BibleStudyTogether DailyReadings
A 2-Year Chronological & Thematic Journey through God's Word
with Daily Comments from Dr. Del Tackett.
November 30
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 700 (11/30) – Nehemiah 4:1-23; Psalms 129:1-8; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31
As many have commented from our Nehemiah reading, there will always be those who will mock and even threaten those who seek to do works of righteousness. Certainly this is true in our day, for to stand for righteousness will reap a host of scorn and contempt, from social media to late night talk shows. Paul continues to emphasize the diversity and unity of the Body of Christ–the mystery, as we have previously read, concerning the “one body” of Jews and Greeks, with one Spirit giving each gifts for the good of the whole.
November 29
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 699 (11/29) – Nehemiah 3:1-32; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
I had to smile as I read of all the different people joining together to rebuild Jerusalem. There is something thrilling about the single-mindedness and common goal. I remember the thrill the first time I watched the varied Navy personnel, in their different colored jersey’s, working together perfectly, like a great choreography, to launch F-18 Hornets, one right after another. This is how the Body of Christ should look–all so very different, but united in a common goal. [Here is a great picture] that you may want to reference as you read through all the different parts of the rebuilding process in Nehemiah.
November 28
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 698 (11/28) – Psalms 135:1-21; Revelation 9:13-21
A vast army of 200 million is released from the Euphrates. If one continues to understand Revelation as symbolic, many see this as an army of demons. Others interpret it literally. Regardless, this doesn’t come close to the size of the multitude that worship the lamb (7:9) which were “a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages”. At the time of this judgment, people were worshipping idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood, which our reading in Psalms “have mouths, but do not speak…eyes but do not see…ear but do not hear”. Notice the sad commentary that through all of this they did not repent.
November 27
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 697 (11/27) – Nehemiah 1:1-2:20; Revelation 9:1-12
I was struck again by God’s great sovereignty. He placed Nehemiah in the trusted position of cupbearer to Artaxerxes, and then because of Nehemiah’s humility and lament before the Lord, God gave him favor with the king. The symbolism here in Revelation 9 has numerous interpretations. Abaddon and Apollyon are names that mean “destruction” and “one who destroys”. Many interpret this as a reference to Satan. Note, however, in all of this that the judgment comes to all but those who have the seal of God. If you are in Christ, you are sealed by Him. It would be good to spend time today thanking the Lord for this blessing and refuge.
November 26
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 696 (11/26) – Ezra 10:1-44; Revelation 8:1-13
We end Ezra in a way that lends hope. The words for marriage and divorce here are not the normal ones, leading some to conclude that these were not formal marriages. The examination of each case is comforting in that there may have been instances where there were converted women and children. The hope is that we again see God honoring the repentance of a people. The seven trumpets is now the third “seven-fold” judgment in Revelation. There is a lot of parallel here with the judgments on Egypt through Moses.
November 25
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 695 (11/25) – Ezra 8:15-9:15
When Ezra hears how the people who had remained in Israel had mixed in with the pagan people, he was struck with deep lament: “O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you…” Of course, we are reading of their rebellion against the Old Covenant, but I wondered if we are struck by the reality of the sin in our land. Are we filled with lament before the Lord or do we just consider it normal and press on? Do you think there is application to our culture or should this just apply to sin in the body of Christ and being off track with His design? What do you think? I pray you have a great discussion on this today.
November 24
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 694 (11/24) – Ezra 7:11-8:14
I was struck by Ezra’s acknowledgment that it was the Lord who put favor for Israel in the heart of the king. At the same time, it is clear that Ezra was highly favored by the king. This, no doubt, came from Ezra’s faithfulness to the Lord’s command as to how one lives in a pagan land, to walk in such a way before the king that you do find favor in his eyes, including praying for him, which we as believers are enjoined to do as well. It would be good if we did so.
November 23
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 693 (11/23) – Ezra 4:6-23, 7:1-10; Revelation 7:1-17
Ezra brings us further details of the times we were reading about in Esther. Revelation brings us to one of the well-known passages regarding the 144,000. Since the book is highly symbolic, I believe it is more accurate to read it symbolically. Others change to a literal interpretation. Regardless, notice that we don’t have the sons of Jacob here. Dan is missing; Manasseh is added. They are not the tribes that received the inherited promised land: no Dan or Ephraim; Levi and Joseph are added. Judah (tribe of the Messiah) is listed first, not Reuben, and the sons of the concubines come before the sons of Rachel and Leah. 12,000 is later featured in the dimensions of the New Jerusalem. The most important, however, is the description of the worshippers “from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” all wearing the white robes that have been washed in the blood of the Lamb. This is a great encouragement for those who are in Christ today as it was for those who were undergoing deep persecution when John penned it.!
