Bible Reading Plan

Month: November 2021

  • Esther 3

    Esther 3

    Read Esther 3

    Haman’s Plot to Destroy the Jews

    After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. 2 All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.

    3 Then the royal officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s command?” 4 Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew.

    5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. 6 Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.

    7 In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the pur (that is, the lot) was cast in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.

    8 Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. 9 If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give ten thousand talents of silver to the king’s administrators for the royal treasury.”

    10 So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. 11 “Keep the money,” the king said to Haman, “and do with the people as you please.”

    12 Then on the thirteenth day of the first month the royal secretaries were summoned. They wrote out in the script of each province and in the language of each people all Haman’s orders to the king’s satraps, the governors of the various provinces and the nobles of the various peoples. These were written in the name of King Xerxes himself and sealed with his own ring. 13 Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods. 14 A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so they would be ready for that day.

    15 The couriers went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was bewildered.

    Go Deeper

    Today’s reading opens with the events that unfold after Mordecai uncovers the plot against King Xerxes’ (or King Ahasuerus’, depending on your translation of Scripture) life. Xerxes replaces the men behind the plot on his life with a man named Haman. When Haman asks that the whole of the royal court bow and pay him honor, Mordecai refuses to do so, and in response, Haman conspires to have Xerxes kill all of the Jews in the kingdom.

    We learn something interesting about the backdrop of Esther’s story here. Verse 1 tells us that Haman is an Agagite. So, Haman descends from the Amalekites, God’s enemies who Saul was supposed to (but didn’t completely) destroy in 1 Samuel 15. Mordecai is a member of the tribe of Benjamin—the same tribe from which King Saul descends (Esther 2:5; 1 Samuel 9:1-2). This leads us to a couple of conclusions. 

    First, this story is not a contained narrative separate from the broader story of the Scriptures. It contains a picture of the conflict between Israel (represented by Mordecai and Esther, two Benjaminite nobles) and those outside of the family of God (represented by Haman the Agagite, a native of the land of Canaan). Biblical scholars refer to this narrative device as a type, a smaller story or conflict that illustrates a larger conflict or tension in the broader scriptural narrative. 

    Secondly, the text shows how God’s commands always have purpose—had Saul been faithful to destroy all of Amalek in 1 Samuel 15, Haman might not have had the noble standing he ascended to, or perhaps may not have even been born at all, and Israel would have been protected from a madman trying to enact genocide on her people. As confusing as a command to wipe out a city might seem, we see here that God is deeply intentional to protect His people in all His commands.

    This chapter also serves as a reminder about the nature of living as exiles. When we live as foreigners in a foreign land, there will be people and cultural pressure asking us to bow down and worship anything but God—be it a person, a political philosophy, or a cultural value. But Mordecai teaches us that when we are asked to bow before anything but God, don’t. This resolve to stand in the face of oppression, to refuse to bow before idols, is a weighty, challenging calling. It could have cost Mordecai his life, but he didn’t budge. Let’s remember we are still called to wholehearted worship to God alone today, even when the world disapproves.

    Questions

    1. What does this chapter teach you about the character of God?
    2. Is there a time God asked you to do something that didn’t make sense, but you later realized His instruction protected you from a particular hurt?
    3. What idols are asking you to bow down to them? Are you standing firm, or have you worshiped an ideology, a behavior or preference, or a person before God?

    Did You Know?

    Depending on the translation of Scripture you read, your Bible may call the King of Persia either Xerxes or Ahasuerus. Ahasuerus is the Hebrew name originally used in the text, but Bible scholars deduced over time that it seems to be a folk name for King Xerxes.

    Leave a Comment Below

    Did you learn something today? Share it with our Bible Reading Plan community by commenting below.

    Join the Team

    Interested in writing for the Bible Reading Plan? Email [email protected].

  • Esther 2

    Esther 2

    Read Esther 2

    Esther Made Queen

    Later when King Xerxes’ fury had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what he had decreed about her. 2 Then the king’s personal attendants proposed, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king. 3 Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them. 4 Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” This advice appealed to the king, and he followed it.

    5 Now there was in the citadel of Susa a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, named Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, 6 who had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, among those taken captive with Jehoiachin king of Judah. 7 Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died.

    8 When the king’s order and edict had been proclaimed, many young women were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king’s palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem. 9 She pleased him and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven female attendants selected from the king’s palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem.

    10 Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so. 11 Every day he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her.

