DEUTERONOMY 23-24: Yesterday we read an odd collection of regulations: Cleansing the land from unsolved murder, marrying a captive woman after a war, rights of a first-born son when a man has more than one wife, the responsibility of helping neighbors, and various problems concerning adultery. PSALM 61: This is one I love to sing. ACTS 15a: In Acts 14, we heard of the incredible turn of events for Paul and Barnabas. At one moment they were hailed as gods, but after a very short time Paul was sto...
Apr 13, 2025•18 min•Season 1Ep. 104
A few years ago I published a YouVersion reading plan entitled Buckling the belt of truth. In this podcast I’m reissuing the first episode of that reading plan. Here I am at 72. I'm beginning to not be so surprised at my own age. Being so very elderly, perhaps it is time to share some grandfatherly advice. Maybe I have some of you fooled. Some of you may think that an elder missionary like me has it all together and that I don't ever sin. You might think that I have conquered all weaknesses and ...
Apr 07, 2025•25 min•Season 1Ep. 103
DEUTERONOMY 21-22: Yesterday we heard an explanation of why cities of refuge were needed. And we heard interesting rules concerning war. In the war and conquest of Canaan that we will read about in Joshua, I urge us to remember that God spoke repeatedly about the wickedness of the Canaanite nations that Israel would conquer (beginning with what He said to Jacob way back in Genesis 15:16). Included in the detestable customs of the nations mentioned, is that they sacrificed human babies, burning t...
Apr 07, 2025•23 min•Season 1Ep. 103
DEUTERONOMY 19-20: In yesterday’s reading we heard that the duties of the king included having a copy of the Law made, or perhaps making it himself (the Hebrew is unclear on that point). This is something we never hear of happening. (I don’t think what was given to King Josiah at his inauguration qualifies.) Then Deuteronomy 18 is very import in its prohibition against all kinds of witchcraft and fortune telling. Then there is one of the most important prophecies regarding Jesus: God was going t...
Apr 07, 2025•20 min•Season 1Ep. 102
DEUTERONOMY 17-18: In yesterday's reading we heard about the release of debts and slaves in the Jubilee Year (also called the year of restoration), and a reminder about 100% participation for the males in three festivals. PSALM 58: This poem celebrates that God will indeed give justice to His people, even though many times it seems to us that there is no justice on earth. ACTS 13a: In yesterday’s reading, we heard how Herod decided to go after the top apostles, killing James. But Peter escaped. ...
Apr 07, 2025•21 min•Season 1Ep. 101
DEUTERONOMY 15-16: Yesterday's reading included Moses' warning about being led astray by anyone, including false prophets or even close family members. No one who proposed idolatry was to be allowed to live. Then we heard a repetition of the laws about which animals were to be treated as clean/edible and those unclean/detestable. Psalm 57: This Psalm is beautiful and often quoted. It again is from David's experiences. ACTS 12: In Acts 11 we heard how Peter needed to defend what he did in sharing...
Apr 07, 2025•23 min•Season 1Ep. 100
DEUTERONOMY 13-14: In yesterday's reading Moses continued to stress the need for faithfulness to God and all his commands. It is clear that Moses loves the people and is marshaling every argument possible to convince them to keep on obeying God. PSALM 56: This is another psalm from the experiences of David. This is a good psalm for us to pray when we feel that our lives are out of control and that people are against us. ACTS 11: In yesterday's reading, Peter didn't even get to finish his speech ...
Apr 06, 2025•18 min•Season 1Ep. 99
DEUTERONOMY 11-12: In yesterday's reading, Moses continued to hammer on the people not to think that they have been favored by God because they are such good people. Moses gave his first hand account of being in God's presence for 40 days and 40 nights on two occasions, one right after the other. He also again models in his prayer for Israel the way to effectively pray for people— which is to base our prayers on God's character and his promises. PSALM 55: This poem was written out of the discour...
Apr 06, 2025•26 min•Season 1Ep. 98
DEUTERONOMY 9-10: In yesterday’s reading, Moses continued his stern lecture. I note particularly that Moses did all he could to stress that the Israelites must not get proud or think they’re great people based on their own merits. The reading also included the famous words, “people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” PSALM 54: This poem is a short cry for help, when David was under severe stress and being attacked. ACTS 10a: We are pr...
