Today’s Bible Reading

September 13

Old Testament I
1 Kings 6
1 Kings 6 describes the construction of the temple in Jerusalem by King Solomon. The chapter begins with the details of the temple's dimensions, including its length, width, and height. The temple was built using stone and cedar wood, and the interior was overlaid with gold.

The construction of the temple took seven years, and it was completed in the eighth year of Solomon's reign. The temple was furnished with various items, including a pair of bronze pillars, a bronze basin, and numerous gold and silver utensils.

The most significant feature of the temple was the inner sanctuary, known as the Holy of Holies. This was a small, square room that housed the Ark of the Covenant, which contained the tablets of the Ten Commandments. The room was separated from the rest of the temple by a thick curtain, and only the high priest was allowed to enter it once a year on the Day of Atonement.

Overall, 1 Kings 6 is a detailed account of the construction of the temple, which was considered the center of Jewish worship and culture for centuries to come. It highlights the importance of the temple in the religious and cultural life of the Jewish people and demonstrates Solomon's wealth, power, and devotion to God.

Old Testament II
Jeremiah 13
Jeremiah 13 is a chapter in the book of Jeremiah in the Old Testament of the Bible. This chapter contains a prophetic message from God to the people of Judah, delivered through the prophet Jeremiah.

In this chapter, God instructs Jeremiah to buy a linen belt and wear it around his waist without washing it. After some time, God tells Jeremiah to take the belt and hide it in a rock crevice by the Euphrates River. Later, God instructs Jeremiah to go back and retrieve the belt, but when he does, he finds that it is ruined and completely useless.

God uses this symbolic act to illustrate the relationship between the people of Judah and himself. Just as the belt was once valuable and useful to Jeremiah but became ruined and worthless after being hidden away, so too had the people of Judah once been valuable and useful to God but had become corrupt and worthless through their disobedience and idolatry.

God then goes on to warn the people of Judah that their pride and arrogance will lead to their downfall, and that they will be taken captive by their enemies. However, God also offers a glimmer of hope, saying that if they repent and turn back to him, he will forgive them and restore their relationship.

Overall, the message of Jeremiah 13 is a call to repentance and a warning of the consequences of disobedience and rebellion against God. It reminds us that our worth and value as individuals and as a society are ultimately determined by our relationship with God and our obedience to his commands.

New Testament
Ephesians 5:22 - 6:9
Ephesians 5:22-6:9 contains instructions for Christian households. The passage can be summarized as follows:

Wives are to submit to their husbands as to the Lord (5:22-24). Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (5:25-33).

Children are to obey their parents in the Lord (6:1-3). Fathers are not to provoke their children to anger but to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (6:4).

Slaves are to obey their earthly masters as they would Christ (6:5-8). Masters are to treat their slaves justly and fairly, knowing that they also have a Master in heaven (6:9).

The passage emphasizes the importance of mutual submission and love in relationships. It also acknowledges the societal structures of the time, but provides guidance on how to live within those structures in a way that honors God. Ultimately, the passage reminds us that we are all accountable to God, and should seek to serve Him in all our relationships, whether as husbands or wives, parents or children, masters or slaves.