September 2023 Readings

DateReading(s)Verses
01-SepJob 18-21113
02-SepJob 22-2472
03-SepJob 25-2871
04-SepJob 29-3196
05-SepJob 32-3492
06-SepJob 35-3773
07-SepJob 38-3971
08-SepJob 40-4275
09-SepEzra 1-281
10-SepEzra 3:1-4:5; 4:24-5:1; Haggai 1-258
11-SepZechariah 1-684
12-SepZechariah 7-8; Ezra 5:2-6:22; Daniel 6103
13-SepI Chronicles 1-3133
14-SepI Chronicles 4-6150
15-SepI Chronicles 7-9114
16-SepEsther 1-591
17-SepEsther 6-1076
18-SepEzra 4:6-23; Malachi 1-473
19-SepEzra 7-10123
20-SepNehemiah 1-486
21-SepNehemiah 5-7111
22-SepNehemiah 8-1095
23-SepPsalms 1, 91, 119:1-80100
24-SepPsalm 119:81-17696
25-SepNehemiah 11:1-12:30; Psalms 120-124102
26-SepPsalms 125-134; Nehemiah 12:31-4782
27-SepPsalms 104, 10778
28-SepPsalms 111-11776
29-SepPsalms 118, 135-13676
30-SepPsalms 145-15080

August 26 / Job 1-2

Job 1-2

As we begin our reading of Job, I would highly recommend that you take a look at this Teaching on Job by a certain young man I know, and then have a look at what we talked about last year.

See:

For a much deeper dive, you might try listening to 60 hours of audio teaching on Job presented at St. Andrew’s some years ago. (I know, 60 hours is a lot, but I bet you can at least listen to the first hour.)

August 25 / Proverbs 30-31

Proverbs 30-31

I again encourage you to split these readings up over the course of the day…

See:

So how about Proverbs? Are we allowing ourselves to let these ancient words challenge our “modern sensibilities” or the direction of our not-so-wise society? Are we seeking Wisdom? Or are we just nodding our heads, saying, “That’s nice,” and going about our day as usual?

August 24 / II Chronicles 36:22-23; Proverbs 22:17-24:34

II Chronicles 36:22-23; Proverbs 22:17-24:34

Today we see the (beginning of the) fulfillment of what God promised through His prophets. Jeremiah had declared that the Babylonian exile would come to an end and that God’s people would return to the Promised Land. Further, as we read the other day, Isaiah had declared (much earlier) that a man named Cyrus would be the LORD’s chosen instrument for bringing about their release from captivity. Sure enough, Cyrus the Great, comes to power, conquers Babylon, and proclaims release to the captives.

That brings us to the end of II Chronicles, and The Chronological Study Bible takes the opportunity to return us to the Book of Proverbs for “words of the wise” that are not pegged to any more specific time frame. Unfortunately, that means we must gobble down material that is better digested more slowly…

For those who may have joined us more recently here at RTB, you should know that last year we focused on the Psalms and the Old Testament “Wisdom Literature” (i.e., Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs), which allowed us to read those books at a slower pace than we can this year in our “Bible-in-a-year” tour. As you can see below, we took seven days to cover what we’re reading today. I suggest that for Proverbs, rather than trying to read all of today’s content in one sitting, split it up over the course of the day. You might also want to take a look at last year’s Introduction to Proverbs.

See:

August 23 / Isaiah 52-55

Isaiah 52-55

Today we get the last of Isaiah’s four “Servant Songs” in Isaiah 52:13-53:12. In case one look at the Cross is not enough to convince us that Jesus is the fulfillment of this “Song”, the New Testament writers practically spell it out for us. Here are several obvious direct references to this “Song”:

  • Isaiah 52:15 — Romans 15:21
  • Isaiah 53:1 — John 12:37-38; Romans 10:16
  • Isaiah 53:4 — Matthew 8:17
  • Isaiah 53:5 — I Peter 2:24
  • Isaiah 53:6 — I Peter 2:25
  • Isaiah 53:7 — Acts 8:32
  • Isaiah 53:9 — I Peter 2:22

And there are plenty more New Testament passages that reflect the idea that the Christ must suffer and that His suffering atones for our sins and iniquities, just as this “Song” says.

So take some time today and meditate on this Suffering Servant. Ponder Who He is, His characteristics, His actions on our behalf, His undeserved suffering, His affliction. Consider that it is our sorrows and griefs with which He is acquainted. Recognize that it is for our iniquities that He is scourged, it is our sin He bears on His Cross, and it is in that awful Reality that we find peace and healing.

He was pierced for our transgressions;
He was crushed for our iniquities;
upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with His wounds we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5