Bible Reading Plan

Author: Jon Green

  • 2 Chronicles 6

    2 Chronicles 6

    Read 2 Chronicles 6

    6 Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud; 2 I have built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever.”

    3 While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed them. 4 Then he said:

    “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who with his hands has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to my father David. For he said, 5 ‘Since the day I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built so that my Name might be there, nor have I chosen anyone to be ruler over my people Israel. 6 But now I have chosen Jerusalem for my Name to be there, and I have chosen David to rule my people Israel.’

    7 “My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 8 But the Lord said to my father David, ‘You did well to have it in your heart to build a temple for my Name. 9 Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, your own flesh and blood—he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.’

    10 “The Lord has kept the promise he made. I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the Lord promised, and I have built the temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel.11 There I have placed the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord that he made with the people of Israel.”

    Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication

    12 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. 13 Now he had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide and three cubits high, and had placed it in the center of the outer court. He stood on the platform and then knelt down before the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven. 14 He said:

    “Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. 15 You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today.

    16 “Now, Lord, the God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me according to my law, as you have done.’ 17 And now, Lord, the God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David come true.

    18 “But will God really dwell on earth with humans? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! 19 Yet, Lord my God, give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. 20 May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name there. May you hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. 21 Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.

    22 “When anyone wrongs their neighbor and is required to take an oathand they come and swear the oath before your altar in this temple, 23 then hear from heaven and act. Judge between your servants, condemning the guilty and bringing down on their heads what they have done, and vindicating the innocent by treating them in accordance with their innocence.

    24 “When your people Israel have been defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against you and when they turn back and give praise to your name, praying and making supplication before you in this temple,25 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave to them and their ancestors.

    26 “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place and give praise to your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, 27 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live, and send rain on the land you gave your people for an inheritance.

    28 “When famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when enemies besiege them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, 29 and when a prayer or plea is made by anyone among your people Israel—being aware of their afflictions and pains, and spreading out their hands toward this temple— 30 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive, and deal with everyone according to all they do, since you know their hearts (for you alone know the human heart), 31 so that they will fear you and walk in obedience to you all the time they live in the land you gave our ancestors.

    32 “As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm—when they come and pray toward this temple, 33 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.

    34 “When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray to you toward this city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name, 35 then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause.

    36 “When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to a land far away or near; 37 and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong and acted wickedly’; 38 and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity where they were taken, and pray toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and toward the temple I have built for your Name; 39 then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their pleas, and uphold their cause. And forgive your people, who have sinned against you.

    40 “Now, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.

    41 “Now arise, Lord God, and come to your resting place,
        you and the ark of your might.
    May your priests, Lord God, be clothed with salvation,
        may your faithful people rejoice in your goodness.
    42 Lord God, do not reject your anointed one.
        Remember the great love promised to David your servant.”

    Go Deeper

    After finishing the detailed instructions on how the temple would be built for the past couple of chapters, this chapter might seem daunting because of its length! However, as we read we see that it’s actually a celebration prayer and speech packed with encouragement for the Israelites. The first thing Solomon does is bless God. He acknowledges that it is not by his own work or his father David’s work that the temple is built, but simply because God has faithfully fulfilled His prophecy. He begins his prayer kneeling, with arms stretched to represent surrender and ready reception which was the common posture of prayer in the Old Testament. Solomon humbled himself, glorified God and boldly asked Him to dwell in the temple and honor His people. 

    Then Solomon did something unique: He prayed for the future prayers that would be lifted within the temple. He asked that God would hear the oaths taken there and preserve justice and that God would hear when the Israelites are defeated or crying out from captivity or when there are times of plague and famine. He even asked that when foreigners find themselves near the temple praying that God would listen and they would come to fear Him. Solomon knew that even after this celebration, the world would still be broken and hardship is promised, but God dwelt with them and heard their prayers. 

    Now, we get to celebrate even more abundantly! Because the veil of the temple has been torn, through Jesus’s body being broken, the Holy Spirit now dwells within us. So even though we don’t have the temple or the Ark of the Covenant, we have the security that God not only hears our prayers, but listens. So, how often do we take advantage of this gift that hasn’t always been available? 

    We have the ability to commune with God in our quiet times as well as at work, in our cars, getting coffee, or while doing the dishes. When we shift our mindset from encountering God for thirty minutes in the morning to all throughout our day, we can grow exponentially in our relationship with Him.

    Questions

    1. What sticks out to you most about Solomon’s prayer? Why? 
    2. What small habit could you change today to encounter God more? 
    3. How can you be praying for the people within your church or community?

    Keep Digging

    If you want to learn more about the veil being torn and what that means for us, click here to read this article from GotQuestions.org!

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  • 2 Chronicles 5

    2 Chronicles 5

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    5 When all the work Solomon had done for the temple of the Lord was finished, he brought in the things his father David had dedicated—the silver and gold and all the furnishings—and he placed them in the treasuries of God’s temple.

