Tag: Bible history

May 22, 2024

May 22nd, 2024

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Chronicles 22-24

Highlight Verse:

“But you will have a son who will be a man of peace. I will give him peace with his enemies in all the surrounding lands. His name will be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel during his reign.”
‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭22‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

One could question why David appointed Solomon to be the next king. He was far from the first born.

That question is settled when one realizes that it was God Himself who planned to make Solomon the King who would preside over a peaceful era of Israel.

Like David when he was anointed to be king, Solomon was far from the oldest or strongest, but He was the one that God had selected.

Unlike his father,

David cooperated with God right from the beginning by giving him a name that means peace.

He continued this cooperation by agreeing to make him the next king and teaching him what he needed to know.

Solomon became the great king of peace in part due to his God given wisdom,

but also because of the foundation that his father David set for him.

I have tried to set the foundations for success for my kids. They are still relatively young so the results are yet to be seen.

But I continue to pray for them, encourage them, and believe the best for them.

How do we pass on a legacy of success in the Lord to our kids?
What steps have you taken to ensure their success in the Lord?
May 14, 2024

May 14th, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Numbers 5-6

Highlight Verse:

“‘May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’”
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭6‬:‭24‬-‭26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This little section is called the Aaronic benediction.

It’s a beautiful poetic blessing in the middle of the book of Numbers.

The contrast makes it all the more powerful.

I remember a pastor who would end every service with this blessing and I would always leave church feeling like I had been truly blessed.

Try it on for size.

Bless those around you.

Then see if you feel blessed as well.

Have you ever made a practice of blessing those around you?
Can you think of occasions when this or a similar blessing would be appropriate?
May 7, 2024

May 7th, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Numbers 3-4

Highlight Verse:

“When their names were recorded, as the Lord had commanded through Moses, each man was assigned his task and told what to carry. And so the registration was completed, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.”
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭4‬:‭49‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The very fact that a book like Numbers exists points to the fact that, for a nation wandering the wilderness, Israel was very well organized.

Apparently, the jobs for the Levites were allotted to individuals right down to who carried which post.

I have worked within ministries and currently work as an outside contractor within a city government, and I can tell you that I have never seen this level of organization.

Some would say they are organized, but not to this level (though our church comes pretty close).

How would things be different if we were that organized?

As a person with OCD, I’d like to think it would be amazing!

I honestly admit that I think it would be a good standard to strive for.

But biblically, in the light of the entirety of the Bible, I cannot say with any certainty that this level of organization is something that God wants us to strive for.

What is your opinion?
Is detailed organization a Biblical standard to strive for?
Or would Jesus want us to be more relaxed in our methods?
May 1, 2024

May 1st, 2024
Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Chronicles 13-15

Highlight Verse:

“David was angry because the Lord’s anger had burst out against Uzzah. He named that place Perez-uzzah (which means “to burst out against Uzzah”), as it is still called today.”
‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭13‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Who was David angry at?

God?

Uzzah?

The priests?

Himself?

All of the above?

He was having one of those days.

Everything was going well until – disaster!

While Scripture does not say for sure who David was angry with (himself is my theory), It does say what he did.
- First, he regrouped. He made sure the Ark had a safe place to be while he figured things out.
- Next, he went to God. While this passage doesn’t say how, he obviously sought God’s will. Part of that was to find out the proper way to move the Ark.
- Once he figured out the problem, he went all out to do it right the next time.
- Finally, he went all out in celebration, expressing the joy of doing things God’s way.
What do you do when you find yourself in a pit of anger?
What do you do to move on in a positive direction?
April 30, 2024

April 30th, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Numbers 1-2

Highlight Verse:

“The total number was 603,550.”
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭1‬:‭46‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What better way to start a study of the book of Numbers than with a number – specifically, the size of Israel’s army as they travelled through the wilderness.

If you add in the women, children, the elderly, and the Levites, the nation of Israel had about as many people as the city of Philadelphia.

That’s a relatively compact city at 140 square miles or over 90 thousand acres.

Think about that.

A population the size of Philadelphia moved around the wilderness for 40 years.

The pillar of smoke and fire that led them through the wilderness had to have been an amazing site.

But, even without the pillar, it must have been an incredible site to see all those people in one camp, much less to see the camp move.

With that in mind, keep your eyes open as we go through Numbers.

You might be surprised what we find.

Was there anything that stood out to you in today’s reading?
What do you imagine it was like to be in the nation of Israel as they wandered the wilderness?
March 29, 2024

March 29th, 2024

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Daniel 7-8

Highlight Verse:

“While he was speaking, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground. But Gabriel roused me with a touch and helped me to my feet.”
‭‭Daniel‬ ‭8‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I can relate to Daniel.

I hear prophecies of the end times and strange prophetic dreams in the Bible and want to stick my fingers in my ears and go “lalalalala” so I can’t hear anything.

At least that used to be my perspective.

Then a wise person long ago told me that when I read end time prophecies, I should look for how they should change my life today.

I still don’t like to figure out timelines and how all the prophecies will play out.

But I don’t fear them.

These prophecies given to Daniel are especially confusing. But then my study Bible has a nice neat chart that illustrates how these prophecies already came true in history.

Daniel glimpsed history before the events played out.

I don’t know all the ins and outs of the prophecies, but I know that Daniel was a man of very high integrity and put in a position to make a difference in history.

