The Bible Reading Challenge Presented by VCY

TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
  Ezra 8:21-9:15
  1 Corinthians 5:1-13
  Psalm 31:1-8
  Proverbs 21:1-2

Ezra 8:22 — Ezra was faced with a dilemma: accept the gracious offer of the king to provide protection, or allow God to protect them as they traveled with over $100 million in gold (that’s not counting the silver – see Ezra 8:26). Hudson Taylor once refused to wear a life jacket on a boat because he thought it showed his faith in God. Should we refuse to wear life jackets as well? How are we to balance keeping our faith in God and exercising reasonable care?

FIRST note that Elijah fasted and prayed about this decision (Ezra 8:23). Keep in mind that this was someone that God was willing to be entreated of (Psalm 66:18). If we’re not living for the LORD, we should be hesitant to claim we heard a command from the LORD.

SECOND note that Ezra learned the lesson of Hezekiah and Sennacherib in 2 Kings 18:15 – trust God first or soldiers won’t help you (Psalm 127:1). His decision was a response to a specific problem in Israelite history, not a general disregard of human precautions. God blessed this decision (Ezra 8:31).

THIRD note how Ezra was demonstrating his trust in God (see today’s reading in Psalm 31), and how he took every human precaution when auditing the treasure. Not because the transport team was untrustworthy, but to a) protect their reputation, b) deter temptation, and c) ensure they focused on the goal for the team instead of personal enrichment, Ezra employed the service of the Levites to transport the treasure. This is similar to a church treasurer who completes a deposit slip with the rest of the finance team and then is dispatched to the bank to deposit the money. The church auditor then reconciles the deposit slip with the deposit receipt to make sure nothing happened to the money enroute. Ezra found trustworthy men (Ezra 8:24), weighed the gold (Ezra 8:25), documented the weights (Ezra 8:26-27), charged the trustworthy men with the sacred trust (Ezra 8:28), and then scheduled an audit in Jerusalem (Ezra 8:29). While today’s treasurer might pocket some loose change enroute, the big danger in times past was debasement. Roman emperors would reduce the silver content of coins thinking people wouldn’t notice. Archimedes famously developed a test to ensure the gold in the crown wasn’t diluted. Here, the chapter concludes with the auditing in Ezra 8:33-34.

Back to Hudson Taylor:

Later he realized that was wrong thinking and wrote, “The use of means ought not to lessen our faith in God; and our faith in God ought not to hinder whatever means He has given us for the accomplishment of His own purposes … When in medical or surgical charge of any case, I have never thought of neglecting to ask God’s guidance and blessing in the use of appropriate means … to me it would appear presumptuous and wrong to neglect the use of those measures which He Himself has put within our reach, as to neglect to take daily food, and suppose that life and health might be maintained by prayer alone” (p. 99). He was later said to be “a man of prayer, but it was prayer associated with action … He prayed about things as if everything depended upon the praying … but he worked also, as if everything depended upon the working” (p. 329).

Excerpt comes from pg. 329 of It Is Not Death to Die: A New Biography of Hudson Taylor by Jim Cromarty

Ezra 9:1-2 — Ezra, whose father was executed by a pagan king in a pagan land as part of God’s judgment on the sins of Israel, knew sin could not be tolerated. They were commanded not to defile themselves with the Canaanites and their practices (Leviticus 18:24). They were commanded not to associate with them but to drive them out (Deuteronomy 7:1). They were not to show any mercy.

Ezra 9:6 — Ezra’s prayer of contrition; he recognizes his lowly position (Psalm 40:17) and the vastness of his sins (Psalm 51:3). He cites the very command they have broken (Ezra 9:11-12, Deuteronomy 7:3). Ezra refuses to allow people to make the same mistake Solomon made (1 Kings 11:1-2).

1 Corinthians 5:1 — Speaking of sin in the camp, Paul commands a harsh penalty (1 Corinthians 5:5) for sinful activity in the local church and God’s disapproval of those who tolerated it (1 Corinthians 5:2, 1 Corinthians 5:6, 1 Corinthians 5:9).

1 Corinthians 5:10-12 — We’re not to avoid those who sin. We must confront those who claim to be washed of their sin in the blood of the Lamb and yet persist in the sin that nailed the Lamb to the Cross! God will take care of sinners; we must take care of our so-called brothers.