    The Ark Brought to the Temple

    2 Then Solomon summoned to Jerusalem the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the Israelite families, to bring up the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Zion, the City of David. 3 And all the Israelites came together to the king at the time of the festival in the seventh month.

    4 When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the Levites took up the ark, 5 and they brought up the ark and the tent of meeting and all the sacred furnishings in it. The Levitical priestscarried them up; 6 and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted.

    7 The priests then brought the ark of the Lord’s covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim. 8 The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and covered the ark and its carrying poles. 9 These poles were so long that their ends, extending from the ark, could be seen from in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are still there today. 10 There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt.

    11 The priests then withdrew from the Holy Place. All the priests who were there had consecrated themselves, regardless of their divisions. 12 All the Levites who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. 13 The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lordand sang:

    “He is good;
        his love endures forever.”

    Then the temple of the Lord was filled with the cloud, 14 and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God.

    Go Deeper

    Finally the day has come. The temple has been finished according to God’s design. Seven years of hard work and excellent craftsmanship have culminated into a work of art. But, even after all that, the temple isn’t complete until the ark of the covenant makes its way into the Temple. All the beautiful details are meaningless without the presence of God, symbolized by the ark of the covenant.

    Solomon knows this and so this day is marked by celebration, sacrifice, and praise. The text tells us that there were so many sheep and cattle sacrificed to God that they couldn’t even be counted. A huge festival marked the occasion, and all the Israelites came together to worship. Once the ark was placed in the Holy Place, the priests and musicians “joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord.” As they praised God, the temple became so full of the glory of the Lord that the priests couldn’t even do their jobs. Five hundred years after God commanded the Israelites to build the ark of the covenant, the day had finally come to move that ark into the Temple. God’s presence was permanently with them. What a celebration it was!

    The crazy thing is, because of Jesus, we no longer must only access God through a Temple and a priest. The very presence of God that filled the Temple that day lives within us as believers. As Paul reminded the church in Corinth: “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?”(1 Corinthians 3:16) Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. We house God’s presence within us; we have access to His power and presence all the time.

    The Israelites threw a massive festival just to celebrate God’s presence nearer to them through the Temple, even though they couldn’t have direct access to God themselves. We walk around housing His Spirit in our bodies and yet don’t think twice about it. We spend most days completely unaware of God’s presence within us. We take the gift of His nearness for granted. But, what would today look like if we were aware of God’s presence throughout each moment? What could God do through us if we were fully alert to His presence? Friends, let’s not miss it. Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to guide, direct, and help us every moment today.

    Questions

    1. Solomon knew that as beautiful and detailed as the Temple was, it was incomplete without the presence of God. No matter what your temple looks like, the most important thing about your body is that it houses God’s presence. How can that thinking re-shape how you view yourself today?
    2. How often are you aware that God’s presence is with you each day? How could remembering that He is with you help you to rely on Him more today?
    3. Take the next 5-10 minutes to sit with God in silence. Breathe slowly and tune into God’s presence within you. Acknowledge His presence and ask for more awareness of Him today.

    Listen Here

    Listen to this podcast from The Bible Project about the connection between the Temple and the Spirit.

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  • 2 Chronicles 4

    2 Chronicles 4

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    The Temple’s Furnishings

    4 He made a bronze altar twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide and ten cubits high. 2 He made the Sea of cast metal, circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim and five cubits high. It took a line of thirty cubits to measure around it. 3 Below the rim, figures of bulls encircled it—ten to a cubit. The bulls were cast in two rows in one piece with the Sea.

    4 The Sea stood on twelve bulls, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south and three facing east. The Sea rested on top of them, and their hindquarters were toward the center. 5 It was a handbreadth in thickness, and its rim was like the rim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It held three thousand baths.

    6 He then made ten basins for washing and placed five on the south side and five on the north. In them the things to be used for the burnt offerings were rinsed, but the Sea was to be used by the priests for washing.

    7 He made ten gold lampstands according to the specifications for them and placed them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north.

    8 He made ten tables and placed them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north. He also made a hundred gold sprinkling bowls.

    9 He made the courtyard of the priests, and the large court and the doors for the court, and overlaid the doors with bronze. 10 He placed the Sea on the south side, at the southeast corner.

    11 And Huram also made the pots and shovels and sprinkling bowls.

    So Huram finished the work he had undertaken for King Solomon in the temple of God:

    12 the two pillars;

    the two bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars;

    the two sets of network decorating the two bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars;

    13 the four hundred pomegranates for the two sets of network (two rows of pomegranates for each network, decorating the bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars);

    14 the stands with their basins;

    15 the Sea and the twelve bulls under it;

    16 the pots, shovels, meat forks and all related articles.

    All the objects that Huram-Abi made for King Solomon for the temple of the Lord were of polished bronze. 17 The king had them cast in clay molds in the plain of the Jordan between Sukkoth and Zarethan. 18 All these things that Solomon made amounted to so much that the weight of the bronze could not be calculated.

