Daily Bible Reading Podcast

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089: JoySightings 12 The Enchanted City Mar 29, 2026

Show notes

I am releasing this episode number 12 of Joysightings at the DBRP feed in order to let you know about my recordings of Tales of the Kingdom and Tales of the Restoration, by David and Karen Mains. You can find the other chapters of these two books at Joysightings.info.

It was perhaps in 1989 that a precious friend sent the two books to us, when we were living in the rainforest of Papua, Indonesia. Our children were at just the right ages to enjoy the full impact of these stories. It is a joy for me now to share these with you also. Each book consists of 12 chapters written as allegories. You will enjoy the deep symbolic meanings that underlie the story of characters with names like Caretaker, Mercy, and Hero.

At the Joysightings.info site, the first chapter of Tales of the Kingdom is episode 12, and the first chapter of Tales of the Resistance is episode 25.

When I made the podcast recordings, I was reading from the first edition of the two books of Tales, published in 1983 and 1986 by David C. Cook. The books have beautiful color pictures (one per chapter) by Jack Stockman. I tried repeatedly to reach out to David C. Cook to ask for permission to share these recordings on my podcast. In 2019 I reached out to David and Karen Mains via their Facebook page, and David answered giving his permission for my podcasts. Now in 2023 I discovered that the copyright for the books now belongs to Mainstay Ministries. In February I attempted to more formally re-confirm the Mains' permission for my podcasts. However I found that the Mainstay Ministries website is not currently working and both numbers given for contacting them have been disconnected. If any of you listeners can connect me with the Mains family, I would appreciate it very much.

The two sites I find for Mainstay Ministries are https://www.sundaysolutions.com/ https://kingdomtales.com/

NL-Day089 Numbers 33; Psalm 46; Acts 5:17-42 Mar 29, 2026

Show notes

NUMBERS 33:Yesterday we heard how the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh promised to go ahead of their fellow Israelites into battle on the west side of the Jordan, because they were receiving land on the east side of the Jordan. In hindsight, I must say this was not a great idea. Because of how often all the men were required to go to Jerusalem for the holy assemblies, it must have been very easy to not attend those events and grow increasingly far from the Lord.

PSALM 46:This was the inspiration for the hymn A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. The word translated by the GNT as 'shelter' in v.1 can also mean 'refuge'. And the word translated as 'refuge' in verses 7 and 11 can also mean 'secure height'.

ACTS 5b:Yesterday we heard the sobering story of Ananias and Sapphira. Then, just when God was using the apostles to perform many miracles, they were arrested.

GNT Translation notes:Acts 5:28 "We gave you strict orders not to teach [by the authority//in the name] of this man," he said; "but see what you have done! You have spread your teaching all over Jerusalem, and you want to make us responsible for his death!"

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

NL-Day088 Numbers 32; Psalm 45; Acts 5:1-21 Mar 22, 2026

Show notes

NUMBERS 32:Yesterday we heard of the conquest of the Midianite people. That story is an example of how hard it is for us humans to follow God's instructions.

PSALM 45:This psalm may have originally been intended as a wedding song for King Solomon, but from our vantage point we can see that it is really a song of praise to our King, the Messiah, and we— the people of God, are the bride.

ACTS 5a:Yesterday we heard of the fearless praying of the believers after being commanded to no longer teach about Jesus. And we heard of the wonderful unity of spirit among them.

NL-Day087 Numbers 31; Psalm 44; Acts 4:19-37 Mar 22, 2026

Show notes

NUMBERS 31:Yesterday the listing of sacrifices continued with those for the Festival of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the 8 day Festival of Shelters. Then in Numbers 30 we heard laws concerning the annulment of rash vows. These laws show how seriously God takes any vows made to Him!

PSALM 44:This is a psalm with extreme contrast between part one and part two. Part one has a tone of praise— reciting the wonderful way God helped Israel. But part two accuses God of abandoning Israel. This psalm can be a pattern for us in how to plead with God to fulfill his promises or to again act as He has in the past.

ACTS 4b:Yesterday we heard the start of the dramatic trial that happened after Peter and John were arrested following the healing of the lame man in chapter 3. Their arrest was due to Peter and John's teaching about the resurrection of Jesus. The council recognized that the two apostles had been with Jesus.

