We will continue our reading in the books of Kings. I hope you are trying to keep track of the various kings and who was bad and who was good. Isn't it amazing that God's promises and word where even able to be preserved through out time as so many of the people didn't value God's word the way it should have been. God's Word is truly a miracle and gift to us. It is only through an Almighty God that it could be preserved!
God is very honest with the condition of man, as we see in the recording of these events! I hope you feel as blessed as I do that God really uses very real, ordinary, and sinful people. He continues to work in people to preserve his salvation promises and have a relationship with us.
I am not sure I can say, "Enjoy your reading" because much of it is difficult to read about. I pray you will see God and his grace, love, mercy, and justice in this dealing with his people.
WEEK 23 FOR THE WB:DAY ONE, JUNE 4 - II KINGS 6-8
Chapter 6
Describe the miracle.
Why do you think that miracle was allowed to happen? What does it show about God?
What happens every time the King of Aram tries to attack Israel?
What does Elisha know that the others don't?
How does verse 16 encourage you today and how is that still true today?
What happens to Samaria?
Who gets blamed for this famine?
How do we try to blame others for our troubles?
Chapter 7
What does Elisha prophesy about the next day?
What do the Lepers find when they get to the Aramean camp and why?
How is Elisha's prophecy fulfilled?
When God says somethings does it ever not come true?
Chapter 8
How does God again provide for the Shunem woman?
How does God provide for you over and over again?
Describe the conditions in Judah, Israel, and Aram?
How did this evil family influences affect both Judah and Israel?
How important is it for you to be making good choices in dating, marriage, and praying for the right spouses for your friends and family?
DAY TWO, JUNE 5 - II KINGS 9-10
Chapter 9
What does God tell Elisha to do?
Why is it important in light of all the evil going on in Judah and Israel, that Ahab's family is wiped out?
What evil do you need to get rid of in your life?
How does the death of all Ahab's descendants, both in Judah and Israel, fulfill prophecy?
NOTE: These passages are so graphic and disguising to read. Evil is NEVER pleasant to look at. The results are NEVER nice, even if they start out feeling and looking good. How do you think the sin in your life looks?
Chapter 10
Do you think Jehu was good or evil?
How was he still used by God?
How was Israel being affected according to verse 32?
DAY THREE, JUNE 6 - II KINGS 11-12
Chapter 11
What relative of Ahaziah was hidden and who ruled in his place for six years?
What did the priest Jehoiada do?
How is Jehoiada a positive influence on the king and the people?
How can you as one person make a difference?
How old was Joash when he began to reign?
Is there any age limit for being a leader for God?
Chapter 12
According to verse 2 what kind of a king was Joash?
Is there a person in your life who is a strong positive influence?
Are you learning to make good choices on your own or do you still need to help of others?
What are you doing to make sure you are able to remain on the right path?
What does Joash do to the temple?
How does this show honor to God?
How are you honoring God in your life?
DAY FOUR, JUNE 7 - II KINGS 13-15
Chapter 13
What kind of a king was Jehoahaz of Israel?
How does God treat Israel due to her sin?
Who was the next king of Israel?
Are you making a list of the kings of Judah and Israel? How many of them are good and how many of them are bad?
According to verse 23 why is God still showing some compassion and patience with Israel?
What can we learn about God in this account?
Chapter 14
Who is the king of Judah at the beginning of this chapter?
Why wasn't he as brutal as some in revenging his father's death according to verse 6?
How does Johoash dishonor God in his fight with Judah?
How old was Azariah when he became king? Remember that until next chapter.
How do we see God's mercy toward Israel during the life of Jeroboam II?
What does that tell us about God?
Chapter 15
What kind of a king was Azariah?
Does God give room for adolescent rebellion?
Why do you think Azariah might have had leprosy?
What family line does the reign of Zechariah put an end to?
How is that a fulfillment of prophecy?
Describe the rest of the kings of Israel recorded in this chapter.
Describe the kings of Judah recorded in this chapter.
