The Family Bible Journey Podcast

David's installation as king, and early military feats, are recorded in these chapters. Imperfect though he was, David was used mightily by God to unite the nation politically and in faith. He was a great blessing as king for all the good he did for the nation.

We hear a perfect summary of Jesus's life's work and the entire Bible in John 3:16. Nicodemus learns of the Spirit's work in a cold dark world. Then, John the Baptist reappears, to affirm that the work of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is one and the same-to bring light to darkness and life in place of death.

The circumstances surrounding Saul's death are recorded in this chapter. We learn from Saul to watch our own souls, and be careful always to listen to the Lord and His will for us.

Saul's descendants were important players in Israel when the exiles were allowed to return to Jerusalem. Despite his sin, Saul was the first king of Israel. As such, he was honored, even though he was not always an honorable man.

Jesus has an honest conversation with Nicodemus, who saw God at work in Jesus, but didn't understand how God works. We find comforting words here, as we grow in our understanding of baptism and the powerful promises of God.

The tribe of Levi gets a whole chapter, but poor Naphtali only gets a single verse of mention. This gives us opportunity to reflect on the promise Isaiah gave to Naphtali, that the Savior would arise there, despite her demise and mediocrity among the tribes.

King David receives special treatment as the king who faithfully established the Temple worship and affirmed the priests and Levites. We notice that the Chronicler makes editorial comments on the people and events from Israel's history. Each editorial comment is a lesson in God's faithfulness, despite the unfaithful nature of His people.

When Jesus turned water into wine, He made sure to point out that He didn't come from heaven to earth just to help a few people, but rather, to save all people. Whenever we hear Jesus speak of His "hour" coming in John's gospel, our hearts and minds are being directed to His life's work on the cross.

Chronicles is the priestly, spiritual account of Israel's history. The Chronicler was a returning exile, who most likely worked at the direction of Ezra and/or Nehemiah. As he begins his account of Israel's history, he places them within the table of nations. He points out how God was faithful to them, despite their unfaithfulness to Him.

The nation of Judah is carried into exile. Only the poorest of the land were left behind to maintain the ground. But even in exile, we see rays of hope as Jehoichin, one of the kings carried into exile, is restored to a place of prominence in the courts of Babylon. Even in darkest days, the hope of God's redeeming love shines brightly.

In the opening chapter of John's gospel, we witness the baptism of Jesus. God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit were each revealed in Jesus' baptism. We also hear a perfect summary of Jesus' life work as, "The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world."

It is a normal occurance that as a person approaches death, that family and friends who surround the dying person see their loved one rally just a few days or even hours before the end. So too, couples in broken relationships, often show signs of hope before ending their relationship once and for all. In this episode, under Josiah's leadership, Judah experiences a spiritual cleansing and revival. But it is too little, too late, to assuage the Lord's wrath.

Josiah is the last righteous king of Judah. He recognized the grave danger Judah was in for having forsaken the Lord. He made it his life's work to bring as many as possible back to faith in the God of Israel.

John's gospel begins before the beginning of time, when God brought all things into existence. John writes from a different perspective than the other gospels. He was an old man, who had already seen many of his dear children in the faith lose their earthly lives for the gospel. He writes to encourage us all with the truth. The light and life that dwell within us are greater than the world's deepest darkness.

King Hezekiah sees the mighty deliverance of the Lord both professionally and personally. He is king when God strikes Assyria, killing 185,000 of their soldiers in a single night. He then is healed from a life threatening disease. But his life ends in folly as he shows-off to Babylonian spies, who will return to take the wealth of Judah for themselves.

Israel receives her due from the Lord when she is conquered and sent into exile. God chastized His people, not in hate, but in love. He wanted them to repent of their evil and return to Him after learning how serious He is about His Word, and the faith-life of His people.

Jesus was not taken from His disciples in His Ascension. Rather, He ascended to draw nearer to them than ever before. We celebrate the Ascension, seeing God draw near to us, because of the love He has shown us in His dear Son.

A curious note is included with nearly every new king of Judah. Even though many were faithful to the Lord, they allowed idolatry to be practiced in their land. This idolatry is slowly corrupting the nation, as seen in the rise of Ahaz, who makes the worship of false gods the state religion of Judah.

Here we ponder how God used faithful prophets to bless his people, even when their hearts were far from Him. We are encouraged in these texts, because even during evil times, God raises new generations of faithful people to bring His light into the lives of those who live in dark and distressing times.

At the resurrection, just as at Jesus's birth, angels declare the love and peace of God to troubled souls, and the faithful marvel at what God has done. We find ourselves with Mary and Peter at the empty tomb. Even when we don't understand how these things could be, we believe, and receive the peace of God as a gift of His mercy and grace.

Evil Queen Mother Athaliah seizes the throne of Judah by putting to death most of the king's heirs. God intervenes through a faithful and cunning priest named Jehoiada, preserving infant prince Joash. God blesses Judah through the faithful service of the boy king and his faithful spiritual advisor.

Jezebel finally meets her well-deserved, evil end. In this story, we see that justice is done in the Lord's timing. We, who feel like justice is delayed, can be encouraged by knowing that God will make all things right in the end.

While Jesus was on the cross, the sun refused to shine. The Lord and Author of Life was slain. Yet even in death, Jesus shows us how to live by commending Himself to His Father and dying in faith.

It is hard for the faithful to understand why unbelievers can't fathom the Lord and His work. In this story, we see how the faithful receive the Lord's blessing, while those who doubt, sometimes miss out.

When you feel out numbered and out gunned, it is the God of Israel who fights for you! Elisha and his servant saw this with the eyes of faith. Such eyes God gives His faithful, so that they may be aware of His working during ordinary and extraordinary times.