    12 Before a young woman’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. 13 And this is how she would go to the king: Anything she wanted was given her to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace. 14 In the evening she would go there and in the morning return to another part of the harem to the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he was pleased with her and summoned her by name.

    15 When the turn came for Esther (the young woman Mordecai had adopted, the daughter of his uncle Abihail) to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her. 16 She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal residence in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

    17 Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 18 And the king gave a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality.

    Mordecai Uncovers a Conspiracy

    19 When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate. 20 But Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality just as Mordecai had told her to do, for she continued to follow Mordecai’s instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up.

    21 During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. 22 But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. 23 And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were impaled on poles. All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king.

    Go Deeper

    If Esther 2 were a movie, parental guidance would definitely be advised. King Xerxes is now lonely and missing his queen, so his advisors suggest he choose a queen by having hundreds of virgins from all the provinces of his kingdom parade in front of him. It is implied that he sleeps with each of them (v. 13-14), and then the king gets to choose who he would like to crown as his new wife and queen. If this sounds like an ungodly and even pagan practice, it’s because it was. 

    Before we become appalled by the fact that stories like this are in the Bible, we need to remember that King Xerxes, also known as King Ahasuerus (depending on your translation of Scripture), was not a godly man. Historically, he is often referred to as a pagan king. His behavior in chapter one, in which he threw lavish parties, got drunk, and participated in lewd behavior, seems to confirm this descriptor. Evil abounded in Xerxes’ kingdom.

    Despite the darkness, though, God is at work. Even though there is no mention of the name of God in Esther 2, we see God’s providence bring light to even the darkest of situations. Esther is one of the hundreds of young women groomed to be part of King Xerxes’ beauty pageant to choose his queen. Unlike most of the other women, though, Esther is not a native to the land and is a Jewish exile. In addition, she is an orphan. Based on her pedigree and background, Esther would be near the very bottom of the list of women likely to be chosen as queen.

    However, from the very beginning, Esther impresses Hegai, the person in charge of the harem. Verse 2:9 says, “She pleased him and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food.” The most unlikely of women makes an impression on the palace administration and is given food, seven maidservants, an apartment, and beauty treatments galore! When the King finally meets Esther in verse 17, we learn “the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight” (ESV). Amidst a pagan culture ruled by a pagan king who enforces pagan practices, God is not deterred. 

    We must wait to read the rest of the story to know exactly what God is up to, but for the time being, we can rest in the fact that not only is God protecting Esther, but He is silently working to bring about His will and save His people. It also gives us the assurance that no matter how bad, how evil, or how dark a situation seems, God’s plans cannot be defeated.

    Questions

    1. Esther found herself in a palace by the sovereign will of God. Where has God placed you?
    2. Has your obedience to God ever landed you in an uncomfortable situation? How can we respond in faith when we can’t see how God is moving in our lives?
    3. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Spend some time in reflection of God’s providential hand in your own life.

    By the Way

    As you read the story of Esther, notice the parallels between her story and the story of Joseph (in Genesis) and Exodus. Keep a running list of the similarities you see between all of these different narratives!

    Leave a Comment Below

    Did you learn something today? Share it with our Bible Reading Plan community by commenting below.

    Join the Team

    Interested in writing for the Bible Reading Plan? Email [email protected].

  • Esther 1

    Esther 1

    Getting Started

    Welcome to the Bible Reading Plan! We are so glad you are joining us as we read through the Old Testament book of Esther over the next couple of weeks. Each day, you will read one chapter of the Bible followed by a short devotional, answer a few questions, and if you want, record any observations or insights using the interactive comments section. We believe God will use this resource to grow our knowledge and affection for Him. We know God’s Word does not return void (Isaiah 55:11). Sign up with a friend, your Life Group, or your family, and let’s dig in!

    Make sure to download our Harris Creek App and turn on push notifications, or visit us at biblereadingplan.org and sign up to receive the BRP in your inbox. Also, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram (@harriscreek) for some fun, creative ways to interact with the readings. 

    Let’s Go, Church!

    Esther Preview

    Esther reads more like a medieval play than a narrative in the Bible. The entire book of Esther is a fascinating story with dramatic twists and turns filled with mystery and marvel. A book whose main character, God, is not mentioned one time. This makes Esther a unique book of the Bible and one that may cause us to ask, “If the Bible is a book about God and we know all Scripture is profitable and beneficial to teach us or reveal something about Him, how do we learn from a book that is absent of His name?”

