Today's Bible Readings

As I shared a few days ago, I am now following along with the M'Cheyne Bible Reading Plan. I will admit that I am only a week in and so it is early days, but I am loving it. G has been following this plan for a while now, and I have also done so a few times. What strikes us both again and again, is how linked all the passages are to each other. While you could attribute this to how M'Cheyne put the plan together, when you look closely he is just working through the bible in order! Rather we give the glory to God - who authored all of scripture and who reveals his plan of salvation throughout - it is all one unified account.

Occasionally I will share what I have read, and what I have learnt from it.

Here are some notes on some of today's readings:

Deuteronomy 7
What a great chapter! The Israelites are camped on the edge of the promised land and Moses is speaking to them before they enter. He reminds them that they are his chosen people, v6:

For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.

He goes on to remind them, that he chose them, not because they were special, or more numerous than the other nations, but because:

⁸ But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. ⁹ Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.

He chose Israel because he loves her, and out of his grace he chose to redeem her. Moses goes on to talk about how because they are saved, they now need to live in obedience to God and his way. He is guiding them on how they must now live as his people.

(I have recently done a series of bible studies and talks on God's promises and how he fulfills them over time. This is yet another passage we could have looked at!)

Isaiah 35
Isaiah is speaking about the joy that will come when the Lord comes to save his people. He talks of how in that day,

⁵ Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
⁶ Then will the lame leap like a deer,
and the mute tongue shout for joy.

Reading this, we are reminded of Jesus, when John asked if he was the one to come. Jesus replies in Luke 7:21-22:

21 At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.

Therefore, that day of the Lord arrived with Jesus.

The end of this chapter in Isaiah is one of those great passages:

¹⁰ and the ransomed of the LORD will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

To which I break into song:

The redeemed of the Lord shall return
And come with singing unto Zion
And everlasting joy shall be upon their head, upon their head.
They shall obtain, gladness and joy
And sorrow and mourning shall flee away, shall flee away... etc etc!

Therefore the Redeemed, Scripture in Song, 1972 (which can be downloaded from i Tunes!)

Revelation 5
A mind-broadening passage. The Lamb, and no one else, is the only one worthy to open the scroll:

⁹And they sang a new song:
"You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
¹⁰You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth."

Jesus, the Lamb, is the one whose blood purchased men for God - from all peoples to serve him always.

And then it goes on, and I will quote in length - for the word of God is always better than my words!

¹¹Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. ¹²In a loud voice they sang:
"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honour and glory and praise!"

¹³Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honour and glory and power,
for ever and ever!"

¹⁴The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshipped.

To which all we can really do is agree with the living creatures and also say "Amen"!

All bible references are NIV.