Chronological Bible Blog

Jeremiah 49:1-33; 2 Kings 24:5-7; 2 Chronicles 36:6-8; 2 Kings 24:8-9; 2 Chronicles 36:9; Jeremiah 22:24-23:32
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~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

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:

Today in Jeremiah we read about one of the last Old Testament era kings to sit on the throne of David in Judah!  This was King Jehoiachin and God makes it clear that this is one of Judah’s last Davidic kings (with Zedekiah being governor/king of Judah briefly subsequently) in chapter 22 verse 30: “This is what the Lord says: ‘Let the record show that this man Jehoiachin was childless. He is a failure, for none of his children will succeed him on the throne of David to rule over Judah.’” Immediately after reading about this king of Judah, Jeremiah 23:1-8 gives us a great Messianic foreshadowing of Jesus, the true and eternal Davidic king! Verses 5 & 6: “For the time is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will place a righteous Branch on King David’s throne. He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. And this is his name: `The Lord Is Our Righteousness.’ In that day Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety.” Great stuff! A righteous branch on King David’s throne…. rules with wisdom… will do what is just and right throughout the land… Think this is Jesus??

The remaining verses in Jeremiah 23 go after false prophets. I know in reading Jeremiah I’ve been pondering how hard it would be to be Jeremiah, a prophet with some tough messages.  Well, in this chapter it looks like being a false prophet is really the wrong way to live. If you’re gonna be a prophet, make sure you’re prophesying the truth… 🙂   Do you think there are any false prophets in our world today?  Do you avoid listening to the teachings of false prophets in our world today?  (other than if you need to listen to what they say to repudiate it)  Can we sometimes even be false prophets to our own selves and others on occasion?  Who can free us from the lies of false prophets?  (see the image above – not the modern day false prophets image below…)

Worship God: Today’s readings reminded me of Rebecca St. James’ song “Wait for Me”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1thVi6T9rEo

Are you waiting on God’s timing in your life? Click here and wait for Him no longer!

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. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Jeremiah 16:1-18:23; Jeremiah 35:1-19
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~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

There are a lot of great verses in Jeremiah’s readings today!  Jeremiah 17:5 stands out: "Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans and turn their hearts away from the Lord."  I think oftentimes we put more trust in others than the Lord – our spouses, our pastors, our friends, our family, and even ourselves. The risk here is that people are human and are not perfect. They will eventually disappoint at some point. God is the only perfect option to place our ultimate trust in. I do think we can still "trust" others to a degree – marriage of course being a prime example of this trust in another human. But, marriage will really only ultimately work if God is the "third cord" in the marriage (see Ecclesiastes 4:12).  Overall, this verse wisely cautions that our highest level of trust should be reserved for God! Who will not fail us.  Ever. Who do you trust these days the most?  Do you trust God above anything or anyone else?  Do you trust God more than you trust yourself?

Jeremiah 17:7-8 has some great imagery! ""But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit." These verses remind me a lot of Psalm 1, verses 1 through 3.  Is God your hope and confidence?  If so, do you feel like a tree planted along a riverbank with roots that reach deep into the water?  How deep are your roots in God’s living water these days?

Jeremiah 17:19-27 are some powerful verses on the Sabbath! I talk a lot with my friends about taking Sabbaths. I am really bad at it… and I know I need it. And I know my friends need it too. I’ll have to remember verse 27 next time I’m having the Sabbath discussions with my friends… 🙂  "`But if you do not listen to me and refuse to keep the Sabbath holy, and if on the Sabbath day you bring loads of merchandise through the gates of Jerusalem just as on other days, then I will set fire to these gates. The fire will spread to the palaces, and no one will be able to put out the roaring flames.’"  How are you doing on taking a Sabbath each week?  What would your response be to a modern day Jeremiah standing at the gate and telling you to keep one day a week as a holy day unto the Lord?

I like this verse in Jeremiah 18:15 – "They have stumbled off the ancient highways of good, and they walk the muddy paths of sin." I like that metaphor – the ancient highways of good. These sound nice! You want to be on these. And not veering off into the muddy paths of sin…

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?

Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of Casting Crowns song “If We are the Body.”  Here’s a live version of this powerful song:

Are you part of the Body? Click here to join God’s Body!

