Daily Bible Reading Podcast

Phil Fields

Listen to the whole NLT or GNT Bible in 365 20-minute-long podcasts!

  1. 2H AGO

    082: Numbers 22-23; Psalm 39; Acts 1

    NUMBERS 22-23: In Numbers 21, the Lord gave victory to the Israelites over the Amorites, and then over King Sihon. And because of Israel's grumbling, the Lord sent poisonous snakes among them. When the people cried out to Moses, the Lord told him to make a snake and set it up on a pole. This is an unannounced picture of Christ. PSALM 39: This is a prayer for relief by David when he felt he was under the discipline of the Lord. ACTS 1: We follow up Luke's first report to Theophilus with his second to the same man. (Or perhaps Luke meant this account to be for any 'lover of God'.) The book covers the story of what happened after Jesus' death in 33AD to Paul's two-year house arrest that ended in 62AD. Since only a few of the apostles are told about in this book, rather than 'Acts of the Apostles', others have suggested the name 'Acts of the Holy Spirit'. Constable quotes William Neil, who starts out quoting Streeter: "Streeter suggested that an alternative title for the book of Acts might be 'The Road to Rome', for this is indeed the significance of Luke's work. Whatever minor motifs Luke had in mind— such as the establishment of Christianity in men's minds as a constructive and not destructive element in the social order, his main concern was to show that, in God's plan for the renewal of the life of mankind, Jerusalem, the heart of old Israel, was the goal of Stage I [i.e., the Book of Luke], while Rome, the centre of the world, was the goal of Stage II [i.e., the Book of Acts]." And here is a more pointed quote from Rosner: ". . . Luke in Acts is not merely concerned to draw a link between the time of Jesus and the time of the early church, as is commonly noticed, but also between the time of Israel and the time of Jesus and His church. Acts insists that the God who was at work in the history of his ancient people, Israel, bringing them salvation, is the same God who is at work in the church."   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.

    24 min
  2. 6D AGO

    079: Numbers 17-18; Psalm 37:1-20; Luke 23:26-56

    NUMBERS 17-18: Yesterday we heard another dramatic chapter in Israel's history: The rebellion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. They must have been included in those who refused to go to the Promised Land, but then they had the gall to find fault with Moses that he didn't lead them to that land. It is also incredible that God would prove Moses' authority so dramatically (resulting in the death of the three conspirators and their families), yet the people would the next day without fear accuse Moses of killing the Lord's people (further resulting in a plague). PSALM 37a: This is an acrostic poem,and a great Psalm for giving us the right perspective in our fallen world. LUKE 23b: In the first half of this chapter, Jesus was tried by Pilatos (the phonetic pronunciation I will use in the podcasts) and Herod, before finally Pilatos caved into pressure and sentenced Jesus to death. Let's repeat a few verses, starting at verse 36. For today's prayer, I read the hymn "How deep the Father's love for us." This was composed by Stuart Townend, and here is the link to his story about writing it: http://www.stuarttownend.co.uk/song/how-deep-the-fathers-love-for-us/ NLT Translation notes: 3 So Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus replied, "[You are the one who says it.//You have said it.]" 34 Jesus said [about the ones crucifying him//0], "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. 50 Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish high council, 51 but he had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other religious leaders. He was from the town of Arimathea in Judea, and he was [one of those//0] waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.   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.

    21 min
  3. 6D AGO

    078: Numbers 16; Psalm 36; Luke 23:14-34

    NUMBERS 16: In Numbers 15, we found out that there were sacrifices that could be made for unintentional sins— whether done by the whole community or by an individual. But there was no sacrifice to cover an intentional sin— such as working on the Sabbath, as was so clearly illustrated by the man who gathered wood on the Sabbath. Then at the very end of chapter 15, we heard the instruction about the tassels with a blue cord that were to hang on the four corners of the Israelites' garments. Those are the tassels that Tevia in Fiddler on the Roof doesn't know the meaning of. PSALM 36: While this is a song praising God's unfailing love, notice how some parts of this poem are so appropriate to what we just read about Dathan, Abiram, and Korah. LUKE 23a: Chapter 22 ended with Peter's denial of being a follower of Jesus, and we heard of the council's decision against Jesus. NLT Translation notes: Luk. 23:3 So Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus replied, "[Yes, as you said.//You have said it.]" 34 Jesus said [about the ones crucifying him//0], "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. 50 Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish high council, 51 but he had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other religious leaders. He was from the town of Arimathea in Judea, and he was [one of those//0] waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.   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.

    20 min
  4. MAR 15

    077: Numbers 15; Psalm 35; Luke 22:39-71

    NUMBERS 15: Yesterday in Numbers 14 we heard the very important and dramatic story: The people of Israel became unworthy to enter the Promised Land because of their stubborn unbelief. In the midst of that experience, Moses' prayers to God on behalf of the people are prime examples of how to plead with the Lord. The key revealed in that passage is to plead with God in accordance with his character and quoting his promises! PSALM 35: In today's psalm, David prays for victory over his enemies. Opposition to David was sponsored by King Saul, who became David's enemy for no good reason— only because of envy. LUKE 22b: Yesterday in this chapter we heard of Judas betraying Jesus to the Jewish leaders, of the last supper, and of Jesus' last words to the disciples, including the prophecy that Peter would deny Him three times. NLT Translation notes: Ps. 35:8 So let sudden ruin come upon them! Let them be caught in the [same/0] trap they set for me! Let them be destroyed in the pit they dug for me. 9 Then I will rejoice in [You,/the] LORD. I will be glad because [you/he] rescues me. 10 With every bone in my body I will praise [You/him]: ==== Luk. 22:48 But Jesus said, "Judas, would you betray the [Me,/0] the Son of Man, with a kiss?" 69 But from now on [I,/0] the Son of Man, will be seated in the place of power at God's right hand."   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.

    20 min
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Listen to the whole NLT or GNT Bible in 365 20-minute-long podcasts!