Contemplative Bible Reading

Proverbs 26:18-19 (New International Version) 18 Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arrows 19 is a man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!” Twenty five years ago I would joke much more than I do now. Much of my joking turned sour and hurt others. I was angry at this. […]

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Jeremiah 36:23-24 (New International Version) 23 Whenever Jehudi had read three or four columns of the scroll, the king cut them off with a scribe’s knife and threw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll was burned in the fire. 24 The king and all his attendants who heard all these words showed no […]

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1 Samuel 3:19 (New International  Version) The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. I love this expression “he let none of his words fall to the ground.” Samuel, through the power of God, had none of his words wasted or falling to […]

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Ezekiel 16:49 (New International Version) Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. Overfed, ouch. One of the main health problems in America today, actually in all the industrial world, is obesity. I guess we qualify as […]

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Jeremiah 6:16 (New International Version) This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ Look at the middle section of […]

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Isaiah 33:5-6 (New International Version) 5 The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness. 6 He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure. Verses 5 […]

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Numbers 9:15-23 (New International Version) 15 On the day the tabernacle, the Tent of the Testimony, was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire. 16 That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire. 17 […]

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Isaiah 41:22 (New International Version) Bring in your idols to tell us what is going to happen. What a wonderful challenge. Bring in those figures that you  created. Have those figures foretell the future for us. We would like to hear that. Isn’t this silly? Of course a little or big figure cannot tell the […]

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Isaiah 30:18 (New International Version) Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! These three words are not often companions in today’s English. JUSTICE – yes with big bold letters – often means […]

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Isaiah 60:22 The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. I am the LORD; in its time I will do this swiftly.” (New International Version) What caught my attention in this verse is the highlighted phrase. There is a time when something works. That something won’t work at any other […]

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