Dave Miller's 2024 Bible Reading Challenge

   Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   2 Samuel 22-23, Psalm 57, 95 Background:    Our readings today wrap up the life of David in 2 Samuel, recording the second of his two major sins. This time, he numbered the fighting men. Though this seemed like a small thing, it was big to God, because it was an act of pride and self-reliance instead of dependence on God. Daily Devotional:   The Act...

   Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   2 Samuel 19-21, Psalm 5, 38, 41-42 Background:    David repented of his sin when Nathan confronted him and was fully and completely forgiven. But because the consequences of his sin did not end I suspect that his sorrow for his sin was also constant. Every trial he had was a reminder not only of the wickedness of man but also of his own failure. We live in th...

   Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   2 Samuel 16-18, Psalm 61-62, 64 Background:    The tragic story of Absalom is today's focus. A consequence of David's sin was bitterness in his son's heart and David's loss of clear moral authority to deal with his sons and their misdeeds. When he fell, he seemed to lose his way in other ways. Sin never helps us! But David saw God's gracious hand and the Psal...

   Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   Psalm 3-4, 12-13, 29, 55 Background:    These Psalms tend to focus on dealing with trials and hardships. What is interesting here is that we know that most of David's trials at this point in his life were self-inflicted - consequences of his sin with Bathsheba. But still, even though he was not pristine and innocent, he could still go to God and seek his help...

   Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   2 Samuel 13-15, Psalm 58, 86, 122 Background:    Having sinned and beautifully repented, David was restored in his relationship with God. But that did not protect him from the basic rule of life. "You reap what you sow." He sowed sin into his family and reaped a terrible harvest. A son raped a half-sister and another son murdered the offender. That son rebell...

   Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   2 Samuel 11-12, 1 Chronicles 20, Psalm 32, 51 Background:    Today's reading is well-known. David and Bath-sheba. A good man does a bad thing. Books could be (and have been) written about this story. The repentance in Psalm 51 is powerful and exemplary. Daily Devotional:   Sin's Horror 2 Samuel 11 is the turning point of the book. In chapters 1-10, David...

   Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   Psalm 65-67, 69-70 Background:    The Psalms are "worldly" - in the best sense. They are the effort of the Psalmist (David and others) to put the events of this world into a divine perspective. The writer looks at his life's events and asks what God is doing. Daily Devotional:  Why, God Why? Why did God let that happen? It is one of the most frustrating ...

   Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   2 Samuel 10, 1 Chronicles 19, Psalm 20, 60, 75 Background:    The passages in 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles recount more of David's victories, leading up to, in 2 Samuel, his fall into sin. The Psalms we read today all deal with those victories and explain that they come by the power of God. Two key passages in these Psalms for our meditation. Psalm 20:7-8. Some ...

   Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   2 Samuel 8-9, 1 Chronicles 18, Psalm 53 Background:    Few books of the Bible are as easily and purposefully outlined as 2 Samuel. In the first ten chapters of the book, David experiences one victory after another. Chapter 8 here recounts several of these. David is walking in obedience to God and under his daily blessing and protection. In chapter 11, David s...

   Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   Psalms 25, 28, 33, 36, 39 Background:    More Psalms of David, calling out to God. David's songs express his heart, his emotions - everything he is going through directly to God. When life overwhelmed him, he did not complain to others, he took his pain and hurt to the source of healing, the Creator God who loved him.  Daily Devotional:   My Strengt...

   Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   2 Samuel 7, 1 Chronicles 17 Background:    There are four great covenants in the Old Testament. The Noahic covenant was made after the flood, when God set the rainbow as a sign of his promise not to flood the earth in his wrath ever again. The Abrahamic covenant gave Israel the land, promised them descendants, and insured God's blessings until the end of time...

   Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   Psalm 89, 96, 100-101, 105, 132    Background:    Today we read more Psalms, mostly Psalms of David, about worshiping the faithful God. Daily Devotional:   Faithful, but Holy The lengthy Psalm 89 trumpets the faithfulness of our God - a faithfulness we experience by grace even though we don't deserve it. In verses 30-34, we learn two important ...

   Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   Psalm 1-2, 15, 22-24, 47, 68 Background:    The Psalms we read today are powerful! They seem to have a dual meaning, pointing both to God's grace and care in suffering and to a messianic hope. Psalm 1 speaks of a life planted in faithful obedience. Psalm 2 highlights the false confidence of those who trust in self and who think that men run this world. God's ...

   Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   2 Samuel 5:11-6:23, 1 Chronicles 13-16 Background:    The ark had originally been lost and then, when it was returned, was not brought all the way back. When David tried to bring it back there was a problem. He did not follow the rules set forth in the law and a man named Uzzah died. He tried again, following God's rules carefully, and there was great re...

   Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   Psalm 106-107, 133 Background:    Psalm 106 is a recounting of two things - the ongoing faithfulness of God and the constant infidelity of Israel. God's goodness despite Israel's sin is highlighted. Psalm 107 begins the last of the 5 "Books" of the Psalms, recounting the goodness and faithfulness of God. Psalm 133, another Psalm of Ascent, emphasizes the unit...