The Daily Walk 2025

Jeremiah

The Book of Jeremiah is the autobiography of one of Judah’s greatest prophets, who challenged his nation’s most significant errors. Apostasy, idolatry, perverted worship, moral decay—for these and other sins, judgment is forewarned. Judah’s response is not repentance but rejection, as the prophet experiences opposition, isolation, and imprisonment. Through 40 years of faithful duty, Jeremiah sees many of his prophecies fulfilled, including God’s judgment on Judah: her downfall and exile.

August 1

Jeremiah 1–3

Prophet of Judgment

Key Passage: Jeremiah 1:13-19; 3

Overview

Called at a young age and at first reluctant to answer (1:6), Jeremiah undertakes the age-old function of being God’s prophet to wayward Judah. Like the great prophets before him, Jeremiah is told to pronounce judgment on those who have forsaken God’s way; but unlike his predecessors, Jeremiah will proclaim Judah’s last chance. His message will contain God’s bold ultimatum: “Turn back to Me, or face destruction.” Judah stands at the crossroads, and failure to heed the prophet’s voice this time will have lasting consequences.

Your Daily Walk

Find a tennis ball and hold it several feet above the floor. Let go, and observe the result. Does the ball hit the floor and bounce, or does it float lazily to the ceiling?

Unless you live underwater or in outer space, the ball will fall, obeying one of the strictest laws of physics: the law of gravity. You live each day under the influence of that law. And anyone who has ever slipped in a bathtub can attest to the unavoidable consequences of even an accidental violation.

Just as laws of physics govern the physical universe, so spiritual and moral laws govern your relationship with God. Indifference to those laws brings consequences just as severe as does the disregard of God’s physical laws. What God’s people learned the hard way during Jeremiah’s lifetime, you can learn more easily from their sad example.

Find a small notebook and title it “My Profit from God’s Prophets.” Use it to record lessons that you don’t want—or need—to learn the hard way.

Insight - Jeremiah, the Heavy-Duty Prophet

The Hebrew name Jeremiah means “thrown” or “hurled.” Indeed, Jeremiah was thrown by God into the churning torrent of some of Judah’s most terrible times. Before his ministry was finished, he would endure persecution, trial, and many tears, but because his calling was sure (1:4-5), Jeremiah’s commitment never wavered.

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August 2/3

Jeremiah 4–6

Prophet of Destruction

Key Passage: Jeremiah 4:5-10; 5:7-17

Overview

Using the frightening imagery of thundering chariots and clanging swords, Jeremiah cries out to an unhearing, unconcerned people to announce God’s coming judgment upon them for their idolatry. Judah has gone too far for pardon (5:7), and its rebellious, unrepentant attitude has earned punishment so terrible that the prophet’s heart breaks as he proclaims it (4:19).

Your Daily Walk

Radical problems often necessitate radical solutions. To extinguish an oil well fire, dynamite is sometimes used. The stupendous power of the explosion is the only way to “blow out” the raging inferno. In medicine, the seemingly radical amputation of a limb preserves life by stopping the progress of cancer or gangrene. Many an old building is best “renovated” by tearing it down, clearing the rubble, and building anew.

Judah’s apostasy had destroyed the nation’s spiritual vitality. Like a spreading cancer, it resisted half-hearted attempts at treatment. Something more radical was needed—something that would purge the nation of its idolatry and immorality.

Before God can build into your life, there may be things He needs to remove: bad habits, selfish attitudes, walls of indifference, and closets of secret sin. Are your possessions the focus of your affection? Is your job all-consuming? Do pursuits in your life oppose rather than promote the kingdom of God? Pick one of those areas of need, and with God’s help, deal with it now...before the cure becomes more painful than the disease.

Insight - The Span of Jeremiah’s Ministry

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August 4

Jeremiah 7–10

Prophet of Sorrow

Key Passage: Jeremiah 7, 10

Overview

Idolatry and its abuses—including the most gruesome of Judah’s sins, child sacrifice—make up the heart of Jeremiah’s stinging indictments in today’s reading. Guilty from the top down, with greedy priests (8:10), foolish leaders (10:21), apostate counselors (8:9), and reprobate families (7:18), the Jews would soon see their homeland reduced to a wasteland. Yet even as they listen to the tearful charge of the prophet, the people remain heedless and indifferent to God’s message of coming calamity (8:4-7).

Your Daily Walk

Desensitization: a process by which a patient with allergies receives injections containing an increasing amount of the substance to which that patient is allergic. As a result, the body in time becomes accustomed to the foreign substance and is no longer irritated by it. Sadly, the same desensitization can occur in the spiritual life. Sins that once were considered unthinkable are at first tolerated, then condoned, and finally openly endorsed.

Judah’s citizens suffered from such desensitization. Called to be God’s holy and distinct people, little by little, they became indifferent to sin’s poisonous intrusion. At last, they had sunk so low that even the burning of their little children at Topheth as sacrifices to idols no longer bothered them.

List the “little sins” in your own life that ought to bother you, but somehow don’t: gossip, overeating, questionable business practices, failure to keep your word. Then read 7:5-7 thoughtfully, slowly, and give your list to God in a prayer of confession.

Insight - Where Do We Get the Word Hell?

The “Valley of Ben Hinnom” (7:31) is located south of Jerusalem. People dumped their trash there and also sacrificed their children there to pagan deities. The Hebrew word for the Valley of Hinnom, ge’hinnom, was later transliterated into Greek as gehenna. The New Testament translates this word as hell, a place of fire where all who haven’t trusted in Christ will be punished eternally.

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August 5

Jeremiah 11–15

Ruined Girdle, Ruined Nation

Key Passage: Jeremiah 13

Overview

As a visual aid to the nation, God instructs Jeremiah to buy a new linen belt (a wide sash used as a man’s belt and wallet) and to bury it in the moist, muddy bank of the Euphrates River. Later, when instructed by God to dig it up again, Jeremiah finds the belt in a predictable condition—rotten and useless. The object lesson is clear: God’s chosen people, once bound close to Him and for generations filled with His riches, have become as useless as a rotten linen waistband because of their involvement with sinful excess.

Your Daily Walk

Think back over the last seven days and count the number of people you have talked to in that period of time: family members, co-workers, classmates, friends, neighbors, service people, store clerks. Don’t forget those you communicated with by phone or e-mail, or over the back fence.

Now subtract the number of those who are already Christians. How many are left—5, 10, 20, or more? That represents the number of opportunities you have each week to offer hope, encouragement, and a word of witness to a lost world.

Jeremiah discovered that hiding the linen belt quickly rendered it useless. In much the same way, you may be hiding yourself and—like Judah—in danger of becoming spoiled and useless. Muscles that are never used soon atrophy and weaken; the same is true for spiritual muscles. The only known cure is exercise. Is it time for you to come out of hiding and get some exercise in the work of the Lord? Visit a Christian bookstore and purchase a few items to give away. Then look for—and seize—a few of these opportunities to tell your world about God’s good news.

Insight - A Prophet’s Recompense

For preaching the Word of God, Jeremiah was rewarded with the scorn of his hearers and a plot against his life in his own hometown (11:18-21). Compare this to the experience of Jesus in the city He called home (Matthew 13:54-58).

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August 6

Jeremiah 16–20

Pots, Bottles, and Stocks

Key Passage: Jeremiah 16; 20:1-6

Overview

As with the belt incident in chapter 13, God again asks His prophet to do the unusual in order to dramatize the unpleasant. Jeremiah is commanded never to marry, attend funerals, or celebrate feasts. His life becomes a constant reminder of the coming horrors for Judah’s parents and children. Dashing a clay jar at the feet of the elders and priests, Jeremiah further illustrates the southern kingdom’s unhappy future. For his trouble, he earns a hearty beating and an overnight stay in the Benjamin Gate stocks.

Your Daily Walk

The word cherish comes from a root word meaning “to hold dear.” Using that definition, what five things (apart from your salvation in Christ) do you cherish above all others? Write them in your notes.

Now read 16: 2,5,8. These were the very things the prophet was asked to give up in order to follow God’s will for his life.

Jesus Christ told His disciples: “Anyone who loves his father or mother...son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37). Was He saying, “Leave home, divorce your spouse, and give up your children to follow Me”? Not at all. Rather, “If there is anything...even the thing you cherish most in life...that is more important than Me, then don’t follow Me. If I cannot be first with you, then you are not truly available to me.”

Look over your list again. Is overcommitment to any of these items robbing God of your undivided allegiance? Matthew 10:37 is where you need to begin. As Jeremiah learned, the cost of following God is high, but the eternal rewards are worth it.

Insight - Pashhur, the Walking Sermon (20:3)

Even the mean-spirited Pashhur, who had Jeremiah beaten and put in the stocks, unwittingly served God’s purposes. The undaunted prophet gave him a new name: Magor-missabib, “terror-all-around,” turning Pashhur into God’s walking billboard of coming judgment.

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August 7

Jeremiah 21–25

Turning Too Late

Key Passage: Jeremiah 23

Overview

The end has come for Judah. In panic, the leaders of besieged Jerusalem turn—too late—to the prophet to beseech the Lord’s assistance. God’s thundering reply through Jeremiah is chilling: The city will fall, and its most productive citizens will be deported to Babylon. Yet Jeremiah predicts their eventual return after 70 years, when the remnant will come home to a new day of righteous leadership and their captors will be brought to ruin.

Your Daily Walk

Parent and child are riding in a car. They enter a tunnel—the first one the child has ever seen. The child is gripped with fear at the sudden darkness. At this point, the child can (1) try to grab the wheel away from the parent and turn the car around, or (2) trust the parent, shortly to make the happy discovery that tunnels have openings at both ends.

Judah was suddenly plunged into a dark tunnel of exile from which there appeared to be no light of hope. But Jeremiah knew better. He foretold Judah’s return after the passing of 70 years. In addition, he announced the coming of a righteous Ruler to restore Judah in the tradition of the great King David—One whose name would be “The Lord Our Righteousness” (23:6).

When circumstances are at their darkest, you need the confidence given by 1 John 1:5—“God is light; in him, there is no darkness at all.” God is not in the business of plunging His people into dark tunnels without also providing the hope-giving light they need to see their way through. Are dark circumstances crowding in on you, causing you to want to panic and “grab the wheel”? Then read Romans 8:18-25, and ask God to show you the light at the end of your tunnel.

Insight - The Worst-Kept Secret in Town

The duration of the Babylonian Exile is given not once but twice by Jeremiah (25:11-12; 29:10) and again by the prophet Daniel (9:1-2) —proof indeed that God knows the end from the beginning.

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August 8

Jeremiah 26–29

Judah in Opposition to Jeremiah

Key Passage: Jeremiah 26–27

Overview

After delivering a message from God, it is always gratifying to see people moved to action. But in Jeremiah’s case, the response is more than he bargained for. Filled with fury over Jeremiah’s message of doom, the officials of Judah respond by seeking to put the prophet to death. Undaunted, Jeremiah harnesses a yoke to himself to symbolize to the authorities the need to submit to the yoke of Babylon as God’s rod of discipline upon the nation. A false prophet named Hananiah arises preaching a message exactly opposite to Jeremiah’s, but he dies an early death for seeking to lead the people astray. Finally, Jeremiah encourages the deportees in Babylon to be content in their new home of exile.

Your Daily Walk

Think about the different relationships in your life. Can you name three people to whom you give...

...casual attention?

...inconsistent attention?

...no attention?

...diligent attention?

Now, where on those four lines would you be forced to write God’s name? What kind of attention do you give Him: casual? inconsistent? diligent? none? How much time are you giving Him in comparison to those activities or relationships you consider much less important?

If you are not satisfied with your answer, then on your appointment calendar for tomorrow, reserve an extra half-hour as a time for you to reflect on your appointment with God. Spend those carefully guarded minutes in prayer, praise, Scripture reading, and meditation. You’ll find it’s wonderfully habit-forming.

Insight - The Yoke was no Joke

The yoke of Jeremiah’s day consisted of a large, heavy, wooden bar that fit across the necks of the cattle. Straight sticks and cords held the yoke in place, making the yoke a cumbersome (and graphic) burden for the prophet to bear.

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August 9/10

Jeremiah 30–33

Hope Against Judgment

Key Passage: Jeremiah 32

Overview

Things have never looked bleaker for the nation of Judah than in the opening verses of chapter 30. Yet God will not forsake His people forever. They will return home, rejoice in their privileged position again, and enter into a new and better covenant with their God. To illustrate this great hope, Jeremiah purchases a piece of land, knowing that it will ultimatelyfall into Babylonian hands. But Babylonian control will be brief when compared to the rule of God’s Righteous Branch, the Messiah.

Your Daily Walk

Have you ever been in this situation? You’ve wrestled for months with a decision you know God wants you to make. It doesn’t seem logical, but you know what you have to do. Finally, you take that step of obedience. Immediately, you experience great relief that you have done what God wants you to do, but then doubt strikes. You can’t see how it will all work out.

God told Jeremiah to buy a piece of land that would soon be conquered and confiscated by the Babylonians. It didn’t seem to make sense, but Jeremiah obeyed, maybe even wondering why God was asking him to be such a poor steward of His money. Then Jeremiah did the wise thing—he took his doubts to God in prayer (32:16-25). And as he prayed, God encouraged him with grand statements of promise that Jeremiah could stake his life on.

God loves to destroy doubt and worry, and He does it best when you are on your knees. Close your quiet time today with prayer. Ask God not to change your circumstances simply, but to change your character as well. Then watch your doubts melt like fog in the warmth of God’s trustworthy promises.

Insight - Seeing Hope from a Hopeless Viewpoint

As you read chapters 30–33, keep in mind Jeremiah’s situation. He is in prison, Judah is on the verge of collapse, and the Babylonian army is on the horizon. Now do you see why the prophet’s message of hope is appropriate?

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August 11

Jeremiah 34–39

Darkness All Around

Key Passage: Jeremiah 37–38

Overview

Having had most of his sermons discounted, discredited, or disregarded, the prophet now picks up his pen...and finds that wicked rulers do not want to read God’s Word any more than they want to hear it! Arrested for treason and cast into the muck of an empty cistern, Jeremiah is rescued by friendly forces. Once more, he returns to the palace to warn the king, “Surrender or perish.”

Your Daily Walk

Switch places with Jeremiah for a moment. Allow him to take a seat in the 21st century A.D. while you slip on his prophet’s robes from the sixth century B.C.

You are standing in the darkness, knee-deep in the chilling mire of an abandoned cistern. You have been beaten without cause, falsely accused of capital crimes, kept under house arrest, and now this. No one is listening; seemingly, no one cares. Being God’s prophet has landed you—literally—“in the pits.” What thoughts are going through your mind? Are you discouraged? Desperate? Considering a change of “employer”?

Now read Psalm 13. This song of hope and trust amid trouble was written by another beleaguered believer—King David. And though it echoes from the pit of long-suffering, there’s no hint of quitting or of bitterness.

Periodic discouragement is part of living. But the Christian knows that God is bigger than any trouble—be it false accusation, personal rejection, or restricted freedom. Share the comforting words of Psalm 13 with someone today who is “in the pits.”

Insight - The Rechabites, A Loyal People

The family of the Rechabites was actually a religious order that practiced the simplicity of Bedouin life, avoiding the corrupting influences of city life. Founded during the reign of Jehu (841–814 B.C.), they also helped purge Israel of Baal worship. Note that they were blessed not for their lifestyle, but for their obedience to their forefathers (35:18-19).

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August 12

Jeremiah 40–45

Disobedient Again

Key Passage: Jeremiah 42–43

Overview

After Jerusalem’s fall and the deportation of thousands of her citizens, Nebuchadnezzar appointed Gedaliah as a puppet governor over the region. Jeremiah chooses to remain in Judah and continue his ministry among the remnant. But when Gedaliah is brutally murdered by Ishmael, the Jews panic. Fearing reprisals by the Babylonians, they ask the prophet’s advice—then disregard it and flee to Egypt, dragging Jeremiah with them.

Your Daily Walk

A child asks for parental permission to do something. Permission is denied, but the child goes and does it anyway. Why did the child ask in the first place? Not to receive permission, but to gain approval for what he planned to do all along.

After Jerusalem’s fall, those who remained in the strife-torn city approached Jeremiah, saying, “Tell us where we should go and what we should do.” They claimed to want God’s will and promised to obey it, but in fact, they had already made up their minds to flee to Egypt.

Is that a picture of your prayer life? Do you say in effect, “Lord, here’s what I plan for my life, and I’d like Your blessing on my decision”? Do you really want to know and do God’s will, or are you only interested in having His “OK” stamped on your will? It’s dangerous to ask for His directions unless you’re willing to follow them.

Find a songbook that contains the words of Frances Havergal’s hymn, “Take My Life and Let It Be.” Read the words as your prayer of consecration to the will of God—from head to toe.

Insight - Baruch, the Prophet’s Right-Hand Man

Baruch, whose reward for faithful service is detailed in chapter 45, certainly earned it as Jeremiah’s secretary (36:4, 32); recorder of deeds (32:12-15); and traveling companion and fellow sufferer (43:2-7).

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August 13

Jeremiah 46–49

Discipline of All Nations

Key Passage: Jeremiah 46

Overview

God’s power is not limited to the weak and insignificant nations. His authority extends over every people and tongue, influencing the affairs of all humanity. So indicates Jeremiah in the closing chapters of his prophetic masterpiece. From west to east—from Elam to Egypt, Damascus to Edom—all godless and idolatrous nations will one day know the might and justice of the one true God.

Your Daily Walk

It’s a poor teacher who spends the entire class time with one pupil while allowing the rest of the students to run wild. In light of today’s reading, think of God as a wise Teacher who has just finished disciplining one unruly pupil (Judah), and now returns to apply the same standards of behavior to the rest of the class.

In this way, God underscores His divine claim upon all nations. All belong to Him; all are subject to His sovereign will and providence. He is no small “local” deity; rather, He is the God who holds the whole world—indeed, the universe—in His hands.

It’s easy to become localized in your prayers, focusing only upon your family, your friends, your church, your nation, your needs. Today, for a change of pace, try “Global Prayer.” With a world map and a newspaper as your prayer prompter, pray for people in distant corners of the world who may have never entered your thoughts and prayers. It’s an excellent way to learn that “the field is the world” (Matthew 13:38). It might even motivate you to become more active in your church’s mission program.

Insight - Nations Then and Now

With your Bible and world map before you, notice these Old Testament designations for modern-day regions: Philistia (Gaza); Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Kedar (Jordan); Damascus (Syria); Elam and Babylon (Iran/Iraq). Of all the nations mentioned in chapters 46–49, Egypt is the only one to maintain its identity and name today.

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August 14

Jeremiah 50–52

Downfall of Babylon

Key Passage: Jeremiah 52

Overview

Jeremiah saves the best, or rather the worst, for last. He devotes two whole chapters to a litany of destruction for Babylon—of desolation so complete that passers-by would be “horrified and scoff because of all her wounds” (50:13). After briefly recounting the fall of Jerusalem, the prophet ends his book on a high note. As a taste of restoration to come, Judah’s exiled King Jehoiachin receives unexpected kindness from his captors.

Your Daily Walk

The concluding scene of Jeremiah’s book is one of the dark days of Jewish captivity in Babylon. Judah has rejected God’s gracious offer one too many times. The cry of “Repent and return!” will never be heard again from the prophet’s lips.

Jeremiah and the other Old Testament prophets were part of God’s early warning system. Their job: to signal God’s people when their actions were in danger of triggering their downfall. The prophets were faithful to their task—the warning went out. But in Judah’s case, the message was not heeded.

God still uses early warning systems today to signal danger to His believing ones. Perhaps a page from this Bible reading guide has hit home in an area of your life that needs changing. Or maybe the prophetic voice of a Christian counselor, friend, pastor, or parent has alerted you to the danger of continuing down the path you’re on. Take a moment to look for God’s early warning signals in your life—conviction of sin, a tugging of conscience. Remember Judah’s fate, and don’t let today’s warning pass you by.

Insight - Jeremiah—Success or Failure?

Michelangelo’s portrait of Jeremiah, painted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, shows the prophet as a man of great sorrow and enormous strength. Though he failed to turn his nation back to God, he succeeded in his mission for God: declaring fearlessly and faithfully the message God entrusted to him. Could the same be said of you when your days on earth are through?

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August 15

Lamentations 1–5

Tears for the Toppled City

Key Passage: Lamentations 3

Overview

The battle is over at last. For 40 years, Jeremiah has warned that judgment is coming unless the people change their wicked ways. But his persistent pleas have been met with hard-hearted indifference. Now the nation is gone, destroyed by the brutal Babylonians. The Book of Lamentations is the tear-stained diary of the prophet as he weeps over the toppled city. But suddenly, in the midst of his tears, Jeremiah sounds a note of triumph: “Great is your faithfulness” (3:23). Things may look tragic for the nation (and the prophet), but “[the Lord’s] compassions never fail. They are new every morning” (3:22-23).

Your Daily Walk

Put yourself in this situation: Another person is trying to hurt, embarrass, and degrade you. He or she has spread untrue rumors about you, talking behind your back and even turning some of your friends against you. Then the news comes. Calamity has struck your antagonist—a serious illness, a car accident, a financial reversal. What do you do now? Do you respond, “He or she had it coming”—or do you weep?

Nowhere is Jeremiah’s servant heart more evident than when he cried (Jeremiah 9:1, 10; 13:17; 22:10; 48:32; Lamentations 1:16). It’s easy to condemn when someone who “has it coming” experiences tragedy; it takes a miracle of God’s power to offer consolation instead. As today’s prayer project, select an individual who is as much in line for your anger as for your intercession. Confess any thoughts of revenge you may be harboring. Then look for an unexpected action of love you can show on that person’s behalf. You’ll be modeling, not just mouthing, the words of Jesus when He said: “Love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44).

Insight - A, B, C...

Jeremiah fashions his “Dirge of Death” into an alphabetic poem. Four of the chapters begin each verse with consecutive letters of the Hebrew alphabet, while chapter 3, the middle chapter, gives three verses to each letter.

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July 16

Isaiah 9–12

Judah’s Darkness and Dawn

Key Passage: Isaiah 9

Overview
Chapters 7–12 have been called “The Book of Immanuel” because of the many prophecies and allusions regarding the Messiah:

• He would be born of a virgin (7:14).
• He would be given the name Immanuel (meaning “God is with us,” 7:14).
• He would be a stumbling block to Israel (8:14).
• He would be a great light to the nations (9:2).
• He would be a Ruler, Counselor, and Prince (9:6).
• He would come from the line of David (11:1).

Is it any wonder the redeemed gather together for a grand chorus of praise and worship at the thought of their Immanuel?

Your Daily Walk
Titles can be deceiving. A young executive was describing, with pride, his recent promotion to the position of vice president. “Aw, that’s nothing,” responded a friend. “Vice presidents are a dime a dozen. I’ll bet there’s even a vice president of peanuts at the supermarket.”

“You’re on!” exclaimed the executive, as he telephoned the store. “May I speak to the vice president of peanuts, please?”

The voice replied, “Packaged or bulk?”

By contrast, the titles you will find attributed to Jesus the Messiah are highly significant. He is the “Wonderful Counselor”—and God alone is “wonderful in counsel” (Isaiah 28:29). He is the “Mighty God”—the same term used to describe “the Lord, the Holy One of Israel” (10:20).

Share with one other person today the significance of one of the names of Jesus. Ask God to open a door of witness through it.

Insight - First to Feel the Groan, First to See the Glory
“The land of Zebulun and...Naphtali” (9:1)—the first region to succumb to the Assyrian onslaught within months of Isaiah’s meeting with Ahaz (7:1-9)—would also be the first to see the glory of the Lord (9:1-2), a striking prophecy that went unheeded when the Messiah came (John 1:46; 7:52).

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July 17

Isaiah 13–16

Woes on Babylon and Moab

Key Passage: Isaiah 13

Overview

God is sovereign over His nation; He is also sovereign over the nations. No empire or tribe on earth is exempt from the judgment of God when wickedness replaces righteousness. Isaiah now turns his verbal missiles upon the Gentile nations, which will melt away before the furnace of God’s wrath for their opposition to His people and plan. Babylon faces the gloomy prospect of being dominated by the Medes (which occurred in 539 B.C.). The city of Moab can look forward to being sacked (it happened in 701 B.C.). Clearly, wicked kings and kingdoms are no match for the justice and holiness of God.

Your Daily Walk

There’s something deliciously satisfying about seeing “the other guy” get what he deserves. About watching the speeding car ahead of you get pulled over. About learning that your obnoxious next-door neighbor is being audited. About the reading of a corrupt politician landing in jail.

But wait! Smugness in the face of another’s calamity diminishes when you remember your imperfections. In His Word, God has included the bad with the good, the condemnation and commendation of nations, that you might profit from their example. The fact that nations such as Babylon and Moab no longer exist should warn you that when God promises punishment for persistent sin, it is no idle threat.

Think of a recent calamity that has befallen someone you know because of his or her inattention to God’s Word. How can you save yourself some grief by learning from that example?

Insight - Tomorrow’s Headlines Prophesied Today

Isaiah’s prophecy regarding Babylon is this: Babylon would supersede Assyria (14:25); Media would supersede Babylon (13:17); and Babylon would disappear forever (13:19-22). Historically, Babylon conquered Assyria in 607 B.C. and fell to the Medo-Persian armies in 538 B.C. Today, all that remains of Babylon are several square miles of its ruined capital, exactly as predicted.

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July 18

Isaiah 17–20

Collapse from Corruption

Key Passage: Isaiah 17:1-6; 18:1-4; 19:1-10

Overview

Damascus, Cush (Ethiopia), and Egypt are the next to feel the weight of Isaiah’s burdens of judgment. The glory of Damascus would be removed, leaving leanness of body and soul. But a handful would repent and—like the gleanings from an olive tree—provide hope for a future harvest. Ethiopia would be pruned away like branches, and it would one day return to Zion to pay homage to God and acknowledge Him as its sovereign. Egypt would experience civil war, economic ruin, and spiritual poverty, showing the bankruptcy of her false gods. But one day, “The Lord Almighty will bless them” (19:25).

Your Daily Walk

The courtroom scene unfolds as it has countless times before. The case is presented; the jury recesses; a verdict is reached: “Guilty!” However, the trial then takes an unexpected turn. The presiding judge also happens to be the father of the convicted criminal. And just before his son reaches the bar where the fine is to be assessed, the judge steps down from his seat, takes off his robe, and approaches the bar to pay the fine for his guilty son. Justice...and mercy!

That story illustrates a divine truth. The judge would not have been just if he had allowed his son to go free. But his love caused him to take his son’s place in paying the fine. The same is true of God. He would not be just if He ignored the sins committed against Him. At the same time, His great love shines forth in the gift of His Son to pay the price for humanity’s sins.

Isaiah 14:1-8 is a message of mercy, inserted between many dark chapters of judgment. God is just, but in His love for those who trust Him, He has provided the answer to humanity’s sin problem (11:10)—a Savior. What is your answer to Him today?

Insight - Old Testament POWs (20:1-4)

As part of His judgment on Egypt, God instructed Isaiah to dress as a prisoner of war—unclothed and barefoot—for three years as a sign of the calamity God was going to bring on Egypt.

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July 19/20

Isaiah 21–23

Judgment Near and Far

Key Passage: Isaiah 21

Overview

Isaiah is not yet finished with his “woes for Judah’s foes.” In today’s reading, he mentions two more neighboring powers that are in line for God’s chastening hand: Arabia and Tyre. But amid his list of “endangered nations,” Isaiah shocks his countrymen by including Jerusalem with the rest. Because of the careless indulgence of its inhabitants, the city would suffer siege and calamity.

Your Daily Walk

Have you ever wondered why you can feel so convicted after you sin, but remain so indifferent before you sin? If there were only a way to reverse these conditions, and feel as remorseful before as you do after you disobey God, temptation would surely be easier to resist.

God’s verbal warnings are designed to do precisely that. He sent His prophets to paint in unmistakable tones the calamity awaiting His people if they continued in their wicked ways. Pestilence, plague, defeat in battle, destruction of home and family—all these and more would be the wages they would deserve for their sin. God designed harsh prophecies of national catastrophe to interrupt His people’s mad dash for power and prestige at the expense of righteousness and justice. The painful message of these promised calamities was God’s way of breaking down indifference and bringing His people to the point of repentance.

If the specific wages of specific sins were revealed to you ahead of time, would you be as eager to earn them? On one of your pay stubs, write these words: “Is sin worth the pain it brings?” Leave those words in your wallet or purse as a reminder of the high price of unholy living—wages you can’t afford to earn.

Insight - A Nickname that Makes Sense

The “Valley of Vision” (22:1) refers to Jerusalem, because the hill on which Jerusalem is situated is surrounded by valleys with hills beyond. The temple in Jerusalem was also the place where God was “visible” to His people.

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July 21

Isaiah 24–27

Judgment and Jubilation

Key Passage: Isaiah 26

Overview

After 11 chapters of pronouncements upon specific nations, Isaiah’s focus changes. There is coming a day when the entire earth will reel in judgment, its inhabitants quaking in terror and dismay. But the redeemed of the Lord will welcome that day and sing hymns of praise to the God of their salvation. “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation” (25:9). While the nations of the world writhe in judgment, Israel enjoys peace and prosperity.

Your Daily Walk

During a violent thunderstorm, a mother tiptoed upstairs to her young son’s bedroom, assuming he would need comfort from his fears. She found him kneeling by his bed, talking to God—not in fear, but in excitement. With each new flash of lightning, the mother heard her son exclaim, “Do it again, God! Do it again!”

Amid God’s prophecy of a “thunderstorm of judgment” upon Israel and the surrounding nations, Isaiah pauses to praise God for His promise to overthrow the wicked (“Do it again, God!”). Isaiah knew it was meaningless to speak of judgment for sin on a national scale if one ignored the corollary that nations are composed of individuals; for a holy country, one must first have holy citizens.

Spend a few minutes today pondering chapter 26, Isaiah’s hymn of praise for God’s power to punish the people “of the earth for their sins” (26:21). If you feel uncomfortable as you read, maybe God is trying to speak to you.

Insight - There’s Coming a Day

Chapters 24–27 have been called “Isaiah’s Apocalypse” because of the similarity of these chapters to the Book of Revelation. One way Isaiah indicates he is prophesying is by using the phrase “in that day.” It occurs more than 40 times in the book as a whole; how many times can you find it in today’s section?

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July 22

Isaiah 28–30

A Painful Experience

Key Passage: Isaiah 29

Overview

Isaiah now declares a series of specific woes upon Israel and Judah. Targeting his messages for the capital cities of Samaria and Jerusalem, Isaiah declares that destruction is imminent. For “Ephraim’s drunkards [Israel]” (28:1), it is too late to repent; judgment is inescapable. But Judah can still learn from the fate of her sister nation. Lulled into a false sense of security by empty ritualism, Judah must wake up from a spiritual stupor. Otherwise, she will follow Israel’s fatal error of substituting foolish alliances for faith in God.

Your Daily Walk

When was the last time you tried to help God solve one of your problems? “After all,” you probably reasoned, “God must not know how desperate my situation is. If He did, He would come to my rescue. But since I don’t see Him working, I’d better get in there and give Him a helping hand. Right?”

Wrong. That was precisely the mistake Judah made. To prevent the onslaught of Assyria, Judah looked to her pagan neighbors for alliances that would help to nullify Assyria’s mighty armies. Look at 29:15-16, and you’ll see that Judah thought she was doing this without God’s knowledge. But God compares Judah’s self-help program to a lump of clay trying to aid the potter who is shaping it.

Wear your least comfortable pair of shoes today as a constant reminder of the danger of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps. Rather, “in quietness and trust is your strength” (30:15).

Insight - Learning Temperance from a Farmer

Isaiah illustrates his predictions with a parable (28:23-29). Farmers must use various methods (some of which may seem silly or unnecessary to an unenlightened observer) to get the best results from their crops. Additionally, farmers must apply brute force to separate the good from the bad (28:27-28). In the same way, God deals severely with His people, but just the right amount, and never so much that it breaks their spirit.

ISAIAH AND HIS
Contemporaries

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July 23

Isaiah 31–35

Coming Calamity, Coming King

Key Passage: Isaiah 32–33

Overview

As Isaiah ponders the prophecy of Israel’s deliverance from Assyria, his thoughts naturally turn to the arrival of the much-prophesied future King whose rule and righteousness would be worldwide. In the light of this glorious future, Isaiah urges the people of Judah to remain strong in their trust in God, even though the gathering storm clouds of Assyrian invasion can be seen on the horizon. With faith in God, they can wait expectantly for the promised era of restored prosperity when “sorrow and sighing will flee away” (35:10).

Your Daily Walk

The story is told of a church meeting called to discuss an urgent matter. There were insufficient funds on hand to pay an important bill. Worried expressions furrowed many a brow. Where could the church turn? Suddenly, a wealthy businessman stood to his feet and offered to underwrite the full amount. Sighs of relief were heard throughout the room—until one older Christian reminded the members that God had promised to fund His work all along.

It is easier for people to trust limited human resources than God’s inexhaustible supply. Judah looked to the military might of Egypt for security, forgetting that the God of Israel had shown once before how fragile that “great power” might prove (Exodus 14).

What need is uppermost in your life right now? Are the resources of God enough to put your mind at ease? Or are you seeking relief from another source? You wouldn’t ask a child to do what only an adult is capable of doing. But are you trusting others to do what only God can—and will—do on your behalf? Talk to Him about it.

Insight - No Smooth Path to Peace

The pampered ladies of 32:9 provide only one example of the self-indulgent society of Israel’s day (22:13; 28:15). But God cannot bring peace to a self-indulgent people. The ground must be cleared and resown with righteousness, of which peace is the fruit (32:16-17).

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July 24

Isaiah 36–39

Judah’s Day of Judgment

Key Passage: Isaiah 37, 39

Overview

Today’s reading represents a four-chapter interlude in Isaiah’s prophecy—a historical parenthesis that shows the fulfillment of some of Isaiah’s early prophecies, and sets the stage for many of his later ones. The focus throughout is on King Hezekiah, perhaps the premier reformer of Judah. A man of prayer and principle, Hezekiah sees God destroy 185,000 Assyrian invaders and extend his own life by 15 years. But by responding in foolish pride to a Babylonian emissary, Hezekiah seals the fate of his nation.

Your Daily Walk

Something happened (on average) every 20 seconds last year. It affected the lives of 1.3 million Americans. Can you guess what it was? Answer: Every 20 seconds, someone in the United States suffers a heart attack and suddenly comes to realize that death is only a heartbeat away. And for more than 500,000 Americans, that realization became a reality.

Death. It’s the universally distasteful subject. But the fact remains that one out of one dies. For King Hezekiah—as with many people— the approach of death brought tears (38:1-3)—tears of regret, tears of remorse. So many good intentions, so many half-finished projects. God gave Hezekiah a gift of 15 additional years, but that doesn’t always happen. When it’s time for you to die, will you be ready, or regretful, to see the Lord face to face? Find the obituary column in your newspaper, and pretend for a moment that your name is there (you may even want to write it in, just to emphasize the point). Now talk to God about how He wants you to spend the rest of your days.

Insight - A Historic Spot Revisited (36:2)

Rabshakeh, King Sennacherib’s field commander, stood “at the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Washerman’s Field” when he shouted his arrogant threats. Twenty-three years earlier, God had told a man to stand in the same spot and declare His message. Do you remember who? (If not, check 7:1-9.)

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July 25

Isaiah 40–43

Mighty Lord vs. Idle Idols

Key Passage: Isaiah 40

Overview

Beginning with chapter 40, Isaiah changes the focus of his message. For 39 chapters (much like the 39 books of the Old Testament), his major message has been the condemnation resulting from the waywardness and wickedness of God’s people. But now comes a heartwarming message of hope and comfort. Like the 27 books of the New Testament, the next 27 chapters declare the coming salvation of the Lord. He is sovereign over creation, and He is sovereign in the selection and protection of His nation, Israel. Thus, there can be certainty that He will comfort and deliver His people.

Your Daily Walk

Today, rather than looking for a project in which to put God’s truth to work, spend some quiet moments contemplating the greatness of the God who made you. Here are some thoughts to prepare your mind for worship:

The oceans of the world contain more than 340 quintillion gallons of water, yet God holds them in the hollow of His hand (40:12).

The earth weighs six sextillion metric tons, yet to God it represents but dust on the scale (40:12, 15).

The known universe stretches more than 30 billion light years (200 sextillion miles), yet to God that great expanse represents but the “breadth of his hand” (hand’s width, 40:12).

That same universe contains at least 100 billion galaxies, each made up of approximately 100 billion stars—yet God knows them all by name (40:26).

Now do you see why it is absurd to offer the God of heaven your advice rather than your worship? Even so, He says to you: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you... you are mine” (43:1).

Insight - A Key Verse for Isaiah 40–66

One verse (40:2) previews all of chapters 40–66: (1) “her hard service has been completed” describes the deliverance of 40–48; (2) “her sin has been paid for” describes the deliverer of 49–57; (3) “she has received” describes the delivered captives of 58–66.

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July 26/27

Isaiah 44–48

God’s Choice and Babylon’s Calamity

Key Passage: Isaiah 44–45

Overview

Isaiah next contrasts the impotence of idols with the omnipotence of Israel’s God. From the same piece of wood, a workman fashions gods to be worshiped and logs to be burned. By contrast, the God of creation predicts centuries in advance the agent of His comfort (Cyrus, king of Persia) and the means He will employ to deliver His oppressed people. Is it any wonder God calls forth judgment upon idolatrous Babylon, a nation that would dare to substitute trees and rocks for the Lord of Hosts, the Holy One of Israel?

Your Daily Walk

Have you wondered about the unusual way God uses people and events to accomplish His purposes on earth?

God used a wet washcloth to call Gideon into His service (Judges 6:36-38). He used a talking donkey to rebuke Balaam (Numbers 22:28). He used a hungry fish to turn Jonah around (Jonah 1:17). He swept His spiritually dirty nation clean by using an even dirtier broom—the brutal Babylonians (Habakkuk 1:5-6). And He raised up a heathen king to free His people from exile and rebuild His holy house of worship (45:1, 4).

Can you see God’s purpose linked with personal events in your life, or with international developments in the life of our nation? Go back through chapter 45 and circle the words “I have,” “I am,” and “I will” every time you find them. Then make three columns on a sheet of paper describing God’s activities in the past (I have), the present (I am), and the future (I will). When you’re finished, you’ll have a wonderful prayer and praise prompter: “Father, as I see Your trustworthiness in the past, build my confidence in You to accomplish Your purposes in the present and future as well.”

Insight - Predicting the Rebuilding of a House Not Yet Fallen

Cyrus, who ruled Medo-Persia from 546 to 530 B.C.—more than 150 years after Isaiah’s prophecies concerning him—is proclaimed as the one to command the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple, which in Isaiah’s day had not yet been destroyed (44:28).

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July 28

Isaiah 49–51

The Prince of Peace

Key Passage: Isaiah 51

Overview

The first nine chapters of Isaiah’s message of comfort have centered on God’s deliverance of His people through Cyrus. Now Isaiah focuses on the One who will bring deliverance through His suffering and death (chapters 49–55). He would come as a Servant to His people and a Light to the surrounding nations, providing strength for the weary and compassion for the downcast. And as the crowning act of servanthood, He would offer Himself as the sacrifice for sin.

Your Daily Walk

Definition: A free country is a place where a man can say whatever he thinks—provided he isn’t overheard by his wife, his neighbors, his pastor, or his boss.

Independence—the freedom to speak, write, assemble, and worship without fear of a tyrant’s intervention—is a prized possession. But never forget, as you enjoy your independence, that you were also created to enjoy dependence under the lordship of Jesus Christ.

A violin string, when totally “independent” of the violin for which it was created, is “free” to twist and turn but not to do what a violin string is designed to do: produce music. By the same token, you are “free” when your life is uncommitted—but not free to be what God intended you to be.

Real freedom is not freedom from God, but freedom with God through the salvation which is in Jesus Christ (51:5-6, 8). In your travels today, look for a quiet place where you can park for free. Stop there and thank God for your independence as a citizen of Earth— and your dependence as a citizen of heaven.

Insight - The Great Commission, Old Testament Style

We are all probably familiar with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20, but not many know that Isaiah 49:6 has been called the Great Commission of the Old Testament. In fact, Paul and Barnabas quoted part of it in Acts 13:47.

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July 29

Isaiah 52–57

The Suffering Savior

Key Passage: Isaiah 52–53

Overview

Isaiah the prophet and Isaac Watts the hymnist have more than 24 centuries separating their lives. Yet the words you will read today about the selfless sacrifice of Jesus, our Suffering Servant, bear a striking similarity to these familiar, yet ever-moving stanzas written by Watts:

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
See, from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down:
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Your Daily Walk

Christopher Columbus was writing a book about space travel. George Washington predicted the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. Absurd? Of course! No one can predict events like those centuries in advance. No one, that is, except a prophet of God. As you read Isaiah 52–53, the details appear so vivid as to make you think Isaiah is standing at the foot of the cross. In his mind, the events are so clear that he narrates them in the past tense, as if Jesus’ death had already occurred. Yet Isaiah penned his prophecies seven centuries before Jesus’ death.

Spend some time meditating on today’s reading. Put yourself into 53:5: “He was pierced for [my] transgressions, he was crushed for [my] iniquities;...by his wounds [I am] healed.” Then close your devotional time by giving God a heartfelt “thank you” for sending His Son to die on the cross for you.

Insight - The Bull’s-Eye of Comfort

In Isaiah’s prophecies of comfort (chapters 40–66), locate the middle chapter and the middle verse. Wouldn’t you agree that’s a good “central passage” on comfort? (In case you get lost, it’s 53:6.)

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July 30

Isaiah 58–62

Consummation of Judgment

Key Passage: Isaiah 58, 61

Overview

Comfort is coming in the form of a deliverer (Cyrus, chapters 40–48); comfort is coming in the form of a Suffering Savior (Messiah, chapters 49–57); and finally, comfort is coming in the form of a delivered people (Judah, chapters 58–66). Obedience to God’s commands has always been the path to individual and corporate blessing. And the future of God’s people is bright indeed. When the Messiah, the light of Jerusalem, comes, then righteousness and salvation will shine to the nations of the world (60:1; 62:1), and Jerusalem will be “the praise of the earth” (62:7).

Your Daily Walk

Some people are so indecisive that their favorite color is plaid. For instance, when a lady was asked, “Do you always have trouble making up your mind?” she replied, “Well, yes and no...”

But there comes a time when changing your mind is not only desirable, but it is also imperative—and that is when God tells you to.

Chapter 58 describes a nation of people who needed to change their minds about God, themselves, and their wickedness. In a word, they needed to repent. Their worship was marked by shallow formalism; their outward piety did not match their inward purity; they fasted for public recognition while ignoring the needs of those around them.