Psalm 31:1 — The psalmist is declaring what Ezra believed: we can trust in the LORD and be delivered! He has delivered us from our enemies!

Proverbs 21:1 — The Lord changed the heart of the king from Ezra 4:21 to Ezra 6:7. God can still change hearts even today!

Share how reading through the Bible has been a blessing to you! E-mail us at 2018bible@vcyamerica.org or call and leave a message at 414-885-5370.

TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
  Ezra 7:1-8:20
  1 Corinthians 4:1-21
  Psalm 30:1-12
  Proverbs 20:28-30

Ezra 7:1 — Don’t gloss over this genealogy! Who is Seraiah? The last high priest of Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:18, Jeremiah 52:24). The priests were executed as vanquished leaders (2 Kings 25:21, Jeremiah 52:27) by the Babylonians. God exercised judgment on the Babylonians and put the Persians in charge. They have a much different attitude toward Ezra than toward his father.

Ezra 7:5 — Remember Phinehas the Bold? Yes, we have his descendant with us. Ezra the scribe was birthed to be high priest, he descended from the valiant, he was studied in the Law, and he was ultimately favored by the king.

Ezra 7:9 — Ezra was in a 4-month-long wagon train with thousands of his kinfolk, and we complain about rush hour traffic, delays boarding our seat on a plane, or flying international in just economy!

Ezra 7:10 — Great verse to memorize and to apply!

• Seek it (2 Kings 22:8-10 – Josiah did so upon discovering the Law)
• Do it (James 1:22 – Doers of the Word and not hearers only)
• Teach it (1 Timothy 4:11 – These things command and teach)

Ezra 7:15 — Five surprising things in the Royal Letter:

• The king is giving to the God of Israel silver and gold (Ezra 7:15)
• The king is not specifying what can be purchased (Ezra 7:18)
• The king is giving a blank check (Ezra 7:20, Ezra 7:22)
• The king is giving tax exemption (Ezra 7:24)
• The king is establishing a theocracy (Ezra 7:26)

1 Corinthians 4:7 — ”What hast thou that thou didst not receive?” Everything we have is from God – why are we boasting in what we have and comparing ourselves?

1 Corinthians 4:10 — What does Christian love entail (John 13:34)? Appearing foolish, appearing weak, being despised, hungering, thirsting, being naked, being beaten, being homeless, earning your own pay, being reviled, being persecuted, and giving your best (1 Corinthians 4:17). This is the result of the love their spiritual father, Paul, had for them (1 Corinthians 4:15).

Psalm 30:4 — “Sing to the Lord and Be Not Silent” is based on Psalm 30:4-5.

Proverbs 20:28 — Solomon wrote out instructions for his son, Rehoboam, but Rehoboam ignored them (1 Kings 12:11).

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TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
  Ezra 4:24-6:22
  1 Corinthians 3:5-23
  Psalm 29:1-11
  Proverbs 20:26-27

Ezra 5:11 — “Who said you could build this?” Interesting the response back – “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth.” Servants of not just a regional territorial god, but the God of all that is on earth and all that is above the earth!

Ezra 6:7 — The Israelis knew they had:

• authority from God (Ezra 5:11)
• atonement for their fathers (Ezra 5:12), and the
• auspice of Cyrus to build!

God used the researchers of Babylon (Ezra 6:1-2) to find the records and confirm His will!

Darius — 

• protected them from interference (Ezra 6:7)
• provided the resources needed, and
• preferred the sacrifices

Was he a devout believer? No! He had enough issues without ticking off whoever this “God of heaven” was!

1 Corinthians 3:6-7 — Just as God was the confidence of the Israelis, He is the giver of increase to the Christian. Our enemy is not Team Apollos or Team Paul, but the world, the flesh, and the devil. Apollos and Paul are “laborers together” (1 Corinthians 3:9).

1 Corinthians 3:13 — The Bema Seat that we read about in Romans 14:10 is discussed here. What will be revealed is what has been done in the Christian life. Christians will be judged, not on the economy and not on the politics of this world, but on what has been built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ! Rewards and losses will be measured out as the fire tests our work.

