Archive for June 2024

2 Kings 6-7,  Psalm 119:121-128,  Luke 5:12-16,  Philippians 21-30 2 Kings 6-7: The stories surrounding Elisha, this great man of God, are truly remarkable, and yet the whole is intended to teach a lesson: God and God’s Word are greater than man or man’s command. Once this lesson is learned, all other spiritual lessons quickly,…

2 Kings 4-5,  Psalm 119:113-120,  Luke 5:1-11,  Philippians 1:12-20 2 Kings 4-5: Elisha’s extraordinary ministry continues. A widow of one of the prophets is destitute, and by Elisha’s word she is able to provide and pay off her debts through a miraculous provision of oil (4:1-7). Elisha is especially looked after by a wealthy woman,…

2 Kings 1-3,  Psalm 119:105-112,  Luke 4:38-44,  Philippians 1:1-11 2 Kings 1-3: The Second Book of Kings continues with the downgrade of Israel, at a fast pace, and also of Judah, albeit with temporary revivals and reformations. Meanwhile, God’s word of warning is being faithfully delivered by God’s prophets. Elijah prophesies against Ahaziah, the king…

1 Kings 21-22,  Psalm 119:97-104,  Luke 4:31-37,  Ephesians 6:10-24 1 Kings 21-22: The story of Naboth’s vineyard is notorious for its evil and despicable callousness—and for good reasons. Ahab wants a vineyard that lies next to his palace (21:1). He has building plans and expansion ideas. So he goes and offers Naboth a deal (21:2).…

1 Kings 19-20, Psalm 119:89-96,  Luke 4:13-30,  Ephesians 6:1-9 1 Kings 19-20: Elijah, having won such a great victory, is now vexed and terrified by a threat from the wife of the king (19:2-4). Why the sudden shift from a fearless man of valor to this shrinking violet? Jezebel was clearly not a woman to…

1 Kings 17-18,  Psalm 119:81-88,  Luke 4:1-12,  Ephesians 5:22-33 1 Kings 17-18: Elijah! What a great man of God! He intervenes now and confronts Ahab with the power and reality of God and God’s word. There have been other figures like Elijah in church history: John Knox, about whom it was said the Queen trembled…

1 Kings 15-16,  Psalm 119:73-80,  Luke 3:21-38,  Ephesians 5:1-21 1 Kings 15-16: These are a depressing couple of chapters. Not only do they show why the books we are studying are called collectively “kings” (with their extensive list of the various kings here included), they also show what happens when a ruler of God’s people…

1 Kings 13-14,  Psalm 119:65-72,  Luke 3:1-20,  Ephesians 4:25-32  1 Kings 13-14: Now the Word of God comes (13:1). Jeroboam, king of Israel, is leading Israel to sin by encouraging and officially sponsoring pagan deities and their worship. At one altar for such worship, God sends a man of God with the Word of God…

1 Kings 12,  Psalm 119:57-64,  Luke 2:41-52,  Ephesians 4:17-24 1 Kings 12: Rehoboam, about to be anointed king (v. 1), a day for which he must have much longed, now finds that his archrival Jeroboam has returned from Egypt and is leading a representative petition against him (v. 2-4). It must have been galling to…

1 Kings 11,  Psalm 119:49-56,  Luke 2:21-40,  Ephesians 4:1-16 1 Kings 11: Is this the saddest sentence in Scripture (v. 1-2)? Perhaps we cannot say that—we can think of sentences attributed to Judas, or Ananias and Sapphira—but this opening sentence to chapter 11 certainly numbers among the greatest disappointments. What had Solomon not been given?…