Dear Friends,
Our journey through the scriptures continues this week as we begin reading the prophecy of Isaiah and conclude our reading of II Corinthians. The Book of Isaiah has many wonderful and memorable passages which cover several historical periods over several centuries. In chapters 1-39, the prophet is speaking to the people prior to their being taken into exile into Babylon, and thus include warnings about the deteriorating religious life of God's people. In chapters 40-55, it seems that the prophet is in exile with the people and voices words of hope and comfort for their return to Jerusalem. In the final section, chapters 56-66, the prophet is concerned with life following the people's return from exile. The historical period of what we have in Isaiah dates from the mid-8th century to the late 6th century before Christ. This week, you will note some very familiar passages that we often hear during the Advent season.
In II Corinthians, Paul continues his defense of his apostolic credentials and in chapter 11, sarcastically saying that he must be a fool to boast about his weaknesses as being a sign of strength. The point is, of course, that his foolishness, his weakness simply becomes a way for God to display his great power. The concluding verse of II Corinthians is the source of the Trinitarian Benediction and one of two places in the Bible where we find the doctrine of the Trinity proclaimed as Paul concludes: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all."
May God continue to guide us and speak to us as we read his Word together.
Grace and Peace,
Tom Lovell
A YEAR WITH THE BIBLE. Below are the daily readings for this week thru Sunday. You may also read or listen online at http://dailyaudiobible.com.
| Date | Old Testament | New Testament | Proverbs |
| Sept 9 | Isaiah 3:1-5:30 | II Corinthians 11:1-15 | 22:28-29 |
| Sept 10 | Isaiah 6:1-7:25 | II Corinthians 11:16-33 | 23:1-3 |
| Sept 11 | Isaiah 8:1-9:21 | II Corinthians 12:1-10 | 23:4-5 |
| Sept 12 | Isaiah 10:1-11:16 | II Corinthians 12:11-21 | 23:6-8 |
| Sept 13 | Isaiah 12:1-14:32 | II Corinthians 13:1-14 | 23:6-8 |
| Sept 14 | Isaiah 15:1-18:7 | Galatians 1:1-24 | 23:12 |
| Sept 15 | Isaiah 19:1-21:17 | Galatians 2:1-16 | 23:13-14 |
No comments:
Post a Comment