Daily Bible Reading Podcast

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NL-Day340 Amos 3-4; Isaiah 45:22-46:13; 2 John 1 Nov 30, 2025

Show notes

AMOS 3-4: As I said about Amos yesterday, he was wise in his methods. He condemned Syria, the Philistines, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, and Moab before coming around to Judah and finally the northern kingdom, Israel. We also heard some of the wonderful word pictures Amos used.

ISAIAH 45:22-46. Remember that in the last chapter Cyrus' name was repeatedly mentioned. God's motivation for making such bold predictions is clear:

19 NLT I publicly proclaim bold promises. I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner. I would not have told the people of Israel to seek me if I could not be found.

I particularly like those lines. Some of the prophets the world now looks to do indeed utter obscurities and purposefully choose to keep their followers in the dark. And God refutes the contention that he is hard to find, that he has left the world and doesn't care about humans or pay attention to us. Bear that in mind as we start today at chapter 45, verse 22.

2nd JOHN: I wish we knew if Timothy made it to Rome in time to see Paul before he died. Was Luke still there? Paul needed that warm coat as winter was approaching. And he wanted the parchment papers in particular, which were probably Old Testament Scripture. That was happening around AD 67.

Things were even even worse for Christians around AD 90 when John wrote the two little letters of 2nd and 3rd John. 2nd John is written to the 'chosen lady', but this is a euphemism or a code word for a church. The 'children' of the 'lady' are the church members. We find several echoes from the book of 1st John in these two letters. Mears points out four basic beliefs that John keeps coming back to, which are visible in these two little letters also:

We must believe that Christ came 'in the flesh', meaning, with a real human body.
At the same time we must believe that Christ is deity, that is, fully God.
We must believe that "God is love." This is both a major characteristic of God and the way followers of Christ must live.
We must believe that Christ is our Savior. The only way to have eternal life is to know Christ personally— not just know information about Him.

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-Day339 Amos 1-2; Isaiah 44:24-45:25; 2 Timothy 4 Nov 30, 2025

Show notes

AMOS 1-2: If you are new to reading the Bible, I hope that you will remember the events and expressions that Joel used. One or two ideas were repeated by Jesus in the Gospels, and we will soon see how important Joel's predictions are in Revelation.

We turn now to Amos, whose name means 'burden bearer'. Amos— like David and Gideon, started out as an ordinary guy going about his business as a shepherd and grower of sycamore figs. He was not a priest or a man with training as a prophet when God called him. Because of the mention of a great earthquake and king Uzziah, it is likely that Amos was working as a prophet around the year 760 BC. This makes him a contemporary of Jonah, Hosea, Isaiah, and Micah.

Although Amos' home town of Tekoa is only 12 miles south of Jerusalem, Amos prophesied primarily about the Northern Kingdom of Israel. He was wise in his delivery. First he prophesied judgment for Israel's enemies before lambasting Judah and Israel themselves. Although from a humble occupation, Amos was very gifted as a writer, using very graphic and unique figures of speech. Amos would have had a difficult ministry because he prophesied horrible events that would have been unimaginable for his comfortable and prosperous listeners. The fulfillments were 50 years away, so he was quite 'ahead of his time'. Mears quotes someone else in saying, "Amos proclaimed a message so far ahead of his time that most of the human race— and a large part of all Christendom, have not yet caught up with it."

ISAIAH 44:24-45:Because the prophecy at the end of chapter 44 is so stunning as to mention Cyrus some 150 years before his birth, skeptical scholars claim that this portion of Isaiah was not written until after the events happened and by a different author. But what then? If you say something like that, are you going to claim that Isaiah 53 was written after Christ came and died?

2TIMOTHY 4: There are more than one wonderful 3:16 verses in the Bible, and we read one of them in chapter 3 yesterday:

2Tim. 3:16 NLT All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

NLT Translation notes: 2Tim. 4:5 [Stay alert//But you should keep a clear mind] in every situation. Don't be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you. And [such a/the] prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.

NL-Day338 Joel 2:28-3:21; Isaiah 44:12-28; 2 Timothy 3 Nov 30, 2025

Show notes

JOEL 2:28-3: An attack by an army of locusts must be so frightening! What descriptions! And even worse when God is bringing the attack as an act of judgement. Yet Joel offers hope. He encourages the people to come back to God and beg for the Lord's help. We will pick up today re-reading the famous part of Joel 2.

ISAIAH 44b: In the first part of this chapter God said:

Is. 44:3 NLT For I will pour out water to quench your thirst and to irrigate your parched fields. And I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your children. 4 They will thrive like watered grass, like willows on a riverbank. 5 Some will proudly claim, 'I belong to the LORD.' Others will say, 'I am a descendant of Jacob.'