    We would be wise to dig into the pages of Esther and ask God to give us eyes to see His providence and plan. Although His name is absent from this book, He is still very active in every part of it. His silence doesn’t mean He isn’t working. If that was the only lesson we learn from this book, it would be enough—even when we feel like God is silent, He is never inactive. Nothing happens by chance. 

    Throughout the book of Esther we will encounter a few different major characters: Esther, Mordecai (her uncle), King Xerxes, and Haman (the book’s antagonist). Part of what makes the historical books in the Old Testament fun to read is that we can visualize what’s going on as each chapter unfolds. Pay close attention to the arc that this story follows and take note of all the different ways you see God moving through His people. Over the next ten chapters, engage with the story of Esther and ask yourself how God is moving in the details of your own life today. 

    Read Esther 1

    Queen Vashti Deposed

    This is what happened during the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush: 2 At that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, 3 and in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. The military leaders of Persia and Media, the princes, and the nobles of the provinces were present.

    4 For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty. 5 When these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days, in the enclosed garden of the king’s palace, for all the people from the least to the greatest who were in the citadel of Susa. 6 The garden had hangings of white and blue linen, fastened with cords of white linen and purple material to silver rings on marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other costly stones. 7 Wine was served in goblets of gold, each one different from the other, and the royal wine was abundant, in keeping with the king’s liberality. 8 By the king’s command each guest was allowed to drink with no restrictions, for the king instructed all the wine stewards to serve each man what he wished.

    9 Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.

    10 On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Karkas— 11 to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at. 12 But when the attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger.

    13 Since it was customary for the king to consult experts in matters of law and justice, he spoke with the wise men who understood the times 14 and were closest to the king—Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memukan, the seven nobles of Persia and Media who had special access to the king and were highest in the kingdom.

    15 “According to law, what must be done to Queen Vashti?” he asked. “She has not obeyed the command of King Xerxes that the eunuchs have taken to her.”

    16 Then Memukan replied in the presence of the king and the nobles, “Queen Vashti has done wrong, not only against the king but also against all the nobles and the peoples of all the provinces of King Xerxes. 17 For the queen’s conduct will become known to all the women, and so they will despise their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.’ 18 This very day the Persian and Median women of the nobility who have heard about the queen’s conduct will respond to all the king’s nobles in the same way. There will be no end of disrespect and discord.

    19 “Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she. 20 Then when the king’s edict is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, all the women will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest.”

    21 The king and his nobles were pleased with this advice, so the king did as Memukan proposed. 22 He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, proclaiming that every man should be ruler over his own household, using his native tongue.

    Go Deeper

    Esther 1 begins with the party of all parties. We cannot grasp the grandeur of it. For 180 days, the Persian King, Xerxes, flaunted his power, possessions, privilege and political strength. Read verse 4 again: “For a full 180 days, he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty.” 

    We learn Xerxes is proud and misuses his power. He throws a party for people to praise his wealth and power. After the party nears an end, Xerxes saves the best for last—or so he thinks. Under the influence of much wine, Xerxes summons for his wife, Queen Vashti. Vashti is asked to be put on display for all to see. It was as if Xerxes was planning to say, “Look at my power, look at my glory, and look at my wife!”

    We don’t know much about Queen Vashti. Only that her beauty was unmatched and when her husband summoned her to show her off, she said, “No.” We don’t know why she declined. Perhaps she considered his request an affront to her dignity. Maybe she couldn’t stand her husband. Maybe she valued modesty and his request would compromise her value. We don’t know.

    The great tragedy that seems to plague us as humanity is the misuse and abuse of power. Oftentimes we read or hear of people in positions of authority mishandling and misusing their power like Xerxes did. God’s design for us never included stripping away our dignity. He never condones objectification of anyone. He never uses His power to manipulate or control. In fact, we get a picture in Philippians of the mentality and posture of the One True King whose glory and splendor and majesty are unending and unmatched:

    In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.Philippians 2:5-7

    Make no mistake. We have a King who values and gives dignity to people. He has not and will not abuse His power. His fingerprints are all over the events in Esther. His fingerprints are all over our lives, too. He alone is God. He alone is Lord. He alone is King. 

    And, no matter how the story appears at the moment, He is working for our good.

