Chronological Bible Blog

2 Kings 15:32-38; 2 Chronicles 27:1-9; Micah 1:1-16; 2 Kings 16:1-9; 2 Chronicles 28:1-15; Isaiah 7:1-25
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Today we start the book of the prophet Micah!  Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah and prophesied in approximately 730 – 700 B.C., primarily to the southern kingdom of Judah.  Micah’s name means “Who is like the Lord?”  This following quote is from bible.org’s Hampton Keathley IV , Th.M. on the book of Micah:  “Micah prophesied during a period of upheaval and crisis. The reign of Ahaz brought spiritual lethargy, apostasy and hypocrisy. The people still worshipped Yahweh, but it was ritual without life-changing reality. Their treatment of fellow Israelites violated the basic tenants of the Mosaic covenant as they failed to practice justice, or covenant loyalty-love and their pursuit of idolatry revealed their failure to walk humbly before Yahweh.” This quote and much more on the book of Micah is at this link.  Below is an engraving of Micah preaching by Gustaf Dore:

In Micah chapter 1, verse 8 stood out to me: “Because of all this, I will mourn and lament.”  Micah was obviously saddened by the sins of those around him and the harm they were causing to themselves and to others.  Do we mourn and lament for the sins of others in our world today?  Do we mourn and lament over our own sins?  Do we pray for healing and repentance in the lives of others – and ourselves?  Is it okay to grieve for others and ourselves because of sin?  What should we then do with this grief?

In Isaiah chapter 7 today we read about the sign of Immanuel in verses 14 through 16!  “All right then, the Lord himself will choose the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel–`God is with us.’ By the time this child is old enough to eat curds and honey, he will know enough to choose what is right and reject what is wrong. But before he knows right from wrong, the two kings you fear so much–the kings of Israel and Aram–will both be dead.”  I don’t know about you, but when I read this today I immediately thought of the virgin Mary and Jesus.  With good reason, as we’ll recall from the gospel of Matthew chapter 1 verse 23: “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.” Commentaries suggest that yes, indeed, these passages in Isaiah are ultimately wholly fulfilled in Jesus, who truly is “God with us.”  But, commentaries also suggest that this prophecy in Isaiah had a double fulfillment – first in a young woman from the house of Ahaz who was not married, but would marry and then have a son – and by the time the son was the age 2, the two invading kings would be destroyed.  Then, the second fulfillment of this prophecy was indeed in the One we now celebrate as the true Immanuel, Jesus Christ, God with us!

Worship Video: Today’s readings in Micah remind me of the Matt Maher song “Alive Again.” Here’s a great live performance from Matt:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSTaVmDQP5s

Are you truly alive?  Click here and be made Alive Again!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Amos 7:1-9:15; 2 Kings 14:28-29; 2 Kings 15:8-29; 2 Kings 15:6-7; 2 Chronicles 26:22-23; Isaiah 6:1-13
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Old Testament – Today we finish up the book of Amos!  Today in Amos we read about Amos & Amaziah’s interactions, visions of Locusts, Fire & a Plumb line, Ripe Fruit, God at the Altar, and then finish up the book with a Promise of Restoration.  I like the beginning of Amos chapter 7 a lot. Here we see Amos praying for the forgiveness of Israel’s sins and asking God to forgo the visions of Locusts & Fire.  This is a good reminder to each of us to pray for others, and not just only for ourselves.

Also, in chapter 7 verses 14 & 15 stood out to me when Amos was speaking with the priest Amaziah: “”I’m not one of your professional prophets. I certainly never trained to be one. I’m just a shepherd, and I take care of fig trees. But the LORD called me away from my flock and told me, `Go and prophesy to my people in Israel.’”  This reminds me of something I actually heard from Mac Powell, the leader singer of Third Day, at one of their concerts.  Mac reminded us all that sometimes we think that the only way we can really be serving God and others in big ways is if maybe we are pastors or missionaries.  And Mac reminded us that this is not the case – all of us, no matter what our profession or walk of life, can serve God and others in big ways!  We are all pastors and missionaries in the kingdom of God!  I like that.  And here’s Amos saying, “hey – I’m not a professional prophet.  I’m just doing what God asked me to do.”   What might God be asking you to do in your life to love and serve Him and others?

