Daily Bible Reading Day 152

2Chronicles 1-3; John 12:1-19.  Solomon's first act on becoming king is to go up to the Tabernacle and worship The Lord.  He then sets about building the temple and his own royal palace. He appears to appoint 70,000 workers and 80,000 quarry workers and then 3,600 to supervise these workers. But later it says that these are aliens in Israel. Need more research on subject because I've forgotten what I discovered when I studied it for the class I taught. Solomon calls on the king of Tyre to deliver cedars from Lebanon. As he gets started God appears to him in a dream and says he can ask what he wants. Solomon asks for wisdom and knowledge to lead the people. God is pleased and grants him his request plus riches and honor. Solomon is off to a good start.

Jesus goes to Bethany, the home of Lazarus and his two sisters, for dinner. Mary anoints Jesus with an expensive jar of perfume. Judas protests because he wants it sold and put in their money bag which he pilfers. Many Jews find out where Jesus is staying and come out to see him and Lazarus. Meanwhile the chief priests are plotting to kill Jesus and Lazarus. Jesus then enters Jerusalem and the people hail him as the king of Israel. The stage is set.

Daily Bible Reading Day 151

1Chronicles 28-29; John 11:47-57.  David speaks to the whole assembly of Israel. He recounts for them them the plan of God concerning the temple. David wanted to build it but God said no. Instead God choose Solomon to be king in David's place and to build the temple. David told of his preparations and contributions. He then turned the plans over to Solomon. The people then contributed gold, silver, iron, and precious stones. Then the people pledged their allegiance to Solomon.

The leaders meet after the raising of Lazarus. They realize that Jesus is becoming popular and that his popularity might cause problems with the Romans. Caiaphas prophecies without knowing it that Jesus must die for the nation. So they begin to plot to kill Jesus.

Daily Bible Reading Day 150

1Chronicles 26-27; John 11:18-46.  In these two chapters the writer lists the various officers. There are the gatekeepers, those in charge of the treasuries, those in charge of the treasuries dedicated to the temple, the chiefs of each tribe, The writer is meticulous in mentioning each and every individual.

Jesus comes to Bethany. Martha greets him first. She expresses her belief that Jesus could have prevented Lazarus' death. Jesus directs her away from the selfish request to his purpose in coming. He is here to reclaim everyone if they will just trust him. Martha expresses her belief in Jesus as the Messiah that is just as strong as Peter's in Matthew's Gospel. Then Mary comes and expresses the same belief. Jesus goes to the tomb and calls Lazarus. Even though Jesus weeps when he comes to the tomb the text says two or three times that Jesus is deeply moved in spirit. Once Lazarus comes forth John records the reactions that Jesus' signs are intended to produce: some believe and some go to the Pharisees to report what Jesus has done.

Daily Bible Reading Day 149

1Chronicles 23-25;  John 11:1-17.  David begins the work of giving the Levites, those who are not priests, new job descriptions. Since they can no longer work at or carry the Tabernacle, they need new jobs. David reassigns them new tasks. The text recounts the genealogy of the Levites and the chiefs and then orders them into 24 divisions. He also makes some singers and some musicians. Asaph, Heman, Jeduthan, and the sons of Korah are mentioned in Chronicles and they are also mentioned in some of the titles of the Psalms.

Jesus is on a retreat with the disciples. He gets word from Mary and Martha that their brother Lazarus is sick unto death. He delays seemingly to give time for Lazarus to die. Then he sets out to go there to Lazarus. He tells them that Lazarus has fallen asleep which they don't understand. The Jews want to kill him so why risk going back? Jesus is glad that he wasn't there so that now God can be glorified.

Daily Bible Reading Day 148

1Chronicles 20-22;  John 10:22-42.  David continues his victories. Against the sons of Ammon. Against the giants of the Philistines. Then after all these victories David decides he wants to know exactly how many soldiers he has. This is such a bad idea that even Joab knows it's wrong. God gives David a choice for punishment and David chooses three days of pestilence. As people are dying David sees the angel of The Lord. The angel stops at the threshing floor of Ornan. David buys the threshing floor and offers a burnt offering. This will become the site of the temple. David then begins all the preparations for building the temple for Solomon. It is amazing that in Chronicles there is no hint that anyone else tries to take the throne after David's death. 

