Thou art my Son, this day I have begotten Thee

Thursday 2021.09.30

This afternoon I read Psalms 1 through 6 for my OT reading.

Psalm 2 contains several Messianic prophecies, a notable one being Psalm 2:7 that records the declaration by Yehovah about His begotten Son.

Psalm 2:7 KJV

I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

Acts 13:32 - 33 KJV

And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,
God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

Hebrews 1:5a KJV

For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?

Hebrews 5:4 - 5 KJV

And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

In the NT today, I read Matthew chapter 7 using J.N.Darby's translation.

Tomorrow I will continue with Matthew chapter 8 using the Weymouth New Testament, and Psalm 7 using the New King James Version.

Today's Passages:
Psalm 1:1 - 6:10 KJV -- Psalm 7 NKJV
Matthew 7:1 - 29 JND -- Matt 8 WNT

A sprint through twenty chapters of Minor Prophets

Wednesday 2021.09.29

In the NT today, I read through chapters 5 and 6 of the Matthew using the Revised Berkeley Version. Tomorrow I will continue with Matthew chapter 7 using J.N.Darby's translation.

For my OT reading, I sprinted through the remaining three books of the Minor Prophets - Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi - a total of twenty chapters. This brings me to the end of the Neviim part of the Hebrew Scripture divisions. Tomorrow I will begin reading the Khetuvim part, starting with the Psalms. (See link below for details of Torah, Neviim, and Khetuvim divisions of scripture.)

• The Law, the Prophets, and the Writings

Today's Passages:
Haggai 1:1 - 2:23 NIV
Zechariah 1:1 - 14:21 NIV
Malachi 1:1 - 4:6 NIV -- Psalm 1 KJV
Matthew 5:1 - 6:34 RBV -- Matt 7 JND

The prophet Zephaniah ben Cushi

Tuesday 2021.09.28

Zephaniah 1:1 KJV
The word of the LORD which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.

This afternoon I read through all three chapters of the book of the prophet Zephaniah.

Zephaniah is introduced in the first verse of the book as the great-great-grandson of Hezekiah, most probably King Hezekiah ben Ahaz, the 13th king of Judah, as shown below:

• Hezekiah ben Ahaz
• Amariah ben Hezekiah
• Gedaliah ben Amariah
• Cushi ben Gedaliah

The prophet Zephaniah ben Cushi was called to speak forth the word of Yehovah during the reign of King Josiah ben Amon, the 16th King of Judah, who was also the great-grandson of King Hezekiah, as shown in the list of Kings below:

• 13. Hezekiah ben Ahaz
• 14. Manasseh ben Hezekiah
• 15. Amon ben Manasseh
• 16. Josiah ben Amon

If Zephaniah ben Cushi is indeed the great-great-grandson of King Hezekiah, then his father Cushi would be a cousin to King Josiah ben Amon.

In my NT reading today, I read chapters 3 and 4 of the Gospel according to Matthew using the American Standard Version. Tomorrow, I will proceed with chapter 5 using the Revised Berkeley Version.

Today's Passages:
Zephaniah 1:1 - 3:20 GNB -- Haggai NIV
Matt 3:1 - 4:25 ASV -- Matt 5 RBV

The prophet Habakkuk

Monday 2021.09.27

This morning I begin my Fourth Cycle of New Testament reading, starting with the Gospel according to Matthew chapters 1 and 2.

For my OT reading, I continue with my ongoing reading of the Minor Prophets, covering all three chapters of the book of Habakkuk.

Habakkuk chapter 2 contains three well known verses which I have come across over the years.

---

The first is verse 4, a truth that is quoted in the New Testament, in Romans 1:17 and Galatians 3:11

Habakkuk 2:4 ESV
Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,
but the righteous shall live by his faith.

Romans 1:17 ESV
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Galatians 3:11 ESV
Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”

---

The second is verse 14, where the prophet Habakkuk speaks against the unjust who build their cities by violence and sin, and prophesies that one day the earth will be filled with the glory of the knowledge of Yehovah. This verse is used in a popular song of worship.

Habakkuk 2:12 - 14 ESV
12“Woe to him who builds a town with blood
and founds a city on iniquity!
13Behold, is it not from the LORD of hosts
that peoples labour merely for fire,
and nations weary themselves for nothing?

14For the earth will be filled
with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD
as the waters cover the sea.

---

The third is verse 20, a verse that is found in the liturgy of worship in traditional churches, calling all who enter the sanctuary of God to be silent before His holy presence.

Habakkuk 2:19 - 20 ESV
19Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake;
to a silent stone, Arise!
Can this teach?
Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver,
and there is no breath at all in it.

20But the LORD is in his holy temple;
let all the earth keep silence before him.”

---

Tomorrow I will be reading the book of Zephaniah using the Good News Bible

Today's Passages:
Habakkuk 1:1 - 3:19 NIV -- Zephaniah GNB
Matthew 1:1 - 2:23 -- Matt 3 ASV

Checkpoint: end of 3rd Cycle of New Testament Reading

Sun 2021.09.26

Today I arrived at the end of the book of Revelation. This completes my Third Cycle of reading of the New Testament, a cycle which I started three months ago on 29Jun21, beginning with the Gospel according to Matthew. Tomorrow I will begin my Fourth Cycle of New Testament readings.

