Category: Daily Readings

July 5 (Daily reading: 2 Kings 12-13; 2 Chronicles 24) “Joash did what was right in the sight of the LORD … Now it came about after this that Joash decided to restore the house of the LORD” (2 Ch. 24:2, 4). Because Joash was one of the good kings, he turned his attention to…

July 4 (Daily reading: 2 Kings 9-11) On our country’s birthday, we talk about peace and the importance of independence and freedom. But to have spiritual peace, we emphasize dependence (on God), and submission (to Him). The events in today’s reading are hard to read. Peace in that time, as in any time, did not…

July 3 (Daily reading: 2 Kings 5-8) Naaman had great standing in Syria, but that was meaningless when he became ill with leprosy. He could only expect misery and death. Then a lowly slave girl enters his story. The Bible does not even tell us her name! But God, who is unimpressed with what the…

July 2 (Daily reading: 2 Kings 1-4) An application of 2 Kings 2:19-22 is taken from my book: “Jesus taught: ‘Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another’ (Mk. 9:50). Why did Jesus tie having…

July 1 (Daily reading: Obadiah; Psalms 82-83) The identity of Obadiah, who wrote this short book, is not clear. But more important is the message of his vision. Why would he prophesy against the Edomites, descendants of Esau, at this particular time? We have already discussed that we are to avoid the attitude of independence,…

Jun 30 (2 Chronicles 19-23) We have been introduced to Jehoshaphat as one whose “heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord” (2 Ch. 17:6, NIV). The story of chapter 20 proves his devotion to God. The following paragraph is taken from my book. “King Jehoshaphat was told that a great multitude was coming…

Jun 29 (1 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 18) We again see the contrast of the kings Jehoshaphat and Ahab, this time according to their relationship to the prophets (2 Chronicles 18). The two kings were allies, and Ahab asked Jehoshaphat to go with him to fight against Ramoth Gilead. Jehoshaphat agreed on one condition: “Please…

Jun 28 (1 Kings 20-21) Ahab is identified as a king who “did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him” (1 Kgs. 16:33). Despite this discouraging fact, God gave him opportunities to be a king who would follow the Lord’s ways. When the king…

Jun 27 (1 Kings 17-19) Elijah was a man of faith. He lived his life by God’s provision, whether it be by the talon of a raven or the hand of a widow. His faith helped him to live courageously by his principles. When Ahab accused him of being a “troubler of Israel,” Elijah answered:…

Jun 26 (1 Kings 16; 2 Chronicles 17) Ahab and Jehoshaphat were both kings; they were contemporaries and allied by marriage, but you could not find two more different men. “Ahab did evil in the sight of the LORD more than all who were before him.” “(Jehoshaphat) sought the God of his father, (and) followed…