Through the Bible in one year - Day 5

Psalm 4:7-8
You have put more joy in my heart

than they have when their grain and wine abound.

In peace I will both lie down and sleep;

for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Lord, I ask that you put YOUR joy in my heart, and that I seek after your righteousness, so that in you and through you I may lie down and sleep in peace.

Genesis 5:21-24
When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.

...then Methuselah, then Lamech, and then Noah. This is what Lamech said about Noah:
When Lamech had lived 182 years, he fathered a son and called his name Noah, saying, "Out of the ground that the Lord has cursed this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the painful toil of our hands." (Genesis 5:28-29)

In 1 Chronicles we read the descendants of the 12 tribes of Israel, and next in Luke we read of Anna who ‘was descended from the Tribe of Ashar.’ Ashar we know is one of those 12 tribes; in this way of reading we can readily see the relationships from Old to New Testaments, and while the reading may be difficult for us to clearly see the relationships of so many peoples, I find it helpful to read with broad strokes these meta-narratives, all the while knowing that the detail is here for further study, and the people have stories that continue on in other places.

Luke 2:29-32
"Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."

When we read of Simeon, Luke doesn’t tell us which Simeon this is or who his forefathers were, he just lets us know that this man is righteous and devout. In this way Simeon’s story could be our own, we too can be righteous and devout; not on our own account or of our own doing but through Christ. This passage in Luke ends by saying: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52) For us, we can take heart, as this can be a plan for us too.

Today’s readings: Psalm 4, Genesis 5, 1 Chronicles 5, Luke 2:22-52