Imagine what it would be like to survive an apocalyptic flood where almost everyone you know is destroyed and you’re stuck in a crowded, floating menagerie. Noah is rightly credited as brave and faithful to the Lord, but we’ll soon see that the Bible doesn’t allow us to think that the flood has solved the problem of sin. Even faithful Noah, who diligently constructed a massive vessel and survived destruction, was imperfect and flawed. After we wade through genealogies of Noah’s sons, we encounter the tower of Babel, a monument to man’s rebellion against God. Even with this blatant rebellion against the command to fill the earth, God graciously send them on their way by confusing their languages.

Genesis 8 - 1:01

Genesis 9 - 4:57

Genesis 10 - 10:10

Genesis 11 - 14:00

Psalm 3 - 18:18

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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In our last episode, mankind was ejected from the garden of Eden for sinning against the Lord God. Today, we see sin and wickedness grow until finally the Lord decides wipe mankind from the face of the earth. Only Noah, his family, and an ark full of animals are saved from destruction. In many of our modern conceptions of Noah, we fashion a cartoonish old man surrounded by cute animals all smiling happily from their little boat; but the reality of the flood was far more grueling than the nursery murals suggest.

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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So much could be said about these first four chapters as Genesis 1-3 lays a foundation for the rest of Scripture. We learn about a God who creates all things out of His own volition in a way that is well-ordered and executed simply by proclamation. Special attention is given to the creation of mankind in God’s own image and God’s generous provision for man both before and after sin. Here, too, we see man’s relationship with God fall from one of peace, unity, and harmony into one of disorder and division as man rejects God’s good design and sins against His Maker.

Genesis 1 - 1:03 .

Genesis 2 - 7:08 .

Genesis 3 - 12:03 .

Psalm 1 - 17:19 .

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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For more information visit commuterbible.org or patreon.com/commuterbible

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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Friends, this is our final episode in our chronological reading of the Old Testament, the book of the prophet Malachi. Not much is known about Malachi, (whose name means “my messenger”), but contextual clues suggest that this was written after the exile had ended. Enthusiasm for right worship of God had waned, and Malachi exhorts the priests to honor the Lord. Uniquely, Malachi presents his prophesy using a conversational pattern between the priests and the Lord God, wherein God makes a claim, the priests respond by asking questions, and subsequently the Lord answers. This book is a mixture of indictment and hope, pointing those who are indifferent to God’s ordinances to worship rightly while encouraging the faithful to stay the course and receive the Lord’s favor.

Malachi 1 - 1:02 .

Malachi 2 - 4:58 .

Malachi 3 - 10:01 .

Malachi 4 - 14:28 .

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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The temple is finished. The wall is finished. The people have rededicated themselves to the Lord’s house, and on today’s episode, the remnant of Israel rejoices. With the work completed, Nehemiah returns to Persia to serve under King Artaxerxes as he had before, just as he had promised. All is right with the world, and God’s people serve Him faithfully from then on, right? Wrong! In fact, not long after Nehemiah leaves, the work of the temple is all but abandoned and Eliashib, who is in charge of the temple storehouses, clears out a room for Tobiah the Ammonite official, who happens to be a relative. Nehemiah returns once more to set things straight.

Nehemiah 11 - 1:01 .

Nehemiah 12 - 6:25 .

Nehemiah 13 - 14:09 .

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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Now that the work of rebuilding the temple and rebuilding the walls surrounding Jerusalem is complete, the exiles from Israel gather together to hear Ezra read from the book of the Law. The Levites explain the law to the people as it is being read, and when the congregation understands the extent to which they have broken the Law, they mourn over their actions. Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites encourage them to rejoice, for the people have not only returned to their land, but they have returned to their God. At the end of our reading, the Levites recite a confession they had written based on Israel’s rebellious history, concluding with a documented vow to serve the Lord.

Nehemiah 8 - 1:01 .

Nehemiah 9 - 6:04 .

Nehemiah 10 - 16:34 .

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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As we began to see our last episode, the governors who oversee region west of the Euphrates, which includes Judah and Jerusalem, are unhappy that Nehemiah has been sent to help rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Feeling threatened, Sanballat and other officials create false rumors and even bribe others to attempt to deceive Nehemiah. They make every attempt to stop or delay the work, but in just 52 days’ time, Nehemiah and the diligent remnant Israel rebuild the wall and restore the gates. Once the gates are up and guards are established, Nehemiah begins to sort out families so that they can build houses and settle in the land.

Nehemiah 5 - 1:01 .

Nehemiah 6 - 5:23 .

Nehemiah 7 - 10:28 .

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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