In the next cycle, in order to keep in touch with more versions of the English translations of the Bible, I will use a different version each day in the fourth cycle instead of my current practice of switching to a different version after each book. Also, besides reading from my printed copies of KJV, NKJV, NIV, GNB, RBV, and NRSV, I will also be reading from html bibles which I downloaded from ebible.org, viz. ASV, WEB, BBE, JND, and WNT.

Nahum from Elkosh

Sunday 2021.09.26

Today is the First Day of a new biblical week. It is time to begin anew our six days of labour before we rest again on the Sabbath on the Seventh Day.

This morning for my OT reading I read all three chapters of the book of the prophet Nahum.

Nahum was a prophet from Elkosh and he wrote his prophecies about the Assyrian city of Nineveh from a vision that he saw.

Nahum 1:1 GNB
This is a message about Nineveh, the account of a vision seen by Nahum, who was from Elkosh

In the final chapter of the book, Nahum wrote in his prophecies about Nineveh:

Nahum 3:15b - 17 GNB
You multiplied like locusts! 16You produced more merchants than there are stars in the sky! But now they are gone, like locusts that spread their wings and fly away. 17Your officials are like a swarm of locusts that stay in the walls on a cold day. But when the sun comes out, they fly away, and no one knows where they have gone!

For my NT reading, I finished the last six chapters of the book of Revelation. This completes the Third Cycle of my reading of the New Testament, a cycle which I started three months ago on 29Jun21.

Tomorrow I will embark on my Fourth Cycle of New Testament reading, beginning with the Gospel according to Matthew using the King James Version.

For my OT reading, I will proceed with reading the book of Habakkuk using the New International Version.

Today's Passages:
Nahum 1:1 - 3:19 GNB -- Habakkuk NIV
Revelation 17:14 - 22:20 NKJV -- Matthew KJV

Out of Bethlehem comes a ruler from ancient times

Saturday 2021.09.25

Shabbat Shalom. Today is the Seventh Day of the biblical week. Lest us keep the Fourth Commandment by resting from all our work until sunset this evening.

This morning, my reading of the OT covers chapters 5 through 7 of Micah. This brings me to the end of the book of Micah. Tomorrow, I wil begin reading the book of the prophet Nahum using the Good News Bible.

In chapter 5 verse 2, Micah of Moresheth prophesies about someone whose origins are "from of old", from ancient times, who will arise from Bethlehem to rule over Israel for God.

Micah 5:2 NIV
‘But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.’

This prophecy was eventually fulfilled when Iesous was born in the town of Bethlehem where Joseph and Mary had gone to register themselves under a census of the Roman Empire ordered by Caesar Augustus. At that time, Quirinius was the governor of Syria. (see Luke 2:1 - 7)

The prophecy of Micah 5:2 is quoted in the account of the chief priests and scribes telling King Herod in Matthew 2:1 - 6 that, based on Micah's prophecy, the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem.

Matthew 2:1 - 6 NIV
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’
3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5‘In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they replied, ‘for this is what the prophet has written:

6‘ “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.”’

For my NT reading today, I continue to read about the Seven Bowls of Plagues that are sent upon the earth under the Third Woe after the sounding of the Seventh Trumpet.

Today's Passages:
Micah 5:1 - 7:20 NIV -- Nahum GNB
Revelation 14:14 - 16:21 NKJV

Micah was filled with power

Friday 2021.09.24

We have arrived at the Sixth Day of the Biblical Week. It is Preparation Day. Once again, it is time to tie up loose ends, to finish all our tasks for this week, and to prepare for the Seventh Day Sabbath of Rest which will begin at sunset this evening.

For my OT reading today, I read Micah chapters 3 and 4.

In Micah 3:8, the prophet Micah of Moresheth tells us that he is filled with power, with the Spirit of Yehovah.

Micah 3:8 NIV
But as for me, I am filled with power,
with the Spirit of the Lord,
and with justice and might,
to declare to Jacob his transgression,
to Israel his sin.

In my NT reading, I continued to read about the events in the Third Woe proclaimed by the sounding of the Seventh Trumpet (Rev 11:15 - 16:21). Today, I covered only the first thirteen verses of chapter 14, having spent most of my time making notes about the Lamb and the 144,000 sealed firstfruits of Israel, and the proclamations of the Three Angels.

