Jan 5 2015

Bob’s Boy’s Plans for 2015

This year, I’m reading the entire New Testament. One chapter per day and five days per week. My blog will still be published on Tuesdays and Fridays, with frequent Sunday editions as always. In addition to commenting on the week’s Bible reading chapters, I will be working on growing in faith and in my relationship to the Lord. I hope that you will join me, and that you may be enriched in your walk with God, as I know I will be.

One of the books I am currently writing is about the subject of apologetics. I don’t know how long that one will take to write, as I am just beginning it. But my 2015 blogs will be sure to have much to say on Christian evidences and such, as a result. I am in the editing stages of publishing my 5th book on the Gospel of Luke. The title has been selected, and I will reveal it in this blog before publication.

Reading the New Testament in one year will certainly enrich your life. The average chapter in the New Testament is 30 verses (7956 verses divided by 260 chapters). I selected a chapter with about 30 verses and clicked the link to listen to a reader who reads it at a leisurely pace. It took 3 minutes and 37 seconds. Less than 4 minutes per day out of your life – five days a week – to enrich your life for years to come.

Join me this year, as we strive to get closer to the Lord and make a real difference in our lives,as we prepare for a home with Him!

Bible Reading Schedule for this month
Click here to read or listen to audio of this week’s chapters in Mark

/Bob’s boy

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some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please visit this site’s menu item “The Author’s Books” for info on the author’s books, website, and Facebook page.

All of my comments in this blog are solely my responsibility. When reading any commentary, you should always refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word.

Nov 9 2014

Uzziah Becomes King of Judah – 2 Chronicles 26

English: Ozias(Uzziah), King of Judah (809-759 B. C.) son and successor of Amazias. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

After Amaziah’s death, the people took his son, Uzziah, as king at the age of 16 years. He did battle with the Philistines, and verse 6 says that he “broke through the wall of Gath and the wall of Jabneh and the wall of Ashdod, and he built cities in the territory of Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines.” He walked with God, and God was with him in his battles against the Philistines, the Arabians, and the Meunites. The Ammonites, seeing all this, paid him tribute to keep from being defeated themselves.

Uzziah built cities in the territory of Ashdod and “elsewhere among the Philistines.” He also built towers in the wilderness, and in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate and elsewhere (verse 9). His army grew strong and he armed and prepared them well. His fame spread far and wide because God was with him until he became strong.

But in becoming strong, he became proud, and this was his downfall. He entered the temple where he was not supposed to be and wanted to light the incense there. The Law of Moses forbade him to be where he had gone, but his pride and his exposure to the privileges of kings of other nations brought about his destruction. he became angry when Azariah, the chief priest, confronted him and told him what evil it was for him to be doing this. Uzziah was struck with leprosy there, and he remained a leper until he died.

(This year’s reading plan for Luke, Acts, and 1 and 2 Chronicles averages just 15 verses per day – 5 days per week!)
Schedule for this week

/Bob’s boy

___________________

some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please visit this site’s menu item “The Author’s Books” for info on the author’s books, website, and Facebook page.

All of my comments in this blog are solely my responsibility. When reading any commentary, you should always refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word.

Nov 2 2014

Amaziah’s Rise and Fall – 2 Chronicles 25

English: Amasias was the king of Judah, the son and successor of Joash. Русский: Амасия — царь Иудеи (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

After Joash was executed, his son Amaziah took over as king at the age of 25. Once in power, he avenged his father’s death by executing his servants who had participated. The text says that he did not kill their children, citing Deuteronomy 24:16. he assembled a large army and then recruited warriors from Israel, paying them in advance. But a prophet came and told him not to kllet them fight with his men because God was not with the Israelites. So he sent them home, and they were angry because of it.

Amaziah took his men from Judah and Benjamin and they went down to the Valley of Salt and struck down 10, 000 men of Seir, capturing 10,000 more (who they subsequently executed). But while they were gone, the Israelites he had sent home raided Judah, killing 3,000 and taking much spoil. Meanwhile, Amaziah had brought back idols from the Edomites he had defeated at Seir; and he became guilty of idolatry. When a prophet came to chastise him, Amaziah threatened him. The prophet then told him that God would destroy him for his iniquity.

