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NL-Day218 Jeremiah 32-33; Proverbs 3:18-35; 1 Corinthians 11 Aug 02, 2026

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JEREMIAH 32-33:In yesterday's reading we heard some of Jeremiah's most important words:

Jer. 31:33-34 NLT … this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day," says the LORD."I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. … I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins."

When you think about it, what God has always wanted is rather simple: He would like to be our God, and He would like us to be— and act like, His people.

PROVERBS 3b:Let's read verses 5-8 as a reminder, because these represent the core of Proverbs.

Proverbs 3:5‭-‬8 NLT 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. 7 Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. 8 Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.

1CORINTHIANS 11:In chapter 10 Paul wrapped up his discussion about food offered to idols. And an important part is to learn from what happened to Israel. Finally he summarized:

1Cor. 10:31 NLT "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Don't give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God."

NLT Translation notes:Prov. 3:14 For [she,] wisdom[,] is more profitable than silver,and her wages are better than gold.15 Wisdom is more precious than rubies;nothing you desire can compare with [Lady Wisdom//her].====1Cor. 11:3 But there is one thing I want you to know: The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is [the] man [(her husband or her father)], and the head of Christ is God.5 But a woman dishonors her headc if she prays or prophesies without a covering on her head, for this [would be//is] the same as shaving her head. 6 Yes, if she refuses to wear a head covering, she should cut off all her hair! But since it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut [short] or her head shaved, she should wear a covering.8 For the first man didn't come from woman, but the first woman came from man. 9 And [the first] man was not made for [the first] woman, but [the first] woman was made for [the first] man.

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-Day217 Jeremiah 30-31; Proverbs 3:1-18; 1 Corinthians 10:1-11:1 Aug 02, 2026

Show notes

JEREMIAH 30-31:Yesterday we heard more of Jeremiah's struggle against false prophets. And now so many centuries later, in our day, the false message is what people desire to hear, even though the truth is actually better for us and much better for our preparation.

There is an often quoted verse from yesterday's reading. I think it is good to bear in mind that this was NOT spoken to the Jews left behind in Israel's land, but was part of the letter to the exiles in Babylon.

Jer. 29:11 NLT For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen.

I think it is great to pray to the Lord and ask that He would treat you the same way as the exiles in Babylon. I don't think it is good to rip this verse out of context and claim it as applying directly to you. However, regarding our future and hope, and how God listens to us when we pray, there are many other verses, especially in the New Testament, that we can claim.

PROVERBS 3a:In yesterday's reading we heard that following the path of wisdom is the way of common sense, and that leads one to avoid reckless sin of all kinds. It is best to follow the example of godly people. Lady Wisdom appears again in today's chapter in verses 13-18. Look for the pronouns 'her' and 'she' in most translations.

1CORINTHIANS 10:In chapter 8, we heard that Christians who have 'superior wisdom' sometimes need to give up their 'rights' for the sake of not causing their brothers and sisters to fall or be tempted. (Often not really 'rights', but privileges we get too possessive about.) And that led Paul in chapter 9 to talk of the rights he and Barnabas had given up for the Gospel.

NLT Translation notes:Jer. 31:17 There is hope for your future," says the LORD."Your children will come [back] again to their own land.====Prov. 3:13 Joyful is the person who finds wisdom,the one who gains understanding.14 For [she,] wisdom[,] is more profitable than silver,and her wages are better than gold.15 Wisdom is more precious than rubies;nothing you desire can compare with [Lady Wisdom//her].18 Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her;happy are those who hold [on to] her tightly.====1Cor. 10:4 and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and [by that, I mean that] that rock was Christ.20 No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are [actually] offered to demons, not to God. And I don't want you to participate with demons.24 Don't [just] be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.28 (But suppose someone tells you, "This meat was offered to an idol." [Then] Don't eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you. 29 It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.) [So now, someone is sure to ask, "[:/For] why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks? 30 If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it?["]

NL-Day216 Jeremiah 28-29; Proverbs 2; 1 Corinthians 9 Aug 02, 2026

Show notes

JEREMIAH 28-29:In yesterday's reading we moved from more poetic content to the story of Jeremiah being opposed by priests, other prophets, and royal officials. Remember that God has promised that he will protect Jeremiah in the face of opposition, and this certainly was put to the test. At the end of yesterday's reading, we heard how Jeremiah prophesied that more valuable articles would be taken away from the Temple, and that they would be brought back eventually. When we read the book of Ezra, we will hear that this prophecy was fulfilled.