Today's Passages:
Micah 3:1 - 4:13 NIV
Revelation 14:1 - 13 NKJV

Micah of Moresheth

Thursday 2021.09.23

Micah 1:1 NIV
The word of the LORD that came to Micah of Moresheth during the regns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah - the vision he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem

Today, for my OT reading, I read the first two chapters of the book of the prophet Micah of Moresheth. Micah was called by the LORD to prophesy to both Samaria (capital of the northern kingdom of Israel) and Jerusalem (capital of the southern kingdom of Judah). He carried out his ministry during the reigns of the 11th to 13th kings of Judah:

• 11. Jotham ben Uzziah
• 12. Ahaz ben Jotham
• 13. Hezekiah ben Ahaz

For my NT reading, I continued to read about the unfolding of the Third Woe (brought about by the sounding of the Seventh Trumpet) in Revelation chapter 12 and 13, from the emergence of the Dragon who persecuted the Woman and her Child, to the First Beast from the Sea, and the Second Beast from the Earth who imposed the Mark of the Beast, the number 666 on all people on earth

Today's Passages:
Micah 1:1 - 2:13 NIV
Revelation 12:1 - 13:18 NKJV

Women's hair, Lions' teeth, Scorpions' stings

Wednesday 2021.09.22

This afternoon, from the NT, I read Revelation chapters 9 through 11.

Revelation chapter 9 begins with the sounding of the Fifth Trumpet by the fifth angel in John's vision. It brought forth the first of Three Woes mentioned in verse 13 of the previous chapter.

In this first Woe, locusts emerged from smoke coming out of the Bottomless Pit and tormented those who do not have Seal of God on their foreheads. The torment lasted for five months and was so unbearable that verse 6 tells us that men would desire to die and would not find it:

Revelation 9:6 KJV
6And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.

Verses 7 to 11 describes the terrible fearsome appearance and power of these locusts that were ruled by the Angel of the Bottomless Pit. They had hair like women's, teeth like lions', and tails with stings like those of scorpions.

Revelation 9:7 - 11 KJV
7And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.
8And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
9And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
10And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.
11And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.

For my OT reading today, I finished the remaining two chapters of the book of Jonah. Tomorrow, I will embark on reading the book of Micah using the New International Version.

Today's Passages:
Jonah 3:1 - 4:11 GNB -- Micah NIV
Revelation 9:1 - 11:19 NKJV

The First Four Trumpets

Tuesday 2021.09.21

This afternoon I read from the OT the single-chapter book of Obadiah followed by the first two chapters of the book of Jonah.

In the NT, I read chapter 8 of the book of Revelation.

After telling of the opening of the Six Seals in the Chapters 6 and 7, bringing upon earth calamities of war, killings, famine, death, martyrdom, and a great shaking of the heavens and earth, culminating in the sealing of the 144,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel, Chapter 8 of Revelation records the opening of the Seventh Seal that reveals seven angels who were given seven trumpets.

Each of these angels took turns to sound his trumpet, this time bringing great calamities from heaven. Verses 7 to 12 tells us what happens when the first four trumpets were sounded:

Revelation 8:7 - 12 KJV
7The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
8And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; 9and the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
10And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; 11and the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
12And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

After the fourth trumpet has sounded, an angel flew in the midst of heaven announcing loudly that the remaining three trumpets will bring Three Woes to the people on earth.

Revelation 8:13 KJV
And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!

Tomorrow I will continue reading about the sounding of the remaining trumpets - the fifth, sixth and seventh - from chapters 9 through 14, and see the prophecies about the Three Woes unfold.

Today's Passages:
Obadiah 1:1 - 21 GNB
Jonah 1:1 - 2:10 GNB
Revelation 8:1 - 13 NKJV

A famine of hearing

Monday 2021.09.20

This morning I finished reading the last six chapters of the book of Amos in the OT.

In Amos chapter 8, the prophet prophesied against the great wickedness of the people of Israel who "trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land" (Amos 8:4), so much so that the time had come for Yehovah to send a different type of famine across the land of Israel. This will not be a famine of food or water. Instead, it will be a famine of the word of Yehovah.

Amos 8:11 - 12 NIV
11‘The days are coming,’ declares the Sovereign Lord,
‘when I will send a famine through the land –
not a famine of food or a thirst for water,
but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.
12People will stagger from sea to sea
and wander from north to east,
searching for the word of the Lord,
but they will not find it.

Tomorrow, I will read the short book of Obadiah using the Good News Bible.

My NT reading for today is from the book of Revelation chapters 6 and 7, a record of the opening of the seven seals.

Today's Passages:
Amos 4:1 - 9:15 NIV -- Obadiah, Jonah GNB
Revelation 6:1 - 7:17 NKJV

The Throne of God, the Scroll, and the Lamb

Sunday 2021.09.19

Today I begin reading the book of Amos in the OT, covering chapters 1 to 3.

In the NT I continue with reading chapters 4 and 5 of Revelation. This portion of scripture records the Apostle John's vision of the throne of God in Heaven, of God seated on the throne holding in His right hand a scroll sealed with seven seals. The Apostle John wept uncontrollably when no one was found worthy to open the scroll and look inside it. However, one of the twenty-four elders who sat on thrones surrounding the throne of God said to John in Rev 5:5

Revelation 5:5 NIV
Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.’

Upon hearing the elder say that, the Apostle John saw a slain Lamb standing in the midst of the throne surrounded by the four living creatures and twenty-four elders. The Lamb took the scroll from the right hand of God. Immediately, the four living creatures and twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb with harps and golden bowls containing the incense of the prayers of God's people, singing:

Revelation 5:9 - 10 NIV
. . . ‘You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.’

