1 Samuel 9
1 Samuel 9 - Saul had everything going for him. He came from a family of prominence and wealth. His father was most likely a feudal lord - a landowner and a leader in times of war. ...
1 Samuel 8
1 Samuel 8 - Samuel's reputation as a judge was top-notch. He followed in a long line of judges who would call God's people back to repentance, but only for a specific period of time. Because Samuel's ...
1 Samuel 6
1 Samuel 6 - 7 months. 7 months of terror, suffering, and death. The Philistines experienced the white-hot flame of God's fiery judgment. This was their encounter with the Living God because He will not share His ...
1 Samuel 1
1 Samuel 1 - Historically, Israel was on the ropes. The Philistines were growing and becoming stronger because of their modern Greek military technology. They were the first in the region to discover and use iron, and ...
Romans 13
Romans 13 - In Chapter 13, Paul's focus is the authority of the government, and how the Christian should respond to such authority. In Paul's time, there were overzealous Jews who claimed that they would honor no ...
2 Kings 25
2 Kings 25 - It's definitely fitting that the fate of Israel was determined at Jericho. “It seems ironic that here, at the very spot where Israel first set foot on the Promised Land, the last of ...
2 Kings 24
2 Kings 24 - This is such a tough time for Judah. Jeremiah had been prophesying about Babylonian captivity for quite some time. This was the voice of God. Josiah, in the previous chapter, had found God's ...
2 Kings 23
2 Kings 23 - Starting in Deuteronomy 17:14, God outlines the laws concerning Israel's kings. Be sure that the man you choose to be king is the one whom the LORD has chosen. He must be one ...
2 Kings 22
2 Kings 22 - It is through the Word of God that we are able to see and feel the conviction our heart needs to change. For Josiah, it occurred during a tough time for the nation. ...
2 Kings 21
2 Kings 21 - This chapter is filled to the brim with the evil of Manasseh. He would be remembered as the king who led his people back into the darkness of which they hadn't seen since ...
2 Kings 20
2 Kings 20 - Through all of Hezekiah's successes, we finally come to a weakness. It is a strange chapter in which many commentators are divided with their analysis. In this story, God speaks to Hezekiah four ...
2 Kings 17
2 Kings 17 - Hoshea was the last king of Israel before it was captured by the Assyrians. In this chapter, the writer goes back and highlights exactly why Israel was led off to captivity. It's an ...
2 Kings 18
2 Kings 18 - A major theme the past several chapters has begged the question - who will step up and wholeheartedly trust the Lord to defend them? We've seen some kings who have trusted for a ...
2 Kings 16
2 Kings 16 - This was a horrific compromise by Ahaz as he decided to trust the Assyrian army to bail him out of this looming threat. When we read this same story from the book of ...
2 Kings 19
2 Kings 19 - For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? 1 ...
2 Kings 15
2 Kings 15 - If you get bored and skim through 2 Kings 15, you will miss a very significant detail in verse 19. Pul, king of Assyria, came against the land, and Menahem gave Pul a ...
2 Kings 14
2 Kings 14 - What I am struck by in this 14th chapter of 2 Kings is just how much of an impact a single generation can have on all the generations that follow. Take these verses, ...
2 Kings 13
2 Kings 13 - What’s the context here? Well, as we have read, 2 Kings is a terrible time for Israel. The nation is continually at war because God is using their enemies as a means of ...
2 Kings 12
2 Kings 12 - He is another leader in Scripture who started off so well but failed to finish. Joash had simply stopped trusting God. He did well when he was being mentored, but he never came ...
2 Kings 11
2 Kings 11 - The history can get pretty confusing when the stories switch back and forth from the northern kingdom to the southern kingdom. In addition, there are details outlined in the book of Chronicles that ...
2 Kings 10
2 Kings 10 - When this chapter begins you get a sense that Jehu is going to be a ferocious warrior for the Lord. He eliminates Ahab's family, doing everything the Lord has asked. He follows that ...
