OK, I am going to be honest and say I am not really certain what is happening in 1 Samuel 13. Saul is preparing for a battle against the Philistines and I guess jumped the gun a little bit and Samuel got after him for that. Samuel tells Saul that he is now not in God's favor. Then it confuses me once again by saying that none of them had weapons. Really, why would you plan to go into battle if you had no weapons and no means of getting them. I guess I am lost on this chapter.
Now, we move into chapter 14 and see that Saul's son Jonathan has kind of taken the battle into his own hands. It appears that he is using God as his guide and allowing God to make the decisions for him. Jonathan travels to a Philistine outpost and God delivers it to him. Jonathan and his armor bearer then continue on and the battle actually begins and grows. The last part of 14 I am still trying to wrap my head around. I do not see how it could have been bad for Jonathan or the Israelites because Jonathan ate the honey. If he had not heard he would not have known that Samuel had put our a curse. I am not sure why Samuel would have put out a curse like this in the first place. It only makes good military sense that your soldiers be feed so that they can perform better.
The last part of Luke 19 is once again a repeat of earlier readings. I am still trying to figure out why we have things multiple times within the Bible? We read once again the story of Jesus riding in to town on the donkey and of Him tearing up the temple.
Tomorrow's reading is:
1Samuel 15, 16 and Luke 20:1-26
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Day 116
1 Samuel 10 tells of Samuel appointing Saul as the King of Israel. Samuel does this by telling Saul of many things that will happen to him that day. All the things Samuel says comes true. Then when Samuel meets the people of Israel a few days later they are reluctant to except Saul as their king.
Chapter 11 brings us to the first challenge that Saul will confront. The Ammonite's attack Jabesh Gilead and try to take over them and make them servants. A plea is made to give them seven days and then they will surrender peacefully if no one comes to help them. Saul hears of what is happening and then puts out orders and travels to the land with three hundred thousand soldiers. After the battle the Israelites realize that Saul should be their king. They worship the Lord and affirm Saul into his kingship.
Chapter 12 is kind of a summary of Samuel's life and a warning to the Israelites not to go against God.
Our reading in Luke 19 starts our with the story of Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus really wanted to see Jesus as He was traveling through town. Being a short man though he had to climb into a tree to be able to do this. Jesus came up to him and told him that He was going to be eating in his house today. Zacchaeus then gave his life to Jesus. The last part of our reading in this chapter is about the servants that were given money. We have read this story before in other books and I really do not have much more to say about them.
Tomorrow's reading is:
1Samuel 13, 14 and Luke 19:28-48
Chapter 11 brings us to the first challenge that Saul will confront. The Ammonite's attack Jabesh Gilead and try to take over them and make them servants. A plea is made to give them seven days and then they will surrender peacefully if no one comes to help them. Saul hears of what is happening and then puts out orders and travels to the land with three hundred thousand soldiers. After the battle the Israelites realize that Saul should be their king. They worship the Lord and affirm Saul into his kingship.
Chapter 12 is kind of a summary of Samuel's life and a warning to the Israelites not to go against God.
Our reading in Luke 19 starts our with the story of Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus really wanted to see Jesus as He was traveling through town. Being a short man though he had to climb into a tree to be able to do this. Jesus came up to him and told him that He was going to be eating in his house today. Zacchaeus then gave his life to Jesus. The last part of our reading in this chapter is about the servants that were given money. We have read this story before in other books and I really do not have much more to say about them.
Tomorrow's reading is:
1Samuel 13, 14 and Luke 19:28-48
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Day 115
1 Samuel 7 tells once again of the Israelites returning to the Lord. They realize they have been living in the wrong and that is why they are under the Philistines. Samuel tells them to get rid of their other idols and then I like what I read they put them away. To me that says you said get rid of them but I think I will throw it in this lock box for now and get it back out when I am ready to play again. Under the leadership of Samuel they conquered the Philistines and leaved peacefully with the Amorites.
In chapter 8 we find out that Samuel is getting old. He appoints his sons as judges only to find out that they do now believe the way that he did. They are both wicked men and not worthy of the title that they hold. The people come to Samuel because they still respect him and ask for a king. Samuel gives them a warning from the Lord on what will happen if they take a king over God. They do not care about what God has told Samuel and ask for a king still.
Chapter 9 has an interesting story. I kind of enjoyed the way God picked the king of Israel. Who would have imagined going on a journey to find a herd of lost donkeys only to become a king. How would you respond to something like that? And think he was ready to turn back but thankfully to his servant he kept on going to the next town.