November 22
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 692 (11/22) – Esther 9:20-10:3; Psalms 58:1-11; Revelation 6:1-17
Our passages today bring us to uncomfortable words such as judgment, vengeance and wrath. Those who do not know or understand the holiness of God cannot fathom true judgment. Unrighteousness is natural to them and judgment for their unholy actions seems unfair. Yet the reality is that there will be judgment for the ungodly. There are whisps of it in the course of time, but there will come a final judgment when the full wrath of God will bring full and lasting justice. That will be a most terrible and frightening day for those who are not found in Christ. May God use this knowledge to move us to fulfill His Royal Law to love our neighbors, praying with the utmost diligence for God to grant them repentance, that they will come to a knowledge of the truth, come to their senses, and escape the trap of the devil who has taken them captive to do his will.
November 21
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 691 (11/21) – Esther 9:1-19; Psalms 141:1-10; Revelation 5:1-14
The symbolism of the lamb is beyond amazing. There are so very many Old Testament passages and images represented here. Notice that the lamb’s appearance is “as though it had been slain”. The eternal nature of Christ’s sacrifice is worthy of continual meditation and praise. No one is worthy in all creation to open the scroll. Only Christ is worthy of that. There is a newness here in the “new song” and the rising crescendo. You may want to discuss the glory and deity that is expressed in this symbolic image of Christ, with the horns and eyes and the worship from the heavenly host. My what a scene John was given!
November 20
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 690 (11/20) – Psalms 84:1-12, 148:1-14; Revelation 4:1-11
Psalm 148 is one of my favorite Psalms for I find myself in my prayers often calling the creation to praise Him. With all of the symbolism in Revelation, the clear message is that God is praised by everything and there is exceedingly great splendor that surrounds Him. Did you notice the focus of the Psalm on God being the Creator and the Revelation passage ends with the declaration that He is “worthy to receive glory and honor and power” (4:11) because He is the creator of all things. When a culture turns away from believing that they are “endowed by their Creator” to believing everything came into being by random processes and chance, that culture loses everything. Yet the reality is that “He commanded and they were created” (148:5). Praise Him as Creator today and often.
November 19
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 689 (11/19) – Esther 7:1-8:17; Colossians 4:2-18
As many times as I have read Esther, this is the first time I saw the humiliation and then exaltation of Christ in this story. There are those who will mourn as they look on “Him whom they have pierced”. And there are those, like Haman, who long for the treasures of this world and its beguiling significance, but who will, in the end, lose it all. And, in the end, those who hungered for righteousness will be satisfied. Colossians 4:5-6 are some of my favorite verses. The “letter from Laodicea” has prompted a lot of speculation. I think the best explanation is that this was actually the letter to the Ephesians that had made it to Laodicea and was on its way to Colossae.
November 18
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 688 (11/18) – Esther 5:1-6:14
We do not know, for the text does not make it clear, but Esther surely appears to be led by the Spirit of God as she does not answer the king but instead prepares two succeeding banquets. That timing allows the divine interventions of insomnia, the precise historical records that recorded Mordecai’s actions, the arrogance and hatred within Haman to have his own gallows built, and the king and Haman’s interaction that led to Mordecai’s exaltation and Haman’s humiliation. What a clear spectacle of the Providence of God as He orchestrates the affairs of man to fulfill His purposes.
November 17
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 687 (11/17) – Esther 3:1-4:17
Remember, King Agag was defeated by Saul and put to death by Samuel. It is possible, Haman’s hatred for the Jews goes all the way back to that. The decree to destroy the Jews in “the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus” included Jerusalem and Judah. The confusing text about the 10,000 talents and Ahasuerus telling him the “money is given to you” is Haman’s way of saying he is going to pay for this holocaust. Haman must have gotten quite rich in his position. Although God is not mentioned, He is assuredly the One to whom their sackcloth, ashes and fasting are directed. The fact that Esther had not been called into the presence of the king for thirty days bode more ill for her to break the law and come before the king on her own. The king’s delight in her may have been waning. It is easy to read these things when we aren’t the one at risk, but Eshter’s “If I perish, I perish” is rightly immortalized.
