Friday, April 30, 2010

Week 18: 2 Chronicles 29 to Ezra 10

This week's reading schedule is:
  • Weekend:   2 Chronicles 29 - 32
  • Monday:    2 Chronicles 33 - 36
  • Tuesday:   Ezra 1 - 3
  • Wednesday: Ezra 4 - 6
  • Thursday:  Ezra 7 - 8
  • Friday:    Ezra 9 - 10
We'll finish the 2nd book of Chronicles with the kings Hezekiah (good), Manasseh (bad), Amon (bad), Josiah (good), and then in rapid succession until the Babylonian siege: Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachinand Zedekiah, under whom Jerusalem falls and the people of Judah taken captive. 2 Chronicles 36:21 always intrigues me: "The land enjoyed its sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah." The writer of Chronicles, whose vantage point was after the exile, was able to look back to the exile not only as judgment (different from the writer of Samuel and Kings), but also as containing hope for the future. For him the purified remnant had returned to a purified land (verse 22 & 23), and a new age was beginning. The exile was not judgment alone, but also a blessing, for it allowed the land to catch up on its sabbath rests (Lev. 26:40-45, 1 year for every 7 years, so a total of 490 years of not observing the sabbath rests). But God had remembered his covenant (Lev. 26:45) and restored his people to the land.

It is a reminder that God is in control of the big picture of world history, and the small details of our lives as well. The book of Ezra is all about this new hope and restoration, and the challenges that it brings. The beginning of Ezra is identical to the end of 2 Chronicles, showing the continuity of Israel's history. Both Ezra and Nehemiah are great examples of church leadership, and the challenges of building up and maintaining a healthy church, God's people.

Dick

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Week 17: 2 Chronicles 6 - 28

Reading material for this week:
  • Weekend:   2 Chronicles 6 - 8
  • Monday:    2 Chronicles 9 - 12
  • Tuesday:   2 Chronicles 13 - 16
  • Wednesday: 2 Chronicles 17 - 20
  • Thursday:  2 Chronicles 21 - 25
  • Friday:    2 Chronicles 26 - 28
This week’s reading encompasses sixty-four percent of 2 Chronicles (23 of 36 chapters).  You will see King Solomon at the zenith of his reign, consecrating Israel's new temple with a prayer of dedication that culminated in one of the most dramatic displays of God’s glory recorded in Scripture.  Solomon was “greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth” (9:22).  He “made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills” (9:28).

In the readings later this week, however, you will encounter a series of kingly successors that illustrate the importance of finishing well.  Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, abandoned the wise counsel of his father’s advisors, which led to Israel’s fracture.  From that point on, Israel was a divided kingdom.  Kings that consistently rebelled against the Lord governed Israel’s ten tribes to the north, and David’s successors – some good, some not so good, and others wholeheartedly wicked – governed the two tribes to the south, Judah and Benjamin.  Scripture refers to the northern territory as Israel and to the southern territory as Judah.

Throughout this week’s reading and beyond, you will encounter a number of chronological notes that the writer of Chronicles inserts into the narrative, which are not included in 1 or 2 Kings.  Here’s a list for your convenience: 11:17; 15:10, 19; 16:1, 12-13; 17;7; 21:20; 24:15, 17, 23; 26:16; 27:5, 8; 29:3; 34:3; 36:21. 

The writer uses these chronological references to introduce cycles of obedience and blessing and disobedience and punishment. 

As you read this week, prayerfully consider the importance of maintaining an intimate relationship with God throughout your entire life.  Several of these kings started well, but turned their backs on God as their lives drew to a close.  Let’s remember that God’s desire for us is to finish the good work he began in our lives (see Philippians 1:3-6).

