“It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom

“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may

“Joshua said, “Why have you troubled us? The Lord will trouble you this day.”” Joshua 7:25a As I mentioned yesterday, I love the Character

“Now the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear or be dismayed.” Joshua 8:1a As we journey on in our Bible Reading through the

“But the sons of Israel did not dispossess the Geshurites or the Maacathites; for Geshur and Maacath live among Israel until this day.” Joshua

“Now the lot for the tribe of the sons of Judah” Joshua 15:1a Chapter 15 describes the territory Judah was allotted, as well as

“Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass.” Joshua 21:45 If

“When the sons of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the sons of Israel gathered themselves at Shiloh to go up against

“but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley because they had iron chariots.” Judges 1:19b Sandwiched between Deuteronomy and 1st Samuel

“They were for testing Israel, to find out if they would obey the commandments of the Lord, which He had commanded their fathers through

“Then Gideon said to him, “O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us?”” Judges 6:13a

“Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your distress.” Judges 10:14 As

“Then Samson went down to Timnah and saw a woman in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines.” Judges 14:1 Today’s Verse begins

“In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.” Judges 17:6 This is the

“But the sons of Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the sons of Israel.” Judges 20:13b This is the last

“Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land.” Ruth 1:1a Today’s reading brings

“As for Hannah, she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she

“When the people came into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us

“His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and took bribes and perverted justice.” 1 Samuel 8:3

“So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering.” 1 Samuel 13:12b In Yesterday’s Reading, we’re told the Tragic Tale of Samuel’s sons and

“for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:47b Of all the stories in the Bible,

“Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him;” 1 Samuel 18:8a If you remember, the Sad Story of Israel at this time

“So David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” 1 Samuel 23:2a David and his army were fugitives on

“David said to his men, “Each of you gird on his sword.”” 1 Samuel 25:13a When reading Today’s Story, I am reminded of a

“But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” 1 Samuel 30:6 The Backdrop to Today’s Story: The Philistines were gathering to Aphek for

 “Then David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?”” 2 Samuel

“And the anger of the Lord burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down there for his irreverence; and he died there by the

“Now in the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah.” 2 Samuel 11:14 This part of

“Then the Lord sent Nathan to David.” 2 Samuel 12:1a Yesterday, we read of David’s Unbelievable Wickedness; how neglecting his Military Role in fighting

“The advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one inquired of the word of God;” 2 Samuel 16:23 As

“For the Lord had ordained to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring calamity on Absalom.” 2 Samuel 17:14b

“Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years,” 2 Samuel 21:1a Every year I read through the Bible, I

“Now again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and it incited David against them to say, “Go, number Israel and Judah.”” 2

“Then Solomon formed a marriage alliance with Pharaoh King of Egypt” 1 Kings 3:1a If you’ve noticed, as we ended 2nd Samuel and began

“Now it came about in the four hundred and eightieth year after the sons of Israel came out of the land of Egypt,” 1

“When they sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin)” 1 Kings 8:46a At the beginning of Chapter 8, we’re

“But he forsook the counsel of the elders which they had given him, and consulted with the young men who grew up with him

“Now behold, there came a man of God from Judah to Bethel by the word of the Lord, while Jeroboam was standing by the

“Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him;

“But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not yet a prophet of the Lord here that we may inquire of him?”” 1 Kings 22:7 Israel and

“O man of God, please let my life and the lives of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight.” 2 Kings

“Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, but we are keeping silent;”

“the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously.” 2 Kings 9:20b One of the commissions given

“When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and eliminated all the royal children.” 2 Kings 11:1 Yesterday,

“You have indeed defeated Edom, and your heart has become proud. Enjoy your glory and stay at home; for why should you provoke trouble

“So the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from His sight; none was left except the tribe of Judah.” 2 Kings

“Then he turned his face to the wall…And Hezekiah wept bitterly.” 2 Kings 20:2-3 As we begin Chapter 18, we’re introduced to King Hezekiah.

“and for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, a portion for each day, all the days of his life.”

“Now these were the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: the firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second

“The sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor, archers, and had many sons and grandsons, 150 of them. All these were of the

“All these, being men of war who could draw up in battle formation, came to Hebron with a perfect heart to make David king

“The anger of the Lord burned against Uzza, so He struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark; and he

“Then David the king went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house

“Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel.” 1 Chronicles 21:1 Last month, I commented on the sister passage of

“And he gathered together all the leaders of Israel with the priests and the Levites.” 1 Chronicles 23:2 David has just established Solomon as

“But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come

“Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this great people

“But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods

“Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test Solomon with difficult questions.” 2 Chronicles

“When the kingdom of Rehoboam was established and strong, he and all Israel with him forsook the law of the Lord.” 2 Chronicles 12:1

“and commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers and to observe the law and the commandment.” 2 Chronicles 14:4 It’s been

“Moreover, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire first for the word of the Lord.”” 2 Chronicles 18:4 In Today’s Reading we’re

“He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab did (for Ahab’s daughter was his wife), and

“Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest.” 2 Chronicles 24:2 King Ahaziah has

“Now in the time of his distress this same King Ahaz became yet more unfaithful to the Lord.” 2 Chronicles 28:22 When Reading through

“When he prayed to Him, He was moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem to his kingdom.

