Saul Reads the Bible

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: Genesis 41:44-41:57
Poetry/Prophecy: Psalm 11:1-16:11
New Testament: Acts 2:1-2:47

Joseph saves Pharaoh’s bacon-and grain-and becomes increasingly Egyptian.

A long reading from the Psalms today – six (count ‘em, six) Psalms!

And the early church continues its ministry with lots of fireworks, miracles, intimate community, and, above all, prayer.

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: Genesis 40:1-41:43
Poetry/Prophecy: Psalm 10:1-10:18
New Testament: Acts 1:15-1:26

Today: the story of Joseph the dream-interpreter, an expansive and thrilling narrative about Joseph, his faith, his boldness, and cows.

Today’s Psalm gives one view about the wicked: namely, that God at times appears not to care what they do, causing the Psalmist to work up his righteous indignation and [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: Genesis 38:12-39:23
Poetry/Prophecy: Psalm 8:1-9:20
New Testament: Acts 1:1-1:14

Mea culpa! Mea culpa! I try to post SRTB by the evening before the day of the reading, but today, it is close to 8:30AM on the day of the reading. Apologies to early AM readers who have had to wait!

Judah’s daughter-in-law Tamar takes a page out [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: Genesis 37:12-38:11
Poetry/Prophecy: Psalm 5:1-7:17
New Testament: Mark 16:1-16:20

Joseph’s brothers exact their revenge for his lofty dreams. However, they realize the consequences of what they have done, and have to cook up an elaborate ruse to trick their father Jacob (who has cooked up a few of his own in his day) and get them off [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: Genesis 36:9-37:11
Poetry/Prophecy: Psalm 1:1-4:8
New Testament: Mark 15:21-15:47

A genealogy-filled Genesis reading fills in the cracks of the story of Esau.

We begin the book of Psalms, having finished Job yesterday.

And the stark and disturbing account of the death of Jesus, the revolutionary hero of the book of Mark and the Son of God, is spelled out in [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: Genesis 35:1-36:8
Poetry/Prophecy: Job 41:1-42:17
New Testament: Mark 15:1-15:20

Jacob comes full circle: he passes familiar locations, he sees familiar people, and he is with his brother Esau as their father dies.

Job wraps up today, as God’s speeches just…end, and things go abruptly back to normal, or better than normal, for Job. What is the lesson in [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: Genesis 33:1-34:31
Poetry/Prophecy: Job 40:1-40:24
New Testament: Mark 14:53-14:72

Jacob and Esau finally have their reunion. Surprisingly, Esau seems to have mellowed a bit in the intervening years. However, Jacob still seems a bit wary. Then, Jacob’s daughter is raped by a foreigner! Jacob’s sons take what seems to be a classic Jacob tack-but [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: Genesis 32:1-32:32
Poetry/Prophecy: Job 39:1-39:30
New Testament: Mark 14:12-14:52

Jacob prepares to meet his brother Esau, who may still be nursing a grudge. In his wisdom-or perhaps his cowardice-Jacob sends gifts ahead to blunt his brother’s anger. It is at this, his most vulnerable point, that Jacob calls out to God, and works hard to engage [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: Genesis 31:22-31:55
Poetry/Prophecy: Job 37:14-38:41
New Testament: Mark 14:1-14:11

Laban and Jacob finally part ways-but not before a few more choice bits of deception on the parts of both Rachel and Laban.

In the book of Job, Elihu finally shuts up. Then the Lord speaks! It is interesting to note the choice of imagery used by God [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: Genesis 30:25-31:21
Poetry/Prophecy: Job 36:20-37:13
New Testament: Mark 13:1-13:37

Jacob butts head with his father-in-law Laban, and 4 – count’em, 4 – deceptions and tricks are played out between the two sides in the dispute. It’s amazing how each side is absolutely convinced of being right.

Elihu also suffers from an unshakeable confidence in his own viewpoint about [...]