Zechariah 1-2 Dear RTB’ers, Today, Zechariah and four of his eight visions. Visions are always hard to interpret, especially for those of us living more than two millennia later. Thankfully, with each vision a partial interpretation is given, although still unclear to us – and maybe to Zechariah’s contemporaries? For example, in today’s first chapter …
Author Archives: Fred
July 21 / Haggai 2
Haggai 2 Dear RTB’ers, Some time ago I mentioned that the temple that is the major topic in Haggai has commonly been known as Zerubbabel’s Temple. Today we see why he is accorded that honor, of having a temple named after him. (Recall also “Solomon’s Temple”.) Here is God speaking, On that day, declares the …
July 20 / Haggai 1
Haggai 1 Dear RTB’ers, Haggai. We met him last month: Now the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them. Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose …
July 19 / Psalm 106:34-48
Psalm 106:34-48 Dear RTB’ers, Today the psalmist continues his recitation of Israel’s misdeeds, covering their time in the Promised Land – first with a nod to the book of Joshua (Ps. 106:34-35), then on to Judges and I and II Kings, closing with a link to their Exile in Babylon (Ps. 106:46-47). This last verse …
July 18 / Psalm 106:1-33
Psalm 106:1-33 Dear RTB’ers, Rebellion. Today’s reading is almost a repeat from yesterday’s Psalm 105, but with more details on Israel’s sinfulness, mostly during their Wilderness wanderings. Do you feel like you have read the following verse before? They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass. (v. 20) …
July 17 / Psalm 105
Psalm 105 Dear RTB’ers, The Lord speaking, “To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance.” (v. 11) Then the outcome: And He gave them the lands of the nations, and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples’ toil… (v. 44) I am not one to question …
July 16 / Psalm 104
Psalm 104 Dear RTB’ers, Today, a Psalm focused on God’s physical creation, much of it (as STS noted) closely related to the Genesis creation account. I saw a major focus on water. First, the waters above became the waters below: …the waters stood above the mountains. At Your rebuke they fled; at the sound of …
July 15 / Psalm 103
Psalm 103 Dear RTB’ers, Today, a Psalm celebrating God’s mercy in our times of trouble and His grace in blessing us with good things. Two verses stood out for me; I could not decide between them, so I’ve included both: He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to …
July 14 / Psalm 102
Psalm 102 Dear RTB’ers, Bastille Day! Both STS and my Study Bible suggest that today’s Psalm 102 was written by an individual toward the end of the Exile. The “restoration of Zion” verses 13-22 confirm that for me. The earlier verses also spoke to me of a man in a deep depression, especially verse 4b, …
July 13 / Psalms 99-101
Psalms 99-101 Dear RTB’ers, Three psalms today, even though STS has only two psalms on the first assignment (Psalms 99-100). We are still making up for missing four days last year. Today’s readings will be the final correction for those omissions. Equity, justice, righteousness. (Ps. 99:4) I fear that we are far afield in our …