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 2
2 Kings 2 - Discipleship 101 Elijah respectfully asked Elisha to stay and leave him alone, but Elisha refused to leave his mentor. After Elisha demonstrated such incredible loyalty and commitment to him, Elijah offers a special ...
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 19
1 Kings 19 - The events in 1 Kings 19 could be known as "The Pastor's Chapter." After the triumphant, cataclysmic fire-from-the-sky victory over the prophets of Baal, Elijah found himself defeated. The smoldering flames of God ...
1 Kings 18
1 Kings 18 - Obadiah was a manager of Ahab's royal palace and a devout worshiper of God. He demonstrated his faithfulness to the Lord by hiding 100 prophets from Jezebel. She had a history of killing ...
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 7
1 Kings 7 - Most commentators agree that it took longer than expected to complete Solomon's house simply because there was not an urgency to get it done, however, it is suspicious that more time was spent ...
1 Kings 6
1 Kings 6 - It's amazing to me that the Lord spoke these same words over and over to Solomon. "If you obey all my laws and commands, I will do for you what I promised your ...
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 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 50
Genesis 50 - It is always fascinating to me when we come across a chapter in the Bible that captivates us with incredible detail and then quickly moves across history with sweeping summaries. We get both in ...
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 48
Genesis 48 - From Jacob (Israel's) sons, the 12 tribes would be formed. This can be confusing when you factor in Genesis 48. Jacob brings Joseph's sons to him and actually adopts them as his own. This ...
Genesis 47
Genesis 47 - The famine was severe. There was no food. Our lives feel like this sometimes don't they? All of us have some kind of built-in measurement for how much stress and suffering we can experience. ...
Genesis 46
Genesis 46 - Genesis 46 contains an ancient treasure documented only four times in all of Genesis. It is a simple but powerful phrase God would use to draw His people into total obedience. Do. Not. Fear. ...
Genesis 45
Genesis 45 - Finally! After several chapters of agony, Joseph is finally reunited with his brothers. There is much we could discuss but I want to focus on the response of Israel/Jacob. In Genesis 42:36, Jacob said, ...
Genesis 44
Genesis 44 - Judah goes from schemer to savior. He goes from loving himself to understanding pure, unconditional love. He was the first to suggest selling Joseph years before but now he is the first to offer ...
Genesis 43
Genesis 43 - There are several tests going on in Genesis 43. Jacob's faith is being tested. Will he trust God and allow his son Benjamin (the only other son of Rachel) to cross over to Egypt ...
Genesis 42
Genesis 42 - According to Wikipedia, The Conscience Fund is one of three gift funds maintained by the United States Department of the Treasury. It was put into place for voluntary contributions from people who have stolen from ...
Genesis 41
Genesis 41 - Joseph began as a shepherd of animals and become a shepherd of men. He, like Jesus, was loved by his father but despised by his brothers. He, like Jesus, was prophesied to receive authority ...
Genesis 40
Genesis 40 - We now learn that Potiphar did not really believe the accusations brought against Joseph. In Genesis 39, we read that Potiphar was "an officer of Pharaoh and the captain of the guard." Here in ...
Genesis 39
Genesis 39 - Set against the backdrop of Joseph's brother Judah pursuing a harlot who was actually his daughter-in-law, here we have a polar opposite response. Genesis 39 is a valuable lesson on dealing with temptation. Joseph ...
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 37
Genesis 37 - "Enoch shows the walk of faith, Noah shows the perseverance of faith, Abraham shows the obedience of faith, Isaac shows the power of faith, and Jacob shows the discipline of faith. Along these lines ...
Genesis 36
Genesis 36 - The bullet points of Esau's life were not great. God blessed him and his family, but the blessings were only material in nature. Long before, Isaac and Rebekah were concerned about Esau's choice to ...
Genesis 35
Genesis 35 - Which is more dangerous, heading to Bethel or disobeying God? We often justify disobedience with fear. We often convince ourselves that safety is more important than a total commitment to Jesus. But the truth ...
Genesis 33
Genesis 33 - There are simple but profound lessons found in this story. How many times have we stressed over a situation that ended up going much better than we had anticipated? Jacob wrestled with God the ...
