Daily Reading Passages
Click below to see the passages online. Although, I recommend that if you can you read these in your own Bible. That way you can underline, comment, and become familiar with your own Bible.
Coaching Comments
The Old Testament reading for today (Genesis 8:1-10:32) is the rest of the flood story and everything that happened as a result. The waters recede and the ark comes to rest on dry land. Noah, his family, and the animals exit. God re-establishes His covenant with humanity, who then proceed to "be fruitful and multiply."
Interesting notes: When the ark comes to rest the author gives an actual geographical region, the mountains of Ararat. This is a real place in modern-day Turkey. There are still on-going expeditions trying to locate the remnants of the ark. If you're interested, here's a little on that here and here. Most of the expeditions have gone to Mount Ararat in Turkey, but textual scholars generally agree that this passage is referring to a whole region, rather than one specific mountain.
It's also an interesting note that here is where meat eating began. (see Genesis 9:3-4). Since the flood wiped out all the vegetation, a little meat would be necessary until crops could get established. But with this permission came a stern admonition about the responsibility to respect life. We also get the second mention of the covenant between God and humanity. More on this later.
There's also a strange little episode between Noah and his sons involving alcohol. Nice that the first thing Noah planted were grapes! Something about respect and indecency was going on here--but it certainly sounds strange from our point of view. Incidentally, this text was used to justify slavery. Based on the genealogy in Chapter 10, it was suggested that the "sons of Ham" were the inhabitants of Africa, and they were ordained to be slaves through this curse. Clearly the text doesn't bear this out, but it's not the first misuse of biblical passages.
Chapter ten is our second Old Testament genealogy. This one traces the rise of the ancient nations of northern Africa, Palestine, and Asia Minor from the sons of Noah. You'll find the names of quite a number of ancient cities, and even a few ancient countries. (Cush, for example, is an old name for Ethiopia, and both Put and Mizrain were names for Egypt.) It's also interesting to me that this is written in a tone of voice that makes it clear that the author expected his audience to be familiar with these names and places--kind of like me listing off the suburbs of Portland to someone who lives here.
On to our New Testament reading, (Matthew 4:12-25) we find the very beginning of Jesus' public ministry including calling of the first disciples, and beginning to heal people. Of course, this began to draw crowds. Our reading starts with Jesus discovering that John the Baptist was in prison. That's a big jump from yesterday. Later on we'll learn more about what happened there. You'll also see the first incidence of Matthew quoting passages from the Old Testament prophets and citing them as referring to Jesus. Matthew's gospel was written to people who were Jewish or had Jewish backgrounds, so he takes great pains to demonstrate to them that Jesus fulfills all the prophetic qualifications to actually be the Messiah that was foretold in the Old Testament.
The 4th Psalm is our Psalms reading today. This one is clearly a song written for worship. (Psalms 4:1-8) In it you'll see a pattern that will become very familiar as we make our way through this book. It's the lament / confession. The song starts with complaints about God and His treatment of the author. There are often complaints about the painful or difficult circumstances. But somewhere in the middle the Psalm takes a dramatic left turn, and we find the words praising God for His goodness -- and all without anything changing. What started as a lament became a confession of faith. We're going to see this over and over. Why would that be? There's something vital and real about prayers that acknowledge the real difficulty of life and still are able to see God's goodness. It's a tough thing to accomplish, but powerful spiritually.
The reading from Proverbs (Proverbs 1:20-23) is the first three verses of a little "morality play" that takes the next chapter or so. Here we get introduced to a character called "Wisdom" who is wandering the streets looking for anyone who is smart enough to listen to what she has to say.
The fact that you're spending a few minutes each day listening to the words of scripture shows that you're one of those people who is open to wisdom. That's great. Our culture idolizes being the expert, and detests submitting oneself to someone else's experience. But that's what we're called to. It's the best way to grow spiritually.
2007 Cohort Comments
Comments (10)
Marc Schelske said
at 12:19 am on Jan 4, 2009
Good morning! I hope you are having a good weekend. I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the reading so far, and I'll check back in later.
Carl Shelton said
at 4:56 am on Jan 4, 2009
Genesis 8:1 – 10:32
After the earth dried from the flood. Noah had planted a vineyard and drinking wine from it he became drunk and fell asleep naked in his tent. Ham, one of Noah’s three sons sees his father naked and tells his brothers. What I read next has always brought up questions for me. Noah’s reaction seems harsh. He curses his grandson Canaan (Ham’s son) and makes him the lowest of all his relatives and condemns him to a life of service. However, this morning I see things differently. In my own understanding the Bible doesn’t make this very clear but Ham doesn’t happen to see his father by mistake then with concern tells his brothers. No, what Ham did was dishonoring by making light of his father’s situation. He intended to lift himself up by exposing the faults of his father. What has really happened here? The earth has just been made new and yet sin had attached itself to the passengers who made safe passage on the ark.
I believe Noah’s decision, though hard to understand in present day culture was just and from God. Sin had attached itself to the heart of Canaan’s father and the way I see it Noah’s curse was not really a curse at all but a means by which he intended to purge Ham and his offspring from this arrow of the enemy called pride and in so doing this punishment served notice to everyone else.