“There had not been celebrated a Passover like it in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet;” 2 Chronicles 35:18a As mentioned before,

“Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah,

“But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until a report could come

“Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a

“When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of

“should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies?” Nehemiah 5:9b As we saw

“Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10b As I read through the Bible, I’m often struck

“On that day they read aloud from the book of Moses in the hearing of the people;” Nehemiah 13:1a One theme that is central

“Now there was at the citadel in Susa a Jew whose name was Mordecai” Esther 2:5a Esther is a most amazing Story! It reads

“During that night the king could not sleep so he gave an order to bring the book of records, the chronicles, and they were

“For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Ahasuerus,” Esther 10:3a As you read through the Book of Esther, the one Overriding Theme

“Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.” Job 1:22 By way of Introduction, and so far in our Reading,

“Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,” Job 4:1 As we saw yesterday, Job’s Losses were Immense! More than we can ever imagine. Then, to add

“If your sons sinned against Him, then He delivered them into the power of their transgression.” Job 8:4 Yesterday in my Post, we were

“Shall a multitude of words go unanswered and a talkative man be acquitted?” Job 11:2 As we continue our Reading through the Book of

“I have heard many such things; Sorry comforters are you all.” Job 16:2 So far in this Amazing Book, we’ve seen a glimpse of

“They say to God, ‘Depart from us! We do not even desire the knowledge of Your ways’.” Job 21:14 As the Conversation with Job’s

“Is not your wickedness great, and your iniquities without end? Job 22:5 If you’ve read through the Book of Job, you may have noticed

“And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.’” Job 28:28 If

“I have made a covenant with my eyes; How then could I gaze at a virgin?” Job 31:1 As I mentioned yesterday, we are

“And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men his anger burned.” Job 32:5 And then there

“Then Elihu continued and said,” Job 35:1 As I said yesterday, Elihu is quite the character; speaking at times wisely, then foolishly; humbly, then

“Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?”” Job 38:1-2 As

Psalm 1 By way of Introduction to the Book of Psalms, here are Spurgeon’s Comments at the beginning of his Treasury of David: “The

“My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.”

“Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases to be, for the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.” Psalm 12:1 Again, by way

“You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures

“My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” Psalm 22:1 Each time I read through this Psalm, and other passages like it, I

“One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the

“How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!” Psalm 32:1 What makes you Happy? What gives you Contentedness or Satisfaction?

“Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 At first sight, this verse seems to

“As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God.” Psalm 42:1 Picture an arid and desert land,

“We have thought on Your lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of Your temple.” Psalm 48:9 As the Psalmist considers the greatness of God,

“And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.” Psalm 51:11b Each year as I go through the Psalms, this is one that I

“In God, whose word I praise, in God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to

“From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than

“I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched; My eyes fail while I wait for my God.” Psalm 69:3 In Today’s Psalm,

“When I select an appointed time, it is I who judge with equity.” Psalm 75:2 This is a Psalm of Asaph, but God is

“O Lord God of hosts, restore us; cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved.” Psalm 80:19 This is the

“So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart, to walk in their own devices.” Psalm 81:12 In Today’s Psalm, Asaph is

“So teach us to number our days that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 This Psalm, “A Prayer of

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1 I call this Psalm

“Sing to the Lord a new song” Psalm 96:1a; “The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice” Psalm 97:1a; “O sing to the Lord a

“He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.” Psalm 103:10 As David opens this Psalm,

“Who is wise? Let him give heed to these things, and consider the lovingkindnesses of the Lord.” Psalm 107:43 Today’s Psalm opens with “Oh

“Who is like the Lord our God, who is enthroned on high?” Psalm 113:5 This is a Verse that we can read and not

“Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.” Psalm 119:11 As I have mentioned in the past,

“O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.” Psalm 119:97 Psalm 119, besides being the longest Chapter in the

“I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”” Psalm 122:1 As I’ve mentioned in the

“Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in

“But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared.” Psalm 130:4 When the Sinner is truly awakened by God to the enormity

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!” Psalm 133:1 We may not be able to relate

“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot attain to it.” Psalm 139:6 Another one of my favorite Psalms,

“Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; It is oil upon the head;” Psalm 141:5 The Bible uses graphic language. Today’s

“Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite.” Psalm 147:5 “His Understanding is Infinite”! How does that register with you?