Daily Bible Reading “God Speaking” (Proverbs 8:32-36)

Posted on December 18, 2014 by Deborah H. Bateman

God Speaking

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Proverbs 8:32-36. In this Scripture we find a call to listen. Not only to listen, but to hear and seek. Seek wisdom and seek the LORD.

Listen to me, you children: blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and don’t refuse it.

Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

Whoever finds me finds life, and will obtain favor from the LORD. But those who sin against me wrongs their own soul: all those who hate me love death.

We can look at this two ways. First, as those who find wisdom find life and those who hate instruction find the path to destruction. Do you seek wisdom?

Secondly, and most importantly, as God speaking and reminding us that those who seek Him and find Him through a relationship with His son, Jesus Christ, will have life eternal. But, those who hate Him will suffer eternal death. Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior?

Daily Bible Reading:

Proverbs 8:32-36

32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

Things to think about:

What are we called to do in this Scripture?
What do we find if we seek?
What is the result of not seeking wisdom?
What is the result for those who refuse Jesus as Savior?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read this Scripture we realize that we should be seeking wisdom from above. We should be seeking Jesus. Help us to find wisdom, but more importantly help us to find a lasting eternal relationship with You through Your son, Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Christian Music Video: “God Speaking” – Mandisa

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The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ
By Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

“The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ” is a Daily Bible Reading Study by Deborah H. Bateman, which takes you through the life of Jesus Christ. The book of Matthew is the first book in the New Testament of the Bible. It begins with the genealogy of Jesus Christ and His birth.

The Book of Matthew also goes into Jesus’ ministry on earth, including the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus’ parables, and Jesus’ final days, including His death, burial, and resurrection. The book concludes with the great commission.

“The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ” includes fifty-seven daily devotionals which contain a brief commentary, the Daily Bible Reading Scripture, a few questions to think about, and a prayer of the day. It is a great book for individual daily devotions or a group Bible study.

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Book Launch for The Book of Haggai: Consider Your Ways

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The Book of Haggai: Consider Your Ways
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Daily Bible Reading “The Proverbs of Solomon” (Proverbs 1:1-7)

Posted on November 4, 2014 by Deborah H. Bateman

The Proverbs of Solomon

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Proverbs 1:1-7. The book of Proverbs was primarily written by Solomon, the son of King David. It is thought that Solomon collected these proverbs to pass down to his son to help him learn wisdom from his father’s experiences.

This book is filled with words of wisdom and instruction to help those who read it to acquire a disciplined and wise life. It is meant to help us learn to do what is right, just, and fair.

The Proverbs were used by fathers in the Old Testament days to help teach their children knowledge and discretion. The wise were to listen to the words of Proverbs and add their own experiences as they taught their children. It was used to give guidance and understanding concerning the proverbs and parables – the sayings and riddles of the wise.

Proverbs are not the same as promises. Proverbs are general observations made by wise men. They may not always prove to be true in your situation, but generally are true. A promise is a particular obligation from a certain person.

Sometimes people take the Proverbs out of context and try to use them as promises of God. We need to remember that this is not how they are intended as we study the book of Proverbs.

In Old Testament times it was primarily the father’s duty to instruct the children in the Torah and the ways of God. They were to pass down the knowledge of God’s Word from generation to generation.

As parents it is our responsibility to teach our children about the Bible and how to live a good, godly life. That doesn’t mean that they are always going to listen and abide by everything we teach them, but it is our duty to make sure they know right from wrong.

Proverbs 10:1 tells us, “A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.”

My favorite verse from this passage is Proverbs 1:7 which says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”

This means submission to the will of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Fools are those who reject wisdom and discipline.

The word fool is used in Proverbs and other places in the Old Testament of the Bible to mean one who lacks morals.

Daily Bible Reading:

Proverbs 1:1-7

1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Things to think about:

What are some of the things we will learn from the book of Proverbs?
What was the primary use of the book of Proverbs in Old Testament days?
What does the Scripture say about the fear of the LORD?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,
As we read this Scripture and study the book of Proverbs help us to learn the lessons of this book. Help us to learn to be wise, disciplined and to have discretion in the decisions we make in life. Help us to always do what is right, just, and fair. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Christian Music Video:

PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Come back again tomorrow. Please invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.

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Give Thanks

(Daily Bible Reading Series Book 15)

by Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

Give Thanks is a Daily Bible Reading Study by Deborah H. Bateman and Friends. Give Thanks contains 21 daily Bible lessons that remind us to have an attitude of gratitude.

Each lesson contains a brief commentary, coordinating Scriptures, a few questions for contemplation or discussion, and a prayer for the day. Give Thanks is a great Bible study for individual or group Bible studies.

Four of Deborah’s friends contributed to the book and one of her friends contributed pictures of nature to remind us to be thankful for God’s creation. May God bless you as you read this book and remember all the things you have to be grateful for and to “Give Thanks” with a grateful heart.

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Have a blessed day,

Deborah

Daily Bible Reading “David Builds an Altar” (2 Samuel 24:18-25)

Posted on November 3, 2014 by Deborah H. Bateman

David Builds an Altar

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 2 Samuel 24:18-25. Gad came to David and recommended that he build an altar to the LORD in the threshing floor of Araunah, the Jebusite.

David did as Gad suggested and went to Araunah’s to build the altar to the LORD that he commanded.

Araunah saw the king and his servants coming and Araunah bowed down before the king.

Araunah asked why the king came to him. David told him that he came to buy the threshing floor from him, to build an altar to the LORD, so the plague on the people would be stopped.