After that, John heard the voices of thousands upon thousands of angels, encircling the throne saying:

Revelation 5:12 NIV
. . . ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honour and glory and praise!’

This was followed by the voices of every creature "in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and all that is in them:

Revelation 5:13 NIV
. . . ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honour and glory and power,
for ever and ever!’

Finally, the four living creatures said, "Amen" and the twenty-four elders fell down and worshipped (Rev 5:14).

Today's Passages:
Amos 1:1 - 3:15 NIV
Revelation 4:1 - 5:14 NKJV

Joel ben Pethuel

Saturday 2021.09.18

This morning I read all three chapters of the short book of the prophet Joel in the OT. For my NT reading, I started reading the book of Revelation, covering the first three chapters.

The prophet Joel ben Pethuel is an "unknown" prophet. He is not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible. Likewise, little is known about when the book of Joel was written. I tried looking for some background information on this book but failed to gather anything substantial.

While reading through the three chapters, I noticed that the prophecies are directed only at "Judah and Jerusalem", and there is no mention of the kingdom of Israel nor the city of Samaria. This led me to conclude that Joel ben Pethuel was called to prophesy only to the people of the kingdom of Judah and the city of Jerusalem.

Although the prophet Joel ben Pethuel is largely unknown, his prophecies in this book are quoted or referred to in many New Testament references. The table below shows some of these references:

Cross-references
Joel 1:6	Rev 9:8
Joel 2:4–5	Rev 9:7–9
Joel 2:10	Rev 8:12
Joel 2:11	Rev 6:17
Joel 2:28–32	Acts 2:17–21
Joel 2:31	Mt 24:29 Mk 13:24–25 Lk 21:25 Rev 6:12–13
Joel 2:32	Rom 10:13
Joel 3:4–8	Mt 11:21–22 Lk 10:13–14
Joel 3:13	Rev 14:14–16 Rev 14:19–20 Rev 19:15

Tomorrow I will begin reading the book of Amos using the New International Version.

Today's Passages:
Joel 1:1 - 3:21 GNB -- Amos NIV
Revelation 1:1 - 3:22 NKJV

Unto Him who is able to keep you

Friday 2021.09.17

Today is the sixth day of the biblical week. It is preparation day. Let us finish all our work for this week and prepare for our Seventh Day Sabbath rest which will begin at sunset this evening.

This morning, I finished reading the book of Hosea from the OT and also finished reading three short epistles, Second John, Third John, and Jude from the NT.

Jude ended his epistle with a beautiful doxology reminding us that God Our Saviour is able to keep us from falling and to present us faultless before his glorious presence on the day when we are all gather before Him.

Jude 1:24 - 25 NKJV
24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory
with exceeding joy,
25 To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever. Amen.

I wrote a devotional post on this doxology of Jude about twelve years ago. Please visit the link below:

• Christian Convocation

Tomorrow I will begin reading the book of Joel in the OT using the Good News Bible. I will also proceed with the final book of the NT, the book of Revelation using the New King James Version. This will be the last book in my ongoing Third Cycle of NT reading.

Today's Passages:
Hosea 11:1 - 14:9 NIV -- Joel GNB
2 John 1:1 - 13 GNB
3 John 1:1 - 15 GNB
Jude 1:1 - 25 GNB -- Revelation NKJV

The Three Witnesses that agree

Thursday 2021.09.16

This morning, my OT Reading covers chapters 7 through 10 of the book of Hosea.

In the NT, I finishing reading the last two chapters of the First Epistle of John.

In 1 John chapter 5, we come across a passage from verses 6 to 12 that tells us that our Lord Iesus the Anointed came by "water and blood". To me, this refers to His baptism in water (a baptism that was consequently made available to all of us) and the shedding of his blood in his sacrificial death.

This coming of the Son of God by water and blood is attested to by the Holy Spirit, a "witness" who is given to all who believe in the Lord Iesus, and who are baptised in water (see our Lord's parting words to the Disciples in Mark 16:16; and the baptism of the Philippian jailer in Acts 16:31).

The apostle John took it one step further in verse 8 by putting together the water of baptism, the blood of our Lord, and the testimony of the Spirit as three witnesses, saying that "these three agree". In verse 9, he writes that this testimony of God is greater than the testimony of men, and "this is the testimony of God that He has borne witness to His Son".

1 John 5:6 - 12 RSV
This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. 7And the Spirit is the witness, because the Spirit is the truth.

8There are three witnesses, the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree.

9If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has borne witness to his Son.

10He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. He who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne to his Son.

11And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He who has the Son has life; he who has not the Son of God has not life.

Mark 16:15 - 16 RSV
15And he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. 16He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

Acts 16:28 - 34 RSV
28But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30and brought them out and said, “Men, what must I do to be saved?” 31And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all that were in his house. 33And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and he was baptized at once, with all his family. 34Then he brought them up into his house, and set food before them; and he rejoiced with all his household that he had believed in God.