Psalm 29 — Notice the structure of the Psalm – 2X the expression “give unto the LORD” is used, 3X the expression “voice of the LORD” is used, there’s a center keynote, then 3X the expression “voice of the LORD” appears, followed by two descriptions of the LORD (a modified chiasm). In vv. 1-2, we give strength to Him; in vv. 10-11, He gives strength to us! What an amazing God we serve!

Proverbs 20:26 — For those wanting to keep religion out of politics, we need some good leaders who will follow the teaching of Proverbs. The good ruler does not let the wicked take over his city. You may not be a ruler of a city, but if you are a leader in your family, do not let the wicked take over your family!

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TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
  Ezra 3:1-4:23
  1 Corinthians 2:6-3:4
  Psalm 28:1-9
  Proverbs 20:24-25

Ezra 3:2 — This “3 Chronicles” (because it picks up right where 2 Chronicles ends) is a rebuilding and emphasizes the obedience of the people. “As it is written in the Law of Moses,” and “After the ordinance of David” (Ezra 3:10) is a common theme.

Ezra 3:12 — From Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers:

This most affecting scene requires the comment of Haggai 2:3 and Zechariah 4:10. The first house was destroyed in B.C. 588, fifty years before. The weeping of the ancients was not occasioned by any comparison as to size and grandeur, unless indeed they marked the smallness of their foundation stones. They thought chiefly of the great desolation as measured by the past; the younger people thought of the new future.

Ezra 4:2 — Esar-haddon was the son of Sennacherib (2 Kings 19:37). After the Northern Kingdom was wiped out, the new settlers were brought in and were judged by the LORD (2 Kings 17:25), so presumably Esar-haddon sent a priest to teach them how to fear the LORD (2 Kings 17:28). In spite of this, they didn’t stop serving other gods (2 Kings 17:32-34). The LORD isn’t just another idol for the shelf of gods. He is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14)! We are commanded to separate from false believers (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

Ezra 4:5 — One of the earliest references to a special interest lobbyist in the Bible!

Ezra 4:6 — Is this why Esther was afraid to let Ahasuerus know she was a Jew (Esther 2:10)?

Ezra 4:23 — Did “legalistic obedience” to the command to separate cost the Jews their city walls? Did the enemies’ use of special interest lobbyists end the hope of a reconstructed Israeli settlement? Stay tuned for tomorrow’s reading!

1 Corinthians 2:6 — Paul has the answer – the world’s wisdom comes to nought, but God’s wisdom is superior!

1 Corinthians 2:14 — Why is it so hard for unbelievers to see the joys of serving the LORD? Primarily because it appears as foolishness. There are two spirits – the spirit of the world and the spirit of God (vs. 12), and the spirit you have determines what you see and receive.

1 Corinthians 3:1 — In spite of this teaching on the revelation we have from the Spirit of God, Paul says that we are carnal (1 Corinthians 3:1), and not able to bear the meat of the word (1 Corinthians 3:2). We who have the power of the Spirit of God are using the spirit of the world!

Psalm 28:1 — Ah, the words which would have saved countless heartache to the “good kings” and would have saved the “bad kings” – crying out to the LORD! When we cry, we will be able to rejoice (Psalm 28:6-8) in that He hears us!

Proverbs 20:24 — Echoing Proverbs 16:9, Solomon shows the LORD’s knowledge supersedes mere earthly wisdom/knowledge. From the Pulpit Commentary:

If man cannot see all sides, as God does, cannot comprehend the beginning, middle, and end in one view, how then can a man (a weak mortal) understand his own ways. How can he find out of himself whither he should go, or what will be the issue of his doings (comp. Proverbs 16:25; Jeremiah 10:23)?

Share how reading through the Bible has been a blessing to you! E-mail us at 2018bible@vcyamerica.org or call and leave a message at 414-885-5370.

TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
  Ezra 1:1-2:70
  1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5
  Psalm 27:7-14
  Proverbs 20:22-23

Ezra 1:1 — Most kings don’t liberate their subjects; like Rehoboam, they tend to up the ante (1 Kings 12:11). Cyrus, however, brought in a unique policy. It was so unique that many people doubted that such a king would fund the construction of a foreign deity’s temple; that is, until something showed up in London that had been unearthed in Babylon 130 years before.

