Daily Bible Reading Podcast Phil Fields

JEREMIAH 13-14:
In yesterday’s reading, Jeremiah complained to the Lord,
12:1 “Lord, if I argued my case with you,
you would [be shown//prove] to be right.
Yet I must question you about matters of justice.
Why are the wicked so prosperous?
Why do dishonest people succeed?
And the Lord replied in an answer that bears reading in context and needs some thinking about,
“Jeremiah, if you get tired racing against people,
how can you race against horses?
If you can't even stand up in open country,
how will you manage in the jungle by the Jordan?
PSALM 144:
This poem is quite a contrast with what we have just heard in Jeremiah. This is the joyful prayer of a king who is leading his people according to the will of God.
1Corinthians 1:
In Paul’s day, Corinth was a metropolis on the Mediterranean Sea with a population of between one hundred and fifty thousand and three hundred thousand Roman citizens and about 460,000 slaves. There was evidently a healthy criminal population, and the city was a center of banking, so there were incredibly wealthy people there. The city was full of idol shrines of deities from Egypt, Greece, and Rome, and there was cult prostitution.
Some commentators claim that 1 Corinthians contains parts of two letters from Paul, so that 2nd Corinthians might actually be a third or fourth letter. I don’t buy that.
Key topics of the letter include the divisions in the church, the obstacles to sharing the Gospel, God’s wisdom as it appears to Greeks and Jews, partnership among apostles of Christ, vice in the church, various instructions about marriage, the Lord’s supper, food sacrificed to idols, Paul not cashing in on his rights as an apostle, spiritual gifts and the spiritual fruit of love, and the resurrection of Christ.
NLT Translation notes:
1Cor. 1:12 Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul.” Others are saying, “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Peter,d” or [even] “I follow only Christ.”
17 For Christ didn’t send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News—and not with clever speech, [so//for fear] that the cross of Christ would lose its power.
22 It is [foolishness/foolish] to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is [foolishness/foolish] to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom.
27 Instead, God chose things [and people] the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.
30 God has [joined you as one//united you] with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.
 
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.

JEREMIAH 11-12:
Yesterday we heard important verses in chapter 9:23-24, verses that Paul quotes more than once:
 “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom,
or the powerful boast in their power,
or the rich boast in their riches.
But those who wish to boast
should boast in this alone:
that they truly know me and understand that I am the LORD …
PSALM 143:
It seems that prayer is very neglected these days. Oh yes, we might hear something vague about praying for victims right after some tragedy strikes. But it seems that every church has trouble keeping a prayer meeting going. I myself have trouble keeping my prayer life going. David shows in this psalm that he has learned secrets of effective prayer. Note how his prayer is very like how Jeremiah felt in the two chapters we just read.
JOHN 21:
This is one of my favorite chapters. John again tells us important information not given in the other gospels. Note that there is a famous exegetical fallacy here. John does use two different words for ‘love’ in the dialog between Jesus and Peter. But this should NOT be taken— as has been so frequently taught, as showing a play on words, or that John was intending different shades of meaning. Instead the use of synonyms is just a feature of John’s style in writing. John does this for poetic variation, like the parallelism in Hebrew poetry. Another example of this in this same passage is the variation of ‘little lambs’ and ‘sheep’.
NLT Translation notes:
John 21:7 Then [I—//0] the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore.
[Although John has thinly concealed his identity since chapter 1, it becomes clear in this chapter that he wants to make it clear that the eyewitness he has referred to as ‘the disciple Jesus loved’ was himself. (John did not want to boast of having been a disciple of Jesus, yet at the same time he wanted to show that this book is an eyewitness account.) Using this literary device is odd enough in English. In some languages of the world, translating this device literally would be so confusing that it is better to rephrase these passages so that John speaks in the first person. Translators who do this will add a footnote explaining why John used the third person instead of the first person. In my opinion, for a podcast like this, it will be much clearer for listeners to use the same technique, and this is my footnote explaining my changes to the NLT text.]
 
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.

