Category: 1st and 2nd Chronicles-BibleTrekToday
Trek through 1st and 2nd Chronicles
Honoring Christ’s holiness to harvest!
Scripture reading for October 14th: 2nd Kings 24-25, 2nd Chronicles 36, Psalm 126, 1st Peter 3
1st Peter 3: 13-17 “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you: Yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.”
Peter again returns to the theme of suffering for righteousness and the blessing that it can bring. When we suffer in honor of Christ, not reviling those causing the suffering or cursing and complaining, God is glorified and looks graciously upon us. He opens hearts and often gives those suffering an opportunity to share the reason for their hope and good attitudes. They are to be ready to do that and when that opportunity comes, use gentleness and reverence and respect. God may bring a harvest of souls from your honoring Christ, who also suffered unjustly to bring souls to glory.
Psalm 126:5-6 “Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You again for encouraging Your people to honor Christ even by suffering unjustly at the hands of those who don’t know You or despise Your Word. Use us to show compassion to those despising and mocking Your Word and messengers. Help me to always be ready with an answer and to show gentleness and respect to all. May Your remedy, Jesus Christ be applied to each heart.
2nd Chronicles 36:15-16 “The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by His messengers, because He had compassion on His people and His dwelling place. But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising His Words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord rose against His people, until there was no remedy.”
We are the Living God’s temple!
Scripture reading for September 23rd: 2nd Chronicles 34-35, 2nd Corinthians 6
2nd Corinthians 6: 14-16 “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make My dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”
Paul had just told the Corinthians about the new covenant and new creation that they had become through faith in Jesus Christ. He carefully explained to them that as new creations, that they should be careful with their associations. They must not join in marriage or close associations with unbelievers. Unbelievers live in darkness and are under the control of Belial, the devil. Unbelievers have no inheritance in God’s kingdom and therefore live in lawlessness and under God’s judgment. Believers are now the ‘temple’ for the Living God and He lives in them bringing light, righteousness, Christ’s presence and eternal life. Holy separation is required to maintain and grow in our journey to glory in Christ.
2nd Corinthians 6:17-18 “Therefore, go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty.”
Prayer: Holy Father, I am honored that You would consider me, a redeemed sinner, a worthy place to dwell by Your Holy Spirit. Help me to properly apply Your command to be separate and come out from among unbelievers and avoid unequal yokes in this fallen world. I give myself to You as Your Holy dwelling place and to share Your Good News with the unbelievers that they might enjoy salvation.
2nd Chronicles 35:21-23 “. . And God has commanded me (Pharaoh Neco) to hurry. Cease opposing God, Who is with me, lest He destroy you.” Nevertheless, Josiah did not turn away from him, but disguised himself in order to fight with him. He did not listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God but came to fight in the plain of Megiddo. And the archers shot King Josiah.”
Far-exceeding glory!
Scripture reading for September 20th: 2nd Kings 21, 2nd Chronicles 33, Psalm 71, 2nd Corinthians 3
2nd Corinthians 3:7-12 “Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters of stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because the glory that surpasses it. For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory. Since we have such a hope, we are very bold. . .”
Paul explained to the believers in Corinth the amazing truths concerning the glory of the ministry of righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ. Under the old covenant, the Law, the glory on Moses’ face after meeting with God was fading away and Moses used a veil to shield the people from that fading glory. The Law could only reveal sin and bring condemnation before God. Its glory was fading because it was temporary until Christ was revealed and the New Covenant of righteousness by faith. Paul explained that this Covenant comes with far-exceeding glory that instead of fading away grows ever brighter in intensity on those following Christ by faith! Amen!
Psalm 71:14-16 “But I will hope continually and will praise You yet more and more. My mouth will tell of Your righteous acts, of Your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge. With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come, I will remind them of Your righteousness, Yours alone.”
Prayer: Holy Father, You alone are God and Your amazing mercy to forgive us all our sins and wickedness and to give us Your gift of righteousness is worthy of all praise. Your promise of ever-increasing and far-exceeding glory to those who humbly follow Jesus stretches my mind! I vow with the psalmist, “I will praise You yet more and more!”
2nd Chronicles 33:12-13 “And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. He prayed to Him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him back again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.”
Winning the lost at all costs!
Scripture reading for September 6th: 2nd Kings 18-19, 2nd Chronicles 32, Psalm 67, 1st Corinthians 9
1st Corinthians 9: 20-24 “To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the Gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.”
Paul was countering false teachers who offered flashy credentials and were eager to get money from the people. Paul wanted to serve His Lord Jesus by offering the Gospel free of charge, although he had the right to get sustenance from preaching and teaching God’s Word. He wanted to have no one stumble or reject the message because they thought he was doing his ministry for money. Paul set his heart to win as many as possible to Christ by identifying with them in their cultural situation. To Jews, he spoke from the Law of God and went to the synagogue and temple. He related to the Gentiles with God’s truth in a way that they could receive it. He wasn’t a con artist or a play actor, but he sincerely tried to relate so that he could present the Gospel and bring the opportunity for eternal life. He preached to win the lost!