In the British Museum you can see the Cyrus Cylinder that features a similar proclamation to other people groups. Some people may say that this cylinder contradicts Ezra because Ezra appears to say that Cyrus liberated the Jews exclusively. Ezra, however, does not say that no other people groups were liberated; his focus is solely and obviously on the Jewish nation.

… whose sanctuaries had been abandoned for a long time, I returned the images of the gods, who had resided there [i.e., in Babylon], to their places and I let them dwell in eternal abodes. I gathered all their inhabitants and returned to them their dwellings …

Ezra 1:11 — Note that the Ark of the Covenant is not included. We saw it mentioned in 2 Chronicles 35:3, but as our good brother, Dexter Penwell, pointed out, the text does not say that the command was completed. Interestingly, Josiah didn’t use the phrase “Ark of the Covenant of the LORD” but “the holy ark.” The “Ark of the Covenant of the LORD” was last mentioned in the time of Solomon in 2 Chronicles 5:7. We will see a curious mention of the Ark of the Covenant in Jeremiah 3:16.

Ezra 2:64-65 — The seventy years of captivity are over (Jeremiah 25:11-12). We’ve just read the list of the almost 50,000 heroic pilgrims who left the big cities of Babylon to return to Canaan. In a similar trek that Abraham took when leaving Ur of the Chaldees for Hebron, these pilgrims leave Babylon for Jerusalem following the Lord’s command (Jeremiah 29:10). Their destination was not the beautiful city of the past, but a burned out, overgrown capitol.

1 Corinthians 1:18 — What kind of message is it that tells people established in an affluent cosmopolitan city to abandon it for a place that God has supposedly told you to go to? It sounds like foolishness. The message today is similar, though: Christians will one day leave their impressive cities and comforts for a home up in the sky! Believers are commanded to abandon laying up treasures on earth and start laying up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-20). Our friends think we’ve lost all the money that we’ve given to the Lord, but they don’t realize that we’ve been offered a 100-fold return (Mark 10:30).

Yes, we see the word “foolish” six times in this passage. Earthly wisdom says the only things for sure is death and taxes, so get a good profession and make some money. Thus, “not many wise men” are called (1 Corinthians 1:26). We do not have earthly wisdom – we have the wisdom of Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:30). We cannot glory on our own (1 Corinthians 1:29), but in the LORD (1 Corinthians 1:31)! Paul came in weakness of self but in the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:5).

Psalm 27:9 — Where do we find our salvation? In God – the One who will take us in when our earthly parents believe we have embraced foolishness (Psalm 27:10). Yes, if we want His blessings, we need to seek Him (Psalm 27:8).

Psalm 27:14 — Listen to the song “Wait on the Lord” from our good friend Patch the Pirate:

Proverbs 20:22 — Proverbs reminds us again!

Proverbs 20:23 — Sound familiar? This is the third iteration of this command (Deuteronomy 25:13, Proverbs 20:10, Proverbs 20:23).

Share how reading through the Bible has been a blessing to you! E-mail us at 2018bible@vcyamerica.org or call and leave a message at 414-885-5370.

TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
  2 Chronicles 35:1-36:23
  1 Corinthians 1:1-17
  Psalm 27:1-6
  Proverbs 20:20-21

My apologies for going long here – but we are covering one of the most fascinating centuries in the Bible in one day! Buckle up and let’s go!

2 Chronicles 35:1 — Josiah kept the Passover. Why is this detail included? This and Hezekiah’s Passover (2 Chronicles 30:1) are the only two Passovers mentioned in 2 Chronicles. Keep in mind, this is the 18th year of Josiah’s reign. The boy King is now 26 years old. It has been 20 years since Manasseh presumably held a Passover, and 75 years since Hezekiah held a great Passover. The Post-Exilic people who have returned to the land will have held the first official Passover in the land in over 70 years as well. Though we stray from the LORD, the LORD will hear us when we call to Him!

2 Chronicles 35:3 — For those who are curious where the Ark is today, here’s another mystery: where was the Ark before Josiah moved it back into the Temple?

