Azariah / Uzziah: Day 3

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DAY 3: Pride Comes Before the Fall

Think about a time when there was something you really wanted to do, and you felt like you deserved to do it. 

Because king Uzziah was brought up in the fear of the LORD,  he made a lot of wise decisions. As a result, the Kingdom of Judah was at peace and experienced a season of tremendous blessing from God. But this level of prosperity and power led to Uzziah growing in pride. Later in his life, he made a decision to do something that only the priests were permitted to do. Reading the story, it really doesn’t seem like it would be a big deal. Uzziah wanted to burn incense in the sanctuary — so what? 

It’s important to remember, however, that Uzziah wasn’t being punished for burning incense. Instead, he was being punished because of his pride. After his many successes in life, he failed to be grateful to God for the many blessings he had. Instead, he felt that he deserved to be able to do anything he wanted. We, too, must be careful not to fall into the same trap.

As you read today, consider this: How regularly do you take opportunity to thank God for the many blessings you have?

READING & JOURNALING:

     2 Chronicles 26:11-23

How regularly do you take opportunity to thank God for the many blessings you have?

Think about it: What are some of the dangers of thinking you deserve to have something (or you deserve to do something)? Where might this kind of thinking lead? 

Today, take the opportunity to write out your own prayer/praise to God. Thank Him for the many blessings in your life.

F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)

Read: Exodus 26 & 27

Journal: Write it out. Following the pattern from 7 Arrows Page (click here) what did you learn from today’s reading?

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, I acknowledge that I live in a world in which people do feel like they deserve to have something they want. Because I live in this world too, I confess that I sometimes feel like I deserve something I haven’t actually earned. Today, help me to see that even though there’s little I’ve done to deserve Your love, You have loved me infinitely more that I could ever hope to be loved. I rejoice in that today! In Jesus’ name.

 

Note: Are you looking for a Study Bible to help you engage with the Scriptures at a deeper level? If so, click here for some recommendations.

A Closer Look at the NLT Life Application Study Bible (Third Edition)

What is the the NLT (or NIV) Life Application Study Bible?978-1-4964-3928-4.jpg

Way back in 1988, Tyndale Publishers released the first edition of the Life Application Study Bible. At the time, the Study Bible market was fairly slim. By releasing a quality Study Bible with commentary, charts, notes, and profiles of over 100 different people throughout the Scriptures, Tyndale did an admirable job of helping the Bible make sense to the modern reader.

Over 30 years later (October 2019), Tyndale has now released the Third Edition of the NLT or NIV Life Application Study Bible. And even though the Study Bible market today is flooded, the Life Application Study Bible continues to set a very high standard, and it remains the best-selling Study Bible on the market.

What’s new in the Life Application Study Bible?

According to the publisher, somewhere between 30-40% of the Third Edition is new compared to the First and/or Second Edition. This is primarily because there are major topics of conversation today (such as shame, equality, gender, etc.) that were not well represented in the commentary notes 30 years ago. As such, Tyndale reassembled the original Life Application Study Bible team, hired additional young women to help with the editing, and revamped the look, feel, and commentary notes throughout the Study Bible to make it even more applicable to today.

Who is the NLT (or NIV) Life Application Study Bible for?

Personally, I would wholeheartedly recommend the The NLT (or NIV) Life Application Study Bible as somebody’s first Study Bible. Even if it’s not your first Study Bible, it’s worth having one of these on your shelf.

From a marketing perspective, the publisher notes that the LASB is the most complete Bible ever compiled. Even though this is nothing more than marketing hype, there’s a lot to love about the NLT (or NIV) LASB.

All in all, the LASB is an excellent all around Study Bible that does a great job of explaining how to apply each passage by answering the question, “So what? What does this really mean? Why is this important for my life? How can I actually apply this in my life?” Below are a number of examples that show how the LASB answers these questions by encouraging the reader to live out the Biblical text well.

Example #1: Deuteronomy 5:7

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Both Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 list the Ten Commandments. Deuteronomy 5:7 is the first commandment, “You must not have any other god but me.”

The LASB Commentary note reads, “A god is whatever people use as the driving force in their lives. Some people literally worship other gods by joining cults or false religions. In a more subtle way, many worship other gods by building their lives around something other than the one true God. If your greatest desire is for popularity, power, money, relationships, or even a healthy lifestyle, you are devoting yourself to something other than God. To put God first, (1) recognize what is taking his place in your life, (2) renounce this substitute god as unworthy of your devotion, (3) ask God for forgiveness, (4) restructure your priorities so that love for God is the motive for everything you do, and (5) examine yourself daily to be sure you are giving God first place.”