    Questions

    1. Are you easily intoxicated by power, privilege, and prestige? How does pride play out in your life?
    2. Have you abused or misused authority? If yes, what’s your plan to repent, seek forgiveness, and reconcile?
    3. Have you experienced seasons of God’s silence in your life? What do you do to stay the course in the midst of His silence? 

    Watch This

    Check out this overview of the book of Esther from The Bible Project. 

    Leave a Comment Below

    Did you learn something today? Share it with our Bible Reading Plan community by commenting below.

    Join the Team

    Interested in writing for the Bible Reading Plan? Email [email protected].

  • Rest Day 25

    Rest Day 25

    Rest Day

    Today is a Rest Day. There is no new Bible reading to do. Today, the goal is simple: rest in the presence of God. Maybe you need to use today to get caught up on the reading plan if you’re behind, maybe you want to journal what you’re learning so you don’t forget what God is teaching you, or maybe you want to spend time in concentrated prayer–do that. Above all, just spend time in God’s presence. Each Rest Day, we will also introduce a memory verse for the week. Meditate on this week’s verse and begin to memorize it.

    Memory Verse

    Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

    Praise the Lord.

    Psalm 150:6

    Memorization Tip

    Who says Scripture memorization has to be boring? Make it a game! Write the verse out on notecards, a different word for each card. Then, shuffle them around and place them back in the correct order from memory.

    Worship with Us

    Join us at 9a, 11a, or 7p in person or online at harriscreek.org/live. We’d love to worship with you! We also desire to connect everyone with a local church body where they can thrive in community and use their gifts to serve. If you’re following our Bible Reading Plan from outside of Waco and are eager to get connected with a great local church, email us at [email protected].

    Leave a Comment Below
    Did you learn something today? Share it with our Bible Reading Plan community by commenting below.
  • Psalm 150

    Psalm 150

    Read Psalm 150

    1 Praise the Lord.

    Praise God in his sanctuary;
        praise him in his mighty heavens.
    2 Praise him for his acts of power;
        praise him for his surpassing greatness.
    3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
        praise him with the harp and lyre,
    4 praise him with timbrel and dancing,
        praise him with the strings and pipe,
    5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,
        praise him with resounding cymbals.

    6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

    Praise the Lord.

    Go Deeper

    Psalm 150 provides a short, but fitting end to the collection of Psalms. The last sentence of the last Psalm encourages us to “Praise the Lord.” In fact, the reader is encouraged to “praise” 13 times in these six verses. The Psalmist isn’t shy or unclear about the “call to action” that comes from Psalm 150. In this Psalm, we learn where to praise God, why to praise God, how to praise God, and who should praise God.

    In verse 1 the Psalmist tells us where to praise God: Both in His sanctuary and in his mighty heavens. In other words, there’s not a place in the universe where we shouldn’t praise Him! We can praise Him in the physical location of His sanctuary (tabernacle, temple) and we can praise Him in the heavens. Everything in the heavens and earth is his (1 Chronicles 29:11)—it’s appropriate to praise God anywhere and everywhere.

    Verse 2 tells us why we can praise God: for both His acts of power and for His surpassing greatness. We worship God for both who He is (His greatness) and what He’s done (His acts of power). We praise Him for His attributes and for His work. We will never run out of reasons to praise Him.

    As far as how we praise God, the Psalmist lists out all the instruments in the praise band—trumpet, harp, cymbals, and the timbrel (if you’re wondering, a timbrel is like a tambourine). We can make a joyful noise to the Lord (Psalm 100), and praise Him both with instruments and with our voices.

    And who should praise God? Anyone and everyone who has breath in their lungs should praise the Lord. The psalmist makes it very clear that if you have breath, then you are to praise Him. If you’re breathing, then your heart is pumping, and you can praise Him. May we be people who praise God all the days He lets our hearts beat and our bodies produce breath. Praise the Lord!

    Questions

    1. How do you choose to praise God? What does this look like for you in your day-to-day life and activities?
    2. Take some time to praise God for who He is (His attributes) and for His works (His acts of power). Write down three attributes and two evidences of His power.
    3. What happens if we don’t praise the Lord (Luke 19:39-40)? How does this challenge you?

    Pray this

    God, I pray that we would be people who praise you for as long as you give us breath in our lungs. Thank you that you give us breath and that you allow us to worship and praise you. Help us to not take a beating heart and breathing lungs for granted, and instead help us to give you the honor and glory that you are due. May we be people who are marked not by complaints, whining, and grumbling, but rather be a people who praise and worship you with our thoughts, actions, and words. Amen. 

