May 25, 2022
1SAMUEL 14:
Hostilities with the Philistines heated up to
full war, and Israel was badly outnumbered. The Israelites had been
kept down so much that they were basically unarmed for war. Saul
and his son's army dwindled down from 3,000 men to only 600, and
Samuel doesn't show up for the important before-war
sacrifice.
PSALM 98:
Another favorite psalm! I love psalms where
things like oceans, rivers, or trees clap their hands. I recommend
this psalm for anyone who feels that we can only worship God with
the good old hymns.
ROMANS 5:
Every little detail in the story of Abraham is
important. Note in yesterday's reading that Abraham “figured his
body was as good as _dead_,” and “Abraham believed in the God who
_brings the dead back to life_.” Then we read that we must “believe
in [God]— the one who _raised Jesus our Lord from the dead_.” And
we will find a new concept related to this theme about death and
resurrection later.
NLT Translation
notes:
Rom. 5:1
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by
[believing//faith], we have peace with God because of what [Christ
Jesus//Jesus Christ] our Lord has done for us.
2
Because of our [believing//faith], Christ has brought us into this
place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we
confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s
glory.
3 We
can [even] rejoice[ 0//, too,] when we run into problems and
trials, for we know that they help us develop
endurance.
7
[PET: Now it is very difficult for someone to sacrifice himself to
save someone else— even if that person is good and honest. But a
person might sacrifice himself and die to save his close
friend.//Now, most people would not be willing to die for an
upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for
a person who is especially good.]
9
And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of
Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation [at the
final judgment].
10 For since our friendship with
God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his
enemies, we will certainly be saved [because God’s Son now lives
and watches over us!//through the life of his Son [now that we are
his friends].]
13 Yes, people sinned even before
the law was given. But it was not counted as sin [(as such)]
because there was not yet any law to break.
17
For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many.
But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of
righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin
and death through this one man, [Christ Jesus//Jesus
Christ].
18
Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s
one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and
new life for everyone [who believes].
19
Because one [man/person]* disobeyed God, many became sinners. But
because one other [Man/person] obeyed God, many will be made
righteous.
[*This
is gender sensitivity taken to the extreme in the NLT! And it is
inconsistent, since previously in verse 15 they used ‘man’ to
translate ‘anthropos’.]
20
God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they
[are/were]. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful
grace became more abundant.
21
So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now
God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with
God and resulting in eternal life through [Christ Jesus//Jesus
Christ] our Lord.
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.