Old Testament in a Year

October 28th Old Testament Readings

October 28, 2026

Jeremiah 51:54-52:34
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

We reach the end of the book of Jeremiah today! This has been a fascinating book for me to read this year! I definitely learned a lot more about prophets, the fall of Jerusalem and Babylon. I hope this has been a good learning experience for you as well? Jeremiah chapter 51 closes out Jeremiah’s prophecies, ending with his prophecies against Babylon. Tomorrow we start the book of Lamentations! And actually, we’re getting a good set up for Lamentations in Chapter 52 of Jeremiah today. I think as you read the end of chapter 51, you might think – okay, this should be the end of this book, correct, as verse 64 in chapter 51 tells us – “This is the end of Jeremiah’s messages.” But… chapter 52 is in here to remind readers of the fall of Jerusalem, and to segue way into the book of Lamentations. Below is the painting “Jeremiah Laments the Devastation of Jerusalem” by Rembrandt. (1630. Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum.)

Chapter 52 is sad to read – particularly when you think back to all of the work of the Israelites in Solomon’s day in creating the temple. Also I think back to the work of others earlier in the Old Testament who built up the walls of Jerusalem. All of this destroyed and burned. I read somewhere that it’s speculated that the Ark of the Covenant was probably destroyed during this time period, in the fire at the Temple. It is so sad to think about this day in Jerusalem’s history…

At the very end of chapter 52 we see a few verses giving hope for Israel’s line to continue. So, how has been reading the book of the prophet Jeremiah been for you this year? What have you learned from this book? How can you apply these learnings to your life today? Whenever we reach the end of any book in the Bible, I like to take a few moments to sit back and think about what God taught me through each particular book. I hope you can find this time to do the same whenever you reach the end of reading or studying a book in the Bible.

Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of Lincoln Brewster’s song “Today is the Day!” Here is a great live version of this song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B300gQkgDS0
Is Today the Day you come to the LORD? Click here Today to meet Him!

Comments from you – What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
October 27th Old Testament Readings

October 27, 2026

Jeremiah 51:1-53
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Jeremiah Chapter 51 dives into Babylon’s destruction! Lately we’ve been basically just looking at Babylon the city & empire and Nebuchadnezzar from the historical perspective – though, certainly seeing where and how God has been interacting with Babylon. I think it might be a good point here to consider the spiritual connotations of Babylon. A great place to begin this conversation is in Revelation Chapters 17 & 18 where Babylon is discussed. I won’t go into trying to interpret these two chapters of Revelation today… 🙂 We have yet to get to Revelation later this year in the One Year Bible! But, these two chapters may give you some more insight into the spiritual meaning of the term Babylon. If you do want to read more about Babylon in context of these two Revelation chapters, check out this link for an interesting commentary. Below is an image of Babylon before its destruction…

It is interesting in the middle of Jeremiah 51 we have a few verses of a hymn of praise to God – verses 15 through 19. Again, in verse 18, idols are mentioned and can be assumed as one of the prime reasons of Babylon’s destruction: “Idols are worthless; they are lies! The time is coming when they will all be destroyed.” Do you believe that idols are worthless? Are they lies? What are some of our modern day idols that are worthless and lies? Are you rejecting worshiping any and all of our modern day idols and focusing your worship and time and love toward God and Jesus? Please, leave those worthless idols behind… and don’t pick them up ever again!

The other thing to note in this chapter is that earlier in Jeremiah we read about the coming destruction of Jerusalem – but always with the note of ultimate redemption. In this chapter with Babylon, and other chapters discussing Babylon, there is no redemption for Babylon. This city will not be restored… Below is artist John Martin’s “Fall of Babylon” from Illustrations from the Bible, 1835:

Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of Kathryn Scott and her song “Your Name is Holy” and here’s another group performing this song live:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSvHuRN0OLI
Do you know our Holy God? Click here for Holiness!

Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
October 26th Old Testament Readings

October 26, 2026

Jeremiah 49:23-50:46
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

We have quite the readings in Jeremiah chapter 49 & 50 today! The prophecies have turned from Judah and Jerusalem and are now directed toward their neighbors and toward their captors, Babylon. The map below will give you a good overview of the Babylonian empire in the 6th century B.C.:

Jeremiah 50 does not bode well for Babylon! It is interesting, in that King Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon have played a large role in sacking Jerusalem & Judah – to discipline them for their sins. And now the tide is coming back toward Babylon. Verse 28 really stood out to me today as a clear indication that destroying the Temple in Jerusalem was a really really bad idea for Babylon… “Listen to the people who have escaped from Babylon, as they tell in Jerusalem how the Lord our God has taken vengeance against those who destroyed his Temple.” Below is a miniature from the 15th century French artist Fouquet that shows Nebuchadnezzar´s army attacking the Temple in Jerusalem in 586 B.C. (though this is quite an artistic interpretation of the Temple…)

Chapter 50 does bode well for Israel & Judah – verses 4 & 5 tell us: “Then the people of Israel and Judah will join together,” says the LORD, “weeping and seeking the LORD their God. They will ask the way to Jerusalem and will start back home again. They will bind themselves to the LORD with an eternal covenant that will never again be broken.” How often do we weep and seek the Lord? Should we ever literally weep and seek God? Can we learn something about the power of weeping from the people of Israel and Judah on how we can bind ourselves to God with an eternal covenant that will never be broken?