It is one of my life goals to make a positive difference in this world, and this scripture confirms it for me.

Do unusual prophecies like these creep you out too?
What lessons have you gleaned from Daniel?
March 27, 2024

March 27th, 2024
Wednesday – History

Reading – 2 Kings 21-25

Highlight Verse:

“Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother was Hephzibah.”
‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭21‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Sorry the reading was so long today. I guess it was appropriate since we read about the longest reigning king of Judah.

That begs the question, “Why was Manasseh, a king who did so much evil, allowed to reign for so long?”

It turned out that the account in 2 Kings 21 leaves out much of the story. If you read the account in 2 Chronicles 33, you find out that Manasseh was captured by the Assyrians and held captive.

After he humbled himself and repented before God, he was released and continued his reign.

To me, this illustrates 2 things:
- God honors humility.
- And, it’s always best to check the context, including the historical context.
Which wraps up my conclusions.

What did you observe in today’s long reading?
Did you check the context? How?
March 20, 2024

March 20th, 2024

Wednesday – History

Reading – 2 Kings 18-20

Highlight Verse:

“When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord,”
‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭20‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Isaiah had just told Hezekiah that he was going to die soon. That’s tough news to take.

Hezekiah did exactly what I would have done. He cried out to God.

Here’s the part that stood out to me…

God heard him and acted on his prayers.

Despite the prophecy, God healed Hezekiah and protected him from attack by Assyria!

God is sovereign and will act according to His will. But He listens to his children and allows them to influence His will.

This happened long before Jesus came to earth.

It happened when Jesus was here.

It still happens today!

If you could influence God’s will (and you can), what would you want Him to do?
Have you witnessed prayer change impossible situations? Share your stories!
March 12, 2024

March 12th, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Leviticus 14-15

Highlight Verse:

“The following instructions are for those seeking ceremonial purification from a skin disease. Those who have been healed must be brought to the priest,”
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭14‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I got in a conversation with a coworker yesterday about healing. It seems his pastor, who had at one point experienced healing from cancer, was once again in the last stages of the disease and was expected to take the trip to heaven any day now.

My friend was taking it well, but we were both concerned for those who believed that God would heal whenever we ask.

Our concern was for those whose faith could be damaged by the passing of this pastor.

We both agreed that God was not a heavenly genie there to do our bidding. He is absolutely able to heal but also sees the big picture and knows when the time is right to call us home.

In Leviticus, God made provision for those who would live with disease and for those who would receive healing from disease.

Healing has always been part of God’s plan.

But God has always been the one in charge of it.

Have you ever had a crisis of faith because of the death of a loved one?
Can you share how you got through it?
March 8, 2024

March 8th, 2024
Friday – Prophets

Reading – Daniel 1-2

Highlight Verse:

“The king was furious when he heard this, and he ordered that all the wise men of Babylon be executed.”
‭‭Daniel‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT

Have you ever had “that” kind of boss?

You know, the one who followed his own agenda, didn’t let you know what that was, and gave you grief whenever you didn’t follow that agenda down to the unknown letter.

For some of you, maybe it was a mentally unstable parent or a coach who only coached for the power trip.

Almost all of us have had to deal with someone like that at some point.

I’m blessed with a good boss now but I’ve had some who drove me to the edge of quitting. And then there was my stepdad. Don’t get me started.

So how did Daniel deal with people like that?
- He stayed calm.
- He reasoned with his handlers.
- He put forth his best effort.
- And, most importantly, he relied on God, retaining his integrity and devotion.
Can it be so hard?

Yes.

Some have it very tough. I’m guessing that very few have it as rough as Daniel and his friends had it.

Despite that, Daniel stayed strong in the Lord and put full effort toward following his boss.

Do you struggle with dealing with a difficult person?
Have you given that relationship over to God in prayer?
Can we help pray for you? (Without revealing the identity of that person please).

Tag: Bible history

David cooperated with God right from the beginning by giving him a name that means peace.

but also because of the foundation that his father David set for him.

But I continue to pray for them, encourage them, and believe the best for them.

It’s a beautiful poetic blessing in the middle of the book of Numbers.

Bless those around you.

The very fact that a book like Numbers exists points to the fact that, for a nation wandering the wilderness, Israel was very well organized.

But biblically, in the light of the entirety of the Bible, I cannot say with any certainty that this level of organization is something that God wants us to strive for.

Who was David angry at?

A population the size of Philadelphia moved around the wilderness for 40 years.

But, even without the pillar, it must have been an incredible site to see all those people in one camp, much less to see the camp move.

You might be surprised what we find.

I can relate to Daniel.

I still don’t like to figure out timelines and how all the prophecies will play out.

I don’t know all the ins and outs of the prophecies, but I know that Daniel was a man of very high integrity and put in a position to make a difference in history.

That begs the question, “Why was Manasseh, a king who did so much evil, allowed to reign for so long?”

To me, this illustrates 2 things:

Hezekiah did exactly what I would have done. He cried out to God.

God is sovereign and will act according to His will. But He listens to his children and allows them to influence His will.

Our concern was for those whose faith could be damaged by the passing of this pastor.

Healing has always been part of God’s plan.

But God has always been the one in charge of it.

Have you ever had “that” kind of boss?

So how did Daniel deal with people like that?

Despite that, Daniel stayed strong in the Lord and put full effort toward following his boss.