Whenever an improper attitude or action has crept into your life, it’s time for a change. Do these three words describe your lifestyle before God today? Pure...undefiled...unstained. If not, let James 1:27 guide you to an outward religion that is consistent with your inward relationship with Jesus Christ.

Insight - A New Name Promised and Provided

In 62:2 the ransomed community of Zion is promised “a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.” Keep reading and you’ll discover not one new name but four, all contained in the same verse (62:12). What are they?

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July 31

Isaiah 63–66

Isaiah’s Prayer and God’s Reply

Key Passage: Isaiah 66

Overview

Isaiah closes his great prophetic work with a stirring prayer of intercession for the house of Israel. While acknowledging their waywardness and frequent rebellions, he nevertheless claims God’s promises on their behalf to redeem them and to refashion them into a people for His glory. God’s response is both stern and comforting. The rebels will be punished for ignoring God’s frequent invitations. Idolatry, covetousness, rebellion, and disobedience will be rooted out of His people. In addition, a rich store of glory and blessing awaits God’s faithful ones: a new heaven and earth, and no more tears, no premature death, no want of food, no violence in nature. Isaiah concludes by summarizing the major themes of his book: God exalts the humble and contrite; the Messiah is coming to avenge His enemies; all nations will see God’s glory; and all flesh shall one day worship the Lord.

Your Daily Walk

The Book of Isaiah is a sobering reminder of the consequences of taking God lightly: ignoring His promises can forfeit His blessing; ignoring His warnings can incur judgment; ignoring His invitations can cause one to miss the joy of a personal relationship with God.

Isaiah’s prophecy is long. It contains more chapters than any other Old Testament prophet. But his message is simple and concise: judgment and comfort. Judgment for those who fail to heed God’s voice, and comfort for those who don’t.

Give yourself a spiritual hearing test right now. Are you tuned in to hear God’s voice? Do you answer when He calls (6:8), or is your line constantly busy? There will come a day when the phone quits ringing... forever. Spend the next few minutes telling God what you have learned from the Book of Isaiah.

Insight - An Old Testament “News” Paper

Notice how many things there are in chapters 65–66: new nations brought into the fold, a new name for God’s people, a new heaven and earth, and a new order of worship.

THE GOD Among Us

As the prophet Isaiah’s warnings echoed through the homes and courtyards of Judah, few were listening. What God was saying through His prophet was not what the people wanted to hear. But recessed deep within the warnings and indictments was an astonishing statement: God would one day come to earth.

Jesus announced some 700 years later that He was God in the flesh who had come to pay for the sins of the world. He was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecies. But again, few were listening.

Yet the life of Jesus Christ fits Isaiah’s profile of the “God who would come to earth.” The Anointed One would be:

• a descendant of Jesse (11:1)
• miraculously born of a virgin (7:14)
• a miracle-worker (35:5)
• wounded and bruised for us (53:5)
• our sin bearer (53:12)
• rejected by His people (53:3)
• buried in a rich man’s tomb (53:9).

The overwhelming evidence points to Jesus as “God among us.” He came to bring us into a complete and satisfying relationship with God. Isa- iah explains how Jesus would do this:

“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).

Our sins separate us from a holy and righteous God. Christ’s death paid for our sins—past, present, and future. He now invites you into a relationship that begins now and will last beyond time at His return. Why not trust in Jesus Christ as your only way to heaven?

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Proverbs

Godly living in an ungodly world is no simple task. But the Book of Proverbs—the Bible’s primer of practical wisdom—teaches the skillful application of truth to everyday life. Contained in this unique collection of poetry, parables, questions, and wise maxims are instructions on how to relate to parents and children, God and government, sin and self. In strikingly memorable form, Solomon—the principal author—gives his readers inspired insights on living to please God.

July 1

Proverbs 1–4

Fear of the Lord

Key Passage: Proverbs 1:1–2:6

Overview

The author of Proverbs clearly states the book’s purpose at its beginning: “For attaining wisdom and discipline” (1:2). The Hebrew word for wisdom means more than human intelligence; it refers to skill or expertise. Just as the artisans and craftsmen who fashioned the tabernacle were described as being filled with wisdom (see Exodus 31:1-11), so God wants His people to be wise (skillful) in the task of making moral and ethical choices.

Your Daily Walk

Can you match each of these common fears (phobias) with its correct definition?

While these phobias can be detrimental, other fears can have a beneficial influence on your behavior (for example, fear of getting burnedor fear of stumbling in the dark). Such fears do not terrorize or immobilize but rather lead to constructive action (such as using a potholder or turning on a light).

The “fear of the Lord” is like that. Rather than sending you fleeing from God’s presence in terror, it causes deep reverence and awe at the thought of His power and glory. It compels us to pay attention when He speaks—and obey when He commands. Look up 2:1-5; 14:26-27; 23:17-18 to discover how and why you can live each day in the fear of the Lord.

Insight - Proverbs, Optimistic Words from the Wise

While prophets and priests wrote about religious matters, wise men wrote books dealing with practical issues as well as philosophical questions. In wisdom literature, Proverbs teaches principles for living successfully. Job and Ecclesiastes tackle the tough questions about the origin and nature of evil and why good men suffer while wicked men prosper.

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July 2

Proverbs 5–9

Pitfalls of Life

Key Passage: Proverbs 7–8

Overview

Beginning with chapter 5, Solomon turns from a general appeal to a more specific application of wisdom in everyday life situations. Pitfalls and snares abound, ready to entangle and destroy the unwary: immorality, indebtedness, laziness, falsehood, pride. Indulging in these sins is a sure invitation to poverty and disaster. Temptation, though alluring, can lead to deadly consequences. Don’t listen to its call. Rather, respond to the call of wisdom, which is “favor from the Lord" among its many benefits (8:35)."

Your Daily Walk

“I never have a problem with temptation,” a man once said. “When it comes, I just give in to it.”

That’s one way to deal with temptation—and you’ll find it illustrated in the young man's response in chapter 7. Confronted by the forbidden woman’s alluring charms, he followed her “like an ox going to the slaughter” (7:22). Giving in to her temptation was easy, but the pain it produced was life-shattering.

Are you exercising godly wisdom in your moral life? Or are you toying with immoral or adulterous thoughts? Divorce courts are jammed today with couples who once insisted, “It will never happen to us.” Solomon’s advice to you: Wise up before it is too late. Have a “Father and child” chat with your Heavenly Father about your relationships with the opposite sex. Examine your thoughts and actions. Is confession in order (1 John 1:9)?

Insight - How to Live Like a King

Solomon, author of over 3,000 proverbs (about 900 of which are contained in the Book of Proverbs; see 1 Kings 4:32), was the richest, most influential king of his day. Yet he reports in chapter 8 that the key to happiness is not riches, power, or other “kingly” possessions. Rather, it is wisdom—knowing God and obeying His Word. Think of it: The happiness of a king is within your reach!

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July 3

Proverbs 10–13

Wise Words of Solomon

Key Passage: Proverbs 10

Overview

One of the best ways to learn a wise action is to contrast it with a foolish one. Most of the proverbs you will read today are antithetical, using the conjunction but to contrast the path of folly with the path of faith. The curriculum is varied and intensely practical: how to use your mouth and your money; how to be a good neighbor; how to select your friends; how to conduct business; how to resolve conflicts. Think of today’s reading as a training manual designed to teach you how to respond to life from God’s perspective.

Your Daily Walk

Try a change of pace today. Read today’s portion with pen in hand and a journal or piece of paper, capturing the insights God gives into these practical areas:

1. What is the role of your tongue? (10:19-21)
2. How can your generosity add to your wealth? (11:24-26)
3. What can others tell about you by the way you respond to wise counsel? (12:15)
4. Why does God give us wise teaching? (13:14)
5. What happens if you do? What happens if you don’t? (13:13)
6. Which proverb from today’s section speaks most clearly to a need in your life? Write it out!

Insight - A Structural Summary of Proverbs

Chapters 1–9:
Fatherly Proverbs (“my son”)

Chapters 10–15:
Antithetical Proverbs (“but”)

Chapters 16–22:
Synthetic Proverbs (“and”)

Chapters 23–31:
Extended Proverbs (more than one verse)

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July 4

Proverbs 14–17

Workable Wisdom

Key Passage: Proverbs 16

Overview

Nowhere is wisdom more essential than in home and community relationships. A heart attitude controlled by reverent fear of God is the key to proper responses toward others. Today’s reading contains numerous proverbs designed to promote peace, prosperity, and justice in the interpersonal relationships of life. The structure of these proverbs is simple, but the range of topics is immense: temper and tongue, paths and pursuits, thoughts and motives. In each case, your commitment to godliness should be evident.

Your Daily Walk

Repetition has been called the mother of learning. It has also been called the mother of boredom! But when a statement is important enough for the author to repeat more than once, you can be sure it contains a message you can’t miss. One verse you’ll find repeated in today’s reading is this: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”

Can you find the two places where it is located? (Answer: Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25.) More importantly, can you find the application the author wants you to discover?

Saving time is a good idea in any generation. But when the shortcut stems from wanting to avoid advice (12:15) or hard work (15:19), the outcome can be disastrous. Check out the shortcuts you were planning to take today. Are they shortcuts to success or shortcuts to disaster? The words of Proverbs 16:9 may be just what you need to live “a righteous life” (16:31).

Insight - Accent on the Lord

Elohim (sometimes translated “God,” used only six times in the Book of Proverbs) was often applied to local deities other than the true God. In contrast, Yahweh (usually translated as “Lord” and mentioned more than 80 times in Proverbs) is God’s name, and no one uses it but God as He reveals Himself. Praise our Lord who told us about Himself, for He is the only true God.

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July 5/6

Proverbs 18–21

Wise Decisions in Life

Key Passage: Proverbs 19

Overview

The varied statements of common sense in today’s reading are descriptions of the perils facing the wise and the unwise, character sketches of the poor and mighty, and value judgments upon things which appear to be good and things which are good. Through it all, Solomon sees God at work in the hearts and affairs of His people, helping them to avoid flattery and falsehood, and to display obedient behavior instead.

Your Daily Walk

What keeps you from seeing yourself as you are, others from seeing you as you wish you were, and God from helping you become what you would like to be?

As you ponder that riddle, look at the lesson contained in 18:12. (It’s so important, you’ll find it also in 16:18-19.)

Pride in yourself, your possessions, and your abilities brings destruction. Humility before God, before others, and before yourself brings honor. God delights in raising up the humble (15:33), but He despises the proud (6:16-17; 16:5). A proud person fights himself (8:36), others (13:10), and God (16:5), and eventually his end is destruction. Just as pride caused Lucifer to want to be greater than God (Isaiah 14:12-14), resulting in condemnation (1 Timothy 3:6), so pride can ruin your life.

Look for opportunities today to exercise humility instead. Nothing is as hard to do gracefully as getting down off your high horse—and nothing is as necessary! Look for one person whose needs and interests you can place above your own today. Go out of your way to express a word of sincere appreciation. Remember, all you have and are is given to you by God (1 Corinthians 4:7).

Insight - An Indian Proverb on Humility

One Indian word for humility literally means “dust,” a fact that helps to explain the significance of this Indian proverb: “You can walk on the dust forever, and it never answers back.”

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July 7

Proverbs 22–24

Wise Words for the King

Key Passage: Proverbs 24

Overview

The final 11 chapters of Proverbs contain sound counsel for those in positions of authority and responsibility: from parents to princes, pastors to potentates. The key to the section is in the first two verses (Proverbs 21:1-2)—“The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases. All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart.” Leaders need to know and apply to their own lives God’s moral, ethical, and spiritual precepts if they are to direct their charges into God-honoring paths of conduct and character.

Your Daily Walk

It has been well said, “The things that count most in life are the things that cannot be counted.” What do you value most? On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 1 being low and 10 being high), how much do you value...

• a good name?
• humility?
• reverence?
• generosity?
• mercy?
• honesty?

These qualities are indispensable for a godly leader. If you weren’t totally satisfied with the numbers you assigned, spend some extra moments meditating on these proverbs:

• “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold” (22:1).
• “Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life” (22:4).
• “Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, or use your lips to deceive” (24:28).

Insight - Proverbs—Handle with Care!

Learned world rulers once traveled to Jerusalem to hear Solomon's wisdom (1 Kings 10). Later, Jesus claimed to be greater than Solomon (Luke 11:31). Jesus warned that those who heard His teaching but failed to respond would one day be condemned by the rulers of Solomon’s day. Today, you are reading the same wisdom they responded to—take care.

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July 8

Proverbs 25–29

Wise Words from the King

Key Passage: Proverbs 25

Overview

Righteousness not only exalts a nation (14:34), but it also stabilizes the nation’s citizens. In his closing contribution to the Book of Proverbs, Solomon records the riches of righteousness and the fatal danger of foolishness. Kings and peasants, false witnesses and friends, the righteous and the corrupt, the foolish and the wise, the lazy and the diligent—Solomon has something to say to each. God’s wisdom gives guidance in choosing the right response to life’s situations and a proper perspective on material possessions.

Your Daily Walk

At first glance you may be tempted to view the 138 proverbs in today’s reading as random, miscellaneous thoughts. Actually there is evidence of careful arrangement and grouping of proverbs that deal with similar topics. As you read, refer to these categories and think of corresponding situations in your life that can profit from Solomon’s counsel:

• The Tongue (25:11-15)
• Overindulgence (25:16-17)
• Unfaithfulness (25:18-19)
• Compassion (25:20-22)
• Foolish Actions (26:1-12)
• Laziness (26:13-16)
• Gossip (26:20-22)
• Hypocrisy (26:23-28)
• Stewardship (27:23-27)
• Oppression (28:15-17)
• Poverty (29:13-14)
• Correction (29:15-21)

Reflect on which one is the most troublesome area in your walk with God, and think about the area where, with His help, you are currently experiencing the greatest consistency. Thank Him for the latter; commit yourself to work on the former.

Insight - The Coals of Repentance

A valid interpretation of 25:22 is that returning good for evil will bring punishment on the evil one (cf. Psalm 140:10). Yet there is a record of an Egyptian ritual in which a man would carry a pot of hot coals on his head to show that he had repented. So heaping hot coals on your enemy may melt his heart until he repents.

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July 9

Proverbs 30–31

Wise Words for Women

Key Passage: Proverbs 31:10-31

Overview

It’s rare to hear anyone admit to ignorance, but Agur does exactly that. Yet with his questions about nature, he leads the reader to understand something of God’s brilliance in contrast to the limits of human understanding. The capstone of the Book of Proverbs is provided by Lemuel, who praises the virtues of a godly wife and mother. It is fitting that Proverbs, which begins in heaven (1:7), should end in the home (31:15)—because God’s wisdom works in the big things and in the crucible of everyday life.

Your Daily Walk

Proverbs 31 devotes 22 verses to the virtuous woman.

And what a virtuous woman she is! In the home she is a trusted companion (v. 11) caring tirelessly for her household (vv. 12, 15, 18, 27). She is a skilled shopper (vv. 13–14) and seamstress (vv. 19, 22). Outside the home she is an astute businesswoman (vv. 11, 16, 18, 24). Strength and honor adorn her conduct (v. 25), wisdom accompanies her speech (v. 26), and the fear of the Lord motivates her behavior (v. 30). She is a priceless treasure (v. 10).

Women, take inventory of the virtues God wants your life to radiate. What needs to change? What strengths can you build upon? And men, don’t miss the exhortation to you: “A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised” (v. 30). Has it been too long since you gave your “Mrs. Far-Above-Rubies” the praise she deserves? Tonight, take her out to eat, and make Proverbs 31:28 a reality in your life.

Insight - Proverbs in the Old, Parables in the New

Note the questions raised by Agur (30:4), and the answer supplied by Jesus Christ in John 3:13. Not only do many of Jesus’ parables elaborate upon the proverbs you have read in the past few days, but the best translation of the Old Testament Hebrew word for proverb is the New Testament Greek word for parable.

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Ecclesiastes

The theme of Ecclesiastes is futility—the emptiness of existence without God. Looking at life from the human perspective, the Teacher (thought to be Solomon) sadly declares: “Everything is meaningless.” Power, popularity, pleasure—nothing under the sun gives any true or lasting happiness. Only those who include God in their experience will find meaning among life’s hard knocks, suffering, and unanswered questions; only those who fear and obey Him will experience abundant life.

July 10

Ecclesiastes 1–6

Exploring Life’s Inconsistencies

Key Passage: Ecclesiastes 1–2

Overview

Truly life is an enigma, a riddle, a puzzle. From the perspective of those who don’t know God, there can only be one word for it: meaningless. The Teacher uses the word meaningless in 1:2—and more than 30 other times in the book—to describe the futility of life apart from God. And he should know! Every earthly prescription for happiness has been tried and found wanting. Only when life is viewed as a gift “from the hand of God” (2:24) does it begin to come into focus.

Your Daily Walk

What if your life began at the age of 80, and gradually approached 18? Would you live it differently?

The Teacher has no illusions about life. He has learned from firsthand experience that nothing under the sun will bring lasting satisfaction. But even in the midst of his voyage into meaninglessness, the Teacher grows wiser, for he discovers the hand of God at work (2:24; 9:1). God is the Giver of “wisdom, knowledge and happiness” (2:26). It is also His gift “that everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil” (3:13).

Why not plan a praise party for this evening? With family or friends, fix a special meal specifically for the purpose of thanking God publicly for His good gifts. You’ll find it’s habit-forming.

Insight - The Teacher: Solomon or Someone Else?

Compare the description of the Teacher in Ecclesiastes with the corresponding description of Solomon in 1 Kings.

Is “the Teacher” Solomon...or someone else?

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July 11

Ecclesiastes 7–12

Explaining Life’s Inconsistencies

Key Passage: Ecclesiastes 8, 12

Overview

Not only is there futility in what you do and what you have, but apart from God, there is also futility in what you are. The righteous are treated as if they are the wicked (8:14). One sinner can undo the work of many good men (9:18). Even moral, upright character seemingly means nothing. But once again, God’s perspective turns meaninglessness into purpose. “Although a wicked man commits a hundred crimes and still lives a long time, I know that it will go better with God-fearing men, who are reverent before God” (8:12). “Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment” (11:9).

Your Daily Walk

Every blessing from God carries with it a corresponding responsibility. Are you young (11:9-10)? Then God holds you accountable for the way you use your strength and vitality. Are you a member of the senior generation (12:1-7)? Don’t use that as an excuse. God holds you equally accountable for the years of experience you have accumulated.

In the final two verses of Ecclesiastes, the Teacher summarizes his thoughts. Life at any age apart from God is empty and futile, regardless of how wise, wealthy, or industrious you are. Things can never fill the void that God desires to fill in your life. Therefore, “Fear God and keep his commandments” (12:13).

Analyze your life in terms of what you do, what you have, and who you are. Is God the focus of your activities? Is God more important than your possessions? Is God the center of your being? If not, what needs to change today?

Insight - An Allegory of Old Age (12:3-7)

As you read chapter 12, did you note the literal elements of old age that are pictured in allegorical form? For example, “keepers of the house” = hands and arms; “strong men” = legs; “grinders” = teeth; “those looking through the windows” = eyes.

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July 12/13

Song of Songs 1–8

The Greatest Love Song

Key Passage: Song of Songs 1, 3, 6

Overview

The Song of Songs is a love poem set in a pastoral arena. In it, Solomon woos and weds a Shulammite shepherdess, extolling her love and exulting in her presence. When conflict arises between Solomon and his bride, it is quickly resolved without pouting or bitterness. In this tender relationship, many have seen glimpses of a love far richer. Just as physical life finds its fulfillment in the love of man and woman, so spiritual life finds its highest fulfillment in the love of the Creator for His creation, and the love of Christ for His bride, the church.

Your Daily Walk

There is really only one way to develop physical stamina. You can’t study your way there, eat your way there, sleep your way there, or think your way there. Stamina comes through exercise: running, jumping, skipping rope, lifting weights, and low-impact aerobics.

The same is true in marriage. Commitment in the face of conflict produces character. Love in marriage grows and deepens when exercised through faith-stretching circumstances: illness, unexpected job change, babies, in-laws, bills, times of separation. In each case, your need is the same: to know that God is big enough to meet your need and wise enough to use even the difficult times to deepen your commitment to Him and to each other. Here’s a prayer you may never have prayed, but which God longs to hear:

“Loving Father, You know what my problem is. And though it would be easy to ask you to remove it, I trust you to do your perfect will. I ask you to use this situation to strengthen my commitment to you and to my spouse.”

Insight - Song of the Slaves

Traditionally, the Jews have seen in the Song of Songs a picture of their loving rescue by God from Egyptian bondage. It also foreshadowed the Christ who came as our Passover Lamb to rescue us from slavery to sin (1 Corinthians 5:7).

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Isaiah

Onto the stage of a sin-riddled society steps Isaiah, a firebrand of a prophet who for more than 60 years urges kings and countrymen to respond to God’s call. The first 39 chapters describe Judah’s woeful condition and the horrible, high price of moral and spiritual corruption. Then comes a soothing balm of consolation (chapters 40–66). Hope becomes the central promise in the prophecies of the coming Messiah and His kingdom. He is coming as Sovereign and Savior to offer hope beyond judgment for all who will respond.

July 14

Isaiah 1–4

Judah’s Shallow Religion

Key Passage: Isaiah 1

Overview

The date: about 740 B.C. The setting: Israel, the northern kingdom, faces extinction at the hands of the cruel Assyrians, and Judah in the south cannot hope to avoid a similar fate for long. In this crucial hour of national emergency, God sends Isaiah—a unique man with an unpleasant message. The nation of Judah is rotten to the core and ripe for judgment. Her habitual sins of idolatry, hypocrisy, injustice, and corruption have not escaped the notice of her holy God. His righteous wrath will soon fall upon king and countrymen alike, that all might learn that the Lord of hosts cannot and will not be mocked.

Your Daily Walk

“The truth hurts.” No one minds looking into a mirror, provided the image reflected back is flattering to the viewer. But allow that mirror to reflect a painful truth about a person’s appearance, and you just might end up with a broken mirror—and some hurt feelings.

Isaiah held up the mirror of God’s Word before the people of Judah to show how stained with sin the nation had become. And when he did, neither the prophet nor the people liked what they saw. Yet in spite of the bleak reflection, there was hope if only the people would respond to God’s invitation.

Find a piece of white cotton material (such as a cotton ball) and stain it with a few drops of red food coloring or red permanent ink. Now, try to wash it as clean and white as it was originally.

Give up? Isaiah 1:18 will show you how to enjoy cleansing from even the most stubborn stain of sin. Have you been washed as “white as snow” by the blood of Jesus?

Insight - Pattern of a Prophet’s Pronouncements

When broadly outlined, many of Isaiah’s messages are strikingly similar: (1) accusation, (2) threat of judgment, (3) exhortation to repentance, and (4) promise of blessing. See if you can apply this general outline to Isaiah’s first message in chapter 1. (Hint: Divide the chapter at verses 10, 16, and 21.)

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July 15

Isaiah 5–8

Judah’s Untamed Wickedness

Key Passage: Isaiah 6

Overview

No sooner does Isaiah complete his scathing indictment upon Judah than he turns to share a comforting word of encouragement. God’s anger with the sin of His people Israel causes Him to commission His prophet, Isaiah, to deliver a message of judgment. But after the prophet’s message of heartache comes a balm of hope. The Messiah will be born of a virgin, hostilities will cease, and Judah’s enemies will be brought low. Isaiah’s response in the face of such unusual announcements? “I will wait for the Lord” (8:17).

Your Daily Walk

You cannot impart what you do not possess. Before Isaiah could be used by God to call the people back to holy living, he himself had to be cleansed and prepared for holy service.

It was important for Isaiah to have an indelible vision of the Lord in all His holiness, for Isaiah’s mission would be to preach to a people of unclean lips and hardened hearts. He needed a glimpse of the King of the universe sitting upon His heavenly throne, high and exalted (see 6:1, 5). Only then was Isaiah ready to exchange his sinful inadequacy (“Woe is me”) for God’s holy adequacy (“Go and tell!”).

Cleansing, calling, commitment. That pattern is still valid today. God is looking for believers who will respond to His holiness by volunteering for holy service. Put those three words in your pocket —and on your heart—for they are the key to fulfilling your God- given calling today and every day.

Insight - A Hidden Play on Words

The last two phrases of 5:7 may not seem uncommon to the English reader, but to the Hebrew they contain two pairs of similar-sounding words with very different meanings—“justice” and “injustice” (mishpat and mispah), and “righteousness” and “wretchedness” (sedaqah and se’aqah). Isaiah uses a clever literary device to paradoxically heighten the contrast between these sad disparities.

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June 16

Psalms 78–83

Warmth for Cold Hearts (Psalm 78)

Key Passage: Psalm 78

Overview

Asaph’s final contribution to the Psalter is found in today’s reading. There, he recounts Israel’s history of disobedience (78) and cries out to God to restore His people to the place of blessing (79–80). A lament over the nation’s failure to obey God (81) is followed by an appeal for God’s justice to prevail over Israel’s oppressors (82–83).

Your Daily Walk

A woman asked her pastor, “Why am I seized with these restless longings for the glamorous and faraway?” Wisely, he replied, “Those are usually the manifestations of abundant comfort in the home and ingratitude in the heart.”

In Psalm 78, Asaph points out three times how the nation Israel “willfully put God to the test” by placing demands on Him (v. 18), forgetting His past deliverance (v. 42), and disobeying His commands (v. 56). In each case, the problem was ingratitude—the subtle temptation to grow accustomed to, expect, and finally demand God's blessings.

Ingratitude in the face of God’s gracious provision chipped away at the nation’s relationship with God. Is ingratitude doing the same in your life? How do you relate to the blessings of God? Has abundance produced apathy or appreciation? Has your heart grown cold from the consistency of God’s provision? The gospel hymn is still a timely reminder: Count your blessings, name them one by one; Count your many blessings—see what God has done!

Try it! In the next two minutes, list 25 ways God has enriched your life—25 blessings for which you want to tell Him “thanks.” Remember, it is with gratitude that life becomes rich.

Insight - A Millennium of God’s Mercy

Psalm 78, the second-longest psalm, might well be subtitled “From Bondage to Blessing.” In just 57 verses (12–68), Asaph traces Israel’s history from bondage in Egypt to David’s rule in Zion—a thousand-year record of God’s faithfulness.

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June 17

Psalms 84–89

A Song to Sing Forever (Psalm 89)

Key Passage: Psalm 89

Overview

Several different authors are represented in today’s six psalms. The sons of Korah yearn to be in God’s presence (84) and to see the nation restored to fellowship with God (85). David seeks the great and merciful God amidst opposition (86) while the sons of Korah proclaim the greatness of the city of God (87). The final two laments record the mournful cry of Heman when he was afflicted (88) and the pleading of Ethan, who remembers God’s words to Israel (89).

Your Daily Walk

One of the hardest things in the world to revive is a revival.

Elijah demonstrated to the entire nation assembled on Mount Carmel that the Lord is God (1 Kings 18), but within a few years, the people had returned to their worship of Baal.

Jonah’s preaching turned Nineveh upside down (Jonah 3:1-5). Only 150 years later, however, the city had returned to its pagan ways and was swept away like a flood by the Babylonians (Nahum 1:7-8).

Psalm 85 depicts a nation to which revival had come in the past. The first three verses contain six statements of God's actions to revive the people. But the revival was short-lived. Old patterns and practices had returned. Lukewarmness had replaced spiritual vitality. What the nation needed now was a revived revival. And so the psalmist cries out on behalf of his countrymen: “Will you not revive us again...?” (v. 6).

Spiritual awakenings and national revivals are well documented in history, but what about today? Revival in our country can only come when there is first revival in its citizens. That means it must begin with you and your family, church, business, neighborhood, and nation.

Insight - Apply It!

Look up James 5:13 and Ephesians 5:19. Then put those verses to work in your own life by singing one of the psalms you’ve already read this month.

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June 18

Psalms 90–97

God’s Seal of Approval (Psalm 90)

Key Passage: Psalm 90

Overview

Book 4 opens with the oldest of the psalms, Moses’ testimony of faith in an eternal God (90). God’s people find their refuge (91) and their joy (92) in the God who reigns over all (93) and avenges the wrongs done to His own (94). The invitation is extended for all to worship (95), sing praises (96), and gladly acknowledge the incomparable greatness of the God of Israel (97).

Your Daily Walk

Because of its size you seldom notice it, yet thousands of items sold today display it proudly. What is it? A seal of approval granted by a testing agency. For many shoppers, the presence of such a recommendation has a significant impact on their decision to buy the product.

In Psalm 90, Moses speaks of another “seal of approval”—this one found not on a product, but on a life; one issued not by a testing agency, but by God Himself. In contrast to the briefness of human life, God reserves His stamp of approval for endeavors of eternal significance (v. 17). Earthly products soon rust or wear out, but God’s seal of approval is the mark of eternity on a life. Whatever is done apart from God ends in death; whatever is accomplished for His glory lasts for eternity (Matthew 6:19-21).

Look for a seal of approval on a product or appliance you may have around the house. Carefully remove the seal and put it in a prominent place in your home or office to remind you throughout the day to live for God’s approval, with eternity’s values in view.

Insight - The Dark Background of Psalm 90

Verses 7–12 indicate that Moses wrote Psalm 90 during the time of wilderness wandering—the 40-year period when 600,000 Israelite men (and their wives) died for unbelief (Numbers 14:21-23). What clearer reminder of Israel’s mortality could there be (Psalm 90:9-10) than an average of one funeral every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, for 40 years.

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June 19

Psalms 98–103

A Joyful Noise (Psalm 98)

Key Passage: Psalm 98

Overview

Perhaps no other six psalms in the ancient hymnbook picture God’s praiseworthy character as graphically as the ones in today’s reading. God in His righteousness (98), in His exalted place of authority (99), and in His enduring love (100) demands and deserves admiration and adoration by His people. In view of God’s character, the psalmist pledges his obedience (101), expresses his dependence (102), and acknowledges his gratitude for God’s rich blessings (103).

Your Daily Walk

You’ll notice in Psalm 98:4 (and again in 100:2) that you are not required to make beautiful music, but only a jubilant or joyful song to the Lord.

Even monotones can praise the Lord in song. The writer of Psalm 98 knew what rejoicing in the Lord meant. Have you learned his secret? When God has done something wonderful in your life, when you are bubbling over with appreciation for His mighty deeds, how can you express your joy? How can you say “thank You” to God in a way that befits His majesty and splendor?

Answer: You can sing! “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs” (Psalm 100:1-2). One thing you can take with you throughout the day is a song.

Spend the next few minutes singing some of your favorite hymns or praise songs. Think about each verse as you sing it. You’ll have a song in your heart all day.

Insight - Praise Expressed Full-Circle

In Psalm 103, David constructs a “circle of praise” in which the entire universe breaks forth in a doxology to God: Finally, David ends where he began: “Praise the Lord, O my soul.”

POETRY IN THE
Psalms

English-speaking readers often think of poetry in terms of rhyming words (moon—croon; love—dove); however, the Hebrew poets worked with concepts or ideas rather than single words. Most verses in Psalms are composed of two lines that address or expand a single thought or concept. You will discover five different kinds of such parallelism in the Book of Psalms:

SYNONYMOUS: The thought of the first line is restated in the second line. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (19:1).

EMBLEMATIC: The first line uses a word picture to illustrate the thought stated in the second line. “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God” (42:1).

SYNTHETIC: The second line adds to the thought of the first line in order to complete it. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want” (23:1).

ANTITHETIC: The thought expressed in the first line is contrasted with the thought of the second line. “For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish” (1:6).

CLIMACTIC: The thought of the second line expands and reinforces the idea of the first line. “Ascribe to the Lord, O mighty ones, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength” (29:1).

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June 20

Psalms 104–106

Growing or Groaning? (Psalm 106)

Key Passage: Psalm 106

Overview

Book 4 of Psalms closes with three majestic portraits of God. He is the powerful God of creation (104, a psalm that closely parallels the creation account of Genesis 1); He is the faithful God of the covenant, who formed a mighty nation out of people in bondage (105); He is the long-suffering God of a stiff-necked people, who patiently disciplines but never deserts the objects of His love (106).

Your Daily Walk

Memories, like fire, can both bless with warmth and burn with searing heat. As you look back over the first half of the year, do your memories give you more pleasure or pain?

As the psalmist reviewed Israel’s history, he delighted in the faithfulness of God, who never failed His people, and despaired over the faithlessness of Israel, who repeatedly disobeyed God. The nation’s history spoke eloquently of the pain of waywardness and the persistence of God in guiding His people down the path of righteousness and blessing.

If you were asked to write “The History of My Life: Part 1,” would it read like Psalm 106? Would it include pleasant memories of God’s provision... and painful memories of your rebellious moments? Have you thanked God for the former? Have you experienced God’s forgiveness for the latter (1 John 1:9)? Have you learned a lesson in the process? Or are you—like the Israelites in Psalm 106— repeating your errors and forfeiting God’s blessings?

Take a quiet walk alone today, with just God and your thoughts for companions. Reminisce over the first six months of this year: the good times (thank Him for them) and the bad (confess your rebellious moments to Him). Ask God to help you grow wiser—not just older—for the rest of the year.

Insight - A Short History of Israel

With just five psalms (105–106, 78, 135–136), you can trace Israel’s entire history from creation to David’s enthronement.

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June 21/22

Psalms 107–110

Handling Slander (Psalm 109)

Key Passage: Psalm 109

Overview

Book 5 begins with a vibrant note of thanksgiving for God’s deliverance from danger (107). David voices praise for God’s help against his enemies (108), then cries out for vindication against those who have slandered him (109). But whether his enemies prosper or suffer swift punishment, David knows the future lies securely in the hands of God’s righteous Ruler, who will triumph over all (110).

Your Daily Walk

Character assassination. It’s a malady you won’t find in any medical text. And if it happens to you, you won’t end up in a hospital emergency room. But the pain is still acute, the damage severe, the recovery slow, the scars difficult to remove.

How do you react to unjust accusations and malicious slander over which you have no control? David responded with some of the strongest words found in Scripture (109:6-20). These denunciations sound so uncharacteristic of the “sweet singer of Israel” that some commentators have suggested David’s accuser (rather than David) is the one being quoted.

But David was zealous to defend the righteousness of God wherever it was attacked. His harsh cries were his way of expressing hatred for sin; in much the same way, Jeremiah would later take a hard line against loose living (Jeremiah 18:19-23).

But the question remains: How do you handle a slanderous attack? David’s advice would be this: Seek God’s help and let Him vindicate you (Psalm 109:26-27); let your enemies bring shame upon their own heads, not you (v. 29); continue to praise the Lord throughout the ordeal (v. 30).

Insight - Psalms of Vengeance

Psalm 109 is one of a number of “imprecatory” psalms in which the author asks God to judge his enemies (others include 7, 35, 55, 58– 59, 69, 79, 137, 139). In indignation over sin, the psalmist cries out for God’s swift punishment of evil.

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June 23

Psalms 111–118

God Understands (Psalm 118)

Key Passage: Psalm 118

Overview

Reasons for praising God are innumerable, but today’s psalms will at least get you started. You can praise Him for His tender care (111), His blessings for the upright (112), His remembrance of the poor (113), His watchfulness over Israel (114–115), His restoration of the sorrowing (116), and His enduring love (117–118).

Your Daily Walk

"Judge a tree by its fruit, not by its leaves." (Euripides)

"Examine the contents, not the bottle." (Jewish Talmud)

"You can’t judge a book by its cover." (Anonymous)

Three ways of saying the same thing: The only thing worse than making a surface judgment is being the victim of one.

What do you do when you suffer from superficial evaluations by your friends, superiors, or co-workers? Where can you turn when your actions or motives are misunderstood?

Turn to the One who experienced being misunderstood Him- self—“The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone” (118:22). Jesus knew what it meant to be rejected unjustly, condemned wrongfully, and crucified unmercifully. He knows what you are going through. That’s why you can come to Him confidently to experience His presence (118:6), help (118:7), and protection (118:8-14) in times of misunderstanding.

Three times in the New Testament, Psalm 118:22 is quoted to show that human misunderstanding cannot thwart the good purposes of God (Matthew 21:42; Acts 4:11; 1 Peter 2:7). Put your initials next to one of those passages as your silent testimony of confidence in God’s ability to do the same in your life today.

Insight - Psalm 118, the Palm Sunday Psalm

Jesus was not the only one to quote from Psalm 118. Just a few verses earlier (Matthew 21:6-11), Jesus entered Jerusalem on the back of a colt to the acclamations of the multitude, who shouted the words of Psalm 118:26. (What are they?)

WORD PICTURES IN THE
Psalms

In addition to parallelism (see page 25), you will discover figures of speech in the Psalms—words or phrases used picturesquely to provide comparison, contrast, emphasis, or clarification. These word pictures serve to convey abstract concepts and difficult ideas through concrete images. Among the many kinds of figurative language in the Psalms, you’ll find:

• SIMILE: A stated comparison between two things that resemble one another. “He is like a tree planted by streams of water” (1:3; implying the godly man is sturdy, long lasting, immovable). Other examples: 1:4; 5:12; 17:8.
• METAPHOR: A comparison in which one thing is declared to be another. “For the Lord God is a sun and shield” (84:11; implying God guides and protects). Other examples: 23:1; 91:4.
• HYPERBOLE: The use of exaggeration to emphasize a point. “All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears” (6:6; implying “I am deeply saddened”). Other examples: 78:27; 107:26.
• ANTHROPOMORPHISM: The assigning of an appropriate part of a person’s body to God’s being. “He turned his ear to me” (116:2; implying “He is listening”). Other examples: 11:4; 18:15; 32:8.
• PERSONIFICATION: The assigning of the characteristics of a human being to lifeless objects. “My whole being will exclaim, ‘Who is like you, O Lord?’” (35:10; implying “I praise You from my innermost being”). Other examples: 77:16; 96:11; 104:19.

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June 24

Psalm 119

The Riches of God’s Revelation (Psalm 119)

Key Passage: Psalm 119:1-11, 97–105

Overview

The wonders of God’s Word fill the 176 verses of Psalm 119—the longest song in the Psalter and the longest chapter in the Bible. Like a prism breaking a beam of light into colors, the psalmist holds the Word of God to examine it from different angles. Seven synonyms for Scripture dominate the psalm, each with a lesson:

• Law (from the word teach)—God’s Word reveals His will.
• Decrees—God’s Word is faithful and true.
• Precepts—God’s Word gives particular instructions.
• Statutes—God’s Word has binding force and permanence.
• Commands—God’s Word possesses authority.
• Promise—God’s Word is reliable.
• Word—A term referring to God’s truth in all its forms.

Your Daily Walk

The motivation for studying the Bible should never be solely a “what’s-in-it-for-me?” mentality. An understanding of the benefits you will enjoy from a daily time in God’s Word can only encourage you to spend time mastering and being mastered by the Book of books.

Psalm 119 resembles a treasure chest of benefits. See if you can discover one benefit for each of the 22 sections (which run “A to Z”—alef to tav—through the Hebrew alphabet). For example, in verses 1–8 (“alef”), God’s Word spares the believer from shame; in verses 9–16 (“bet”), God’s Word cleanses.

Insight - God’s Word: Today, Yesterday, and Forever

The psalmist stressed the importance of God’s Word for him. Inspired writers have verified the importance of the Scriptures throughout the ages. Consider three examples: “[The Law is] not just idle words for you—they are your life” (Deuteronomy 32:47). “Meditate on it day and night” (Joshua 1:8). “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).

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June 25

Psalms 120–127

Hymn of the Highway (Psalm 121)

Key Passage: Psalms 120–121

Overview

Psalms 120–134, bearing the title “songs of ascents” or “songs of degrees,” were originally sung by Jewish worshipers on their pilgrimages to Jerusalem for the feasts of Passover, Weeks, and Tabernacles. These travel tunes reflect the thoughts of a pilgrim away from home, longing for peace, protection, and provision.

Your Daily Walk

The Iron Age world of the psalmist has given way to the silicon world of today. Advances in communication and transportation have radically altered the way people live. Distances that would have taken David days to traverse can now be covered by car in hours or by air in minutes. Where once it required weeks to deliver a message by courier, you can now phone or e-mail someone half a world away in seconds.

Thanks to technology, much has changed. But two things remain the same: the speed with which you can reach God in prayer (Psalm 120), and the need for safety as you travel (Psalm 121). Every time you buckle your seat belt today, remind yourself that “The Lord will watch over your coming and going” (121:8). Every time you dial a phone number today, let the first ring remind you that “I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me” (120:1).

Insight - Struck by the Moon, or Something More? (121:6)

A common Hebrew figure of speech is merism, which uses two extremes to speak of the totality of something.

Two examples illustrate the point:

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (and everything in between, a merism for all of creation; Genesis 1:1).

“Lord,...You know when I sit and when I rise” (a merism for my every movement throughout the day; Psalm 139:1-2).

Now read Psalm 121:6. Using the principle of interpreting merisms as suggested above, how would you translate the psalmist’s thought?

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June 26

Psalms 128–134

Portraits of Harmony (Psalm 133)

Key Passage: Psalm 133

Overview

The pilgrim, continuing his journey to Jerusalem, contemplates the blessings of God upon his family (128), the deliverance by God from danger (129) and depression (130), the sufficiency of God (131), the joy of serving God (132), and the unity of the household of God (133). An outburst of praise concludes the pilgrim’s journey (134).

Your Daily Walk

Psalm 133 uses two Old Testament illustrations to describe the beautiful harmony of God’s people who can “live together” in unity (133:1). The first picture is of Aaron’s anointing (133:2).

. But the costly, fragrant oil pictured the beauty of the high priest’s spiritual role in bringing the nation to God. In the same way, unity in the body of Christ is a pleasing fragrance to God and an attractive aroma to those in the world who find peace so elusive.

The second picture is of the dew on Mount Hermon (133:3). In an arid land where rainfall is scarce and fickle, the dew brings life-sustaining moisture to parched ground. Through Israel's long, dry summers, plants survive and blossom because of the dew. Unity in the body of Christ is like that dew: a gift from God to bring blessing and fruitfulness in an otherwise barren world.

Read John 17:11, 21, and ask: “Do my relationships in the body of Christ provide the fragrance of ointment and the refreshment of dew?”

Insight - Ascent to the Holy City

Jerusalem, also known as Mount Zion, is located on a hill rising 2,600 feet above sea level. Because of its elevation, pilgrims arriving from any direction must go “up to Jerusalem.” The temple and walls rising above the surrounding terrain must have provided a breathtaking view for those arriving at the Holy City.

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June 27

Psalms 135–139

The God Who Is There (Psalm 139)

Key Passage: Psalm 139

Overview

From the heights of joy to the depths of sorrow, today’s reading spans a wide range of emotions. In recalling past dealings with God—both in creation and in the redemption of God’s people—the psalmist breaks forth in glad songs of praise (135–136). Reliving the desperate days of exile, the psalmist expresses deep sorrow (137). But even times of trouble can be met with acclamation (138) by remembering God’s infinite knowledge and unceasing presence (139).

