You are invited to join us on the Chronological Bible daily journey through God's Word! We have over 1,000 people around the world signed up for our free emails filled with commentary, artwork, worship videos and questions for reflection.
To sign up for the Chronological Bible Blog daily emails, type your email in the text box below, click Subscribe, and then make sure you respond to the confirmation email that is sent to you. There is no cost to you for any of this and we keep your email private and you can unsubscribe anytime.
(NOTE: After your subscribe above, to make sure our emails get through to you, please add [email protected] to your address book and safe-senders list in your email software program. Also, please check your spam or junk-mail folder for the confirmation email that Feedblitz will send you, if you don't see it.)
We are following a Chronological Bible plan with 15-minute daily readings. Your options for joining us include: 1. Subscribe to our daily readings emails above. 2. Read online using our daily links to Bible Gateway. 3. Read from your own Bible using your preferred translation. You can print out a listing of our entire year's readings in PDF format at this link. 4. Purchase a Chronological Bible which organizes our daily readings. 5. Email me with any questions at [email protected]
Please note you can find my One Year Bible Blog at this link, New Testament in a Year Blog at this link and Old Testament in a Year Blog at this link.
God bless! Mike
p.s. Keep scrolling down to see our latest daily readings blog post and email content below this welcome post. ⬇️
"But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives!" Whoo-hoo! Awesome words from Job today in chapter 19 verse 25!
Job chapter 19 verses 23 through 27 are some of the best known and well loved verses of the book of Job. These verses seem to be where Job hits his high point in his understanding of his relationship with God: "Oh, that my words could be written. Oh, that they could be inscribed on a monument, carved with an iron chisel and filled with lead, engraved forever in the rock. "But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!" How powerful are these verses?? Great stuff. Job starts off saying that he hopes his words could be written and engraved forever - and indeed they were as we are reading them in the Bible! Then Job makes the incredible statement that even in the midst of all of his suffering and perceived distance from God, he knows that God lives! The closing two verses are powerful in that they actually indicated a belief in the resurrection by Job. He says that even after his body has decayed - after his death here on this earth - he will see God with his own eyes in his own body! How could this possibly be? Well, only if he believed in a resurrected body after death. I've read some various commentaries on who is the "Redeemer" that Job is referring to in verse 25. Jesus? Could be. But it seems like most commentaries seem to suggest Job is referring to God himself, rather than Jesus. Though, of course Jesus is God so maybe this is a moot point! :) Job does talk about his desire for a mediator in other parts of this book, which could be references to Jesus as well. I found this great artwork below that was painted based on the chapter of Job 19. Re-read the entire chapter of Job 19 again and I think you'll see the beauty of this artwork...
Today in Job chapter 21 verses 7 through 13 we read these words of Job: ""The truth is that the wicked live to a good old age. They grow old and wealthy. They live to see their children grow to maturity, and they enjoy their grandchildren. Their homes are safe from every fear, and God does not punish them. Their bulls never fail to breed. Their cows bear calves without miscarriage. Their children skip about like lambs in a flock of sheep. They sing with tambourine and harp. They make merry to the sound of the flute. They spend their days in prosperity; then they go down to the grave in peace." How do these words of Job speak to you? Is there truth in these words? If the wicked go to the grave in peace, what happens to them after the grave? Honestly, I'm not so sure about the wicked living to a good old age and going to the grave in peace... I personally would not take this chance. I think living a wicked life leads to inner conflict and an unhealthy life and potentially an early grave. I understand why Job said these words in his circumstances (he was experiencing suffering without committing the great sins his friends accused him of), but I personally would not bet on a wicked life delivering a long lifetime of wealth or peace...
Worship Video: For our Job readings today, here's a YouTube for "My Redeemer Lives" by Nicole C. Mullen:
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth." Job 19:25 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray that you know that our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, lives! Pray in faith that you know that he stood on the earth, suffered and died for your sins on the cross, died, was raised from the dead and now sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven.
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!
p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.
p.s. #2 - Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.
p.s. #3 - I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "Will your long-winded speeches never end? What ails you that you keep on arguing?" Job 16:3 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray that you don't engage in long-winded speeches with your suffering friends. Pray that you pray for them, love them, and support them in their time of need.
