Episoder
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UMBERS 33:
Yesterday we heard how the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh promised to go ahead of their fellow Israelites into battle on the west side of the Jordan, because they were receiving land on the east side of the Jordan. In hindsight, I must say this was not a great idea. Because of how often all the men were required to go to Jerusalem for the holy assemblies, it must have been very easy to not attend those events and grow increasingly far from the Lord.PSALM 46:
This was the inspiration for the hymn A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. The word translated by the GNT as âshelterâ in v.1 can also mean ârefugeâ. And the word translated as ârefugeâ in verses 7 and 11 can also mean âsecure heightâ.ACTS 5b:
Yesterday we heard the sobering story of Ananias and Sapphira. Then, just when God was using the apostles to perform many miracles, they were arrested.GNT Translation notes:
Acts 5:28 âWe gave you strict orders not to teach [by the authority//in the name] of this man,â he said; âbut see what you have done! You have spread your teaching all over Jerusalem, and you want to make us responsible for his death!â
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NUMBERS 32:
Yesterday we heard of the conquest of the Midianite people. That story is an example of how hard it is for us humans to follow God's instructions.PSALM 45:
This psalm may have originally been intended as a wedding song for King Solomon, but from our vantage point we can see that it is really a song of praise to our King, the Messiah, and weâ the people of God, are the bride.ACTS 5a:
Yesterday we heard of the fearless praying of the believers after being commanded to no longer teach about Jesus. And we heard of the wonderful unity of spirit among them.GNT Translation notes:
3âPeter said to him, âAnanias, why did you let Satan take control of [your heart//you] and make you lie to the Holy Spirit by keeping part of the money you received for the property?
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Manglende episoder?
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NUMBERS 31:
Yesterday the listing of sacrifices continued with those for the Festival of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the 8 day Festival of Shelters. Then in Numbers 30, we heard laws concerning the annulment of rash vows. These laws show how seriously God takes any vows made to Him!PSALM 44:
This is a psalm with extreme contrast between part one and part two. Part one has a tone of praiseâ reciting the wonderful way God helped Israel. But part two accuses God of abandoning Israel. This psalm can be a pattern for us in how to plead with God to fulfill his promises or to again act as He has in the past.ACTS 4b:
Yesterday we heard the start of the dramatic trial that happened after Peter and John were arrested following the healing of the lame man in chapter 3. Their arrest was due to Peter and John's teaching about the resurrection of Jesus. The council recognized that the two apostles had been with Jesus.GNT Translation note:
Ps. 44:20 If we had stopped worshiping [You,] our God[,] and prayed to a foreign god,
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Acts 4:30 Reach out your hand to heal, and grant that wonders and miracles may be performed through the [authority//name] of your holy Servant Jesus.â -
NUMBERS 29-30:
Yesterday we heard about the request of the daughters of Zelophehad, and the Lord told Moses that it was time for him to die. Joshua was appointed to lead in Moses' place. And we were given the list of sacrificial offerings to be given every day in the morning and evening, those given each Sabbath, and those offered on the first day of the month, at the festival of unleavened bread, and the harvest festival. More of the same start our reading today.PSALM 43:
This psalm is a companion to Psalm 42, containing the same refrain at the end. Both Psalms seem to be the prayers of someone in exile, who is unable to go to Jerusalem. This is a prayer for God to defend and guide each of us as worshipers of the Lord.ACTS 4a:
Yesterday we heard the story of the remarkable healing of lame beggar at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. Peter's speech was interrupted as we will hear today.GNT Translation notes:
Ps. 43:5 Why am I so sad? Why am I so troubled? I will put my hope in [You, O] God, and once again I will praise [You] him, my savior and my God.
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Acts 4:7 They made the apostles stand before them and asked them, âHow did you do this? What power do you have or whose [authority//name] did you use?â
10 then you should all know, and all the people of Israel should know, that this man stands here before you completely well through the power [and authority//of the name] of Jesus Christ of Nazarethâwhom you crucified and whom God raised from death. -
NUMBERS 27-28:
Yesterday we heard of the second registration of Israel's troops.PSALM 42:
This Psalm contains words we often sing. It is a song about renewing hope in the Lord after discouragement.ACTS 3:
Yesterday we heard the conclusion of Peter's first sermon. 3,000 believed in Christ that day and were baptized. And the believers devoted themselves totally to the apostles' teaching.GNT Translation notes:
Num. 27:1 Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah were the daughters of Zelophehad[. Zelophehad traced his genealogy as the] son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, son of Joseph.