Genesis 32
Genesis 32 - There are three points that really stick out to me in this chapter. Separation from the world will often allow us to become aware of God's greater revelation. In Genesis 31, we learn that ...
Genesis 31
Genesis 31 - Jacob was such an interesting blend of integrity and deception. On one hand, he heard intimately from God and was honest in his dealings. On the other hand, he would waste no time deceiving ...
Genesis 29
Genesis 29 - Jacob is here in Genesis 29 doing "Jacob-like stuff." Like a smooth-talking used car salesman, he approaches these shepherds as if they were his long lost buddies from college. His reference to it being ...
Genesis 28
Genesis 28 - Promises, promises. Jacob was a slick wheeler and dealer as we will find out later. He certainly didn't deserve Isaac's blessing or a divine dream, but God was faithful despite. This fact alone is ...
Genesis 26
Genesis 26 - In Genesis 26, God reiterates His promise made long ago to Abraham. Being a descendant, Isaac was still under this covenant relationship of God. Let's look at exactly how God describes His relationship with ...
Genesis 25
Genesis 25 - In the music industry, most fans hate sellouts. According to Wikipedia, "selling out" is a common expression for the compromising of a person's integrity, morality, authenticity, or principles in exchange for personal gain, such ...
Genesis 23
Genesis 23 - It is significant that the age of Sarah is given when she dies. This is not the case with other matriarchs. Rebekah’s death is not even recorded and Rachel’s death is only highlighted by ...
Genesis 22
Genesis 22 - God was faithful to Abraham and through this relationship, obedience was continually being renewed. God's faithfulness was a catalyst for Abraham's faith. But like James writes, faith must be proven. It is not found ...
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 19
Genesis 19 - I find it interesting that there were two angels sent to Lot's house to save four people. There was a hand for each person God desired to save. In other words, there is nothing ...
Genesis 18
Genesis 18 - I have to admit, I'm not a great intercessor. I sometimes fall victim to the attitude that "the Lord will do what the Lord will do." But the Bible prescribes a persistent, faith-filled prayer ...
Genesis 17
Genesis 17 - The question we all ask ourselves at one point or another is, why circumcision? First, in the context of what God is speaking to Abraham, the covenant is dealing specifically with fathering nations. Circumcision ...
Genesis 16
Genesis 16 - Think about all the stressful situations that Abraham, Sarai, and Hagar now faced from one sinful decision. Does Sarai have a right to be mad at Abraham and to despise Hagar? Should Abraham raise ...
Genesis 15
Genesis 15 - God spoke, Abraham believed. Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:6 NASB I love that we see the first expression of the Gospel here between ...
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 ...
Genesis 13
Genesis 13 - Between chapters 12 and 13, we see a spiritual maturity unfolding in Abram's life. His journey into Egypt illustrated his lack of trust in God's provision. Now, we read that he has decided to ...
Genesis 12
Genesis 12 - "Faith is not a mushroom that grows overnight in damp soil; it is an oak tree that grows for a thousand years under the blast of the wind and rain." Donald Grey Barnhouse None ...
Genesis 11
Genesis 11 - Josephus wrote of how the Tower of Babel originated from the heart and mind of Nimrod. "Now it was Nimrod who excited them to such an affront and contempt of God. ...
Genesis 9
Genesis 9 - Noah was unique in the sense that his life spanned two different worlds. He saw the corruption of the world before the flood and, unfortunately, he witnessed the corruption after as well. Overall, Noah's ...
Genesis 8
Genesis 8 - Mount Ararat and the Araratian plain, seen early morning from near the city of Artashat in Armenia. (Source: Wikipedia) The ark landed upon the mountains of Ararat (pictured) and the flood was finally over. ...
Genesis 3
Genesis 3 - Blatant evil is not our greatest threat as believers; it is deceptive evil wrapped in a package of truth. But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may ...
Genesis 2
Genesis 2 - Sometimes we fall into the trap of believing that God's wrath is greater than His grace. In Genesis 2, we read of God's unbelievable grace when allowing Adam to roam freely in creation. And ...
Genesis 1
Genesis 1 - In his book, The Good Book, author Deron Spoo gives us perspective on what we should treasure about Genesis 1. In his opinion, the primary purpose of this first chapter is to affirm that ...