2 Chronicles 35:7 — Josiah gave 33,000 bullocks. Compare Hezekiah’s gift: he only gave a thousand bullocks (2 Chronicles 30:24). Perhaps that’s why the Chronicler says it was the greatest Passover since Samuel the Prophet (2 Chronicles 35:18).

2 Chronicles 35:25 — Why did Jeremiah weep? Because in less than twenty-five years the Southern Kingdom of Judah would be no more. The next chapter will go quickly through many names. But add up the dates; within one generation Josiah’s great Kingdom will collapse.

2 Chronicles 36:3 — Jehoahaz, son of Josiah, quickly becomes prisoner in Egypt (2 Chronicles 36:4). Eliakim, the second son of Josiah, is Egypt’s puppet until Nebuchadnezzar takes him to Babylon in chains along with the Temple vessels (2 Chronicles 36:6-7). This is the king that cut up the scroll and burned the prophecy of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 36:23).

Interesting that Pharaoh changes Eliakim’s name from El-iakim to Jeho-iakim. The prefix changes from “El” (generic name for a god, translated in the KJV as “God”), to “Jeho” (short for Jehovah, translated in the KJV as “LORD”, the personal name of God). This is especially interesting because Eliakim/Jehoiakim did evil in the sight of the LORD. Eliakim’s son Jehoiachin joins his dad shortly in the Babylonian captivity with more temple vessels (2 Chronicles 36:10).

2 Chronicles 36:11 — Zedekiah, Josiah’s grandson by Eliakim, rejected Jeremiah’s warnings. Zedekiah also imprisoned Jeremiah in the jail in the king’s house (Jeremiah 32:2) because the king would not repent and wanted to “shoot the messenger.”

2 Chronicles 36:13 — God takes vows very seriously (Ecclesiastes 5:4-6, Deuteronomy 23:21-23, Numbers 30:2, Psalm 76:11), but Zedekiah didn’t and violated his vow. From Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers:

When Nebuchadnezzar appointed Zedekiah vassal-king of Judah, he would naturally make him swear fealty to himself by the God of his fathers. The fact is not specially recorded in Kings; but the prophet Ezekiel makes it the point of a prophecy against the king and his grandees (Ezekiel 17:11-21; comp, especially 2 Chronicles 36:17, “mine oath that he hath despised.”)

2 Chronicles 36:19 — Four hundred years of the Temple, and now it comes to an end. Just 19 chapters earlier we read how God threatened to destroy Solomon’s offering, the Temple, and make it a byword (2 Chronicles 7:20). Now it has happened.

2 Chronicles 36:21 — Depending on how you count, the Sabbath of the land had only been royally observed four times since Samuel anointed Saul as King. The laws each King had to copy (Deuteronomy 17:18) included the command to give the land the seventh year off (Leviticus 25:1-7). There was specific punishment of exile if they did not (Leviticus 26:34-35). But how many kings decided to prove the promised miracle of triple-abundance (Leviticus 25:21)? Most commentators simply say “70 years of rest” or 70 X 7 = 490 years. However, the year of Jubilee was a second year of rest. Thus, we would go back 442 years from the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC to 1028 BC. Subtracting 1028 BC from 1050 BC (Anointing of Saul) would imply that the “Sabbath of the Land” had been kept only 3 or 4 times from when Samuel anointed Saul and passed the duty to keep the Sabbath to the King. Seventy years pass after the period at the end of verse 21.

2 Chronicles 36:23 — The Book of 2 Chronicles ends at the start of Ezra. Compare 2 Chronicles 36:22-23 with Ezra 1:1-3. The people are returning to build again the House of the LORD that was burned. The House of the LORD was defiled by Jewish Kings, burned by Babylonian Kings, but will be rebuilt by a Persian King! The Priests will need to organize themselves, but we read already how Josiah had to do that as well (2 Chronicles 35:2). They will need to keep a Passover that hadn’t been kept in a hundred years, but this wasn’t the first long gap between Passovers. God allowed bad foreign policy to end the life of good King Josiah and hasten the destruction of the Temple by pagan kings. Now God commanded a pagan king to fund the reconstruction of the Temple!