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.s. #2 - Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.
p.s. #3 - I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
Old Testament - I forgot how much trash-talking goes on here in the book of Job! It occurred to me that all of this bickering back and forth between Job and his friends keeps transpiring without Satan coming up in their comments at all. Meaning, no one seems to realize that Satan is the one who has afflicted Job! And I'm wondering if this happens in our lives today as well? Do we sometimes miss it when Satan is literally attacking us? Do we blame others? Blame ourselves? Maybe even blame God? When the blame should be directed at the Deceiver? I think Job and his friends could have used Michael the Archangel to come into the picture here and whoop up on Satan like he's doing in this painting below from the year 1518 by the Italian artist Raphael:
There are some great words of wisdom from Job in today's readings. I love the poetry of his words in chapter 14. A lot of it reminds me of the book of Ecclesiastes, which we'll read later this year. Below is an illustration of Job and his three friends from the Book of Hours of Etienne Chevalier by the 15th century French painter Jean Fouquet:
Worship Video: Today's readings in Job 12:13 reminded me of Rich Mullins' song "Awesome God" sung here by Michael W. Smith:
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his. " Job 12:13 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray that you simply worship God for His wisdom, power, counsel and understanding. Pray that you go to God for wisdom, power, counsel and understanding in your life.
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.s. #2 - Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.
p.s. #3 - I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
Okay, so I am sure that most of us have heard the old adage "patience of Job." (As in, "she has the patience of Job." etc.) Well, today's chapters 9 & 10 are probably not where this adage came from! :) Job is not showing a lot of patience in these chapters. Can you blame him? Would you speak differently if you were in Job's situation? Or perhaps would your language be worse? It is important to note that Job does not curse God directly, as Satan said Job would do in the beginning of the book. Job is certainly complaining about his situation - and, well, not to spoil the book of Job here for you... but Job will repent of what he says to God later in the book. In Job chapter 10 today we read Job's plea to God, including this in verses 18 through 22: "`Why, then, did you bring me out of my mother's womb? Why didn't you let me die at birth? Then I would have been spared this miserable existence. I would have gone directly from the womb to the grave. I have only a little time left, so leave me alone--that I may have a little moment of comfort before I leave for the land of darkness and utter gloom, never to return. It is a land as dark as midnight, a land of utter gloom where confusion reigns and the light is as dark as midnight.'"
The other adage, in addition to "patience of Job", that I was thinking about in today's readings is "with friends like these, who needs enemies??" :) Zophar in chapter 11 seems to really have compassion-deficiency! I do think that Zophar and Bildad in chapter 8 were trying to say the things they thought Job needed to hear. But they overstated the case I think in a few places. I don't agree w/ Zophar saying in chapter 11 verse 3 that Job mocked God: "When you mock God, shouldn't someone make you ashamed?" Here's my question for us today. Are we sometimes like Zophar and Bildad? Do we jump to conclusions about maybe why bad things are happening to our friends? Do we offer up our big advice and big words and big bluster before really listening to our friends and understanding their situation fully? I am afraid that sometimes we jump to conclusions far too quickly. I always try to remember the old Stephen Covey adage (wow, 3 adages here in 1 post! :) from the "7 Habits of Highly Effective People": "Seek first to understand, and then to be understood." Let us seek first to really understand our friends or family members issues before we start offering our prescriptions for them. Let us first try walking a mile in their shoes!
Worship God: Today's readings in Job 11:7 reminded me of Chris Tomlin's song "Indescribable:"
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?" Job 11:7 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray that you simply worship God for His unfathomable mysteries and for His eternal limitlessness.
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.s. #2 - Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.
p.s. #3 - I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
In chapter 6 Job responds to Eliphaz as follows in verse 2 through 6: "If my sadness could be weighed and my troubles be put on the scales, they would be heavier than all the sands of the sea. That is why I spoke so rashly. For the Almighty has struck me down with his arrows. He has sent his poisoned arrows deep within my spirit. All God's terrors are arrayed against me. Don't I have a right to complain? Wild donkeys bray when they find no green grass, and oxen low when they have no food. People complain when there is no salt in their food." How do these words of Job's speak to you? Are these fair words for him to be saying in reply to Eliphaz? Are they fair words for us to consider in our own lives today as well?
Below is a powerful image for Job's words in chapter 7 verse 11:
Worship Video: Today's readings in Job reminded me of MercyMe's song "Bring the Rain:"
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty. " Job 6:14 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray that you will not withhold kindnesses from your friends. Pray that you will never forsake fear of the Almighty.
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.s. #2 - Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.
p.s. #3 - I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