DAY FIVE, JUNE 8 - II KINGS 16-17
Chapter 16
Describe Ahaz, king of Judah.
How does Ahaz bring many wicked practices into Judah?
Chapter 17
Who was the last king of Israel?
What happened to Israel?
Why did this happen?
Did God do this suddenly and without warning or with great patience and direction?
What does this say about God?
What becomes of Samaria?
What is the style of worship in Samaria?
Remember what you have read in the NT, how do the Jews (the people of Judah) feel about Samaritians?
Does this help you understand some of the events in the NT?
DAY SIX, JUNE 9 - II KINGS 18-20
Chapter 18
What was King Hezekiah of Judah like?
What was the king's relationship like with God?
How would your relationship with God be described?
Compare and contrast the kings of Judah and the kings of Israel up to this point.
How does Sennacherib try to intimidate Jerusalem and get the people to turn against God and Hezekiah?
How do the people respond to Sennacherib?
Chapter 19
Where does Hezekiah turn for help?
What does Hezekiah do with the letter from Sennacherib?
What do you do with malicious letters and gossip you receive from others?
Do you try and get back at others or do you leave the matter in God's hands?
What hope and promise does God give to Hezekiah?
How does God protect Jerusalem and destroy her enemies?
How have you seen God's hand of hope, promise, and protection in your life?
Chapter 20
What happens to Hezekiah?
Where does he turn again in his sickness?
How does God respond?
How have you felt God's healing hand in your life?
What foolishness did Hezekiah do with the messengers from Babylon?
How have you left the "door open for the enemy" in your life?
DAY SEVEN, JUNE 10 - II KINGS 21-23
Chapter 21
What was Manasseh like?
What does God say he will do to Judah because of Manasseh?
In what things are you a leader?
How is your leadership affecting others?
What kind of a king was Amon?
Chapter 22
What was the king Josiah like?
What was found during his reign?
What his Josiah's reaction to hear the words of the Book?
What is your reaction when you read God's words in the Bible?
What is God justice seen here and what is his mercy?
Chapter 23
How does Josiah influence the people toward God?
How do the people respond?
How does Josiah clean up the Temple and the land?
What do you need to clean up in your worship of God?
What celebration was reestablished?
What celebration of God's goodness do you need to practice again?
Was all that Josiah had done enough to change God's mind against is anger toward the long time sins of Manasseh and the people of Judah?
What were the next two king of Judah like?
| DAY ONE | June-4 | I CORINTHIANS 3 |
| DAY TWO | June-5 | I CORINTHIANS 4 |
| DAY THREE | June-6 | I CORINTHIANS 5 |
| DAY FOUR | June-7 | I CORINTHIANS 6 |
| DAY FIVE | June-8 | I CORINTHIANS 7 |
| DAY SIX | June-9 | I CORINTHIANS 8 |
| DAY SEVEN | June-10 | I CORINTHIANS 9 |
Always begin your time of God with prayer. Ask him for understanding and insights. You can pick out a verse, thought or feeling from the passage and think on it (mediate) on it all day. Meditating on God's word means to digest it, put it into your mind, think on it, and concentrate in different ways on the passage.
Some ways you can do this is:
1. Put yourself into the scene.
2. Emphasize different words in the verse.
3. Paraphrase the passage in your own words.
4. Pray the passage back to God if it is a prayer, song, poem, etc (personalize it).
5. Use SPACE PETS acrostic to ask some standard questions.
S - Sins to confess? Do I need to make restitution?
P - Promises to claim? Have I met the conditions(s)?
A - Attitudes to change? Am I willing?
C - Commands to obey? Even if I don't feel like it?
E - Examples to follow? One to copy or avoid?
P - Prayers to pray? Is there something I need to tell God?
E - Errors to avoid?
T - Truths about God or the Bible I need to believe?
Adapted from 12 Dynamic Bible Study Methods (Chapter 1) by Richard Warren and William A. Shell.