1 Corinthians 1:7 — We too are waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ! “What if it were today?“

Psalm 27:1 — ”The LORD Is my light and my salvation!“

Proverbs 20:21 — Solomon is contrasting the inheritance that is normally connected with a blessing, with an inheritance that is not blessed. Reminds me of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:12).

Share how reading through the Bible has been a blessing to you! E-mail us at 2018bible@vcyamerica.org or call and leave a message at 414-885-5370.

TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
  2 Chronicles 33:14-34:33
  Romans 16:10-27
  Psalm 26:1-12
  Proverbs 20:19

2 Chronicles 33:15 — Manasseh seems to have had a genuine conversion. The prayers of his father, though seemingly long without answer, were finally answered.

2 Chronicles 33:19 — What was Manasseh’s prayer? Was it the “Prayer of Manasseh” found in the Old Testament Apocrypha? The fifteen-verse “Prayer of Manasseh” found there is not legitimate because …

… it says men such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did not need to repent because they ‘did not sin’ (verse 8). This runs counter to the clear teaching of Scripture that all have sinned (Romans 3:10-12; Romans 3:21-26).

GotQuestions.org

2 Chronicles 33:24 — Regicide (the act of killing a king) has occurred several times in the Southern Kingdom:

• Jehu slaying Ahaziah (2 Chronicles 22:9)
• Jehoiada’s men slaying Athaliah (2 Chronicles 23:15)
• Jehoash slain by his servants (2 Chronicles 24:25)
• Amaziah slain by “they” (2 Chronicles 25:27)
• Amon slain by his servants (2 Chronicles 33:24)

2 Chronicles 34:3 — Unlike his great-grandfather Hezekiah, Josiah didn’t have the same urgency. Then again, Josiah became king at age 8, unlike Hezekiah who suffered through a coregency with an evil king. But when Josiah was 16, in the 8th year of his reign, he sought the LORD, but it wasn’t until he was 26 that he finished purging the land and started repairing the Temple.

2 Chronicles 34:19 — God’s Word often brings a powerful response. This was similar to the Ninevites in Jonah 3:5, who like Josiah (2 Chronicles 34:18) visibly repented. Josiah followed it up by seeking the wisdom of the LORD (2 Chronicles 34:21). God’s wrath would still come but would be delayed (2 Chronicles 34:25). In the meantime, because of Josiah’s leadership, the people did not depart from following the LORD (2 Chronicles 34:33).

Romans 16:10 — Note what Paul’s friends were recognized for:

• “approved in Christ” (Romans 16:10)
• “in the LORD” (Romans 16:11)
• “labor in the LORD” (Romans 16:12)
• “labored much in the LORD” (Romans 16:12)
• “chosen in the Lord” (Romans 16:13)

Paul contrasts these faithful followers with the divisors who serve their own belly (Romans 16:17-18).

Romans 16:22 — A “shout out” from Tertius, Paul’s secretary who took the dictation.

Romans 16:26 — The mystery (Jesus) was revealed and now is being proclaimed to all nations. You have a part in this today!

Psalm 26:2 — Ask God to search your heart today. Listen to the Cathedral Quartet sing “Search Me O God”:

Proverbs 20:19 — Proverbs has advice on making friends and avoiding friends. Avoid the flattering talebearer!

Share how reading through the Bible has been a blessing to you! E-mail us at 2018bible@vcyamerica.org or call and leave a message at 414-885-5370.

TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
  2 Chronicles 32:1-33:13
  Romans 15:23-16:9
  Psalm 25:16-22
  Proverbs 20:16-18

2 Chronicles 32:1 — We met Sennacherib last month in 2 Kings 18.

2 Chronicles 32:9 — Sennacherib was at Lachish. Yes, indeed he was. In Lachish today you can see the siege ramps Sennacherib built:

In the British Museum you can see the massive Lachish Reliefs that depict this battle:

2 Chronicles 32:18 — Today this is called PsyOps:

Psychological operations (PSYOPS) are planned operations to convey selected information and indicators to audiences to influence their emotions, motives, and objective reasoning, and ultimately the behavior of governments, organizations, groups, and individuals.

2 Chronicles 32:21 — The Chronicler simplifies the account, noting that Hezekiah prayed, and the LORD sent an angel to deliver them.

