Archive for November 2020
November 26-30, 2020
In keeping with the Bible reading plan we are using, the last days of each month are designated as “free days.” November 26-30 then are intended to allow you to catch up on reading you may have missed or to study passages more in depth that intrigued you during the first 25 days of the month.…
Read MoreOn Giving Thanks in Covid
Each year, Americans (and Canadians, but that happens at a different time of the year) gather for “Thanksgiving.” And, of course, the point of such a gathering is to remind each other to give thanks. This year, I suspect, such a reminder will feel particularly poignant. Are we really meant to give thanks during Covid? I, like…
Read MoreDaniel 10-12: Turn Many to Righteousness
Daniel 10-12, Job 22, John 13:31-38, Jude 17-25 Daniel 10-12: Daniel’s vision of a “man” is powerful, frightening, glorious: I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his…
Read MoreDaniel 9: Urgent Prayer
Daniel 9, Job 21:22-34, John 13:18-30, Jude 8-16 Daniel 9: Daniel’s prayer is more than worthy of emulation. First, he discerns a clear promise in Scripture (9:2). This is a principle for us to apply: once we have discovered in the Bible a word from God, a promise from God, then utilize that promise in our prayers to…
Read MoreDaniel 7-8: Glory and a Kingdom
Daniel 7-8, Job 21:1-21, John 13:12-17, Jude 1-7 Daniel 7-8: Some aspects of these next two chapters are difficult, and as we approach this part of Daniel perhaps we are tempted to think that discretion is the better part of valor when it comes to reading them (let alone interpreting them). We may have sympathy…
Read MoreDaniel 5-6: Writing and Lions
Daniel 5-6, Job 20, John 13:1-11, 3 John 1-14 Daniel 5-6: Two famous stories—so well known that sayings from them and motifs about them have entered into common parlance and conversation even still today. First, “the writing on the wall” (Daniel 5). Belshazzar, son of Nebuchadnezzar, is proud; what is more, he arrogantly calls for the vessels taken out of…
Read MoreDaniel 3-4: Praise and Extol
Daniel 3-4, Job 19, John 12:37-50, 2 John 1-13 Daniel 3-4: Two famous stories. First, the fiery furnace. The king makes an image of gold and commands everyone to worship it or else be thrown into a fiery furnace (3:1-7). The Jews are accused for failing to engage in such idol worship (3:8-12), and so they are thrown…
Read MoreDaniel 1-2: The Lord Gave
Daniel 1-2, Job 18, John 12:20-36, 1 John 5:13-21 Daniel 1-2: The book of Daniel—of great fame and fantastic storytelling ability—calls us also to faithful bravery, even in the midst of opposition. “Dare to be a Daniel.” At the same time, it also calls us to focus on the true and greater Daniel, Jesus Christ, who really sacrificed himself for…
Read MoreEzekiel 48: The Lord Is There
Ezekiel 48, Job 17, John 12:12-19, 1 John 5:6-12 Ezekiel 48: The land is now divided up between the different tribes, much of which we had heard before in chapter 45. There is also a plan given for the city itself, and its new name. All this is written to encourage the exiles and assure…
Read MoreEzekiel 45-47: Flowing Water
Ezekiel 45-47, Job 16, John 12:1-11, 1 John 5:1-5 Ezekiel 45-47: The first two chapters of this section further describe the division of the land, the temple, the prince, the priests, and the responsibilities and duties in a way that suggests that the fulfillment of these matters is surely in a future gospel state that…
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