2 [His daughters//They] went and stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and the whole community at the entrance of the Tent of the Lord's presence and said,
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Ps. 42 [I hope that you remember who the clan of Korah was! Note that the presence of this Psalm is an interesting proof that God forgave and accepted the service of Korahâs clan.
This is another Psalm where the writer speaks honorific fashion to the Lord, speaking to him using the third person. To us, this makes it seem that the writer switches back and forth rapidly to talking about the Lord and talking to the Lord. I agree with CEV in adapting this Psalm to modern English and maintaining the perception that the whole poem is a prayer. Rather than reading from the CEV, I have simply made the required changes in the GNT at verses 4-9, and verse 11.]
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Act. 3:6âBut Peter said to him, âI have no money at all, but I give you what I have: [by the power//in the name] of Jesus Christ of Nazareth I order you to get up and walk!â
16âGNT: It was the power of [Jesus//his name] that gave strength to this lame man. [This miracle that you can plainly//What you] see and know was done by [believing in Him//faith in his name]; it was [belief//faith] in Jesus that has made him well, as you can all see.
16 revised NLT: âThrough [fully believing//faith] in [Jesus//the name of Jesus], this man was healedâand you know how crippled he was before. [Fully believing in Jesus//Faith in Jesusâ name] has healed him before your very eyes.
[Peter uses a common Jewish metonymy hereâ where ânameâ stands for the whole person of Jesus. We use metonymy in English (in sayings like âThe _pen_ is mightier than the _sword_.â) While many English speakers will understand âname of Jesusâ to simply refer to Jesus himself, others (and especially some of my podcast listeners from other cultures) could mistakenly think that the Bible teaches followers of Christ use âthe name of Jesusâ like magic words.NET has this note at 3:6: In the name. ⊠The reference to âthe nameâ is not like a magical incantation, but is designed to indicate the _agent_ who performs the healing. The theme is quite frequent in Acts (2:38 plus 21 other times).
If any of you say, âIâve never heard âin the name of Jesusâ used like magic words!â I answer: Start listening! Itâs happening all the time.] -
NUMBERS 26:
Yesterday we heard Balaam's final prophecies. Even though he was a shaman and a charlatan, God chose to speak through him on that occasion, giving a small glimpse of God's redemptive plan.PSALM 41:
God hears us when we are down and cry out for his help.ACTS 2b:
Yesterday we heard how the Holy Spirit came with tongues of fire and a loud noise, and the beginning part of Peter's first famous sermon.GNT Translation notes:
Act. 2:18 Yes, even on [the slaves who obey me//my servants], both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will proclaim my message.
[Nowadays a pastor may be respectfully referred to as âa servant of the Lordâ, but that is not the meaning of âservantâ that was intended here. This is about the lowest class of people, the slavesâ whom no one would expect to be blessed by an outpouring of Godâs Spirit.]
38 Peter said to them, âEach one of you must turn away from your sins and be baptized in the name of [Christ Jesus//Jesus Christ], so that your sins will be forgiven; and you will receive God's gift, the Holy Spirit.
[I remind what I said earlier this year: âChristâ is a title and grammatically should be placed before the proper name, just as we do for all other titles.]
42 They spent their time in learning from the apostles, taking part in the fellowship, and sharing in [the prayers and the fellowship meals [(which included celebrating the Lordâs Supper)//the fellowship meals and the prayers].
46 Day after day they met as a group in the Temple, and they [shared//had their] meals together in their homes [(including celebrating the Lordâs Supper)], eating with glad and humble hearts,
[The phrase âbreaking of breadâ in verses 42 and 46 included both a meal and the celebration of communion.]
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Yesterday we heard how Balak sent for the shaman Balaam to curse Israel, and we heard that God instead moved him to bless Israel two times. And the third sacrifice of 7 bulls and 7 rams was made.