Psalm 67:1-2 “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us, that Your way may be known on earth, Your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise You, O God; leat all the peoples praise You!”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the privilege of sharing the Gospel message with lost people and encouraging Your people with the Truth of Your eternal Word. You have shined Your face on us and been gracious to us through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Fill me with the Holy Spirit that I may be focused on winning the lost each day as You lead and direct me. I want others to share the blessings of the Gospel.
2nd Chronicles 32:7-8 “”Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.”
Love builds up!
Scripture reading for September 5th: 2nd Chronicles 29-31, 1st Corinthians 8
1st Corinthians 8: 1-6 “Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but One.” For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth–as indeed there are many “gods” and many ‘lords’--yet for us there is one God, the Father, from Whom are all things and for Whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom are all things and through Whom we exist.”
The culture that the Corinthians lived in and came out of to come to Christ was filled with idolatry and places to worship those “gods” and “lords” in gluttonous feasts as well as sexual acts. Paul warned the believers about their need to show love and not just boast about this knowledge that the idols were nothing and their freedom to eat the food sacrificed to them. Love looks out for those whose consciences are still weak and being developed to help them know truth. We restrain our freedoms based on our knowledge in order to help our weaker brothers and sisters until they can grow stronger. Love always builds up.
1st Corinthians 8:11-13 “And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.”
Prayer: Lord, in this idolatrous culture, help me to be mindful of how I can show love to those new in the faith who are still not fully trained in righteousness and knowing You and Your ways. Thank You that You are the One God and the Living God Who created the universe and Who gives us life. Forgive me when I let pride in my knowledge of Your Word and You cause me to act improperly towards other believers.
2nd Chronicles 30:17-20 “For there were men in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves. Therefore the Levites had to slaughter the Passover lamb for everyone who was not clean, to consecrate it to the Lord. For a majority of the people, many of them from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than prescribed. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, “May the Good Lord pardon everyone who sets his heart to seek God, the Lord, the God of his fathers, even though not according to the sanctuary’s rules of cleanness.” And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people.”
Serving Christ as His ‘bondservant’!
Scripture reading for September 2nd: 2nd Chronicles 28, 2nd Kings 17, Psalm 66, 1st Corinthians 7
1st Corinthians 7:17-23 “Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. You were bought with a price, do not become bondservants of men.”
When we come to Christ Jesus and are born again, our lives are changed from slave of sin to free-man in Christ. We are redeemed from slavery and are now free to love and serve God. How do we do that if we are in ‘slavery’ when we were called? This was a real question in the culture of first century Rome. Paul explained that we should remain in our positions and await God’s directions and opportunity. We should serve our masters as unto the Lord Himself to Whom we are now freely giving ourselves as bondslaves. Bondslaves voluntarily agreed to serve their masters for life. Christ purchased us with His own blood and we freely offer our bodies and hearts and souls to serve Him now and in eternity.
Psalm 66:11-12 “You brought us into the net; You laid a crushing burden on our backs; You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet You have brought us out into a place of abundance.”
Prayer: Father God, You have brought me and Your people to a place of abundance through the grace offered at the cost of Your Son’s sacrifice. Thank You for this simple instruction to continue serving You as a bondslave in whatever position or lot my life was when I heard and responded to Your call. Help me to humbly serve You each day, through the burdens, trials, water and fires of life. Blessed be Your Name!
2nd Kings 17:37-39 “And the statutes and the rules and the law and the commandment that He wrote for you, you shall always be careful to do. You shall not fear other gods, but you shall fear the Lord your God, and He will deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies. However, they would not listen, but they did according to their former manner.”
Seeking greatness!
Scripture reading for August 12th: Hosea 14, 2nd Chronicles 26-27, Psalm 61, Matthew 20
Matthew 20:20-23 “Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to Him with her sons, and kneeling before Him she asked Him for something. And He said to her, “What do you want?” She said to Him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at Your right hand and one at Your left, in Your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to Him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will drink My cup, but to sit at My right hand and at My left is not Mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.”
Jesus had just foretold His death by crucifixion and resurrection on the third day to his disciples. After this, the mother of James and John came to Jesus with a request. She, probably at her sons’ request, humbly made a plea that one son would be on Jesus’ right and the other on His left in His new kingdom. Jesus told them that they did not know what they were asking! Those places of honor were not Jesus’ to give but only were reserved by the Father for those deemed worthy. All the disciples were indignant over this request. They all wanted honor! Jesus told them the secret to greatness and honor: Become a servant of all and take the last place. Allow God the Father to exalt you!
