Day 5: Genesis 5, Matthew 5, Joshua 5, Romans 5, Isaiah 5, Hebrews 5, Job 5, Psalm 5.

In Joshua 5, it seems that the commander of the Lord’s army is more than just an angel. Like when Moses met the Lord himself in the burning bush, Joshua must remove his shoes, because the Lord’s presence makes the ground holy. The one who is both the commander of the Lord’s army, and the Lord himself is, presumably, the Word who was with God and was God.

How then can the one who, dressed for battle, prepares to wage war against His enemies say “blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God” and “love your enemies... that you may be children of your Father in heaven?” (Matthew 5)

Or, to put it another way, how can the one who is not a God who is pleased with wickedness, who hates all who do wrong (Psalm 5), who knows that though he has loved us with a beautiful, cherishing love, we have been fruitless (Isaiah 5); how can this one speak of a son of Adam like Enoch (Genesis 5) that they walked with him, when Death came to all people through Adam? How can David (Psalm 5) hope that he might come into God’s house and be surrounded with His favour when we know that David was an adulterer and a murderer?

Only because of one other Son of Adam. If ever there was one who should not have died, it wasn’t Enoch, but Jesus. Yet when we were powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

This is the God who so loves his enemies that he reconciled us through the death of his Son. Thus through His obedience many are made righteous (Romans 5)

Day 4: Genesis 4, Matthew 4, Joshua 4, Romans 4, Isaiah 4, Hebrews 4, Job 4, Psalm 4.

Temptation is the only eternally destructive weapon that Satan wields against us. It brings sin crouching at our door and desires to master us. When succumbed to, it destroys relationships, families, cities, and whole cultures and leaves us under God's curse (Genesis 4). It is temptation that causes us to prefer our own ideas to God's revealed word, so, like Eliphaz we speak when we should remain silent (Job 4).
Christ, by contrast, was tempted beyond what we could possibly endure. Yet he preferred the word of God to physical pleasure and relief; he preferred trust in his Father to a public demonstration of his glory; he preferred worship of the Lord to all the power earthly kingdoms have to offer (Matthew 4). In sum, he was tempted in every way, yet was without sin (Hebrews 4). Only through faith in Christ's faithfulness can those who have succumbed to temptation be justified by faith, (Rom 4), escape destruction, have the filth of their sin removed and live in the loving presence of the Lord (Isaiah 4) in safety (Psalm 4).
We would do well to erect in our lives constant reminders of His faithfulness on our behalf (Josh 4).

Day 3: Genesis 3, Matthew 3, Joshua 3, Romans 3, Isaiah 3, Hebrews 3, Job 3, Psalm 3.

Genesis 3, in poignantly understated terms, recounts how those made in God's image fell into sin and out of the loving presence of God. The way back to him is barred by cherubim. The rest of the Old Testament maps out just how far humans have fallen.
This fallen world, ravaged by sin and its consequences, is so broken that sometimes even the righteous would prefer death to life (Job 3). Far more terrifying though than the consequences for the righteous of living in a fallen world is the judgement of God that hangs over the wicked (Isaiah 3).
But rather than Jesus identities with sinners who need to repent to such an extent that he even submits to John's baptism of repentance. (Matt 3) Being both fully God and fully faithful man he is able to be our apostle and high priest. (Hebrews 3) But the sacrifice he offers is himself: Just as the mercy seat upon the ark of the covenant (Joshua 3) depicted the cherubim that barred the way to God's presence in Eden, so Christ was that mercy seat: the place where he was pierced with he sword of God's wrath so that the way to God's presence might be once again opened to those who have faith in him. Then we are counted no longer guilty, but righteous. (Romans 3:20-26)
Thus, as believers in Christ, rather than being excluded from God's presence, we may know God as a shield around us, our glory, the One who lifts our heads. (Psalm 3) In the face of the great enemy, that great serpent, we can trust in the Lord Jesus, the offspring of Eve who, at the moment Satan struck him, crushed Satan's head (Genesis 3:15).

Day 2: Genesis 2, Matthew 2, Joshua 2, Romans 2, Isaiah 2, Hebrews 2, Job 2, Psalm 2.

What a contrast between the perfect world of Genesis 2, and the troubled life of Job in Job 2. Life, blessing, marital bliss turns to death, destruction, pain and marital disharmony. Why? Because that bliss, though it was in reality freedom, is seen by all who oppose the Lord and His anointed King as chains and fetters (Psalm 2).  Such a refusal to trust in God's goodness stores up God's judgement for us (Romans 2).
Yet, despite the inevitability of the coming judgement there is hope of mercy for those like Rahab who fear the Lord (Joshua 2) by taking refuge in the Son (Psalm 2). He became like us in every way, entering this world of  temptation (Hebrews 2) and, as the Nazarene, bearing our suffering (Matt 2) that we might stop trusting in mere mortals, and, through him, walk through this dark world in the light of the Lord (Isaiah 2).

Day 1: Genesis 1, Matthew 1, Joshua 1, Romans 1, Isaiah 1, Hebrews 1, Job 1, Psalm 1.

Unsurprisingly, in the first chapter of many books of the bible we see the theme of God's creation looming large.
Genesis 1 tells us how God created all things (the heavens and the earth - v1) and therefore is the ruler of all time (each of the days of the week) all space (sun, moon, stars, earth) and all creatures. Mankind is given the amazing role of bearing God's image. (26-28)

Hebrews 1 draws out from Genesis 1 that it was through His Son that God made the universe (v2)

Romans 1 affirms that all of humanity, as God's image bearers, are well aware not only that God is the creator of the world, but that his power and perfect divine nature are evident to all of us, so that we are without excuse when we refuse to worship him. (18-20)

Job 1 affirms that, as God is the creator, he is Lord not only of earthly creatures, but of the "Sons of God." Even Satan himself wreaks havoc only so far as the creator permits.

What should be our response? We should hang on the every word of the Lord (Joshua 1:7, 8, 16) (Isaiah 1:2,10) and meditate on it day and night (Psalm 1:2).

But we don't. Instead, our sins are like scarlet (Isaiah 1:18). And so the wrath of God is being revealed against our godlessness and wickedness. (Romans 1:18)

Our only hope is that there is one who is blessed because he does not walk in the counsel of the wicked (Psalm 1:1) who will wash our sins as white as snow (Isaiah 1:18).
That one, the Son of David (Matthew 1:1-17), has the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21)

Pausing on Publishing and planning something less ambitious!

Still thoroughly enjoying the reading plan: now on day 58. 

However, I've not found time to keep up with publishing daily comments on the readings, and that wasn't the main point of it anyway.

I've rescheduled the publishing so that the publishing will coincide with a start date of January 1st 2019. Also, some days I will only publish what the readings are. Others I will publish comments.

Bookmarks for the Great 8 Bible Reading Plan

I've created some bookmarks so as to keep my place in the readings more easily.
They are available here for download

TORAH	GOSPELS	HISTORY	PAUL	PROPHETS	Other NT	WISDOM	PSALMS
Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deutero-nomy	Matthew  Mark Luke John	Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther	Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon	Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi	Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John  3 John Jude Revelation Acts	Job Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Songs	Psalms