    19 Solomon also made all the furnishings that were in God’s temple:

    the golden altar;

    the tables on which was the bread of the Presence;

    20 the lampstands of pure gold with their lamps, to burn in front of the inner sanctuary as prescribed;

    21 the gold floral work and lamps and tongs (they were solid gold);

    22 the pure gold wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, dishes and censers; and the gold doors of the temple: the inner doors to the Most Holy Place and the doors of the main hall.

    Go Deeper

    This chapter continues on with the detailed narrative of how the temple was constructed, down to specific dimensions and the furniture that was built specifically for the temple. Solomon was building according to the plan that had been passed down by God to his father (King David) and, as we read in previous chapters, no expense was spared. The temple was so much more than a building to be half heartedly cobbled together. It was a place of worship–a place where people could worship and experience God (both individually and collectively). 

    Imagine the blood, sweat, and tears that went into the construction of such a place. It is thought that the temple took seven years to build! Everything had been thought through and meticulously built, from the bronze altar (34 feet long, 34 feet wide, and 17 feet high) down to the golden wick trimmers. What makes such labor intensive, grueling work worth doing? At the end of the day, it all comes down to the motivation and the heart behind why you do what you do. The construction of the temple had an important purpose. People would encounter God there! Solomon understood that. A theme throughout the scriptures is the importance of diligence (and the dangers of laziness). God calls us to work (and work well) and when we do, He is ultimately glorified in that.

    While the temple was the place to meet God back then, we know that things are different now for believers in Jesus. Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we have the Spirit of God living inside of us. The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 6, even describes our bodies as a temple of the Holy Spirit. We are no longer limited to a finite space full of elaborate bronze and gold furnishings, but instead we have the Spirit living inside of us. As we go about our days today, ask God to use you (through the Spirit inside you) as a way for people to encounter Him today.

    Questions

    1. What first stuck out to you as you read this chapter? Why?
    2. Do you find yourself lacking purpose in the work that you do (whatever it might be)? How can you focus today on glorifying God through the work that you do today?
    3. With the Spirit living inside of us, we are able to interact with God all throughout the day. How can you be more mindful of that as you go about your day today?

    a Quote

    Check out this quote from Tim Keller’s book Every Good Endeavor on work:

    “Everyone will be forgotten, nothing we do will make any difference, and all good endeavors, even the best, will come to naught. 

    Unless there is God. If the God of the Bible exists, and there is a True Reality beneath and behind this one, and this life is not the only life, then every good endeavor, even the simplest ones, pursued in response to God’s calling, can matter forever.”

    Leave a Comment below

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  • 2 Chronicles 3

    2 Chronicles 3

    Read 2 Chronicles 3

    Solomon Builds the Temple

    3 Then Solomon began to build the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David. It was on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the place provided by David.2 He began building on the second day of the second month in the fourth year of his reign.

    3 The foundation Solomon laid for building the temple of God was sixty cubits long and twenty cubits wide (using the cubit of the old standard).4 The portico at the front of the temple was twenty cubits long across the width of the building and twenty cubits high.

    He overlaid the inside with pure gold. 5 He paneled the main hall with juniper and covered it with fine gold and decorated it with palm tree and chain designs. 6 He adorned the temple with precious stones. And the gold he used was gold of Parvaim. 7 He overlaid the ceiling beams, doorframes, walls and doors of the temple with gold, and he carved cherubim on the walls.

    8 He built the Most Holy Place, its length corresponding to the width of the temple—twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide. He overlaid the inside with six hundred talents of fine gold. 9 The gold nails weighed fifty shekels.He also overlaid the upper parts with gold.

    10 For the Most Holy Place he made a pair of sculptured cherubim and overlaid them with gold. 11 The total wingspan of the cherubim was twenty cubits. One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long and touched the temple wall, while its other wing, also five cubits long, touched the wing of the other cherub. 12 Similarly one wing of the second cherub was five cubits long and touched the other temple wall, and its other wing, also five cubits long, touched the wing of the first cherub. 13 The wings of these cherubimextended twenty cubits. They stood on their feet, facing the main hall.

    14 He made the curtain of blue, purple and crimson yarn and fine linen, with cherubim worked into it.

    15 For the front of the temple he made two pillars, which together were thirty-five cubits long, each with a capital five cubits high. 16 He made interwoven chains and put them on top of the pillars. He also made a hundred pomegranates and attached them to the chains. 17 He erected the pillars in the front of the temple, one to the south and one to the north. The one to the south he named Jakin and the one to the north Boaz.

    Go Deeper

    In this chapter, King Solomon begins the temple project that his father (King David) prepared for him to accomplish. First Chronicles 28:19 states, “All this, David said, I have in writing as a result of the Lords’ hand on me, and He enabled me to understand all the details of the plan.” The construction of the temple has long been awaited by the people of Israel. This magnificent structure would represent the presence of God in their midst. 

    Solomon’s efforts to construct the house of God spared no expense in decorating every section of it with extravagant materials. The design included nothing but the finest of materials that would be used to build and decorate the house of God. This temple would represent the heavenly King’s earthly palace, displaying His holiness and glory. 

