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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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. Before Passover, Jews are required to rid their homes of leaven. Jesus gave this a spiritual meaning, defining three different types – the leaven of the Sadducees, of the Pharisees and of Herod.

Notes on the Plagues

Notes on the Search for Leaven

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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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March 1, 2025 – Celebrate Purim!

Posted on March 7, 2025 by admin

Purim is observed a month before Passover, and the focus is simply reading the Book of Esther. This feast is probably the original “morality play” with audience participation. A mysterious part of the Purim feast is the rabbinical command to drink enough wine so that you can’t distinguish between “Yay, Mordechai!” and “Boo, Haman!” – and the fact that God is never mentioned.

Notes on Purim

… Even More Notes on Purim

The Connection Between Purim and Yom Kippur

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February 23, 2025 – 2 Chronicles 29 – Hezekiah’s Reforms in Judah

Posted on February 21, 2025 by admin

King Hezekiah reversed the idolatrous practices of his father Ahaz, burned the pagan altars and idols, and restored true worship in the Temple. As a type of the Messiah, his actions foreshadowed Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple in John 2:13-17.

Notes on 2 Chronicles 29:1-36 and 2 Kings 18:1-6 

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February 16, 2025 – 2 Chronicles 28:16-27 – Ahaz Tries to Rearrange the Temple

Posted on February 15, 2025 by admin

The idolatrous and evil King Ahaz of Judah rejects the sign of “Immanuel” from the prophet Isaiah promising God’s support if he would only have faith. Instead he desperately tries to get Assyria to aid him against his enemies. Meanwhile he is enchanted by an elaborate altar he sees in Damascus. He has a duplicate made and installs it in the Temple, sidelining the original altar, and making other radical changes in the Temple furniture and vessels. His sin points to our own attempts to change and “improve” ourselves through our own strength according to our own pattern.

Notes on 2 Chronicles 28:16-27, 2 Kings 16:5-20, Isaiah 7:1-25

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February 9, 2025 – 2 Chronicles 28:1-15 – Bad King Ahaz of Judah

Posted on February 7, 2025 by admin

Ahaz, one of Judah’s worst kings, adopted every kind of idolatry available. But God continued to send prophets to warn the people and call them back to repentance. This is depicted in a remarkable story of the freeing of thousands of captives at the prophet’s direction. The story also clarifies aspects to Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan.

Notes on 2 Chronicles 28:1-15

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