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NL-Day020 Genesis 34-35; Job 20; Mark 12:24-44

Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields

Release Date: 01/20/2024

127: Reader Take Note: Buckling the belt of truth, Day 2 show art 127: Reader Take Note: Buckling the belt of truth, Day 2

Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields

Review: This podcast is Day number 2 in my series about Buckling the belt of truth. In the first day in this series (which can be found by searching for 195 or the word ‘buckling’, I explained what I consider to be the first step in putting on the belt of truth. The belt of truth is one of seven parts to the Christian’s armor found in Ephesians 6. But I suggest that we make this clarification: Buckle the belt of truth by believing what God says about you in the Bible. The belt of truth is put on by believing what God says. (Remember: Believing = faith.) The belt of truth...

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NL-Day128 Judges 8-9; Psalm 82; Galatians 4 show art NL-Day128 Judges 8-9; Psalm 82; Galatians 4

Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields

JUDGES 8-9:Yesterday we heard of Gideon who led Israel in a miraculous victory over the hoards of Midian using only three hundred men. Gideon struggled with believing that God would actually use him, and God was amazingly patient with Gideon— giving him sign after sign. Because of this, Gideon really is not the best example for us to follow of how to trust God and live a life of faith. PSALM 82:Do you ever get upset about injustice on earth? Here is a psalm for you. GALATIANS 4:The Jews called non-Jews ‘sinners’ because they did not follow the Law of Moses. But the Jewish Christians...

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NL-Day127 Judges 6-7; Psalm 81; Galatians 2:17–3:29 show art NL-Day127 Judges 6-7; Psalm 81; Galatians 2:17–3:29

Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields

JUDGES 6-7:Yesterday we heard the story of Deborah and Barak. (Say, that name sounds familiar!) Barak doesn't get the glory for his notable defeat of Israel's enemy, Sisera. Instead the crowning glory goes to a woman named Jael, who happened to see a new use for a tent peg. The poem in chapter 5 includes taunts to Israel's tribes who ‘sat on their hands’ and didn't get involved in the war. PSALM 81:This poem has a mysterious part in verse 5, where an unknown voice (or perhaps ‘language’) speaks to us. But immediately afterward the unknown voice clearly belongs God, who speaks in the...

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NL-Day126 Judges 4-5; Psalm 80; Galatians 2 show art NL-Day126 Judges 4-5; Psalm 80; Galatians 2

Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields

JUDGES 4-5:We heard yesterday that around the time of Joshua's death, an angel appeared to the people of Israel and rebuked them for disobedience. In chapter 2, the author of Judges summarized the fickleness of the people. And in chapter 3 we quickly heard about Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar— the first three judges. PSALM 80:In this poem, Asaph pictures the Lord as a shepherd and Israel like a vine. It is no accident that both of these are also pictures of Jesus in the New Testament. This psalm is marked by the repetition of these words, “Turn us again to yourself, O God of Heaven’s...

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NL-Day125 Judges 2-3; Psalm 79; Galatians 1 show art NL-Day125 Judges 2-3; Psalm 79; Galatians 1

Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields

JUDGES 2-3:Yesterday we heard how the tribe of Judah was more successful in driving out the Canaanites than the other tribes. Several of the tribes just moved in with their enemies. PSALM 79:This lament by Asaph is like Ps 74, talking about Jerusalem and the Temple conquered by enemies. There is a strong comparison with what we see starting to happen in Judges. GALATIANS 1:We heard the controversy over circumcision in Acts 15. This letter to the Galatian believers is on a similar theme, and it shows how Paul would have argued with the Jews of the circumcision party. Paul stays very much on...

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NL-Day124 Judges 1; Psalm 78:32-72; Acts 28 show art NL-Day124 Judges 1; Psalm 78:32-72; Acts 28

Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields

JUDGES 1:It happens that Psalm 78 is a perfect introduction to the book of Judges! This book covers the dark ages for the nation of Israel, from the time following Joshua’s death to the birth of the last judge, Samuel. HC Mears gives a good easy-to-remember summary: Seven apostasies (times of turning away from God), seven servitudes to seven idolatrous and cruel nations, and seven deliverances. The last verse is the author’s own summary, which is often repeated near the end of the book: “In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.”...

