Our reading challenge for the day is 2 Kings 21-25. I’ll hit a few highlights. You make comments too and fill in the gaps. What strikes you as specially significant?
2 Kings 21 - We have a dark period with Manasseh and Amon. Yet God did not depart from Judah despite the evil of their leaders. He raises up . . .
2 Kings 22-23 - Josiah, who found the Law of God and instituted all sorts of reforms. As a good king he turned the hearts of the people to the Lord, making it difficult or even impossible for the citizens to return to the idolatry they had followed all those many years. Yet after his death Judah spirals back into their old ways. They are overcome by Egypt and endure weak rulers who serve as puppets for other nations.
2 Kings 24-25 - In all the turmoil and unrest, God shows his judgment against Judah. When the puppet king tries to rebel against Babylon the nation is crushed.
We realize even in the darkest of times God preserves his remnant people. He will bring the redeemer, Jesus, from the tribe of Judah which he has graciously guarded, even through the exile. The promised line will emerge.
Showing posts with label 2 Kings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2 Kings. Show all posts
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Bible Reading Challenge Week 21 Day 3
Our reading challenge for the day is 2 Kings 16-20. I’ll hit a few highlights. You make comments too and fill in the gaps. What strikes you as specially significant?
2 Kings 16 - See how Ahaz often does evil by taking what God has ordained and trying to improve upon it. How often do we wish to be innovative?
2 Kings 17 - There is a very strong condemnation of Israel. They were destroyed because of their sin. Destruction because of sin is a serious matter. Yet I fear we are too quick to jump to a conclusion that all evil happens to people because of their own sin individually. Here notice that the judgment falls upon the entire nation, though there were doubtless various righteous people, as there were many true prophets in the time of Ahab. God brings judgment on the entire group of people here. May the Lord have mercy.
2 Kings 18-19 - The commanders of Assyria come against righteous king Hezekiah in Judah and threaten him. Moreover they assert that God is not able to deliver Judah out of their hand. This unnerves Hezekiah. Yet God defends his own name, defeating Sennacherib and he troops of Assyria. We pray that God’s name may be hallowed. Do we realize that he is able to protect his interests? Let us never lift ourselves up against his will.
2 Kings 20 - In his illness Hezekiah seems to have given up on protecting Judah against her enemies. God promises him another fifteen years of life but Hezekiah sets the stage for the fall of Judah to Babylon. May we have grace to walk carefully, never giving away the future because of the present.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Bible Reading Challenge Week 21 Day 2
Our reading challenge for the day is 2 Kings 11-15. I’ll hit a few highlights. You make comments too and fill in the gaps. What strikes you as specially significant?
2 Kings 11 - See how religious and political conflicts are intertwined. We can’t truly separate the religious and the political spheres. There is one God over all. Yet the different spheres have different emphases and priorities. This whole “two kingdoms” theology is a difficult one, but one worth careful exploration.
2 Kings 12 - As corruption remains in the priesthood and in the royal line of David the country of Judah continues to decline. At times there are bright spots, but none are lasting.
2 Kings 13 - The kings continue in their spiral. Elisha calls the king of Israel to give a sign that he will trample down the Syrians, but the king is not adequately forceful. Our Lord works sometimes in ways that we don’t understand. May we be faithful to his calling whether we fully understand or not.
2 Kings 14 - We continue to see strife, both between Israel and Judah and within the kingdoms as it becomes more dangerous to serve as king. When people rule according to their selfishness we can expect trouble.
2 Kings 15 - The power shifts become frequent with king after king who is disappointing. Notice how the author tends to be quite brief about these disappointing kings.
Will someone want to spend some time telling our life stories? Or will we be passed over very briefly. May we work diligently to show love and care for our neighbors, encouraging them, adding flavor to their lives.
2 Kings 11 - See how religious and political conflicts are intertwined. We can’t truly separate the religious and the political spheres. There is one God over all. Yet the different spheres have different emphases and priorities. This whole “two kingdoms” theology is a difficult one, but one worth careful exploration.
2 Kings 12 - As corruption remains in the priesthood and in the royal line of David the country of Judah continues to decline. At times there are bright spots, but none are lasting.
2 Kings 13 - The kings continue in their spiral. Elisha calls the king of Israel to give a sign that he will trample down the Syrians, but the king is not adequately forceful. Our Lord works sometimes in ways that we don’t understand. May we be faithful to his calling whether we fully understand or not.
2 Kings 14 - We continue to see strife, both between Israel and Judah and within the kingdoms as it becomes more dangerous to serve as king. When people rule according to their selfishness we can expect trouble.
