Bible Reading Plan

Author: Scott Walter

  • Song of Songs 6

    Song of Songs 6

    Read Song of Songs 1

    Friends

    6 Where has your beloved gone,
        most beautiful of women?
    Which way did your beloved turn,
        that we may look for him with you?

    She

    2 My beloved has gone down to his garden,
        to the beds of spices,
    to browse in the gardens
        and to gather lilies.
    3 I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine;
        he browses among the lilies.

    He

    4 You are as beautiful as Tirzah, my darling,
        as lovely as Jerusalem,
        as majestic as troops with banners.
    5 Turn your eyes from me;
        they overwhelm me.
    Your hair is like a flock of goats
        descending from Gilead.
    6 Your teeth are like a flock of sheep
        coming up from the washing.
    Each has its twin,
        not one of them is missing.
    7 Your temples behind your veil
        are like the halves of a pomegranate.
    8 Sixty queens there may be,
        and eighty concubines,
        and virgins beyond number;
    9 but my dove, my perfect one, is unique,
        the only daughter of her mother,
        the favorite of the one who bore her.
    The young women saw her and called her blessed;
        the queens and concubines praised her.

    Friends

    10 Who is this that appears like the dawn,
        fair as the moon, bright as the sun,
        majestic as the stars in procession?

    He

    11 I went down to the grove of nut trees
        to look at the new growth in the valley,
    to see if the vines had budded
        or the pomegranates were in bloom.
    12 Before I realized it,
        my desire set me among the royal chariots of my people.

    Friends

    13 Come back, come back, O Shulammite;
        come back, come back, that we may gaze on you!

    He

    Why would you gaze on the Shulammite
        as on the dance of Mahanaim?

    Go Deeper

    The MacArthur Bible Handbook separates Song of Songs into 3 segments: The courtship (leaving), the wedding (cleaving), and the marriage (weaving). Chapter 6 falls into the “marriage” segment, specifically celebrating restoration within the marriage after its first major disagreement in chapter 5. In chapter 6, we see how Christian community helps restore a marriage.

    The new bride (the Shulamite) is looking for her husband in an attempt to reconcile and express her love for him. What makes this example of restoration even more beautiful is the support and encouragement of the “others” or “friends.” The passage opens with them asking the woman where her husband is, concerned about the division within marriage. They then offer to seek him with her. They are showing concern, encouraging her, and offering to help with the process by giving their time and effort.

    Marriage is God-sustained! These Others are following God’s admonishment in Galatians 6:2 that brothers and sisters should “carry each other’s burdens.” We see examples of this play out in other parts of the Bible, such as in Exodus 17:12-13 when Moses’s friends held up his arms for him in battle when he was exhausted. God ordained things are always worth our effort, and the Others are encouraging this!

    Once the married couple has been reunited, the Others exclaim, “return, that we may look upon you.” They are sharing the joy of something that is holy and good! This feeling is likely akin to watching the bride and groom being united on their wedding day. Psalms 37:4 says, “Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” When we fix our joy in the Lord, our hearts will be more attuned with His, and we will find joy in the things that are holy and good like He does.

    When we encourage the things of God, we help God’s will to be fulfilled on this earth, ultimately for our good and happiness! Therefore, we ought to surround ourselves with fellow believers and be the community for others. When we do this, we allow God to work through others to point us back towards Him and the things He has ordained!

    Questions

    1. Are you open to friends speaking into your life and encouraging you towards God? 
    2. Do a self-inspection. Are there any areas of your life that you are not allowing others to speak into? Why is that?
    3. Are you encouraging your friends towards things of God? In what ways?

    Did You Know?

    Per the MacArthur Bible Handbook, at the time that Song of Songs was written, Greek worship of gods and goddesses was already fully developed. Major deities included Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Apollo, Ares, Demeter, Athena, Hermes, and Artemis.

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  • Song of Songs 5

    Song of Songs 5

    Read Song of Songs 5

    He

    5 I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride;
        I have gathered my myrrh with my spice.
    I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey;
        I have drunk my wine and my milk.

    Friends

    Eat, friends, and drink;
        drink your fill of love.

    She

    2 I slept but my heart was awake.
        Listen! My beloved is knocking:
    “Open to me, my sister, my darling,
        my dove, my flawless one.
    My head is drenched with dew,
        my hair with the dampness of the night.”
    3 I have taken off my robe—
        must I put it on again?
    I have washed my feet—
        must I soil them again?
    4 My beloved thrust his hand through the latch-opening;
        my heart began to pound for him.
    5 I arose to open for my beloved,
        and my hands dripped with myrrh,
    my fingers with flowing myrrh,
        on the handles of the bolt.
    6 I opened for my beloved,
        but my beloved had left; he was gone.
        My heart sank at his departure.
    I looked for him but did not find him.
        I called him but he did not answer.
    7 The watchmen found me
        as they made their rounds in the city.
    They beat me, they bruised me;
        they took away my cloak,
        those watchmen of the walls!
    8 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you—
        if you find my beloved,
    what will you tell him?
        Tell him I am faint with love.

    Friends

    9 How is your beloved better than others,
        most beautiful of women?
    How is your beloved better than others,
        that you so charge us?