PROVERBS 2:

Yesterday's reading in Proverbs contained the first speech of Lady Wisdom, the personification of God's wisdom. Not every language uses personification, and one that never uses personification is Indonesian. In translating Proverbs into Indonesian, we needed to say, "Wisdom is like a teacher who does x, y, and z." Even in English, it can seem strange when Wisdom builds a house, calls out to people who pass by, and does other human actions.

1CORINTHIANS 9:In 1 Corinthians 8 Paul began his explanation about whether Christians can eat food left over from sacrifices to idols. To me it is another sign of inspiration and God-given wisdom that Paul did not just give a rule to answer this question.

NLT Translation note:1Cor. 9:10 Wasn't he actually speaking [about/to] us? Yes, it was written for us, so that the one who plows and the one who threshes the grain might both expect a share of the harvest.

NL-Day215 Jeremiah 26-27; Proverbs 1; 1 Corinthians 8 Aug 02, 2026

Show notes

JEREMIAH 26-27:In yesterday's reading, some important points were revealed: The people the Lord was about to send into exile to the North would return to Him wholeheartedly and God would bring them back to their land. God would put it into their hearts to return to him! Those remaining in the land at the point of exile and their king would be scattered, cursed, and vanish. The exiles would come back after 70 years, and afterward Babylon would have its turn to be punished and would remain a ruin forever— as in fact it is! That 70 year time was important to the prophet Daniel when he discovered it when reading this book!

PROVERBS 1:In our poetry readings this year, we started with Job, then Psalms, and now we enter the wisdom literature with Proverbs. Solomon wrote and compiled these proverbs around the year 950 BC, in the height of Israel's golden age. We will hear the theme statement of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes today in verse 7 (NLT), "Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge." There is a clear division in the organization of this book. The first 9 chapters are highly thematic and are especially directed to giving wisdom to Solomon's sons. Then there are proverbs giving every-day advice to everyone, followed by advice to rulers. The very last chapter is the one that extols the blessedness of having a wise wife. I thank Kayla Gray for reading the parts of Lady Widsom throughout the first part of Proverbs. Kayla and Austin Gray, with their five children, are members of our church, and (currently in 2024) are preparing for roles with Pioneer Bible Translators in Dallas.

1CORINTHIANS 8:Summarizing important points about our position that we have heard in 1 Corinthians 6-7: Remember that we are joined as one with Christ— as in the vine and branch metaphors. We are 'of one spirit with the Lord'. (6:17) We each have become the 'temple of God's Spirit'. (6:19) We are in the humble yet honored position of being 'slaves' of the Lord, the King of Kings. (7:22) We are not our own. We have been bought with a high price. (6:20 and 7:23)

NLT Translation note:1Cor.8:13 So if what I eat [would cause/causes] another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don't want to cause another believer to stumble.

NL-Day214 Jeremiah 24-25; Psalm 150; 1 Corinthians 6:17-7:40 Jul 26, 2026

Show notes

JEREMIAH 24-25:A stunning prophecy was given in yesterday's reading:

Jer. 23:5-6 NLT "For the time is coming," says the Lord, "when I will raise up a righteous descendant* from King David's line. He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. 6 And this will be his name: 'The Lord Is Our Righteousness.'* In that day Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety.

How amazing it is that this identity of 'The Lord Our Salvation/Righteousness' is specifically linked with the Righteous Descendant— whom we now know is Jesus!

Yesterday's reading, from chapter 23, verse 33 contains an interesting command about not calling the Lord's message a 'burden'. Note that in the Hebrew this is a play on words using the word 'burden' which can also mean 'message'. In other words, the people ask, "What is the Lord's message(meaning 2)" and Jeremiah is told to reply, "You are the burden(meaning 1)."

Some Christian leaders today would do well to note God's angry statements about the prophets who pan off prophecies that just come from their own imaginations as coming from the Lord. I would not like to be in their shoes on Judgment Day!

PSALM 150:The exuberant finale to the psalms!

1CORINTHIANS 6:17—7:Yesterday's reading in 1 Corinthians started out with Paul rebuking the Corinthian Christians for taking their fellow believers to court before secular judges. Paul returned briefly the theme of sexual sin. Then, in supporting his points, Paul gave some of the most amazing verses in all Scripture about our position in unity with Christ. Let's review the last four verses of chapter 6 to make the connection with chapter 7.

NLT Translation notes:1Cor. 7:1 Now regarding the questions you asked in your letter. Yes, it is good to abstain [totally] from sexual relations.22 And remember, if you were a slave when the Lord called you, you are now free in [because you are joined with] the Lord. And if you were free when the Lord called you, you are now a slave of Christ.

