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2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 146

May25

   Day 146—We are in our FIFTH month of Bible reading and begin our 12th book – 1 Kings.  Are you loving God more each day? What are you learning about Him?  Share in the comments section.

   Day 146 –  Psalms 131, 138, 139, 143, 144, 145. (Parts of some of these psalms of David are very familiar.)

131. “O, LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother..”    “O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore.”

138, “For though the LORD is high, He regards the lowly, but the haughty He knows from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life; You stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me…“

139.  (This whole psalm is precious and beautiful!  “O LORD, You have searched me and known me!  You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.  Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.”

“Where shall I go from Your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,’ even darkness is not dark to You; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.”

“For you formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in Your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”

“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with You.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

143. “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that You have done; I ponder the work of Your hands. I stretch out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a parched land.” “Teach me to do your will, for You are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!“

144. “Blessed be the LORD, my rock….He is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and He in whom I take refuge;” “Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall! Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!”

145. “I will extol You, my God and King, and bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable.”

“The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The LORD is good to all, and His mercy is over all that He has made.” “The LORD is faithful in all His words and kind in all His works! The LORD upholds all who are the falling and raises up all who are bowed down.”

“The LORD is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His works. The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him, and He also hears their cry and saves them. The LORD preserves all who love Him…..” “Let all flesh bless His holy name forever and ever.”

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 140 & 141

May20

    Day 140 & 141—We are in our FIFTH month of Bible reading.   What insights have you gained about God and yourself through reading so far?  Share in the comments section.

(Note: SUNDAY’s and MONDAY’s readings are combined.)

    Day 140 – Psalms 5. 38. 41. 42. – (Psalms of David in a tumultuous time)

Psalm 5. “Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make straight before me. For there is no truth in their mouth…”     

“But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, and those who love your name may exult in you. FOR YOU BLESS THE RIGHTEOUS, O LORD; You cover him with favor as with a shield.”

Psalm 38. “I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart.”     “I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin. But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty, and many are those who hate me wrongfully.”    “Do not forsake me, O LORD! O my God, be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation.”

Psalm 41. “Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble, the LORD delivers him; the LORD protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; You do not give him up to the will of his enemies. The LORD sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness, you restore him to full health.”     “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen.”

Psalm 42. “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.”

“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? HOPE IN GOD, for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.  My soul is cast down within me; therefore, I remember you…”     “By day, the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night, His song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.” 

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    Day 141 – 2 Samuel 22 – 23, Psalm57 – (Songs of David & a recount of all his mighty men)

2 Samuel 22 is a song of David praising God for deliverance. Notice all the nouns he uses.

“The LORD is my ROCK and my FORTRESS and my DELIVERER, my GOD, my rock in whom I take refuge, my SHIELD, and the HORN of my salvation, my STRONGHOLD and my REFUGE, my SAVIOR, you save me from violence. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised.”

“In my distress, I called upon the LORD; to my God, I called. From His temple, HEARD my voice, and my cry came to His ears.”     “He SENT from on high, He TOOK me; He DREW me out of many waters. He RESCUED me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too  mighty for me.”   “He BROUGHT me out into a broad place; He RESCUED me because He DELIGHTED in me.”

“This God–His way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him.”

“You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your GENTLENESS made me great. You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip…”     “You delivered me from strife with my people; You kept me as the head of the nations; people whom I had not known served me.”

“The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation.”    “Great salvation he brings to His king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever.”

2 Samuel 23 opens with these words: “Now these are the last words of David; the oracle of David, the son of Jesse, the oracle of the man who was raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel.”  The following words (praise to God for choosing him and these people) are not David’s final oral speech but his final literary legacy to Israel.

The last part of this chapter is a repeat recalling of David’s mighty men and some of their actions of greatness. The last one mentioned is “Uriah the Hittite…”

 

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 128

May7

    Day 128—We are in our FIFTH month of Bible reading.   Are you loving God more each day? Are you reciting, praying, and singing the Psalms we’ve been reading?  Share in the comments section.