Admittedly, this is quite a detailed commentary note! Whether somebody is a young Christian, or has matured deeply in the faith, there is plenty here for any reader to reflect on when thinking about whether or not she is worshiping another ‘god’ or not.

Example #2: Exodus 20

The other passage on the Ten Commandments includes this commentary note:

“Why were the Ten Commandments necessary for God’s new nation? At the foot of Mount Sinai, God showed his people the true function and beauty of His laws. The commandments were designed to lead Israel to a life of practical holiness. In them, people could see the nature of God and his plan for how they should live. The commands and guidelines were intended to direct the community to meet the needs of each individual in a loving and responsible manner. By Jesus’ time, however, most people had come to look at the law the wrong way. They saw it as a means to prosperity in both this world and the next. And they thought that obeying every law was the way to earn God’s protection from foreign invasion and natural disaster. They failed to see that keeping the law should be the means to fulfill God’s ultimate law of love.”

Example #3: Psalm 1:1-2

Psalm 1 is one of my favorite Psalms, as it has a lot of helpful reminders about life transformation. The first two verses read, “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.”

The LASB Commentary note reads, “We can learn how to follow God by meditating on his Word. This has become difficult in an age of sound bites and banner headlines. Meditating means spending time reading, thinking, marking, and reviewing what we have read. It means asking how we must change and grow so we will live as God wants. Meditating on and understanding God’s Word are the first steps toward applying it to your everyday life. If you want to follow God more closely, you must take time to know what he says.” 

Once again, this applies well to both the young and the mature Christian.

Example #4: Matthew 4:3-4

Matthew 4:3-4 reads, “During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

The LASB Commentary note reads, “The devil tried to get Jesus to doubt his Father’s love, protection, and provision. Jesus was able to resist all of the devil’s temptations because he not only knew Scripture but obeyed it. Ephesians 6:17 says that God’s Word is a sword to use in spiritual combat. Knowing Bible verses is an important step in helping us resist the devil’s attacks, but we must also obey what the Bible teaches. Satan knew Scripture, too, but he purposely misquoted it, disregarded its real meaning, and had no intention of obeying it. Continuing to study and know what the Bible says and what it really means helps us follow God’s desires rather than the devil’s.”

Remembering that the Scriptures can be used for both good and evil is an important reminder. God has an enemy, and that enemy will use anything – even twisting God’s own words – in order to accomplish evil objectives. Commentary notes such as this one and the one for Psalm 1 are excellent because they encourage the reader to not only read the text, but to memorize it, meditate on it, and review it regularly.

What about the other features of the Life Application Study Bible?

JeroboamThere are nearly 150 profiles of different people throughout the text, as well as hundreds of charts and maps. Having just completed a 10-week series on some of the kings of Israel and Judah, the Life Application Study Bible had a profile for at least 8 of them.

This picture of Jeroboam’s profile  provides a good example of this.

 

Are there any negatives to the Life Application Study Bible? 

This is a really hard question to answer, as preferences are very subjective. As I’ve been reading primarily from the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible over the past year, I can offer the following observations.

  • The paper weight of the Life Application Study Bible is quite thin, which does allow bleed through from other pages. Though this is generally common among major study bibles today.
  • The NLT or NIV Life Application Study Bible is 2-color. The NLT has more Green for charts, maps, and profiles, and the NIV has more Red for charts, maps, and profiles. Compared with the 4-color (full color) printings of other major Study Bibles available today, it would’ve been nice to have more color. But given the significant amount of content, this is a very minor quibble. Full color likely would’ve required a slightly heavier weighted paper, which would make it too heavy to comfortably hold.
  • Perhaps my biggest gripe is that some of the charts use hard to read fonts. Below is an example of a chart provided in 1 Kings 6 on Solomon’s Temple. The light green font on a light green background is really hard to read. I’m honestly not sure how this passed through the printing editors without being noticed.
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The top portion of the picture reads 1. Most Holy Place with Ark of the Covenant. The bolded font is easy to read. The other is a light green font with a light green background.

Is there anything else I should know?

Hmmm…let me think.

