Contemplative Bible Reading

1 Kings 21:25-26 (New Living Translation) 25 (No one else so completely sold himself to what was evil in the Lord’s sight as Ahab did under the influence of his wife Jezebel. 26 His worst outrage was worshiping idols just as the Amorites had done—the people whom the Lord had driven out from the land […]

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2 Chronicles 30:27 (New Living Translation) Then the priests and Levites stood and blessed the people, and God heard their prayer from his holy dwelling in heaven. God dwells in heaven in a holy place. Perhaps there is something lost in translation in the above sentence. Perhaps this is some poetic structure for which a […]

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Exodus 5:22-23 (New Living Translation) 22 Then Moses went back to the Lord and protested, “Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people, Lord? Why did you send me? 23 Ever since I came to Pharaoh as your spokesman, he has been even more brutal to your people. And you have done […]

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Genesis 6:9 (New Living Translation) This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God. This begins the (hi)story of Noah, the flood, and the ark full of animals. The earth is full […]

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Daniel 4:16 (New English Translation) Let his mind be altered from that of a human being,and let an animal’s mind be given to him,and let seven periods of time go by for him. This is part of the (hi)story of Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Daniel is telling Nebuchadnezzar what will come of him for the next […]

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Daniel 3:28 (New Living Translation) Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.” This is part of the […]

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Exodus 35:34 (New Living Translation) And the Lord has given both him (Bezalel son of Uri) and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach their skills to others. This is part of the (hi)story of building the Tabernacle—a tent where the people would offer sacrifices to God while they […]

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1 Samuel 26:12 (New Living Translation) 12 So David took the spear and jug of water that were near Saul’s head. Then he and Abishai got away without anyone seeing them or even waking up, because the Lord had put Saul’s men into a deep sleep. This is another episode in the (hi)story of David […]

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1 Samuel 21:14-15 (New Living Translation) 14 Finally, King Achish said to his men, “Must you bring me a madman? 15 We already have enough of them around here! Why should I let someone like this be my guest?” This is part of the (hi)story of David and his men fleeing from King Saul. David […]

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1 Samuel 21:1-2 (New Living Translation) 1 David went to the town of Nob to see Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech trembled when he saw him. “Why are you alone?” he asked. “Why is no one with you?” 2 “The king has sent me on a private matter,” David said. “He told me not to tell […]

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