Our last bit of Luke 18 starts out with a few things that I like and a few that I do not. I like that the fact that He says with men it is impossible but with God all things are possible. The part that really gets me down is it sounds like He wants us to leave everything behind including our family. I do not understand how anyone could say well I love you but I have to go off and serve the Lord. Was it not possible in those times to take your family with you? If God was calling me to go somewhere and preach I would hope that He would allow me to bring my family with me. To end the chapter we see Jesus traveling to Jerusalem to what He knows will be his end. While on His way He still finds time to stop and heal a blind man. The blind man had faith that Jesus would heal him even though the people leading the way were telling him to be quiet. Then of course as soon as Jesus heals him the group worships even more.
Tomorrow's reading is:
1Samuel 10, 11, 12 and Luke 19:1-27
In chapter 8 we find out that Samuel is getting old. He appoints his sons as judges only to find out that they do now believe the way that he did. They are both wicked men and not worthy of the title that they hold. The people come to Samuel because they still respect him and ask for a king. Samuel gives them a warning from the Lord on what will happen if they take a king over God. They do not care about what God has told Samuel and ask for a king still.
Chapter 9 has an interesting story. I kind of enjoyed the way God picked the king of Israel. Who would have imagined going on a journey to find a herd of lost donkeys only to become a king. How would you respond to something like that? And think he was ready to turn back but thankfully to his servant he kept on going to the next town.
Our last bit of Luke 18 starts out with a few things that I like and a few that I do not. I like that the fact that He says with men it is impossible but with God all things are possible. The part that really gets me down is it sounds like He wants us to leave everything behind including our family. I do not understand how anyone could say well I love you but I have to go off and serve the Lord. Was it not possible in those times to take your family with you? If God was calling me to go somewhere and preach I would hope that He would allow me to bring my family with me. To end the chapter we see Jesus traveling to Jerusalem to what He knows will be his end. While on His way He still finds time to stop and heal a blind man. The blind man had faith that Jesus would heal him even though the people leading the way were telling him to be quiet. Then of course as soon as Jesus heals him the group worships even more.
Tomorrow's reading is:
1Samuel 10, 11, 12 and Luke 19:1-27
Monday, January 24, 2011
Day 114
OK, looks like I made a little oops yesterday and did an extra chapter on that post. 1st Samuel chapter 4 is in the previous post, so I will be skipping to chapter 5.
Chapter 5 has a lot going on in it for the ark. It seems like since it has left the Israelites it has done nothing but cause trouble for those who have had it. I could not begin to imagine what it must have been like to go in and see the statue of your god bowing to the ark.
Chapter 6 tells of the ark actually making its trip back to the Israelites. It is put on a brand new cart with two bulls pulling it. Sent along with it are gold representing the kings and the tumors as a guilt offering. Sadly, Israelite men open the ark and look into it. Seventy Israelite men die because of that action.
Luke 18 starts out with a parable that I do not fully understand. Is Jesus wanting us to continually ask until it becomes annoying? The next parable tells us that we should not flaunt what we have. We should be humble and in being humble one day we will be exalted. The next little bit is something we have read several times. It gets me thinking every time though. I have to stop and think have I accepted the kingdom like a little child. I often wonder then what exactly it means to except like a child. The last part of our reading for today is another story we have read before. It is the story of the rich man wanting to enter into the kingdom of Heaven. Jesus tells him what he needs to do and he can not do it. How often do we hear what God is telling us to do and then determine that we can not do it. We are told that God will not give us anymore then we can handle, so guess that means do everything He tells us.
Tomorrow's reading is:
1Samuel 7, 8, 9 and Luke 18:24-43
Chapter 5 has a lot going on in it for the ark. It seems like since it has left the Israelites it has done nothing but cause trouble for those who have had it. I could not begin to imagine what it must have been like to go in and see the statue of your god bowing to the ark.
Chapter 6 tells of the ark actually making its trip back to the Israelites. It is put on a brand new cart with two bulls pulling it. Sent along with it are gold representing the kings and the tumors as a guilt offering. Sadly, Israelite men open the ark and look into it. Seventy Israelite men die because of that action.
Luke 18 starts out with a parable that I do not fully understand. Is Jesus wanting us to continually ask until it becomes annoying? The next parable tells us that we should not flaunt what we have. We should be humble and in being humble one day we will be exalted. The next little bit is something we have read several times. It gets me thinking every time though. I have to stop and think have I accepted the kingdom like a little child. I often wonder then what exactly it means to except like a child. The last part of our reading for today is another story we have read before. It is the story of the rich man wanting to enter into the kingdom of Heaven. Jesus tells him what he needs to do and he can not do it. How often do we hear what God is telling us to do and then determine that we can not do it. We are told that God will not give us anymore then we can handle, so guess that means do everything He tells us.