Jesus continues his teaching that he is here to do his father's will. During this teaching the Jews pick up stones to stone him. He asks why and they tell him that he, being a man, has made himself equal with God. Jesus says that if he does the deeds of the father then don't reject him but accept him. Others debate and some point out that John's testimony about Jesus is coming true. So they believe.

Daily Bible Reading Day 146

1Chronicles 14-16; John 9:24-41.  David's family grows. Philistines attack. David defeats them. David has the Ark brought to Jerusalem properly with the Levites carrying it on poles as God instructed in the Law of Moses. David also has the Levites play instruments and sing while the Ark is coming into Jerusalem. David rejoices and dances before The Lord. But his wife Michal despises him.

The Pharisees continue to grill the man born blind in order to find a weak spot in his story. The man doesn't know much about Jesus but he knows that Jesus has healed him. That's enough for him. The Pharisees claim they know all about Moses and his relationship with God but they know nothing of Jesus. They put the man out of the synagogue. The man who had nothing, suddenly has everything because of Jesus, is willing to risk it for Jesus, again has nothing. Jesus seeks him and reveals to him who he is. The man worships Jesus. 

Daily Bible Reading Day 145

1Chronicles 11-13; John 9:1-23.  Chronicles recounts the first few days of David's reign after Saul's death. There is a summary of the tribes and how they supported him. Then there is a discussion of David's three and then the thirty. These are David's valiant men, mighty warriors. It was interesting to read about the warriors from Gad. Some were as good as one hundred and a few as good as one thousand. 

David tries to bring the Ark to Jerusalem. It's on an ox cart. Uzzah and Ahio are the ones guiding the cart. The oxen stumble and the Ark is about to fall off and Uzzah quite naturally reaches out to keep it from falling. The Lord strikes him dead because he is not a Levite and has no business transporting the Ark. Good intentions are not enough when serving The Lord. David is angry then afraid.

Jesus finds a blind man and then heals him. I'm sure that this scene is about spiritual blindness and spiritual enlightenment. The man born blind (I hope we find out his name in heaven) deepens his faith in Jesus the more he is forced to defend what Jesus did to him. The Pharisees grow further away from Jesus the more they contemplate that Jesus didn't follow their regulations of the Sabbath. The last contrast is with the parents. They will admit to this being their son but they will not take their stand with their son in defending Jesus. They fear being thrown out of the synagogue. 

Daily Bible Reading Day 144

1Chronicles 8-10; John 8:37-59.  More genealogies. Benjamin gets their mention. Even though Saul comes from Benjamin, the tribe remains loyal when the nation splits into two countries. Chapter 10 begins the story of Israel with Saul's death. The nation immediately, according to Chronicles, puts David as king. 

Jesus continues this discussion by focusing on the Father and his relationship to the Father. Jesus knows his father but the Jews do not. Instead their father is Satan. Jesus says that those who believe his word will never die. The Jews say "aha, we caught you." They remind him that Abraham and the prophets have all died. But Jesus says that before Abraham was born I AM.

Daily Bible Reading Day 143

1Chronicles 6-7; John 8:21-36.  More Genealogies! Will I ever get out of here? The Levites get a lot of space for being the smallest tribe. But in Chronicles the writer is showing just how important they are. In Kings they get little mention but in Chronicles they get quite a bit. Naphtali gets one verse. 

Jesus continues to teaching about his departure. When he is lifted up then we will know that he is "I AM."  I noticed a connection I don't think I've noticed before. Jesus says the famous saying "the truth shall set you free" in this section. But it is connected to "if you continue in my word." So in order to discover the truth we must continue in Jesus' word which is truth.