NL-Day213 Jeremiah 23; Psalm 149; 1 Corinthians 6 Jul 26, 2026

Show notes

JEREMIAH 23:In yesterday's reading, we heard how king Zedekiah sent two men to Jeremiah to ask him for help to pray for a miracle. And God made it ever so clear that no miracle of deliverance would be given. Jeremiah repeatedly tells the king what he needs to do, but Zedekiah just couldn't bring himself to do it. The area of giving justice was especially prominent in yesterday's readings.

PSALM 149:We old saints should not despise all of the new songs of the young saints. Yet I totally understand the desire to avoid change. Here we see that Scripture commands that we sing new songs. And this whole psalm can be taken as a prelude to what we will see in the book of Revelation.

1CORINTHIANS 6:A few days ago I challenged you to find out what was special about the quote in John 19 about none of Jesus' bones being broken. In yesterday's reading in 1Corinthians 5, we heard several metaphors relating to that based on Jesus being our Passover Lamb. And now as we start chapter 6, we have a chapter break at the right place, as Paul starts a new topic.

NLT Translation notes:Jer. 23:33 The Lord said to me, "Jeremiah, when one of these people, or a prophet, or a priest asks you, 'What [burden/burdensome message] do you have from the Lord?' [(meaning a message from me,)] Tell them, 'You are the burden, and I will cast you away. I, the Lord, affirm it! [There is a play on words here that is really hard to translate, and NLT doesn't show that in a way that makes sense to me. So I am basing the reading more on the NET.]34 I will punish any prophet, priest, or other person who [refers to a message from me as a burden//says "The Lord's message is burdensome]." I will punish both that person and his whole family.'"35 So I, Jeremiah, tell you, "Each of you people should say to his friend or his relative, 'How did the Lord answer? Or what did the Lord say?' 36 You must no longer [refer to a message from the Lord as a "burden".//say that the Lord's message is burdensome.] [NLT 1996 version: For people are using it to give authority to their own ideas, turning upside down the words of our God, the living God, the LORD of Heaven's Armies.//For what is 'burdensome' really pertains to what a person himself says. You are misrepresenting the words of our God, the living God, the Lord who rules over all.] 37 Each of you should merely ask the prophet, 'What answer did the Lord give you? Or what did the Lord say?' 38 But just suppose you continue to [call the Lord's message "a burden".//say, 'The message of the Lord is burdensome.'] Here is what the Lord says will happen: 'I sent word to you that you must not [call my message a 'burden'.//say, "The Lord's message is burdensome."] But you [continued to say that anyway.//used the words "The Lord's message is burdensome" anyway.] 39 So I will carry you far off and throw you away. I will send both you and the city I gave to you and to your ancestors out of my sight.40 I will bring on you lasting shame and lasting disgrace which will never be forgotten!'"====1Cor. 6:11 Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on [0//the name of] the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.[This is a figure of speech called metonymy. 'The name' stands for the whole person. First of all, even though it sounds natural to us who have been around Bibles all our lives, it really is not natural English. One never would say, "Call on the name of Obama." We would simply call Obama, or call to Obama. Secondly, calling on a name sounds as if we are given magic words. It would be idolatry to worship a thing (even a name) rather than the Person himself.]

NL-Day212 Jeremiah 21-22; Psalm 148; 1 Corinthians 4:14-5:13 Jul 26, 2026

Show notes

JEREMIAH 21-22:These verses from Jeremiah 20 have been often quoted as a reason for memorizing Scripture:

Jer. 20:9 NLT But if I say I'll never mention the LORDor speak in his name,his word burns in my heart like a fire.It's like a fire in my bones!I am worn out trying to hold it in!I can't do it!

Remember the priest Pashur who put Jeremiah in stocks. The Passhur that time was the son of Immer. Today it is evidently a different Passhur who visits Jeremiah, the son of Malchiah.

PSALM 148:The ending psalms just keep getting more and more exuberant in praise

1CORINTHIANS 4:14—5:13Paul is about to drop a bombshell in chapter 5, and it is good to see the transition from chapter 4.

