Daily Bible Reading Podcast

1CHRONICLES 11-12: In yesterday's reading, we heard of the people who returned after the exile. Then, starting with the genealogy of King Saul, we jumped to the story of how he died. This prepares us for the stories about King David. PROVERBS 18a: Our highlighted verse today: Pro. 18:10 NLT The LORD is [like] a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe. In this verse Solomon used 'the Lor...

1CHRONICLES 9-10: This is the last name chapter at the beginning of this book, bringing us up to the time of the returning exiles. And king Saul's genealogy is given, because we pick up Israel's narrative with Saul in the next chapter. PROVERBS 17b: This special verse reminds me of an old song we used to sing every Sunday evening with fellow missionaries. Pro. 17:22 NLT A cheerful heart is good me...

1CHRONICLES 8: Hang on! We're almost through with the names chapters! PROVERBS 17a: I must say that it is hard to choose just one verse to highlight in today's reading: Pro. 17:9 NLT Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends. Re-reading EPHESIANS 6: I like the way our translation of the spiritual armor portion of this chapter helps the reader understand how...

1CHRONICLES 7: Yesterday we heard about Levite and priestly genealogies and their allotment of towns. The pace quickens as today we hear of six tribes. PROVERBS 16b: Today's highlighted verse is this: Pro. 16:18 NLT Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. EPHESIANS 6: This is another chapter break that interrupts the flow. Yesterday we started a new topic with the words "subm...

1CHRONICLES 6: Yesterday we heard details about the leaders of three tribes, Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh. PROVERBS 16a: Today's collection of proverbs contains a famous one: Pro. 16:3 NLT Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed. Re-reading EPHESIANS 5: Although today's chapter does not contain an instance of the theme words "joined with Christ", this chapter co...

1CHRONICLES 5: In yesterday's reading, we heard of important ancestors of the tribes of Judah and Simeon. In Ezra's time, I can imagine that it was important to figure out who was who and what their relationship was, as this would determine the redistribution of land to the exiles who were returning. PROVERBS 15b: I wish I was more like this proverb: 23 Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonde...

1CHRONICLES 4: In yesterday's reading we started with David's sons, then for the descendants of King Solomon, only the kings were listed. So we jumped up to the period of the exile to Babylon. PROVERBS 15a: Here is a favorite verse from today's group of proverbs: Pro. 15 NLT 17 A bowl of vegetables with someone you love is better than steak with someone you hate. Re-reading EPHESIANS 4: This chapt...

1CHRONICLES 3: So far we have traced Jakob/Israel's descendants into the time of David, and today's reading picks up with David himself. PROVERBS 14b: Here is a quote from today's group of proverbs: Pro. 3:20 NLT The poor are despised even by their neighbors, while the rich have many "friends." EPHESIANS 4: Paul's letters are usually divided into two parts, with the ethereal and theological part f...

1CHRONICLES 2: Yesterday we traced from Adam to Noah, and the genealogy to Abraham.  Then we heard of Abraham's two other families, those descending from Keturah and the sons and rulers descended from Esau. So now we take up Jacob's descendants, but in this book he is frequently called by his other name, Israel. (GNT has used 'Jacob' instead in this chapter, as it is more understandable for modern...

1 CHRONICLES 1: Jewish and Christian traditions hold that Jeremiah was the author of 1&2 Kings, which were originally one book. And that Ezra, the priest, wrote 1&2 Chronicles, which are also one book in the Hebrew. It may be that Ezra wrote these books after his return to Jerusalem. The Greek Septuagint names this book Paraleipomena, which means 'things left over'. This book does supplement thing...

LAMENTATIONS 4-5: In yesterday's reading, the sun pierced the dark clouds with this glorious section: Lam. 3:22 NLT The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. 23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. 24 I say to myself, "The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!" 25 The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search...

LAMENTATIONS 3: A warning for the modern times is here in chapter 2: Lam. 2:14 NLT Your prophets have said so many foolish things, false to the core. They did not save you from exile by pointing out your sins. Instead, they painted false pictures, filling you with false hope. The last so poignant line from yesterday's reading was, 22 … "The enemy has killed all the children whom I carried and rais...

LAMENTATIONS 1-2: In the early chapters of his book, Jeremiah spoke several times of his tears.  Lamentations will help us to understand how this 'weeping prophet' felt, and how God mourned also. This book has been a comfort to many who mourn. Light breaks through in the middle— in chapter 3, with words that are used in one of our greatest hymns. The book ends with poignant questions to God. PROVE...

