NL-Day070 Numbers 4; Psalm 28; Luke 19:1-27
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
Release Date: 03/10/2024
NL-Day272 2 Chronicles 22-23; Ecclesiastes 2:1-17; Matthew 15:21-39
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
2CHRONICLES 22-23:Yesterday we heard of Jehoshaphat’s famous victory, accomplished only by prayer, worship, and the power of the Lord. Then we also heard about Jehoshaphat’s son, Jehoram, who might possibly be Judah’s worst king, except for several at the very end of that kingdom. ECCLESIASTES 2a:Yesterday the theme of Ecclesiastes was given in these words: Ecc. 2:2 NLT “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!”15 What is wrong cannot be made right.What is missing cannot be recovered.18 The greater my wisdom, the greater my grief.To increase...
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NL-Day271 2 Chronicles 20-21; Ecclesiastes 1; Matthew 15:1-20
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
2CHRONICLES 20-21:Yesterday we heard of Jehoshaphat wisely appointing judges, and he also travelled all over Israel personally encouraging people to follow the Lord. ECCLESIASTES 1:The book of Ecclesiastes is the record of Solomon seeking to find God in a worldly way. This is a book of worldly wisdom. Solomon repeatedly uses the key theme word ‘useless’ to describe our lives on earth. God had not given clear promises about how all mankind will live after death, and Solomon considers the afterlife an open question. Had he known what we know, his opinions on many things would have changed....
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NL-Day270 2 Chronicles 19; Proverbs 31:10-31; Matthew 14
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
2CHRONICLES 19:Yesterday we heard the story of how Jehoshaphat helped Ahab in battle. God had already spoken through a prophet that Ahab would meet his downfall and how the dogs would lick up his blood. This happened, as we already read in 1Kings 22, when they took his chariot back to Samaria. PROVERBS 31b:Speaking of a capable and virtuous wife, this chapter says: Pro. 31:28-29 NLT Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her:29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” MATTHEW...
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NL-Day269 2 Chronicles 18; Proverbs 31:1-21; Matthew 13:31-58
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
2CHRONICLES 18:Woops. Asa didn’t end nearly as well as he started. And his son Jehoshaphat starts out well, but makes unfortunate alliances. PROVERBS 31a:Today and tomorrow are our last two days in Proverbs. Verses 10-31 of chapter 31 comprise a Hebrew acrostic poem; each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Our highlighted verse today is verse 10. I like NLT’s translation for this verse because the Hebrew word describing a good wife means more than just capable. It also includes valor and virtue. Pro. 31:10 NLT Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?She is more...
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NL-Day268 2 Chronicles 16-17; Proverbs 30:15-33; Matthew 12:17-33
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
2CHRONICLES 16-17:Judah’s kingdom was truly blessed by Asa’s wise reign. The Lord rewarded the country for returning to Him. PROVERBS 30b:Today’s highlighted verse is Pro. 30:20 NLT An adulterous woman consumes a man,then wipes her mouth and says, “What’s wrong with that?” MATTHEW 13a:Jesus gave a stinging reply to his critics in yesterday’s reading. The part about a demon leaving a person and then returning with seven demons is often used to teach that there cannot be a spiritual vacuum in a person. But really, the main thing Jesus is ‘on about’ is illustrating what will...
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NL-Day267 2 Chronicles 14-15; Proverbs 30:1-17; Matthew 12:22-50
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
2CHRONICLES 14-15:Yesterday we heard the conclusion of Rehoboam’s reign, and the writer classed him as a wicked king. Then his son, King Abijah gave a truly amazing speech before his epic victory over Israel. PROVERBS 30a:Today I chose to highlight two verses: Pro. 30:5-6 NLT Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection. 6 Do not add to his words, or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar. MATTHEW 12b:How ironic that the religious leaders would make a problem about picking and eating a few heads of wheat, or healing a man with just a word and no...
