Category: 2021 Bible Reading

---

Tanakh (Old Testament) Reading
Leviticus 8 – 11; Psalm 110
Leviticus 12 – 14; Psalm 111
Leviticus 15 – 18; Psalm 31
Leviticus 19 – 20
Leviticus 21 – 23

---

B’rit Hadashah (New Covenant, or New Testament) Reading
Hebrews 4
Hebrews 5
Hebrews 6
Hebrews 7
Hebrews 8

---

Thoughts about Leviticus 8 through 23
On February 28, Pastor Andrew said, “The Book of Leviticus is where Bible-reading plans go to die.” (Or something like that.)
How are you doing? Don’t give up, even if you don’t understand it all! Have you tried listening to audio if you’re having a tough time wading through it?

Chapters 8 and 9 are difficult reading. Slaughtering animals for sacrifice to consecrate and appoint Aaron and his sons as priests is foreign to us. But at the end of chapter 9, we get to see…
…the amazing event described in verses 22-24. How cool is that?!
In chapter 10, Nabab and Abihu, Aaron’s oldest sons, offer unauthorized fire before the LORD, and suffer the consequence. What is your perspective on that? (I don’t understand the significance of verses 16 through 20.)
Chapter 11: All about kosher and unclean animals.
Chapter 12: What to do after having babies.
Chapter 13: Diagnosing leprosy. (For me, this is unpleasant reading.)
Chapter 14: The first half is about cleansing from leprosy. This is a big deal for two reasons.
(1) Verses 1 through 9 require bathing, which is the Jewish mikveh. (There is almost nothing about it in the Torah, but apparently, there’s A LOT about it in the Talmud. I haven’t read it.) It’s total immersion, which we see in the New Testament: Yochanan the Immerser (John the Baptizer) was a prophet who practiced it as an integral part of his ministry.
(2) I haven’t fact-checked, but I heard a Bible teacher explain that no one had ever been cleansed of leprosy, so these nine verses had never been applied. It’s an extremely nasty, destructive disease. The rabbis believed that when the Messiah comes, HE will be able to cleanse a leper. This is why the religious leaders went out to see and hear Yeshua (Jesus) out in the desert. Could he be the One we’ve been waiting for? This is also why Jesus told the lepers he cleansed to show themselves to the priests, in accordance with the Torah. It was to be a witness to the priests. They were too excited, and went and told everybody…
The second part of the chapter is about what to do with a building that has “leprosy.”
Chapter 15: Laws about yucky stuff. The people of Israel were often healthier and longer-lived than their neighbors. Those who settled out of the land of Israel and lived according to the Torah were likewise usually healthier. A kosher diet and cleansing/washing/bathing contributed to a better life.
Chapter 16: Sacrificial stuff, including the scapegoat.
Chapter 17: Hunting wild beasties is allowed—as long as they are kosher, of course—but ranch-raised animals must be slaughtered by a priest, with a portion given to the priest. That would be a huge inconvenience for people who love to eat a lot of meat! I’m glad we aren’t required to to it that way.
Chapter 18: Hard reading. God hates sexual immorality, so he defines it here, and states clearly how he will punish those who live in opposition to his ways. Do you have any thoughts on this subject? Has God changed his mind to accommodate twenty-first century preferences?
Chapter 19: A variety of laws. What do you think about verses 17 and 18?
Chapter 20: More laws. God knows what is best for us, and tries to keep us from self-destruction.
Chapter 21: Laws regarding the priests.
Chapter 22: Mores laws for the priests; more laws for the people.
Chapter 23: The Holy Days of Isra’el! I wish we celebrated these feasts. They all point to Yeshua. Do you have any experience in this area?

Thoughts about Psalms 110, 111, and 31
Psalm 110 was written by David, so—if the goal was to correlate it to the Old Testament—I would have preferred to see it incorporated into the life of David.
It’s the most-quoted Psalm in the New Testament: Matthew 22:44, 26:64; Mark 12:36; Luke 20:42. It isn’t referred to in Hebrews 4, but it IS quoted in Hebrews 1, 5, 6, 7, and 8! That’s why it was included here.
Psalm 111 is wonderful, and fits well with both the Mosaic law in Leviticus and the Jesus-is-better-than-Melchizedek theology in Hebrews.
Psalm 31 is another thoughtful song by David. I would have liked to see it correlated to his life instead of here.
What did you think about these psalms?

