Category: 1st and 2nd Chronicles-BibleTrekToday
Trek through 1st and 2nd Chronicles
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!”)
Searching questions!
Scripture reading for July 25th: 2nd Kings 7-8, 2nd Chronicles 21, Matthew 6
Matthew 6:25-29 “”Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.””
Human beings are full of fear. They are born under the lie that they can be like God, but soon realize how little they can control. Fears attack our thought processes concerning life’s basic necessities of food, shelter and clothing. Jesus cut through this human line of fear thinking with a challenge to faith. “Isn’t live more than clothing or food?” “Aren’t you more valuable than the birds?” “Does your worry add any time to your life?” “Why are you anxious?” Jesus emphasized that God supplies the birds with food, and humans are of much more worth! He told of the beauty that God clothes the flowers that are so temporary and how God will cloth us as well. God takes amazing care of His people as well! Read the story in 2nd Kings 8 for a blessing!
2nd Kings 8:5-6 “And while he (was telling the king how Elisha had restored the dead to life, behold, the woman whose son he had restored to life appealed to the king for her house and her land. And Gehazi said, “My lord, O king, here is the woman, and here is her son whom Elisha restored to life.” And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed an official for her, saying, “Restore all that was hers, together with all the produce of the fields from the day that she left the land until now.””
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your amazing goodness and provision for Your people. I am so blessed by how You cared for the Shunamite widow and her son, restoring her property and all the crops in the years she was in exile. You gave her the son and then restored him to life as well! Deliver me from spirits of fear and use me to bless others and tell them of Your amazing goodness through Your Son Jesus Christ!
Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
The Father’s Declaration!
Scripture reading for July 20th: 2nd Chronicles 19-20, 2nd Kings 1, Psalm 20, Matthew 3
Matthew 3:13-17 “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on Him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is My Beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased.””
Matthew recorded the story of Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan river by John the Baptist. John humbly recognized that Jesus was His Lord and should be baptizing him. John knew that Jesus would baptize His followers with the Holy Spirit and fire and warned people to prepare their hearts in repentance. But Jesus was fulfilling His Father’s instructions by identifying with sinful man’s need of cleansing by being baptized Himself in preparation for the infilling of the Holy Spirit. After the Spirit descended on Jesus from an open heaven, His Father spoke in declaration: “This is My Beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased.” As triumphant believers, we will hear a similar declaration at the fullness of our salvation: “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much. Enter into the joys of the Master.” Matthew 25:21, 23
Psalm 20:6-7 “Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer Him from His holy heaven with the saving might of His right Hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will trust in the Name of the Lord our God.”
Prayer: Father God, I believe Your great declaration concerning Jesus Christ. I thank You for Your plan of salvation and cleansing us from sin pictured in the baptism of Jesus Christ. As Jesus went under the water, signifying dying for our sins, He then came up out of the water, signifying His resurrection and the completion of our salvation. By faith in Jesus Christ I know I am Your child and I await hearing Your declaration over my life at the resurrection.
2nd Chronicles 20:20 “And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe His prophets and you will succeed.”
Joyous birth–plots to murder!
Scripture reading for July 19th: 1st Kings 22, 2nd Chronicles 18, Matthew 2
Matthew 2: 13-15 “Now when they had departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the Child and his mother to Egypt, and remain there util I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy Him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”
God’s amazing plans to send His Son to earth as a human being in order to save His people don’t always appear to run smoothly. In the first few months after his birth, wise men from the East come seeking the Child, lead by a star. They stop and visit with Herod, king of Judea on their way to find this Child King. Herod appears interested but is really threatened and plotting murder. God intervenes by speaking to the wise men to go home another way. He then instructs Joseph to take the Child and His mother Mary to Egypt until the murderous threats are removed. God’s plan is always done God’s way and is not always without intrigue and fulfilment of prior prophetic words. God’s Word never fails! Jesus never fails!
Matthew 2:19-20 “But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Rise, take the Child and His mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.””
