We will finish up the OT this week. There is one reading from the NT (a book that is only one chapter long). The final books of the OT are written after the exile to the Babylon and many of the people have returned to Jerusalem and surrounding areas. There are a few helpful notes in the daily reading, as we are covering a number of books this week and it was easier to just add it to the reading schedule.
There is only one week of reading left and only one book of the Bible. It has been my prayer that you will not stop your Bible reading but will be challenged to reread the Bible year after year. Because God's word is living and active, you will always grow and learn. Consider making the commitment with another person so you can help each other. Begin looking around for that person this week. It might be someone who has never read through the Bible and you could be the example and encourager.
Have fun reading.
WEEK 51 OF THE WB READING:DAY ONE, DECEMBER 17 - HAGGAI 1-2
This book takes place after some of the exiles return from Babylon. It is probably set between Ezra 4 and 5. God is fulfilling his promise to restore a remnant.
Chapter 1
What were the people doing first before repairing the temple?
What does that say about their priorities?
What are you putting before your worship of God?
What did God send to the land because the people didn't put God first?
How have you felt drought in your life because you haven't spent time with "The Living Water?"
How do the people respond to Haggai's words of warning?
What are you going to do in response to a God who is calling you back?
Chapter 2
What promises and hope does God give to the people?
How do those words apply to your life?
How do you see the promise of the Messiah in this chapter?
How has the Lord blessed you because you put him first?
DAY TWO, DECEMBER 18 - ZECHARIAH 1-4
This book probably took place between Ezra 5 and 6. Many people use this book to define their views of eschatology (end times theology). Make sure you do not read something into the passage that is not there. NT prophesies needs to be the primary agent in understanding end time prophesies, not the OT. The OT is the primary agent for prophecies concerning Jesus first coming and the NT for the Second Coming. Remember also that the first audience for this book, were the OT Jews, not the NT Christians. So it needs to be applicable for them first. The purpose of the book was to motivate the people to complete the temple and spiritual renewal.
Chapter 1
What is God reminding the people of, in verses 1-6?
How can you learn from your past mistakes or the mistakes of others?
Describe the first vision.
Why was God angry with the nations?
How do we see that false peace and complacency in the world today?
What is God's promise to Jerusalem?
What is the tone of God's speech?
How have you heard kind, comforting, and merciful words from God?
What is the second vision (verse 18-21)?
Who takes revenge when one of God's chosen have been wronged?
What comfort do you find in that?
Chapter 2
This chapter is the third vision.
How would you describe this vision?
What words and phrases from this chapter show the hope and promise that God extends, purifies, indwells, and protects his people?
How have you experienced those promises in your life?
How do you see the challenge in this chapter that God blesses his people to be a blessing to all the nations?
What comfort do you receive knowing that God dwells among his people?
Chapter 3
How would you describe the fourth vision?
What does Satan try to do to the people of God?
What does God do to his people instead?
How has God reclothed you?
Picture yourself standing before the Lord, first in filthy rags, then naked, and finally in brand-new clean robes. What does that picture do for you?
What is God's charge to Joshua and how can you apply that to your life?
How do you see the promise of the Messiah in this chapter?
Chapter 4
How would you describe the fifth vision?
Oil often represents the Holy Spirit.
What does this vision say about the presence, abundance, and power of the Holy Spirit?
What happens to mountains that are in the way?
What are some of the mountains in your way and how can the Holy Spirit help to level them?
The phrase in verse 10 which says, "these seven eyes of the Lord, which range throughout the earth" mean that God knows all things, is in control, and cares. How have you experienced that in your life?
DAY THREE, DECEMBER 19 - ZECHARIAH 5-8
Chapter 5
The sixth vision is found in verses 1-4.
How would you describe that vision?
The scroll represents the law and it goes throughout the entire world. If we only had the law everyone would be cursed cause no one can keep it all.
If we can't keep the law, what are all of us in need of?
Vision seven is found in verses 5-11. How would you describe it?
What does the woman in the basket represent?
Will only sin be removed from the land or also the whole source and system of sin as well?
Who is the only one who can remove sin?
How important is it in light of a holy God to remove sin from his people and his presence?
How important is it to you to have sin removed from your life?
Chapter 6
The last vision is found in verses 1-8. How would you describe it?
The horse probably mean judgment. Who is the one who controls history and judgment?
Who is at rest in this vision?
How is that different than the first vision?
How can God's people have rest even in judgment?
How do you see the Messiah prophesied in this chapter?
What is the roll of obedience in the building of the temple (whether literal or spiritual), and the coming of the Messiah?
How are you living in obedience to God?
Chapter 7
What do the people and priest ask God about?
What is God's four-part answer?
What ritual, observance, decision, celebration, worship style, etc. are you asking God if you should or can do?
How do the four principles: 1) who gets the glory, 2) who is the focus or object of the action, 3) why do you do it, 4) does it lead to right living and repentance, help you with those kinds of questions?
What is the result of empty rituals?
Are any of your rituals, celebrations, and worship empty and devoid of God?
Whose responsibility is it to bring the focus and heart toward God?
Chapter 8
What is God's feeling and longing for Jerusalem?
Have you ever felt a passion for someone else to live the right way and to know God in fullness?
What does verse 9 call the people to do?
What is God asking you to do to build for Him?
What will be the results of working for the "building up" and living rightly?