Thoughts about Hebrews 4 through 8
Hebrews! Based on how the book ends (the finale of chapter 13), I believe Paul wrote or co-wrote it. The Tanakh-based theology of these chapters basically says:
• Jesus gives rest that was not given in the old covenant
• Jesus is superior to the Aaronic priesthood; he is compared to Malki-Tzedek (Melchizedek.)
• Jesus sits at the right hand of God!
What did learn about/enjoy/appreciate in these chapters?

---

Tanakh (Old Testament) Reading
Exodus 32 – 34
Exodus 35 – 37; Psalm 26
Exodus 38 – 40
Leviticus 1 – 3; Psalm 27
Leviticus 4 – 7

---

B’rit Hadashah (New Covenant, or New Testament) Reading
Philippians 3
Philippians 4
Hebrews 1
Hebrews 2
Hebrews 3

---

Thoughts about Exodus 32 through 40
Chapter 32. This is painful. While Moses is with God, receiving the Law, the former slaves get out of control and convince Aaron to make them a god they can see. Moses negotiates with God to spare the people, but when he gets down to see what’s going on, he destroys the stone tablets, and calls for help. His fellow tribesmen, the Levites, rally to him and kill three thousand Israelites. A very sad day.
What do you think about this tragic event?
Chapter 33: Moses spends more time with Adonai, and gets to see a portion of his glory.
Have you figured out what it means to see God?
Chapters 34 through 39. More laws, and the construction of everything related to Tabernacle worship. (I wonder how many years it took them.) Here’s the summary:
Exodus 39:42) The people of Isra’el did all the work just as Adonai had ordered Moshe. 43) Moshe saw all the work, and — there it was! — they had done it! Exactly as Adonai had ordered, they had done it. And Moshe blessed them.
Wouldn’t it have been wonderful to see all that had been accomplished while living in the desert? (It’s one of my most-desired time-travel destinations.)
Chapter 40 – The Grand Finale of Exodus. The priests are consecrated, and the Tabernacle and Courtyard are completed.
34) Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of Adonai filled the tabernacle. 35) Moshe was unable to enter the tent of meeting, because the cloud remained on it, and the glory of Adonai filled the tabernacle.
(When I’m time-traveling, I’ll definitely want to stay there long enough to see the glory of Adonai filling the brand-new Tabernacle.)

Thoughts about Leviticus 1 through 7
On February 28, Pastor Andrew said, “The Book of Leviticus is where Bible-reading plans go to die.” (Or something like that.)
I have read this book enough times over the course of my life that I’m mostly comfortable with it.
I’ll repeat what I wrote last week to help you get through these chapters; these three things help me:
1) Everything in the Tanakh points to Jesus. Every detail in this passage is full of details is hinting at the coming Messiah. Look for those hints.
2) Get help visualizing the things in these chapters. It’s easy to find online images of all the things described. Or buy a book that shows the layout of the Tabernacle and courtyard; all the furnishings therein; the priests’ garments.
3) Listen to these chapters in an audio Bible instead of (or in addition to) reading the paper-and-ink version.

What questions do you have about these chapters? What insights do you have from reading and studying them?

Thoughts about Psalms 26 and 27
I would have preferred to see these Psalms incorporated into the life of David, since he wrote them.
What did you think about these psalms?

Thoughts about Philippians 3 and 4, and Hebrews 1 through 3
Philippians! More delicious, densely-packed wisdom from Paul. A sample from chapter 4:
4) Rejoice in union with the Lord always! I will say it again: rejoice! 5) Let everyone see how reasonable and gentle you are. The Lord is near! 6) Don’t worry about anything; on the contrary, make your requests known to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. 7) Then God’s shalom, passing all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with the Messiah Yeshua. 8) In conclusion, brothers, focus your thoughts on what is true, noble, righteous, pure, lovable or admirable, on some virtue or on something praiseworthy. 9) Keep doing what you have learned and received from me, what you have heard and seen me doing; then the God who gives shalom will be with you.
What did you learn/enjoy/appreciate in these chapters?
Hebrews! Based on how the book ends (the finale of chapter 13), I believe Paul wrote or co-wrote it. The Tanakh-based theology of the first three chapters basically says:
• Jesus is superior to the prophets
• Jesus is superior to the angels
• Jesus is superior to Moses and Joshua
It’s amazing to see how much the author quoted from the Tanakh in just three chapters: Psalm 110, Psalm 2, 2 Samuel 7, 1 Chronicles 7, Psalm 97, Psalm 104, Psalm 45, Psalm 102, Psalm 8, Psalm 22, Isaiah 8, Isaiah 41, Numbers 12, and Psalm 95.
What did you see?

