Studying the Historical Books

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

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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February 2, 2025 – 2 Chronicles 27 – Jotham, A Good King of Judah

Jotham took over the responsibility of ruling when his father, Uzziah, was stricken with leprosy for trying to usurp the High Priest’s office in the Temple. He repaired and built up the Temple and was blessed because “he prepared his ways before the LORD his God.” Jotham also shows us how to edify the Body of Christ.

Notes on 2 Chronicles 27:1-9

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January 26, 2025 – 2 Kings 14-15 – Jeroboam II and the Treacherous Successors to His Reign

Jeroboam II reigned in the northern kingdom of Israel for 41 years. He stopped the raids by the Syrians and restored the country’s borders. Despite this, he was an evil, idolatrous king, and was followed by a series of murderers and usurpers of the throne. The prophets Hosea and Amos, who were his contemporaries, decry the declining moral character of society during these years.

Notes on 2 Kings 14:23 – 15:8-31

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January 19, 2025 – 2 Chronicles 26 – Uzziah Stricken with Leprosy

Uzziah was one of Judah’s greatest kings, but he ends his reign in shame when he pridefully tries to enter the priestly office and offer incense in the Temple. God strikes him with leprosy of the forehead.

Notes on 2 Kings 14:15-29 and 2 Chronicles 26:1-23

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January 12, 2025 – 2 Kings 13 – The Death of Elisha

In his last prophetic act, Elisha puts his hands on the hands of King Joash of Israel as he shoots an arrow east, promising that Joash will defeat the Syrians in battle. Next he tells the king to strike the bundle of arrows on the ground. He strikes only three times, unwittingly limiting the extent of his victory. Long after Elisha is buried, a man is accidentally lowered into his sepulcher and, touching Elisha’s bones, is miraculously brought back to life.

Notes of 2 Kings 13:1-35, 2 Chronicles 25:1-28

Notes on ‘Bones in the Bible’

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January 5, 2025 – 2 Kings 12 – The Morally Mixed Reign of King Jehoash

King Jehoash of Judah becomes ruler as a child, and during the first part of his reign he is godly and begins a project to repair breaches in the Temple. But after the death of the High Priest Jehoiada, he turns to idolatry and dies assassinated by his servants. The murder of a prophet, Zechariah, in the Temple leaves a visible sign of the nation’s sin – a pool of seething blood that can’t be washed away.

Notes on 2 Kings 12:1-21

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December 22, 2024 – More on Hanukkah, Christmas and the Birth of Christ

This week we’ll look at Luke 2:1-20; Matthew 1:18-2:23 and more aspects of the Hanukkah/Christmas season. When and why did Christmas become recognized as the day of Christ’s birth? What was the Star of Bethlehem, who were the Magi, and why were shepherds part of Christ’s birth announcement?

Notes on “When was Jesus Born?”

Notes on the Shepherds at the Birth of Christ

Notes on the Star of Bethlehem

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