Study the Bible in Two Years – 12/25/10

Saturday,  Dec. 25 – 2 Kings 24-25

1.  Near the beginning of Jehoiakim’s rule (J18), Babylon defeated Egypt in the famous battle of Carchemish, 607 BC.  This battle is not mentioned here, but you suddenly see Babylon and famous King Nebuchadnezzar controlling Jehoiakim.  Judah becomes a vassal state of Babylon.  This is the time when King Nebuchadnezzar deported some of the princes of Judah to retrain them in Babylon.  That included Daniel.  See Daniel 1:1-4

2. The next king, Jehoiachin (J19) immediately rebelled against Babylon, and Nebuchadnezzar captured him and other leaders and took them to Babylon, 598 BC.   This included Ezekiel. See Ezekiel 1:2.  

3.  Chapter 25 covers the sad ending of Jerusalem in 586 BC.  Why did this happen?  See 24:20.    Read Galatians 6:7 as a warning for us.

4.  The book ends with a little note about Jehoiachin, 25 years after Jerusalem was destroyed.  Why was this an important way to end the book?   Hint:  From whose line will Jesus come?

Study the Bible in Two Years – 12/24/10

Friday, Dec. 24 – 2 Kings 22-23

1.  We have the last good king, Josiah (J16), who was what age when he began his reign?  What did they find when they started to remodel the temple?  See 22:8.  (“The Law” is the first 5 books of Moses, or Torah).   How does God’s Word get “lost” today?

2.  Josiah got rid of idol shrines, not only in Judah, but also throughout the area of the ten tribes (now Samaria).  What is his legacy?  See 23:25.  What can you do in your life now to leave a similar legacy? 

3.  Josiah was great in faithfulness to the Lord, but he was not so great in foreign policy. Judah was caught in the middle between Egypt and Babylon, who was rising to power.  Pharaoh Neco did not want to fight Josiah, but Josiah tried to stop him anyway.  What happened to Josiah?  See 23:29,30.  Point to ponder:  Do Christian presidents always do the right thing in politics?

Study the Bible in Two Years – 12/23/10

Thursday, Dec. 23 – 2 Kings 21

1.  The next king, Manasseh (J14) is the worst!  And yet the Lord lets him rule for 55 years.  This doesn’t make sense to our human minds, but we must trust that God’s plan is beyond our understanding sometimes.  See Isaiah 55:8,9.  What events in your life are hard to see God’s plan and guidance? 

2.  Part of God’s plan for Manasseh is that he was giving him a chance to repent. Our chapter doesn’t talk about it but 2 Chronicles does. See 2 Chronicles 33:10-17.  Such a despicable king is probably in heaven!  What does that teach you about God’s grace?

3.  Amon (J15) reverts to the ways his father had taught him when he was young.  His evil ways brought about what result?  See 21:23.   What happened to those who plotted against Amon?  See 21:24.  What does this tell you about the conditions in Judah right now?  Yet God is going to given them one more chance. See the next two chapters.

Study the Bible in Two Years – 12/22/10

Wednesday, Dec. 22 – 2 Kings 20

1.   What are the odds of Hezekiah recovering from his illness?  See 20:1.  Hezekiah prays anyway!  To what does he appeal in his prayer?   Is this a good model for us or not?

(Note: even before Isaiah gets out of the king’s palace, the Lord sends him back with the answer for Hezekiah)

2.  What in 20:12-19 shows that Hezekiah is not perfect?  What are his failings here? Does that remind you of any of your own?  Bring them to Jesus for forgiveness.

3.   2 Kings 20:20 describes one of the greatest archaeological finds in Jerusalem.  Hezekiah built a tunnel which brought the main water source for Jerusalem into the city walls.  It emptied out in the pool of Siloam.  You can still walk through this tunnel today.  Yet the Bible just barely mentions it.  God’s Word concentrates more on what subjects?

Study the Bible in Two Years – 12/21/10

Tuesday, Dec. 21 – 2 Kings 18-19

1.  In Judah, one of the most wicked kings, Ahaz (J12), is followed by one of the most God-fearing kings, Hezekiah (J13).  So often it is true: “like father, like son.”  By God’s grace, that cycle can be broken. How is this a great comfort for Christians whose parents are unbelievers? 

 2.  What did Hezekiah do when he heard the Assyrian commander’s insults against the Lord? See 19:1,2.  How can we follow his example when troubles threaten us?

 3.  The Lord destroyed the entire Assyrian army of 185,000, especially because of what reason?  See 19:22,23a.  How do you see the Lord blasphemed and insulted today?  His response may not be as dramatic, but how the Lord feels about this has not changed.