  1. If you want to have a closer look, here is a sampler that offers additional insights into the NLT LASB. You can also click here to see some videos and additional graphics about the Third Edition of the LASB.
  2. My copy of the NLT LASB weighs in at around 4 pounds. I think my NIV Cultural Background Study Bible in fairly similar in both dimensions and weight. As such, reading at a desk or table is easier than holding it in hand.
  3. The font is fairly small, but as a 42 year old I’m able to read it without much difficulty. The Biblical text is a fairly dark-weighted font which stands out well against the white paper. Biblical text: 8.5 point font. Commentary Notes: 7 point font.
  4. The LASB contains one ribbon marker. So having an additional bookmark on hand would be helpful for most readers.
  5. There are both Red Letter Editions and Black Letter Editions available. The primary difference is that Red Letter = Jesus’ words being printed in red font. I find the red font more difficult to read, so I purchased a black letter edition.
  6. As of November 2019, there is not a digital edition of the LASB Third Edition available. The Second Edition is still widely available with software or Bible apps such as Olive Tree. Personally, I prefer reading a paper Bible as I’m less likely to get distracted. (I imagine a digital edition will be made available at some point in the future.)
  7. My opinion is that the NLT (or NIV) Life Application Study Bible is an excellent resource, and one I’ll be utilizing on a regular basis.

Azariah / Uzziah: Day 2

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DAY 2: The Fear of the Lord Brings Wisdom

Think for a moment about your greatest fear. What exactly is your greatest fear? 

Generally speaking, if you think about what you most desire in life, you can then discover your greatest fear. For example, if your greatest desire is to be liked and appreciated by others, then your greatest fear is rejection. If your greatest desire is success or power, then your greatest fear is likely humiliation. If the thing you most love is money, your career, your children, there’s almost certainly a fear that is driving that desire forward. Your greatest fear, therefore, is about losing that which you most hold dear.

The Scriptures teach that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). This may be best understood as, “When God is what you most hold dear; when God is what you are most living for, it is then that you’re on the path towards wisdom. But you cannot have wisdom without God being the absolute central part of your life.” 

As you read today, consider this: What would you say you most hold dear? What are you most living for? 

READING & JOURNALING:

     Psalm 25 & Proverbs 9:10

What would you say you most hold dear? What are you most living for?

What would you say you’re most afraid of?

What two or three verses stick out to you most from Psalm 25? Take the opportunity to write them down, and commit to sharing one or more of them with somebody else this week.

F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)

Read: Exodus 24 & 25

Journal: Write it out. Following the pattern from 7 Arrows Page (click here) what did you learn from today’s reading?

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, I confess that I don’t regularly think about what I fear. I also confess that I do want to be liked and appreciated by others, and I do want to experience success in life, but I haven’t really taken the time to evaluate if I want those things more than I want to know You. Today, help me to see anything I may desire more than You. And help me to see that losing that which I desire is really no big deal as long as You are with me. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

 

Note: Are you looking for a Study Bible to help you engage with the Scriptures at a deeper level? If so, click here for some recommendations.

Azariah / Uzziah: Day 1

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DAY 1: Instructed in the Fear of the Lord

There’s a phrase or statement that comes up several times throughout the Bible, and many pastors or churches will use the phrase regularly without fully discussing what it means. The Scriptures repeatedly say that it’s important to fear the Lord? But what exactly does it mean to fear the Lord? 

Does it mean to be scared or afraid of God? That wouldn’t make much sense, as there are other passages which indicate the more we fear God, the more we love Him. Surely we couldn’t become more afraid of God by loving Him more, right? 

Pastor and author Timothy Keller once taught, “Fear of the Lord is life rearranging, joyful awe and wonder before the greatness of who God is and what He has done.”

King Uzziah was raised and instructed in the fear of the LORD. From early in his life, he was taught to be in joyful awe and wonder before the greatness of who God is and what He has done. 

As you read today, consider this: How has your relationship with God completely rearranged your life?

READING & JOURNALING:

     2 Chronicles 26:1-10

How has your relationship with God completely rearranged your life? (Your view of marriage or singleness? Your view of parenting? Other relationships? Finances? Sex? …other?) 

What are at least three times in which you were brought into joyful awe and wonder before the greatness of who God is and what He has done?

F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)

Read: Exodus 19 & 20

Journal: Write it out. Following the pattern from 7 Arrows Page (click here) what did you learn from today’s reading?

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, it’s sometimes easy for me to separate my life into chunks. I have my “church life.” I have my “family life.” I have my “work life.” But I don’t always live in such a way that my relationship with You is front-and-center in every aspect of life. This week, my desire is take another step forward in fearing you – that is, having a life rearranging joyful awe and wonder of who You are and all You have done. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

 

Note: Are you looking for a Study Bible to help you engage with the Scriptures at a deeper level? If so, click here for some recommendations.

