April 16 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 106

The threat of the Assyrian king is real. Hezekiah has already seen it played out in Israel. Who could blame him for feeling scared and worried?

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DAILY READINGS

2 Kings 18-19 & Psalm 106

DAILY NOTES

2 Kings 18

Hezekiah takes reign over Judah. He "did what was right in the sight of the Lord." Notice his actions; we typically refer to them as Hezekiah's reforms. He finally cuts down the sacred pole and, among other things, the bronze serpent that Moses created.

The bronze serpent had become something the people began to worship.
It even has a name! Nehushtan means a "thing of brass." It's also been called a "trifling thing of brass."

Verses 9-12 review what happened at the end of Chapter 17. Israel is taken captive and the people are taken away to Assyria.
The Assyrian king takes Judah captive and threatens Hezekiah as well.

2 Kings 19

Hezekiah is fearful about what the Assyrian king will do. Hezekiah goes to the prophet Isaiah for prayer. Isaiah assures him that God will save them.

Psalm 106

A history lesson wrapped in prayer that God would be gracious to the people. They have sinned.
The prayer is that God would save the people so that they "may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise."

OTHER OBSERVATIONS

I don't want to get started on the bronze serpent! I'll save that for a sermon some day.

The Assyrians told Hezekiah that all he had were words. Counsel and might are needed for war. Hezekiah was putting his faith in words. Of course, Hezekiah is being mocked, but we can also assume Hezekiah is depending on words from God. Hezekiah went to Isaiah for direction or maybe even a battle plan.

Isaiah gave Hezekiah more words.

They were words of a promise from God, but they were still just words.

It seems like there's a great lesson there. If God gives us a word, can we trust that word? If so, then why do we get so anxious to make other things happen? We may not be preparing for a war, but we're facing other things that upset, unnerve or frighten us. Are God's words to us enough for those moments? If so, relax.

Other people may think we need more than the words of God's promises. If so, God will tell us (and God'll probably use words to tell us, too). But don't fall into the temptation to let go of God's words (or God's Word) in order to hold onto some other promise.

God is faithful.

Stay blessed...john

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March 29 + Daily notes & readings

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April 11 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 101 The great prophet Elijah leaves the scene (He'll appear again later. Do you remember where?). Elisha takes his place and immediately begins to act as prophet among the people. DAILY READINGS 2 Kings 1-3 & Psalm 101 DAILY NOTES 2 Kings 1 King Ahaziah is injured and he wants to know if he'll live. He seeks input from the prophets of Baal-zebub. Elijah finds out and interrupts Ahaziah's men from going to the prophets. Notice that Elijah, that hairy man, is divinely protected by the captain and his men. Ahazia never hears from the prophets. Elijah speaks directly to him to tell him that he will surely die. 2 Kings 2 Where did the idea of a whirlwind come from? Did anyone expect that Elijah would be taken "to heaven by a whirlwind"? Everyone seems to know that today Elijah will be gone. Elisha's command to the band of prophets seems to indicate his sense of loss but also a vigor within himself; he is standing up to

February 26 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 57 Today's Bible Project video centers on what the Bible means when it speaks of the heart. DAILY READINGS Deuteronomy 13-14 & Psalm 57 DAILY NOTES Deuteronomy 13 Any prophet or "dreamer of dreams" lead you away from God to other gods, he is to be put to death. That person has, among other things, spoken "treason" or "falsehood" against God. The same thing should happen to "anyone" who tempts you in secret to follow another God, even if that anyone is a family member. Notice that you're not even to show them "pity or compassion" or even try to protect them. The text (Verse 13) says to watch for scoundrels--literally, sons of decadence. If they are found to be leading people away from God, they are to be put to do as well, and all those of their town that followed them. Deuteronomy 14 The Isrealites were to remain a distinctive people. They were not to follow the customs or practices o

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