    There are so many details described in the building of the temple that point us to Jesus. The location of the temple is significant. Not only was it the place where the Lord had appeared to David, but it is also the place where Abraham offered Isaac, and the Lord provided a ram instead. (Genesis 22) It is also believed by scholars to be near, if not on the set of hills where Jesus’ cross was placed. 

    Another detail is that the Most Holy Place was separated by a heavy veil. Only the High Priest could enter once a year to offer atonement (payment) for the sins of the people of God. At Jesus’ death, the temple veil was torn from top to bottom, forever representing our access to God through Jesus’ sacrifice of His life. Hebrews 9 describes Jesus, as our high priest, entering once for all by His blood, securing our eternal redemption.

    Now there is no need for an ornate temple to represent God’s presence. As believers in Jesus, we are God’s temple and His Spirit dwells in us. However, pondering the holiness, beauty, perfection, and excellence of God may deepen our desire to reflect His character. Our response to His presence in our lives may prompt awe, worship, praise, and surrender.  He alone is holy, holy, holy, and worthy.

    Questions

    1. How does beauty stir your awe of our Holy God?
    2. How do your gifts to serve Christ reflect His presence in you?
    3. How will you express your thanks for God’s presence in you?

    Watch This

    The construction of the temple was an important milestone in the Old Testament. To learn more about the temple and its significance, check out this video from The Bible Project!

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  • 2 Chronicles 2

    2 Chronicles 2

    Read 2 Chronicles 2

    Preparations for Building the Temple

    2 Solomon gave orders to build a temple for the Name of the Lord and a royal palace for himself. 2 He conscripted 70,000 men as carriers and 80,000 as stonecutters in the hills and 3,600 as foremen over them.

    3 Solomon sent this message to Hiram king of Tyre:

    “Send me cedar logs as you did for my father David when you sent him cedar to build a palace to live in. 4 Now I am about to build a temple for the Name of the Lord my God and to dedicate it to him for burning fragrant incense before him, for setting out the consecrated bread regularly, and for making burnt offerings every morning and evening and on the Sabbaths, at the New Moons and at the appointed festivals of the Lordour God. This is a lasting ordinance for Israel.

    5 “The temple I am going to build will be great, because our God is greater than all other gods. 6 But who is able to build a temple for him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him? Who then am I to build a temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before him?

    7 “Send me, therefore, a man skilled to work in gold and silver, bronze and iron, and in purple, crimson and blue yarn, and experienced in the art of engraving, to work in Judah and Jerusalem with my skilled workers, whom my father David provided.

    8 “Send me also cedar, juniper and algum logs from Lebanon, for I know that your servants are skilled in cutting timber there. My servants will work with yours 9 to provide me with plenty of lumber, because the temple I build must be large and magnificent. 10 I will give your servants, the woodsmen who cut the timber, twenty thousand cors of ground wheat, twenty thousand cors of barley, twenty thousand baths of wine and twenty thousand baths of olive oil.”

    11 Hiram king of Tyre replied by letter to Solomon:

    “Because the Lord loves his people, he has made you their king.”

    12 And Hiram added:

    “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who made heaven and earth! He has given King David a wise son, endowed with intelligence and discernment, who will build a temple for the Lord and a palace for himself.

    13 “I am sending you Huram-Abi, a man of great skill, 14 whose mother was from Dan and whose father was from Tyre. He is trained to work in gold and silver, bronze and iron, stone and wood, and with purple and blue and crimson yarn and fine linen. He is experienced in all kinds of engraving and can execute any design given to him. He will work with your skilled workers and with those of my lord, David your father.

    15 “Now let my lord send his servants the wheat and barley and the olive oil and wine he promised, 16 and we will cut all the logs from Lebanon that you need and will float them as rafts by sea down to Joppa. You can then take them up to Jerusalem.”

    17 Solomon took a census of all the foreigners residing in Israel, after the census his father David had taken; and they were found to be 153,600. 18 He assigned 70,000 of them to be carriers and 80,000 to be stonecutters in the hills, with 3,600 foremen over them to keep the people working.

    Go Deeper

    In 1 Chronicles, we read about the anointing of David and his reign in Israel. We ended with David passing the torch down to his son Solomon. In the previous chapter, Solomon, who is young and inexperienced, asked the Lord for wisdom and knowledge to lead the people. This wisdom was granted to him. King David’s dream of building a temple for the Lord is now the task of King Solomon. The chapter begins telling us that “Solomon gave orders to build a temple for the Name of the Lord and a royal palace for himself” (v. 1). 

    This temple was going to be built in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah. This place is significant for many reasons. It is where God called Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac back in Genesis 22. Now about a thousand years later, God is calling Solomon to build the First Temple there. Solomon then selected “70,000 men as carriers and 80,000 as stonecutters in the hills and 3,600 as foremen over them” (v. 2). This is a lot of people! The assignment at hand was large, and Solomon needed a big team to complete this project. Solomon then reaches out to the King of Tyre named Hiram. Tyre was a port city on the Mediterranean Sea just north of Israel. We are first introduced to King Hiram back in 2 Samuel 5 after David had conquered the city of Jerusalem and established his capital there. Hiram had always been a friend and ally with David and was now partnering with Solomon in this project.  

