-114:8
  Proverbs 15:15-17

1 Samuel 20:13 — David’s son Solomon would discuss the behavior of kings often. Proverbs 16:14 encourages wise men to pacify their king’s wrath.

1 Samuel 20:30 — This is a very strong phrase (cuss-level) used by Saul against his own son.

1 Samuel 21:4 — Jesus cited this as justification for his disciples plucking grain on the Sabbath (Mark 2:23-28). One theory advanced on StackExchange.com is that Jesus is comparing the Pharisees to Doeg the Edomite.

1 Samuel 21:10 — From Matthew Henry:

God’s persecuted people have often found better usage from Philistines than from Israelites. David had reason to put confidence in Achish, yet he began to be afraid. His conduct was degrading, and discovered wavering in his faith and courage. The more simply we depend on God, and obey him, the more comfortably and surely we shall walk through this troublesome world.

John 9:28 — We see the running line of authority contrast: the Jews claim Mosaic authority (which Jesus attacked by claiming Abrahamic authority). Jesus claims even greater authority (from God the Father), but the Jews claim not to know “from whence He is.”

Sunset at Porto Covo, Portugal

Psalm 113:3 — How long are we to praise the LORD? All the time!

Psalm 113:9 — God is in control of everything!

Psalm 114:7 — People are nervous to meet a Governor, a President, or the King of England. How much more should we be nervous at the majesty of the Lord, the God of Jacob! How much more should we desire to spend time with Him who asked us to call upon Him!

Proverbs 15:16 — We’ve seen the fear of the Lord referenced before … but do we realize how valuable it is? Too often we have the wrong priorities.

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: Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons