Day 97 - Psalm 97k

I will go back to the accompanying book and read thru the remaining info on this last chapter as I feel I prob missed a lot being unfocused this month. I’ll add to this post later tonight. 

This psalm seems to be another similar to yesterday’s. Some things that stand out to me, vs 7 which seems to say again there should be no other gods before him, those who boast in idols should be worshiping God instead. The end of this psalm reminded me of something I read recently. Vs 10-12 made me think of this thing that said some of the poorest people are also the happiest people. I’m not sure why it made me think of that cuz that’s not really what it’s saying but made me think again about contentment and being thankful for what God has provided us. “Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright heart, Rejoice and praise his holy name”. 

Julie

I am not sure I can say much more than you have said...knowing his care and protection in our lives helps us to receive that joy and contentment. Being faithful followers and praising him for all he does for us. I think that is my addition. 

Day 96 - Psalm 96

 Julie

Today's Psalm is a hymn of  praise for God and explains that all types of people should praise God and be thankful for what he has provided and done for us. It is also reiterates that he is the one true God and that idols are false gods. The entire Psalm leads up to the last line "He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness." The entire Psalm is a reminder of what how one needs to act in order to show their righteousness and faithfulness to God.

Michelle 

Your interpretation of this psalm seems spot on. Sing Gods praises, everyone should praise and glorify him, share this knowledge amongst the people, and God will judge in righteousness and the people in faithfulness. 

Day 95 - Numbers 36 & Psalm 95

Julie

This chapter is talking about the marriage of female heirs and this is where a family of daughters has asked that they get to inherit their family lands instead of it being taken from them. Although it's allowed, they must marry someone from their own clan, because while they inherit it once they marry it is combined with their husbands land. So part of the directive for them to be able to keep it was to marry within their own clan. I don't know that I really see where we are going here...

Psalm 95 is talking about the clan that we just finished reading about in Numbers and while it is asking to sing praises to God, God is also reminding us that he doesn't suffer fools. We need to remember to trust and not whine because we are not getting our way in our time. We can truly sing his praises if we do not truly believe. 

Michelle

I’m not sure where this is going either. I understand that the daughters asked to maintain their fathers inheritance and they want these lands kept within their respective clans but this also sounds like they are marrying family which seems strange. I had this co-worker from India and he told me this is common amongst a very prominent family name even to this day. That they only ever marry another in the same family name in order to preserve it. 

The psalm does seem to be a reminder as you say. We need to remember all God has done for us and given us and stop whining and complaining as they did. We need to show obedience and contentment in all he has given us. Be thankful for the love he gives. It is ok to ask God for things but we need to make sure we aren’t constantly whining about it. 

Day 94 - Number 34 - 35 & Psalm 94

 Michelle

Before I get started today, I just have to say something.  This past month has been emotionally trying and stressful.  Letting go of alot of mom was hard enough, but with all the things going on with family members and family-in-law, it's been tough to keep focused and I am not sure I got all I should have out of the readings.  I just pray that as we move thru these stressful and emotional situations, that God is with us and that he guides us to make the right decisions and to let us know when and where we need to be.  These are the times that it is so hard to be this far from everyone and it weighs on me emotionally.  So I ask God to keep us connected to each other and to keep us communicating.  I also ask that God help us stay focused and turn to him in our time of need, helping us to be willing and able to give our stresses to him in order to help us keep moving.   In Jesus name, Amen.

So chapter 34 was relatively short, describing the boundaries for the cities and tribes.  35 starts with setting boundaries for the Levites and their pasture lands.  It then goes into Cities of Refuge, which seems to be just for murderers, or at least unintentional murders.  It almost sounds like their "jail" as they are not to leave these cities for a specified amount of time, although that time is relative to either their trial or the death of the high priest.  It speaks of the "avenger of death", which sounds like someone that has been appointed the executioner and the way it's described is relative to the saying "an eye for an eye".  This chapter sounds like the beginning of how our justice system is structured.  Something that stands out at the end of this chapter for some reason is vs 34, "Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell...".  I'm not sure why but these feels important to me and makes me think that we as a people may be doing this today.  While we don't all live in the promised land and that may be what is being referenced here, we do not all take care of what we are given.  There are many that trash and don't care for what they are given, when we should be thankful for what we have no matter how much or how little that is.  It seems to be a lesson in contentment, or instruction in that we be thankful and care for what we are given and be content in what the Lord has provided.  

