A few weeks ago my friend John Steger invited me and a bunch of folks from GraceInTheCity.org to a 155 day plan to read all of the Psalms and the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John (twice). He extended 5 extra days to read Psalm 119. This is the first time I"ve done a reading plan in this way and I've found my first week was really insightful.
Here's my notes and learnings
Psalm 1 has been a favorite of mine and one I wish I listened to earlier in my life. Blessed is the one who doesn't walk in step with the wicked, or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf doesn't wither - whatever they do prospers...For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
This relates to Matthew 1:1-17 in genealogies, generations of people who were righteous in God's sight through faith (Hebrews 11:1- 12:2). They're lives impacted the world for good by being righteous and faithful to God. I love how Matthew 1:18-25 shows a great example in what it means to delight in the law of the Lord and meditate on his law day and night. Joseph doesn't jump into what his plan is but slept on it and received divine revelation into who Mary and her son were and what his role would be. Notice the testimony given of Jospeh in verse 19 "Joseph her husband was faithful to the law" and notice the scripture that Joseph may have been contemplating and meditating on, perhaps Deuteronomy 24:1-4 about divorce, perhaps also Malachi 2:14-16; "...And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth..."
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
Here's my notes and learnings
Psalm 1 has been a favorite of mine and one I wish I listened to earlier in my life. Blessed is the one who doesn't walk in step with the wicked, or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf doesn't wither - whatever they do prospers...For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
This relates to Matthew 1:1-17 in genealogies, generations of people who were righteous in God's sight through faith (Hebrews 11:1- 12:2). They're lives impacted the world for good by being righteous and faithful to God. I love how Matthew 1:18-25 shows a great example in what it means to delight in the law of the Lord and meditate on his law day and night. Joseph doesn't jump into what his plan is but slept on it and received divine revelation into who Mary and her son were and what his role would be. Notice the testimony given of Jospeh in verse 19 "Joseph her husband was faithful to the law" and notice the scripture that Joseph may have been contemplating and meditating on, perhaps Deuteronomy 24:1-4 about divorce, perhaps also Malachi 2:14-16; "...And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth..."
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