    Leave a Comment Below

    Did you learn something today? Share it with our Bible Reading Plan community by commenting below.

    Join the Team

    Interested in writing for the Bible Reading Plan? Email [email protected].

  • Psalm 149

    Psalm 149

    Read Psalm 149

    1 Praise the Lord.

    Sing to the Lord a new song,
        his praise in the assembly of his faithful people.

    2 Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;
        let the people of Zion be glad in their King.
    3 Let them praise his name with dancing
        and make music to him with timbrel and harp.
    4 For the Lord takes delight in his people;
        he crowns the humble with victory.
    5 Let his faithful people rejoice in this honor
        and sing for joy on their beds.

    6 May the praise of God be in their mouths
        and a double-edged sword in their hands,
    7 to inflict vengeance on the nations
        and punishment on the peoples,
    8 to bind their kings with fetters,
        their nobles with shackles of iron,
    9 to carry out the sentence written against them—
        this is the glory of all his faithful people.

    Praise the Lord.

    Go Deeper

    There are several unique themes throughout Psalm 149. In the first few verses, the main theme is the praise of God’s people. There is praise and singing to the Lord. God loves to receive our rejoicing through song. The next couple of verses share the pleasure of true praise. God is first described as our Maker and then our King. As we worship God, whether at church or in our own time with the Lord, we can remember the great power and love He has for us, despite our sins. As we come before the Lord in humility and praise, He will make us all beautiful with salvation. 

    The psalm also highlights the power of God’s people. For instance, when it says, “Let the godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds,” it’s referring to how the saints are so happy in God’s glory that waking hours are not enough to express their praise, so they must continue it on their beds. 

    Psalm 149 describes God’s people as ready for battle and equipped with mighty weapons. The Lord will grant victory to His people and fight for us, but as God’s people, we should also prepare to excel in both praise and the preaching of God’s Word. The last few verses speak to the victory of God’s people. Through the power of praise and the Word of God, we will see the work of God in the nations. God will use all types of people to set right the wrongs of the world. 

    Throughout this chapter, we see the glory of God and the continuous praises of His people. God finds joy in this praise and adorns those who act in humility. God will also provide us with a two-edged sword to fight the wickedness in the world, and we will find victory through our praise to God and His Word. May these glimpses of God’s heart make us draw closer to Him. After reading this passage, find some quiet time to praise God for everything He has done in your life. Pick up your own two-edged sword and fight the wickedness in the world.

    Questions

    1. How do you praise the Lord? Do you continuously find joy in the presence of the Lord? 
    2. If you are in a season of victory, have you shared your story with other believers so that they may see the work of the Lord in their lives? 
    3. How have you been using your two-edged sword?

    Pray this

    Dear God, I lift You up in praise. I am amazed by Your glory and power, and I want to thank You for all the blessings that You have bestowed upon us. I pray that we continue to see those blessings and I ask that You fill our mouths with songs of praise to You. Help us to become more like You and to pick up our two-edged sword to fight the wickedness in the world. Amen. 

    Leave a Comment Below

    Did you learn something today? Share it with our Bible Reading Plan community by commenting below.

    Join the Team

    Interested in writing for the Bible Reading Plan? Email [email protected].

  • Psalm 148

    Psalm 148

    Read Psalm 148

    1 Praise the Lord.

    Praise the Lord from the heavens;
        praise him in the heights above.
    2 Praise him, all his angels;
        praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
    3 Praise him, sun and moon;
        praise him, all you shining stars.
    4 Praise him, you highest heavens
        and you waters above the skies.

    5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
        for at his command they were created,
    6 and he established them for ever and ever—
        he issued a decree that will never pass away.

    7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
        you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
    8 lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
        stormy winds that do his bidding,
    9 you mountains and all hills,
        fruit trees and all cedars,
    10 wild animals and all cattle,
        small creatures and flying birds,
    11 kings of the earth and all nations,
        you princes and all rulers on earth,
    12 young men and women,
        old men and children.

    13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
        for his name alone is exalted;
        his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
    14 And he has raised up for his people a horn,
        the praise of all his faithful servants,
        of Israel, the people close to his heart.

    Praise the Lord.

     

    Go Deeper

    Psalm 148 is commonly referred to as a psalm of universal praise. These verses are a call for everything on the earth and in the heavens to praise the name of the Lord.  Verse 5 gives us insight into why God deserves our praise, “[f]or he commanded and they were created.” God is Creator of everything on Earth, as well as in the heavens, and that is praiseworthy.