PSALM 40:
This is a psalm that is quoted in the New Testament. It is a great psalm of praise which conveys many New Testament concepts. (Some of you will perceive some differences in the NT quotes. This is because the NT quote was taken from the Septuagintâ the ancient translation of the OT into Greek.)ACTS 2a:
Yesterday we heard about Jesus' followers who were waiting in Jerusalem for the promised Holy Spirit and for power from God.GNT Translation note:
Ps. 40:1 I waited patiently for the Lord's help;
[and] then he listened to me and heard my cry. -
NUMBERS 22-23:
In Numbers 21, the Lord gave victory to the Israelites over the Amorites, and then over King Sihon. And because of Israelâs grumbling, the Lord sent poisonous snakes among them. When the people cried out to Moses, the Lord told him to make a snake and set it up on a pole. This is an unannounced picture of Christ.PSALM 39:
This is a prayer for relief by David when he felt he was under the discipline of the Lord.ACTS 1:
We follow up Luke's first report to Theophilus with his second to the same man. (Or perhaps Luke meant this account to be for any 'lover of God'.) The book covers the story of what happened after Jesusâ death in 33AD to Paulâs two-year house arrest that ended in 62AD.Since only a few of the apostles are told about in this book, rather than âActs of the Apostlesâ, others have suggested the name âActs of the Holy Spiritâ. Constable quotes William Neil, who starts out quoting Streeter:
âStreeter suggested that an alternative title for the book of Acts might be âThe Road to Romeâ, for this is indeed the significance of Lukeâs work. Whatever minor motifs Luke had in mindâ such as the establishment of Christianity in menâs minds as a constructive and not destructive element in the social order, his main concern was to show that, in Godâs plan for the renewal of the life of mankind, Jerusalem, the heart of old Israel, was the goal of Stage I [i.e., the Book of Luke], while Rome, the center of the world, was the goal of Stage II [i.e., the Book of Acts].â
And here is a more pointed quote from Rosner:
â. . . Luke in Acts is not merely concerned to draw a link between the time of Jesus and the time of the early church, as is commonly noticed, but also between the time of Israel and the time of Jesus and His church. Acts insists that the God who was at work in the history of his ancient people, Israel, bringing them salvation, is the same God who is at work in the church.â
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NUMBERS 19-20:
In yesterday's portions in Numbers, we heard how God proved again His choice of Aaron and the Levites by causing Aaron's staff to bud and even produce almonds. And God explained to the Levites and priests that their portion was not landâ as for the other Israelites, but God himself and all the gifts given to God.PSALM 37b:
Today we return to the acrostic poem, Psalm 37. Look for how this poem shows us Godâs perspective about this world.LUKE 24a:
At the end of Luke chapter 23, we heard of the events of the crucifixion, including the miracle of the torn curtain in the temple. Jesus was laid in a tomb while the women watched, and afterward, the same women prepared spices to go back and anoint his body. -
NUMBERS 17-18:
Yesterday in Numbers, we heard another dramatic chapter in Israel's history: The rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. They must have been included in those who refused to go to the Promised Land, but then they had the gall to find fault with Moses that he didn't lead them to that land. It is also incredible that God would prove Moses' authority so dramatically (resulting in the death of the three conspirators and their families), yet the people would the next day without fear accuse Moses of killing the Lord's people (further resulting in a plague).PSALM 37a:
Todayâs psalm, Psalm 37, is an acrostic poem which we will read in two parts. This is a great Psalm for giving us the right perspective in our fallen world.LUKE 23b:
Yesterday we heard In the first half of Luke chapter 23 that Jesus was tried by Pilate and Herod, before Pilate finally caved into pressure and sentenced Jesus to death. Today weâll repeat a few verses before finishing the chapter. -
NUMBERS 16:
In Numbers 15, we found out that there were sacrifices that could be made for unintentional sinsâ whether done by the whole community or by an individual. But there was no sacrifice to cover an intentional sinâ such as working on the Sabbath, as was so clearly illustrated by the man who gathered wood on the Sabbath. Then at the very end of chapter 15, we heard the instruction about the tassels with a blue cord that was to hang on the four corners of the Israelitesâ garments. Those are the tassels that Tevia in the musical Fiddler on the Roof doesn't know the meaning of.PSALM 36:
While this is a song praising Godâs unfailing love, I want you to notice today how some parts of this poem are so appropriate to the story about Dathan, Abiram, and Korah.LUKE 23a:
Chapter 22 ended with Peter's denial of being a follower of Jesus, and we heard of the council's decision against Jesus. -
NUMBERS 15:
Yesterday in Numbers 14 we heard this very important and dramatic story: The people of Israel became unworthy to enter the Promised Land because of their stubborn unbelief. In the midst of that experience, Moses' prayers to God on behalf of the people are prime examples of how to plead with the Lord. The key revealed in that passage is to plead with God in accordance with his character and quoting his promises!PSALM 35:
In todayâs psalm, David prays for victory over his enemies. Opposition to David was sponsored by King Saul, who became David's enemy for no good reasonâ only because of envy.LUKE 22b:
Yesterday in this chapter we heard of Judas betraying Jesus to the Jewish leaders, of the last supper, and of Jesus' last words to the disciples, including the prophecy that Peter would deny Him three times. -
NUMBERS 14:
Yesterday in Numbers, we again found out what the Lord thinks when we grumble against him! Let's remember Miriam. Then the Lord commanded to send out the spies, but after taking stock of the land of Canaan, they brought an evil, unbelieving reportâ forgetting all the miracles the Lord had done to bring them out of Egypt.Psalm 34:
Today we read Psalm 34, which is another acrostic psalm. I cannot write a better introduction than the one already written by the ancient Rabbis.LUKE 22a:
Yesterday in chapter 21, we heard Jesus' prophecy about what will happen in judgment upon Jerusalem before his return.Jesus said about his prophecies in chapter 21:32-33, âI tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.â If we take away the part about Jesus coming again in a cloud, then many of the people there would have lived long enough to see the other things Jesus talked about in that chapter. But if we include His coming again in a cloud, then to define what Jesus meant by âthis generationâ, we have other Scriptures that imply to us that God defines a âgenerationâ as all the people in a historical epoch of perhaps thousands of years. Then the next verse says, âHeaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.â Well, here we are, after more than 2000 years, still reading his words. Jesus said that at a time when it would have been highly unlikely for his words to be preserved. But his words and those of the apostles have been preserved in more manuscripts than the sayings or writings of any other historical figure before the invention of the printing press. When papyrus didnât last, believers copied the books on leather. Not only will Jesusâ words outlast heaven and earth, but we should be amazed at the incredible quality of Godâs Word. Other ancient books are not of this literary quality. And compared to something like the Islamic Al-Koran and Hadith, the whole Bible is remarkably free of things that modern generations feel the need to sweep under the table. There are prophecies in the Bible (such as those in Luke 21) that cause us to wonder how they could happen, but God has shown us in so many fulfillments of Old Testament prophecies, that He likes to surprise us by fulfilling his prophecies in ways humans could not predict.
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NUMBERS 12-13:
In Numbers 10 yesterday we heard about the signals given to the people using two silver trumpets, and about the first journey leaving Mount Sinai. Then we heard of the start of the grumbling against Moses and God. Moses appointed 70 leaders, and God sent quail in response to the people's complaints. Even Moses said some things that sound like complaining to me. But remember the name Kibroth Hattaavah and what the name means. We have strong evidence that God doesnât like complainers.PSALM 33:
Psalm 33 is full of important wisdom for us! This is the 4th Psalm without a title given by the rabbis.LUKE 21b:
As we heard yesterday, Chapter 21 of Luke starts with the short account about the widow's offering exceeding (according to heavenly reckoning) the large gifts of the rich. Most of the chapter is Jesus' important prophecies about signs that will occur before he returns. -
NUMBERS 10-11:
Yesterday in Numbers 9, we heard about the position of the lamps on the lampstand in the Holy Place, and the Levites were formally dedicated for service. The second Passover was celebrated. The Israelites received their marching orders based on when the cloud moved from over the sacred tent.PSALM 32:
Todayâs psalm, Psalm 32 gives essential spiritual principles conveyed in David's testimony. I encourage you, my listener, to camp out awhile in this psalm.Let me add my testimony to Davidâs: I note as I look over the years, that the Lord has been extremely patient with me. I think that a major reason is that I have tried to keep âshort listsââ so to speak, with the Lord. I mean by that that I didnât stuff my feelings of guilt away, but would confess my sins. This meant thatâ embarrassingly, I was confessing the same sins over and over again. I am totally embarrassed to admit that it took me like 10, 20, and even 30 years of doing this before I finally had breakthroughs one at a time. But even so, one advantage of confessing your sins daily is that the embarrassment factor makes you want to find answers. Guess what! There are answers in Godâs Word! Keep digging for them. The things that help me might not help you. The things YOU dig out of Scripture will help you the most. But to me, one thing is clear: If I had stopped confessing and trying to stay in fellowship with God like 1 John 1 talks about, it would have been like walking away from God. There would have been no progress and no breakthroughs, and my life would have been totally different.
