Bible: A Daily Reading Journal: August 2021

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Major Prophets

The 'Major Prophets' is part of the 'Latter Prophets' collection known as Nevi'im Aharonim, which contains the prophecies and teachings of individual prophets whose books bear their names. Unlike the English Bible, the Nevi'im only includes Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, which are the longest among the prophetic books.

Lamentations, though written by the prophet Jeremiah, was not included here because the Jews regarded it as more of a poetical book, hence it is placed in the Ketuvim or 'Writings'. The same goes with the book of Daniel, despite its rich visions of future prophetic events. It is grouped together with Ezra and Nehemiah as belonging to the same genre of historical writings that depict events during and after the exile.

Prophets, by nature of their indicting messages, projected an atmosphere of gloom and doom. No wonder most of the kings of Israel and Judah did not like to listen to these messengers from God, choosing rather to surround themselves with false prophets who spoke what they wanted to hear. Yet the role of these true prophets was not simply to condemn the leaders and the decadent society of their times; they also interceded on behalf of the people before God, and foretold a time of revival and hope for the nation through the coming Messiah, despite the current impending divine judgment.

And while many of the prophecies are veiled and obscure, some of which are difficult to understand or distinguish as belonging to Israel or relating to the church, one fact remains certain—God will bring to pass all that He has spoken through His prophets. Just as the prophecies of Messiah's first coming is realized in Jesus Christ, so also will the rest that await future fulfillment.

Tuesday, August 17, 2021

2 Kings

2 Kings continues the downward descends of both Israel and Judah that ultimately led to the destruction and scattering of the northern state by Assyria in 722 BC, followed by the exile of the southern kingdom to Babylon.

Like Elijah, the prophet Elisha ministered to Israel during the reigns of wicked kings who not only carried on the abominable practices of Jeroboam but outdone their predecessors in their vices. Despite inheriting double the power of Elijah, Elisha was unable to turn the fate of northern Israel around.

The last successive kings of Israel—beginning with Jehu who was tasked by God to execute judgment on Ahab and Jezebel— carried out his duty in excess by eliminating the whole house of Ahab and all his associates, and set the precedence for succession through murder in the likes of Shallum, Menahem, Pekah, and Hoshea. Sadly, among the nineteen kings that reigned in Samaria, not one was found whose heart was right before God. So just 220 years after the kingdom split, northern Israel was destroyed.

Though Judah survived the Assyrian invasion, it did not fare any better. Judgment was deferred only because of two good kings, Hezekiah and Josiah, who carried out religious reforms during their reigns, but with their passing the southern nation again fell into grave idolatry from which it never recovered. In the reign of Zedekiah, Judah's last king, Jerusalem was besieged by Nebuchadnezzar, its wall breached after the two and a half years siege, the Temple plundered and razed to the ground, and the people carried away to Babylon.

The book ends with a short account of Nebuchadnezzar's son restoring Jehoiachin to favor after serving 37 years in prison, giving a hint of hope that God would fulfill His word to bring the people back to the land after the 70 years of captivity.

OUTLINE OF 2 KINGS

1. The Divided Kingdoms (1:1-17:41)
Two Prophets
a. Elijah's Successor (1:1-3:27)
Ahaziah | Jehoram (Joram)—Israel
Chariot of Fire | Prophet of Water
b. Elisha's Service (4:1-8:29)
Miracles and Ministries
Jehoram (Jehoshaphat's son) | Ahaziah—Judah
Many Kings
a. Israel and Judah in Comradeship (9:1-12:21)
Jehu* kills Joram | Ahab's House | Jezebel
Athaliah kills David's Sons | Crowned Queen
Jehoiada protects Joash | Overthrows Athaliah
Revival under Joash
b. Israel and Judah in Conflict (13:1-17:41)
Jehoahaz | Jehoash—Israel
Death of Elijah | Amaziah | Azariah—Judah
Jeroboam II | Zechariah | Shallum* | Menahem*
Pekahiah | Pekah*—Israel
Ahaz—Judah | Hoshea*—Israel
* Succession through murder
Fall of Samaria to Assyria
2. The Desolated Kingdom (18:1-25:30)
a. Before the Fall (18:1-23:30)
Revival under Hezekiah
Saved from Assyria | Recovered from Sickness
Manasseh | Amon
Revival under Josiah
b. After the Fall (23:31-25:30)
Jehoahaz | Jehoiakim | Jehoiachin
Zedekiah—Rebelled | Punished | Exiled
Gedaliah—Governor | Murdered
Jehoiachin—Released | Reinstated

Monday, August 9, 2021

1 Kings

Like Samuel, the book of Kings is also one scroll in the Hebrew Old Testament. 1 Kings traces the established monarchy of the nation of Israel. Following David's death and his son Solomon's ascension to the throne, the united kingdom attained its zenith in power and prosperity to a promising start under the initial rule of the wise young king.

However, soon after building the Temple and instituting the national worship of God, Solomon embarked on costly building projects and royal marriages with foreign dignitaries, securing peace for the nation and indulging himself in wanton pleasures at the same time. The amassing of great wealth and building a formidable army not only placed a heavy strain on the common people, it violated every guideline God laid down in His law for the king (Deuteronomy 17).

Tragically, Solomon's son, Rehoboam, not only succeeded his father's throne but also his tyranny in exacting heavy taxes and labor on the people. As a result, ten of the tribes revolted and reestablished themselves as the northern kingdom of Israel under the leadership of Jeroboam, while Rehoboam maintained control over the tribes of Judah and Benjamin in the south. But it was all downhill for the divided kingdoms from this point onwards, with successive kings ruling from Samaria in the north and Jerusalem in the south. Northern Israel plunged headlong into perpetual idolatry with the institution of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan, and southern Judah immersed in Baal worship except when a few good kings took reign.

In these dark times, God raised up His prophets to speak out against idolatry and injustice, and to warn His people to repent and return to Him. Elijah was the most famous prophet to the northern kingdom with his fiery character and message:

18:24 The God who answers by fire, let him be God.

OUTLINE OF 1 KINGS

Tuesday, August 3, 2021

2 Samuel

The second book of Samuel focuses on the life of David after the death of king Saul. It chronicled his early success, from his rule in Hebron for seven and a half years in the midst of a divided kingdom, to his being finally accepted by the other tribes which supported the house of Saul and ascending the throne to unite the people as one again.

David was far from perfect, despite his efforts in establishing Jerusalem as a fortified capital city, bringing the ark of the covenant back to its resting place, desiring to build God a house and going to the extent of preparing the necessary materials, as well as stabilizing the nation and expanding its borders. The time of peace and prosperity is often most perilous—as with the king when he let his guard down momentarily.

David's affair with Bathsheba subsequently led to the murder of her husband Uriah to cover up the wrong. However, David's personal failure soon overflowed into his family, beginning with the violation of Tamar by Amnon, leading to revenge killing by her brother Absalom and a planned insurrection to usurp the throne that ended in his untimely death. But the trouble did not stop there; the incident created a rift between Judah and the other tribes, and provided an opportunity for Sheba, a rogue, to fuel discontent and instigate the people to oppose David's rule. Ultimately, David regained his throne, but only to reign as a bruised king among a broken people.

The prologue of Samuel offers a comparison of Saul and David in which their reigns caused untold hurt to others, the former against the Gibeonites and the latter, the Israelites. Contrast is made also of David's former valor and the lack of it in his latter days against the Philistines. Despite the setbacks, David hoped in God's favor and covenant faithfulness that in time to come, He will provide a just and perfect King who will reign through his family lineage, just as He had promised.

OUTLINE OF 2 SAMUEL