Contemplative Bible Reading

1 Samuel 2:12 (New International Version) Eli’s sons were wicked men; they had no regard for the LORD. This is the first line in a (hi)story about the sons of  the priest Eli. The details that follow are not of much importance. Given this first line, one thing is sure – the story can’t end […]

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Psalm 31:11-12 (New International Version) 11 Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors; I am a dread to my friends— those who see me on the street flee from me. 12 I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery. This is […]

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Deuteronomy 18:9-11 (New International Version) 9 When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages […]

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1 Kings 6:30 (New International Version) He also covered the floors of both the inner and outer rooms of the temple with gold. This chapter describes Solomon’s building of the Temple in Jerusalem. I had not noticed this before; Solomon covered the floors of a few rooms with gold. If you went into those rooms, […]

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1 Kings 1:32-35 (New International Version) 32 King David said, “Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” When they came before the king, 33 he said to them: “Take your lord’s servants with you and set Solomon my son on my own mule and take him down to Gihon. […]

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Deuteronomy 34:5-8 (New International Version) 5 And Moses the servant of the LORD died there in Moab, as the LORD had said. 6 He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. 7 Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when […]

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Psalm 133 (New International Version) A song of ascents. Of David. 1 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! 2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes. 3 It is as […]

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Ephesians 4:23 (New Living Translation) Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Ever want a better attitude? Ever want stop thinking bad about people and things and start thinking more positive? If only God would just change my attitude. Come on God, have your Spirit renew my thoughts and attitudes. That is biblical, […]

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Deuteronomy 20:19 (New International Version) When you lay siege to a city for a long time, fighting against it to capture it, do not destroy its trees by putting an ax to them, because you can eat their fruit. Do not cut them down. Are the trees of the field people, that you should besiege […]

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Today’s contemplation on the Word is a bit different. I recently read Psalm 19:14 and I had to stop and think for a while – a long while. Here is the New International Version, the version I read most days. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in […]

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