Bible Read Thread

[SarahsKnight]

Monday, Week Seven: The Law

Genesis chapters 24 through 27

 

[Swan7]

Genesis 26:6-11
There seems to be a lot of lying for fear of life here...

In these few chapters there was a LOT that went on. To me, there seemed to be favoritism between the twins. Issach loved E'sau and Rebekah loved Jacob. Why would God send away Abraham's manservant to fetch a wife that would eventually end up warring against each other?

 

[Goodbook]

family drama.
Well, I never noticed any favouritism with my twin brothers, dad liking one and mum liking the other like Jacob and Esau. I think because they are quite similar in many ways and didn't fight so much.

 

[SarahsKnight]

We'll be seeing what's up with Gideon again today in books of History with Judges chapters 7 through 11.

 

[SarahsKnight]

I remember being somewhat sympathetic to the story every time I come back to Jephthah and his daughter Mizpah at the end of Judges 11. I guess it makes me a little sad because I can imagine the scene so well, Mizpah coming out from their house looking all sweet and gaily, dancing happily with her tambourine to show her gratitude at seeing her father return home alive and safe from war. And yet her movements probably slow and her smile begins to fade as she is slightly surprised to see not a returning smile on Jephthah's face when he notices her, but instead a distressed or at least somber expression, and Mizpah wonders what this must mean for him (or her). And yet despite what an ill and quite frankly brutal fate awaits Mizpah to be given over as a burned sacrifice to God because of a hastily-made vow made by Jephthah, I must admit I still find it admirable and encouraging that both father and daughter - however grieved they both must be to follow through with it - seemingly without hesitation determined to fulfill the vow that Jephthah made to God, anyway, even if Jephthah did not think at the time what repercussions this could probably have. Mizpah knows her life will end soon and she even requests time to mourn with her friends before, but she still willingly and faithfully goes to God as a sacrifice so as not to dishonor her father's promise made to God. I think this took great faith on the part of both, and I am willing to bet God did not let this go unnoticed.

You might say Mizpah's allowing herself to be led to slaughter, with great mourning but quietly, willingly, and without struggle, to fulfill a promise is also a predecessor of the future picture we see in the Gospels of a certain Son of Man quietly going to his death for others' sake, thinking nothing of preserving Himself but that the Father would be honored and His purpose of redemption fulfilled.

 

[SarahsKnight]

Wednesday, Week Seven: Psalms

Psalms 18 through 20.

 

[Swan7]

I'm not sure I understood what happened in Judges. Perhaps Mizpah's could be seen as symbolical to Jesus, but when I think of other people being sacrificed, I always think it's for another god and not God.

 

[Goodbook]

I don't think she was literally sacrificed..sorry I missed that reading have to catch up. She just didn't marry.

 

[Goodbook]

Mizpah - was offered to the Lord instead of a burnt offering. Not AS a burnt offering.
KJV has 'for' which doesn't necessarily mean 'as'.
Remember Jesus said we are living sacrifices. Does not mean we are burnt alive.

 

[SarahsKnight]

KJV has 'for' which doesn't necessarily mean 'as'.
Remember Jesus said we are living sacrifices. Does not mean we are burnt alive.

Makes a lot more sense, then. It said it as "for" in my Bible, too. I knew God wasn't in the habit of requesting human sacrifices - in fact, I remember specifically one time in the OT where He is angry with His people for offering their own children as sacrifices to other gods, as though the human sacrifice part along with the idolatry was what He was incensed about - but I just figured that since Jephthah was the one who made the vow, he was simply being faithful in following through with it, and the way he termed his vow just made it sound to me like he would offer up "whatever comes through the door of my house" as an actual burnt offering.

 

[Goodbook]

lol.
I'm sure lots of people read that thinking WHAt??? Well, remember God already requested that of Isaac and of course Abraham wasn't going to literally do it. He trusted God. It just means offering them to the Lord.

I think in OT the firstborns were meant to be offered to the Lord but they sacrificed pigeons and turtledoves instead so that they could keep them. Well Jesus had that, if parents were richer, maybe a whole ox.

 

[Swan7]

Lots of hope and thankfulness from Psalms today

 

[SarahsKnight]

Thursday, week seven: Poetry

Job chapters 13 and 14.

 

[Swan7]

Job seems to be conflicted with having much faith in God to do as He wills and seeing no hope for himself.

 

[Goodbook]

Job thinks that men die and thats it..he's doubleminded.

 

[Swan7]

Ahh,!thanks for clearing that up

 

[SarahsKnight]

Morning, folks. Today we will be reading through Isaiah, 34 through 39.

 

[Goodbook]

King Hezekiah was granted an extension. I dont think I want to know necessarily how many years I have left. I could think of all the things Ive done to possibly shorten them.

 

[Swan7]

I think I would, that way I can do the things that really need to be done by that time I leave the earth. Granted, they should be done even if o were to die tomorrow, but I look at it like a straight line knowing how long it is rather than seeing only a few inches everyday, kind of thing.

 

[SarahsKnight]

Isaiah 35 is always a beautiful and encouraging prophecy that may (or may not) have to do with the coming Kingdom of God, and how things will be ran on the other side of eternity. If this chapter does concern Heaven and eternal life, then I would also say the way of wording here makes it a decent example for pro-arguing universal reconciliation. But that's just an observation.