Amaziah sent word to the king of Israel that they should meet face to face in battle. The king, also named Joash tried to dissuade him, saying “Why should you provoke trouble so that you fall, you and Judah with you?” They did do battle, and Israel defeated them, capturing Amaziah and looting Jerusalem. Amaziah escaped to Lachish after a time, but was killed and brought back to be buried.

(This year’s reading plan for Luke, Acts, and 1 and 2 Chronicles averages just 15 verses per day – 5 days per week!)
Schedule for this week

/Bob’s boy

___________________

some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please visit this site’s menu item “The Author’s Books” for info on the author’s books, website, and Facebook page.

All of my comments in this blog are solely my responsibility. When reading any commentary, you should always refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word.

Oct 26 2014

Joash Reigns as King – 2 Chronicles 24

English: Joas was the king of the ancient Kingdom of Judah, and sole surviving son of Ahaziah. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Joash began his reign when he was seven years old, and he reigned for 40 years. In the beginning, Joash was a good king and he decided to restore the house of the Lord, which had been ravaged years earlier. He told the priests and the Levites to go out and gather money from the people to do it, but it did not get done.

So Joash called Jehoiada and told him to get the Levites to collect the tax that Moses had levied in Exodus 30:16 for the tabernacle. So they made a chest and set it outside of the gate and the people brought their tax. As it was collected, masons and carpenters were hired, and the house was restored. The house was equipped with all of the utensils that had been taken, and offerings were made regularly while Jehoiada was alive.

Then, after Jehoiada died, the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king. The text says that he “listened to them.” But we quickly learn that what that meant was they wanted to return to their idolatry, which brought God’s wrath upon Judah and Jerusalem. Joash tried to persuade them to come back to the house of the Lord, but they would not listen. Then Jehoiada’s son, Zechariah, rose up and condemned them for their wickedness.

The idolaters’ influence over Joash was evidently quite strong; and he had Zechariah killed. As he was dying, he said “May the Lord see and avenge!” And that is indeed what happened. The Lord brought the Syrians up against them, and in their defeat, Joash was assassinated. Verse 27 says that his son, Amaziah, replaced him.

(This year’s reading plan for Luke, Acts, and 1 and 2 Chronicles averages just 15 verses per day – 5 days per week!)
Schedule for this week

/Bob’s boy

___________________

some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please visit this site’s menu item “The Author’s Books” for info on the author’s books, website, and Facebook page.

All of my comments in this blog are solely my responsibility. When reading any commentary, you should always refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word.

Oct 19 2014

Joash Becomes King – 2 Chronicles 23

English: Jehoiada was the High priest during the reigns of Ahaziah, Athaliah, and Joash. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In the seventh year after Athaliah took control, the high priest Jehoiada entered into a covenant with all of the commanders and gathered the Levites and introduced Joash as the rightful king. The covenant may have included a provision for Jehoiada to supervise the young king until he came of age. We do not know.

So the throne was restored to the Davidic line, according to God’s will. and the Levites and all of Judah did as Jehoiada commanded and prepared to crown Joash king. Jehoiada provided the captains with the spears and shields that were in the house of God, which had belonged to King David. And all the men stood watch while the king was crowned, ensuring his safety.

When Athaliah learned what was happening, she went into the house of the Lord and cried treason, tearing her clothes. Jehoiada would not let them execute her there. so they took her out to the entrance of the horse gate of the king’s house and put her to death there.

And Jehoiada made another covenant between himself and the people that they would be the Lord’s people. And they went to the house of Baal and tore it down, breaking all the images. They killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altar. Then they offered burnt offerings to the Lord and the people returned to a time of service to God.

(This year’s reading plan for Luke, Acts, and 1 and 2 Chronicles averages just 15 verses per day – 5 days per week!)
Schedule for this week

/Bob’s boy

___________________

some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please visit this site’s menu item “The Author’s Books” for info on the author’s books, website, and Facebook page.

