1CHRONICLES 23-24:Yesterday we heard a rather odd story about how “Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census.” But in 2Samuel 24:1 we read that “Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, ‘Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.’” So who was it— Satan or the Lord? And if the problem was caused by someone else, why was David and all Israel punished?!   I think, in a place like this, we have to go back to what we learned in Job. God brought up a topic to Satan, Satan responds predictably, and God gives him permission to tempt and sets the boundaries. In other words, both God and Satan are involved. God does not tempt people to do evil, and God is in ultimate control. Satan is like a dog on a leash. And about that punishment: God arranges events in such a way that man (in this case David) is still in control and responsible for his choices. Why was the census considered a sin? This seems to be founded on the idea that Israel— according to God’s promise, was to be as many as the stars in the sky and the sand on the sea shore, in other words, uncountable. When Moses conducted a census, there was a money offering given for every male counted. Making a military census would also show that David was trusting in numbers instead of God’s power. (See 1Chron 27:23-24.) PROVERBS 21a:Here is the verse I chose to highlight today: Pro. 21:13 NLT Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need. TITUS 3:We continue today with more true teaching for our spiritual health. We might consider 2:14 as a heading for all of today’s reading. That verse says, Pro. 2:14 NLT He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.     Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;1CHRONICLES 23-24:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;Yesterday we heard a rather odd story about how “Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census.” But in 2Samuel 24:1 we read that “Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, ‘Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.’” So who was it— Satan or the Lord? And if the problem was caused by someone else, why was David and all Israel punished?!  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;I think, in a place like this, we have to go back to what we learned in Job. God brought up a topic to Satan, Satan responds predictably, and God gives him permission to tempt and sets the boundaries. In other words, both God and Satan are involved. God does not tempt people to do evil, and God is in ultimate control. Satan is like a dog on a leash. And about that punishment: God arranges events in such a way that man (in this case David) is still in control and responsible for his choices.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Why was the census considered a sin? This seems to be founded on the idea that Israel— according to God’s promise, was to be as many as the stars in the sky and the sand on the sea shore, in other words, uncountable. When Moses conducted a census, there was a money offering given for every male counted. Making a military census would also show that David was trusting in numbers instead of God’s power. (See 1Chron 27:23-24.)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PROVERBS 21a:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;Here is the verse I chose to highlight today:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Pro. 21:13 NLT Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;TITUS 3:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;We continue today with more true teaching for our spiritual health. We might consider 2:14 as a heading for all of today’s reading. That verse says,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Pro. 2:14 NLT He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="padding-left: 40px;"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

1 Chronicles 23-24; Proverbs 21:1-16; Titus 3

NL-Day249 1 Chronicles 23-24; Proverbs 21:1-16; Titus 3

1CHRONICLES 21-22:Yesterday we heard the part where the writer of Chronicles skated over where David had his affair with Bathsheba. But we heard of the military victories and especially the misunderstanding that became the reason for the war with the Ammonites. PROVERBS 20b:Our highlighted verse for today: Pro. 20:24 NLT The Lord directs our steps,so why try to understand everything along the way? Another proverb with deep significance is: 27 The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit,exposing every hidden motive. TITUS 2:A major theme of this book is literally ‘healthy faith’ and ‘healthy teaching.’ This is a figure of speech that boils down to believing in true teachings. (NLT translates that well as ‘wholesome teaching’.) NLT Translation notes:<a href= "http://biblehub.com/titus/2-1.htm">1</a> As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects [true/wholesome] teaching.<a href= "http://biblehub.com/titus/2-2.htm">2</a> Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must [fully believe our true teachings//have sound faith] and be filled with love and patience.   Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;1CHRONICLES 21-22:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;Yesterday we heard the part where the writer of Chronicles skated over where David had his affair with Bathsheba. But we heard of the military victories and especially the misunderstanding that became the reason for the war with the Ammonites.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PROVERBS 20b:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;Our highlighted verse for today:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="padding-left: 40px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Pro. 20:24 NLT The Lord directs our steps,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;so why try to understand everything along the way?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Another proverb with deep significance is:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="padding-left: 40px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;27 The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;exposing every hidden motive.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;TITUS 2:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;A major theme of this book is literally ‘healthy faith’ and ‘healthy teaching.’ This is a figure of speech that boils down to believing in true teachings. (NLT translates that well as ‘wholesome teaching’.)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;NLT Translation notes:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href= "http://biblehub.com/titus/2-1.htm"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;1&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects [true/wholesome] teaching.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href= "http://biblehub.com/titus/2-2.htm"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;2&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must [fully believe our true teachings//have sound faith] and be filled with love and patience.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="padding-left: 40px;"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