The psalms seems to start out questioning God regarding wicked people being prosperous or jubilant, and then seems to be reminding the people, doesn't God see all that you are doing and he will judge you accordingly.  Blessed is the one who rejects the wicked ways and who takes a stand against the evildoers.  God is there to support you when you feel you are failing.  The verse that really stands out this morning is 19, "When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy".  This has been true for me from time to time.  When I have turned to God asking him to aid me in my stressful times, or when I ask for him to take the thoughts and feelings I am having away from me so that it calms my mind, it has helped and he has done it.  At times, it takes me repeating this prayer over and over for it to work, but that could be me not allowing myself to give it up in the way I should.  But once I do then my mind becomes less foggy.  It's hard to explain and harder to do in the moment. 

Julie

I completely understand where you are Michelle and I struggled with a lot of the reading this month because it felt like it was hard to focus a lot. I like and appreciate your insight on this reading because I didn't really feel like I got what I needed to out of it, but that makes perfect sense. Thank you for the prayer I believe that we all need that right now.

I agree with your assessment of the Psalm and do the same thing you do with the verse that you picked out. It is sometimes hard to let those things go and it takes a lot of prayer to move past and let go and realize that we are not in control. I also wonder if this is not a time in the world where you should be praying this Psalm, because it seems that the wicked are taking things over more and more every day.

Day 93 - Numbers 32-33 & Psalm 93

Julie

My focus is very bad this morning and these two chapters I am not sure I really read. They just seemed informational and not really much more. It explains their move into Canaan and what happened a long the way.

Psalm 93 is thanking God for his reign over everything that he created.

 

Michelle

So I took some time this morning and went back to read the summary at the beginning of this book in my Bible and also the accompanying book.  I have had to play catch-up this week in my studies and did not do this in the beginning.  It says that this book is named such as it's the 2 countings of the Hebrew people.  The first was to organize the camps by their tribal clans, afterward they were preparing to enter the promised land only to balk in fear.  They grumbled and disbelieved so the Lord took them on a 40 year journey of obedience and defiance.  The second counting was of the next generation which is considered a faithful generation.  I'm going to go back thru the accompanying book as there is more info that might help us understand this book better.

Chapter 32 has some tribes asking Moses if they can stay on this side of the river as the land is good for their flocks.  They end up having to agree to keeping their covenant and fighting for the Lord on the other side and getting the people to the promised land before it's agreed they can stay there.  33 shares with us the geographical info on their journey to this point.  It also says the Lord tells them if they do not drive out all the people they will become thorns and give them problems and then the Lord will smite them the way he planned to smite those people.  It's a warning to follow his instruction, or a lesson in obedience yet again.

The psalm is a short one that speaks of the Lord being mighty. 

Day 92 - Numbers 30-31 & Psalm 92

 Julie

I am struggling with what to say about today's reading. Chapter 30 made some sense and I understand that when we make these vows to God that we should follow through with what we say. In chapter 31 I struggle with the way some things are worded. I understand that they went to war and all of the implications with that, but I struggle with the way that the Bible talks about people as property, "take them for yourselves." I'm sure I might be putting to much weight on those words, but I do struggle with that quite a bit. 

Psalm 92 is thanking and praising God and reminding us that we should be doing that day and night. It's also reminding us to start and end the day in prayer. I know that it doesn't say that specifically, but verse 2 seems clear in that you are praying at the beginning and you are praying at the end if you are following this directive.

 

Michelle

I didn't really understand chapter 30 in regards to the vows.  In my bible it didn't say specifically that these were vows to God, but I see in your interpretation that is what they were talking about and that makes more sense.  It is important that we keep our vows to God.  This chapter goes into the oversight of the females in regards to vows and the males in their lives having the final say in regards to their vows.  This goes back to what I said previously about it being a very different time in that females didn't really have a voice or ownership of anything, including their vows it seems.  I'm not sure what to think of chapter 31.  Like you, I don't like the way it seems people are property but this is a part of this time period as well.   I'm not sure if it's meant the way we are reading it.  I can see how it could mean they become your property, or they are enslaved to them.  I wonder if it could be that they are bringing them into their community in order to show them the way of God.  I am not sure how to interpret this.

The psalm seems one of praise to God and what he has done for them.

Day 91 - Numbers 28-29 and Psalm 91

 Julie

Today's reading was listing the offerings, the times for them and what must be offered at those particular times. 

Psalm 91 shows the confidence in God's protection of all types of things that could affect their/our lives. It shows trust that they will make it through.

 

Michelle

Today's reading appears to be Moses going over the offerings and reminding or teaching this generation what needs to be done going forward.  It just seems a reminder because these appear to be the original instructions given to Moses and the people from God.  

The psalm seems to be saying that whomever loves the Lord and believes and trusts in him will be guarded by the Lord.  The end really brings it together I think where it says, "Because he loves me, says the Lord, I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.  He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him."