July 6th One Year Bible Readings

1 Chronicles 2:18-4:4 ~ Acts 24:1-27 ~ Psalm 4:1-8 ~ Proverbs 18:16-18
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture on DailyAudioBible.com (podcast) or OneYearAudioBible.org ~

Old Testament - Okay, so how are the genealogies treating you today?  No skimming!  :)  Chronicles chapter 2 verse 20 today mentions a man that you might easily overlook at a quick read: "Hur was the father of Uri. Uri was the father of Bezalel."  Bezalel is the master craftsman who supervised the building of the tabernacle in Exodus 31:1-5.  Bezalel is only mentioned here in Chronicles and in Exodus, but it is believed that the Chronicler is attempting in this genealogy to show Bezalel as a model for Solomon in the building of the temple.  Just a little Bible minutiae here for you.  It is fun to look for minutiae like this when reading through the genealogies!  Below is an amazing painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of Bezalel's handiwork with the tabernacle:

Art used by permission by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992.
To order prints visit her "Revelation Illustrated" site.

New Testament - Today we read about Paul before the Roman Governor Felix.  I love this image below of Paul expertly laying out his case!

(image courtesty of http://www.lamp.ac.uk/hogarth/81to100.htm)

The close of today's readings are interesting.  It seems to me that Felix has a double-edged reason for keeping Paul in prison for two years.  1.  Felix enjoys talking to Paul!  Why do you suppose this is?  Do you suppose Felix was hearing the Truth from Paul?  I'm sure that he was...   2. Verse 27 tells us: "And because Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish leaders, he left Paul in prison."  So, Felix gets to hear the Truth from Paul and hopefully keep his job by appeasing the Jewish leaders.  Sounds reasonable, right?  However... it is interesting to see that he is balancing the Truth with the World.  How often in our lives do we try to balance the Truth with the World?  I am afraid this is a tough balance to keep...  Remember always that we are to be "in the world, but not of it."  Don't let the World outweigh the Truth in your life...

Bible.org's commentary on today's Acts readings titled "Paul Stands Before Felix: The Preacher and the Politician" is at this link.

Psalms - Psalm 4 is a wonderful Davidic Psalm.  Verse 7 stood out to me today: "You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and wine."  Do you believe that God's Spirit can give you greater joy than any amount of money or material goods or even human love can give?  Will you seek a deeper relationship with God this year and ask God for this holy joy?

Proverbs - Proverbs 18 verse 17 is so important for us to remember: "Any story sounds true until someone sets the record straight." I think so often we forget that there are indeed two sides to every story.  And oftentimes we'll believe what we hear about a situation or person based on the very first story we hear.  When, we really need to make sure we have the straight story.  Keep this in mind in particular if you ever hear something about someone else.  This would be gossip - which hopefully you aren't partaking in.  But, nonetheless, I am sure there will be times when you do indeed have gossip delivered to you by someone else.  Don't believe that gossip story at face value.  That person very likely does not have the story straight...  And most important - please don't be the one passing forward gossip - you may very well be passing forward a false story - which is a lie! Have you ever believed a story that sounded true, but then later turned out to be false? How do you discern true stories from false?

YouTube Video: Today's Psalm reminds me of the Chris Tomlin song "Holy is the Lord:"

Do you know our Holy God?  Click here to meet the Lord!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture this week: "My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart. " Psalm 7:10 (NIV)

Comments from You & Questions of the Day:  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

Comments

[Ramona]

1 Chronicles 2:18-4:4

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. (Micah 5:2 KJV)

In I Chronicles 2:18 through the end of the chapter, before my very eyes, the foundation for the above prophecy found in Micah, the prophet, is laid. God has set forth the most unusual stage to bring forth His son. If we are hung up on lineage and stuck on the nobility of Jesus’ earthly ancestors we would more than likely reject Him. Caleb, the first Caleb, not the one who brought back a good report ( Numbers 13), the grandfather of that other Caleb took a wife, a concubine, Eprath, and set the sage for that little town called Bethlehem.

These were the sons of Caleb the son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah; Shobal the father of Kirjath-jearim, Salma the father of Bethlehem, Hareph the father of Beth-gader.
(1 Chronicles 2:50-51 KJV)

The least of us, the one with the “bad” pedigree should take heart knowing that God will use the least among us to do great things for Him. The problem we have in understanding the ways of God is this: Our understanding of greatness does not line up with God’s understanding. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9 KJV)

I am reminded again a little past the halfway point on my purpose for again reading through the bible this year.

Notice the way God does things; then fall into line. Don't fight the ways of God, for who can straighten out what he has made crooked? (Ecclesiastes 7:13)

Grace and peace,
Ramona