Day 212 - 2 Kings 15-16 & Psalm 26

 Julie

There seems to be a continuation of King's not doing what God commanded. Out of all of the kings mentioned, there are two that follow God and one of them ends up a leper. While they both follow God they still allow for the way that people sacrificed and idolized in the high places. As this goes on it just seems that those in power either come in corrupt or are corrupted by the power. Again, something that has obviously been going on for all time and is what we are still seeing today. 

This psalm seems to be a pledge that David makes to God. If God were to test him he would prove to him that he will be faithful and follow him and that he will not get caught up with evil doers. This is a testament to saying that he is giving his life to God and that will follow no matter what he experiences. This is something that we should do, give our lives to God and accept that we will be tested along to they way to see if we will be faithful and not fall. 

 

Michelle

You had mentioned previously that your bible version says that we will read about these kings again in Chronicles.   I assume that is what the annals are that is stated in my bible.  I expect this book to be enormous as it says after each of these kings that their story is shared in that book.  We read about quite a few kings today.  It seems the kings of Israel have not followed God's commands for quite some time.  The kings of Judah go back and forth.  We read of one here that sacrifices his son not to God but following other religions, I don't know how else to put it.  Some of these kings stories don't make sense yet but maybe in later readings that will change.  It does seem that we are passing time quickly here.  

In the psalm, is seems David is calling himself perfect, when in fact we know that was not the case.  He did make some mistakes.  But it does say that he trusted in the Lord and asked God to examine his heart and mind and that he relied on God's faithfulness.  We should all be doing the same.  As we read David was not perfect, but he did remain faithful to God and followed him all the days of his life.  That seems to be what God wants.  If you go back to the ten commandments, it begins with "I am the Lord your God ... You shall have not other God's before me, You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything ... You shall not misuse the name of the Lord."   These first 3 commandments are about following God and being faithful.  I didn't see it that way until right this moment.  God seems to be saying, follow me and be faithful, as I am faithful to you. 

Day 211 - 2 Kings 13-14 & Psalm 25

 Michelle

These 2 chapters have my head spinning this morning.  These names are all so similar that it starts to get confusing and it seems like we keep jumping back and forth in timelines.  What I did get was that some of the kings follow portions of God's laws and other follow none.  No one every takes down the high places and the fact that this keeps coming up makes me think there is some significance, although I do not know why.  In chapter 14 there is a part that speaks of something that I keep going back to but don't know why.  Verse 9 starts "...A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, 'Give your daughter to my son in marriage.'  Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle underfoot."  I am not sure what keeps bringing me here as I don't understand it at all even reading the verses surrounding it.  

The psalm is David talking of his trust in God.  God guides him in truth and is merciful.  He goes thru speaking of all God does for him and how he forgives the sins of his youth.  This says to me to stay faithful and trust in God and rely only on him and he will guide your path and protect you all your days. 

Julie

I am glad you had a question because the most I got out of this was that no king seems to want to follow the commandments of God. Before I get to your question, there was something that stood out to me as well, in chapter 13, verse 21. Elisha had died and they were burying him, but at the same time another man is being buried by marauders and is thrown into Elisha's grave and as soon as he touches Elisha's dead body he comes back to life. This is like a random story in the middle of everything else with no context. The explanation says, "The Israelites need to maintain contact with the great prophets of the past through obedience to their teachings if this 'death' in exile is also to be followed by an unexpected resurrection." Could this be an indication of what is to come with Jesus? I am not sure how they came to this conclusion from just that innocuous statement.

To return to your questions about the verse with the thistle. That one also seems to be somewhat innocuous. However, the explanation that this is a parable that Jehoash uses as an insult and a warning to Amaziah. The explanation says that the point of the parable is, "that a puny thistle (Amaziah), easily trampled by any wild beast, should not make the mistake of comparing itself in might to the immovable cedar on Lebanon (Jehoash). Be content with your glory, and stay home." Apparently, Jehoash was not looking for conflict with Amaziah. I am not sure how much this helps and I wonder how they came to the conclusion that this is what it meant.

I like the way that you summed this up. There are so many great verses within this psalm to help us to remember to trust in the Lord and to remind us of his steadfast love, faithfulness, and forgiveness if we follow him. 

Day 210 - 2 Kings 11-12 & Psalm 24

 Michelle

Can you imagine being made King at 7 years of age?  Joash becomes king in these chapters and is advised by a priest, who appears to follow God's commands.  The one thing they didn't do was to tear down the high places where people were sacrificing.  This has come up before.  They also talk of repairing the temple of God, which the priests are tasked to do but never do and it takes 23 years for Joash to do anything about it.  Which seems strange to me.  Obviously there are greedy priests taking the money that is to be used for the temple repair.  Why are people so deceptive?

This psalm is about the King of Glory.  Those who have clean hands and a pure heart and do not worship false gods or idols, will receive blessings from God. 

Julie

I had to go back and read that first part, I did not even get that he was only seven out of that when I read it the first time. However, I am as perplexed as you are about the repairing of the temple. One of the things that came out of reading the explanation that I did not get when I read is that while Joash finally did the repairs he didn't do any grand restoration to where it was never restored to its former glory. The fact that it seems that people have been deceptive and selfish for all time and that they don't really seem to be changing is disheartening. 