Worship Video: Today’s readings reminded me of the song “Remembering You” by Steven Curtis Chapman from the movie Chronicles of Narnia. There are a lot of great clips from the movie in this video. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDX6f39ZAqY
Are you remembering God? Click here if you have yet to meet Him!

Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
October 25th Old Testament Readings

October 25, 2026

Jeremiah 48:1-49:22
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Jeremiah chapter 48 is not a very happy chapter… at first glance it’s tough to figure out what is going on in this chapter. Why is God so angry at Moab? I think verses 28 – 30 let us in on why: “You people of Moab, flee from your cities and towns! Live in the caves like doves that nest in the clefts of the rocks. We have heard of the pride of Moab, for it is very great. We know of her loftiness, her arrogance, and her haughty heart. I know about her insolence,” says the LORD, “but her boasts are false; they accomplish nothing.” It sounds like pride and boasting was a major factor here obviously. Along with idol worship as we see in verse 13: “At last Moab will be ashamed of her idol Chemosh, as Israel was ashamed of her gold calf at Bethel.” I do think we see sadness from God in this judgment upon Moab in verse 31: “Yes, I wail for Moab; my heart is broken for the men of Kir-hareseth.” And ultimate redemption comes in the last verse, 47, of this chapter: “But in the latter days I will restore the fortunes of Moab,” says the LORD.” This chapter may give us the opportunity to pause and reflect on if there are areas in our life where we are boasting? Boasting in prideful ways? Are we arrogant, lofty, displaying a haughty heart toward others?

Chapter 49 does not bring good tidings to the Ammonites or Edomites. Verse 16 again gives us a good look into why this judgment is coming upon Edom: “You are proud that you inspire fear in others. And you are proud because you live in a rock fortress and hide high in the mountains. But don’t fool yourselves!” Pride. Again. Pride. Think Pride is something that has been a temptation of humans since the Fall? Think this temptation continues today? Verse 6 does give the hope of redemption for the Ammonites: “But afterward I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites,” says the LORD.” This map below will give you a quick snapshot of the location of the Ammonites, Edomites, and Moabites from today’s readings:

Worship Video: I realize that I’m posting up 2 Chris Tomlin videos 2 days in a row. I want to share a live version of him singing “Indescribable” (song written by Laura Story) from The Netherlands Youth Day at a stadium. I don’t think I mentioned this in yesterday’s posting – but if you ever get a chance to see Chris Tomlin live, please take the opportunity! It is always a powerful worship experience!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6bfUf9S7wY
Is God Indescribable to you? Click here to get to know Him!

Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
October 24th Old Testament Readings

October 24, 2026

Jeremiah 44:24-47:7
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with the ESV Bible ~

Jeremiah 44:28 stood out to me in today’s readings: “”Only a small number will escape death and return to Judah from Egypt.” This verse reminds me that God is continuing to preserve the line – the house of David. God will destroy most of the Israelites in Egypt for their unfaithfulness & idol worship, but he will preserve a remnant! We see this over and over in the Bible – even Noah & the flood comes to mind, pre-David of course. Verses 29 and 30 in this chapter continues: “And this is the proof I give you, says the LORD, that all I have threatened will happen to you and that I will punish you here: I will turn Pharaoh Hophra, king of Egypt, over to his enemies who want to kill him, just as I turned King Zedekiah of Judah over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I, the LORD, have spoken!” Based on these verses, below is an image of Pharaoh-Hophra taken prisoner in the war with Amasis:

Jeremiah 45 is a short chapter. Baruch is the person who has basically written this book of Jeremiah. He was Jeremiah’s secretary and wrote down everything. However, apparently being secretary for a prophet is a high stress job too. Baruch is sounding a bit burdened in this chapter… To which God gives him words of comfort, along with a brief warning in verse 5 – “Are you seeking great things for yourself? Don’t do it!” Are we seeking great things for ourselves? Should we do it…. ? Whom should we be seeking great things for? Why do we seek great things for our own selves? Why do we sometimes even walk over others to try to prove our “greatness”…. ? Think God likes to see this type of behavior from us?