Tomorrow, I will begin reading the Second and Third Epistles of John using the Good News Bible.

Today's Passages:
Hosea 7:1 - 10:15 NIV
1 John 4:1 - 5:21 GNB --> 2 John GNB

The Anointing which you have received

Wednesday 2021.09.15

Today the portion of my OT reading covers the book of Hosea chapters 4 through 6.

From the NT, I read the first three chapters of the First Epistle of John.

1 John chapter 2 verse 27 tells us of the anointing which we received from him (Christos, the Anointed One). This is the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit that Christos received from God His Father when he was raised to the right side of God. And this was the anointing that was first poured out on the disciples in the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost, recorded for us in Acts chapter 2. (See Acts 2:33 below).

Acts 2:33 GNB
He has been raised to the right side of God, his Father, and has received from him the Holy Spirit, as he had promised. What you now see and hear is his gift that he has poured out on us.

1 John 2:27 KJV
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you,
and ye need not that any man teach you:
but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things,
and is truth,
and is no lie,
and even as it hath taught you,
ye shall abide in him.

The Good News Bible removes some ambiguity from this verse by referring to the anointing "received of him" as "Christ has poured out his Spirit on you", as shown below.

1 John 2:27 GNB
But as for you, Christ has poured out his Spirit on you.
As long as his Spirit remains in you,
you do not need anyone to teach you.
For his Spirit teaches you about everything,
and what he teaches is true,
not false.
Obey the Spirit's teaching, then,
and remain in union with Christ.

Today's Passages:
Hosea 4:1 - 6:11 NIV
1 John 1:1 - 3:24 GNB

Hosea ben Beeri

Tuesday 2021.09.14

This morning, the third day of the biblical week, I begin reading Hosea in the OT, the first book of the Twelve Minor Prophets (from Hosea to Malachi) under the Latter Prophets section of the Neviim division of Hebrew scriptures. I covered chapters 1 through 3 of Hosea. (Please visit link below for details of the Torah, Neviim, and Khetuvim.)

• Torah, Neviim, and Khetuvim

The prophet Hosea ben Beeri was called by Yehovah to prophesy to the children of Judah and Israel during the reigns of the Tenth to the Thirteenth Kings of Judah, (and the Thirteenth King of Israel):

• 10. Uzziah ben Amaziah (13. Jeroboam ben Jehoash of Israel)
• 11. Jotham ben Uzziah
• 12. Ahaz ben Jotham
• 13. Hezekiah ben Ahaz

For a full list of all the twenty kings of Judah and the nineteen kings of Israel, please visit the following page:

• Kings of Judah and Israel

Hosea 1:1 ASV
The word of Jehovah that came unto Hosea the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.

For my NT reading today, I finished reading the entire Second Epistle of Peter, from chapters 1 through 3. Tomorrow I will proceed with reading the First Epistle of John using the Good News Bible.

Today's Passages:
Hosea 1:1 - 3:5 NIV
2 Peter 1:1 - 3:18 NKJV -- 1 John GNB

Finished reading Ezekiel and First Peter

Monday 2021.09.13

This morning I finished reading both the books of Ezekiel in the OT and the First Epistle of Peter in the NT.

Tomorrow I will proceed with reading Second Peter in the NT using the New King James Version.

Meanwhile in my OT reading, I will continue with reading the books of the Twelve Minor Prophets in the Latter Prophets section of the Neviim division of Hebrew Scripture, starting with the book of Hosea. See link below for complete details about the Hebrew division of scripture into Torah, Neviim, and Khetuvim.

• The Law, the Prophets, and the Writings

Today's Passages:
Ezekiel 45:1 - 48:35 NRSV -- Hosea NIV
1 Peter 3:1 - 5:14 NKJV -- 2 Peter NKJV

The glory of man is as the flower of grass

Sunday 2021.09.12

Today is the first day of a new biblical week.

My OT reading this morning covers Ezekiel chapters 36 through 44, a long reading of nine chapters.

In the NT, I begin reading the First Epistle General of Peter, going through the first two chapters. 1 Peter 1:24 reminds us of the scripture given in Isaiah 40:6 - 8, that says:

1 Peter 1:24 - 25 (Isaiah 40:6,7,8) KJV
24 All flesh is as grass,
And all the glory of man as the flower of grass.
The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.
And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Today's Passages:
Ezekiel 36:1 - 44:31 NRSV
1 Peter 1:1 - 2:25 NKJV

Keeping a tight rein on our tongues

Saturday 2021.09.11

Shabbat Shalom. Today is the seventh day of the Biblical Week. Let us keep the Fourth Commandment, to remember the Sabbath and to rest from all our work until sunset this evening.

This morning my OT reading covers Ezekiel chapters 31 through 35 using the New Revised Standard Version.

In the NT, I finished reading the remaining three chapters of the Epistle General of James. Chapter 3 tells us of the danger of not guarding our tongue, a small part of our body that "makes great boasts" (3:5), that corrupts our body and sets our life on fire (3:6). No wonder James wrote two chapters earlier in 1:26 that people who think they are religious but fail to keep a tight reign on their tongues deceive themselve.