2 Kings 9
2 Kings 9 - One of my favorite parts to this story is the fact that Jehu was recognized by his furious driving. Again the watchman reported, "He reached them, but he is not coming back. And ...
2 Kings 8
2 Kings 8 - The pattern of Elisha's service to the Lord consistently reflects the act of leading others to a spiritual mind. There was the birth and healing of the Shunammite woman's son, the enlightening of ...
2 Kings 7
2 Kings 7 - What I love most about this story is the creativity of God's faithfulness. Of course, we know that God is a God of miracles. Rarely those miracles take place exactly the way we ...
2 Kings 5
2 Kings 5 - Remember when King Ahab was shot by a "random arrow" in 1 Kings 22? Now a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel in a joint of ...
2 Kings 3
2 Kings 3 - The verses here in 2 Kings 3 really put into perspective just how evil Ahab and Jezebel really were. Their son, Jehoram (aka Joram), is now king over Israel. We read that he ...
2 Kings 1
2 Kings 1 - Same story, different chapter. After reading about all of Ahab's disastrous choices, we now move into the reign of Ahaziah. The gist of the story is that Ahaziah has experienced a severe fall ...
1 Kings 22
1 Kings 22 - What's the deal with Ramoth-Gilead and why did they want it back? Ramoth was a Levitical city so it was considered important to the Jews. During King Solomon's reign, it was a key ...
1 Kings 21
1 Kings 21 - When Elijah finished speaking, Ahab tore his clothes, took them off, and put on sackcloth. He refused food, slept in the sackcloth, and went about gloomy and depressed. 1 Kings 21:27 The tearing ...
1 Kings 20
1 Kings 20 - There are some incredible spiritual metaphors we can glean from these passages which build on the disobedience of Ahab in 1 Kings 19. Right off the bat, there is the threat of warfare. ...
1 Kings 17
1 Kings 17 - Since Baal was considered the god of the sky, or "the storm god," it would be a drought that God would use to grab the people's attention. God was setting the scene to ...
1 Kings 16
1 Kings 16 - As we see many other places in Scripture, the sins of Jeroboam had a lasting effect on his family line. It was a brutal time for Israel. King Ahab would rise to capture ...
1 Kings 15
1 Kings 15 - If you are like me, you've read the last few chapters and been a little confused by all the names. We have two different Abijah's and also the prophet Ahijah in chapter 14. ...
1 Kings 14
1 Kings 14 - King Jeroboam decided it was time to seek the Lord, but only after his son was inflicted with sickness. In the past, the idol worship worked out just fine for him, but when ...
1 Kings 13
1 Kings 13 - As we read in 1 Kings 12, Jeroboam’s kingdom was in a terrible state and God had a message for him. There are three different scenarios we see play out in this scene. ...
1 Kings 12
1 Kings 12 - What happens when the vessel that is destined to carry God's image into the world is split up and divided? What happens when civil war threatens the existence of those who represent His ...
1 Kings 11
1 Kings 11 - When Solomon was old, his wives seduced him to follow other gods. He was not completely devoted to Yahweh his God, as his father David had been. 1 Kings 11:4 HCSB How many ...
1 Kings 10
1 Kings 10 - What was the point of the Queen of Sheba coming to visit Solomon? Jesus actually makes a reference to her in the New Testament. The queen of the south will rise up at ...
1 Kings 9
1 Kings 9 - 1 Kings 9 provides some insight into the subtle turn taking place in Solomon. As soon as Solomon had finished building the house of the LORD and the king's house and all that ...
1 Kings 8
1 Kings 8 - We really cannot understand the massive celebration that took place here until we look deep into the context. It seems that Solomon delayed the dedication of the temple (11 months) to take place ...
1 Kings 4
1 Kings 4 - This was the golden age for Israel as we read in verses 20-21... The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore; they ate and ...
