Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Kings 18-19
After the death of Ahaz, Hezekiah began to reign in Judah, and it was like sunlight breaking through the clouds after a storm. Hezekiah was only twenty five years old when he came to power. Despite his youth, he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 18:3). Revival broke […]
Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Kings 15-17
Some have said that imitation is the greatest form of flattery. When it comes to the church and the world, however, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. That’s what Ahaz attempted to do while king of Judah, and it didn’t end well. Ahaz’s father, Jotham, was a good king. Ahaz’s son, Hezekiah, was an […]
Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Kings 4-5
Elisha had come back to Gilgal and it was here that he was teaching the sons of the prophets. Gilgal was east of Jericho close to the Jordan River. Gilgal was a memorable place in the history of Israel. It was here Israel crossed the Jordan River on dry ground and set up the 12 […]
What Remains
There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the […]
Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Kings 1-3
The Lord chose Elisha to be Elijah’s predecessor (1 Kings 20:16, 20-21). Elisha, as an act of servitude, poured water on the hands of Elijah (2 Kings 3:11). Elisha wanted to be just like Elijah. In fact, as the day of Elijah’s departure grew closer, Elisha was right next to him. Also following Elijah on […]
Lonely Prophets, Dirty Birds, and Hopeless Widows
First Kings chapters 11-16 are some of the bleakest chapters in all of Scripture. Solomon, the world’s wisest man, becomes the world’s greatest fool. Rehoboam splits the kingdom of Israel through sheer youthful stubbornness. Jeroboam becomes king over ten tribes of Israel and yokes the people of Israel to bull worship. Israel’s next kings weren’t […]
Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Kings 21-22
Ahab, apparently, had built for himself a second home in Jezreel (1 Kings 18:45-46). Jezreel is located north of Israel’s capital in Samaria. This geographical location is very fertile and plush. It’s made up with vineyards, which produce grapes for wine production, and the rocky areas serve as winepresses. Vineyards were very precious to Israel […]
Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Kings 17-20
First Kings chapters 11-16 are some of the darkest times in Israel’s history. Then suddenly from the darkness there comes a blazing light. Elijah appears on the stage of Israel’s history like a crash of thunder, and disappears in a whirlwind. The writer of Kings doesn’t give Elijah much of an introduction. Readers are left […]
Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Kings 14-16
Israel split into two kingdoms. The northern kingdom, known as Israel, consisted of ten of the twelve tribes. The southern kingdom, known as Judah, consisted of Judah and what was left of Benjamin. Israel’s capital became Samaria, and Judah’s capital became Jerusalem. This will be important information moving forward in our reading of the Old […]
Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Kings 10-11
Solomon’s wisdom and kingdom attracted many visitors. Scripture records the queen of Sheba being one of those visitors. “And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to prove him with hard questions” (1 Kings 10:1). It wasn’t just Solomon that intrigued her, but […]