James 1:26 NIV
Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.

James 3:3 - 6 NIV
3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

Tomorrow, I will begin reading the First Epistle of Peter using the New King James Version.

Today's Passages:
Ezekiel 31:1 - 35:15 NRSV
James 3:1 - 5:20 NIV -- 1 Peter NKJV

Religion pure and faultless

Friday 2021.09:10

We have arrived at the sixth day of the Biblical Week again. Today is Preparation Day. Let us finish all our tasks for the week and prepare to rest on the seventh day Shabbat which will begin at sunset this evening.

This afternoon I read Ezekiel chapters twenty-six through thirty in the OT, and the Epistle General of James chapters one and two in the NT.

James 1:27 and James 2:26 tells us that faith in God requires us to do good works in our lives. Faith without works is dead.

James 1:27 NIV
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:
to look after orphans and widows in their distress and
to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

James 2:26 NIV
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Today's Passages:
Ezekiel 26:1 - 30:26 NRSV
James 1:1 - 2:26 NIV

With such sacrifices God is well pleased

Thursday 2021.09:09

This morning I read Ezekiel chapters twenty-one through twenty-five in the OT, and the last two chapters of the Epistle to the Hebrews in the NT.

Hebrews 13 verses 15 and 16 tells us of three ("such") sacrifices with which God is well pleased:

1. the sacrifice of praise,
2. the sacrifice of doing good, and
3. the sacrifice of sharing / communion ("communicate")

Hebrews 13:15 - 16 KJV
15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Tomorrow I will begin reading the Epistle general of James the Apostle using the New International Version.

Today's Passages:
Ezekiel 21:1 - 25:17 NRSV
Hebrews 12:1 - 13:25 KJV -- James NIV

Faith: the substance of things hoped for

Wednesday 2021.09:08

My OT reading for today covers Ezekiel chapters seventeen through twenty.

In the NT, I read only one chapter: Hebrews Chapter eleven. In this chapter, a discourse on faith, I came across two well known verses which I had memorised more than forty years ago.

Hebrews 11:1 - 2 KJV
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

Hebrews 11:6 KJV
. . . without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Today's Passages:
Ezekiel 17:1 - 20:49 NRSV
Hebrews 11:1 - 40 KJV

As it is appointed

Tuesday 2021.09:07

This morning I read the Epistle to the Hebrews chapters nine and ten in the NT, along with Ezekiel chapters eleven through sixteen in the OT.

A well known verse, Hebrews 9:27 caught my attention. It was one of many bible verses I had memorised in those early days after becoming a Christian more than forty years ago. I have always understood this verse simply to mean that God has appointed all mankind to die and to face His judgment.

This morning, however, the next verse, Hebrews 9:28 jumped out at me just after I had finished reading 9:27. Seeing both verses together made me realise something I had missed all these forty plus years as a believer in the Gospel of Iesus the Anointed: that verse 27 is meant to be read together with verse 28 as a single statement.

Reading Hebrews 9:27 and 28 together as one statement brings out the meaning that just as God has appointed for everyone of us to die, and after that to face judgment, God has likewise appointed His Anointed to be offerred to bear our sins, and after that to appear a second time to bring salvation to those who wait for his return.

While verse 27 tells us that everyone of us will die and after this be judged for our sins, verse 28 tells us that the Anointed One has sacrificed himself for everyone of our sins, and after this will come back again a second time to bring us to be with him "unto salvation".

Hebrews 9:27 - 28 KJV
27 And as it is appointed unto men
once to die,
but after this the judgment:

28 So Christ was
once offered to bear the sins of many;
and unto them that look for him
shall he appear the second time without sin
unto salvation.

Today's Passages:
Ezekiel 11:1 - 16:63 NRSV
Hebrews 9:1 - 10:39 KJV

A High Priest from the Order of Melchisedek

Monday 2021.09:06

The OT portion for today is from Ezekiel chapter five through ten, while in the NT I read Hebrews chapters seven and eight.

Hebrews chapter 7 explains that the Messiah, promised by the LORD with an oath in Psalm 110, is the eternal, unchangeable, holy, and undefiled High Priest of the Order of Melchisedek. This heavenly High Priest of Melchisedek Order is contrasted against the earthly high priests of Levitical Order in several ways:

Firstly, while the Levitical priests received tithes from the children of Israel, Melchisedek ("My King is Righteous"), the King of Salem, priest of the Most High God, brought bread and wine, blessed Abraham, and received tithes from Abraham (Genesis 14:18 - 20). Thus, it can be said that Melchisedek received tithes from the entire priesthood of Levi who descended from Abraham.

Hebrews 7:1 - 4; 9 - 11 KJV
1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

Secondly, while all Levitical high priests come only from the tribe of Levi, the High Priest of Melchisedek, our Lord Iesous the Messiah, descended from King David, of the tribe of Judah, a tribe that was never chosen for priesthood under the Law of Moses. (See: Branch of David, Jer 33:15; Righteous Branch, Jer 23:5,6; a king descended from David, 30:8,9). This is because the High Priest of Melchisedek is not made according to any commandment of the Mosaic Law but instead according to the power of eternal life.