Amos chapter 8 verses 11-13 are a great reminder of how fortunate we are to have the opportunity to read God’s word, the Bible – where not everyone in our world today has this blessing.  Actually, I have to admit – these are some of the most breathtaking verses for me in all of the Bible.  For some reason I pay attention so acutely every time I hear these verses… this is scary stuff to consider… “The time is surely coming,” says the Sovereign LORD, “when I will send a famine on the land–not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the words of the LORD. People will stagger everywhere from sea to sea, searching for the word of the LORD, running here and going there, but they will not find it. Beautiful girls and fine young men will grow faint and weary, thirsting for the LORD’s word.”  Is it possible that we self-impose on our own lives famines?  Famine’s from hearing and reading God’s word?  If you are in the midst of a famine from God’s Word, the Bible, will you seek out an opportunity to read God’s Word each day?   Do you thirst for God’s Word?  Will you drink from it?

Amos chapter 9 verse 11 is a great Messianic foretelling of the coming of Jesus: “In that day I will restore the fallen kingdom of David. It is now like a house in ruins, but I will rebuild its walls and restore its former glory.”   And verse 13 a foretelling of a Garden of Eden-like paradise to come: “The time will come,” says the LORD, “when the grain and grapes will grow faster than they can be harvested. Then the terraced vineyards on the hills of Israel will drip with sweet wine!” Are you looking forward to this time?  Do you want to be part of the restored kingdom of David?

Worship Video: Today’s readings in Amos reminds me of the NeedToBreathe song “Washed By the Water:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOjpkqrCEOU

Have you been washed by the water?  Click here and be made clean!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Amos 1:1-6:14
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~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Today we start the book of Amos!   Amos was a unique prophet in that he was a shepherd and fig grower.  His prophecies come from about 760 to 750 B.C. at a height of Israel & Judah’s prosperity – materially.  (not spiritually…)  Though Amos was from Judah, his messages were primarily directed at Israel.  A good introduction to the book of Amos is at this link.  Below is an image of Amos, the “shepherd prophet”:

Amos chapter 1 verse 2 sets the stage for this book and the prophecies to come: “This is his report of what he saw and heard: “The LORD’s voice roars from his Temple on Mount Zion; he thunders from Jerusalem! Suddenly, the lush pastures of the shepherds dry up. All the grass on Mount Carmel withers and dies.”   Then in the remainder of chapter 1 and 2 there are prophecies against Israel and Judah’s surrounding neighbors all starting with – “”The people of _(fill in the blank)__ have sinned again and again, and I will not forget it. I will not let them go unpunished any longer!”  Is it possible that this blank could maybe be filled in on our life or habits at times?  Is it possible that this blank could be filled in by nations in our world today?  If God were to punish, might it be a holy discipline to bring us back to repentance and right relationship with God?  Below is a portrait by artist Guy Rowe of Amos and the people:

In chapter 4 verse 2 it stood out to me how Judah was being called to the carpet as well as the neighboring nations: “They have rejected the laws of the LORD, refusing to obey him. They have been led astray by the same lies that deceived their ancestors.”   Do we obey God today in our lives?  Are there areas in our life where we might be deceived – either by others, or maybe even in our own minds?  Below is an image of Amos preaching to Kings Uzziah and Jeroboam II – from a 14th century illuminated Bible:

And Israel is called to the carpet in verses 6 & 7: “They have perverted justice by selling honest people for silver and poor people for a pair of sandals. They trample helpless people in the dust and deny justice to those who are oppressed.”  It seems that God is very interested in the care of the poor back then.  Do you think he is still interested in the care of the poor today?  Are we caring for the poor & the oppressed in our world today?  In your life, are you caring for the poor & oppressed?  Consistently?  How?

In Amos chapters 4, 5, & 6 we read about Israel’s failure to listen, a call to repentance, and warning of coming Judgment.  Chapter 4 verse 13 stood out to me in today’s readings: “For the LORD is the one who shaped the mountains, stirs up the winds, and reveals his every thought. He turns the light of dawn into darkness and treads the mountains under his feet. The LORD God Almighty is his name!”   Here we are reminded that God is the creator of all things, and he still is in control of what happens in the present time.  He is the past, present, and future.  I like that phrase, “reveals his every thought.”  Meaning, God wants His ways, His character, His thoughts, His love to be known by all.  Do you believe God reveals His every thought to us?  Where might we best find out what God’s every thought is?  Do you want to know God’s thoughts above all else?