Then God gave a lecture on the futility of idols. I love the irony in the verses we read today:

Is. 44:19 NLT The person who made the idol never stops to reflect, "Why, it's just a block of wood!

2TIMOTHY 3: We heard the wonderful encouragements to Timothy in chapter 2. Note that Paul did not explain everything to Timothy, but invited him to ponder what he had said. I urge all of us to similarly ponder and spend time meditating on what Paul said.

Note what Paul says about God's Word in contrast to his being in chains: "The word of God cannot be chained." Yay, God! May your Word accomplish what you have sent it to do!

NLT Translation note: 2Tim. 3:15 You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by [believing/trusting] in Christ Jesus.

NL-Day337 Joel 1-2; Isaiah 44:1-18; 2 Timothy 2 Nov 30, 2025

Show notes

JOEL 1:I feel the need to comment about chapter 9 of Esther and how the Jews "got rid" of their enemies. Remember that those Jews were not Christians. (I know how silly that sounds, but it is actually a common supposition among naive Christians.) The revelation of God's will did not come all at once, and the Jews did not have the pleasure of knowing what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount or other pertinent NT passages. They most certainly did NOT 'get rid' of their enemies, except in the short run. All the relatives of the enemies slain raised up succeeding generations of people who hated the Jews even more fiercely than the first enemies did. We Christians must read Esther 9 remembering how the Jews had been slaughtered and then taken away from their land by force put into slavery in Babylonia. It is just amazing to me how the cycle of 'getting rid of enemies' has continued, right up to Hitler (the modern Haman), and right up to the conflicts in the middle east today. The cycle will stop and real peace will only happen when the True King returns.

Joel is the second book of the minor prophets in the Old Testament. We read the first one— Hosea, about two months ago. From now until the end of the year, we will start every day with a reading in the minor prophets. Joel's name means "Yahweh is God." It is quite possible that Joel is one of the earliest of the prophets. He is called the 'prophet of Pentecost', since Peter quoted from Joel in his speech in Acts 2. The occasion of Joel's message was a devastating plague of locusts which foreshadows the 'Day of the Lord'— a time not for comfort for God's people, but for punishment because of their sins.

ISAIAH 44a: According to the NLT, in Is. 43:14 God said,

14 "For your sakes I will send an army against Babylon, forcing the Babylonians to flee in those ships they are so proud of."

This is a very difficult verse to translate, and GNT's translation can also be defended:

43:14 GNT Israel's holy God, the Lord who saves you, says, "To save you, I will send an army against Babylon; I will break down the city gates, and the shouts of her people will turn into crying.

God said that the people of Israel had become tired of God and tired of bringing sacrifices. God will do something new:

43:25 NLT "I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.

These frequently quoted words are from the beginning of the chapter:

43:1b NLT "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. 2 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

2TIMOTHY 2:What was the spiritual gift that Timothy received when Paul placed his hands on him? Paul wanted Timothy to fan that gift into flame. (2Tim. 1:6) Is there a clue to what the gift was in the next verse?—

2Tim. 1:7 NLT "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline."

Paul says,

2Tim. 1:12 NLT "I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return."

What has Paul entrusted to the Lord? Is it a clue when Paul says,

2Tim. 1:14 NLT "Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you."

NL-Day336 Esther 9-10; Isaiah 43; 2 Timothy 1 Nov 30, 2025

Show notes

ESTHER 9-10:We have heard how Esther's request was granted, the king and Haman came to the second banquet, where Esther revealed her identity. The eunuch Harbona just happened to have pertinent information about Haman's plans for Mordecai, and Haman was killed and impaled/hanged on the pole he had planned to use for Mordecai. Mordecai, coming into possession of the king's signet ring, wrote an edict that allowed for the Jews to organize and defend themselves against their enemies.

ISAIAH 43: In Isaiah 42 we heard twice about 'the servant of the Lord'. The first passage is quoted in the New Testament about Jesus. However in the second, the servant (singular) pictures the people of Israel. Before Christ came, the Jews would have read the first section understanding it also to refer to the people of Israel. This intentional vagueness is one of the ways God used to reveal his message to us in this age and conceal it before the time for revealing had come.

2 Timothy 1: This is Paul's final letter, and it is also the last letter from Paul we will read this year. This letter includes some practical instructions for Timothy's ministry. It also includes precious statements about the inspiration of Scripture and the Lord's reward for obedience and endurance. I love this letter because it is so very personal. Paul was in a very different imprisonment, not under house arrest. He knew his time on earth was short. So each personal message to 'his son' Timothy is moving and precious.

NL-Day335 Esther 7-8; Isaiah 42; 2 Thessalonians 3 Nov 30, 2025

Show notes

ESTHER 7-8: In Esther 5 Haman planned to impale Mordecai on a pole in the NLT, or just hanged in the GNT. (Given the period of time, I think that the impaling method is more likely to be right.) But on the same night that Haman planned for that murder, God caused the king to have a sleepless night and read in the annals of the kingdom about Mordecai. Haman came before the king at just the right time to get assigned the task of honoring Mordecai.

ISAIAH 42: In Isaiah 41 we again heard God predict the future, and challenge Israel's idols to prophesy or do anything at all.

2THESSALONIANS 3: The Thessalonians must have wondered how they would hear of Jesus' return— given that Jesus would touch down so far from them at Jerusalem. We will be able to anticipate Jesus' return by whether the 'man of lawlessness' has appeared, has drawn away many people by working powerful miracles, and has usurped God's position in the temple. Note that God has not given us the order or timing of these events in relation to what was foretold in 1st Thessalonians.

NL-Day334 Esther 5-6; Isaiah 41:8-29; 2 Thessalonians 2 Nov 23, 2025

Show notes

ESTHER 5-6: In Esther 3-4 Haman cast lots (purim) to find out that March 7 was the lucky date to exterminate the Jews. Mordecai requested that Esther intercede directly to the king. And since she hadn't been called for, the only way to do that would endanger Esther herself, since no one was allowed to approach the king in the inner court uninvited.

ISAIAH 41b: Did you notice in yesterday's reading, we heard a description of a king that sounded similar to one described in the book of Daniel?

Isaiah 41:2-4 NLT: 2 "Who has stirred up this king from the east, rightly calling him to God's service? Who gives this man victory over many nations and permits him to trample their kings underfoot? With his sword, he reduces armies to dust. With his bow, he scatters them like chaff before the wind. 3 He chases them away and goes on safely, though he is walking over unfamiliar ground. 4 Who has done such mighty deeds, summoning each new generation from the beginning of time? It is I, the LORD, the First and the Last. I alone am he."

Because of the amazingly fast progress of this king being like the description of Alexander the Great (the male goat) in Daniel 8, I previously thought that Isaiah was also describing Alexander. But Alexander came from the west. Instead, this is the same king as mentioned in verse 25 of today's reading, and scholars say that he is most likely Cyrus. In a few chapters he will be mentioned by name, and chapter 41 is not the only time Isaiah alludes to him without mentioning his name.

2THESSALONIANS 2: In preparing for his topic of Christ's return, in 2Thessalonians chapter 1 Paul mentioned the punishment of people who refuse to obey the Good News about Christ. They will 'suffer' or 'pay the penalty of eternal destruction'. Note that if people are going to be burned up in hell, or if God's punishment was simply that people would cease to exist, it would not be called 'suffer eternal destruction'. This understanding is not just a doctrine. It turns out that this gives great comfort to those who are suffering persecution, and gives a great motivation to all of us for sharing the Good News.

NL-Day333 Esther 3-4; Isaiah 41:1-20; 2 Thessalonians 1 Nov 23, 2025

Show notes

ESTHER 3-4: Yesterday we heard how Esther became the queen, and how she continued to keep her Jewish background a secret. We also heard how Mordecai, her uncle, was promoted to a palace official after uncovering a plot to assassinate king Xerxes.

Today we are introduced to the villain of the story— Haman. The Jews always read the book of Esther in the celebration of Purim. Whenever Haman's name is read they boo and shake rattles or noisemakers to drown out his name.

ISAIAH 41a: The shift to such beautiful poetry that occurs in chapter 40 of Isaiah is one of the things that has made people think the last part of this book was authored by someone else. But that is the silly. As I have pointed out as we have gone along, Isaiah has written beautiful and memorize-able verses from the beginning of this book. And Isaiah's amazing predictions about the Messiah are not just found in chapter 53, as we heard again yesterday.

2 THESSALONIANS 1:Did you notice yesterday that the little book of Philemon is a picture of the Gospel? Philemon is in the place of God. Paul is an advocate like Jesus. Picture yourself in the position of a runaway slave. I give a hint here for digging deeper in Philemon: There is a wonderful play of words that happens twice based on the name Onesimus.