How could Jesus just take the abuse heaped upon Him? Because He loved even those who murdered Him. We marvel at such love. Yet it is ours because of God's loving faithfulness to His wayward children, even those who crucified the Sinless One.

A young slave girl proves a mighty witness of God's saving power and brings an entire family to faith. Her master Naaman becomes a gentile believer who outshines the unfaithful kings of Israel. We also see a great foreshadowing of the blessings of baptism in this episode.

Elisha performs a mighty feeding miracle and raises a young boy from the dead! We will see how these two miracles were mighty types of Christ. Not vague prophecies, but miracles that actually happened in the very same communities where Jesus raised a widow's son and fed multitudes.

One could argue that the betrayal of Peter stung the Lord worse than the betrayal of Judas. Watching Jesus be betrayed by His closest friends gives us opportunity to reflect on how we have betrayed Him. Despite His betrayal, Jesus carried His burden faithfully on to the cross.

Could Enoch and Elijah be the two faithful witnesses mentioned in Revelation, who will be sent shortly before the return of Christ? We explore this possibility in our bonus episode!

As Elijah is taken to heaven, Elisha is annointed by God to continue his prophetic work. These prophets were sent as faithful witnesses to unbelieving Isreal. We are encouraged by them when we find ourselves living in evil and wicked times.

Ahab goes into battle with Jehosophat, King of Judah, against his nemesis, the King of Syria. He disguised himself as a random soldier, thinking he could outwit his own demise, which God had prophecied. Instead, he is killed, and God's judgment is executed.

Immediately following the Last Supper, the disciples begin bickering about who's the greatest. Jesus responds by explaining that honor and greatness are found in service. We, who are exalted by His service, will find our own honor in serving others.

Ahab's greatest victory and great folly are on display in this episode. God grants him repeated victory over the much stronger king of Syria. But then his wife orders the execution of the righteous man Naboth, so that Ahab can have his vineyard. God can not tolerate such wickedness forever!

God meets the prophet Elijah at his darkest hour. The despairing and despondent prophet is encouraged by a face-to-face encounter with the Lord, where God appears to him in a low, still whisper. God promises to send waves of helpers to finish the work that Elijah has begun. Elijah leaves the mountain of the Lord with new zeal for ministry and prepared for the rest of his life's work.

Jesus warns His disciples not to fall to the temptations of depression, drunkeness and distraction. Soon, He will be taken from them, and His work will be handed over to them. If they are to serve Him well, they must keep their eye on the prize of sharing Him and His love with others.

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This great chapter of the Bible tells us a wonderful story of a single faithful prophet dueling with 450 false prophets. Elijah demonstrated that the God of Israel is the one true God, and He is above all others. We rejoice in this victory, even though we find ourselves often struggling against seemingly impossible odds, because it reminds us of God's mighty power to save.

In this one chapter we see the prophe, Elijah perform three different types of miracles that are mighty types of Christ from the Old Testament. He demonstrates God's power over nature, God's ability to perform a miraculous feeding, and even the ability to raise the dead to life in this chapter. We see you mighty previews of the work that Jesus is going to do as the Christ. As people who live in trying times, we are reminded that God's power is at work even when everything seems to be going off the rails.

A widow, and a warning about the Temple, teach us what's truly important. The reality is that we can't see as God sees. Yet He gives us faith to know that what often seems insignificant to us is counted as most significant to God.

The length of Asa, king of Judah's reign was longer than six evil kings of Israel. Each king of Israel saw an untimely death because he was wicked. Here we see that there are earthly rewards for righteousness, and that godly kings and leaders are a blessing to their subjects and constituents.

Jeroboam's life's work was to lead God's people away from the Lord. Even when he saw miracles performed by God's prophets, and felt the sting of Gd's wrath in his own flesh, he would not listen. For his sin, his days were made very difficult by the God who can not prosper evil.

The things that limit or separate us are overcome in God. This is made blatantly clear to the Sadducees, when Jesus taught them the reality of everlasting life. Equipped with God's eternal perspective, we have hope in the resurrection and reunion with those that we love, regardless of what separates us, because, in Christ Jesus, we are united with God and one another, now and forever.

Solomon, wise as he was, had a chronic weakness for beautiful women. His inattention led the country to fall apart under his watch. Rehoboam perpetuated the decline of the nation by expecting the people to serve him, instead of working to earn their respect. We can learn important lessons in life and leadership from both.

We hear of the great extent of Solomon's wealth, which was so great, the great Queen of Africa came to visit. She was left breathless at Solomon's riches. We learn from Solomon that true wealth is not measured in silver and gold, but rather faith, wisdom and relationships.

When we put anything other than truth and righteousness first, we can quickly fall into playing politics. Jesus' enemies resorted to political claims. When their cause was unjust, they tried to win in the court of public opinion, even though they couldn't outsmart Him. Here we learn important lessons about winning for the sake of winning, even when winning, we may be losing.

Solomon's house gets twelve verses of attention, but the building of the Lord's House receives four chapters of attention. This affirms the importance of the Temple for God's people, and how important it was as Solomon's legacy.

We marvel at the technology and workmanship used to build the Lord's Temple. Solomon dedicated nearly the first quarter of his reign to its construction. Beautiful though it was, it was but a foreshadowing of God's plan to dwell with His people, not it a building, but in the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ.

When Jesus wept over Jerusalem, He wept not for Himself, but for all those who would reject Him. By rejecting Him, they rejected the Lord's gift of life and forgiveness.

Solomon was blessed by the Lord with both wisdom and honor. As long as Solomon honored the Lord with these gifts, the Lord promised to prosper him and his descendants. Solomon's blessing gives us a chance to reflect on the relationship between faith and the rewards for righteous living.