Your Daily Walk

Psalm 139 beautifully depicts three of God’s qualities: His omniscience (He knows everything about you), His omnipresence (He goes everywhere with you), and His omnipotence (He is infinitely powerful enough to meet your every need).

The question arises, “If all that is true, then why should I pray?” There are many good reasons to pray, but here are just three:

1. Pray because God has commanded it (Jeremiah 33:3).
2. Pray because God delights in giving good gifts to those who ask (Matthew 7:7-11).
3. Pray because prayer changes things...but mostly, prayer changes people...and that means prayer changes you.

Notice in Psalm 139, how David’s attitude changes. In the opening verses, David is cautious, almost fearful, at the thought that his life is an open book before God. But by the end, he is humble and eager to please God—even in the secret compartments of his life.

Insight - Mercy, Mercy, Mercy

Before you read Psalm 136, immerse yourself in a few of the many ways in which translators have captured the refrain, “His love endures forever” (repeated more than 20 times in the psalm):

“His kindness never fails.” (Moffatt)

“His love is eternal.” (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

“His mercy endureth for ever.” (King James Version)

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June 28/29

Psalms 140–145

A Heart Like God’s (Psalm 145)

Key Passage: Psalms 144–145

Overview

The six psalms you read today contain David’s prayer for protection from those who would harm him (140–141), as well as his testimony of trust in the One who is his refuge and portion (142–143). Because David has seen God’s care over his life in the past (144), his faith is fortified to look for God’s provision in the future (145).

Your Daily Walk

WANTED: A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART.

The position available? The throne of Israel. The One involved in the job search? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

When God wanted a man to do His will (1 Samuel 13:14), He found what He was looking for in an obscure boy from the pasturelands of Judea. Notice some of the qualities of David’s character, which many of his later writings reveal:

• 140:1,4,7 Confidence in God in time of danger
• 141:3-4 Hunger for righteousness
• 142:1-2 Transparent honesty before God
• 143:5 A good memory for God’s past work
• 144:5-8 A desire to see God’s justice prevail
• 145:1-21 Overflowing praise to God

God is looking for individuals like that today—people with a heart like David’s, with a heart like God’s (2 Chronicles 16:9). After studying David’s heart as revealed in Psalms 140–145, are you interested in applying for the position? Tell God so.

Insight - The Case of the Missing Letter

David’s last psalm (145) is also the last of eight acrostic psalms based on the Hebrew alphabet. One letter of the alphabet (nun) was omitted from the Hebrew text, causing the Hebrew reader to “stumble” at verse 14 (much the same way you might if you were reading the sequence “...J, K, L, M, O, P,...”). But wouldn’t you agree verse 14 is a good one to “catch” yourself on?

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June 30

Psalms 146–150

A Lifestyle of Praise (Psalm 147)

Key Passage: Psalm 147

Overview

It is appropriate in a book with the Hebrew title tehillim, which means “praises”—that the final five selections should be filled with precisely that. First, the individual believer voices praise for God’s trustworthiness (146); next, the nation Israel praises God for His tender care (147); then all creation praises God for His power (148); God’s choice servants join the chorus by extolling God for His love (149); finally, accompanied by a grand orchestra of instruments, all living things praise our matchless, mighty God (150).

Your Daily Walk

Congratulations! You have just finished reading the longest book of the Bible—the believer’s handbook of worship. While you are preparing to begin the Book of Proverbs tomorrow, pause long enough to ask yourself one question: “Is there anything different about my walk with God today for having spent the past month in the Book of Psalms?”

Psalm 147:1 gives three reasons for God’s people to praise Him: (1) It is good (pleasing) in God’s eyes; (2) it is pleasant (delightful) to the one doing the praising; and (3) it is fitting (appropriate) for all who share the praise experience.

Praise is like a bride’s wedding ring. The bride’s husband rejoices to see her wear it; she herself delights in it; and it testifies to the appropriateness of the couple’s relationship. Tie a small piece of colored yarn around a ring you are wearing to remind you throughout the day that it’s always in style to adorn your life with praise to God.

Insight - Inspired Psalms, Inspiring Psalms

The Book of Psalms has become the hymnbook of the ages. It is read, recited, or sung virtually every day. And in the majestic hymns based on its verses (such as Martin Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” and Isaac Watts’s “O God, Our Help in Ages Past”) and innumerable contemporary praise and worship choruses, its messages still ring around the world.

THE NEWS YOU WON’T FIND ON TODAY’S
Front Page

Millions of people read a newspaper or watch the evening news every day. Unfortunately, much of the daily news is depressing.

It’s easy to focus on the day’s bad news while completely ignoring the good. The psalmists spoke of good news often, as you have read this month. They spoke of victory, of overcoming hardship, of the sovereignty and power of a living, loving God.

Funny how this kind of news never makes it to the presses.

If all the front pages were ours, here’s the good news we’d print for the world . . . which includes you:

• God is lovingly concerned with every person—and that means you! “I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer” (Psalm 40:17).
• Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross paid the penalty for the sin of every person, including you. “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins...also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2).,
• God freely gives salvation to every person who trusts in Jesus Christ and turns from a life of sin. “By grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). • God gives us not only eternal life, but new, abundant life now: “I have come so that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

That’s good news! And you’ll find pages upon pages more in your Bible. But there’s still bad news for those who refuse to hear the good news of Jesus Christ: “He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus... with everlasting destruction” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).

Believe the good news of Jesus Christ. Invite Him to become your Savior and the Master of your life. Talk to Him about it right now in prayer. There will never be better news than this. So hear it. Accept it. And pass it on!

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Psalms

The Book of Psalms draws on Israel’s rich, thousand-year relationship with God to reveal the range of humanity’s experience with Him. In these poems and songs, David, Solomon, Moses, and other great men of God expose their greatest joys and deepest hurts. Psalms, the longest book in the Bible, covers a greater span of years than any other Old Testament book. Used as the temple hymnbook, Psalms is actually five books in one. Each of the five sections closes with a doxology.

June 1

Psalms 1-6

The Last Laugh (Psalm 2)

Key Passage: Psalm 2

Overview

The gateway to the Book of Psalms is guarded by two major declarations concerning God’s revelation of Himself: He can be known through His Word, which brings blessing (Psalm 1), and He can be known in the Person of His Son, who rules over creation (2). The servant of God can cling to Him with confidence, knowing that God’s help and consolation are assured in both good times and bad. No foe (3) nor failure (4), no frustration (5) nor cause for fainting (6) can change the fact that God is in control.

Your Daily Walk

Laughter has been called “the sensation of feeling good all over, and showing it principally in one place.” Everyone enjoys a good laugh unless that laugh is on him. Then laughter can become a painful, rather than a pleasurable, experience.

Psalm 2 describes the world’s rulers gathered together. With great fury and indignation, they shake their fists at God and threaten to overthrow His rule (2:3). And what is God’s response to their show of power and independence?

A cosmic guffaw, loud enough to shake the heavens (2:4), at the absurdity of the nations rejecting the sovereign Creator who fashioned them. From God’s perspective, they are fools who will not fall and acknowledge His greatness. And they are blessed indeed who put their trust in Him.

Find a copy of today’s newspaper and spend a few minutes scanning the international news. Over each frightening or discouraging headline, write, “GOD IS IN CONTROL!” That’s a truth no one, king or commoner, can avoid.

Insight - Something Old, Something New

These words summarize the relationship between the Old and New Testaments: The New is in the Old contained; the Old is in the New explained. Prove that by noting how the New Testament writers quote and explain portions of Psalm 2 in Acts 4:25-26 (quoting Psalm 2:1-2), and in Acts 13:33 and Hebrews 5:5 (both quoting Psalm 2:7).

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June 2

Psalms 7–12

Let’s Just Praise the Lord (Psalm 9)

Key Passage: Psalm 9

Overview

The enemies of God’s people are also God’s enemies. Responding to these enemies is David’s burden in each of the psalms in today’s reading. In the face of dangerous opposition, David seeks God’s justice (7), protection (9–10), and deliverance (11–12). The God who created humanity to rule over His creation is the God who will one day silence and subdue His enemies (8).

Your Daily Walk

A famous author once commented, "one of the difficulties in language is that all our words have lost their edge from loose usage.” Sadly, the church is not immune to this phenomenon. Christian clichés develop so quickly... so subtly. Words that once prompted heartfelt responses have turned into empty shells, phrases spoken more from habit than from the heart.

The exercise of praising God never became routine for David. Instead, it involved his heart's deliberate, reasoned responseto God. The first two verses of Psalm 9 summarize David’s pattern of praise. First, he rejoices in God’s person; then he publicly proclaims God’s wondrous ways. Put them together, and you have meditation turned into communication, inward delight turned into outward demonstration. In a word, praise.

Try David’s plan for praising the Lord right now. Take an aspect of God’s character that you discovered while reading today’s passage, and translate it into the language of praise by singing a hymn, composing a short poem of praise, or reading back to God the words of Psalm 9. Make this a habit, and you—like David—will become a person after God’s own heart.

Insight - The Psalm with the Split Personality

The absence of a title in Psalm 10 and the sequence of letters in the Hebrew text (every other verse of Psalms 9 and 10 begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet, forming a handy and memorable acrostic) have led many commentators to conclude that Psalms 9 and 10 were originally one long song composed by David.

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June 3

Psalms 13–18

No Fooling (Psalm 14)

Key Passage: Psalm 14

Overview

In David’s day, as in ours, believers face many challenges to their faith, both from their own fearful hearts (13) and from those who foolishly deny God’s existence (14). The answer? Walking in fellowship with God (15), being sustained by His promises (16), and drawing upon His ever-available resources (17–18).

Your Daily Walk

Webster’s Dictionary defines an atheist as “one who denies the existence of God.” But why do atheists refuse to believe in God? Is it because...

• They cannot accept God rationally or intellectually?
• They are untaught and ignorant of the things of God?
• They are unwilling to repent of sin in their lives?

While each of those answers may be true, Psalm 14 highlights the root problem. Atheism is the by-product of a proud unwillingness to acknowledge sin before a holy God. David’s use of such descriptions as “corrupt...evildoers” shows that the basic issue is moral, not intellectual.

Understanding that will help you the next time you share your faith. Rather than trying to prove God’s existence (a common approach), focus instead on forgiveness in Jesus Christ. Intellectual objections can—and should—be answered. But only the grace of God can remove the guilt and stain of sin. Though you may not have the answers to all the questions, you can be confident you have the answer to the need of every human heart...because you have Christ in your heart.

Insight - What Is a Biblical Heart?

The word heart, used more than 700 times in the Bible and 100 times in the Psalms, actually has a broader meaning than the way it is often used today. It encompasses not only the emotions, but also the intellect (Job 38:36; Proverbs 2:10) and the will (Acts 11:23; Hebrews 4:12; Ephesians 6:6). The heart also refers to the personality and true character of a person.

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June 4

Psalms 19–24

In God We Trust (Psalm 20)

Key Passage: Psalm 20

Overview

God’s involvement in the lives of His people is the dominant theme of the psalms in today’s reading. God reveals Himself in the world and in the Word (19); He gives enablement and victory to those who do battle for Him (20–21); He sends His Messiah to suffer on the cross (22), shepherd His people (23), and establish His rule over the earth (24). Indeed, He is worthy to be trusted.

Your Daily Walk

Question: What do retirement funds, college degrees, and nuclear submarines have in common?

Answer: They are all designed to give you a sense of security— security for your future, security for your vocation, security for your protection. But do they?

Security in an increasingly insecure world—it’s one of today’s most sought after, and elusive, commodities.

Nearly 3,000 years ago, the ultimate military weapons were the chariot and the horse. Armies that could field a cavalry or chariot brigade were considered virtually invincible.

But Israel was to be different. God’s Law forbade her king to acquire many horses (Deuteronomy 17:16). Rather than put her confidence in strategic arms, Israel was to trust in everlasting arms, for God had promised to fight for His people. That is why David’s affirmation of trust in a delivering God (Psalm 20:7) is so appropriate. It’s the answer to the “national security” problem—both in his day and yours.

Using a pencil, list five things the world thinks you need to be secure. Then across the list, write in ink the words of Psalm 20:7—“We trust in the name of the Lord our God.” America’s coins are stamped “In God We Trust.” What sentiment is stamped on your heart?

Insight - And Speaking of Chariots...

Israel’s security was often threatened by chariot-equipped armies. What was the outcome of the skirmishes described in Exodus 14? Judges 4? 2 Kings 6:1-23?

GLOSSARY OF TERMS IN THE
Psalms

Refer to this graphic when you encounter unfamiliar terms, especially in the superscriptions (titles) of the Psalms. This will give you helpful information regarding historical background, author, musical setting, and usage of each psalm.

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June 5

Psalms 25–30

Praise and Thanks (Psalms 29–30)

Key Passage: Psalms 29–30

Overview

A growing relationship with God includes an ever-increasing understanding of what He can accomplish in your life as you trust in Him. He will guide you in His way (25), vindicate you when you’re wronged (26), and protect you when you’re in danger (27–28). David’s response—and the response God desires from every true believer— is an outpouring of heartfelt praise (29) and genuine thanksgiving (30).

Your Daily Walk

Praise and thanks. Psalms 29 and 30 provide a helpful illustration of the difference in those terms. Psalm 29, a song of praise, focuses on God’s glory as revealed in an earth-shaking thunderstorm. Psalm 30, a testimony of thanksgiving, centers around David’s experience of divine deliverance and his resulting gratitude to God. Psalm 29 illustrates praise, which is God-centered, focusing on God’s glory as revealed in His mighty attributes and works. Psalm 30 illustrates thanksgiving, which is more human-centered, highlighting the believer’s gratitude for God’s involvement in his life.

Understanding the difference between the two can add a new dimension to your prayer life. It’s easy to develop the habit of self-centered prayers in which your problems are central. And though petition is an integral part of prayer (Matthew 7:7-8), it is not the only part. As you take time to pray today, begin instead with praise for God’s glory and character (“You-centered” prayer). Make it a pattern in your praying that before you get caught up in your own concerns, you get caught up in God’s greatness. Then you, like the psalmist, will be both praising and thanking the Lord!

Insight - The Praise-Packed Psalms

Praise and thanksgiving permeate the Psalms—a fact seen in the repetition of the terms praise (175 times), thanks (27 times), and thanksgiving (5 times). It’s difficult to miss the psalmist’s intent that you learn to “praise the Lord” and “give thanks to the Lord.”

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June 6

Psalms 31–35

A Musical Manifesto (Psalm 33)

Key Passage: Psalm 33

Overview

Think of today’s reading as forming a pyramid. The outer two psalms (31 and 35) form the foundation and deal with the believer’s struggles against his enemies. In each case, David finds his refuge from external foes in God alone. David faces internal woes in the next level of the pyramid (32 and 34): unconfessed sin and secret fear. In each situation, the psalmist learns from his failures in the past so that he (and all who read his words) might respond rightly to similar perils in the future. The peak of the pyramid is formed by a beautiful psalm of praise to God, whose “plans...stand firm forever” (33:11).

Your Daily Walk

A little boy who loved to listen to music was bitterly disappointed because he could neither play nor sing. But a kindly gentleman encouraged him with these words: “There are many ways of making music. What matters is the song in your heart.” That little boy—Antonio Stradivari—took the man at his word and became the world’s greatest violin maker.

You may have an equally low estimation of your own singing ability. If so, Psalm 33:1-3 will challenge you with the privilege and responsibility of singing joyfully to the Lord. As if anticipating excuses, the psalmist commands us to sing. The character of God makes musical expression an appropriate part of worship, including instrumental arrangements (v. 2), songs of your creation, and joyful expressions of praise (v. 3). Your sovereign Creator is worthy of them all.

It’s time to sing! Sing with a praise CD for a time of worship and musical rejoicing in the Lord. It will help you carry a tune in your heart throughout the day.

Insight - Scripture Memory...Old Testament Style

Psalm 34 is one of seven acrostics in the Book of Psalms. When it was written, each verse began with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet, a memory aid for anyone who spoke Hebrew. This way, the reader could trace and remember David’s sequence of thought.

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June 7/8

Psalms 36–41

Looking Up from Down Under (Psalm 40)

Key Passage: Psalm 40

Overview

Every honest believer admits to having ups and downs, and David is no exception. In the face of great wickedness, he takes comfort in God’s loving care (36– 37). Despite inner conflict with guilt and discouragement, he finds strength in God’s help (38–39). Out of the darkness of his circumstances, David proclaims a shining testimony of God’s deliverance and mercy (40–41). No matter what life may bring, David knows that in God he has found a source of strength to rise above his circumstances, rather than sink beneath them.

Your Daily Walk

A report once read, “Ninety-five percent of all adults surveyed readily admit having occasional times of depression; the other five percent were too depressed to respond to the survey.”

Discouragement, depression, personal loss, a sense of hopelessness—they’re a universal experience. Psalm 40 describes one such moment in the life of King David, a time he likened to being “in the pits.” There he learned that the question is not, “Will I find myself from time to time in the pits?”—you will! Rather, the question is, “What will I do once I find myself there?”

David discovered a way to move from the mire (v. 2) to the choir (v. 3). Resisting the temptation to complain, get bitter, give up, or grow angry, David cried out to God, waited for His answer, and when it came, carefully gave God the credit.

Take time today to call a friend you sense may be struggling with feelings of depression and share David’s testimony from Psalm 40. You’ll be amazed how God will encourage you both.

Insight - Lend Me Your Ears...for Life (40:6)

Israel’s law made provision for a servant who, having fulfilled his obligations of service, loved his master and wanted to devote the rest of his life to his master’s service. This commitment was signified and sealed by piercing the servant’s ear. Read about this unusual symbol of total devotion in Deuteronomy 15:12-17.

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June 9

Psalms 42–49

A Mighty Fortress (Psalm 46)

Key Passage: Psalm 46

Overview

Book 2 of the Psalter begins with a collection of psalms attributed to the sons of Korah. The first two express the longing of the troubled soul for God (42–43), followed by a prayer for victory in the midst of trouble (44). By contrast, Psalms 45–48 extol God’s majesty (45), protection (46), and power (47–48). The section concludes with wise instruction concerning true riches (49).

Your Daily Walk

Every tomorrow has two handles: the handle of anxiety and the handle of faith. Which will you use to get a “handle” on your day?

Second only to the fear of standing before a large audience is the commonly expressed phobia known as “fear of the unknown.” Where do you turn for stability in an unstable world? You can turn to the same refuge the psalmist found.

In Psalm 46 the sons of Korah portray the worst calamities imaginable upon earth: earthquake, landslides, turmoil on land and sea (vv. 2–3). And when everything seems to be breaking loose, they proclaim that there remains an immovable Refuge: the God of Jacob.

Before you close your devotional time today, follow the instructions of verse 10. Remove as many distractions as possible, and be still before the Lord for a few minutes. Give Him any fears you may be harboring; then write down the words of Psalm 46:10 and carry them with you today. When fear, like acid, begins to eat away at your peace of mind, pull out your reminder from the Sons of Korah and refresh your memory. Your Refuge is the same “yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

Insight - And Now a Word About the Authors

The sons of Korah were Levites, relatives of the man who died for his rebellion against Moses (Numbers 16). One part of the family became temple doorkeepers (1 Chronicles 9:19), and another the singers and musicians in the temple choir (1 Chronicles 6:31-33, 37).

CATALOGING THE
Psalter

Just as the nation of Israel was divided into many different tribes, so the Psalms can be divided into many different types. As you journey through the Psalms, you’ll find it helpful to be able to classify each psalm that you read.

A majority of the psalms fall into one of three categories:

1. Lament Psalms. These are petitions addressed directly to God by the individual or community in the context of distress. They usually include a description of the problem, a confession of trust, and a vow of praise to God, uttered with the confidence that God can and will deliver His people (examples: Psalms 3–7, 22, 42).
2. Thank Psalms. These psalms, offered publicly by one or more worshipers, acknowledge God’s faithful actions on behalf of His people in the past, or express confidence in His promise to act in the future (examples: Psalms 18, 27, 62).
3. Praise Psalms. These hymns are based on the word praise or hallelujah. They are joyful expressions of adoration for God’s greatness, acknowledging Him as Creator, Sustainer, and Lover of His people (examples: Psalms 113, 117, 146–150).
   In addition, you will encounter:
   
   
4. Royal Psalms. Hymns describing the King, both earthly and heavenly, reigning over His kingdom (examples: Psalms 2, 95–96).
5. Woe Psalms. Poems expressing the psalmist’s righteous indignation at God’s enemies, and calling for God’s swift retribution (examples: Psalms 49, 109, 137).
6. Acrostic Psalms. Highly stylized poems in which each new section, verse, or line begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet (examples: Psalms 9–10, 25, 37).
7. Pilgrim Psalms or Songs of Ascent. Songs sung by worshipers on the way up to Jerusalem for the yearly feasts (examples: Psalms 120–134).
8. Messianic Psalms. Prophetic songs describe the coming Messiah as King (Psalms 2, 24, 110), Servant (Psalms 22, 40, 69), and Son of God (Psalm 118).

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June 10

Psalms 50–54

Betrayed but Triumphant (Psalm 52)

Key Passage: Psalms 52, 54

Overview

God in His righteousness deals with sin in the lives of believers and unbelievers alike. For those who claim a false righteousness, there is a warning and rebuke (50). For those who acknowledge and turn from sin, there is forgiveness and restoration (51). The evil traitor (52) and the foolish atheist (53) face destruction, but the righteous one who suffers at the hands of evil men can trust in God’s ultimate victory (54).

Your Daily Walk

Take it from David: There is something worse than being wounded by an enemy—being wounded by a friend. And when a trusted co-worker has stabbed you in the back, how should you handle the natural feelings of resentment?

Answer: Handle them with prayer. When Doeg the Edomite reported David’s whereabouts to King Saul, it must have come as no surprise to either Saul or David, for Doeg was a known ally of the king. But when the Ziphites, whose border town of Keilah David had personally rescued from a Philistine onslaught (1 Samuel 23:16), betrayed their deliverer, the sting must have been intense.

Anger, bitterness, revenge, and a desire to run are natural responses to betrayal. But none resolves the issue or helps the one betrayed. For that, you must turn to God, who alone can heal the wound with a spirit of forgiveness and love (52:8-9; 54:6-7; 55:22).

Have you been wounded by a friend in recent days? Then finish this prayer: “Lord, You know I have every right to treat [fill in the blank] as my enemy. Though I could respond naturally, help me in Your strength to respond supernaturally.”

Insight - Strike the Records Clean

When David penned his plea, “Blot out my transgressions” (51:1), he was probably thinking of how he kept records of events happening in his kingdom, and he envisioned God doing the same. Can you think of any other metaphors for God removing our sins? (Hint: Try Psalms 103:12 and 51:2, 7.)

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June 11

Psalms 55–59

The Link of Faith (Psalm 55)

Key Passage: Psalm 55

Overview

Great peril can cause great discouragement and disclose great faith in God. Though David cries out in anguish to God when faced with betrayal by a friend (55), the vicious pursuit of an enemy (56–57), and the hatred of hostile judges (58), at the same time he demonstrates great confidence in God’s ability to vindicate him at the proper time and in the proper way (59).

Your Daily Walk

When the forecast calls for storms, ships need a strong anchor, buildings a sure foundation, and trees a deep root system. In each case, their survival through the storm depends upon a link to something that cannot be moved.

David’s anchor in stormy circumstances was an unshakable faith in an unchanging God. Each psalm in today’s reading describes an unsettling, disrupting influence that swept into his life. David pictures these onslaughts as raging winds and storms (55:8), as lions with teeth like arrows (57:4), as venomous snakes (58:4-5), and as snarling dogs (59:6). But rather than focus on the forces swirling around him, David concentrates on his link of faith to God (55:22; 56:10-11; 57:11; 58:11; 59:9). And since his anchor is fixed to an immovable Rock, David finds that he too is immovable because “you, O God, are my fortress” (59:9).

Is there a storm on the horizon in your life? Are you facing fierce opposition because of your faith? Using David’s expressions of trust, compose a statement of your confidence in the God who never changes. Let it remind you that you don’t need to fear the storms of life if you have a sure foundation—an anchor in the Lord.

Insight - Self-Portrait of a Traitor

Though the identity of the traitor described in Psalm 55:12-14 remains unknown to us, ironically, David was painting a graphic picture of his own treachery toward Uriah the Hittite, one of David’s staunchest allies and the victim of his murderous plot (2 Samuel 11).

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June 12

Psalms 60–66

Through the Night Watches (Psalm 63)

Key Passage: Psalm 63

Overview

The freedom to be transparent before God, to express to Him exactly how you feel, is an important part of prayer. David’s prayer life reveals the deepest emotions of his heart. The welfare of his nation (60) and the duties of his office (61) weigh heavily upon him. He yearns for a growing relationship with God (62–64)—a relationship his enemies do not experience. He stands in awe of God’s powerful creation (65) and revels in God’s matchless salvation (66), inviting all to “come and see what God has done” (66:5).

Your Daily Walk

Psalm 63 was penned by David “when he was in the Desert of Judah,” a desolate region where water is scarce, vegetation is almost nonexistent, and the heat of the day makes every activity a burden. These barren surroundings prompt David to write: “My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water” (63:1).

David knows that his thirst and hunger for God will be satisfied as he follows hard after Him. “My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods” (63:5). In seeking God early, David will find elements of God’s character to reflect upon late into the night (63:6). In searching for Him in a dry land, David will find refreshment “in the shadow of your wings” (63:7). In cleaving to God, David will find God holding on to him (63:8).

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6). How is your spiritual appetite? Carve out time to get alone with God today. Enjoy His presence; feast on His Word; let Him satisfy the yearning of your heart.

Insight - A Sleepless Night for a Thirsty Soul

In Bible times, the night was divided into three periods or “watches” for soldiers and shepherds: sunset to approximately 10:00 p.m., 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., and 2:00 a.m. to dawn. Read 63:6 to discover a telltale sign of David’s devotion to God.

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June 13

Psalms 67–72

Your Burden Bearer (Psalm 68)

Key Passage: Psalm 68

Overview

Book 2 of the Psalms concludes with six proclamations showing that God is worthy of praise and trust. The nations acknowledge God’s righteous rule (67), exulting in His care of the fatherless and homeless (68). He hears the cry of the distressed (69), speedily delivers the oppressed (70), strengthens the feeble-hearted (71), and exercises dominion over kings and kingdoms (72).

Your Daily Walk

It has been well said, “Our days are identical suitcases—all the same size—but some people can pack more into them than others.” In the midst of your busy schedule, never lose sight of the fact that God is busy too—on your behalf. As you read Psalm 68, jot down at least five things God has promised to do for you today—and every day.

In a world where people are often faceless figures, it’s encouraging to know there’s Someone to whom you’ll never be just a number. Someone who “daily bears our burdens” (68:19). Someone who enters into your joys and sorrows, exchanging your heavy burdens for His light ones (Matthew 11:28-30).

God longs to demonstrate His strength and power on behalf of His people. Have you drawn upon that strength today, enabling you to do in His strength what you would be powerless to do in your own strength? After all, “the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people” (68:35).

Insight - The Final Stop on a 400-Year Journey

The exact occasion for which David composed Psalm 68 is not known, but quite possibly it marked the bringing of the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:12). This joyous event climaxes a journey begun centuries before at Mount Sinai. There the ark had been fashioned; from there it went before Israel into the promised land. Now the ark reaches the summit of Mount Zion, where it will reside as the symbol of God’s abiding presence.

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June 14/15

Psalms 73–77

Man’s Questions, God’s Answers (Psalm 73)

Key Passage: Psalm 73

Overview

Book 3 of the Psalms begins with several selections by Asaph, a gifted musician appointed by David to direct the Levitic choirs. Asaph first probes the hard question, “Why do the wicked flourish (73) while Israel flounders (74)?” By focusing on God’s justice (75–76) and God’s faithfulness to His people (77), Asaph discovers a solid foundation of hope, even as the wicked seemingly “get away with murder.”

Your Daily Walk

A sheriff was asked by a local resident, “Do you think you will ever eliminate crime?”

The sheriff wisely replied, “I’m not naive enough to think that crime can ever be eliminated. There were prostitutes and pickpockets in the days of Christ. There was gambling and debauchery in the days of the prophets. There will always be some who submit to the soft, glittery pleasures of the world, and it will always be for the spiritually strong to lead those back.”

Asaph, in observing the criminal element in his day, was honest enough to ask God some searching questions: Is godliness really worth the struggle? Have I made the wrong choice? (73:13-14). Implied in those words is another protest: God, do You really care?

If you’ve asked the same questions, you need what Asaph found: perspective. As he drew close to the Lord (73:17), the psalmist saw that the wicked will be repaid for their sinfulness. The faithful will receive a great reward. All this will happen in God’s perfect timing.

In the meantime, you need strength for today—strength to forego the expedient and concentrate on the obedient.

Insight - Asaph—No Second Fiddle When It Comes to Music

Asaph was one of the singers appointed by David to direct the Levitical choral group (1 Chronicles 15:16, 19). He was also a fine musician (Nehemiah 12:46), and when the ark was brought back to Jerusalem, David appointed him the “chief” leader of all praise and worship before the Lord (1 Chronicles 16:4-5).

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Job

Job, perhaps the oldest book of the Bible, is set during the period of the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob). It tells the 4,000-year-old story of a man who loses everything—wealth, family, health, and prestige—and wrestles with the question “Why?” After a heavenly encounter between God and Satan, the book moves through three cycles of earthly debates between the grieving Job and four of his friends. It concludes dramatically as the sovereign God comforts the questioning man.

May 16

Job 1–3

Job’s Affliction and Lament

Key Passage: Job 1:1–2:10

Overview

Job, a God-fearing family man and wealthy landowner living in the land of Uz during the days of the patriarchs, becomes the focus of a heavenly conversation between God and Satan. Held up as a model of godly devotion and worship, Job’s faithfulness is attacked by Satan as the product of Job’s financial prosperity. “But just introduce a good dose of adversity,” Satan accuses, “and Job’s commitment will dissolve into cursing.” Practically overnight, Job loses his health, wealth, family, and reputation. But through it all, he steadfastly acknowledges God’s sovereign right to give blessings and to take them away, as He sees fit.

Your Daily Walk

How deep is your commitment to God? Do you worship Him because it is the socially acceptable thing to do? Because He has prospered you materially? Because the rest of your family follows Him? Because by doing so you hope to gain long life and good health?

What would happen if God suddenly put you through a Job-like experience? Broken health, death of a loved one, financial reversal, and disastrous fire. Job’s faith was severely tested in a furnace of adversity, not to ruin him but to refine him. Though Job was short on explaining the “why” of his ordeal, he was long on trusting the “who”—the One who had every right to give and withhold blessing. “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” (1:21).

Has God recently removed a blessing from your life? Could you think back to the time He first gave it to you? Didn’t you respond with thanks? Then make that the pattern for the way you respond now. In God’s strength, Job did; so can you.

Insight - Job—A Book, a Man, and a Whole Lot More

Two possible meanings of the name Job are found in the following: One comes from an Arabic root and means “one who turns back (repents).” Another derives from a Hebrew root and means “the hated (persecuted) one.” Notice how both prefigure Job's experiences in the book that bears his name.

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May 17/18

Job 4–7

Job’s First Answer from Eliphaz

Key Passage: Job 4:1-9; 6:1-13

Overview

Onto the stage now step three of Job’s friends, who will serve as self-appointed counselors for the next 28 chapters. Each friend represents a different point of view concerning the source of Job’s suffering. Eliphaz, the senior spokesman and “chief counsel for the prosecution,” bases much of his insight on personal experience. Older and more diplomatic than his two companions, Eliphaz couches his criticism in kinder terms. God is righteous and pure (4:17); man’s troubles (including Job’s) are brought on by himself. Job expresses disappointment with Eliphaz’s diagnosis, challenging Eliphaz to identify anything standing between him and his God.

Your Daily Walk

It is a rare and precious friend who knows when to speak and when to keep quiet. A well-intentioned word spoken to a bereaved individual at an inappropriate moment can do more harm than good.

Take it from a father who knows—one who sat by the bedside of his teenage daughter during her long hospitalization, then penned these wise words to those who would offer sympathy:

“Be prayerful about what you say. To us, the presence, not the sage counsel, of visitors was the most meaningful...We sensed little value in attempts to ‘theologize’ about the purpose of this trial. We needed encouragement for the immediate moment more than speculation about the past or present.”

Do you know others undergoing Job-like experiences today? Don’t glibly tell them, “I understand,” when you don’t. Instead, tell them, “I’m here...and I love you.”

Insight - An Examination of Eliphaz

• His name means “God is dispenser [of judgment].”
• He was a native of Teman (Job 2:11), a city located southeast of Palestine and famous for its wise men (Jeremiah 49:7).
• He was the leading spokesman of the group.
• He was clear-thinking and considerate, contending that people bring trouble on themselves (Job 5:7).

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May 19

Job 8–10

Job’s First Answer from Bildad

Key Passage: Job 8:8-19; 9:1-24

Overview

Bildad, the second of Job’s three friends to speak, relies more on tradition than on experience for his arguments. He goes back to former days to prove his contention that God is just, concluding that only those who pursue godlessness are in line for God’s chastening hand. Job responds that he is innocent—a claim that God cannot deny (10:7)—but he is nonetheless unable to explain why God would single him out for suffering.

Your Daily Walk

Inequities in life don’t make sense. The speeding car gets away, and you get ticketed for a burned-out headlight. The lax employee gets the promotion while you get passed over. The unsaved family next door has three new cars while you can barely make payments on your “lemon.”

But how do the inequities in your life stack up against those Job faced in the first 10 chapters of his book? Character assassination by Satan; loss of family, fortune, and health; false accusation from friends; and (worst of all) total silence from the only One who can right the record and verify his innocence.

Bildad’s answer to Job’s despair is that Job must be harboring some horrible secret sin. His solution? “Admit your sin and God will remove the suffering.” But how do you confess a sin that never existed in the first place?

Let James 1:1-12 guide you to a better answer. God is committed to developing patience in your life, and one way He accomplishes that is through the crucible of problems. Remember: Faith in the furnace is a faith that is being refined, strengthened, and deepened.

Insight - A Profile of Bildad

• His name means “son of contention.”
• He was a desert dweller, living in what today is a part of Arabia.
• He was more blunt and argumentative than Eliphaz.
• He charged Job with godlessness, contending that God never twists justice (8:3, 13).

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May 20

Job 11–14

Job’s First Answer from Zophar

Key Passage: Job 11; 12:13-25

Overview

Brushing aside the courtesy and restraint of the first two counselors, Zophar bores straight to the heart of the matter, as he sees it. “Will your idle talk reduce men to silence?...I wish that God would speak, that he would open his lips against you...God has even forgotten some of your sin” (11:3, 5–6). Zophar accuses Job of abandoning the God of infinite wisdom and following his own ignorant ways. In response, Job defends his own integrity and reaffirms his steadfast confidence in God.

Your Daily Walk

True depression manifests itself in many different ways. In some people, it brings sobs and moanings without words; in others, fits of anger, rage, and even violence. Still others may experience an inability to perform simple tasks of personal care, such as eating, bathing, or dressing. For the Christian, there is the added sense of guilt, for he knows that God cannot abandon him. Yet the depressed person feels that God has.

A few passages in Scripture paint a picture of depression as dark as Job 14. Job, who knows God is on his side, who knows God is in control of both the oppressed and the oppressor, who knows that justice will ultimately triumph, nevertheless despairs of his very life. By dwelling on the greatness of his grief, he loses perspective on the greatness of his God.

One way we can pull ourselves out of depression is to focus on the Problem Solver rather than the problem. To help you do that, write down the words of Psalm 34:18. And if you feel yourself floundering in a sea of depression, consider seeking professional help as well.

Insight - Zophar in the Spotlight

• His name means “hairy” or “rough.”
• He lived in Naamah, located perhaps in northern Arabia.
• He displayed a holier-than-thou attitude.
• He charged Job with boasting, contending that God knows sin when He sees it and deals with it accordingly (11:2-6, 11).

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May 21

Job 15–17

Job’s Second Answer from Eliphaz

Key Passage: Job 15:1-16; 17:1-16

Overview

Job’s friends have spoken, and Job has refuted each argument. Chapter 15 begins a second volley of attacks on Job’s character as each friend seeks to offer the final word on Job’s baffling case. Eliphaz leads again by describing Job’s words as worthless talk. He denies Job has a true knowledge of God and broadly condemns all wickedness in man, a thinly disguised slander of Job’s spiritual life. Job responds by calling Eliphaz and his companions “miserable comforters” (16:2). From Job’s perspective, God is out to crush him, a thought that leaves Job broken in spirit and seemingly alone.

Your Daily Walk

It has been said, “The elderly are the only outcast group that everyone eventually expects to join.” Arnold Toynbee, on his 80th birthday, remarked, “I’m glad I’m growing old in England. Americans are dedicated to the new and super-efficient. It must be depressing to be old in the United States.” In the church of Jesus Christ, the situation is not much better. Those who stand to gain the most from the experience of the elderly, the next generation, often spend the least amount of time with them. Perhaps that is why Paul commanded Titus to have the older women teach the younger, and the older men to be godly models for the younger (Titus 2:1-8). Without Paul’s encouragement, this kind of guidance might not occur.

How do you treat the seniors in your church? Do you honor them and draw upon their wisdom in making spiritual decisions? Spend some time with someone 20 or more years your senior. You’ll leave wiser!

Insight - The Literary Genius in Job

The Book of Job stands out as one of the finest pieces of early literature. Please take a look at how it is structured with poetry in the middle and prose at the beginning and end. The book resembles a courtroom setting, where the three friends, as lawyers, accuse the defendant Job. In the end, though, God, the presiding Judge, has the final word.

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May 22

Job 18–19

Job’s Second Answer from Bildad

Key Passage: Job 18:1–19:6

Overview

Bildad launches his second volley of barbs at Job. According to Bildad, the light of the wicked goes out; he is ensnared in various traps, disease consumes him, and his family forsakes him. Bildad’s elocution is flawless, but his theology is faulty—a fact that Job quickly points out. Responding to his unsympathetic friend, Job acknowledges that God has had a hand in the things that have befallen him. His friends and family have failed him, and even his wife has spurned him. Mercy is seemingly nowhere to be found. But just when Job reaches the depths of despair, his faith is rekindled as he proclaims the certainty that “yet in my flesh I will see God” (19:26).

Your Daily Walk

What is the best book you’ve read this month? This year? In your lifetime?

You may never spend a day when books do not affect your life. (And surely every day should include time with the Book of books, the Bible.) Books can fortify, stimulate, inform, and challenge you. Through them, you can enter vicariously into the experience of the author, gaining a fresh, new perspective on the vastness of God’s creation and the depths of the human spirit.

When the Apostle Paul found himself in a Roman dungeon, he made two requests: (1) for a cloak to warm his body, and (2) for books to feed his mind and soul (2 Timothy 4:13).

Start today if you haven’t cultivated the habit of reading good books. Visiting your Christian bookstore will open a new horizon of information and inspiration for your daily walk with God. Who knows? You might even find a “best seller” or two.

Insight - Job’s Suffering—A Textbook Case

Broken down by the thought of his alienation from God and man alike, Job cries out: “Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll, that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, or engraved in rock forever!” (19:23-24). Turn to Matthew 5:18, and you’ll see Job’s wish was granted.

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May 23

Job 20–21

Job’s Second Answer from Zophar

Key Passage: Job 20:1-11; 21:22-34

Overview

Zophar, specializing in easy answers to difficult questions, now levels his second barrage against Job. He paints a vivid (and gruesome) picture of the fate of the wicked man in the hands of a holy God. If what Zophar says is true, Job’s life certainly provides Exhibit A. But as Job points out, this isn’t always true. Some wicked men live long and virtually painless lives. They are happy, well-fed, and at ease with life. They seem to prosper with impunity despite their godless lifestyle. The wicked are mighty this side of the grave, but then comes their destruction by God. Thus, there is little in Zophar’s words to bring comfort to the grieving Job.

Your Daily Walk

Are you experiencing feelings of jealousy toward someone who seems to be “getting away with murder”?

Then consider this:

• It is God who allows the wicked to prosper temporarily. He withholds His punishment (21:9); He allows them prosperity (21:16); He allows their family, field, and flocks to thrive (21:8-11).
• The prosperity of the wicked drives them far from God. They do not desire to know Him or even to talk to Him (21:15), in spite of His blessing in their lives.
• The destruction of the wicked is certain. Prosperity now will give way to calamity in the future, when the eyes of the wicked shall see their own destruction and His wrath (21:20).

God’s love is clearly visible in His long-suffering toward those who deserve punishment. Is that your attitude as well? Make these words your marching orders for today: “Love cures people—both the ones who give it and the ones who receive it.”

Insight - Hasty Words, Hurtful Words

Zophar’s second speech must be interpreted by his opening statement: “My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer because I am greatly disturbed” (20:2). His hurried response was cruel and incorrect. Zophar’s concept of God was nothing more than a reflection of himself: impatient and judgmental.

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May 24/25

Job 22–24

Job’s Third Answer from Eliphaz

Key Passage: Job 22:1-11; 23:1-12

Overview

Round Three of the debate between Job and his friends about Job’s predicament produces plenty of heat but sheds little light. Once again, Eliphaz leads the assault: “Is not your wickedness great? Are not your sins endless?” (22:5). What began as courteous dialogue now turns into a grave accusation. Though there is no evidence to support Eliphaz’s charges, he insists that what he says must be true to explain Job’s circumstances. But Job remains firm in his conviction that he is innocent and God is trustworthy.

Your Daily Walk

It’s a good thing iron, coal, and bauxite don’t have a vote in the matter. If they did, chances are good there would be no such thing as steel, diamonds, or aluminum. Why? Because heat, pressure, and time are all involved in transforming these raw materials into something better. Take away the process, and you also lose the end product.

In chapter 23, Job acknowledges that God has put his faith in the furnace, not to ruin him but to refine him. Just as gold loses its impurities at a temperature of several thousand degrees, Job declares that “when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold” (23:10) — tested, purified, proven in character.

Take time today to read 1 Peter 1:1-9 carefully. Then, carry a piece of aluminum foil in your pocket or purse as a reminder that the heat and pressure you face today are God’s way of helping you reflect His glory tomorrow.

Insight - Seeing the Invisible God

Job’s trust in God is nowhere more visible than in 23:8-10. In his search for answers, Job goes “east...west...north...south.” And what does he discover? “[God] is not there...I do not find him... I do not see him...I catch no glimpse of him.” But Job realizes the ultimate question is not, “Can I see the invisible God?” (no, you can’t); but rather, “Can I trust the invisible God?” (yes, you can).