Hebrews 7:13 - 17 KJV
13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec (Psa 110:4).

Thirdly, while the Levitical high priests were appointed without any oath, the everlasting High Priest of the Order of Melchisedek was promised by the LORD with an oath in Psalm 110:4, that He will be a priest forever.

Hebrews 7:20 - 22 KJV
20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
21 For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. (Psalm 110:4)
22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament

Fourthly, while the earthly Levitical High Priests had to be replaced after they die, the High Priest of the Order of Melchisedek lives forever in an unchangeable priesthood. In this way, anyone at any time who approaches Him can be saved by his intercession.

Hebrews 7:23 - 25 KJV
23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

And finally, our Lord Iesous, the High Priest of the Order of Melchisedek who "became us" is holy and undefiled by sin. Unlike the Levitical high priests who have personal weaknesses, our Lord does not need to make any daily sacrifice for his own sins before he intercedes for the people, for he has offered up himself once for all as a sacrifice for all sin.

Hebrews 7:26 - 28 KJV
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

Today's Passages:
Ezekiel 5:1 - 10:22 NRSV
Hebrews 7:1 - 8:13 KJV

The Sapphire Throne

Sunday 2021.09:05

My OT reading today begins with the first four chapters of the book of the prophet Ezekiel

The priest Ezekiel ben Buzi was called by Yehovah to prophesy to the children of Israel and Judah exiled in the land of the Chaldeans, in the city of Tel-abib by the river Chebar, on the 5th day 4th month, during the 5th year of exile of King Jehoiachin, the 19th King of Judah. (Ezekiel 1:1 - 3; 3:15)

In chapter one, Ezekiel records a vision of the throne of God which he saw, placed over a dome covering the heads of four living creatures, each with four wings and four faces, and each standing on a "wheel within wheel" (Ezekiel 1:4 - 21)

The following verses describe the vision of the dome and the throne of God which appeared like sapphire to Ezekiel. On the throne was a human form that gleamed like amber from the loins upwards, enclosed by fire The throne was surrounded by a splendour like a rainbow.

Ezekiel 1:22 - 25 NRSV
22Over the heads of the living creatures there was something like a dome, shining like crystal, spread out above their heads. 23Under the dome their wings were stretched out straight, one towards another; and each of the creatures had two wings covering its body. 24When they moved, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of mighty waters, like the thunder of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army; when they stopped, they let down their wings. 25And there came a voice from above the dome over their heads; when they stopped, they let down their wings.

Ezekiel 1:26 - 28 NRSV
26And above the dome over their heads there was something like a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was something that seemed like a human form. 27Upwards from what appeared like the loins I saw something like gleaming amber, something that looked like fire enclosed all round; and downwards from what looked like the loins I saw something that looked like fire, and there was a splendour all round. 28Like the bow in a cloud on a rainy day, such was the appearance of the splendour all round. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.

For my NT Reading today, I read Hebrews chapters five and six using the King James Version.

Today's Passages:
Ezekiel 1:1 - 4:17 NRSV
Hebrews 5:1 - 6:20 KJV

A sprint through seventeen chapters

Saturday 2021.09:04

Shabbat Shalom.

Today is the Seventh Day of the Biblical Week, called Shabbat in Hebrew, and Sabtu in Malay. Let us rest from all our work.

In my OT reading this morning, I sprinted through the remaining seventeen chapters of Jeremiah, from chapter 36 right through to chapter 52 at the end of the book. In this long portion of scripture, the shortest chapter I came across is Jeremiah 45 with only five verses, and the longest is Jeremiah 51 with sixty-four verses.

Tomorrow I will read the next book in the Latter Prophets section of the Neviim in the Hebrew divisions of scripture, the book of Ezekiel, using the New Revised Standard Version. Please visit the link below to view the sections of Torah, Neviim, and Khetuvim (the Law, Prophets and Writings) in the Hebrew Bible.

• The Law, the Prophets, and the Writings

In the NT today, I read chapters three and four of the Epistle to the Hebrews.

Today's Passages:
Jeremiah 36:1 - 52:34 GNB -- Ezekiel NRSV
Hebrews 3:1 - 4:16 KJV

The Branch of Righteousness: an unbreakable covenant

Friday 2021.09:03

Today for my OT reading, I read chapters thirty-two through thirty-five of the book of Jeremiah.

Chapter 32 of this portion contains an account of the prophet Jeremiah ben Hilkiah receiving the words of Yehovah that Jeremiah's cousin Hanamel would visit him (at that time Jeremiah was imprisoned in the courtyard of the royal palace by King Zedekiah, Jer 32:2, 3). Yehovah told Jeremiah that Hanamel would ask him to buy over Hanamel's field at his home town of Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. Eventually, the words of Yehovah came true.

