Bible reading | A People for His Name

Story Problems and Biblical Interpretation: A Revealing Comparison

May 5, 2024

Students in a college math class take an exam that has many story problems that they must solve correctly. Getting back their graded tests, many students in the class go the dean and complain that the teacher (who wrote all the problems herself) has a wrong understanding of what the problems say and what the right answers to the problems are.

The students say that what the teacher says the problems set forth is only her interpretation and argue that her interpretation of the wording of the problems is wrong. What’s more, the students even disagree among themselves what the story problems mean and what the right answers to the problems are.

In her defense, the teacher says that she has been giving the same test with the same problems for 15 years. She points out that no students prior to the students in this class have ever tried to say that the teacher’s understanding of the meaning of the story problems is wrong and that her answers are wrong.

The dean says that he agrees with the teacher but tells the teacher that she must also accept as correct the differing understandings and answers of the current students who disagree with her interpretation of the wording of the problems. He says that she has to do that because these students are all top athletes in the school’s athletic programs and their families donate vast amounts of money to the school every year.

The teacher refuses so she is fired because the dean does not want to have problems with the wealthy donor parents of the students who complained. Even the local and national media go along and make an example of the teacher by mocking her as unable to understand the meanings of the wording of the problems.

A Revealing Comparison to What Many Seek to Do in Biblical Interpretation

The hypothetical scenario presented above has many plain parallels to what I believe routinely takes place among many professing believers concerning the interpretation of many passages of Scripture. It also points to the absurdity of the claims of many that those passages could actually correctly mean all the differing things that the people with differing interpretations of them say that they mean.

Most importantly, consider what believers who take such approaches are ultimately saying about God, the perfect Teacher and Author of all Scripture. Was God really not able to say clearly and exactly what He wanted to say in the Bible? Are there really many different correct interpretations of many passages of Scripture?

Application

We must take great care not to be intellectually dishonest before God in our handling of Scripture. God has said what He wanted to say.

We must approach biblical interpretation with the unassailable belief that He intends for us to know what He has said. There certainly are not many different correct interpretations of Scripture passages.

In Bible reading, Interpretation, Parables

Bible Reading for January 2024

January 31, 2024

Bible reading so far for 2024:

—Finished Genesis, Proverbs, Matthew, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, and James

—Read Exodus 1-23, Psalms 1-104, and Romans 1-5

—256 chapters read, 933 to go!

Praise God!

In Bible reading

Bible Reading Report for 2023

December 31, 2023

I finished reading through the Bible for 2023 this morning!

Because I taught an adult Sunday School class at my church this Fall, my reading of Scripture this year was heavily focused on the books that were covered in that class (indicated by * below).

Genesis—2 Kings – 1x each

*1 Chronicles / *2 Chronicles / *Ezra – 2x each

*Nehemiah / *Esther – 4x each

Job / Proverbs / Ecclesiastes / Song of Solomon – 1x each except for Psalms, which I read 12x

*Isaiah – 3x

*Jeremiah / *Lamentations / *Ezekiel – 2x each

*Daniel – 4x

Hosea – 1x

*Joel – 15x

Amos – 1x

*Obadiah – 5x

*Jonah – 7x

*Micah – 8x

*Nahum – 7x

*Habakkuk / *Zephaniah – 9x each

*Haggai – 3x

*Zechariah – 4x

*Malachi – 10x

Matthew—Revelation 1x each

In Bible reading

Sunday School Bible Reading Report Fall 2023

December 10, 2023

Today, I finished teaching my part of the second half of an adult Sunday School series, “Written for Our Admonition: A Survey of the Old Testament.” Reading books of the Bible repeatedly was a key part of my preparation for teaching that series.

The following table shows how many times I read each of the books that I covered in the series and the dates when I finished reading them.

1 Chronicles	6/19; 11/4	2
2 Chronicles	7/6; 11/5	2
Ezra	8/19; 11/10	2
Nehemiah	8/21; 11/24; 11/28; 12/1	4
Esther	8/24; 11/22; 11/25; 11/26	4

Isaiah	4/17; 9/19; 9/23	3
Jeremiah	5/25; 10/14	2
Lamentations	6/3; 10/14	2
Ezekiel	8/6; 10/20	2
Daniel	8/10; 10/26; 10/28; 10/29	4

