Today’s Bible Reading
November 3
Old Testament I
1 Chronicles 16
1 Chronicles 16 begins with David's celebration of the Ark of the Covenant being brought to Jerusalem. David, along with the leaders of Israel, offers sacrifices to the Lord, and David distributes food to the people.
David then appoints Asaph and his relatives to lead the people in worship and praise to God. They sing a song of thanksgiving to the Lord, recounting His goodness and faithfulness to Israel throughout their history.
The song praises God's character, His acts of deliverance, and His covenant with Israel. It also includes a call for all nations to worship and praise the Lord.
David then designates a group of Levites to serve as priests before the Ark of the Covenant and to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings to the Lord. He also appoints some of the Levites to be gatekeepers and others to be officials and judges in Israel.
The chapter concludes with David giving thanks to the Lord and sending the people away with blessings and gifts.
Old Testament II
Ezekiel 16:35-63
Ezekiel 16:35-63 is a prophecy that speaks to the Israelites about their idolatry and unfaithfulness to God. In this passage, God compares Israel to a promiscuous woman who has played the harlot with other nations and false gods.
The passage begins with God accusing Israel of committing adultery by making alliances with foreign nations and worshiping their gods. This idolatry has caused Israel to forget about God and his blessings. As a result, God will judge Israel and bring them to justice for their unfaithfulness.
God then describes how Israel has taken the gifts and blessings that he has given them and used them to worship false gods. They have built shrines and altars to these false gods and have even offered their own children as sacrifices to them. God is angry and will not let Israel continue down this path of destruction.
In verses 44-59, God reminds Israel of their sinful ways and their need for repentance. He tells them that they must acknowledge their sins and turn away from them in order to be forgiven. If they do not repent, God will punish them severely and they will suffer the consequences of their actions.
The passage ends with a promise of restoration and reconciliation. Despite Israel's unfaithfulness, God promises to restore them and make a new covenant with them. He will forgive their sins and bring them back to their homeland. This promise is a testament to God's grace and mercy, despite Israel's repeated failures and unfaithfulness.
In summary, Ezekiel 16:35-63 is a prophecy that speaks to the Israelites about their unfaithfulness to God and the consequences of their actions. It also serves as a reminder of God's grace and mercy, and his willingness to forgive and restore those who repent and turn back to him.
New Testament
John 6:1-21
John 6:1-21 tells the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 and walking on water. The chapter begins with Jesus going up a mountain with His disciples, followed by a large crowd of people. Jesus, seeing the crowd, asked Philip where they could buy bread to feed them. Philip responds that it would take too much money to buy bread for such a large crowd, and Andrew mentions that a boy has five barley loaves and two fish. Jesus takes the loaves and fish, gives thanks, and distributes them to the crowd, miraculously feeding all 5,000 people with plenty of leftovers.
After the feeding of the crowd, Jesus sends His disciples ahead of Him in a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee. Jesus stays behind to dismiss the crowd and spend time alone in prayer. Later, Jesus walks on water to meet His disciples in the middle of the sea. The disciples are frightened, but Jesus assures them that it is He, and they invite Him into the boat. Immediately, the boat reaches the shore.
This passage illustrates Jesus' power and authority over nature, as well as His compassion and provision for the needs of His people. It also shows the importance of faith and trust in Jesus, even when circumstances seem impossible or frightening.
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