Devotions from February 2023

Passage Read: 2 Kings 8-11 Meditation Verse: 10:28-31 Jehu did well, but he didn't take time to know the Lord's complete will. He got rid of the foreign gods, but he grew up believing that the Lord was worshiped with golden calf idols. He didn't…

Passage Read: 2 Kings 12-15 Meditation Verse: 15:34 Uzziah/Azariah was afflicted with leprosy at some point in his reign until the day of his death, yet he was considered faithful to the Lord. He didn't let his disease embitter him against the Lord, but served…

Passage Read: 2 Kings 16-19 Meditation Verses: 18:3-4 Hezekiah did something radical, that no king before him had done: He tore down the high places and destroyed Moses' bronze snake. These were sacred things that had been preserved and allowed for centuries, traditions that ran…

Passage Read: 2 Kings 20-23 Meditation Verses: 23:24-25 Josiah was like a crazy man in his zeal for the Lord! He read the Law of Moses and understood that the Lord should be very angry at Judah, the prophetess confirmed his suspicions, and yet he…

Passage Read: 2 Kings 24 - 1 Chronicles 2 Meditation Verse: 1 Chronicles 2:55 If this is the same Recab, who fathered the Recabites, who were not to drink wine or live in cities, then they were from the people of Moses' father-in-law, the Kenites!…

Passage Read: 1 Chronicles 3-6 Meditation Verses: 4:41-43 Evidently Hezekiah's reforms sparked new boldness in some of the people to continue the Lord's command to wipe out the remaining original inhabitants of Canaan, as well as continue the Lord's eternal war with Amalek. Some from…

Passage Read: 1 Chronicles 7-10 Meditation Verses: 10:13-14 Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord. He wasn't careful with the Lord's instructions, but altered them as the situation seemed to indicate to him. He justified his disobedience by his circumstances and by what…

Passage Read: 1 Chronicles 11-14 Meditation Verse: 14:8 Victory does not come without testing. David was finally announced king; God finally fulfilled His promise to him. But no sooner had he united the country, then the Philistines attacked. They probably felt foolish, because David had…

Passage Read: 1 Chronicles 15-18 Meditation Verse: 17:10 David couldn't bear the thought of the Lord sitting on His throne in a tent, while David sat on a throne in a cedar house. It was wrong that he should enjoy comforts that the Lord didn't.

Passage Read: 1 Chronicles 19-22 Meditation Verses: 21:1-2 While this gives no excuse for sin, it is hopeful to know that even when I fail, the Lord can bring good from it. The end of this story is the establishment of the temple location. Though…

Passage Read: 1 Chronicles 23-26 Meditation Verse: 23:4 David appointed the Levites to new duties, since they no longer had to transport the Tabernacle. Among those duties were to be judges, which I assume also meant teachers, since you can't judge people by laws they…

Passage Read: 1 Chronicles 27 - 2 Chronicles 1 Meditation Verse: 1 Chronicles 29:17 The Lord tests the heart and is pleased with integrity. He looks for deeds done willingly and with an honest intent. He seeks purity of heart, an honest and good heart,…

Passage Read: 2 Chronicles 2-5 Meditation Verse: 3:1 Solomon was faithful to fulfill the unfinished projects of his father, most important being the construction of the Temple. He started out so well, so faithful and so committed to doing what was good and right. But…

Passage Read: 2 Chronicles 6-9 Meditation Verse: 7:3 How did they not run screaming from the fire? What this must've looked like, how targeted it must have been so as not to damage anything in the temple! And no one was hurt, but instead they…

Passage Read: 2 Chronicles 10-13 Meditation Verses: 10:13-14 It's not usually a good idea to prove how tough and strong you are, but far better to rely on the Lord for guidance and strength and victory. Rehoboam's son had learned humility and reliance on the…

Passage Read: 2 Chronicles 14-17 Meditation Verses: 17:9-11 Jehoshaphat sent teachers throughout the towns of Judah, including several Levites and priests. They taught the Law of God and fear fell on the surrounding nations so that they didn't bother Judah, but instead some brought gifts.

Passage Read: 2 Chronicles 18-21 Meditation Verse: 19:2 The wrath of God was against Jehoshaphat because he helped the wicked and loved those who hated the Lord, specifically Ahab and Israel. God was angry with Jehoshaphat because he loved the wicked who hated God, yet…

Passage Read: 2 Chronicles 22-25 Meditation Verses: 24:17-18 Joash faithfully followed the directions of Jehoiada until he passed. After that, some officials stepped up and won his favor and led him astray. He was not strong enough or wise enough to remain faithful to the…

Passage Read: 2 Chronicles 26-29 Meditation Verse: 29:34 Had the priests lost faith? During Ahaz's reign, they were driven out and the people turned against them, worshiping other gods. If they were loyal to the Lord, they had nothing to do but tend their lands.

Passage Read: 2 Chronicles 30-33 Meditation Verse: 32:1 Hezekiah promised the people of Israel that whoever turned to the Lord and joined their Passover celebration, the Lord would cause the captors of their brothers and sons to show them favor and let them return to…

Passage Read: 2 Chronicles 34 - Ezra 1 Meditation Verse: 2 Chronicles 34:21 Just from reading the Book of the Law, Josiah understood that the Lord was exceedingly angry at Israel. He sent for confirmation from the Lord and received it, along with a reprieve…

Passage Read: Ezra 2-5 Meditation Verses: 4:1-4 It is great that these Samaritans wanted to help rebuild the temple, because they had been worshiping what they understood to be God from early on after their deportation to Israel. However, they also worshiped all their original…

Passage Read: Ezra 6-9 Meditation Verses: 9:13-14 Ezra says they are in difficult circumstances, though now they have been returned to their own land. They have been released from exile and permitted to return to their ancestral homes, which is very good. But other books…

Passage Read: Ezra 10 - Nehemiah 3 Meditation Verse: Ezra 10:1 Both Ezra and Nehemiah found people who were willing to support and cooperate with the burden God impressed on both of them. Ezra was mourning over the sins of his people, and as he…

Passage Read: Nehemiah 4-7 Meditation Verse: 6:14 It is sad that these foreign leaders who cared nothing about the welfare of the Jews would be able to hire prophets from among the Jews to intimidate one who was seeking to do good to the people.

Passage Read: Nehemiah 8-11 Meditation Verses: 9:34-38 The leaders of the people here acknowledge that they are all slaves in their own land, though the Jews in Jesus' day will declare that they have never been slaves of anyone! This generation acknowledges that they are…

Passage Read: Nehemiah 12 - Esther 2 Meditation Verse: Nehemiah 13:22 It's interesting that Nehemiah is concerned about God remembering his good works on behalf of the Lord and His people. He was truly concerned about honoring the Lord and making sure His people walked…

Passage Read: Esther 3-6 Meditation Verse: 6:13 Suddenly all Haman's advisors recognize that Mordecai is of Jewish origin? Didn't they know that from the beginning? Why now do they suddenly recognize Haman can't win? It's almost like they meant to help his downfall! They should…