Category: Psalms

February 25, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

Taking a rest between the gospel of Matthew and the gospel of Mark by reading two short Psalms and three chapters of Numbers that only appear long.

February 25: Psalm 11, Psalm 12, Numbers 7, Numbers 8, Numbers 9 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Psalm 11 has the phrase “flee as a bird to the mountain”, which bring back memories of songs we used to sing in choir.

With all the double speak today, Psalm 12 is especially valid. The Lord has something to say about that.

Numbers 7 has 89 verses, but the chapter only seems long since the same offerings for the dedication of the tabernacle are repeated for each of the twelve tribes.

Numbers 8 deals with setting the Levites apart for their duties.

Numbers 9 defines how the Passover shall be celebrated from that time on. It also describes the cloud over the tabernacle, if it lifted they moved on, if it stayed, they stayed.

February 24, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

In between the gospel of Matthew and the gospel of Mark we take time out to read two Psalms and two chapters in Numbers.

February 24: Psalm 9, Psalm 10, Numbers 5, Numbers 6 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Psalm 9 and Psalm 10 may belong together as they do in the Septuagint. They speak of God’s faithfulness and the only temporary victories of the wicked one.

Numbers 5 deals with purity, how to deal with leprosy or dead bodies, restitution for wrongdoings and how to deal with marital unfaithfulness, especially for women.

Numbers 6 tells of the vow of the Nazarite, how he (or she!) must separate themselves totally to the LORD, not shave the hair, not eat anything from the grape, not even the dry skin, not touch any dead bodies and so on. When the separation is over an offering must be given. Thankfully the chapter ends with the priestly blessing: “ The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:  The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.“

January 26, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

Today, in between the Gospel of John and the Gospel of Matthew we read two Psalms and two chapters of Exodus.

January 26: Psalm 7, Psalm 8, Exodus 3, Exodus 4 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Psalm 7 is a shiggaion, a dithyrambic ode of David. I would love to hear what the music to this Psalm sounded like.

Psalm 8 on the other hand has been set to music many times. Even I have sung it many times, both as a choir number, and the first verse as an introit. Looking for the music I found a far better, free rendition of the Psalm, this one by Marty Goetz.

Exodus 3 is where God revealed Himself to Moses in the form of a burning bush and declared “I am that I am”. Jesus makes a similar declaration in John 8:58 “Before Abraham, I am”.

In Exodus 4 God gave Moses his call. At first Moses cames up with one objection after another, but God persuaded him with signs that he must go back to Egypt, face Pharaoh  and lead his people.

January 24, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

Today there are four chapters, two psalms and the end of Genesis

January 24: Psalm 5, Psalm 6, Genesis 49, Genesis 50 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Psalm 5 is a prayer extolling the joy of praising God and praying towards Jerusalem, but is also an urgent prayer to do away with and destroy all wickedness and wicked people.

Psalm 6 is likewise a prayer, this time of a humble David asking for mercy, but also asking God to destroy David’s enemies.

In Genesis 49 Jacob blessed all his sons with a different blessing for each of them.

And finally in Genesis 50 Jacob is buried back in Canaan near Mamre where Sarah also was buried. Joseph forgave his brothers; “Ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good”. Finally even Joseph dies, and he wills that his bones will be carried out when they depart  and enter into the promised land.

January 23, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

Between the Gospel of John and the Gospel of Matthew we take a break in the reading of the New Testament and read two Psalms, one chapter of Proverbs and continue with two chapters of Genesis.

January 23: Psalm 3, Psalm 4, Genesis 47, Genesis 48, Proverbs 1 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Psalm 3 is a Psalm of David from when he fled from his son Absalom.

Psalm 4 is David’s appeal to righteousness, and the blessings that follow.

Genesis 47 tells of how Jacob and his descendants settled in Goshen, about the continuing famine, and how Joseph, controlling the food supply enslaved the people. All power corrupts, and so even Joseph failed in comparison to Jesus, who came to set people free.

Genesis 48 tells of how Jacob blessed Ephraim and Manasseh. He blessed Ephraim ahead of Manasseh, even though Manasseh was the older of Joseph’s sons.

Finally there is Proverbs 1. It extols the virtue of wisdom. Read it and apply it.

January 6, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

The topic for today is confusion without faith in God.

January 6: John 5, Genesis 11, Psalm 2 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

John 5 describes how Jesus healed a man at the pool of Bethesda on a Sabbath, which offended the Jews. In addition Jesus claimed to be equal with the Father, for which the Jews sought to kill him, but Jesus defended His testimony.

Genesis 11 tells about the Tower of Babel, and how different languages arose, all by being disobedient to God.

Psalm 2 is then what happens when “the heathen rage” and this psalm speaks of what is going on today.

The Tower of Babel is in a way repeated today where the global internet, supposed to bring us together, divide us more and more into camps, where the same words mean different things, dependent on the audience. Jesus is controversial, his claims are being rejected by people thinking they understand biology and morals better than God.  And hate is increasing, yet there are people that believe in the universal good of mankind, if they only could get rid of the concept of God.

Yet, people are, and always will be looking for the meaning of life, and long to eliminate the emptiness and meaningless that is the logical conclusion if there is no God.

December 8, read through the Bible in a year.

In between the letter of Jude and Revelation we read two Psalms and three champers of Micah.

December 8: Psalm 149, Psalm 150, Micah 1, Micah 2, Micah 3 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Psalm 149. Praise the LORD and sing a new song. With the two-edged sword (of the spirit?) the saints will execute judgement on the nations.

Psalm 150. Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD!

Micah 1. The prophet told of the coming judgment on Israel with mourning for Israel and Judah.

Micah 2. The prophet proclaimed woe to evildoers and lying prophets. After that Israel will restored.

Micah 3. There was wicked rulers and wicked prophets. Micah still had full confidence in God.

December 2, read through the Bible in a year.

Today we read two Psalms, the second letter of John and the last chapter of Joel.

December 2: Psalm 147, Psalm 148, 2 John, Joel 3  (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Psalm 147 is a great Psalm of praising God for His protection and creation, for His care and power, for His provisions, wisdom and His word. It ends with praise to the LORD for His special attention to Israel.

Psalm 148: Let all creation praise the LORD!

2 John is a very short letter, greeting the elect lady with joy that she and some of her children walk in Christ’s commandments, but also warning her to beware of Antichrist deceivers.

Joel 3. In this final chapter God judges the nations, bringing war to the valley of Jehoshaphat: “Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.” And afterwards God will bless His people.

November 18, read through the Bible in a year.

In between first and second Peter we read two Psalms and the third chapter of Daniel.

November 18: Psalm 145, Psalm 146, Daniel 3 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Psalm 145, a Psalm of Praise, of David. In an acrostic fashion David praises God for his fame, glory and for His  goodness; for his kingdom and His providence, and most of all for his saving mercy.

Psalm 146 begins the five final songs in the Book of Psalms, known as the Hallelujah Psalms. This one gives praise to the Lord for creation, for what He is doing and will do forever.

Daniel 3 tells about the image of gold that all had to worship, and the fiery furnace prepared for the three Hebrews that refused. From Sunday School we all know how that went.

November 16, read through the Bible in a year.

In between first and second Peter we read two Psalms and the first chapter of Daniel

November 16: Psalm 143, Psalm 144, Daniel 1 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Psalm 143, of David. There is hope, even in the deepest despair.

Psalm 144, of David. He is a man of war, but gives praise to God with a new song for God is the one who grants victory.

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 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.