March 19th Bible in a Year Readings

Numbers 28:16-29:40 + Luke 3:23-38 + Psalm 62:1-12 + Proverbs 11:18-19
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Old Testament - I read an interesting commentary today that said the giving of the instructions of the offerings for the festivals in today's readings was done as part of the transfer of power from Moses to Joshua that was coming up soon.  As we saw in yesterday's readings with the census, there are 600,000 men about to enter the Promised Land - potentially 2 million or so total including women & children - who these instructions for the offerings for the festivals were given by Moses from God, as we see in chapter 29 verse 40 today: "So Moses gave all of these instructions to the people of Israel, just as the LORD had commanded him."  Below is a nice image of the Jewish calendar and major festivals that I've posted up before, but I think serves well for today's readings to review again:

An image is below for Numbers chapter 29 verse 1: "The Festival of Trumpets will be celebrated on the appointed day in early autumn each year. You must call a solemn assembly of all the people on that day, and no regular work may be done."

New Testament - You'll notice that Luke's genealogy in chapter 3 today is different from the genealogy in Matthew chapter 1 in a couple of ways: 1.  Matthew starts with Abraham and goes to Jesus & Luke starts with Jesus and goes all the way back to Adam.  This was done by Luke to show Jesus' relationship to the entire human race.  Matthew focused more on Jesus' relationship with the Jews by going back to Abraham.  2. Matthew traces Jesus legal genealogy through his father Joseph back to Solomon son of David, while Luke traces Jesus bloodline through his mother Mary back to Nathan son of David.  This is an interesting slight distinction.  Line up Luke & Matthew's genealogies and you'll see the differences in the names between David & Jesus.  Below is an image of Luke's genealogy of Jesus, from the Book of Kells transcribed by Celtic monks circa 800:

Bible.org's commentary on the genealogy of Jesus is at this link.

Psalms - Today we read in Psalm 62 verse 11 - "God has spoken plainly, and I have heard it many times: Power, O God, belongs to you." This is a powerful verse - no pun intended. . .  :)  Really, think about it. Where does power come from? Who gives power? Who takes it away? I think it is such a blessing when we truly understand this verse and then live it out. When we realize that we really have no power of our own. Any power - any thing - we have comes from God and God alone. And thank God for that. It's when we start believing we create or own or control power that we begin to get prideful or we'll misuse the power given to us. I think a great teaching on where power truly comes from comes from Jesus when he is before Pilate in John chapter 19 verses 10 & 11 - "“Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above."" Where do you think your power to do anything at all comes from? Do you believe it was given to you from above? If so, how might truly realizing this change how you live your life? How might it change how you utilize the power given to you?

Proverbs - Today Proverbs chapter 11 verse 18 teaches us: “Those who sow righteousness reap a sure reward."

Worship Video: Today's Proverb reminds me of Casting Crowns song "If We are the Body."  Here's a great live version of that song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYbGMQ5Y3Uo

Are you the Body? Click here to meet the Head of the Body!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "God has spoken plainly, and I have heard it many times: Power, O God, belongs to you." Psalm 62:11 NLT

Prayer Point: Pray that you would not rely on your own power, but will rely only on God's power in you. Pray that you will always humbly know that power belongs to God alone.

Comments from You & Questions of the Day:  Based on our Proverb today, are you sowing righteousness in your life?  How are you sowing righteousness in your life?  Do you love others at the same level you love yourself?  Are you working diligently for your employer?  Are you serving the poor? Do you believe that the farming analogy of sowing and reaping in this Proverb is true?  And like any good farming analogy, will you patiently sow and patiently await the time of reaping of your sure reward?  Also, 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]

Numbers 26:52-28:15

The following two verses in chapter 27 spoke to me today,
3 "Our father died in the wilderness without leaving any sons," they said. "But he was not among Korah's followers, who rebelled against the LORD. He died because of his own sin. 4 Why should the name of our father disappear just because he had no sons? Give us property along with the rest of our relatives."

I’m not sure why these verses spoke to me but I think it may have something to do with “dealing in truth.” The Daughters of Zelophehad dealt in truth about their father, “He dies for his on sin.” They did not blame someone else or Moses for bringing them out into the desert. The also did not operate in “shame” which would have kept them from speaking up for themselves. So often we are afraid to go to God to ask for anything because we are so full of shame and guilt. Truth is we don’t deserve anything but God is a God of grace and mercy who deals in Truth, yet His Promises to us are not based on how good we are, we aren’t, but on how good He is.

We have Hebrews 4:16, Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need, they didn’t, yet these woman stepped forward and asked. Father God, may I study and meditate on how these woman handled their situation and take heed for the areas in my life that seem to be outside of the blessing and favor of God, emphasis on the word “seem.”

Luke 3:1-22

John the Baptist new his purpose and he did, without reservation, what he was created to do. He didn’t have all the information on who and how, he received from God on a need to know basis and accepted it. John didn’t need folk’s approval because if he did he would have spoke to the crowds in a manner that would make them feel warm and fuzzy. John spoke the Words of God under the power of the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 61:1-8
5 For you have heard my vows, O God.
You have given me an inheritance reserved for those who fear your name.

Hmm, it seems that godly fear is profitable. I just must make sure that I have the right understanding of profitability in the economy of God.
Proverbs 11:16-17

I had to go to another translation to understand the sixteenth verse so I when to the Amplified Bible, 16 A gracious and good woman wins honor [for her husband], and violent men win riches but [a]a woman who hates righteousness is a throne of dishonor for him.

This verse is compares honor with wealth and strongly suggest that there is no equity between the two. In the economy of God honor has the greatest value.

Grace and peace,
Ramona