February - Reading 7

In Matthew is the parable of the sower. This is a favorite, and I want to share something I learned some time ago. The "rocky ground" is NOT ground strewn with rocks, as I had thought it was. Evidently under the soil, and in places sinking far down and in places coming close to the surface, is a rock underlayer. When it comes close to the surface of the topsoil, it will retain a lot of the warmth from the sun and cause seeds to sprout really fast, but since their roots cannot penetrate the rock layer, they also die quickly. Things they knew but we misunderstand!

Also something about the pathways that is interesting. When they harvested salt, they would pile up mounds of salty earth from the areas where it was found, dig a trench around it, and let the rains dissolve the salt and wash it into the trench. When the sun later evaporated the rain, there was their relatively pure salt! The piles of salty earth from which the salt had been washed were then carted off and used for pathways, since the material would harden well and nothing could grow on it.

Just some interesting stuff...


In the Acts passage there is an interesting difference in the KJV(and NKJ) and NIV (along with the RSV and the NAS). Whereas the NIV referes to Jesus in verse 25, the KJV simply says "Lord". I don't know which comes from the earlier text, but some understanding comes through either way. Apollos was knoweldgeable regarding the Hebrew Scriptures and he also knew at least the correct historical facts ABOUT Jesus, but the only change he had personally experienced so far was repentance, or the baptism of John.

Priscilla and Aquilla take the lead here, and explain the way of God, or the way of Salvation, more accurately to him.

This is a good example of the fact that any preacher or minister can know ABOUT Jesus and even preach the truth about Jesus, without having been born again through the Holy Spirit.


Psalm 30 was written for the dedication of either his house (KJV) or the temple (NIV -- remembering that he has collected many of the materials for his son's building of the temple, as well as having received instructions regarding the design from the Lord). Was this Psalm written as David, nearing death, handing the plans and materials to his son, Solomon?

It doea appear as though David is looking back through his lifetime and remembering the times God had delivered him from danger and death.

This Psalm has so many lines we love and are encouraged by:

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime;

You have turned my wailing into dancing, you have removed my sackcloth and clothes me with joy.

If this was truly written toward the end of David's life, it is a wonderful testimony to his relationship with God.

If no one else comes on with the Exodus portion of the reading for today, I'll be back later. It is the prelude to and giving of the Ten Commandments and is very important.

 

Hi to all here,
Before I started reading with a plan, I was usually found in the New Testament, I am now getting to really enjoy my OT reading. Probably because I am reading it in order, instead of jumping from book to book as I used to,nearly always picking out familiar parts and sticking to them. Thank you for the plan,it is helping me no end.