BibleStudyTogether DailyReadings
A 2-Year Chronological & Thematic Journey through God's Word
with Daily Comments from Dr. Del Tackett.
Please note: Through our partnership with Bible Study Together, you will have the opportunity to view and read various resources intended to deepen your learning through understanding the history and cultural context of the Scriptures. However, we caution you apply discernment when viewing and/or reading these extra resources; we do not fully endorse every video or other resource. nor the organization(s) or ministries that produce them.
July 31
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 212 (7/31) – Numbers 26:57-27:23
I was struck by how Moses, rather than complaining to God about not being allowed to go into the Promised Land, was concerned about the leadership for the people. Reminded me that the Scripture tells us he was a very humble man.
July 30
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 211 (7/30) – Numbers 26:19-56
I think it is valuable to read this passage aloud because it forces us not to skip over the words of God as He has delivered them to us. It’s actually kind of interesting to think, as you read each name, that there is a face behind each… that they were real… that they lived and had a life. This is also a part of the beauty of God’s Word, for it delivers to us, not fantasy nor the mythological, but facts and reality.
July 29
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 210 (7/29) – Proverbs 7:1-27; Numbers 26:15-18; John 6:22-59
When I read this Proverb, I can’t help thinking about the harlot that rides the beast in our day and how our culture is being “seduced” by her. Contrasted with that are the simply breath-taking claims of Jesus. It may be worth pondering this statement today: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.” Here is the absolute sovereignty and love of God at work in our salvation and His steadfast and faithful promise to bring it to completion. My, my!
July 28
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 209 (7/28) – Numbers 25:1-26:14; John 6:16-21; Mark 6:53-56; Matthew 14:34-36
There is much that can strike us today in our texts. How could the Israelites, after seeing God do so much, become yoked with Baal? Modern liberal theologians dismiss the miracles of Jesus such as walking on the water and His healing of so many people. But, can you imagine what it would have been like to be there, in that day? Mark tells us that when people saw Jesus, they “ran about the whole region” in order to bring their sick loved ones to Him to be healed by simply reaching out and touching Him. And they were. All of them. Oh, my!
July 27
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 208 (7/27) – Numbers 23:27-24:25; Matthew 14:22-33
It is humorous that Balak even tries a third time, but he does. After hearing, again, the blessings on Israel and then the destruction upon Israel’s enemies, a sane man would have humbled himself before God and gone to Moses with a palm branch of peace. Ah, but men are insane who defy God and hear and see His mighty deeds yet do not believe. Peter saw and said “Truly you are the Son of God.” Oh, that the people of our culture would do the same.
July 26
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 207 (7/26) – Numbers 23:1-26; John 6:1-15; Mark 6:45-52
Keep in mind, God showed that He could speak through a donkey, and now He speaks through Balaam. Poor Balak tries three times to get Balaam to curse Israel and, instead, he blesses them! Notice in verse 13 that Balak took him to a place where they could only see “a fraction” of the Israelites. If there were 600,000 fighting men 20 years and above, then there were probably about 2 million Israelites. No wonder Balak was worried!
July 25
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 206 (7/25) – Numbers 22:1-41; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17
Several New Testament passages refer back to our readings over the next few days. Balaam was a famous “seer of the gods” as he is referenced in an ancient inscription uncovered at a site in Jordan. Moab is “overcome with fear” of the Israelites and so the king, Balak, summons Balaam from about 400 miles away to curse them. What happens is amusing, yet chilling, and reminds us of how we sometimes manipulate things before God to “rationalize” getting our own desires fulfilled. Don’t miss Mark 6:33...
July 24
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 205 (7/24) – Numbers 21:1-35
Many people know John 3:16, but few would be able to say what precedes it. Here it is: “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” Our reading today gives us the context for this. It is another amazing part of the way the Old Testament is the shadow that points to Christ.
July 23
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 204 (7/23) – Numbers 20:1-29
For me, this is one of the saddest chapters in the Bible. It may seem strange to those who first read it, but remember that in the wilderness of Sin, the people grumbled about having no water and the Lord told Moses to “strike” the rock. Water then came out and they drank from it. Now, the Lord tells Moses to “speak” to the rock. Moses and Aaron, however, took the grumbling personally and Moses ended up striking the rock, twice, for obviously the first time didn’t work. In 1 Corinthians 10, we read this: “for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.” Jesus only needed to be “struck” once and after that His salvation is free to all who call upon Him. For this, Aaron is stripped of his priestly robes and dies, and Moses is kept from leading the people into the Promised Land. The mercy of the Lord is great and His judgments are sure.