Have a great week!
Chuck

Friday, April 16, 2010

Week 16: 1 Chron. 1 - 2 Chron. 5

Reading material for this week:
  • Weekend:   1 Chronicles 1 - 7
  • Monday:    1 Chronicles 8 - 12
  • Tuesday:   1 Chronicles 13 - 18
  • Wednesday: 1 Chronicles 19 - 25
  • Thursday:  1 Chronicles 26 - 29
  • Friday:    2 Chronicles 1 - 5
The material for this week serves a great purpose.  As much as we find where we are going to be of great importance, it also helps to take a look at the rearview mirror.  The Israelites lost their way under the direction of some poor leadership and were removed from the Promised Land accordingly.  Time spent in captivity also diluted their sense of who they were as a people.  The Chronicles were written by the prophet Ezra to recap the history of the Israelite people as they began the process of returning to their land. 

Outside of the geneologies listed, the focus of the reading this week is on the reign of King David, filling in some more of his story that we did not get in the books of Samuel.  We wrap up the week with the beginning of Solomon's reign and the constuction of the temple- a very significant event in the history of the Jewish people that we will unpack more when we read the stories of Ezra and Nehemiah.

We look forward to your comments and hope you are still enjoying the reading!

-Mike

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Week 15: 2 Kings 1 - 25

The reading plan for this week is:
  • Weekend:   2 Kings 1 - 3
  • Monday:    2 Kings 4 - 8
  • Tuesday:   2 Kings 9 - 12
  • Wednesday: 2 Kings 13 - 17
  • Thursday:  2 Kings 18 - 21
  • Friday:    2 Kings 22 - 25
This week we'll finish the 2nd book of Kings. The 2nd book of Kings is a continuation of the 1st book of Kings, and describes the history of the kingdoms of Israel and the kingdom of Juda after their division. In the first 8 chapters, the prophetic ministries of Elijah and then Elisha are prominent. Second Kings also gives the account of the Assyrian invasion and subsequent captivity of the northern kingdom of Israel. After the Assyrian captivity all that remains is Judah. Would the people of Judah learn from the mistakes of their 'brothers' in the North and survive the Babylonian sieges? Find out as we enjoy another week of great scripture.

Dick

Friday, April 2, 2010

Week 14: 1 Kings 1 - 22

The reading plan for this week is:
  • Weekend:   1 Kings 1 - 4
  • Monday:    1 Kings 5 - 8
  • Tuesday:   1 Kings 9 - 11
  • Wednesday: 1 Kings 12 - 16
  • Thursday:  1 Kings 17 - 19
  • Friday:    1 Kings 20 - 22
The book of 1 Kings continues where 2 Samuel left off: the end of king David's reign, and the beginning of Solomon's. David has subdued all his enemies and has brought an era of peace for the nation of Israel. He leaves this kingdom to Solomon, son of David and Bathsheba. Under Solomon's reign the nation of Israel reaches its pinnacle in fame and wealth. 1 Kings 10 describes all Solomon's splendor - "Nothing was made of silver, because silver was considered of little value in Solomon's days". Can you imagine...

Solomon's wisdom is what made him so famous. In the beginning of his reign, he did the right thing by asking God for wisdom instead of wealth. But as God granted his wish and was pleased with him, later on in his life, the fame and wisdom led to narcissistic and sinful behavior. Everyone wanted to see and listen to Solomon, and everyone brought gifts... and women, I suppose. The poor man ends up with 700 wives and 300 concubines!! Can you imagine that! Despite God's warning that women from foreign religions would lead his people astray, the Bible tells us: "Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love". And as Solomon grew old, these women lead him astray with their idols, and his heart was not fully devoted to God anymore.

As ridiculous as that story may sound, and as stupid as we may think Solomon is by doing this, this story might be closer to home than you think. How many of us take our wealth for granted, and how many times has it led you astray from God? I cannot count my own mistakes on two hands any longer...

Solomon's sin ultimately leads to the division of the nation of Israel into two parts, the tribe of Judah for Solomon's descendents, and one tribe for Jeroboam and his descendents, one of Solomon's adversaries. We read about all the kings that reign either part, both good kings and bad kings. One bad king in particular, Ahab and his interactions with the prophet Elijah are described in detail.

Enjoy the reading, as we celebrate the Lord's death and resurrection this weekend as well. Because of  Him, we have found grace and mercy in God's eyes, and even our worst mistakes are washed clean by His blood. What an amazing God and Lord and Savior we have!

Dick