    She

    10 My beloved is radiant and ruddy,
        outstanding among ten thousand.
    11 His head is purest gold;
        his hair is wavy
        and black as a raven.
    12 His eyes are like doves
        by the water streams,
    washed in milk,
        mounted like jewels.
    13 His cheeks are like beds of spice
        yielding perfume.
    His lips are like lilies
        dripping with myrrh.
    14 His arms are rods of gold
        set with topaz.
    His body is like polished ivory
        decorated with lapis lazuli.
    15 His legs are pillars of marble
        set on bases of pure gold.
    His appearance is like Lebanon,
        choice as its cedars.
    16 His mouth is sweetness itself;
        he is altogether lovely.
    This is my beloved, this is my friend,
        daughters of Jerusalem.

    Go Deeper

    This passage has several distinct movements, beginning with v. 1: (Friends of the bride and groom speaking) “Eat, friends, and drink; drink your fill of love.” Love is more than a private affair. What one does with one’s sexuality is always more than a personal matter. It has widespread social implications. This is why traditionally, in our culture, a wedding is performed with witnesses who represent broader society. The woman now belongs to the man, and the man to the woman. Marriage changes all their personal relationships. The public aspect of marriage explains the presence of “daughters of Jerusalem” (mentioned five times) and “friends” (mentioned ten times). For Christians, selfless love expressed in marriage is a public witness and testimony to the relationship between Christ and the church. In Ephesians 5:31-32 we read, “’For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.”

    Next, we see what is likely a dream sequence. It would be highly unusual for a Middle Eastern woman to be roaming about the streets in the dark of night, encountering watchmen (v. 7).  The excitement of the preceding section is now replaced with apprehension. The maiden dreams that her lover comes to her, but it is inconvenient for her to respond. She is bathed, undressed and is now in bed ready to sleep. She is slow to acknowledge his advances, and the opportunity is gone. Her lover therefore departs, and she is now sick with longing for him.

    Love brings us joy, but we are flawed creatures. There are adjustments to be made in marriage. Our natural laziness, differences between men and women, the variations in the rhythms of life, and our unwillingness to alter our own preferred patterns and habits all contribute to the problem of intimacy. A wise marriage counselor once wrote that the three most common areas of friction in marriage are sex, money, and in-laws. Couples planning to get married would be wise to seek mature Christian counsel prior to saying, “I do.”

    In v. 16, the wife addresses her “beloved” as “my friend.” The Song of Solomon is unabashedly a romantic book, but love is never fully satisfied to be content with the physical alone. Marriage finds its deepest meaning and fulfillment only if there is trust and commitment. Our male hero is her lover, but he is more than this: he is also her friend.  

    Questions

    1. If you are married, does your marriage reflect the love of Christ?  
    2. If you are married, how would your friends describe your marriage?  
    3. If you are single, are you honoring God through your purity?  

    By the Way

    Ephesians 5:24-25, “Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” Keep in mind that Christ demonstrated his love for the church by dying for her. A husband should be willing to do no less for his wife. Remember, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). For a husband, there should be no greater friend than his wife.

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  • Song of Songs 4

    Song of Songs 4

    Read Song of Songs 4

    He

    4 How beautiful you are, my darling!
        Oh, how beautiful!
        Your eyes behind your veil are doves.
    Your hair is like a flock of goats
        descending from the hills of Gilead.
    2 Your teeth are like a flock of sheep just shorn,
        coming up from the washing.
    Each has its twin;
        not one of them is alone.
    3 Your lips are like a scarlet ribbon;
        your mouth is lovely.
    Your temples behind your veil
        are like the halves of a pomegranate.
    4 Your neck is like the tower of David,
        built with courses of stone
    on it hang a thousand shields,
        all of them shields of warriors.
    5 Your breasts are like two fawns,
        like twin fawns of a gazelle
        that browse among the lilies.
    6 Until the day breaks
        and the shadows flee,
    I will go to the mountain of myrrh
        and to the hill of incense.
    7 You are altogether beautiful, my darling;
        there is no flaw in you.

    8 Come with me from Lebanon, my bride,
        come with me from Lebanon.
    Descend from the crest of Amana,
        from the top of Senir, the summit of Hermon,
    from the lions’ dens
        and the mountain haunts of leopards.
    9 You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride;
        you have stolen my heart
    with one glance of your eyes,
        with one jewel of your necklace.
    10 How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride!
        How much more pleasing is your love than wine,
    and the fragrance of your perfume
        more than any spice!
    11 Your lips drop sweetness as the honeycomb, my bride;
        milk and honey are under your tongue.
    The fragrance of your garments
        is like the fragrance of Lebanon.
    12 You are a garden locked up, my sister, my bride;
        you are a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain.
    13 Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates
        with choice fruits,
        with henna and nard,
    14     nard and saffron,
        calamus and cinnamon,
        with every kind of incense tree,
        with myrrh and aloes
        and all the finest spices.
    15 You are a garden fountain,
        a well of flowing water
        streaming down from Lebanon.

    She

    16 Awake, north wind,
        and come, south wind!
    Blow on my garden,
        that its fragrance may spread everywhere.
    Let my beloved come into his garden
        and taste its choice fruits.

    Go Deeper

    Chapter 4 begins with the completion of a wedding ceremony, and we are given a glimpse into some intimate moments between this newly wedded couple. The bridegroom begins by describing the beauty of his bride. He praises various physical attributes of his wife: her eyes, her hair, her teeth, her lips, her temples and cheeks, her neck, and her breasts. It’s worth noting that he chooses seven of his wife’s attributes to describe. In Hebrew culture, the number 7 is associated with completeness or divine perfection. So, we can attribute the author of Song of Songs as being the originator of the phrase “you complete me!”

