BibleStudyTogether DailyReadings
A 2-Year Chronological & Thematic Journey through God's Word
with Daily Comments from Dr. Del Tackett.
Oct 31
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 304 (10/31) – Judges 20:1-48; Luke 10:25-37
“Worthless fellows” is literally “sons of Belial”. In 2 Corinthians 6:15, Paul says “What harmony does Christ have with Belial?” It is used as a name for Satan. Surely these men were what might be referred to as “demonic”. Yet the Benjaminites would not surrender them, but rather affirmed them, and because of that brother slaughtered brother in a civil war (map here). Jesus tells us what it looks like to truly love our neighbor.
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Oct 30
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 303 (10/30) – Judges 19:1-30
God doesn’t hold back from describing the depravity to which His people descend. This is a difficult passage to read. You may want to compare it with vile actions of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19. Finally, then contemplate how God eventually gives people over to “shameful lusts” as we see in Romans 1 and as we see in our culture today.
Oct 29
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 302 (10/29) – Judges 17:1-18:31
Today we begin the final sections of Judges where we will read of the culture’s descent into deeper and deeper depravity, all the while pretending to be religious. The priesthood is corrupt and we find here the famous line that is true of our culture today: “everyone did what was right in their own eyes.”
Oct 28
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 301 (10/28) – Judges 16:4-31; Luke 10:1-24
It is sad that Samson, though he finally calls out to the Lord at the end of his life, it was only so that he might be avenged rather than God being glorified. Nevertheless, God judged 3000 Philistines through Samson. We see more of the “corporate” judgment of God in Luke, where judgment is assessed against several cities that rejected the testimony of Jesus.
Oct 27
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 300 (10/27) – Judges 15:1-16:3; John 8:31-59
As you read this part of Samson’s story, this map might help. The passage in John is most significant. It would be worth a discussion to list the incredible statements that Jesus makes here.
Oct 26
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 299 (10/26) – Judges 14:1-20; John 8:12-30
We ended yesterday with “...the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him…” and today we see the Spirit of the Lord “rush” upon Samson. Under the Old Covenant, the Spirit of God came upon people, good and bad, temporarily, to fulfill the Lord’s purposes and plans. Here Samson wants a Philistine wife because it is “right in my eyes”. Samson is a warning to us today, for we, too, pursue that which is “right in our own eyes”. Jesus, in comparison, is the “light of the world” and makes one of the clearest expressions of the reality of who He truly is: “...unless you believe that I am (He) you will die in your sins.” You might have a great discussion as to those who claim Jesus never claimed He was God or divine or anything other than a teacher, in light of this spoken by Him.
Oct 25
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 298 (10/25) – Judges 13: 1-25; John 8:1-11
We now come to the twelfth and final judge, Samson. He arose about 50 years before Saul became king and, unfortunately, his life was filled with selfish rebellion although the Lord clearly uses him in judging Israel. His vow as a Nazarite was from birth to death, but he violated every element of that vow.What we read today, however, sounds like a really great beginning. Selfishness ruins everything.
Oct 24
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 297 (10/24) – Psalms 89:1-52; John 7:40-53
Here is a great example of the shadow and the reality. The Psalmist is living in the shadow, but praises the God of the reality that will be revealed fully in Christ. In the shadow, it appears as if God has turned away, but He is absolutely faithful and that will be fulfilled in Jesus. It is a great refreshment to us as we are reading through Judges, is it not? And, as we see in John, people were divided over Jesus in His day as they are in ours.
Oct 23
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 296 (10/23) – Judges 11:29-12:15
It is hard to read our passage today. Not only do we have the foolish vow of Jephthah but the evil act concerning his only daughter. Then we have the civil war where 42,000 brother Ephraimites are slain under Jephthah’s command. It is apparent that just because the “Spirit of the Lord” comes upon someone, it does not anoint them as therefore holy, but merely used by Him for His ultimate purposes. There is nothing to hint that judges nine, ten and eleven were any different.
Oct 22
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 295 (10/22) – Judges 11:1-28
The story of Jephthah is quite fascinating, but nowhere do we hear of the “Lord” raising him up or anointing him. The negotiations with the Ammonite king is also fascinating and quite impressive in the argument that it was not Ammonite land that was really in dispute and the land now in dispute had been in the hands of Israel for over 300 years. It would make an interesting movie were it not for the horrible ending that we will see tomorrow.