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May 26

Job 25–28

Job’s Third Answer from Bildad

Key Passage: Job 25–26, 28

Overview

Even long-winded debaters eventually run out of arguments, and such is the case with Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. Bildad only underscores what he considers the crucial issue of Job’s case: Mortal man is defenseless to stand before a just God. Therefore, Job’s distress must be due to a breach of God’s righteous demands. Though Job agrees with the premise, he firmly believes Bildad’s conclusion is false. By painting a sweeping picture of God’s majesty and power in creation, he shows what folly it is to expect mortal man to discern and understand God’s ways (26:14). When Zophar chooses not to respond in turn, Job speaks to all three men about God’s wisdom.

Your Daily Walk

Human beings accomplished incredible feats during the 20th century. We put men on the moon, spanned continents by supersonic jet and satellite communications, and isolated causes and cures for diseases that used to kill millions of people. Our search for knowledge has pushed us to the highest mountain peak and the deepest ocean gorge.

But for all this knowledge and achievement, we have yet to discover a source of wisdom on earth that can pull all the pieces of life together for us. “But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell? Man does not comprehend its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living” (28:12-13). Only in God can we find life’s answers. “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom” (28:28). Finite humans can discover many treasures for themselves; others can only be found in God.

Select a question you are wrestling with that defies human explanation. Make it a personal project to find all that God has said on the subject in His Word. That’s where wisdom begins.

Insight - God’s Wisdom Is Richer Than Topaz (28:19)

Topaz was precious in biblical times. It was in the breastplate of the high priest (Exodus 28:17) and among the stones covering the prince of Tyre (Ezekiel 28:13). John even mentioned topaz as part of the walls of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:20).

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May 27

Job 29–31

Job’s Final Plea

Key Passage: Job 29:1-6; 30:1-8; 31:5-15

Overview

Rather than repeat his well-worn accusations, Zophar maintains his silence. But though Job’s counselors have run out of words, Job’s condition is just as perplexing as before. What makes the present predicament even more unpleasant for Job is his recollection of the past. In days gone by God had blessed him with protection, guidance, family, prosperity, dignity, and discernment. But now, all that has changed. Derision, disease, death, poverty, and tears have filled his life. And yet, 20 times over, Job affirms, “If I have erred in any way from God’s law, let me be punished accordingly.” Job does not fear the outcome when it is God who weighs his life in the balance.

Your Daily Walk

“The End.” Those words are often seen at the close of a book or movie. They mark the last page or the last scene. The story is over.

In Job’s case, those words lower the curtain on his attempts to explain his predicament: “The words of Job are ended” (31:40). The mystery remained unsolved; “The Case of the Suffering Saint” seemed as far away from a solution as ever. Then Job did a wise thing—waiting on the Lord (Psalm 46:10).

The urge to talk, defend, and demand explanations is strong. But take a lesson from Job. Sometimes it is preferable, and wiser, to say nothing, and merely to listen for the still, small voice of God. Is one of those “sometimes” right now?

Insight - Prosperity from a Peculiar Place

At first glance, 29:6 may not make sense, with illustrations of oily rocks and feet bathed in cream. Think of these as ancient Near Eastern imagery for prosperity. An abundance of cream indicates large herds of cows and goats. Oil streams indicate groves of olive trees that thrive in rocky soil, extracted in presses hewn from solid rock. Job did not attribute his prosperity to personal achievement, but rather to the providence of God (29:2-5).

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May 28

Job 32–34

Job’s Answer from Elihu (Part 1)

Key Passage: Job 32:1-9; 33:8-22; 34:10-15

Overview

Mired in depression and apparently no nearer to solving his problem, Job would hardly appear to need another counselor. But Elihu, younger than Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, has listened silently to their hurtful (rather than helpful) words. Now Elihu declares his evaluation of the situation in four lengthy monologues. Job has repeatedly affirmed his innocence, but Elihu reminds him that God sometimes uses adversity to get man’s attention and turn him from the path of destruction. Elihu reaffirms God’s perfect justice and calls for Job to confess his sins of pride and rebellion.

Your Daily Walk

Have you ever noticed certain phrases nearly everyone uses, but no one seems to believe? Statements like...

• “This will hurt me more than it hurts you.”
• “It’s more blessed to give than to receive.”
• “The grass is always greener on the other side.” (To be honest, not only is the grass not greener, it’s not even edible.)

Take the first statement. Does it pain the parent more than the child when discipline is administered? Does God agonize when He must bring painful consequences upon His erring children? To find out, reread the last 20 verses of Job 33. Then spend a few minutes thinking about the role of discipline in life with your children: why it is important, why it is painful, and why God sometimes has to discipline His children.

Insight - How Should We Take His Advice?

Many different interpretations have been offered for Elihu’s speeches, from childish pomposity to honest, humble wisdom. Whatever the case may be, we know that God did not rebuke Elihu as He did Job’s other three friends (42:7). Perhaps God was more understanding of his youth, but then again, he may have struck some chords of truth.

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May 29

Job 35–37

Job’s Answer from Elihu (Part 2)

Key Passage: Job 35; 37:14-24

Overview

Though he offers a more satisfactory explanation than any of the other counselors, Elihu nonetheless errs in his assessment of Job’s situation. He accuses Job of making foolish statements to the other men; he wrongly assumes that his diagnosis will enable Job to see an immediate purpose behind his sufferings; he concludes that unexplainable suffering always has an educational value in the sufferer's life. Throughout Elihu’s comments, a strong confidence in the sovereignty of God can be found. He is just, holy, mighty, and unfathomable in His works. Only a clearer picture of Him will supply Job with the answers to his questions.

Your Daily Walk

Disillusioned by the uses people have made of science, Albert Einstein said that if he could live again, he would choose to be a plumber rather than a physicist.

Science still has nothing to say to the deepest levels of human experience. It can’t warm a heart chilled by loneliness or mend a heart broken by grief. It cannot remove sin's stain or ease guilt's pain. Elihu pointed to science as a testimony to God’s greatness and complexity, but only a word from God Himself could comfort Job in his hour of grief.

Tonight, under the stars, take out a flashlight and read the words of Psalm 19. Let them remind you again that there is a God of creation who knows the answers to life’s deepest riddles. The God who specializes in controlling the storm is fully adequate to handle any storm of doubt or confusion in your life today.

Insight - A View of Elihu

• His name means “He is my God.”
• By birth, he was a Buzite—a tribal group from Arabia.
• He had wisdom beyond his years.
• He provided an enlightened answer to Job’s misery that, though superior to the incorrect answers of the other three, still fell short of the perfect answer only God could provide.

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May 30

Job 38–39

God’s Answer to Job

Key Passage: Job 38:1-18

Overview

God has not spoken during the discourses of Job’s friends. But now He breaks His self-imposed silence to give Job what he frequently requested: a personal audience with the God of creation. Now God does most of the talking; Job is strangely silent. God begins by asking Job a series of questions about the created universe. Using 10 object lessons from the physical world, and 10 more from the animal world, God overwhelms Job with His greatness and grandeur, causing him to respond, “I am unworthy” (40:4). In light of God’s awesome power, what right does the creature have to demand explanations from the Creator?

Your Daily Walk

“Pick on someone your size” is good advice for bullies and for anyone who thinks he’s a worthy opponent for God.

Job demanded an audience with God, confident that if he could meet the Almighty face to face, he could hold his own. God granted his wish! But it wasn’t long before Job the warrior became Job the worshiper. Standing in the presence of his Creator, Job bowed low in awe and quickly realized his own sinfulness and smallness. Compared to the grandeur of God’s majesty, Job felt like nothing (40:4).

Do you, like Job, feel God owes you an answer for the present distress you’re experiencing? That’s a symptom you’ve grown nearsighted in your knowledge of Him. Today, keep an eye out for eyeglasses. Whenever you see a pair, let them remind you to keep your infinitely powerful and loving God in proper focus. Like Job, learn to walk with God...on your knees.

Insight - A Windy Answer for a Wounded Saint

“Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm” (38:1). God is often portrayed in Scripture accompanied by a storm—a dramatic way of underscoring what He is about to say. Look up the following passages to discover other times when God’s presence was accompanied by a tempest: Ezekiel 1:4, 28; Nahum 1:3; Zechariah 9:14.

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May 31

Job 40–42

Job’s Acquittal and Reward

Key Passage: Job 40:1-14; 42

Overview

Job has been confronted with God’s power and wisdom. But the question of His judgment and justice yet remains. Once again God uses interrogation: “Do you have an arm like God’s?” (40:9); invitation: prove that you know how to exercise true justice (see vv. 10–14); and illustration: “Look at the behemoth” (v. 15) to bring Job to the point of repentance for his presumptuous attitude. Though Job still finds God’s ways unsearchable, he is willing to trust God completely. Job emerges from his tragedy a man of renewed faith, having heard about God...and spoken to Him face to face.

Your Daily Walk

God doesn’t just patch—He renews.

God doesn’t just salve sins—He saves.

God doesn’t just reform—He transforms.

Job’s faith in God didn’t necessarily make life easier for him. In some ways, that faith was the reason for his calamity. (Remember chapters 1 and 2?) And Job’s confidence in God didn’t automatically answer all his questions about God. But it gave him a strength and stability to accept what each day brought: prosperity and poverty, blessing and bereavement, the unexpected and the unexplainable.

That’s what faith in God can do for you. One songwriter said, “Through it all, I’ve learned to trust in Jesus, I’ve learned to trust in God; through it all, I’ve learned to depend upon His Word.”

But before you can learn to trust Him, you must meet Him face to face. If you’ve never done that, read the next page carefully and prayerfully. Remember, the God who saved and sustained Job can do the same for you.

Insight - A Threefold Benediction of God’s Blessing (42:14)

The daughters born to Job after his suffering were given names symbolizing the beauty and glory of restoration: Jemimah (dove), Keziah (perfume), and Keren-happuch (beautifier).

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Ezra

In Ezra, the historical narrative of 2 Chronicles continues. After 70 years of exile, God fulfills His promise to return His people to their homeland. Under His sovereign direction, a Persian king now rules in Babylon, and the Jews are free at last to go home. The first group of returnees rebuilds the temple in Jerusalem (chs. 1–6). Fifty-eight years later, Ezra leads a second group back to Jerusalem to rebuild the spiritual and moral character of the people (chs. 7–10).

May 1

Ezra 1–3

Temple Commission

Key Passage: Ezra 1:1-8; 3:1-13

Overview

The people of God have paid dearly for their indifference and idolatry. For 70 years, they have languished in Babylonian exile. But though the situation looks bleak, God has neither forsaken nor forgotten them. At the appointed time, He raises a pagan Persian king named Cyrus, whose proclamation permits the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple—an event prophesied in remarkable detail fully two centuries in advance (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1-4). Sadly, only a handful of exiles respond to the invitation. Led by Zerubbabel and supported by the king’s treasury, about 50,000 Jews begin the long trek to their shattered homeland, where together they begin to rebuild the nation’s temple and the nation’s future.

Your Daily Walk

Could you try this experiment? Using a watch with a sweep second hand or digital counter, see how long it takes to find a paper clip, a postage stamp, and last year’s tax return. Ready . . . go! (Less than a minute—your house is arranged “decently and in order”; between one and three minutes—you could use some help; more than three minutes—you probably have small children around the house.)

Now ponder this observation. The myriad of numbers in Ezra 1–2 is not there to overwhelm you, but to show you that God is a God of detail and orderliness. In fact, those priests who sought their family records and could not find them were disqualified from the priest- hood because they couldn’t meet the legal requirements to prove their lineage (2:62). Take a moment to look up 1 Corinthians 14:40. Then put it to work in an area of your life that needs attention.

Insight - The Elusive Book of Ezra

In the English Bible, Ezra follows 2 Chronicles. But in the Hebrew canon, Ezra and Nehemiah were originally one book, located just before Chronicles. The first division into two books in the Hebrew Bible was not made until 1448, more than 18 centuries after the material was written.

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May 2

Ezra 4–6

Temple Completion

Key Passage: Ezra 4:15, 24; 6:13-22

Overview

Zerubbabel knows that the task of rebuilding the nation must begin at the altar, not the workbench. The challenge is primarily spiritual, not architectural. Accordingly, Zerubbabel’s first priority is to erect the altar and reinstate Israel’s national feasts, which are the times God had appointed for the nation to celebrate His work. Once materials are gathered and assignments made, the actual work of rebuilding the temple can commence. But it is not long before the local residents lodge complaints with the king, bringing the work to a halt. Not until Darius comes to power 15 years later can the project be resumed and completed.

Your Daily Walk

There has yet to be a work attempted for God that did not produce criticism. In fact, if you want to avoid criticism, there is only one way: say nothing, do nothing, and be nothing. Zerubbabel’s goal of rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem sprang from pure motives. He marched 900 miles through perilous wilderness. He labored neither for monetary gain nor public notoriety. But despite all that, he met with stiff criticism and opposition from the local Jewish population, who had embraced foreign wives and pagan ways.

No one so thoroughly appreciates the value of criticism as the one who gives it. But consider these wise words from H. A. Ironside, American preacher and commentator in the early 20th century, on how to face criticism: “If what they are saying about you is true, mend your ways. If it isn’t true, forget it, and go about serving the Lord.” Good advice to remember next time you are the target. After all, sticks and stones are only thrown at fruit-bearing trees.

Insight - How “Great” Can You Get?

The rebuilt temple was constructed with “large stones” (5:8). The size of these stones is not specified, but they were large enough for Jesus’ disciples to respond in amazement (Mark 13:1)—great stones befitting a great God.

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May 3/4

Ezra 7–8

Priests and Pilgrims

Key Passage: Ezra 7:6-10; 8:21-36

Overview

A striking feature of the Book of Ezra is that the name “Ezra” does not appear until chapter 7. The first six chapters chronicle the life and ministry of Zerubbabel in rebuilding the temple; now, chapters 7–10 introduce a priest named Ezra, whom God uses to rebuild the spiritual condition of the people. Ezra begins his task 58 years after the events of chapter 6. The people have a house for God, but not a heart for God. Ezra realizes revival must begin with a national return to the statutes and requirements of God as contained in the Mosaic Law. With the support of Persia’s King Artaxerxes, Ezra sets out with 1,753 of his countrymen (not including women and children; see 8:21) to cover the 900 dangerous miles back to Jerusalem.

Your Daily Walk

Do you remember your first Sunday school teacher? Are you currently, or do you ever hope to become, a teacher of God’s Word?

Those who devote themselves to the teaching of Scripture have accepted a staggering responsibility. According to Ezra 7:10, they are accountable in four ways: (1) They are to devote their hearts to obedient service, (2) to study the meaning of God’s Word, (3) to obey what they discover, and (4) to teach what they have learned. Far from being merely a classroom lecture, true Bible teaching is the overflow of one obedient life into the life of another.

Think of one teacher who has contributed to your spiritual growth by seeking, doing, and teaching God’s Word over the past year. How can you honor that person today with a note, phone call, or special gift? (That’s one good way to put 1 Timothy 5:17 to work.)

Insight - The Etymology of “King of Kings”

The title “King of kings,” which we often read and sing, was originally used to describe Assyrian kings. The title aptly described them, for they had conquered many nations. Later, the Babylonian and Persian kings borrowed it when they had built their empires (Ezekiel 26:7; Daniel 2:37).

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May 5

Ezra 9–10

Pollution and Purging

Key Passage: Ezra 9:10,17

Overview

The bad news of mixed marriages in the community tempers the good news of Ezra’s arrival in Jerusalem. Jews are permitting their sons to marry heathen women from neighboring territories. Even the priests, Levites, and civic leaders are involved—a condition that the Law of God condemns and that Ezra finds intolerable. The process of righting these wrongs is painful, difficult, and time-consuming. But even those “rainy skies” cannot dampen Israel’s renewed commitment to personal and national purity.

Your Daily Walk

Marriage has been defined in many ways—some humorous, some tragic. Which would you say best describes yours? Marriage is...

• The peaceful coexistence of two nervous systems.
• a school of experience where husband and wife are classmates.
• a union that defies management.

Add to that list one more: Successful marriage always involves a triangle—a man, a woman, and God. The prophet Amos asked the right question more than 2,700 years ago: “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” (Amos 3:3). The answer is obvious. Yet, many of God’s people ignore the clear warnings and prohibitions of Scripture.

If you are single, read 2 Corinthians 6:14; if you are married, meditate on 1 Corinthians 7:10-16. Let those verses remind you again that Christian marriage is designed for three (you, your believing spouse, and God) for life.

Insight - The Chronic Problem of Pagan Partners

Ezra 10:18-43 lists more than 100 men guilty of mixed marriages— the very sin condemned and forbidden in Deuteronomy 7:1-5. Israel’s history from the period of the judges onward illustrates the chronic nature of the situation (Judges 3:5-7) and its devastating consequences. (Nehemiah 13:23-28) and (Malachi 2:11) also deals with the recurring problem of mixed marriages.

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Nehemiah

Though the Jews have rebuilt the temple and put away their pagan wives, Jerusalem’s walls still lie in ruin. But God finds a wall-builder in Persia. Nehemiah, cupbearer to the king, leads the third expedition of pilgrims back to the homeland. Even though Nehemiah encounters fierce opposition to his reconstruction efforts, the project is completed in record time. Then the public reading of God’s Word triggers a significant though short-lived revival within the rebuilt walls.

May 6

Nehemiah 1–2

Construction of the Walls

Key Passage: Nehemiah 1:1–2:8

Overview

In ancient times, a city was only as secure as its walls. In the case of Jerusalem, the temple stands in glistening splendor, but the walls lie in ruin and rubble. Enter Nehemiah, cupbearer to the king of Persia and God’s choice to rebuild the city’s defenses. After four months of prayerful intercession for his people and homeland, Nehemiah finds his opportune moment. Armed with both a blueprint and a burden, Nehemiah shares his request with the king—and receives even more than he asked for. After inspecting Jerusalem’s precincts personally, Nehemiah rallies his countrymen with the faith-inspired cry, “The God of heaven will give us success” (2:20).

Your Daily Walk

Look around, and you will see people in need, whether it’s money, food, shelter, health issues, encouragement, or the hope of Jesus. You can pray two kinds: comfortable prayers (“Lord, meet that need”) and commitment prayers (“Lord, use me to help meet that need”).

Learn a lesson from the life of Nehemiah. Don’t pray to be comfortable in your circumstances; pray to be available and ready to do the will of God in every situation. In the process, some essential walls may get built. Find a quiet corner as you reread Nehemiah’s prayer of commitment in 1:4-11. Then make it yours.

Insight - Autobiography of a Powerful Prayer

Nehemiah’s memoirs bear eloquent testimony to the power of prayer in the life of a child of God. As you continue reading the book, catalog Nehemiah’s prayers and God’s answers.

• Nehemiah 1:4-11- What did Nehemiah pray for? What did God answer with?
• 2:4-8- What did Nehemiah pray for? What did God answer with?
• 4:4-12- What did Nehemiah Pray for? What did God answer with?
• 6:9, 14–16- What did Nehemiah pray for? What did God answer with?
• 13:14-31- What did Nehemiah pray for? What did God answer with?

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May 7

Nehemiah 3–4

Rallying the Workers

Key Passage: Nehemiah 4

Overview

Like the earlier reconstruction efforts under Zerubbabel and Ezra, the rebuilding corps under Nehemiah faces opposition both from without and within. As the walls rise, so does opposition from leaders in surrounding provinces. For each problem, Nehemiah seeks—and finds—a God-honoring solution: Ridicule is handled with prayer; threats of violence are dealt with by adequate preparation; discouragement is met with a personal example of faith in God’s power.

Your Daily Walk

Think of a time when you looked ridiculous. Perhaps it was at a costume party or on a fishing trip or in a school play. In any case, you dressed in such a way that others laughed at the way you looked.

Did you ever stop to realize that ridicule is the act of making someone feel ridiculous? That’s why it’s so painful. Through coarse jesting, misrepresentation, or mocking, someone makes you (or what you believe) an object of derisive laughter.

One of the tests of your Christian character is the way you handle ridicule. Do you explode in anger and retaliate? Or do you, like Nehemiah, leave the matter to God?

Jesus had some special words of comfort for those suffering ridicule and persecution in their walk with God: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven” (Matthew 5:11-12). Remember that the next time you or your godly views are laughed at. And if ridicule is not a problem you face often, perhaps you had better check to see if your light is really shining.

Insight - Nehemiah’s Notorious Neighbors

Several of Nehemiah’s persecutors are noted in historical sources other than the Bible. Sanballat (4:1) is identified as the governor of Samaria in the Elephantine Papyri. A rock inscribed with Tobiah (4:3) in ancient Aramaic script was found near present-day Amman, Jordan.

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May 8

Nehemiah 5–7

Completion of the Walls

Key Passage: Nehemiah 5; 6:15-19

Overview

With progress continuing to rebuild the walls, Nehemiah’s opponents shift their attacks from direct confrontation to subtle conspiracy. Sanballat and Geshem repeatedly try to sidetrack Nehemiah from his God-given assignment. Even a false prophet arises to lead Nehemiah into a potentially fatal trap, only to have his plan foiled by Nehemiah’s keen discernment. Despite loan sharks, deceit, espionage, and attempted assassination, Nehemiah and his dedicated band of bricklayers complete the city walls in less than two months—a feat even Israel’s enemies perceive is “done with the help of . . . God” (6:16). And now come new responsibilities for Nehemiah. As governor, he appoints (7:1), delegates (7:2), organizes (7:3), and utilizes the new leadership in the newly built city.

Your Daily Walk

How much of what others tell you do you believe without question? Jesus told His disciples to be “as innocent as doves,” but He also cautioned them to be “as shrewd as snakes” (Matthew 10:16). How are you doing?

Shemaiah hoped Nehemiah would be gullible enough to ensnare himself, thereby ruining the building project (6:10-14). Nehemiah realized Shemaiah’s suggestion was incompatible with God’s will because he knew the Scriptures. Look up Numbers 18:7 and you’ll see that what initially appeared to be a difficult decision for Nehemiah was quite simple when he recalled what God had already said.

Mastering your Bible is not just a good idea; it is essential for making wise, God-honoring decisions. Read 2 Peter 3:18 aloud and make it your personal growth project for today.

Insight - Whistle While You Work (7:1-3)

Nehemiah gave specific instructions about opening and closing the gates when the walls were finished. Because of the sparse population, he appointed residents to stand guard at vulnerable places in the wall. They joined the gatekeepers in standing guard.

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May 9

Nehemiah 8–10

Revival Within the Walls

Key Passage: Nehemiah 8:1-12

Overview

The first half of the Book of Nehemiah teaches valuable lessons about working for God; the second half emphasizes worshiping God. Beginning with chapter 8, the account becomes biographical rather than autobiographical (no longer is it in the first person, “I”). Now it centers on the spiritual rather than physical well-being of the people. The public reading and explanation of God’s Word brings a sweeping revival to the city. Rejoicing at the sound of God’s precious laws as preached by Ezra the priest, the people respond with prayers of confession, worship to God, and a fresh resolve to live godly lives in keeping with their commitment.

Your Daily Walk

Revival is the phenomenon perhaps most often discussed and yet least experienced by Christians today. The reason is not hard to find. Though the way to revival is simple, the price of revival is high. And few are willing to pay it. There were three main ingredients in Israel’s revival:

(1) the reading of God’s Word, (2) confession of sins, and (3) wholehearted commitment to God. The people made a solemn covenant to “follow the Law of God” (10:29)—a promise that only a decade later would be shamelessly broken.

Think of an area in your life that needs revival: your marriage, business ethics, or prayer life. Now count the cost. What good things will you have to give up to gain God’s best? What sin will you have to forsake? What action can you take now to show God you mean business?

Insight - The First Old Testament Commentaries

Ezra and his assistants read from “the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read” (Nehemiah 8:8). After their years of exile, many Jews no longer understood Hebrew, requiring interpretation and explanation in Aramaic, the language of the common people.

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May 10/11

Nehemiah 11–13

Resettlement Within the Walls

Key Passage: Nehemiah 13

Overview

With the walls in place and the nation's spiritual condition revived, Nehemiah now consolidates and organizes the populace. One-tenth of the people are chosen by lot to relocate within the city walls, while the rest remain in the suburbs. The walls are formally dedicated, and temple officers are commissioned to oversee the functions of national worship. After an extended leave of absence, Nehemiah returns from Babylon to find Tobiah living in a temple storeroom, and the people displaying a shocking disregard for God’s laws concerning marriage and the Sabbath. Assuming the role of reformer again, Nehemiah labored to restore national purity.

Your Daily Walk

People. You can’t live without them, but how often have you yearned to try nonetheless? Nehemiah’s greatest challenge came not from trying to lay bricks, but from trying to love the bricklayers! Perhaps he pondered questions like the one expressed by Peter in Matthew 18:21: “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”

If Nehemiah had stopped at seven, he never would have lasted through chapter 3 of his book! Notice Jesus’ reply to Peter: “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:22).

What Nehemiah did with bricks and mortar is well known; what he did with stubborn men and women, forgiving their offenses against him, is just as well documented in God’s Word. Nehemiah knew that forgiveness is our command from God; criticizing, grumbling, and condemning are not.

Insight - Malachi, a Prophetic Postscript on Nehemiah

Four centuries of divine silence follow the Book of Nehemiah. No Scripture was written during that time span, possibly because of the people's hardheartedness. Malachi, a contemporary of Nehemiah, left a brief but powerfully convincing record of the heedless attitude of their day.

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Esther

While Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah led some 50,000 people to their homeland, many more were reluctant to leave Persia. Esther’s story takes place against this Persian background. Chosen to replace the banished queen, Esther soon finds that she and her countrymen are threatened by a bizarre plot. Her faithful and courageous action saves God’s people from destruction and provides the occasion for an annual celebration still observed by Jews today—the Feast of Purim.

May 12

Esther 1–2

Esther’s Exaltation

Key Passage: Esther 1:1-12; 2:8-23

Overview

The books of Ezra and Nehemiah recount the return of about 50,000 Jews to their homeland after the Babylonian Exile. But thousands more remained behind in Persia. And though they were not concerned about God, God was still very much concerned about them. Nowhere is this more clearly visible than in the Book of Esther— the story of a beautiful Jewish girl who rises from obscurity to prominence when she becomes the new queen of Persia. Though God’s name is nowhere mentioned in the account, His hand is everywhere visible as He places Esther in the Persian palace and her cousin Mordecai’s name in the Persian chronicles “for such a time as this” (4:14).

Your Daily Walk

“Of all the bad luck! Why did that have to happen to me?” It’s truly amazing how quickly we credit our setbacks in life to bad luck and our successes to hard work.

You'll find many setbacks and successes as you read the Book of Esther. But one common thread runs through them all: God was at work behind the scenes. Esther’s unexpected promotion, Mordecai’s forgotten act of heroism—neither was an accident. Rather, God was weaving a beautiful lesson about sovereignty from the threads of their lives, showing that in their day, as in ours, God is in control.

It’s a truth found not just in the Book of Esther. Read about God’s sovereign control in Exodus 4:11; Psalm 115:3; Daniel 4:17, 25, 28; Romans 8:28.

Insight - A Fatal Plot at a Fateful Moment

At a strategic moment, Mordecai became aware of a plot devised by two eunuchs of the royal bodyguard to put King Xerxes to death (2:21-23). On this occasion, Mordecai secretly passed the news to Esther. Esther reported it in Mordecai’s name, and the conspirators were hanged. The incident was written up in the Persian court diary. Ironically, about 15 years later, Xerxes lost his life due to a similar plot.

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May 13

Esther 3–4

Haman’s Cunning Plot

Key Passage: Esther 3:1-6; 4:13-17

Overview

Esther has been made queen without her nationality being known. But now a new danger arises in the person of Haman, another recipient of a kingly promotion. Mordecai, who has already proven his loyalty to the king, refuses to worship Haman as the king has decreed, prompting Haman to respond with insane anger. Both Mordecai and all of his countrymen must die. False charges and a sizable bribe secure what Haman desires: the king’s permission to liquidate the Jewish population. Now, Queen Esther is faced with a life-and-death decision. Should she risk revealing her nationality to dissuade the king? Or should she protect her life and watch her countrymen be exterminated?

Your Daily Walk

“If I perish, I perish.” Is this the fatalistic cry of a queen resigned to her death, or the faith-inspired statement of a woman who serves a sovereign God?

Don’t miss the context: Mordecai has warned Esther that she will not escape Haman’s plot just because she is the queen. And he challenges her with this thought: “Who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (4:14). Paraphrased, he was saying: “Esther, God has placed you in a strategic place at a critical moment to be the instrument of deliverance for His people. Your presence in the palace is not by accident but divine appointment.”

Do you find yourself in a situation similar to Esther’s, where you wish you could “hide in the palace” today? Then get ready. God has put you where you are for a purpose.

Insight - A Godless Book?

Esther is the only book in the Bible that never mentions God. Nevertheless, God’s hand of providence is more than evident throughout the story. In fact, by not mentioning Him, the author may have been trying to avoid antagonizing the Persians by mentioning a god other than their own, Ahura Mazda.

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May 14

Esther 5–7

Haman’s Humiliation

Key Passage: Esther 5:1–8; 7

Overview

Esther knows full well that entering the king’s throne room uninvited could be an immediate death sentence. But Esther courageously discovers that God has once again prepared the way. She invites Xerxes and Haman to a special banquet in their honor, and the invitation for the next day is repeated. But before that fateful second banquet, Haman builds a gallows 75 feet high on which to hang Mordecai; Xerxes discovers Mordecai’s unrewarded heroism; and Haman watches the honor he had craved go to Mordecai. At the second banquet, Haman is unmasked and dies the very death he had planned for Mordecai.

Your Daily Walk

Do you believe in prayer? Esther believed in prayer enough to go before the king at an unappointed time with an unlikely request, though it could have meant swift death (4:11, 16; 5:2). Would you have done that?

The story recounts a Midwestern town enduring a severe drought. Finally, all the townspeople decided it was time to gather the clergy and assemble for prayer. The entire town came together to pray for rain, but only one person—a small girl—brought her umbrella.

When you pray, are you like the townspeople or the little girl? Do you, like Esther, pray first and then live in the confidence of God’s answer? Are your prayers specific enough that, when God answers, you notice a difference? Write down a specific request for provision, protection, or guidance. For the next week, begin each day by focusing your prayer on that item. You might even put your umbrella in an unusual place to remind you to watch for God’s answer throughout the week.

Insight - The Hanging Everyone Would See

The height of Haman’s gallows (75 feet, or at least as high as the city walls) was designed to ensure that Mordecai’s downfall would be a citywide spectacle, visible both inside and outside the walls. Instead, Haman himself received the notoriety.

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May 15

Esther 8–10

Mordecai’s Exaltation

Key Passage: Esther 8:1-8; 9:1-2, 12–32

Overview

A Persian law sealed with the king’s ring could never be revoked. Though Haman is dead, the king’s decree calling for the extermination of the Jewish people lives on. Mordecai, who now occupies Haman’s former position of power, issues a counter-decree allowing the Jews to defend themselves on the same day as Haman’s edict. When the day of destruction arrives, the enemies of the Jews are annihilated, not the Jews themselves. Future generations will henceforth celebrate the Feast of Purim (so named for the lots that Haman cast and that God directed), recalling the days of earnest appeal to God and the stunning deliverance that He provided.

Your Daily Walk

Think back over the Jews’ troubles as recorded in the historical books of the Bible. During the years of the judges and kings, they experienced wars, famines, political upheavals, shattered families, and premature death. Later came captivity, dispersion, and exile at the hands of the Assyrians and Babylonians. During the 400 years between the close of the Old Testament and the opening of the New, they would be characterized by cold-hearted indifference, culminating in the outright rejection of the Messiah. They would be dispersed worldwide once again; attempts would be made to liquidate them once and for all. And yet, as you look at your map of the Middle East today, the tiny nation of Israel is boldly a part of God’s continuing plan.

If God can bring His chosen people through centuries of chaotic history and preserve them from extinction despite unbelief, disobedience, and indifference, what do you suppose He is capable of doing in your life?

Insight - The Courage of Esther—A Blessing to Others

Twice, Esther risked her life to come before the king’s throne on behalf of others. As Christians, we can “approach the throne of grace with confidence” (Hebrews 4:16) in intercession “for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18). What a privilege!

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April 16

1 Chronicles 10–16

Ark of God

Key Passage:1 Chronicles 11: 1-9; 13: 1-14; 15: 1-3

Overview

The ark of the covenant is a prominent feature of Chronicles, being mentioned more than 40 times. So, it should not be surprising that events surrounding the ark's journey to Jerusalem consume three whole chapters. The lesson is clear: the right action done with the right motives but carried out incorrectly produces deadly consequences. Three months elapse before the journey can be completed. But when the ark is at last installed in Jerusalem, David leads the people in celebration.

Your Daily Walk

The flashing blue lights and wailing siren make it clear that something is wrong. The motorist pulls over to the side of the road and listens in amazement as the officer announces, “I’m giving you a ticket for running a green light.”

Preposterous? Consider this: God gave David a “green light” to bring the ark to Jerusalem and led a joyous procession, but the merriment was cut short by God’s displeasure. An uneven spot in the road, a jostling of the cart, Uzzah’s steadying hand, and what began like a wedding march ended like a funeral procession—all because David overlooked God’s clear instruction in Numbers 4:15 regarding how to transport the ark.

How about you? Are you doing the right things with the right motives in the right way? Try this little test. Pick one area of Christian service you engage in regularly, and probe it with these two questions: (1) Are my motives right for doing what I do? (2) Am I seeking to do God’s work in God’s way?

Insight - Painting a Rosy Picture

If you compare Samuel with Kings and Chronicles, you’ll discover that the author of the Chronicles chose to record only the positive aspects of King David and Solomon’s lives. He was not trying to distort the people’s image of them, for his audience had no doubt read Samuel and Kings. Instead, his idealization of them foreshadows the coming messianic King.

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April 17

1 Chronicles 17–21

God’s Covenant with David

Key Passage: 1 Chronicles 17

Overview

David’s greatest dream is to build a house for God. The prophet Nathan encourages David in this God-honoring ambition. But God soon makes it clear to Nathan—and through Nathan to David—that only in Solomon's lifetime will the dream come to fruition. Though David is not permitted to build a house for God, God will build a house for David—a perpetual dynasty and eternal kingdom. In peacetime and war, through times of faithfulness and seeming faithlessness in David’s life, God remains true to His promise by preserving the line of David.

Your Daily Walk

Grab a sheet of paper, divide it in half, and for the next five minutes, make two lists. On the left, write “All the things I want to do for God in my lifetime.” On the right, list “All the things God wants to do for me in my lifetime.” Now compare lists. Are some of the items the same?

David experienced the death of a dream. He had his heart set on doing something great for God. Despite the prophet’s words of prohibition, David could have insisted on his way. He could have pursued his plans, built the temple anyway, and fulfilled his dream. But in the end, the temple would have stood silent and empty, for God was not in the plans. In the process, David would have missed a greater blessing that God had in store for him.

God may want you to attempt something great for Him or simply do something great for You. Are you available for either? Take your dream list and pray each part of it back to God. Consecrate your dreams, and then watch God work in and through you.

Insight - General David, Man of War

David’s life in chapters 18–20 reads like a chapter from World War II. At least a dozen battles can be discovered in the space of these 44 verses. How many can you find? How might this explain why God wanted Solomon, not David, to build the temple?

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April 18

1 Chronicles 22–27

David’s Temple for God

Key Passage: 1 Chronicles 22–23

Overview

David’s dream of a house being built for God is not denied—merely postponed. His son Solomon will erect the structure. But David is given the joyful privilege of planning and preparing for that tremendous architectural feat. A suitable site must be found; building materials must be secured; plans must be drawn; and priests, musicians, and officers must be organized to manage the worship services. After passing on the vision and responsibility of the project to Solomon, David passes on the reins of leadership as well.

Your Daily Walk

“Plan ahead. After all, it wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.” That humorous motto stresses the importance of short- and long-range planning. You can render many services for God on a moment’s notice: witnessing to your neighbor, visiting a shut-in, extending hospitality to a stranger. But many more acts of service demand planning and long-range goal setting. If you are going to build a new church, become an overseas missionary, or begin a new degree program, it won’t happen by accident—or overnight.

Presumptuous living in the future is wrong (James 4:13-17), but careful planning for the future is right (2 Corinthians 9:1-8). Plan a get-together tonight with your spouse or a friend to set at least one new goal in your ministry for God.

Insight - David’s Lasting Legacy to the Levites

Almost unnoticed among David’s other achievements, but of enormous spiritual significance, were his efforts to organize the tribe of Levi for effective ministry. As you read chapter 23, think about these insights regarding the Levites’ divisions and duties (and fill in the blanks!):

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April 19/20

1 Chronicles 28–29

David’s Final Words and Deeds

Key Passage: 1 Chronicles 29:20-30

Overview

Compare the opening chapters of David’s life with the closing ones, and you will come to a startling conclusion: David ends his life the same way he began it—with humble confidence in God. Despite his numerous accomplishments, David never let greatness go to his head. Instead, his final words to Solomon and the nation reflect the same wholehearted devotion to God that characterized the young shepherd in the pasturelands of Judea. With the dream of a temple entrusted to his son and the tokens of God’s blessings all around him, David dies “at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth and honor. His son Solomon succeeded him as king” (29:28).

Your Daily Walk

In an amazing epitaph inscribed over King David’s life. To discover it, you must look in an unlikely place—Acts 13:36. There, you’ll read these words: “When David had served God’s purpose in his generation, he fell asleep.” In the 40 years David ruled the nation of Israel, several things were true of his administration.

1. He lived to serve. Instead of the pride, revenge, and self-seeking that characterized so many of Israel’s kings, David’s reign was marked by mercy, justice, and humility.

2. He lived to do God’s will. Pleasing God was David’s daily passion; obeying God was David’s greatest delight. And the result?

3. He followed God’s purpose for his life. There was a job to be done in David’s day and, by God’s strength, David did it.

You can’t have three without 1 and 2, for God’s will for His children involves the path of service (Ephesians 6:6). But as David learned, there’s no more delightful calling in life.

Insight - Three Kings Two Times Crowned
The double coronation of Solomon (23:1; 29:22) followed a pattern that began with Saul (1 Samuel 10:1; 11:15) and continued with David (2 Samuel 2:4; 5:3). In each case, the second coronation was a public confirmation of the first.

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2 Chronicles

Second Chronicles spans Israel’s history from its highest peak to its lowest ebb: from Solomon’s reign to the Babylonian Exile. First comes the building of the magnificent temple in Jerusalem. Following years of power and world renown, Solomon dies, and the spiritual, moral, and military fortunes of the nation rise and fall with the quality of kingly leadership. The few righteous rulers cannot stop the nation’s downward slide, and God’s judgment ultimately falls: invasion, defeat, and captivity.

April 21

2 Chronicles 1–5

Solomon’s Temple

Key Passage: 2 Chronicles 1, 5

Overview

Today’s passage can be easily summarized by reading just the first verses of chapters 1–3 and chapter 5:

“Solomon son of David established himself firmly over his kingdom.”

“Solomon gave orders to build a temple for the Name of the Lord.”

“Solomon began to build the temple of the Lord.”

“All the work Solomon had done for the temple of the Lord was finished.”

Hidden in those verses is the fact that building Solomon’s temple required the efforts of 153,000 laborers over seven years.

Your Daily Walk

What do you give the person who has everything?

If you think that’s a tricky question, consider the one Solomon faced: What do you give God who has everything?

More specifically, how do you build a house for God, whom even the highest heavens cannot contain (2:6)? Though no finite structure could ever surround the infinite God, it could reflect His glory and majesty, causing those who saw it to respond in awe, adoration, and worship.

That is your assignment today: to reflect the glory of the One who dwells in you (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Jesus said: “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). You can do that through your words, your habits, your clothes, your actions, and more. These will either reflect or detract from the glory of the Lord.

Put a candle in a prominent place in your home or office to remind you of the importance of letting your light shine. After all, that’s what temples of flesh and blood are made for.

Insight - Pillars of Godly Character (3:17)

In front of the temple stood two brass pillars named Jakin and Boaz. The pillar to the south, called Jakin, meant “He will establish.” The pillar to the north, Boaz, meant “Strength is in Him.”

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April 22

2 Chronicles 6–9

Solomon’s Worship and Wealth

Key Passage: 2 Chronicles 6: 1–7:3

Overview

The constructed temple now becomes the consecrated temple as Solomon inaugurates the worship services with a prayer of dedication. In it he commits himself and the nation to a faithful observance of God’s laws. By night God appears to Solomon to make a conditional covenant with him: if he will walk in the steps of his father, God will establish Solomon’s dynasty forever.

Your Daily Walk

Take two minutes to complete this sentence: “The most important thing I can do today to reverse the spiritual decline in my nation is.”

Ours is a society marked by activism, with interest groups lobbying and laboring for their particular viewpoints. Your first response might be to join a righteous cause. But today’s reading suggests an even more critical first step: to take a righteous pause. Before you let your voice be heard for God, let God hear your voice. Solomon’s prayer of dedication is a plea for God’s intervention in his nation's affairs. Eleven times, Solomon asks God to hear the repentant cry of His people, forgive their wicked ways, and restore their fortunes. Imagine Solomon’s delight when the Lord says, “I have heard your prayer” (7:12).

Prayer is the most powerful and yet, unfortunately, the most neglected weapon in the average Christian’s arsenal. Let your life be an exception to that rule today. Close your quiet time on your knees. Ask God to restore righteousness to our country’s government, courts, and congregations. Let it begin with you.

Insight - A Shrewd Diplomat from the South

The queen of Sheba visited Solomon to hammer out some trade agreements with her new competitor (9:1-12). Solomon’s empire spanned the route connecting South Arabia with Phoenicia and Syria. Moreover, Solomon had just made an agreement with Hiram, opening up a sea link to Ophir’s mineral wealth. The queen knew she would do well to befriend this powerful king.

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April 23

2 Chronicles 10–12

Corruption Under Rehoboam

Key Passage: 2 Chronicles 10; 12: 13-16

Overview

Solomon’s vast wealth comes from many sources: tribute from neighboring nations, trade with foreign powers, and taxation of his own people. Those heavy taxes led to civil unrest, which, after Solomon’s death, erupts into full-scale civil war. The result is open hostility between the North and South and the formation of two distinct national entities: Israel (10 northern tribes ruled by Jeroboam) and Judah (two southern tribes ruled by Rehoboam).

Your Daily Walk

When it comes to dieting, some people will go to great lengths to maintain their slim widths. When it comes to hard work, many will stop at nothing. And when it comes to personal revival, some use incredibly thin thread to mend their ways. Why? Because it is easier—and less painful—to opt for half-hearted compromise than to pay the price of whole-hearted commitment to God.

Rehoboam followed the Lord only as long as it was politically expedient. Once his kingdom was solidly established, he had no further use for the Law of the Lord—or the Lord of the Law. But in the end, Rehoboam was the loser for his foolish decision.