Ahab: Day 5

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DAY 5: Weekly Reflection

JOURNALING:

What’s getting in the way of you growing in your relationship with God? (e.g., your view of God, your view of yourself, self-centeredness, entertainment, lustful pleasures, jealousy, envy, etc.).

Write down at least 2-3 steps you’ll take over the next week to remove these obstacles and grow in your relationship with God.

F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)

Read: Exodus 16 & 17

Journal: Write it out. Following the pattern from 7 Arrows Page (click here) what did you learn from today’s reading?

 

Note: Are you looking for a Study Bible to help you engage with the Scriptures at a deeper level? If so, click here for some recommendations.

Ahab: Day 4

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DAY 4: Ahab Refuses to Listen to Wisdom

Think about a time when you asked somebody’s advice, but didn’t like the advice they offered. Did you follow their advice anyway? Or did you just go and find somebody else who would tell you what you wanted to hear? 

During king Ahab’s reign, he asks the king of the Southern Kingdom, Jehoshaphat, to join him in battle to take back a city that belongs to Israel. Jehoshaphat is excited for the opportunity, but requests that a prophet of God be consulted. He’s hesitant to go to war without God indicating that His favor is with them. Ahab responds to Jehoshaphat’s request saying, “There is one more man who could consult the LORD for us, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything but trouble for me!”

Sure enough the prophet Micaiah says exactly what Ahab doesn’t want to hear. Does Ahab listen? Nope. He has Micaiah thrown in prison and decides to go to war anyway. The result: Ahab is killed in battle. 

As you read today, consider this: Do you struggle to follow the advice of others when it goes against your own desires?

READING & JOURNALING:

     1 Kings 22:1-40

Do you struggle to follow the advice of others when it goes against your own desires?

Are you currently experiencing a difficult situation and you aren’t sure what to do? Who are 1-2 people who you know have your best interest at heart? Today, invite at least one of them to offer some advice. 

F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)

Read: Exodus 13:17 – 14:31

Journal: Write it out. Following the pattern from 7 Arrows Page (click here) what did you learn from today’s reading?

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, there are certainly times in my life when I ask somebody’s opinion, and don’t like what they have to say. Today I pray that You will help me to see and understand the different perspectives of others, and that You would help me to receive advice from others even if it goes against my own desires. In other words, I pray that You would help me see my need to trust others who have my best interests at heart. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

 

Note: Are you looking for a Study Bible to help you engage with the Scriptures at a deeper level? If so, click here for some recommendations.

Ahab: Day 3

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DAY 3: Elijah Experiences Despair

You know that feeling of having no hope? Perhaps something really tragic and terrible happens and you question whether you’ll ever experience any joy again in life? You’re not alone. Everybody experiences this at some point in time.

Elijah, a dedicated prophet of God, had seen and experienced God accomplish amazing things. Elijah and God had battled against the prophets of Baal, and came out victorious. Later, Elijah prays for rain, and God answers his prayer in a mighty way. But when Ahab’s wife Jezebel hears about Elijah’s defeat of the prophets of Baal, she threatens to take his life. How does Elijah respond? He not only flees; he prays for God to take his life (1 Kings 19:2-3). 

This level of despair happens to all of us. It may even occur after a tremendous spiritual victory, as it did for Elijah. But it’s important to remember that God gently restores Elijah, because there was more God needed Elijah to accomplish. 

As you read today, consider this: When you’re experiencing a lack of hope or deep depression, do you allow God to gently restore you?

READING & JOURNALING:

     1 Kings 18:41 – 19:18

Do you take time to allow God to gently restore you? 

How much time do you think you need every day for God to restore you? What can you do to ensure you take that time each day over the next week? 

How regularly do you consider that God still has a purpose for you to fulfill?

F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)

Read: Exodus 12

Journal: Write it out. Following the pattern from 7 Arrows Page (click here) what did you learn from today’s reading?

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, there are a lot of things I go to experience what I may think is restoration. Whether it’s watching a movie, taking a nap, reading a book, or something else. While these things may provide some physical rest or entertainment, I know that the kind of restoration You provide is different. The restoration You provide is more fulfilling. May I continue to grow in coming to You to be restored and renewed each morning. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

 

Note: Are you looking for a Study Bible to help you engage with the Scriptures at a deeper level? If so, click here for some recommendations.