    In only 14 verses, the psalmist covers all aspects of the earthly and the heavenly realms.  Starting with the angels in the heavens, we are reminded in verses 1 and 2 that nothing is so high that it should not praise the Lord. Even the sun, moon, and stars are praising their Creator (verse 5). From the highest mountain to the depths of the ocean, all of creation owes its existence to the Lord.  Verse 8 tells us that “fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind [fulfill] his word!” It is awe-inspiring to think that even the weather is sovereignly under God’s control and brings glory to His name!

    Have you ever stopped to consider that a fruit tree bearing fruit or a cedar tree that produces durable, strong wood has only done so because God personally created those trees and commanded them to do so? Verse 10 tells us that both the wild and tame beasts of the earth, as well as living creatures that crawl along the ground or fly up in the air are workmanship of the Creator and bring praise and honor to him. As you move on to verse 11, we are reminded that no living creature is exempt from the obligation to bring praise to God. It does not matter if you are a king or a ruler, a man or a woman, old or young, we should all unite in praising the Lord!

    It’s important to pay attention to the fact that this Psalm begins and ends with the phrase “Praise the Lord!” If you struggle with how to talk to God, beginning and ending with praise is a great place to start. Begin today by praising the Lord for the beautiful morning sky or cool breeze. At the end of the day, praise Him for the clear light of the moon or the still sounds of the night. His glory exceeds all others and the more you establish a habit of praise, the closer you will be drawn to Him.

    Questions

    1. When you look at God’s creation, what makes you shout “hallelujah”?
    2. Do you feel like praising God is a continuous habit in your life?  Why or why not?
    3. In addition to the creation that surrounds us, we owe our existence to our Creator. Spend some time thanking God for your life and creation.

    Did You Know?

    In 1224, Francis of Assisi wrote the “Canticle of the Sun”, a poem based on his reflections of Psalm 148.  In the early 1900s, William Draper paraphrased the words of the canticle and set them to music. In 1919, that song was first published in a hymn book under the title “All Creatures of Our God and King.” You can listen to that song here. 

    Leave a Comment Below

    Did you learn something today? Share it with our Bible Reading Plan community by commenting below.

    Join the Team

    Interested in writing for the Bible Reading Plan? Email [email protected].

  • Psalm 147

    Psalm 147

    Read Psalm 147

    1 Praise the Lord.

    How good it is to sing praises to our God,
        how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

    2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
        he gathers the exiles of Israel.
    3 He heals the brokenhearted
        and binds up their wounds.
    4 He determines the number of the stars
        and calls them each by name.
    5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
        his understanding has no limit.
    6 The Lord sustains the humble
        but casts the wicked to the ground.

    7 Sing to the Lord with grateful praise;
        make music to our God on the harp.

    8 He covers the sky with clouds;
        he supplies the earth with rain
        and makes grass grow on the hills.
    9 He provides food for the cattle
        and for the young ravens when they call.

    10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,
        nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
    11 the Lord delights in those who fear him,
        who put their hope in his unfailing love.

    12 Extol the Lord, Jerusalem;
        praise your God, Zion.

    13 He strengthens the bars of your gates
        and blesses your people within you.
    14 He grants peace to your borders
        and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.

    15 He sends his command to the earth;
        his word runs swiftly.
    16 He spreads the snow like wool
        and scatters the frost like ashes.
    17 He hurls down his hail like pebbles.
        Who can withstand his icy blast?
    18 He sends his word and melts them;
        he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.

    19 He has revealed his word to Jacob,
        his laws and decrees to Israel.
    20 He has done this for no other nation;
        they do not know his laws.

    Praise the Lord.

    Go Deeper

    Today’s Psalm starts by praising God and declaring that it is “good” to sing praises to Him. Verse 1 seems a bit formal upon first reading, and the rest of the chapter can feel like reading a grocery list, but a deeper dive into the translation reveals the soul-touching, life-changing revelation that comes from deeply, truly recognizing and engaging in the practice of praise. 

    The verse begins with “How good it is to sing praises to our God…” The word good sounds a bit lackluster as it is commonly used today, but good meant something completely different to the Psalmist. The Hebrew word used here is towb. It is the same word used in the creation story of Genesis when the Bible states, “and He saw that it was good.” Good is the declaration of God when He spoke the universe into being! Good is not dull or boring! Good means excellent, magnificent, complete, valuable. This is the benefit and beauty of praising God! 