I hope that you recall that we read 1st Thessalonians several months ago. 2nd Thessalonians seems to have been written soon after the first letter, around 51 AD. Paul was evidently still at Corinth. And the letter seems to have been written to clarify a very important point about Christ's second coming. This letter contains some of the clearest teaching about the antichrist— although Paul does not use that term.

Constable's notes say, "Paul wrote to encourage the Thessalonian believers to continue to persevere in the face of continuing persecution (1:3-10). He also wanted to clarify events preceding the day of the Lord to dispel false teaching (2:1-12). Finally, he instructed the church how to deal with lazy Christians in their midst (3:6-15)." Constable's notes can be found at Lumina.bible.org.

NLT Translation notes: 2Thes. 1:3 Dear brothers and sisters,c we can't help but thank God for you, because [you so fully believe in Christ//your faith is flourishing] and your love for one another is growing. 11 So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your [full belief in Christ//faith] prompts you to do.

NL-Day332 Esther 1-2; Isaiah 40:15-31; Philemon 1 Nov 23, 2025

Show notes

ESTHER 1-2:In the final two chapters of Nehemiah, we heard of the culmination of Nehemiah's work— the ceremony for the dedication of the wall. The people proved that the wall could stand up to more than just a fox walking on it. Then Nehemiah went back to Babylon. When he came back to Jerusalem, he needed to right several wrongs, as the people had allowed a deterioration in the temple worship.

We now turn to the book of Esther, which may have been written by Mordecai (a major character in the book), or by Ezra or Nehemiah, who would have known this story. The king Xerxes was defeated in a famous naval battle against Greece. From the historian Herodotus we find that the feast mentioned in the first chapter of Esther was the occasion for planning that battle. Esther has been compared to Joseph and David. She also started out as just an ordinary person, but God planned something great for her.

ISAIAH 40b: The three memorable musical compositions in Handel's Messiah that quote from this chapter are taken from just verses 1-11. We will find more memorable verses in today's reading.

PHILEMON: In chapter 4 of Colossians we heard Paul encourage alertness in prayer and making the most of every opportunity to share the Good News. Our speech should be— when literally translated, 'seasoned with salt'. NLT does a nice job translating that meaningfully as 'attractive', and GNT also get's right to the point with 'interesting'.

Along with other people, Onesimus was mentioned at the end of Colossians. He was the slave of Philemon. It is likely that the letter Paul mentioned "from Laodicea" at the end of Colossians was the letter that we will read now! I wish that we knew if Onesimus was so attracted to the Gospel after over-hearing Paul speak at Philemon's house that he ran away to search for Paul during the time when he was under house arrest in Rome. Or did Onesimus just run away as any ordinary slave might do and just 'happen' to 'end up' in prison with Paul in Rome? Each story would be fascinating!

NLT Translation notes: Phm. 4 I always thank my God when I pray for you, Philemon, 5 because I keep hearing about your [fully believing//faith] in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God's people. 6 And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your [believing/faith] as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. 10 I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in [believing the Good News about Jesus//the faith] while here in prison. 25 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with [each of you spiritually//all of your spirits//your spirit]. [The shift to plural-you indicates that Paul is closing with a greeting to all the people mentioned at the first of the letter, not just Philemon. It is amazing to me that many English translations fail to make this clear.]

NL-Day331 Nehemiah 12-13; Isaiah 40:1-17; Colossians 4 Nov 23, 2025

Show notes

NEHEMIAH 12-13 In yesterday's chapters in Nehemiah, we heard the names of the various religious and civil leaders who signed the statement of commitment to follow Moses' Law, which was almost certainly penned by Ezra. Then there was a listing of the various leaders and clans that volunteered or were chosen by lot to live in Jerusalem.

ISAIAH 40a: I am always very disappointed with Hezekiah when he does not pray and ask the Lord to not allow Jerusalem to be conquered by Babylon and not to allow his sons to become eunuchs in Babylon's palace. God had already responded amazingly to him in answering his prayers. The New Testament teaches us to be alert in prayer, and I think that includes being alert to what to pray for.

Today we start the glorious final section of Isaiah, with favorite words set to music in Handel's Messiah.

COLOSSIANS 4:Our resurrection to a new life because of being one with Christ, is not just being raised from death to live again on this earth. We get raised right to heaven. Our true spiritual life is found in our unity with Christ who is in heaven at God's side. Literally Paul expressed this as 'your life is hidden with Christ in (unity with) God'. The picture continues with our bodies and evil desires being pictured like clothes. We put off the old life like old clothes and put on the new life like new clothes.

Yesterday's chapter ended with instructions for wives, husbands, children, fathers, and slaves. Today's chapter continues with the instruction to masters.

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