Luke 5, Jesus called his first Disciples, cleansed a leper, healed and forgave a Paralytic his sins and called Levi (Matthew). At the end of the chapter Jesus was questioned about fasting.
Proverbs 3 continues to tell of the benefits of wisdom. The verses most often quoted are ”Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will direct your paths.”
Mark 13, Jesus told his disciples 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, which shall remain unknown.
Proverbs 2 is, telling of the moral benefits of wisdom.
Psalm 37, of David. With two lines dedicated to each letter of the Hebrew alphabet, this psalm is one of the longer acrostics in the book of Psalms. David wrote it late in life (“ I have been young, and now am old;
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
Nor his descendants begging bread.“) It is full of promises and praise, and was intended for memorization.
Psalm 38, of David, a Petition. This is a Psalm of deep despair and remorse. David acknowledged his sin and cried out to God. Yet, in failing health and abandonment by friends and family his hope in God remained steadfast.
Mark 11 starts what is called the Holy Week with the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. Jesus entered, riding on an unbroken foal of a donkey. This was the sign. The next day Jesus cursed a fig tree (symbol of Israel) and cleared the Temple of the money-exchangers (You don’t want to give too much, you know). Following morning the fig tree was withered, and all marveled. Finally, Jesus authority was questioned by the religious authorities.
Proverbs 1. It extols the virtue of wisdom. Read it and apply it. Wis
Psalm 34, of David. This Psalm is an almost acrostic psalm (except for the letter waw). Like many acrostic Psalms, this is to be sung and memorized as it is full of praise and good advice. It contains one notable prophetic reference: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.
He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken.”
Between the Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of Luke we enjoy one chapter of Proverbs and two chapters of Deuteronomy.
March 19: Proverbs 4, Deuteronomy 17, Deuteronomy 18 (click on the chapter to begin reading)
Proverbs 4: Wisdom is supreme and there is security in wisdom.
Deuteronomy 17. Anyone worshiping other Gods must have justice administered, including stoning. The Israelites will elect a King after they have entered the promised land. He must be an Israelite, not gathering riches or take many wives. He must read the scroll of the Law all the days of his life. As long as he does all these things he will reign a long time.
Deuteronomy 18, the LORD is the Inheritance for Priests and Levites. No Wicked Customs such as child sacrifice, “ or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer ” In other words: “Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God.” Then the LORD gave a promise He will raise up a Prophet like Moses.
Today there are three chapters to read.
February 26: Proverbs 3, Numbers 10, Numbers 11 (click on the chapter to begin reading)
Proverbs 3 continues to tell of the benefits of wisdom. The verses most often quoted are ” Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will direct your paths.”
Numbers 10 tells of making two silver trumpets and with the blasts from them they finally leave Sinai, still in formation , tribe by tribe.
In Numbers 11 the people complain about eating manna every day, so God puts His spirit on seventy elders to prophecy, but He also sends them quail , a delicious game bird, but after eating quail for a whole month until it comes out their nostrils they got sick, and God punishes the gluttons.
The Apostle Paul often quoted the Old Testament.
Jesus often quoted Isaiah, especially when confronting the Pharisees.
Len Bilén's blog, a blog about faith, politics and the environment. 