---

Tanakh (Old Testament) Reading
Exodus 16 – 18
Exodus 19 – 21; Psalm 33
Exodus 22 – 24; Psalm 109
Exodus 25 – 27; Psalm 90
Exodus 28 – 31

---

B’rit Hadashah (New Covenant, or New Testament) Reading
Ephesians 4
Ephesians 5
Ephesians 6
Philippians 1
Philippians 2

---

Thoughts about Exodus 16 through 31
Chapter 16: Grumbling and complaining; what leaders love most about leadership! God sends manna.
What do you think about whining? About manna, and the God who provided it?
Chapter 17: More whining, but this time about water.
Have you ever been really thirsty? I’m sympathetic to their misery, but “For what did you bring us up from Egypt? to kill us, our children and our livestock with thirst?” Was not the right way to ask for help.
The first warfare after leaving Egypt: the Amalekites attack. God intervenes.
Chapter 18. The wise father-in-law, Jethro, advises Moses to delegate some authority before his kills himself.
What do you think of the advice given, and the response Moses made to it?
Chapter 19. Preparation for chapter 20…
Chapter 20. The Ten Words! Also known as The Ten Commandments. The foundation of the Torah, the Law of God with his people, the Children of Israel.
What do you think about this chapter? We could have a long discussion on this subject.
Chapters 21 through 23. Various laws. I’m comfortable with all of them–either as laws that pertain to the nation of Israel or principles for Christians–except the slavery issues in 21:2-11. But I trust God knew what he was doing then, as I trust he knows what he is doing now, and in the future.
Chapter 24. Wow. Moses and Aaron, and Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders went up Mount Sinai, “…and they saw the God of Israel.”
Have you figured out how that fits with:
No one has ever seen God; but the only and unique Son, who is identical with God and is at the Father’s side — he has made him known. ???
Yochanan (John) 1:18, Complete Jewish Bible
Chapters 25 through 30. Lots of interesting stuff about the sanctuary, the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat, the table for the bread of the presence, the menorah with its seven lamps, the tabernacle, the altar for burning sacrifices, the courtyard around the tabernacle, the garments for the priests, and all the things that go along with them. The process for consecrating the priests to the LORD. The incense altar. How to take a proper census. The basin of bronze for washing. The holy anointing oil.
Or is it interesting? Is this where the read-through-the-Bible-in-a-year plan starts to wear you down?
Two things help me:
1) Everything in the Tanakh points to Jesus. Even if I don’t fully understand it, every detail in this passage full of details is hinting at the coming Messiah. Look for those hints.
2) Get help visualizing the things in these chapters. It’s easy to find images of all the things described online. Or buy a book that shows the layout of the Tabernacle and courtyard; all the furnishings therein; the priests garments.
3) Oops. Make that three things. Listen to these chapters in an audio Bible instead of reading the paper-and-ink version.
What do you recommend to help people stay engaged with this portion of Scripture?
Chapter 31. God gives Bezalel and Oholiab gifts for his service.
I love this passage. It’s basically an Old-Testament version of 1 Corinthians chapter 12. What do you see?

Thoughts about Psalms 33, 109, and 90
I don’t see how Psalms 33 or 109 fit with the Exodus narrative. Psalm 90 was written by Moses!
What did you think about these psalms?

Thoughts about Ephesians 4 through 6 and Philippians 1 and 2
Ephesians! Still more delicious, very-densely-packed theology from Paul. The full armor of God!
What do you see in these three chapters?
Philippians! When I was in the Air Force (forty years ago!) my friend memorized the whole book of Philippians, so I read it as he recited it, making sure he got it word-for-word. Good memories.
What did you learn?