Oct 21
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 294 (10/21) – Judges 10:1-18; John 7:25-39
As we head into the eighth judge (Jephthah), the account gives us the complete depravity of the people of God. It seems as if there were no idol or foreign god that they didn’t follow. It’s as if, like today, whatever the current immoral fad, we fall into it. Can you imagine the starkness of God saying “...I will save you no more”? Contrast this with the promise from Jesus that for those who are in Christ, “out of their hearts will flow rivers of living water”. It would be good to discuss this in your family today: “What does Jesus mean by this and is it evidenced in our lives?”
Oct 20
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 293 (10/20) – Judges 9:22-57; John 7:10-24
What a horrible story, especially when we realize that this was supposed to be the people of God now in the Promised Land, living for God and receiving the blessings from doing so. It would be good to discuss the clear message here, that God is the One Who is bringing the curses that were promised, not only through the prophecy of Jotham, but the general blessings and curses that were laid before them on Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal. Notice, too, the division in Jerusalem because of Jesus and the “much muttering” there. Some things never change.
Oct 19
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 292 (10/19) – Judges 9:1-21; Titus 3:1-15
Evil desires beget evil actions. Abimelech wants power and significance and he kills his brothers for it. You might have a great discussion comparing the actions of Gideon and Abimelech with those listed in the Titus passage for today. Also discuss: what does it mean to be “devoted to good works”? What does it mean for us today to avoid those things which are “unprofitable and worthless”?
Oct 18
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 291 (10/18) – Judges 8:1-35; Titus 2:1-15
Today’s text is most informative. One can say the right things and yet use the things of God for their own selfish gains. Nothing is mentioned in this second battle about seeking God or the Lord giving them victory. Gideon may have spoken correctly about not being a king, but he named one of his seventy sons, by his many wives, Abimelech, which means “my father is king”. The nation “whored” because of Gideon’s actions. In Titus, however, we find the pattern for how those who are in Christ are to walk, “to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.” May it be so in each of us.
Oct 17
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 290 (10/17) – Judges 7:1-25; Psalm 146:1-10; Titus 1:1-6
The Lord executes judgment upon the Midianites and their kings through Gideon (the map here will help). God was gracious to a fearful Gideon to let him providentially overhear the enemy’s dream, but it was clear this victory was from the Lord. The Psalmist tells us that the “way of the wicked He brings to ruin” and Paul speaks of those who “profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.” Oh Lord, draw our hearts to you that we may be a true leaven to our neighbors (the video is very good).
Oct 16
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 289 (10/16) – Judges 6:1-40
It is sad, isn’t it, to read the first verse here and realize that this is a continual cycle of God sparing His people and they rebel against Him? And, too, the difficult circumstances that come upon them because of their rebellion? We now come to Gideon, whom God will use, but he is certainly not perfect, just as God still uses us though we aren’t either. Gideon is a reluctant leader though God graciously stoops to accommodate his lack of faith.
Oct 15
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 288 (10/15) – Judges 5:1-31
Oh, what a divine song we have today, filled with all kinds of literary devices! It should remind us of the song Moses and Miriam sang in Exodus 15. Take note that it is a woman who is leading the battle and it is a woman who dispatches the great warrior, Sisera. God does not fence the sphere of the state such that a woman cannot lead here. Though the women are highlighted, the song lays the victory at the feet of the Lord, as we should with all the fruit of our own labors. Also note that those who did not fight were called out in shame, those who “sit still among the sheepfolds” and “Curse Meroz…because they did not come to the help of the Lord…”. We do not fight physically today, but we sure must join the spiritual battle that is raging mightily all around us.
Oct 14
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 287 (10/14) – Judges 4:1-24; John 7:1-9
We read of the famous Deborah and Barak today and their defeat of the Canaanite king, Jabin. He had 900 chariots of iron. You could possibly read that as “tanks” in our terms today. With them, it is assumed, he had “oppressed the people of Israel for twenty years”. All of this was because of their sin. Here is a map that might help you understand the battle.
Oct 13
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 286 (10/13) – Judges 3:12-31; Luke 8:51-62; Matthew 8:18-22
Here we see the second and third (although brief) downward path of Israel as they fall deeper and deeper into evil. (Here is a map that will help.) Jesus leaves us with a clear message that to follow Him, one must be willing to give up comforts and make Him the priority. The comforts and priorities in our culture are constantly calling us to follow them. That is a downward path as well.