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NL-Day123 Joshua 24; Psalm 78:1-39; Acts 27:18-44 show art NL-Day123 Joshua 24; Psalm 78:1-39; Acts 27:18-44

Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields

JOSHUA 24:In yesterday’s reading, Joshua dismissed the three tribes of warriors to return to their homes to the east of the Jordan. But when they went home, they decided to build an altar as a memorial. But their idea was misunderstood, nearly resulting in war. PSALM 78a:This poetic recitation of Israel’s history comes at a fitting place in relation to our other Old Testament reading. ACTS 27b:In yesterday’s reading, Paul, Luke, and Aristarchus started the voyage to Rome, under the command of a Roman officer named Julius. The captain, ship owner, and sailors didn't listen to Paul's...

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NL-Day122 Joshua 22-23; Psalm 77; Acts 27:1-26 show art NL-Day122 Joshua 22-23; Psalm 77; Acts 27:1-26

Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields

JOSHUA 22-23:Yesterday we heard the detailed list of the cities of refuge— the cities set apart for anyone who happened to kill someone accidentally. Following that was the list of the towns that were given to the priests and Levites. PSALM 77:This psalm by Asaph was dedicated to Jeduthun, whose name means ‘praise giver’. Asaph worries about this: Has God changed? Why doesn’t He help us like He helped the Israelites in the past? I have chosen again to read this from the CEV rather than from the GNT. The CEV makes it clear that this whole poem is a prayer to God. ACTS 27:Yesterday we...

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NL-Day121 Joshua 20-21; Psalm 76; Acts 26 show art NL-Day121 Joshua 20-21; Psalm 76; Acts 26

Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields

JOSHUA 20-21:Yesterday we read the details of land allotment and cities for the remaining seven tribes with their families. Last of all, Joshua himself received a city. PSALM 76:It only makes sense to know God and to be firmly on His side. As verse 10 says, “Human defiance only enhances His glory.” The second line of that verse is very unclear in Hebrew. NLT’s translation makes good sense, saying that God uses human defiance as a weapon against the same defiant ones. ACTS 26:In yesterday's story in Acts, Festus took his position as governor and tried Paul. Afterward King Agrippa and his...

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NL-Day120 Joshua 18-19; Psalm 75; Acts 25 show art NL-Day120 Joshua 18-19; Psalm 75; Acts 25

Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields

JOSHUA 18-19:Yesterday we heard the details about Mannaseh and Ephraim's allotment of land. I suggest that it will be very helpful for your understanding of these chapters in Joshua to do an Internet search for “map tribes Israel.” PSALM 75:Do you remember what Paul talked to Felix about from yesterday’s reading? Asaph’s psalm takes a similar theme today. ACTS 25:Paul's accusers came, and Paul defended himself before the governor. The governor put off making a decision, and never got around to making one. One day at the beginning of that time, he and his Jewish wife came to listen to...

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More Episodes

GENESIS 34-35:
Yesterday we heard about Jacob wrestling all night with a mysterious heavenly figure, and about Jacob's reunion with Esau.

JOB 20:
This chapter is Zophar’s second response to Job. In chapter 19, Job responded to Bildad's second speech. Job expressed amazing belief that he would see his defender (often translated ‘redeemer’). He says,

25 But I know there is someone in heaven
who will come at last to my defense.
26 Even after my skin is eaten by disease,
while still in this body I will see God.
27 I will see him with my own eyes,
and he will not be a stranger.

MARK 12b:
Yesterday in the first half of Mark 12, Jesus told a pointed parable against the Jewish religious leaders, then he went on to refute the Sadducees. We re-read several verses today.

NLT Translation notes:
Gen. 34:17 But if you don’t agree to be circumcised, we will take [Dinah/her] and be on our way.”
30 Afterward Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have ruined me! You’ve made me stink among all the people of this land—among all the Canaanites and Perizzites. We are so few [, and now//that] they will join forces and crush us. I will be ruined, and my entire household will be wiped out!”
15 And Jacob named the place Bethel (which means “house of God”), because God had spoken to him [again/0] there.
====
Mrk. 12:26 “But now, as to whether the dead will be raised— haven’t you ever read about this in the writings of Moses, in the story of the burning bush? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said to Moses, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ 27 So he is the God of the living, not the dead. You have made a serious error.”
[In my reading in the 019, I modified the translation like this, “I am the God Abraham worships… (present tense).” While this is justified in stating Jesus’ meaning at that point in the discourse, it is going too far in translating the Hebrew and Greek of the Old Testament passage. Jesus’ point is that the continuing relationship of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is implicit in God’s statement. So, I admit my mistake, and say that to make that explicit in the translation is going a bit too far.]
37 Since David himself called the Messiah ‘my Lord,’ how can the Messiah [just/0] be his son?” The large crowd listened to him with great delight.

 

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.