2 Kings 15 - The power shifts become frequent with king after king who is disappointing. Notice how the author tends to be quite brief about these disappointing kings.
Will someone want to spend some time telling our life stories? Or will we be passed over very briefly. May we work diligently to show love and care for our neighbors, encouraging them, adding flavor to their lives.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Bible Reading Challenge Week 21 Day 1
Our reading challenge for the day is 2 Kings 6-10. I’ll hit a few highlights. You make comments too and fill in the gaps. What strikes you as specially significant?
2 Kings 6 - See how God and his prophet are given credit for all the good things that happen but are also blamed for every bad thing that happens. How do we respond when we are blamed for all sorts of evil? Do we confess that the world under the curse of sin has plenty of evil to around and that we probably contributed to some of it? Do we look to our Lord in hope to deliver us from evil?
2 Kings 7 - God is able to deliver his people from an army even without the people making any military move. He uses various circumstances to protect us. Do we trust that all our daily bread, everything we need, comes from him?
2 Kings 8-10 - We have picture after picture here of two things. First, good and evil live side by side, often in the same person. We are at the same time saint and sinner. Second, we see that in the desires of their hearts people use whatever means they have to take dominion. This may involve all sorts of self-contradictory actions, bringing evil in the name of good. May the Lord who has delivered his people from sin through Jesus Christ grant us repentance and faith, as he carries our sins and presents us to him as a pure and holy offering.
2 Kings 6 - See how God and his prophet are given credit for all the good things that happen but are also blamed for every bad thing that happens. How do we respond when we are blamed for all sorts of evil? Do we confess that the world under the curse of sin has plenty of evil to around and that we probably contributed to some of it? Do we look to our Lord in hope to deliver us from evil?
2 Kings 7 - God is able to deliver his people from an army even without the people making any military move. He uses various circumstances to protect us. Do we trust that all our daily bread, everything we need, comes from him?
2 Kings 8-10 - We have picture after picture here of two things. First, good and evil live side by side, often in the same person. We are at the same time saint and sinner. Second, we see that in the desires of their hearts people use whatever means they have to take dominion. This may involve all sorts of self-contradictory actions, bringing evil in the name of good. May the Lord who has delivered his people from sin through Jesus Christ grant us repentance and faith, as he carries our sins and presents us to him as a pure and holy offering.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Bible Reading Challenge Week 20 Day 5
Our reading challenge for the day is 2 Kings 1-5. I’ll hit a few highlights. You make comments too and fill in the gaps. What strikes you as specially significant?
2 Kings 1 - It’s a fundamental question we should ask ourselves, as Elijah asked Ahaziah. Why do we look everywhere but to the true God when we are in distress? It only leads to despair.
2 Kings 2 - Prophetic roles are passed on by God but often using the earlier prophets as instruments. To whom do we look for guidance, leadership, and inspiration?
2 Kings 3 - Moab, Edom, Israel, and Judah - all were subject to God’s desire. The situation in chapter three could not be arranged by human hands. How do we view God? Do we realize he is alive and working in our world?
2 Kings 4-5 - God blesses people who turn to him and to Elisha for help. He is surely the God of mercy. So why do we reject him so quickly? Maybe it is because God uses means of grace which we don’t think would work. But he does this to show he is the miraculous God. Let God be God!
2 Kings 1 - It’s a fundamental question we should ask ourselves, as Elijah asked Ahaziah. Why do we look everywhere but to the true God when we are in distress? It only leads to despair.
2 Kings 2 - Prophetic roles are passed on by God but often using the earlier prophets as instruments. To whom do we look for guidance, leadership, and inspiration?
2 Kings 3 - Moab, Edom, Israel, and Judah - all were subject to God’s desire. The situation in chapter three could not be arranged by human hands. How do we view God? Do we realize he is alive and working in our world?
2 Kings 4-5 - God blesses people who turn to him and to Elisha for help. He is surely the God of mercy. So why do we reject him so quickly? Maybe it is because God uses means of grace which we don’t think would work. But he does this to show he is the miraculous God. Let God be God!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Bible Reading Challenge Week 20 Day 2
Our reading challenge for the day is 1 Kings 16-20. I’ll hit a few highlights. You make comments too and fill in the gaps. What strikes you as specially significant?
1 Kings 16 - The way the kings of Israel were destroyed should have served as a warning. Yet king after king comes to a bad end. These kings die for their sins. How merciful it is that God in Christ died for the sins of all the world and applies that forgiveness to all who believe. We do not die in our sin, but Jesus, God’s own Son, does.
1 Kings 17 - We are introduced to Elijah, one of the great non-writing prophets. What parallels do we find between Elijah’s miracles and those of Jesus? Here we see provision of food as a foreshadowing of raising the son from the dead.
