Chronological Bible Blog

January 29th Chronological Bible Readings

Job 35:1-37:24
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~ Listen to today's Scripture on ESVBible.org ~

 

January 28th Chronological Bible Readings

Job 32:1-34:37
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~ Listen to today's Scripture on ESVBible.org ~

In Job chapters 32 and 33, Elihu becomes angry at Job and his friends and presents his case!  Elihu was sitting on the sidelines up until this point and obviously was ready to say a few words!  It was amazing to read his words in chapter 32 - it was apparent to me that he was young and energetic and felt he had some very important things to say - and we will hear all that Elihu has to say between now and chapter 37!  :) Interestingly, as we get to God speaking to Job and his friends in chapter 38, you'll note God does not condemn Elihu along w/ Job's 3 other friends.  The English poet and artist William Blake made this wonderful engraving below in the year 1825 titled "The Wrath of Elihu":

Elihu continues his strong discourse from yesterday! There is a lot of good stuff in his words today.  Chapter 34 verse 12 is awesome - "There is no truer statement than this: God will not do wrong. The Almighty cannot twist justice."  I pray you believe this verse to be very true...?

Worship God: Today's readings in Job with Elihu's speech reminded me of The Newsboy's song "He Reigns:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8R9ZPT2T-I

Do you know who Reigns?  Click here and meet your King!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice." Job 34:12 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you never doubt that God cannot do wrong. Pray that you know that God would never pervert justice.

Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.p.s. Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.p.p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today. Thanks!

January 27th Chronological Bible Readings

Job 30:1-31:40
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~ // Mobile Site Link
~ Listen to today's Scripture on ESVBible.org ~

Old Testament - Great readings in Job today!  In chapter 31 Job basically "rests his case."  He gives his final plea.  This chapter is the last time we'll read this many words from Job.  Late in the book we'll get some brief words of repentance from Job after God speaks.  In chapter 31 I like how Job lays out his case - and lets everyone know what his retribution should be.  He basically gives a series of if / then statements.  If I did this, then that should happen to me.  This is similar to the book of Exodus' concept of the "law of retaliation", from Exodus chapter 21 verses 23-25:  "But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise."  Do you see how Job's logic in chapter 31 is similar to this law of retaliation?  In Matthew chapter 5 Jesus calls us beyond the law of retaliation (which was really a law of "limited-retribution" in its day, limiting people to retaliate only based on actual harm done - meaning, eye for an eye.  Not a life for an eye, etc.).  Jesus called us beyond this law of retaliation and beyond limited retribution to the highest law of love.  Bible.org has an in depth look at Jesus' taking on the law of retaliation in Matthew 5:38-42 at this link.  I think at the end of chapter 31 as Job rests his case, the scene may have looked something like this image below... with Elihu chomping at the bit to speak (as we know in chapter 32) in the upper left hand corner of this image...

Before we move onto Elihu - today in Job chapter 31 we read what I think is one of Job's most profound pleadings.  It is a 10th century B.C. pleading that is ultimately fulfilled by a little baby born in a manger in Bethlehem who is now seated at the right hand of the Father.  Here is Job's prophetic plea in verse 35: ""If only I had someone who would listen to me and try to see my side!"  You and I are so very fortunate that we do not need to make such a plea as this.  Jesus is in heaven seated on his throne and will receive our prayers!  Jesus listens to us!  Jesus sees our side!  It is humbling to look back toward the time of Job, and realize that Jesus had not yet walked the earth as a man and taken on the sins of the world on the cross.  Jesus had not yet risen from the grave and ascended into heaven.  Job was looking for someone to listen to him and to see his side.  You and I are blessed immensely in this regard.  We do not need to look anywhere else other than to the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.

Worship God: Today's readings in Job 31:35 reminded me of Stellar Kart's song "Me and Jesus:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gn8FIFDgPXw

Do you have you and Jesus?  Click here for Jesus!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "For lust is a shameful sin, a crime that should be punished." Job 31:11 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you have no lust in your heart. Pray that you are not sinning against God through any lust.

Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.p.s. Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.p.p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today. Thanks!

January 26th Chronological Bible Readings

Job 26:1-29:25
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~ // Mobile Site Link
~ Listen to today's Scripture on ESVBible.org ~

Job chapter 28 is incredible!  It could be my favorite chapter of Job so far this year.  I kind of forgot about this chapter from my previous readings of this book.  It seems to me to a large degree this chapter builds up and gets at one of the most important points in the Old Testament Wisdom / Poetry Books (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon) in the closing verse 28 of this chapter: "And this is what God says to all humanity: `The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.'"  Beautiful!  We do hear this theme over and over again in the other Wisdom / Poetry books of the Old Testament.  It is a powerful and true point.  I love the way Job builds up to this point early on in this chapter 28.  Verses 12 through 14 I found to be particularly great: ""But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding? No one knows where to find it, for it is not found among the living. `It is not here,' says the ocean. `Nor is it here,' says the sea."  So, how about for you?  Where do you find wisdom?  Where do you find understanding?  What does it mean to you that the fear of the Lord is true wisdom?  Do you believe this is true?  Do you believe that forsaking evil is real understanding?

In Job chapter 29 today we read about his former blessings, including these in verses 7 through 10: "Those were the days when I went to the city gate and took my place among the honored leaders. The young stepped aside when they saw me, and even the aged rose in respect at my coming. The princes stood in silence and put their hands over their mouths. The highest officials of the city stood quietly, holding their tongues in respect."

Worship God: Today's readings in Job reminded me of JJ Heller's song "Your Hands:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-F6DGGF4Qs

Are you in God's Hands?  Click here and be Held by Him!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "And he said to the human race, 'The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.'" Job 28:28 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you fear the Lord. Pray that you shun evil. Pray that you seek wisdom and understanding in your life on a daily basis.

Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.p.s. Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.p.p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today. Thanks!

January 25th Chronological Bible Readings

Job 22:1-25:6
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~ // Mobile Site Link
~ Listen to today's Scripture on ESVBible.org ~

Old Testament - In chapter 23 verse 12 today Job makes such a powerful statement about his relationship with God!  "I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread." (NIV)  The first statement is of course powerful - Job has not departed from the commands of God's.  But the second statement is the one that really stood out to me today - Job has treasured God's words more than food!  This may sound like nice high holy talk from the Old Testament...  but I think each of us should stop and meditate on this one in our lives today.  Do we treasure God's Word, The Bible, more or do we treasure the food we eat each day more?  I'm sure most of us would say the Bible...  But let me put this another way for us to really think about this.  How many minutes a day do you spend eating?   And how many minutes a day do you spend reading the Bible?  What might make this whole equation even a little bit more interesting to consider is how many minutes a day do you think about food?  Prepare food?  Talk about food?  And then how many minutes a day do you think about the Bible?  Prepare for reading the Bible?  Talk about the Bible?  I am afraid that we may be a people today who (when the rubber meets the road and we look at actual time spent in each activity) treasure our food more than we treasure God's Word.  However, the first step in realizing we have a problem is admitting we have a problem!  :)  When it comes to amount of time you spend with food when compared to the amount of time you spend with God's Word, do you have a problem?  Can you learn something from Job's word's today in verse 12: "I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food." (ESV)

Worship God: Today's readings in Job 25 reminded me of the MercyMe song "All of Creation:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UADsz7ToO8w

Are you singing to God along with all of creation?  Click here and sing!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread." Job 23:12 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you have not departed from the commands of God's Word, through a saving faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Pray that you are now treasuring God's Word more than your daily bread.

Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.p.s. Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.p.p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today. Thanks!