    Solomon makes a request to Hiram, seeking help with the Temple. He says, “Send me, therefore, a man skilled to work in gold and silver, bronze, and iron, and in purple, crimson and blue yarn, and experienced in the art of engraving, to work in Judah and Jerusalem with my skilled workers, whom my father David provided. Send me also cedar, juniper, and algum logs from Lebanon, for I know that your servants are skilled in cutting timber there” (v. 7-8).  King Hiram sent silver, gold, craftsmen, and more! This was an opportunity for both kingdoms to mutually benefit, as they formed a trading alliance.  

    What can we learn from this partnership? It is notable that a pagan king, one who did not follow the God of Israel, was a large part of why the construction of the Temple was possible. Hiram praised the God of Israel because of the great wisdom He had given Solomon, but there is no evidence that he was a believer himself. The descendants of Abraham, or the Israelites, were God’s chosen people, and those who were not a part of the nation of Israel were considered Gentiles. However, the Old Testament is filled with references of God’s heart for all nations and all people, not just the Israelites. 

    We see this displayed in 1 Kings 8 where Solomon is praying to dedicate the temple to the Lord. Solomon prays to God saying, “As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name— for they will hear of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm—when they come and pray toward this temple, then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name” (1 Kings 8:41-43). This temple would be a means for Gentiles to be introduced to the God of Israel. Solomon’s partnership with Hiram was an example of how God uses all people and desires all people of all nations to be in relationship with Him.

    Questions

    1. For Solomon to build the temple, he needed to recruit people with different talents. What unique gifts or abilities has the Lord given you? How can you use them for His glory?  
    2. Why do you think God used a pagan king to be a part of building His Temple? What does this teach you about the heart of God? 
    3. What are other examples in the Old Testament where you can see God’s intent to redeem, not just the Israelites, but all people to Himself?

    Keep Digging

    Interested in learning more about King Hiram? Check out this article from GotQuestions.org!

    Leave a Comment below

    Did you learn something today? Share it with our Bible Reading Plan community by commenting below.

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  • 2 Chronicles 1 + Overview

    2 Chronicles 1 + Overview

    2 Chronicles Overview

    Second Chronicles picks up right where the previous book leaves off: as King David’s reign is ending and Solomon, his son, assumes the throne. Originally one long book, 1 and 2 Chronicles were divided into two parts some time around 200 BC as the Old Testament was translated from Hebrew to Greek (known as the Septuagint). Like 1 Chronicles, this was likely written in the fifth century BC after the Jewish people had returned home from exile and began rebuilding the temple. While the author isn’t explicitly identified, one leading theory amongst many scholars is that Ezra was the one who penned this book. 

    This book covers a few hundred year span from when Solomon became king in 971 BC until the southern kingdom of Judah was carried into Babylonian exile in 586 BC. This book focuses on the story of Judah (and less so on the northern kingdom of Israel). The beginning portion of the book opens with the story of Solomon building the temple (according to the plans God had given to David). From there, we see a cyclical pattern of righteous and unrighteous kings that followed and disobeyed God’s instructions (and the ramifications of their choices). 

    Since this book was written as a historical piece to help God’s people remember where they had been and what they had come from, we would do well to let it serve as a reminder to us as well. As we read these words and chapters from over two thousand years ago, let us be reminded of the importance of honoring and obeying God’s instructions in our own lives. We, too, can be forgetful people and fail to remember what God has done in redeeming our own lives, let alone the lives of those who came before us. As we read over the coming weeks, let’s be reminded of the goodness of God in our own lives.

    To refresh your memory and to be reminded of the overall story arch of 1 and 2 Chronicles, check out this video overview from The Bible Project.

    Read 2 Chronicles 1

    Solomon Asks for Wisdom

    1 Solomon son of David established himself firmly over his kingdom, for the Lord his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.

    2 Then Solomon spoke to all Israel—to the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, to the judges and to all the leaders in Israel, the heads of families— 3 and Solomon and the whole assembly went to the high place at Gibeon, for God’s tent of meeting was there, which Moses the Lord’s servant had made in the wilderness. 4 Now David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim to the place he had prepared for it, because he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. 5 But the bronze altar that Bezalelson of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was in Gibeon in front of the tabernacle of the Lord; so Solomon and the assembly inquired of him there. 6 Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the Lord in the tent of meeting and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.

    7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

    8 Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. 9 Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

    11 God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.”

    13 Then Solomon went to Jerusalem from the high place at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting. And he reigned over Israel.

    14 Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. 15 The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills. 16 Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue—the royal merchants purchased them from Kue at the current price. 17 They imported a chariot from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. They also exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and of the Arameans.