Tomorrow's reading is:
1Samuel 7, 8, 9 and Luke 18:24-43
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Day 113
In 1st Samuel chapter 1 we are greeted by Elkanah and his two wives. One of his wives was unable to have children and the other constantly rubbed that in her face. I do not see how a woman could be that mean to another woman who longed badly to have a child. I mean do you not think that she was in enough pain already by herself. Hannah prays to the Lord and pours it all out to Him. She is pleading with Him to giver her a son and if He does that son would be dedicated to Him. Once she became pregnant I can only imagine the glory she felt. She would have loved him very much but had made a promise that he would serve God all of his life. So, she took him to the temple where he was to stay. I could only begin to imagine what that must have felt like walking away from the temple while your only child stays there.
In chapter 2 it starts out with a song from Hannah. The song is actually very nice. The next part of the chapter however is not so nice. We learn that the son's of Eli are not really men of God as they should be. The way I read it, it sounds as if they steal from the people as they are trying to give their offerings to the Lord. Not only that but they are sleeping with various woman. The remaining portion of this chapter is God speaking to Eli about what will happen to his family line for the sins they have committed. Once again the wrath of God is coming down. When will the Israelites learn that they can not hide what they do from the eyes of God?
Chapter 3 is a story I have heard several times and it makes me wonder a few things. First, we see God calling to Samuel. Samuel is confused and runs to his master to help him because he called. This happens three times before Eli realizes what is going on. It makes me wonder how many times have we heard God calling to us and we have ran to some other master and not Him? Then Samuel finally answers God with what Eli has told him. I love the way Samuel replies to God calling him as well. "Speak, for your servant is listening." (1 Samuel 3:10) It really makes me wonder how much better I life might be if we replied the way Samuel did?
Chapter 4 starts off with a pretty horrific battle. From my counts Israel lost 34,000 soldiers during that battle. The also lost the ark of the covenant during that battle. You have to wonder what the rest of Israel must have thought on learning that the ark of the covenant was lost in a battle? Eli's sons were lost in this battle as well. Not only did Eli's sons die if you keep reading you find out that Eli himself dies. This really is not a good day for the Israelites.
The final reading of Luke 17 tells of the coming of the Kingdom of God. He describes it with so much detail but with very little detail. Is that possible? I mean it makes sense but it doesn't all at the same time. I guess that is the purpose though so we do not know when the final day is coming. Toward the end when He is talking about how one will be taken and the other will not, I could not help but think about the Left Behind series. As for the very end of this chapter I am confused. I do not understand the whole vultures thing that was brought up. Once again there is a verse missing, at least in my text. Verse 36 is skipped over. This seems to happen a lot where there is a verse or verses missing and I do not understand why that is so.
Tomorrow's reading is:
1Samuel 4, 5, 6 and Luke 18:1-23
In chapter 2 it starts out with a song from Hannah. The song is actually very nice. The next part of the chapter however is not so nice. We learn that the son's of Eli are not really men of God as they should be. The way I read it, it sounds as if they steal from the people as they are trying to give their offerings to the Lord. Not only that but they are sleeping with various woman. The remaining portion of this chapter is God speaking to Eli about what will happen to his family line for the sins they have committed. Once again the wrath of God is coming down. When will the Israelites learn that they can not hide what they do from the eyes of God?
Chapter 3 is a story I have heard several times and it makes me wonder a few things. First, we see God calling to Samuel. Samuel is confused and runs to his master to help him because he called. This happens three times before Eli realizes what is going on. It makes me wonder how many times have we heard God calling to us and we have ran to some other master and not Him? Then Samuel finally answers God with what Eli has told him. I love the way Samuel replies to God calling him as well. "Speak, for your servant is listening." (1 Samuel 3:10) It really makes me wonder how much better I life might be if we replied the way Samuel did?
Chapter 4 starts off with a pretty horrific battle. From my counts Israel lost 34,000 soldiers during that battle. The also lost the ark of the covenant during that battle. You have to wonder what the rest of Israel must have thought on learning that the ark of the covenant was lost in a battle? Eli's sons were lost in this battle as well. Not only did Eli's sons die if you keep reading you find out that Eli himself dies. This really is not a good day for the Israelites.
The final reading of Luke 17 tells of the coming of the Kingdom of God. He describes it with so much detail but with very little detail. Is that possible? I mean it makes sense but it doesn't all at the same time. I guess that is the purpose though so we do not know when the final day is coming. Toward the end when He is talking about how one will be taken and the other will not, I could not help but think about the Left Behind series. As for the very end of this chapter I am confused. I do not understand the whole vultures thing that was brought up. Once again there is a verse missing, at least in my text. Verse 36 is skipped over. This seems to happen a lot where there is a verse or verses missing and I do not understand why that is so.
