Ezra 7-8, Psalms 91-92

Psalm 91 presents the simplistic view that if one lives near the Almighty, then that one will suffer no harm. Life is more complex than this simple view in my experience. At times those who live near God do suffer injury. Bad things do happen to good people now and then. That is no justification, however, for turning from God and living far from the Almighty. On average living near God is better, in my opinion, than living far from God. But it is not a means of eliminating each and every one of life’s bumps, bruises, heartaches, illnesses, and sorrows. Living near God helps me to survive and to thrive through all.

Ezra 4-6

When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the Lord, the God of Israel, they came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of the families and said, “Let us help you build because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to him since the time of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.” But Zerubbabel, Joshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel answered, “You have no part with us in building a temple to our God. We alone will build it for the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us.” (Ezra‬ ‭4:1-3‬)

Here is a case of “us versus them” thinking, perpetuating the old conflicts and prejudices between the Israelis of the North and the Israelis of the South. Why not join forces to build the new temple? Why not unify?

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! (Psalm‬ ‭133:1‬)

The renewed rivalries reported in Ezra, chapter 4, are perhaps one root of the mutual animosities between Samaritan Jews and other Jews persisting for hundreds of years. We see evidence of the mutual dislike in the New Testament Era, reference John 4:9, for example.

Please, let’s just get along...

Ezra 1-3

With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: “He is good; his love toward Israel endures forever.” And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away. (Ezra‬ ‭3:11-13‬)

In my experience life is often as depicted in the verses, taken from the Bible’s book of Ezra—the sounds of weeping intermingled with shouts of joy—if not literally, then figuratively. For example parents celebrate their child’s graduation from high school, but grieve the young person’s moving out of their home. A man sheds tears over the amputation of his leg, yet cheers that his life is thereby prolonged. A woman cries at the death of her aged mother, yet breathes easier that her 24/7 caregiving days have ended.

In everything we give thanks...

2 Chronicles 35-36, Psalm 90

Jeremiah composed laments for Josiah, and to this day all the male and female singers commemorate Josiah in the laments. These became a tradition in Israel and are written in the Laments. (2 Chronicles 35:25)

I wonder what might have happened if the people had amended their ways, as both Josiah and Jeremiah urged. They might have begun a tradition of living uprightly before Josiah died, instead of starting the tradition of singing laments for him afterward.

2 Chronicles 33-34, Psalm 89

I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever;
     with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known
     through all generations.

I will declare that your love stands firm forever,
     that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself. (Psalm 89:1-2)

I have felt love as God's positive regard for me, as God's warmth in me, as God's desiring what is best for me. I have sensed God's faithfulness despite my fickleness, God's fidelity constant throughout my wandering, God's loyalty to me in the midst of all the consequences I experience, due to my faithlessness.

2 Chronicles 29-32

It was Hezekiah who blocked the upper outlet of the Gihon spring and channeled the water down to the west side of the City of David. (2 Chronicles 32:30a)

Here is a link to a video concerning the construction King Hezekiah ordered in the Bible's book of Second Chronicles, chapter 32...

Video Link

2 Chronicles 27-28, Psalm 88

It is surprising that the psalmist trusts and calls on the LORD (verses 1-2), because he seems to have little evidence of the LORD at hand (verses 3-18). Some say this psalm writer describes the condition of his soul's "dark night," a time of unknowing, bereft of any spiritual senses, and isolated from others. How can the soul continue in faith and hope without some feedback, some encouragement from God? What can the soul learn, become, lay aside, or take up in such an inky nothingness? How long will the seemingly imprisoned soul content itself in pitch black shadows, longing for liberty and light?

Some Christian mystics say when the soul breaks through its "dark night," then it is well-prepared for total union with God. How do you sense a breakthrough coming in your "cloud of unknowing," reader?

2 Chronicles 25-26, Psalms 86-87

Turn to me and have mercy on me;
show your strength in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
just as my mother did. (Psalm 86:16)

Like David, I had a mother who served God. I am sure her example has influenced me in the past, now influences, and will influence me in the future, and I am equally convinced hers was, is, and will be a positive, godly, and loving influence.

