November 27th Bible in a Year Readings

Daniel 4:1-37 + 2 Peter 1:1-21 + Psalm 119:97-112 + Proverbs 28:17-18
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Old Testament - Daniel chapter 4 is an incredible chapter today!  There is a lot going on in this one.  We open up this chapter with King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon giving praise to God as verses 2 & 3 tell us: "I want you all to know about the miraculous signs and wonders the Most High God has performed for me.  How great are his signs, how powerful his wonders! His kingdom will last forever, his rule through all generations." Does this sound like the Nebuchadnezzar we've come to know?  We'll, we must read on as he tells us how he got to the point of praising God like this...

Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the tree in this chapter is relatively straightforward, as is the interpretation that Daniel gives.  One intriguing verse to me was verse 27 where Daniel pleads with Nebuchadnezzar to repent to avoid what will happen per the dream - "O King Nebuchadnezzar, please listen to me. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past by being merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper."  Do you think Nebuchadnezzar listened to Daniel?  What if Daniel was telling us to do this same thing this very day?  Would we listen?  Will we stop sinning and do what is right?  Will we be merciful to the poor?  Below is a portrait by Guy Rowe of Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the tree:

We see the sin of pride bring down Nebuchadnezzar in verse 30 as follows - "Just look at this great city of Babylon! I, by my own mighty power, have built this beautiful city as my royal residence and as an expression of my royal splendor."  Are their times in our life where we boast of what we have "done" or "created" by our "own mighty power"?  Good idea.... ?

In this chapter today Nebuchadnezzar becomes Gollum from the Lord of the Rings!  :)  Yes, I did hear someone teach on this chapter recently and he placed up on screen a picture of Gollum from Lord of the Rings and suggested this is what happened to Nebuchadnezzar essentially in verse 33 - "That very same hour the prophecy was fulfilled, and Nebuchadnezzar was driven from human society. He ate grass like a cow, and he was drenched with the dew of heaven. He lived this way until his hair was as long as eagles' feathers and his nails were like birds' claws." Can you see how sin can drive us to basic animal instincts? Like Gollum?  Do you see how godly wisdom can save us from becoming like animals?  Like Gollum?  Pride seems to be a very tempting sin for all of us - and not a good one to pursue - as Nebuchadnezzar tells us himself in verse 37 -"Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble those who are proud." Do you believe this to be true?  Below is an image of Gollum... and perhaps Nebuchadnezzar for seven years?

Verse 36 also stands out to me in this chapter only because it reminds me of the end of the book of Job - "When my sanity returned to me, so did my honor and glory and kingdom. My advisers and officers sought me out, and I was reestablished as head of my kingdom, with even greater honor than before."   A reminder that God gives and takes away - and can give again...

New Testament - Today we start the book of Second Peter!  This is another great letter from Peter to the early Christian church written in approximately 65 to 68 A.D., just before Peter was martyred during the reign of the Roman emperor Nero.  1 Peter was more of a letter of encouragement to early Christians who were facing suffering, whereas 2 Peter is written to dispel false teachings within early Christianity.  Below is a fresco by Michelangelo of Peter being crucified, in the Sistine Chapel in Rome:

~ Second Peter ~
Author: Peter the apostle
Place: Uncertain, perhaps Rome
Date: A.D. 67
Content: This letter was written by Peter shortly before his death and deals with the problems that the church would face after his departure. He encourages the believers to continue in their spiritual growth, realizing the truth of the Christian gospel. It does not consist of fable but fact. He warns them of false teachers who would destroy the truth by exalting their own ideas over those of the church. Finally, he points out that Christ will return some day to destroy the old order of this world; as a result, we ought not to become too attached to it.
Theme: Second Peter is a call to steadfastness in the midst of numerous pressures to drift from the truth. The world is seeking to undo the work of God, but we must resist all such pressure by living godly lives, believing the truth, enduring persecution, trusting God, and looking for Christ’s return. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” p. 33) A great overview of Second Peter and the other “Non-Pauline Epistles” by J. Hampton Keathley is at this link. (Scroll down just below his commentary on First Peter to get to his commentary on Second Peter.)  Below is a painting of Peter by William Holman Hunt -

2 Peter 1 verse 3 brings up a couple of good questions we should ask ourselves - "As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life."  Do you want to know Jesus better?  How will you do this?  (hint - reading the Bible daily is one great way...)  How else?  Do you want to live a godly life?  What does a godly life look like? Do you believe Jesus' divine power gives you everything you need to live a godly life?