    Go Deeper

    Second Chronicles transitions from the end of David’s reign as king to the beginning of the kingship of Solomon. David reigned in Israel for 40 years, and his reign was marked by successes in battle and a heart passionately devoted to God. Solomon’s establishment as king was marked by three things: David’s gathering of building materials to enable his son to build God’s temple, Solomon publicly leading his people in worship of the one true God, and his request to God for wisdom and knowledge to lead the people (v. 10).  

    God offered Solomon anything he wanted, so He was pleased when Solomon asked from his heart for wisdom to rule well rather than for tangible things such as possessions, wealth, or long life. This request was evidence of Solomon’s desire to govern well rather than pursue selfish ambition. As a reward, God blessed him in such a way that his rule was known for riches and honor far beyond any king that ruled before him. 

    As the new king, Solomon had everything he needed to continue David’s work. His reign begins to sound like the perfect, storybook career until we reflect on God’s instruction to the kings in Deuteronomy 17, which specifically warns against multiplying horses, multiplying wives, and multiplying silver and gold. Was Solomon unaware of these instructions? Of course not. David, a man who knew God’s law intimately, would have been sure to instruct his son in them and have him write a copy of the law as commanded.  

    So, like David before him, Solomon also had flaws, despite his great gifts from God. These things appear in the words of the Chronicler, beginning in verse 14. When it came to wealth, Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen. Silver and gold in Jerusalem were as common as stones. He used his wealth to import horses from Egypt (versus 14-16). While his reign began on a promising note, it was his trust in wealth that led to dire consequences in the chapters to come. 

    Questions

    1. If God were to give you anything you wanted, what would you ask for? What is your gut response and what does that reveal about your heart?
    2. How is it possible that the great gifts given to Solomon would become the catalyst that led to his downfall? 
    3. Where else in the Old Testament have we seen man mishandle God’s perfect gifts?

    Pray This

    Father God, 

    Help me see the gifts that you have created exclusively for me. Allow me the wisdom to take those gifts and create fruit that advances your kingdom. Let me understand the importance of being a vessel that you can work through and shine your light to others. Continue to teach me in your Word where you provide everything I need to walk closely with you and share the good news, according to your perfect plan. 

    In Your Son’s name I pray, Amen.

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  • Rest Day

    Rest Day

    Rest Day

    Today is a Rest Day. There is no new Bible reading to do. Today, the goal is simple: rest in the presence of God. Maybe you need to use today to get caught up on the reading plan if you’re behind, maybe you want to journal what you’re learning so you don’t forget what God is teaching you, or maybe you want to spend time in concentrated prayer–do that. Above all, just spend time in God’s presence. 

    Watch This: Daniel Overview

    We always begin a new book with the overview from The Bible Project, but since Daniel is such a complicated book with so much happening in the latter half of the book, it is helpful to re-watch it and get a full grasp on everything that happened to make sure we didn’t miss anything. Click here to re-watch it!

    Worship with us

    Join us in person or online at 9a or 11a at harriscreek.org/live. We will not be having the 7p service for the duration of the summer! We’d love to worship with you! We also desire to connect everyone with a local church body where they can thrive in community and use their gifts to serve. If you’re following our Bible Reading Plan from outside of Waco and are eager to get connected with a great local church, email us at [email protected].

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  • Daniel 12

    Daniel 12

    Read Daniel 12

    The End Times

    12 “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise[a] will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.”

    5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. 6 One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?”

    7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time.[b] When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.”

    8 I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?”

    9 He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.

    11 “From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.

    13 “As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.”

    Go Deeper

    We have reached the end of Daniel! We have read heroic stories of Daniel’s faith and prophetic visions of the future. This book is packed with examples of bold and countercultural faith, as well as accounts of people who stood firm and were unwilling to compromise. We read visions of Daniel that provided hope for the exiles in Babylon of a Savior to come, and hope for us in Jesus’ return. In the previous chapter, there was a focus on the coming conflict in the near future. This included the kings of the North and South, prophecies concerning a ruler named Antiochus Epiphanes, and revelation about the Antichrist. It told us that the Antichrist will exalt himself, blaspheme the Lord, rely on military power, be established in Jerusalem, but finally come to an end (11:36-45).  

    This chapter is a culmination of the dreams and visions of Daniel, with a focus on the far future with the resurrection and final judgment. There is a promise that the end times will be a time of trouble. This time of trouble will be different than Israel has seen prior to this. The chapter begins telling us that “Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then” (v. 1). The archangel Michael is commonly associated with a spiritual battle and is believed to be Satan’s opposite. He stands watch over the people of Israel protecting them. This “time of trouble” is referring to the Great Tribulation. 

    However, there is also a promise of deliverance for the people of God. It says, “But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.” The “book” is a reference to The Book of Life, which is the names of people who are saved and will get to live forever with God in Heaven (Revelation 3:5). Those believers will be resurrected into eternal life. It tells us that “multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt” (v. 2). The word “sleep” in this verse means death and “dust” is referring to the grave. This is a sobering but powerful picture. Every single person we know will be in one of two places for all of eternity: with God forever in Heaven or separated from God forever in Hell. We will either be in everlasting life or everlasting contempt. 