    After describing his bride’s perfection, the bridegroom makes an invitation to his bride in verse 8. “Come with me from Lebanon, my bride; come with me from Lebanon. Depart from the peak of Amana, from the peak of Senir and Hermon, from the dens of lions, from the mountains of leopards.” Before they consummate their marriage, he is boldly asking the maiden to come and share her life with him. He is not only asking her to leave behind her family, but he is also asking her to leave behind her fears and simply come with him as they begin their life together.  This is God’s intended design for marriage as described in Genesis 2:24: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” God created marriage to reflect this unity. Married couples are able to “become one flesh” not just through physical intimacy, but through emotional and spiritual intimacy as well.

    The remainder of this passage gives details of the consummation of love between the maiden and her groom. This is not a passage of scripture to feel awkward or embarrassed about.  This is the kindness of God to give us a picture of his perfect design for marriage and sex. We can celebrate the love these two have for one another and acknowledge that God has provided a sacred expression of love by allowing married partners to perfectly meet each other’s sexual needs. Tara-Leigh Cobble says, “Our Creator had good things in mind when he invented relationships, marriage, and sex…and like any inventor, He wants us to know how to use what He made so we don’t break it or harm ourselves or others.” May this passage of scripture remind us that the perfect unity between husband and wife as they become one flesh is a gift from our perfect Father.

    Questions

    1. What does this passage teach you about God’s design for marriage?
    2. Sex between married couples is a gift from God. Do you believe it is true that God designed sex for this purpose (and this purpose only)?
    3. Whether you are single or married, spend some time thanking God for what marriage teaches us about Him.

    By the Way

    The term bridegroom in the Bible is often used as a metaphor for Jesus. Isaiah 62:5 says, “Your children will commit themselves to you, O Jerusalem, just as a young man commits himself to his bride. Then God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.”  Just as the bridegroom pursues his bride in Song of Songs 4, Jesus pursues us. We can all rejoice that we are relentlessly pursued by one who lavishly loves us!

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  • Song of Songs 3

    Song of Songs 3

    Read Song of Songs 3

    3 All night long on my bed
        I looked for the one my heart loves;
        I looked for him but did not find him.
    2 I will get up now and go about the city,
        through its streets and squares;
    I will search for the one my heart loves.
        So I looked for him but did not find him.
    3 The watchmen found me
        as they made their rounds in the city.
        “Have you seen the one my heart loves?”
    4 Scarcely had I passed them
        when I found the one my heart loves.
    I held him and would not let him go
        till I had brought him to my mother’s house,
        to the room of the one who conceived me.
    5 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you
        by the gazelles and by the does of the field:
    Do not arouse or awaken love
        until it so desires.

    6 Who is this coming up from the wilderness
        like a column of smoke,
    perfumed with myrrh and incense
        made from all the spices of the merchant?
    7 Look! It is Solomon’s carriage,
        escorted by sixty warriors,
        the noblest of Israel,
    8 all of them wearing the sword,
        all experienced in battle,
    each with his sword at his side,
        prepared for the terrors of the night.
    9 King Solomon made for himself the carriage;
        he made it of wood from Lebanon.
    10 Its posts he made of silver,
        its base of gold.
    Its seat was upholstered with purple,
        its interior inlaid with love.
    Daughters of Jerusalem, 11 come out,
        and look, you daughters of Zion.
    Look on King Solomon wearing a crown,
        the crown with which his mother crowned him
    on the day of his wedding,
        the day his heart rejoiced.

    Go Deeper

    In this passage, the woman longs for the lover and is searching for him. She was determined to be with him. She wakes up and realizes she was dreaming, but there was a truth to share. She tells the daughters of Jerusalem to seek love following God’s timing.

    Her dream includes the emotional pain that comes with longing, but recognizes that her love cannot be fully comprehended until her marriage. She must wait. We, like brides that long for their marriage, should long for our Father to protect and lead our household. God is our fortune and prize. He is unmatched. Nothing else will fill us with joy and peace.

    She greets her lover with terms of endearment, with high regard and respect. She vividly describes him as kingly, majestic, and is completely enthralled with him. She depicts her wedding, and that the one she is to be with comes through the wilderness. His entrance was “perfumed with myrrh and frankincense” which had a pleasing aroma. She is eager to join him on their wedding day. The church admires this kingly depiction as Jesus Christ under the person of Solomon, whose riches, protection, and comfort are unparalleled.

    What stands in the way of seeking God’s love and following his timing? We often put our own needs first. “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice” (James 3:16). Also, we do not trust God. “Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless. What they trust in is fragile; what they rely on is a spider’s web” (Job 8:13-14).

    How can we seek God’s love and follow His timing?

    • First, we look to God. “Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always” (Psalm 105:4).
    • We trust in God. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart” (Proverbs 3:5).
    • We ask God for his will to be done. “Your kingdom come, your will be done” (Matthew 6:10).
    • Finally, we live patiently. “Love is patient, love is kind” (1 Corinthians 13:4). 

    God’s plan may not look the way we thought it would. His timing may not be convenient. However, let us seek God’s love and follow his timing today.

