This week, we’ll conclude our journey through the book of Exodus and venture into a few of the Psalms.
Culmination of Exodus: The Tabernacle, Worship, and God’s Glory
As we reach the final chapters of Exodus, readers may encounter both captivating narratives and more obscure and slightly boring details. The account of the Israelites crafting a golden calf while Moses ascends the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments stands out as a riveting episode of idolatry that will keep your fingers turning the pages. However, there are also extensive sections dedicated to the construction of the tabernacle, an intricate portable sanctuary designed for worshipping God. In addition, these chapters will delve into the specifications of priestly garments and other aspects of corporate worship that are less relevant to modern readers. For many, the meticulous descriptions might seem daunting, but don’t join many contemporary readers and give up on reading the Bible! It’s understandable that not everyone will be captivated by the dimensions of the courtyard or the details of the gold clasps for various curtains. Nevertheless, hidden within these passages are occasional nuggets of interest, and with determination, one can navigate through them with relative swiftness.
Read: More Blog Posts from Exodus
Poetry and Praise: Exploring Psalms 42-54
Upon completing the book of Exodus, you can reward yourself with a selection of Psalms, a book of poetry and music. These poetic songs are organized into five distinct books, and in this week, we embark on the second book, starting with Psalm 42. This particular Psalm opens with the evocative words that also serve as the introduction to Marty Nystrom’s beloved song, “As the Deer”: “As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul longeth after Thee.” (based on Psalm 42:1). Enjoy this delightful and encouraging conclusion to the week; no matter how much trouble we encounter, no matter how downcast we are, God is faithful. He allows us to come to him and is worthy of praise!
Read: More Blog Posts from the Psalms
Flexible Plan: Reading for Week 18
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: Exodus 25-40
- Passage 2: Psalms 42-54
Printable Resource: Bible in a Year Reading Plan: Weekly Assignments
7-Day Reading Assignment: Week 18
If you like to be more organized, the weekly assignment can be broken into seven sections:
- Day 1: Exodus 25-27
- Day 2: Exodus 28-30
- Day 3: Exodus 31-33
- Day 4: Exodus 34-36
- Day 5: Exodus 37-40
- Day 6: Psalms 42-47
- Day 7: Psalms 48-54
Printable Resource: Bible in a Year Reading Plan: Daily Assignments
5-Day Reading Assignment: Week 18
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: Exodus 25-29
- Day 2: Exodus 30-34
- Day 3: Exodus 35-40
- Day 4: Psalms 42-47
- Day 5: Psalms 48-54
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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