Chronological Bible Blog

May 20th Chronological Bible Readings

Psalm 83; 1 Chronicles 29:23-25; 2 Chronicles 1:1; 1 Kings 2:13-3:4; 2 Chronicles 1:2-6; 1 Kings 3:5-15; 2 Chronicles 1:7-13
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~ // Mobile Site Link
~ Listen to today's Scripture on ESVBible.org ~

Ever feel like the Psalmist in Psalm 83 verse 1 - "O God, don't sit idly by, silent and inactive!"  I think the beauty of the Psalms is seeing some of our human emotions expressed so well.  Considering this verse - I don't think that God is ever sitting idly by, silent or inactive.  I believe God is a Living God who is always with us.  But, perhaps sometimes God's perceived silence in our lives is for a purpose that we may not fully understand now, but will later.  If God seems very "silent" to you now, I would encourage you to pray to God - and really listen in your prayers - don't just speak.   I believe you'll soon hear Him...

Today we begin the book of Second Chronicles!  Are you ready to read about the reign of King Solomon?  Let's go!

~Second Chronicles~
Author: Unknown
Date: Fifth century B.C.
Content: Second Chronicles contains the history of Judah that was begun in First Chronicles. It deals with the glory of Solomon's reign, with a special emphasis being placed upon the glory of the temple. This emphasis is made because a priest point of view pervades the book. The remaining kings of Judah are discussed, with a stress upon how the religious affairs of the nation were going. Hezekiah is given mention because during his reign an extended revival took place. The destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the people to Babylon are described, and the book ends with the Persian king's decree to let the people return home.
Theme: Judah's history is described from a religious point of view in this book. The righteous kings are commented on and the evil kings are named so that all can see who is responsible for the rise and fall of the nation. The religious leaders and their ultimate failure to remain true to God added to the sin of Judah - until God allowed his own chosen people to plunge themselves into ruin, as an example for all time that God will not tolerate sin. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers "The One Year Bible Companion" pp. 7-8)

Today in 1 Kings we read about Adonijah's request to marry Abishag.  You'll recall from yesterday's readings that Abishag took care of David in his old age.  She was a virgin, but still considered part of David's harem.  And, in those days, to inherit the harem was to inherit the kingdom.  (I know, strange stuff to talk about harem's...  it was the way it was back then - even though God's plan from Genesis with Adam & Eve was 1 man & 1 woman - not 1 man & many women... us humans - even David - do not always pay attention to God's plans...)   So, Adonijah's request to marry Abishag was essentially his attempt to gain back the kingdom again.  Hence, Solomon got upset... 

Joab proved the maxim of "those who live by the sword, die by the sword."  David knew Joab had killed Abner and Amasa and passed on his disdain for Joab to Solomon.  Solomon knew Joab was in cahoots w/ Adonijah.  Joab was seeking sanctuary at the altar - and there was indeed sanctuary in the Law for those who accidentally killed someone else.  There were sanctuary cities.  However, Joab's killings of Abner and Amasa could in no way be viewed as accidental.  His attempt at sanctuary at the altar did not stand up in Solomon's eyes.  Below is a fascinating piece of artwork of Joab running for the altar - with what appears to be a shadow of a person running in the background... As if Joab's past was haunting him & pursuing him?   I'm not sure, but an interesting piece of art here on this Joab scene in any case!

It is an interesting thing to read about the blood and deaths caused by some of our fathers of our faith - David & Solomon and the list will go on.  I think the thing I take away from all of this is that in the B.C. age, "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" ruled the day.  People "got what they deserved" so to speak...  It essentially kept the peace in a barbaric age.  But, we were fortunate to have Jesus Christ come into our world and be the final sacrifice and change the rules.  Jesus died on a cross.  Jesus got what WE deserved.  He changed the whole eye for an eye Law to a higher law of love & grace.  We deserve condemnation.  Thanks to Jesus, we are given eternal life through the free gift of faith in his life, death and resurrection.  I think it is always important for us to remember that Jesus got what we deserved... this is why Jesus is called Savior!