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. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Jeremiah 12:1-15:21
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~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

The Jeremiah readings today may seem to you a bit tough to read. It is certainly sad to read about the coming destruction. As I read through these chapters I think about Jeremiah and how tough it must have been on him to know what was coming. In fact, Jeremiah gives a passionate prayer for the people of Jerusalem in today’s readings in chapter 14 verses 7 through 9.  The question that I think sometimes can come up for some as they read chapters like this in the Old Testament is:  "Is this the same God we read about in the New Testament?" And I of course believe that absolutely yes this is the same God! The life of Jesus on Earth was obviously in between the time of Jeremiah and the time of you and me today. Jesus’ life, ministry, suffering, death on the cross, and His resurrection saved us from our sins – and this graceful life of Jesus’ had obviously not taken place in Jeremiah’s time.  However, I do also believe that God is very graceful throughout history including all of the Old Testament. Keep in mind that God is often saying in these chapters in Jeremiah: "come back to me", "repent", "abandon your idols" – and no one listens. God was giving chance after chance after chance of repentance…  What about you in your life today?  Is God saying to you in any way to "come back to me", "repent", "abandon your idols"?  And are you listening?  Will you repent?  Will you return to the Lord?

Jeremiah 12:16 is fascinating for me today: "And if these nations quickly learn the ways of my people, and if they learn to swear by my name, saying, `As surely as the Lord lives’ (just as they taught my people to swear by the name of Baal), then they will be given a place among my people."  I think that’s powerful that God is saying if these foreign nations (i.e. not Israel / Judah) learn to swear by His name that they will be giving a place among His people. It reminds me of Peter’s dream & realization in Acts chapter 10 that the Gospel was not just for the Jews but for the Gentiles too!

I love the exchanges between God and Jeremiah in chapter 15.  Today in Jeremiah 15:16, we read these words of Jeremiah’s to God: “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God Almighty.” What does this verse mean to you? Can you eat God’s words? Can they feed you? Spiritually? Are you being fed by God’s Word through the One Year Bible daily readings? Are God’s words your joy and your heart’s delight? Are you making it a practice to memorize scripture? Would this practice help you in making God’s words your joy and heart’s delight?  What does it mean to bear God’s name?  Is God’s name written on your heart? How else are you being fed by God, in addition to his Word?  Are you being fed by attending and investing in a church each week?  Do you think that church, the bride of Christ, can spiritually feed you?  Is there any reason to refuse this spiritual food?

Worship Video:  Today’s readings reminded me of Phil Wickham’s song “Hymn of Heaven:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjB0mkj0XaM

Do you know the hymn of heaven? Click here to sing in heaven forevermore!

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. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Jeremiah 8:4-11:23
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~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Jeremiah chapter 9 verses 23 & 24 definitely stood out to me today: "This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man gloat in his wisdom, or the mighty man in his might, or the rich man in his riches. Let them boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the LORD who is just and righteous, whose love is unfailing, and that I delight in these things. I, the LORD, have spoken!"  Think God is serious when he follows something he says with "I, the LORD, have spoken!"?  Do we ever gloat in our wisdom?  Gloat in our might?  Gloat in our riches?  Instead, have you ever boasted that you truly know God and understand that God is just and righteous?  Do you believe that God’s love is unfailing?

I am enjoying watching for the interplay between when God is speaking and when Jeremiah is speaking in our readings.  Basically you typically just have to watch for quotation marks at the beginning of a paragraph to see that God is speaking.  If there are not quotation marks, it is likely Jeremiah speaking.  At the end of chapter 8 and in the beginning of chapter 9 we read these words of Jeremiah’s as he weeps for Jerusalem – and we hear from the people and God briefly too.  It is a poetic interplay of dialogue between all three in chapter 8 verse 18 through chapter 9 verse 2 – starting with words from Jeremiah: "My grief is beyond healing; my heart is broken. Listen to the weeping of my people; it can be heard all across the land. "Has the LORD abandoned Jerusalem?" the people ask. "Is her King no longer there?" "Oh, why have they angered me with their carved idols and worthless gods?" asks the LORD. "The harvest is finished, and the summer is gone," the people cry, "yet we are not saved!"  I weep for the hurt of my people. I am stunned and silent, mute with grief. Is there no medicine in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why is there no healing for the wounds of my people? Oh, that my eyes were a fountain of tears; I would weep forever! I would sob day and night for all my people who have been slaughtered. Oh, that I could go away and forget them and live in a shack in the desert, for they are all adulterous and treacherous."