2 Chronicles 32:25 — Hezekiah was the great king of Judah who started with such an urgent following of God. He was also the king who had previously stripped the temple of the gold to bribe Sennacherib (2 Kings 18:14-16), who had lifted up his heart (2 Chronicles 32:25), and who had boasted to the Babylonians of his wealth (2 Chronicles 32:31). Even good rulers can struggle greatly, but in spite of his sins, he was recognized as one of the chiefest sons of David (2 Chronicles 32:33).

2 Chronicles 33:1 — The worry of every parent’s heart.

2 Chronicles 33:9 — The son of the great King Hezekiah, made the people “do worse than the heathen.” But God wasn’t done with Manasseh (2 Chronicles 33:13)!

Romans 15:24 — Interestingly, there is some debate as to whether Paul reached Spain. Since the answer is not found within Scripture, it is hard to be dogmatic on the issue.

Romans 15:27 — Paul contrasts carnal things with spiritual things as a motive for Christian giving. The spiritual things are by necessity better, but they can be recognized with the carnal things.

Psalm 25:16 — Like Hezekiah, the Psalmist cries out for mercy. Can God bring people out of distress (Psalm 25:17)? Hezekiah can emphatically testify, “Yes!”

Proverbs 20:16 — Solomon argues against cosigning for people. We’ve addressed the fact that up to 75% of borrowers with a cosigner end up defaulting on their loan. If you are dealing with someone who is surety (a cosigner) for a stranger (much less a close relative), know that this is someone without wisdom and makes very poor (unwise) financial choices. He is headed for bankruptcy soon. Don’t lose your collateral (garment).

Share how reading through the Bible has been a blessing to you! E-mail us at 2018bible@vcyamerica.org or call and leave a message at 414-885-5370.

TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
  2 Chronicles 30:1-31:21
  Romans 15:1-22
  Psalm 25:1-15
  Proverbs 20:13-15

2 Chronicles 30:5 — What does it mean from “Beersheba to Dan?” In America we would say “from the Atlantic to the Pacific.” Basically, this is the whole length of the kingdom.

Yes, even those who had been violating the Second Commandment by using graven images in the worship of the LORD are now invited to return to keep the Passover. Hezekiah is preaching to those who survived the Assyrian Captivity of 722 BC; the captivity effectively ended the Northern Kingdom (2 Chronicles 30:6). What is his message?

• Return to the place God said to be (2 Chronicles 30:1, 2 Chronicles 30:5)
• Repent of sinning against God (2 Chronicles 30:6-8)
• Receive His mercy (2 Chronicles 30:8-9)

2 Chronicles 30:9 — Hezekiah was inspired by God (for the words are preserved by God) to offer a promise of release to the captives if they would repent. But the majority in Israel “laughed them to scorn and mocked them” (2 Chronicles 30:10). The people were willing to suffer the indignity of captivity rather than repent! The religious leaders were willing to suffer eternal torment (Luke 16:24) rather than repent (Luke 16:31). God’s mercy is available, but few there be who partake of it (2 Chronicles 30:11).

2 Chronicles 30:18 — Notice the sense of urgency within Hezekiah:

• First year, first month – repaired the house of the LORD (2 Chronicles 29:3) … if we read 2 Chronicles 29:17 correctly – this was the first day of his reign!
• In just 16 days the temple was cleansed and sanctified (2 Chronicles 29:17)
• As soon as it was ready, Hezekiah rose early to sacrifice (2 Chronicles 29:20) … Hezekiah didn’t wait until he had “enough priests” (2 Chronicles 29:34)
• Still in the first month he launched a nationwide evangelistic campaign (2 Chronicles 30:1)
• Less than 30 days later, they held the greatest Passover in memory (2 Chronicles 30:26) … Hezekiah didn’t wait until next year (11 months later) to have Passover as the Law required (Leviticus 23:5)
• Hezekiah knew the people weren’t ready so he grabbed the Levites who were (2 Chronicles 30:17) and prayed to God for permission (2 Chronicles 30:20) … Hezekiah didn’t wait until the people were cleansed (2 Chronicles 30:18)

What was the cause for this urgency? 2 Chronicles 30:9 tells of the Assyrian destruction of the Northern Kingdom. The captives were gone and in danger of being assimilated into the pagan society. Hezekiah wanted his kinfolk to return, not just to the land of Israel but to the Lord of Israel. Also, Hezekiah likely realized his weakened military position (he could not defend against an Assyrian attack, but God could!). So, he needed to make sure the land was right with God.