Today in 1 Kings chapter 3 we read about King Solomon asking for wisdom from God!  It is of note that Solomon is estimated to be about 20 years old in this chapter - he was born about half way through David's 40 year reign.  So, he is a very young king.  In verse 5 we read these words from God to Solomon – “Ask for whatever you want me to give you." In verses 7 through 9 we will read this amazing response from Solomon to God – “O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?" Solomon could have asked God for anything – more wealth, more power, more strength, more whatever, but he simply asked for wisdom. Why? Because he wanted to govern God’s people well and distinguish between right and wrong. Amazing. How would you or I answer this question today? What if God came to you today and said the same thing to you from verse 5 - “Ask for whatever you want me to give you." What would you ask for? Would you ask for Wisdom? If so, God offers this to you and me now. Where? I believe wisdom is offered to us through study of the Bible and by living in a loving and right relationship with God. We can receive the gift of God’s wisdom today! If we would answer this question from God differently – maybe wanting more money, or power, or whatever – do you think we might forfeit gaining wisdom? So, again, what if God were to say to you right now this same statement he said to Solomon? “Ask for whatever you want me to give you." What do you ask for?  Below is a wonderful portrait by artist Guy Rowe of the young King Solomon praying for wisdom:

Worship God:  Today's readings in 1 Kings 3 reminded me of Michael W. Smith's song "The One Thing That Really Matters:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS9vUZnAtcE

Do you know your One Thing? Click here for the One Thing that matters most!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." 1 Kings 3:5 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that you show wisdom like Solomon did in 1 Kings 3, and ask God for wisdom. Don't ask God for riches or power, but pray for discernment in your 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.p.s. Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.p.p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today. Thanks!

May 19th Chronological Bible Readings

Psalm 79-82
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~ // Mobile Site Link
~ Listen to today's Scripture on ESVBible.org ~

Psalm 79 verse 13 stood out to me today - "Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will thank you forever and ever, praising your greatness from generation to generation."  I like that imagery of being sheep in God's pasture.  And Jesus, of course, is our Good Shepherd.  Are you content with the idea of being a sheep in God's pasture?

Psalm 80 verse 19 today is powerful - "Turn us again to yourself, O LORD God Almighty. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved." I like that opening - "turn us again to you God."  I don't believe that God turns himself away from us - but that we do indeed turn ourselves away from God.  And like the Psalmist, maybe sometimes we literally need to pray that God will turn us back toward him.   I kind of come up with the imagery of us maybe sometimes being like pouty kids with our arms folded and our backs toward God - and God is looking at us lovingly - all we simply need to do is turn our face toward God and his grace will heal that pout and whatever is troubling us immediately...   If you need to, will you turn yourself again toward God? 

I always like reading verses like 1 & 2 in Psalm 81 today - verses that speak of music & God - "Sing praises to God, our strength. Sing to the God of Israel. Sing! Beat the tambourine. Play the sweet lyre and the harp."  Do you sing praises to God?  Is God your strength?  I'll go off on a tangent here, which is always a risky thing to do...  :)  I'll admit that I am a music junkie.  Really.  I have loved music immensely ever since I was a pre-teen and heard K-TEL's Hit Explosion with such songs as Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger."  :) Well, ever since then music has played an interesting role in my life - both positive and negative.  Bottom line is that I think God used music to bring me to Him.  Seven years ago I ended up at a rock & roll postmodern evangelical church where I really first heard songs about Jesus in a rock song!  It was a paradigm shifter for me...  I ended up accepting Jesus as my Lord & Savior at that church two months later - thanks in large part to an amazing pastor there at the time and thanks in large part to the rock & roll worship.  I have to confess that I do love any opportunity I can get to flat out worship God in a rock & roll worship way!  :)  I do realize the risks of high energy rock music...  it can propel people to do very dumb things.  But I think it can also propel people toward Jesus.  Maybe music is like anything else - it's a double edged sword.  I will share with you that a buddy of mine shared with me how he threw out every single one of his worldly / secular rock & rap CD's after becoming a Christian.  He said he didn't want to be fed by that garbage anymore.  I tried following his lead on this - and actually threw a few CD's in the trash...  but I pulled them out before taking them to the dumpster.  :)  I'm starting to think though that I have a few CD's that need to get to that dumpster here sooner rather than later... I don't listen to them.  But why keep them around at all?  Hope you don't mind this long tangent.  Does anyone else have any music / God experiences that you would be up for sharing with us all?  Please post up in the Comments section below!  (And please forgive me for this image below...  I couldn't resist... :)