Araunah told King David to make an offer that seemed fair to him. He also told David that he had oxen for burnt sacrifices, and threshing instruments and other instruments that he could use to cut wood.

Araunah offered all this to the king and told King David, “The LORD thy God accept thee.”

The king told Araunah, “No.” He could take the things that Araunah offered him. But the king offered to buy them from Araunah for a price. The king refused to offer burnt offerings to the LORD that didn’t cost him anything. So King David bought the threshing floor and the oxen from Araunah for fifty shekels of silver.

David built an altar there to the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. King David made supplication to the LORD for the land, and the plague on Israel was ceased.

Notice that David wouldn’t make an offering to the LORD that didn’t cost him anything. He wanted to make sure his offering was acceptable to the LORD. Things don’t seem to have the same meaning to us if we don’t have to pay a price for them. David knew that it was his fault that there was a plague on Israel to start with so he wanted to make sure whatever he did was enough for the plague to be stopped.

What sacrifices do you make for the LORD? I know we don’t make burnt sacrifices today like they did in the Old Testament. But we can do things in our lives to let the LORD know of our love and appreciation for what He has done for us.

Daily Bible Reading:

2 Samuel 24:18-25

18 And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite.
19 And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the LORD commanded.
20 And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground.
21 And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people.
22 And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood.
23 All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee.
24 And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
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.

Things to think about:

What did Gad suggest to King David to help stop the plague?
How did David respond to Gad’s suggestion?
How did Araunah respond to David’s request?
Why did David insist on paying Araunah?
What was the end result of David’s sacrifice?

Prayer of the Day:

As we read this Scripture in 2 Samuel we see that David made retribution to You to stop the plaque that was caused by his decision to take a census. Help us keep our hearts and life in right standing with you and not to wait until things are in a mess to make things right. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Christian Music Video: “Living Sacrifice” – Chris Christian

PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Today is our last lesson in 2 Samuel. Come back again tomorrow. We will start the study of the book of Proverbs. Please invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.

Featured Book:

The Book of Malachi: A Message from the LORD
By Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:
The Book of Malachi: A Message from the LORD is a Daily Bible Reading Study by Deborah H. Bateman. Malachi was considered to be a “Messenger of the LORD.” God delivered His message to the people of Israel through Malachi. Malachi was one of the twelve prophets from the Old Testament. The book of Malachi is the last book in the Old Testament of the Bible.

The Book of Malachi: A Message from the LORD includes eight Daily Bible Reading Lessons. Each lesson contains a brief commentary from the author, the Daily Bible Reading Scriptures, a few questions for discussion or contemplation, and a prayer for the day to go along with the lesson. This book is great for a personal daily devotional or for a group Bible study.

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Daily Bible Reading “God’s Judgment” (2 Samuel 24:10-17)

Posted on October 31, 2014 by Deborah H. Bateman

God’s Judgment

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 2 Samuel 24:10-17. David was convicted in his heart once the census was done to count the fighting men. David prayed to God and acknowledged his sin and asked God to forgive him. Even when we repent of our sins, there are still consequences for the actions that we take.

The Word of the LORD came to Gad telling him to tell David that he had three choices for his punishment. He was to choose which one he preferred. These were his choices:

1) Seven years of famine

2) Three months of fleeing from his enemies

3) Three days of pestilence

Seven years was a long time for a famine. David had already spent a lot of time fleeing from his enemy. David preferred to be at God’s mercy than to fall into the hands of man. If you were in David’s place, which one would you have chosen?

David chose the three days of pestilence over the other two choices he was given. The LORD honored David’s choice and sent pestilence to the land. As a result of this pestilence seventy thousand men died. A lot of people whose lives were cut short because of this situation.

When the angel was about to destroy Jerusalem the LORD stopped him and told him that was enough.

The angel of the LORD was by the threshing place of Araunah, the Jebusite. When David saw the angel who smote the people, he spoke to the LORD saying, “I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house.”

Even though David repented and took responsibility for his actions, there was a price to pay for his sin. His people suffered the consequences for his decisions. He didn’t want the people to suffer any more. He begged the LORD to spare them and to bring the punishment only against him and his father’s house.

Sometimes we don’t realize how many people are affected by our actions. When we choose to do the wrong things there is a ripple effect. When we make wrong choices it not only affects us and our families, but it can affect others as well.

We prefer to think of God as a loving God, and He is. But there is also the other side of God, who is the judge over good and evil. He knows the intents of our hearts.

We all sin and come short of the glory of God. Sin is like a weight or a chain around our necks dragging us down. Thank God for Jesus who took our sin on Himself at the cross.

Hebrews 12:1-2 tells us, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Daily Bible Reading:

2 Samuel 24:10-17

10 And David’s heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.
11 For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying,
12 Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.
13 So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days’ pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.
14 And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.
15 So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.
16 And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.
17 And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house.

Things to think about:

About what was David convicted?
Who did the LORD send to tell David what his choices were?
What did David choose? Why?
How do our actions affect others?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read this Scripture we see that David became convicted and repented of his sin. We also see that his decisions affected a lot of people. Help us to make right decisions. Help us to realize that if we sin or make wrong decisions it not only affects us, but affects others as well. Help us to search our hearts and repent of our sins. Forgive us of the times we have made wrong decisions. Give us wisdom to make right choices. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Christian Music Video: “Break Every Chain”

PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Come back again tomorrow. Please invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.

Featured Book:

The Book of Malachi: A Message from the LORD
By Deborah H. Bateman

Go to: http://amazon.com/dp/B00O4NVVGQ
Get your copy now!

Subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman author site to receive

Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox

Monday – Friday.

Have a blessed day,

Deborah