As we venture into the sixth week of our Bible in a year journey, we find ourselves at the intersection of the closing chapters of Book 1 of Psalms and the commencement of the Book of Joshua. This week’s readings offer a unique blend of poetic reflection in Psalms and the historical narrative of Joshua. In this transition, we encounter Psalms that touch on a myriad of themes, from praise and lament to trust and wisdom. Meanwhile, Joshua, the first of the historical books, takes us on a journey through the conquest of Canaan, the division of the promised land, and Joshua’s farewell address. Throughout these readings, it’s essential to grasp that God’s character embodies both mercy and justice, which often collide, as we will see in the book of Joshua.
Psalms: Poetry and Reflection
The Psalms are broken into 5 sections of poetry, Books 1-5. No one is exactly sure why, but some people theorize that it is related to the 5 Books of the Pentateuch (also called the books of the Law or the Torah): Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Psalms 9-41 cover a wide range of topics and include psalms of praise, lament, trust, wisdom, thanksgiving, and kingship.
Read: More Blog Posts about the Psalms
Joshua: Conquest and Divine Guidance
Joshua is the first book that follows the Pentateuch, and is considered the first of the history books and covers the conquest of Canaan, the division of the land, and Joshua’s farewell address. While some of the topics in this book can be quite challenging, try to read it with the mindset that God cares about both purity and obedience. While he is a forgiving God, he is also a just God. There are times for forgiveness and there are times when patience runs out and justice needs to be served. These characteristics of God war with each other, and we see the dilemma played out in the book of Joshua. In this case, God calls on the Israelites to carry out justice and punishment towards the Canaanites. Keep in mind that later in the history books, God will call on the Babylonians to carry out justice and punishment against Israel. In any case, the first three books of Joshua will show how God instructs the Israelites to prepare for battle, makes their reconnaissance work successful, and helps them cross the Jordan River.
Read: More Blog Posts about Joshua
Flexible Plan: Reading for Week 6
If you are following the flexible plan for reading the Bible in a year, here is your reading assignment. You can break up the reading however you like throughout the week!
- Passage 1: Psalms 8-41
- Passage 2: Joshua 1-3
Printable Resource: Bible in a Year Reading Plan: Weekly Assignments
7-Day Reading Assignment: Week 6
If you like to be more organized, the weekly assignment can be broken into seven sections:
- Day 1: Psalms 8-15
- Day 2: Psalms 16-19
- Day 3: Psalms 20-26
- Day 4: Psalms 27-31
- Day 5: Psalms 32-37
- Day 6: Psalms 38-41
- Day 7: Joshua 1-3
Printable Resource: Bible in a Year Reading Plan: Daily Assignments
5-Day Reading Assignment: Week 6
Or if you know that you are likely to miss a day or two of reading, the weekly assignment can be broken into five sections:
- Day 1: Psalms 8-17
- Day 2: Psalms 18-26
- Day 3: Psalms 27-35
- Day 4: Psalms 36-41
- Day 5: Joshua 1-3
Respond
As you read these passages, were there any Bible verses or themes that made an impact? If so, add a comment at the end of this post!
Related Resources
Visit the Joyful Moments in Christ homepage for all posts, or scroll through other blog posts related to reading the Bible in a year:
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