    Questions

    1. When are you longing for His love and service for you?
    2. Are your eyes open to truly seeing his love and devotion for you?
    3. God’s provision is unmatched; we are often too blinded by the world to see it.  What opportunities do you have to expose your sins and rejoice in confession, mercy, and love from God?

    Keep Digging

    Song of Songs is a complex piece of literature. For a deeper dive into this book and its meaning, check out this blog post from The Bible Project.

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  • Song of Songs 2

    Song of Songs 2

    Read Song of Songs 1

    She

    2 I am a rose of Sharon,
        a lily of the valleys.

    He

    2 Like a lily among thorns
        is my darling among the young women.

    She

    3 Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest
        is my beloved among the young men.
    I delight to sit in his shade,
        and his fruit is sweet to my taste.
    4 Let him lead me to the banquet hall,
        and let his banner over me be love.
    5 Strengthen me with raisins,
        refresh me with apples,
        for I am faint with love.
    6 His left arm is under my head,
        and his right arm embraces me.
    7 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you
        by the gazelles and by the does of the field:
    Do not arouse or awaken love
        until it so desires.

    8 Listen! My beloved!
        Look! Here he comes,
    leaping across the mountains,
        bounding over the hills.
    9 My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag.
        Look! There he stands behind our wall,
    gazing through the windows,
        peering through the lattice.
    10 My beloved spoke and said to me,
        “Arise, my darling,
        my beautiful one, come with me.
    11 See! The winter is past;
        the rains are over and gone.
    12 Flowers appear on the earth;
        the season of singing has come,
    the cooing of doves
        is heard in our land.
    13 The fig tree forms its early fruit;
        the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
    Arise, come, my darling;
        my beautiful one, come with me.”

    He

    14 My dove in the clefts of the rock,
        in the hiding places on the mountainside,
    show me your face,
        let me hear your voice;
    for your voice is sweet,
        and your face is lovely.
    15 Catch for us the foxes,
        the little foxes
    that ruin the vineyards,
        our vineyards that are in bloom.

    She

    16 My beloved is mine and I am his;
        he browses among the lilies.
    17 Until the day breaks
        and the shadows flee,
    turn, my beloved,
        and be like a gazelle
    or like a young stag
        on the rugged hills.

    Go Deeper

    Let’s think about chapter 2 through two lenses: the first lens being a picture of an engaged couple and the second lens being a picture of Christ and His people (the Church).

    First, let’s observe this chapter through the lens of an earthly relationship–this picture of an ideal relationship between a man and a woman. This couple, who is not yet married but engaged, picks up right where chapter 1 left off. They are praising each other profusely. The woman begins the chapter talking about herself. It’s interesting that her assessment of herself grows in confidence in light of his love for her. She begins to see herself the way he sees her. She also acknowledges and trusts that in his shadow, in his care, there is rest and refreshment and protection. She knows that he is a safe place for her.

    He is extravagant in the way he loves her–his banner over her is love. He is advertising to all who will notice that he loves her. That he adores her. That she is his. His love for her is on display for all to see. They have a mutual desire for one another. There is mutual enjoyment, emotion, tenderness, and delight.

    Yet, her wisdom prevails over desire. She will not give way to longing until the time is right. She will not settle for a premature desire or counterfeit version of love. They are willing to wait for the physical expression of the emotional connection they feel for one another. And, nothing will stand in his way or delay him when the time is right. She will flourish and blossom in his care. Her barren winter will be replaced with new blossoms of spring. But in the midst of this flowering relationship, there is always the threat of little foxes. These are the small, seemingly insignificant schemes of the enemy that destroy and sabotage relationships over time.

    For those of us in committed relationships, we can learn from this couple and evaluate our relationships. How well are you doing at praising your partner? Does your spouse flourish under your care? Are you a safe place for your partner to land? Or are you allowing counterfeit versions of love to steal your mutual enjoyment, emotion, tenderness, and delight from each other?

    Let’s shift our perspective just a little bit. What’s remarkable about the word of God is that it is applicable to all-married, single, rich, poor, male, and female. Let’s observe chapter 2 through the lens of the relationship of Christ and His bride, those of us belonging to Him.

    All throughout Scripture, Christ’s love for us is undeniable. He lavishes his love on us. Because of His great love for us, the way we view ourselves changes. We grow in confidence. We see ourselves the way He sees us: holy, blameless, and righteous. We know and trust that in His care we find rest and refreshment and protection. He is our rock and our refuge. He is the safest place to land. His banner over us is love. While we were yet sinners, He displayed his love for us by dying in our place. And, because He conquered death with His resurrection, we know that the dead, barren parts in our lives (our winter seasons) will, at some point, bloom with new life again. And, while we have an enemy who wants to destroy any fruit in our life, one day, when the time is right, nothing and no one will be able to prevent or delay our King Jesus from coming to take us home. 

    Questions

    1. What do you learn about Jesus in this passage?
    2. What do you learn about yourself in this passage? If you are married or engaged, what evaluations or assessments do you make about your relationship?
    3. What is one thing you can do today to strengthen your relationship with Jesus? If you’re married, what is one thing you can do today to strengthen your relationship with your spouse?

    Did You Know?

