Studying the Historical Books

Posted on June 19, 2020 by admin

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After completing our 3 1/2-year cycle of readings in the Torah, we decided to continue with the historical books that follow, beginning with Joshua.

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April 20, 2025 – 2 Kings 19 – Hezekiah’s Prayer and the Miraculous Defeat of Assyria

Posted on April 18, 2025 by admin

When the Assyrian King Sennacherib invades Judah and threatens Jerusalem, Judah’s King Hezekiah “spreads out” his troubles before the Lord in the Temple. God responds by sending the prophet Isaiah to comfort the king with assurances that the enemy would not even shoot an arrow in their direction. An Angel wipes out the Assyrian forces, and Sennacherib returns to Ninevah and is assassinated by his two sons.

Notes on 2 Kings 19:1-37

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April 13, 2025 – 2 Kings 17 – Israel’s Exile to Assyria

Posted on April 12, 2025 by admin

King Hoshea of Israel stops sending his tribute money to Assyria, plotting with Egypt to rebel. Assyria imprisons Hoshea and lays siege to Samaria, defeating them after three years. After 200 years of idolatrous worship of the golden calves, the northern kingdom experiences the full weight of Assyrian cruelty, with many thousands taken into captivity and transported to Assyria in exile.

Notes on 2 Kings 17:1-41

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April 5, 2025 – Celebrate Passover!

Posted on April 12, 2025 by admin

We celebrate Passover this year on Saturday, April 5, by first sweeping away any spiritual leaven from our lives, and then reading through the Haggadah and to experience the seder meal with an explanation of the Passover elements, and how each points to the Messiah – Jesus.

You can find our general Notes on Passover here

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March 30, 2025 – More on Passover

Posted on March 30, 2025 by admin

Before Passover, every Jewish household had to remove any leaven from their home. That would include anything that caused bread to rise. The leaven was a type of whatever caused your self to “puff up.” Jesus clarified this spiritual meaning, defining three different types – the leaven of the Sadducees, of the Pharisees and of Herod.

Notes on the Search for Leaven

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March 23, 2025 – Pre-Passover Plagues and the Search for Leaven

Posted on March 21, 2025 by admin

Passover celebrates Israel’s exodus from Egypt, which is a type of our spiritual freedom from slavery to self, sin, Satan and the world’s value system. When a Pharaoh arose who “knew not Joseph,” the Israelites were forced into slavery. This led them to cry out to God for deliverance. They were initially shocked by the murder of the male children. Years later, after Moses called for Pharaoh to “Let my people go!”, they were then forced to make bricks without straw. (When we first hear the gospel, often things get worse, not better!) The Plagues were targeted at specific false gods of Egypt. They not only prepared Egypt to want to release Israel, but prepared Israel to want to leave Egypt.

Notes on the Plagues

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March 16, 2025 – 2 Chronicles 31 – Hezekiah’s Broader Reforms

Posted on March 14, 2025 by admin

The celebration of Passover inspired the people to spontaneously go throughout Judah and even into parts of the northern kingdom and tear down idolatrous altars and images. It also produced a spirit of giving. Then the courses of priests by which service in the Temple was carried out was restored. The similarity to Christ appointing offices and gifts in His church in striking.

Notes on 2 Chronicles 31:1-21

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March 9, 2025 – 2 Chronicles 30 – Hezekiah Re-establshes Passover

Posted on March 7, 2025 by admin

Once the Temple and Jerusalem had been cleared of idolatry, and the priests and Levites restored to their proper functions, Hezekiah invites the people of Judah and also those who are able in the northern kingdom to travel to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of Passover.

Notes on 2 Chronicles 30:1-27

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