Daily Bible Reading Day 142

1Chronicles 3-5; John 8:1-20.  The genealogies continue. Two interesting sections in these chapters. One if the story of Jabez. It is brief and tells us that some of the people of Judah are faithful outside of the family of David. Perhaps it also tells us that not everyone experiences the tremendous wealth of the king's family. It also tells us that in spite of his pain, Jabez is blessed. The other section is at the end of chapter five where the writer summarizes the idolatry of the 2 1/2 tribes on the other side of the Jordan. Their idolatry caused God to bring Assyria against them and take them away into captivity. Was this idolatry continuous from the beginning of the nation? Or was it just in line with the 10 Northern tribes when they split with Judah under Rehoboam? 

This NT section is perhaps one of the favorite stories about Jesus. A woman is brought to him after being caught in adultery. The leaders demand from Jesus what he suggests they do. The Law says stone her. They are looking for ways to accuse Jesus and condemn him. He suggests that they stone her and the first to throw a stone is the one without sin. Of course they leave in a huff (my imagination) and Jesus doesn't condemn the woman but does tell her to go and sin no more. It would be nice if one of these days a manuscript is found that shows this story was part of John's Gospel as he wrote it and not a later insertion. 

Daily Bible Reading Day 141

1Chronicles 1-2; John 7:32-53.  The first two chapters contain genealogies of Israel. The genealogies begin with Adam. These genealogies tell the story of the world leading to God's choosing of Israel as the nation through whom God would bring about his redemption.

The Pharisees send guards to seize Jesus. Jesus tells the crowds that he is going someplace they cannot follow. He tells the crowds that their thirst will one day be slated by the Spirit. John mentions that the Spirit had not been given since Jesus was not yet glorified. Since Jesus did give the disciples some ability to perform miracles I don't think John has the Spirit's power-enabling in mind. I think John has something else in mind. Pretty sure it's the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Yet I'm sure that the baptism is not what everyone thinks it is.

The guards return with Jesus. They say they've never heard anyone speak as he does. The Pharisees chide the guards and say that no one of the rulers has been led astray. Ironically Nicodemus speaks up to defend Jesus, the one who has already visited Jesus. John's use of irony comes on strong here. I've never made this connection before.

Daily Bible Reading Day 139

2Kings 20-22; John 6:45-71.  Hezekiah gets sick and prays to The Lord. Isaiah comes with word that Hezekiah will get 15 years. Then an envoy from Babylon comes and Hezekiah shows him all his treasure. Isaiah says that Judah one day will go to Babylon.

Hezekiah dies and Manasseh, his son, reigns in his place. Manasseh is the complete opposite of his father. He revives all the idolatry that Hezekiah tore down. Manasseh even manages to surpass the nations around them. The prophets predict that one day Judah will fall.

Manasseh dies and Amon his son reigns in his place. He continues his father's policies. Not much is mentioned about Amon. He dies and Josiah, his son, reigns in his place. Josiah is the complete opposite of his father. He is very much like Hezekiah. He tears down the idolatry that Manasseh brought in. During temple repair a book (scroll) is found. Perhaps it is that part that God wanted every king to have to remind them that He will bring His wrath against Israel if they depart from His covenant. Josiah is humbled and inquires of The Lord what to do. God tells him he is doing well and to keep doing it.. 

Jesus tells us that if we eat his flesh and drink his blood we will find eternal life. I know that this passage isn't about the Lord's Supper but I can understand why some would associate it. Plus this passage is in the context of a Passover. So the connection is easy to make. Jesus' disciples of course are amazed at this teaching and some leave. He turns to the 12 and they say to whom can we go, They know that Jesus has the words of life. I think to some degree the end of John 6 is the equivalent to Peter's confession of Jesus as the Christ in the Synoptic Gospels.

Daily Bible Reading Day 138

2Kings 18-19; John 6:22-44.  Hezekiah becomes king. He trusts fully in The Lord. He made great reforms. Got rid of the high places and the altars. Even got rid of the serpent which Moses made in the wilderness. Apparently it was worshipped by Israel. He rebelled against Assyria. Then Assyria marched right into Judah and began capturing the other fortified cities. They came to Jerusalem and told them of their intentions - defeat Jerusalem. Hezekiah spread the letter from Assyria before The Lord in the temple and God responded that He would deal with Assyria. That night an angel went into Assyria's camp and 185,000 die in the camp of the Assyrians. The king of Assyria goes back to Nineveh and is killed in the house of his god.