NLT Translation notes:1Cor. 5:2 You are so proud of yourselves, but you should be mourning in sorrow and shame. And you should remove [that/this] man from your fellowship.3 Even though I am not with you in person, I am with you in the Spirit. And as though I were there, I have already passed judgment on [that/this] man 5 Then you must throw [that/this] man out and hand him over to Satan so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved on the day the Lord returns.6 [Given that situation] Your boasting [0//about this] is terrible. Don't you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough?[There is no "about this" in the Greek, and this is a place where one would not want to claim this as added implicit information. They were boasting about other things and sweeping this under the rug. And I find it very silly to use 'person' instead of 'man' a little further on. Gender sensitivity has become a bit too sensitive.]7 Get rid of the old "yeast" by removing [that wicked man//this wicked person] from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us.10 But I wasn't talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid [everyone/people] like that.12 It isn't [our/my] responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. [Paul uses a rhetorical question here, "What have I to do with judging outsiders?" It is a good idea to translate this as a statement. I think that Paul's intent is not just about himself judging, and the change of pronouns in the next sentence seems jarring to me as I read the NLT.]

NL-Day211 Jeremiah 19-20; Psalm 147; 1 Corinthians 3:10-4:21 Jul 26, 2026

Show notes

JEREMIAH 19-20:In yesterday's reading, we again heard some often-quoted verses. These verses come just after verses in chapter 17 where the Lord himself beautifully paraphrased Psalm 1:

Jer. 17:9 NLT "The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? 10 But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve."

Then in chapter 18, we also heard the famous passage about the Lord being like a potter, which Paul refers to in Romans 9.

PSALM 147:Again this is quite a contrast with Jeremiah's feelings which we just read! This is our second Hallelujah psalm. And hallelujah has been translated according to its meaning here as "Praise the LORD." This psalm has incredible depth.

1CORINTHIANS 3:10—4:21Paul is still 'going on about' the same thing. He is going to return to the subject of himself and Apollos in chapter 4— which summarizes the division in the Corinthian church. To give the connection, let's start reading at chapter 3 verse 10.

NLT Translation notes:1Cor. 4:7 For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn't [just] given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?10 Our dedication to Christ [paradoxically] makes us look like fools, but you claim to be so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are honored, but we are ridiculed.13 We appeal gently when evil things are said about us. [0/Yet] we are treated like the world's garbage, like everybody's trash—right up to the present moment.

NL-Day210 Jeremiah 17-18; Psalm 146; 1 Corinthians 3 Jul 26, 2026

Show notes

JEREMIAH 17-18:One catches so clearly how trapped Jeremiah was in the time of God's judgment, and how hot God's anger was against Judah. Jeremiah's audience would not have appreciated him telling them where the Lord said they could 'go'! No wonder he so often weeps and cries out in despair. God's verdict in 15:2, which shows his sovereign choices, is repeated in Revelation:

Jer. 15:1 Then the Lord said to me, "Even if Moses and Samuel were standing here pleading with me, I would not show these people any mercy. Make them go away; make them get out of my sight. 2 When they ask you where they should go, tell them that I have said:Some are doomed to die by disease—that's where they will go!Others are doomed to die in war—that's where they will go!Some are doomed to die of starvation—that's where they will go!Others are doomed to be taken away as prisoners—that's where they will go!

PSALM 146:This is the first of five Hallelujah psalms. In the GNT, 'hallelujah' is translated, "Praise the Lord."

1CORINTHIANS 3:The topic of this chapter is still related to that verse from Jeremiah that Paul quoted about boasting, but only boasting about knowing the Lord. And this chapter builds on what Paul has just said about wisdom, as he moves into discussing how to think about different Christian leaders.

NLT Translation notes:1Cor. 3:17 God will destroy anyone who destroys [his/this] temple. For God's temple is holy, and you [(as a group)] are that temple.22 [(Implicit info) because of your unity with Christ, that includes/whether] Paul [and/or] Apollos or Peter, or the world, or life and death, or the present and the future. [Yes, in unity with Christ,] Everything belongs to you,

NL-Day209 Jeremiah 15-16; Psalm 145; 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:16 Jul 26, 2026

Show notes

JEREMIAH 15-16:Yesterday the dialog between the Lord and Jeremiah continued. We heard of the drought. And the Lord forbid Jeremiah to pray for the people of Judah.

PSALM 145:This is an acrostic psalm in Hebrew, and it gives us a great place to start when praising God.

1CORINTHIANS 1:18—2:Let's not allow the chapter division here to interrupt what Paul teaches us about God's wisdom! So let's start reading in chapter 1 verse 18.

NLT Translation note:Jer. 15:2And if they say to you, 'But where can we go?' tell them, 'This is what the LORD says:"'Those who are destined for death, will die;those who are destined for war, [will die in//to] war;those who are destined for famine, [will die in//to] famine;those who are destined for captivity, [will die in//to] captivity.'====1Cor. 2:2 For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, [and the fact that He//he one who] was crucified.6 Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who [will quickly pass away//are soon forgotten].

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