It's a reminder that the creator of all great things allows us to have those blessings.

Day 209 - Kings 9-10 & Psalm 23

 Michelle

So these chapters speak of Jehu being anointed King over Israel.  What I keep thinking about though is that when Elisha instructs a prophet to anoint Jehu he tells him what to say and it doesn't include all the things he actually says to Jehu when he anoints him.  I don't understand if this was just left out or if the prophet added his own info or if God was speaking through the prophet.  God does say that Jehu did right in his eyes and that Jehu's descendants will sit on the throne for 4 generations, however, he did not keep the law of the Lord with all his heart, and turn away from the sins of Jeroboam.  

This psalm is a very popular one and I have heard it many times.  Reading it today has me really thinking about what it says.  The beginning seems to say be thankful for what you are given because God gives what you need and nothing more.  God leads you to rest and refreshes your soul.  He guides you along the right path in accordance with his commands.  When you go through dark, troublesome times, he is with you still.  His steadfast love endures, so do not fear the path, but have the strength to move through it.  God is preparing a place for you, and as long as you remain faithful he will continue to provide all you need and guide you no matter the circumstance.  David says at the end, I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever, which seems to mean he will not stray from God no matter what.

Julie

The first chapter talks about the death of Jezebel and it was rather brutal. God apparently was quite angry with her. 

I was the excerpts at the bottom of the page regarding Jehu's shortcomings and it mentioned that God must have been overlooking those transgressions because he had defeated all of Baal's followers, which he felt was worse. 

I am not sure that I can say much more about this Psalm than you have. It is a great reminder of who God is and what he does for us.

Day 208 - 2 Kings 7-8 & Psalm 22

 Julie

I don't know that I understand yet why all of these kings have done terrible things. At one point Elisha even tells one of them the kind of king that he will be and knowing that it is allowed. I know that God has us go through adversity for reasons, but I am curious to see if Chronicles does tell us a bit more about why they did these things. 

There is a lot said about how this Psalm is talking about Jesus and the use of it in Matthew. In the context of David, who wrote the Psalm, it sounds like he is at that point of frustration that most people hit. I think this Psalm shows that he is human and while he had great faith in God, he even had moments where he questioned why he was going through these things, but he does end it with praise to God for how he will deliver him from this pain. 

 

Michelle

This reading goes through more of the kings of Judah and Israel and their interactions.  Most of them do not follow God's commands.  I also found it interesting that Elisha tells the one king the awful things he will do, and instead of changing his ways, he does awful things.  You would think that would give a person pause to consider his actions, but it doesn't seem that was the case here.  And he didn't say the person would kill the king, only become king after him, yet Hazael is the one that ended the king's life.  There is a devotional along with chapter 8 that talks of God's promise.  It says that God promised to maintain the line of David so that Jesus could come from that line.  "God remembered his promise to King David that he would preserve a godly remnant so that a Savior, his only Son, could be born through the tribe of Judah."  Now I don't remember reading this in the previous books, but I could have missed that.  But it specifically states that God said a Savior would come from this line.  And this is many, many years before Jesus.  I feel like I should go back to the books about David and read again to see where I missed that.  

In the psalm it seems David is asking God why he has left him, yet as you read further he says God is with him always and he has been with God since birth.  He continues stating that he will share God with his people and then praises all he has done for him.   

Day 207 - 2 Kings 5-6 & Psalm 21

 Julie

I am going to honestly say that I do not know what to make of today's reading. God does heal someone from leprosy through Elisha, but I feel like I did not really understand these two chapters well. 

The Lord gives David the strength to endure all that is happening to him. 

 

Michelle

There seems to be alot going on in these chapters but it's hard to make sense of it all.  Elisha does heal a man of leprosy, however, the man doesn't immediately follow his instruction and instead questions it.  Once he does follow, he is healed.  I don't understand the axhead floating.  Then the blind Arameans and the threat of cutting off Elisha's head.  This didn't make sense to me.  The end talks about famine in Samaria and they were eating children.  I found this disturbing and the woman asking the king to help her but he says he can't.  

The psalm seems to be David rejoicing in all God had given him.   

Day 206 - 2 Kings 3-4 & Psalm 20

 Julie

Elisha performs many miracles. The one with the Shunammite woman is a popular one that is used often to show the grace of God for those that follow him. The one at the end of the reading where there will be enough food for all is similar to what we will read about Jesus doing in the NT. If God provided men to do all of the things that Jesus did over all of those years, why did not never stick with most people?

The Lord will be the there to save and protect if you are faithful. 

 

Michelle

These chapters tell of the miracles performed by Elisha.  I wonder the same.  God was using people to do amazing things even before Jesus, yet they still kept turning away and worshiping other Gods.  It doesn't make sense.  I don't recall reading about these before today.  The only ones I recall are the ones that Jesus performed.   

The psalm seems to be David asking that God remembers those that trust in him and that he will provide and protect them.