The One Year Bible- June 25th
I am in the habit of
writing smiley faces or unhappy faces in the margins of my One Year Bible to
indicate a good story or a bad one. Usually they about equal each week. This
week however, I had way more unhappy faces. I wrote one for each time someone
killed another person or events that were displeasing to God took place.
Looking back, it makes me appreciate even more the love God has for us. As a
group, people keep messing up. I do every day. But God loves us and sent his
son for us. It is just amazing when you stop to think that Jesus was sent to
this earth in spite of and because of people like Ahab and Jezebel. On to the
study.....
Seth’s Thoughts
The Old Testament
A couple of stories I want
to mention today that have parallels in the New Testament. First of all, there
is a miraculous conception with the woman from Shunem. It reminds be of the
story of Abram and Sari in Genesis but it also points forward to both
Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, and Mary, the mother of Jesus. Like
Jesus, this child died and was brought back to life again (after he sneezed
seven times…that is funny). Now I don’t want to press the text too much, but it
does set a precedent that God is a powerful God and he can bring people back
from the dead. Then there is the story of the poisonous stew. Elisha made sure
the stew was O.K. to eat and in a fashion similar to the feeding of the 5,000
everyone ate and was satisfied and there was food left over. In an of
themselves these stories show the power of God, but I think they also are a set
up for what was to come in the person of Jesus Christ. Then there is the story
of the ax head the floats in the water. What was that all about? Again it shows
the power of God and points to who Yahweh is. One more… after Elisha dies and
is in his tomb the people need to bury another person. Now in those days the
dead were buried in shared tombs like caves. The Moabites start a raid on the
people so they just throw the body in the tomb. It bumps into Elisha’s bones
and the guy comes back to life! Now that is awesome!! God is still using Elisha
to show is power long after Elisha died. I wish there was more to this story
but the text just goes on to another story. Sometimes the Bible does that. It
does not mean that it is not part of scripture but sometimes there is nothing
else about the story. One thing that I found in reading this week was trying to
keep the kings straight in my mind. What I did was look for some sort of a list
and here is what I found. I hope it is helpful:
Kings of
Judah and Israel
Kings Before Division of Kingdom
· Saul: First King of
Israel; son of Kish; father of Ish-Bosheth, Jonathan and Michal.
· Ish-Bosheth (or Eshbaal):
King of Israel; son of Saul.
· David: King of Judah;
later of Israel; son of Jesse; husband of Abigail, Ahinoam, Bathsheba, Michal,
etc.; father of Absalom, Adonijah, Amnon, Solomon, Tamar, etc.
· Solomon: King of Israel
and Judah; son of David; father of Rehoboam.
· Rehoboam: Son of Solomon;
during his reign the kingdom was divided into Judah and Israel.
Kings of Judah (Southern Kingdom)
· Rehoboam: First King.
· Abijah (or Abijam or
Abia): Son of Rehoboam.
· Asa: Probably son of
Abijah.
· Jehoshaphat: Son of Asa.
· Jehoram (or Joram): Son
of Jehoshaphat; husband of Athaliah.
· Ahaziah: Son of Jehoram
and Athaliah.
· Athaliah: Daughter of
King Ahab of Israel and Jezebel; wife of Jehoram; only queen to occupy the
throne of Judah.
· Joash (or Jehoash): Son
of Ahaziah.
· Amaziah: Son of Joash.
· Uzziah (or Azariah): Son
of Amaziah.
· Jotham: Regent, later
King; son of Uzziah.
· Ahaz: Son of Jotham.
· Hezekiah: Son of Ahaz;
husband of Hephzi-Bah.
· Manasseh: Son of Hezekiah
and Hephzi-Bah.
· Amon: Son of Manasseh.
· Josiah (or Josias): Son
of Amon.
· Jehoahaz (or Joahaz): Son
of Josiah.
· Jehoiakim: Son of Josiah.
· Jehoiachin: Son of
Jehoiakim.
· Zedekiah: Son of Josiah;
kingdom overthrown by Babylonians.
Kings of Israel (Northern Kingdom)
· Jeroboam I: Led secession
of Israel.
· Nadab: Son of Jeroboam I.
· Baasha: Overthrew Nadab.
· Elah: Son of Baasha.
· Zimri: Overthrew Elah.
· Omri: Overthrew Zimri.
· Ahab: Son of Omri;
husband of Jezebel.
· Ahaziah: Son of Ahab.
· Jehoram (or Joram): Son
of Ahab.
· Jehu: Overthrew Jehoram.
· Jehoahaz (or Joahaz): Son
of Jehu.
· Jehoash (or Joash): Son
of Jehoahaz.
· Jeroboam Il: Son of
Jehoash.
· Zechariah: Son of
Jeroboam II.
· Shallum: Overthrew
Zechariah.
· Menahem: Overthrew
Shallum.
· Pekahiah: Son of Menahem.
· Pekah: Overthrew
Pekahiah.
· Hoshea: Overthrew Pekah;
kingdom overthrown by Assyrians.
The New Testament
We are in the middle of
hearing about the missionary journeys of Paul. I hope you found a good map to
help you follow along. A couple of things about these readings; first of all
Paul is following his pattern of going to the synagogue first (remember this
pattern from last week?). Then he heads out to the streets and in Acts 14 we
have a very famous sermon. It is referred to as the sermon on Mars Hill. Paul
argues using Greek ways to the philosophers about this person called Jesus.
Later on Paul uses one of the statues of the “gods” and says that this “unknown
god” is indeed Jesus. Of course this gets Paul into all kinds of trouble and
they people try to kill him so he flees the area. Acts 15 records a big debate
on whether or not Gentiles have to become Jews first (i.e. through
circumcision) before they can be Christians. Paul has a great line in the
debate that seems to set the church on the right path, “But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord
Jesus, just as they will.” (Acts 15:11 ESV) Then James gets up and makes
the decision to have a compromise and he says, “Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those who turn to
God.” (Acts 15:19 ESV) I think these are some wise words that we need to be
heard today. Of course, because of the message, Paul and Silas end up in
prison, but God turns it into a positive thing when they were able to share the
message of Jesus with all in the prison, including the jailer. We find out that
they all get baptized and became followers. There is a lot more to say about
this week’s readings but we don’t have time here. Let me know if you have any
questions.
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