Verse 19 makes a One Year Bible Blogger happy :) - "Because of that, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. Pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a light shining in a dark place--until the day Christ appears and his brilliant light shines in your hearts."  I think one of the beautiful things about the One Year Bible is going through both the Old Testament and New Testament each day.  We learn from the prophets and can play close attention to what they wrote - for as Peter says, their words are like a light shining in the dark!  Below is a stained glass image of the prophet Elijah (Elias is Greek for Elijah) -

Bible Project: Here is a terrific video overview of the book of 2nd Peter!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWLv_ITyKYc

Psalms - Psalm 119 verse 105 is one of my favorite verses in the Bible! "Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path." Do you believe God's Word, the Bible, is a lamp for your feet?  A light for your path?  To help put this in perspective - without God's Word, the Bible, is it possible that we would have no lamp for our feet?   No light for our paths?  That we'd essentially be groping in the darkness without God's Word, the Bible?

Verse 111 is incredible:  "Your decrees are my treasure; they are truly my heart's delight."  What is your treasure?  Where is your treasure?  Is God's Word, the Bible, truly your heart's delight?

Proverbs - Proverbs 28:17 today tells us - "A murderer's tormented conscience will drive him into the grave. Don't protect him!"  There is a very real example of this Proverb with Cain in Genesis chapter 4, where Cain became restless for the remainder of his days after murdering his brother Abel....  In Genesis 4:14 Cain himself tells us - "I will be a restless wanderer on the earth."  This is one of the saddest moments in the Bible for me.  It was actually quite heartbreaking for me to google search images of Cain and Abel to post up something relevant below.  I did find this anonymous artwork of Cain below, which I think captures the horrific nature of murder in a small way -

Worship Video: Today's readings in Psalm 119:105 reminds me of the Amy Grant song "Thy Word:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSZlIVP9u0Y

Is God's Word a Light for you?  Click here for Light!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. " Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that God's Word is a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path, today and forevermore. Pray that you will study and meditate upon God's Word each day that you are graced with life and breath.

Comments from you - What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 - Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

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Comments

[Ramona]

Daniel 4:1-37

There is a warning that runs through both our Old and New Testament reading today and that is pride, or should I say, a warning against pride. Pride gives strength to sin and the antidote is “humiliation.” Sadly those who know the Word and read it daily can be the one who are most guilty of doing this.

As we feast on the Word there is a beauty that comes to us that attracts people along with the wisdom we acquire from studying God’s Word. The danger is thinking that it is not all about us and the wisdom we reflect is not ours. Like the moon that reflects the glory of the sun, we too reflect the Glory of the Son.

Daniel’s warning:

Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you; break off your sins and show the reality of your repentance by righteousness (right standing with God and moral and spiritual rectitude and rightness in every area and relation) and liberate yourself from your iniquities by showing mercy and loving-kindness to the poor and oppressed, that [if the king will repent] there may possibly be a continuance and lengthening of your peace and tranquility and a healing of your error. (Daniel 4:27 AMP)

The king’s response after his “romp” with nature (28-33):

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, Whose works are all faithful and right and Whose ways are just. And those who walk in pride He is able to abase and humble. (Daniel 4:37 AMP)

2 Peter 1:1-21

In this letter there is an indirect warning to pay close attention to scripture. We are reminded that it is the Holy Spirit that moved the prophets to speak not the prophets own wisdom or learning. So it is for us and our pastors and elder to always point our admirers to Jesus. I have seen too many people, self-included, who believe that the wisdom they speak out is because they are so righteous and holy. No, we are only a vessel used by God. It is pride that causes us to take the Glory due to God for ourselves.

Psalms 119: 97-112

You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies, for [Your words] are ever before me. I have better understanding and deeper insight than all my teachers, because Your testimonies are my meditation. [II Tim. 3:15.] I understand more than the aged, because I keep Your precepts [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].
(Psalms 119:98-100 AMP)

All those on this journey of reading through the Bible, the entire Bible, and making it a life study are headed for a depth of wisdom, knowledge and understanding that not only will cause the world to scratch their heads, but also cause the seeker to be amazed and marvel at the things that come out of our mouths. However, again we must remember that this wisdom is from God not us.

Proverbs 28:17-18

This Proverb,

17A murderer's tormented conscience will drive him into the grave. Don't protect him!

Should go hand-in-hand with,

A man of great wrath shall suffer the penalty; for if you deliver him [from the consequences], he will [feel free to] cause you to do it again.
(Proverbs 19:19 AMP)

Grace and peace,
Ramona

[Deedee]

I am so happy and blessed to be caught up enough to blog again. My husband and I celebrated our 25 th wedding anniversary and I got behind some. What a change a day or 7 years can make. Nebuchadnezzar blessed then pride stood in the way then was given another chance and he had several dreams interpreted and still wanted to take credit ..some lessons die hard and we learn and grow but thank the Lord he is a Father of 2nd chances.. and third and fourth..so on!

It's amazing that Peter was so hopeful and optimistic of the Hope of the gospel even though he knew he would soon be martyred. Wow. Does that give you hope?

I love Paul's 119:112 I am determined to keep your principles to the very end! Yes 🙏

Proverbs 28:18 those who are wicked will be destroyed. Let Go and Let GOD. Amen!