In the 17th chapter of 2 Kings, Hoshea is the king of Israel. Again, like so many others, he did not please the Lord with his actions.
The king of Assyria invaded Israel and held them captive for three years. They moved the Israelites to various cities, keeping them from the Lord. Pagan customs and false gods were brought about upon them. The Israelites soon rejected God and followed these false gods, creating altars and images that displeased the Lord.
Then, the Lord sent lions and killed some of the people of Assyria. The king then received advice from his servants that the Israelites--mainly, the people of Judah, for the Lord rejected all of the others at this point--were kept away from their God and that the Lord sent the lions. The king ordered one of the priests from Israel to go to their people, and teach them what God required.
The people of Judah soon worshiped the Lord, but at the same time also served other false gods--all against the laws that the Lord sent to them.
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Sunday, February 24, 2019
Ahaz plunders the Lord's Temple
Ahaz was a king in Judah. He reigned for sixteen years, and was only twenty when he held the esteemed title.
In the book of 2 Kings, chapter 16, Ahaz was an ancestor of King David, but was nothing like him. Not only did he allow the practices of paganism to thrive under his leadership, he even sacrificed his own son.
The king of Syrian and Israel waged war against him. Ahaz sought help from the king of Assyria. To pay for such help, he raided all of the silver and gold form the Lord's Temple, sending it to the Assyrian king as a bribe. The Assyrian king then went up to Damascus and even put the Syrian king to death.
King Ahaz saw the altar the Assyrian king had built in Damascus and ordered an exact copy constructed made for him and his people. Ahaz was amazed by it and offered all kings of offerings to it. He then tore apart much of the Lord's Temple to please the Assyrian king.
In the book of 2 Kings, chapter 16, Ahaz was an ancestor of King David, but was nothing like him. Not only did he allow the practices of paganism to thrive under his leadership, he even sacrificed his own son.
The king of Syrian and Israel waged war against him. Ahaz sought help from the king of Assyria. To pay for such help, he raided all of the silver and gold form the Lord's Temple, sending it to the Assyrian king as a bribe. The Assyrian king then went up to Damascus and even put the Syrian king to death.
King Ahaz saw the altar the Assyrian king had built in Damascus and ordered an exact copy constructed made for him and his people. Ahaz was amazed by it and offered all kings of offerings to it. He then tore apart much of the Lord's Temple to please the Assyrian king.
Friday, February 22, 2019
How many Bibles does it take to learn about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit?
In the subject line of this blog post, I posed a question.
Everyone will have different answers, of course. Most, probably, will answer with one--if they read one at all. With the question, I mean, how many different Bibles do you refer to?
When I got confirmed (this was in 9th or so grade, I believe) I was given a Bible from our pastor. Over the years, I've kept it near me and read it. I have never read the Bible cover to cover, unfortunately, but with this blog I'm taking up the fight to do it.
Recently, my eyesight has caused reading the Bible a bit troubling. So, I purchased one on my Kindle four years ago--I use purchase loosely as it was free. I've been using it more and more as my eyesight goes haywire and there have been passages that have caused me to scratch my head. Then, I read the same chapter on the Bible from my childhood and it makes sense.
With my recent tax refund, I made the bold decision to purchase (yes, actually buy) four other versions. I've researched a variety of Bible translations and came up with four. The free version is the English Standard Version. The others I recently bought are: NIV (New International Version), Everyday Life Bible (Amplified Version) by Joyce Meyers, NLT (New Living Translation) Version, and an Apologetics Study Bible (Christian Standard Bible).
These are all Kindle versions so I can take them anywhere, increase the font if needed, and highlight passages. I've had these for about a week. Now, despite many of the passages being very similar, I'm already amazed at the slight variations in the translations.
So, if you find yourself struggling with a certain version, try another version. As long as you're reading God's Word, He will point you to where you should be going.
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Kings doing bad
In chapter 15 from the book of 2 Kings, there are a series of kings from Israel and Judah, some reigning for months and others for years.
Honestly, it's a confusing passage and I struggled what to write about it in our exploration of the Holy Bible. Then, I came to the conclusion that all of them, despite their status in life as kings of their nations, may have done things right in the eyes of the Lord (but not all of them did this) but turned around and did bad things.
I won't name all of the kings listed in this chapter. Some were godly and worshiped the Lord, yet let others worship other gods--false gods, mind you.
Honestly, it's a confusing passage and I struggled what to write about it in our exploration of the Holy Bible. Then, I came to the conclusion that all of them, despite their status in life as kings of their nations, may have done things right in the eyes of the Lord (but not all of them did this) but turned around and did bad things.
I won't name all of the kings listed in this chapter. Some were godly and worshiped the Lord, yet let others worship other gods--false gods, mind you.
Sunday, February 17, 2019
Amaziah's ego
In the book of 2 Kings, chapter 14, we find Amaziah, king of Judah. It was said he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but instead followed the example of his father. He may have worshiped the Lord, but he allowed pagans to continue with their own sacrifices.
When he was well-established as the king, he killed all of the servants who had murdered his father. But he spared their children, obeying the Lord's command as written by Moses.
Amaziah wanted to meet Jehoash, the king of Israel, face to face. Then, Jehoash offered his son to marry Amaziah's daughter. Amaziah refused. Jehoash told Amaziah that he was overconfident of his situation, so he then advanced his army. Amaziah was then captured and all of the gold, silver, and other treasures were taken from the Lord's temple.
