Daily Bible Reading Day 160

2Chronicles 26-28; John 17.  Uzziah becomes king at 16 years old. Initially he does right like his father. The text does not compare him to David. He builds fortifications in the land. His army gets big and powerful. Somewhere along the way he gets a little too big for his britches. He enters to the temple to perform the priest's duties. They try to get him out of there and he refuses at first. Then leprosy breaks out on his forehead and he is rushed out. He remains a leper to the day of his death.

Jotham replaces Uzziah. He walks in his father's ways. Again he is not a bad king but is not compared to David. Chronicles has a short listing for him. He is smart and doesn't enter the temple like his father. 

Jotham dies and Ahaz takes his place. Ahaz walks in the ways of the kings of Israel. He not only lets the people worship as they want, he does as well. He burns his sons in the fire. He continually loses in battle and doesn't receive the help he wants. During his loss to Aram, Israel tries to take captive some of the people of Judah. A prophet meets them along the way and tells them if they don't return the captives they will be in for big trouble. They return the captives. Ahaz appeals to Assyria for help. Instead of helping they afflict Judah. Ahaz gets deeper into idol worship as a result. He still doesn't find the relief he seeks. He dies and Hezekiah reigns in his place.

This is called Jesus' high priestly prayer. He prays first about himself and his work. He is bringing glory to the Father as was planned. Then he prays for his apostles and their work. Then he prays for those who would believe in him through the word of the apostles. Throughout this prayer he emphasizes the oneness that is and should be.

Daily Bible Reading Day 159

2Chronicles 23-25; John 16:16-3.   Jehoiada takes courage and puts Joash on the throne. He first gets the loyalty of the priests and Levites. Then he has a great coronation. Athaliah is put to death. As long as Jehoiada is alive the king is faithful but once Jehoiada dies he goes astray. One of Jehoiada's sons comes to Joash as a prophet but Joash has him stoned. Then the Arameans attacked with a small number yet they were able to defeat the army of Judah. Some of Joash's servants conspired and put him to death. Amaziah his son reigns in his place.

Amaziah puts to death those servants who conspired against his father. He goes to put down a rebellion in Edom. He takes on the gods of Edom after the battle. A prophet comes and asks why he would do such a thing. Then he goes against Israel. The king of the North warns him that he is being over-confident but he doesn't listen. Israel defeats him and loots the treasury of Judah. He dies in Lachish fleeing from Israel.

Jesus tells his disciples that he will speak plainly about his upcoming death. They come to realize that he has spoken plainly. He tells them not to worry about the world's response to them after his death because he has overcome the world. 

Daily Bible Reading Day 158

2Chronicles 17-19; John 15.  I think there is a blip in YouVersion's daily Bible reading schedule since it is having me read again chapters I've already read plus it skipped John 15 but now is putting it back in.

John 15 is where Jesus talks about us being the branches and he is the vine. Why is it assumed so readily that Jesus is talking about evangelism? Jesus goes on to remind his disciples that they will face opposition and persecution in the world for following him. Be prepared.

Daily Bible Reading Day 157

2Chronicles 20-22; John 16:1-15.  Chronicles is such a great read! A great army (an alliance of Moab and Ammon plus others) comes against Jehoshaphat and Judah. The king gathers everyone together and they call upon The Lord. The Lord routs the army and the people take three days to gather up the spoils. Jehoshaphat is a faithful king and praised as such. Yet towards the end of his life he does act wickedly and God thwarts his plans.

Jehoram becomes king. He walks in the ways of Ahab, king of Israel, because his wife is Ahab's daughter. He receives a letter from Elijah warning him of what was coming. The Philistines attack and carry off his wives and sons but his youngest son is left. He reigns only eight years and he dies of an incurable bowel disease. Jehoahaz, Ahaziah, takes over as king. He also walks in the ways of Ahab because his mother is Ahab's daughter. He reigns only one year. He is killed by Jehu who was sent by God to stop the house of Ahab. When his mother, Ahab's daughter, hears about her son's death she kills all of her son's sons. However, Ahaziah's sister, Jehoshabeath, saves one son, Joash. 

