Bible in 90 Days – Day 28

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I finished reading 2 Kings today, covering chapters 16 through 25. Sometime I want to go back and make a list of all the kings to see if there is a pattern for which ones are evil and which ones follow the Lord. I did notice that some of the kings who were most on fire for the Lord had children who turned out very evil. I guess there are no guarantees in parenting.

I loved reading the story of Josiah. He became king at eight years of age. Even though he was so young when he ascended the throne, he did that which was right in the sight of God and followed the example of David.

I’m guessing the law had been lost for awhile, or else the priests and king wouldn’t have made such a big deal over a copy being found. Little wonder kings weren’t able to follow God when they didn’t have a copy of His law and never bothered asking for His guidance! When Josiah reads a copy of the law, he tore his clothes in a realization of what the people had been doing against God. He petitions God in an attempt to spare them from the results of their disobedience. God told Josiah that the people had to be punished, but He tells Josiah:

Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD.

Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again
2 Kings 22:19-20.

It’s too bad that the children of Israel didn’t repent with Josiah, as they might have received a reprieve from their sentence. Unfortunately, the text says that Josiah was the one who repented because of what the people had done. As a result, God waited to punish the people until after Josiah’s death, so that Josiah could reign in peace.

This is such a great eulogy for a righteous king:

And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him
2 Kings 23:25.

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Bible in 90 Days – Day 27

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Today’s reading (2 Kings 5 through 15) was mostly a list of kings who ruled over Israel and Judah. Recorded was each king’s rise to power, length of rule, age at time of death, and whether or not that king followed the Lord. There wasn’t much information about the king other than if he failed to tear down the high places or if there was a war during his reign. The Bible covers so much history but very few of the stories are detailed. We’ll have the opportunity to learn a lot when we’re in heaven.

One of my favorite Bible stories when I was a child was Elisha making an axe head float. I don’t why, but that story always delighted me. We had some Bible Story books and I loved looking at the pictures. Elisha standing by the river Jordan. The axe head sinking to the bottom of the water. Elisha throwing a stick into the river. A man wading into the water to collect the floating axe head!

That story is a miracle, but it doesn’t fit with the normal records of miracles. God used Elisha to raise two boys from the dead, help Jehoram defeat Moab in battle, purify a stream, make poisoned food edible, cure Naaman from leoprosy… And then Elisha and God cause an axe head to float on the water! It was a borrowed axe and the user was worried he wouldn’t be able to return it.

God cares about even the little things. He takes care of our food, gives us life, gives us health, and keeps us safe. But God also cares when we lose a belonging! That amazes me.

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On My Nightstand – February

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January has been a slow reading month. I’m dedicated to finishing the Bible in 90 Days plan and that takes precedence over everything else. I’m not reading much else, maybe half an hour each day of other books.

Here’s what I have queued up for the rest of this month and for February.

Fiction
In the Time of the Butterflies, by Julia Alvarez – In progress. Based on a true story, unfortunately. I’m sure I’ll be crying by the end.
Shanghai Girls, by Lisa See
How Do I Love Thee?, by Nancy Moser – This is another book that is based on a true story but novelized.

Memoir
Things I’ve Been Silent About, by Azar Nafisi – Or at least I am going to try. I’ve read Reading Lolita in Tehran and this is the same author. Reading Lolita in Tehran was a difficult read for me so we’ll see how I do with this book.

Nonfiction
The Whole Foods Allergy Cookbook, by Cybele Pascal – Our diet is changing for the better. As we’re eliminating unhealthy foods, my recipe stash keeps getting smaller and smaller. We need to find some healthy recipes to replace those that I’m not making anymore.
The Wisdom of Eleanor Roosevelt, edited by Donald Wigal

I finished most of January’s list. Those that are crossed off are the ones I finished reading.

  • A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole – A long book and I just couldn’t get to it before it was due back at the library.

  • The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss – I LOVED this book. The adventures were fun, lessons were learned, and things turned out how I wanted. Great book and now I want to see the movie.

  • Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert – Wonderful book. It was long but I read it in only several days. I really enjoyed each section, though I think her trip to Italy was my favorite part of the story. And I heard they are making a movie of this book! I hope they don’t butcher it like they did The Time Travelers Wife.

  • A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle – Okay book… was interesting but not great. Took me awhile to finish.

  • The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Fondues & Hot Dips – We were supposed to have fondue for New Years but hubby was sick and we decided it was bad idea. Then we started eating vegan. Oops. There are still a couple recipes in this book that I plan on making, just not the cheese fondue.

  • Rotary Magic – Haven’t read it, but I still have it for another week. Might get to it.

  • The Jane Austen Handbook by Margaret C. Sullivan – Cute, filled in details about Jane Austen’s time period that will be useful when reading the books this year.

  • Miss Manners’ Guide to Domestic Tranquility by Judith Martin – Same as above.
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Bible in 90 Days – Day 26

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I read the entire story of Elijah (plus some) in today’s reading (1 Kings 16 through 2 Kings 4). I really enjoy the story of Elijah as God worked through him in some amazing ways: warning Ahab of the drought, saving the widow and her son from famine, raising the widow’s son, confronting Ahab again, Mount Carmel, ending the drought, God in a still small voice at Mount Horeb, and, finally, Elijah being taken to heaven in a fiery chariot. Elijah’s life and death were jam packed with God’s presence.