Think of your life as a shiny new penny. You can spend it any way you wish, but you can only spend it once. And you cannot spend half a penny—it’s an all-or-nothing transaction. Find a penny and hold it in your hand as you talk to God about your life and how you will invest the remaining years of it in His service.

Insight - A Tale of Two Kingdoms

Beginning with chapter 12, the Chronicler narrates the course of the kingdom of Judah over 350 years—from the division of Solomon’s kingdom (about 930 B.C.) to the destruction of Jerusalem (586 B.C.). Of the 19 men and one woman who occupied David’s throne during this period, one commentator has said they “ranged in character from the strongest and best to the weakest and worst.” Who, in your opinion, was the best? The worst?

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April 24

2 Chronicles 13–16

The Reign of Asa

Key Passage: 2 Chronicles 14, 16

Overview

Rehoboam’s son Abijam “committed all the sins his father had done before him” (1 Kings 15:3). And yet he is God’s instrument of judgment upon an even more wicked king—Jeroboam in the North. In a titanic struggle involving more than a million fighting men, Israel suffers a devastating defeat; over half of her army is destroyed. After Abijam’s three-year reign is a decade of peace. His son Asa follows in the military footsteps of his father by defeating Ethiopia. But Asa’s greatest contribution comes not on the battlefield but in the sanctuary, as he purges the nation of idols and renews the altar of the Lord.

Your Daily Walk

It is difficult to believe that the Asa of chapter 14 and the Asa of chapter 16 are one and the same. Early in his reign Asa “did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God” (14:2). He zealously destroyed the altars, high places, images, and groves that were drawing his people away from the Lord. When confronted by a million-member Ethiopian army, he cried out to God: “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army” (14:11).

But later, Asa made an alliance with the heathen king of Syria and tried to appease him with silver and gold from the house of the Lord. Asa locked up the prophet of God who rebuked him for his foolish alliance, and he died of a foot disease when he “did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians” (16:12).

Which part of Asa’s reign characterizes your life? Pick one of Asa’s godly traits and turn it into your personal project today. God will honor you for it.

Insight - How Old Can You Be and Still Be Young?

In 13:7, King Abijam refers to events in the first year of Rehoboam’s reign when he was “young and indecisive and not strong enough to resist them.” In fact, according to 12:13 Rehoboam was already 41 years old.

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April 25

2 Chronicles 17–20

The Reign of Jehoshaphat

Key Passage: 2 Chronicles 17; 19:4-11

Overview

Godly King Jehoshaphat’s reign over Judah is chronicled rather thoroughly—and with good reason. Jehoshaphat knows the key to spiritual revival is renewed commitment to the Law of God. He institutes a nationwide Bible reading program, using the princes, Levites, and priests as teachers. The people’s response is overwhelming, showering their king with gifts of love and gratitude. But his godly reign is nearly cut short by a foolish alliance with Ahab and later by a coalition of forces from Moab and Ammon.

Your Daily Walk

Perhaps when you came to today’s reading, Jehoshaphat was little more than a funny-sounding name to you. But his life is well worth studying, for he epitomizes the kind of person God searches for (16:9).

Jehoshaphat was noteworthy in his manner—“He did not consult the Baals” (17:3), but “sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel” (17:4). His conduct and pursuits were exemplary.

Jehoshaphat was noteworthy in the blessings he enjoyed— strength and stability from the hand of God and riches and honor from the subjects he ruled (17:5).

What was the secret of this monarch who received such high commendation from God? Simply this: “His heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord” (17:6). His first love was not wealth, power, or any of the kingly trappings; it was a deep love and delight in the Lord. What’s your first love?

Insight - Jehoshaphat’s Major/Minor Emphasis

In the 1 Kings narrative, Jehoshaphat’s reign is covered in only one chapter because it does not contribute to the demise of the South. In Chronicles, however, four chapters are given to his reforms to revive and preserve Judah’s religion.

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April 26/27

2 Chronicles 21–25

The Reign of Joash

Key Passage: 2 Chronicles 21: 1-17; 22; 24: 1-22

Overview

Were it not for God’s promise to David centuries before, Jehoram’s reign might mark the end of the Davidic dynasty. Blessed with godly parents, Jehoram chooses instead to follow the pagan practices of his wife Athaliah (daughter of Ahab and Jezebel). In only eight years, Jehoram manages to undo most of the godly reforms for which his father and grandfather labored so zealously. But even Jehoram’s wickedness is surpassed by that of the cruel queen-mother Athaliah, who murders her own grandchildren and sets herself up as monarch over Judah. In a thrilling story of danger and suspense, her one surviving grandchild, Joash, emerges to preserve the royal line of David...the line that eventually leads to Jesus Christ.

Your Daily Walk

There’s a sobering commentary on the passing of wicked Queen Athaliah: “All the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been slain by the sword” (23:21). Two things characterized the scene after Athaliah’s death: happiness and harmony. The world was a better place to live when she was no longer around.

Will there be mourning or merriment when your days on earth are through? Here are some epitaphs that were never hung over the lives of Athaliah or Jehoram. Would one provide a fitting epitaph for you?

“He brought Sonshine to the lives of others.”

“She was a carrier of contagious happiness.”

“He squandered his life on those he loved.”

“She harbored many a hurting friend, but never a grudge.”

“His calling in life was great—and greatly pursued.”

Insight - The Funeral No One Attended

When wicked Jehoram died of a divinely inflicted disease (21:18-20), no one regretted his passing. He was buried in a place apart from the “tombs of the kings” with no mourners nor the customary burning of spices in his honor (Jeremiah 34:5; 2 Chronicles 16:14).

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April 28

2 Chronicles 26–28

The Reigns of Uzziah and Jotham

Key Passage: 2 Chronicles 26: 1-5; 27: 1–28:4

Overview

Uzziah assumes the throne of Judah at age 16. His 52-year reign is marked by mighty military and agricultural achievements. Sadly, his life ends on a bitter note: In proud arrogance he intrudes into the priest’s office—and so is excluded from the temple for the rest of his life. His son Jotham continued in the ways of God. But the reintroduction of Baal and Molech worship under Ahaz sent the nation into a downward spiritual spiral.

Your Daily Walk

Does God have a say in every area of your life? Before you answer too quickly, run through a mental checklist of your daily activities: sleep, meals, leisure time, family life, work life, study habits, church duties, personal relationships, and physical fitness. Are God’s “fingerprints” visible in each area?

God considers every minute of your life important—not just the portion you spend in church, prayer, or Bible reading. He cares about the books you read, the food you eat, the friends you cultivate, and the habits you practice. Uzziah learned that God prospers the person who seeks the Lord and orders his steps accordingly (26:5). That doesn’t mean you’ll be free from problems or adversaries. Uzziah still faced daily “faith testers.” But armed with the strength of the Lord, he emerged victorious from many battles. So can you.

Put your name in place of Uzziah’s in 26:5: “As long as ____________ [seeks] the Lord, God [will give] ____________ success.” Which areas of your life need to come under His control for that verse to describe you?

Insight - Darkness and Death in a Valley of Fire

The Valley of Hinnom, which marked the southern boundary of Jerusalem, became noted as the scene of atrocious pagan practices, including child sacrifice (28:3; 33:6). It was later defiled by Joash when he turned it into a city dump (2 Kings 23:10), the perpetual fires of which became a symbol for hell.

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April 29

2 Chronicles 29–32

The Reign of Hezekiah

Key Passage: 2 Chronicles 29, 32

Overview

The Chronicler records not a word about the Assyrian assault and dispersion of Israel at this point—though they profoundly affect Hezekiah’s life and rule in Judah. Inheriting a disorganized and disheartened country, Hezekiah nevertheless puts first things first. In the first month of his administration, he reopened the house of God, restored the long-neglected temple worship and Passover celebration, and declared war on idol worship and pagan practices. When the Assyrian King Sennacherib besieges Jerusalem, the situation looks hopeless. But going to his knees, Hezekiah discovers that his great God specializes in great miracles.

Your Daily Walk

Have you ever tried to do the right thing, only to have it turn out all wrong? You help a friend who has a financial need, and your check bounces. You stop to assist a motorist in distress and get your pocket picked in the process. You prepare a special lesson for your church class, then forget to set your alarm. Hezekiah could identify with your plight. The king who faithfully stood for God soon found his “reward” was a swarm of Assyrian soldiers at the city gates. Instead of sulking or griping, Hezekiah responded by letting his faith in God shine through.

Unexpected blessings are wonderful; unexpected trials are often bitter pills to swallow. But God will use even unexpected trials to bring unexpected blessings if you’re ready for them. You can be if you have the same frame of mind as Hezekiah.

Insight - Killing Three Birds with One Stone

Hezekiah’s decision to delay the celebration of Passover one month not only provided time for the priests to be consecrated, but also gave people from distant regions time to travel to Jerusalem. When the kingdom was divided after Solomon’s death, Jeroboam moved the date for celebrating the Passover back one month so his people wouldn’t be tempted to go to Jerusalem. Thus Hezekiah’s move brought unity to the divided kingdom.

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April 30

2 Chronicles 33–36

Captivity by Babylon

Key Passage: 2 Chronicles 34; 36: 17-23

Overview

Manasseh, Judah’s longest-reigning king, is also its most wicked. He seals the nation’s fate by reestablishing Baal worship and turning the house of God into a pagan temple. By the time his grandson Josiah attempts to right the wrongs through godly reforms, it is too late to avert Judah’s approaching doom. The end comes during the reign of Zedekiah, as Babylon mercilessly slaughters and pillages the nation, burns the temple, destroys the walls, and takes the survivors back to Babylon, where they languish for 70 years. But the book closes on a note of hope. As the Exile draws to a close and Persia replaces Babylon in world dominance, Persia’s king makes an amazing statement: “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah” (36:23).

Your Daily Walk

There is no life so shattered or so wicked that God can’t make something beautiful out of it if there is a change of heart.

Manasseh’s life was spent defaming God and defiling His people —so much so that they did “more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites” (33:9). Surely, Manasseh was a hopeless candidate for personal revival. Stripped of his kingdom at last, bound, fettered, and imprisoned in Babylon, Manasseh realized his folly, turned to God in humble submission, and prayed for mercy. Restored to his throne, he spent the rest of his life repairing the damage of his earlier years.

God is still looking for “Manassehs” today who—regardless of their past—are willing to give the shattered remains of their lives to God and say, “I need You.”

Insight - Babylon, the City That Should Have Stood Forever

The city of Babylon straddled the Euphrates River and was protected by a system of outer and inner walls, surrounded by wide moats. Numerous towers and huge brass gates guarded the city. Yet, with all this protection, the kingdom of Babylon fell to Persia in a single day.

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1 Kings

The story of King Solomon’s illustrious life is told in the first half of 1 Kings. Under his leadership, Israel rose to great power and glory. The crowning touch of his reign and his life comes with the construction of the temple in Jerusalem. But Solomon’s zeal for God cools as pagan wives turn his heart away from his worship of God. He dies a man religiously divided, leaving behind a nation that soon divides physically into the northern nation, Israel, and the southern nation, Judah. The next century sees the decline of the two nations, as each one grows more and more indifferent to God’s prophets and precepts.

April 1

1 Kings 1-4

Solomon’s Rise to Glory

Key Passage: 1 Kings 2: 1-4; 3: 1-15

Overview

As David’s life draws to a close, his son Adonijah attempts to usurp the throne from the rightful heir, Solomon. But the plot is foiled when David publicly proclaims Solomon his true successor. In the final hours before his death, David charges Solomon to walk with God in integrity and truth—a request Solomon fulfills in the early days of his reign. When God presents him with a “blank check,” Solomon asks for wisdom to rule skillfully rather than for wealth to live lavishly. God gives him both.

Your Daily Walk

Humility is a paradox: the moment you think you’ve found it, you’ve lost it. There has yet to be written a book titled Humility and How I Achieved It. Yet, God expects and rewards an attitude of servant-like humility.

Solomon had everything going for him: godly heritage, distinguished family name, financial security, and the one true God on his side. But he also had a realistic view of himself. He knew his weaknesses: partiality, insensitivity, impatience—weaknesses that, if left uncorrected, might doom his reign from the start. In childlike humility, he asked for what he needed from God, not merely what he wanted.

Here is a sentence to complete and a project to begin: “I know I am weak in the area of [what?], but this month, with God’s help, I’m going to strengthen that area of weakness [how?].” When you ask Him, God will strengthen you (see Isaiah 41:10).

Insight - Did They Use a Different Calendar?

Many scholars pointed out the discrepancies between biblical chronology and archaeological evidence. However, we now know that some historians counted the year of a king’s ascension in their calculations while others did not. Some would count the years when two kings reigned together, while others would not. This understanding has cleared up many difficulties with dates and has increased scholarly respect for the Bible.

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April 2

1 Kings 5–8

Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem

Key Passage: 1 Kings 6: 1-14; 8: 12-61

Overview

Before his death, David had charged Solomon with the responsibility of building a house for God in Jerusalem. At last, it is time to make that dream a reality. Nothing is too good for the place where God’s glory will dwell: cedar trees from Lebanon, costly stones, tons of precious metals. For seven long years, Solomon planned and prepared the temple. When, at last, the ark of the covenant is installed in the Holy Place, the cloud of God’s presence fills the house of the Lord.

Your Daily Walk

The reason people may sometimes feel like complete failures is because they fail to complete. Look around your home or office and make a list of all the jobs, projects, and assignments you’ve begun but have never brought to completion. Wouldn’t you agree that one worthwhile task carried to a successful conclusion is worth 50 half-finished tasks? It wasn’t until the temple was completed that God’s glory took up residence there—God’s stamp of approval upon a job well done.

On a sheet of paper, jot down three unfinished tasks. Perhaps it’s a Christian book you’ve never finished reading, an unsaved neighbor you’ve been meaning to get to know, or a family project that has never gotten off the ground. Next to each one, write a realistic date for completion and mark your calendar. Turn those half-done jobs into well-done jobs for God (Matthew 25:21).

Insight - The Tabernacle and Temple—A Study in Contrasts

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April 3

1 Kings 9–11

Solomon’s Fame, Fortune, and Failure

Key Passage: 1 Kings 9: 1-9; 11: 1-13

Overview

Under Solomon’s able leadership, the nation’s boundaries expanded to five times the area ruled by David. Financially, Solomon enjoyed prosperity as tribute from neighboring nations flowed into the treasury. But even as the nation prospered, the seeds of spiritual decay were being sown. Solomon’s passion for pagan women, of whom he took hundreds to be his wives and concubines, turned his heart from the God of heaven to the gods of men. Result: God tears most of the kingdom away from Solomon’s son.

Your Daily Walk

Find a flashlight, some aluminum foil, and a piece of black paper. In a dark room, lay a piece of foil on the paper and shine the flashlight on it. Then, move the beam of light so that it hits the paper but not the foil. Which is brighter: light hitting the paper (and being absorbed) or light hitting the foil (and being reflected)?

Hearing of Solomon’s wealth and wisdom, the queen of Sheba wanted to learn firsthand if the reports were true. She concluded: “Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel” (10:9). Rather than absorbing the glory himself, Solomon reflected God’s glory. When others saw the king’s greatness, they, too, gave glory to the King of Kings.

Meditate on Matthew 5:16 throughout the day, looking for creative ways to reflect, rather than absorb, the glory of God.

Insight - Developing Your Talent for Talents

Though the precise weight (and therefore the value) of Old Testament monetary measures is unknown, the talent was approximately 75.6 pounds. Using these numbers and a conservative gold price of $500 per ounce, the total value of the gold mentioned in 1 Kings 10:14 was about $400 million!

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April 4

1 Kings 12–16

A Nation Torn in Two

Key Passage: 1 Kings 12

Overview

Solomon’s great wealth is a result of the soaring taxes he exacts from his countrymen. After his death, his son Rehoboam must decide if he will continue or cancel the harsh taxation policies of his father. Following foolish advice, Rehoboam increases the tax burden—and spawns a national “tax revolt.” When the dust settled, the United Kingdom was no more, and in its place stood a divided kingdom of two distinct nations (Israel and Judah) ruled by two decadent kings (Jeroboam and Rehoboam).

Your Daily Walk

A grade school class wrote essays on the subject “What’s Wrong with Parents Today?” One child said it all: “We get our parents so late in life that it is impossible to do anything with them.”

Parents, you received your children when they were only minutes old—but at what age will they receive you? Parents are prone to give their children everything except the one thing they need most: time—time for listening, time for understanding, time for helping, time for guiding. It sounds simple, but in reality it is the most difficult and sacrificial task of parenthood.

Whatever spiritual legacy Rehoboam received from his father, Solomon, it apparently did not help him learn to love the God of Israel. The spiritual vacuum that resulted after Solomon’s death led to the fracturing of the nation. Will your home be any different? Call a family council this evening to evaluate how you spend time together as a family—and how often.

Insight - The Divided Kingdom Doubly Divided

Most readers will be familiar with the divided kingdom—10 tribes in the north (Israel) and two tribes in the south (Judah). But did you know there was a time when the northern 10 tribes nearly divided again? Two power blocks, led respectively by Tibni and Omri, struggled for control of the northern kingdom. In the end, who prevailed as king of the north (16:22)?

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April 5/6

1 Kings 17–19

Ministry of Elijah in the Days of Ahab

Key Passage: 1 Kings 18:20–19:21

Overview

Chapter 15 begins a pattern that will extend throughout the rest of 1 and 2 Kings. The writer flip-flops in his account between the nations of Israel and Judah, first describing the reigning power in the North, then moving to the South, and so on. He traces the parallel stories of two nations in spiritual decline, occasionally highlighting a prophet (such as Elijah) or a king (such as Ahab) who contributes significantly to the spiritual rise or fall of one of the nations. Today’s reading centers around the mysterious (yet very human) person of Elijah, the prophet who courageously faces a heathen Israelite king and 850 pagan prophets of Baal, only to flee for his life from the murderous Queen Jezebel.

Your Daily Walk

How often do you pray the prayer of inconvenience?

In James 5:17-18, Elijah is held up as a model of prayer. He was no super-saint but rather “a man just like us.” He got tired, discouraged, and anxious on occasion, but his first reaction was to take everything to God in prayer.

The remarkable thing about his prayer life was how often he prayed inconvenient prayers. He prayed for a drought, then watched as God answered his prayer... and dried up his only source of water. He prayed for fire from heaven, knowing it would make him a marked man in Jezebel’s eyes. His constant prayer was, “God, do something great...and I’m available if You need me.”

Examine your prayer life. Which do you pray: “God, save my heathen neighbor,” or, “God, use me to help lead that neighbor to You”? Take a situation you are facing today, and write out your own prayer of inconvenience to God.

Insight - And Speaking of Jogging Enthusiasts...

With his life on the line, Elijah “ran for his life” (19:3) from Mt. Carmel to Jezreel to Beersheba—a distance of about 110 miles. He took no chances.

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April 7

1 Kings 20–22

Reign of Ahab

Key Passage: 1 Kings 20; 22:29-40

Overview

You will be disappointed if you expect a climactic finish to the Book of 1 Kings today. Originally 1 and 2 Kings were a single continuous account, and the division between them in the English Bible is only literary, not historical. Today, you will read about the conclusion of Ahab’s wicked reign in Israel and briefly examine Jehoshaphat’s righteous reign in Judah. Ahab’s life is one long illustration of a man with no heart for God. In spite of God’s powerful display on Mount Carmel and two heaven-sent victories over the Syrians, Ahab shows utter disregard for His commands.

Your Daily Walk

Fighting against God can be a dangerous business. Ahab tried it, and it cost him his life.

In today’s reading, notice how God made Himself known to Ahab many times. God showed Israel’s king that He rules in the affairs of humanity. Despite fire from heaven, two divinely provided victories over superior foes, and the ringing declaration of the prophets, Ahab would not be swayed from his wicked ways. Refusing to be convinced that there are no accidents with God, Ahab became the object of one such “accident.” Disguising himself to avoid the prophetically decreed end of his life, he was struck by an arrow sent flying at random and guided by a divine hand straight to the one chink in his armor.

Think back over the first week of this month. How has God demonstrated His reality and His power to you through daily displays of protection and provision? Write in the margin how you responded and how you’d like to respond.

Insight - Murder Without a Weapon

Ahab cared nothing for the Law of God, a fact seen in his disregard for the divine restriction on transferring land from one tribe to another (21:1-3; Leviticus 25:23-28; Numbers 36:7-8). In shameless greed, he allowed Jezebel to mastermind Naboth’s murder—a crime for which he would later be held responsible by God (21:18-19).

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2 Kings

As the glory of the once-united kingdom eroded, Israel and Judah pursued a collision course with captivity. Despite the efforts of Elisha and the prophets, the division ends in double deportation. Corrupt Israel is captured and dispersed by the Assyrians in 722 B.C.; almost a century later, in three waves of conquest, Judah is taken to Babylon. In 586 B.C., the city of Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed. God’s patience is long. His pleading is persistent. His love is sometimes challenging. As a result, the kingdom divided (in 1 Kings) becomes the kingdom dissolved (in 2 Kings).

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April 8

2 Kings 1–3

Elijah's Successor

Key Passage: 2 Kings 3

Overview

The prophetic ministry of Elijah provides the bridge between 1 and 2 Kings. God directs His spokesman to pronounce a sentence on Israel’s wicked King Ahaziah for seeking counsel from idols rather than God. It’s Elijah’s last prophetic pronouncement. With his replacement Elisha looking on, Elijah is transported to heaven by a fiery whirlwind and chariot, leaving behind both a mantle and an unfinished mission: to call the people of God to righteousness.

Your Daily Walk

The time to prepare for a crisis is before, not after, it hits. The time to learn to swim is when the water is calm and shallow, not when the flood tides rage. When you are prepared, the unexpected storms of life can become occasions to show where your confidence lies.

In chapter 3, wicked King Joram of Israel and godly King Jehoshaphat of Judah are allied against the Moabites, preparing to attack them from the southwest. After a hard seven-day march, they find themselves in the middle of the wilderness with no water. What a revolting development—and what an excellent attitude test! Joram responds by blaming God; Jehoshaphat responds by beseeching God. Joram looks for a loophole; Jehoshaphat looks for a lesson God wants him to learn.

The same heat from the sun hardens the brick and melts the butter. How do you react when the heat is on? Before the first crisis of your day arrives, spend some preparation time with your Crisis Counselor to get His perspective on your problems. You’ll find His professional prescription in James 1:2-4. Read it, write it out, and carry it with you. Memorizing the first of those three illuminating verses will help you respond rightly when those crises come.

Insight - A Bloody Mirage

God showed His creative genius not only by supplying water but also by tricking the Moabites into a foolish attack. The red sandstone of Edom (see 2 Kings 3:16-24, Genesis 25:30), common in that area, caused the water to look like blood.

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April 9

2 Kings 4–8

Miracles of Elisha’s Ministry

Key Passage: 2 Kings 4: 1-7; 5: 1-14; 6: 1-23

Overview

Today’s section is filled with miracles God performed through His prophet Elisha. While Elijah’s ministry mainly consisted of public displays of God’s power, Elisha’s is largely private: miracles of provision (for the widow, the deceased son, and the poisoned prophets); miracles of perception (reading the king’s mind, opening the eyes of the young servant); and miracles of protection (removing the threat of the Syrian army). Each shows God’s willingness to do for the nation what He does for the individual—provide, protect, and defend all who will turn to Him.

Your Daily Walk

Read the sentence in the next paragraph carefully, counting the number of times the letter F occurs. Write your answer in the margin.

“The bride's father paid for half of the festivities; the unpaid balance of the bill he left for his new son-in-law as a wedding gift.” Did you spot 5...6...7? The correct answer is 10. It’s one thing to have “eyes to see” hidden letters in a sentence, but infinitely more significant to have eyes to see God at work in the world around you. Elisha’s young servant was distraught when he saw the soldiers of Syria surrounding the city of Dothan. The outlook was grim; there seemed to be no hope of escape. Then, in response to prayer, God opened the servant’s eyes to see the angelic host He had dispatched to protect His prophet.

You will never “see” many things until you view life from God’s perspective. Look up these verses to test your spiritual acuity today: Psalms 25:15; 101:3; 119:18; 123:2; 141:8.

Insight - Two Kingly Books Compared

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April 10

2 Kings 9–12

The End of Ahab by Jehu

Key Passage: 2 Kings 9: 1-10; 10: 1-11; 11: 1-21

Overview

In an ironic twist, the prophet of God anoints a new king in Israel for the purpose of destroying the existing king and his family. Jehu wastes no time carrying out his divine mandate against the family of Ahab. Politically and spiritually, the situation is not much better in the South. Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, usurps the throne and seeks to secure it by killing her grandchildren. Only 1-year-old Joash escapes; six years later, he emerges as one of Judah’s brightest reformers.

Your Daily Walk

Imagine for a moment that the minimum age requirement has been lifted for candidates for the presidency of your nation. And imagine further that the “kids of the kingdom” have pooled their voting power to elect a 7-year-old child as president. Would that worry you? If so, why?

Now read the last verse of chapter 11 and the first two verses of chapter 12. It really happened in the nation of Judah, not by popular vote but by divine appointment. And the amazing thing is this: “Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him” (12:2). As long as young Joash listened to godly counsel, the nation enjoyed godly leadership.

Now ponder this sobering thought. Somewhere in your country today, there may be a 7-year-old who will one day be president. Perhaps that child is in your home, church, school, and neighborhood. How are you seeking to influence the children in your life for God? Today’s investments will pay rich dividends tomorrow—if you are faithful.

Insight - Curious Facts about Judah’s Monarchs

• The only queen to rule Judah was _____________ (11:1, 3).
• The longest reign was Manasseh’s, lasting _______ years (21:1).
• Josiah was _______ years old when he became king (22:1).
• Jehoahaz and Jehoiachin each ruled only _______ months (23:31; 24:8).

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April 11

2 Kings 13–17

Israel Is Destroyed

Key Passage: 2 Kings 13: 14-19; 17:4-41

Overview

The time is coming when God will scatter the 10 tribes of Israel throughout the nations because of their idolatry and wickedness. After the death of Elisha until her downfall, Israel’s leaders will aimlessly try to cope with the mounting national crisis, but they will find no help. Reduced at last to a vassal state under Assyrian domination, Israel stages an uprising to throw off the Assyrian yoke. But the revolt is utterly crushed, and many Israelites are deported. Israel’s long-delayed judgment has come at last.

Your Daily Walk

Why does the unrighteous prosper at the expense of the righteous, and why does God not seem to do anything about it? Isn’t He concerned? Doesn’t He want the righteous to prosper?

Don’t misinterpret God’s seeming inactivity today. He is neither unconcerned nor impotent to judge the unrighteous for their wickedness. He is simply longsuffering in withholding deserved judgment to give men and women every possible chance to turn to Him in faith (2 Peter 3:9).

During Israel’s 200-year history, all of her kings (19 out of 19) and most of her people did evil in the sight of their God. Patiently, He waited for them to turn from false gods and return to Him, but it never happened.

Are you presuming upon God’s patience in your own life? Are you putting off accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior or giving an area of your life to God? Then, you are in the same precarious position as the nation of Israel. What will you do about it today?

Insight - So That’s Where the Samaritans Came From!

After the Israelites were deported, other conquered nations were transplanted to take their place. They intermarried with the remaining Israelites (a violation of the Mosaic Law) and gave birth to a mixed race of people, the Samaritans, who pure-blooded Jews hated for their mixed race and mixed religion.

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April 12/13

2 Kings 18–21

Hezekiah’s Godly Rule

Key Passage: 2 Kings 18: 1-7; 19:8- 20; 20: 1-11

Overview

After the captivity and deportation of Israel, the author’s focus shifts to the surviving kingdom of Judah—whose days are also numbered. During this critical hour in Judah’s history, God raises a righteous reformer named Hezekiah, who institutes sweeping changes in the nation. Hezekiah’s heart for God is nowhere more visible than in his prayer life, which is both persistent and potent. But the spiritual dynamic that marks his life is strangely absent in the life of his son, Manasseh, whose wicked leadership brings the nation to the brink of collapse.

Your Daily Walk

Try your hand at a word association game. Jot down the first five words that come to mind when you read the word youth.

Did you think of words like enthusiasm, idealism, or immaturity? (If you have teenagers at home, your list probably looked more like car keys, cell phone, car keys, money, and cell phone.)

In a period of Israel’s history when black despair hung over the nation, a young, inexperienced king took an uncompromising stand for God and turned the tide of spiritual decline. Hezekiah’s youthfulness was tempered by his commitment to obey God’s commands at any cost. His age became an asset, not a liability. Yours can, too, if you become “an example for the believers in _______, in _______, in _______, in and in _______.” (1 Timothy 4:12). Make one of those areas your exercise in exemplary living today.

Insight - The Sign of a Swift Recovery (20:1-11)

In response to Hezekiah’s fervent prayer for length of days, God gave the king a sign that he would undoubtedly be healed of his critical illness. The reversal of the sun’s natural course—rather than its mere deceleration—helped relieve the king’s anxiety and strengthen his faith. For the natural sequence of events, read the verses in this order: 1–6, 8–11, 7.

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April 14

2 Kings 22–25

Judah’s Godless Ruin

Key Passage: 2 Kings 22, 25

Overview

Josiah, yearning to turn his spiritually lifeless nation back to God, knows the place to begin is with the temple. He repairs the long-neglected house of worship and, in the process, discovers the forgotten Book of the Law. In it, Josiah reads prewritten history: Israel’s promised judgment by dispersion and Judah’s chastening if she does not learn from Israel’s fate. After Josiah’s death, the palace, priests, and people alike return to their corrupt course. It is left for Babylon to initiate the nation’s collapse.

Your Daily Walk

How do godly parents end up with rebellious children?

Yesterday, you read about Manasseh—the vilest king in Judah’s history and the son of Judah’s greatest reformer, Hezekiah. Today, you learn about another servant of God, Josiah—father of three idolatrous sons. How could this happen? There are no easy answers, but this much seems clear: the parents’ firsthand knowledge of God never became more than secondhand information to the children. Through oversight or neglect, the parents never challenged their children to discover how God could be real in their own lives.

God has no spiritual grandchildren. Each new generation must respond to Him personally and find Him all-sufficient. Think back over the times God has shown Himself to be real in your life, and then answer one of these penetrating questions: (1) Parents, are you denying your children vital learning experiences regarding spiritual truth? (2) Children, are you resisting your parents’ efforts to show you the reality of faith in God?

Insight - Two Kingdoms Summarized

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1 Chronicles

The books of 1 and 2 Chronicles describe the same period of Jewish history as 2 Samuel through 2 Kings, but from a different perspective. Chronicles provides a priestly commentary on the people of God during this historical period. After tracing King David’s royal line back to the beginning, 1 Chronicles outlines the spiritual significance of David’s righteous reign, demonstrating how the nation prospers when its leaders honor and obey God.

April 15

1 Chronicles 1–9

The Line of David and Israel

Key Passage: 1 Chronicles 1

Overview

Chronicles does more than just recount the same political history contained in the books of Samuel and Kings. It gives a priestly perspective on the history of God’s people, a sort of divine commentary on the kingdom period. It carefully weds the nation’s history with the active hand of God. Chronicles centers on the southern kingdom of Judah. First Chronicles opens with a lengthy series of genealogies tracing the line of David back to Adam. The genealogies provide clear evidence of God at work throughout history by selecting a people for Himself and then protecting a family within that people to provide leadership.

Your Daily Walk

Today’s section is not a candidate for “Favorite Devotional Passage of the Year.” Apart from providing some dubious practice in Hebrew pronunciation, it serves little purpose except to fill nine chapters of the Bible. Why is it there?

It is there to show you the historical basis of your faith. The opening chapters of 1 Chronicles form the skeletal framework of the entire Old Testament. They unite the Old Testament into a unified whole, showing that it is history and not merely legend or myth. From Adam to Abraham, Boaz to Benjamin, they’re all there to show the outworking of God’s plan and purposes throughout the generations. Although today’s reading could be a great cure for insomnia, stay with it until the point of the passage sinks in: God has a plan for history; He has a plan for Israel; and He has a plan for you.

Insight - A Legacy to Build On

Written by Ezra, the books of Chronicles encouraged the returned Jewish remnant to remember their spiritual heritage as descendants of God’s chosen people. Focusing almost exclusively on the royal line of David and the Levitical priesthood, they demonstrate how God kept His covenant promises through centuries of turmoil. In emphasizing God’s grace and forgiveness, Chronicles was a positive message of encouragement for those facing an uncertain future.

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March 15/16

1 Samuel 1–3

Samuel’s Call and Childhood

Key Passage: 1 Samuel 1: 1-20; 3: 1-21

Overview

The period of the judges is nearly at an end. One last judge remains: Samuel, a man of godly character and integrity who will guide the nation from judgeship to kingship. Samuel’s early life parallels that of another famous judge—Samson. Both are the offspring of barren women and the answer to fervent prayer; both are consecrated to the Lord’s service from birth; both enter a society marked by moral decline and spiritual apathy. But while Samson spent much of his life avoiding his calling, Samuel willingly embraced his. Even as a child, he was quick to obey the voice of the Lord.

Your Daily Walk

Disciplining children—once considered standard operating procedure for parents—is becoming rare; in its place, permissiveness reigns.

But that’s nothing new. A thousand years before Christ, the Bible paints a picture of the ruin of a family because the father failed to discipline his children. Eli, the high priest of God, allowed his two sons to do what was right in their own eyes. In shameless greed, they stole the best parts of the sacrifices offered to God. In response, God said He would “judge [Eli’s] family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons made themselves contemptible, and he failed to restrain them” (3:13).

As parents, our role as disciplinarians is not just a good idea but our God-given duty. If you are a parent, God has instructions for you to follow in your child-rearing assignment (Proverbs 19:25; 23:13-14). Read about it, build upon it, and watch God bless.

Insight - A Four-Question Quiz (with Only One Answer!)

1. Who was the last judge in Israel?
2. Who was the first prophet in Israel after Moses?
3. Who anointed the first two kings in Israel?
4. Who was the only man in the Old Testament to have two books of the Bible named after him?

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March 17

1 Samuel 4–8

Israel’s Defeat

Key Passage: 1 Samuel 4, 6, 8

Overview

When faith in God wavers, faith in man-made objects increases. In a scene reminiscent of the golden calf incident at Mount Sinai, the people of Israel carry the ark of the covenant into battle, confident that its presence will ensure victory over the Philistines. Instead, they suffer a shattering defeat in which 30,000 lives are lost (including the two sons of Eli), and the ark of the covenant is captured. Upon hearing the news, Eli falls backward and breaks his neck—a symbolic picture of a broken nation. It remains for Samuel to assume the reins of leadership and to guide the people back to repentance. But his declining years prove no more successful than Eli’s as Samuel’s sons once again corrupt the priesthood, causing the nation to clamor for a king so that “we will be like all the other nations” (8:20).

Your Daily Walk

The desire to keep up with the Joneses is nothing new. It was present thousands of years ago when the Israelites demanded a king just like their neighbors had. It’s a human tendency to want what someone else has. Call it what you may—covetousness, lust, envy, the grass-is-greener-on-the-other-side syndrome—but God calls it sin. Contentment, not covetousness, should mark the lifestyle of God’s children.

Check up on your CQ—your “Contentment Quotient.” What purchases in the last 30 days were prompted more by envy or greed than by genuine need? If so, what needs to change about our spending habits and attitudes if we are to be good stewards of the resources God has given us? We must remember that Jesus told us to seek “first his kingdom and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).

Insight - An Inglorious Birth at an Infamous Moment

Before her death, Phinehas’ wife gave birth to a son and named him Ichabod (“no glory” or “the glory has departed”)—a fitting title for a child left orphaned by disobedient parents (4:19-22).

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March 18

1 Samuel 9–12

Saul’s Selection

Key Passage: 1 Samuel 10; 12:6-25

Overview

From all outward appearances, Saul’s selection as the first king of Israel is an outstanding choice. From a human perspective, his kingly demeanor and imposing presence make him a promising candidate. Saul is anointed by Samuel, installed as king at Mizpah, proven in battle against the Ammonites, and confirmed as king at Gilgal. But the fact remains that God—not Saul—should be king over Israel.

Your Daily Walk

What does it take to lead a nation? See if you can list the “Five Indispensable Qualities of a Leader.”

Perhaps you thought of things like a commanding presence, eloquent speech, an aura of authority, toughness of character. But study the early years of Saul’s reign—the only part of his life that received God’s commendation—and you’ll discover something interesting about Saul’s leadership style. He held his peace with dissenters, and he refused to make examples of them when they were proven wrong; he gave God the credit for his successes; he didn’t think of himself more highly than he ought; he was sensitive to the needs of the people. In short, he was a faithful servant of God and the people he was trying to lead.

What is your leadership style? Do you seek to serve or be served—to meet needs or have your own needs met? Remember, man looks at (and applauds) the external appearance; God looks at (and rewards) the internal attitude (see 1 Samuel 16:7). Which leadership role will you turn into an opportunity to serve this week?

Insight - Warfare and Weaponry in Israel’s Army

The soldiers of Saul’s army most likely carried small, round shields made of leather with wooden frames. Those at the front held larger rectangular shields to form a solid wall against the enemy. Once they were engaged in hand-to-hand combat, they fought with clubs, axes, poles, and swords.

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March 19

1 Samuel 13–15

Saul’s Rebellion and Rejection

Key Passage: 1 Samuel 13: 1-14; 15: 1-23

Overview

Saul is faced with a critical test only two years into his reign. Confronted by a Philistine onslaught, would he obey God’s word as delivered by Samuel? The answer is a resounding “No!” At Gilgal, Saul assumes a priest’s role and offers sacrifices that only a Levite can offer—thus blatantly disregarding God’s Law. Samuel’s announcement that God will take the kingdom from him only spurs Saul on to greater efforts at doing God’s work—but not in God’s way. By ignoring Samuel’s command from God to annihilate the Amalekites, Saul seals his fate.

Your Daily Walk

Is God pleased when you use company time to prepare your Bible study lesson? How about driving 65 mph in a 55 mph zone? Is it OK to cheat on your income tax if you give the benefits of your creative math to God?

There is a fundamental question that you will face many times during your lifetime: How important is obedience to God’s Word? Or stated another way: Is keeping His commands more important than trying to do something else you think will please Him more? For King Saul, the question carried life-or-death importance. He concluded that God would overlook his incomplete obedience because of the sacrifices he offered, the money he gave to God’s service, and the time he spent in God’s house. The decision cost him his kingdom— and eventually his life.

When God speaks, do you listen? And then do you act? You can not learn the lesson Saul completely failed to learn too well: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice” (15:22).

Obeying God with half a heart can only lead to a broken heart.

Insight - If God Is For Us...

Saul’s army was ill-equipped compared to the Philistine army. Except for Saul and Jonathan, Saul’s army didn’t even have swords and spears (13:22). In addition, the Philistines had three thousand chariots while the Israelites had none (1 Samuel 13:5).

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March 20

1 Samuel 16–19

David in the Court of Saul

Key Passage: 1 Samuel 16–17

Overview

The rejection of a king after the people’s heart (Saul) sets the stage for choosing a king after God’s heart (David). A young shepherd more suited to the pasture than the palace, David possesses few claims to fame. He is a good marksman with a sling, an excellent lyre player, and the youngest of eight sons from a Bethlehem family. But David’s heart attitude is one of undivided devotion to God— a quality readily visible in the way he dispatches the Philistine giant Goliath and handles Saul’s jealous attacks.

Your Daily Walk

Do you see life from God’s perspective?
Here’s a quick way to find out. Simply answer these three questions honestly:

1. Do you see a calamity in every opportunity or an opportunity in every calamity?
2. When confronted with a Goliath-size problem, do you respond, “He’s too big to hit,” or like David, “He’s too big to miss”?
3. Do you feel that you’ve been put out to pasture, or do you see your present circumstances as proving grounds?

If you chose the second response to each question, then you see life from David’s (and God’s) perspective, the perspective that views one plus God as a majority in any situation, the perspective that enables you to walk with God when you are at peace and when you are pursued.

To sharpen your perspective, spend some extra moments today reading Psalm 139, a page from David’s diary that shows the heart attitude God delights to find.

Insight - David, the King Without a Crown

In 16:13, Samuel anointed David as the second king in Israel’s history. But not until 2 Samuel 5:3 did David assume the reins of leadership over all 12 tribes—a wait of about 15 years. During that interval, God had many important lessons to teach the young king-elect how to shepherd His people.

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March 21

1 Samuel 20–23

David on the Run from Saul

Key Passage: 1 Samuel 20–21

Overview

Today’s section paints a peculiar picture: David, the king-elect of Israel—anointed, approved in battle, and awaiting the inauguration of his reign—is fleeing for his life from the deranged Saul. Saul’s pursuit drives David to take desperate measures, such as eating the forbidden shewbread at Nob and feigning insanity at Gath. But Scripture records that David’s confidence in God never slackens, as his frequent petitions to God for direction and protection testify.

Your Daily Walk

Do you find yourself attracted to great individuals? Do you find something magnetic about a gifted athlete who performs effortlessly on the playing field or a musician who plays an instrument or sings with consummate skill? If so, then you’ve also probably felt a sense of defeat and frustration, for you knew you could never be like the great individual you so admire.

David was a great man of God in the truest sense of the word. He excelled as a warrior, writer, administrator, and musician. Perhaps you wish your life could be like his. But that isn’t possible, is it?

When the Bible paints a picture of a believer, it paints blemishes. Victory and defeat, joys and heartaches, faith, and faithlessness, are all there, so you can identify with David. The same relationship he learned to experience with God day by day, you can experience.

As believers forgiven by God’s grace, we never stop learning and growing. How about you? Are you mired in an unfortunate situation as David was? Then, learn from it and move on. Get back in stride with God. Pick a quality you admire from David’s life and work on it in your own life today.

Insight - Psalms Written in the Crucible of Experience

The Psalms are songs of worship and praise, written by David and others as emotional responses to crisis experiences. Some of David’s most moving psalms were written during Saul’s murderous pursuit. For an inside look, read Psalms 34, 52, 54, 57, 142.

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March 22/23

1 Samuel 24–26

David’s Mercy Toward Saul

Key Passage: 1 Samuel 24

Overview

After a brief delay in dealing with a Philistine threat, Saul returns to pursue David. Saul’s renewed zeal nearly pays off as (unknowingly) he traps David and his men in a cave. Then, miraculously, the tables are turned as David stands poised over King Saul with the power of life and death in his hand. And though vengeance is within his reach, David refuses to end the life of God’s anointed. Again, in chapter 26, the scene is repeated, this time in the Wilderness of Ziph. Once again, David must make a choice. Once again, David resists the temptation to assume God’s role by prematurely ending Saul’s life.

