NL-Day257 Hosea 11-12; Proverbs 25:1-14; Matthew 6:19-34
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
Release Date: 09/14/2022
NL-Day156 1 Samuel 30-31; Psalm 106:24-48; Romans 10:1-11:2a
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
1SAMUEL 30-31:The Philistines mustered their armies for full-scale war with Saul and the Israelites. Saul had already done a right thing in expelling all the mediums from Israel. But, since God had turned from him and would not answer him, he resorted to a medium during his darkest hour. It does not bother me too much to say that God spoke through that medium. It seems so by the evidence. But if so, it was an exception. God's word says to never consult a medium. In fact, mediums are to be stoned to death. David was preparing to go to war in support of Achish, or was he really?! PSALM...
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NL-Day155 1 Samuel 28-29; Psalm 106:1-27; Romans 10
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
1SAMUEL 28-29:Saul came after David again with 3,000 men, and David showed his integrity again and his daring. But even though Saul repented again, David made the decision to get out of the country so that he would not continually be in danger. He went to Achish the Philistine king in Gath. The part about the raids upon three enemy people groups is not one of the noble chapters of David's life. PSALM 106a:Psalm 106 is a companion to 105, as it again is a historical psalm. I see a very significant correspondence with the section of Romans we are now reading. Can you see it? ROMANS 10a:In our...
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NL-Day154 1 Samuel 26-27; Psalm 105:23-45; Romans 9:6-33
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
1SAMUEL 26-27:Yesterday we heard the story of the cur Nabal and his intelligent and beautiful wife, Abigail. After Nabal was struck down by the Lord, Abigail became one of David's wives. PSALM 105b:Today’s psalm is for teaching and reminding each generation of the children of Israel about the great things God has done for the Jewish people. ROMANS 9b:Note that we have entered a difficult section of Romans. Romans 12 starts with, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercies, …” But if you look back at what goes right before that in chapter 11, that doesn’t...
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NL-Day153 1 Samuel 25; Psalm 105:1-23; Romans 8:28-9:24
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
1SAMUEL 25:God gave protection and victory to David. In a scene that must have caused Saul's men to roll their eyes several times, Saul was humbled before them as David directly confronted him. But after making peace, they didn't go back to the capital together. PSALM 105a:Today’s psalm is for teaching and reminding each generation of the children of Israel about the great things God has done for the Jewish people. ROMANS 9a:What wonderful promises God has given to us in chapter 8 of Romans! That chapter always reminds me of a time when a Christian leader did wrong to me, and then said that...
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NL-Day152 1 Samuel 23-24; Psalm 104:19-35; Romans 8:12-39
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
1SAMUEL 23-24:As David fled from Saul, he went for help to Ahimelech the priest. He needed food and wanted to consult with the Lord, and it happened that Ahimelech also gave him Goliath's sword. This resulted later in Ahimilech's death and the deaths of all of Ahimilech's family— except one, Abiathar. PSALM 104b:This psalm starts and ends with the same refrain, and it is the same refrain as in Psalm 103. This psalm expounds on the majesty of God— especially as seen in His creation. ROMANS 8b:The power behind the new lives that God wants us to live is the Holy Spirit. A side observation...
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NL-Day151 1 Samuel 21-22; Psalm 104:1-18; Romans 8:1-30
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
1SAMUEL 21-22:Yesterday we heard the touching story of David and Jonathan's deep friendship, and how Jonathan realized at last the secret plot that his father, Saul, had against David. Jonathan seems to have been a prophet, for he realized that he would not succeed his father as king. PSALM 104a:This is a companion with Psalm 103. This psalm also starts and ends with the same refrain as the one in Psalm 103. This poem expounds on the majesty of God. ROMANS 8a:Paul said something in 7:5 that he felt needed to be explained from verse 7 to the end of chapter 7. (Of course there were no chapters...
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NL-Day150 1 Samuel 20; Psalm 103; Romans 7:7-8:4
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
1SAMUEL 20:Yesterday we heard the slow escalation of David's problems stemming from Saul's jealousy. Saul made David his son-in-law, but only because of the hope that David would be killed by the Philistines. For only the first time in yesterday's reading, we heard how Saul was humbled because of the results of acting on his jealousy. But he doesn't learn from it. PSALM 103:How it must please the Lord when we pray this psalm, which is another favorite! Note that the psalm starts and ends with the same line. ROMANS 7:8—8:4:The second key to being released from the power of sin is God's...
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NL-Day149 1 Samuel 18-19; Psalm 102; Romans 6:19-7:17
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
1SAMUEL 18-19:In yesterday's story, David showed that he was more concerned with God's reputation than for his own safety. May we all face our imposing enemies with more belief in the unseen God than in the very present enemies! PSALM 102:This psalm starts out like the prayer of anyone in distress and trouble calling out to God. As we read further, many see parallels with what our Savior would have prayed in his darkest days on earth. ROMANS 6:19—7:The last verse of yesterday’s reading shows why it is better to take what we are given, rather than what we have earned! This is a big problem...
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NL-Day148 1 Samuel 17; Psalm 101; Romans 6
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
1SAMUEL 17:God told Samuel to anoint one of Jesse's sons as the next king of Israel. Anointing another king while one is still ruling is rather dangerous. So God told Samuel how to do that without making it public. That story included this memorable quote: “The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” PSALM 101:This psalm tells the aspirations of a great king. Re-reading ROMANS 6:Pay attention! Paul is telling us the keys to how the process of transformation takes place whereby we are released from the ‘power of...
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NL-Day147 1 Samuel 16; Psalm 100; Romans 6
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
1SAMUEL 16:Yesterday's reading told the story of Saul's incomplete obedience and the rejection of Saul as king— by both God and Samuel. In the process Samuel said some of the most important statements in Scripture, which I will underline here: Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice,and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft,and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. A second quote: He who is the Glory of Israel will not lie, nor will he change his mind, for he is not human that he should change his mind!” PSALM 100:This psalm probably...
info_outlineHOSEA 11-12:
In yesterday’s reading, as the Lord was pleading with Israel and using agricultural metaphors, He said,
Hos. 10:12-13 NLT … ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness,
and you will harvest a crop of love.
Plow up the hard ground of your hearts,
for now is the time to seek the Lord,
that he may come
and shower righteousness upon you.’
13 “But you have cultivated wickedness
and harvested a thriving crop of sins.
You have eaten the fruit of lies—
trusting in your military might,
believing that great armies
could make your nation safe.
PROVERBS 25a:
Today’s highlighted proverb:
Pro. 25:11 NLT Timely advice is lovely,
like golden apples in a silver basket.
MATTHEW 6b:
Yesterday’s three-times emphasis was “Don’t be like the hypocrites.” And we heard the Lord’s prayer. The first line of the Lord’s prayer, ‘hallowed be Thy _name_’ can be taken as a metonymy for the person of the Father, not just his name. So I translate this famous verse like this: “Our Father in heaven, [may all people honor You as the Holy God//may You always and everywhere be regarded as holy].” Even so, we must bear in mind that God shows great concern for his name in the Old Testament— beginning in the Ten Commandments. If that phrase is translated with that in mind, it could also be translated, “May your name always be spoken with respect befitting your holiness.” Both ideas may be in view in that first line of the prayer.
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.