Category: Psalms

July 14: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Romans 3 is full of memorable quotations: “let God be true, but every man a liar.” It speaks of God’s faithfulness and God’s Judgment, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one” , “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,“and “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law,” just to name a few. Read them all, and marvel.

Nehemiah 11 lists the people of Jerusalem and the people outside Jerusalem.

Psalm 55, of David. When treacherous friends and a multitude of enemies attacked, David still trusted God.

July 11: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Romans 1:1-17 starts with an eloquent greeting to all in Rome, and it is just as valid for us today as it was then. Paul longed to visit Rome and impart scriptural spiritual wisdom, such as “the Just shall live by Faith.”

Nehemiah 4. Through strong opposition the building of the wall was defended.

Nehemiah 5. Nehemiah encountered oppression but showed great generosity.

Psalm 54 , of David. A short prayer with conviction that God is David’s helper.

July 9: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Acts 27:13-44. Against better advice from God via Paul the captain and Centurion ignored Paul’s warning, and sure enough a great storm grew up and they were shipwrecked on Malta, but all got safely ashore.

Proverbs 9 contrasts the way of wisdom with the way of folly.

Psalm 51, of David, written after Nathan confronted David after his adultery with Bathsheba. This Psalm explains fully, how God would say, after David was pointed out to be both an adulterer and a murderer: “He was a man after God’s own heart”.

Psalm 52, of David. The Psalm is a contemplation of David, contrasting the final end of evil men with the rewards of the righteous.

Psalm 53. This is a short Psalm telling about fools that say “No God”

July 5: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Acts 24. Paul was on trial before Felix. He put up a vigorous defense, but at no avail. Felix adjourned the trial until Lysias would come back. Two years passed and Felix kept Paul in prison, hoping for a bribe so he could release him. None came and Felix was replaced by Justus, but Paul was still kept in prison past the time allowed, in order to keep the Jews pacified.

Proverbs 8 praises the excellence of Wisdom.

Psalm 49, of the Sons of Korah. This psalm is more of a teaching Psalm and give instruction on how to live and gives hope of salvation “But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave,For He shall receive me”

Psalm 50, of Asaph. God says: “for every animal of the forest is mine,
    and the cattle on a thousand hills.” and “Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
    fulfill your vows to the Most High,
and call on me in the day of trouble;
    I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”

July 2: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Acts 21. On the way to Jerusalem Paul was warned everywhere by the Holy Spirit not to go, but Paul continued unmoved, and people finally gave up, saying ‘The Lord’s will be done’. Paul was urged to make peace and purify himself with four other Jews that had taken a vow, which he did. A mob was stirred up anyway and Paul was arrested in the Temple. Because Paul was a Roman citizen he was allowed to address the Jerusalem mob.

2 Chronicles 30. Hezekiah celebrated the Passover and there was great joy in Jerusalem.

Psalm 49, of the Sons of Korah. This psalm is a teaching Psalm and gives instruction on how to live and about our hope of salvation “But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave,For He shall receive me”

June 29: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Acts 19:23-41. The tradesmen of Ephesus, who made souvenirs in the form of shrines and idols of silver considered Paul and the many believers bad for business. After all, Ephesus was the idol worship center of Artemis (Diana). This led to the riot at Ephesus.

2 Chronicles 21. The reign of Jehoram in Judah.

2 Chronicles 22. The reigns of Ahaziah and Athaliah in Judah.

2 Chronicles 23. Joash was crowned king of Judah and Athaliah was slain.

Psalm 48, of the Sons of Korah. “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised.”

June 27: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Acts 18:9-28. Paul left Athens and went to Corinth where he stayed a year and a half, teaching many in the city, among them Priscilla and Acquila. The three of them went to Ephesus, where Paul left  Priscilla and Acquila and went to Antioch. Priscilla and Acquila met Apollos, a learned man preaching the baptism of John. “When Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.  And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:  For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.”

2 Chronicles 14 tells of Asa’s reign in Judah.

2 Chronicles 15. Asa threw out the idols and repaired the altar before the Temple. People from Israel joined, and thanks to following the LORD Judah had peace until the 35th year of Asa’s reign.

2 Chronicles 16. Asa’s made a treaty with Syria. That was a mistake. Hannai’s Message to Asa was that Asa had not relied on the LORD. Four years later Asa died.

2 Chronicles 17. Jehoshaphat reigned in Judah, they took the Book of the Law around the country and taught the people. The fear of the LORD fell on the surrounding countries, so Judah had peace for years.

Psalm 47, of the Sons of Korah. “Sing praises to God, sing praises“.

June 26: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Acts 18:1-8. Paul left Athens and went to Corinth where he stayed a year and a half; teaching many in the city, and some believed. When the Jews opposed him Paul decided that he from then on would go to the Gentiles.

2 Chronicles 11. The LORD warned against going to war with Israel, so instead Rehoboam fortified the cities, the priests and Levites left Israel and moved to Judah. The family tree of Rehoboam is recorded.

2 Chronicles 12. Egypt Attacked Jerusalem and Judah paid the ransom. The reign of Rehoboam ended.

2 Chronicles 13 tells of Abijah’s reign in Judah.

Psalm 46. Of the Sons of Korah. “Let us sing the forty-sixth psalm in concert; and then let the devil do his worst.” (Martin Luther)

June 22: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Acts 16:1-15. Timothy joined Paul and Silas in Lystra and in Troas Paul received “the Macedonian Call”. Lydia, a new convert was baptized at Philippi.

2 Chronicles 1. Solomon asked for wisdom, he received it and more, God also gave him economic and military power.

2 Chronicles 2. Solomon Prepared to build the temple, took inventory of all things collected and tallied the number of constricted aliens to do the work.

Psalm 45, of the Sons of Korah, a Wedding Song. C.S. Lewis saw this psalm pointing to Christmas: “The birth of Christ is the arrival of the great warrior and the great king. Also of the Lover, the Bridegroom, whose beauty surpasses that of man. But not only the Bridegroom as the lover, the desired; the Bridegroom also who makes fruitful, the Father of children still to be begotten and born.” (C.S. Lewis, as cited in Willem VanGemeren)

June 21: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Acts 15. There was much ado about circumcision, and the believers decided to settle the issue at the Council at Jerusalem, which led to the Jerusalem decree, (in short: Abstain from fornication and from blood). Barnabas and Paul argued about Mark, so they split up, and Paul took Silas and embarked on the second missionary journey.

Proverbs 7. Keep the Law, Seek wisdom and above all, stay away from harlots! They will use every trick to get you!

Psalm 44. Of the sons of Korah. It is a Psalm recounting the great victories God gave the Israelites when they followed God, and the humiliating defeats they suffered when they did not. Yet the psalmists were trusting God and claimed they had not forgotten the Lord and ended with an urgent plea for help.