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your amazing plans, spoken by the prophets of old and written down for us to build our faith in Your faithfulness. Thank You for recording the trials and plots surrounding Your Son, giving us insight into the spiritual warfare that is around us daily. Tune my ear to listen to Your instructions and follow You closely as You work out Your plan for my life.
2nd Chronicles 18:25-27 “And the king of Israel said, “Seize Micaiah and take him back to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son, and say, ‘Thus says the king, put this fellow in prison and feed him with meager rations of bread and water until I return in peace.’ And Micaiah said, “If you return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Hear all you people.””
God’s amazing plan to send His Son!
Scripture reading for July 18: 1st Kings 19-21, 2nd Chronicles 17, Psalm 129, Matthew 1
Matthew 1: 17-21 “So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations. Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call His Name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
God is intimately involved with each person. He knows their names and the plans He has for them. He has times and seasons that He Alone has set to accomplish His purposes. He had this special history of the generations of people from Abraham, the father of faith, until David, king of Israel and flowing down through Jehoshaphat for 42 generations to Joseph a descendant of David. God chose Mary, also a descendant of David, to be the mother of His Son. He spoke to Mary and she agreed with His plan. God spoke to Joseph and calmed his fears caused by Mary’s pregnancy. Even the Name, Jesus, was given for God’s amazing Son who would save His people from their sins!
Psalm 129:4-5 “The Lord is righteous; He has cut the chords of the wicked. May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned backward!”
Prayer: Father God, I am in awe of Your amazing plan to send Your Son to earth in human likeness specifically to save us from our sins. The virgin birth, His sinless life, and His willing sacrifice of His own life that I might have life is amazing love demonstrated to me and all sinners. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and love to share this Good News with those who have not heard!
2nd Chronicles 17:3-6 “The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals, but sought the God of his father and walked in His commandments, not according to the practices of Israel. Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand. And all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor. His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord.”
Faith in action produces progress!
Scripture reading for July 14th: 2nd Chronicles 15-16, 1st Kings 16, Philemon
Philemon 3-7 “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus for all the saints, and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.”
Paul’s short letter to Philemon, a believer in Jesus, whose run-away slave had been saved in prison with Paul, encouraged him to receive Onesimus back as a brother in the Lord. As Paul began his letter, he shared how encouraged he was by the reports that Philemon was showing love and sharing his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ with all the saints. Paul prayed that as Philemon shared his faith, he would grow in the full knowledge and understanding of every good thing that he possessed in his relationship with Jesus Christ. Paul also shared how he was now appealing to him to willingly receive this former run-away slave back as a brother, willingly and without compulsion. God’s transformation would be a blessing!
Philemon 14-16 “But I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother–especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for this example of transformation of a run-away slave to a brother in Christ! That reflects my life and many others. What grace You have given me! And to Philemon, You gave a gentle appeal to forgive and restore this slave as a brother! Help me today to cooperate with You in restoring those You are transforming, not blinded by their past wrongs! Praise the Lord for grace!
2nd Chronicles 15:1-2 “The Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded, and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Hear me, Asa, and all of Judah and Benjamin: ‘The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, he will forsake you.”
Regenerated and renewed by grace!
Scripture reading for July 13th: 1st Kings 15, 2nd Chronicles 13-14, Titus 3
Titus 3: 3-8 “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, Whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.”
Paul was always careful to emphasize God’s great mercy and goodness and grace shown in Jesus Christ. It is never our good works that save us. All our works done in the flesh are useless. We can only be justified by faith through the gift of God’s grace. Through that grace we become heirs of eternal life in God’s forever family. After salvation, we begin to walk with God and He shows us good works to do in response to His direction and love for all people. We who devoted ourselves to pleasing ourselves before salvation now devote ourselves to pleasing God through holy and loving obedience!
Titus 3:14 “And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your gift of grace through Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior! Thank You for renewing my spirit and soul by the indwelling Holy Spirit to love You and to love those You place in my path today. Open my eyes to the good works and urgent needs You want me to help with and direct me to learn to be devoted to these ‘good works’ in response to Your amazing grace!
