BR-25 Chronological Bible Read (June 18-24)

Are you getting the picture, Chronos? The nation of Israel is slowly destroying itself. That's the summary. (Last week’s notes have a link to a good reference for tackling the two-kingdom problem.)

Here are two Key Verses:

"At about that time the Lord began to cut down the size of Israel's territory." 2nd Kings 10:32 (June 18)

"Out of the stump of David's family will grow a shoot ...." Isaiah 11:1-16
—Jesus!! ... and, sort of, the Branch Davidians (June 24th)

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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This week’s highlights:
1. Contrast what Zechariah asks of God just before he is stoned to death (June 18 —> 2Chronicles 24:22) with what Jesus requests of God at His death (Luke 23:34).

2. We wrap up the story of the Prophet Elisha (successor to Elijah) and his last prophecy on June 19 —> 2nd Kings 13:14. People often find King Jehoash’s cry confusing: “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” It is similar to what Elisha cried out when Elijah was taken away in the fiery chariot. It means: “When I look at you, I see the strength of Israel. Without you, we are weak.” But on a more personal level, the king is saying: “You are my father. How will I continue without you?”

2a. Elisha’s last miracle, though, doesn’t come until after his death! Did you find it in the reading?

3. We are introduced to Uzziah who was made king at 16 years of age. He ruled Judah for 52 years! ... sort of ...
(June 20 —> 2nd Kings 14:21 through 2Chronicles 26:21)

4. Jonah! — June 20th: Northern Kingdom prophet swallowed by ... what? (HINT: not a whale). Jonah’s sin? He didn’t want the people to be forgiven by God. He wanted them punished for their sins. So, he disobeyed God’s command to warn them that they would be destroyed if they didn’t repent. Jonah is an example of righteous anger untempered by grace or mercy.
NOTE: there is every likelihood the fabled “Hanging Gardens of Babylon” didn’t exist (there’s no contemporaneous historical record of them); rather, they were likely the well-documented “Hanging Gardens of Nineveh.”

5. Amos! June 21 & 22 —> Prophet to both kingdoms (during reigns of King Uzziah and Jeroboam II) Key concept: fair treatment in the marketplace, especially of the less fortunate. Amos 5:23-24 is a shocker! Key phrase located at Amos 8:11-13 "a famine in the land" refers to his prophecy that their sins would lead to a famine of a God’s word; that God’s people would no longer hear from God if they did not repent. It’s the ultimate punishment: cut off from God. This prophecy eventually came true: when Jesus is born, God had been silent for many, many years. This may explain the continued astonishment at his teachings and their belief he was the prophet, the one who would, finally, speak the words of God after such a long silence.

6. Isaiah sees the Lord "high and lifted up" in the temple ... a powerful vision! (June 22nd: Note what, exactly, fills the Temple!). This is Isaiah’s official call to serve as God’s prophet.

7. Micah prophesies: June 23rd

8. June 24 Isaiah 11:1-16 —> The prophecy that led to the group called “Branch Davidians,” then to the splinter group led by David Koresh, and to the events just outside Waco all those years ago.


Next week:
1. The prophet Hosea (& the Hooker!)
2. Conquerer settles foreigners in Israel
3. Hezekiah reopens the Temple.