The story that touched me the most was how Elijah saved the widow and her son.

And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou has said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.

For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.

And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days
1 Kings 17:13-15.

The widow showed great faith in this event. She didn’t have to follow Elijah’s command to fix the last of the bread for him, but she did. Because of her faith in what Elijah said God would do for her, she was blessed and ate until the rain came again to Israel. I want that kind of faith!

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Bible in 90 Days – Day 25

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I still can’t believe how fast this is going. Today I read 1 Kings 8 through 16.

After Solomon finishes building the temple, he admonishes the people.

The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us: That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers
1 Kings 8:57.

Soon after, God appeared to Solomon for the second and final time.

But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them:

Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:

And at this house, which is high, every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and to this house?

And they shall answer, Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other gods, and have worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath the LORD brought upon them all this evil
1 Kings 9:6-9.

Before these verses, God made promises of what He would do for Israel if they continue to obey Him. Then He tells Solomon what will happen if Israel starts disobeying God’s commandments.

I think the response of anyone who wonders what happened to Israel is particularly telling. “They shall answer, ‘Because they forsook the Lord their God… therefore hath the Lord brought upon them all this evil'” (verse 9).

God doesn’t arbitrarily choose to punish someone, just as He won’t take someone to heaven who doesn’t choose to go. We have to make that choice. We accept the gift of salvation or earn punishment. I can accept Jesus’ sacrifice or I can choose to disobey His commands and thus reject His offer of eternal life. Ultimately, the choice is mine.

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Bible in 90 Days – Day 24

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This morning’s reading (2 Samuel 23 through 1 Kings 7) went pretty quickly. By this time, David has died and Solomon has taken over the throne. There was a bit of intrigue over who had the right to become king after David, but David settled that issue right before he died.

I think that God asking Solomon what he wishes for is an interesting story. Nowhere else in the Bible, that I know of, has God telling someone “ask what I shall give thee” (1 Kings 3:5). Solomon could have asked for power, riches, or a long life. But instead he asks for wisdom!

Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
1 Kings 3:9.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I would have been tempted to request something for myself. I am a selfish person, if I want to be honest. I just hope that if God ever gives me the opportunity to ask Him for something, I will be able to ask for love or wisdom or patience. I already ask for those things but I struggle every day to be like God.

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Bible in 90 Days – Day 23

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I actually read today’s reading (2 Samuel 13 through 2 Samuel 22) in two sessions. I rarely do that. But I read the first three chapters while waiting for church to begin and read the rest this afternoon. In a way, reading in two sessions was easier but I’m afraid if I make a habit of it, I won’t sit down to read the second half. I usually try to read soon after waking and read the entire assignment.

When I read the Bible, I love when I recognize worship songs that I’ve heard.

The Lord liveth, and blessed be my rock;
and exalted be the rock of my salvation
2 Samuel 22:47.

I love this praise song. I wish we could sing more songs like this in church with just the piano for accompaniment. But hubby and I are attending a church with an average membership age of around 60. I’m afraid that I would be rocking the boat unnecessarily as music can be so controversial. I don’t really understand why, but I can respect it. Tonight I asked the pastor about sometimes singing more contemporary worship songs at vespers and he told me to go ask the person in charge of the vespers schedule. I might just do that.

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Tornado watch!

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We had a huge storm yesterday evening. The weather service issued a tornado watch for our area. This is highly unusual. Even during our normal two week rainy season we don’t get tornado watches. I didn’t have to venture outside during the storm, though my hubby had to drive home from work through the heavy rains.

We heard a big boom and ran to the window. Our poor tree!

This tree provided our shade. It blocked a portion of the view of the street. It made me feel like I wasn’t living in the middle of a giant city. And now it’s gone.

I’m guessing the ground became so waterlogged that the roots just gave way when the wind picked up. The grounds crew came and cut up the tree this morning. The only evidence that we once had a beautiful tree outside our patio is the giant hole in the dirt.

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Bible in 90 Days – Day 22

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Unfortunately, I have nothing interesting to say about today’s reading (1 Samuel 29 through 2 Samuel 12).

Saul dies. David mourns Saul. David becomes king. War and intrigue. David sins by taking Bathsheba and then killing her husband.

I’ve had some interesting discussions on Bathsheba and whether or not she sinned. I don’t think it’s something I want to delve into on my blog. I’m just glad that we have no king today who can order me to “know” him.

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Bible in 90 Days – Day 21

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21 days! Three weeks! We’re really moving through the Bible quickly.

I read 1 Samuel 16 through 28 today. It basically covered the story of Saul chasing David around the countryside, trying to kill him. Twice David had the opportunity to kill Saul. Twice David declared that he could not lay a hand on God’s anointed. David had no problems taking people’s lives if he felt it was justified (see 1 Samuel 25 for the story of Nabal). So he must have felt very strongly that God’s anointing was still applicable to Saul, even though Saul was trying to take David’s life.

I found another question to add to my list of things to study later. 1 Samuel 16:14 says that “the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.” What is the evil spirit in this verse? An evil spirit from the Lord? I didn’t realize there was such a thing… I have to study this in depth later.

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