    Pastor and commentator David Guzik said this about this passage in the Enduring Word commentary:

    “Spurgeon gave an allegorical application to the idea of the maiden (representing God’s people) resting under the shade of her beloved (representing Jesus): ‘Straightway she sat down under its shadow, with great delight, and its fruit was sweet unto her taste. She looked up at it; that was the first thing she did, and she perceived that it met her double want. The sun was hot, there was the shadow: she was faint, there was the fruit. Now, see how Jesus meets all the wants of all who come to him.’”

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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.

    Looking Ahead: Song of Songs

    Tomorrow we’ll start our journey through Song of Songs (or Song of Solomon, depending on your translation). This is a complex piece of poetry that is quite different from most other books in the Bible. 

    To get a jump on this new book, watch the overview from the Bible Project today!

     

    Worship with Us

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  • 2 Kings 25

    2 Kings 25

    Read 2 Kings 25

    25 So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army. He encamped outside the city and built siege works all around it. 2 The city was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.

    3 By the ninth day of the fourth month the famine in the city had become so severe that there was no food for the people to eat. 4 Then the city wall was broken through, and the whole army fled at night through the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden, though the Babylonians were surrounding the city. They fled toward the Arabah, 5 but the Babylonian army pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho. All his soldiers were separated from him and scattered, 6 and he was captured.

    He was taken to the king of Babylon at Riblah, where sentence was pronounced on him. 7 They killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. Then they put out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon.

    8 On the seventh day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard, an official of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. 9 He set fire to the temple of the Lord, the royal palace and all the houses of Jerusalem. Every important building he burned down. 10 The whole Babylonian army under the commander of the imperial guard broke down the walls around Jerusalem. 11 Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard carried into exile the people who remained in the city, along with the rest of the populace and those who had deserted to the king of Babylon. 12 But the commander left behind some of the poorest people of the land to work the vineyards and fields.

    13 The Babylonians broke up the bronze pillars, the movable stands and the bronze Sea that were at the temple of the Lord and they carried the bronze to Babylon. 14 They also took away the pots, shovels, wick trimmers, dishes and all the bronze articles used in the temple service. 15 The commander of the imperial guard took away the censers and sprinkling bowls—all that were made of pure gold or silver.

    16 The bronze from the two pillars, the Sea and the movable stands, which Solomon had made for the temple of the Lord, was more than could be weighed. 17 Each pillar was eighteen cubits high. The bronze capital on top of one pillar was three cubits high and was decorated with a network and pomegranates of bronze all around. The other pillar, with its network, was similar.

    18 The commander of the guard took as prisoners Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest next in rank and the three doorkeepers. 19 Of those still in the city, he took the officer in charge of the fighting men, and five royal advisers. He also took the secretary who was chief officer in charge of conscripting the people of the land and sixty of the conscripts who were found in the city. 20 Nebuzaradan the commander took them all and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. 21 There at Riblah, in the land of Hamath, the king had them executed.

    So Judah went into captivity, away from her land.

    22 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to be over the people he had left behind in Judah. 23 When all the army officers and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah as governor, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, Jaazaniah the son of the Maakathite, and their men. 24 Gedaliah took an oath to reassure them and their men. “Do not be afraid of the Babylonian officials,” he said. “Settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you.”

    25 In the seventh month, however, Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was of royal blood, came with ten men and assassinated Gedaliah and also the men of Judah and the Babylonians who were with him at Mizpah. 26 At this, all the people from the least to the greatest, together with the army officers, fled to Egypt for fear of the Babylonians.

    Jehoiachin Released

    27 In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the year Awel-Marduk became king of Babylon, he released Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison. He did this on the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month. 28 He spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat of honor higher than those of the other kings who were with him in Babylon. 29 So Jehoiachin put aside his prison clothes and for the rest of his life ate regularly at the king’s table. 30 Day by day the king gave Jehoiachin a regular allowance as long as he lived.

    Go Deeper

    As we wrap up this journey through 2 Kings, we read about the execution of judgment fulfilling the warnings to each corrupt king of Israel throughout this book. There is famine, war, and murder leading to complete destruction of Judah. The people of Judah are either murdered or driven out, and all hope is lost. How can a tribe that starts out so faithful end in such corruption? This chapter gives us a look into why walking with the Lord is so important to not only us as individuals but corporately as well.

    Prophets spent years warning against corruption, but the capture and destruction of Judah happened just as the prophets forewarned. Walking in obedience with the Lord allows us to enjoy His blessings and use our gifts and passions to bring others closer to the Lord. We are able to encourage each other in our faith, and help each other when we fall short. The people of Judah all chose to walk in disobedience, leading to collective destruction and fear.

    The end of this chapter reminds us of the Hope that we have in the Lord, and the restoration He brings because of His love for us. Jehoiachin was released from prison, but the love and care poured out on the former king of Judah offers a promise of abundance and prosperity. He was released from bondage and given a seat at the king’s table. This is a beautifully described scene of hope we can look forward to as Christians. Our disobedience will never be greater than the Lord’s love for us.

    ​Jehoiachin’s redemption is an example of individual love that the Lord has for him: a seat at the king’s table above others, fresh garments and food, and he was given an allowance according to his daily needs. The Lord cares about us personally, he does not compare us to our past but instead invites us into a future of obedience with him. Disobedience in Judah began when the people did not trust that the Lord was providing for their daily needs. This chapter reminds us that our God is just, and He alone brings hope no matter how far we are walking in disobedience.