Thanks, Mom...

2 Chronicles 22-24

All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was calm, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword. (Chronicles‬ ‭23:21‬)

This is a sad commentary on the poor state of affairs in the Kingdom of Judah.

2 Chronicles 19-21

[Jahaziel] said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.'" (2 Chronicles 20:15)

How many of my life's battles are not mine, but God's? If only I had stood and had allowed God to do God's part, then certain battles would have been settled by now. I'm impulsive. I'm proud. I'm self-confident. I have acted on those tendencies. I have battled under the influence of those characteristics. What if I had waited? What if I had humbled myself, had checked my ego, and had watched for a while?

When fear or discouragement overtake you, reader, will you remember, "The battle is not yours, by God's?"

2 Chronicles 16-18, Psalm 85

The story of Asa does not end well. He is described as a good and faithful king in the chapters preceding 2 Chronicles 16, but beginning here, he is characterized as foolish. He seeks an earthly ally, instead of trusting the LORD. He begins to oppress people. When he becomes ill he turns to physicians only, not to the LORD. 

I want to finish well. I want to do whatever is necessary, I want to be whatever is needed, so God will finish in me and with me what God has begun in me and with me.

How will you finish, reader?

2 Chronicles 13-15

The rule of King Asa is a promising development. He worships the LORD. He bans worship of other gods throughout the territories of Benjamin and Judah. He repels two attacks--one by Egyptian forces and one by the Northern Kingdom of Israel. He relies on the LORD when battling against attacking forces. The LORD gives him and his people rest for a period of years.

2 Chronicles 10-12

But this word of the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God: “Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin,  ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not go up to fight against your fellow Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.’” So they obeyed the words of the Lord and turned back from marching against Jeroboam. (2 Chronicles 11:3-4)

Shemaiah is one powerful and courageous man of God. I suppose these qualities come from the conviction provided in the act of receiving a word from God. Rehoboam obeys. The fighting men turn back. War is averted, and a modicum of peace is forged between the two kingdoms. Still...

So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day. (1 Chronicles 10:19)

My nation has opposing political factions, too, and our citizens have warred against one another.

2 Chronicles 8-9, Psalm 84

Solomon's death is recorded in Second Chronicles, chapter 9. The Chronicles record Solomon's wisdom, his wealth, his building projects, and his conquest of other territories. The Chronicles do not record what I call Solomon's "mischief," as the Bible's book of First Kings does. See First Kings, chapters 1 and 2, for an account of Solomon's vengeance. He "settles the score" between his father, David, and his father's enemies by ordering their executions.

If David is prevented from building a temple, because he has shed too much human blood, then why is Solomon encouraged to build a temple. His hands are bloody, too. I suppose it's a matter of degree, but still difficult for me to fathom.

How have I caused the deaths of other persons? Not by ordering their executions, not by my own use of weapons! But, perhaps by my overconsumption of the world's resources, by my turning a blind eye to the needs of others...

2 Chronicles 4-7

Yesterday's prescribed reading...

Both Second Chronicles, chapter 6, and Second Chronicles, chapter 7, anticipate a falling away by the people of God. Solomon's prayer (chapter 6), dedicating the temple to the LORD, asks for God's mercy if and when the people forsake the LORD, are taken captive to other lands, and there cry out for mercy. The LORD's appearance to Solomon (chapter 7) promises mercy if and when the people forsake the LORD, are taken captive to other lands, and there cry out for mercy.

I wonder how things might have turned out if Solomon had not anticipated this falling away, but instead had anticipated unbroken faithfulness to the LORD. Some prophecies seem self-fulfilling. Once they have been imagined and stated, they seem to become inevitabilities.

What do you anticipate, reader? What do I imagine, then state aloud?

2 Chronicles 1-3

Is God honored, worshiped, or obeyed by humans' building projects? The Bible describes the LORD's instructions given to Moses for the construction of the Tent of Meeting. Moses and the people he led are obedient to the LORD, as they carry out those instructions.

