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!
Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
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
Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
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.
Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
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 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.
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.
Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
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.
Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
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.
Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
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
Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
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.
Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
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.
Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.
I praise God that He allowed me to read through the Bible in 2022, read the New Testament twice, and read Psalms, Jude, and Revelation five times.
I have now made it through the Psalms 88 times. Lord willing, I would like to read the Psalms twelve times in 2023 to get to 100 times through this incomparable book!
Photo by Marion Shires. Used by permission.
Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
Rajesh Gandhi holds a Ph.D. in New Testament Interpretation from Bob Jones Seminary; he's a long-time member of Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Greenville, SC.