I think chapter 5 verse 14 today is a good reminder and warning to each of us: “Do what is good and run from evil–that you may live! Then the LORD God Almighty will truly be your helper, just as you have claimed he is.”  I believe that sometimes we think we can overcome evil through our own sheer will power.  Or that we can change evil.  This verse reminds us to simply RUN! I like that reminder.  Sometimes you just gotta get out of Dodge to avoid evil influencing you or overtaking you.  Are there temptations or bad habits in your life that you have been trying to overcome, battle, change – and perhaps you should just RUN from them?  Flee from them?  So that you may truly live?

Amos chapter 6 verse 5 stood out to me for some reason today: “You sing idle songs to the sound of the harp, and you fancy yourselves to be great musicians, as King David was.”  I guess a couple of things jumped out at me here.  First, the singing idle songs to the sound of the harp made me ask myself, are we sometimes idle with our time?  When perhaps God is wanting us to be purposeful or intentional with our time?  Don’t get me wrong – rest is good.  But, is idleness good?  I think rest can be purposeful and intentional and healthy.  Or it can potentially be just the opposite.

Next – do we sometimes fancy ourselves to be “great musicians as King David was” – meaning, do we sometimes try to pretend to be someone who we are not?  Are we masking over who we really are, and playing fake?  Should we instead be real?  And sincere?  And intentional and purposeful?   I guess I’m just getting at here – are there times when we are being fake? When, perhaps God is simply calling us to simply be real?  To be who we are?  Who are you?  If you need to, will you take off your mask and just be who God made you to be?

Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of the Building 429 song “Always:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi39oAOgJn0

Do you believe Jesus is with you Always?  Click here for Always!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

2 Kings 14:1-14; 2 Chronicles 25:1-24; 2 Kings 13:12-13; 2 Kings 14:15-16; 2 Kings 14:23-27; 2 Chronicles 25:25-28; 2 Kings 14:17-22; 2 Kings 15:1-5; 2 Chronicles 26:1-21; Jonah 1:1-4:11
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

In 2 Kings 14 today we read about King Amaziah of Judah.  I’m not sure if you caught this – I barely did – but we read about the ancient city of Petra, which is located in modern day Jordan, in verse 7: “It was Amaziah who killed ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. He also conquered Sela and changed its name to Joktheel, as it is called to this day.”  Sela/Joktheel is the same city as Petra.  I’m curious of anyone reading this has visited the ruins of Petra in Jordan?  Can you post up reviews in the Comments?  Are they worth visiting?  I have heard they are incredible!  In fact, Bruce Feiler’s book, Walking the Bible, has a wonderful chapter on Petra – I highly recommend this book! I hope to visit Petra someday.  A map of where Petra is located in comparison to Amman, Jordan, and Jerusalem is below. 

Today we start and finish the book of Jonah!  There is so much information to consider in this short 4 chapter book.  I definitely encourage you to do some further study on this book in a Commentary or online.  Or – at the very least, rent the Veggie Tales movie about Jonah…  🙂  I have to confess – I did see the Veggie Tales Jonah movie when it came out in the theaters with my friends & their kids – and as I started to read today, I did very briefly envision Jonah as the asparagus or whatever type of green vegetable he was in that movie…  🙂  It is a fun movie for kids of all ages!  Okay, I digress… 

~Jonah~
Author: Jonah
Date: Eighth century B.C.
Content: Jonah was a prophet who was born in Israel (see 2 Kings 14:25) and called by God to preach repentance to Assyria (the capital city was Nineveh) – the nation that was shortly going to destroy Israel in 722 B.C. On receiving the call, Jonah’s nationalistic spirit would not allow him to offer salvation to the pagans, so he attempted to flee from God by ship. He was thrown overboard, swallowed by a great fish, disgorged on the shore, and finally obeyed God’s command by going to Nineveh to preach. His success there angered him, however, and God taught him an object lesson by means of a plant. Jonah’s experience in the fish is used in the New Testament (see Matthew 12:38-41) as an example of Jesus’ burial and resurrection.
Theme: The basic theme of Jonah is found in 4:11, where God declares his love for all men, whether Israelites or not. Jonah was unable to love the Assyrians properly, but God desired nothing for them but their good and their salvation, and he sent a prophet to offer repentance unto life. The book also shows the power of God and his control over the forces of nature. (Above commentary is from “The One Year Bible Companion” p. 17)  A wonderful commentary on the book of Jonah by Hampton Keathley IV is at this link. Here is a quote from this link: “Jonah is different than the other prophets because it is not full of prophecies by the prophet, it is instead, about the life of the prophet. Little attention is given to what he actually said.”

