Tag Archives: Bible In 90 Days

Today’s reading covered Ezekiel 24 through 35. The only thought I have is about a text that addresses the character of God.

Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?

Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Ezekiel 33:10-11

So many people think that God is vindictive, that He takes delight in punishing people for their sins. But this text says that God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. In fact, God pleads with people to abandon their wicked plans and actions so that they can live. God wants all people to live, not die because of their bad choices. The Bible is very clear in that.

Two thirds complete! Today’s reading covered Ezekiel 12 through 23. Ezekiel 18 had some interesting thoughts about sin. The Jews believed that the sins of the father affected the children. Christ addressed this during His time on Earth, but I didn’t realize it was also discussed in the Old Testament.

God says about a faithful man and his son:

If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things,

Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him
Ezekiel 18:10-13.

So, if a father is faithful and has a son who sins, that son will be held accountable for his own sins. BUT –

Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father’s sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like,

That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live
Ezekiel 18:14-17.

So if the father sins and the son learns from those sins and decides not to repeat them, he lives. I find this very comforting, that a person will not be held responsible for the sins of their parents. On the other hand, a person can also not ride on the coattails of their parents and expect to get into heaven. It is all decided on an individual basis.

I almost forgot about posting this evening. I really should write my thoughts immediately after reading instead of waiting until hours later.

This morning I read Lamentations and Ezekiel 1 through 12. I don’t want to take things out of context, but I really hope this promise can be applied to me personally as well as having applied to Israel in the past.

And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God
Ezekiel 11:19-20.

I’ve been praying lately that God will give me a new heart. This passage shows that the order of our spiritual walk is: 1 – A new heart. 2 – Keeping God’s commandments. We don’t keep God’s commandments in order to gain a new heart. Instead, we can pray that God will give us a new heart so that we can keep His commandments. I think that order is very important because otherwise humans tend to focus on works and what we can do to earn our way into heaven. But we have it backwards. We can ask God for a new heart and that will enable us to keep His commands. It’s much easier and keeps us from taking pride in our own accomplishments. All I have to do is ask.

I finished reading Jeremiah. It’s not a very uplifting book, in spite of a few texts that talk about God’s love.

The last few chapters talked about the punishments that certain cities were going to receive. And that’s really all I have to say about the end of Jeremiah. On to Lamentations!

I finally made up one of my missed days! Today I read Jeremiah 27 through 47.

The reading was mostly Jeremiah telling people that they had disobeyed God and so He was allowing them to be taken captive. In every one of Jeremiah’s warnings was the promise that if the people turned back to God, He would save them.

I believe that the story of Israel and all of history can be summed up as follows:

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee
Jeremiah 31:3.

Reading the Bible so quickly has shown me that God really is patient. Over and over and over and over Israel rejects God. And God keeps calling them back. Sometimes the people have to pay the consequences for their sins, but God never fails to love them.

Today’s reading schedule is Jeremiah 11 through 23 but I read through chapter 26. I’m hoping to read a few extra chapters for a few days and make up one of my missed days. I really want to finish the reading in 90 days or less and I don’t want to read all of Revelation on day 90!

I marked another prophecy about Christ.

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely:
and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS
Jeremiah 23:5-6.

I also found this promise:

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD,
and whose hope the LORD is.

For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit
Jeremiah 17:7-8.

This promise sounds glorious to me, especially because I live in a desert. The image of a tree planted by waters, green leaves, ever yielding fruit… It just sounds so peaceful and I would love to be sitting under that tree right now.

Bible study tonight was canceled because the host is attending a raw “cooking” class. It was great timing as I’ve been sick the last three days and don’t feel much better than I did day 1. So I’m glad I get to stay home. I haven’t left the house since Monday and I’m really happy about it. My energy is nonexistent.

Today’s reading covered Jeremiah chapters 1 through 10. I didn’t find anything really thought provoking until chapter 9.

Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:

But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD
Jeremiah 9:23-24.

I think these two verses are really cool. Even if a person is wise, mighty, or rich, they are not to glory in it. Instead, they are to glory that they understand and know the Lord. I wonder if this text is talking about God the Father or Jesus. It is possible to know both. After all, Christ said that “if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him” (John 14:7).

I have finished reading Isaiah! Today I just wanted to post a prophecy about Christ.

Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors
Isaiah 53.

I found it interesting that Isaiah prophecies that Christ would have “no beauty that we should desire Him.” Crowds flocked to Him but it wasn’t His beauty or His popularity or His money. He didn’t have any. People wanted to be near Christ because of who He was, because of His teachings, and because of the way He treated people. No one could accuse Christ of winning popularity contests based on His looks because He wasn’t considered handsome, at least not by earthly standards. His character reflected God the Father and that is what attracted people.

I am almost done with Isaiah, today reading chapters 42 through 52.

Right away I found a passage that I absolutely love. It’s beautiful.

Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:

Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them
Isaiah 42:5-9.

And then in the very next chapter, the Lord tells us why He created us.

Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him
Isaiah 43:7.

He created us for His glory! It’s amazing what kind of facts and such you find when you’re reading but not looking for anything specific (or with an agenda).

Today’s reading covered Isaiah chapters 29 through 41. I found a few interesting texts that I will have to study later. The reading goes so quickly that all I can do is make notes about things I need to come back to!

And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him
Isaiah 30:18.

This text reads to me like a contradiction. The Lord will wait and be gracious and exalted, that He may have mercy. Why? Because he’s a God of judgment. What? This doesn’t fit with my idea of judgment, though I understand that God is gracious, exalted, and merciful. I need to do a Bible study on the idea of judgment.

And the work of righteousness shall be peace;
and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever
Isaiah 32:17.

I love this text, how the work of righteousness is peace. It reminds me of James 3:18. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

And this last text is a wonderful promise.

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint
Isaiah 40:31.