Your Daily Walk

Picture the tall, youthful figure of David standing over King Saul, who is finally at his mercy. What thoughts must David be wrestling with? Hatred for his mistreatment? Pity for the demented king? The exhilaration that, at last, his moment of revenge has come? No, there is no hint of animosity or vengeance. Instead, David knew that his own life belonged to God. David’s only desire is that his own life be spared until God fulfills His promise.

Are you waiting for a chance to avenge a wrong suffered? God wants to replace that spirit of bitterness with a spirit of love and forgiveness. But, as in David’s case, the choice is yours. Are you willing? Then let Ephesians 4:31-32 show you the way.

Insight - Rest in Peace, Old Testament Style

You may have seen old gravestones marked with the letters “R.I.P.”— Rest In Peace. The Old Testament analogy is found in 1 Samuel 25:29 (KJV)—“Bound in the Bundle of Life.” This saying is often applied to life beyond the grave, and the first letter of each Hebrew word is found on virtually every Jewish tombstone. The phrase is taken from the custom of binding up valuables in a bundle or sack to prevent them from being damaged or lost (Genesis 42:35).

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March 24

1 Samuel 27–31

Saul’s Downfall

Key Passage: 1 Samuel 27–28, 31

Overview

After months of running for his life, David concludes that leaving Israel entirely is the only way to escape Saul’s relentless pursuit. By convincing the Philistines he is a true defector, David is given the city of Ziklag as his base of operations. But instead of aiding the enemy, David and his army methodically destroy Philistine strongholds. Meanwhile, Saul’s desperate attempts to counter the Philistine threat finally lead him to consult with a medium (i.e., a witch) from Endor. Instead of the promise of victory, Saul hears alarming predictions of death and defeat—forecasts that come true the very next day as he and his sons die on the field of battle.

Your Daily Walk

“When the going gets tough, the tough get going!”

That’s a well-known slogan initially describing the grit and determination of a certain branch of the military. But despite the slogan, even a good soldier knows when it is best to get going in the opposite direction.

David was a first-rate soldier. Consider his military accomplishments: he whipped Goliath with one stone, led a rout of the Philistine army, and leveled several Philistine cities while living in Ziklag. If anyone could hold his own against an enemy, it was David. Why then did he decide to run from Saul’s army and hide in Ziklag? Because he knew that sometimes it was wiser to get out than to get tough. Fighting with Saul would have served only to reduce David to Saul’s level of petty jealousy and revenge.

Are you defending your rights against someone who has wronged you? Instead of “fighting it out,” let God fight for you. Meditate today on Psalm 37:1-8: “Do not fret...trust...delight...commit...be still...do not fret.”

Insight - No Middle Ground with a Medium

Saul’s visit with the witch of Endor not only violated God’s Law (Leviticus 19:31), but it also contradicted Saul’s actions in 1 Samuel 28:3, in which he expelled all witches and mediums from Israel.

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2 Samuel

David, the king-elect in 1 Samuel, becomes the king-enthroned in 2 Samuel, ruling first over Judah and then over all Israel. Characterized at first by victory and success, his reign is soon marred by the dual sins of adultery and murder. The aftershocks of unrest rock the kingdom for the rest of his life and beyond. Despite his personal weakness, David remains “a man after [God’s] own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14) because of his repentant attitude and his responsiveness to God’s will.

March 25

2 Samuel 1–4

David’s Divided Nation

Key Passage: 2 Samuel 1: 1–2:7

Overview

The books of 1 and 2 Samuel are a single, continuous story. In 1 Samuel, the mood is one of death and despair; in 2 Samuel, a ray of hope shines through. In 1 Samuel, Saul’s dynasty is destroyed; in 2 Samuel, David’s dynasty is established. But the transition of power is not a simple one. Proper mourning for Saul, the inauguration of the leader, the purging of the former regime’s influence, and the overthrow of rival factions—all must be done before David can rule in peace.

Your Daily Walk

Make a mental list of three candidates for the title “My Least Favorite Person on Earth.” Pick one name that seems to emerge as the prime contender. Now ask yourself this question: “How would I react to the news that [their name] had met a violent death?”

In a sense, David’s prayers had finally been answered. Without raising a finger against God’s anointed, David had finally been vindicated in his claim to the throne of Israel. The man who had tried so long and hard to snuff out his life was now dead. Yet, instead of rejoicing over the misfortunes of Saul, David wept unashamedly at the news. He even composed a beautiful song of testimony as a perpetual memorial to Israel’s first king.

Do you love your enemies? Can you highlight their virtues and strengths—and minimize their faults and failings—without bitterness or envy? That’s what divine love is all about (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). Ask God to give you a heart like David’s. Then, turn your list of least favorite people into a prayer list. It will revolutionize your prayers; it may even turn some of your enemies into friends.

Insight - The Irony of David’s Tears

Deep mourning for Saul (1:11-12) came from the people he had hated and persecuted most severely. Compare this to the weeping of Jesus over the city of Jerusalem just days before its inhabitants would nail Him to a cross (Matthew 23:37-39).

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March 26

2 Samuel 5–7

David’s United Nation

Key Passage: 2 Samuel 5: 1-5; 7: 1-29

Overview

With the death of Ish-bosheth, the people of Israel transferred their allegiance to David as their rightful king. As his first official act, David conquers the Jebusite stronghold of Jerusalem and makes it the nation’s capital. However, something more than political and military reform is necessary. The worship of God must return to its place of primacy. Knowing this, David made plans to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and build a place for it to reside. In the process, he learns some hard lessons about doing God’s will in God’s way and in God’s timing.

Your Daily Walk

Think carefully about each question in this true/false quiz:

1. True or False? If God has placed a desire in my heart, then it must be His will for me to accomplish it.
2. True or False? If my goal is to please and glorify God, then how I go about it is really insignificant.
3. True or False? Doing God’s will in something other than God’s way cannot truly be God’s will.

David had two ambitions in the early years of his reign: to bring the ark to Jerusalem and to build a house for God there. To accomplish the first, David chose the expedient—rather than the obedient—mode of transportation, costing an unsuspecting man his life. David’s wish to build a majestic temple for God was commendable, but it simply wasn’t God’s plan for David’s life.

It’s wonderful to dream big dreams for God. But be sure those dreams are implemented in God’s way, in God’s timing, and with the people God intends to use.

Insight - Finding the Chink in Jerusalem’s Armor

Jerusalem was ideally suited for defense: Located on a hill with steep slopes on three sides, attackers most easily approached from the north, but strong walls blocked their way. David and his men sneaked through the water shaft from the Gihon spring (located outside the wall) into Jerusalem.

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March 27

2 Samuel 8–10

David’s Expanding Nation

Key Passage: 2 Samuel 8–9

Overview

Once the opposition to his rule has been silenced, David can secure his kingdom against foreign invasion. In quick succession, the Moabites, Syrians, Edomites, and Ammonites fall to David’s troops, causing the neighboring powers to surrender without a fight. Extensive new territory and enormous amounts of tribute are added to David’s kingdom. But David nurses no spirit of revenge, as evidenced in his dealings with Mephibosheth.

Your Daily Walk

Here’s another true/false quiz. According to 8:1-14:

1. True or False? David defeated the enemies of the Lord.
2. True or False? The Lord defeated the enemies of David.

To check your answers, reread the passage, circling all the verbs describing David’s actions (“David defeated...subdued...fought...struck down”) and all the verbs describing God’s actions (“The Lord gave David victory wherever he went,” 8:6, 14). Who fought the battle? David did! Who gave the victory? God did! David could not do God’s part, but neither would God do David’s part. It was a cooperative effort from start to finish, with God providing the power and protection and David swinging the sword and smiting the enemy. For David to go out in his strength—or sit idly by and expect the job to get done in God’s strength—would have proven disastrous. But by teaming up with God, David was invincible. The attitudes, “God, You don’t need me,” and “God, I don’t need You,” are twin formulas for disaster.

Check up on your battle plan for today. Then, jot down a challenge you are facing and the strategy you will use to ensure you come out a winner.

Insight - Half Shorn, Fully Shamed (10:4)

Even to this day, cutting off a person’s beard is regarded by Arabs as the height of indignity, comparable to that of flogging or branding. Many would rather die than have their beards shaved off, which shows the severity of the insult to David’s men.

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March 28

2 Samuel 11–14

David’s Adultery and Its Aftermath

Key Passage: 2 Samuel 11–12

Overview

At a time when David should have been on the field of battle, he finds himself instead on the roof of the palace. A casual glance, a lustful thought, an inquiry, and the king of Israel sets in motion a chain of events that culminates in adultery and murder. While David’s sinful acts are followed by heartfelt repentance, the fruit of those acts continues to ripen for years within David’s family in the form of murder, incest, treachery, and open revolt.

Your Daily Walk

Do you use or abuse the authority God has given you?

Scan chapter 11 and circle the word sent every time you discover it, for therein lies the key to David’s downfall.

While it was common practice for the king to send others to do his bidding, such practice was subject to abuse. David “sent Joab” to the battle front (11:1), when David should have accompanied him there. David “sent someone to find out about” Bathsheba (11:3), though he had no business doing so. David “sent messengers to get her” (11:4), though she belonged to another man. David “sent . . . with Uriah” (11:14) that loyal soldier’s death certificate. It is a wonder that when David’s wicked plan was complete, God “sent Nathan to David” (12:1) to uncover the ugly scheme. Using God-given authority for your own convenience may seem expedient now, but in the long run, it will prove bitterly expensive.

List the roles of authority you fill today (e.g., parent, deacon, manager, teacher). Then, turn your list into a prayer project as you ask God to make you a “sanctified sender.”

Insight - The Subtle Slide from Sin to Sin

The leap from a covetous thought (11:2) to the calculated murder of one of his most loyal soldiers would probably have been unthinkable to David. But because one “little” sin relentlessly escalated into others—idleness, selfishness, covetousness, adultery, treachery, murder—the net result was the same.

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March 29

2 Samuel 15–18

Revolt Against David

Key Passage: 2 Samuel 15, 18

Overview

Of all the sons mentioned in the Bible, none is as physically handsome and yet so emotionally and spiritually scarred as Absalom. Of Absalom, Matthew Henry writes, “In his body there was no blemish, but in his mind nothing but wounds and bruises.” Today’s reading describes the fulfillment of Nathan’s prophetic judgment upon David. While his transgression had been done in secret, the shame, dishonor, and murder within his own family circle would be done before all of Israel. But the most tremendous heartache would be Absalom’s attempt to usurp his father’s throne. David’s faith in God and love for his wayward son never diminish, though they are severely tested. Driven from Jerusalem, cursed by his countrymen, and disgraced by his son, David is eventually vindicated and restored, though at tremendous personal and national cost.

Your Daily Walk

Psychologists can probe your past, tell you why your heart is broken, and help you cope with it. They aren’t in the business, however, of fixing broken hearts. But God is. He specializes in reconstructive surgery on shattered lives—taking the pieces of an empty shell and turning them into something beautiful and purposeful and glorifying to Himself. Prodigal children, fractured marriages, splintered homes—they’re His specialty.

Do you have a job for the Mender of broken hearts? His office is always open. No appointment is necessary.

Insight - Diary of a Disgraced Dad

What thoughts must David have been thinking? What emotions must he have felt as he saw his favorite son mocking the kingship and openly disgrace the family name from the palace rooftops? What tears must he have shed in private before God when seeing his own trespasses come to fruition? His thoughts and prayers are written down in his “diary” for you to read in Psalms 3–4, 62–63.

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March 30

2 Samuel 19–20

Unrest and Violence in the Land

Key Passage: 2 Samuel 19

Overview

Overcome with grief for his slain son Absalom, David mourns so loudly and long as to seem ungrateful for those who risked their lives to return him to the throne. This stinging insight, delivered by David’s field marshal, Joab, shakes David from his fit of depression and stirs him to resume the reins of power. However, his homecoming is not a particularly pleasant one. By addressing his own tribe (Judah) and inviting them to restore him as their king (which they readily agree to do), David isolates the other tribes in a national display of jealousy. A revolutionary named Sheba stages an untimely rebellion, and only after it is crushed can David rule a united kingdom.

Your Daily Walk

Yesterday, you read how Absalom ignored Ahithophel's supportive counsel and followed Hushai's intentionally misleading counsel. Today you read how David avoided a mass mutiny of his friends by listening to the wise words of Joab.

Advice is one commodity of which there will never be a shortage. Everyone is quick to give advice. But any counsel is only as good as its source. “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked” (Psalm 1:1). There is counsel you should avoid. “Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise” (Proverbs 19:20). There is counsel you should seek and apply. And how do you tell the difference? “The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations” (Psalm 33:11). Counsel that is true to God and His Word is the kind you should seek and follow.

Take a decision you are facing today, and share it with a godly person from your church or community. Listen carefully to the counsel that’s given. Then do it. God will honor you for it.

Insight - And Speaking of Wise Counselors...

Don’t miss the story of the wise woman of Abel (20:14-22), who saved her hometown from destruction by confronting Joab.

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March 31

2 Samuel 21–24

David’s Last Words and Deeds

Key Passage: 2 Samuel 22; 24:18-25

Overview

Today’s reading covers six topics which, though out of strict chrono- logical order, form an appendix to the main body of 2 Samuel: (1) a severe famine sent in judgment for Saul’s treatment of the Gibeonites; (2) a series of wars with the Philistines; (3) a beautiful psalm of deliverance and praise; (4) a list of David’s mighty men of valor; (5) a sinful census; (6) the severe punishment that followed. The closing paragraph of the book portrays David in his most natural pose: worshiping the Lord in humility.

Your Daily Walk

How do you respond when you have failed God—and you know it? Do you find yourself running to Him or from Him?

Near the end of David’s life, he ordered a census of his troops— a census motivated by pride, not necessity—a census that angered God and forced David to select his own punishment.

In most pagan religions today, the emphasis is on appeasing— rather than approaching—an angry god. But notice David’s reaction after ordering his sinful census. He knew his actions were wrong and he deserved the chastening of the Lord. But he saw more mercy in God than in man. So he responded: “Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men” (24:14). Even in the midst of being disciplined, the arms of the Lord are the safest place to be, and David knew it.

Pain is never pleasant because pain hurts. But there is a pain that comes from your Father in heaven who cares too much to allow you to sin with impunity. Read Hebrews 12:5-11, and thank God for His discipline in your life. It’s a sure sign you are His child.

Insight - From Threshing Floor to Something More

Araunah was known as a Jebusite (24:18), one of the original inhabitants of the city of Jerusalem. Many believe his threshing floor is the rock formation preserved under the Dome of the Rock, on or near the site of Solomon’s temple.

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Joshua

The first of 12 historical books, Joshua provides the link between the Pentateuch and the rest of Israel’s history. It picks up the story of Israel, where Deuteronomy left off, and follows the nation from the wilderness into the promised land. The first half of the book (chapters 1–12) describes Joshua’s victorious seven-year campaign as the Israelite army fulfills God’s command to remove pagan influences. In the second half of the book, God’s 40-year-old promise is fulfilled. Israel has a homeland.

March 1/2

Joshua 1–5

Preparing the People for War

Key Passage: Joshua 1: 1-8, 16–18

Overview

Moses, “the servant of the Lord” (1:1), is dead. In his place stands General Joshua, one of only two adults surviving the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. Joshua must guide the nation across the flood-swollen Jordan River and into battle against the fortified cities of Canaan—indeed, not an assignment for the fainthearted. Spying out the town of Jericho, crossing the Jordan, circumcising the new generation—each step brings comforting reminders of God’s promise to fight on behalf of His people.

Your Daily Walk

The coach is giving his pre-game pep talk to the local football team. The opposing team looks enormous to the players, obviously outweighing, and no doubt outplaying, them at every position. Somehow, the coach’s encouragement rings hollow: “OK, men, now I want you to go out there and be strong, be courageous, don’t let their size terrify you.” But then an amazing thing happens. The coach, a man of unequaled strength and skill, lays aside his whistle and playbook, dons a jersey, and announces to the team: “I will be your quarterback, and in my strength, we cannot fail. So be strong!"

The opening chapter of Joshua was no mere divine pep talk. Instead, God was providing Joshua with the bedrock assurance he needed to face Canaan's towering giants and fortified strongholds. Humanly speaking, the battle seemed already lost, but from God’s perspective and through His strength, the battle was already won. Since Joshua could face his giant-sized challenge courageously, what is one situation in your life today in which you, too, can draw courage from the promise of Joshua 1:5?

Insight - Joshua, the Renamed General

Joshua’s original name was Hoshea (Numbers 13:8), which means “salvation.” But during the wilderness wanderings, Moses changed his name to Jehoshua, “Jehovah is salvation.” Joshua is a contracted form of Jehoshua and the Hebrew form of the New Testament Greek name Jesus.

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March 3

Joshua 6–8

Central Campaign

Key Passage: Joshua 6: 1–7:5

Overview

The walled fortress of Jericho stands like a taunting giant in the path of the approaching Israelites. There can be no skirting the issue: Jericho must be conquered. But how? The strategy God delivers to Joshua is truly unique and designed to ensure that if the walls fall down, there can be only one explanation—God did it. Joshua leads the people on a daily lap around the city walls, culminating in a seven-lap marathon on the seventh day. At last, comes the moment to shout, and Jericho’s walls turn to rubble. But after victory comes disobedience. Achan steals some of the forbidden spoils, resulting in the defeat of Israel’s army.

Your Daily Walk

Hate is a strong word. And to say that God hates something is even stronger.

Yet the Bible lists many things that God hates: idolatry (Deuteronomy 16:22); wickedness (Psalm 45:7); pride, lying, murder, discord (Proverbs 6:16-19)—in a word, God hates SIN.

Today’s reading explains one reason why God finds sin so abhorrent: it leaves scars on the innocent as well as the guilty. Achan’s sin—seemingly so private and harmless—resulted in 36 lives needlessly lost in battle and an entire nation left in disarray.

Are you tempted to disobey God, concluding, “It’s my life, and I can do with it as I please”? Ask yourself: “What will disobedience cost me personally? How will it affect others around me?” God has the strength for you to be an overcomer (Romans 8:37). Will you turn to Him right now and use that strength?

Insight - Long Odds at Ai

Overconfident from their smashing victory at Jericho, the people urge Joshua to send a token force against Ai (7:3). Joshua agrees, sending only 3,000 soldiers (7:4). But because of Achan’s sin at Jericho, the people “were routed by the men of Ai...The hearts of the people melted” (7:4-5). The lesson is clear: With God on your side, you can’t lose; without Him, you can’t win.

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March 4

Joshua 9–12

Moving South and North

Key Passage: Joshua 9: 1–10: 15

Overview

“Divide and conquer” is a classic strategy for military conquest, and Joshua uses it to perfection. With Jericho and Ai secured, he accomplished Phase One—dividing the land in half, thereby isolating the northern and southern confederacies. Next, he begins a “mopping up” operation in the South and North. But the thrill of victory is tempered by the knowledge of what should have been. The Gibeonites, hearing the astounding fate of Jericho and Ai, trick Joshua into signing a pact of protection, causing the Israelites to defend rather than defeat one of their enemies.

Your Daily Walk

“Dr. Livingstone, I presume?”

Fortunately for Sir Henry Stanley, on that fateful day in 1871, deep in the heart of central Africa, he “presumed” correctly. Many times, though, the presumption can get you into trouble, particularly if it is a presumption about God’s Word.

Yesterday, you read about Achan, a man who presumed that God wouldn’t mind if he stole a few “trinkets” from the crumbling ruins of Jericho—and he paid for it with his life. Today, you read about godly Joshua falling into a presumptuous sin by failing to consult the Lord. The Scriptures make it abundantly clear that presumption can bring serious consequences.

What important decision are you facing today? Don’t presume you can make a wise choice without God’s help. With His Spirit dwelling in you and His Word available to you, He can guide you into a wise course of action—if you let Him.

Insight - Trace the Troops Across Canaan

Understand the full force of these chapters by using the maps in the back of your Bible to follow Israel’s conquest. See if you can locate all the cities mentioned in the book, and try to discover Joshua’s plan of attack. For example, his all-night march from Gilgal to Gibeon covered 20 miles of treacherous terrain, uphill most of the way (10:9).

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March 5

Joshua 13–17

Portions for Five Tribes

Key Passage: Joshua 13: 1-7; 14

Overview

The conquest is complete, and portions of the land are now assigned to the tribes who have fought so valiantly in the strength of the Lord. Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh, who previously requested land east of the Jordan, now receive their new homesteads. Still full of vigor at the age of 85, Caleb requests and receives Mt. Hebron in Judah’s area as his inheritance—even though it contains giants and walled cities.

Your Daily Walk

Chapter 14 features Caleb; at first glance, he may appear to be a proud, self-reliant soldier. After all, how often do you hear an 85-year-old claim to have the energy of someone half his age? But Caleb wasn’t blowing his own horn. Instead, he was boasting in the Lord: “I followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly...Just as the Lord promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years” (14:8, 10). He was merely giving credit where credit was due.

Stop right now and brag a little on the Lord. Think of one way God has shown Himself strong on your behalf over the past week, and tell a friend or loved one about it sometime today. Then you’ll be doing what Caleb the soldier (and David the psalmist) loved to do so much: “My soul will boast in the Lord” (Psalm 34:2).

Insight - Cutting Up Canaan for the Tribes (See Map)

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March 6

Joshua 18–21

Portions for Seven Tribes

Key Passage: Joshua 18: 1-10; 21:43-45

Overview

Seven tribes remain to receive their hard-earned “property inheritance.” After ordering a survey of the land, Joshua divided it into seven parcels and distributed it by lot. In addition, six cities of refuge are designated to protect innocent manslayers. The Levites, whose inheritance is the priesthood rather than property, are given 48 cities in which to live. With the tabernacle in place in Shiloh, the task of dividing up the land is complete.

Your Daily Walk

Today’s passage will either interest you or bore you. On the surface, it appears to be little more than a long list of unknown towns, obscure families, and meaningless details. You’ll be tempted to skim the material—and skip the blessing.

But put yourself in Joshua’s sandals for a moment. Imagine America as the promised land. For seven long years, you have been taking stronghold after stronghold to rid the land of its pagan occupants. Then, one morning, trumpets blare forth the news:

The war is over! The land is yours. Victory is complete. It is time to celebrate and divide up the promised land.

You listen breathlessly as Joshua describes the borders of your piece of the promised land. You pinch yourself. After all the years of waiting, God has kept His word!

Does that do anything for your faith and confidence in God’s promises to care for you? If so, write the words of Philippians 4:19 on a card, then sign and date it. Let it remind you today—and every day—that you are taking God at His word.

Insight - Growing Room for the Tribe of Dan

Dan’s allotment was a small territory compressed between the northwestern hills of Judah and the Mediterranean Sea, a portion that proved too small for Dan’s 64,400 families (Numbers 26:42-43). The majority of the tribe migrated north, made war on the inhabitants of Laish, and then settled there (see Judges 18).

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March 7

Joshua 22–24

Joshua’s Last Words

Key Passage: Joshua 24

Overview

In his 100+ years, Joshua seldom saw an uneventful day—and the closing chapters of his life are no exception. Scarcely have the tribes unpacked when civil war threatens to break out. A memorial built by the eastern tribes is misinterpreted as an idol by their western neighbors, and only quick action by Joshua prevents bloodshed. Years later, in the final hours of Joshua’s life, he gathers the nation together and delivers an emotional charge, pleading with them to remain true to the Lord—yet knowing full well they would depart from Him. Joshua concludes with a ringing ultimatum: “Choose . . . this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15).

Your Daily Walk

When a man lies on his deathbed, you can be sure he won’t fritter away those precious moments in small talk. His every word will be fraught with importance. Listen carefully, for he is revealing his innermost thoughts.

Joshua gathered his dwindling strength and immediately appealed to Israel for a fresh resolve to put away idolatry and serve God alone. After all, God had brought their fathers out of Egypt. It was God who parted the Red Sea and decimated the Egyptian army. It was God who stopped the Jordan, flattened Jericho, and sent the Canaanite armies fleeing. God gave them a land they did not deserve, cities they had not built, and vineyards they did not plant. Is it any wonder Joshua drew an imaginary spiritual line on the ground and declared: “Choose . . . this day whom you will serve”? What keeps you from wholeheartedly committing to serve God? Has something or someone replaced God as the object of your affection? Choose today the one you will serve.

Insight - Joshua’s One Glaring Failure

When Moses died, Joshua was prepared to lead. However, Joshua had no trained successor, and the resulting lack of experienced leadership set the stage for the chaotic period of the judges.

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Judges

The Book of Judges stands in stark contrast to Joshua. Whereas Joshua shines brightly as a book of obedience and victory, Judges is a sad book of disobedience and defeat. It covers a turbulent period of 350 years in which the nation passes through seven cycles of sin: servitude, supplication, salvation, and silence. Thirteen judges—including Deborah, Gideon, and Samson—arise to deliver the people from their oppressors and restore them to a proper relationship with the one true God.

March 8/9

Judges 1–5

Conditions During the Judges

Key Passage: Judges 2:6-23

Overview

Efforts by Judah, Simeon, and the other tribes to purge the land of its pagan inhabitants are not successful. Pockets of godless influence remain—sometimes active, sometimes dormant, but always a source of spiritual stumbling. As Israel sinks into immorality and idolatry, God allows powerful neighboring countries to oppress and enslave the people. Cries of repentance bring God’s hand of deliverance in the form of a judge who throws off the yoke of oppression. Over and over, the cycle repeats itself: sin, servitude, supplication, salvation, silence.

Your Daily Walk

A task half done is as useless as a task that has never begun. The skydiver who almost pulls the ripcord in time, the architect whose bridge almost spans the mighty Mississippi, and the chef who almost bakes the cake long enough—each experiences the agony of an unfinished task. Good intentions and careful workmanship count little if the task is never completed.

Over the Book of Joshua could be inscribed, “They almost finished the job.” Tragically, Joshua's conquests gave way to complacency in Judges. God demanded complete extermination of Canaan’s false worship; Israel settled instead for tolerance and, in the process, fell into sin and forfeited God’s fullest blessing. What area of your Christian life needs “follow through” today?

Don’t let incomplete obedience prevent you from fully enjoying God’s presence and power. Meditate on Psalm 1:1 and notice the blessing God promises for those who don’t walk, stand, or sit where they shouldn’t.

Insight - How Not to Obey a Command

Under Moses, the people were given three commands when they entered the land (Deuteronomy 7:1-5): (1) destroy all the inhabitants of Canaan; (2) avoid intermarriage with pagan neighboring countries; and (3) shun false gods. Compare Judges 1:27-36, 2:11-13, and 3:5-7 to see how obedient they were.

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March 10

Judges 6–8

Gideon, Conqueror of Midian

Key Passage: Judges 7

Overview

After briefly describing the lives of five minor judges, the narrative now focuses on Gideon, God’s instrument of salvation against Midian. Gideon is introduced in a way that is both humorous and pathetic: cowering in a winepress as he threshes out a handful of wheat, trying to escape the notice of the Midianite oppressors. But God takes that unlikely candidate for greatness, confirms His will through the twin miracles of the wet and dry fleece, equips Gideon’s army with trumpets, pitchers, and torches, and sends him out to rout the Midianites—without a single weapon.

Your Daily Walk

True or False: God never changes.
True or False: God’s methods never change.

If you said the first statement is true, you are right. “[He] does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17). His character is immutable—unchanging. He is “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). But what about His methods? They are as unpredictable as the weather. Warfare takes on a new perspective when the God of Israel is fighting on your side. How do you conquer an enormous army? Man’s method: get a bigger army. God’s method: get rid of most of your army, “arm” the rest like children at play, and have them stand still.

God’s methods are infinite in their variety, but His goal is always the same: to bring about victory so that there can only be one explanation—God did it! Examine your life and the life of your family. Do you see evidence that this principle just might be the key to understanding what is happening in your life—and in theirs?

Insight - A Mighty Victory at a Memorable Rock (7:25)

Gideon’s band of 300 men routed a Midianite army of 135,000 (8:10). In God’s strength, they enjoyed victory against odds of 450 to 1—so striking that later an Old Testament prophet would refer to it twice in his book. Can you name the prophet? (Hint: The references in his book are 9:4 and 10:26.)

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March 11

Judges 9–12

A King and Six Judges in Israel

Key Passage: Judges 9: 1-6, 50–57; 11: 1-6, 29–40

Overview

In a day when “everyone did as he saw fit” (21:25), it is not surprising to find ambition, jealousy, and brutality. Abimelech, son of the godly Gideon, sees his father turn down the opportunity to become king. But unlike his father, the son will not be denied. He usurps control of the nation, murders 69 of his 70 brothers, and rules for three terrifying years before his life is brought to an end by a divinely guided millstone. By contrast, another of Israel’s judges, Jephthah, overcomes a horrible family background to become a zealous commander.

Your Daily Walk

“Heritage—something you will spend your life trying either to live up to or to live down.”

There are many areas of your life over which you have no control: your gender and height, the color of your eyes, the wealthiness of your parents. All that is part of your heritage from birth. In most cases, you can do little to change it.

But while you had no vote in the matter of your ancestors, you have much to say regarding their descendants because you are one of them. Were you born into a godly family? Then, be careful. So was Abimelech. Were you born into a broken home or under regrettable circumstances? Then take heart. So was Jephthah, and God used him mightily. Your heritage is neither an excuse to hide behind nor a guarantee of future godliness. But good or bad, it can bring great glory to God if you allow Him to make it a springboard rather than a millstone in your life.

If you feel your past has hindered your service to God, ask Him to give you opportunities that glorify Him with your future.

Insight - Unusual Deaths in the Bible

Abimelech is not the only Bible character who died an unusual death (9:52-54). Can you recall who died

• from a “splitting headache”? (Judges 4:17-21)
• because of a backward glance? (Genesis 19:26)
• on a mountaintop while old but still vigorous? (Deuteronomy 34:1-7)

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March 12

Judges 13–16

Samson, Conqueror of Philistia

Key Passage: Judges 13, 16

Overview

Samson’s life resembles a fairy tale in reverse. From birth, he is blessed with godly parents, favor from the Lord, supernatural strength, and the acclaim of his countrymen. But by the end of his life, he is blind, impoverished, and performing the humiliating duty of a beast of burden. Equipped for the task of delivering Israel from Philistine oppression, Samson instead spends much of his life violating his Nazirite vow and compromising his calling. Only rarely does his performance live up to his potential. But God gives him one last portion of power, and by his death, Samson destroys more Philistines than he did during his entire lifetime.

Your Daily Walk

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word stewardship? If your thoughts naturally turn to money, then you’re normal. But is God concerned only about you being a good steward of your material wealth? No, it goes way beyond that.

Jesus told His disciples, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded” (Luke 12:48). Certainly, that includes the treasure God has entrusted to you. But what about your time and talents?

Samson had so much—yet used it so selfishly. What about the special abilities God has given you? Are you using them or abusing them? Talk to your pastor about a talent that needs to be put to use in the Savior’s service. Then, look for an opportunity to use it.

Insight - Samson, A Mirror of Israel

Samson’s life of the tragic hero epitomizes the nation of Israel during the time of the judges. Both began with heroic triumphs over numerous enemies. Both were consecrated to the Lord and given special power. Moreover, while Samson disobeyed God in desiring to marry a foreigner of dubious reputation, Israel similarly sold herself to foreign gods. For both Samson and Israel, these actions led to destruction.

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The Cycle of Judges

As you read through Judges, notice how the nation of Israel moves through the same five-step cycle a total of seven times: SIN brings SERVITUDE; Israel cries out to God in SUPPLICATION; God sends SALVATION in the form of a judge; there is a period of SILENCE...until the next SIN begins the cycle again.

March 13

Judges 17–21

Idolatry and Immorality

Key Passage: Judges 17, 21

Overview

Today’s section is an appendix to the first 16 chapters of Judges. Chronologically, it fits after chapter 3, but the writer has placed it here intentionally as a fitting climax to the book. The people are building their idols of wood and metal, devising their systems of worship, and even hiring Levites to serve as priests over their phony religions. Morally the nation is at such a low ebb that rape and homosexuality scarcely cause an eye to blink. And when Israel’s national conscience is finally pricked by a shocking “telegram” sent to the 12 tribes, the response is brutal outrage, resulting in the near extinction of the tribe of Benjamin.

Your Daily Walk

Assume for a moment that you are a doctor. Write in the margin the first five vital signs you would check to determine if a patient is sick or healthy. Now, imagine that you are a spiritual doctor. What five “vital signs” would you check to determine if your nation is spiritually sick or healthy?

The lesson of Judges is clear. People left to do what seems right in their own eyes will end up doing what is wrong in God’s eyes—gross idolatry, immorality, brutality, and injustice. When God’s objective standard of right and wrong is discarded, people will not only hit bottom morally—they will break clean through.

You have the privilege of making your voice heard for God and for good through emails, phone calls, and even letters to policy-makers at all levels of government. Educate yourself about the spiritual sickness in our nation, then take 10 minutes today to write and pray.

Insight - The 1,100-Shekel Question

In 17:2, Micah confesses to the theft of 1,100 pieces (i.e., shekels) of silver—a total of nearly 30 pounds of the precious metal. Elsewhere in the Book of Judges, that exact figure becomes prominent again. Can you remember who else paid out that much money? And to whom? And for what?

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March 14

Ruth 1–4

Ruth: An Old Testament Love Story

Key Passage: Ruth 1, 4

Overview

Yesterday, you read five of the darkest chapters in all of Scripture; today, you’re reading four of the brightest. The remarkable thing to remember is that the events described in both portions occur at approximately the same time. The Book of Ruth is a cameo story of love, devotion, and redemption set in the black context of the era of the judges. It is the story of a Moabite woman willing to forsake her pagan heritage to cling to the God of Israel and His people. Because of her faithfulness, God rewards her by giving her a new husband (Boaz), a baby son (Obed), and a privileged position in the lineage of Christ (she is the great-grandmother of King David).

Your Daily Walk

After reading Ruth’s four-chapter love story, turn to Hebrews 11:6. The words will have a familiar ring, but don’t slide over them casually. Do I genuinely believe God rewards those who diligently seek Him?

Think back over the difficult decisions that confronted Ruth: staying in her homeland of Moab where she was known and loved, or moving to Israel where she was largely unknown and unloved; starting a new home of her own, or living with her bereaved mother-in-law; worshiping the familiar gods of Moab, or worshiping the true God of Israel. As she diligently sought to walk with God in a godless nation, Ruth learned firsthand that God rewards God-seekers.

Are you struggling with some misfortune today? Take heart from Ruth’s example. Diligently seek God’s will and His ways. If they are believers, ask your in-laws (if you have some) to join you in prayer about the difficulties you are facing.

Insight - Typecasting in the Book of Ruth

Notice how the characters’ names foreshadow the action in the Book of Ruth: Naomi, “pleasant one”; Elimelech, “my God is king”; Mahlon, “sick”; Chilion, “pining”; Orpah, “stubbornness”; Ruth, “friendship”; Boaz, “in him is strength.”

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1 Samuel

Following the destructive period of the judges, Samuel—prophet and king-maker—is called by God to rebuild Israel spiritually and politically. In time, he anoints Saul as Israel’s first king. But Saul soon proves unable to rule even his own heart. Samuel anoints the young David to take Saul’s place, which causes a fierce rivalry resulting in David’s flight into the wilderness to escape the murderously jealous king. The book ends with the death of Saul, clearing the way for David’s glorious reign.

March 15/16

1 Samuel 1–3

Samuel’s Call and Childhood

Key Passage: 1 Samuel 1: 1-20; 3: 1-21

Overview

The period of the judges is nearly at an end. One last judge remains: Samuel, a man of godly character and integrity who will guide the nation from judgeship to kingship. Samuel’s early life parallels that of another famous judge—Samson. Both are the offspring of barren women and the answer to fervent prayer; both are consecrated to the Lord’s service from birth; both enter a society marked by moral decline and spiritual apathy. But while Samson spent much of his life avoiding his calling, Samuel willingly embraced his. Even as a child, he was quick to obey the voice of the Lord.

Your Daily Walk

Disciplining children—once considered standard operating procedure for parents—is becoming rare; in its place, permissiveness reigns.

But that’s nothing new. A thousand years before Christ, the Bible paints a picture of the ruin of a family because the father failed to discipline his children. Eli, the high priest of God, allowed his two sons to do what was right in their own eyes. In shameless greed, they stole the best parts of the sacrifices offered to God. In response, God said He would “judge [Eli’s] family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons made themselves contemptible, and he failed to restrain them” (3:13).

As parents, our role as disciplinarians is not just a good idea but our God-given duty. If you are a parent, God has instructions for you to follow in your child-rearing assignment (Proverbs 19:25; 23:13-14). Read about it, build upon it, and watch God bless.

Insight - A Four-Question Quiz (with Only One Answer!)

1. Who was the last judge in Israel?
2. Who was the first prophet in Israel after Moses?
3. Who anointed the first two kings in Israel?
4. Who was the only man in the Old Testament to have two books of the Bible named after him?

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February 15/16

Numbers 17–20

Dying in the Wilderness

Key Passage: Key Passage: Numbers 20: 1-13

Overview

Throughout their wilderness wanderings, the children of Israel are reminded of two things: death and hope. Death as the result of their unbelief at Kadeshbarnea, and hope in the promise that God would still give His people a land of their own. God’s authority continues to rest with Moses and Aaron, as demonstrated in the miracle of Aaron’s budding rod. And the priests and Levites are still God’s chosen servants to lead the nation in corporate worship. But death becomes the constant companion of the Israelites on their march: death in the sacrifices, death of the red cow for purification, and the death of the high priest Aaron.

Your Daily Walk

Find a hammer, nail, and piece of wood. Drive the nail halfway into the wood, then remove it carefully. What do you have left? (To make this a truly memorable experience, drive the nail into your front door or perhaps your favorite piece of furniture.)

That illustration provides a parable of the permanent results of sin. Once confessed, we receive God’s complete forgiveness (1 John 1:9)— like removing the nail from the piece of wood. But you will not be able to erase entirely the scars that sin leaves behind.

Are you, like Moses, tempted to “strike a rock” when God has told you to “speak softly”? Weigh the consequences ahead of time. Christ not only died so that sin might be forgiven, but He died so that sin might be avoided. Thank Him for a scar or a nail hole you’ll never have to carry because you were willing to say no to sin and yes to Him.

Insight - Cow in the Old, Savior in the New

Chapter 19 describes God’s provision for the people’s uncleanness by using water mingled with the ashes of a red cow. This curious rite becomes more apparent in the light of Hebrews 9:11-14 as a foreshadowing of Jesus. Just as the ashes of the sin offering had a purifying effect when applied by water, so Jesus’ offering for sin purifies everyone to whom it is applied by His Spirit.

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February 17

Numbers 21–25

The Bronze Snake and Brash Seer

Key Passage: Numbers 21–22

Overview

As the Israelites march to Canaan, they meet and defeat three enemies: the Canaanites, Amorites, and Bashanites. But on the heels of victory, they suffer defeat at the hands of a persistent foe: grumbling. Because of the people’s constant complaining, God sends fiery snakes to chasten His rebellious nation. The threat of Israel’s advance prompts the neighboring pagan nations to hire the prophet Balaam to bring down a curse upon God’s people. But instead of a curse, Balaam delivers a sweeping witness to the glorious future of Yahweh’s nation. What Balaam could not do with his voice, however, is accomplished by his evil influence, as the Israelites give in to idolatry and mixed marriage.

Your Daily Walk

Find a small piece of sandpaper and tuck it in your pocket or purse. Then, read the next few paragraphs thoughtfully and prayerfully.

In chapter 21, the nation of Israel conquered three national powers. Smashing victories! Stunning triumphs! But for some of the people, it wasn’t enough. After all, they were still on the wrong side of the Jordan and didn’t possess even a spadeful of the Promised Land. Their impatience led to criticism, and criticism to fiery judgment.

One key to consistency in the Christian life is to simply give God time to work. Rough edges take time to smooth. Growth to maturity never occurs overnight. But each day can be a step in the right direction.

Is God using a little sandpaper on your life right now? How can you cooperate with, rather than oppose, the work of the Master Carpenter?

Insight - Jesus and Numbers—They Go Together!

Look up the following verses in Numbers to discover how they provide a preview of Jesus centuries before His birth:

• Snake of bronze (21:4-9; John 3:14)
• Water from rocks (20:11; 1 Corinthians 10:4)
• Manna (11:7-9; John 6:31-33)

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February 18

Numbers 26–30

Second Census

Key Passage: Numbers 26:52-56; 27:18-23

Overview

Now that the journey is virtually over, it is time for a second census to assess Israel’s military strength and apportion the soon-to-be conquered territory of Canaan. In addition, it is time to appoint Moses’ successor—the one who will lead the people in their conquest. God’s choice is Joshua, one of only two generation members who left Egypt to survive the wilderness wanderings and enter the Promised Land. Under Joshua’s leadership, the nation will enjoy military victory and spiritual vitality as they obey God’s commands and fulfill their holy obligations.

Your Daily Walk

After multiplying from a family of 70 to a nation of 600,000 fighting men in the space of about 400 years, Israel declined in population during the next 40 years. In part, the lack of growth was because of the numerous judgments God sent to discipline Israel’s disobedience: for example, 14,700 dead after Korah’s rebellion (16:49); 24,000 dead after following Balaam’s teaching (25:9).

Is God enlarging or shrinking your sphere of influence? Jabez, an obscure Old Testament figure, prayed in 1 Chronicles 4:10: “ ‘Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request.” God delights in blessing His obedient children. Talk to Him today about an “expanded border” with which you want to be entrusted.

Insight - Tallying Up the Second Census by Tribes

Can you add up these numbers and find the grand total?

1. Reuben - 46,500
2. Simeon - 59,300
3. Gad - 45,650
4. Judah - 74,600
5. 5. Issachar - 54,400
6. Zebulun - 57,400
7. Ephraim - 40,500
8. Manasseh - 32,200
9. Benjamin 35,400
10. Dan - 62,700
11. Asher - 41,500
12. Naphtali - 53,400

What is the grand total?

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February 19

Numbers 31–33

Preparing to Possess the Land

Key Passage: Numbers 33

Overview

During the final days of his life, Moses is active in at least three roles: commander-in-chief of Israel’s army, administrator of the nation’s internal affairs, and travel guide bringing the people to the plains of Moab. The Israelite army, using only a token force of troops, exterminates Midian for its idolatrous influence. Later, Moses had to deal with the request of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh that they be allowed to settle east of Jordan. The section closes with a review of the travel route from Egypt to Moab.

Your Daily Walk

Numbers 33 is both one of the darkest and one of the brightest chapters in the Bible. It is a dark chapter because it chronicles the journey from Egypt to Moab—a journey that should have taken just a few weeks but consumed four decades plus the lives of an entire generation.

But the picture is not all dark, for chapter 33 also portrays the nation's movements under God's watchful eye. Guided through the barren wilderness, provided with manna from heaven, and protected from marauding bands, the people experienced God’s tender care daily, even as they felt the sting of His discipline.