1 Kings 3
1 Kings 3 - Incredibly, we see both the pinnacle of Solomon's character as well as a foreshadowing of his downfall here in chapter 3. Solomon desired to serve the Lord. He could have asked God for ...
1 Kings 2
1 Kings 2 - After the peaceful resolution in chapter 1, we are now back to the chaos of David's family lineage. As David lies on his deathbed, he gives Solomon a list of action steps to ...
1 Kings 1
1 Kings 1 - The book of Kings picks up with an older David (70) still serving as king but declining in health. The time to pass the torch was near, and this sets the backdrop for ...
Genesis 49
Genesis 49 - What did Jacob's prophecies mean long-term for these sons of Israel? Reuben, you are my firstborn, my strength and the firstfruits of my virility, excelling in prominence, excelling in power. 4 Turbulent as water, ...
Genesis 38
Genesis 38 - Social media has become a giant in today's culture. It's a place you can project the best version of you. It's a space where you can share your best pictures and your best life ...
Genesis 20
Genesis 20 - Once again Abraham lied. Once again he told a foreign king his wife was his sister. And once again he was rebuked by a foreigner. It seems to me, in His grace, God withholds ...
Genesis 14
Genesis 14 - Here in Genesis 14, we find the bizarre story of Melchizedek. Melchizedek came to Abraham after his defeat of Chedorlaomer and his three allies. He gave bread and wine to Abraham and his men ...
John 20
John 20 - The empty tomb (Matt 28; Mark 16; Luke 24) is the most contested event by skeptics of Jesus’ death and resurrection. This is because if a skeptic concedes that the tomb was indeed empty, ...
John 19
John 19 - One of the unique aspects of John's Gospel is the theme of Jesus as the Lamb of God. All the way back in John 1, we read about John the Baptist declaring “Look! The ...
John 18
John 18 - "While human politics is based on the premise that society must be changed in order to change people, in the politics of the Kingdom it is people who must be changed in order to ...
John 17
John 17 - I cannot think of a more powerful prayer in all of Scripture. Through Jesus' words, much is revealed. Eternal life = knowing Jesus Christ and the one true God (John 17:3) Glorification on Earth ...
John 6
John 6 - Jesus was not going to be defined by the people’s interpretation of who He should be. He came to do the Father’s will. Out of all the themes of this chapter, this one speaks ...
John 1
John 1 - From the very first verse of the book, it is clear that the focus of John's gospel is Jesus as God. As brain-twisting as that revelation is, it opens up a marvelous new realm ...
Esther 10
Esther 10 - As Chapter 10 winds down, I can't help but reflect on the sovereignty of God. First and foremost, God had a plan. He knew exactly how this entire situation would bring glory to Himself. ...
Esther 9
Esther 9 - Historians have long criticized Esther for her decision to eradicate all those who stood against the Jews. Herodotus, a Greek historian, wrote that Esther was a cold and vindictive woman. To outsiders, justice can ...
Esther 8
Esther 8 - Throughout the book of Esther, I have been drawing lines connecting Haman with Satan and this chapter is no different. Haman was defeated and eliminated but the King's decree still stood over the Jewish ...
Esther 7
Esther 7 - The time has come for Esther to speak up. It was not God's timing earlier because many events had to unfold. Haman was lured into a trap by his own arrogance. He unknowingly constructed ...
Esther 6
Esther 6 - Generally speaking, we tend to fall into one of two categories. Either we are detail-oriented thinkers or big-picture thinkers. People who focus on the details tend to lack the vision to see how it ...
Esther 5
Esther 5 - This is an interesting chapter. Many commentators and scholars will be quick to point out the timing was not right for Esther to make her ask. It's hard to know. Did God prevent Esther ...
Esther 4
Esther 4 - "...if I perish, I perish" Don't miss these words. Don't gloss over them. I know maybe you have read them before when you've studied this story, but take a moment and let that thought ...