Jeremiah chapter 46 starts about 6 chapters of prophecies against various nations. Starting with Egypt in 46 and Philistine in 47 today. In chapter 46 verses 3 through 5 today we read: “”Buckle on your armor and advance into battle! Harness the horses, and prepare to mount them. Put on your helmets, sharpen your spears, and prepare your armor. But look! The Egyptian army flees in terror. The bravest of its fighting men run without a backward glance. They are terrorized at every turn, says the LORD.”

Worship Video: Today’s readings, and really many of our recent days readings, are reminding me of Chris Tomlin’s amazing song “Made to Worship.” Related to this song, I heard a recent sermon by Dr. Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian in New York City about how the first 2 of the Ten Commandments are so critical for us to fully understand and live out. God is God. Worship God. No false idols. If we really get this and really live it out, well then the rest of the 8 Commandments are a lot easier to actually keep. It’s when we mess up on the first two commandments, and when we start worshiping created things rather than our Creator – well, that’s when we very easily mess up on the other 8 commandments. If you’re worshiping money more than God, then it’s a lot easier to lie, cheat and steal! Put God back in his proper place – as your God. And worship God only. And, then, well, why lie, cheat or steal? You wouldn’t want to do that while worshiping God. I hope this makes sense? It was stunning to me to really think about it while listening to Dr. Keller’s sermon. And I’ve heard Chris say before about how “you and I are made to worship. We’re great worshipers!” And I agree with him on this. The question is that who or what are we worshiping? I do think all humans on the planet are great worshipers. However, we’re not all worshiping God above all else… And that’s where the problems come in! Apologies on this long set up to this video. 🙂 You and I are made to worship God the Father, God the Son, Jesus, and God the Holy Spirit!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5FmNqozk6k
Who or what are you worshiping these days? Click here to worship God!

Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
October 23rd Old Testament Readings

October 23, 2026

Jeremiah 42:1-44:23
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

The three Jeremiah chapters today are quite eventful! It is intriguing that the Israelites ask Jeremiah for a message from God – and that whatever they hear back they will do and obey. But then they don’t obey! Are we like this at times… ? We promise promise promise God that we’ll listen & change… but then do we? If you are going through struggles in your life today will you call out to God? Do you trust that He will answer in His own unique and perfect way and timing? And then will you trust and obey?

Jeremiah chapter 42 gives a good overview of the day’s readings, with these closing 2 verses in this chapter from Jeremiah: “And today I have told you exactly what he said, but you will not obey the LORD your God any better now than you have in the past. So you can be sure that you will die from war, famine, and disease in Egypt, where you insist on going.” Jeremiah delivered the message from God… but knew that the message would go unheeded.

Chapter 43 reminds me that when we are disobedient to God’s will that our disobedience can affect not only ourselves, but others around us too. Mind you, Egypt was not a “house of the holy” – but the Israelites disobedience is going to bring destruction to themselves and Egypt. They’re carrying their disobedience and curse on to others. Jeremiah 43’s verses 9 & 10 stood out: “”While the people of Judah are watching, bury large rocks between the pavement stones at the entrance of Pharaoh’s palace here in Tahpanhes. I will surely bring my servant Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, here to Egypt.” Interesting that God calls Nebuchadnezzar his “servant”. Would God have said this about the Israelites at this time? Called them his servants?

Chapter 44 is a great reminder of why it’s a bad idea to pursue idols in our life instead of God! Verse 7 asks “Why are you destroying yourselves?” I love this verse. Why are we destroying ourselves? We bring upon self-abuse, self-destruction, when we pursue things that are not of God. Think about it. They may bring a quick temporary pleasure, but in the long run are they building us up or destroying us? Why are we destroying ourselves?

Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of Francesca Battistelli’s song “God is Good:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbXjgwDHNpQ
Do you believe that God is good? Click here for His Goodness;!

Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
October 22nd Old Testament Readings

October 22, 2026

Jeremiah 39:1-41:18
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Jeremiah chapter 39 brings the fall of Jerusalem! 🙁 It is sad to read about king Zedekiah’s fate. But, he was forewarned many times by Jeremiah of the coming destruction. It is interesting that King Nebuchadnezzar sought out Jeremiah and told his soldiers to free Jeremiah – and give him the option of staying in Judah or coming to Babylon, where he would be taken care of. Almost seemed like Nebuchadnezzar feared God more than Zedekiah? Actually, in Jeremiah 40:2, we do see that the Babylonians did have a good understanding of God’s prophecies and they seemed to believe them: “The captain of the guard called for Jeremiah and said, “The Lord your God has brought this disaster on this land, just as he said he would. For these people have sinned against the Lord and disobeyed him. That is why it happened.” Is it possible in our lives today that sometimes others can see more clearly than we can of how God is moving in our lives? Below is an image of the fall of Jerusalem from today’s readings:

Jeremiah chapter 40 continues with Gedaliah being appointed governor of Judah by Babylon. Gedaliah seems to be a good sort, as he invites the people living in the country side to: “Settle in any town you wish, and live off the land. Harvest the grapes and summer fruits and olives, and store them away.” (v. 10). However, things don’t go well too long for Gedaliah, which is sad… Ishmael enters the scene in chapter 40 and into chapter 41, and ultimately murders Gedaliah. This definitely made me sad! Things seemed to be getting a bit peaceful in Judah, and prosperous to a degree. And then evil enters the scene once again… How many times have we seen this scenario play out over history? Below is an image of Ishmael’s treachery to the remnant of Judah in 41:6 –

Worship Video: Today’s readings reminded me of Tenth Avenue North’s great song, “Love Is Here:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sBuajPzBTw
Is Love here for you? Click here for Love!

Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
October 21st Old Testament Readings

October 21, 2026

Jeremiah 37:1-38:28
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Old Testament – We read about some very interesting dynamics in Jeremiah chapters 37 & 38 today… Jeremiah goes from dungeon to prison to cistern to prison to being the king’s confidant. Being a prophet is quite a life!!

I continue to admire Jeremiah’s boldness in speaking the truth in these chapters. 37:17 stood out: “Later King Zedekiah secretly requested that Jeremiah come to the palace, where the king asked him, “Do you have any messages from the Lord?” “Yes, I do!” said Jeremiah. “You will be defeated by the king of Babylon.” Jeremiah goes right to the truth… no beating around the bush! And then 3 verses later he asks Zedekiah – “Listen, my lord the king, I beg you. Don’t send me back to the dungeon in the house of Jonathan the secretary, for I will die there.” He speaks a harsh truth to Zedekiah and then asks for a favor. I like that! Do we speak the truth in our lives? Even if we know we’ll need to ask for a favor of someone later, will we still speak the truth? Or will we default to the un-truthful position of “hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil….”

Worship Video: Today’s readings reminded me of the MercyMe song “Flawless:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjLlLPZderk

Has the Cross made you Flawless? Click here to remove your Flaws!

Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

Glory to God!
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
October 20th Old Testament Readings

October 20, 2026

Jeremiah 35:1-36:32
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Jeremiah chapter 35 today is a fantastic example of obedience from the Recabites! Interestingly, the Recabites are being obedient to a human’s word… This stands in stark contrast to the Israelites disobedience to God’s Word… Do we do this sometimes in our lives? Obey human words and disobey God’s Word?

Jeremiah 36 is a great chapter. It is awesome to read about the writing down of God’s words to Jeremiah on a scroll by Baruch! Unfortunately, that first scroll gets burned. Pretty crazy to think about King Jehoiakim listening to God’s words in the scroll and then burning it as he listens… I love how today’s readings end in verse 32: “Then Jeremiah took another scroll and dictated again to his secretary Baruch. He wrote everything that had been on the scroll King Jehoiakim had burned in the fire. Only this time, he added much more!” You better believe God had Jeremiah add much more to the 2nd scroll after King Jehoiakim cut up and burned the first scroll!

Worship Video – Today’s readings reminded me of the Steven Curtis Chapman song “Love take me over:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qn5mi5G9RQY
Has love taken you over? Click here for true Love!

Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
October 19th Old Testament Readings

October 19, 2026

Jeremiah 33:1-34:22
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Today in our readings we get the famous Jeremiah 33:3 verse: “‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’” (NIV) Verses 15 & 16 are powerful Messianic verses, harkening back to Jeremiah 23:6 (The Lord Our Righteousness): “In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness.”

Verse 22 is a great verse echoing the covenant promises to Abraham: “I will make the descendants of David my servant and the Levites who minister before me as countless as the stars of the sky and as measureless as the sand on the seashore.”

Verse 18 threw me for a loop initially, trying to figure out how this could still be – “nor will the priests, who are Levites, ever fail to have a man to stand before me continually to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to present sacrifices.’” I wondered – where are the Levites today? Fortunately, I read a commentary that set me straight – Jesus is fulfilling this ministry for us today! Jesus is our Levitical priest standing before God continually. Beautiful, eh? Do you consider Jesus to be your High Priest?

Jeremiah chapter 34 is interesting with the freedom for the slaves – and then the reversal of that decision. Could this story remind us of our lives at times? Do we sometimes promise God that we’ll do something he wants us to do? Maybe even start to do it? And then change our minds? Why are we not consistent with what we tell God we will do? Let us pray for consistency in our spiritual walk!

YouTube: I’ve had a lot of great conversations lately with people about the power of not only reading Scripture, but actually listening to it! I know many of you are following along in our One Year Bible readings using the Tom Dooley link or are listening on Bible Gateway. A few years ago I listened to the Bible using “The Bible Experience.” It is fantastic – see the video below for an overview. Does anyone have any other audio Bible versions you could recommend in the Comments section below? Thanks!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OM9JTjI39Co
Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

Glory to God!
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

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