As we begin reading the book of Ezra in our Bible reading plan today, here is John Piper, in “A Hunger for God” p 166: Israel had been taken into Babylonian exile. They had been there for decades. Now the time had come, in God’s reckoning, for their restoration. But how could this happen? They were a tiny, … More Piper on Ezra: “Massively hope-giving”
In our reading in 2 Chronicles today (22:7) we read: “But it was ordained by God that the downfall of Ahaziah should come about through his going to visit Joram.” Ahaziah decided to join Joram, king of Israel, in order to try to recapture Ramoth-gilead from Hazael, king of Syria. He had advisors that encouraged him … More Ahaziah and Ahab. Both corrupt. Both under God’s ultimate rule.
And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court,and said, “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you.Did you … More For we are powerless but our eyes are on you
As we read from 2 Chronicles 17-19 today, here is some help from the ESV Study Bible: 2 Chron. 18:28–34 Ahab is enticed into battle, as the spirit had promised (v. 20). His decision to disguise himself, while rather cynically directing Jehoshaphat to wear his royal robes, indicates his dominant role in the alliance and perhaps also represents a … More Checkmate: Ahab, Jehoshaphat and God’s sovereignty
Psalm 127:2 (the psalm for today, July 4) It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. Charles Spurgeon wrote in Treasury of David: God is sure to give the best thing to his beloved, and we … More Spurgeon: Sleep like Jesus
In 2 Kings 8, we read of the Shunammite woman‘s obedience to Elisha to sojourn “wherever you can, for the Lord has called for a famine.” Elisha knew good and well who causes famines. God does.Leviticus 26:3–4 says, If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, then I will give you … More Sovereign over famine and restoration
And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number … More Ryle: Do a thing boldly, unflinchingly, and decidedly, when Jesus says, “do it.”
In our Bible reading passage today, 1 Kings 12, we read that after Jeroboam joined the people, they asked King Rehoboam to “lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke on us, and we will serve you.” (vs 4) Notice that they didn’t ask that he end it altogether, just that he … More A turn of events from the LORD
1 Kings 8:27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!” In our Bible reading today, Solomon makes this amazing statement as he is dedicating a house he built to be a place where God’s presence would … More God can not be contained
“Which is his body, the fullness of him [i.e., Christ] who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:23 John Piper helps us understand this passage in our read through the Bible plan today-
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 