Hezekiah had a sense of urgency and a whole-hearted commitment (2 Chronicles 30:21). God said it was good and right and truth (2 Chronicles 30:20).

Romans 15:1 — How are Christians supposed to act toward each other?

• Helping the weak (Romans 15:1)
• Edifying our neighbor (Romans 15:2)
• Pleasing one another (Romans 15:3)
• Patient and Consoling with each other (Romans 15:5)
• Receiving one another (Romans 15:7)
• Counseling one another (Romans 15:14)

Jay Adams talks about this verse as the key authority for biblical counseling:

Whenever the process of sanctification slows down (or halts) in a Christian’s life, and he is not able to rectify that situation (for whatever reason), he needs the help of other believers who can direct him to God’s answers to his problems and how to bring about a change that honors Him. Counseling is not a great thing — in itself — but becomes necessary whenever such rescuing of a brother or sister is called for.

Jay Adams is the popularizer of Biblical Counseling, also called “nouthetic counseling:”

The word “nouthetic” comes from the Greek word “noutheteō.” The word, which is primarily used by Paul in the New Testament, is translated into English as “admonish,” “correct,” or “instruct.” This is the word that occurs in Romans 15:14.

Psalm 27:5 — In spite of the vast wasteland that has migrated from the television to YouTube, you can memorize Scripture to music found on YouTube. Here’s an example from Musical Memory Verses:

Proverbs 20:14 — Much wisdom in negotiation technique is contained in just 19 words. Learn and be wise!

Share how reading through the Bible has been a blessing to you! E-mail us at 2018bible@vcyamerica.org or call and leave a message at 414-885-5370.

TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
  2 Chronicles 29:1-36
  Romans 14:1-23
  Psalm 24:1-10
  Proverbs 20:12

2 Chronicles 29:3 — A good way to start on the very first month of his reign:

• Repairing the LORD’s house (2 Chronicles 29:3)
• Recalling the Levite’s responsibility (2 Chronicles 29:5)
• Repenting for fathers’ sins (2 Chronicles 29:6)
• Recognizing God’s wrath (2 Chronicles 29:9)
• Restoring Israel’s covenant (2 Chronicles 29:10)
• Rallying the city’s rulers (2 Chronicles 29:20)
• Rendering the lambs’ blood (2 Chronicles 29:22)
• Rejoicing in Asaph’s songs (2 Chronicles 29:30)
• Receiving the people’s offerings (2 Chronicles 29:31)

Romans 14:3 — Paul is repealing virtually all of Kashrut (the Jewish dietary laws). Interesting that the prohibitions against eating blood are still maintained (Acts 15:29). He goes on to repeal the festivals and Sabbath (Romans 14:5). Notice that Paul did not reiterate the 4th Commandment in Romans 13:9.

Romans 14:10 — The Judgment Seat of Christ is introduced for the first time here. Erwin Lutzer is “amazed at the number of people who don’t realize that the Bible teaches that we shall all (Christians) stand before the judgment seat of Jesus Christ to give an account.” John MacArthur shows it will be an evaluation of our lives. John Piper reminds us “Salvation is owned by faith. Salvation is shown by deeds.” Hampton Keathley has an in-depth discussion of the doctrine of rewards. Adrian Rogers points out:

First, God will be judging both the saved and the sinners.
Next, God judges the saved as sons and daughters.
Then God judges the saved as servants.

Psalm 24:7 — The Prussian hymnwriter Georg Weissel draws from this verse when he composed the hymn, “Lift up your heads, O ye gates.“

Proverbs 20:12 — From the Pulpit Commentary:

This apothegm, which seems to be nothing but a trite truism, brings to notice many important consequences. First, there is the result noted in Psalm 94:9, “He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? He that formed the eye, shall he not see?” Hence we learn the sleepless providence of God.

Share how reading through the Bible has been a blessing to you! E-mail us at 2018bible@vcyamerica.org or call and leave a message at 414-885-5370.