Saul Reads the Bible

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: Numbers 22:13-23:12
Poetry/Prophecy: Ecclesiastes 7:1-7:29
New Testament: Matthew 16:1-16:12

Today in Numbers: Balaam, his donkey, and a king. How Balaam stays true to his principles, even if he misses some subtleties here and there.

Is it possible to be too righteous or too wise? Find out in Ecclesiastes!

And in Matthew, Jesus’ disciples miss the point as Jesus [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: Numbers 21:10-22:12
Poetry/Prophecy: Ecclesiastes 5:1-6:12
New Testament: Matthew 15:21-15:39

In Numbers, the people of Israel are on the move: breaking camp frequently, conquering two kings, and making a third king fear them so much that he calls upon an oracle to curse them.

In Ecclesiastes, we receive wisdom on a variety of topics – kind of like Proverbs. [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: Numbers 20:7-21:9
Poetry/Prophecy: Ecclesiastes 3:1-4:16
New Testament: Matthew 14:35-15:20

Today in the book of Numbers, Moses commits a seemingly minor infraction by striking a rock to produce water rather than speaking to it in order to produce water from it. This geets Moses banned from entering the Promised Land. Ouch! Aaron dies, passing the [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: Numbers 19:1-20:6
Poetry/Prophecy: Ecclesiastes 2:1-2:26
New Testament: Matthew 14:14-14:34

In Numbers, we learn about how a red cow is turned into water of purification – and how the impurity the water is to purify has the tendency to spread, no matter what. And the Israelites again run out of water, and again complain.

In Ecclesiates, we learn about [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: Numbers 17:1-18:32
Poetry/Prophecy: Ecclesiastes 1:1-1:18
New Testament: Matthew 13:53-14:13

Today in Numbers: the aftermath of the great rebellions; the people have to be reassured, and the leadership must be re-empowered.

We begin the book of Ecclesiastes, which perhaps startles us with a stark, even bleak, look at the human condition and the meaning of life.

And in Matthew, Jesus retreats [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: Numbers 16:32-16:50
Poetry/Prophecy: Proverbs 31:1-31:31
New Testament: Matthew 13:3-13:52

Today in Numbers, the earth swallows up Korah, and fire consumes his co-conspirators…and yet the children of Israel inexplicably rebel against Moses some more, putting Moses in his usual role of smite-preventer.

In Proverbs, a portrait of a godly woman.

And in Matthew, Jesus goes on at length explaining the Gospel [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: Numbers 15:37-16:31
Poetry/Prophecy: Proverbs 29:1-30:33
New Testament: Matthew 12:46-13:2

Today in Numbers: the rebllion of Korah & Co. against Moses, and the anger of Moses at this affront tempered by grace and self-control. And the anger and justice of God, who literally moves heaven and earth to deal with this self-seeking power grab.

Proverbs 29 is similar to [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: Numbers 15:1-15:36
Poetry/Prophecy: Proverbs 28:1-28:28
New Testament: Matthew 12:22-12:45

Today in Numbers: more detail about the sacrifices required for unintentional offenses, and the pronouncement that there is to be one law and one custom, both for the Israelites and for resident foreigners living among them.

In Proverbs, Saul homes in on another verse about conflict, and when it is [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: Numbers 14:1-14:45
Poetry/Prophecy: Proverbs 27:1-27:27
New Testament: Matthew 12:1-12:21

Today in Numbers, the people of Israel are punished for their refusal to enter the land of Canaan and conquer it – but not as severely as God initially wanted, thanks to the intervention of Moses. The people see the error in their ways, but it is too [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: Numbers 13:1-13:33
Poetry/Prophecy: Proverbs 26:1-26:28
New Testament: Matthew 11:1-11:30

Today in Numbers, Moses sends spies into the land of Canaan to scout it out. Though the land has been promised to the Israelites by God, teh spies come back with a discouraging report: the people in the land are too powerful to be conquered. However, Caleb [...]