The Bible Project @ Kelsey

DAY 108 We're finishing 2 Kings today.  Much like we've seen with other books, there is no happy ending.  Although, can you spot the sign of hope at the very end? DAILY READINGS 2 Kings 23-25 & Psalm 108 DAILY NOTES 2 Kings 23 This chapter outlines all of King Josiah's reformation.  Notice the amount of work he did to eradicate the false worship of the people.   There's also a remind of 1 Kings 13, when Josiah asks about the grave of the prophet.   For the first time since the judges, Passover is observed by the people.  I'm curious what their thoughts were when they did that.   According to the writer, God's wrath did not turn away.  That is a set up for how the book will end. 2 Kings 25 In 2 Kings 24, there is a first exile of the people of Jerusalem.  This second deportation is the final one that leaves Judah in complete exile.   Psalm 108 Imagine being so filled with awe and won...

DAY 107 We're reading about 4 kings today.  Two good ones. Two evil ones.   DAILY READINGS 2 Kings 20-22 & Psalm 107 DAILY NOTES 2 Kings 20 Hezekiah's illness and the visit from the Babylon representatives are thought to be out of chronological place.   Notice that Isaiah wants nothing to do with Babylon (really with any foreign nation).  Of course, Babylon's force will come into play later as they fulfill what Isaiah predicts. We assume, because of Verse 19, that Hezekiah thought dealing with Babylon was a good idea because it spurred trade and peace. If you're familiar with Hezekiah's tunnel, we read a little more about that later in Chronicles. 2 Kings 21 Another two kings do did evil in the sight of the Lord.   2 Kings 22 Josiah becomes king and discovers the book of the law.  Rabbinic tradition says that Ahaz burned the Torah, but this scroll was hidden under a rock and, therefore, saved.  It's als...

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?   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 Ass...

DAY 102 Elisha asked Elijah for a double portion of his spirit.  In today's reading, we're seeing how some of that is played out in Elisha's role as prophet. DAILY READINGS 2 Kings 4-7 & Psalm 102 DAILY NOTES 2 Kings 4:1-7 It's been said this was Obadiah's wife.  It doesn't if the husband had just died or not, but how long would a creditor have waited to collect? Elisha doesn't tell the woman to pour oil, but it is understood.  We aren't told she is pouring oil; only that she is pouring.  It isn't until she's done that we're told "the oil stopped flowing."  The miracle is that the oil is multiplied; she will still have to do the work of selling. 2 Kings 4:8-37 The next part of the chapter centers on Elisha raising a child from death.  The child was born to a woman who had helped Elisha--she made sure he had a parsonage (What a great Methodist!).  Since we're told her husband was old, does that mean she...

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...