Jonah is called by God to prophesy to the city of Nineveh – which was not part of Israel or Judah – but was a “Gentile” city to the east.  If you are wondering why Jonah got so grouchy with God’s command – this is why.  Jonah did not think he should be prophesying to Gentile nations – because, as we read later in the book, Jonah knows that God is a compassionate God who will show mercy on Nineveh.  Last thing to point out before we check out some verses.  There is some dispute over whether Jonah is a real history when it comes to him being in the belly of a whale for 3 days.  I guess this comes down to the basic question of whether you believe in miracles or not?  If you do believe in miracles, then it is of course possible that Jonah lived in the belly of the whale for 3 days.  I believe in miracles…  As some contemporary song says, I’m a miracle myself…

Check out what Jesus had to say about Jonah’s history of being in the belly of the whale in Matthew chapter 12 verse 40: “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Here we see Jesus compares his 3 days of death, burial and resurrection to Jonah’s 3 days in the belly of the whale…  Do you believe in miracles?

Jonah chapter 1 verse 3 stood out to me in today’s reading: “But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction in order to get away from the LORD.”  How often in our own lives are we like Jonah?  Do we sense God wanting us to do something?  For others?  And we run in the opposite direction of God’s will?  If we do this, might we bring storms upon our lives as Jonah did?   Might we even bring storms upon other people’s lives by disobeying God’s will as Jonah did?  Will we learn from Jonah?

Chapter 2 Verse 8 also stood out to me: “Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies.”  Do you believe that God wants to show us mercy all the time?  But, it’s possible that we sometimes literally turn our backs on God?  Will we turn back toward God, and God only?  And not turn away again?  And receive his mercies?  Please don’t ever turn your back on God…  Don’t turn your back on all of God’s mercies!

In Jonah chapter 4 verse 2 we read a verse that I have to confess made me chuckle when I first read it: “So he complained to the LORD about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, LORD? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you were a gracious and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. I knew how easily you could cancel your plans for destroying these people.”  I love it!  Jonah complaining to God about how gracious He is!  🙂 Is it possible that we do this in our own lives too?  Do we complain to God about how good he is to others?  Are we at times like Jonah or the Prodigal Son’s brother, showing jealousy toward God’s goodness and grace toward others?  Shouldn’t we instead rejoice in this, realizing that God shows this same unfailing love toward us too?

Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of Matt Maher’s fantastic song “Your Grace is Enough:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7dW6d2-6B0

Is God’s Grace enough for you?  Click here for Amazing Grace!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: “From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. He said: ‘In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry.’” Jonah 2:1-2 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that you call out to the Lord when you are in distress. Pray in thanksgiving knowing that the Lord will listen to your cry. Pray in thanksgiving knowing that in his own perfect way, the Lord will answer you.

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

2 Kings 13:1-11; 2 Kings 12:17-21; 2 Chronicles 24:23-27; 2 Kings 13:14-25
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Today we read about the passing of the prophet Elisha!  I am sad that our readings of Elijah and Elisha are now behind us. I don’t know what it was about these 2 prophets, but I loved them.  Sure, they were a bit rough and gruff at times, but also very tender.  They’d send fire down from heaven to kill the prophets of Baal and bears from the trees to kill mockers, but then they’d care for widows.  I’m wondering if in our lives today we should be a mix of rough & gruff at times, but also very tender?  Should we be rough and gruff toward those that are modern day “prophets of Baal” and tender toward those who need God?  I have to confess, I’m rarely rough and gruff toward anyone – well, okay, maybe myself!  🙂  Let me know your thoughts in the Comments below if you think rough and gruff should be in our personality mix at all today?  Before Elisha passes he does give one final prophecy to King Joash about beating the Arameans 3 times, just after 2 Kings 13 verses 16 & 17: “Then Elisha told the king of Israel to put his hand on the bow, and Elisha laid his own hands on the king’s hands. Then he commanded, “Open that eastern window,” and he opened it. Then he said, “Shoot!” So he did.”

Then we read about Elisha’s passing.  Even once Elisha passes on, his bones still give life!  I think this is simply because of the life-giving power of God whom Elisha represented during his life.  It wasn’t the bones themselves that gave life.  It was God. Verses 20 & 21 tell us:  “Then Elisha died and was buried.  Groups of Moabite raiders used to invade the land each spring. Once when some Israelites were burying a man, they spied a band of these raiders. So they hastily threw the body they were burying into the tomb of Elisha. But as soon as the body touched Elisha’s bones, the dead man revived and jumped to his feet!”  Below is an image from a woodcut from the Nuremburg Bible, from the year 1483, of the recovery of the deadman who touched the bones of Elisha in today’s readings:

Worship Video: Today’s readings about Elisha reminded me of the Avalon song “Testify to Love:” (this is an AMAZING live version, by the way…)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnlHGz0SPQo

Is Jesus your testimony? Click here and Testify to Love!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

2 Kings 11:1-3; 2 Chronicles 22:10-12; 2 Kings 11:4-12; 2 Chronicles 23:1-11; 2 Kings 11:13-16; 2 Chronicles 23:12-15; 2 Kings 11:17-21; 2 Chronicles 23:16-21; 2 Kings 12:1-16; 2 Chronicles 24:1-22; 2 Kings 10:32-36
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Eventful readings today in 2 Kings 11 for the coming of a 7 year old king of Judah, Joash! Below are 2 images for 2 Kings 11 verses 13 & 14: “When Athaliah heard all the noise made by the guards and the people, she hurried to the LORD’s Temple to see what was happening. And she saw the newly crowned king standing in his place of authority by the pillar, as was the custom at times of coronation. The officers and trumpeters were surrounding him, and people from all over the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets.”If God can work all things together for the good of the nation of Israel through a 7 year old boy turned King (Joash), do you trust God can work all things together for good in your life? (Roman 8:28) What is something recently in your life that seemed unlikely or small (like a 7 year old king) that God turned into a good in your life?

It is great to see that in 2 Kings 12 Joash is passionate for the repair of the Temple in Jerusalem.  2 Kings 12 verse today 9 tells us: “Then Jehoiada the priest bored a hole in the lid of a large chest and set it on the right-hand side of the altar at the entrance of the Temple of the LORD. The priests guarding the entrance put all of the people’s contributions into the chest.”

Worship Video: Today’s readings reminded me of the importance of the message in the Point of Grace song “How You Live:”

How are you living? Click here for Life!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

2 Chronicles 21:8-20; 2 Kings 8:23-29; 2 Chronicles 22:1-7; 2 Kings 9:1-10:17; 2 Chronicles 22:8-9; 2 Kings 10:18-31
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

I love Elisha’s final instructions to the young prophet concerning his anointing of Jehu as King of Israel in 2 Kings 9 verse 3 – “Then open the door and run for your life!””  Not your typical instructions from a prophet, you wouldn’t think – but if a prophet gives you instructions like these, you better follow them!  🙂

Well… Jehu kills a lot of people in today’s readings.  I realize that the violence in the Old Testament can often bring up a lot of questions.  Rather than me diving into why there is violence in the Bible – I’ll defer to a theologian at this link – and I’ll give you 3 images below from a very young theologian.  🙂  Unfortunately, our human history is full of violence – from Cain and Abel until this very day.  The Bible does record human history.  There will come a day where there is a new heaven and a new earth, free from violence.  That day has not come yet – but will with Jesus’ Second Coming.

Most Biblical commentaries agree that Jehu was carrying out justice for the sins of the Kings of Israel and the worship of Baal.  Jezebel’s death was predicted by the prophet Elijah because of her sins.  A brutal death that it was.  I think one thing for us to keep in mind is that sin does bring death.   As Paul teaches in Romans 6:23 – “The wages of sin is death.”  Jesus saves us from this deserved death when we come to him in faith and surrender our lives to him.  But, let us not forget the severity and risk of sin and the risk of not being in relationship with Jesus.  Without Jesus saving us, the wages of sin truly is eternal death.

2 Kings 10 verses 25-27 seem to demonstrate Jehu’s initial apparent zeal for God – “Then Jehu’s men went into the fortress of the temple of Baal. They dragged out the sacred pillar used in the worship of Baal and destroyed it. They broke down the sacred pillar of Baal and wrecked the temple of Baal, converting it into a public toilet. That is what it is used for to this day.”  But we soon learn in verse 31 – “But Jehu did not obey the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He refused to turn from the sins of idolatry that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit.”  It is thus thought that Jehu’s action of destroying the idols of Baal was more political than spiritual – as Baal worship was associated with the dynasty of Ahab, whereas the golden calves had a longer history in the northern kingdom of Israel and were valued by most people.  And keeping the golden calves would keep people from Israel traveling to the southern kingdom of Judah to worship God in Jerusalem.  Below is an image of a series of images from the life of Jehu:

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s Second Kings readings titled “Jehu Cleans House (Ahab’s House)” is at this link and “Three ‘Birds’ With One Stone” is at this link.