I love Psalm 82 verses 3 & 4 - "Give fair judgment to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.  Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people."  I realize these verses were spoken to Israel's judges.  But, I think they can speak to you and I today as well.  Particularly, "rescue the poor and helpless" stands out to me today.  What are some ways you are rescuing the poor and helpless in your life today?  How are you delivering them from the grasp of evil people?   This actually reminds me of a couple of friends of mine who are so passionate about rescuing young girls from the sex slave industry in some Asian countries - I think Thailand is where they do most of their work.  Clearly, young girls that have to sell their bodies in this type of situation are under the grasp of evil people.  And I am so humbled by my friends' work toward delivering girls from this grasp.  My friends are only able to do this really well because of their relationship with Jesus.  Jesus is the true rescuer - first of my friends and now through my friends to these young girls.  But, wow, it makes me wonder if I am truly allowing Jesus to rescue the poor and helpless through me?  How about you?

Worship God:  Psalm 79:13's discussion of praising God from generation to generation reminded me of the importance of loving our children well and modeling for them life in Christ.  This reminded me of the great song by Steven Curtis Chapman about his daughter called "Cinderella:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTd5V4YHVPk

Are you dancing with God? Click here to dance!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. " Psalm 82:3 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you are defending the weak and the fatherless. Pray that you are upholding the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Pray for more opportunities in your life to defend the weak and the fatherless.

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

p.p.p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today. Thanks!

May 18th Chronological Bible Readings

Psalm 75-78
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~ // Mobile Site Link
~ Listen to today's Scripture on ESVBible.org ~

Psalm 75 verse 7 is so powerful and so true... I need to hear this over and over again - "It is God alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall."  You and I do not judge.  Well, we might try to judge, but it's all in vain if we do.  And we risk turning judgment onto ourselves when we do.  God alone judges.  God alones decides who will rise and who will fall.  We do not.  God is God.  We are not.  This is a very good thing to always remember! :)  We should also always remember we are so not this man below when it comes to other people's hearts or eternal destinies... 

I love Psalm 76 verse 4's reflection on God! "You are glorious and more majestic than the everlasting mountains."  I wonder how often we look at nature and forget that God created nature?  I think so often we can look at a beautiful sunset or a mountain or a forest or an ocean and temporarily forget that God created these beautiful things.  If God created these beautiful things, then doesn't it stand to reason that God is more glorious and more majestic than all of his created things?  I've said this one before on this blog:  before I believed in Jesus or really even God, I honestly think I was evangelized by creation.  Meaning - I would look at a starry night with my friends and say things like, "How could there be so many stars up there like that and there not be a God?  Things like that can't just happen by chance!"   Praise God for his creation that was evangelizing me toward Him!  Has creation ever evangelized you?  Do you think creation might be able to evangelize your friends who do not yet know God?  Let us pray that we don't ever end up worshiping creation instead of the Creator.  Let us be impressed and thankful and admire creation - but let us give the glory and the worship to the Creator, God, who is more glorious and more majestic than the everlasting mountains...