James 5
James 5 - How should we respond to sickness and what is the church's responsibility? In Chapter 5, James gives practical advice with a balance between physical and spiritual. First, we read that anyone who is sick ...
James 4
James 4 - Consider these questions... Does the indwelling Holy Spirit war against itself? Would a believer filled with the Holy Spirit continually war against another believer who is also filled with the Holy Spirit? Look, I'm ...
James 3
James 3 - "Name-It Claim-It" Theology - believers have the power to speak anything into existence. You just have to have faith. Universalism - everyone is saved as long as they believe in some form of higher ...
James 2
James 2 - Not surprisingly, James fires out more questions for believers here in Chapter 2. Among them are several targeting unfair treatment based on stereotypes. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be ...
James 1
James 1 - There are so many believers I talk with who tell me that their favorite book is James. It makes sense. The book structure is written with direct language and plain explanations. James comes across ...
John 21
John 21 - Even after His resurrection, Jesus was still teaching His disciples. Jesus said to them, "Children, do you have any fish?" They answered him, "No." 6 He said to them, "Cast the net on the ...
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 14
John 14 - Sometimes theology can overcomplicate the simple words of Jesus. In John 14, Jesus plainly states exactly what He requires from His followers. Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it You're going ...
John 13
John 13 - John would have known the story well. He (the disciple whom Jesus loved) was reclining against Jesus when it all unfolded, so this firsthand account is most likely as accurate a picture as we ...
John 12
John 12 - Here in John 12, we are once again drawn to how Jesus' words and actions were in complete obedience to God and how He functioned as an extension of His Father in Heaven. We ...
John 11
John 11 - So much irony! The reasoning of the religious leaders is astounding. "Let's kill the man who is actively doing mighty works in the Name of God..." "Let's kill the man who has just proven ...
John 9
John 9 - Jesus and the disciples are out for a stroll when suddenly they encounter a blind man. In the ancient world, blind people were especially helpless in many ways. They were easily manipulated and exploited. ...
John 8
John 8 - It would not be a stretch to call this the "chapter of traps." After trying to get Jesus to condemn a woman caught in adultery, the Pharisees continue their verbal trickery. I Am The ...
John 4
John 4 - Jesus told him, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe." John 4:48 HCSB Jesus used signs and wonders as a tool to lead people into faith. Later in His ministry, ...
John 3
John 3 - If we take a bird's eye view of chapter 3, we find that John is intentional about giving us stories that refute the familiar view of Salvation in ancient times. The Path To Salvation ...
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 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 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, ...
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 12
Nehemiah 12 - A few years ago a woman in town asked Hank and I to come over and cleanse her apartment. Not knowing exactly what we were dealing with, we agreed. Come to find out, she ...
Nehemiah 11
Nehemiah 11 - Nehemiah came up with a brilliant solution to repopulate Jerusalem with God's people. Of all the people in the outer suburbs, 10% were to be "donated" to the city of Jerusalem. To be in ...
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 5
Nehemiah 5 - In Nehemiah 4, we looked at how the enemy engages us when we step out in faith to do the Lord's work. Satan and the world work externally to derail our progress, however, the ...
Nehemiah 4
Nehemiah 4 - This chapter is a case study for how the enemy works when you decide to follow through with God's calling. In Nehemiah 3, Nehemiah planned a strategy to get the walls up all at ...
Nehemiah 3
Nehemiah 3 - In my mind, there are two critical applications of this chapter. Back in Nehemiah 1, I stated that the rubble of the temple mirrored the people’s spiritual condition. So, the first application is that ...
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 13
Hebrews 13 - Don't neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it. 3 Remember the prisoners, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as ...
Hebrews 12
Hebrews 12 - Dear Weary Christ-Follower, Read Hebrews 12:3-17 Which is worse, the weight of sin or the discipline of Jesus? It's an interesting question to ponder considering we often complain about our lot in life. The ...
Hebrews 10
Hebrews 10 - If you are tracking with the author of Hebrews thus far, it may seem overwhelmingly theological. The second half of Hebrews 10 is a practical response to the foundation that has been established thus ...
Hebrews 9
Hebrews 9 - The author of Hebrews captures the incredible depth of what Jesus did for sinners. It is both stunning and poetic. And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment— ...