Romans 12:1-8. The Apostle Paul reminds us that we shall offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God, serve God with the spiritual gifts He has given us, and do it as members of one spiritual body.
Job 5. Job has sinned, and for that Job is chastened by God.
Psalm 63, of David. Seek God early, praise Him, this is better than life, praise Him.
Romans 8:28-39. This is my favorite chapter in all the Bible, and is far too important for my feeble comments. Read it together with all the Old Testament references, let them serve as the commentary; then read it again. Let it sink in, then pray with thanksgiving.
Proverbs 11. The list of Solomon’s Proverbs is many chapters long.
Psalm 62, of David. David, as always claimed God to be his rock and salvation, even when surrounded by false and evil men, he would not be moved. All power belongs to God.
Romans 7. Thanks to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are free from the Law when we belong to Him. Yet, we struggle with sin; “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.” The chapter ends up with “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” It will all make sense in chapter 8.
Esther 5. Esther prepared for a banquet with only her, the King and Haman in attendance. Meanwhile Haman’s rage against Mordecai was so great that he had built a seventy-five feet high gallows, on which to hang Mordecai.
Esther 6. As it so happened, the king had a case of insomnia. To become drowsy he had the annals read to him, which told that Mordecai had averted a coup. During the banquet the king wanted to honor somebody, and rather than Haman, Mordecai was honored.
Esther7. And so it was, Haman was hanged on the gallows he had built for Mordecai.
Psalm 61, of David. As so often happened, David was in trouble and cried out to God, proclaiming his trust in God, singing praises.
Romans 5:12-21. Death came through one man, Adam, but “if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.” Let that sink in.
Esther 1. A fantastic book that made it to the Holy Bible, even though the name of God is not mentioned, not even once! Yet, the hand of God is everywhere in it. Read all of it! It starts with a big, decadent feast, and queen Vashti refused to make a spectacle of herself so she was deposed. Now what do you do without a queen?
Psalm 59, of David. A prayer for deliverance from Saul and his men seeking to kill David. It ends up with David singing God’s praises.
Psalm 60, of David. A Psalm intended for teaching. Even though they were defeated, David gave God the glory for future victories and deliverance.
Romans 5:1-11. This is a great chapter and tells how faith triumphs in trouble, one quote: “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Proverbs 10 contains some of the wise sayings of Solomon, with New Testament thoughts sprinkled in.
Psalm 56 , of David. The Psalm is from the time when the Philistines captured him in Gath It deals with the period between the visit to the tabernacle at Nob and David’s arrival at Adullam. David was alone, desperate, afraid – and had no one left to to trust but the LORD.
Psalm 57 , of David. Charles Spurgeon noted, “There are four of these ‘Destroy not’ psalms, namely, the 57th, 58th, 59th, and 75th. In all of them there is a distinct declaration of the destruction of the wicked and the preservation of the righteous.” It ends with “Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.“
Psalm 58, of David. A short, but intense prayer that God would punish the wicked and judge righteously.
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.
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. The Apostle 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.
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 from 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”
Acts 24. The Apostle 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 Festus, 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.”
Acts 21. On the way to Jerusalem the Apostle 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”
Len Bilén's blog, a blog about faith, politics and the environment. 