II Kings 14; II Chronicles 25 Imagine this… Your favorite NFL team wins the Super Bowl. Hoorah! The team owner then immediately trades the entire team — coaching staff, star quarterback, everybody — for the team with the worst record in the league. Sports commentators go nuts. Everyone jeers. Boo! Hiss! But against all better …
Author Archives: John S.
June 1 / II Chronicles 22:10-24:27; II Kings 13
II Chronicles 22:10-24:27; II Kings 13 “Treason! Treason!” (II Ch. 23:13) So screams Athaliah, who herself treasonously stole the throne of Judah — how familiar that sounds! — when Jehoiada the priest reveals Joash/Jehoash as the rightful king of Judah. Joash, rescued as a baby by Jehosheba/Jehoshabeath, Jehoiada’s wife and Joash’s aunt, grows up hidden …
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June 2023 Readings
Date Reading(s) Verses 01-Jun II Chronicles 22:10-24:27; II Kings 13 76 02-Jun II Kings 14; II Chronicles 25 57 03-Jun Jonah 1-4 48 04-Jun Amos 1-5:15 74 05-Jun Amos 5:16-9:15 72 06-Jun Hosea 1-5:7 65 07-Jun Hosea 5:8-9:17 65 08-Jun Hosea 10-14; II Kings 15:1-7 73 09-Jun Isaiah 6; Isaiah 1-2 66 10-Jun Isaiah 3-5 …
May 31 / II Chronicles 21-22:9; II Kings 11-12
II Chronicles 21-22:9; II Kings 11-12 Today we get a closer look at the horrible consequences of Jehoshaphat’s alliance with Ahab. At the center of that alliance is Ahab’s daughter, Athaliah, who leads her husband, Joram/Jehoram of Judah away from the LORD and into Baal worship. He, in turn, leads Judah astray, but that is …
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May 30 / II Kings 8:16-10:36
II Kings 8:16-10:36 Remember how good King Jehoshaphat of Judah made an alliance with wicked King Ahab of Israel that almost got him killed in battle? And remember how I said there were more serious consequences to come? Well, today we begin to see those consequences. The alliance between Jehoshaphat and Ahab is one of …
May 29 / II Kings 5-8:15
II Kings 5-8:15 When the Syrian siege of Samaria results in such severe famine that mothers resort to eating their own children, what does the king of Israel do? Does he turn to the LORD, pleading for mercy? Does he lead the people in a prayer of confession and repentance for their decades of sin …
May 28 / II Kings 2-4
II Kings 2-4 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I …
May 27 / I Kings 22:51-53; II Kings 1
I Kings 22:51-53; II Kings 1 It’s a short reading today, so if you are a bit behind, now’s your chance to catch up. But I have to admit that I am a bit puzzled (not to mention irritated) that the schedule provided by The Chronological Study Bible would zing us through the entire book …
May 26 / II Chronicles 17-20
II Chronicles 17-20 Jumpin’ Jehoshaphat! What a contrast there is between Jehoshaphat of Judah and Ahab of Israel! Whereas Ahab actively pursues policies opposing the LORD, Jehoshaphat runs toward the LORD. He continues Asa’s efforts to eliminate idolatry in Judah. Further, he sends a number of preachers throughout Judah to instruct the people in the …
May 25 / I Kings 20-22:50
I Kings 20-22:50 There is plenty to think about in today’s reading, but three things in particular stick out for me. First, in Ahab’s victories over Ben-Hadad, it should be abundantly clear that the LORD grants these victories for His own name’s sake. These victories are not a reward for Ahab’s (or Israel’s) good behavior. …