    Questions

    1. Do you believe that the Lord is providing for your daily needs?
    2. Are you listening to the people in your life trying to point you to obedience with the Lord?
    3. In what area of your life can you be more obedient to the Lord’s plan for you?

    By the Way

    Jericho was the city the Israelites first entered in the Promised Land. Joshua 6 tells the story of the Israelites marching around the city for seven days, and on the last day they blew trumpets and shouted as the walls fell down. Jericho was the scene of Israel’s very first victory after obeying the Lord, and it was also Israel’s defeat from many years of disobeying the Lord.

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  • 2 Kings 24

    2 Kings 24

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    24 During Jehoiakim’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded the land, and Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years. But then he turned against Nebuchadnezzar and rebelled. 2 The Lord sent Babylonian, Aramean, Moabite and Ammonite raiders against him to destroy Judah, in accordance with the word of the Lord proclaimed by his servants the prophets. 3 Surely these things happened to Judah according to the Lord’s command, in order to remove them from his presence because of the sins of Manasseh and all he had done, 4 including the shedding of innocent blood. For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the Lord was not willing to forgive.

    5 As for the other events of Jehoiakim’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 6 Jehoiakim rested with his ancestors. And Jehoiachin his son succeeded him as king.

    7 The king of Egypt did not march out from his own country again, because the king of Babylon had taken all his territory, from the Wadi of Egypt to the Euphrates River.

    Jehoiachin King of Judah

    8 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name was Nehushta daughter of Elnathan; she was from Jerusalem. 9 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father had done.

    10 At that time the officers of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon advanced on Jerusalem and laid siege to it, 11 and Nebuchadnezzar himself came up to the city while his officers were besieging it. 12 Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his attendants, his nobles and his officials all surrendered to him.

    In the eighth year of the reign of the king of Babylon, he took Jehoiachin prisoner. 13 As the Lord had declared, Nebuchadnezzar removed the treasures from the temple of the Lord and from the royal palace, and cut up the gold articles that Solomon king of Israel had made for the temple of the Lord. 14 He carried all Jerusalem into exile: all the officers and fighting men, and all the skilled workers and artisans—a total of ten thousand. Only the poorest people of the land were left.

    15 Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiachin captive to Babylon. He also took from Jerusalem to Babylon the king’s mother, his wives, his officials and the prominent people of the land. 16 The king of Babylon also deported to Babylon the entire force of seven thousand fighting men, strong and fit for war, and a thousand skilled workers and artisans. 17 He made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in his place and changed his name to Zedekiah.

    Zedekiah King of Judah

    18 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah. 19 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, just as Jehoiakim had done. 20 It was because of the Lord’s anger that all this happened to Jerusalem and Judah, and in the end he thrust them from his presence.

    The Fall of Jerusalem

    Now Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

    Go Deeper

    This chapter provides us with the final three kings of Judah, and it should not come as a surprise at this point that they all “did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.” The first king mentioned is Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah. This is important to note since Josiah was one of the few good kings! Remember, he was known for his sweeping reforms to turn the people’s hearts back to God. How can such a king who fervently followed the Lord have sons who turned their backs on God? From King Jehoiakim we see that godly parentage does not necessarily guarantee godly children. Deuteronomy 24:16 reminds us that everyone is responsible for their own sin, and that everyone makes their own choice regarding whether or not to follow God. Jehoiakim’s life is the perfect example of willful disobedience to God’s direction and the consequences that naturally derive from choosing to walk away from God’s commands.

    The next king to follow is King Jehoiachin, son of Jehoiakim. His reign did not last long at all as the young king quickly surrendered to Babylon and their siege of Jerusalem. Interestingly enough, the invasion fulfilled the Lord’s warning to Solomon about apostasy in 1 Kings 9:6-9. Clearly, God cares deeply about His children observing His commands and serving only Him. Countless times in scripture, we see God’s people turn back to false gods and idolatry. Is it a coincidence that the first two commands mentioned in the Ten Commandments are in reference to this very thing? Arguably, rebelliousness and idolatry are the common themes and pitfalls for the wicked kings of Judah.

    The irony is that nothing is new in our world today. We may read this chapter and think that it does not relate to us now, but we would be wrong. While we may not be tempted to offer sacrifices to other deities or worship man-made images, the issue of the heart remains the same. We are control-seeking, prideful people. Our jobs become an idol when it is all we can think about or all we spend our time on. Money becomes an idol when it consumes our thoughts and is the motivation for all decisions. Whatever it is, idols still exist today, and the enemy would love for us to read 2 Kings and blow it off as irrelevant. Let us thank God for the examples we see in 2 Kings regarding the dangers of putting other things before God, and may we learn from their errors and devote our full hearts and praise to the One True King.  

     

    Questions

    1. Why do you think God allowed so many wicked kings on the throne?
    2. Is there anything you learned about the heart of God today that you hadn’t thought about before?    
    3. Consider where you spend the most time (or most money) or an area where you fear losing control. Is there anything that you need to identify as an idol in your life and surrender to the Lord?

    Keep Digging

    Are you looking for other verses that speak to idolatry? Check out this resource from GotQuestions.org for more biblical truth surrounding this topic.

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  • 2 Kings 23

    2 Kings 23

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    Josiah Renews the Covenant

    23 Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 2 He went up to the temple of the Lord with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. 3 The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.