Jesus is found by the people. He says they seek him not because they saw signs and believed but because he fed them. He tells them to seek for true food and then tells them that he is true food from heave. He has come to do his Father's will.

Daily Bible Reading Day 137

2Kings 15-17; John 6:1-21.  You can tell that Israel is nearing the end due to the rapid assassinations and replacements of kings. During Israel downhill trend Ahaz becomes king in Judah. He makes a treaty with Assyria against Damascus. Assyria helps him defeat Damascus. While there Ahaz sees an altar that he likes. He sends blueprints back to the high priest in Jerusalem who makes it for him. I wonder if Ahaz's treaty with Assyria is setting the stage for Assyria to destroy the Northern Tribes? Hoshea is the final king in Israel. He tries to make a treaty with Egypt against Assyria but Assyria comes and defeats Hoshea. There is a three year siege and finally the North falls. The Assyrian king removes them from Israel and resettles them elsewhere. He also brings in people from other countries. God sends lions to kill some of them. They ask Assyria to send a priest to help them learn of the god of the area. Even though the priest teaches them the way of The Lord they still walk in the ways of the gods of their homelands. I've often thought that Samaritans were half Jewish and half Gentile but reading this part again suggests that Samaritans were wholly Gentiles who accepted The Lord in some capacity but certainly not in a faithful capacity. So the Samaritans accepted circumcision and the Law of Moses but not much else.

Jesus feeds the 5,000. This is one of the few stories that John has in common with the other three Gospel writers. Jesus knows that the people want to make him king because of his ability to feed them miraculously so he leaves. The disciples get on a boat in the Sea of Galilee and storm comes up. Jesus walks on the water up to the boat. They are frightened but Jesus speaks to them and they invite him into the boat.

Daily Bible Reading Day 136

2Kings 12-14; John 5:25-47.  Jehoash becomes king. During Jehoiada's life he is faithful. He criticizes the priests for not repairing the temple and so they do. When Hazael, king of Aram, attacks Jehoash sends gold and silver articles from the temple to the king and he leaves. Jehoash is killed by his servants and Amaziah, his son, reiigns.

Jehoahaz becomes king in the North. He is evil. He has continual problems with Aram. He entreats The Lord and The Lord listens. He dies and Jehoash, his son reigns.

Elisha becomes sick. Joash, king of Israel comes to see him. Elisha has him strike the ground with some arrows. Joash only does it three times. He will only defeat Aram a little. Elisha dies and is buried. Later the Moabites would invade. As they were burying a soldier who died, he touched the bones of Elisha and was resurrected.

Amaziah becomes king of Judah. He does right. He kills 10,000 in Edom and then decides to invade the North. Instead he is captured. The treasure of the House of The Lord was taken and from Amaziah's personal treasury. Amaziah lived 15 years after the death of Jehoash, king of Israel. Amaziah's son, Azariah reigned in his place.

Jesus tells the crowd that the dead hear his voice and are raised. A time is coming when those in the tomb will hear his voice and be raised. Judgment will then occur. Jesus says that his testimony is greater than John's because of the work that His Father has given him. The Scriptures testify of Him and if Israel really believed Moses they would believe Him.

Daily Bible Reading Day 135

2Kings 9-11; John 5:1-24.  Elisha sends a servant to find Jehu. God is ready to take revenge out on the house of Ahab. The servant anoints Jehu and tells him that God wants him to execute the house of Ahab. So Jehu kills Ahab's son and the king of Judah, Ahaziah. Then he has Jezebel thrown down from the balcony. Then he goes to a city where most of Ahab's sons live. The city people kill them and pile the heads at the gate. Then Jehu gathers the worshippers of Baal at their temple and kills them. Even though Jehu doesn't worship Baal he does continue in Jeroboam's ways and worships the golden calfs that Jeroboam made. 