    If we believe this is true, this changes everything. We would live with that perspective in mind. We would keep our minds fixed on the things of eternity. We would leverage our lives for the sake of His Kingdom. We would share the hope of the gospel with a sense of urgency. We would be righteous people who “lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever” (v. 3). We would be willing to do whatever it takes to lead others to Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Will we live today for what is going to matter forever?

    Questions

    1. How does this chapter and the book of Daniel give you hope for the future?   
    2. Who is someone that God has placed on your heart that can you share the gospel with today? Text a close friend or someone in your Life Group and ask them to hold you accountable to doing so!
    3. What is your main takeaway from the book of Daniel? How will you apply this to your life?

    Listen Here

    Check out this final episode of The Bible Project’s five-part series on Daniel titled “Resurrection Hope.”

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  • Daniel 11

    Daniel 11

    Read Daniel 11

    11 1 And in the first year of Darius the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.)

    The Kings of the South and the North

    2 “Now then, I tell you the truth: Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.3 Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases. 4 After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others.

    5 “The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power. 6 After some years, they will become allies. The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power will not last. In those days she will be betrayed, together with her royal escort and her father and the one who supported her.

    7 “One from her family line will arise to take her place. He will attack the forces of the king of the North and enter his fortress; he will fight against them and be victorious. 8 He will also seize their gods, their metal images and their valuable articles of silver and gold and carry them off to Egypt. For some years he will leave the king of the North alone. 9 Then the king of the North will invade the realm of the king of the South but will retreat to his own country. 10 His sons will prepare for war and assemble a great army, which will sweep on like an irresistible flood and carry the battle as far as his fortress.

    11 “Then the king of the South will march out in a rage and fight against the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but it will be defeated. 12 When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be filled with pride and will slaughter many thousands, yet he will not remain triumphant. 13 For the king of the North will muster another army, larger than the first; and after several years, he will advance with a huge army fully equipped.

    14 “In those times many will rise against the king of the South. Those who are violent among your own people will rebel in fulfillment of the vision, but without success. 15 Then the king of the North will come and build up siege ramps and will capture a fortified city. The forces of the South will be powerless to resist; even their best troops will not have the strength to stand. 16 The invader will do as he pleases; no one will be able to stand against him. He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land and will have the power to destroy it. 17 He will determine to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will make an alliance with the king of the South. And he will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom, but his plans will not succeed or help him. 18 Then he will turn his attention to the coastlands and will take many of them, but a commander will put an end to his insolence and will turn his insolence back on him. 19 After this, he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own country but will stumble and fall,to be seen no more.

    20 “His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor.In a few years, however, he will be destroyed, yet not in anger or in battle.

    21 “He will be succeeded by a contemptible person who has not been given the honor of royalty. He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue. 22 Then an overwhelming army will be swept away before him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed. 23 After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully,and with only a few people he will rise to power. 24 When the richest provinces feel secure, he will invade them and will achieve what neither his fathers nor his forefathers did. He will distribute plunder, loot and wealth among his followers. He will plot the overthrow of fortresses—but only for a time.

    25 “With a large army he will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will wage war with a large and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of the plots devised against him. 26 Those who eat from the king’s provisions will try to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall in battle. 27 The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will sit at the same table and lie to each other, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time.28 The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own country.

    29 “At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before. 30 Ships of the western coastlands will oppose him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and vent his fury against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant.

    31 “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. 32 With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.

    33 “Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. 34 When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. 35 Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.

    The King Who Exalts Himself

    36 “The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place. 37 He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all. 38 Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his ancestors he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. 39 He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price.

    40 “At the time of the end the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood. 41 He will also invade the Beautiful Land. Many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. 42 He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. 43 He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Cushites in submission. 44 But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. 45 He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.

    Go Deeper

    This passage starts with the last words of Gabriel’s explanation to Daniel’s in his vision. Then Gabriel goes on to fulfill what he stated in the previous chapter: 

    “Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.”  

    While we believe this is an example of a prophecy fulfilled, there are some scholars who have searched for alternative explanations, like that this prophecy was written after the events actually transpired because of the accuracy of how the predictions came to be. But what can we learn from a prophecy about kings we don’t know or don’t remember from history class? Not only does this passage highlight the Lord’s power and omniscience, but it shows over and over again what happens when people follow their own way. Let’s reread a few of the verses from this chapter:

    • Violent ones among your own people will assert themselves to fulfill a vision, but they will fail. (v. 14)
    •  The king of the North who comes against him will do whatever he wants, and no one can oppose him. He will establish himself in the beautiful land with total destruction in his hand. Then he will turn his attention to the coasts and islands and capture many. But a commander will put an end to his taunting…He will turn his attention back to the fortresses of his own land, but he will stumble, fall, and be no more. (v. 16-19)
    • “With a large army he will stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will prepare for battle with an extremely large and powerful army, but he will not succeed… (v. 25)
    • “The two kings, whose hearts are bent on evil, will speak lies at the same table but to no avail, for still the end will come at the appointed time. (v. 27)
    • “He will pitch his royal tents between the sea and the beautiful holy mountain, but he will meet his end with no one to help him. (v. 45)

    Those are just a few of the times we see the corruption of one of the kings and how they are following a path to destruction. We get to see through this chapter that although the people were going to face harsh and unrighteous rulers, God still had their back. He knew what was to come and he was using Daniel to let the people know. We also see encouragement from the Lord to his people: 

    • “With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.” (v. 32)
    • “Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.” (v. 35) 

    They will be able to resist evil rulers and they will be refined! They can fear the Lord more than the evil in the land. While it won’t be fun or easy, we can trust that faithfulness is worth it.