    Day 128 – Psalms 25, 29, 33. 36. 39. – (Psalms of praise, worship, and commitment  by David and others.)

In Psalm 25, David pleads for a go,dly life: “To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust…”   “Make me to know your ways, O LORD. Teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me…”   “Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love.”

In Psalm 29, David seeds to glorify and magnify God. “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.”  Then David writes a series of metaphors from creation that show God’s power with gentleness.

In Psalm 33, the psalmist encourages God’s people to shout for joy, give thanks to the LORD, make melody to him on instruments, and sing new songs to him.  He describes the power in God’s Word and what happens whenever He speaks.

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as his heritage!  The LORD looks down from heaven; He sees all the children of man; from where He sits enthroned, He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, He who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.”     “Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that He may deliver their soul from death…”

Psalm 36 begins by describing the heart of the wicked but soon turns to the love and mercy of God. “How precious is your steadfast love, O God!”    “Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know You, and your righteousness to the upright of heart!”

David is introspective in Psalm 39.  First, he pledges, “I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle so long as the wicked are in my presence.”   Next, he shows his vulnerability.  “O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!”

“Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath!

Surely a man goes about as a shadow!

Surely, for nothing, they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!”

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(If you feel like reading more along this vein, turn to Psalm 90:4-16, James 4:13-15, and Luke 12:16-21.)

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And David finishes with, “And now, O LORD, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.”

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 122

May1

    Day 122—As we begin our FIFTH month of Bible reading, pause and reflect.   What insights have you gained about God and yourself through reading so far?

Day 122 – Psalm 133 – (A song to be joyfully sung when all Israel traveled up to Jerusalem for one of their festival days. It’s written by David.)
 
Since today’s reading is just one short Psalm, I will write it out here in its entirety. Enjoy the vivid picture-language of what unity with others looks like. 
 
Psalm 133
“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! 
 
It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the head of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! 
 
It is like the dew of Hermon which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.” 

 

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 112 & 113

Apr22

    Day 112 & 113—We have been reading the Bible daily for a third of the year and have begun reading the 12th book. What have you learned about God? About yourself?

(Note: SUNDAY’s and MONDAY’s readings are combined.)

Day 112 – Psalms 6, 8, 9, 10, 14, 16, 19, 21. (Psalms of David)

Psalm 6 – “O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath. Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled.”   “The LORD heard my plea; the LORD accepts my prayer.”

Psalm 8 – “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.”    “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him?”

Psalm 9 – “I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult to you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.”    “The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.”

Psalm 10 – “Why O LORD, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?”    “Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted.”

Psalm 14 –  “Why O LORD, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?”    “In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek Him; all his thoughts are, ‘There is no God.'”    “Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted.”

Psalm 16 – “I say to the LORD, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.'”    “I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.”    “I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.”    “You make know to me the path of life; in your presence there is fulness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures for evermore.”

Psalm 19 – “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”    “The law of the Lord is Perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes, the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are pure and righteous altogether.  MORE to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.”     “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.”

Psalm 2 – “O LORD, in your strength the king rejoices, and in your salvation how greatly he exults!  You have given him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips.”    “Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power.

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Day 113 – 1 Chronicles 1-2 (Genealogies in the kingly line & others)

1 Chronicles 1 tells the genealogy of the Jewish people (with sidelines included) from Adam to Abraham’s grandson, Jacob/Israel.

1 Chronicles 2 gives the genealogy of Israel’s twelve sons (tribes) to David who would become king, along with a lists of his relatives., who would become king, along with a list

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 109

Apr18

    Day 109 —  We have been reading the Bible daily for almost a third of the year. What have you learned about God? About yourself?

   Day 109 – 1 Samuel 28 – 31, Psalm 18 (Ending 1 Samuel, King Saul, and David’s persecution. David’s song)

 1 Samuel 28 tells of the Philistines gathering to war against Israel and Saul in a panic. Since his failure to kill the Amalekite king and God “tearing” the kingdom from him (and no repentance) Saul has been like King Ludwig – mad.  Now, faced with a huge attack, he tries everything he can to learn what he should do.  But God is silent.

