Old Testament in a Year

October 1st Old Testament Readings

Isaiah 62:6-65:25
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Fall! And we're 3/4ths of the way through the Old Testament!  There is something about the season of Fall and the Old Testament Bible readings that I just love.  We're coming up to some great books in the Old Testament during this season of Fall with Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel and Daniel on deck. Last but not least, maybe I love the season of Fall and our readings because we have read through 3/4ths of the Old Testament this year and we’re now in the last 1/4th of our readings.  Maybe I love the fact that we are in the "home-stretch" of our One Year Bible readings.  I do want to congratulate each of you for making it this far.  Press on toward the finish line here in these last 3 months!  Yay God for the season of Fall!  (and for those of you participating in the Old Testament readings in the southern hemisphere – Yay God for Spring! :)

Today in Isaiah chapter 63 we read about God's judgment against his enemies.  It is interesting dialogue in verses 1 through 3: ""It is I, the LORD, announcing your salvation! It is I, the LORD, who is mighty to save!"  Why are your clothes so red, as if you have been treading out grapes? "I have trodden the winepress alone; no one was there to help me. In my anger I have trampled my enemies as if they were grapes. In my fury I have trampled my foes. It is their blood that has stained my clothes."

Isaiah chapter 64 verses 5 through 7 stood out to me as a stark reminder of why Jesus came into our world as our Savior eight centuries after this was written by Isaiah - and why we still need Jesus today as our Savior... - "But we are not godly. We are constant sinners, so your anger is heavy on us. How can people like us be saved? We are all infected and impure with sin. When we proudly display our righteous deeds, we find they are but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall. And our sins, like the wind, sweep us away. Yet no one calls on your name or pleads with you for mercy. Therefore, you have turned away from us and turned us over to our sins."  Do these verses remind you of your need for Jesus?  Has Jesus saved you from your constant sinning?  Have you been saved from the "infection" of sin?  This is great wording in these verses by Isaiah - we are all "infected" with sin... praise God that Jesus saves us from this infection!  C.S. Lewis says this about Christianity being a "good infection" -

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Isaiah chapter 65 titled "The Lord's Answer: Mercy for Israel" is at this link.

Worship Video: Today's readings remind me of For King & Country’s song "For God is With Us:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HErRFLapu4

Do you know our God who is with us?  Click here to be with 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!

September 30th Old Testament Readings

Isaiah 60:1-62:5
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~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Today in Isaiah chapter 60 we read about Jerusalem's future glory!  Verses 4 through 6 tell us - "Look and see, for everyone is coming home! Your sons are coming from distant lands; your little daughters will be carried home. Your eyes will shine, and your hearts will thrill with joy, for merchants from around the world will come to you. They will bring you the wealth of many lands. Vast caravans of camels will converge on you, the camels of Midian and Ephah. From Sheba they will bring gold and incense for the worship of the LORD."

Beautiful imagery in verses 8 & 9 - "And what do I see flying like clouds to Israel, like doves to their nests? They are the ships of Tarshish, reserved to bring the people of Israel home. They will bring their wealth with them, and it will bring great honor to the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he will fill you with splendor."

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Isaiah titled "The Spirit-filled Servant and the Kingdom of God" is at this link.

Worship Video: Today's readings in Isaiah reminded me of the Steven Curtis Chapman song "Yours:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-ERm0_tuKM

Do you believe than anything is truly yours?  Click here and hand it over to 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!

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!

September 29th Old Testament Readings

Isaiah 57:15-59:21
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Today in Isaiah chapter 57 verses 20 & 21 we have a chance to think about that sometimes elusive word "peace": ""But those who still reject me are like the restless sea. It is never still but continually churns up mire and dirt. There is no peace for the wicked," says my God."  I don't know about you, but I know I have gone through many days of my life without true peace - and many days with true peace.  And I do honestly believe that there is no peace in our lives apart from God.  When we live our lives solely for our own selfish motives, we live a very chaotic un-restful un-peaceful life I believe.  But, when we turn our lives over to God, when we embrace God, when we love God, and when we are obedient to God's will for our lives, we come to know true peace!  And it is indeed a peace that surpasses all understanding.  I pray that each of us is walking in the light of God's peace this very day.  And tomorrow.  And the next day.  Please, don't ever step out of the peace of God and back into the chaos of living for yourself.  I know this can seem to be a glib saying at first glance, but there's a whole lot of truth to this one:

Today in Isaiah chapter 59 we read about warnings against sin - which were written for Israel in 8th century B.C.  Do you think we should heed these warnings today as well?  Any of these warnings in chapter 59 sound like they could have been written for our modern day?   In verses 9 & 10 today we read - "It is because of all this evil that deliverance is far from us. That is why God doesn't punish those who injure us. No wonder we are in darkness when we expected light. No wonder we are walking in the gloom. No wonder we grope like blind people and stumble along. Even at brightest noontime, we fall down as though it were dark. No wonder we are like corpses when compared to vigorous young men!"  When I read these verses above and look at this image below, I for some reason think of people in our world today who are addicted to pornography.  Pornography is a horrific sin that indeed turns vigorous young men into "corpses" of themselves.  Pornography sells you "vigor", but it delivers just the opposite - death.  I pray that if anyone reading this is addicted to pornography that you'll run for your very life to counseling.  Seriously.  Your life is too short and precious to walk around like a corpse any more!  Go for God!  You likely can't pull out of the addiction on your own.  You'll need help - immediately.  Find an addiction counselor in your town ASAP.  Please don't walk in the darkness of this deadly addiction anymore...

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Isaiah chapter 57 titled "God's Condemnation or God's Comfort" is at this link.

Video: Today's discussion in Isaiah above about pornography reminded me of the movie starring Kirk Cameron called Fireproof.  Have you seen this movie yet?  It is terrific! It is an awesome movie about marriage and God. Kirk's character does struggle with pornography in the movie, but is redeemed. Please see the movie soon if you can. Below is the trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5lSu6GkC2k

Do you think you are Fireproof?  Click here for a Fireproof faith!

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!

September 28th Old Testament Readings

Isaiah 54:1-57:14
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Today we read Isaiah chapter 55, which is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible! I went to a wedding several years ago in Napa, California and God led me to a church in that town on a Sunday morning where the pastor preached an incredible sermon from Isaiah 55.  It is a beautiful chapter for all of us who are Thirsty. Let us drink deeply of God’s Word today!  Verse 1 tells us - "Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink--even if you have no money!"  Are you drinking freely of the Bible this year?  Even if you have no money, do you believe that God is inviting you to drink deeply of his True and Holy Water, His Word?  Are you thirsty?

Verse 6 is fantastic... Will you seek? Will you call?

In verses 10-12 we read:

“10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
12 You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.”

How do these above verses resonate with you, based on our One Year Bible readings? Particularly verse 11 above – is God’s Word accomplishing something in you this year through reading the Bible each day? Is the Bible “watering” you? Are you Thirsty? Do you feel that you are going out in joy and being led forth in peace? Have the mountains and hills burst into song before you?  Are the trees of the field clapping their hands in your life today?

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Isaiah chapter 55 titled "God's Exhortation to Receive His Grace" is at this link.

Worship Video:  Today's readings reminded me of the great Aaron Shust song called "Give Me Words to Speak."  His song includes this lyric: "Calloused and bruised. Dazed and confused. My Spirit is left wanting something more. Than my selfish hopes.  And my selfish dreams. I’m lying with my face down to the floor. I’m crying out for more!"  Awesome song!  Here's a live version with Aaron on the keys!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7Xk6sc62EY

Has God ever given you words to speak?  Click here and speak to God!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost." Isaiah 55:1 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you are thirsty for the Lord. Pray that you come to Lord daily with your thirst. Pray that you receive freely Living Water from Jesus on a daily basis and forevermore.

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!

September 27th Old Testament Readings

Isaiah 51:1-53:12
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Isaiah chapter 53 is one of the most powerful chapters of the Bible - and one of the saddest to really meditate upon.  Isaiah chapter 53 is all about Jesus!  This is a powerful chapter to read...  I'm sure you likely caught that this chapter was about Jesus when you first read it, but if not, please re-read the chapter again and do you see how Isaiah is prophesying Jesus' passion and death?  It is astounding to realize these words of Isaiah's were written in 8th century B.C.  Verse 5 tells us: "But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed!"  Do you believe that the words of Isaiah's in chapter 53 today are about Jesus?  Do you believe that Jesus was wounded and crushed for your sins?  Was he beaten that you might have peace?  Are you healed because Jesus was whipped and then murdered on a cross?

Verse 7: "He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth."

