Day: April 22, 2021

1 Chronicles Overview for tomorrow 🤪

~ Patricia ~ Leave a comment

We just started 2 Samuel but we are going to read the Chronicles along with it (and weave in the Psalms).  It all fits together.  The other day someone texted me “Who wrote 2 Samuel?”  I texted back “God”.  Not sure he found me as funny as I find myself. 😂  So to answer who wrote Chronicles, many people say Ezra.  The Chronicles are a range of records and sources pulled together for historical purposes.  For Geeks like me, it is a dream to read!

A chronicler compiles this information and writes a book less about what is actually happening but more about the meaning of the events.  God’s interpretation.  Not interpretation as we think of it today,  like a point of view.  All of the Bible is approved by God.

  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Tim 3:16)

The Chronicles,  like the Samuels,  were one continuous book, but Greek translators divided it.  Originally called Dibre Hayyamin meaning “Events of the Days”.  The theme of the book revolves around Covenant.

Did the Israelites still fit into God’s Plan?  Times were difficult and dark.  Could our Messiah come from the Line of David? 

The Chronicles will talk about true worship and true kingship in the line of David.  The chronicler actually wrote:

  • 1 Chronicles
  • 2 Chronicles
  •  Ezra
  • Nehemiah

1 Chronicles is the history of the Jewish Nation.

2 Chronicles is a book of great revival.

1 Chronicles is not a book you will hear many people reading casually or even studying.  However, it is a book of great importance.  The first 9 Chapters are an extensive genealogy!  Yes, you read that correctly.  If you have been reading since January you are going to be filled with joy when you read it and actually understand it!!  If you have jumped in late I promise to make this as painless as possible with lots of great visuals.

These genealogies will give us an overview of God’s work from creation to the return after the Babylonian captivity. If you don’t know what the captivity is…you will have to keep reading….😜. The Hebrews (that term will change to Jews after the captivity) place great importance on their heritage because they needed to prove they were a descendant of Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation.

So tomorrow we will begin with chapters 1 and 2 of 1 Chronicles.  If you want to take a peek at them you can.  I really hope you see chapters like this are readable, where maybe in the past you were like “who in the world understands this stuff??”.  YOU DO NOW!

 

 

Psalm 6, 7, 8, 10, 14, 16, 19, 21

~ Patricia ~ Leave a comment

If you can, go outside to read these. Especially Psalm 19. (a bit chilly this morning 🥶)

Psalm 6- a Penitential Psalm

The other day we read Psalm 130.  It stuck out in my head because it was the Psalm that talked about The Lord not keeping a record of my sins (like my husband does so that he can bring them up all the time…😂).  I liked it so much I did a little more research about it.  What I found is there are 7 Psalms that are called “Penitential”.  If any of you grew up catholic is might sound familiar.  During Lent, these Psalms would be recited as a way for us to recognize and repent of our sin.  Go back and read 130 if you want but as you read Psalm 6, think about your view of sin.  How easy we rationalize it or dismiss it!   Psalm 6 is a better example of how we should bring our confession to the Lord. We will read the other 5 as David begins to fail. (I will point them out as we go)

Psalm 7- A Shiggaion.

We talked about this the other day too, it means to say with intense feeling, wild, strong lament.

I could have used this a few times in my life!  Have you ever been falsely accused?  I make A LOT of mistakes, I can usually admit it WHILE I am doing it.  BUT the one thing I struggle with the most is being accused of doing or saying something I didn’t do.

Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness,
    according to my integrity, O Most High.
9 Bring to an end the violence of the wicked
    and make the righteous secure—
you, the righteous God
    who probes minds and hearts.

Psalm 8- oh my stars…Go outside and look around! Morning readers, day readers, or nighttime readers.  Step outside! Read this:

When I consider your heavens,
    the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
    which you have set in place,
 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    human beings that you care for them?

This Psalm is quoted both in 1 Cor. 15:27 and Hebrews 2:6

Psalm 10  How often do you think why do bad things happen to good people…as you watch bad people prosper!

Sometimes it is just hard to think God is hidden at times….but He is not! Oh the ending is so good.

Psalm 14– Here is your test for comprehension…Read Verse 7…does it make sense now? (If it doesn’t let me know).

Psalm 16- A Miktam!!  In my eyes, this is the opposite of a Shiggoin.  Miktam means to cover your lips.  This is a silent personal prayer. Try it!!

1 Keep me safe, my God,
    for in you I take refuge.

2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
    apart from you I have no good thing.”

Psalm 19– Doing this read-through is a commitment!  It shouldn’t be hard to carve out time for this, but for humans (all of us) we don’t always make it a priority.  My hope is that you have fallen in love with God’s Word more than ever.  I hope that when you read verse 10 it rings true for all of us, even me, who struggles with Psalms.  His words are:

They are more precious than gold,
    than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
    than honey from the honeycomb.

Every time I do a read-through I use a new Bible to see what I underline…EVERY year I have underlined 7-14!  It’s just that good.

Psalm 21– David remembered the speak to the Lord NOT just when he was struggling or needing help, but even after victory.  Oh, how I talk to God more when I need him than when things are going “good”.  I need to work on that!