Compounding sin on sin, Saul meets with a Medium (witch) at Endor. (Israel was supposed to have killed all of them, but again, they didn’t complete that order.) He tells her to call up Samuel so he can get “some word from the LORD.”  She obeys, but instead of the regular evil spirit she is used to, Samuel actually does appear and she screams in terror.

Saul asks what he should do. Samuel basically tells the king that it is too late. He and all his sons are to die that very day, and Israel will go into the hands of the Philistines.  He is terrified and later goes away into the night.

1 Samuel 29 tells of King Achish preparing to battle Israel and enlisting his “favorite Israelite bodyguard,” David, to help him in battle. But his commanders refuse to take a “spy” with them, so David and his 600 men are set back to Ziklag.

1 Samuel 30 tells of David’s shock when he and his men arrive “home” to find that the Amalekites (whom Saul was supposed to have killed) had come, burned the city, looted, and taken all their wives and kids captive. His men are about to mutiny, but David “strengthens himself in the LORD his God.” He goes to the priest to inquire what he should do and is told to pursue and overtake the marauders.  Two hundred of his men are too exhausted to fight, so they stay “with the baggage.” 

David finds an Egyptian lying by the roadside who had served the Amalekites, but been left behind. He promises to lead David to him if he spares his life.  And so David and his 400 men defeat the Amalekites, take back their families, their own things, and lots of other loot.  There is a squabble about the “baggage men” also getting loot, but David quashes that and says everyone shares in the spoils of war. 

1 Samuel 31, the last chapter, tells about Saul going to battle, taking heavy losses from the Philistines, and how all three of his sons – including Jonathan – are killed. King Saul is cornered and an arrow badly wounds him.  He begs his armor bearer to finish him off, but the fellow refuses, so Saul kills himself. Then the armor bearer, no doubt fearing he will be blamed for killing the king, also kills himself. 

Later, the Philistines find their bodies and take them as trophies of the battle, putting Saul’s head in the temple of Dagon, their god, and hanging all the bodies on the wall. But some valiant Israelite men came at night, took down the bodies, burned them, and buried the bones.

What a sad ending to Israel’s first king, and the nation as a whole. 

Psalm 18 is a psalm of praise for God’s love, care, protection, and reward.

 

Verse 1-3: 
I love you, O LORD, my strength. 
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold.
I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised.
And I am saved from my enemies. 

Verse 6:
In my distress I called upon the LORD;
to my God I cried for help.
From His temple He heard my voice,
and my cry to Him reached his ears.

Verse 17: 
He rescued me from my strong enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were too mighty for me.

Verse 28: 
For it is you who light my lamp;
the LORD my God lightens my darkness.

Verse 30: 
This God - His way is perfect:
The word of the LORD proves true;
He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him.

Verse 46: 
The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock,
and exalted be the God of my salvation.

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 108

Apr17

    Day 108 —  We have been reading the Bible daily for almost a third of the year. What have you learned about God? About yourself?

   Day 108 – Psalms 17, 35, 54, 63. (More psalms by David when being persecuted by Saul)

In Psalm 17, David petitions the LORD as many as SEVENTEEN times for protection. It’s a harrowing time for him, with Saul and his army always after him, and spies tattle-telling where he is hiding. 

“He is like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush. Arise, O LORD! Confront him, subdue him!” Verse 12-13a 

“Keep me as the apple of your eye, hid me in the shadow of your wings.”  Verse 8

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Psalm 35 calls for justice against David’s enemy and alludes to other foreign powers and even to all of God’s enemies.

Verse 17-18: “How long, O Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their destruction, my precious life from the lions! I will thank you in the great congregation; in the mighty throng, I will praise you. “

Verse 19: “Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes, and let not those “wink the eye” who hate me without a cause.”

Verse 17: “Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore, ‘Great is the LORD who delights in the welfare of his servant!'” 

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In Psalm 54, again, the Ziphites went to Saul and told him of David’s whereabouts.  “O God, save me by your name and vindicate me by our might. O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen against me; ruthless men seek my life; they do not set God before themselves. Behold, God is my helper, the Lord is the upholder of my life.” Verses 1-4.