Verse 8: "From prison and trial they led him away to his death. But who among the people realized that he was dying for their sins--that he was suffering their punishment?"

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Isaiah chapter 52 and 53 titled "The Triumph of the Suffering Servant" is at this link.  Below is a great image for Isaiah 53:6 from today's readings:

Worship Video:  I'm sure many of you have heard on K-LOVE "By His Wounds" by Mac Powell, Mark Hall, Steven Curtis Chapman and Brian Littrell. This song is based on Isaiah 53 verse 5 from today's readings. It is a beautiful song about our beautiful Savior Jesus. Here's a live version of the song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWnSX3X7wbw

By His wounds, have you been healed?  Click here to be healed!

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!

September 26th Old Testament Readings

Isaiah 48:12-50:11
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Isaiah chapter 49 verse 6 is sometimes referred to as "the great commission of the Old Testament"!  Here it is: "You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me. I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."  Paul and Barnabas quote this verse in part in Acts 13:47.  The preceding 5 verses (1-5) in chapter 49 are considered the second servant song in Isaiah and are thought to refer to Jesus, the coming Messiah.  Isaiah chapter 50 verses 4 through 9 in today's readings are considered the third servant song (out of a total of four) in Isaiah.  It's interesting, when I initially read these verses in chapter 50 I really thought they were solely about the prophet Isaiah.  But, as we all know by now from our readings in Isaiah - and we'll see this again in big ways in our coming day's readings - Isaiah often had the coming Savior of the world, Jesus, on his mind when he was writing this incredible book of the Old Testament in the eighth century B.C.!  I love this painting below of Isaiah writing about Jesus...

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Isaiah chapter 50 titled "The Lord Can and Will Help Those Who Trust Him" is at this link.  Below is a nice image for Isaiah chapter 48 verse 17 from today's readings:

Worship Video:  Today's readings reminded me of Tenth Avenue North's song "Healing Begins:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe1yKciSlT4

Has your soul been healed by God?  Click here for Healing!

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!

September 25th Old Testament Readings

Isaiah 45:11-48:11
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

In yesterday and today's Isaiah chapter 45 readings we read about King Cyrus of Persia!  Verse 13 says this about Cyrus in today's readings: "I will raise up Cyrus to fulfill my righteous purpose, and I will guide all his actions. He will restore my city and free my captive people--and not for a reward! I, the LORD Almighty, have spoken!"  The interesting thing to note here is that Cyrus was not Jewish - he was a Gentile ruler who was raised up for the purpose of freeing the Israelite captives from exile in Babylon and allowing them to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.  In yesterday's readings in chapter 45 verse 1 Cyrus was even referred to as "God's anointed."  This is the only place in the Bible where a Gentile ruler is said to be anointed.  It's also very interesting to note that Isaiah is calling Cyrus by name some 150 years before Cyrus ruled!  Isaiah prophesied from 740 to 681 B.C. and Cyrus ruled from 559 to 530 B.C.  Some Bible commentaries suggest that Cyrus read these prophesies of Isaiah during his reign and was so moved by them that he decided to indeed fulfill them.  In any case, Cyrus played a pivotal role in our spiritual history - allowing the promise of Abraham's many descendants to continue to the fulfillment of the coming Messiah in Jesus! 

Isaiah chapter 45 verses 22 & 23 are powerful and foreshadow Jesus' ministry here on earth: "Let all the world look to me for salvation! For I am God; there is no other. I have sworn by my own name, and I will never go back on my word: Every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will confess allegiance to my name." These verses are also foreshadowing of the book of Revelation that we will read later this year.  We read Paul quoting these verses to describe Jesus in Romans 14:11 and Philippians 2:10-11.  Do you believe that all the world should look to God for salvation?  Is there another god?  Is Jesus God?  Do you believe that one day every tongue will confess allegiance to the name of Jesus and every knee will bow to Jesus?

Art used by permission by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992.
To order prints visit her "Revelation Illustrated" site.

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Isaiah titled "The Lord's Superiority to the gods of Babylon" is at this link.  Below is an image from Isaiah 46:4 from today's readings:

Worship Video:  Isaiah chapter 45 verse 23 reminded me of the fantastic Brian Doerksen song "Come, Now is the Time to Worship" which includes the lyrics: "One day every tongue will confess you are God.  One day every knee will bow.  Still the greatest treasure remains for those who choose you now!"  Here's a nice live version of this song, sung by Phillips, Craig and Dean:

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

Has your tongue confessed who God is?  Click here and bow your knee!