When he was well-established as the king, he killed all of the servants who had murdered his father. But he spared their children, obeying the Lord's command as written by Moses.
Amaziah wanted to meet Jehoash, the king of Israel, face to face. Then, Jehoash offered his son to marry Amaziah's daughter. Amaziah refused. Jehoash told Amaziah that he was overconfident of his situation, so he then advanced his army. Amaziah was then captured and all of the gold, silver, and other treasures were taken from the Lord's temple.
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
If you are having troubles understanding the Bible, check out other versions
For a while now, I've been reading a lot more on my Kindle.
This includes the Bible. I still have the Bible I received from my church when I was younger, and was a confirmation gift, next to the bed. I refer to it from time to time.
The version I read on the Kindle is an English Standard Version. The one next to the bed is an American Standard version. There's also the King James, the amplified, the living word . . . and the list goes on and on.
The ESV Bible I'm reading can be confusing at times for me, but when I've read the same verses under another version, they've become clearer. And vice versa.
Back in college, someone told me once that one should always read the King James version because, with the archaic ways the words can be, it makes one read it slower. If this works for you, go for it. But one should not be confused by your Bible reading. Read what is comfortable for you. Read more than one version, if you wish. Experiment the the Lord's Word in other ways.
Always remember that there are other ways to read the Bible. Check out various study Bibles, if needed.
This includes the Bible. I still have the Bible I received from my church when I was younger, and was a confirmation gift, next to the bed. I refer to it from time to time.
The version I read on the Kindle is an English Standard Version. The one next to the bed is an American Standard version. There's also the King James, the amplified, the living word . . . and the list goes on and on.
The ESV Bible I'm reading can be confusing at times for me, but when I've read the same verses under another version, they've become clearer. And vice versa.
Back in college, someone told me once that one should always read the King James version because, with the archaic ways the words can be, it makes one read it slower. If this works for you, go for it. But one should not be confused by your Bible reading. Read what is comfortable for you. Read more than one version, if you wish. Experiment the the Lord's Word in other ways.
Always remember that there are other ways to read the Bible. Check out various study Bibles, if needed.
Sunday, February 10, 2019
The death of Elisha
Continuing in the 13th chapter of 2 Kings, verse 14, the prophet Elisha has fallen deathly ill.
When the Israeli king Joash discovered this he cried out. Elisha instructed Joash to shoot an arrow out the window, toward the east. He did so. Elisha said it was the Lords arrow of victory over Syria.
Elisha then told the king to shoot the other arrows into the ground. The king did so, but stopped after three. Elisha was furious! Elisha said he should have struck the ground five or six times, for that would have been how many times they would have had victory over Syria. But since he stopped after three, they would only see victory three times.
When the Israeli king Joash discovered this he cried out. Elisha instructed Joash to shoot an arrow out the window, toward the east. He did so. Elisha said it was the Lords arrow of victory over Syria.
Elisha then told the king to shoot the other arrows into the ground. The king did so, but stopped after three. Elisha was furious! Elisha said he should have struck the ground five or six times, for that would have been how many times they would have had victory over Syria. But since he stopped after three, they would only see victory three times.
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
Hard lessons from the Father
In the book of 2 Kings, chapter 13, we start with Jehoahaz, who ruled Israel for seventeen years. He was a wicked man and the Lord was unhappy with Israel because of it. He allowed Syria to continuously conquer them.
Then, one day, the Israelite king prayed for the Lord's help. And He did. But the Israeli people continued their wicked ways and then He allowed Syria to destroy much of their army.
Why was it that the Lord helped Israel, after they pleaded for help, when they continued their evil ways? Like an earthly father, the Lord God helped even when he knew they may not have learned their lesson.
Then, one day, the Israelite king prayed for the Lord's help. And He did. But the Israeli people continued their wicked ways and then He allowed Syria to destroy much of their army.
Why was it that the Lord helped Israel, after they pleaded for help, when they continued their evil ways? Like an earthly father, the Lord God helped even when he knew they may not have learned their lesson.
Sunday, February 3, 2019
Repairing the Temple
In the 12th chapter of 2 Kings, the king Jehoash ruled in Jerusalem for forty years. He always did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.
The other temples of idols, however, continued to thrive as others made sacrifices.
One day, Jehoash ordered the priests to take all of the money and save it, for the Temple was in need of repairs. They said they would. But they did not. Twenty-three long years went by and then he noticed repairs still had not been done. He told the priests to take no more money and use what they had to have repairs done. The priests agreed. Again, they made no such repairs.
One of the king's secretaries noticed a collection of money at the Temple. He collected it without the priests knowing and paid workers to repair the Temple. The workers were honest people and were not asked for an accounting of their work.
The other temples of idols, however, continued to thrive as others made sacrifices.
One day, Jehoash ordered the priests to take all of the money and save it, for the Temple was in need of repairs. They said they would. But they did not. Twenty-three long years went by and then he noticed repairs still had not been done. He told the priests to take no more money and use what they had to have repairs done. The priests agreed. Again, they made no such repairs.
One of the king's secretaries noticed a collection of money at the Temple. He collected it without the priests knowing and paid workers to repair the Temple. The workers were honest people and were not asked for an accounting of their work.
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