All of my comments in this blog are solely my responsibility. When reading any commentary, you should always refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word.

Oct 12 2014

Ahaziah’s Reign in Judea – 2 Chronicles 22

English: Athalia was the queen of Judah during the reign of King Jehoram, and later became sole ruler of Judah for six years. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

At the end of chapter 21, we are told of the raid made by the Arabians, who killed all of Jehoram’s sons except for one — Jehoahaz. Now in chapter 22, we find that after Jehoram’s death, his son Ahaziah was made king. They are, of course, names for the same person. He was twenty-two when he became king. His mother, Athaliah, was the granddaughter of Omri, and she encouraged him do evil in the sight of the Lord. So it was ordained by God that when he went to visit Joram, he was captured and brought before Jehu and put to death.

Athaliah killed all of the royal family after her son’s death, but Jehoshabeath, rescued Ahaziah’s son and stole him away from danger. Athaliah made herself ruler. But Jehoshabeath, “the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of Jehoiada the priest, because she was a sister of Ahaziah,” kept the child, whose name was Joash, and hid him away from Athaliah for six years, while she reigned as self-proclaimed queen. So in this way, God kept the line of David alive for the future.

(This year’s reading plan for Luke, Acts, and 1 and 2 Chronicles averages just 15 verses per day – 5 days per week!)
Schedule for this week

/Bob’s boy

___________________

some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please visit this site’s menu item “The Author’s Books” for info on the author’s books, website, and Facebook page.

All of my comments in this blog are solely my responsibility. When reading any commentary, you should always refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word.

Oct 5 2014

The Ungodly Reign of Jehoram – 2 Chronicles 21

English: Joran(Jehoram of Judah) was the king of the southern Kingdom of Judah, and the son of Jehoshaphat. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Jehoshaphat had chosen his first-born son, Jehoram to become king after his death. He did so at the age of thirty-two, and reigned for eight years. He began his reign by first killing his six brothers, and some of the princes of Israel. The chronicler said that he “walked in the ways of the kings of Israel,” and did evil in the sight of the Lord. H took Ahab’s daughter as his wife.

It was during his reign, the chronicler writes, that the people of Edom revolted and set up a king of their own. He took his forces and all of his chariots, but the Edomites surrounded him. He attacked at night, but the the revolt was still not quashed. Then Libnah revolted as well because, as the chronicler says, Jehoram had forsaken the Lord.

Then Elijah, the prophet came and told him that because of his evil, God would bring a plague upon him, his people and his wives and children. He also said that he would die of a disease in his bowels. And God stirred up the anger of the Philistines and “the Arabians who are near the Ethiopians” against him. They took his possessions, along with his wives and children from his house. And Jehoram did indeed die of the disease that Elijah had spoken of. But according to the Lord’s plan for the house of David, one son was left behind. His name was Jehoahaz.

The chronicler said that when Jehoram died, “he departed with no one’s regret.” He was buried in the City of David, but not in the tomb of the kings.

(This year’s reading plan for Luke, Acts, and 1 and 2 Chronicles averages just 15 verses per day – 5 days per week!)
Schedule for this week

/Bob’s boy

___________________

some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please visit this site’s menu item “The Author’s Books” for info on the author’s books, website, and Facebook page.

All of my comments in this blog are solely my responsibility. When reading any commentary, you should always refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word.

Sep 14 2014

Jehoshaphat’s Reforms – 2 Chronicles 19

Thomas Seddon – Jerusalem and the Valley of Jehoshaphat from the Hill of Evil Counsel – Google Art Project (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

After Jehoshaphat returned to Jerusalem, he was visited by Jehu, the son of Hanani the seer. Jehu rebuked him for the alliance he had made with Ahab, but said that he had found favor with the Lord because he had “destroyed the Asheroth out of the land,” and also because he had set his heart “to seek God.”