Esther 3
Esther 3 - Haman was a descendant of Agag, the mortal enemies of the Jews. So, of course, when Haman found out that Mordecai was a Jew it only compounded the issue at hand. Mordecai's choice not ...
Esther 2
Esther 2 - A little over 6 years ago, I was given a front-row seat to a miraculous event that I had never seen before. My wife and I had been unable to conceive for many years, ...
Esther 1
Esther 1 - At this point in Israel's history, Ezra has just returned from the exile to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. The Persian Empire is firmly in control and its territory extends from India to Ethiopia ...
Nehemiah 13
Nehemiah 13 - So, remember that guy Tobiah? Back in Nehemiah 6 he was one of Israel's enemies who formulated a smear campaign against Nehemiah to stop the construction of the walls. Now we read that while ...
Nehemiah 8
Nehemiah 8 - Why is it important to read and hear the Word of God? The one who reads this is blessed, and those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in ...
Nehemiah 7
Nehemiah 7 - After the walls had been built, Nehemiah continued to beef up security to ward off the hostile enemies. It was normal to open the gates at sunrise, however, Nehemiah determined they should wait until ...
Nehemiah 6
Nehemiah 6 - Nehemiah is determined to fulfill the Lord's work and rebuild the walls despite facing every obstacle imaginable thus far. He has persevered during the mockery from his enemies and the turmoil from his own ...
Nehemiah 2
Nehemiah 2 - Nehemiah had a rather... uh... interesting position in the royal court. He was the cupbearer and personal bodyguard to Artaxerxes Longimanus, and his responsibilities would have been very diverse. A cupbearer needed to be ...
Nehemiah 1
Nehemiah 1 - Back in the minor prophets, we learned that very few Jewish people left Babylon to return to their own land when they were granted permission. Out of approximately 2.5 million Jews, only about 50,000 ...
Hebrews 7
Hebrews 7 - Who was Melchizedek? You can read his full story in Genesis 14. Basically, he was a priest who came to Abraham after his defeat of Chedorlaomer and his three allies. Melchizedek gave bread and ...
Zechariah 14
Zechariah 14 - In Philippians, Paul urges the church to "hold onto the truth we have attained." This means as truth is revealed to us, we must continue to move forward and not lose ground with regard ...
Zechariah 12
Zechariah 12 - Zechariah's name means "The Lord Remembers" and in this chapter, we get a striking image of God remembering His Jewish people. Theology is not the most important thing here, but it does determine what ...
Zechariah 10
Zechariah 10 - What happens when we don't receive an answer from God as soon as we like? We turn to false gods and idols. We want to feel comfort, so instead of waiting on God we ...
Zechariah 9
Zechariah 9 - Before Jesus was Savior, He was King. But He was not a king as you or I know one. Jesus ushered in a different kind of Kingdom. Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout in triumph, ...
Zechariah 8
Zechariah 8 - Oh my! There are few verses more worthy of our desperate pursuit than Zechariah 8:6. The verse illustrates a life of faith, trust, and perseverance. The LORD of Hosts says this: "Though it may ...
Zechariah 6
Zechariah 6 - The scene here is connected, though it might not seem like it on the surface. In the Bible, divine warfare follows a pattern that was common in the Near East: War-Victory-Kingship-Building-Celebration. Zechariah 6 shows ...
Zechariah 1
Zechariah 1 - According to many scholars, Zechariah is the most messianic, apocalyptic, and end times descriptive book of the Old Testament. That's a big statement considering many have probably never read it. Haggai led the charge ...
Zephaniah 3
Zephaniah 3 - Destruction. Conversion. Restoration. This chapter reads as a Gospel presentation as all glory goes to God. He is the One to correct, convert, and restore. Though these prophecies address an immediate time period, they ...
Zephaniah 1
Zephaniah 1 - The twelve minor prophets are divided into two categories based on the time period of their ministry. Either they came before the Babylonian exile (pre-exilic) or after it (post-exilic). "Zephaniah is the last of ...