Study the Bible in Two Years – 12/20/10

Monday, Dec. 20 – 2 Kings 17

1.  Israel is gone.   The second-last king, Pekah (Is 19) had already lost about half of Israel to the major power, Assyria (Chapter 15).   Hoshea (Is 20) assassinated him and tried to get help from Egypt, which failed.  The northern ten tribes are gone – deported from their land.  What was their main problem?  God gives the details in 17:7-23.  The entire section lists sin after sin against which commandment?

2.  The second half of the chapter tells us the beginnings of the “Samaritans” of Jesus’ time. The fact that the Lord attacked the people with lions led the king of Assyria to come up with what conclusion? See 17:26.  What did the king do about it?  See 17:27.  Even though the King of Assyria didn’t fully understand, what good result came of it?  See 17:28.

3.  17:29-33 shows why the Samaritans were so hated later because of their religion.  They thought they were worshiping the Lord, but had combined many practices from their former pagan religions.  This is called syncretism.  Where do you see this happening to Christianity today?   How about here in the USA?  What foreign “gods” do some Christians try to combine with the one true God?  How about us?

Study the Bible in Two Years – 12/18/10

Saturday,  Dec. 18 – 2 Kings 15-16

1.  Israel’s king Jeroboam II (Is14) and now Judah’s king Azariah (also called Uzziah, J10) both rule a long time and both nations are at their greatest height of power since Solomon’s day.  But it won’t last.  Israel will only last 30 years after Jeroboam II.  Judah is led by one of its worst kings, Ahaz (J12).  Sin has been tolerated and festering in both societies, and finally everything collapses.  What can we learn from this?

2. Ahaz introduces false elements in God’s actual temple, and he does something even more detestable to God than that!  See 16:3.  In our country today, how have we sacrificed or hurt our children for our own selfish gains?

3.  Despite the terrible wickedness of Ahaz, the Lord gave him a sign of his grace that we still rejoice in today, especially at this time of year!  What am I talking about?  See Isaiah 7:14.

Study the Bible in Two Years – 12/17/10

Friday, Dec. 17 – 2 Kings 13-14

1.  Chapter 13 gives us details of two kings of Israel (Is12, Is13) who were both fairly decent if it were not for the false elements that Jeroboam had introduced into the worship of the Lord. (Remember the golden calves he put in two new temples).  Note how God responds to even their feeble efforts of following him!  See 13:4 and 13:23.  What does this tell you about God’s mercy to us as well?

2.  Elisha is still alive!  He had asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Elisha was a prophet for 55-60 years while Elijah’s work was only 22 years until God took him home. What is the final miracle that God does through Elisha’s bones?  13:21. Why do you think the Lord caused such a thing to happen?

3.  Amaziah (J9) started out well, but success went to his head.  There is even a bigger reason why he was humiliated by the northern kingdom.  2 Chronicles tells us that he brought back false gods from Edom. (2 Chronicles 25:14).  What can we expect when we refuse to listen to the First Commandment?

Study the Bible in Two Years – 12/16/10

Thursday, Dec. 16 – 2 Kings 11-12

1.  If you thought Jezebel was bad, her daughter (possibly step-daughter) Athaliah was even worse! She is now the “king” of Judah (J7)!  What did she do to all the sons of the line of King David?  (Note: this would include her own step-sons.  Apparently she had only one son of her own.)  How does the Lord keep the line of the Savior alive?  See 11:2-3.

2.   Why were the soldiers ready to follow the words of the priest, Jehoiada, and to ignore the words of Athaliah? 

3.  Joash (J8) under the priest’s leadership, returned to the true worship of the Lord and led efforts to repair the 140 year old temple.   Yet it was 23 years into his reign and the work was still not done.  Money was being collected, but the temple was not getting fixed. Where do you think the money was going?  See hints in 12:7,8.  What kind of problems do we have with money in the church?

Study the Bible in Two Years – 12/15/10

Wednesday, Dec. 15 – 2 Kings 9-10

1.   About 20 years before this, what did the Lord say to Elijah about Jehu (Is11)?  See 1 Kings 19:16-17. That prophecy is now being fulfilled.  About 15 years before this, what did the Lord say would happen to Jezebel?  See 1 Kings 21:23.  Read its fulfillment in this chapter.  What does this teach you about the Lord’s prophecies and their fulfillment?  What encouragement does that give us as we await the next major event, the coming of Christ?

2.  In Revelation 2:20-23, Jesus gives the name “Jezebel” to an evil woman in Thyatira.  What sins was this more modern Jezebel guilty of? 

3.  Jehu does God’s will to clean up the idolatrous mess in Israel. He is the best king that Israel ever had.   However he could not give up what sin?  See 10:28,29.  This showed his most serious problem. Find it in 10:31. Compare that to a preacher or a president today who claims to be Christian but continues in some obvious sin, often hidden.   Then look to your own heart and see if you have the same problem.