I wrote briefly on this account in my devotional blog about eight years ago, in the following link:

• So I knew

Further on in Chapter 33 of today's reading, Jeremiah ben Hilkiah prophesied that a Branch of Righteousness ("a righteous descendant", Jer 33:15 GNB) will rule over the land. In those days, Jerusalem will be called "Yehovah our Righteousness". This is an unbreakable covenant that Yehovah had made with King David, comparable to the unbreakable covenant that God had made "with the day and with the night" that day and night will always arrive at their proper times. (Jeremiah 33:14 - 22)

Jeremiah 33:14 - 22 GNB
14The LORD said, “The time is coming when I will fulfil the promise that I made to the people of Israel and Judah. 15At that time I will choose as king a righteous descendant of David. That king will do what is right and just throughout the land. 16The people of Judah and of Jerusalem will be rescued and will live in safety. The city will be called ‘The LORD Our Salvation’. 17I, the LORD, promise that there will always be a descendant of David to be king of Israel 18and that there will always be priests from the tribe of Levi to serve me and to offer burnt offerings, grain offerings, and sacrifices.”

19The LORD said to me, 20“I have made a covenant with the day and with the night, so that they always come at their proper times; and that covenant can never be broken. 21In the same way I have made a covenant with my servant David that he would always have a descendant to be king, and I have made a covenant with the priests from the tribe of Levi that they would always serve me; and those covenants can never be broken. 22I will increase the number of descendants of my servant David and the number of priests from the tribe of Levi, so that it will be as impossible to count them as it is to count the stars in the sky or the grains of sand on the seashore.”

My reading from the NT today, I begin reading the Epistle general to the Hebrews, covering the first two chapters using the King James Version.

Today's Passages:
Jeremiah 32:1 - 35:19 GNB
Hebrews 1:1 - 2:18 KJV

Judah and Israel will be restored

Thursday 2021.09:02

This afternoon for my OT reading, I read Jeremiah chapters twenty-nine through thirty-one.

This portion of scripture contains a prophecy by Jeremiah ben Hilkiah about the restoration of the people of Israel and Judah from their exile back to the promised land. When this prophecy was given, King Jehoiachin ben Jehoiakim, the 19th king of Judah, along with the leaders and the skilled craftsmen of Judah, were already taken into exile by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia. Most of the treasures of the Temple of Jerusalem were also taken away, leaving behind some columns, a bronze tank, and some carts (Jeremiah 27:19,20; 2 Kings 23:10 - 16).

Also, during the reign of King Zedekiah ben Josiah, the 20th and last king of Judah, Jeremiah had written a letter of hope and encouragement to the people of Judah who were in exile in Babylonia , promising them that the LORD would restore them to their homeland (Jeremiah 29:1 - 23)

In Jeremiah chapter 30, we read of his prophecy about the promise of the LORD to restore Israel and Judah to their homeland under the rule of the Messiah, a descendant of David whom the LORD will enthrone as King.

Jeremiah 30:1 - 3 GNB
1The LORD, the God of Israel, 2said to me: “Write down in a book everything that I have told you, 3because the time is coming when I will restore my people, Israel and Judah. I will bring them back to the land that I gave their ancestors, and they will take possession of it again. I, the LORD, have spoken.”

Jeremiah 30:8 - 9 GNB
8The LORD Almighty says: “When that day comes, I will break the yoke that is round their necks and remove their chains, and they will no longer be the slaves of foreigners. 9Instead, they will serve me, the LORD their God, and a descendant of David, whom I will enthrone as king.

Jeremiah 30:21b GNB
They will be my people, and I will be their God. I, the LORD, have spoken.

For my NT reading today, I read the short Epistle to Philemon. Tomorrow, I will begin reading the long Epistle general to the Hebrews using the New International Version.

Today's Passages:
Jeremiah 29:1 - 31:40 GNB
Philemon 1:1 - 25 KJV -- Hebrews NIV

The kindness and love of God has appeared

Wednesday 2021.09:01

For this afternoon's NT reading I read through all three chapters of the pastoral epistle of Paul the Apostle to Titus. I came across two instances where the apostle wrote that the grace and kindness of God has appeared.

First, in Titus 2:13, we read that God's grace has appeared, bringing salvation to all mankind, and that we who are saved now wait in hope for the appearing of Iesus Christos, who is the glory of our great God and Saviour.

Titus 2:11 - 14 NIV
11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.
12 It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
13 while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ,
14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Later, in Titus 3:4, it is written that God our Saviour saved us when His kindness and love appeared, not by any of our righteous deeds, but by His mercy, through baptism in water and renewal in the Holy Spirit. God has poured on us His Holy Spirit through Iesus Christos our Saviour.

Titus 3:4 NIV
3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
4 But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared,
5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour,
7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Note that God is called "our Saviour" in Titus 2:13 and 3:4, whilst Iesous the Anointed is called "our Saviour" in Titus 3:6.

My OT reading today covered Jeremiah chapters twenty-six through twenty-eight.

Tomorrow I will proceed with reading the Epistle to Philemon in the NT using the King James Version.

Today's Passages:
Jeremiah 26:1 - 28:17 GNB
Titus 1:1 - 3:15 NIV -- Philemon KJV