Worship Video: Today’s readings reminded me of the Switchfoot song “Meant to Live:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmmW6HSlhMA

Are you meant to live for so much more? Click here and truly live!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

2 Kings 5:1-8:15
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
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In 2 Kings chapter 5 we get to the story of the healing of Naaman.  I found it very interesting that Naaman needed to humble himself and wash up in the waters of the lowly river Jordan!  Know anyone else that did some “washing up” in the river Jordan??  🙂  Maybe all of us somehow need to humble ourselves and symbolically be washed up in the river Jordan to receive true healing?  Below is a portrait by artist Guy Rowe of the prophet Elisha with Naaman washing in the river Jordan:

2 Kings 6 today opens up with a very interesting little story about the floating ax head! 🙂  Apparently in those days the iron in an ax head was very costly – far too costly for prophets to have been able to afford.  Hence, they had to borrow it.  If the prophet who lost the ax head had not been able to recover it, he would have then had to have become an indentured servant for a period of time to the person he borrowed it from to pay back the cost.  So, Elisha’s recovery of the ax head I think demonstrates a simple moral of this opening story in today’s readings: God cares for the welfare of those who love God.  Whaddya think on this moral of the floating ax head story?  Have you had experiences in your life where God has done some small things – or maybe even big things – that don’t seem super spiritual at first glance, but simply saved you a lot of heartache/costs/time?  I know I have…  Praise God that He floats ax heads and even “floats” you and me too!  God is indeed our great Life Preserver…

Today in 2 Kings 6 verse 27 we will read this verse that King Joram says to an Israelite during a time of a severe famine – “”If the LORD does not help you, where can I get help for you?” I think the thing to note in this verse is that the King realized he could not end the famine on his own, but that only God could end the famine. (I think the King may have actually been trying to blame God for the famine – and certainly Elisha he blames later in the chapter). I wonder about this in our lives today – do we try to help others and even try to help ourselves using our own power and without relying on God at all? And maybe sometimes even blame God for problems we see, like this King?  Do we think we can end a “famine” or whatever problems we see at work, in our community, in our family, or in our world all on our own?  Or should we be asking for God’s help in these areas of our lives?  I’ve been thinking about this more and more lately – about how little I truly pray for others. I see areas of my life, my family, my community, my work, my church, my favorite charities, our world, that need some help. Need some changing. Need some love. And sometimes I think that I can institute these changes all on my own! Which is foolish. Instead, I should be praying for God’s providence and work in these areas of my life where I see a “famine.” Yes, I do think that God will oftentimes answer our prayers by encouraging us to “do something” to work on a change. But, we’d be wise to prayerfully approach all areas of our life and to pay attention to where God is asking us to “do something” – and to pay attention to where God is flat-out doing the work! Are there any “famine” areas in your life? In your personal relationship with God or others? In your work, church, community? Are there “famine” areas you see in our world? Will you today begin praying to God about these “famines” in the knowledge that famines can truly only end if God is involved in the work? Will you allow God to get involved in the famine areas of your life? Will you pray more consistently than ever before for the famine areas you see in your life?

In 2 Kings 7 today we read about God scaring off the Aramean army! Below is an image from a 15th century Dutch Bible for 2 Kings 7 verse 8 – “When the lepers arrived at the edge of the camp, they went into one tent after another, eating, drinking wine, and carrying out silver and gold and clothing and hiding it.”

And below is an image from the same 15 century Dutch Bible for verse 17: “The king appointed his officer to control the traffic at the gate, but he was knocked down and trampled to death as the people rushed out. So everything happened exactly as the man of God had predicted when the king came to his house.”

Second Kings 8 begins with a wonderful example of God’s “perfect timing.”  It was no coincidence that the king was talking with Gehazi about the time Elisha brought a boy back to life when the woman from Shunem walked in with her son!  God knew that the Shumanite woman was faithful and obedient to Him, so He orchestrated the timing so that she would get her house and land back – after God perfectly timed her to be out of the country for 7 years to avoid the famine! Have you ever had the experience of God’s “perfect timing” in your life?  My hunch is that you have – even if you haven’t realized it.  I have had some experiences where I have consciously realized that God’s perfect timing was at work – and sometimes I’ve quickly said the prayer under my breath of “thank you God!”  But, I also now can look back on my life and now see so many instances of God’s perfect timing.  Hindsight is 20/20.  When is the last time you experienced God’s perfect timing?  Think it could have been today – even if you don’t realize it right now?