    The verse ends with “…how pleasant and fitting to praise him!” Upon first reading, it may remind us of an etiquette lesson with instructions on how using the appropriate fork or proper dinner topics are “pleasant and fitting.” Again, the depth of the meaning seems to be lost in translation, so let’s dive in! The Hebrew words used here are naiym and nawah, meaning lovely or delightful and becoming or attractive. What we find revealed in the translation is that praising God changes us; it makes us better. Praising God transforms us into lovely and becoming people.

    The chapter proceeds to list examples of God’s provision throughout Israel’s history, proclaiming them as the present perfection of His purpose for His people. The writer realizes that God’s work in the past remains God’s work in the present and prepares us for God’s work in the future. He wants us to remember what He has done to grow our faith and that He will do it again. Sometimes, we may approach praising God as something we “have” to do or just church-speak for singing, but God designed the action of praising Him so we recognize His magnificent power and His eternal provision. We are better people for His good and for His glory when we praise Him!

    Questions

    1. How can you praise God today? Is it through prayer, music, reading His word, writing?
    2. What are the reasons to praise God today? Start by writing down five things and add to your list throughout the day. 
    3. Tonight, reflect on your list and praise God because it is good and pleasant and fitting. Acknowledge His provision and His power.

    Watch This

    Interested in how gratitude impacts your brain? Check out this short video.

    .

    Leave a Comment Below

    Did you learn something today? Share it with our Bible Reading Plan community by commenting below.

    Join the Team

    Interested in writing for the Bible Reading Plan? Email [email protected].

  • Psalm 146

    Psalm 146

    Read Psalm 146

    1 Praise the Lord.

    Praise the Lord, my soul.

    2 I will praise the Lord all my life;
        I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
    3 Do not put your trust in princes,
        in human beings, who cannot save.
    4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
        on that very day their plans come to nothing.
    5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
        whose hope is in the Lord their God.

    6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth,
        the sea, and everything in them—
        he remains faithful forever.
    7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed
        and gives food to the hungry.
    The Lord sets prisoners free,
    8     the Lord gives sight to the blind,
    the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
        the Lord loves the righteous.
    9 The Lord watches over the foreigner
        and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
        but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

    10 The Lord reigns forever,
        your God, O Zion, for all generations.

    Praise the Lord.

    Go Deeper

    Psalm 146 is the first of five “hallelujah” psalms that serve as the endcap to the book of Psalms. Each Psalm begins and ends with the Hebrew phrase hallelu-yah which is an exhortation to the reader to “praise the Lord!” By design, the holy book of poems concludes simply, reminding us again and again, “In every circumstance, praise the Lord!”

    But Psalm 146 has even more direct insight into our world today. The Psalmist exhorts us not to trust in princes or in leaders who do not have the power to save. Even if they are not evil, they are incapable of saving others. No matter how much we prop up politicians and heroes as “the right man for the job,” salvation and hope are not found in their election. They are humans whose plans come to nothing the day they die. 

    Multiple times, the Scriptures echo the sentiment of Psalm 103:15-16: “As for man, his days are like grass…when the wind has passed over it, it is no more” (ESV). Isaiah 2:22 puts it even more plainly: “Stop trusting in mere humans who have but a breath in their nostrils.” Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and every other figure of power are completely incapable of even creating their own next breath. Put no hope in them for salvation.

    Instead, the psalmist adjures us to set our hopes, our eyes, and our praises on the sovereign King who is faithful forever. He sees the weak, the oppressed, the fatherless, and He upholds their cause. Only those whose help is in the God of Jacob are truly blessed.

    As we consider the maelstrom of society and seek to find answers to the very complex and devastating issues that plague our world, we must ask how much of our hope is placed in government and like-minded politicians and how much truly rests on the character and power of the Everlasting God. The Psalmist asks us to understand that no matter how good and godly our leaders are, our hopes in them will be crushed. But more than that, no matter how evil and destructive our leaders are, our hope in God can stand secure.

    Questions

    1. How have you misplaced your hope in a human to save humanity?
    2. Consider where you place your hope. Do you trust in the character and power of God, regardless of who is politically in charge?
    3. What can you do to discipline your heart to set your hopes, eyes, and praises onto an everlasting and sovereign God and not have your peace disrupted by the “rise and fall” of earthly politicians?