JEREMIAH 9-10:
Being a prophet is not exactly an easy job. In 7:27 God told him,
“Tell them all this, but do not expect them to listen. Shout out your warnings, but do not expect them to respond.”
We’ll find that God told the same thing to more than one prophet around this same time.
PSALM 142:
When you are discouraged, here is a psalm to pray!
JOHN 20:
There are so many fulfillments of Scripture that happen in the crucifixion chapters in the Gospels that many times the authors didn’t take the time to highlight each one of them. The Jewish readers would have picked up on them without the need for an explanation. In verse 36, John highlighted one fulfillment, saying, “This was done to make the scripture come true: ‘Not one of his bones will be broken.’” I hope you remember what that was about! See Ps. 34:20, Ex. 12:46, Num. 9:12. If you don’t know, I hope this teaser will encourage you, because this is a golden gem. And Jesus’ death did not mean that he stopped fulfilling Scriptures.
NLT Translation note:
Jer. 9:10 But [YOU/the] LORD [are/is] the only true God.
[You are//He is] the living God and the everlasting King!
The whole earth trembles at [your/his] anger.
The nations cannot stand up to [your/his] wrath.
====
Ps. 142:1 I cry out to [You, O/the] LORD;
I plead for [your/the LORD’s] mercy.
2 I pour out my complaints before [You/him]
and tell [You/him] all my troubles.
====
John 20:1 Early on Sunday morning,a while it was still dark, Mary [— the woman from the village of Magdalene//Magdalene] came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.
3 Peter and [I, John,//the other disciple] started out for the tomb.
[This is so strange in many languages that it is translated in the first person. It is clear that John wanted that people know that this is an eye-witness account. This change I am making goes through this paragraph.]
27 Then he said to Thomas, “[Thomas,] Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. [Instead] Believe!”
31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in [Jesus/him] you will have life [through His power//by the power of his name].
 
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.

JEREMIAH 7-8:
In this and several other prophetic books, it is important to observe where quotes begin and end, and who is speaking. The section headings are also very helpful to our understanding. Modern translators and editors use the heading to help modern readers understand such things as ancient poetic imagery.
Yesterday's reading had this ironic statement spoken by the Lord:
5:19 When they ask why I did all these things, tell them, Jeremiah, that just as they turned away from me and served foreign gods in their own land, so they will serve strangers in a land that is not theirs.”
 PSALM 141:
David received the answer to his prayer in verse 5, if this was written before his affair with Bathsheba. Nathan did what David prayed for here. This psalm contains gems that are well worth digging for and meditating on.
JOHN 19b:
I believe that John saw, and wanted us to feel, the extreme irony in many events that we have read. The ironic events and statements also didn’t happen by accident. It was not an accident that the mob who came to arrest Jesus stumbled back and fell when he said, “I am He.” That was— and still is, a sign from God. All of the statements of Pilate and the chief priests drip with irony which they could not see, but which we can. “I find no fault with this man!” “Behold your king!” “We have no king but Caesar!” “What is truth?” “Don’t release him, we want Barabbas!”
NLT Translation notes:
Jer. 7:8 “‘Don’t be fooled into thinking that you will never suffer because the Temple is here. [That’s/It’s] a lie!
11 Don’t you yourselves admit that this Temple, which bears my name, has become a den of thieves? Surely I see all the evil going on [here/there]. I, the LORD, have spoken!
====
John 19:3“Hail[ to you,!] King of the Jews!” they mocked, as they slapped him across the face.
12 Then Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders shouted, “If you release this man, you are no ‘friend of [the high king] Caesar.’b Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar.”
24 So they said, “Rather than tearing it apart, let’s throw dicee for it.” This fulfilled the Scripture that says, “They divided my garments among themselves and threw dice for my clothing.”f So that is what they did [(without knowing they were fulfilling Scripture)].
26 When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, [there/here] is your son.”
[Here and in verse 27, the literal Greek is “See-imperative.” It is a matter of interpretation whether in the first instance Jesus could be saying, “See what I have become,” or, “Look at that guy next to you. He is your son.” The difference would be a nod of the head or a motion of Jesus’ eyes. I think that Jesus’ intention was correctly interpreted by John in 27b.]
27 And he said to this disciple, “[That/Here] is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.
31 It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was the Passover). So they asked Pilate to hasten [the deaths of the crucified men//their deaths] by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down.
35 ([John writes a parenthetical comment:] This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account. [I speak/He speaks] the truth so that you also can believe.)
 
 
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.