LUKE 21:
And as we turn to the book of Luke, in the last confrontation in Luke 20, Jesus soundly refuted the Sadducees. After this, his teaching further embarrassed and offended the religious teachers. -
NUMBERS 8-9:
In Numbers 7, we heard about the gifts given by the leaders of Israel following the dedication of the sacred tent.PSALM 31:
Psalm 31 is a desperateâ yet confident, prayer for protection. This prayer models the secret of effective prayerâ praying with full belief in the Lord.LUKE 20b:
Yesterdayâs reading in the first part of Luke 20 showed how the Jewish leaders tried to confront and discredit Jesus. I remember reading these passages in the summer after 6th grade and being so impressed with Jesus' wisdom. -
NUMBERS 7:
Yesterday in Numbers we heard how the people had to follow through with Godâs commands, and those with defiling diseases were expelled from their camp until such time as they could be declared ritually clean again. And we heard about cleansing for issues involving the conscience, and what a man might do if he suspected his wife of unfaithfulness. (A man would be cruel to do this to his wife if he didn't have good reasons for his suspicions!) The 6th chapter dealt with the Nazarite vow and ended with the famous Aaronic blessing.In todayâs chapter 7 of Numbers, the GNT has done a beautiful job of giving the complete information in a way that is clear, precise, and that reduces repetition.
PSALM 30:
Today you will enjoy Psalm 30, as it is a wonderful song of thanks to God.LUKE 20b:
Yesterday in the second half of chapter 19, Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem. While on the road, he wept over Jerusalem because of the spiritual blindness of the leaders, and he cleansed the temple of commerce.When Jesus wept over Jerusalem, he prophesied, (Luke 19:43-44 NLT) âBefore long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you.â
It was no more than 40 years after Jesus said that when the Roman army did just as he prophesied. But on that day when he said those things, the religious leaders wanted to arrest Jesus in the temple. But they couldnât do it because âall the people hung on every word he said.â So too, for us, let us hang on every word in our readings today.
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NUMBERS 5-6:
Yesterday in Numbers 4 we heard the assignments for the Kohathite, Gershonite, and Merarite clans in regard to the care and moving of the sacred tent, all under the direction of Aaron's sons.PSALM 29:
Psalm 29 is one of my personal favorite psalms because of the response of the people in the temple to God's glorious revelations of himself in nature.LUKE 19b:
In yesterday's reading in Luke, Zacchaeusâ a notorious sinner, dramatically came to Jesus. Then Jesus told a very thought-provoking parable. He is the King who will return and He will ask for an accounting from each of usâ his servants. -
NUMBERS 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 Davidâs ârockâ, âshieldâ, and âshepherdâ. (v1, 7, 9) As a translator, one sometimes has to make the choice of whether to retain a figure of speech more literally, or just to give its meaning. The GNT chose to translate the meaning at the first of v1 and7, but I will follow the NLT in those two places because I think we will understand Davidâs metaphors.Translation notes:
1 [GNT: O Lord, my defender, I call to you.//NLT: I pray to You, O Lord, my rock.]
Listen to my cry!
If you do not answer me,
I will be among those who go down to the world of the dead.
5 They take no notice of what [You have done, Lord,//the Lord has done]
or of what [You have//he has] made;
so [You//he] will punish them
and destroy them forever.
6 [How I praise you Lord!//Give praise to the Lord;]
[You have//he has] heard my cry for help.
7 [You protect and defend me.//based on NLT: You, Lord, are my strength and shield.//The Lord protects and defends me;]
I trust in [You//him].
[You give me help and make me glad!//He gives me help and makes me glad;]
I praise [You//him] with joyful songs.
8 You, Lord, protect your people.//The Lord protects his people;]
[You defend and save me, your chosen king.//he defends and saves his chosen king.]
LUKE 19
Yesterday in Luke 18, we heard of Jesusâ encounter with the rich young man, Jesus again predicted his death, and blind Bartimaeus (as named in Mark) was healed at Jericho. - Vis mere