So Jehoshaphat took his responsibility as king and with the service of God personally. He went out among the people “from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim,” bringing the people back to the Lord. He appointed judges throughout Judah, and sternly admonished them to show no partiality or take bribes, but to take care to deal justly with the people.

he then appointed Levites and priests to “give judgment before the Lord, and decide disputed cases, and to do it “in the fear of the Lord, in faithfulness, and with your whole heart.” He set Amariah the chief priest and Zebadiah, the governor of the house of Judah over them to ensure that the law of the Lord was respected, and that justice was done.

(This year’s reading plan for Luke, Acts, and 1 and 2 Chronicles averages just 15 verses per day – 5 days per week!)
Schedule for this week

/Bob’s boy

___________________

Please visit this site’s menu item “The Author’s Books” for info on the author’s books, website, and Facebook page.

All of my comments in this blog are solely my responsibility. When reading any commentary, you should always refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word.

Sep 7 2014

Ahab Defeated – 2 Chronicles 18

Michelangelo’s Asa-Jehoshaphat-Joram.jpg. The man on the left is generally considered to be Jehoshaphat (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Jehoshaphat sought to make a marriage alliance with the northern king, Ahab. Ahab wanted Jehoshaphat to bring his troops and fight against the Syrians at Ramoth-gilead. Jehoshaphat wanted to inquire of the Lord first. So Ahab gathered 400 prophets who predicted success. But one named Micaiah (who Ahab despised) predicted otherwise. He said that his vision saw the Lord with His hose asking how best to entice Ahab to Ramoth-gilead so that he would fall. And it was decided to place a lying spirit in the tongues of all of his prophets.

The relating of this vision angered Ahab, and he had the prophet locked up. So Ahab and Jehoshaphat took their forces to Ramoth-gilead. There, Ahab told Jehoshaphat to remained dressed in his kingly robes, while Ahab would change into a disguise.. Jehoshaphat mysteriously seems gullible in agreeing to this – or did he just have that much faith in God? The plan worked for Ahab, as the Syrians mistook Jehoshaphat for the northern king.

But Jehoshaphat cried out to the Lord and he was protected. Ahab, however, was defeated and mortally wounded. He had his men take him out of the battle and they left him propped up in his chariot , facing the Syrians. He died that evening at sunset.

(This year’s reading plan for Luke, Acts, and 1 and 2 Chronicles averages just 15 verses per day – 5 days per week!)
Schedule for this week

/Bob’s boy

___________________

Please visit this site’s menu item “The Author’s Books” for info on the author’s books, website, and Facebook page.

All of my comments in this blog are solely my responsibility. When reading any commentary, you should always refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word.

Aug 31 2014

Jehoshaphat! – 2 Chronicles 17

Statues of Josaphat and Ezechias on the Monastery of El Escorial. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Not many people know much about king Asa’s son Jehoshaphat, except that the name has been used in the phrase “Jumpin’ Jehoshaphat!” There is a lot of speculation about where that phrase came from, and if you query any search engine, you will come across some very entertaining attempts to explain it. None that I have seen seem very likely, though. It is just possible that it became popular because it is phonetically pleasing as a substitute for swearing.

As king, Jehoshaphat worked hard to strengthen Judah against the northern kingdom. He set garrisons and occupied cities all over, including some that his father had captured. Unlike his father, the Lord was with him, the scripture tells us in verse 3, and did not “seek the Baals.” With God’s help, he grew strong in power and in riches.

verse 7 says that in the third year of his reign, he sent several men, including Obadiah, around to teach the Book of the Law in all the cities of Judah. Verse 10 says that all of the kingdoms around Judah feared them during his reign, and none of them bothered Judah. In fact, verse 11 says that the Philistines, of all people, “brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver for tribute, and the Arabians also brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats.”

(This year’s reading plan for Luke, Acts, and 1 and 2 Chronicles averages just 15 verses per day – 5 days per week!)
Schedule for this week

/Bob’s boy

___________________

Please visit this site’s menu item “The Author’s Books” for info on the author’s books, website, and Facebook page.

All of my comments in this blog are solely my responsibility. When reading any commentary, you should always refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word.