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Today’s reading covered the entirety of Nehemiah. This is the first time I’ve read Nehemiah as one story. It’s only 13 chapters, but there are still a few genealogy and city lists. Thankfully, most of it was really interesting.

The story is about Nehemiah rebuilding the Jerusalem. He received permission from Artaxerxes to return to Jerusalem and repair the city. There were several setbacks along the way, but ultimately, Nehemiah was successful. After the project was complete, Nehemiah reads the entire law to the people. In return, the people confess their sins and ask for God’s forgiveness. Included in this confession is an admission to how often Israel backslides.

But after they had rest, they did evil again before thee: therefore leftest thou them in the land of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned, and cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and many times didst thou deliver them according to thy mercies
Nehemiah 9:28.

Many times, Israel did evil before the Lord. Many times, the Lord left them under the hand of their enemies. Many times did Israel repent and cry unto the Lord. And many times did the Lord “deliver them according to [His] mercies.” I am so glad our God is merciful.

I have arrived at the period of the captivities. Today’s reading covered 2 Chronicles 36 through Ezra 10. That’s all of Ezra.

Most of the reading was about the rebuilding of the temple. Were they allowed to build the temple or weren’t they? Was the king going to allow the Israelites to rebuild the temple or was a group of naysayers going to convince the king that Israel would rebel against him once the project was complete?

The story summed up as follows:

And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia
Ezra 6:14.

Today I read 2 Chronicles 23-35. I think Chronicles does have some additional information than what Kings covers. But I have a hard time remembering the difference between each king, much less the differences between the stories in Chronicles and Kings. Sometime I’ll have to make a list…

This was an interesting text:

And he [Amaziah] did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart
2 Chronicles 25:2.

Amaziah kept God’s commandments and did the right things. But his heart didn’t match up with his actions. That means it would be possible for me to do the right things but not have a heart that is one with God. Is that having works without faith?

But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests
2 Chronicles 29:34.

I thought the above text was really interesting as well. Position is also no guarantee of a perfect heart. The priests had a constant reminder of God’s love and commands. And yet here was an example of everyday people being more upright in heart than the leaders. This would also prove to be the case in Christ’s day.

I’m not a priest, nor a king, but I hope that God can give me a perfect heart like His. I want to love like God does, not love like a selfish human being loves.

Today’s reading covered 2 Chronicles 8-23.

I found several more verses that pertain to my perfection question.

But the high places were not taken away out of Israel:
nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days
2 Chronicles 15:17.

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars
2 Chronicles 16:9.

And one from an earlier reading – All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king
1 Chronicles 12:38.

I’m going to keep an eye out for other verses that pertain to this topic. I really do want to understand our goal regarding perfection and sin while living on this earth.

Today marks the final day of the first month in the Bible in 90 Days Reading Challenge. This has been a great experience thus far. I’ve had to push myself some days to read the Bible and other days I’ve flown right through the reading. I think I’ve learned a lot but I’ve also come up with a few questions that will need answered later.

Today’s reading covered 1 Chronicles 24 through 2 Chronicles 7.

One of my most pressing questions is the Biblical definition of “perfect.” Most Adventist churches I’ve visited have preached or taught that perfection means that we have to learn not to sin while still living on earth. When Christ comes, we must be perfect. This attitude has always scared me because I’m far from perfect. I sin on a daily basis, even though I try to act like Christ. The idea of me obtaining perfection before I die or before Christ returns (whichever happens first) is very discouraging.

I’ve only met several people who have tried to show that Biblical perfection is more about having a heart for God rather than a life without sin. This teaching makes more sense to me, but I want to know what the Bible teaches.

Several of the verses in today’s reading talk about a “perfect heart.”

And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee: but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off forever
1 Chronicles 28:9

Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy
1 Chronicles 29:9

I like the idea of a perfect heart. David prayed for a perfect heart when he asked that God “create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). I want a clean heart, a perfect heart, and a right spirit.

Lord, help me to be like You!

I read all of today’s reading (1 Chronicles 10-23) after church. I’m not sure why both 1st & 2nd Kings and 1st & 2nd Chronicles are in the Bible. They have a bit of unique information but most of 1st & 2nd Chronicles are a repeat of Kings. I guess we’ll have a really good grasp of Israelite history when we finish reading these four books!

There wasn’t much in the stories that stuck out to me but I really liked the beginning of David’s psalm of thanksgiving in 1 Chronicles 16.

Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.

Remember his marvelous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth
1 Chronicles 16:8-12.

Amen and amen!

At least it didn’t use the word “begat.” Today’s reading covered 1 Chronicles 1 through 9 and was roughly 97% genealogy.

The most notable section of today’s chapters was two verses devoted to Jabez.

And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.

And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested
1 Chronicles 4:9-10.

Jabez called on God and asked for an increase in land and protection from evil. Because Jabez asked, God granted his request. Sometimes we don’t receive because we don’t ask.

Ask, and it shall be given you;
seek, and ye shall find;
knock, and it shall be opened unto you
Matthew 7:7.