Jeremiah chapter 10 today is a powerful look at “idols.” Back in Jeremiah’s days we’re talking about little chiseled “gods” made out of wood & stone. But today? What are our idols?  Perhaps our money, our jobs, our status, our relationships, our technology :), our lust – or perhaps even ourselves?  Jeremiah 10:10 reminds us: “But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King.”  All of our idols are not True, though we often hope they will be.  Our idols will deliver us nothing.  God and His Son will deliver life to the fullest!

Jeremiah’s Prayer is 10:23-24 is such a beautiful prayer :
“I know, O Lord , that a man’s life is not his own;
it is not for man to direct his steps.
Correct me, Lord , but only with justice-
not in your anger,
lest you reduce me to nothing.”
I like that Jeremiah says in this prayer, “Correct me, Lord”. He knows there is correction to be made in his life – even a prophet of God knew his need of correction! This is a nice example of humility to say the least.  How often do you pray to God “correct me”?  Why might this be a good prayer?  Do you need God to correct you?  Will you allow God to direct your steps?

Today at the end of Jeremiah chapter 11 we read about the plot to take Jeremiah’s life.  Every time I read the prophets, I am reminded of how hard it was to be a prophet.  Talk about a thankless, high-risk job…  Fortunately Jeremiah is on God’s side.  The only side to be on.  In verses 21 through 23 Jeremiah says: “The men of Anathoth wanted me dead. They said they would kill me if I did not stop speaking in the LORD’s name. So this is what the LORD Almighty says about them: “I will punish them! Their young men will die in battle, and their little boys and girls will starve. Not one of these plotters from Anathoth will survive, for I will bring disaster upon them when their time of punishment comes.”

Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of Rachael Lampa’s song “Perfectly Loved:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfUkEgG5rEk

Are you perfectly loved? Click here for perfect love!

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. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Daniel 2:1-3:30; Jeremiah 7-8:3
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~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Daniel chapter 2 verse 20 has a great start to a prayer from Daniel to God – ""Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he alone has all wisdom and power."  Check out the remainder of the verses in this chapter – this prayer.  This praise.  Do we pray to God in this manner?  Do we open up our prayers with praise for God?  Do we acknowledge that only God has all wisdom and power?  Can we learn something from Daniel’s prayer?

Today in Daniel chapter 2 we see Daniel conducting his affairs with Nebuchadnezzar with wonderful humility!  In verses 27 & 28 Daniel says: "There are no wise men, enchanters, magicians, or fortune-tellers who can tell the king such things.  But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future."  Here we see that Daniel is giving God the glory for the dream about to be revealed.  Daniel was taking no credit for this.  Today, do you regularly give God the glory in your life?  Or do you try to take the credit yourself?  Below is an image of Daniel before Nebuchadnezzar:

The dream interpreted by Daniel is summed up in verses 44 & 45: "During the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed; no one will ever conquer it. It will shatter all these kingdoms into nothingness, but it will stand forever. That is the meaning of the rock cut from the mountain by supernatural means, crushing to dust the statue of iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold." The dream & interpretation are prophesying the kingdom of Babylon (gold), followed by the Medo-Persian Kingdom (silver), then Greek kingdom (bronze), then the Roman empire with a mix of iron & clay – representing strong and weak states within the Roman empire.  These are all B.C. kingdoms, taking us up to the time of Jesus the Messiah, when the rock cut from the mountain comes and becomes the everlasting Kingdom of God.  Below is an image of the statue from Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and its interpretations with dates:

Nebuchadnezzar is impressed with the dream interpretation and says to Daniel in verse 47: "Truly, your God is the God of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret."  Think Nebuchadnezzar is sincere about this?  Or, think he will be the next day?  Look how quickly he changes his mind in Chapter 3…   

In chapter 3 we read the incredible story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.  In verses 16-18 we read:  “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.   But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."  Focus on the words in verse 18 – “But even if he does not”.  Do you have the faith of these three men in God?  Even if God does not show up in your life as you hope he might, will you still have faith?  Will you not serve other gods or worship false idols?  Back to verse 16 – Do you realize that you do not have to defend your faith to others?  Do you believe that God can rescue you from the direst of situations? Even a fiery furnace?