Today in Psalm 77 verses 11 and 12 we read – “I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.” I think these verses get at one of the amazing things about each of us reading the Bible this year – both the Old & New Testaments. We are reading perhaps for the first time – or maybe the 17th time – about God’s miracles of long ago. We are "remembering" God’s miracles for our spiritual ancestors, for ourselves, and for those around us in our lives today whom we will teach about God’s saving love. As you are reading through the One Year Bible this year, are you truly "remembering" God’s miracles of long ago? Are you meditating on all of His mighty works and considering His mighty deeds? Are you being transformed by this process? And will you now go forth and help others in your life "remember" and meditate on God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit’s miracles of long ago?  Let us pray for "remembrance" today for ourselves and for others in our lives. If very modern day post-it notes will help you remember God's miracles and will help you meditate on all of God's works, then by all means please use as many post-it notes as you deem necessary! :) 

Verse 11 of this Psalm brings up miracles.  Has anyone read C.S. Lewis's book Miracles?  I have not yet, but hope to soon.  Please post up a quick review in the Comments section below if you've read it?  Thanks.

Psalm 78 verse 4 is a wonderful reminder that we have an important opportunity to disciple and teach others in the generation coming up behind us - "We will not hide these truths from our children but will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD. We will tell of his power and the mighty miracles he did."  Are you discipling or teaching someone about God's truth, deeds, and love?  How are you helping the next generation learn about God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit? 

Psalm 78 verses 41 & 42 stood out to me today - "Again and again they tested God's patience and frustrated the Holy One of Israel. They forgot about his power and how he rescued them from their enemies."  I am continually amazed at how similar we are today to the Israelites when they were wandering in the desert.  I am sure that we can on occasion test God's patience and frustrate him.  I would also venture a pretty good guess that many of us forget about God's power.  And forget how God rescued us from our enemies - and continues to rescue us daily.  How about you - do you ever forget about God's power?  Do you ever forget about how he has rescued you?   What can we do to help ourselves remember?  How do we stop testing God's patience and forgetting about Him? 

Psalm 78 verse 57 is a metaphor that I pray is never used upon any of us! :)  "They were as useless as a crooked bow."  Can you imagine a worse insult?  Well, yeah, I suppose there are worse.  But coming from a Psalmist, this is no good.  What does it mean to be a crooked bow?  What does it mean to be a straight bow?  How is your bow these days?  Crooked, and perhaps focused on things of this world?  (and thus basically useless)  Or straight, and focused on advancing the Kingdom of God in your life and the lives of others around you?  (and thus very useful)

Psalm 78 verse 71 is awesome - "He took David from tending the ewes and lambs and made him the shepherd of Jacob's descendants--God's own people, Israel."  This verse reminds me that we'll be reading about David later this year in the One Year Bible!  It is interesting that the Psalmist refers to David as a shepherd and not king of Israel in this verse.  The shepherd analogy seems like it might be foreshadowing Jesus, the Good Shepherd.  Here's an image below of a young David as a shepherd - perhaps singing some Psalms??  :)

Worship God: Today's readings in Psalm 77 reminded me of the Switchfoot song "Always." Here's a nice live acoustic version of this song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Im584gZ_CWU

Is God always yours? Click here for Always!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done." Psalm 78:4 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray for opportunities to teach the next generation about the deeds of the Lord.

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

p.p.p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today. Thanks!

May 17th Chronological Bible Readings

Psalm 50; Psalm 73-74
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~ // Mobile Site Link
~ Listen to today's Scripture on ESVBible.org ~

Psalm 50 verses 14 & 15 are beautiful words from God to Israel - "What I want instead is your true thanks to God; I want you to fulfill your vows to the Most High. Trust me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory." Do you believe these words can apply to us today as well?  Are you giving true thanks to God each day?  Are you trusting in God in your times of trouble?  Are you giving God glory for all that he has done for you?  How often do you say "thank you" to God?  Below is a great image for verse 1 from Psalm 50 today:

Wow... Psalm 73 today is amazing!  I love it.  I actually had lunch with a good friend who said to me verse 13 almost verbatim - "Was it for nothing that I kept my heart pure and kept myself from doing wrong?"  It was so sad for me to hear him say this... but he obviously is not alone.  The Psalmist thought this too, and I imagine each of us might feel like this is at times.  Praise God that the Psalmist rallies, as hopefully do we, in verse 23 - "Yet I still belong to you; you are holding my right hand." And then I absolutely love where he goes with verse 26 - "My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever."  I can quickly think of people in our world today where this verse 26 is so applicable...  let us pray that those in time of failing health and spirit have God remain the strength of their heart!