Apr 06, 2025•21 min•Season 1Ep. 97
DEUTERONOMY 7-8: Yesterday in Deuteronomy we heard Moses repeating the 10 Commandments and pleading with the people that they remain faithful in obeying all the commands and regulations the Lord gave. The reading ended with an important statement to remember when considering the difference between the old and new covenants: NLT: 6:25 “For we will be counted as righteous when we obey all the commands the LORD our God has given us.’” PSALM 53: This is another Psalm that is quoted in the New Testam...
Mar 30, 2025•18 min•Season 1Ep. 96
DEUTERONOMY 5-6: Yesterday we heard Moses expound on the most important command to never worship any idol or any god other than the Lord. He based this on the Israelite's experience of hearing God's voice and not seeing his form. Moses was realistic and knew that Israel would eventually leave God, and that God would judge them. He gave them this amazing promise: “from there (where you have been exiled by your enemies) you will search again for the LORD your God. And if you search for him with al...
Mar 30, 2025•20 min•Season 1Ep. 95
DEUTERONOMY 4: Yesterday Moses gave his personal account of how God led the people of Israel in not attacking three nations, but finally led them in attacking two kings. Moses pleaded with God to allow him to cross the Jordan into the promised land, but God refused to let him. PSALM 51: This is one of the most quoted and most famous psalms. David's sincere and broken-hearted prayer for forgiveness is a pattern for all of us to follow. ACTS 8b: Yesterday we heard how the believers in Jerusalem we...
Mar 30, 2025•23 min•Season 1Ep. 94
DEUTERONOMY 2-3: Yesterday we heard Moses preaching and confronting the people of Israel about their bickering and their incredible stubbornness in refusing to believe the Lord's commands, and their refusal to believe God’s loving intent in his commands. PSALM 50: Remember what Moses said yesterday in Deuteronomy? This Psalm tells us what God wants most from his people. ACTS 8: Yesterday we heard the conclusion of Stephen's speech. He confronted the high council with the indisputable fact that t...
Mar 30, 2025•25 min•Season 1Ep. 93
DEUTERONOMY 1: Yesterday in the conclusion of Numbers, we learned that each clan's allotment of land must stay within that clan, even when parcels of land could be inherited by daughters. Mears says, “Deuteronomy is a book of remembrance. The name ‘Deuteronomy’ means “second law,” which indicates that the law is repeated. Moses did this to remind the people what God had done for them and what they were to do to serve Him when they reached the Promised Land. This book omits the things that relate...
Mar 30, 2025•22 min•Season 1Ep. 92
NUMBERS 36: Yesterday we heard about the boundaries for the nation of Israel, the 12 clan leaders appointed by the Lord, and about cities set aside for the Levites and cities of refuge— to protect from unjust prosecution of murder. PSALM 48: This psalm praises God for Jerusalem and shows that Jerusalem is a reflection of God's glory. It is clear that more than the earthly Jerusalem is the topic. God has prepared a city for us! ACTS 7a: Yesterday in chapter 6 we heard how grumbling in the ever-ex...
Mar 30, 2025•16 min•Season 1Ep. 91
NUMBERS 34-35: Yesterday we heard the listing of the stages of the nomadic journey of the people of Israel. God began giving instructions for the time when the people would enter the promised land. PSALM 47: This is a jubilant song of praise. This has been a special Psalm for our family. We remember singing this whole Psalm with one of our favorite churches. And when we were in Indonesia, they made a recording and we listened to it many times. ACTS 6: Yesterday we heard Peter and the apostles gi...
Mar 30, 2025•17 min•Season 1Ep. 90
NUMBERS 33: Yesterday we heard how the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh promised to go ahead of their fellow Israelites into battle on the west side of the Jordan, because they were receiving land on the east side of the Jordan. In hindsight, I must say this was not a great idea. Because of how often all the men were required to go to Jerusalem for the holy assemblies, it must have been very easy to not attend those events and grow increasingly far from the Lord. PSALM 46: T...
Mar 23, 2025•16 min•Season 1Ep. 89
NUMBERS 32: Yesterday we heard of the conquest of the Midianite people. That story is an example of how hard it is for us humans to follow God's instructions. PSALM 45: This psalm may have originally been intended as a wedding song for King Solomon, but from our vantage point we can see that it is really a song of praise to our King, the Messiah, and we— the people of God, are the bride. ACTS 5a: Yesterday we heard of the fearless praying of the believers after being commanded to no longer teach...