---

Tanakh (Old Testament) Reading
Exodus 1 – 3
Exodus 4 – 6
Exodus 7 – 9; Psalm 105
Exodus 10 – 12
Exodus 13 – 15; Psalm 114
(Note: the “Following Jesus” guide incorrectly had Exodus 13 though 25 instead of 13 through 15. We hope you didn’t panic. Or give up reading in frustration!)

---

B’rit Hadashah (New Covenant, or New Testament) Reading
Galatians 5
Galatians 6
Ephesians 1
Ephesians 2
Ephesians 3

---

Thoughts about Exodus 1 through 15
Exodus! We get to meet baby Moshe (Moses) in chapter 1. By chapter 15, he’s the leader of a nation of newly-liberated slaves who are singing in victory!
1) Then Moshe and the people of Isra’el sang this song to Adonai:
“I will sing to Adonai, for he is highly exalted:
the horse and its rider he threw in the sea.
2) Yah is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation.
This is my God: I will glorify him;
my father’s God: I will exalt him.
3) Adonai is a warrior;
Adonai is his name.
What did you think about that history?

Thoughts about Psalms 105 and 114
I love how both Psalm 105 and Psalm 114 are summaries of what we have been reading in Exodus!

What did you think about these psalms?

Thoughts about Galatians 5 and 6, and Ephesians 1 through 3
Galatians 5:1) What the Messiah has freed us for is freedom! Therefore, stand firm, and don’t let yourselves be tied up again to a yoke of slavery.
I love that concept of Christian freedom. I also love and appreciate Galatians 6, which emphasizes the need to restore a brother or sister in the Lord who has sinned. We are definitely not supposed to “shoot the wounded.” I’m always grateful when I don’t get expelled from the Family of God when I sin. What do you think about the book of Galatians?
Ephesians! More delicious, very-densely-packed theology from Paul. Salvation by grace, through faith! What do you see in these three chapters?

---

Tanakh (Old Testament) Reading
Genesis 41 & 42
Genesis 43 & 44; Psalm 24
Genesis 45 & 46; Psalm 108
Genesis 47 & 48; Psalm 25
Genesis 49 & 50

---

B’rit Hadashah (New Covenant, or New Testament) Reading
Mark 16
Galatians 1
Galatians 2
Galatians 3
Galatians 4

---

Thoughts about Genesis 41 through 50
That wraps up the book of Genesis.
What did you think about it?

Thoughts about Psalms 24, 108, and 25
What did you think about how these psalms were correlated to the readings in Genesis and Mark and Galatians?

Thoughts about Mark 16 and Galatians 1 through 4
That wraps up the book of Mark. What did you think?
Galatians is densely-packed theology from Sha’ul (Paul). What did you see that applies to you?

---

Tanakh (Old Testament) Reading
Genesis 28 & 29
Genesis 30 & 31; Psalm 11
Genesis 32-34; Psalm 145
Genesis 35-37; Psalm 25
Genesis 38-40

---

B’rit Hadashah (New Covenant, or New Testament) Reading
Mark 11
Mark 12
Mark 13
Mark 14
Mark 15

---

I was still too wordy in Week 2. This post is ACTUALLY short.

Thoughts about Genesis 28 through 40
Great stuff! What do you think?

Thoughts about Psalms 11, 145, and 25
More great stuff! What do you think?

Thoughts about Mark 11 through 15
Still more great stuff! What do you think?

---

---

Tanakh (Old Testament) Reading
Genesis 16-18
Genesis 19 & 20; Psalm 1
Genesis 21-23; Psalm 107
Genesis 24 & 25; Psalm 4
Genesis 26 & 27

---

B’rit Hadashah (New Covenant, or New Testament) Reading
Mark 6
Mark 7
Mark 8
Mark 9
Mark 10

---

Last week was my first attempt at a blog post. It was TOO LONG. I’ll try to keep this one shorter.