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Psalm 73 titled "Is Your Spiritual Vision 20/20?" is at this link.

Psalm 74 dates from the time of the exile when the Promised Land was in shambles and the temple destroyed by neighboring nations.  This is very evident by the verses we read in this Psalm.  In light of this, I absolutely love the plea in verse 22 - "Arise, O God, and defend your cause.  Remember how these fools insult you all day long."  And as we will read later in the Bible this year, God indeed will arise to defend his cause!

Below is an image for verses 13 & 14 of this Psalm: "You split the sea by your strength and smashed the sea monster's heads. You crushed the heads of Leviathan and let the desert animals eat him."

Worship God: Psalm 73 today reminded me of Phil Wickham's song "Safe:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzhuirT74VU

Are you safe in His arms? Click here for Safety!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. " Psalm 73:26 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray in thanksgiving that God is the strength of your heart and your portion forever.

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

p.p.p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today. Thanks!

May 16th Chronological Bible Readings

Psalm 144-145; Psalm 88-89
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~ // Mobile Site Link
~ Listen to today's Scripture on ESVBible.org ~

Psalm 144 verses 3 & 4 are well known!  "O LORD, what are mortals that you should notice us, mere humans that you should care for us? For we are like a breath of air; our days are like a passing shadow."  If our days are like a passing shadow, how then should we be spending our days?  What types of things should we be investing our time & money into?  What should we be investing our very hearts and minds into?  Are you wisely spending your passing days in godly ways?

I love the imagery today in Psalm 145 verse 9! "The LORD is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation." Do you believe that God is good to everyone?  Do you feel God's compassion being showered upon you right this very moment?

Psalm 88 is quite a Psalm!  Interestingly many churches read this Psalm during their Good Friday liturgies, interpreting this Psalm as a prayer of Jesus suffering on the road to Golgotha.  Take a read through this Psalm again with this perspective... 

Psalm 89 verse 11 is so powerful for us to remember - "The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours; everything in the world is yours--you created it all."  Everything in this world is God's.  Everything.  This means every single person we meet is God's.  However... they might not realize it.  But, I think it is important for us to remember that every single person we meet - no matter how "bad" they may seem or whatever - is still made in the image of God.  And there is the possibility of that person getting to know they are God's.  There is the possibility of redemption - not by our human power, but by the power of God.  I think sometimes we go through our day thinking the world is bad.  People are bad.  It all is bad.  And certainly, it is a fallen world.  But it is still God's world - and yes, the devil is thrashing around his temptations as rapidly as he can in the hearts of men and women.  This is the great spiritual battle.  But, God is so much stronger than the devil.  The name of Jesus expels the devil quicker than anything.   So, know that while we are in a fallen world, it is God's world.  Everything in this world is God's.  What are you and I doing to let others know that they are God's - particularly if they don't know it?  What are we doing to bless others with the knowledge that there is another Way than the devil's temptations in this world?  What are we doing?  Really.  What are we doing with our lives to let others know about Jesus?  Whew... this one gets to me for some reason.  There are people suffering so much in our world.  If only they knew there was another way....   Will you help to show them to the Way? 

Continuing on the thoughts in the paragraph above - take a moment to reflect on this image below.  Wow... Can you make out the angel on the right coming from the prayers of the woman to defend her from the evil one?  Who are we praying for today to defend them from the evil one?

Psalm 89 verse 13 today - "Powerful is your arm! Strong is your hand! Your right hand is lifted high in glorious strength."  Amen and Amen.

Worship God: Psalm 89:11 reminded me of the Steven Curtis Chapman song "Yours:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-ERm0_tuKM

Do you believe it is all God's? Click here and give it all to Him!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth; you founded the world and all that is in it." Psalm 89:11 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray in thanksgiving to God for all of the blessings He has given us here on this earth. Pray that you will treat everyone and all thing's as God's - and not yours.

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

p.p.p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today. Thanks!