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Psalm 64 is wonderful. Be sure to read all the verses. It’s almost entirely praise God.

See him in the wilderness – “O God, you are my God earnestly I seek you, MY SOUL THIRSTS FOR YOU; AS IN A DRY AND WEARY LAND WHERE THERE IS NO WATER.” Verse 1

“Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name, I will lift up my hands.” Verses 3-4

“…and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when i remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.” Verses 5b-8

 

 

May 1, 2021 – #1 of 31 Days of Biblical Women

May1

May 1, 2021 – 31 Days of Biblical Women – Eshet Chayil

It is a 22-verse poem found in proverbs 31:10-31, and sung each Sabbath to honor Jewish women. It is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with a letter from the Hebrew alphabet (like the sections in Psalm 119). Some interpret it as being about Abraham’s wife, Sarah, or about Solomon’s great grandmother, Ruth.

Eshet Chayil is Hebrew for “woman of worth,” “valor,” “strength,” or “virtue.”

 

The Woman Who Fears the LORD

10 An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.

11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.

13 She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.

14 She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.

15 She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens.

16 She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.

17 She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.

18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.

19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.

20 She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.

21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.

22 She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.

 24 She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.

25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.

26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

27 She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

29 “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”

30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

 

LORD, give me a heart of virtue, courage, and strength, to serve my family.

 

jh

 

HOPE, a Poem of Redemption

Dec29

by Naomi S.

a young girl in Italy.

 

HOPE

If I could go back…

back to when my wide eyes

peered at the world,

trusting,

innocent,

wholehearted….

If I could go back,

back to when nobody,

nobody had stepped in

and whispered delicious poison

in my ears…

If I could go back…

back to when I was still a flower,

petals whole,

all in one place…

I’d tell you.

I’d tell you everything.

The pain. 

The heartache, the brokenness.

The searching.

The hatred.

The burning in my chest. 

The bitterness of

being told

you aren’t enough,

and knowing

it’s true. Too true.

Friends are only for a moment,

they aren’t there

for you,

but for themselves.

I’d tell you about the goodbyes,

the pain,

the ache I couldn’t fill.

The loneliness in the place

I was told

to call home.

Yes.

I would tell you.

I would tell you about the humiliation,

the grief,

the wondering,

the tears,

the ache in the absence of tears.

I’d tell you about the pain

of loving

and losing when you need love

the most,

and not knowing the future,

and wondering…

wondering if love would ever come.

Telling you would crush you.

But am I not crushed?

Yes.

I am crushed.

I am broken.

I am shattered.

My petals are scattered

in different homes.

What is home anyway?

I would tell you about it all

and not hide one word.

Not one word.

But then,

after all the heartache,

and pain,

and loss,

and goodbyes,

and lies…

…then…

Then I would tell you…

I’d tell you about picking myself up.

I’d tell you about the One

who took me,

loved me,

showed me,

healed me,

exposed my lies,

held my hand,

transformed the pain,

the loss,

the goodbyes,

into scars.

Scars of loss,

of love,

of healing,

of losing myself

to find myself. 

I’d tell you about the growth,

daughter of pain,

the flower

born from the ashes,

strong

because of the flames,

because of the pain.

I’d tell you about the comfort,

the healing,

the love brought by true friendship,

the care,

the words

that leave me speechless,

heart bursting each time.

“Your worth is not in yourself”.

I’d tell you about Christ,

about his loss

and my gain because of it.

I would tell you everything.

About heartache,

loss,

pain,

tears,

ache,

loneliness,

emptiness.

I’d tell you about hope.

 

Notes from the author:

“I’d love if you shared the poem on your blog! Thank you so much! I’m glad you liked it. I’ve only ever written rhyming poetry, but I started trying free verse because I like playing around with the rhythm…I actually didn’t think much of it when I wrote it months ago, but coming back to it last week, I though you might enjoy reading it.”

“…how Christ changes a broken heart through redemption…that is exactly what the poem is meant to portray.”

 

What are YOUR thoughts?

 

 

 

jh