Matthew 20:23-25 “But Jesus called them to Him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
Prayer: Father God, I am humbled before You and Your Son Who showed mercy to me and all who will repent and believe. You demonstrated the path of greatness, exaltation, and eternal life and rulership through complete obedience and humble service by giving even Your life blood and body. Teach me this path to greatness and lead me in Your way of taking up my cross and following You.
Psalm 61:1-3 “Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint. Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I, for You have been my Refuge, a strong Tower against the enemy.”
The sign of the prophet Jonah!
Scripture reading for August 2nd: 2nd Kings 13-14; 2nd Chronicles 25; Psalm 53; Matthew 12
Matthew 12: 38-42 “Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from You.” But He answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.”
Jesus Christ had preached repentance to all He was sent to. He had demonstrated that He was the Son of God by signs and wonders and miracles. Still, the religious leaders of the Jews demanded more signs before they would respond. Jesus answered them by telling them the greatest “sign” that He was the Son of God–His resurrection from the grave after three days and nights. He explained that this coming event was patterned after an earlier event in the life of the prophet Jonah. Jonah was in rebellion to God’s instructions to preach to the people of Nineveh. God appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah after he was thrown overboard. Jonah spent three days and nights in that fish before he was vomited out on Nineveh’s doorstep. He preached and they repented in a great revival.
Psalm 53:1-2 “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” they are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good. God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the preaching ministry of your prophets, apostles and of Jesus Christ, Himself. Forgive us for being like Jonah and running away from Your call to be witnesses of Your grace to those who are lost and mocking You. Help us to believe the greatest sign You have given us, the resurrection of Jesus Christ after three days. Empower me to preach this Good News to the lost today.
2nd Chronicles 25:14-16 “After Amaziah came from striking down the Edomites, he brought the gods of the men of Seir and set them up as his gods and worshiped them, making offerings to them. Therefore the Lord was angry with Amaziah and sent to him a prophet, who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of a people who did not deliver their own people from your hand?” But as he was speaking, the king said to him, “Have we made you a royal counselor? Stop! . .”
Compassion leads to action!
Scripture reading for July 28th: 2nd Chronicles 24, 2nd Kings 12, Psalm 50, Matthew 9
Matthew 9: 35-38 “And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.””
Jesus Christ was a man of deep compassion for lost and hurting people. He came to reveal the Father’s heart of love and mercy through teaching the Gospel of the kingdom of heaven and allowing the Father’s compassion to flow through Him in acts of healing and deliverance from evil spirits. He saw people helpless because of sin and Satan’s grip and harassed like sheep without a protecting shepherd. After healing and deliverance of all kinds of sickness and oppression, Jesus instructed His disciples to pray to God, Lord of the harvest, to send out laborers into the harvest field. This prayer was just prior to sending them out as part of the answer to their own asking!
Psalm 50:14-15 “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your great compassion for helpless and hurting people. I thank You for Your compassion for me and Your mercy through the sacrifice of Your Son Jesus Christ, healing my sinful heart and delivering me from darkness and Satan’s harassment. Lord, send out laborers into Your harvest field to share the Good News and to show Your compassion through healing and deliverance. Send me!
2nd Chronicles 24:13 “So those who were engaged in the work labored, and the repairing went forward in their hands, and they restored the house of God to its proper condition and strengthened it.”
Save us! Lord!
Scripture reading for July 27th: 2nd Chronicles 22-23, 2nd Kings 11, Psalm 131, Matthew 8
Matthew 8: 23-27 “And when He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but He was asleep. And they went and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And He said to them “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then He rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey Him?”
Matthew record many of Jesus’ miracles of healing and casting out demons. In this passage, Jesus is asleep in the boat with His disciples as they travel across the Sea of Galilee. A great storm arose and buffeted the boat, causing great fear that all would drown and they would perish! They decided it was time to wake Jesus up! As a typical Rabbi, always working with His disciples, Jesus asks them a question: “Why are you afraid?” After the rebuke for their lack of faith, the definition of fear, Jesus took simple action by rebuking the wind and waves and there was a great calm on the sea and a great searching in the disciples hearts. They now had a question: “What sort of man is this?”
Psalm 131:2-3 “But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.”
Prayer: Father God, I have often cried out like the disciples in times of distress and uncertainty. Like the newly weaned child, I think I still need my mother’s milk. You calm me with Your Words of assurance and rebuke and the storm subsides! As I get older, I still ponder what kind of Son of Man that would love me and give me His peace and eternal hope!
2nd Kings 11:12 “Then he brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him and gave him the testimony. And they proclaimed him king and anointed him, and clapped their hands and said, “Long live the king!”” (I say “Amen King Jesus!”)