Nahum 2
Nahum 2 - Micah's choice of wording is not random. He sarcastically refers to the nation of Nineveh as lions in verses 11 and 12. "Archeologists have found a carving from a palace showing an Assyrian king ...
Haggai 2
Haggai 2 - The main event of Haggai is the rebuilding of the temple, however, there are other several other storylines that run alongside this narrative. One such example is verse 13 where Haggai offers two opposing ...
Haggai 1
Haggai 1 - We just finished studying Zephaniah who warned of God's future judgment on Judah, and as predicted, they were carried off to captivity by Babylon. That bondage lasted 70 years until Babylon was conquered by ...
Micah 2
Micah 2 - People only want to hear what tickles their ears. They don't want to hear the truth. "Men haven't changed much. They don't want to hear really of the judgment of God that is to ...
Jonah 3
Jonah 3 - God's mercy is on full display here. God showed mercy to Jonah and called him to deliver the message a second time. God was under no obligation to use Jonah a second time. However, ...
Obadiah 1
Obadiah 1 - Obadiah is unique in the sense that he one of the only minor prophets to address a nation other than Israel or Judah. Most likely being a contemporary of Elijah and Elisha, He would ...
Amos 7
Amos 7 - In Genesis, Abraham pled with God over Sodom. In Exodus, Moses interceded for Israel. Here, Amos does the same. Although Amos would later give a prediction for God's people, he first would go to ...
Amos 1
Amos 1 - Nelson's Commentary gives an informative but concise background on the book of Amos. "The Lord sent Amos, a Judean, to Bethel to prophesy of coming judgment on Israel. But in Bethel, Amos faced a ...
Joel 3
Joel 3 - Judgment is the theme here - specifically with those who are against God and against his people. A lot of times, we seem to think that God casually watches as his people are ravaged ...
Joel 1
Joel 1 - The book of Joel centers around The Day of the Lord. Here is a brief synopsis of what that entails... The Day of the Lord Though it probably refers to future events, it ...
Hosea 1
Hosea 1 - Hosea and Jonah were most likely the only writing prophets who lived in the Northern Kingdom. We know this because Hosea addresses the king of Israel as "our king" in Hosea 7. Historically, Hosea ...
Daniel 11
Daniel 11 - Daniel 11 contains some of the most specifically accurate prophecies in the entire Bible. Critics have often wondered if this chapter was written after the historical events took place because it is so deadly ...
Daniel 8
Daniel 8 - This chapter is one of the most controversial and heavily debated chapters in all the Bible. However, there is still solid truth we can take away. First, we must realize that even the interpreter ...
Daniel 7
Daniel 7 - The prophetic part of Daniel starts here with Chapter 7. It is unlikely that we can know exactly what is being talked about here, or even the timing of these events. Scholars have differed ...
Daniel 6
Daniel 6 - I am simply in awe when I read these passages about Daniel. It is inspiring to think about what this mentality would look like in our current culture. I am so intrigued by it. ...
Daniel 5
Daniel 5 - "Though you knew all this..." It's a frightening statement. Consider the fact that Belshazzar didn't grow up in a "Christian home." His father, King Nebuchadnezzar, had humbled himself to the Lord at one time ...
Daniel 4
Daniel 4 - What do we make of these 7 years when King Neb lost his mind? "There is, understandably, no preserved secular record of this; but Abydenus, a Greek historian, wrote in 268 BC that Nebuchadnezzar ...
Daniel 3
Daniel 3 - I want to present three challenging points to consider within the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Would we really do what they did? Be honest. Most (or all) of us have never really ...
Daniel 2
Daniel 2 - What does Daniel's interpretation mean? He tells us that the gold represents King Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian Empire. Three greater kingdoms would come after the reign of Babylon (silver, bronze, and iron). With each level, there ...
Daniel 1
Daniel 1 - There is some speculation (as there is with many books of the Bible) as to who actually wrote the book of Daniel. So, let's first dispel this myth that Daniel might not have written ...