Category: Psalms

November 5: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Hebrews 12:1-13. Let us fix our eyes to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

Daniel 1. This book is most probably written by Daniel during his life. This has been questioned because of the many, accurate prophesies in it. It begins with Daniel and three other Hebrew children as they are taken into the Babylonian King’s administration as interns, and are given new names. They refuse the non- kosher diet, and pass the test.

Psalm 107. God to the rescue. It is a telling of four “saysos” as the Southerners used to say as they called for testimonials in their revival meetings:  “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so“. The Israelites kept getting in trouble and finally cried out to the LORD, and He saved them out of their distresses. This is a remarkably positive Psalm.

Psalm 108, a Psalm, a song of David. Here David repeated parts from Psalm 57 and Psalm 60 and used it to ask for God’s help in his further conquests as he subdued nations around him.

November 4: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Hebrews 11:23-40 is called “the great faith chapter”. The writer of Hebrews continues his history of faith with Moses’ parents, Moses, the people crossing the Red Sea, the fall of the walls of Jericho and the friendly innkeeper Rahab. Then the author ran out of time to mention Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets. “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”

Proverbs 18, Proverbs of Solomon. God looks at the heart, take heed and do what is right in the eyes of the Lord, not men.

Psalm 106 is a follow-on of Psalm 105. While Psalm 105 tells of the story of God’s people from Abraham to Moses, Psalm 106 continues from the crossing of the Red Sea (or Sea of Reeds) to the sins committed ,even to the child sacrifices to the gods of Canaan. The psalmist prayed for deliverance from the heathens and return and restoration of the promised land. The Psalm begins and ends with a Hallelujah (praise the LORD).

October 29: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Hebrews 8. Jesus, among all other things is forever the High Priest of the New Covenant.

Ezekiel 37. This is the famous chapter about the valley of dry bones and how they are coming alive. They shall become one nation under one King.

Psalm 105. God is faithful to His Covenant people, and retells the account of what He did for the Hebrews from Abraham to the wanderings in the wilderness.

October 28: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Hebrews 7:11-28 tells of Jesus, the high priest, after the order of Melchizedek. Thanks to this, animal sacrifices according to the Law are done away with, and “For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.”

Ezekiel 35 is a declaration of judgment on Mount Seir.

Ezekiel 36. Now it is getting interesting. God proclaimed a future blessing on Israel and the rebirth of Israel. (I took the liberty to put in a few interesting pictures.)

Psalm 104. God is Lord of all creation. He is worthy of all praise. Let us count the ways.

October 24: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Hebrews 5. Jesus, a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. As being forever, Jesus is God, as being born of Mary, he is man, as being adopted of Joseph, he is King, and as of the order of Melchizedek, he is Priest. Priests offer sacrifices, first for themselves because of sin, but Jesus, being without sin offered himself for our sins, died and rose again for our justification. Thanks to this, we have the hope of eternal life!

Ezekiel 25 gives prophecies against Ammon, Moab, Edom and Philistia.

Ezekiel 26 is a devastating prophecy against Tyre.

Psalm 103, of David. There are many songs of praise in the Bible. This is probably the purest of them all. It combines God’s mercifulness and our shortcomings, His healing power and our frailty and above all our very limited life here on earth and the eternity of God.

October 22: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Hebrews 4:1-10 deals with the Sabbath-rest for the People of God. The Jews in the wilderness could not enter because of disobedience, but we, thanks to Jesus, who believe can enter. Remember, “Today” is the key word. Read it carefully!

Ezekiel 20. Though Israel pleaded with God, He would not listen because of their rebellious idol worship. God through Ezekiel then retold the history of Israel and their idolatry and blasphemy, Israel will be severely punished, but in the end, God will restore Israel. The chapter ends with a prophecy against the South, God will destroy the Southern forests.

Psalm 102. A penitential psalm. It recalls the great deeds and miracles God did for His people in the wilderness, and how they disobeyed and turned to idols, even to the point of child sacrifice. In spite of this God is still merciful and there is still hope. It ends with a Hallelujah!

October 20: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Hebrews 2. Do not neglect so great a salvation. God cannot die, He is eternal, but He had to be made a little bit lower than the angels, in the form of man, so that he could die. And so Jesus had to endure sufferings, even taste death for our redemption. He was in every way tempted just like we are, and emphasizes with us in our temptations and trials. Praise God!

Ezekiel 14. Idolatry was to be punished, judgment on the Israelis’ unfaithfulness was inescapable.

Ezekiel 15. The word of the LORD: “Jerusalem is a useless vine.”

Ezekiel 16. In spite of everything God still loved Jerusalem and its harlotry, Adultery and its lovers abuse of her. This was more wicked than what happened in Samaria and Sodom.

Psalm 101, of David. A song of praise and a vow that reads like a new year’s resolution.

October 16: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Titus 2. The Apostle Paul wrote to Titus that in order to have a sound church he must teach sound doctrine. And it is all done through saving grace. Quote to remember: “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

Ezekiel 2 is about Ezekiel’s call to a rebellious Israel.

Ezekiel 3. Ezekiel got the call from God to rebellious Israel and was given the charge to be a watchman.

Ezekiel 4. Ezekiel was told by God to portray the siege of Jerusalem.

Psalm 99. The LORD reigns. Exalt Him for He is holy.

Psalm 100. Six verses telling us to make a jubilant noise to the LORD.

October 15: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Titus 1. After the customary greeting, the Apostle Paul instructed Titus to appoint elders and listed the qualifications for elders and their duties. Be careful, some Cretans are corrupt!

Ezekiel 1 tells of Ezekiel’s vision from God. As a 23 year old I read of the Swiss author Erich von Däneken and his wild hypotheses about aliens visiting us and mentioned the wheel in a wheel from Ezekiel’s vision. And this was before I believed! Read the chapter carefully and see what you think. Däneken was speculating widely, but what God showed Ezekiel will challenge your imagination!

Psalm 96 was written to “declare His glory among the nations“, and ends up with “Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth.”

Psalm 97 tells what it means to  rejoice “for the LORD reigneth” and “For you, Lord, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.”

Psalm 98. Let us celebrate! Sing unto the LORD a new song!

October 14: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

2 Timothy 4. The Apostle Paul gave the charge to Timothy: Preach the word, be ready in season and out of season. At the end of the letter Paul gave his farewell message. Although he called himself the abandoned apostle, the Lord is faithful, now and forever.

Proverbs 17. Proverbs of Solomon. God looks at the heart, take heed and do what is right in the eyes of the Lord, not men.

Psalm 94. This time the psalmist prayed for the LORD to execute vengeance on all who disobey the LORD, and bring comfort to all who follow the LORD.

Psalm 95 is a song of praise to God, but also a warning that they should not harden their hearts as they did in the wilderness and thus were not allowed to enter God’s rest.