December 1, 2015. Daily Reading: II Chronicles 33-36. Background: II Chronicles 29-32. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 33 Manasseh and Amon: The beginning and ending of this chapter is very similar to II Kings 21:1-9 and II Kings 21:19-24, respectively. The difference we find in Chronicles about Manasseh’s reign is a record of his prayer and…
Tag: Babylon
Habakkuk 1-3: What the Lord is doing.
November 20, 2015. Daily Reading: Habakkuk 1-3. Background: Very little is known about the prophet Habakkuk, as we are not given his family linage, hometown or who was in power when he carried out his ministry from the text. His name even is not a common Hebrew name and it is only found twice in…
Daniel 1-6: A message of deliverance.
September 4, 2015. Daily Reading: Daniel 1-6. Background: The book of Daniel is set in the time period just after the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon and continues on through the Medo-persian era. It makes mention of Kings Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar of Babylon and Kings Darius and Cyrus of the Median/Persian reign. The book is divided into two different…
II Kings 21-25: Evil, reform and ruin.
August 25, 2015. Daily Reading: II Kings 21-25. Background: II Kings 16-20. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 21 1. Manasseh: After King Hezekiah died, his son Manasseh reigned in his place, beginning at age 12 and reigning for 55 years, which would be the longest reign in the history of the kingdom of Judah. For all…
Ezekiel 13-18: The fallen people of God.
July 3, 2015. Daily Reading: Ezekiel 13-18. Background: Ezekiel 7-12. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 13 Speaking for God when He did not speak: Ezekiel is sent by the Lord with an oracle against the prophets of Isreal in this chapter, because the prophets were speaking lies, telling of false visions. They would said “Declares the…
Jeremiah 47-52: Oracles to the nations.
June 5, 2015. Daily Reading: Jeremiah 47-52. Background: Jeremiah 42-46. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 47 Oracle against the Philistines: The previous chapter started the last section of the book of Jeremiah, which is a collection of oracles of judgment against various nations outside of Israel. It was not only Israel that was to be punished…
Jeremiah 42-46: Further disobedience and judgment.
May 29, 2015 Daily Reading: Jeremiah 42-46. Background: Jeremiah 37-41. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 42 God’s warning: At the beginning of this chapter, there is a sense that the children of Israel, or at least the remnant that was left in the land of Judah, were finally starting to come around and realize that the words…
Jeremiah 22-26: The people against the prophet
May 1, 2015. Daily Reading: Jeremiah 22-26. Background: Jeremiah 17-21. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 22 1. Judah given a choice: The Lord sends Jeremiah on a mission to go speak to the king of Judah and give him a choice, an opportunity to turn things around that the Lord might relent from His wrath that He…
Jeremiah 17-21: Prophecy and persecution.
April 24, 2015. Daily Reading: Jeremiah 17-21. Background: Jeremiah 12-16. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 17 1. The deceptive heart: This chapter begins with an oracle against Judah for their sin, implying that their seen had left a permanent mark on their heart, etched with diamond, so that they would not consider repenting. The main reason for…
Jeremiah 1-6: The word of the Lord through Jeremiah.
April 3, 2015. Daily Reading: Jeremiah 1-6. Background: The book of Jeremiah is a compilation of the word of the Lord though the prophet Jeremiah that spans almost the full time of the prophet’s life. Jeremiah is called as a youth to be a prophet of the Lord, delivering a very unappealing message to the people….
Isaiah 45-50: Prophecy of Babylon’s fall and the call of the Lord’s people.
March 6, 2015. Daily Reading: Isaiah 45-50. Background: Isaiah 40-44. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 45 1. God uses who He will: As the people are in Babylonian captivity, the Lord as raise up a king, according to His plan from the days of old, to concur Babylon and deliver the children of Israel. This king was…
Isaiah 12-17: Oracles of destruction.
January 23, 2015. Daily Reading: Isaiah 12-17. Background: Isaiah 6-11. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 12 Praising the Lord for His steadfast love and salvation: After oracles of the coming destruction and captivity and oracles of the Messiah, the prophet’s words turn to praise and honor for the Great King, Almighty, Lord of hosts. There is…