    By the Way

    After reading Psalm 146, read Isaiah 61 and Luke 4:16-21. Deep dive into the correlation of Psalm 146 and its significance on the advent and purpose of Jesus’ ministry.

    Leave a Comment Below

    Did you learn something today? Share it with our Bible Reading Plan community by commenting below.

    Join the Team

    Interested in writing for the Bible Reading Plan? Email [email protected].

  • Psalm 145

    Psalm 145

    Read Psalm 145

    A psalm of praise. Of David.

    1 I will exalt you, my God the King;
        I will praise your name for ever and ever.
    2 Every day I will praise you
        and extol your name for ever and ever.

    3 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
        his greatness no one can fathom.
    4 One generation commends your works to another;
        they tell of your mighty acts.
    5 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
        and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
    6 They tell of the power of your awesome works—
        and I will proclaim your great deeds.
    7 They celebrate your abundant goodness
        and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

    8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
        slow to anger and rich in love.

    9 The Lord is good to all;
        he has compassion on all he has made.
    10 All your works praise you, Lord;
        your faithful people extol you.
    11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom
        and speak of your might,
    12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts
        and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
    13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
        and your dominion endures through all generations.

    The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises
        and faithful in all he does.
    14 The Lord upholds all who fall
        and lifts up all who are bowed down.
    15 The eyes of all look to you,
        and you give them their food at the proper time.
    16 You open your hand
        and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

    17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways
        and faithful in all he does.
    18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
        to all who call on him in truth.
    19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
        he hears their cry and saves them.
    20 The Lord watches over all who love him,
        but all the wicked he will destroy.

    21 My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.
        Let every creature praise his holy name
        for ever and ever.

    Go Deeper

    The tone in Psalm 145 differs from the previous 5 psalms, which were full of prayers. Psalm 145 is the first of 6 psalms that are full of praises. In many ways these psalms of praise are the fulfillment of David’s promise to praise God in Psalm 144:9. David opens the psalm with a burst of gratitude and a commitment to praise and lovingly celebrate God daily (v. 2). We are invited to examine how often our hearts overflow with spontaneous gratitude for God. Do we nurture a daily habit of gratitude?

    As David continues to lead us in praise, we see meditation on God’s goodness (v. 5) is another practice we are invited to cultivate. Is the goodness and faithfulness of God something we can say we habitually think about and meditate on? If we meditate on God’s goodness, then we can answer “yes” to the following questions. Are our hearts and minds aware of what good things God is doing in the world around us? Can we quickly and easily recognize when God is faithful and good?

    David instructs us in his example to continually gush his gratitude and express his love for God to whomever will listen (v. 6-7). He is unashamed and uninhibited in his praising of God. He shamelessly attributes his good fortune and every good thing in his life to the grace and mercy of God, not his own strength or talent. Who or what do we attribute the grace in our lives? Are we unashamed of the proclamation that “every good and perfect gift” (James 1:17) comes from our Father?

    David’s final “praise practice” is to lovingly celebrate the mightiness of God’s hand (what He does) and the goodness of God’s heart (who He is). Psalm 145 serves as a joyful reminder to celebrate what an incredible, powerful and gracious God we serve. He is worthy of nothing less than our unwavering gratitude, submissive wonder, awe-inspired reverence, and continuous, joyful praises. God is gracious, compassionate, good, near, trustworthy, fulfilling, and faithful. Like David, may our “mouths speak in praise of the Lord” (v. 21).

    Questions

    1. How often do you take time to intentionally praise God? Would your faith benefit from a commitment to recite and pray Psalm 145?
    2. Is your gratitude for God and His goodness something you would say you meditate on (think deeply about) regularly? How could you develop and nurture this habit?
    3. How often do you share your gratitude for who God is and what He is doing in your life with others? What would it look like to create an intentional habit of sharing stories of His goodness with the people in your life? 

    Did You Know?

    In his commentary on this psalm, Matthew Henry shares an ancient Jewish tradition. As Jews neared the end of life, the more they developed a habit of continuously praising God. They believed praise was the work of heaven and they needed to be ready for it. It was said anyone who memorized and prayed this psalm three times a day would be thoroughly prepared for heaven as they were sufficiently experienced in the practice of continuous praise of a magnificent and loving God.

    Leave a Comment Below

    Did you learn something today? Share it with our Bible Reading Plan community by commenting below.

    Join the Team

    Interested in writing for the Bible Reading Plan? Email [email protected].