Mar 23, 2025•16 min•Season 1Ep. 88
NUMBERS 31: Yesterday the listing of sacrifices continued with those for the Festival of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the 8 day Festival of Shelters. Then in Numbers 30 we heard laws concerning the annulment of rash vows. These laws show how seriously God takes any vows made to Him! PSALM 44: This is a psalm with extreme contrast between part one and part two. Part one has a tone of praise— reciting the wonderful way God helped Israel. But part two accuses God of abandoning Israel. This p...
Mar 23, 2025•18 min•Season 1Ep. 87
NUMBERS 29-30: Yesterday we heard about the request of the daughters of Zelophehad, and the Lord told Moses that it was time for him to die. Joshua was appointed to lead in Moses' place. And we were given the list of sacrificial offerings to be given every day in the morning and evening, those given each Sabbath, and those offered on the first day of the month, at the festival of unleavened bread, and the harvest festival. More of the same starts our reading today. PSALM 43: This psalm is a comp...
Mar 23, 2025•16 min•Season 1Ep. 86
NUMBERS 27-28: Yesterday we heard of the second registration of Israel's troops. PSALM 42: This Psalm contains words we often sing. It is a song about renewing hope in the Lord after discouragement. ACTS 3: Yesterday we heard the conclusion of Peter's first sermon. 3,000 believed in Christ that day and were baptized. And the believers devoted themselves totally to the apostles' teaching. NLT/GNT Translation notes: Num. 27:1 Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah were the daughters of Zelopheha...
Mar 23, 2025•17 min•Season 1Ep. 85
In this episode I read Nathan Ensz' article When anxiety takes root . This article is an example of the extreme-believing of God's Word that I promote in my YouVersion reading plan entitled Buckling the Belt of Truth. I believe (in a metaphorical sense) that we buckle the belt of truth by believing what God's word says about us . Pastor Nathan Ensz is the lead pastor of Kingwood Bible Church in Salem, Oregon. His article appeared in the Mennonite Brethren periodical, The Christian Leader, in the...
Mar 23, 2025•15 min•Season 1Ep. 84
NUMBERS 26: Yesterday we heard Balaam's final prophecies. Even though he was a shaman and a charlatan, God chose to speak through him on that occasion, giving a small glimpse of God's redemptive plan. PSALM 41: God hears us when we are down and cry out for his help. ACTS 2b: Yesterday we heard how the Holy Spirit came with tongues of fire and a loud noise, and the beginning part of Peter's first famous sermon. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, Ne...
Mar 23, 2025•19 min•Season 1Ep. 84
NUMBERS 24-25: Yesterday we heard how Balak sent for the shaman Balaam to curse Israel, and we heard that God instead moved him to bless Israel two times. And a third sacrifice of 7 bulls and 7 rams was made. PSALM 40: This is a psalm that is quoted in the New Testament. It is a great psalm of praise which conveys many New Testament concepts. (Some of you will perceive some differences in the NT quote. This is because the NT quote was taken from the Septuagint— the ancient translation of the OT ...
Mar 23, 2025•19 min•Season 1Ep. 83
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 secon...
Mar 16, 2025•24 min•Season 1Ep. 82
NUMBERS 21: Yesterday we heard about the water of purification, which involved the burnt offering of a red heifer and following very exacting requirements. Then we heard the story of Moses and Aaron's failure to display God's holiness in the issue of speaking to— rather than striking the rock. It is no wonder Moses was exasperated by the people. And following that incident, not being able to pass through the land of Edom, they turned back to Mount Hor, where Aaron died. PSALM 38: This is a beaut...
Mar 16, 2025•17 min•Season 1Ep. 81
NUMBERS 19-20: In yesterday's portions we heard how God proved again His choice of Aaron and the Levites by causing Aaron's staff to bud and even produce almonds. And God explained to the Levites and priests that their portion was not land— as for the other Israelites, but God himself and all the gifts given to God. PSALM 37b: Today we return to the acrostic poem, Psalm 37. Look for how this poem shows us God’s perspective about this world. LUKE 24a: At the end of chapter 23, we heard of the eve...
Mar 16, 2025•21 min•Season 1Ep. 80
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 o...
Mar 16, 2025•21 min•Season 1Ep. 79
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 a...
Mar 16, 2025•20 min•Season 1Ep. 78
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. Oppo...
Mar 16, 2025•20 min•Season 1Ep. 77
