BR-21 Chronological Bible Read (May 21-27)

How's the chronological approach going for you? Does it help or hinder to read the Bible this way?

For me, it’s like we’re Chrononauts (time travelers), getting the opportunity to peek in on the lives of those who came before us.

One thing I've noticed reading this way: there's always something running along beside the story. By that I mean, it's not just the history. There are also family genealogies, land grants, worship assignments, building plans and implementations, poetry (psalms), and, now, wisdom literature. After we’ve read and absorbed all those wise instructions and sayings, we'll start layering in the prophecies.

These non-linear pieces take on fresh meaning when they are placed in order like this. At the very least, I get an idea about what the contemporaries were doing and thinking when they first heard them.
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This week, time travelers, I located an article I really liked about reading through the Bible. I found it encourging ... and guilt-relieving. Maybe you will, too.
https://livingbydesign.org/yearly-bible-reading-plan/?utm_content=bufferaa9fe&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Blessings,
Steve

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We are reading The One Year Chronological Bible (New Living Translation - Tyndale). The best way is with your own copy of this Bible translation. Or, copy and paste this link to the daily reading schedule:
http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/readingplan/oneyearchronologicalbiblereadingplan.pdf

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Note: as has been happening, many of the Chronicles passages echo the King’s passages. A skim of the second may be enough to ensure you’ve not missed anything especially important.

THIS WEEK (1st Kings 3 through 9, and Proverbs 1 through 4)

1. It's “The Solomon Show” pretty much all week. He establishes his reign over Israel (as well as extra-Israel areas that were part of the original Promised Land as God described it to Abraham). He builds the Temple and he builds a few palaces or palatial residences; at least one separate residence for Pharaoh's daughter. He sets up all of the governmental structure.

2. May 21st - Possibly the most unusual words in scripture (1st Kings 3:16-28):
"two prostitutes came to the king to have an argument settled." And then, almost as strange: “And so they argued back and forth before the king.” I find myself wondering: did just anyone come before Solomon to settle disputes? Or, was this some special the-king-will-hear-from-the-people day? Was it some special occasion? I just cannot imagine a modern national leader, dictator, or sovereign slotted into this story in place of Solomon.

3. May 23rd - the passage comments on how very long were the poles they used to transport the Ark to the new Temple (1Kimgs8:1-11). Looks like they finally learned: do not touch the Ark!

4. May 25th - The Queen of Sheba (1Kings 10:1-13): Solomon really knew how to impress a visiting dignitary! Note her purpose for visiting.

4. May 27th - Great kick-off to the wisdom literature with the first first four chapters of Proverbs. Note the gender of Wisdom, the consequences of ignoring her, and her role in creation! Also, we begin the comparison between Wisdom and "the immoral woman."

5. My personal takeaway: a king who kneels before God is in no danger of falling.

NEXT WEEK
We move on to the main bout between Wisdom and "the immoral woman." The writer sets them up as diametrically opposed forces between which we must choose. It's a fight to the finish!

Following this, we get days and days of aphorisms: do you see any we should find particularly useful, now, in our own lives? Or are they artifacts of that time and place?