During week 13 of reading through the Bible in a year, we will finish the book of Judges, read the entire epistle of Ephesians, and begin the book of Proverbs.
Judges: Navigating the Dark Conclusion
Given that Judges highlights the problem of sin, you might be hoping that these last few chapters will turn into a Disney ending and everything will be resolved. Unfortunately, the conclusion will be quite the opposite. These last three chapters of Judges are quite difficult to read. Rape, murder, and forced marriages abound. While the book of Judges is quite sad, with an even sadder ending, the good news is that the Bible continues. A savior is promised and that savior is Jesus! When Jesus came, he started the process of resolving the mess that humans have made for themselves. Every time we read Judges, we have hope that darkness and despair will be defeated!
Read: More Blog Posts from Judges
Ephesians: Discovering Hope and Wisdom
As we leave Judges, we will move onto the book of Ephesians, which is a letter from Paul to the Church in Ephesus. In this book, Paul will highlight the idea that Jesus is the one who will reconcile us with God. Our sins deserve punishment, but Jesus has united all Christians with himself. What good news! While Paul could have just left his letter with this basic information, instead, he follows up with specific instructions regarding how to live as new Christians. Sin must be put away and the wisdom of Christ must reign dominant!
Read: More Blog Posts from Ephesians
Proverbs: Unveiling God’s Timeless Wisdom
Next we will move on to the book of Proverbs, which will continue the theme of wisdom. This is an entire book that is devoted to Godly wisdom. When God made Solomon king of Israel, he told Solomon to ask for a gift from God. Solomon was very smart in his answer and chose to ask for wisdom, which pleased God so much that God also gave Solomon wealth and honor. See 1 Kings 3:1-15 for the full story. In any case, the book of Proverbs is generally thought to have been written by wise King Solomon. As you read this book consider ways in which you are following the wisdom of God and which way could use some improvement.
Read: More Blog Posts from Proverbs
Flexible Plan: Reading for Week 13
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: Judges 19-21
- Passage 2: Ephesians 1-6
- Passage 3: Proverbs 1-17
Printable Resource: Bible in a Year Reading Plan: Weekly Assignments
7-Day Reading Assignment: Week 13
If you like to be more organized, the weekly assignment can be broken into seven sections:
- Day 1: Judges 19-21
- Day 2: Ephesians 1-6
- Day 3: Proverbs 1-3
- Day 4: Proverbs 4-7
- Day 5: Proverbs 8-10
- Day 6: Proverbs 11-14
- Day 7: Proverbs 15-17
Printable Resource: Bible in a Year Reading Plan: Daily Assignments
5-Day Reading Assignment: Week 13
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: Judges 19-21
- Day 2: Ephesians 1-6
- Day 3: Proverbs 1-6
- Day 4: Proverbs 7-12
- Day 5: Proverbs 13-17
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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