    4 The king ordered Hilkiah the high priest, the priests next in rank and the doorkeepers to remove from the temple of the Lord all the articles made for Baal and Asherah and all the starry hosts. He burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron Valley and took the ashes to Bethel. 5 He did away with the idolatrous priests appointed by the kings of Judah to burn incense on the high places of the towns of Judah and on those around Jerusalem—those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun and moon, to the constellations and to all the starry hosts. 6 He took the Asherah pole from the temple of the Lord to the Kidron Valley outside Jerusalem and burned it there. He ground it to powder and scattered the dust over the graves of the common people. 7 He also tore down the quarters of the male shrine prostitutes that were in the temple of the Lord, the quarters where women did weaving for Asherah.

    8 Josiah brought all the priests from the towns of Judah and desecrated the high places, from Geba to Beersheba, where the priests had burned incense. He broke down the gateway at the entrance of the Gate of Joshua, the city governor, which was on the left of the city gate. 9 Although the priests of the high places did not serve at the altar of the Lord in Jerusalem, they ate unleavened bread with their fellow priests.

    10 He desecrated Topheth, which was in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, so no one could use it to sacrifice their son or daughter in the fire to Molek. 11 He removed from the entrance to the temple of the Lord the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun. They were in the court near the room of an official named Nathan-Melek. Josiah then burned the chariots dedicated to the sun.

    12 He pulled down the altars the kings of Judah had erected on the roof near the upper room of Ahaz, and the altars Manasseh had built in the two courts of the temple of the Lord. He removed them from there, smashed them to pieces and threw the rubble into the Kidron Valley. 13 The king also desecrated the high places that were east of Jerusalem on the south of the Hill of Corruption—the ones Solomon king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the vile goddess of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the vile god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable god of the people of Ammon. 14 Josiah smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles and covered the sites with human bones.

    15 Even the altar at Bethel, the high place made by Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin—even that altar and high place he demolished. He burned the high place and ground it to powder, and burned the Asherah pole also. 16 Then Josiah looked around, and when he saw the tombs that were there on the hillside, he had the bones removed from them and burned on the altar to defile it, in accordance with the word of the Lord proclaimed by the man of God who foretold these things.

    17 The king asked, “What is that tombstone I see?”

    The people of the city said, “It marks the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah and pronounced against the altar of Bethel the very things you have done to it.”

    18 “Leave it alone,” he said. “Don’t let anyone disturb his bones.” So they spared his bones and those of the prophet who had come from Samaria.

    19 Just as he had done at Bethel, Josiah removed all the shrines at the high places that the kings of Israel had built in the towns of Samaria and that had aroused the Lord’s anger. 20 Josiah slaughtered all the priests of those high places on the altars and burned human bones on them. Then he went back to Jerusalem.

    21 The king gave this order to all the people: “Celebrate the Passover to the Lord your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.” 22 Neither in the days of the judges who led Israel nor in the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah had any such Passover been observed. 23 But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was celebrated to the Lord in Jerusalem.

    24 Furthermore, Josiah got rid of the mediums and spiritists, the household gods, the idols and all the other detestable things seen in Judah and Jerusalem. This he did to fulfill the requirements of the law written in the book that Hilkiah the priest had discovered in the temple of the Lord. 25 Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.

    26 Nevertheless, the Lord did not turn away from the heat of his fierce anger, which burned against Judah because of all that Manasseh had done to arouse his anger. 27 So the Lord said, “I will remove Judah also from my presence as I removed Israel, and I will reject Jerusalem, the city I chose, and this temple, about which I said, ‘My Name shall be there.’”

    28 As for the other events of Josiah’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?

    29 While Josiah was king, Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt went up to the Euphrates River to help the king of Assyria. King Josiah marched out to meet him in battle, but Necho faced him and killed him at Megiddo. 30 Josiah’s servants brought his body in a chariot from Megiddo to Jerusalem and buried him in his own tomb. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and anointed him and made him king in place of his father.

    Jehoahaz King of Judah

    31 Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah. 32 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, just as his predecessors had done. 33 Pharaoh Necho put him in chains at Riblah in the land of Hamath so that he might not reign in Jerusalem, and he imposed on Judah a levy of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. 34 Pharaoh Necho made Eliakim son of Josiah king in place of his father Josiah and changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. But he took Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt, and there he died. 35 Jehoiakim paid Pharaoh Necho the silver and gold he demanded. In order to do so, he taxed the land and exacted the silver and gold from the people of the land according to their assessments.

    Jehoiakim King of Judah

    36 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother’s name was Zebidah daughter of Pedaiah; she was from Rumah. 37 And he did evil in the eyes of the Lord, just as his predecessors had done.

    Go Deeper

    King Josiah passionately renews his covenant and commitment to God in 2 Kings 23. He desires for all people to do the same. Josiah reads aloud God’s Word after gathering all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. He urges everyone to recommit their lives to the Lord. Josiah’s swift actions to remove all idols and idolatrous priests in the land, which at the time were plentiful, show his determination. Idolatry had become deep-seated in the people and surroundings, and Josiah is clearly committed to removing all such wickedness to help his people turn to the One True God.

