Today’s Bible Reading

March 21

Old Testament I

Exodus 38

38:1–7 The construction of the altar of burnt offering. The corresponding instructions are found in 27:1–19. The details from the preceding section are presented again to demonstrate that all was done as the Lord had commanded. Throughout these sections, the pronoun he (see v. 1) refers to Bezalel (see 37:1; compare 35:30–34), who was working according to the commands that the Lord had given Moses. Bezalel was the overseer. He would have had many artisans working under his leadership (see 36:8).


We should learn how to follow God’s instruction properly.


38:27, 28 Enormous amounts of silver appeared in the most mundane elements of the tabernacle and its furnishings. Although the tabernacle was a tent, it was not a makeshift dwelling. It was a glorious shrine that symbolized the presence of the living God in the midst of His people.


In the old testament God was dwelling in the tenth amidst the children of Israelite. But in the New testament, God lives in us!



Old Testament 2

Psalms 90 & 91 

Psalm 90 is a psalm of lament in which the community complains of God’s judgement and the brevity of life. But even in the midst of sorrow, the people acknowledge the security they have in the Lord and pray for renewal. This is the only poem in the Book of Psalms attributed to Moses, who wrote two other poems recorded in the Pentateuch (Ex. 15; Deut. 32).

Psalm 90 has four sections:

(1) an affirmation of the security of a life lived close to the Lord (vv. 1, 2);

(2) a complaint about the brevity of life (vv. 3–6);

(3) a complaint about God’s judgement on His people (vv. 7–12);

(4) a prayer for restoration (vv. 13–17).

 

Psalm 91, a psalm of trust, does not identify its author. The psalm is sufficiently similar to Ps. 90, a psalm of Moses, that it might also be by him. Alternatively, the experiences and ideas of Moses could have been used by an anonymous writer. This poem has a very strong messianic thrust, and God Himself speaks in vv. 14–16 (see also Ps. 12; 60; 75; 87). 

The development of the psalm is in four main sections:

(1) a confession of confidence in the Lord (vv. 1, 2);

(2) assurance that those who trust in the Lord need not fear evil (vv. 3–8);

(3) promises of God’s protection to the coming One (vv. 9–13);

(4) a description of the Lord’s protection of the coming One (vv. 14–16).



New Testament

Acts 22:22 - 23:11

22:25 Is it lawful: The Roman law was that no Roman citizen could be chained, scourged, or killed without a proper trial. Failure to obey this law resulted in severe punishment for the one who commanded the illegal punishment. Paul had been chained and was about to be scourged without any formal charges having been made.

22:28 Originally the privileges of Roman citizenship were limited to free people living in the city of Rome. Later, citizenship was granted to others living in the Roman Empire. Sometimes the emperor would offer citizenship to those who had rendered outstanding service.

Possibly Paul’s father or grandfather had become a citizen this way with the result that Paul was born a Roman. Ultimately God used Paul’s Roman citizenship to spread the gospel to Rome.

Likewise, as Christian, do you know your privilege as a child of God? Do you know you can call on God and He will save you from that predicament? Do you know the devil has no power to hold you or afflict you as a child of God? Do you know you can call God father? Do you know you enjoy divine protection as a child of God? These are a few of the privileges we enjoy as a child of God. The more we spend time with Him the more we know.


Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:

 

23:11 bear witness at Rome: Warned by friends not to go to Jerusalem, Paul may have begun to doubt his decision. The Lord encouraged Paul not to be afraid because he was under the sovereign care of God. As Paul had borne witness to Jesus as a prisoner in Jerusalem, so he would do as a prisoner in Rome. Paul’s chains would glorify God in ways that would have been impossible without them.


Action Point

We should learn how to follow God’s instruction properly.


Invite God into your life if you are yet to accept Him as your Lord and saviour


Do you know the privileges you have as a child of God?


Quotes

I believe Christians often perceive obedience to God as some test designed just to see if we’re really committed to Him. But what if it’s designed as God’s way of giving us what’s best for us?

-Craig Groeschel


No one has seen God, but as we love one another, God lives in us

-shane claiborne


Find your security, success, and peace in God. Then, and only then, can it never be taken from you.

-Mike Bickle


Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is illusion

-Brennan Manning



Prayer Points

thank God for His Grace

ask God for mercy and forgiveness of sin

pray for the power of Holy Spirit

pray that God helps you to properly obey His instruction

pray for restoration

pray for God's protection

pray for those yet to see the light of the gospel of christ that God should open their eyes

pray that you will not miss out of the privileges of being God son due to ignorance

pray for knowledge

pray against the spirit of fear

pray for boldness

pray for courage



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