Meanwhile in Judah, when Ahaziah's mother saw that he was dead, she killed all his sons. One, Joash, was hidden by Ahaziah's sister. The priest Jehoiada kept the boy until he was able to become king. Jehoiada got everyone ready for the anointing and Athaliah showed up and they had her executed. 

Jesus goes to the pool of Siloam where those wanting healing are waiting. They think the that first one to enter the pool when it is suddenly stirred up will be healed. Jesus finds a paralyzed man and heals him. He also tells him to pick up his pallet and walk. While carrying his pallet the leaders find him and chastise him for breaking the Sabbath. He tells them that Jesus told him to do so. They come to Jesus and Jesus tells them why he is working. They understand that Jesus is claiming to be equal to the Father. They plot against Jesus.

Daily Bible Reading Day 134

2Kings 6-8; John 4:31-54.  The sons of the prophets decide that their current dwelling is too small. They go to get wood, lose an axe head in the water and Elisha makes it float. The Arameans discover that Elisha is giving the King of Israel their hiding places so the king sends a force to kill him. They arrive and Elisha blinds them and leads them to Samaria. The king feeds them and send them on their way. They don't bother Israel again for a while.

There is a famine in Israel, it's caused by a siege of the Arameans. Elisha predicts the end of the famine to be abrupt but one of the officials questions him. Elisha says that he shall see the end but not partake of it. Sure enough the Arameans flee during the night. Four lepers discover the empty camp and tell the city. The official is trampled as the people run out to the camp to eat.

The woman whose son Elisha resurrected was warned by Elisha to go sojourn in another country for the famine returns. Elisha helps her gain her land back. The king of Aram gets sick and inquires of Elisha as to whether or not he will recover.  Elisha tells the one who comes that he will become king and do great evil to Israel. Sure enough he kills Ben-hadad and becomes king. 

Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat, becomes king. He walks in the ways of Israel because married Ahab's daughter. He reigns 8 years and dies. Ahaziah becomes king of Judah. He is a descendant of Ahab as well as of Jehoshaphat. He is evil as well. He joins in battle with Ahab's son. 

Jesus meets with the town folk who come from the same village as the Samaritan woman that Jesus met at the well. He tells the disciples about harvest. Then as Jesus goes back to Galilee a royal official meets him and pleads for his son to be healed. Jesus says he is healed. The man returns to find his son healed ad ascertained that is was about the same time that Jesus said it would happen. He believed. 

Daily Bible Reading Day 133

2Kings 4-5; John 4:1-30.  One of the wives of one of the prophets came to Elisha, Her husband was dead and the creditors were wanting to take her children. Elisha had her gather as many vessels as she could. He then began to fill them out of the little oil she had. They filled enough for her to sell and pay her creditors.

Elisha and Gehazi passed through a village where a woman and her older husband took care of them. They promised a son which they had. One day the son got sick and died. The woman went to Elisha and Elisha came back and resurrected the son.

The prophets fixed a bowl of stew and added something that was poisonous. Elisha fixed it. Then a man brought some food for the prophets but Elisha said to give it to the people and they ate their fill and had some left over. Shades of Jesus feeding the 5,000 and 4,000 men.

The captain of the army of Aram, Naaman, had leprosy. His wife had a servant girl who was Jewish. The servant girl told the wife that Elisha could heal his leprosy. So he went. Elisha sent his servant before Naaman arrived and told him to go dip 7 times in the Jordan. Naaman was incensed because back home he had better rivers. His servants convinced him to at least try. He did and was healed. He tried to compensate Elisha but he refused. On his way home Gehazi decided to get something from Naaman without Elisha's knowledge. But Elisha confronted him and Gehazi took on Naaman's condition, leprosy.

Jesus travels through Samaria and the disciples go into a nearby town for some food. Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. The conversation is familiar and I didn't really see anything new. 