    After ridding the land of all relics of idolatry, Josiah commands his people to keep the Passover, a holiday to remember God’s faithfulness when He delivered Israel from Egypt. Josiah desires for his people to “wipe the slate clean” and start fresh with the correct perspective and commitment to God. Josiah makes such a strong stance that the scripture tells us, “Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength” (v. 25).

    There may be times in our own lives when we wish to wipe the slate clean and start fresh. Quite possibly we have said this or attempted this with our spiritual lives. We are human. We need renewal. Possibly some are experiencing a painful time in life and have stopped trusting or leaning on our Heavenly Father. Or possibly it is the opposite; life is so good that we forget God or set our relationship with Him aside. In both cases, we may be tempted to follow our own path and slowly wander away from God. Our loving, forgiving, gracious God is awaiting us and welcoming us with giant arms. It takes fervent renewal. Today is a new day. May we be as eager in our covenant to God as Josiah.

    Sadly, as devoted as Josiah was to transforming the hearts and minds of his people toward God, they still sinned greatly against the Lord. Josiah’s personal devotion and leadership style was not enough. After reigning for many years, Josiah was killed during a battle against Pharaoh Necho, King of Egypt. Josiah’s sons reigned as kings after him but did not follow his example and did not seek God. Instead, their ungodliness left the first son, Jehoahaz, only serving as king for three months, and the next son Jehoiakim was a “puppet king” with Pharaoh Necho pulling the strings. Jehoiakim taxed the people and did evil in the sight of the Lord. 

    Questions

    1. When have you felt that you needed to start over or “wipe your slate clean”?
    2. If you answered the above question with a time of life when you wanted to start fresh with your spiritual life, what changes did you make?  
    3. Are there any changes you would like to incorporate starting today?  

    Watch This

    If you are interested in learning more about wiping your slate clean and starting fresh in your walk with Jesus, consider watching the “Fractured Faith” study available on RightNow Media.  The seven short videos are led by a pediatric ER specialist who talks about her journey back to faith after walking through a difficult season in her life. Don’t have a RightNow Media account? Visit harriscreek.org/rightnow to create one and get started!

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  • 2 Kings 22

    2 Kings 22

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    The Book of the Law Found

    22 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath. 2 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.

    3 In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent the secretary, Shaphan son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the temple of the Lord. He said: 4 “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him get ready the money that has been brought into the temple of the Lord, which the doorkeepers have collected from the people. 5 Have them entrust it to the men appointed to supervise the work on the temple. And have these men pay the workers who repair the temple of the Lord— 6 the carpenters, the builders and the masons. Also have them purchase timber and dressed stone to repair the temple. 7 But they need not account for the money entrusted to them, because they are honest in their dealings.”

    8 Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord.” He gave it to Shaphan, who read it. 9 Then Shaphan the secretary went to the king and reported to him: “Your officials have paid out the money that was in the temple of the Lord and have entrusted it to the workers and supervisors at the temple.” 10 Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.

    11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. 12 He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Akbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: 13 “Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.”

    14 Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Akbor, Shaphan and Asaiah went to speak to the prophet Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the New Quarter.

    15 She said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me, 16 ‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people, according to everything written in the book the king of Judah has read. 17 Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all the idols their hands have made,my anger will burn against this place and will not be quenched.’ 18 Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: 19 Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people—that they would become a curse and be laid waste—and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. 20 Therefore I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.’”

    So they took her answer back to the king.

    Go Deeper

    Following the assassination of King Amon, his father, Josiah assumed the throne at the age of eight (!) years old. If the thought of an eight year old ruling the land that you live in makes you nervous, you wouldn’t be alone. After 18 years on the throne, he ordered that repairs be made to the temple. Once the restoration project began, something happened that changed the trajectory of Josiah’s reign: He encountered the Book of the Law of the Lord.

    According to Deuteronomy 31:24-27, there should have been a copy of the Law in the temple near the ark of the covenant. It’s possible that this book had been there all along and King Josiah just hadn’t seen it. It’s also possible that it had been buried or misplaced. Either way, let’s re-read what verse 11 says: “When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes.” Remember, this book was the closest thing to the scriptures they would have had back then. These were God’s commandments and instructions that He had given to Moses. As soon as Josiah heard God’s Word, he realized just how far away they had drifted from God’s original intentions. It pierced his heart and the response was lament and grief, so he instantly threw himself into repentance. 

    God meets Josiah’s repentant heart with grace and mercy. He saw Josiah’s humility and decided to hold off on the judgment that was headed their way. God meets our own disobedience and straying from His Word with grace and mercy each time we respond with repentance. When we turn from sin and (like Josiah) say “no more”, we see the heart of a loving Father who cares for his children. This is such a powerful picture of what happens when we take sin seriously! We have an opportunity to use God’s Word (from Genesis to Revelation) as a mirror into our own lives and see how God wants to transform our hearts into ones that look more like His.

    Questions

    1. What stands out most to you in this passage about Josiah’s repentance?
    2. When was the last time that, by coming face-to-face with God’s Word, you realized you needed to repent?
    3. Where have you drifted from God’s original intentions over time? How has sin crept into your own life? Take some time today to repent and humble yourself before God like Josiah did.

    By the Way

    Deuteronomy 31:9-13 says that the Law was to be read publicly every seven years during the Feast of Tabernacles. While we don’t know how often it was actually read, there are instances of it being recorded in scripture. In 2 Chronicles 34:30 we are told that the Law was read publicly during King Josiah’s reign.

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