2018 Bible Reading - Quarter three

In this week’s reading, we’ll finish our third of four jogs through the Old Testament and read our third Gospel.  Both Obadiah and Haggai are unique, extremely focused, and short; they are the two shortest books in all of the Old Testament.  We’ll spend the rest of the week on the Gospel of Mark.  Mark’s Gospel is Peter’s account of Jesus’ life (more on that in the study notes). Mark includes few of Jesus long sermons preferring instead to write an action-packed miracles, confrontations, and interactions with the disciples.  In Mark you’ll pick up on the themes of Jesus’ identity, the necessity of belief, and discipleship.   

This week’s reading is a bit of a potpourri.  We start with timeless poetry, read a prophet from the Neo-Assyrian period, and finish with an historical account from the capitol of the Persian Empire.  This is our next-to-last stop in psalms; it is short, but it has some of the most unique chapters in the whole book.  Micah brings a message of judgment that spells doom for the leaders and hope for the people. Finally Esther reads a little like a soap opera, and will keep an unfamiliar reader on the edge of their seat.

This week’s reading brings us to the end of the prophet Jeremiah.  There are two distinct sections; the first an action-packed narrative about the demise of Jerusalem and the further demise of the people who remained after the Babylonian exile,  the second a diatribe of prophesies against Judah’s neighbors.  As Jerusalem was falling, God was using Jeremiah to offer last-minute opportunities for Judah to accept their punishment and stave off total disaster.  After Jerusalem fell, God was using Jeremiah to offer last-minute opportunities for Judah to accept their punishment and stave off total disaster.  Judah never chose to obey God, therefore the destruction of their nation is complete. 

Jeremiah’s prophecy continues in this week’s reading.   Jeremiah was sent to proclaim the arrival of God’s judgment and punishment upon Judah, while offering a last-minute invitation for repentance and reform. His job was made more difficult by the fact that there were other prophets in Judah who were claiming to have seen dreams from the lord in which Judah is delivered and not punished.   Jeremiah is despised and mistreated, but he continues to proclaim God’s word.  By the time our reading concludes, Babylon is perched outside Jerusalem, ready to fulfill God’s promise.

This week’s reading introduces us to the ministry of the prophet Jeremiah.  Even though Jeremiah is a prophet to Judah in a time when their king was leading a religious revival for the worship of God, Jeremiah saw the people’s unfaithfulness and continued Idolatry.  Jeremiah will offer a couple pleas for repentance and reform in this week’s reading, but they are dismissed by his audience, and the bulk of Jeremiah’s words are dedicated to the certainty and deservedness of God’s Judgment upon unfaithful Judah.   

This week’s reading tells the entire story of the kingdom of Judah after God’s people are split into two nations; Israel in the north, and Judah in the south.  The Chronicler is tracing the story of the Davidic Covenant; the promise that God gave David to preserve his heirs on the throne forever,  under the condition of faithfulness.  Let the Chronicler tell you the heartbreaking story of how the Davidic Kingship failed.

This week’s reading spans the reigns of David and Solomon.  David reverses the centuries-long streak of Israelite misfortune by turning his heart towards God.  God rewards this faithfulness with the promise of an everlasting kingdom.  This promise is the center of both the books of Chronicles, and the hopes of the people whom they are written to.  Solomon is the first heir of this promise, and he build the Temple in Jerusalem which had been prepared by David.

This week's reading takes us to Psalms where we will read all of Book III, and then we’ll turn back to Chronicles for a new take on the story of David and the kingdom which he established in Judah.   This week’s Chronicles reading starts with a long recitation of genealogies that can be very hard to read.  Check out this week’s study notes on our website to navigate or circumnavigate these first 9 chapters.  Our reading will end with David ready to bring the Ark of God into Jerusalem, the all-important ascent of God to Mt. Zion  

This week's reading completes the book of Numbers.  The Israelites continue to wander across the wilderness to the south and east of the Promised Land as a punishment for the rebellion that we read about last week.  Don’t let anyone tell you that Numbers is boring; this week’s reading features plagues of snakes, Moabite harlots, and a talking donkey.  When this book finishes, The Israelites wandering is over and they camp directly across the Jordan River from the Promised Land.  This time, they will not be turned away.

This week's reading marks the completion of our second tour through New Testament books, and the beginning of our third (next-to-last) tour through Old-Testament books. Our first two books of the week are the Apostle Peter’s only contribution to the New Testament Canon.  Going from the fiery thrill-ride of 2nd Peter 3 to the census of Numbers 1 will be a bit of a shock to your system.  However, your faithful reading of Numbers will pay off with a crucial piece of the Old Testament narrative near the end of our assigned chapters. 

This week's reading covers four whole books of the Bible, each of them a letter written by the Apostle Paul.  While each of them has their own important and unique teaching, you'll notice that they share common traits like the defense of Paul's ministry,  the humbling and equalizing effect of the Gospel which removes all pretense of status and importance, and the nature and supremacy of Christ our savior