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!

September 24th Old Testament Readings

Isaiah 43:14-45:10
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~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Isaiah's word's in chapter 44 verses 18 & 19 today are classic Old Testament very direct words!  "Such stupidity and ignorance! Their eyes are closed, and they cannot see. Their minds are shut, and they cannot think. The person who made the idol never stops to reflect, "Why, it's just a block of wood! I burned half of it for heat and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat. How can the rest of it be a god? Should I bow down to worship a chunk of wood?"  I wonder about us in our lives today - do we create idols of our own today?  Maybe our idols are not made out of chunks of wood these days.  But do we create idols perhaps out of other people?  Do we create idols out of material goods?  Do we create idols out of our careers?  Do we create idols out of how we spend our time?  Are you bowing down and worshiping any "chunks of wood" in your life today?  Please turn any idols you might have over to Jesus and allow him to heal you from worshiping those idols in your life!

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Isaiah titled "Dead Idols or the Living God" is at this link and "The Knowledge of the Lord" is at this link.  Below is a great image from Isaiah 44:3 from today's readings:

Worship Video:  Today's readings reminded me of "Awesome God" by Rich Mullins, and performed here by Michael W. Smith:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38V8jnN1Kpw

Do you know our awesome God?  Click here to meet 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!

September 23rd Old Testament Readings

Isaiah 41:17-43:13
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Today in Isaiah chapter 42 we read some amazing prophecies about Jesus!  Verses 1 through 4 in Isaiah 42 are known as the "Servant Song," in which the servant is the coming Messiah, Jesus.  There are 3 other servant songs in Isaiah we'll read in the coming days.  The nation of Israel, as well as the Messiah, are both often called "servant".  The nation of Israel was to be a kingdom of priests and the Messiah is the high priest who atones for the sins of the world. In Isaiah chapter 42 verse 1 today we read: “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations.”  Verses 1 through 4 are quoted in part in Matthew 12:18-21.  Do you see the prophecies about Jesus as you read today's chapter 42?  Is this chapter and its prophecies encouraging to you?

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Isaiah titled "The Lord is the Gracious Redeemer" is at this link.  Below is a great image for Isaiah 43:2-3 from today's readings:

Worship Video: Today's readings in Isaiah chapter 43 reminded me of Josh Wilson's song, "Carry Me:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9huooelamNA

Is God carrying you?  Click here and be carried!

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!

September 22nd Old Testament Readings

Isaiah 39:1-41:16
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Today in Isaiah chapter 39 we read about Hezekiah receiving envoys from Babylon.  Unfortunately, he is a bit too hospitable with these envoys!  He believes showing off his wealth will prove that he has worldly power and that the Babylonians will respect him and Judah.  Isaiah sees that Hezekiah is relying on worldly wealth and not God, and Isaiah delivers a word from God that Judah will be exiled to Babylon  Indeed, this comes true in 115 years in the future from when Isaiah delivers this word in this chapter.  We will read more about the Babylonian exile later in this year’s One Year Bible readings.  How about us, in our lives today – do we try to impress people with our worldly wealth or toys or stuff, like Hezekiah was trying to impress the Babylonians?  And further, do we actually try to rely on this worldly stuff rather than rely on God?

You'll notice that our readings in Isaiah today take on a new tone in chapter 40.  Isaiah chapters 1 through 35 were prophesies against Judah and Jerusalem, chapters 36 through 39 were prophesies against Assyria and a foretelling of the rise of Babylon, and now in chapters 40 through 66 we will be reading about Judah and Jerusalem as if the Babylonian exile was nearly over.  This week in Isaiah chapters 40 & 42 we will read some amazing prophecies about Jesus. (I get chills reading some of the verses in these chapters realizing they were written in the 8th century B.C. . .)  Do you see a foretelling of John the Baptist today in chapter 40 verses 3 through 5: "Listen! I hear the voice of someone shouting, "Make a highway for the LORD through the wilderness. Make a straight, smooth road through the desert for our God. Fill the valleys and level the hills. Straighten out the curves and smooth off the rough spots. Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together."

Below is a great image for Isaiah 40:8 from today's readings!

Worship Video: Isaiah 40:28 today reminded me of the wonderful song "Everlasting God" by Brenton Brown:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGPTK24hQxc

Do you know our Everlasting God?  Click here 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!