1 Chronicles 21-22; Proverbs 20:16-30; Titus 2

NL-Day248 1 Chronicles 21-22; Proverbs 20:16-30; Titus 2

1CHRONICLES 19-20:Yesterday we heard about one of David’s greatest hours, and I think David would rank this as better than the killing of Goliath. It was the time when he wanted to build a house for God, and instead God promised to build his house— making for him an everlasting dynasty. Then we heard of his leading in even more amazing military victories. PROVERBS 20a:Today’s highlighted verse: Pro. 20:3 GNT Any fool can start arguments; the honorable thing is to stay out of them. TITUS 1:Commentators say that Paul wrote his letter to Titus in about the year 66, and that evidence from chapter 3:12 reveals that Paul may have written this in Nicopolis in Epirus, where he spent the winter. The letter has much  in common with 1 Timothy which was written around the same time. Paul had given Titus a difficult pastoral assignment, and this letter includes advice that has been so helpful to many pastors.  And personally and to my own shame, I always remember this epistle as the location of my worst argument with one of my translation consultants. Recently in Proverbs 18 we read a proverb that applies to that situation, it is this: Pro. 18:19 NLT An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city.Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars. NLT Translation notes:Tit. 1:1 This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to proclaim [news about how to fully believe in Christ//faith] to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives. <a href= "http://biblehub.com/titus/1-4.htm">4</a> I am writing to Titus, [whom I consider] my true son [because we share the same beliefs//the faith that we share].May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior give you grace and peace.13 This is true. So reprimand them sternly [so that they will continue to fully believe in true teachings//to make them strong in the faith].   Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;1CHRONICLES 19-20:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;Yesterday we heard about one of David’s greatest hours, and I think David would rank this as better than the killing of Goliath. It was the time when he wanted to build a house for God, and instead God promised to build his house— making for him an everlasting dynasty. Then we heard of his leading in even more amazing military victories.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PROVERBS 20a:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;Today’s highlighted verse:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="padding-left: 30px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Pro. 20:3 GNT Any fool can start arguments; the honorable thing is to stay out of them.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;TITUS 1:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;Commentators say that Paul wrote his letter to Titus in about the year 66, and that evidence from chapter 3:12 reveals that Paul may have written this in Nicopolis in Epirus, where he spent the winter. The letter has much  in common with 1 Timothy which was written around the same time. Paul had given Titus a difficult pastoral assignment, and this letter includes advice that has been so helpful to many pastors.  And personally and to my own shame, I always remember this epistle as the location of my worst argument with one of my translation consultants. Recently in Proverbs 18 we read a proverb that applies to that situation, it is this:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="padding-left: 30px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Pro. 18:19 NLT An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;NLT Translation notes:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Tit. 1:1 This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to proclaim [news about how to fully believe in Christ//faith] to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href= "http://biblehub.com/titus/1-4.htm"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;4&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;I am writing to Titus, [whom I consider] my true son [because we share the same beliefs//the faith that we share].&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior give you grace and peace.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;13 This is true. So reprimand them sternly [so that they will continue to fully believe in true teachings//to make them strong in the faith].&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="padding-left: 40px;"&gt;Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

1 Chronicles 19-20; Proverbs 20:1-15; Titus 1

NL-Day247 1 Chronicles 19-20; Proverbs 20:1-15; Titus 1

1CHRONICLES 17-18:Yesterday we heard of the careful moving of the Ark, this time successfully. We heard exactly which men played what instruments.  Then there was a sample of their praise. The psalm in chapter 18 is made of quotes from Psalms 105 and 96 and some other isolated verses. PROVERBS 19b:Our highlighted verse: Pro. 19:17 NLT If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—and he will repay you! 1THESSALONIANS 5:Before reading chapter 5, let’s review the resurrection portion of chapter 4, starting with verse 13. NLT Translation note:8 But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of [fully believing/faith] and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.   Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;1CHRONICLES 17-18:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;Yesterday we heard of the careful moving of the Ark, this time successfully. We heard exactly which men played what instruments.  Then there was a sample of their praise. The psalm in chapter 18 is made of quotes from Psalms 105 and 96 and some other isolated verses.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PROVERBS 19b:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;Our highlighted verse:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Pro. 19:17 NLT If you help the poor, you are lending to the&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;Lord&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;—&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;and he will repay you!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;1THESSALONIANS 5:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;Before reading chapter 5, let’s review the resurrection &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;portion of chapter 4, starting with verse 13.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;NLT Translation note:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;8 But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of [fully believing/faith] and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="padding-left: 40px;"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description>

1 Chronicles 17-18; Proverbs 19:14-29; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:28

NL-Day246 1 Chronicles 17-18; Proverbs 19:14-29; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:28

1CHRONICLES 15-16:Yesterday we heard about the first attempt to move the Ark, more about David’s family, and his defeat of the Philistines. PROVERBS 19a:A highlight from today’s chapter in Proverbs: Pro. 19:14 NLT Fathers can give their sons an inheritance of houses and wealth, but only the Lord can give an understanding wife. 1THESSALONIANS 4:Paul and his companions prayed, and God answered: The Thessalonian believers stayed strong in their believing in the Gospel. NLT Translation note:1Th. 4:14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him [all of/the] believers who have died.   Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;1CHRONICLES 15-16:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;Yesterday we heard about the first attempt to move the Ark, more about David’s family, and his defeat of the Philistines.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PROVERBS 19a:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;A highlight from today’s chapter in Proverbs:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="padding-left: 30px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: 400;"&gt;Pro. 19:14 NLT Fathers can give their sons an inheritance of houses and wealth,&lt;br /&gt; but only the Lord can give an understanding wife.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;1THESSALONIANS 4:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;Paul and his companions prayed, and God answered: The Thessalonian believers stayed strong in their believing in the Gospel.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;NLT Translation note:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;1Th. 4:14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him [all of/the] believers who have died.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="padding-left: 40px;"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-weight: 400;"&gt;Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

1 Chronicles 15-16; Proverbs 19:1-15; 1 Thessalonians 4

NL-Day245 1 Chronicles 15-16; Proverbs 19:1-15; 1 Thessalonians 4

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