2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles seems to be fairly similar to 2 Kings. They both gave a brief synopsis of each king and mentioned whether or not they obeyed the law. I did notice one difference in the last chapter today. 2 Chronicles ends with a message of hope for Israel because Cyrus of Persia announces that he will rebuild the temple in Jerusalem and let anyone who desires go back to Jerusalem. This announcement leads nicely into the next book of Ezra. 2 Kings didn't go over that, and just ended with Jehoiachin living in prison.
Luke
Luke 12:50-51 caught my attention. Jesus said "But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed! Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division."
First of all, the fact that Jesus was distressed until he completed his 'baptism' which I think refers to his death and resurrection. He doesn't always let us into his feelings about his task on earth. Usually, we just hear about all the wonderful things he did in ushering in the kingdom of God. But in this sentence, we find out just how much of an impact his ultimate goal had on him. It was truly difficult for him to follow through with the plan. We are privy to this struggle at one other point in scripture - his time in Gethsemane where he asks that God take 'this cup' from him, but also that God would have His will done. When we're struggling with a difficult task that God has given us, we can run to Jesus, because he certainly knows what we're dealing with.
Verse 51 is also interesting because it makes me think of another verse about peace. Luke 2:14 says "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests." Jesus' birth seems to usher in peace on earth, and yet later in his ministry, Jesus says that he didn't come to bring peace. Seems like somewhat of a paradox.
However, after reading Gill's Exposition on the Bible, I have found somewhat of an answer. God came to bring peace to men (as happened with Jesus' birth), but Jesus was not going to set up a political kingdom and solve the world's problems of peace or war. So these two different verses are really talking about two different kinds of peace - God's and man's. I think God's peace toward us is much more desirable and much longer lasting!
Showing posts with label 2 Kings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2 Kings. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Neverending genealogies with a purpose
1 Chronicles
I'm not going to lie - after now having read 7 chapters of genealogy in 1 Chronicles, I'm a little bored... The Chronicler sure liked to chronicle things! However, I understand that there is a point to all the names. He is showing the lineage and heritage of the great kings of Israel - David and Solomon. God made a number of promises to King David, stating that he would always have someone from his line on the throne. God keeps his promises! Nonetheless, it seems that maybe the information could have been presented in a more interesting manner.
Here's a fun fact, though. The Chronicles tell roughly the same story as 1 and 2 Kings, but the focus is different. In Kings, the author seems keen on showing how the Israelites failed to follow God's commands and subsequently, God would punish them, show love to them again when they started obeying, and then punish them when they fell back into pagan, sinful ways. In Chronicles, I believe we will see how God's promises to King David came true. Track along with me as we read continue to read the Chronicles and we'll find out!
I'm not going to lie - after now having read 7 chapters of genealogy in 1 Chronicles, I'm a little bored... The Chronicler sure liked to chronicle things! However, I understand that there is a point to all the names. He is showing the lineage and heritage of the great kings of Israel - David and Solomon. God made a number of promises to King David, stating that he would always have someone from his line on the throne. God keeps his promises! Nonetheless, it seems that maybe the information could have been presented in a more interesting manner.
Here's a fun fact, though. The Chronicles tell roughly the same story as 1 and 2 Kings, but the focus is different. In Kings, the author seems keen on showing how the Israelites failed to follow God's commands and subsequently, God would punish them, show love to them again when they started obeying, and then punish them when they fell back into pagan, sinful ways. In Chronicles, I believe we will see how God's promises to King David came true. Track along with me as we read continue to read the Chronicles and we'll find out!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Extra-biblical sources
2 Kings
It is so neat to hear about extra-biblical sources that back up what the bible says. Today I read in the footnotes of my Archaeological Study Bible that some archaeologists found Babylonian administrative tablets. These tablets apparently outline the rations provided to the captives in Babylon. In 2 Kings 25, we can read about the fall of Jerusalem and the captives that were taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. These tablets support this information because they mention Jehoiachin king of Judah and five of his sons!
As I read the bible, I often find myself reading it in a bit of a vacuum, thinking that nobody else would have bothered recording the information in it. It's interesting to see that the historical facts have been recorded elsewhere, to some extent.
It is so neat to hear about extra-biblical sources that back up what the bible says. Today I read in the footnotes of my Archaeological Study Bible that some archaeologists found Babylonian administrative tablets. These tablets apparently outline the rations provided to the captives in Babylon. In 2 Kings 25, we can read about the fall of Jerusalem and the captives that were taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. These tablets support this information because they mention Jehoiachin king of Judah and five of his sons!
As I read the bible, I often find myself reading it in a bit of a vacuum, thinking that nobody else would have bothered recording the information in it. It's interesting to see that the historical facts have been recorded elsewhere, to some extent.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
The next big thing
2 Kings
The story of Naaman exemplifies how we must be willing to swallow our pride so that God can do his work in our lives. We may often wonder when God is going to do his next big thing in our lives, but all the time perhaps he is working in our lives in small ways, stretching and growing us day by day.
In addition, while we are holding out for the opportunity to make ourselves shine, we could be actually keeping God from working in our lives at all! This story in 2 Kings 5 shows us that once we humble ourselves, God's Spirit can move through us, enabling him to do the work and bringing him the glory that he is due.
The story of Naaman exemplifies how we must be willing to swallow our pride so that God can do his work in our lives. We may often wonder when God is going to do his next big thing in our lives, but all the time perhaps he is working in our lives in small ways, stretching and growing us day by day.
In addition, while we are holding out for the opportunity to make ourselves shine, we could be actually keeping God from working in our lives at all! This story in 2 Kings 5 shows us that once we humble ourselves, God's Spirit can move through us, enabling him to do the work and bringing him the glory that he is due.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
The bronze snake
Key verse
Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Numbers
The story about the bronze snake in Numbers 21 almost seems a bit idolatrous. At least, the snake could lead to idolatry, in that the Israelites would look at the snake alone for healing, rather than having the bronze snake be a symbol of God's healing touch. In fact, years later, Hezekiah ended up destroying this bronze snake that Israel had kept all along, because it had become a god to them, and they were burning incense to it (see 2 Kings 18).
When God provides an avenue for us to worship him or call on him, or a tool to use in developing our relationship with him, we need to avoid idolizing that tool as a god, and instead remember that it is only a means to God.
Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Numbers
The story about the bronze snake in Numbers 21 almost seems a bit idolatrous. At least, the snake could lead to idolatry, in that the Israelites would look at the snake alone for healing, rather than having the bronze snake be a symbol of God's healing touch. In fact, years later, Hezekiah ended up destroying this bronze snake that Israel had kept all along, because it had become a god to them, and they were burning incense to it (see 2 Kings 18).
When God provides an avenue for us to worship him or call on him, or a tool to use in developing our relationship with him, we need to avoid idolizing that tool as a god, and instead remember that it is only a means to God.
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