Category: 1st and 2nd Kings-BibleTrekToday
Trek through 1st and 2nd Kings
Opposition within!
Scripture reading for May 9th: 2nd Kings 13-16, Acts 4
Key Scriptures: Acts 4:27-29 “. . for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to Your servants to continue to speak Your Word with all boldness. . .”
The disciples had been threatened by the Jewish council after the great miracle of healing for the lame beggar. They joined together and prayed a powerful prayer, recognizing the opposition that Jesus Christ had Himself endured from those He appointed to authority. They asked to speak boldly God’s Word!
2nd Kings 16:2-3 “Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God, as his father David had done, but he walked in the way of the kings of Israel. He even burned his son as an offering, according to the despicable practices of the nations. . .”
Prayer: Lord, reveal any compromise in my life. Help me to do right in Your eyes and speak boldly Your Word to Your people as well as the lost. Amen.
Times of refreshing!
Scripture reading for May 8th: 2nd Kings 10-12, Acts 3
Key Scriptures: Acts 3:19-21 “”Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets long ago.””
Peter called on the Jews to repent and turn to Jesus Christ, the One spoken of by the prophets. Jesus, alone could restore all things and bring times of refreshing that would follow repentance and turning of hearts to Him.
2nd Kings 12:4-6 “Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money of the holy things that is brought into the house of the Lord, . . .and the money that a man’s heart prompts him to bring into the house of the Lord, . .and let them repair the house wherever any need of repairs is discovered.”. . . “But by the 23rd year of King Jehoash, the priests had made no repairs on the house (of the Lord).”
Prayer: Lord, my heart is moved to see Your Holy Temple restored and cleansed. Cleanse me and Your Church and bring times of refreshing as we obey You. Amen.
Claiming the promise!
Scripture reading for May 7th: 2nd Kings 6-9, Acts 2
Key Scriptures: Acts 2:37-39 “Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off; everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself.”
Peter preached to the crowd gathered at Pentecost that had witnesses the 120 speaking in tongues and telling the wonderful works of God. He told them that that promise of salvation and empowerment was for them, their children, and even for the Gentiles! God was calling everyone to Himself!
2nd Kings 6:16-17 “He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” The Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
Prayer: Lord, I want to claim the promise of salvation and power to be Your witness each day of the remainder of my life. Keep my spiritual eyes open to Your abundant help. Amen.
Power for witnesses!
Scripture reading for May 4th: 2nd Kings 3-5, Acts 1
Key Scriptures: Acts 1:6-8 “So when they had come together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.””
2nd Kings 5:13-14 “But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.”
Prayer: Lord, Fill me with the Holy Spirit today that I might obey You and walk in the power needed to reach lost people with the Gospel. Amen.
Follow to the Utmost!
Scripture reading for May 3rd: 1st Kings 21-22, 2nd Kings 1-2, John 21
Key Scriptures: John 21:17-19 “. . .Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” and he said to Him, “Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This He said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this He said to him.”Follow Me.”
Peter had denied Jesus three times during the hours following Jesus’ arrest. Now Jesus would restore His disciple by asking three times if He loved Him. He also gave Peter insight into how he would die. In all, Peter was to follow Jesus!
2nd Kings 2:11-13 “And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. And he took up the cloak of Elijah. . .”
Prayer: Father, thank You for restoring Peter and calling him to follow You. Help me to follow You closely and do Your will until my departure to be with You! Amen.
My Lord, My God!
Scripture reading for May 2nd: 1st Kings 18-20, John 20
Key Scriptures: John 20:26-28 “Eight days later, His disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then He said to Thomas, “Put your fingers here, and see My hands; and put out your hand, and place it in My side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered, “My Lord and My God!””
Jesus appeared on several occasions to the disciples after His resurrection. Thomas had missed the first of those times, and struggled to believe. Jesus met him where he was and offered definite proof of touching His wounds in person. Jesus fulfilled His Word completely.
1st Kings 17:23-24 “And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and delivered him to his mother. And Elijah said, “See, your son lives.” And the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the Word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your patience to meet us each where we are and show us that You are alive and Your Word is truth. You are My Lord and My God. Amen.
It is Finished
Scripture reading for May 1st: 1st Kings 14-17, John 19
Key Scriptures: John 19:28-30 “After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture),”I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to His mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished.” and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”
Jesus, Son of God, Son of David, was obedient unto death on the cross. He hung there until He had accomplished everything written in Scripture, and then announced the completion of His task. He gave His life blood and then His spirit. His heart was fully committed to the Father.
1st Kings 15:11, 14-15 “And Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as David his father had done. . . .But the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was wholly true to the Lord all his days. And he brought into the house of the Lord the sacred gifts of his father and his own sacred gifts, silver and gold and vessels.”
Prayer: Father, thank You for sending Jesus to finish the work of salvation and fulfill Scripture. Help me to please You and fully commit to You all my days. Amen.
Declare not Deny!
Scripture reading for April 30th: 1st Kings 11-13, John 18
Key Scriptures: John 18:25-27 “Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it and said “I am not.” One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.”
Jesus had predicted the denial and falling away of all His disciples. He had also predicted the betrayal by one, Judas. Even those who walked with Jesus, saw the miracles, heard His teaching and knew Him turned away during Jesus’ final hours. How we need His grace!
1st Kings 11:3-4 “He (Solomon)had 700 wives and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.”
Prayer: Lord, thank You for praying for me. Help me to declare You, not deny You, before men and maintain a fully committed heart, like the heart of Jesus, David’s Son and the Son of God. Amen.
The Spirit of Truth and Wisdom
Scripture reading for April 26th: 1st Kings 4-6, John 16
Key Scriptures: John 16:12-14 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify Me (Jesus), for He will take what is Mine and declare it to you.”
Jesus explained to His disciples that He would teach them much more about Himself and in fact guide them into all truth. This would come when the Holy Spirit was poured out on them after His resurrection to the Father. This would be the Father’s gift. Each person would have access by the Holy Spirit to God’s wisdom.
1st Kings 4:29-30 Solomon asked God for wisdom —“And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore, so that Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.”
Prayer: Lord, thank You that You know all things. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and wisdom that I might live fully in Your will and advance Your kingdom. Amen.
Let the Word Abide!
Scripture reading for April 25th: 2nd Samuel 24, 1st Kings 1-3, John 15
Key Scriptures: John 15:5-7 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me, you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
1st Kings 2:2-3 “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in His ways and keeping His statutes, His commandments, His rules, and His testimonies, as is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn.”
Prayer: Lord, thank You for the nourishing sap of Your Holy Word. I choose to stay closely attached, abiding in You and Your Word that You might bring forth fruit from my life. Amen.