July 22
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 203 (7/22) – Numbers 16:36-17:13; Jude 1:17-25
Is it not breathtaking, that after the demonstration of God’s judgment, the very next day the people are grumbling again? I wonder, if we were able to truly see and understand how the Lord works around us, how often we have done the same? Today we also read of the origin of Aaron’s staff, which budded, and the warning of the “scoffer” in James, who causes “divisions” and “follows their own ungodly passions”. Take time to contemplate the ways we are to conduct ourselves in the midst of scoffers today in Jude 1:20-23, which begins with “But you…”
July 21
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 202 (7/21) – Numbers 16:1-35; Jude 1:1-16
Today we read of the breathtaking judgment on Korah’s rebellion. Jude refers to this in a warning against the false teachers in their days. We have them in our day as well (not surprising) who follow the same immoral paths, “following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.” This is the demonic worldview in our times. The Scripture is ever relevant. (the video overview of Jude is helpful).
July 20
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 201 (7/20) – Numbers 14:13-45; Matthew 14:1-21
Moses performs his role as an intercessory, to which God responds. But God does not withhold the consequences and actually gives them what they wanted. I was struck by the fact that some decided to defy the Lord even further and tried to get ahead of Him by going into the Promised Land. They were struck down by their enemies. It is easy to put our script ahead of God’s, isn’t it?
July 19
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 200 (7/19) – Numbers 13:25-14:12; Mark 6:14-29
Here we have the infamous report of the spies and the mutiny of the people who were going to elect a new leader and stone Joshua and Caleb. But God said their actions were really against Him; that they “despised” Him, in spite of all that He had done. Jesus told us that the world would “hate” us. But that “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” This hatred cost John his head and costs many believers their lives and positions and property even today. The Scripture would ask us, in our day, do we trust in ourselves or in God?
July 18
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 199 (7/18) – Numbers 12:1-13:24; Luke 9:1- 9
It is highly probable that Moses’ wife, Zipporah had died and Moses had remarried a woman from Ethiopia. Miriam and Aaron appear to dislike her, maybe because of ethnicity reasons. However, their self-centered words against Moses now add to the grumbling and complaining we read yesterday. Contemplate that “Moses was very meek, more than all the people who were on the face of the earth.” This doesn’t mean that Moses was “weak”. Remember he killed the Egyptian guard who was assaulting a Hebrew slave. Remember he fought off the shepherds at the well in Midian. Remember Moses breaking the tablets and soon we will read of the defeat of the Amorites, etc. He was not “weak” but he was “meek” or “humble”. God is opposed to the proud. We, as a culture, have become so “homo deus” and proudly self-centered, that we should not be surprised if God “humbles” us as He did Miriam.
July 17
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 198 (7/17) – Numbers 11:1-35
One of the many ways that the Word of God rings true (because it is true) is how the bad and the ugly are not sanitized from it. Here we have the people, though they have seen incredible things done for them by God, complaining again. Even Moses complains to God. The consequences of their “craving” was severe. I think about how we, as a culture, are so constantly bent upon our own cravings, following our own hearts, our own lusts and desires. I wonder, too, about how we also ignore the blessings of God and are clueless when the consequences of our actions and attitudes befall us.
July 16
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 197 (7/16) – Numbers 10:1-36
Take a moment and try to visualize what this would have looked like had you been sitting on the top of a hill watching all of this. The trumpets calling all to action, the rapid striking of the Tabernacle (which was designed for travel), the leading of the Ark of the Covenant, the order of tribes and just the sheer magnitude of it all. And then, the Cloud leading them. Oh my! What a sight that would have been!
July 15
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 196 (7/15) – Proverbs 22:1-29; Galatians 6:1-18
There is much worth in today’s reading. The verse regarding the scoffer is important. It is the first of the Seven Threats that are aligning in our times. Ask your family to pick what struck them and discuss it. Mine? “For the one who sows to his flesh will from the flesh reap corruption…” Our culture is seeped in deep selfishness. Sowing to our flesh has become our character. Do not be pulled into this.
July 14
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 195 (7/14) – Leviticus 19:1-37; Galatians 5:16-26
We have been confronted indirectly with the holiness of God throughout all of the Levitical laws. I am writing a series on the character of God if you want to read the one on “Holy”. Also, notice God’s way for helping the poor in 19:9. Such a key passage, allowing the poor to work. There is so much here about justice, including: “you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great”. Love your neighbor, the fruit of the Spirit… so much for us today.
July 13
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 194 (7/13) – Leviticus 23:33-44; 12:1-8; Galatians 5:1-15
Paul continues to mark the stark contrast between the old and the new: “Christ has set us free… do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” We can live in freedom under this truth or we can “fall away” in our thinking and live under the yoke. Don’t miss the momentous statement: “the whole law is fulfilled in one word…love your neighbor”. This is the basis of the Engagement Project and the only biblical way forward for God’s people in our difficult times.
