Category: Psalms

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.

 

November 14, read through the Bible in a year.

In between first and second Peter we read two Psalms and two chapters of Ezekiel.

November 14: Psalm, 141, Psalm 142, Ezekiel 46, Ezekiel 47 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Psalm 141, of David.A short Psalm telling that confession without compromise comes before God’s protection and victory over evildoers.

Psalm 142, of David. When all strength fails “The LORD is my only refuge.”

Ezekiel 46, The prophet continues with the manner of worship and how offerings were to be prepared.

Ezekiel 47. This chapter is interesting. It tells of the river from the temple,  the healing waters, trees by the river and the borders of the land.

 

November 8, read through the Bible in a year.

In between the letter of James and the first letter of Peter we read two Psalms and one chapter of Ezekiel.

November 8: Psalm 139, Psalm 140, Ezekiel 38  (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Psalm 139, of David. God knows everything, and He knows me much better than I know myself. Fittingly, the Psalm ends up with a song: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Psalm 140, of David. A heartfelt prayer for deliverance from evildoers.

Ezekiel 38. This chapter contains great prophesy with relevance for today of the events in the Middle East.Gog and allies attack Israel but there is coming a judgment on Gog.

 

November 6, read through the Bible in a year.

In between the letter of James and the first letter of Peter we read two Psalms and two chapters of Ezekiel.

November 6: Psalm 137, Psalm 138, Ezekiel 35, Ezekiel 36 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Psalm 137. When the Jews were exiled into captivity they were forced to sing songs on their way. So somebody wrote a psalm about it. Compare that to when Paul and Silas were put in jail, they voluntarily sang songs of praise to God.

Psalm 138. David, as psalmist reminds us that God will honor His word and perform it to completion.

Ezekiel 35 is a declaration of judgment on Mount Seir.

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

November 4, read through the Bible in a year.

In between the letter of James and the first letter of Peter we read two psalms and one chapter of Ezekiel.

November 4: Psalm 135, Psalm 136, Ezekiel 33 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Psalm 135 is a Psalm of praise and thanksgiving to the uniqueness and superiority of the LORD and His name and all that He has done! Compare that to the worthless idols!

Psalm 136 is called the Great Hallel (or Great Psalm of Praise). Each one of its 26 verses repeats the phrase, “His mercy endureth forever.”  It was sung responsively by the Levites and the assembly of people at both Solomon’s and Zerubbabel’s temple dedication and is now sometimes sung or recited at Passover.

Ezekiel 33. The prophet takes the role of the watchman and gives a message about God’s Judgment and it’s fairness, tells of the f all of Jerusalem and the cause of Judah’s ruin being they are hearing but not doing, still continuing their sinful acts.