Contemplative Bible Reading

Psalm 69:5-7 (New Living Translation) 5 O God, you know how foolish I am;my sins cannot be hidden from you.6 Don’t let those who trust in you be ashamed because of me,O Sovereign Lord of Heaven’s Armies.Don’t let me cause them to be humiliated,O God of Israel. The writer bemoans his foolishness. The writer is […]

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Genesis 45:3 (Christian Standard Bible) Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But they could not answer him because they were terrified in his presence. This is part of the (hi)story of Joseph and his brothers. After many years and twists and turns, Joseph is a ruler in Egypt […]

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Genesis 22:8 (New Living Translation) 8 “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham answered. And they both walked on together. This is part of the (hi)story of Abraham and his son Isaac. God told Abraham to take Isaac up the hill and sacrifice him. This is a crazy story with […]

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Exodus 25:8 (New Living Translation) Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them. God is speaking to the people of Israel through Moses. God wanted the people to build a special place—a holy sanctuary. That place had requirements of entry of special people who had special jobs […]

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1 Chronicles 21:30 (New Living Translation) 30 But David was not able to go there to inquire of God, because he was terrified by the drawn sword of the angel of the Lord. This is the conclusion of the (hi)story of God sending an angel to destroy Jerusalem as punishment for one of David’s sins. […]

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1 Chronicles 29:19 (New Living Translation) 19 Give my son Solomon the wholehearted desire to obey all your commands, laws, and decrees, and to do everything necessary to build this Temple, for which I have made these preparations. David is praying. David asks God to give things to his son Solomon. I love this phrase […]

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1 Chronicles 4:9-10 (New Living Translation) 9 There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful. 10 He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my […]

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1 Kings 8:41-43 (New Living Translation) 41 “In the future, foreigners who do not belong to your people Israel will hear of you. They will come from distant lands because of your name, 42 for they will hear of your great name and your strong hand and your powerful arm. And when they pray toward […]

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2 Samuel 14:14 (New Living Translation) 14 All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him. In this (hi)story, […]

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Numbers 1:5-15 (New Living Translation) 5 “These are the tribes and the names of the leaders who will assist you:Reuben Elizur son of Shedeur6 Simeon Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai7 Judah Nahshon son of Amminadab8 Issachar Nethanel son of Zuar9 Zebulun Eliab son of Helon10 Ephraim son of Joseph Elishama son of AmmihudManasseh son of Joseph […]

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