 

Ahab: Day 2

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DAY 2: Elijah vs. the Prophets of Baal

What is the most spectacular thing you’ve ever seen God do in your own life, or in the life of somebody else you know? It was a truly awesome experience, right?

Well, while king Ahab is running the nation of Israel into the ground, there’s one man of God who remains faithful to Him. This man of God, Elijah, is about to draw a line in the sand. He offers a contest of sorts, him and his God vs. 850 other prophets and their little-g gods. With the odds so heavily in their favor, king Ahab and prophets of Baal agree to the terms of the contest. 

And for the spectators who show up — which likely includes thousands and thousands of people — this contest doesn’t disappoint. It goes on for hours and hours. As the prophets of Baal continue to be unsuccessful, Elijah loudly mocks them. He goes so far as to ask if their little-g god is relieving himself in the bathroom. When it’s all said and done, God shows up and clearly wins the contest. King Ahab may have been humiliated, but he still doesn’t choose to trust God. 

As you read today, consider this: What do you find most interesting about this story? 

READING & JOURNALING:

     1 Kings 18:1-46

What do you find most interesting about the story of Elijah vs. the prophets of Baal?  

Why do you think king Ahab continued to show a lack of trust in God after witnessing this event?  

F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)

Read: Exodus 10 & 11

Journal: Write it out. Following the pattern from 7 Arrows Page (click here) what did you learn from today’s reading?

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, there is a lot about this story of Elijah vs. the prophets of Baal that are interesting. It’s an excellent reminder that even though there may be dozens, or hundreds of others around me who are not following You, You continue to hold onto me, and You provide me the strength to continue to hold onto You. I’m so grateful for that! 

Today, in the same way Elijah showed his sincere devotion to You, I commit to living out my sincere devotion to You. May others see me as fully, wholeheartedly committed to You in all things. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

 

Note: Are you looking for a Study Bible to help you engage with the Scriptures at a deeper level? If so, click here for some recommendations.

 

Ahab: Day 1

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DAY 1: King Ahab Invites Evil Into Israel

Have you ever traveled to another city or town and thought about just how different it was compared to your own? Maybe the people showed a lot more hospitality and manners, or maybe they showed a lot less. Maybe the town was clean and the people seemed more content, or maybe they seemed depressed or miserable. 

For ancient Israel, there was a significant cultural difference between the Northern Kingdom: Israel, and the Southern Kingdom: Judah. 

Last week, you read about king Asa and how he brought peace to Judah. Late in Asa’s reign, king Ahab takes control of the Northern Kingdom. And to say that Ahab was different than Asa would be an understatement. 

Instead of destroying the things that were offensive to God, Ahab invites evil into Israel. Ahab worshiped the god Baal, which represented a desire for power and sexual pleasure. His decision to lead the people of Israel astray would have long-lasting consequences.  

As you read today, consider this: Are you currently inviting (welcoming) anything ungodly into your life?

READING & JOURNALING:

     1 Kings 16:29-35

Ahab invited (welcomed) evil into his own life, his family, and the entire nation of Israel. Are you currently inviting (welcoming) anything ungodly into your life? Your family’s lives? The lives of others? 

What would be some good checks and balances to have in place to ensure you’re not inviting evil into your life? 

F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)

Read: Exodus 8 & 9

Journal: Write it out. Following the pattern from 7 Arrows Page (click here) what did you learn from today’s reading?

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, admittedly, I don’t like to think that I may be inviting or welcoming evil into my life. Yet I know there are likely people, books, movies, music, or other things that may seem innocent, but which can lead away from You and Your Word. Continue to provide me the wisdom to see the things that get in the way of knowing you better, and the courage to eliminate them from my life. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.  

 

Note: Are you looking for a Study Bible to help you engage with the Scriptures at a deeper level? If so, click here for some recommendations.

Asa: Day 5

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DAY 5: Weekly Reflection

JOURNALING:

What’s getting in the way of you growing in your relationship with God? (e.g., your view of God, your view of yourself, self-centeredness, entertainment, lustful pleasures, jealousy, envy, etc.).

Write down at least 2-3 steps you’ll take over the next week to remove these obstacles and grow in your relationship with God.

F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)

Read: Exodus 6 & 7

Journal: Write it out. Following the pattern from 7 Arrows Page (click here) what did you learn from today’s reading?

Note: Are you looking for a Study Bible to help you engage with the Scriptures at a deeper level? If so, click here for some recommendations.