Oct 12
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 285 (10/12) – Judges 3:1-11; Psalms 24:1-10; 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1
It is interesting to note that the word “lords” in 3:3 is not Hebrew, but Philistine and was the basis for the Greek word “tyrant”. Tyranny opposes God’s design. The intermingling of God’s people with the world never ends well. Notice also the sovereignty of God, that though it was the sin of the people that brought all of this about, God was still in charge, using all of this to call His people back to Him. “The earth is the Lord’s!”
Oct 11
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 284 (10/11) – Psalm 106:1-48; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22
The Psalm gives a sad summary of the people of God and it is such a parallel to us, i.e. “they poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters.” Notice the amazing comment by Paul that places Christ in the Wilderness: “...they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.” Also, Paul’s note that what happened to Israel were “examples for us that we might not desire evil as they did.” Oh, that we might tremble and be brought to repentance today.
Oct 10
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 283 (10/10) – Psalm 124:1-8; Judges 2:1-23; 1 Corinthians 9:1-27
(It seems eerie to read this Psalm as rockets are raining down on Israel.) The famous line: “And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel” is followed by “and the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord”. How telling is this for us today! The leaders that arose were not godly, they just brought peace for a short while. But even the peace wasn’t a godly peace. The culture was still steeped in evil practices, which simply led to the next downward spiral and horrible consequences until they were in “terrible distress”. Nothing really changes, does it?
Oct 9
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 282 (10/9) – Judges 1:1-36
I would suggest you watch the video first. It is a good overview of the horror we are going to follow as we read through Judges. I was struck by how parallel we are to all of this. It would be worth discussing today. What were all of the reasons and rationalizations do you think the Israelites used in their decisions to not drive out the Canaanites? How have we allowed the world, the flesh and the enemy to influence how we live today? How does God see us in our times and in our land? What are the horrors that go on around us?
Oct 8
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 281 (10/8) – Psalms 136:1-26; Joshua 24:29-33
Psalm 136 is a psalm that obviously wants us to know that “His steadfast love endures forever”. This is the Hebrew word “chesed” and when we combine it with what we know of “agape” in the New Testament we get the following definition of God’s true love, which we focus on in the Engagement Project: it is “the steadfast, sacrificial zeal that seeks the true good, the shalom, of another.” This true love was demonstrated through all of the things the Psalm lists and it was demonstrated in Joshua’s life, which we now sadly see comes to an end.
Oct 7
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 280 (10/7) – Joshua 23:1-24:28; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Today we have the well-known “choose this day whom you will serve” and it is still appropriate for us. We, too, have been greatly blessed by the Lord and we, too, must fight to keep from letting the world mix its worldview into ours.
Oct 6
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 279 (10/6) – Joshua 22:1-34; Matthew 18:15-35
The parable in our reading today is worthy of our meditation for we all have a tendency to beg God for forgiveness for our trespasses against Him and graciously receive that forgiveness, yet turn around and withhold that grace and forgiveness to others.
Oct 5
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 278 (10/5) – Joshua 21:34-35; 1 Chronicles 6:54-81; Mark 9:42-50; Matthew 18:7-14
Let’s take comfort today in verse 45: “Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed…” Our God is faithful to all He has promised us and that is beyond measure in Christ.
Oct 4
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 277 (10/4) – Joshua 21:1-33; Luke 9:49-50; Mark 9:38-41
As we are called a “Royal Priesthood”, I was struck how God had dispersed His “priests” among the people. We, too, are dispersed among our culture to fulfill our priestly roles, lifting up our neighbors before the Lord.
Oct 3
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 276 (10/3) – Joshua 19:32-20:9; Mathew 18:1-6; Luke 9:46-48
I think it would be a good discussion to talk about what we learn from God providing the cities of refuge. Also, discuss how radically different are the words of Jesus about humility and the unbounded self-centeredness of our culture today.
Oct 2
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 275 (10/2) – Joshua 19:1-31
I am reading these aloud to myself because it is easy to just skip over the names. I want to have read every letter in God’s Word when I am done. Have you noticed that the “lot” is falling in what appears to be a random order, but with God, nothing is random.
Oct 1
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 274 (10/1) – Joshua 18:1-28
As you read through the description of the boundaries for each of the tribes, you might be interested in seeing how that overlays a modern satellite view of Israel today (very high-resolution): maps-master-archeological-bible-study-map-israel-promised-land-twelve-tribes-1393bc.jpg (9175×14953)
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