Joel	7/31 (2x); 8/20; 8/24; 8/25; 8/28; 8/31; 9/1; 9/2 (2x); 9/3; 9/4; 9/7; 9/8; 9/10	15
Obadiah	8/9; 8/24; 9/4; 9/7; 9/10	5
Jonah	8/12; 8/24; 9/5; 9/7; 9/11; 9/15 (2x)	7
Micah	8/12; 9/25; 9/26; 9/29; 9/30 (3x); 10/1	8
Nahum	8/13; 8/24; 9/5; 9/7; 9/11; 9/15 (2x)	7
Habakkuk	8/13; 9/25; 10/2; 10/3; 10/4; 10/5; 10/6; 10/7; 10/8	9
Zephaniah	8/13; 9/25; 10/2; 10/3; 10/4; 10/5; 10/6; 10/7; 10/8	9
Haggai	8/13; 11/10; 11/12	3
Zechariah	8/14; 11/17; 11/18 (2x)	4
Malachi	8/15; 11/25; 11/29; 12/2; 12/3; 12/4; 12/7; 12/8; 12/9; 12/10	10

This fall has been the most concentrated time that I have ever had in reading the Minor Prophets. I found this intense time of reading these books to be very profitable and highly recommend using such an approach to studying them.

In Bible reading, Ministry, Sunday School

Learning from the Perfect Endings of the 27 Perfect Books of the NT

September 4, 2023

A highly skilled writer knows just how important the ending of his book is. As the perfect Writer, the Holy Spirit inspired perfect endings to each of the 27 perfect books of the NT.

Examining these endings carefully provides us with invaluable instruction that we cannot get from any other source!

Matt. 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Mk. 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Lk. 24:53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

Jn. 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

Acts 28:31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

Rom. 16:27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

1 Cor. 16:24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

2 Cor. 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

Gal. 6:18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Eph. 6:24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

Phil. 4:23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Col. 4:18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.

1 Thess. 5:28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

2 Thess. 3:18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

1 Tim. 6:21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

2 Tim. 4:22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

Tit. 3:15 All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

Heb. 13:25 Grace be with you all. Amen.

Jas. 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

1 Pet. 5:14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

2 Pet. 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

1 Jn. 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

2 Jn. 1:13 The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.

3 Jn. 1:14 But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.

Jude 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Rev. 22:21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

The NT Importance of “Amen”

The Spirit inspired the writers of the NT to end 24 of the 27 books with the word, “Amen.” Interestingly, only Acts, James, and 3 John do not end that way.

I wonder why the Spirit inspired a different ending to these 3 books of the NT.

A Striking Contrast Between the Endings of the OT Books and the NT Books

Remarkably, the Spirit did not inspire any of the writers of the OT books to conclude their books with the word, “Amen.” Undoubtedly, the Spirit intends to instruct us even from this key difference between the endings of the OT books and all but 3 of the NT books.

I wonder what God wants us to learn from this striking contrast.

In Bible reading, Discipleship

12 Keys to Profiting Fully from What Is Written in Scripture

September 2, 2023

Scripture teaches us that all that is written in it has been written for our learning:

Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Here are 12 keys to profiting fully from what is written in Scripture for our learning.

1. Read the book repeatedly.

Deuteronomy 17:18 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: 19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: 20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.

Concerning the importance of reading a book of Scripture repeatedly, I have read the book of Psalms 100 times because God has burdened me to saturate my mind with His own thoughts about music.

2. Prize it supremely and expect to work hard in studying it diligently.

Proverbs 2:1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

3. Pray fervently for illumination.

Psalm 119:18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

Proverbs 2:3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

Ephesians 1:16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

4. Mark your Bible and take notes.

Consider, for example, how marking certain key statements in 1 Samuel 12 helps in understanding how what is written has been divinely structured:

Marking your Bible and taking notes is crucial for fully understanding what God has said:

5. Keep in mind that the whole book is the context of anything that is in the book.

When God originally inspired the books of the Bible, there were no chapter breaks or verse divisions in them. The context of anything that is in a book of Scripture therefore is the whole book itself and not just some smaller part of it.

6. Note the beginning and the ending of the book.

How God has chosen to begin and to end each book displays His infinite and perfect wisdom. We must pay special attention to what He has inspired to be written at the beginning and at the ending of each book of Scripture.

7. Note the names of God and the truths about God found in the book.

Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

8. Look especially for commands.

Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

9. Note repetition, connect ideas, and do cross referencing.

Concerning repetition, consider, for example, the vast number of times “the LORD” occurs in 1 Samuel 12:

As an example of connecting ideas, note how Paul does so concerning what Scripture says in different books of Scripture:

1 Timothy 5:18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

10. Think about what you have read, believe it, and memorize what God specially brings to your attention.

Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

11. Praise Him for what He has inspired to be written and pray about the instruction that He has given in the book.

Psalm 119:164 Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.

Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

12. Do what is written in the book and teach others.

Ezra 7:9 For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. 10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

In Bible reading, Discipleship, Sunday School

Learning from the Perfect Endings of the 39 Perfect Books of the OT

August 29, 2023

A highly skilled writer knows just how important the ending of his book is. As the perfect Writer, the Holy Spirit inspired perfect endings to each of the 39 perfect books of the OT.

Examining these endings carefully provides us with invaluable instruction that we cannot get from any other source!

Gen. 50:26 So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

Exod. 40:38 For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

Lev. 27:34 These are the commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai.

Num. 36:13 These are the commandments and the judgments, which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho.

Deut. 34:12 And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel.

Jos. 24:33 And Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him in a hill that pertained to Phinehas his son, which was given him in mount Ephraim.

Jdg. 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

1 Sam. 31:13 And they [all the valiant men of Jabesh Gilead] took their [of Saul and his sons] bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

2 Sam. 24:25 And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.

1 Ki. 22:53 For he [Ahaziah the son of Ahab] served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.

2 Ki. 25:30 And his [Jehoiachin king of Judah’s] allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.

1 Chr. 29:30 With all his [David’s] reign and his might, and the times that went over him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries.

2 Chr. 36:23 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.

Ezr. 10:44 All these had taken strange wives: and some of them had wives by whom they had children.

Neh. 13:31 And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me [Nehemiah], O my God, for good.

Est. 10:3 For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.

Job 42:17 So Job died, being old and full of days.

Ps. 150:6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

Prov. 31:31 Give her [a virtuous woman] of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Eccl. 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Cant. 8:14 Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.

Isa. 66:24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

Jer. 52:34 And for his [Jehoiachin king of Judah’s] diet, there was a continual diet given him of the king of Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life.

Lam. 5:22 But thou hast utterly rejected us [Jerusalem the daughter of Zion]; thou art very wroth against us.

Ezek. 48:35 It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there.

Dan. 12:13 But go thou [Daniel] thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.

Hos. 14:9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

Joel 3:21 For I will cleanse their [of the children of Judah and Jerusalem] blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion.

Amos 9:15 And I will plant them [God’s people of Israel] upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.

Jon. 4:11 And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?

Mic. 7:20 Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.

Nah. 3:19 There is no healing of thy [the king of Assyria’s] bruise; thy wound is grievous: all that hear the bruit of thee shall clap the hands over thee: for upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually?

Hab. 3:19 The LORD God is my [Habakkuk’s] strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

Zeph. 3:20 At that time will I bring you [Jerusalem/Zion] again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.

Hag. 2:23 In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts.

Zech. 14:21 Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.

Mal. 4:6 And he [Elijah the prophet] shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

In a future post, “Learning from the Perfect Endings of the 27 Perfect Books of the NT,” I plan to similarly compile the endings of each of the 27 perfect books of the NT.

In Bible reading, Theology

One Hundred Times through the Book of Psalms!

July 31, 2023

Yesterday morning, I finished reading the book of Psalms for the twelfth time this year. I now have read the book 100 times in my life! Praise God!

Year(s)	Times That I Read the Psalms
1990-2011	25
2012	25
2013	1
2014	1
2015	1
2016	3
2017	4
2018	6
2019	4
2020	5
2021	8
2022	5
2023	12
Total	100*

*I have read the Psalms through 96x in English, 2x in the Septuagint, and 2x in Spanish (Reina Valera – 1x; LBLA – 1x).

Schedule for Reading through the Psalms in a Week

In Bible reading, Music

Six Times through the Psalms in 2023!

May 31, 2023

One of my goals for 2023 is to read the book of Psalms twelve times this year. If I am able to do so, I will have read the book of Psalms through 100 times in my life, and 75 times since 2012, when God first directed me to start intensely studying what the Bible teaches about music.

Tonight, I finished reading the Psalms for the sixth time this year!

Psalm 146:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. 2 While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.

In Bible reading, Music, Testimony

Ninety Times through the Book of Psalms!

February 11, 2023

I praise God that He has now allowed me to reach a milestone in my Christian life—having read the book of Psalms through 90 times!

Year(s)	Times That I Read the Psalms
1990-2011	25
2012	25
2013	1
2014	1
2015	1
2016	3
2017	4
2018	6
2019	4
2020	5
2021	8
2022	5
2023	2
Total	90

Lord willing, I intend to read the book 10 more times this year to get to 100 times through the book.

In Bible reading

Archives For Bible reading

A Revealing Comparison to What Many Seek to Do in Biblical Interpretation

Application

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

The NT Importance of “Amen”

A Striking Contrast Between the Endings of the OT Books and the NT Books

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: