Category: thought for the day

March 17, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are four chapters to read.

March 17: Psalm 16, Psalm 17, Deuteronomy 14, Deuteronomy 15 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Psalm 16, of David. A wonderful psalm of confidence in the LORD even in times of trouble, and a prophetic psalm pointing to Jesus resurrection quoted in the New Testament.

Psalm 17 demonstrates David’s total trust in God and not in self in spite of David’s best efforts. it can be summarized: “Keep me as the apple of Your eye;
Hide me under the shadow of Your wings” with regard to the threats from his enemies.

Deuteronomy 14, do not do as the heathen do with improper mourning, eat only clean meat and do not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk. Observe tithing, and every three years give an extra tithing for the Levites, the aliens, the fatherless and the widows.

Deuteronomy 15. Debts are to be canceled after seven years, show generosity to the poor, lend freely but do not borrow,  free your slaves after seven years and give them opportunity to continue on their own. Set apart every firstborn animal.

 

March 16, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are four chapters to read, the end of the Gospel of Mark.

March 16: Mark 16, Deuteronomy 11, Deuteronomy 12, Deuteronomy 13 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Mark 16, on the first day of the week Jesus is Risen and Mary Magdalene sees the Risen Lord. To complete the Gospel Jesus proclaims the Great Commission, is taken up to heaven and sits down at the Right Hand of God.

Deuteronomy 11.  Love and Obey the LORD, remember all He has done, meditate day and night on it and always teach your children. God did set before them a blessing and a curse, it dealt with obedience.

Deuteronomy 12, God proclaims forever the One Place of Worship. All other places of worship, where False Gods have been worshiped must be destroyed. You may eat from all clean animals, but do not drink their blood.

Deuteronomy 13,  Apostates must be severely punished.

 

 

March 15, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are three chapters to read.

March 15: Mark 15, Deuteronomy 9, Deuteronomy 10 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Mark 15. Early in the morning Jesus is brought before Pilate since only the Romans could execute capital punishment. Pilate, trying to get out of the situation offers to release Barabbas or Jesus and the crowd chooses Barabbas. Pilate gives in to the crowd, the Soldiers mock Jesus, and so the Crucifixion of Jesus the King begins. Dead it carefully. Jesus Dies, and at the same time the Temple vail was rent in two, from top to bottom, opening up for us full access to God himself. Finally Jesus’ burial is recorded.

Deuteronomy 9, Israel’s rebellion is reviewed, but in spite of being a stiffnecked people doing abominations to the LORD like the Golden Calf, God in His mercy still keeps His promises.

Deuteronomy 10, take Two Tablets, Fear the LORD and circumcise your hearts,  that is the Essence of the Law. Remember, you too were aliens in Egypt.

 

March 14, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are three chapters to read.

March 14: Mark 14, Deuteronomy 7, Deuteronomy 8 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Mark 14 starts out in Bethany, where Jesus is anointed. The next day Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper and predicts Peter’s denial. The eleven remaining disciples and Jesus go to the Mount of Olives where there is a garden called Gethsemane. While there Jesus Prays. Judas Iscariot reappears and betrays Jesus. The accompanying soldiers Arrest Jesus, and he is brought before the Sanhedrin. Peter is waiting outside and denies Jesus three times. The cock crows twice.

Deuteronomy 7 promises that the Israelites are A Chosen People. God will drive out the people before them. When entering the land they must destroy completely all idols and false gods.

Deuteronomy 8. Remember the LORD your God but if not, you too will be destroyed.

March 13, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are only 2 chapters to read.

March 13: Mark 13, Deuteronomy 6 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Mark 13.  Jesus tells of the Signs of the End of the Age, the Great Tribulation, the Coming of the Son of Man, the lesson of the Fig Tree and the Day and Hour of his return unknown.

In Deuteronomy 6 Moses lays out The Greatest Commandment, he recommends phylacteries to keep them always in remembrance of the LORD and cautions against disobedience. The Old testament law has lots of New Testament references.