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NL-Day266 2 Chronicles 12-13; Proverbs 29:15-27; Matthew 12:1-21
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
2CHRONICLES 12-13:Yesterday we heard of David’s grandson, Rehoboam, and the unfortunate start to his reign. The northern tribes revolted and went with Jeroboam. Rehoboam seems to have made wise choices after that, at least for a short time. PROVERBS 29b:Today’s highlighted verse: Pro. 29:23 NLT Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor. MATTHEW 12a:Yesterday’s reading included the judgements against the cities that refused to repent even though they witnessed Jesus’ miracles. Chapter 11 also includes Jesus’ prayer of thanksgiving, and closes with Jesus’ famous words:...
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NL-Day265 2 Chronicles 10-11; Proverbs 29:1-14; Matthew 11:16-30
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
2CHRONICLES 10-11:Yesterday we completed the story of Solomon’s achievements. PROVERBS 29a:A highlight for today: Pro. 29:11 NLT Fools vent their anger,but the wise quietly hold it back. MATTHEW 11b:Yesterday we heard Jesus’ teaching about John the Baptist. NLT Translation note: 2Chon. 10:18 NLT96 edition has ‘labor force’, and newer editions have ‘forced labor’.Mat. 11:19 The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks [normally], and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its...
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NL-Day264 2 Chronicles 9; Proverbs 28:15-28; Matthew 11:1-19
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
2CHRONICLES 9:Yesterday we heard God’s famous response to Solomon, which is so often applied as a promise to America. It is stretching it past the breaking point to apply that promise to America. First of all, our country does not have a personal relationship with God like that of Israel in Solomon’s time. We also skate over all the conditions of humbling ourselves, turning from wicked ways, and praying. And we are not in the position of having made corporate sacrifices to the Lord. PROVERBS 28b:Here is today’s highlighted verse: Pro. 28:26 NLT Those who trust their own insight are...
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NL-Day263 2 Chronicles 7-8; Proverbs 28:1-14; Matthew 10:16-42
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
2CHRONICLES 7-8:Yesterday we heard Solomon’s famous prayer at the dedication of the temple. He understood that the people would need forgiveness from the Lord, and requested the Lord’s mercy. PROVERBS 28a:Another favorite: Pro. 28:8 NLT Income from charging high interest rateswill end up in the pocket of someone who is kind to the poor. MATTHEW 10b:Yesterday we heard the list of the twelve apostles, and the beginning of the instructions to them as He sent them out. It is clear that Jesus gave this message for more than just the twelve. The word ‘apostle’ (which is a word transliterated...
info_outlineNUMBERS 4:
Yesterday we learned that the Levite clans were given separate tasks in the care of the sacred tent. The 22,000 Levites became substitutes for Israel's 22,273 first-born sons.
PSALM 28:
David cries out to the Lord with all his heart. I love the imagery of the Lord as David’s ‘rock’, ‘shield’, and ‘shepherd’. (v1, 7, 9) Bible translators who translate into ethnic languages often need to make the difficult choice of whether to retain a figure of speech more literally, or just to give its meaning. For instance, at the first of v1 and 7, the GNT chose to give the meaning without using metaphors, but the NLT translated David’s metaphors more literally.
Luke 19a:
Yesterday in Luke 18, we heard of Jesus’ encounter with the rich young man, Jesus again predicted his death, and blind Bartimaeus (as named in Mark) was healed at Jericho.
NLT Translation notes:
[This psalm starts out speaking directly to the Lord. But starting in verse 5, many English readers will think the psalmist suddenly starts talking _about_ the Lord. This is probably not the case! I interpret the Hebrew here as using the third person as an honorific while still speaking to the Lord. Similarly in English, it is possible to use the third person “Mr. President ... he...” when speaking formally to our president. (I suspect this is seldom done these days.) In my dialect of English, I much prefer making it clear that the psalmist is still speaking to the Lord, not just about the Lord. All the changes below are simply changing ‘he/his’ to ‘you/your’, and ‘the LORD’ to ‘you, LORD’.]
5 They care nothing for what [You, LORD, have] done
or for what [your] hands have made.
So [You] will tear them down,
and they will never be rebuilt!
6 Praise [You] LORD!
For [You have] heard my cry for mercy.
7 [You,] LORD [are] my strength and shield.
I trust [in You] with all my heart.
[You help] me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.
8 [You, LORD, give your] people strength.
[You are] a safe fortress for [your] anointed king.
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.