Daily Bible Reading Day 132

2Kings 1-3; John 3:22-36  Ahab's son falls and is in bed. He sends some men to inquire of a god if he will get better. Elijah meets them on the way and wonders if Ahaziah thinks there is no god in Israel. He tells the men that the king will not recover and die. The king sends a captain of fifty to get Elijah. He calls fire from heaven to consume them. Another fifty come with the same results. Another fifty come but this time the captain pleads for his life and the life of his men. Elijah goes with them. Tells the king he will die and he does. His brother reigns in his place.

Elijah travels to beyond the Jordan. Tries to get Elisha to stay behind but he won't. Elisha requests a double portion of his spirit before he leaves. Elijah grants it. Elijah is taken up in a whirlwind of fire. Elisha now begins his ministry. His first act is to purify the water supply of a city. His second act is to call out two female bears to tear apart a bunch of lads who mock him. Curious.

Moab rebels against Jehoram, king of Israel, and he asks Jehoshaphat to help him. Jehoshaphat requests a prophet of the LORD, like last time with Ahab, and Elisha comes. Elisha gives them the word of the LORD. They defeat Moab and as they are losing the king of Moab offers his son, the one to reign in his place, as a sacrifice.

Jesus is now baptizing as is John but more seem to be coming to Jesus. John's disciples are worried but John assures them that this is God's plan. John says that he must decrease but Jesus must increase. Jesus is the groom and is to get all the attention. If only we all learned from John's humility.

Daily Bible Reading Day 131

1Kings 20-21; John 3:1-21.  Ahab sees a vineyard close to his house that he desires. Naboth is the owners name and he wont give it to Ahab even though Ahab promises to generously compensate him. Ahab is sullen and wont eat. What a selfish boy! Jezebel promises to deliver it and she does. She arranges a feast with Naboth as head. She or someone else hires two worthless fellows to accuse Naboth of blasphemy. He is taken out and stoned to death. Ahab takes over the vineyard. Then Elijah comes and prophecies Ahab's demise. Ahab puts on sackcloth and ashes. God is impressed with Ahab's humbling of himself and promises that total destruction to Ahab's family wont come in his lifetime, which turns out to be rather short.

Jehoshaphat from Judah comes up to help Ahab against Aram. The false prophets predict victory but Micaiah predicts Ahab's death. In battle Ahab disguises himself but a random arrow finds him and he dies. His son takes over. The son is cut from the same cloth as his father.

Jehoshaphat becomes king during Ahab's fourth year. He's a good king. His attempt to get gold from Ophir fails. Not much is said about him in Kings as compared to Chronicles. Interesting because Chronicles really hails him as one of three kings descended from David that are faithful and walk in David's ways. 

Nicodemus comes to Jesus by night. John will show Nicodemus' growth in faith in two more scenes later in his gospel. This is really a significant scene in John's Gospel. In a sense Israel is confronted with the kingdom and entrance into it but does not fully comprehend. Jesus continues to teach Nicodemus and connects the kingdom with God sending his son (Jesus) into the world as a sacrifice. Today those who are waiting for the kingdom have missed it just like Israel did because they are waiting for the wrong kind of victory. The victorious battle the ended Satan's reign took place on the cross and in the grave and came by the resurrection. 

Daily Bible Reading Day 130

1Kings 19-20; John 2.  Elijah flees from Jezebel. Amazing that this man could challenge 850 prophets, win, have them put to death, and then run away from Jezebel. He ends up on Horeb, the same mountain as Moses. The Lord passes by for Elijah just like He did for Moses. Elijah then goes and recruits Elisha. Meanwhile Ahab deals with Ben-Hadad. Ben-Hadad attacks Israel with lots of help but somehow the Israelites defeat him. Ahab makes a covenant with him. A prophet comes disguised to Ahab with a message from God that says Ahab should have guarded Ben-Hadad more closely. Not sure I fully understand what is going on or the sleep has not left my brain.

Jesus goes to a wedding in Cana. They run out of wine. He turns water (120 to 180 gallons) into wine. and saves the day for the one hosting the wedding party. Jesus then goes to Jerusalem for the Passover. He confronts the merchandisers in the temple area. Tells the people that the temple will be torn down and rebuilt in 3 days. Of course they misunderstand his meaning. This sets us up for the rest of John where others wil misunderstand Jesus' meaning when he talks with them. 