JEREMIAH 5-6:
God, speaking through the prophets, frequently says how he feels about idolatry. He considers it just like the faithlessness of a wayward wife. It is moving that Jeremiah could so clearly see what would happen— the anguish of the people when his prophecies are fulfilled and they will be attacked by armies from the north.
 PSALM 140:
This is a prayer for anyone who fears the imminent attack of wicked enemies.
 JOHN 19a:
The chapter break here interrupts the story of Jesus’ trial before Pilate. Jesus has already told Pilate that he is a king, but his kingdom is not of this world. Then when Jesus said, “I was born and came into the world for this one purpose, to speak about the truth. Whoever belongs to the truth listens to me.”— Pilate asked his famous rhetorical question,
38“And what is truth?”
 Then Pilate went back outside to the people and said to them, “I cannot find any reason to condemn him.
39 But according to the custom you have, I always set free a prisoner for you during the Passover. Do you want me to set free for you the king of the Jews?”
40 They answered him with a shout, “No, not him! We want Barabbas!” (Barabbas was a bandit.)
NLT Translation notes:
Jer. 5:6 I said to [You/the] LORD, “You are my God!”
Listen, O LORD, to my cries for mercy!
11 Don’t let [these] liars prosper here in our land.
Cause great disasters to fall on [those violent men//the violent].
12 But I know [that You, Lord//the LORD] will help those they persecute;
[You/he] will give justice to the poor.
====
John 19:3 “Hail[ to you,!] King of the Jews!” they mocked, as they slapped him across the face.
12 Then Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders shouted, “If you release this man, you are no ‘friend of [the high king] Caesar.’ Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar.”
24 So they said, “Rather than tearing it apart, let’s throw dice for it.” This fulfilled the Scripture that says, “They divided my garments among themselves and threw dice for my clothing.” So that is what they did [(without knowing they were fulfilling Scripture)].
26 When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, [there/here] is your son.”
[Here and in verse 27, the literal Greek is “See-imperative.” It is a matter of interpretation whether in the first instance Jesus could be saying, “See what I have become,” or, “Look at that guy next to you. He is your son.” The difference would be a nod of the head or a motion of Jesus’ eyes. I think that Jesus’ intention was correctly interpreted by John in 27b.]
27 And he said to this disciple, “[That/Here] is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.
31 It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was the Passover). So they asked Pilate to hasten [the deaths of the crucified men//their deaths] by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down.
35 ([John writes a parenthetical comment:] This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account. [I speak/He speaks] the truth so that you also can believe.)
37 and “They will look on the one they [have] pierced.”
 
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.

JEREMIAH 3-4:
In yesterday’s reading there was a play on words in Jer. 1:11-12, where the Hebrew word for ‘almond tree’ sounds like the word for ‘watching’:
11 Then the Lord said to me, “Look, Jeremiah! What do you see?”
And I replied, “I see a branch from an almond tree.”
12 And the Lord said, “That’s right, and it means that I am watching,* and I will certainly carry out all my plans.”
*footnote: The Hebrew word for “watching” (shoqed) sounds like the word for “almond tree” (shaqed).
Yesterday we also read Jeremiah 2:13, which is one of the most frequently quoted verses from this book. Look at it in context starting at verse 11:
Jer. 2:11 NLT Has any nation ever traded its gods for new ones,
even though they are not gods at all?
Yet my people have exchanged their glorious God
for worthless idols!
12 The heavens are shocked at such a thing
and shrink back in horror and dismay,”
says the Lord.
13 “For my people have done two evil things:
They have abandoned me—
the fountain of living water.
And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns
that can hold no water at all!
PSALM 139:
What a contrast with what we just read! Our God searches us out and knows all about us. This psalm has been a great comfort to many.
JOHN 18b:
Jesus knew he was walking inexorably to the cross. To me it is interesting that in Jesus’ short time with the governor of the land, he brought the focus to the concept of ‘truth’.
NLT Translation notes:
Jer. 4:2 Then when you swear by my name, saying,
‘As surely as the LORD lives,’
you could do so
with truth, justice, and righteousness.
Then you would be a blessing to the nations of the world,
and all people would come and praise [Me//my name].”
====
John 18:22 Then one of the Temple guards standing nearby slapped Jesus across the face. [He snapped,] “Is that the way to answer the high priest?” [/he demanded.]
24 Then (retired high priest) Annas bound Jesus and sent him to Caiaphas, the (current) high priest.
28 Jesus’ trial before Caiaphas ended in the early hours of the morning. Then he was taken to the headquarters of the Roman governor.f His accusers didn’t go inside because it would defile them, and [they would not be able//they wouldn’t be allowed to] celebrate the Passover.
30 [The Jewish leaders replied,] “We wouldn’t have handed him over to you if he weren’t a criminal!” [/they retorted].
35 [Pilato snapped back,] “Am I a Jew?” [/Pilate retorted.] “Your own people and their leading priests brought you to me for trial. Why? What have you done?”
 
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.