November 16
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 686 (11/16) – Esther 1:10-2:23; Colossians 3:18-4:1
The plot in Esther continues. What a contrast we have between the way husbands and wives, and women in general, were treated before the Gospel. The blueprints for family and labor are given here in Colossians. The submission of the wife to her husband (as is fitting in the Lord) should be one that is a blessing for it is done under the agape love of the husband, who is willing to give his life for her. The husband is to love his wife with a steadfast, sacrificial zeal that seeks her true good, her shalom.
November 15
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 685 (11/15) – Esther 1:1-9; Psalms 120:1-7, 33:1-22; Colossians 3:1-17
The Psalms today are a wonderful background to the book of Esther. It is an incredible story. Take some time as you read through Colossians today and discuss the list of things that are enjoined to us as having put on the mind of Christ, saying no to the earthly things and yes to the things above.
November 14
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 684 (11/14) – Zechariah 14:1-21; Ezra 6:14-22; Colossians 2:6-23
Zechariah 14 brings to us one of the most perplexing, difficult to resolve content, I believe, in all of the Bible. Do not be dismayed if it doesn’t all make sense. Fix your heart and mind upon what does. Let the clarity of Colossians 2 regarding who Christ is and who you are in Christ. For it is Christ who is the head of all rule and authority. “He disarmed the rulers and authorities… triumphing over them”. Do not get pulled back into the “shadows” (vs 16-23) for the “substance belongs to Christ". It would be a great exercise for your family to sit down and list all of the things that are true of Christ and you from this passage.
November 13
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 683 (11/13) – Zechariah 12:1-13:9; Colossians 1:21-2:5
You can read a lot of people who have their interpretations of all of this, when it happens and so forth. Don’t lose sight of the fact that we have in John 19:33-37 the Scripture itself referring to 12:10 here as being fulfilled. What a ministry God had given Paul. He certainly fulfilled it: “...to make the word of God fully known” and to make known the knowledge of God’s mystery, “which is Christ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Paul declares this “in order that no one may delude” us with plausible arguments.
November 12
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 682 (11/12) – Zechariah 9:9-11:17; Colossians 1:1-20
Today, we begin the second half of Zechariah and its very difficult oracles. There are many, many interpretations. If you can see Christ here, I believe that would be beneficial to you and to rest in the hope those pictures bring: for He shall rule “from sea to sea”. I was struck by the clarity that comes to much of these things when we look at the New Covenant and the reality that is now in Christ. Our passage in Colossians highlights this new kingdom that God is building. The verses beginning with v.15 should be put in a hymn or song. The overview of Colossians is worth viewing.
November 11
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 681 (11/11) – Zechariah 8:1-9:8
Daily Comment Forthcoming. Please check back at a later time.
November 10
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 680 (11/10) – Ezra 5:3-6:13
At this time, Judah lay within the Persian province called “Beyond the River”. Tattenai was governor in Samaria. This answers the question as to why this guy is even asking all these questions and sending the letter to Darius. It is quite amazing to see the ethics and character of the Medes and Persian kings. Darius fully supported the earlier decree of Cyrus and provided provisions for the rebuilding.
November 9
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 679 (11/9) – Zechariah 6:1-7:14; Revelation 3:14-22
Today are the famous chariots pulled by mighty horses of red, black, white and dappled. The Hebrew word for “wind” and “spirit” is the same. They represent the mighty arm of God, possibly through angelic means, that cover the entire earth. The reference to the “Branch” as the crown is given to Joshua is most likely symbolic of the Messiah and refers back to Jeremiah’s 33:15 prophecy. I was struck by the Lord’s response to those who were fasting. You may want to discuss how it is possible to carry out religious activities that are basically all about you and therefore of no value. The letter to Laodicea is quite convicting, for it is easier to be lukewarm than cold or hot. That way you can float in this word, no one will ever attack you. But floating in this fallen world will always take you along in its downward current. If you are in Christ, we must daily swim against that current.
November 8
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 678 (11/8) – Zechariah 4:1-5:11; Revelation 3:1-13
There are eight visions in Zechariah. The woman in a basket has been troubling to some for several reasons. One that God uses a woman to represent “wickedness”. It isn’t that God thinks women are wicked, for He made her the Virtuous Woman in the garden. But often, sexual wickedness uses the imagery of a harlot, which is most likely the picture portrayed here. I was going to be released upon Babylon. Again, important for our culture in that we have lost all sense of sexual depravity. Isn’t it refreshing to get to a church (Philadelphia) in which the Lord has nothing to rebuke them for? They have been faithful though they have little and have endured patiently.