Tomorrow's reading is:
1Samuel 4, 5, 6 and Luke 18:1-23
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Day 112
Ruth 1 begins to tell the story of Ruth. We meet Naomi and her husband. They also had two sons who married Moabite woman, one named Orpah and the other named Ruth. All the men of this family has died very quickly in this chapter and the woman are left to fend for themselves. Naomi decides it will be better for her to move back to her people to live. She attempts to send the girls back to their people. Orpah returns but Ruth vows not to leave her mother-in-law.
In Ruth chapter 2 Ruth goes out into the fields to find a place to work to gather food for her and Naomi. She ends up working in Boaz's field. Boaz is a relative of Naomi and treats Ruth with great respect and puts protection on her. She gathers a very nice harvest for Naomi and herself. Naomi tells Ruth that she should continue to work in Boaz's fields as he will protect her.
Ruth 3 leaves me a little confused. I am not sure exactly what Naomi is trying to do to Ruth. I think she is trying to find Ruth a new husband. I am not sure why she has her lie with Boaz and I am not sure exactly what Boaz told her.
In Ruth 4 Ruth gains a new husband. Boaz attempts to find a husband for her but it does not work out so he himself takes her as his wife. Ruth gives birth to a son and they name him Obed. Through Ruth we actually get to the line of David.
The first part of Luke 17 talks about sin, faith, and duty. Jesus tells us that it will be worse for the person that cause someone to sin then the one who sinned. At least that is what I think it is saying. It also tells us that we are to forgive. The next little portion of our reading in Luke tells of ten men that were healed from Leprosy. All ten were told to go see the priest and while on their way they were healed. Only one of them came back to thank Jesus. I have to wonder what is going through the minds of the other nine people that were healed and did not come back to thank Jesus for doing it.
Did you catch that? We read a whole book in one day. I bet you never thought you would read a book of the Bible in one day.
Tomorrow's reading is:
1Samuel 1, 2, 3 and Luke 17:20-37
In Ruth chapter 2 Ruth goes out into the fields to find a place to work to gather food for her and Naomi. She ends up working in Boaz's field. Boaz is a relative of Naomi and treats Ruth with great respect and puts protection on her. She gathers a very nice harvest for Naomi and herself. Naomi tells Ruth that she should continue to work in Boaz's fields as he will protect her.
Ruth 3 leaves me a little confused. I am not sure exactly what Naomi is trying to do to Ruth. I think she is trying to find Ruth a new husband. I am not sure why she has her lie with Boaz and I am not sure exactly what Boaz told her.
In Ruth 4 Ruth gains a new husband. Boaz attempts to find a husband for her but it does not work out so he himself takes her as his wife. Ruth gives birth to a son and they name him Obed. Through Ruth we actually get to the line of David.
The first part of Luke 17 talks about sin, faith, and duty. Jesus tells us that it will be worse for the person that cause someone to sin then the one who sinned. At least that is what I think it is saying. It also tells us that we are to forgive. The next little portion of our reading in Luke tells of ten men that were healed from Leprosy. All ten were told to go see the priest and while on their way they were healed. Only one of them came back to thank Jesus. I have to wonder what is going through the minds of the other nine people that were healed and did not come back to thank Jesus for doing it.
Did you catch that? We read a whole book in one day. I bet you never thought you would read a book of the Bible in one day.
Tomorrow's reading is:
1Samuel 1, 2, 3 and Luke 17:20-37
Friday, January 21, 2011
Day 111
Judges 19 leaves me disgusted. I really do not like this chapter at all. I do not understand its purpose either.
Judges 20 is a battle between the Israelites and the Benjamites. This battle is in response to what happened in chapter 19. Why they told the story twice in the same chapter I am puzzled about.
Judges 21 talks about the Benjamites again and how they do not have wives. I do not get these last few chapters and how they bounce back and forth between things being good and bad. So much going on that I really seem to be lost.
Luke 16 has a few different parables in it. The only one that I really like is the last one. It really shows that we should take care of others. All the parables in this chapter seem to deal with taking care of others or the property of others. The last one though shows that our actions can make a difference not only here on Earth but where we may end up when we die.
Tomorrow's reading is:
Ruth 1, 2, 3, 4 and Luke 17:1-19
Judges 20 is a battle between the Israelites and the Benjamites. This battle is in response to what happened in chapter 19. Why they told the story twice in the same chapter I am puzzled about.
Judges 21 talks about the Benjamites again and how they do not have wives. I do not get these last few chapters and how they bounce back and forth between things being good and bad. So much going on that I really seem to be lost.
Luke 16 has a few different parables in it. The only one that I really like is the last one. It really shows that we should take care of others. All the parables in this chapter seem to deal with taking care of others or the property of others. The last one though shows that our actions can make a difference not only here on Earth but where we may end up when we die.
Tomorrow's reading is:
Ruth 1, 2, 3, 4 and Luke 17:1-19
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)