Christian, do you view God’s discipline in your life as “pain with a purpose”? God loves us too much to allow disobedience to go unpunished. Having read chapter 33, write these words in the margin of your Bible: “A chapter that should have read differently.”

A chapter is being written in your life today. How will it read? Learn a lesson from Israel’s mistake: Take God at His word.

Insight - Victory Without Casualty

Chapter 31 describes the Midianites' extermination—a command God delivered earlier (25:16-17). This most remarkable confrontation would prove to be Moses’ last military battle. Twelve thousand Israelite troops engaged an innumerable host of Midianites. When the battle was over, and the Israelites assembled to determine their losses, not a single man was missing—a miraculous case of divine protection!

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February 20

Numbers 34–36

Entering the Land

Key Passage:Numbers 34: 1-15

Overview

The Book of Numbers closes with a list of the geographic boundaries of the Promised Land and the names of those who will apportion the land to the nine-and-a-half tribes still awaiting the inheritance. Since the Levites are allotted no land, they are given 48 cities scattered throughout Canaan. Laws are established to provide for justice in cases of manslaughter and protect the inheritance of families with no surviving male heir.

Your Daily Walk

You cannot enjoy what you do not possess. God had promised to give His people a great land. You’ll find the description of its borders in chapter 34. It extended as far north as Mount Hor and Hamath, south as Kadesh-Barnea and the Wadi of Egypt, and east as the Jordan River. Sadly, Israel would seldom enjoy the full extent of these promised boundaries. Only briefly in the reigns of David and Solomon would the nation encompass that much territory.

Was God’s promise no good? Or was there something else that kept the people from enjoying the full blessing God intended? Every promise has two parts: the promise itself and the possession of that promise by the person for whom it is intended. God told His nation repeatedly, “Go in and possess the land. It’s all yours!” But because of unbelief and indifference, the people settled for God’s second best. They could not enjoy what they did not possess.

Look back through the sections you’ve already read. Is there a promise you’ve yet to possess—a blessing from God you’ve yet to stake your claim to? What are you waiting for?

Insight - Obscure Names, Outstanding Truths

Of those selected by God to allot the land (34:16-29), only Caleb is familiar. But consider the names of some of the others: Shemuel, “name of God”; Elidad, “God has loved”; Hanniel, “favor of God”; Elizaphan, “my God protects”; Paltiel, “God is my deliverance”; Pedahel, “God has redeemed.” Names can carry timeless truths, can’t they?

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Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy addresses the new generation destined to possess the land of promise—the survivors of the 40-year wilderness wandering. Like Leviticus, Deuteronomy contains much legal detail, but its emphasis is on laymen rather than priests and sacrifices. In his three farewell sermons that comprise the book, Moses stresses both the importance of obedience if the people are to learn from their predecessors and the faithfulness of God who “brought us out from there to...give us the land that he promised on oath to our forefathers” (6:23).

February 21

Deuteronomy 1–4

Reviewing the Wanderings

Key Passage: Deuteronomy 1, 4

Overview

Deuteronomy opens with the first of Moses’ three sermons—a review of the nation’s history, with particular emphasis on God’s dealings with His people. Moses recalls Israel’s failure to claim the land because of the people’s unbelief and the 40 years of judgment that followed. He reviews Israel’s history for the benefit of the new generation, which has already shown some distressing similarities to their parents. Finally, he reminds them of the primary lesson from Israel’s history: Obedience brings blessing; rebellion brings ruin.

Your Daily Walk

Have you read a 500-page novel that should have been a short story or heard a speaker stretch a five-minute talk into 45 minutes? If so, you know how irritating it can be to drag out a task longer than necessary.

God’s plan for Israel’s conquest of Canaan was straightforward: a short march from Kadesh-Barnea, a series of faith-inspired battles, and total victory. But Israel took God’s simple plan and, because of disobedience, turned an 11-day trip (1:2) into a 40-year tragedy. Someone has said that the Israelites were slow travelers because they were slow learners. It took them 40 years to learn a lesson they should have mastered in less than two weeks.

Has God been trying to teach you a lesson in recent days that you’ve been resisting? Or do you have a task you need to do, but you’ve been putting it off, dragging it out because of a lack of faith or motivation? On an index card, write one thing you know God wants you to do today and carry it as a reminder of your commitment to the task. When God says “March!” make short work of it.

Insight - King Size...in Every Sense of the Word

Og, king of Bashan—whom the Israelites defeated and killed (Numbers 21:33-35)—was the last of a race of people called Rephaim (Deuteronomy 3:11). Jewish tradition describes Og as a physical giant, a fact seemingly verified by the biblical record which states that his bed was 13.5 feet long by 6 feet wide.

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February 22

Deuteronomy 5–7

Recalling God’s Promises

Key Passage: Deuteronomy 5: 1-21; 6: 1-9

Overview

Moses’ second sermon (which extends through chapter 26) contains many of the same commands previously received at Mount Sinai. He starts with the basics, the Ten Commandments, and then urges the parents to teach these precepts faithfully to their children. Moses’ request is urgent. The Promised Land remains to be conquered and enjoyed. God is looking for a generation of obedient people that He can lead in victory and thereby fulfill His longstanding promise.

Your Daily Walk

“WANTED—Energetic young couple for demanding assignment. Must have boundless reserves of patience, stamina, and optimism. Must be able to function reasonably well on three hours of sleep, diagnose childhood ailments, and read the same book 27 times without appearing bored. Together, they must be skilled as nurses, counselors, teachers, and taxi drivers. Full-time position. No paid vacations. Salary not commensurate with experience. Those applying will be screened to determine their sanity.”

In case you haven’t guessed, the “Position Available” is for parents. And what greater challenge for a parent is there than to communicate God’s timeless truth to a tender young life? Fortunately, God has a word of counsel just for you. You’ll find it in 6:6-7—the key to passing on the vitality of your faith. It’s not lecturing or giving your child good books to read, but taking advantage of the teachable moments in the daily classroom, such as mealtime, playtime, and bedtime. Look for a teachable moment in your child’s life today.

Then seize it and use it for eternity. You’ll both be glad you did.

Insight - Putting the Law in a Box

The command to put the law “as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads” (Deuteronomy 6:8) was taken literally by pious Jews who, even to this day, attach small boxes containing portions of Scripture to their foreheads and arms. How much of God’s Word do you carry everywhere you go?

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February 23

Deuteronomy 8–11

Warnings for a New Generation

Key Passage: Deuteronomy 8: 1-20; 10: 12-13

Overview

Moses again takes the Israelites back into their national history to illustrate that God is faithful to His word. He loves to bless His people, as demonstrated during the wilderness wanderings. For 40 years, God prevented clothes from wearing out while faithfully providing life-sustaining manna. He constantly promised His people an even greater blessing once they entered the land. But the incident of the golden calf was a painful reminder that disobedience brings swift punishment.

Your Daily Walk

Are you a detail-oriented person? Here’s a little quiz to see how observant you are:

1. How many light bulbs are there in your bedroom?
2. How many buttons are on the outfit you are wearing? (No peeking allowed!)
3. How many miles (to the nearest 100) are on the odometer of your car?

Those may seem like insignificant details—and they are. But when it comes to the commandments of God, there is no such thing as an unimportant detail. Look at these verses from today’s section: “Be careful to follow every command I am giving you” (8:1). “Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years” (8:2). “Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (8:3).

Pick a command from today’s reading, and try to write down ten observations about it. Then, once you have pondered the command, practice it. It’s a lifestyle that pleases God (10:12-13).

Insight - Taking Credit Where Credit Isn’t Due

In 8:10-20, Moses warned the people that when they occupied and prospered in Canaan, they would be tempted to take the credit, concluding that “my power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me” (8:17). But Moses offered a quick cure for such misguided pride. Can you spot it in 9:6-24?

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February 24

Deuteronomy 12–16

Ceremonial Laws in the Land

Key Passage: Deuteronomy 13:6-10; 14:22–15: 11

Overview

In chapter 12, Moses moves from the broad principles of the Ten Commandments to the more detailed regulations that will govern the daily conduct of God’s people in the Promised Land. Religious life must be characterized by intolerance of idolatrous influences, strict attention to the sanctity of life, and careful personal hygiene. Every seventh year will bring the forgiveness of debts, and three yearly feasts will commemorate essential events in the nation’s history.

Your Daily Walk

There is something money can’t buy and it’s called poverty. Poverty is nothing new, for “there will always be poor people in the land” (15:11). But God does not see it as a hopeless situation. A divine plan for poverty relief is recorded in today’s section— a plan that, if followed, might make government poverty programs obsolete.

1. Forgive all debts every seven years.
2. Faithfully observe all of God’s commands.
3. Freely give to assist those in need.

The first part of this three-point program could be legislated, but the last two require voluntary compliance and a proper heart attitude. If the people of Israel would do this, God told them: “You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. You will rule over many nations, but none will rule over you” (15:6). Try God’s “Poverty Program” on a friend in need, and watch what happens. After all, there’s something else money can’t buy—Christian compassion.

Insight - Murder Without a Weapon

Chapter 13 describes how grave an offense it was for one person to persuade another to disobey God or turn to false idols. Such a person was to be put to death immediately, with the first stone being thrown by the one in danger of being persuaded, even if that person was a near relative (13:6-10). The offender was to be treated as a murderer. Has God’s opinion changed about the seriousness of such a sin today? Read Mark 9:42.

THE BOOK OF TRANSITION
Deuteronomy

The Book of Deuteronomy acts as a bridge between the books of Numbers and Joshua.

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February 25

Deuteronomy 17–20

Civil Laws in the Land

Key Passage: Deuteronomy 18:9-22

Overview

In addition to the laws regulating national worship, Moses also delivers civil laws for governing the nation's internal affairs. Holiness should not be practiced in the tabernacle only. Justice, truthfulness, and humane behavior must characterize all the nation’s dealings. Moses anticipates three situations that are sure to arise once the people are in the Promised Land: (1) the desire to crown a king, (2) the need to examine a prophet’s credentials to determine if he speaks for God, and (3) the need for a refuge to protect those who have committed manslaughter unintentionally.

Your Daily Walk

When was the last time you had a brush with the occult? Before you lightly pass off that question, consider the pagan activities that the Israelites were strictly forbidden to practice: magic spells, witchcraft, interpreting omens, and consulting with spirits. Now compare that list with some of the seemingly harmless activities Christians sometimes engage in today:

• reading books or viewing movies dealing with sorcery
• foretelling the future using cards, stars, or Ouija boards
• planning the day’s activities based on a horoscope

Are you dabbling with the very things God has told you to despise? God told His people: “Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord” (18:12). Those who belong to God have no business trafficking in the things of Satan. Do a life checkup today for any innocent-looking forms of the occult, and deal with them. God deserves and expects your full devotion.

Insight - “Give Me a King or Give Me Death”

Because of Israel’s desire to be like the neighboring countries with kings, God granted her an earthly kingship, beginning with Saul. Even so, Yahweh’s kings were radically different from other kings. Israel’s king was a fellow servant of the covenant (17:15) and had to obey it (17:18-19). The king was the ultimate authority in other countries; in Israel, Yahweh was the ultimate authority.

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February 26

Deuteronomy 21–26

Social Laws in the Land

Key Passage: Deuteronomy 23: 1-8; 26: 16-19

Overview

Today’s reading is extended, but it contains fascinating insights into some “what if” questions that will no doubt arise once the people are in the land. Moses covers such topics as how to purify the land from an unsolved murder, how to administer capital punishment, who is eligible for membership in the congregation and who is excluded, how to avoid the extinction of a family name, and when and how money may be loaned for interest. Such regulations are essential if the people of God are to live in peace and purity in the Promised Land.

Your Daily Walk

Is God concerned about things like cruelty to animals and the preservation of the species? How about accurate scales at the meat market and protection from loan sharks?

All of the above and more are discussed in today’s reading. At first, you may have thought you’d stumbled across a disjointed collection of do’s and don’ts. But God is interested in every detail of life.

Whatever affects His people concerns Him. His love and compassion extend even to the treatment of animals: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain” (25:4). “If you come across a bird’s nest...and the mother is sitting on the young or on the eggs, do not take the mother with the young” (22:6), thus preserving the species.

Aren’t you glad the God who created and sustains nature is also the God who created and sustains you? Think about three other evidences of God’s care from today’s reading. Then read Matthew 6:25-34. The God who looks after wildflowers and birds is looking after you.

Insight - The 41st Blow Is a No-No

Chapter 25 describes corporal punishment’s place in the life of the nation. It was never to be used to extract a confession and was only to be applied after the suspect was found guilty. Even in punishment, the dignity of the individual was to be preserved. The Jews kept the letter of the “40-lash limitation” law but not the spirit of it (see 2 Corinthians 11:24).

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February 27

Deuteronomy 27–30

Commitment to the Covenant

Key Passage: Deuteronomy 27–28

Overview

In his final sermon, Moses solemnly tells the people about the blessings and curses accompanying their obedience to God's covenant (or rebellion against it). Obedience will bring prosperity, provision, and protection from God. Disobedience will lead to disaster. The nation may choose for itself which path it will take, but the consequences of its decision are predetermined. Moses wisely counsels them to “choose life” (30:19).

Your Daily Walk

Have you ever been in the awkward position of having to discipline someone else’s child? It usually doesn’t work very well because that child is not yours. There is no parent-child relationship to give your demands for obedience the ring of authority. Discipline works best when relationship precedes requirements.

God’s requirements for Israel are summarized in the phrase: “Obey the Lord your God and follow his commands and decrees” (27:10). On what basis could God require their obedience? Verse 9 supplies the answer: They were His people. He had called their father Abraham centuries before, He had preserved them in Egypt, and He had redeemed them from bondage by the blood of the Passover lamb. Verses 9 and 10 are in direct relationship. Because Israel be- longed to God, she was to obey.

Refresh your walk with God by recalling why He deserves and expects your obedience. He has saved you by His grace (Ephesians 2:8-9), and you are taught to call Him “Father” (Luke 11:2). Think about one thing the fatherhood of God tells you about your relationship with Him, and share it today with your children (or father).

Insight - A Tough Challenge for Any Farmer

The figurative use of “bronze” and “iron” in Deuteronomy 28:23 graphically depicts an extended drought. With the sky above as metallic as bronze and the soil below as hard and impenetrable as iron, cultivation would be impossible.

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February 28

Deuteronomy 31–34

Conclusion of Moses’ Life

Key Passage: Deuteronomy 31, 34

Overview

With Israel ready to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land, Moses’ responsibilities as deliverer and guide are completed. He assigns Joshua to be his successor before giving a last warning to the people to remain true to the covenant. Moses turns his final message into an easily remembered song and teaches it to the people so they, in turn, can pass it on to future generations. After a parting blessing, he climbs Mount Nebo to catch a glimpse of Canaan and then dies in a location known only to God.

Your Daily Walk

Did you ever wish you were someone else? Children at play openly imitate their favorite heroes. Though adults are more subtle, they often try to pattern themselves after a popular personality, a successful executive, or an inspirational leader.

Trying to be someone you’re not is never easy. There is always the danger that you’ll forget who you want to be and accidentally be yourself. From God’s viewpoint, desiring to be like someone else is not only unnecessary, it is potentially harmful. God never asks you to be someone or something you cannot be. When He called Joshua to lead the nation, God did not ask him to be another Moses. Moses and his leadership style were totally unique. For deliverance from Egypt, Moses was the man. However, Joshua was God's choice for military campaigns and conquests in Canaan.

God has a job for you where He can use your talents, gifts, and abilities in distinctive service. Ask Him to show you what it is. Whatever assignment God gives you, don’t try to be a Joshua, a Moses, or anyone else. Just be yourself and let God use you.

Insight - A Spunky Senior Citizen...at Age 120

Moses’ reference to his inability to “cross the Jordan” (31:2) does not mean he was getting feeble from old age (see 34:7). Rather, he had been forbidden earlier by God to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 20:12).

A PROMISE
Worth Claiming

Picture this: You discover you’ve won a two-week vacation in the Caribbean, absolutely free, and all you have to do is claim your prize. Do you wait for the prize to appear? No—you claim it!

You were promised the vacation, but you have to claim it. Now, consider God’s promises to His people. This month, you saw Him guarantee a lush, fruitful home to the Israelites who fled Egypt.

Yet they sadly postponed the blessings of this Promised Land because of their lack of faith. Throughout the Bible, God makes many promises: assurances of provision (Matthew 6:31-34); of an abundant, fulfilling life (John 10:10); of freedom from fear and worry (Deuteronomy 31:8 and Philippians 4:6-7); of love, joy, and peace (Galatians 5:22-23); and much, much more.

But every promise has two as-if aspects: the promise itself and the appropriation of that promise by the person to whom it is given. Like a free trip pledged to us, God’s promises need to be believed in faith so that we can fully benefit from them. Perhaps the most important gift from God that we can claim is the promise of eternal life.

Jesus says: “My sheep listen to my voice...and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish” (John 10:27-28).

Now, that’s a promise worth claiming! Won’t you accept the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ? All you have to do is confess your sins, accept the living Christ as the Savior and Master of your life, and believe in—lay claim to—your gift of salvation. It’s the beginning of a new life that lasts forever.

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Leviticus

The instructions of Leviticus, delivered by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, pertain to Israel’s personal and national life. Leviticus, the new nation’s book of worship, derives its name from the tribe of Levi, which was entrusted with the rituals and ceremonies of the people’s approach to God and the physical care of the Tabernacle. Leviticus solves the twin dilemmas of how sinful people can achieve access to God (through animal sacrifices) and maintain fellowship with God (through obedience to His Word).

February 1/2

Leviticus 1–3

Three Voluntary Offerings

Key Passage: Leviticus 1

Overview

Leviticus opens with a description of the five different sacrifices that an Israelite could offer: three for those in fellowship with God (sweet aroma sacrifices) and two for those out of fellowship with God. The sweet aroma offerings were tailored to the person’s ability to give. The burnt offering signified the offerer’s devotion to God; the grain offering pointed to God’s provision in life; and the fellowship offering pictured the thankful worshiper’s fellowship with God.

Your Daily Walk

During a visit to Korea, two American businessmen were highly amused to see a young farmer hitched to a plow guided by his father. Later, they learned that both father and son were Christians who had sold their only ox to provide money for a new church building.

“What a sacrifice!” exclaimed one businessman. “Not really,” replied a missionary accompanying the Americans. “They were sorry they had but one ox to give to the Lord’s work.” On one occasion, Jesus was dining with a Pharisee named Simon when a woman interrupted the dinner in a startling way. Breaking a jar of ointment, she anointed the feet of Jesus with the costly perfume, prompting the Lord to respond: “Her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little” (Luke 7:47).

What is one way you can show your gratitude to God for His great love and forgiveness? Select a 21st-century sacrifice of praise you can offer Him—perhaps a special offering or act of kindness—to say thank You to your heavenly Father who so richly deserves your gratitude.

Insight - Exodus and Leviticus: A Study in Contrasts

Exodus emphasizes:

• pardon
• God’s approach to humanity
• salvation
• “Let my people go”

Leviticus emphasizes:

• purity
• humanity’s approach to God
• sanctification
• “Be holy, because I am holy”

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February 3

Leviticus 4–7

Two Required Offerings

Key Passage: Leviticus 6

Overview

In addition to the three sweet aroma offerings, God instructs regarding two other sacrifices—both required when sin had interrupted fellowship with Him. The sin offering—which covered sins of uncleanness, neglect, or thoughtlessness—provided restoration for the sinner while reinforcing the seriousness of sin. The restitution offering—which covered sins of injury to God and others—provided compensation for the injured or offended party.

Your Daily Walk

What do a dented fender, a facial scar, and a scratched CD all have in common? (Hint: It has nothing to do with your teenager!) Give up? They are all constant reminders of unpleasant experiences: the fire hydrant that ran into your car, the razor that “gotcha,” and your favorite CD that was ruined.

For the Israelites, there was another collection of reminders: the bleating of a lamb, the smell of fresh blood, the sight of rising smoke. All served to remind them that they were sinners. Every new sin, even an unintentional one, demanded that another animal be slain.

Doesn’t that make you appreciate the death of Jesus Christ for you all the more? The fact that He died to set you free from the endless requirement of sacrifices is indeed a great reason for rejoicing. Remind yourself often today of Christ’s once-for-all-time sacrifice for you, and let that reminder bear the fruit of praise on your lips and in your life.

Insight - Sweet and Sour Offerings

Unlike the other three offerings, neither the sin offering nor the resti- tution offering was a sweet, pleasing fragrance to God because sin is never sweet to God. Those two offerings foreshadow many details of Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross.

• The victim was without a spot or blemish.
• Sin was transferred from the offerer to the offering.
• The one offered died in the sinner’s place.
• The sin offering took place outside the camp.

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February 4

Leviticus 8–10

Priestly Orders and Offense

Key Passage: Leviticus 9:23–10:7

Overview

After the sacrifices, the divine requirements for the priests to offer them follow. Moses consecrates Aaron and his four sons to minister in the Tabernacle. Sacrifices and ceremonies occur for seven consecutive days, after which Aaron begins his duties. However, the joyous inaugural week abruptly ends with the disobedience and death of two of Aaron’s sons, which leads to a divine announcement of restrictions upon the priests’ conduct.

Your Daily Walk

Has this ever happened to you? You are late for an appointment and pushing the speed limit. Suddenly, you catch a glimpse of flashing blue lights in your rearview mirror. You watch in numb despair as a police car draws ever closer and finally pulls over...the car next to you! Would that experience change your driving habits (at least for the next few miles)?

One of the reasons God gave the Old Testament was to provide flashing lights to warn of dangerous, sinful situations. Others have learned the hard way, but you don’t have to—if you take their painful examples to heart. Nadab and Abihu, Aaron’s sons, met an untimely death because they took God’s holiness lightly. In a moment of proud disobedience, they offered the wrong kind of fire in the wrong place and paid for that act with their lives.

At the dinner table this evening, read aloud 1 Corinthians 10:11. Then, beginning with the story of Nadab and Abihu, share lessons you have learned from the lives of Old Testament people from whom you or your family can benefit today. After all, you’ll never live long enough to duplicate all the mistakes of others—nor do you have to.

Insight - The High Priest’s Wardrobe—Fit for One

There would be many priests but only one high priest—one who would represent the people before God by entering the Holy of Holies to make atonement. Only the high priest wore the ephod to signify this unique role—a sacred garment of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine-twined linen (Leviticus 8:1-13; see also Exodus 28:4-14).

THE FIVE OFFERINGS:
Snapshots of a Savior

The five offerings of Leviticus 1–7 represent more than just animal sacrifices. They provide a five-dimensional foreshadowing of the perfect Sacrifice, Jesus Christ, who would later abolish the need for animal sacrifices once and for all.

The sweet sacrifices picture the person of Christ—the perfect voluntary Sacrifice with all His merits and perfections. The nonsweet sacrifices depict the work of Christ in bearing the sins and imperfections of human beings as the necessary consequence of God’s righteous demands.

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February 5

Leviticus 11–15

Personal Purity in Daily Life

Key Passage: Leviticus 11:45–47; 13:59; 14:54-57

Overview

Chapters 11–15 give instructions regarding ritual uncleanness caused by animals, birth, leprosy, and regular bodily discharges. Holiness demands a holy lifestyle. Purity is indispensable to worshiping a holy God, though it does impose some restrictions. For the Israelites, this meant dietary laws, temporary quarantines after contact with specifically named substances, and rules regarding normal bodily functions. The word unclean means “ritual unfitness” rather than actual sin. Unfitness occurred in the flesh and made the analogy that one must be made fit, or holy, to enter God’s presence. The word occurs more than 90 times in these chapters, showing that obedience is no small matter to God. In fact, it is paramount.

Your Daily Walk

Commands such as “Wet Paint,” “Keep off the Grass,” “Don’t Feed the Ducks,” or “Speed Limit” seem to whisper in our ears, “I dare you...” But did you ever stop to think why those rules are there? Someone is trying to look out for the best interests of you and others. They know that fresh paint looks better on park benches than on pants; that grass stays prettier when people aren’t trampling it to death; that ducks don’t survive well on a diet of Cheetos; and that gas, cars, and people last longer when driving safely. Such rules are for your own good.

The same was true for Israel’s laws. God gave these instructions for His people’s physical and spiritual protection: no scavenger animals for dinner, no contact with leprous people, and plenty of baths. In today’s passage, look for ways God protected His people through the laws He gave—even through some they couldn’t understand. He has the same desire for you.

Insight - A Holy People, a Horrible Disease

Leprosy was regarded as incurable in the Old Testament. The New Testament often uses it as a picture of sin. Like leprosy, sin requires cleansing,, and God can only forgive sin and heal it.

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February 6

Leviticus 16–17

Holiest Day of the Year

Key Passage: Leviticus 16: 1-22; 17: 11

Overview

The great Day of Atonement, observed each year, was Israel’s most significant act of worship. On that day, the nation gathered to watch expectantly as the high priest entered the Holy of Holies with the blood of atonement to cover the nation's sins for another year. Because blood was the central ingredient in Israel’s national and personal forgiveness, God prohibited its use for any purpose except sacrifice to Him, for “it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life” (17:11).

Your Daily Walk

Have you ever had to live with a gnawing uncertainty? A recurring illness? An overdue bill? The emotions of facing situations like those are intensely painful.

In Old Testament times, the emotions that charged the air on every Day of Atonement were just as intense. As the high priest cautiously entered the Holy of Holies to atone for the nation's sins, one question was uppermost in everyone’s mind: “Will God pass over our sins for another year?”

The awful reality of the Day of Atonement was this: Sins were never fully cleansed. They were only temporarily covered and sent away on the head of the scapegoat. The debt of sin remained unpaid, like a promissory note deferred from year to year.

Aren’t you glad Jesus ended that uncertainty forever? He paid the long-standing debt of sin in full by nailing it to His cross (Colossians 2:14). When you pay your bills this month, remember the price Jesus paid.

Insight - Covered and Protected for Another Year

The words atonement, appease, and pacify all come from the Hebrew root “to cover,” which appears more than 100 times in the Old Testament. The same root occurs in Genesis 6:14, where Noah is commanded to cover the ark “with pitch inside and out.” Just as the pitch covered the ark and protected its passengers, so the shed blood of the sacrifice stood between sinful humanity and the holy God whose law had been violated.

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February 7

Leviticus 18–20

A Holy People Uniquely His

Key Passage: Leviticus 18: 1-5, 24–30

Overview

In addition to the regulations governing national holiness, God provides Israel with laws governing personal conduct and purity in matters pertaining to the family, the community, and society. Because obedience is central, God requires that violators be punished promptly and in a manner appropriate to the crime committed. God’s strict guidelines for living reflect His desire that His people be holy and uniquely His.

Your Daily Walk

The chapters you read today are not pleasant, for in them, you will discover the depths to which fallen human nature is capable of sinking: incest, child sacrifice, prostitution, bestiality, and homosexuality.

More than 1,400 years later, Paul described human nature in such dismaying words: godlessness, unrighteousness, senseless minds, cravings, sexual impurity, degrading passions, shameless acts, evil, greed, wickedness, envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, and malice (read Romans 1:18-32). These lists look like today’s headlines, for human nature has not changed.

With so many ways to go astray, is it any wonder that God must lay down so many rules for His children to follow before He can turn them loose in pagan Canaan? God desires that His people be transformed by their relationships with Him—not conform to their world. Are you transformed by godliness or conformed to worldliness? (Or are you deformed by trying to be both?) Write down on a strip of paper those areas of your life in which you may be too much of a conformist (activities, personal life, speech). Use that as a bookmark in your Bible to remind you that “living what you read” is the transformation God desires.

Insight - Ten Familiar Commands in an Unfamiliar Place

Last month, you read Exodus 20:1-17, the passage containing the Ten Commandments. But did you know most of the Ten are also contained in Leviticus 19? See how many you can find.

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February 8/9

Leviticus 21–23

Priestly Purity

Key Passage: Leviticus 23

Overview

Ministry to and for a holy people requires a holy priesthood. Because of their high calling, God placed more restrictions on their conduct and privileges. The priests had to be as physically perfect as possible and willing to avoid defilements that were permissible for others. The sacrifices they offered had to be without blemish. They were required to carry out their duties with meticulous attention to detail. Their busiest times of the year came during the holy convocations, those joyous times of feasting and reflecting on God’s goodness in dealing with the nation.

Your Daily Walk

Here is a statement worth considering, especially if you are the hard-driving kind of person commonly labeled as a workaholic: Seven days without relaxation makes one weak. The Israelites were commanded to rest from their labors on the seventh day of each week. And seven times each year they enjoyed a “holy holiday” to commemorate important days in their nation’s history. These were no mere business meetings but times of assembling, feasting, and celebrating.

How long has it been since you set aside time from work to spend alone or with your family enjoying a leisure activity? If your mind is constantly focused on your job, it will seldom be focused on God. In contrast, periodic times of refreshment and reflection will help improve your attitude toward your work.

Look at your personal or family calendar and prayerfully consider whether a vacation is long overdue. It needn’t be long to be refreshing, but it must be a priority in your schedule if it is ever to become more than a good idea.

Insight - How About This for a Vacation Schedule?

Life in Israel was not all work. In addition to the weekly Sabbath days of rest, there were 19 national holidays: Passover (1), Unleavened Bread (7), Firstfruits (1), Pentecost (1), Jubilation (1), Day of Atonement (1), and Booths (7). That makes 10 weeks of vacation a year.

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February 10

Leviticus 24–27

Future Purity in the Promised Land

Key Passage: Leviticus 25

Overview

Leviticus closes with instructions regarding conversation and conduct in the land. Profanity (which breaks the third commandment) is dealt with severely; vows and freewill offerings to the Lord must be carried out in the promised way. The rules regarding regular periods of rest for the land are sandwiched between these two discussions. Every seventh year, the land must rest from sowing and reaping, and every fiftieth year marks a jubilee when debts are canceled and possessions revert to their original owners. To provide for both the Sabbath year and the Year of Jubilee, God promises to bless in abundance the prior year (in much the same way He supplied double the daily manna the day before each Sabbath). Would you have the faith to do what God required of Israel?

Your Daily Walk

After every six years of farming the land, the Israelites were commanded to leave it unplanted for an entire year. God was asking them to place their source of livelihood entirely in His hands. Leaning on His provision alone, they would experience the thrill of living by faith and watching God supply their daily needs. Imagine the excitement of watching farmland suddenly produce double and even triple its usual crop! God was saying to the people, “Just trust Me.”

God has staked His reputation on the fact that when you obey Him, He will follow through on His promises. “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:6). “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). Select one of those two verses and make it yours for today.

Insight - Don’t Take Those Sabbatical Years Lightly

God’s command to let the land rest every seven years (and again every 50 years) fell on deaf ears. Later, the people would go into captivity in Babylon and spend one year in exile for every sabbatical year they had ignored (2 Chronicles 36:20-21).

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Numbers

Numbers begins with Israel’s 11-day march from Sinai to Kadesh, records the subsequent rebellion and 38 years of wilderness wandering, and ends on the doorstep of the Promised Land. The book contrasts God's faithfulness with His people's fickleness. Even though He must judge their disobedience, God faithfully leads His people through 40 years of agony. Working through Moses, Caleb, and Joshua, God demonstrates His willingness to reward those who trust Him.

February 11

Numbers 1–4

Counting and Ordering the People

Key Passage: Numbers 1: 1-3, 45–46

Overview

The Book of Numbers might well be called “the Book of Censuses,” for that is how it begins and ends. With the nation of Israel poised at Mount Sinai and ready to begin its march to Canaan, God commands Moses to number the fighting men and Levites. A detailed blueprint is given for arranging the people both on the march and in the camp. In the intervening 430 years since Joseph and his brothers moved to Egypt (Exodus 12:40), the nation’s fighting force has grown to an impressive 603,550, suggesting a total population of several million.

Your Daily Walk

Censuses are prominent throughout Scripture. In fact, the pivotal event of Scripture was associated with a census. Mary and Joseph were there when Jesus was born in Bethlehem because a census was being conducted (see Luke 2).

Even more important than the presence of censuses in the Bible is the purpose behind them: to show that God is a God of order and detail. Confusion and disorder in your home, church, or private life are a sure sign that God-honoring principles are being overlooked (see 1 Corinthians 14:40). Pick an area of your Christian life where the goal of doing all things “in a fitting and orderly way” has proven elusive. Write it in the margin, and make it the target of your prayer and planning this week.

Insight - On Your Mark...Get Set...March!

Leviticus prepared the people for worship; Numbers prepared them for war. After reading today’s section, summarize the census and the preparations for the march to Canaan.

• How many total warriors?
• How many Workers for the Levites? (one month upward)
• How many Workers for the Levites? (30 to 50 years)
• Who is the largest tribe and what is their population?
• Who is the smallest tribe and what is their population?
• Who takes care of the tabernacle?
• Who transports the tabernacle?

WANDERING THROUGH
Numbers

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February 12

Numbers 5–8

Cleansing the People

Key Passage: Numbers 6: 1–7: 11

Overview

Three weeks remain before the people leave Sinai to begin the last leg of their journey to Canaan. During this time Moses receives specific commands from God designed to cleanse the people and prepare them to enter the Promised Land. They must be free from immorality and jealousy; they must understand the binding nature of vows made to God; the Levites must realize the sacred nature of their calling. Through the generous gifts of the tribal leaders, the tabernacle implements and supplies are provided for worshiping the Lord.

Your Daily Walk

What is the most important tool you will ever use in your service for God? What is the first thing that comes to mind?

Perhaps you thought of a book or the Bible or a God-given ability. Here’s another tool you may not have considered: your body. Any service you render for God in this life will be done through the use of your body. And while you may pride yourself on how you discipline your mind, your body may be one of the most neglected tools God has entrusted you.

The Old Testament man or woman who wanted to be used in God’s service but was not eligible as a Levite or priest could take the Nazirite vow. This vow involved abstaining from certain hindrances to holiness to be wholly devoted to the service of the Lord. It was a voluntary vow, challenging to enter and equally tricky to exit. Yet, it held the promise of personal blessing for those who successfully fulfilled it.

Is your body available to God today, cleansed and prepared for His use? Romans 12:1-2 will show you how, but only you can volunteer.

Insight - Who Took “the Vow”?

We all know of Samson, who took the Nazirite vow and thus let his hair grow long. But there are at least two others who also took that vow— Samuel, the last judge of Israel, and John the Baptist.

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February 13

Numbers 9–12

The People Complain

Key Passage: Numbers 10: 11-13; 11: 1-15

Overview

The time has come for the final journey to Canaan. After a special celebration of the Passover, the people watch as the pillar of cloud begins to move. Trumpets blare forth the exciting news: It is time to march! But the thrill of expectation soon gives way to the tedium of travel. Moses is faced with numerous problems: complaints about the traveling conditions and the food, longings for the good old days in Egypt, hoarding the quail, and jealousy by Miriam and Aaron. Despite the difficulties, the people finally arrive at Kadesh-Barnea—on the doorstep of Canaan.

Your Daily Walk

How do you react when God’s will for you is inconvenient? Do you think, “Maybe later, God, but not right now”? For Israel, God’s will was easily determined by the movement of the cloud covering the tabernacle. When it moved, they moved. When it lingered, they camped. At first glance, that may seem like an exciting way to live—but consider the possibilities.

It is 3 a.m. You are sound asleep after a 14-hour march when a trumpet’s blast shatters the quiet desert air. Time to march! Or consider another scene. For three days now, the cloud has hovered motionless. You sense that any minute, it is going to move, so instead of unpacking your tent and all those cooking pots, you just “live off the camel.” Another day goes by. And another. Finally, you give in and begin the arduous task of unpacking. No sooner do you drive in the last tent peg when...

Obedience to God’s will is not always convenient, but it is always profitable. Do you see a pillar of cloud moving in your life? What do you suppose you ought to do about it?

Insight - Quail Dinner—All You Can Eat!

When God sent quail in response to the people’s complaining, the least amount gathered by one person was ten homers. One homer is eleven bushels—a total of 880 gallons.

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February 14

Numbers 13–16

Spying out the Land

Key Passage: Numbers 13: 1-2, 26–33; 14:20-35

Overview

Following God’s instructions, Moses selects one representative from each of the 12 tribes to form a scouting party. Their assignment was to spy out the defenses of the land and bring back a sample of the produce grown there. The 12 obey and, like many a committee, return with a divided report. Ten see only the obstacles; two see the opportunities. The nation—disheartened, faithless, and afraid—threatens to stone Moses and return to Egypt rather than face what lies ahead. As a result, the Lord condemns that unbelieving generation to 40 years of fruitless wandering in the wilderness.

Your Daily Walk

Every part of the human body gets tired eventually, except the tongue. It is no accident the Bible describes the tongue as sharp (Psalm 140:3), biting like a cold wind (Proverbs 25:23), and untamable (James 3:8).

Do you have trouble controlling your tongue? Then, ask your spouse or a close Christian friend to hold you accountable (Colossians 4:6). Every time you make an ungracious remark during the next seven days, you must pay 50 cents. Try it! What you lose in material wealth, you’ll more than regain in spiritual maturity.

Insight - ...8...9...10...You’re Out! (14:22)

On 10 separate occasions, the Israelites grumbled and murmured against God. Can you find what prompted each complaint in the following passages?

• Exodus 5:20-21
• Exodus 14:10-12
• Exodus 15:24
• Exodus 16:2-3
• Exodus 16:20, 27
• Exodus 17:2-3
• Exodus 32:1-4
• Numbers 11:1
• Numbers 11:4-5
• Numbers 13:26–14:3

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February 15/16

Numbers 17–20

Dying in the Wilderness

Key Passage: Key Passage: Numbers 20: 1-13

Overview

Throughout their wilderness wanderings, the children of Israel are reminded of two things: death and hope. Death as the result of their unbelief at Kadeshbarnea, and hope in the promise that God would still give His people a land of their own. God’s authority continues to rest with Moses and Aaron, as demonstrated in the miracle of Aaron’s budding rod. And the priests and Levites are still God’s chosen servants to lead the nation in corporate worship. But death becomes the constant companion of the Israelites on their march: death in the sacrifices, death of the red cow for purification, and the death of the high priest Aaron.

Your Daily Walk

Find a hammer, nail, and piece of wood. Drive the nail halfway into the wood, then remove it carefully. What do you have left? (To make this a truly memorable experience, drive the nail into your front door or perhaps your favorite piece of furniture.)

That illustration provides a parable of the permanent results of sin. Once confessed, we receive God’s complete forgiveness (1 John 1:9)— like removing the nail from the piece of wood. But you will not be able to erase fully the scars that sin leaves behind.

Are you, like Moses, tempted to “strike a rock” when God has told you to “speak softly”? Weigh the consequences ahead of time. Christ not only died so that sin might be forgiven, but He died so that sin might be avoided. Thank Him for a scar or a nail hole you’ll never have to carry because you were willing to say no to sin and yes to Him.

Insight - Cow in the Old, Savior in the New

Chapter 19 describes God’s provision for the people’s uncleanness by using water mingled with the ashes of a red cow. This curious rite becomes more apparent in the light of Hebrews 9:11-14 as a foreshadowing of Jesus. Just as the ashes of the sin offering had a purifying effect when applied by water, so Jesus’ offering for sin purifies everyone to whom it is applied by His Spirit.

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January 16

Genesis 45–47

Joseph’s Family United in Egypt

Key Passage: Genesis 45

Overview

Chapters 45–47 contain the exciting conclusion to the story of Joseph and his unsuspecting brothers. After twice planting evidence on his brothers that would ensure their return to Egypt, Joseph finally can no longer contain his secret. In an emotion-packed scene, he reveals that he is the brother they sold into slavery. At last, in a position to avenge his ill-treatment, Joseph instead shows kindness, acknowledging that God was behind it all to bring much good out of his difficult circumstances. Jacob moves to Egypt to spend the remaining years with his reunited family.

Your Daily Walk

Sovereignty is a big word, but it is also a biblical concept that touches your life every day. God is sovereign. It means that nothing takes Him by surprise. God can work through every experience in your life, from the most pleasant to the most painful, to accomplish His purposes. Joseph learned this important truth, though driving the point home took years of mistreatment. Addressing his brothers who sold him into slavery, he declared: “It was not you who sent me here, but God” (45:8).

Think back over your life and select one event that stands out as a time when it appeared that God had lost control of the situation. Perhaps it was a death in the family, the loss of a job, or an extended illness. Now, across that painful memory, write, “God was there.” Write a definition of sovereignty in your own words and make it speak to your own situation. (For example: “Sovereignty means that although I lost my job, God hasn’t forgotten about me. He will work for good in my life.”)

Insight - Why God Moved the Jews to Egypt

It is not difficult to see the divine wisdom in moving Jacob’s family to Egypt. In Egypt, the Jews would remain a separate, distinct people. Since Jacob and his sons were shepherds, a detestable occupation to Egyptians, their occupation was a natural barrier to intermarriage. Under these ideal conditions, the Jews would multiply for 400 years.

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January 17

Genesis 48–50

The Last Days of Jacob and Joseph

Key Passage: Genesis 48:8–49:33

Overview

As Jacob’s life in Egypt draws to a close, he summons Joseph’s two sons and blesses them, exalting the younger Ephraim over the older Manasseh. As his final act, Jacob prophetically outlines the future of his 12 sons. His desire for burial in Canaan testifies that the nation's destiny still lies in the promised land. Joseph also dies after a faithful and prosperous life and adds his testimony that God will one day liberate His people.

Your Daily Walk

On a scale of one to ten (one is low and ten is high), rate yourself on the following two statements:

• I am a forgiving person.
• I am quick to forget offenses against me.

You’ve probably heard the statement, “I’ll forgive but I won’t forget!” It’s really just another way of saying, “I won’t forgive,” for true forgiveness involves totally putting away the wrong suffered. That’s the way God forgives (Ephesians 4:32), and His brand of forgiveness is the model He expects us to follow as well.

Joseph exhibited the quality of complete forgiveness with his brothers. After Jacob’s death, the brothers feared revenge even though Joseph had already forgiven them (see Genesis 50:15). Their pleas for mercy moved him to tears as he reassured his brothers that he had forgiven them.

If you have experienced God’s forgiveness in Christ, you have the greatest motivation possible for forgiving others. In what relationships have you withheld forgiveness for an offense against you? Talk to God about it right now. Thank Him for the peace that only total forgiveness can bring.

Insight - A “Moving Epitaph” for Jacob and Joseph

Joseph’s care in honoring his father’s dying request to be buried in Canaan (49:29-30) was duplicated by Moses hundreds of years later. Moses carried out Joseph’s last wish by transporting his remains back to Canaan (Exodus 13:19).