2nd Chronicles 14:2-4 “And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. He took away the foreign altars and the high places and broke down the pillars and cut down the Asherim and commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers and to keep the law and the commandments.”
Our Blessed Hope
Scripture reading for July 12th: 1st Kings 13-14, 2nd Chronicles 12, Psalm 47, Titus 2
Titus 2: 11-14 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our Blessed Hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good works.”
Paul emphasized to Titus, his younger protégé, that God’s grace for salvation was for all the peoples of the earth. God was in Christ redeeming people from all nations from the bondage of sin and was purifying for Himself a people for His own possession. They would belong to the family of God and would share God’s heart and passion for reaching lost souls. The vision of the coming of Jesus Christ would be a source of hope and blessing to His people. This would empower them to live godly lives of witness as they waited for the glorious appearing! The great King is coming soon!
Psalm 47:6-8 “Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm! God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your amazing grace towards Jew and Gentile through Jesus Christ. Your goodness has drawn me and many to repentance and faith. I await with eager expectation the “Blessed Hope” of the return of Jesus Christ the King! Lead me today in the good works You have prepared for me that I might bring You glory when You return!
2nd Chronicles 12:5-6 “Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and to the princes of Judah, who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, “Thus says the Lord, ‘You abandoned Me, so I have abandoned you to the hand of Shishak.’ Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The Lord is righteous.””
Orderly Elders overseeing the Church
Scripture reading for July 11th: 1st Kings 12, 2nd Chronicles 10-11, Titus 1
Titus 1:5-9 “This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you--if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy Word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”
Paul wrote to Titus, another younger minister who grew up in the faith under his ministry. Paul had left Titus in Crete to oversee the church there and to set in order this body of new believers. This would require him to appoint ‘elders’ to oversee the church and keep the proper order. These elders must have their own lives in proper order to be effective in their assignments. They must have only one wife and have their children in proper order. Their own character must be soundly grounded in God’s Word and they must have their spirits under control from the pride and arrogance of the world and free from addictions and idolatry. They must be above reproach, having a good reputation in the Church as well in the culture they lived in. The Word of God must be firmly held and preached.
Titus 1:15-16 “To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.”
Prayer: Father God, Thank You for the stewardship that You grant to Your people who You call into leadership to oversee Your Church. I have been blessed to be a part of that and to help equip others to also lead. Grant wisdom to those setting Your body in order. Guard Your church against professors that deny God by their works and ungodly life-styles. Help me daily to set a good and godly example.
1st Kings 12: 28-30 “So the king (Jeroboam) took counsel and made two calves of gold. And he said to the people, ‘You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, who have brought you up out of the land of Egypt. And he set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. Then this thing became a sin, . .”
Godliness and contentment!
Scripture reading for July 4th: 1st Kings 10-11, 2nd Chronicles 9, 1st Timothy 6
1st Timothy 6: 6-12 “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of eternal life, . . “
Paul encouraged Timothy to avoid the lure of money and riches as a means of finding meaning in life. This trap is an old one and is chronicled for us in the life of Solomon, whose riches brought him nothing but “vanity” or emptiness. It also turned his attention away from God, along with his many wives and concubines that his riches enabled him to have. True men and women of God will flee from this temptation, the ‘love of money’, and pursue by faith the kingdom of God. It is a ‘good fight’ because it yields eternal riches in God’s presence when Jesus Christ is revealed. We must keep our eyes on the true prize and not get distracted by the shiny objects!
1st Timothy 6:14-16 “. .to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will display at the proper time–He Who is the Blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, Who alone has immortality, Who dwells in unapproachable light, Whom no one has ever seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen!”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I long to see You and to receive my full inheritance! Thank You for the Holy Spirit, Who empowers me to live in godliness and with contentment for the abundance I have been given here on earth. Keep me from ever being distracted by the love of money. May I always be in pursuit of Your righteousness which is by faith through grace. To You be honor and eternal dominion forever and ever!
1st Kings 11:6-8 “So Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had done. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem. And so he did for all his foreign wives, who made offerings and sacrificed to their gods.”