Daily Bible Reading Podcast Phil Fields

JOSHUA 6-7:
In yesterday’s reading, Joshua lead the people across the Jordan on dry ground, and they set up 12 stones in two places to be memorial reminders for the people of this miracle. All the men were circumcised, and the angel who is the commander of God's army revealed himself to Joshua.
PSALM 69:
In yesterday’s reading, I appreciated that the writer appealed to God based on the Lord’s ‘constant love’. Let’s continue the reading of Ps 69 with four verses appropriate to Jesus’ life. Note that verse 22 is quoted by Paul in Romans 11.
ACTS 21a:
Yesterday we heard Paul's speech to the Ephesian elders. The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that they would never see him again. He warned them to be faithful in shepherding the people and to watch out for false teaching. In Revelation 2 we find out that they did as Paul commanded, but in their zeal to protect from error, they forgot to be loving.
NLT Translation notes:
Ps. 69:30 Then I will praise [Your name, O God//God’s name] with singing,
and I will honor [You/him] with thanksgiving.
31 For this will please [You/the] LORD more than sacrificing cattle,
more than presenting a bull with its horns and hooves.
32 The humble will see their [You, O] God[,] at work and be glad.
Let all who seek [your help, O God//God’s help] be encouraged.
Acts 21:4 and 12 NLT has 'not go on' and I read 'not go'. My mistake! But many other translations do not have the word 'on' and I didn't see it both times.
 
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.

JOSHUA 4-5:
In yesterday’s reading, Joshua sent out two spies. Rahab, who was a prostitute and later became an outstanding example of God's grace, protected them and eventually became a full member of Israel. The people of Israel crossed the Jordan miraculously on dry ground— even though the river was in flood stage, as Joshua leads following God's instructions.
PSALM 69:
This poem contains words that were quoted about Jesus (v. 4 and 9). Those verses give us an inside view of the nature of Jesus’ suffering while on earth in his public ministry.
ACTS 20:
In yesterday’s reading, Paul left Ephesus and prepared other churches for his departure. In Troas, Paul preached all night. Eutychus had trouble staying awake. And today we will hear all of Paul's speech at Miletus to the elders from the church at Ephesus.
NLT Translation notes:
Josh. 5:13 When Joshua was near the town of Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and [asked him//demanded], “Are you friend or foe?”
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Ps. 69:3I am exhausted from crying for help;
my throat is parched.
My eyes are swollen with weeping,
waiting for [You] my God to help me.
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Acts 20:18 When they arrived he [began his speech//declared], “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now
21 I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of [fully believing//having faith] in our Lord Jesus.
25 “And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the [Good News about God’s] Kingdom will ever see me again.
28 “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as [elders//leaders].

 
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.

JOSHUA 2-3:
Yesterday we started the book of Joshua, named after the man God chose as Moses’ successor. In this book we will see the victory of the Chosen People in conquering the Promised Land (chapters 1-12) and then the occupation of the Promised Land (chapters 13-24). Three times i n Deuteronomy 31, we heard the charge, “Be determined and confident,” and that command was repeated three more times to Joshua in chapter 1.
PSALM 68b:
This psalm starts with the words Moses spoke whenever the Ark of the Covenant was taken up to be moved to another place:
“1 Rise up, O God, and scatter your enemies.”
And David adds, “Let those who hate God run for their lives.”
ACTS 20a:
Yesterday we heard of how Demetrius— the silver-smith shrine-making businessman, incited a riot against Paul.
NLT Translation note:
Ps. 68:31 NLT Version difference in Line B: let Ethiopia bow in submission to God.
Acts 20:25 “And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached [this news about//the] [God’s] Kingdom will ever see me again.
 
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.

JOSHUA 1:
Yesterday we read the conclusion of Deuteronomy with Moses blessing eleven  of the twelve tribes with a prophetic blessing. And then Moses died and the Lord buried him in an unknown location in Moab.
Now we turn to Joshua, the book named after the man God chose as Moses’ successor. In this book we see the victory of the Chosen People in conquering the Promised Land (chapters 1-12) and then the occupation of the Promised Land (chapters 13-24). Three times in Deuteronomy 31, we find the charge, “Be determined and confident,” and that command is repeated to Joshua in the beginning of this book.
PSALM 68a:
This beautiful song of praise is filled with poetic imagery celebrating the victories God gives his people. So this song is very appropriate for us to read as a preface to the book of Joshua. This starts with the words that Moses spoke whenever the Ark of the Covenant was moved. Paul quotes from v18 and 20 in Eph 4.
ACTS 19b:
Apollos was introduced in yesterday's reading. And Paul returned to Ephesus and had a miraculous and fruitful ministry there for three years.
 
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.

DEUTERONOMY 33-34:
In yesterday's reading, Moses showed Israel that the leadership was given to Joshua, and he gave the command that this book of Deuteronomy be kept near the Arc of the Covenant. Then God gave Moses a long song to teach people, to help them remember. In this song, God described some future events as happening in the past tense. This is a feature many prophetic writings. Here is one detail you might want to notice today in chapter 33: In Moses’ blessings for the tribes of Israel, only 11 are listed. So I’m giving a digging deeper challenge: Which tribe is left out, and what theory do you propose for that one being left out?

PSALM 67:
The theme of this beautiful psalm is that the salvation that God gives is to be made known to people everywhere, to every ethnic group.

ACTS 19a:
Yesterday in Acts 18, Paul met and began working with Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth. When put on trial before Gallio, God defended him so that he didn't even need to speak. Then that night Jesus strengthened him to keep on speaking boldly.

NLT Translation note:
Ps. 67:7 Yes, [You, O ] God will bless us,
and people all over the world will fear [You/him].
 
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.

DEUTERONOMY 31-32:
Yesterday in Deuteronomy Moses reviewed the covenant and again stressed that the choice is between life and death, and between experiencing blessings or curses. Be aware that in the poem dictated to Moses by the Lord, the Lord speaks of things that were in Israel’s future as if they had already taken place. This is called propleptic past tense, and is a feature of prophetic writings.
PSALM 66:
Our glorious God deserves glorious praise. Note that this psalm shows the importance of confessing our sins to God.
ACTS 18:
In Acts 17, opposition hounded the steps of Paul, Silas and Timothy, first in Thessalonica and then in Berea. The people of Berea are an example for us all, and that’s why so many churches are named after their city. Then Paul in Athens debated with the philosophers of his day.
NLT Translation notes:
Deut. 31:51 For both of you betrayed me [before/with] the Israelites at the waters of Meribah at Kadeshm in the wilderness of Zin. You failed to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel there.
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Acts 18:5 And after Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul spent all his time preaching the word. He testified to the Jews that Jesus [is/was] the Messiah.
 
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.