NLT Translation notes:Ps. 44:11 You have [stood by and watched as they] butchered us like sheepand scattered us among the nations.21 [You, O Lord] God would surely have known it,for [you know//he knows] the secrets of every heart.====Acts 4:30 Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done [by the authority//through the name] of your holy servant Jesus."

NL-Day086 Numbers 29-30; Psalm 43; Acts 4:1-22 Mar 22, 2026

Show notes

NUMBERS 29-30:Yesterday we heard about the request of the daughters of Zelophehad, and the Lord told Moses that it was time for him to die. Joshua was appointed to lead in Moses' place. And we were given the list of sacrificial offerings to be given every day in the morning and evening, those given each Sabbath, and those offered on the first day of the month, at the festival of unleavened bread, and the harvest festival. More of the same starts our reading today.

PSALM 43:This psalm is a companion to Psalm 42, containing the same refrain at the end. Both Psalms seem to be the prayers of someone in exile, who is unable to go to Jerusalem. This is a prayer for God to defend and guide each of us as worshipers of the Lord.

ACTS 4a:Yesterday we heard the story of the remarkable healing of lame beggar at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. Peter's speech was interrupted as we will hear today.

NL-Day085 Numbers 27-28; Psalm 42; Acts 3 Mar 22, 2026

Show notes

NUMBERS 27-28:Yesterday we heard of the second registration of Israel's troops.

PSALM 42:This Psalm contains words we often sing. It is a song about renewing hope in the Lord after discouragement.

ACTS 3:Yesterday we heard the conclusion of Peter's first sermon. 3,000 believed in Christ that day and were baptized. And the believers devoted themselves totally to the apostles' teaching.

NLT/GNT Translation notes:Num. 27:1 Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah were the daughters of Zelophehad[. Zelophehad traced his genealogy as the] son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, son of Joseph.2 [His daughters//They] went and stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and the whole community at the entrance of the Tent of the Lord's presence and said,====Ps. 42 [I hope that you remember who the clan of Korah was! Note that the presence of this Psalm is an interesting proof that God forgave and accepted the service of Korah's clan. This is another Psalm where the writer speaks honorific fashion to the Lord, speaking to him using the third person. To us, this makes it seem that the writer switches back and forth rapidly to talking about the Lord and talking to the Lord. I agree with CEV in adapting this Psalm to modern English and maintaining the perception that the whole poem is a prayer. Rather than reading from the CEV, I have simply made the required changes in the GNT at verses 4-9, and verse 11.]==== Act. 3:6 But Peter said to him, "I have no money at all, but I give you what I have: [by the power//in the name] of Jesus Christ of Nazareth I order you to get up and walk!"16 GNT: It was the power of [Jesus//his name] that gave strength to this lame man. [This miracle that you can plainly//What you] see and know was done by [believing in Him//faith in his name]; it was [belief//faith] in Jesus that has made him well, as you can all see.16 revised NLT: "Through [fully believing//faith] in [Jesus//the name of Jesus], this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. [Fully believing in Jesus//Faith in Jesus' name] has healed him before your very eyes.[Peter uses a common Jewish metonymy here— where 'name' stands for the whole person of Jesus. We use metonymy in English (in sayings like "The _pen_ is mightier than the _sword_.") While many English speakers will understand 'name of Jesus' to simply refer to Jesus himself, others (and especially some of my podcast listeners from other cultures) could mistakenly think that the Bible teaches followers of Christ use 'the name of Jesus' like magic words.NET has this note at 3:6: In the name. … The reference to "the name" is not like a magical incantation, but is designed to indicate the _agent_ who performs the healing. The theme is quite frequent in Acts (2:38 plus 21 other times).If any of you say, "I've never heard 'in the name of Jesus' used like magic words!" I answer: Start listening! It's happening all the time.]

NLT Translation notes:Num28:24 On each of the seven days of the festival, this is how you must prepare the food offering that is presented as a special gift, a pleasing aroma to [Me,/0] the LORD. These will be offered in addition to the regular burnt offerings and liquid offerings.====Act.3:6 But Peter said, "I don't have any silver or gold for you. But I'll give you what I have. In the name of [Christ Jesus//Jesus Christ] the Nazarene,a get up and walk!"16 "Through [fully believing//faith] in [Jesus//the name of Jesus], this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. [Fully believing in Jesus//Faith in Jesus' name] has healed him before your very eyes.[Peter uses a common Jewish metonymy here, where 'name' stands for the whole person of Jesus. We use metonymy in English (in sayings like "The pen is mightier than the sword.") While many English speakers will understand 'name of Jesus' simply to refer to Jesus himself, others (and especially some of my listeners from other cultures) could be tempted to think that the Bible teaches followers of Christ use 'the name of Jesus' like magic words.]

NL-Day084 Numbers 26; Psalm 41; Acts 2:16-47 Mar 22, 2026

Show notes

NUMBERS 26:Yesterday we heard Balaam's final prophecies. Even though he was a shaman and a charlatan, God chose to speak through him on that occasion, giving a small glimpse of God's redemptive plan.

PSALM 41:God hears us when we are down and cry out for his help.

ACTS 2b:Yesterday we heard how the Holy Spirit came with tongues of fire and a loud noise, and the beginning part of Peter's first famous sermon.

NL-Day083 Numbers 24-25; Psalm 40; Acts 2:1-24 Mar 22, 2026

Show notes

NUMBERS 24-25:Yesterday we heard how Balak sent for the shaman Balaam to curse Israel, and we heard that God instead moved him to bless Israel two times. And a third sacrifice of 7 bulls and 7 rams was made.

PSALM 40:This is a psalm that is quoted in the New Testament. It is a great psalm of praise which conveys many New Testament concepts. (Some of you will perceive some differences in the NT quote. This is because the NT quote was taken from the Septuagint— the ancient translation of the OT into Greek.)

ACTS 2a:Yesterday we heard about Jesus' followers who were waiting in Jerusalem for the promised Holy Spirit and for power from God.

NL-Day082 Numbers 22-23; Psalm 39; Acts 1 Mar 22, 2026

Show notes

NUMBERS 22-23:In Numbers 21, the Lord gave victory to the Israelites over the Amorites, and then over King Sihon. And because of Israel's grumbling, the Lord sent poisonous snakes among them. When the people cried out to Moses, the Lord told him to make a snake and set it up on a pole. This is an unannounced picture of Christ.

PSALM 39:This is a prayer for relief by David when he felt he was under the discipline of the Lord.

ACTS 1:We follow up Luke's first report to Theophilus with his second to the same man. (Or perhaps Luke meant this account to be for any 'lover of God'.) The book covers the story of what happened after Jesus' death in 33AD to Paul's two-year house arrest that ended in 62AD.

Since only a few of the apostles are told about in this book, rather than 'Acts of the Apostles', others have suggested the name 'Acts of the Holy Spirit'. Constable quotes William Neil, who starts out quoting Streeter:

"Streeter suggested that an alternative title for the book of Acts might be 'The Road to Rome', for this is indeed the significance of Luke's work. Whatever minor motifs Luke had in mind— such as the establishment of Christianity in men's minds as a constructive and not destructive element in the social order, his main concern was to show that, in God's plan for the renewal of the life of mankind, Jerusalem, the heart of old Israel, was the goal of Stage I [i.e., the Book of Luke], while Rome, the centre of the world, was the goal of Stage II [i.e., the Book of Acts]."

And here is a more pointed quote from Rosner:

". . . Luke in Acts is not merely concerned to draw a link between the time of Jesus and the time of the early church, as is commonly noticed, but also between the time of Israel and the time of Jesus and His church. Acts insists that the God who was at work in the history of his ancient people, Israel, bringing them salvation, is the same God who is at work in the church."

NL-Day081 Numbers 21; Psalm 38; Luke 24:30-53 Mar 15, 2026

Show notes

NUMBERS 21:Yesterday we heard about the water of purification, which involved the burnt offering of a red heifer and following very exacting requirements. Then we heard the story of Moses and Aaron's failure to display God's holiness in the issue of speaking to— rather than striking the rock. It is no wonder Moses was exasperated by the people. And following that incident, not being able to pass through the land of Edom, they turned back to Mount Hor, where Aaron died.

PSALM 38:This is a beautiful song of repentance and a cry for deliverance from enemies.

LUKE 24b:Yesterday we heard the story of the women not finding Jesus in the tomb, and the story of the two men meeting the risen Jesus on the road to Emmaus.

NLT Translation notes:Luk. 24:6 He isn't here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, 7 that [He,/0] the Son of Man[,/0] must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day."25 Then Jesus said to them, "You foolish [men/people]! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures.

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