Why are we given all of the these brief details about the different kings of Judah and Israel in 1 and 2 Kings? It sure seems a little repetitive at times. Does it truly matter that one king followed God while another did not follow God? What factors influenced a king to seek out and follow God? What influences drew some men away from following God? In 2 Kings 15 many different kings of Judah and Israel are listed. It is interesting how some men are said to have followed the example of their father by following God. Who are these men who followed God? At the beginning of chapter 15 we are told that Uzziah followed God like his father and at the end of the chapter Jotham followed God like his father. 2 Kings 15 is bookended by two kings of Judah who followed God while the kings of Israel listed all did evil in the sight of God. Continue Reading…
Systemic degradation of God fearing leadership: 2 Kings 15 and 16
Hope in God despite trouble, trials, and tribulation: 2 Samuel Summary
What type of leadership is necessary within your family? How do you react to someone who has hurt you and betrayed your trust? How do you survive through life when trouble, trials, and tribulation seem to engulf you? These are some of the questions of life that are answered in 2 Samuel. The book of 2 Samuel builds upon the previous books of the old testament by showing us what clinging to God looks like in life. I found hope to make it through the difficult moments in life as I looked at the life that David lived. He was far from perfect and marked by many faults and failures yet God was completely faithful to David. Continue Reading…
Contrasting characters of Joab and David in 2 Samuel 19 and 20
How is true restoration after conflict and disagreement achieved? When the bonds of friendship, family, and love have been strained or torn asunder how do you move on towards reconciliation? In 2 Samuel 19 and 20 this question of restoring trust and fellowship is faced by the people of Israel. Joab and David exhibit strong leadership during the conflict between Absalom but one follows his own way to achieve what he deems best while the other shows a consistent dependance upon God in all ways. Continue Reading…
True leadership found in a shepherd’s heart: 2 Samuel 5 and 6
How are we to view leadership? How were Saul and David as leaders over Israel? In 2 Samuel 5 David was finally anointed king over all of Israel and in 2 Samuel 5:2 the people say to David that “when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and in. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be a ruler over Israel.’ ” While Saul was sitting upon the throne of Israel it was David who was among the people helping and leading them. It is amazing to think that David who was a shepherd of his fathers flocks of sheep was using the same skills as he shepherded the people of Israel. Continue Reading…
The Deliverer still lives, find hope for tomorrow: Judges Summary
The book of Judges is filled with a cycle of the failures of the Israelites and God’s deliverance for the people. The people were straying from obeying and keeping God’s commands given through Moses. Life became easy for the Israelites within the promised land and they forgot that God had brought them out of Egypt and given them the promised land. There are glimpses of strong leadership at the beginning of Judges with Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, and Gideon but as time passes the judges that are raised by God to deliver Israel are also marked by their faults such as Jephthah and Samson. Continue Reading…
Obedience to God found in deliverance from servitude: Judges 3 and 4
My journey through the Bible has brought me to the book of Judges. As the generations go by and motives of the sons of Israel have changed the knowledge of God’s faithfulness and leadership of Joshua becomes just a faint memory. The sons of Israel have forgotten the Lord their God as they choose to intermarry with the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. Judges chapters 3-16 tell of how God raises up judges to bring Israel back to Him and away from false gods. Continue Reading…
Strong spiritual leadership a catalyst for success: Joshua 17 and 18
Dividing the inheritance of each tribe is continuing in Joshua chapters 17 and 18. It was easy for me to think that the division of land was a simple task that would be accomplished quickly and easily. I forgot that there were many thousands of people within each tribe that needed to move all their families, livestock, and belongings into the lands of their inheritance. That would be a major undertaking. What did people think then they moved to take their inheritance? As the tribes moved to the land they inherited was there a sense of loss as they left the camp around the Tabernacle? I would think that this time was bitter sweet because they were inheriting the promised land but everyone encamping around the Tabernacle was ending. Continue Reading…
Hold to your word as you sojourn on Earth: Numbers 29 and 30
After reading Numbers 29 and 30 today all I am left with many confusing questions. Why are the sacrifices constantly being restated? Were the people not listening? What’s the point? As I ask these questions I remember what has happened in Numbers 27 where the mantle of leadership is transfered from Moses to Joshua. I am also reminded of Numbers 26 where the census was take again after the 40 years in the wilderness and there the was no one left who was numbered in the wilderness because God said, “They shall surely die in the wilderness.” Only Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun were left from those who disbelieved and rebelled. Continue Reading…
Keys to effective and powerful leadership glimpsed: Numbers 27 and 28
How would you view the end of your life? When I die what will my thoughts be like? Moses’ life is coming to an end in Numbers 27 and God tells him to walk up a mountain to see the promised land and then he would be gathered to his people. Why do both Moses and Aaron climb a mountain to die? I suppose for Moses it was to gain a view of the promised land before his death. When I learn that death is close at hand how will I act? I yet to face the reality of my own death and I feel like my whole life is still before me with an unlimited number of things to accomplish. Moses had a full life of learning to depend upon God as the people of Israel were brought out of captivity in Egypt. Moses’ main concern was for the well-being of the people when he asks God to “appoint a man over the congregation, who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the Lord will not be like sheep which have no shepherd.” Continue Reading…