Daily Bible Reading Day 129

1Kings 16-18; John 1:2-51.  Israel goes through a power struggle. Baasha dies and son Elah takes his place. But he's killed by Zimri, however Israel follows Omri. Omri's son Ahab becomes king and he's worse than Jeroboam because he marries Jezebel and introduces Baal and Asherah. Elijah comes on the scene and a drought ensues. Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal and Asherah to a challenge. Prepare a sacrifice and call on your god to send fire from heaven to consume it. They chant all day and lose. Elijah has water poured over the sacrifice three times and it is enough to fill a trench around the altar. The he prays once and God responds with fire. Israel is amazed and seizes the prophets of Baal and Asherah and kills them. Elijah then goes to the top of a mountain and sends word to Ahab that the drought is about to end.

John the Baptist introduces Jesus to Andrew who gets his brother. Then Jesus goes to Bethsaida and finds Phillip. Phillip finds Nathaniel and he comes. John's account of the calling of the disciples is quite different than Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

Daily Bible Reading Day 128

1Kings 14-15; John 1:1-28.  The son of Jeroboam becomes sick. He sends his wife in disguise to a prophet to find out what will happen. She does not fool the prophet and receives a negative report for her husband. The son dies but that's because God saw something good in him and took him before he could be corrupted. Jeroboam dies and his son Nadab takes his throne. Nadab is executed by Baasha who becomes king. Nadab and Baasha walk in the ways of Jeroboam. Baasha attacks Judah but Asa bribes the king of Aram to attack Israel and Baasha departs Judah.

King of Egypt comes and surrounds Jerusalem. Rehoboam takes the gold from the temple to give him as tribute. He makes shields of bronze to replace the ones he gave away. Rehoboam dies and Abiijam takes his place. Abijam walks as Rehoboam did. He only lasted 3 years. Asa his son takes his place. He's a good king and walks in the ways of David. He defends Jerusalem against attack from Israel by making a treaty with the ting of Aram who then attacks Israel and causes Baasha to withdraw from Judah.

The opening verses of John are perhaps the most intriguing in all the Bible. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John begins his Gospel account by giving us insight into who Jesus is and how he came to this earth and why he came.

Daily Bible Reading Day 127

1Kings 2-13; Luke 24:36-53. Rehoboam becomes king in Solomon's place. The northern tribes ask for him to lighten their load from Solomon's days. Rehoboam consults with his father's older and wiser counsels but rejects their counsel which said to listen to the people. He consults with the younger men he grew up with and they tell him to speak harshly to Israel. He takes their advice and the kingdom is split. Rehoboam prepares for war with Israel but a prophet shuts them down.

Jeroboam as king over the 10 northern tribes prepares a new worship system to keep the people from going to Jerusalem to worship and reuniting with Judah. A prophet is sent by God to speak against Jeroboam and his altar. As the prophet is heading home which God told him to do an older prophet comes to him and says an angel appeared to him and told him to bring the prophet back to his place. The younger prophet went. The older prophet during dinner receives a revelation that says the younger prophet will not make it back to be buried in his father's tomb. A lion kills him on the way home. The older prophet hears of it and buries the younger prophet.

Jesus appears to the disciples and shows them his hands and side. He opens their minds so that they can understand Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms where it is written that the Christ must suffer and then rise again on the third day. Repentance and forgiveness of sins are to be preached in his name, Jesus tells them to go to Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Father (the Holy Spirit).

Daily Bible Reading Day 126

1Kings 10-11; Luke 24:1-35. Solomon's fame and wisdom spread over the nations and the Queen of Sheba arrives to check him out. She's impressed. Who is the Queen of Sheba? indeed, not only does Solomon's wisdom seem to increase but so does his wealth. His ships bring in 666 talents of gold in one year. Does that mean each year or only that one year? In spite of his wisdom Solomon allows his foreign wives to turn his heart away from God and not walk in the manner of his father, David. God raises up three adversaries against Solomon because his departure from walking in the ways of The Lord. The peace that Solomon experienced at first is now gone.