The Bible is not so clear about the origin of the motivation for building the temple at Jerusalem. After David builds himself a palace he has an afterthought(?) to build a temple for the LORD. The LORD stops David from building by saying he has shed too much blood and that his son will build a temple for the LORD instead. So whose idea is the temple originally--David's or the LORD's?

What purpose do buildings serve in your life with God, reader?

1 Chronicles 28-29, Psalm 83

As for the events of King David’s reign, from beginning to end, they are written in the records of Samuel the seer, the records of Nathan the prophet and the records of Gad the seer, together with the details of his reign and power, and the circumstances that surrounded him and Israel and the kingdoms of all the other lands. (1 Chronicles‬ ‭29:29-30‬)

Here I see that the editor of the Bible’s book of First Chronicles had other written volumes at his disposal. Here he invites his readers to cross check or verify what he has written by the records of Samuel the seer (First and Second Samuel?), Nathan the prophet, and Gad the seer. Israel’s history is is the work of many persons and the delight of One God.

I wonder how it would be if we believers checked one another’s records, one another’s histories, for evidence of God’s influence, presence, wisdom, and power...

1 Chronicles 25-27, Psalm 82

As for the Hebronites, Jeriah was their chief according to the genealogical records of their families. In the fortieth year of David’s reign a search was made in the records, and capable men among the Hebronites were found at Jazer in Gilead. (1 Chronicles‬ ‭26:31‬)

This verse partly answers a question I had earlier, namely, are the genealogical records used to settle disputes among the various tribes? Here the Bible states that the genealogical record is used to locate men qualified to serve in David’ court. If the men hoped to serve, then the record figures into their blessing, but if they preferred not to serve, the record helped to quash their hope.

Family matters matter...

1 Chronicles 22-24

The families of the oldest brother were treated the same as those of the youngest. (1 Chronicles‬ ‭24:31‬b)

I’m not sure what’s going on with this statement. In a culture that typically gives preferential treatment to the firstborn son in a family, perhaps it is surprising or revolutionary to see the families of the oldest and youngest treated equally. Maybe a generational issue is being addressed here. In large families a man’s uncles may be older, the same age, or even younger than he. To treat such family members equally would require tact and sound judgment.

How do we parse responsibilities and honors in our families?

1 Chronicles 19-21

David takes a census of the fighting men in his kingdom. The Bible’s book of Second Samuel accounts for the census in this way:

Again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.” So the king said to Joab and the army commanders with him, “Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and enroll the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are.” (2 Samuel‬ ‭24:1-2‬)

But the Bible’s book of First Chronicles accounts for the census in a different way:

Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report back to me so that I may know how many there are.” (1 Chronicles‬ ‭21:1-2‬)

In the former account the LORD commands David to take the census, then punishes him after David does as he is commanded. There is a logical problem with this account. If God commands and David obeys, then why is David punished?

In the latter account Satan tempts David with the desire to know the number of troops under David’s command. Apparently the narrator of this account had thought about the logical implications of the account as given in the Bible’s book of Second Samuel. Accordingly, he attributes the temptation of David to the tempter himself, namely, Satan.

Why is it sinful for David to want to know the total number of fighters under his command? I imagine his desire shows a lack of respect for the LORD who is worshiped as the deliverer of Israel. Again and again the LORD gives battlefield victories, even when Israel faces various disadvantages. The LORD gives victory, not chariots, not horses, not superior troop strength. Why not trust the LORD?

1 Chronicles 16-18

When David is securely settled in his kingship he entertains the idea of building a dwelling more permanent than the Tent of Meeting, a place where the Spirit of the LORD may dwell and where people may worship the LORD. He shares his thinking with Nathan the prophet. That very night Nathan receives a message from the LORD for David, and the next day Nathan delivers the message.

First Chronicles, chapter 17, verses 1 through 15, record this event and the words exchanged. These paragraphs repeat the paragraphs recorded in the Bible's book of Second Samuel, chapter 7, verses 1 through 17, and the repetition is nearly word for word.

