NL-Day165 2 Samuel 14; Psalm 113; Romans 15
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
Release Date: 06/08/2025
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....
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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:...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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_outline
NL-Day262 2 Chronicles 6; Proverbs 27:14-27; Matthew 10:1-33
Daily Bible Reading Phil Fields
2CHRONICLES 6:Yesterday we heard of the various things that Huram-abi made under Solomon’s direction for the temple, and of the dedication of the temple. In today’s (not reverent) language, we might say that the Lord ‘showed up’ for that dedication, just like He did for the dedication of the tabernacle. PROVERBS 27b:Our hightlighted verse for today: Pro. 27:21 NLT Fire tests the purity of silver and gold,but a person is tested by being praised.] MATTHEW 10a:Many stories were brought together by Matthew in chapter 9, including the calling of Matthew— who is most likely the writer of...
info_outline 2SAMUEL 14:
There is more than one way in which David did not obey God’s instructions for kings. The big one of course is the Bathsheba affair, but God had already said that kings should not have lots of wives. David’s daughter Tamar was raped by her half brother Amnon. And after two years, Absolom (Tamar’s brother) murdered Amnon.
PSALM 113:
This is a song praising our incomparable God.
ROMANS 15:
Paul continues what he was ‘on about’ in yesterday’s reading. We must accept other believers even though we don’t agree on prohibitions, practices, or rituals. Disputes over these things often come from our differing backgrounds.
NLT Translation notes:
Rom. 15:6 Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord [Christ Jesus//Jesus Christ].
9 He also came so that the [non-Jews//Gentiles] might give glory to God for his mercies to them. That is what the psalmist meant when he wrote:
“For this, I will praise you among the [non-Jews//Gentiles];
I will sing praises to [you/your name].”
[The psalmist uses ‘your name’ as a metonymy for God himself. To us in English, it sounds like idolatry to praise a name rather than the Person Himself.]
10 And in another place it is written,
“Rejoice with his people,
you [non-Jews//Gentiles].”
11 And yet again,
“Praise the LORD, all you [non-Jews//Gentiles].
Praise him, all you people of the earth.”
12 And in another place Isaiah said,
“The heir to David’s throne will come,
and he will rule over the [non-Jews//Gentiles].
They will place their hope on him.”
13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you [fully believe//trust] in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
16 I am a special messenger from Christ Jesus to you [non-Jews//Gentiles]. I bring you the Good News so that I might present you as an acceptable offering to God, made holy by the Holy Spirit.
18 Yet I dare not boast about anything except what Christ has done through me, bringing the [non-Jews//Gentiles] to God by my message and by the way I worked among them.
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.