2CHRONICLES 9:
Yesterday we heard God’s famous response to Solomon, which is so often applied as a promise to America. It is stretching it past the breaking point to apply that promise to America. First of all, our country does not have a personal relationship with God like that of Israel in Solomon’s time. We also skate over all the conditions of humbling ourselves, turning from wicked ways, and praying. And we are not in the position of having made corporate sacrifices to the Lord.

PROVERBS 28b:
Here is today’s highlighted verse:

Pro. 28:26 NLT Those who trust their own insight are foolish,
but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe.

The parallelism between the two lines implies a comparison made explicit in the GNT:
Pro. 28:26 GNT It is foolish to follow your own opinions.
Be safe, and follow the teachings of wiser people.

MATTHEW 11a:
Jesus’ instructions to the disciples in chapter 10 show that He wants total commitment— even if it means dying in his service.

Mat. 10:38 NLT If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

2CHRONICLES 7-8:
Yesterday we heard Solomon’s famous prayer at the dedication of the temple. He understood that the people would need forgiveness from the Lord, and requested the Lord’s mercy.

PROVERBS 28a:
Another favorite:

Pro. 28:8 NLT Income from charging high interest rates
will end up in the pocket of someone who is kind to the poor.

MATTHEW 10b:
Yesterday we heard the list of the twelve apostles, and the beginning of the instructions to them as He sent them out. It is clear that Jesus gave this message for more than just the twelve. The word ‘apostle’ (which is a word transliterated from Greek) means ‘one sent with a message’ or a ‘representative’. This happens to be the exact meaning of a word transliterated from Latin: missionary.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

2CHRONICLES 6:
Yesterday we heard of the various things that Huram-abi made under Solomon’s direction for the temple, and of the dedication of the temple. In today’s (not reverent) language, we might say that the Lord ‘showed up’ for that dedication, just like He did for the dedication of the tabernacle.

PROVERBS 27b:
Our hightlighted verse for today:

Pro. 27:21 NLT Fire tests the purity of silver and gold,
but a person is tested by being praised.]

MATTHEW 10a:
Many stories were brought together by Matthew in chapter 9, including the calling of Matthew— who is most likely the writer of this book. Note that opposition is ramping up against Jesus from the religious teachers and the Pharisees. Like at the end of John 4, Jesus spoke of the need for God to send workers into the spiritual harvest.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

2CHRONICLES 4-5:
Yesterday we heard of the preparations for building the temple, and then the dimensions and the beginning of the construction starting in the 4th year of Solomon’s reign.

PROVERBS 27a:
Today’s first verse is very like the advice of James in the New Testament:

Pro. 27:1 NLT Don’t brag about tomorrow,
since you don’t know what the day will bring.

MATTHEW 9:
Yesterday we heard of several powerful healings and the miracle of calming the storm. One of the one-becomes-two instances is in the Gadarene demon possessed man, called Legion in the other Gospels. If Matthew was present, as I posited before, it would be before the story of his joining the disciples in this chapter.

NLT Translation notes:
Mat. 9:22 Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, “[0//Daughter, ]be encouraged! Your [belief in Me//faith] has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment.
29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “Because [you have believed in Me//of your faith], it will happen.”

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

2CHRONICLES 2-3:
In yesterday’s reading we returned to the books of Chronicles, and picked up the story following King David, with the beginning of Solomon’s reign. Solomon gave 1,000 burnt offerings to the Lord, then the Lord appeared to him. Solomon requested wisdom to rule Israel, and the Lord was pleased with his request.

PROVERBS 26b:
Today’s highlighted verse:

Pro. 26:23 NLT Smooth words may hide a wicked heart,
just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot.

MATTHEW 8:
We completed reading the Sermon on the Mount yesterday with the parable of building a house on sand or on a rock. Building a house on sand is easier. But let’s be those who persevere and lay a good foundation.

NLT Translation note:
Mat. 8:26 Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? [Why is your belief in me so small?//You have so little faith!]” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

2CHRONICLES 1:
Yesterday we heard Hosea’s final and heart-felt warning. At the end of his book, Hosea penned a rather short apology on behalf of the people, requesting forgiveness. God responded lovingly, pleading for the people of Israel to stay away from idols. And now we return to the story we interrupted in the books of Chronicles.

PROVERBS 26a:
A highlighted verse for today is verse 12, which I like in both the NLT and the GNT.

Pro. 26:12 NLT There is more hope for fools
than for people who think they are wise.

MATTHEW 7b:
Yesterday’s reading included one of the most often quoted but most poorly understood verses of the Bible. Check yourself before telling someone, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged.” If you are saying that in order to deflect criticism against yourself, you are doing what a hypocrite does. And ironically, not being a hypocrite is the main point of the passage. Nor is the meaning that we Christians must not judge other people at all. We must not judge hypocritically, but the Bible shows us how to judge rightly and fairly— as is necessary for us in this world.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

HOSEA 13-14:
Yesterday’s reading had this significant prophecy, prefaced by the words that God would not come to totally destroy:

Hos. 11:10 NLT For someday the people will follow me.
I, the LORD, will roar like a lion.
And when I roar,
my people will return trembling from the west.
11 Like a flock of birds, they will come from Egypt.
Trembling like doves, they will return from Assyria.
And I will bring them home again,”
says the LORD.

Hosea begins chapter 13 speaking against the tribe of Ephraim, but in the prophetic writings, that one tribe often stands for the whole northern kingdom. So the heading in the NLT says, “The LORD’s Anger against Israel.”

PROVERBS 25b:
Interesting and varied proverbs today include this:

Pro. 25:20 NLT Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart
is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather or pouring vinegar in a wound.

MATTHEW 7a:
Yesterday’s reading in the second half of chapter 6 dealt with the subject of complete trust in God for all that we need, seeking first the kingdom of God (meaning putting God’s will as your top priority), and not bowing down at the altar of money or material gain.

A part of that chapter which is often glossed over is this:

Mat. 6:22 NLT “Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light.
23 But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!

In Biblical culture, an ‘evil’ or ‘bad’ eye was one that is greedy. So this figurative speech is actually right on topic for this section. Note that our eye will be full of light if we keep our eyes on Jesus— like we read in Philippians 3.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.