November 7
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 677 (11/7) – Zechariah 2:1-3:10; Revelation 2:12-29
Again, we are presented with pictures of the future Jerusalem that will be so big that it will have no walls, just the protection of the “wall of fire” from God. The “filthy” garments are soiled with excrement, which would make the high priest unclean. Yet God rebuked the accusations of Satan and clothed him with righteous garments. I was struck by this: “I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. That refers to the work of Christ. Did you notice the prominence of “sexual impurity” in both of the letters in Revelation? We sometimes forget the holiness of the Lord and begin to affirm that which is an abomination before Him.
November 6
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 676 (11/6) – Haggai 2:10-23; Zechariah 1:7-21; Ezra 5:2; Revelation 2:1-11
Comment forthcoming.
November 5
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 675 (11/5) – Haggai 1:12-2:9; Psalms 65:1-13; Zechariah 1:1-6; Revelation 1:1-20
Today we begin our readings in Revelation and Zechariah. The video overview of Revelation is very good. Although I may disagree with the date of its writing, I believe they have done an excellent job of providing an extremely helpful overview of a book that is filled with symbolism drawn from the rest of Scripture. Unfortunately, many do not take the time to make those correlations, and fall into error. My opinion. I was struck by the Lord’s declaration (Haggai 2:9) that the “latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former…” Put this in the context of the overview of Revelation. Notice also the time clues in Revelation 1:1,3, “...to show to his servants the things that must soon take place” and “...the time is near.” The book is meant to be a “blessing” (vs 3) not a fearful puzzle.
November 4
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 674 (11/4) – Daniel 10:1-21; Ezra 4:24-5:1; Haggai 1:1-11
What a fascinating peek into the spiritual realm! There is (most likely) a fallen angel who is trying to keep Persia from falling to Greece (which had been prophesied) and he somehow can delay the angel sent to tell these things to Daniel. The archangel (called a “chief prince”) Michael comes to help in this battle and it appears (vers 21) that Michael is the angel assigned to Israel. Greece will rise in power, but there is a fallen angel that will fight for them against this angel that was sent to Daniel. Fascinating, is it not? Persia is the modern Iran. You may want to discuss this: do you think there is a fallen angel that fights today for Iran? This thought from our reading in Haggai: under the New Covenant, if you are in Christ, you are the temple of God. His presence dwells within you. If we neglect that temple and spend all our time on our own pleasures, your life will not be fruitful.
November 3
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 673 (11/3) – Ezra 3:1-4:5; 1 Chronicles 3:19-24
A quick glance will cause some to wonder why Zerubbabel refused the help of the “people of the land” for surely they could have used help and wouldn’t it help in the relationship between the returned exiles and those who live there? Yet the Scripture makes it clear that they were “adversaries” (4:1) which soon became evident as they then tried to bring fear upon those who were building and bribed counselors against them. Here is one of those moments where the people of God are called upon to take the less traveled road, to do the harder thing for the right thing. To have given in most likely would have brought into the building process the idolatry that had remained in the land. It is interesting that their appeal, however, was to the specifics of the command of Cyrus that it was to be rebuilt by the exiles.
November 2
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 672 (11/2) – Ezra 2:1-70; Acts 28:17-31
Another indication how far the Gospel had already spread was the statement by the Jews in Rome, who knew nothing of Paul’s situation (it is possible to read it such that they didn’t even know who Paul was) yet they stated: “...with regard to this sect (the Way) we know that everywhere it is spoken against.” Paul’s rebuke to the Jews is stunning, yet it reminds us that whoever is caught up thinking that salvation comes through DNA or any work, rather than Christ alone, will be hard to convince otherwise. God must first grant them repentance (2 Timothy 2:24-26). Don’t skip through the passage in Ezra. We want to have read every word of God’s Word. I recommend reading it aloud.
November 1
Dr. Tackett's Daily Comment
Day 671 (11/1) – Psalms 126:1-6; 1 Chronicles 3:17-18; Proverbs 18:1-24; Acts 28:1-16
Paul finally arrives in Rome. [Here] is a map of his amazing journey. This struck me in today's reading: “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his own heart” (my, how that describes us today); “The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him” (we seldom hear both sides anymore); and the fact that there were already believers in Puteoli! It provides a stark reality to Paul’s statement to the Colossian believers: “In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world… “ (Col 1:6). We don’t know how these believers came to Christ, but it is possible they had read his letter. Paul had penned the letter to the Romans (~57 A.D.) while in Corinth (Romans) only three years earlier. The body of Christ was advancing, primarily through neighbor to neighbor interactions and house churches, but it was spreading rapidly.
