Contemplative Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 16:9a (New Living Translation) 9 The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. This is part of the (hi)story of the kings of Judah. Asa is the king in Judah. He made a treaty with the king of Aram to […]

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Isaiah 2:4a (New Living Translation) 4 The Lord will mediate between nations and will settle international disputes. God is talking to the people of Judah and Jerusalem through the prophet Isaiah. This is in “the last days” when the place will be “the most important place on earth.” I thought Washington D.C. was the most […]

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2 Chronicles 2:12 (New Living Translation) 12 Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord’s anger was turned away, and he did not destroy him completely. There were still some good things in the land of Judah. Rehoboam was a son of King Solomon and the new King of a kingdom that had shrunk to just the […]

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2 Kings 17:26 (New Living Translation) 26 So a message was sent to the king of Assyria: “The people you have resettled in the towns of Samaria do not know the customs of the god of the land. He has sent lions among them to destroy them because they have not worshiped him correctly.” This […]

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1 Samuel 16:7, 12 (New Living Translation) 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 12 So Jesse sent for him. He […]

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1 Samuel 15:22-23 (New Living Translation) 22 But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. 23 Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad […]

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Exodus 23:33 (New Living Translation) 33 They must not live in your land, or they will cause you to sin against me. If you serve their gods, you will be trapped by the contemptible customs of their worship. God is speaking to the people. When the people enter the land promised to them by God, […]

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Exodus 14:16 (New Living Translation) 16 Pick up your staff and raise it over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground. This is part of the (hi)story of Moses leading the people out of Egypt on a 40-year journey to the land promised […]

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Obadiah 1:15-16 (NLT) 1:15 “The day is near when I, the Lord, will judge all godless nations! As you have done to Israel, so it will be done to you. All your evil deeds will fall back on your own heads. 16 Just as you swallowed up my people on my holy mountain, so you […]

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Exodus 1:11-12 (New Living Translation) 11 So the Egyptians made the Israelites their slaves. They appointed brutal slave drivers over them, hoping to wear them down with crushing labor. They forced them to build the cities of Pithom and Rameses as supply centers for the king. 12 But the more the Egyptians oppressed them, the […]

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