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Exodus

During the 400 years between Genesis and Exodus, Israel grows into a nation of two to three million people. But Egypt becomes, for them, an inescapable prison of suffering and bondage. Exodus (which means “departure”) introduces Moses—a gifted leader, military genius, statesman, shepherd, and man of God. Under his direction, the people leave Egypt and travel to Mount Sinai, where they receive their charter as a nation of God’s people and are given instructions for their new worship center, the Tabernacle.

January 18/19

Exodus 1–2

Israel’s Bondage in Egypt

Key Passage: Exodus 1:8–2: 10

Overview

In the years since the close of Genesis, the Jews have multiplied rapidly in the land of Egypt. Viewed as a growing threat by an unsympathetic Egyptian king, the Egyptians “worked them ruthlessly” (1:13). God’s people cried out to Him for a deliverer, and He answered in the person of Moses. Even from his earliest days, Moses’ destiny was clear, as seen in God’s care for him as an infant. But at the age of 40, Moses attempts to do the right thing (deliverance) in the wrong way (murder), and as a result, he must flee for his life. For the next 40 years, he will tend flocks in the deserts of Midian as God prepares him to tend a much bigger flock in the deserts of Egypt.

Your Daily Walk

If you’ve ever forgotten an important appointment, anniversary, or promise you’ve made, you know how miserable you can feel. But that’s not as miserable as the one who’s been forgotten feels.

For 400 years, the people of God had suffered abuse at the hands of their Egyptian taskmasters. Surely, God had forgotten His promises to their forefathers—promises that rang hollow in the sandy prisons of Egypt. And yet, “God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob” (2:24). Unknown to them, God was preparing for their deliverance even as they made bricks in the hot desert sun.

God never forgets His promises, but how often do you forget that fact? Tie a string around your finger to remind yourself (and others who might be curious enough to ask) of that wonderful truth.

Insight - Genesis and Exodus—A Study in Contrasts

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January 20

Exodus 3–6

Moses’ Call and Conflict with Pharaoh

Key Passage: Exodus 3; 6: 1-13

Overview

Finally, God is ready to commission Moses to deliver His people from bondage. But Moses is reluctant to accept the commission. Confronted by God in a burning bush, Moses responds with four excuses that focus on his inadequacy for the assignment. However, neither Moses’ weakness nor Pharaoh’s stubbornness can stand in the way of God’s sovereign plan to release His people. Finally convinced of God’s strength, Moses confronts Pharaoh with the ringing declaration, “Let my people go” (5:1).

Your Daily Walk

Pretend for a moment that you are Moses. You are tending your sheep on a quiet mountainside when suddenly a bush bursts into flame but is not consumed. Naturally curious, you move closer to study this remarkable sight and come face to face with the God of Israel, who says: “I am sending you to Pharaoh” (Exodus 3:10). How would you respond? Probably, you’d do exactly what Moses did: feel inadequate. Inadequate to represent God before the mightiest ruler of your day. Inadequate to deliver God’s words through your faltering lips. And you know, you’d be right. God already knows you’re inadequate. That’s why He selected you—so that His strength might shine through your weakness.

List three excuses you could give God for not serving Him today. Then, turn each of them into a prayer project: “God, You know my physical condition. Show Your strength through my weakness. Use my meager IQ to demonstrate to others that You are the incomparable ‘I AM.’ ”

Insight - The God Who Is the Great “I AM”

Moses asked what name he should use for the God who had sent him on his strategic mission (3:13). God replied, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you’ ” (3:14). What other person in the pages of Scripture dared to use that same name? (Hint: Read John 8:58.) Can you understand why He received the response He did (John 8:59)?

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January 21

Exodus 7–10

Nine Plagues on Egypt

Key Passage: Exodus 7

Overview

Since the words of God delivered through His servant Moses have had no effect on Pharaoh’s stony heart, Moses now begins to demonstrate the works of God—nine national calamities involving insects, disease, and changes in nature. The plagues gradually become more intense, selective, and difficult to ignore. In spite of his frequent promises, Pharaoh stubbornly refuses to release God’s people, setting the stage for the tenth and climactic plague.

Your Daily Walk

Hardening of the arteries is a serious disease that affects thousands of people. But its consequences are mild when compared to the eternal consequences of another malady that affects humanity: the hardening of the heart.

Pharaoh knew what God wanted him to do. The command “Let my people go” was repeated to him eight times.

Pharaoh knew how God wanted him to do it. The people were to go on a three-day journey into the wilderness, and nothing was to be left behind in the land of Egypt (8:26-27; 10:8-11). Pharaoh knew the consequences if he did not obey. He was warned of each plague in advance.

Pharaoh’s problem was not information but motivation. God’s will was clear; Pharaoh’s heart was hard. And in the end, he would lose his army and his firstborn son—as well as his captives. Authors of other Old Testament writings did not overlook Pharaoh’s sordid example. Look up Deuteronomy 6:20-22; 1 Samuel 6:6; Nehemiah 9:7-10. Pick one passage and make it the topic of discussion around the dinner table tonight. It’s a good way to detour around, rather than duplicate, Pharaoh’s heart problem.

Insight - Natural or Supernatural?

Some people believe that since all of the plagues (except the death of the firstborn) could be explained naturally, they weren’t miracles. Although the plagues may or may not have broken God’s natural laws, the timing and Moses’ foretelling make them miraculous.

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January 22

Exodus 11–12

Death and Departure

Key Passage: Exodus 12:29-42

Overview

Each of the preceding nine plagues has represented an attack on an object of worship in Egypt (the Nile, sun, frogs, flies, etc.). But now God attacks Pharaoh himself by warning that the firstborn of each Egyptian household (including Pharaoh’s) will die unless His people are released. To escape the terrible judgment, each Israelite household observes the Passover by substituting the death of a lamb for the death of their firstborn. After a night of horror and death, Pharaoh commands the Hebrews to leave, and the long-awaited exodus begins. God commands that Passover become an annual memorial of the redemption of His people from their Egyptian bondage.

Your Daily Walk

Franklin P. Adams humorously observed that “Nothing is more responsible for the good old days than a bad memory.” Likewise, memory is what tells a man his wife’s birthday was yesterday. God knew that His people would quickly forget the great moments in their history unless their memories were refreshed. So God commanded the nation to commemorate the important date of the Passover and observe it yearly in order to keep the memory of His great deliverance fresh and vital to them.

Do you have an annual date on which you review all of God’s dealings in your life over the past 12 months? If not, mark a day (your birthday is an excellent time). Make it a time of reflecting, remembering, and rejoicing for what God has done and is doing in your life day by day.

Insight - Pictures in the Passover for Israel and for You

As the Lord passed through Egypt, bringing death to the firstborn in every family that did not have the bloodstained doorposts, the Israelites were also active. Rather than sleeping, they were awake, alert, and obedient, feeding on the Passover lamb—with their shoes on their feet and their staffs in their hands—ready to move at God’s command.

DRAWING NEAR
God’s Meeting Place

Before Jesus, coming into God’s presence was impossible except for one person, the priest, who could come into His presence only once a year. It was that way for centuries—one person, one time a year.

Now, we walk into God’s presence with familiarity. But we don’t quite realize what a privilege that is. When our first ancestors disobeyed God’s command, that sin killed our closeness with God. And it made it far more difficult to understand spiritual things. We were mostly limited to what we could see, hear, smell, taste, touch, feel, and reason. So, even before Jesus came to earth, God gave His people a visual representation of what He requires of us before we can come to Him in worship and in intimacy. That picture is the tabernacle.

The Tabernacle was a tent enclosed within a courtyard where God revealed Himself through the objects, the ceremonies, the services, and the men who served. He put so much symbolism into the tabernacle that we are still unpacking what it all means. Every item, from the sockets to the posts to the curtains and coverings, is a physical representation of a spiritual truth. The Tabernacle shows how costly it is for the Holy to meet with the unholy. It demonstrates the great lengths God was willing to go to restore us to His presence. When He gave Moses the pattern for the Tabernacle, He gave these instructions: “Tell the Israelites to...make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them” (Exodus 25:2, 8).

Over time, the reality of the tabernacle came into sharper focus. When Jesus came, He pitched His tent among the people as a living tabernacle. The words used for “made his dwelling” in John 1:14 is the word tabernacle translated into Greek: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” The Tabernacle’s many levels and layers, intricacies and mysteries, are a rewarding study for anyone who wants to know God more deeply. It all communicates one message: Jesus. He is the Lamb of God who gave His blood to pay the ultimate price for the sins of humanity because God wants to be close to us.

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January 23

Exodus 13–15

Red Sea Crossing and Song of Moses

Key Passage: Exodus 13; 14:21-31

Overview

The exodus from Egypt is only the first in a series of miracles God performs to bring His chosen people to the promised land of Canaan. Guided by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, Moses leads the people to the edge of the Red Sea—a seemingly impassable dead end. Cries of mutiny and despair give way to songs of jubilation and praise as God opens a path through the waters, saves His people, and drowns the Egyptian army in its hopeless pursuit.

Your Daily Walk

How many passages of Scripture can you “sing” from memory? Here are three to get you started: “Savior, like a shepherd lead us...” (See Psalm 23:1-2). “Praise God from whom all blessings flow...” (See Psalm 148:1-3). “Our Father which art in heaven...” (See Matthew 6:9-13).

There is something about a verse put to a melody that makes it particularly memorable. Perhaps you have great difficulty memorizing Scripture passages. But have you learned a new hymn or praise song lately? Moses knew that singing was a pleasant way to plant God’s truth in the hearts of people (Exodus 15:1-18).

Go head over to YouTube and search for one of the many excellent praise songs available. Don’t allow singing to be just a public part of your Christian experience.

Insight - Forecast for Pharaoh: Dense Fog and Defeat

According to Exodus 14:19-20, the pillar of cloud that had led the Israelites as they marched now came “between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side” (v. 20). This accomplished two things: (1) It stopped the Egyptians by settling down on them like a fog so they could not see; (2) It provided light for the Israelites. Fog is an almost unknown phenomenon in the land of Egypt, a fact that must have contributed to the Egyptians’ bewilderment and frustration.

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January 24

Exodus 16–18

Journey to Mount Sinai

Key Passage: Exodus 16: 1–17

Overview

Only three days after their dramatic deliverance at the Red Sea, the people begin to complain. As the water supply dwindles, the grumbling increases as the people forget that God is the Source of their supply. God miraculously provides manna, quail, and water in abundance to teach the nation a lesson in faith. Then, an overworked Moses learns a valuable lesson in administration from his father-in-law as he selects capable men to assist him in governing the people.

Your Daily Walk

Have you ever had a morning like this? You bound out of bed, confident that today will be a great day. But the shower has no soap, and you’ve run out of clean clothes. On the way to breakfast, you trip over a misplaced chair. The toast burns, and the newspaper doesn’t arrive. Heavy traffic makes you late for an appointment, and you lose your important list of “things to do.”

Before your day has barely begun, you feel like crawling back into bed and starting over again. The Israelites had their share of bad days, too. They quickly discovered that desert travel can be tricky, even dangerous. The glory of the Red Sea crossing faded as soon as their stomachs began to rumble from hunger.

They accused Moses of leading them into the wilderness to kill them (17:3). Make a list of all the difficult situations found in today’s reading and ask yourself these questions: “What did God teach His people through adversity that they would never have learned through prosperity? And what is He trying to teach me?”

Insight - I’ll Never Forget Old What’s-Its-Name

When the people first saw manna on the ground (16:15), they asked one another, “What is it?” (in biblical Hebrew, man hu?). The name stuck, and for 40 years, they went out each morning (except on the Sabbath) to collect “what’s-its-name” (manna) as their daily bread.

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January 25/26

Exodus 19–20

Ten Commands for God’s People

Key Passage: Exodus 20: 1-17

Overview

At Mount Sinai, a setting designed to focus on the majesty and holiness of God, the people receive their charter as God’s chosen nation. After declaring their willingness to abide by the commands they are about to receive, the Israelites spend two days preparing themselves to hear God’s voice. On the third day, accompanied by an awesome display of God’s power, Moses receives the Ten Commandments—the broad, moral principles and instructions on which the nation’s conduct will be based.

Your Daily Walk

Scene One: You are suspended by a chain over a deep abyss when a companion says, “Don’t worry; all but one of the links will hold your weight.” Scene Two: You are in a furniture store looking for a mirror to hang in your living room when you see a display that reads: “Nearly Perfect Mirrors for Sale—Only One Crack in Each.”

What do these two tales have in common? They both illustrate the folly of trying to be saved by keeping the law. Only one broken link in an otherwise perfect chain plunges you to your death. Only one crack ruins the entire mirror. And “whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” (James 2:10).

In order to be saved by keeping the law, you would have to keep it absolutely at every point throughout your lifetime. No one but Jesus could ever do that. According to Galatians 3:24, the purpose of the law is not to save you but to show you what sin is and to point you to Jesus Christ, who alone can take it away.

Scene Three: Jesus waits for you to admit you cannot save yourself and to turn to Him as the Answer. Will you do it? Today?

Insight - The Ten Commandments—in Triplicate

The Ten Commandments were given three times: (1) orally by God (Exodus 20:1-17); (2) on stone tablets (Exodus 24:12-18); and (3) on duplicate tablets prepared by Moses to replace the set he broke (Exodus 34:1, 28–29).

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January 27

Exodus 21–24

Civil Laws for God’s People

Key Passage: Exodus 24

Overview

In addition to the Ten Commandments, Moses receives a body of laws and instruction designed to regulate all aspects of Israel’s national life. The civil laws show God’s concern for administering justice and property rights, caring for the poor, punishing criminals, and maintaining purity in interpersonal relationships. The ceremonial laws deal with the tabernacle and the priests, sacrifices, offerings, and annual feasts. After a stern reminder of the importance of obedience, God calls Moses back to the mountain for 40 more days of instruction.

Your Daily Walk

Passages such as Galatians 2:16 clarify that no one is justified by keeping the law. What, then, should be your attitude toward today’s Scripture reading? Jesus taught from the Old Testament Scriptures, and many of the laws are repeated in the New Testament. Nine of the Ten Commandments are specifically reiterated, declaring the kind of conduct that glorifies God today.

Remember that love is the fulfillment of the law (Matthew 22:37-40). If you truly love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind and love your neighbor as yourself, you will find yourself keeping the commandments not because you have to but because you want to.

Biblical law is the revelation of the character of the unchanging, eternal God. God is concerned about the details of your life, even things as mundane as an animal's death or tooth loss (Exodus 21:27-28). He desires justice in business transactions, punishment for the guilty, and protection for the innocent.

Insight - How Many Laws Are in “the Law”?

When you mention “Old Testament law,” many people think of the Ten Commandments. Jewish rabbis identified 613 regulations in the legal sections of Exodus through Deuteronomy. Over the years, many rabbis interpreted these laws, whose comments were compiled into a book (the Talmud) with 63 major headings and 518 chapters.

Arrangement of the
Tabernacle

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January 28

Exodus 25–27

A House of Worship for God’s People

Key Passage: Exodus 26

Overview

For 40 days, Moses recorded God’s words regarding Israel’s place of worship and its pattern of worship. The blueprint includes the furniture, coverings, curtains, and courtyard of the tabernacle that must be built “according to the plan shown you on the mountain” (26:30). The description moves from the inside to the outside, reflecting not the perspective of man looking in, but of God looking out—the God who wants to dwell with His people.

Your Daily Walk

Today’s reading may seem like a long list of unimportant details. You may feel lost in a forest of acacia wood, candlesticks, and rams’ skins. But don’t miss the point. These are instructions for building God’s house; thus, every detail is significant. It is to be a beautiful, symbolic structure that causes each worshiper to praise God’s majesty, mercy, and holiness.

Many centuries later, King David would declare: “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness” (Psalm 29:2). David, too, realized that God deserved a special dwelling place that mirrored His greatness.

Where is God dwelling today? He is living in the hearts of those who have put their trust in Him (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). You are God’s tabernacle today. And that means some spring cleaning may be in order. Is there a habit that needs to change or a corner of your life that needs attention? Take a few minutes to sweep your “tabernacle” clean. Then, as a reminder, flip your calendar ahead to February, pick a day, and write: “Have you swept lately?”

Insight - More Than Wood and Cloth

The Tabernacle tells a story about its successor, Jesus Christ. Here is a partial list of parallels. Can you think of others?

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January 29

Exodus 28–31

Special Instructions for Priests

Key Passage: Exodus 30–31

Overview

In addition to the Tabernacle plans, Moses receives detailed instructions concerning those who will serve in the Tabernacle: the priests. Chapters 28–30 describe the ones set apart to represent Israel before God and to lead the nation in worship. Everything about them is different: their clothing, the elaborate rituals required to purify them for ministry, and even the utensils and supplies they use in tabernacle worship. In addition, God provides handpicked artists and craftsmen for the Tabernacle and sets apart one day each week for rest and worship.

Your Daily Walk

Did you enjoy yesterday’s tour of the Tabernacle? Today, you will examine God’s intricate blueprint for worship, which mainly involves priests. If it seems to take a long time to read, remember—it took Moses 40 days to copy all of this.

Today’s reading should give you a new appreciation for the lengths God went to dwell with and commune with His people. Because God is utterly holy, these elaborate procedures were necessary if sinful people were to have fellowship with their God. Not a single detail was insignificant.

Notice the importance of worship in the nation's daily life. Worship was not limited to a single day or time; all of life revolved around the one central function of worshiping God.

With today’s reading in mind, carefully consider this question: when the pressures of life force you to cut something out of your busy schedule, why is it that the most expendable daily activity is usually personal or family devotions and that the most vulnerable weekly function is corporate worship with the church? Does God consider worship worthwhile? Do you?

Insight - The Dynamic, Divine Digit

The “finger of God” is credited with engraving the two stone tablets (Exodus 31:18), bringing Egypt’s plagues (Exodus 8:19), casting out demons (Luke 11:20), and creating the heavens (Psalm 8:3).

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January 30

Exodus 32–34

Golden Calf and Glorious Lord

Key Passage: Exodus 32

Overview

In Moses’ absence, the people have been busy. Ignoring their pledge of obedience to God and assuming Moses had died on the mountain, they returned to the pagan ways of Egypt. In righteous anger, Moses shatters the two stone tablets, destroys the golden calf, and orders the Levites to slay the guilty offenders. His selfless intercession brings about a renewal of the covenant between God and His chosen people. And when Moses returns from yet another trip to Sinai—this time to replace the shattered tablets—his face radiates the glory of Israel’s forgiving God.

Your Daily Walk

Freedom has been defined as “the opportunity to make decisions,” and character as “the ability to make the right decisions.” If that is true, then giving a person the freedom to choose his own path is one of the quickest ways to reveal his true character.

Israel’s leader, Moses, was away, and in his absence, the people had to make certain choices. The majority chose to worship a god of gold, ignoring their pledge of obedience. The minority—Moses’ relatives from the tribe of Levi—stood firm against public opinion and refused to worship the golden calf, even when the elders, leaders, and Aaron sanctioned it. “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me,” Moses challenged (Exodus 32:26). That’s a ringing call to commitment you’ll find frequently in the Bible. Look up Joshua 24:15 and 1 Kings 18:21. Then ask yourself, “Have I answered the call yet? Does the way I live daily show that I have?”

Insight - Death on Sinai, Life in Christ

“The law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). When Moses came down from Sinai to deliver the law and discovered the people worshiping the golden calf, 3,000 lost their lives in the ensuing judgment (Exodus 32:28). By contrast when the Apostle Peter stood up on the Day of Pentecost to declare salvation through faith in a risen Savior, 3,000 found new life (Acts 2:41).

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January 31

Exodus 35–40

Finishing and Filling the Tabernacle

Key Passage: Exodus 35: 1–36:7

Overview

Exodus closes with a record of the actual construction of the Tabernacle, the building in which God will meet His people as they journey to Canaan. The vast project required the cooperation of many individuals. When the Tabernacle is finally completed, God gives His approval by filling the structure with a cloud of His glory. Israel is now prepared to worship God while on the march.

Your Daily Walk

Imagine this scene taking place in your church: While the offering is being collected, the pastor is handed a note. He rushes to the microphone and announces, “Please, stop the offering. The plates are overflowing, and all our needs have been met. You’ve already given too much.”

Does that sound far-fetched? That is precisely what happened when the Israelites willingly and wholeheartedly contributed to the Tabernacle as God had commanded (35:20-29; 36:5-7). It may seem they impoverished themselves by giving to God’s work, but that was not the case. God was already supplying all their needs, as He would continue to do for the next 40 years.

When you realize that everything you have is a gift from God’s hand (1 Corinthians 4:7), your giving will take on a fresh, new meaning. Try it. Set aside ten dollars or more each day this week, and send it to your church or a missionary family as a special “thank offering” in recognition of God’s goodness to you. And if God has blessed you in a special way financially, why not make a substantial gift to a specific project in your church? Perhaps you, too, will hear the words, “Sorry, we don’t need that much.”

Insight - It Was a Very Good Year

Though it may seem like years have passed since the Israelites left Egypt, only one year has elapsed since the exodus. The first three months were spent journeying to Mount Sinai, where the people camped for an additional nine months while they received the law and erected the Tabernacle.

Take the First Step

Congratulations. You’ve started your new year by beginning a journey through the Bible with this devotional guide. But every walk demands a first step. Have you taken the crucial first step in the Christian life—the step of faith unto salvation? Unless you take that step, your so-called relationship with God will meander aimlessly, and your path will lead only to frustration and defeat. But take this mandatory step, and your walk with Jesus will be vibrant and fulfilling— for all eternity. Consider these stepping stones in the path of salvation: Step 1: All people are sinners. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Step 2: The penalty for sin is death. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Step 3: Deliverance from death—salvation—comes by personal trust in God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

“It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). Christ paid the price on the cross for all your sins so that you can have eternal life. By believing in His death, burial, and resurrection on your behalf, you enter into an everlasting relationship with God.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Free salvation awaits you. Take the first step now, and watch your pathway unfold.

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Genesis

"In the beginning...” These are the first words of Genesis, the very first book of the Bible. The 50 chapters of Genesis outline human history from creation to Babel (chapters 1–11) and Abraham to Joseph (chapters 12–50). The first 11 chapters introduce the Creator God and the beginning of life, sin, judgment, family, worship, and salvation. The remainder of the book focuses on the lives of the four patriarchs of the faith—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph—from whom will come the nation Israel and, ultimately, the Savior, Jesus Christ.

January 1

Genesis 1-2

“In the Beginning...”

Key Passage: Genesis 2:4-25

Overview

Genesis opens with two accounts of creation. The first account (1:1–2:3) describes the events chronologically; the second (2:4-25) considers the events topically to focus on one aspect of creation. The first provides a wide-angle view of the creation of the universe; the second takes a zoom-lens look at man and woman, the climax of creation—for they are the ones who will bear God’s image and enjoy His fellowship in the garden prepared especially for them.

Your Daily Walk

• What’s the longest book you ever read?
• What’s the greatest distance you have ever walked?
• What’s the biggest meal you ever ate?
• What do these questions possibly have in common?

They are all examples of significant projects completed in small stages. You read that book one page at a time, covered that distance one step at a time, and ate that meal one bite at a time. One page, one step, one bite might not seem like much compared to the whole, but each brings you closer to your goal.

This year, with the help of this devotional guide, you’ll be fulfilling what, for many people, has been a lifelong dream: to read through the Bible—all 1,189 chapters of it. Like thousands of others, you’ll discover you can reach your goal—one day at a time. It all starts with the first words of Genesis: “In the beginning God created . . .”

Insight - The Days of Creation

The Book of Genesis is the foundation of God’s revelation to us as He gave it in the Bible. There are at least 200 quotations or allusions to Genesis in the New Testament, and Jesus often quoted or referred to it. However, it is not only a record of humanity’s past. But it is also a prophecy of humanity’s future because much of what is introduced in Genesis is concluded and reversed in Revelation.

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January 2

Genesis 3–5

From Paradise to Pain

Key Passage: Genesis 3

Overview

What began as Paradise is soon spoiled by sin. In disguise, Satan tempts Eve by turning her gaze from God’s bountiful provision (the many trees) to God’s one prohibition (the single tree of the knowledge of good and evil)—Adam and Eve’s disobedience results in their expulsion from the garden. The seeds of their sin quickly grow as the first son (Cain) commits the first murder. For generation after generation, the sinful spiral continues, setting the stage for God’s judgment.

Your Daily Walk

Satan is a master at taking God’s blessings and twisting them into something that brings a curse instead. If given a chance, he’ll convince you to seek the blessings of marriage outside the bonds of marriage, exchange the worship of the Creator for the worship of the creation, and substitute what is convenient for what is obedient. The temptation will be cunning; the promise will be inviting. However, as Adam and Eve discovered, the painful consequences far outweigh the temporary pleasures.

Resisting temptation is difficult for many Christians because they don’t want to discourage it completely. God has promised to provide an avenue of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13)—but that doesn’t help if we continue to entertain it. Write the references of James 4:7 and 2 Timothy 2:22 in the margin of your Bible next to Genesis 3. Look them up; read them twice; take them to heart.

Insight - Cataloging a Curse

Chapter 3 introduces more than the beginning of sin. You’ll also find some of its consequences: crabgrass, labor pains, family dissension, and sweat. After reading Chapter 3, summarize each part of the curse as it relates to...

• the serpent (3:14);
• Satan (3:15);
• the woman (3:16);
• the man (3:17-19).

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January 3

Genesis 6–9

Noah’s Ark and God’s Judgment

Key Passage: Genesis 6

Overview

As the generations begin to multiply on the face of the earth, the world’s wickedness also significantly increases (6:5). At last, God prepares to destroy humanity with a judgment of water. But one man and his family receive God’s commendation, while the rest of humanity faces God’s condemnation. Noah obediently undertakes a century-long shipbuilding project in preparation for saving his believing family. As the floodwaters rise, Noah’s eight-member family rides high in God’s loving protection.

Your Daily Walk

When a man repeatedly repeats a promise, you can be pretty sure he must have a problem keeping it. When God repeats a promise over and over, you can be absolutely sure that He will keep it.

Is God trustworthy? The ancient shipbuilder named Noah must have wrestled with this question, for his life and the lives of his family were bound up in the promises of God. Spend a few minutes evaluating God’s “scorecard” on how well He kept His promises to Noah.

• “I will wipe mankind . . . from the face of the earth” (6:7). Yes or No?
• “I will send rain on the earth” (7:4). Yes or No?
• “Never again will I curse the ground” (8:21). Yes or No?
• “I will remember my covenant” (9:15). Yes or No?

The rainbow in the sky (9:12-16) is God’s eternal reminder that He will never repeat the watery horror of Noah’s day. Watch for rainbows in photographs and drawings—or even in the sky. Let each one remind you (as it did Noah) that when you’re resting on a promise of God, you need not worry about how deep the water gets.

Insight - Water Everywhere...and Very Little Else

Three times in three verses (7:18-20), it is said, “The waters rose.” God made it clear that this was no ordinary flood, and His promise that “I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made” (7:4) was no idle threat.

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January 4/5

Genesis 10–11

Building Confusion

Key Passage: Genesis 11: 1-9, 27–32

Overview

God begins to repopulate the world with Noah and his three sons. But since the root of sin has not been removed, the fruit of sin soon becomes apparent again in proud, disobedient actions. As Noah’s descendants seek to build “a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens” (11:4), God stops the project by confusing their speech, causing them to scatter over the face of the earth precisely as God had originally commanded (9:1).

Your Daily Walk

Even on TV, the sight is impressive. Delegates from around the world meet in the General Assembly of the United Nations to discuss world problems and seek solutions to international tensions. Most wear headsets—an eloquent reminder of the barriers that divide humanity—as they labor to make the nations united in more than name alone.

Centuries ago, humanity rebelled against God. The result was confusion. Genesis 11 paints a pathetic picture of disoriented people separating from one another in distrust and bewilderment. And yet, that scene is not so far removed from today’s world.

The Babel of antiquity foreshadows the babble of today. Languages are still divided, and people are still perplexed. But God’s solution for our chaos is still the same: truth communicated through people who have experienced it. This message is timeless and knows no language or culture barriers: the good news of sins forgiven in Jesus Christ. Today would be a great day to look for someone who needs to know that God speaks his or her language.

Insight - Looking Down from Above

The Babel-builders were proud of the mighty tower they thought reached up to heaven (11:4). But from God’s viewpoint, He had to stoop down to view their puny pinnacle far below.

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January 6

Genesis 12–14

Abram’s Call and God’s Promises

Key Passage: Genesis 12: 1-9; 13: 14-18

Overview

Having dealt with rebellious humanity for generations, God now begins to unfold His great plan of redemption—a plan beginning with one man, Abram. God calls Abram to leave his home in Ur of the Chaldeans and travel to a distant but unspecified new land. Responding in faith, Abram obeys with nothing to cling to but the promises of God. The journey has moments of danger and decision, as seen in Lot’s life. But through it all, Abram dares to believe God for the impossible despite his childless condition.

Your Daily Walk

How long have you lived in your present home? If you had to pull up stakes and move quickly, would it be difficult to do? Think about logistics, packing, and leaving behind everything that’s familiar.

Genesis 12:1-4 describes a similar “moving experience”—a God-fearing man obeying God’s voice, pulling up stakes in Ur, and heading for a new home more than a thousand miles away. In Hebrews 11:8, we see why this was no ordinary move. “Abraham . . . went, even though he did not know where he was going.“ The command of God was clear, but the destination was not. That’s faith—the kind that pleases God (Hebrews 11:6) and the kind God wants you to exercise today as you face situations in which His will may be clear, but the way He wants you to accomplish it is not. Abraham found that you don’t always need to know where you’re going as long as you know the One you’re following.

Call a family council this evening to discuss a decision you are facing involving career, home, or finances—and how Abram’s example can make the decision easier.

Insight - The Land of the Red Purple

Canaan literally means “belonging to the land of the red-purple.” The locals were well known for trading red-purple dyes derived from murex shells on the Mediterranean coast. In later years, the term Palestine was used to describe the territory, which is derived from Israel’s archenemies, the Philistines.

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January 7

Genesis 15–17

God’s Covenant with Abram

Key Passage: Genesis 15: 1-6; 16: 1-10; 17: 1-8

Overview

It is one thing to walk with God; it is something else to run ahead of him. God’s promise to Abram of many descendants is repeated (12:2; 13:16; 15:4-5). But as the years pass with no evidence of fulfillment, Abram acts foolishly and impatiently. The result is a son, Ishmael, who becomes the heartbreak of his father and a constant reminder of the high price of unbelief. But God’s promise stands sure. Though biologically impossible because of their ages, Abram and Sarai will yet give birth to a son—a promise confirmed by the new names God provides the parents-to-be with: Abraham (“father of a multitude”) and Sarah (“princess”).

Your Daily Walk

Hindsight may be a harsh teacher, but its clarity of vision is always 20/20. The Book of Genesis does not seek to cover up the frailties of Abraham and Sarah but includes them along with their moments of shining faith and obedience. Why? So that you might learn from their example, whether good or bad.

Here are two lessons hindsight can teach from Abraham’s life about the danger of running ahead of God: (1) Abraham’s God was too small. Abraham assumed that Sarah’s barrenness was a permanent obstacle to God’s promise, forgetting that “nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). (2) Abraham’s patience was too short. He was in a hurry. He decided to act to fulfill a promise that was God’s responsibility humanly.

Write out one of God’s timeless promises to you and attach it to a clock you glance at regularly. This is a great way to remind yourself throughout the day that there’s no time like the present to take God at His Word.

Insight - Who Gets the Estate?

In the ancient Middle East, the heir of a man’s property at his death was determined in this order: (1) the son of his first wife; (2) the son of another wife; (3) the son of a slave girl; (4) the ranking servant in his house. Using this guide, who would have received the estate in 15:2-3? In 16:1? In 16:15?

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January 8

Genesis 18–20

God’s Judgment on Sodom

Key Passage: Key Passage: Genesis 18

Overview

Three heavenly messengers arrive with good and bad news for Abraham’s family. The good news is that Abraham and Sarah’s long-awaited dream is coming true. They will soon experience the joys of parenthood. The bad news: Sodom and Gomorrah will soon experience the full fury of God’s judgment for their grievous sins. In response to Abraham’s intercession, God spares Lot’s family during Sodom’s destruction, though their grudging departure reflects their lukewarm spiritual condition.

Your Daily Walk

It didn’t happen this way, but it might as well have. One day, a man sat down at his desk, pulled out a sheet of paper, and wrote across the top: “Goals for My Life.” Then, he began to list the goals that would shape the direction of his life:

1. To live in a lawless, immoral environment.
2. To forfeit all spiritual authority in my home.
3. To exert no influence for good in my community.
4. To lose everything and everyone dear to me.

Ridiculous, you say? Then consider this: Lot made no such goals, yet he accomplished everything on that list. Those disastrous results were the natural consequences of his worldly choices.

Lot may not have had spiritual goals, but you should. Written goals help prevent the kind of purposeless drift that sets Lot up for disaster. What do you want to accomplish this year in Scripture memorization, time in God’s Word, reading good Christian books, and sharing your faith? Write your goals down, hang them up, pray them through, and with God’s help, watch them happen.

Insight - Where Are They Today?

From the offspring of Lot’s incest with his daughters (19:37-38) came the forerunners of the Moabites and Ammonites, who, though related to them, were the Israelites’ constant enemies. For their gross idolatry, both Moab (Amos 2:1-3) and Ammon (Ezekiel 25:1-7) would later be destroyed.

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January 9

Genesis 21–24

Isaac—God’s Promise in Flesh and Blood

Key Passage: Genesis 21: 1–22: 19

Overview

Chapters 21–24 describe Isaac's birth and early years, the long-awaited son God had promised Abraham. After many years of learning to walk by faith, Abraham and Sarah experience the greatest joy of their lives: the miraculous birth of a son—an heir and the one through whom God would form a great nation. The stage is set for Abraham’s severest test—the command to sacrifice his treasured son as an offering to God. Drawing upon a faith in God that has grown with the years, Abraham offers Isaac to God, thereby learning another lesson in God’s faithfulness. Sarah, who has seen her son reach manhood, does not live to see his marriage.

Your Daily Walk

“There is no such thing as an accident, only incidents in the perfect will of God.” That’s not just a glib maxim. It was spoken by a father whose teenage daughter had just undergone brain surgery after a car and bus collision. He meant that both the type and the timing of “accidents” are under God’s wise control.

It is no coincidence that chapter 22 begins with these words: “And it came to pass after these things” (KJV). What things? The faith-stretching experiences of chapters 12–21. Only then did God put Abraham through the supreme test with Isaac.

Are you learning lessons today that will help you handle tomorrow's tests? Think of one faith-stretching situation you are facing today. How might God use it to prepare you for tomorrow? Pause now and ask Him to make you teachable in today’s little tests so you’ll be prepared for tomorrow’s big ones.

Insight - Ephron’s Generosity...or Was It?

As a burial place for Sarah, Abraham purchased the cave of Machpelah at Hebron from Ephron, a Hittite (23:3-16). In Hittite law, a property owner was subject to military duty. Abraham only wanted to buy the cave; Ephron urged him to take the whole field. In this way, Ephron, if he owned no other property, freed himself of his military obligation.

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January 10

Genesis 25–26

Isaac’s Family and Fortunes

Key Passage: Genesis 25: 19-34

Overview

Although presented only briefly in the Book of Genesis, Isaac's family is immensely significant. Born to Isaac are twin sons who would later be the fathers of twin nations: Jacob (Israel) and Esau (Edom). Although Isaac lives longer than his father, Abraham, he repeats some of his father’s most memorable mistakes (see 26:6-16). Despite his failures, Isaac hears the reassuring promise from God: “I will...confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham” (26:3).

Your Daily Walk

List everything you know about the life of Isaac. Then, compare your list with the following paragraph: Isaac was Abraham’s son, Rebekah’s husband, and Jacob’s father. He imitated his father and was tricked by one of his sons. He dug a few wells, and he fathered a set of twins. In short, he generally did, without much fanfare, what God told him to do.

How would you like your epitaph to read: “He pretty much did what God told him to do”? There’s not a lot of glamour in quiet faithfulness, but as far as God is concerned, it’s more important than just about anything else. Maybe that’s one reason Isaac gets equal billing with his father and son every time God identifies Himself as “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Has God assigned you a supporting role that escapes the crowd's notice? Not everyone can function without applause, but God knows that by His grace, you can. Thank God for the privilege of serving in the “Isaac Brigade.” Ask Him for that same steadfastness of spirit that produced His commendation for Isaac.

Insight - Abraham’s Life—Filled to the Brim

The original Hebrew text of Genesis 25:8 reads: “Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years.” When Abraham died, he was full not only of years but also of trials and temptations, victories and failures, and reminders and reassurances that God’s promises would come to pass.

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January 11/12

Genesis 27–31

Jacob’s Dream and Flight from Esau

Key Passage: Genesis 27; 28: 10-22

Overview

The conflict that began in their mother’s womb carries over into the adult lives of the twins, Esau and Jacob. After following Rebekah’s plan to trick Isaac into giving him the patriarchal blessing, Jacob flees to Haran for safety. While traveling, He receives assurance from God in a dream that he is indeed the heir to the covenant promises. After 20 years in Haran learning painful lessons from his Uncle Laban, Jacob returns to Canaan with his livestock, servants, and family—the nucleus from which God will fashion a new nation: Israel.

Your Daily Walk

The first important experience of a newborn Hebrew baby was receiving a name. Often, the name given would describe the parents’ hopes for the child or picture the child’s personality, so an infant would tend to live up to his name.

As a child of God, you bear a new name, a name you will carry throughout eternity (Revelation 3:12; 22:4). That concept raises a penetrating question: Are you living up to your name? Talk to your heavenly Father about it right now. If you are willing to be a Christian in more than name alone, tell Him so.

Insight - You Can’t Tell the Patriarchs Without a Program

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January 13

Genesis 32–36

Jacob’s Encounter with Esau

Key Passage: Genesis 32

Overview

Having survived the pursuit of his jealous Uncle Laban, Jacob now faces an even greater danger from his estranged brother, Esau. After sending his family across the ford of Jabbok, Jacob wrestles with the angel of God until daybreak. The angel assures him of God’s continued presence and leaves Jacob with both a new name—Israel (“struggled with God”)—and a permanent limp as reminders of the encounter. Once reconciled to God, Jacob is ready to be reconciled to Esau and to return to Canaan as the vital link in God’s continuing promises.

Your Daily Walk

David, Jabez, and Jacob—a more unlikely trio you will never meet. David, the mighty king of Israel; Jabez, an obscure figure from the pages of 1 Chronicles; Jacob, the schemer-turned-servant. Yet they shared a common experience. Do you know what it was?

David prayed: “May God be gracious to us and bless us” (Psalm 67:1). Jabez “cried out to the God of Israel: ‘Oh, that you would bless me’ ” (1 Chronicles 4:10). Jacob wrestled with the angel of God, not willing to let go “unless you bless me” (Genesis 32:26). In each case, God did precisely that. David’s kingdom enjoyed “salvation among all nations” (Psalm 67:2); “God granted [Jabez’s] request” (1 Chronicles 4:10); and in response to Jacob’s petition, the angel of God “blessed him there” (Genesis 32:29).

Is it possible God has a blessing in store for you but that “you do not have, because you do not ask God” (James 4:2)? Use the prayer of David, Jabez, or Jacob to express the desire of your heart. Don’t be surprised when God answers. He’s in the business of blessing.

Insight - Run, Fight, or Get Married

After Hamor’s son had defiled Dinah, Jacob’s sons were ready for war. Realizing the impending danger, Hamor tried to offer his daughters in marriage to promote peace. The tactic failed this time, but it would plague Jacob’s descendants.

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January 14

Genesis 37–40

Joseph’s Bondage in Egypt

Key Passage: Genesis 37, 39

Overview

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and now Joseph, the fourth major character in the Genesis account of the fathers of the faith. Favored by his father but alienated from his brothers, Joseph is sold into Egyptian slavery. Imprisoned for a crime he did not commit and ignored by the forgetful chief butler, Joseph finds his faith—and his integrity—sorely tested. Though Joseph doesn’t realize it, through it all, God is preparing him for an important role that will bring to fruition all his childhood dreams.

Your Daily Walk

“God, why did You let this happen to me?” Have you ever felt the urge to ask that question?

“Why?” is a question Christians frequently ask—and one that God often leaves unanswered. Joseph must have been tempted often to ask for a heavenly explanation for his earthly troubles. Though God did not answer all of Joseph’s questions, He did meet all of Joseph’s needs (Genesis 39:21)—and He has promised to do the same for you (Philippians 4:13, 19). That means He will give you power over discouragement when you’re down in the pit (37:24). He will give you power over temptation from lustful thoughts (39:11-12). He will give you purpose for living even when you’re mistreated or ignored (39:20-21).

Joseph’s faith in God fortified him to face the pit of Canaan, the dungeon of Egypt, and everything in between. You can develop a faith like that, too. Please read about it in James 1:2-4.

Insight - Brothers in the Business

The members of the Ishmaelite caravan who bought Joseph from his brothers and sold him in Egypt were called Midianites (Genesis 37:28, 36). Midian and Medan were two sons of Abraham by his second wife Keturah (Genesis 25:2). From them, they developed a nomadic people who, though blood brothers of the Jews, became their constant enemies (Judges 6:1).

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January 15

Genesis 41–44

Joseph’s Brothers in Egypt

Key Passage: Genesis 41

Overview

During his two-year imprisonment, Joseph gains a reputation as an accurate interpreter of dreams. His God-given ability is now called upon to interpret the disturbing dreams of Pharaoh. Though the interpretation is ominous, Pharaoh’s response is overwhelming: Joseph becomes prime minister of the land, with power second only to Pharaoh himself. With a worldwide famine approaching, Joseph becomes Pharaoh’s choice to administer a relief program to meet the challenge. His new position allows Joseph to confront his brothers with their carefully concealed crime.

Your Daily Walk
You can learn many skills in just an afternoon: how to ride a bicycle, change the oil in your car, and bake a batch of cookies. Other skills take weeks to master: how to read 1,000 words a minute, sing four-part harmony, and drive a car. Then there are skills you will hone and develop for the rest of your life: how to work with people, study God’s Word, and draw upon God’s promises even when the circumstances aren’t too promising.

Thirteen years of Joseph’s life were spent in obscurity in Egypt. But they were not wasted years. God, in His infinite wisdom, knew that the man who emerged in chapter 41 had to be different from the man who submerged in chapter 37.

It takes a world with trouble to train men and women for their high calling as God’s children. Faced with trouble, some people grow wings; others buy crutches. Which kind are you? Read Isaiah 40:31, but everywhere you encounter the word they, substitute your own name. It’s a promise aimed at you.

Insight - From Prison to Palace in One Day
At age 17, Joseph was sold into Egyptian slavery (37:2). Thirteen years later, he was still in the dungeon (41:46), but when the time was right, God promoted him from the prison to the palace overnight. That’s a much-needed reminder that God’s “Graduate School of Growing” is seldom a one-year curriculum.

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