Elisha’s interaction with Hazael demonstrates Elisha was certainly a prophet of God’s!  Elisha was not condoning what Hazael is going to violently do, but he was just stating the facts of what was going to happen.  Verses 11 & 12 are sad to read – “Elisha stared at Hazael with a fixed gaze until Hazael became uneasy. Then the man of God started weeping. “What’s the matter, my lord?” Hazael asked him. Elisha replied, “I know the terrible things you will do to the people of Israel. You will burn their fortified cities, kill their young men, dash their children to the ground, and rip open their pregnant women!”   Verse 13 is also sad because you will notice that Hazael doesn’t get upset by the violent predictions in Elisha’s proclamation, but only wonders how someone like him would pull of something like this… “Then Hazael replied, “How could a nobody like me ever accomplish such a great feat?””  Below is and image of Elisha and Hazael having this conversation:

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s Second Kings readings titled “The Healing of Namaan” is at this link, and “The Sin of Covetousness” is at this link, “Saved from the Syrians: The War that Never Happened” is at this link and “Feast or Famine” is at this link.

Worship Video: Today’s readings reminds me of the Nicole C. Mullen song “Call on Jesus:”

Have you called on Jesus?  Click here and make the Call! 

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

2 Kings 2:1-25; 2 Kings 4:1-44
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Today in 2 Kings 2 we read about Elijah going up to heaven in the whirlwind!  Elijah was taken to heaven without dying.  He is the 2nd person in scripture to do so – Enoch was the first (see Genesis 5:21-24).  Jesus of course was also taken to heaven in bodily form after His resurrection from the dead (see Acts 1:9).  Below is Italian artist Giovanni Battista’s (1683-1754) painting of Elijah’s whirlwind scene:

Okay, so 2 Kings 2 verses 23 & 24 are some of the most unique verses in the Bible no doubt…  “Elisha left Jericho and went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, a group of boys from the town began mocking and making fun of him. “Go away, you baldhead!” they chanted. “Go away, you baldhead!” Elisha turned around and looked at them, and he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of them.”  Zondervan’s NIV Study Bible has some good commentary on these verses as follows: “The youths from Bethel no doubt assumed that Elisha was going up to Samaria to continue Elijah’s struggle against royal apostasy.  Some believe that the youths, in their mocking, were telling Elisha to ascend to heaven as Elijah had done.  By calling Elisah “baldhead” the youths from Bethel expressed that city’s utter disdain for the Lord’s representative, who, they felt, had no power.  Elisha pronounced a curse that gave warning of the judgment that would come on the entire nation of Israel should it persist in disobedience and apostasy.”

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s 2 King’s readings titled “Chariots of Fire” is at this link and “Elisha’s Accreditation” is at this link and “Elisha and the Two Bears” is at this link.

2 Kings 4 verse 8 definitely demonstrates that in addition to being a prophet, Elisha was a very wise man!  “One day Elisha went to the town of Shunem. A wealthy woman lived there, and she invited him to eat some food. From then on, whenever he passed that way, he would stop there to eat.”   🙂

Interesting readings in 2 Kings 4 about the Shumanite woman, her son and the prophet Elisha today!  You’ll note that in verse 20 her son dies, and in verse 21 she places her son on Elisha’s bed – in part so that no one will know that her son died.  As she gets to verse 22-24 she is saddling up on a donkey to go straight to Elisha without anyone in her family knowing her son had died!  Below is a painting by Rembrandt from 1640 titled “The Departure of the Shumanite Woman”:

As the Shumanite woman nears Mount Carmel Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, comes out to greet her and still she won’t even tell him that her son has died!  She says everything is fine.  She wants to deliver the news first and directly to Elisha!  I like this woman’s focused faith.  She knew that Elisha delivered the Word that she would have a son in previous day’s readings, and now that her son had died, I think she had faith that Elisha, being a prophet in relationship with God, would be able to revive her son.  Do you have a focused faith like this when it comes to your relationship with God and Jesus?  Do you always take your problems directly to the One who can truly revive you?  Below is an image of Elisha and the Shumanite woman by artist C.F. Vos:

