Read the Bible with Me!

Welcome to the Pauline Family's "Year of the Bible"! I'm reading the Bible clear through this year, and I invite you to read along with me. But first, let us pray: 

My God, I adore and thank your loving and wise Providence, manifested on every page of Sacred Scripture. You have always been close to sinful and erring humanity, and have indicated the way and given hope. Amid the shadows of error and corruption, you kindled the light of your truth; amid universal corruption, you are the Just One; amid so much idolatry, humanity in every corner of the earth has cultivated a sincere worship of you.
Let my reading today increase my trust in your goodness, your mercy, and your unfailing faithfulness.

Today's chapters are 1 Chronicles 14-16 and (for Lent) Psalm 67.

The procession of the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem (which we read about in 2 Samuel 6) is here recounted in rich detail, down to the levitical participants and especially the musical repertoire (including verses from Psalms 105, 96, and 106, which would appear to have been composed for the occasion). The names of the Levites listed here as royal appointees to sing the praises of God will also appear in the headings of certain Psalms: Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun. The tradition of King David's deep involvement with liturgical music is well-established on the basis of these chapters!

Start reading here and Psalm 67 here.

If you are looking for a solid but approachable companion to the Bible, I can wholeheartedly recommend A Catholic Introduction to the Bible: The Old Testament by John Bergsma and Brant Pitre. Although the authors are top-level Scripture scholars, they write for "real" readers. Notes include recent findings from archaeology and ancient manuscripts, and how each book of the Bible has been understood by the Church Fathers and used in Liturgy.