JEREMIAH 52: We come to the addendum to Jeremiah— seemingly written by someone else, perhaps Baruch. I commented yesterday how chapter 51 foreshadows Revelation 18. Jeremiah was prophesying the downfall of the real city of Babylon. What he foretold happened around 70 years later. His prophecy includes details about the enemies being from Media, about the drunkenness of the Babylon's leaders, and G...

JEREMIAH 51: Today the Lord continues the long prophecy against Babylon. This chapter foreshadows what will happen to the figurative Babylon in Revelation 18. PROVERBS 11a: An important thing I didn't mention before is that these proverbs represent principles, not promises. This particularly needs to be remembered for verses that talk about prosperity. There will be times, such as what Jeremiah ex...

JEREMIAH 50: Finally after hearing messages prophesying against so many nations, always telling or implying that the Babylonians would be God's instrument to punish them, now this long chapter tells how Babylon will finally be judged as well, and God will return to take pity on Israel. PROVERBS 10b: Here is an example of Hebrew parallelism from today's 2nd half of   Proverbs 10: Pro. 10:23 NLT Doi...

JEREMIAH 49: Having heard bad news about Egypt, Philistia, and Moab, we now hear the bad news for the nations of Ammon and Edom, the city of Damascus, and the nations of Kedar, Hazor, and Elam. PROVERBS 10a: From here on in Proverbs we'll go a bit slower, by half chapters, because each verse is a separate gem of wisdom. Almost all of these verses are examples of Hebrew parallelism. This means that...

JEREMIAH 48: In yesterday's reading, the Lord began giving oracles about different nations, with one chapter concerning Egypt and the next one about Philistia. Today we'll hear about Moab. PROVERBS 9: Today's chapter is the last of the thematic chapters at the beginning of this book. Lady Wisdom speaks, and we find that she is opposed by Lady [Folly/Stupidity]. 1JOHN 2: John continues to address u...

JEREMIAH 46-47: After finally being able to give a comforting message ("Stay here in Judah and don't go to Egypt. The Lord will take care of you"), the people not only ran off to Egypt but took Jeremiah with them. (Or did he go along willingly?) Perhaps he thought that in Egypt the Lord's message to stop worshiping idols would have some traction. But again, alas... No. Then yesterday we heard the...

JEREMIAH 44-45: After all Jeremiah's messages of doom, he was able to give a comforting message to the Judeans who had been through so much. He might have thought, "At last I get to preach good news." The Lord said through him, "I feel sorry for all you have had to suffer. Stay here. I will make the king of Babylon take pity on you. Don't fear the Babylonians." That's the very thing the people had...

Day 4  THEME: Buckle up the belt of truth about RESISTING SATAN. All of the Buckling the belt episodes are scattered throughout the Bible reading calendar. This episode will be folded in at episode 219. You can find this and all the other Buckling the belt episodes by searching for the word 'buckling' at dailybiblereading.info. Searching for that word might also work in your podcast app. After sea...

JEREMIAH 42-43: I have always found it fascinating what Jeremiah experienced in the aftermath of the fall of Judah's kingdom to the king of Babylon. It is interesting to me that he was led away in chains along with everyone else captured. But the king of Babylon had heard of him and left instructions about him. And it is a shame what happened to Gedaliah. Evidently Jeremiah was not around at that...

JEREMIAH 40-41: Yesterday we heard of Jeremiah being put in a dry but muddy well, and being rescued by the faithful official, Ebed-melech. And we heard the terrible and painful result of Zedekiah's cowardly failure to do as repeatedly instructed by the Lord. Ezekiel— who was about 20 years younger than Jeremiah, prophesied about Zedekiah: Ezek 12:12 NLT "Even Zedekiah will leave Jerusalem at night...

JEREMIAH 38-39: Yesterday we heard of persecution against Jeremiah, his being imprisoned so that he had his secretary, Baruch convey his messages, and then his being imprisoned in the dungeon at Jonathan's house. And today he is put in a muddy cistern. PROVERBS 5: Today's chapter of Proverbs has a clear theme. Here is a verse from the middle that typifies that theme: Prov. 5:15 NLT Drink water fro...

JEREMIAH 36-37: In yesterday's reading in Jeremiah, he gave more specific warnings to King Zedekiah. And then we heard of the inspiring example of the Recabites. PROVERBS 4b: Yesterday in the first half of chapter 4, we heard again about Lady Wisdom. I highlight these important words: Prov. 4:7 GNT Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do. Whatever else you get, get insight. 10 Listen...