Did anyone else notice that at the end of chapter 4 today Elisha busted out with a miracle that seemed to foreshadow Jesus’ loaves and fishes miracles??  Very cool to consider the parallels between Jesus’ feeding of the 5,000 and Elisha feeding 100 here in chapter 4 verses 42-44: “One day a man from Baal-shalishah brought the man of God a sack of fresh grain and twenty loaves of barley bread made from the first grain of his harvest. Elisha said, “Give it to the group of prophets so they can eat.” “What?” his servant exclaimed. “Feed one hundred people with only this?” But Elisha repeated, “Give it to the group of prophets so they can eat, for the LORD says there will be plenty for all. There will even be some left over!” And sure enough, there was plenty for all and some left over, just as the LORD had promised.” (That’s Jesus below, not Elisha 🙂

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s Second Kings readings titled “The Shunammite’s Son Resurrected” is at this link, “Death in the Pot” is at this link and “The Miracle of the Bread” is at this link.

Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of the song “Lord, I need you” by Matt Maher, sung here by Lauren Daigle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xambgAwkGg0

Do you need the Lord?  Click here for your need to be fulfilled!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

2 Kings 1:1-18; 2 Kings 3:1-27; 1 Kings 22:41-49; 2 Chronicles 20:31-37; 1 Kings 22:50; 2 Chronicles 21:1-4; 2 Kings 8:16-22; 2 Chronicles 21:5-7
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Today we begin the book of Second Kings!

Author: Unknown
Date: Sixth century B.C.
Content: Second Kings covers a period of approximately 250 years during which time two national tragedies occurred. In 722 B.C. the northern kingdom of Israel was destroyed by the Assyrians, and in 586 B.C. the southern kingdom of Judah was destroyed by the Babylonians. The reigns of the various kings are described in some detail with care being taken to show the spiritual significance of what they were doing. Throughout this whole time of good and bad kings, war and peace, prosperity and ruin, God is seen to be at work, in particular sending prophets to preach his word and warn of judgment to come.
Theme: God’s control over the affairs of men and nations is constantly seen throughout this book. The rulers of men may think they are in control, but even the enemies of God’s people fit into God’s plan by executing judgment upon the wayward nations of Israel and Judah. It must be stressed that sin invariably brings judgment upon the people and righteousness brings God’s blessing. Second Kings also shows that God never sends his judgment without a warning first; in this instance, the warning came through the prophets who were sent. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” pp. 6-7) More commentary on Second Kings is at these 3 links –
https://bible.org/article/introduction-books-first-and-second-kings
https://bible.org/article/argument-first-and-second-kings 
https://bible.org/seriespage/1-introduction-and-historical-setting-elijah (Introduction to Elijah)

2 Kings 1 today…  wow…  Elijah is not to be messed with when he is sitting on top of that hill!  Elijah asks a very poignant question twice in this chapter – “Is there no God in Israel?” This is a question each of us will need to ask in our lives at some point – “Is there or is there no God in my life?”  Hopefully we’ve already answered this question affirmatively.  It’s a sad state of affairs to imagine a country without God.  It is a sad state of affairs to imagine our own lives without God. 

In 2 Kings 3 verse 3 today we are reminded that King Jeroboam’s legacy is held out as a unfavorable legacy… “Nevertheless he (Joram) continued in the sins of idolatry that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led the people of Israel to commit.”  That is an interesting thing to think about – a legacy.  Jeroboam’s legacy was obviously not one we’d like to have.  So, what type of legacy would you like to have?  And what type of legacy are you in fact leaving these days?  The more I think about my legacy, the more I simply hope and pray that my legacy is something along the lines of “one who loved God and loved people.”  Pretty simple really.  But also really tough in our modern world full of so many distractions!  And I am not so sure that I am really leaving this legacy some days.  I don’t want to pursue this type of legacy for the wrong reasons – for any sort of appearing “righteous” or prideful reasons.  But I in fact I really do want to spend the rest of my days simply loving God and loving people.  Whatever else I do – career, ministry, whatever – pales in comparison to loving God and loving people.  I even hesitate to write this hope for a legacy on this blog – I feel like I should go back and delete everything I just wrote.  Except – I think this might be the type of legacy we are called to as Christians.  Remember the two great commands Jesus gave us in Matthew 22:37 & 39 – “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself.”  Love God and love people.  So – whaddya think?  Is this a good legacy for us to aim for?  Should we be aiming for a legacy at all?  What will your legacy be?

Worship Video: 2nd Kings today reminds me of the song “Legacy” by Nichole Nordeman:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ah1COE39ARs

Do you want to leave a legacy?  Click here for the true Legacy!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!