Jesus reveals a little more about the upcoming plans for when he departs. When Jesus goes back to the Father he will send the Holy Spirit. The Spirit will convict the world. The Spirit will also guide the apostles into all truth and will be their guide. So their sorrow will give way to joy.

Daily Bible Reading Day 156

2Chronicles 13-19; John 14.  Abijah becomes king. There is war between he and Jeroboam, between Judah and Israel, between North and South. Jeroboam has the bigger army, double in size. Yet Abijah has a speech that shows Jeroboam in rebellion against God. God helps Abijah to rout Jeroboam. 

Asa becomes king next. The text didn't say whether or not Abijah was a good or bad king. The text says Asa was a good king. He had lots of building projects. Then Ethiopia attacks with a million men. Asa and Judah cry out to God for help and they rout the Ethiopians. A prophet meets Abijah on his way home and has a good prophecy for him. Asa continues his reforms. There is peace in the land. Then the king of Israel attacks and Asa makes a treaty with the king of Aram. A prophet approaches Asa and asks why he didn't trust in The Lord the same way he did with the Ethiopians. Asa throws the prophet in prison. Asa then has a disease in his feet. He dies and Jehoshaphat becomes king.

The text says that Jehoshaphat is not only a good king but walks in David's ways.He is one of only three kings after Solomon of whom that is said. It is interesting that in spite of his faithfulness not only does Jehoshaphat enter into a treaty with Ahab but he allies himself with him through marriage. When he goes to battle with Ahab he does request a prophet of The Lord instead of the yes-men prophets of Baal that belong to Ahab. Ahab dies in the battle and Jehoshaphat escapes. Back home he is met by a prophet who rebukes him for his alliance with Ahab and Jehoshaphat responds well unlike his father Asa. In fact he sends out Levites to teach throughout the land. Even the Philistines send tribute to him because of the dread of The Lord that spread throughout the land through the teaching. 

This chapter has one of Jesus' most memorable statements, "Do not let your hearts be troubled." I think he is preparing his disciples for his upcoming death. He wants them to know that in the midst of their sadness that what is about to happen to him is planned and will bring about great benefits. They know the Father because they know Jesus.

Daily Bible Reading Day 155

2Chronicles 10-12;  John 13:18-38.  Rehoboam becomes king and Israel, the northern tribes, approach him with a request to lighten their load. Rehoboam doesn't listen to Solomon's advisers who tell him to lighten their load as they requested. Instead he listens to his friends who tell him to take a get tough attitude with them. The advice doesn't work and Israel is divided. He gathers the troops to go against the north but a prophet stops them. Then Rehoboam gets busy building and fortifying some of the cities of Judah. He also wisely distributes his sons throughout Judah. He forsakes The Lord and the Law and God brings the king of Egypt against them He plunders the gold. But Rehoboam and the other leaders do repent so God doesn't allow the king of Egypt to destroy them. However over time it appears that Rehoboam isn't faithful to God.

Jesus tells his apostles that one of them will betray him. They don't understand. Peter gets John to ask Jesus who it is. Jesus' response they don't understand. Judas leaves but the others think he's going to buy more food for the night. Jesus tells them that loving one another as he has loved them is how the world will know that they are his disciples. Peter proclaims that he will follow Jesus to the death but Jesus tells Peter that he will betray him before the rooster crows.

Daily Bible Reading Day 153

2Chronicles 4-6; John 12:20-50.  Solomon has the bronze altar built. It is big and has oxen (bronze) underneath.  He made 10 basins for washing the utensils needed for making the offerings. He made a bigger basin (sea) for the priests to wash. He brings the ark and places it in the temple. Then he assembles everyone. The musicians play, the singers sing, and God fills the temple with His Cloud. Solomon then has his dedication speech/prayer. He basically reminds the people that they have obligations to God and when those obligations are violated if they pray earnestly to God, God will heal them of their afflictions. 

Some Greeks come to Philip and request an audience with Jesus. Jesus tells them (us) of the importance of following him and doing his word. He didn't come to judge us but to save us but his word will judge us if we reject it.