The Bible Reading Challenge Presented by VCY

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.

The Cyrus Cylinder

… 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.

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Image Credit: Prioryman, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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:

Lachish Archaeological Site¹

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

Lachish Relief (British Museum)²

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.

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Image¹ Credit: Wilson44691, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Image² Credit: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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.

Early Historical Israel

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.

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Image Credit: File:Early-Historical-Israel-Dan-Beersheba-Judea-Corrected.png – Wikimedia Commons. commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Early-Historical-Israel-Dan-Beersheba-Judea-Corrected.png.