I accept the thinking that the Spirit of the LORD dwells in me. How hospitable am I toward God within? I worship the LORD from within. Oh that I may worship well!

1 Chronicles 13-15, Psalm 81

Catching up...

I heard an unknown voice say... (Psalm 81:5b)

It is telling that the psalmist uses this phrase to introduce a brief message (Psalm 81:6-16) from the LORD.  The biblical writer is delivering a word from God while simultaneously denoting that God's voice is unknown! What an indictment! What a scandal!

Yet when I reflect on messages I receive from God I cannot truthfully say I have always known or recognized God's voice. Too often, my hearing has been distorted. My discernment has been faulty. I had not given full attention.

I pray for knowledge of the unknown voice...

1 Chronicles 10-12

All Israel came together to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, even while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord your God said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’”

When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, he made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel, as the Lord had promised through Samuel.

David and all the Israelites marched to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). The Jebusites who lived there said to David, “You will not get in here.” Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David. (1 Chronicles 11:1-5)

Hebron is situated to the south of Jerusalem. Although all Israel came to David at Hebron, the southern tribes seem to be the foundation of his authority, specifically Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. David fights his way into Jerusalem and makes it a "City of David." Later, when David's kingdom splits, the center of the northern kingdom's authority is Samaria.

Which kingdom will prefer David's closest descendants? Does it matter, and if so, then why?

1 Chronicles 8-9, Psalm 80

Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.

Restore us, God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.

Restore us, LORD God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved. (Psalm 80:3,7,19)

Psalm 80 has a repeated refrain with only the form of address for God changing from verse 3 to verse 7 to verse 19, from "God," to "God Almighty," to "LORD God Almighty." The progression gives me a sense of increasing urgency with each repetition. The psalmist wants restoration, divine radiance, and salvation, and his desire goes from deep, to deeper, all the way to deepest.

What is your deep, deeper, deepest desire, reader?

1 Chronicles 6-7, Psalms 78-79

How long, Lord? Will you be angry forever? How long will your jealousy burn like fire? (Psalm‬ ‭79:5‬)

I think I understand how it’s OK to express all of our emotions to God, but I’m convinced I need to be clear about owning those emotions. In Psalm 79 the writer is angry that his nation has been defeated. He is jealous of those who won in combat and now rule over him. How does he express his feelings? He projects them onto the LORD: “How long will YOU be angry? How long will YOU remain jealous?”

I am entertaining the thought that God has never been mad or envious, but that we humans have thought so, primarily because we are so. Maybe it’s time to contemplate the Divine along streams that run deeper than anger and jealousy.

1 Chronicles 4-5, Psalm 77

In these chapters there seems to be a good deal of documenting the various tribes of Judah, the genealogy of those tribes, the people they displace, kill, and enslave, and the respective territories they occupy at a point in time. Take for example 1 Chronicles, chapter 4, verse 43, "They killed the remaining Amalekites who had escaped, and they have lived there to this day." (Emphasis mine.)

It would be interesting to know which day "this day" is for each and every such biblical reference. Likewise, it would be interesting to know how often and under what circumstances the descendants of these tribes refer back to these records. Have land ownership disputes been resolved, based on the records? Have tribal rights and responsibilities been underscored or clarified by mining the records? Have other issues been addressed and illuminated through the biblical text?

1 Chronicles 1-3

If one wants to compare the content of the Bible's books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, then a classic resource for doing so is William Day Crockett's "Harmony." Below the reader can find a representation of the title page to the book and a link to an online e-book copy of it...

The Books of the Kings of Judah and Israel

A HARMONY OF THE BOOKS

OF

SAMUEL, KINGS, AND CHRONICLES

IN THE TEXT OF THE VERSION OF 1884
Text for E-Book was switched to the WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE*
BY
WILLIAM DAY CROCKETT, A.M.
Professor of English Literature in the State Normal School, Mansfield, Pa.

WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY
WILLIS JUDSON BEECHER, D.D.
Professor of the Hebrew Language and Literature in the Auburn Theological Seminary
New York Chicago Toronto

Fleming H. Revell Company

London and Edinburgh

---

Copyright, 1897,
WILLIAM DAY CROCKETT.

* Bible References taken from: The World English Bible (WEB) is a Public Domain (no copyright) Modern English translation of the Holy Bible, based on the American Standard Versionof the Holy Bible first published in 1901, the Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensa Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament. LINK TO E-BOOK

2 Kings 24-25, Psalm 76

The Lord sent Babylonian, Aramean, Moabite and Ammonite raiders against him to destroy Judah, in accordance with the word of the Lord proclaimed by his servants the prophets. Surely these things happened to Judah according to the Lord’s command, in order to remove them from his presence because of the sins of Manasseh and all he had done, including the shedding of innocent blood. For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the Lord was not willing to forgive. (2 Kings‬ ‭24:2-4‬)

Whose judgment is stated here? Is it the LORD’s judgment on Manasseh’s sins, as indicated, or is it the biblical writer’s opinion? On whose authority does the following quote rest, “...the LORD was not willing to forgive?” There is abundant biblical testimony to the LORD’s patience and forgiveness. Similarly, a repeated biblical teaching (Deuteronomy 24:16, for example) makes each one responsible for his or her own sin. Then why is punishment for the sins of Manasseh imposed on those belonging to the next generation and the next?

2 Kings 21-23, Psalm 75

Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. (2 Kings 18:5)

It seems odd or ironic that one of Judah's best kings, Hezekiah, is followed by one of Judah's worst, Manasseh.

But the people did not listen. Manasseh led them astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites. (2 Kings 21:9)

Why does one generation fail to learn from the experiences of another? Maybe each generation relies too much on the wisdom its own experience. Minna Antrim wrote, "Experience is a good teacher, but she send in terrific bills." Indeed.

2 Kings 18-20

Pride goes before a fall.

At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of Hezekiah’s illness. Hezekiah received the envoys and showed them all that was in his storehouses—the silver, the gold, the spices and the fine olive oil—his armory and everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them. (2 Kings 20:12-13)

Hezekiah seems too eager to display his wealth to the visitors from Babylon. In a display of pride he puts information and temptation before those representing Babylon. The envoys will go back to their own land, and sooner or later, Babylonian troops will return to Jerusalem in order to take away Hezekiah's treasures.

2 Kings 15-17

Then King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria. He saw an altar in Damascus and sent to Uriah the priest a sketch of the altar, with detailed plans for its construction.

So Uriah the priest built an altar in accordance with all the plans that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus and finished it before King Ahaz returned. When the king came back from Damascus and saw the altar, he approached it and presented offerings on it. He offered up his burnt offering and grain offering, poured out his drink offering, and splashed the blood of his fellowship offerings against the altar. As for the bronze altar that stood before the Lord, he brought it from the front of the temple—from between the new altar and the temple of the Lord—and put it on the north side of the new altar.

King Ahaz then gave these orders to Uriah the priest: “On the large new altar, offer the morning burnt offering and the evening grain offering, the king’s burnt offering and his grain offering, and the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their grain offering and their drink offering. Splash against this altar the blood of all the burnt offerings and sacrifices. But I will use the bronze altar for seeking guidance.” And Uriah the priest did just as King Ahaz had ordered.

King Ahaz cut off the side panels and removed the basins from the movable stands. He removed the Sea from the bronze bulls that supported it and set it on a stone base. He took away the Sabbath canopy that had been built at the temple and removed the royal entryway outside the temple of the Lord, in deference to the king of Assyria. (2 Kings 16:10-18)

Ahaz orders changes in the facility and in the ways that worshipers are used to worshiping. The Bible is surprisingly neutral toward these innovations. Uriah the priest complies Ahaz's orders. Maybe the point is to say that both royalty and priesthood are corrupt to the point of deferring to the king of Assyria, instead of deferring to the King of Heaven.