Thoughts about Genesis 16 through 27
Chapter 16. It’s easy to blame Abram and Sarai for getting ahead of God’s plan for them to have their very own baby, but Abram was 86(!) when Yishma’el (Ishmael) was born to their Egyptian servant Hagar. Can you be sympathetic to their impatience? It was a long wait from the first promise until Isaac was born …
Chapter 17. We learn more detail on the Abrahamic Covenant, which includes circumcision.
After God changes their names, the famous couple become Abraham (“father of many”) and Sarah (“princess.”)
Chapters 18 and 19. God tells Abraham his plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah; Abraham negotiates (with God!) to not destroy them if there are ten righteous people there.
Two angels drag Lot and his family away before they destroy the cities. Mrs. Lot looks back toward home longingly, and is somehow transmogrified into a pillar of salt. The two daughters show how badly they were influenced by being raised in a godless environment, and produce incestuous offspring from their father:
The older daughter gives birth to Mo’av (Moab), the progenitor of the Moabites, a tribe that was later often at war with Israel.
The younger daughter produces Ben-‘Ammi, the progenitor of the Ammonites, another tribe that was often in conflict with the Israelites. It’s difficult to raise god-fearing children, but it’s REALLY DIFFICULT to so in a toxic environment that hates God and his laws. What do you think about this issue?
Chapter 20. Abraham uses the “say you’re my sister” trick with Sarah again. God saves them both. Again.
Chapter 21. finally, Finally, FINALLY, we get to meet Yitz’chak (Isaac, which means “laughter”)! Do you feel the joy?
There is conflict between Ishmael and Isaac, so Sarah demands to have Ishmael sent away. Abraham does so reluctantly. Do you feel the pain?
Chapter 22. One of the most amazing passages in the Bible, from my perspective: God orders Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. Even though I know how the story ends, and I have read it many times and heard it taught many times, it has SHOCK VALUE. It’s a prophetic gesture that points to ADONAI offering his own son Yeshua (Jesus) at the same location about two thousand years later. Are you impressed by Abraham’s faith as he acted in obedience to God’s hard-to-believe command?
Chapter 23. Sarah dies at age 127; Abraham buys a plot of land for a cemetery.
Chapter 24. Abraham is old, so he sends servant back to the old country to find a wife for Isaac, who is grown up. We meet Rivkah (Rebecca), who agrees to go with the servant to marry a man she has never met, in a faraway land. What do you think of that adventuresome young lady?
Chapter 25. Abraham remarries a lady named K’turah (Keturah.) That’s a reasonable thing to do. They have a bunch of children. But giving everything to Isaac and sending away all the children from that second marriage seems like … trouble. What do you think?
Abraham dies at age 175.
Isaac and Rebecca are married twenty years before their twin sons are born:
• ‘Esav (Esau: “completely formed,” that is, “having hair already.”)
• Ya’akov (Jacob: “he catches by the heel,” “he supplants.”)
Esau sells his birthright.
Chapter 26. ADONAI appears to Isaac and confirms that the Abrahamic Covenant applies to him.
While he is living in Gerar, Isaac pulls the same “she is my sister” stunt that his father used. God protects them.
Isaac grows in wealth, and there is a lot of arguing about wells and water rights. They find water at a place they name Be’er-Sheva (Beersheba: “well of seven”)
Esau marries local women who make life miserable for Isaac and Rebecca. 1 Corinthians 6:14 Do not become unequally yoked with unbelievers…
Chapter 27. Jacob and Rebecca work together to fool Isaac into giving Jacob the blessing instead of Esau. As you would expect, Esau plans to kill his younger brother after his father dies. Rebecca tells him to go back to her family and find a wife there. What to you think of the dynamics of this family?

Thoughts about Psalms 1, 107, and 4
• Do you think Psalm 1 is a good fit to read along with Genesis 19 and 20? Or does it belong with Mark 7?
• How about Psalm 107: it is a good fit with Genesis 21 through 23? Or Mark 8?
• In my humble opinion, Psalm 4–which was written by David–should have been correlated to David’s life. I would have preferred to see it at the end of 2 Samuel 3, which is when Abner was willing to end the long civil war and help unite the nation under David. Or maybe you can explain how it fits with Genesis 24 and 25 or Mark 9.

Thoughts about Mark 6 through 10
These chapters are packed with wonderful stuff from the life of Jesus, but I overdid it again. I was trying to be brief compared to my previous post. I failed.
What do you want to discuss regarding this amazing passage from the ministry of Jesus?