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I got a bit distracted in March but I have been reading and making notes, so let’s get back to the Bible.

Hebrews 2 has that phrase “it says somewhere”. Of course, Psalm 8 hadn’t been numbered as a chapter yet.

Reading plan had me in Psalm 39 and Hebrews 12 at the same time. Both are valid perspectives on discipline.

Leviticus – notice many times the blood and maybe fat portions of the animal are in the tabernacle but the rest of the animal is burned outside the camp. Of course, Jesus was crucified outside the camp, in order to open the temple – Hebrews 13 comments on this. As all of Hebrews stresses, God was replacing the old system with the new system.

Matthew 2 – In bringing Jesus out of Egypt, Joseph is aware enough to have concerns. I imagine some serious prayer for guidance and reassurance led to that dream with instructions on where to take him.

Matthew 4 and the wilderness – Know your Scripture and know your God. Much easier to trust when you know the person you are trusting. But it does take trust and believing God. Even Satan knows the Scriptures.

One of my notes from this chapter says if God is leading us by a path where there is no bread then He will sustain me without bread.

I also have a quote from Journey to the Cross Lenten Readings:

Our wilderness is not literal, but it is very real. We are tempted – perhaps even determined – to sustain ourselves, to escape our vulnerability, and to chase our aspirations without thought of others.

Matthew 5 – the Sermon on the Mount. What a great reminder that I never keep the law perfectly. Even if I do good, my motivation is shaky, and/or my thoughts about telling what I did or not lead me into sin.

This fit in well with our study of Romans this month where Paul says the law showed him his sin in Romans 7:7. He mentions sin used this command to arouse all kinds of covetous desires within him, Romans 7:8. Coveting is the one command where you can’t ignore the internal thoughts and feelings. As Christ countered in the Sermon on the Mount, the other commands could be and had been reduced to external actions. But the Ten Commandments are about so much more than just actions. Christ shows, and Paul is convicted by the inward attitudes and heart issues, it is about being discontent with what God has given you.

Exodus 4 has an interesting story that most of us probably skip over in confusion. But this great article from the Gospel Coalition shows some people wrestle with these kinds of Scriptures and what some of the options are for interpretation. We have gone a long way from the allegory option, but sometimes it’s a good choice.

Exodus 6:20 – the translation I was reading today says father’s sister (that would be an aunt). The septuagint says cousin per a note in my Bible. I have a few different commentaries and most of them didn’t even mention this, but the Reformation Study Bible points out this may be an argument for the authenticity of the lineage, since a white-wash job would have avoided revealing a relationship that was later forbidden by the law.

Exodus 10 – the Ten Commandments – back to the Sermon on the Mount and Romans 7.

Exodus 32 is where the people give their gold to Aaron who throws it in the fire, and lo and behold, out popped this calf to worship. 🙂 Aaron tries hard to not take responsibility, doesn’t he. What struck me today was that the prior several chapters were God describing to Moses how the people could contribute and participate in building His tabernacle. A place of great beauty and to be filled with His holiness. But who has time to wait for detailed instructions and then more time to spend collecting materials and carving or sewing or weaving or engraving. So much easier to throw money at the problem and go with whatever pops out of that. God requires more from us, but He gives so much more to us.

While in Florida, my cousin Kate sent me a text

Hey, you. How are things? Whatcha reading?

It was like she was watching me, because I was indeed reading the moment her text came. So I snagged a photo and replied.

I am enjoying this book. It is part history (but so well explained) and part theological study (but not heavy) and part devotional (and oh so sweet to the soul). I have been convicted, encouraged, and educate by this book. It’s my idea of a fun read.

I hope you are finding as much joy and fulfillment in your Bible reading as I am. Remember, the link to the reading plan I’m using this year is to the right. But any plan will do or no plan at all, just take up and read!

It’s been awhile since I posted about my Bible reading. Let’s do a little catch-up.

Is 24-25 says destruction and desolation can be a good thing when it drives people to worship God. Too bad we are so hard-headed and hard-hearted that He has to resort to that to get out attention.

Is 26 – His judgments cause people to learn righteousness. Leviathan again. Some say it is God, that Job commentary I read suggested that at least in Job it was an agent of chaos, or evil, autocratic powers.

There is no compassion for people with no discernment. Just because you “feel” it doesn’t mean it is ok or right. But people won’t take correction or even disagreement any more. It’s a sad state.

Psalm 12 – shelter and protection as the wicked prowl every side and vileness is exalted among men. It sounds like society today.

1 Th 1 – praise for their faith and how it came and how it is seen and known by fruit. (Paul and James echoing here)

1 Th 2 – they are Paul’s glory and joy. As God rejoices in our faith and obedience, feeble as it is, so Paul also rejoices

He was afraid they would crumble in face of persecution and suffering. He had warned them and now sends Timothy to exhort them to stand firm in the faith.

Forewarned is forearmed. We should expect suffering. We should not be surprised or discouraged by it. In fact, we should rejoice as we share sufferings with Christ, our model and brother.

We often hear people say we are holding up so well or I’m an inspiration. And I do want my witness to show that my faith is real. I can tell you it is all God. He is holding us up, giving us strength, patience, and endurance to keep going. If I’m an inspiration – what am I inspiring you to do?

I read the memoir by Paul Kalanithi about his lung cancer diagnosis and journey to death. He quotes Samuel Beckett “I can’t go on. I’ll go on”. That’s how some moments of some days go. But God is always there when I cry out. (Fantastic book, by the way. I highly recommend it.)

The thing is, as Paul Kalanithi captures so well in his memoir, “death may be a one-time event, but living with a terminal illness is a process”. And I don’t know how long I have (I wanted to say ‘how long it will take’ 🙂 so I just keep enjoying every day and putting one numb foot in front of the other.

Back to that Bible reading.

Is 30 is like James 4 – you can make plans without God but it will go according to His plan every time. He is waiting to bless those who turn to Him.

Col 1 – we were once alienated and hostile in mind.

Is 32 – a righteous and just ruler is protection for the people and provides benefits, like water. Fools and scoundrels won’t be admired. The Lord is our stability. The pattern of desolation and renewal.

Leviticus – repetition over and over. Because we are stubborn and stupid.

I wonder if they had a whiteboard listing the different types of sacrifices and what the rules were for each.

Interesting that God gets the fat (yum) and the priest gets the skin (to wear or to eat, I wonder).

One last comment. I’m finding 1 John easier to read in the New Living Translation. The ESV feels like a bunch of exclamations cobbled together, while the NLT provides more continuity and coherence.

That catches us up. More later.