In verse 28 we hear Nebuchadnezzar giving praise to God again – similar to chapter 2 verse 47 above: "Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God."  Are we willing to die rather than serve or worship any other "god"?  (big question I realize… but a fair one. This is happening to Christians around the world today. Please remember to pray for the persecuted church around the world.)  Below is a portrait by Guy Rowe of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who were willing to die for their faith in the True Living God rather than worship another little "g" fake god –

Worship God:  Today’s readings in Daniel reminded me of the song “Indescribable.” Here’s a great live version of this song sung by Avalon:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMkvZx477w4

Do you know our Indescribable God? Click here for His description!

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. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Jeremiah 19:1-20:18; Daniel 1:1-21
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~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

I read Jeremiah chapter 19 today and am reminded again of how tough it can be to be a prophet! Wow. Can you imagine receiving these words from God to deliver to a nation? It’s tough duty – getting to the point of Jeremiah being whipped and put in stocks in chapter 20, verse 2.  Below is an image of Jeremiah prophesying the doom of Pashur from chapter 20 verse 6:

Jeremiah does get to complaining about his lifestyle as a prophet in chapter 20:7-18. In verse 9 he bursts out with: “And I can’t stop! If I say I’ll never mention the Lord or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones!”  I really like this! “His word burns in my heart like a fire”! Does God’s word burn in your heart like a fire?? Should it? Could it? Will you let it?

Today we start the book of Daniel, which is an incredible book!  The book of Daniel takes place in approximately 605 B.C. during the first captivity of Jerusalem by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.  Daniel is exiled to Babylon to Jerusalem in 605 B.C. – whereas Ezekiel, the prophet of the previous book, was exiled in 597 B.C.   It is generally believed that Daniel himself wrote this entire book.  Though some say that Daniel couldn’t have written this book because his prophecies in the this book are spot-on.  Thus, some think someone else must have written the book in retrospect.  Let’s forge ahead with the belief that Daniel indeed wrote this book.  I do believe that God can indeed prophesy events through prophets like Daniel before they actually happen… Below is a painting of Daniel by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel –

~ Daniel ~
Author: Daniel
Date:  Sixth century B.C.
Content:  Daniel was carried off into captivity in Babylon as a young boy where, although he was a captive, he received an education and ultimately rose to a high position in Babylonian, and later, Persian government.  Because of his trust in God he was subjected to barbarous persecution, at one point being thrown to the lions.  Three of his compatriots were thrown into a furnace, but they too survived by the power of God.  The book deals with many historical events of Daniel’s day, but it also contains prophecies concerning the future.  Daniel saw the great world empires that were to come, but saw more than just that.  He also saw the power of God and the Messiah, Jesus, who was to come and undo the evil of this world, ultimately to establish a kingdom of righteousness that would never fade away. 
Theme: Daniel’s major theme is the sovereignty of God.  God rules over the affairs of men, directing the course of history toward his own ends, working in and through the acts of men.  The kingdoms of men rise and fall but God remains forever.  God’s will remains forever as well, and it is God’s determination to bring salvation to men by the Messiah whom he will send.  Ultimately evil will be overcome and good will triumph because God has willed it so.  (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” pp. 14-15) A wonderful commentary on the book of Daniel by Bob Deffinbaugh titled “Daring to Believe Daniel” is at this link – https://bible.org/seriespage/daring-believe-daniel  Below is an engraving of Daniel by Gustaf Dore –

Daniel chapter 1 verse 7 is worth diving into to show how Nebuchadnezzar was trying to change the religious alliances of these 4 young men from Jerusalem – “The chief official renamed them with these Babylonian names:  Daniel was called Belteshazzar.  Hananiah was called Shadrach.  Mishael was called Meshach.  Azariah was called Abednego.”  Daniel’s name in Hebrew means “God is my Judge” – his new name Belteshazzar meant “Bel, protect his life!”  Bel, or Marduk was the main Babylonian god.  (you can see where Nebuchadnezzar was going with this…)  Hananaih’s name in Hebrew is “the Lord shows grace” and Shadrach means “under the command of Aku” – the moon god….  Mishael’s name in Hebrew is “who is like God?” and his new name Meshach is “who is like Aku?”  And finally Azariah’s name in Hebrew is “the Lord helps” and his new name Abednego is “servant of Nego/Nebo” – the god of learning and writing.  Do you think that someone’s name can be reflective of who they are?  Are names important?