1 Kings 18 - God has preserved a remnant even in Samaria, the seat of power in Israel. not only is Elijah there but there are also other faithful prophets. God preserves his people where we least expect to find them. In Elijah’s confrontation of the priests of Baal God shows he is the one who is living and powerful. Do we look to the mighty and living God or do we trust in something of our own making?
1 Kings 19 - We see that Elijah is no hero. He is just a prophet. God is the hero. Without the Lord’s calling and anointing Elijah or any prophet is just like everyone else. How do we treat our pastors? They aren’t heroes. Only our Lord is the hero.
1 Kings 20 - God even uses unrighteous Israel and Ahab against Syria. What does this say about the idea that success demonstrates godliness?
1 Kings 16 - The way the kings of Israel were destroyed should have served as a warning. Yet king after king comes to a bad end. These kings die for their sins. How merciful it is that God in Christ died for the sins of all the world and applies that forgiveness to all who believe. We do not die in our sin, but Jesus, God’s own Son, does.
1 Kings 17 - We are introduced to Elijah, one of the great non-writing prophets. What parallels do we find between Elijah’s miracles and those of Jesus? Here we see provision of food as a foreshadowing of raising the son from the dead.
1 Kings 18 - God has preserved a remnant even in Samaria, the seat of power in Israel. not only is Elijah there but there are also other faithful prophets. God preserves his people where we least expect to find them. In Elijah’s confrontation of the priests of Baal God shows he is the one who is living and powerful. Do we look to the mighty and living God or do we trust in something of our own making?
1 Kings 19 - We see that Elijah is no hero. He is just a prophet. God is the hero. Without the Lord’s calling and anointing Elijah or any prophet is just like everyone else. How do we treat our pastors? They aren’t heroes. Only our Lord is the hero.
1 Kings 20 - God even uses unrighteous Israel and Ahab against Syria. What does this say about the idea that success demonstrates godliness?
Monday, May 14, 2012
Bible Reading Challenge Week 20 Day 1
Our reading challenge for the day is 1 Kings 11-15. I’ll hit a few highlights. You make comments too and fill in the gaps. What strikes you as specially significant?
1 Kings 11 - Solomon’s heart is turned from God by his many alliances with wives of other religions. God promises to preserve his covenant people but will break up the kingdom. See how even this does not move Solomon to repentance. Our hearts become hardened against God very easily! May we have grace to be faithful.
1 Kings 12 - Rehoboam, son of Solomon, by his poor choices, turned ten tribes of Israel against him. From this time the kingdom is divided. The northern tribes are called Israel and the tribes of Judah and Benjamin are called Judah. Jeroboam in Israel entices the people to idolatry in a politically motivated religious move. When we desire to establish a new thing in worship we must question the wisdom of that move.
1 Kings 13 - Even in these dark times God sends his prophet to call Israel to repentance. God gives a false prophet repentance for his evil but Israel does not repent. Jeroboam’s sin will cut off Israel.
1 Kings 14 - Jeroboam never repented of his sin. his house was embroiled in strife until his death. From this point, it may be useful to keep two timelines of history, one tracking Israel and one tracking Judah, as the text follows both kingdoms. See that Judah provoked God as well.
1 Kings 15 - Watch Israel go from bad to worse as evil kings rule. Meanwhile Judah does not do much better but does have a bright spot in Asa. Do we pray for our rulers? They need it.
1 Kings 11 - Solomon’s heart is turned from God by his many alliances with wives of other religions. God promises to preserve his covenant people but will break up the kingdom. See how even this does not move Solomon to repentance. Our hearts become hardened against God very easily! May we have grace to be faithful.
1 Kings 12 - Rehoboam, son of Solomon, by his poor choices, turned ten tribes of Israel against him. From this time the kingdom is divided. The northern tribes are called Israel and the tribes of Judah and Benjamin are called Judah. Jeroboam in Israel entices the people to idolatry in a politically motivated religious move. When we desire to establish a new thing in worship we must question the wisdom of that move.
1 Kings 13 - Even in these dark times God sends his prophet to call Israel to repentance. God gives a false prophet repentance for his evil but Israel does not repent. Jeroboam’s sin will cut off Israel.
1 Kings 14 - Jeroboam never repented of his sin. his house was embroiled in strife until his death. From this point, it may be useful to keep two timelines of history, one tracking Israel and one tracking Judah, as the text follows both kingdoms. See that Judah provoked God as well.
1 Kings 15 - Watch Israel go from bad to worse as evil kings rule. Meanwhile Judah does not do much better but does have a bright spot in Asa. Do we pray for our rulers? They need it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)