How can others see from your life that you are living according to God's will?
What promise do you see that gentiles will come to know God too?
DAY FOUR, DECEMBER 20 - ZECHARIAH 9-11
Chapter 9
What is God's judgment on those who do not follow him?
How do you see the prophecy of the Messiah in this chapter?
What parts of Jesus life are being prophesied?
What are some of the attributes of God/Jesus do you find here?
What will God do for his people?
Chapter 10
What does Judah look like without the right spiritual leadership?
What does Judah look like after God punishes the leaders and cares for his people?
How do we look in the void of good spiritual leadership, but where can we go immediately for help?
How does God care and guide his children (including you) through all phases of life?
What additional prophecies are there about the coming Messiah?
Chapter 11
Many think this chapter talks of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD due to Israel's rejection of Jesus. But there are also lessons here for those who reject God.
How is the Good Shepherd rejected?
How are the false shepherds described and dealt with?
How do you see false shepherds still today?
What do you think the staff of Favor and Union represent?
How have you felt God's favor in your life?
How does God desire unity with his people?
How is Jesus' death prophesied in this passage?
DAY FIVE, DECEMBER 21 - ZECHARIAH 12-14
Chapter 12
How does God show he will always have a place in his heart for his chosen people?
God has said there will always be a remnant. Does it seem that in this chapter it also indicates a greater turning back toward God on the part of the Jews?
How can we show that same heart of God toward the Jews today?
Where do you see a prophecy of Jesus in this chapter?
Chapter 13
What are some of the descriptions of the way that God will purify that are found in the chapter?
In what ways do you need to be purified from your sins?
Jesus quotes verse 7 in the NT. How is this verse a prophecy of how the apostle scatter when Jesus is arrested?
How do we see God's faithfulness to the remnant?
Chapter 14
What are some of the images that are comforting for those who follow God that are found in this chapter?
What are some of the images that are terrifying for those who do not follow God that are found in this chapter?
Which ones do you most identify with?
DAY SIX, DECEMBER 22 - JUDE 1
What is the danger of imposing on God's grace?
How does their behavior deteriorate?
Have you seen some of these common attitudes and behaviors in the world today?
What are the call, encouragement, and comfort for the true believer in the last part of this book?
How does that speak to your heart?
DAY SEVEN, DECEMBER 23 - MALACHI 1-4
NOTE: The word hate here means that he was loved less as with Leah and Rachel and a believer is to love Christ more than his/her own parents (Luke 14:26, Matthew 10:37).
There are eight questions against God in this book. The first one is found in verse 2. What is that question?
How does God answer it?
What does it mean?
How have you felt God's love even though you don't desire it and how do you show your love to God back to him?
What is the second question (it is found in verse 6)?
How does God answer the question?
What does it mean?
How have you shown contempt to God in your life?
What is the third question found in 2:13?
How does God answer the question?
What does it mean?
Is there something in your life that is cause it to seem like God doesn't pay attention to your sacrifices?
What is the fourth question which if found in 2:17a?
How does God answer it?
What does it mean?
Have you wearied the Lord?
What is the fifth question, which is found in 2:17b?
What is God's answer to the question?
What does it mean?
How have you felt God's justice and mercy in your life?
What is question six, which is found in 3:7b?
What is God's answer?
What does it mean?
What is the seventh question found in verse 3:8?
What is God's answer?
What does it mean?
How have you tested God in the area of sacrifice and giving to God with godly heart?
What is the eight question (3:13)?
What is God's answer?
What does it mean?
Have you ever felt it wasn't worth it to follow God?
How do the people respond?
How do you respond when God points out your sinful thoughts and ways?
What is the final promise to though who follow God?
How do the final verse set the stage for the NT?
| DAY ONE | Dec-17 | JOHN 7 OR PROVERBS 17 |
| DAY TWO | Dec-18 | JOHN 8 OR PROVERBS 18 |
| DAY THREE | Dec-19 | JOHN 9 OR PROVERBS 19 |
| DAY FOUR | Dec-20 | JOHN 10 OR PROVERBS 20 |
| DAY FIVE | Dec-21 | JOHN 11 OR PROVERBS 21 |
| DAY SIX | Dec-22 | JOHN 12 OR PROVERBS 22 |
| DAY SEVEN | Dec-23 | JOHN 13 OR PROVERBS 23 |
Always begin your time of God with prayer. Ask him for understanding and insights. You can pick out a verse, thought or feeling from the passage and think on it (mediate) on it all day. Meditating on God's word means to digest it, put it into your mind, think on it, and concentrate in different ways on the passage.
Some ways you can do this is:
1. Put yourself into the scene.
2. Emphasize different words in the verse.
3. Paraphrase the passage in your own words.
4. Pray the passage back to God if it is a prayer, song, poem, etc (personalize it).
5. Use SPACE PETS acrostic to ask some standard questions.
S - Sins to confess? Do I need to make restitution?
P - Promises to claim? Have I met the conditions(s)?
A - Attitudes to change? Am I willing?
C - Commands to obey? Even if I don't feel like it?
E - Examples to follow? One to copy or avoid?
P - Prayers to pray? Is there something I need to tell God?
E - Errors to avoid?
T - Truths about God or the Bible I need to believe?
Adapted from 12 Dynamic Bible Study Methods (Chapter 1) by Richard Warren and William A. Shell.