Verse 8 is worth exploring – “But Daniel made up his mind not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king.”  Why do you think this was?  Was Daniel just being picky?  Snooty?  Well, that was kind of my first thought.  Further study shows that the food the Babylonians were going to feed Daniel and the 3 others were sacrificed to idols.  Which is not a good thing in the Law…  And furthermore, the wine was poured out on pagan altars.  Again, not good.  So, Daniel is making a very wise move here.  Will we do things like this in our own lives?  Things that appear to be “harmless” on the surface, will we refuse, if we know they will actually be damaging to us or our relationship with God?  Even if our peers are pressuring us?  Will we not defile ourselves?

Worship Video:  Today’s readings remind me of the Chris Tomlin song “Our God is Greater:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6YCrWhUdDs

Do you know true greatness? Click here to meet our Great God!

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. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Jeremiah 25:15-38; Jeremiah 36:1-32; Jeremiah 45:1-46:28
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Jeremiah Chapter 25 is the bit of a tough read at first.  I would certainly like to study more of the theology on the “cup of the Lord’s anger.”  The best I can tell is that the land was so full of sin & rejection of God, that the cup of anger and the coming judgment was the only option for God.  My thought is that God showed graciousness time and time and time again – and was ignored, and things got worse. So, keep in mind that God didn’t just go ballistic here in Chapter 25 – it was a long time coming and I think a lot of grace & mercy & compassion was shown for a long time – but eventually this had to happen.  Actually, this does remind me of a sermon I heard actually last year.  The pastor was preaching from the “feast of the wedding banquet” in Matthew where a king (God) invites his townsfolk to attend the wedding feast for his son (Jesus).  But people refuse the invitation – saying they have to work / they are too busy, etc.  The 2nd time the king extends the invitation, the people even beat up his servants!  Well, the pastor’s point in preaching was that God does continue to show us grace and pursue us, but at some point we have to accept the invitation from God!  We have to accept the invitation of faith in his son Jesus.  We have to accept the invitation to repent of our sins.  We have to accept the invitation…  While God will extend his grace and the invitation time and time and time again – he won’t do so forever for us if we keep rejecting him.  Israel, leading up to chapter 25, did not accept the invitation from God to repent.  In your life today, are you accepting the invitation from God to repent through faith in his son Jesus?  Do you believe that you have been invited?  Have you accepted the invitation?

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!

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 reminds me of the Jeremy Camp song, “The Answer:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQHXJi1EhDM

Do you know the Answer? Click here to meet Jesus, the Answer!

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. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

2 Chronicles 36:1-4; 2 Kings 23:31-37; 2 Chronicles 36:5; Jeremiah 22:1-23; Jeremiah 26:1-24; 2 Kings 24:1-4; Jeremiah 25:1-14
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Today in Jeremiah 26 we are reminded again how tough it is to be a prophet – the people of Judah want to kill him!  It is an interesting series of events with the courts and priests. It reminds me of some ways of Jesus and his last hours. Except that Jeremiah of course gets reprieved. However, at the end of the chapter we hear about the prophet Uriah and he was not so fortunate. He was chased into Egypt (interesting escape into Egypt parallel w/ Christ’s early life), captured and killed. The lesson for us in this chapter 26 may be this – when we are confronted with a call to repent from sins, do we?  Or do we rage back and accuse the accuser of sins?  Do we repent or do we deny?  Do we return to the Lord?

Worship Video: Today’s readings reminds me of Josiah Queen’s song “Dusty Bibles:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM2nMeXvor0

Is your Bible dusty? Click here for a cleaning!

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. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Zephaniah 2:8-3:20; 2 Chronicles 35:20-27; 2 Kings 23:29-30; Jeremiah 47-48:47
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Zephaniah chapter 3 verse 5 stood out to me in today’s readings: “But the LORD is still there in the city, and he does no wrong. Day by day his justice is more evident, but no one takes notice–the wicked know no shame.”  As you read the 4 preceding verses, you’ll note that God is calling the people and leaders of Jerusalem to the carpet for their sinful ways.  And in the midst of all this, comes this beautiful verse 5.  God is still there in the city.  In the midst of all the chaos and shame.  And even through all of this, God’s justice actually becomes more and more evident.  I think this verse really jumped out at me today because I read a horribly depressing story in the paper recently about just some awful things that were done to children in a nearby city.  And this story reminded me that we indeed live in a fallen world.  There is evil in our world that invades the hearts of men and women.  And yet, even in the midst of all of this chaos and shame in our world today, “The LORD is still there in the city, and he does no wrong. Day by day his justice is more evident, but no one takes notice–the wicked know no shame.”  Do you take notice of God in our world today?  Even in the midst of everything else going on that may attempt to distract you from God?  Is God’s justice (and love and compassion and mercy and call to holiness) becoming more and more evident to you each day of your life?  This very evening, do you believe that God is still there in the city?  Will you take notice?