Jesus is raised from the dead. Some women go to the tomb. Two angels greet them and tell them to go tell the others. Peter arrives, looks in, and goes back home. Jesus appears to two disciples walking to Emmaus. They are down-hearted. Jesus explains the Scriptures concerning him to them. When he has bread with them at the home of one of them, their eyes are opened and they go tell the others what happened.

Daily Bible Reading Day 125

1Kings 8-9; Luke 23:39-56. Solomon completes the temple and his house and he has a long prayer of dedication to remind Israel that The Lord is good and gracious and omnipresent. He also reminds Israel that since God has provided them with such a great house that they are obligated to walk in God's ways. If they don't God will send them away from his sight. But if they repent in the foreign land God will bring them back to this land. Solomon gives Hiram, king of Tyre, some cities in Galilee but Hiram is not pleased with them. Solomon builds a fleet of ships to bring in his gold.

On the cross the one thief chides Jesus about saving them but the other admits that their condemnation is just but pleads with Jesus to still him. Jesus promises such. Then Jesus gives up his spirit and dies. Joseph of Arimathea takes the body of Jesus and prepares it for burial. They rested on the Sabbath.

Daily Bible Reading Day 124

1Kings 6-7; Luke 23:27-38. These to chapters tell the story of Solomon building the temple. Two interesting features are first there is no hammer or noise at the building site. All the cutting of stone is done at the quarry. Second Solomon brings a man named Hiram from Tyre, whose mother is a widow from Naphtali and his father is from Tyre. Hiram is filled with the Spirit to do work with bronze. The temple takes seven years. Solomon's own house takes thirteen years. I would imagine with 700 wives and 300 concubines his house was quite extensive. Pharaoh's daughter had her own house. I wonder how many other wives had a separate house?

On the way to the place of crucifixion a large crowd and women are following and weeping. Jesus tells them not to weep for him but for their children. He again tells them that Jerusalem will pay the price for rejecting him. Once there Jesus utters the line, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." Some are sneering and the mocking begins.

Daily Bible Reading Day 123

1Kings 3-5; Luke 23:1-26. Solomon is visited by God in a dream. Solomon is given a blank check from God. Solomon asks for wisdom in leading the Israelites. God not only promises him wisdom but also riches and honor. Immediately we are given a scene where Solomon renders judgment for two harlots who are arguing over whose baby this is. Solomon has a unique solution and his wisdom spreads far and wide. Solomon contracts with Hiram for cedars and cypress from Lebanon. Solomon marries Pharaoh's daughter and even at this early stage is sacrificing on the high places.

Jesus is questioned by Pilate who finds no guilt in him. Pilate discovers that Jesus is from Galilee and sends him over to Herod, who is over Galilee but in Jerusalem at the moment. Herod questions him and sends him back. Luke says that the two become friends because of this gesture by Pilate. Pilate continues his quest to release Jesus but the crowd is already demanding that he release Barabbas. Interesting that Luke doesn't record that Pilate had Jesus scourged. Luke takes us immediately to Simon being compelled to carry Jesus' cross.

Daily Bible Reading Day 122

1Kings 1-2; Luke 22:54-71. David is now old and about ready to die. They secure for him a young and beautiful maiden to keep him warm. During this time Adonijah, one of David's sons, decides to try to take the throne for himself. He gets Joab and Abiathar to follow him. Nathan gets Bathsheba to go tell David and David officially announces Solomon as king. David counsels Solomon to deal with Joab and Shimei. Solomon also gives the high priest office to Zadok instead of Abiathar. Adonijah doesn't fight the ascension of Solomon but does ask for the young maiden that served David. For that request Solomon has Adonijah executed.

While Jesus is taken to be questioned by the high priest, Peter follows and ends up in the courtyard near where Jesus is being questioned and beaten. After his three-fold denial Jesus turns and looks at him. This part is unique to Luke's Gospel. Jesus captors demand to know if he is the Christ but Jesus says that even if he tells them they will not believe.