(Matthew 18:3-4 NLT) “Then He said, "I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Carl Shelton said
at 5:19 am on Jan 4, 2009
Psalm 4:1 – 8
(Psalms 4:4 NLT) “Don't sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent.”
Lord, let this be the example by which I live my life. Help me be slow to speak and quick to listen.
(Psalms 4:5 NLT) “Offer sacrifices in the right spirit, and trust the LORD.”
Breaking free from worry may I come humbly to you with an attitude of worship, trusting your provision for me. Then, “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, O LORD, will keep me safe.” (Psalms 4:8 NLT)
Jim Huddart said
at 11:50 am on Jan 4, 2009
I wonder who the first was to live only 120 years as God promised before the flood. Was it Noah's children or grandchildren? Obviously, it wasn't Noah since he lived to be 950. It must have meant that Noah outlived whoever it was because he lived 350 years after the flood began and his sons were already grown and married. This really has no major significance; it just means I have a weird curiosity!
Psalms 4:6-8 is a great reminder for anyone fretting over the economy and the general state of the world today.
6 Many people say, "Who will show us better times?" Let your face smile on us, Lord. 7 You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine. 8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord , will keep me safe. (NLT)
There is no better place to be than in the hands of the Almighty Creator!
Aaron L Huddart said
at 3:06 pm on Jan 4, 2009
It would be very interesting to know how much more land there was before the flood, than after. And it is obvious to me that God knew that we should only live to a maximum of 120 years post flood. I mean, if we were still living to 900+ today with the amount of land that currently is livable? Even Fargo, ND would be as big as NYC, just out of need for space to live. Something else that occurs to me is if all creatures were on the ark and the continents were where we know them to be today. How do you get the animals to each continent, and how do you get animals that are only found in one place in the world?
This idea, along with the tectonic plates and with the phrase in Gen. 10:25 "In his time the earth was divided," support the theory that after the flood there was only one land mass. And once people had moved out all over it, then the earth divided and began it's shifting into what we know today. This has been a great interest to me. I have found myself becoming an addict of the Discovery Channel and as a result I have seen several shows and series on or around the planet, the different places or regions, how it has changed or created, or evolved. And every time I see one of these shows, I can see how Creation and the flood can explain each and every point they bring up and try to explain through Millions and Millions of years change and Ice Ages. And yet as LuDell brought up the other day there is still enough unknown or unproven to allow room for each of us to make our own choice as to believe in God and Creation and The Flood or something else entirely. I can't wait to find out just exactly how all this did happen and how it all relates to each other.
LuDell Parrett said
at 4:35 pm on Jan 4, 2009
Aaron -- your comments about the continents and the animals is very interesting. I also wonder about the basic animals that were on the ark -- and how much genetics and time has changed animals -- because the myriad of species that exist today would not have fit on the ark. I wonder how different genetics are now compared to then.
It is interesting to me that it seems as though before the flood animals did not prey on each other... at least what we read earlier about creation stated that the animals would eat the greens of the fields. So I wonder how that transpired? All of a sudden animals that used to co-exist peacefully saw each other as food and became enemies? How terrible and frightening. Our reading today implied that animals were not afraid of people, or at least not as much as after the flood, and that this transitioned after the flood. Well, if man started eating animals for food -- then the prey and predator system changed everything. This is so very sad to me. I love animals so much and they are the innocent bystanders.
I so long for the Lord to come and for an end to this degraded state we exist in to be over. I praise God that He has made a way through all this mess -- and that His coming is nearer each day! Lord Jesus, please give us the fervor to share You and Your message with this world. We long for Your return!
Carl Shelton said
at 7:12 pm on Jan 4, 2009
Good questions Aaron, I'm glad to have you in the group this year. Jay that goes for you too! Pat hang in there I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Ken Null said
at 10:42 pm on Jan 4, 2009
I decided a couple weeks ago that I would do the Bible reading this year. Then January 1 came and went, and here I am already behind on day 4! I have read the first three days' readings today, and will read day 4 after this comment. I have started reading the Bible through in one year a few times before, but have never gone very far. I am hoping to carve out the time each day this year, although I know it will be a challenge.
Ken Null said
at 11:22 pm on Jan 4, 2009
When I read the verse in Matthew that says, "And he healed every kind of disease and illness...," I thought it might have been somewhat like having a super-hero around. There are a lot of movies and TV shows that depict people with super powers, such as healing. I like to picture events in the Bible in relation to modern day events or pop culture. It helps make the Bible seem more relevant to me.
In Psalms, this verse jumped out at me, "Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent." (NLT) I really need to remember that.
Marc Schelske said
at 11:53 am on Jan 5, 2009
Hey Ken, welcome to our little tribe! I'm so glad that you're here with us.
Can I give you one bit of advice for sticking with it? Don't get overwhelmed by stuff you miss. If you miss a day or two and you have the time to catch up, that's great. But if you don't, don't let the backlog get you down. Just pick up with the new day and start anew. The big point here is not that this is homework and if you don't read every word, you fail. The big point is to develop the habit of being in the Word every day. You have the amount of time you have. It's like they say in AA - just keep coming back. We all miss days. When we start to let that make us feel guilty or like a failure, that's just the enemy taking advantage and steering us off course. So, just jump in and keep coming back.
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