July 12
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 193 (7/12) – Leviticus 23:1-31; Galatians 4:8-31
Here are the seven convocations: Sabbath, Passover, Firstfruits, Weeks, Trumpets, Atonement and, tomorrow, Booths. It is an interesting exercise to correlate these with the New Covenant (i.e. Pentecost). Paul gives us a very critical allegory contrasting the two Covenants as the slave woman and the free woman, the old Covenant and the new, Mount Sinai/Jerusalem and the heavenly Jerusalem. He concludes: “we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.”
July 11
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 192 (7/11) – Numbers 29:32-30:16; Galatians 3:15-4:7
When God created the Universe, He placed everything in a system, whether that was a physical system (and there are systems of systems) or social systems. The family is a social system that carries His design for authority and submission. Notice the young daughter is under her father’s authority “while she is in her youth within her father’s house”. Compare this with how Paul refers to how we were under the guardianship of the Law until Christ. Good food for discussion today!
July 10
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 191 (7/10) – Numbers 29:1-31
Again, the distinctiveness of the children of Israel: we have seen the details for the daily and monthly offerings, sabbath and Passover offerings, Feast of Weeks, Trumpets, Booths, and the Day of Atonement. Remember, an infinite reality requires a somewhat complex and detailed shadow for it to be a worthy shadow.
July 9
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 190 (7/9) – Numbers 28:1-31
Part of the distinctiveness of the children of Israel among the nations were the festivals and sabbaths and days of convocation the Lord had given them. It might be good for you to discuss with your family what the distinctives are for a follower of Christ that set us apart from the general culture around us.
July 8
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 189 (7/8) – Galatians 3:1-14; Deuteronomy 21:22-23; Leviticus 18:1-30
What do you think? Have we become “bewitched” as had the Galatians? Would Paul call us “foolish” today? God lists what were “perversions” and “abominations” in His sight. How do we see them? Something to meditate upon all day: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us…” That curse was not that the law was bad, for God’s moral character never changes, but that we could never, through the law, become holy before God. Christ did that for us.
July 7
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 188 (7/7) – Psalm 143:1-12; Numbers 15:32-41; Galatians 2:11-21
A difficult reading today, but it must be read in the context of the last words: “if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.” David cries: “...no one living is righteous before You” but the death penalty that was justly ours was paid for by Christ. Hallelujah!
July 6
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 187 (7/6) – Numbers 15:1-31; Galatians 2:1-10
As we read more of the detailed parts of the old law, remembering that as a shadow of that which is infinite, it was almost a requirement that it be so meticulous, think of how hard it must have been for a Jew to give it up. And, here in Galatians, we have Paul diligently presenting his credentials to help assure his listeners that he, indeed, was an apostle, called personally by Jesus Christ.
July 5
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 186 (7/5) – Numbers 6:1-27; Galatians 1:11-24
Here we read of “Nazarites”, lay people who wanted to dedicate themselves to the Lord with a demonstration of that vow. Most were “Nazarites” for a season; some were lifelong, like Sampson, Samuel, John the Baptist. I find it interesting that wine nor anything from the grapevine was to touch their lips during their vow to the Lord. Makes me wonder how they participated in Passover. The passage ends with what could be the most famous “blessing” in the whole Bible.
July 4
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 185 (7/4) – Numbers 5:1-31; Galatians 1:1-10
I am pleased that we are now going to go through Galatians. (The video overview is good.) And, I can’t imagine a better contrast than this portion of Numbers and its details of the law from which Christ has set us free. We should take the time as we go through Galatians to be in constant praise for what Jesus has done for us.
July 3
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 184 (7/3) – Numbers 4:1-33
I was struck by what it must have been like to see the Tabernacle taken apart for a move and then put back together again. Everyone had their role. It reminded me of watching in fascination the men and women on an aircraft carrier launching and recovering aircraft. Each person had their critical duties to be carried out. So, too, for the Tabernacle. Here is a graph of those items each carried.
July 2
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 183 (7/2) – Numbers 3:33-51; 4:34-49
I was struck today by how God had been so careful to instill in Moses and the priests and the people that the Tabernacle was to be protected. I think, as well, of how the Word of God has been under attack in every generation and of our duty to protect it.
July 1
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 182 (7/1) – Numbers 3:1-32; Matthew 10:16-42
Here is a map that shows how the tribes were arranged around the Tabernacle. From a military perspective, when they marched, there was a perfect ratio of fighting men in front, right and left flank, and behind (200K, 150K, 150K, 100K). Take time to ponder the words of Jesus today and put them in the times in which we live. The Royal Priesthood, in this age, will always be under attack. We must constantly keep in mind His words and “have no fear of them” as we “endure to the end”.
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