    Questions

    1. Do you believe God knows everything that has happened, is happening, and will happen? What has influenced your beliefs?
    2. Does God knowing there is unrighteousness that will happen, but he is more powerful than it all, help you fear him? Talk to your Life Group about this! 
    3. In what ways are you currently being refined?

    Pray This

    Lord,  

    Thank you for your word that has stood the test of time and that we can still learn from today. Equip me with your Word that will not return void. Show me what I can learn from (sometimes) confusing Old Testament texts. I pray that you will help me firmly resist evil. I pray I flee from it! Refine me, Lord, and help me endure it. Show me how you are working in my life. Increase my faithfulness. Help me fear you more than unrighteous kings or evil in this world. 

    Amen.

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  • Daniel 10

    Daniel 10

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    Daniel’s Vision of a Man

    10 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar). Its message was true and it concerned a great war. The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.

    2 At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. 3 I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.

    4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bankof the great river, the Tigris, 5 I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like topaz, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.

    7 I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. 8 So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless. 9 Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.

    10 A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

    12 Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. 13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. 14 Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.”

    15 While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless. 16 Then one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing before me, “I am overcome with anguish because of the vision, my lord, and I feel very weak. 17 How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe.”

    18 Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength.19 “Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,” he said. “Peace! Be strong now; be strong.”

    When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”

    20 So he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come; 21 but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince.

    Go Deeper

    The vision given to Daniel in today’s reading is an eye-opening view of the spiritual battle going on around us. As a reminder, when Daniel receives this vision, he has been mourning and fasting for 21 days. The Jews had been enduring persecution throughout the land, and Daniel was apparently grieving for three weeks over these struggles before he went down to the Tigris River. 

    In verses 5-6, Daniel sees the vision of a man dressed in linen. This figure is believed by most commentaries to be a vision of Jesus, primarily because Daniel’s description is extremely similar to those given of the Son of God, by both Ezekiel in his book and by John in the book of Revelation. However, the “man” who touched Daniel in verse 10 is thought to be an angel. We see this angel encourage Daniel not to fear, specifically addressing Daniel’s requests in the previous chapter. The angel also explains why he was not able to get to Daniel sooner during his three weeks of mourning and fasting. 

    In verse 13, the angel explains that he could not get to Daniel because he was blocked by the “prince of Persia.” The angel is describing a spiritual battle between himself and a demonic figure that kept him from coming to Daniel, before one of the chief angels (Michael) stepped in. Michael had the authority and power needed to help this angel break away and be able to deliver a message to Daniel regarding the future of the Jews. The end of the chapter also mentions demonic angels that will be assigned to Greece, which is a foretelling of the rule of Alexander the Great some 200 years later. 

    The facts included in the vision are described as lifting “the veil that covers the natural and spiritual realms to reveal a battle that goes on in the invisible angelic realm.” While sitting in that thought for too long might make us fearful, be quick to remember that we are promised ultimate victory over evil. But we do have a role in the battle.  

    We are directed to put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). We are to avoid any practice of the supernatural and bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). We must choose a side and avoid neutrality (Matthew 12:30). We must know and apply God’s Word to our daily lives (Luke 4:1-12). We must know our enemies (1 John 2:16). And we must use our most powerful tool of prayer by following Jesus’s example. To prepare for and fight his spiritual battles, Jesus withdrew and spent time with God in prayer. (Luke 5), and He combined prayer with fasting. (Luke 4).  

    As we reflect on today’s reading, it’s helpful to reflect on the words in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5: 

    “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 

    As you go about your day today, pray that your eyes will be opened to unseen battles, whether big or small, so that you can both appreciate the victories being won on your behalf and fulfill your role of covering those battles in prayer. 

    Questions

    1. What areas of your life feel like they are under attack and need specific prayer? 
    2. Consider what thoughts you have let take control of you, rather than you taking them captive and making them obedient to Christ. Spend some time waging war on those thoughts through focused prayer.
    3. Read back through the list of ways we can participate in the spiritual battles (putting on the armor of God, avoiding the supernatural, choosing a side, knowing and applying God’s Word, recognizing our enemies, prayer and fasting). Which of these needs more attention from you and how can you work on that this week?

    A Quote

    “As the most dangerous winds may enter at little openings, so the devil never enters more dangerously than by little unobserved incidents, which seem to be nothing, yet insensibly open the heart to great temptations.” – John Wesley

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