Chapter 3 verses 11 & 12 also stood out to me in today’s readings: “I will remove all the proud and arrogant people from among you. There will be no pride on my holy mountain. Those who are left will be the lowly and the humble, for it is they who trust in the name of the LORD.” We of course continue to see the sin of pride coming up over and over again in the Old Testament.  Here God reminds us that pride and arrogance are not attributes of those who love him.  It is indeed the lowly and the humble that better reflect the attributes of those who love and trust God.  Is pride something that you struggle with?  Do you realize that pride can be a hindrance to a fully loving and obedient relationship with God?  Will you lay down your pride and seek humility?  Will you seek to place your trust in God rather than your own abilities?  When was the last time you bowed low before God?

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?

Worship Video: Today’s readings in Zephaniah remind me of the Bluetree song (made famous by Chris Tomlin) called “God of this City.”  Bluetree are from Belfast, Northern Ireland, so you’ll pick up the great Irish accent in this live acoustic version of the song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1YECQwk1_g

Do you know the God of your city? Click here and meet your God!

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. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Habakkuk 1:1-3:19; Zephaniah 1:1-2:7
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Today we start and finish the book of the prophet Habakkuk!  This is a great book & there is a lot going on in it.  In some ways it reminded me of the end of the book of Job, with the conversation going on between Habakkuk and God.  Habakkuk was a prophet from Judah who prophesied between the fall of Nineveh in 612 B.C. and Babylon’s invasion of Judah in 588 B.C.    Assyria fell in 612-605 B.C. and Babylon was becoming the world’s dominant nation.  In the first 2 chapters of this book Habakkuk argues with God about God’s ways, and then in the 3rd chapter Habakkuk responds with an incredible prayer to God.  In the first 2 chapters the big questions are – 1.  Why does evil seem to go unpunished?  and 2.  Why does God not seem to respond to prayers?  Reminds me of the Psalms!  🙂 A good overview of the book of Habakkuk is online at bible.org at this link.  Below is an image of Habakkuk denouncing the Chaldaeans from a 14th century illuminated Bible:

Chapter 1 Verse 5 stands out in today’s readings: “The LORD replied, “Look at the nations and be amazed! Watch and be astounded at what I will do! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.”  A wonderful thing about this verse is that the apostle Paul utilizes this same verse in concluding a sermon in Antioch in Acts chapter 13 verses 38-41: ““Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses. Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you: “ ‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’” Below is a sculpture of Habakkuk with an angel by the Italian sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini, from the year 1655:

Chapter 3 verses 18 & 19 are powerful verses for us to consider in our own lives in the midst of challenging times: “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation. The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He will make me as surefooted as a deer and bring me safely over the mountains.”   Do you rejoice in God?  Are you joyful in God as your salvation?  Even in the midst of challenging times in your life?  Do you trust that God will bring you to safety?  Below is an icon of Habukkuk:

Today we also start the book of the prophet Zephaniah!  Zephaniah was different from some of the recent prophets that we have read in that he came from royal lineage.  He was the descendent of King Hezekiah.  Thus, Zephaniah writes about the upper class, courts, and priests with quite a bit of authority and clarity. Zephaniah prophesied during the reign of King Josiah of Judah.  He prophesied in approximately 640-620 B.C.  The purpose of his prophecies were to announce God’s coming judgment against Judah.  But, as we see with the other prophets, Zephaniah also writes about God saving a remnant of people who love and honor God with their lives – thus preserving and carrying on the covenant promise to Abraham.  A good overview of the book of Zephaniah is at bible.org at this link.  The link includes a funny opening line: “The Book of Zephaniah is probably best known for being the least known book of the entire Bible.”  🙂  Below is an image of the prophet Zephaniah preaching to King Josiah –

Worship Video: Today’s readings in Habbakuk remind me of the Sidewalk Prophets song “The Words I Would Say:”

Are you strong in the Lord? Click here for Strength!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: “Look at the nations and watch — and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.” Habakkuk 1:5 (NIV)

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. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!