Study - Reading

The chronological Bible reading schedule and daily comments are taken directly from:
Skip Andrew's Chronological Reading Schedule.
The daily links are to each day's reading (King James Version) at BibleGateway.com.

Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec

Reading	Comments
Sep 1	Chapter 17 has a parable of two eagles and its application to Zedekiah. Chapter 18 is a very important statement of the fact that each person is accountable for his own life. Chapter 19 is Ezekiel's lament over the princes of Israel. Chapter 20 is a review of the rebellious attitude of the Israelites from the time of Moses until Ezekiel—about 900 years!
Sep 2	Chapter 21 teaches that the sword of the Lord is against them. Chapter 22 establishes the guilt of Jerusalem and Judah again. Chapter 23 is a parable of two sisters, Oholah (Samaria, Israel, Ephraim, or the Northern Kingdom), and Oholibah (Jerusalem, Judah, or the Southern Kingdom).
Sep 3	Most of today's reading is about the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians— which would be very soon. But note in Ezekiel 24:15-18 that God told Ezekiel of the fact that his wife would soon die, and that he was forbidden to mourn. These events were during the reign of Zedekiah.
Sep 4	The first prophecy is against Egypt several years before its fall. Chapters 26-28 are against Tyre, the seacoast city northwest of Judah. (Note that we read Ezekiel 28:11-19 on Week One, Day 2).
Sep 5	This reading begins with more prophecies against Pharaoh and Egypt. Then we have the stories of Jeremiah's imprisonment and his buying a field as a sign that the people would be able to return to the land after their punishment at the hand of God.
Sep 6	Now we read about God's promise for the future of His people (chapter 33), the certainty of the destruction (chapter 34), Jeremiah in the dungeon and before Zedekiah (chapter 38), and his prophecy to an Ethiopian (chapter 39).
Sep 7	Finally, and tragically, we come to the fall of Jerusalem (586 BC). (Note that II Kings 25, Jeremiah 39 and 52, and II Chronicles 36 supplement one another on the story of the fall). In Psalm 94, God is a Righteous Avenger of sin Who is merciful to the humble.
Sep 8	Here is more of the inspired account of the desolation of Jerusalem. Psalm 74 is a plea for God not to cast them off forever. Psalm 79 is similar, with a plea for forgiveness. Lamentations begins Jeremiah's poetic description of the grief over the fall of Jerusalem.
Sep 9	Jeremiah continues to mourn over the fallen city and pleads for God's mercy.
Sep 10	Gedaliah is made governor of Judah. Jeremiah remains in Jerusalem to continue his work. Gedaliah is killed. Then some of the remnant wants to go to Egypt, but God tells them (through Jeremiah) that they will be punished if they go.
Sep 11	They disobeyed God and went to Egypt anyway. Then Jeremiah prophecies against Egypt (chapter 46) and against the rebellious Jews who had gone to Egypt (chapter 44).
Sep 12	Ezekiel hears of the fall of Jerusalem. Then he continues his prophecies against the idolatrous nations: Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, Zidon, and Egypt.
Sep 13	Daniel's three friends are thrown in the fiery furnace. Then Ezekiel is told to instruct the captives as their watchman.
Sep 14	Chapter 34 is about false shepherds (in Israel) versus the True Shepherd of God (Christ). Chapter 35 is against Edom (Esau). Chapter 36 offers the promise of future comfort from God.
Sep 15	Chapter 37 is the famous vision of the valley of dry bones, ultimately fulfilled in the Church of Christ and her king, Jesus. Chapter 38 is the first half of a description of victory over the forces of evil (God, Magog).
Sep 16	Chapter 39 finishes the message of 7 victory over evil. Then begins Ezekiel's long message of hope for the captives as he describes a glorious future for the faithful people of God.
Sep 17	Now Ezekiel describes the future temple (chapter 41), other buildings (chapter 42), and the hope that comes from the return of the presence of God, Who had left the first temple and city earlier in the book (chapter 43).
Sep 18	The order of worship is described for the future in Ezekiel's vision.
Sep 19	Now he speaks of a river, the boundaries of this land, and the portion for the prince. Our reading closes with more predictions against Egypt.
Sep 20	Nebuchadnezzar is humbled by God after his sinful show of pride. Jehoiachin was then released from prison and treated kindly by the son of Nebuchadnezzar. Then Daniel had his vision of four beasts and its interpretation, including the prophecy of the Son of man going to the “Ancient of days” to receive a kingdom (see Acts 1:9-11; 2:36).
Sep 21	More of the Psalms will now appear in our readings, even though the dating of many of them is uncertain. These psalms are expressions of confidence in God. Psalm 67 is a plea for the name and blessings of God to be known and appreciated all over the earth. Psalm 123 expresses the need for the mercy of God. Psalm 130 is a plea for God to hear and forgive so the people could have hope. Psalm 137 specifically mentions Babylon as their place of captivity and grief. In Daniel 8, the prophet has his vision of the ram and the he goat, two years after chapter 7. The ram refers to Medo-Persia (v. 20) and the he goat refers to Greece (v. 21). These two kingdoms correspond to the second and third kingdoms of Nebuchadnezzar's dream in chapter 2.
Sep 22	Here are prophecies of the fall of Babylon.
Sep 23	Daniel 5 is the fall of Babylon (539 BC). Daniel 9 is his prayer to God on behalf of his people. Sixty-seven of the seventy years of captivity had passed at this point.
Sep 24	Psalm 102 is a poem from one in deep affliction. Then we read of Cyrus' fulfillment of the prophecies made about him in Isaiah 44 and 45, well over a century earlier. Psalms 126 and 85 are joyful over the return from captivity. Finally we learn about the early arrangements for the return to Israel.
Sep 25	Daniel 6 is the story of Daniel in the lion's den. In chapter 10, he receives assurance of new revelations and a promise of help from above. In chapters 11 and 12, he writes the revelations he received. Most of these prophecies were fulfilled in detail during the time between Daniel and the opening of Matthew.
Sep 26	The first three readings give lists of people who were involved in the return to Israel. Ezra 3 tells us of the obedience to the law of Moses. In Psalm 87, “glorious things” are spoken of God.
Sep 27	Today we begin with the laying of the foundation for the temple. Psalm 84 says, “I am thankful to be able to go to the temple and worship.” Psalm 107 is thankfulness for God's ability to deliver. Psalm 66 is a plea to see God as He is and worship Him.
Sep 28	Psalm 125 tells of the results of trusting in God. Ezra 4 tells the sad story of new enemies for the Jews. Psalm 129 teaches that our persecutors will pay for their sins. Then God uses Haggai and Zechariah to motivate the people again, after years of delay. Haggai's theme is, “Consider your ways!” Zechariah cries out that they must not be as their fathers were.
Sep 29	First, we have the dating of the prophecy and then the promise that Zerubbabel would be instrumental in getting the work done. From 1:18-5:11, a series of brief visions and predictions are given to Zechariah.
Sep 30	Note especially the mention of the BRANCH (Jesus Christ), and the prediction that He would be both priest and king at the same time, which He is today as king of His kingdom (the church) and high priest over His temple (the church)! Now more enemies try to intervene, but the decree of Cyrus is discovered and they are forbidden to hinder the work. In Zechariah 7 and 8, the prophet receives powerful sermon material from God for his people. Finally, we are given the statement that the temple was completed!