 

March 12, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are only 2 chapters to read.

March 12: Mark 12, Deuteronomy 5 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Mark 12 begins with the parable of the unfaithful tenants, then the Pharisees try to entrap Jesus with the question “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar? You know the answer. Then it is the Sadducees turn to entrap him with what happens to  marriage at the Resurrection. Then Jesus answers what is the Greatest Commandment, and answers the riddle “whose son is the Christ?” Finally, looking at temple offerings Jesus notices the widow’s two Mites.

In Deuteronomy 5 the Ten Commandments are enumerated a second time, the first time was in Exodus 20. The people are afraid of God’s presence, but not in reverential fear.

March 11, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are only 2 chapters to read.

March 11: Mark 11, Deuteronomy 4 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Mark 11 starts what is called the Holy Week with the Triumphal Entry. The next day Jesus curses a fig tree (symbol of Israel) and clears the Temple. Following morning the fig tree is withered, and all marvel. Finally, Jesus authority questioned.

In Deuteronomy 4 God promises the people they will enter the promised land, but if they are disobedient they will be scattered all over the earth. Obedience means no idolatry “for the LORD, your God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God”. Three Cities of Refuge are mentioned, and a short summary of God’s Law.

March 10, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are three chapters to read.

March 10: Mark 10, Deuteronomy 2, Deuteronomy 3 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

In Mark 10 Jesus explains the Christian concept of Marriage: One man, one woman, one lifetime,“6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. 7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; 8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. 9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Then  Jesus blesses the little children and says that “, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.” The Rich Young Ruler asks what he must do to receive eternal life, but he cannot do what is necessary, so Jesus says ” It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”  Jesus then  predicts his resurrection. James and John want to be great, but Jesus points out that Greatness comes by Serving and finally Jesus heals Bartimaeus.

Deuteronomy 2 tells of the first 38 years of wandering in the the Desert, the generation entering the desert has died off, then with the help of God King Sihon is Defeated.

Deuteronomy 3 tells how King Og Defeated and the Israelites conquer the land East of Jordan but Moses is forbidden to cross the Jordan and enter the Promised Land.

March 9, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are only two chapters to read, but they are big.

March 9: Mark 9, Deuteronomy 1 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Mark 9 begins with the Transfiguration and an explanation on Elijah, he had already come. Then a boy with an evil spirit is healed and the disciples ask why they could not drive out the evil spirit. Then Jesus predicts his Death and Resurrection but the disciples so not understand, instead they argue among themselves who is the Greatest. Jesus picks up a little child as an object lesson and explains what it means to be a servant of all. Jesus teaches Unity, not division, “whoever is not against us is for us.” Jesus warns of the dire consequences of offenses and tells them to be Salt with savor and be at peace with each other.

Deuteronomy 1 starts with the command to leave Horeb and enter Canaan. Leaders are appointed and spies sent out, but Israel’s refuse to enter the land. The penalty for Israel’s rebellion is that no one would enter the promised land except Caleb and Joshua.

 

March 8, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are five chapters to read.

March 8: Mark 8, Numbers 33, Numbers 34, Numbers 35, Numbers 36, (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Mark 8 begins with Jesus feeding the four thousand, the Pharisees are still looking for a sign, but Jesus warns of the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod, all very confusing for the disciples; they are still not thinking in the spiritual realm. Jesus heals a blind man at Bethsaida, then follows Peter’s Confession and  Jesus predicts his death.

Numbers 33 is a reciting of Israel’s Journey from Egypt, and provides instructions on how to conquer Canaan.

Numbers 34 defines the Boundaries of Canaan and mentions all the leaders appointed to divide the land.

Numbers 35 names the Cities for the Levites and defines the six Cities of Refuge.

Numbers 36 tells about the Inheritance of Zelophehad’s Daughters and why the Israelite women must marry within their tribe.