Jesus taught that all scripture testifies about him so that in him we might have life (John 5v39-40). King David taught that it is only by living according to God's word that we're kept on the right path (Psalm 119v9). What then could be better than reading the entire Bible? Click the menu to read about the program, choose a month or Bible book - or just work through the blog posts day by day.
BEGIN WITH PRAYER
"Lord open my eyes and my heart."
Read
slowly so that you take in. And as you do, turn your heart to God,
thanking him for the good you discover and praying his will home for
you, your family, your church and the world.
Wisdom to chew on
Proverbs 29:20
Proverbs 29:20
Understanding to grow in
Though we may be unfaithful to God, he will not be unfaithful to us. As
with previous kings, Josiah showed himself fallible, foolishly engaging
in
Egypt’s conflict without enquiring of the LORD, blind to the fact that
this was “opposing God.” Yet
this proved God’s means of saving Josiah as promised (34v28), and didn’t
detract from his supremacy as king. The
next three kings did evil, reflecting the decline of the southern
kingdom
as both the monarchy and temple are repeatedly removed. The sin of the
kings and
people is confirmed under Zedekiah. He refused to humble himself before
God’s word, broke his oath in God’s name by rebelling against
Nebuchadnezzar, and would not bow his head or soften his heart to God.
Moreover, the leaders of the priests and people increased in their
unfaithfulness, defiling the temple and mocking God’s prophets who he
sent in
pity. And so God handed the nation over to Nebuchadnezzar, who killed
the
people, including those serving in the sanctuary, plundered and burnt
the
temple, and destroyed Jerusalem’s
wall and palaces. God’s people were
no longer in his place and under his rule. His purpose for them to be a
means by which all nations are blessed (Gen 12v3) therefore
seems thwarted. But the book ends in hope: The note about the land
enjoying its
Sabbath shows God still had plans for it, and was just ensuring Israel’s
failure to obey him was put right. And so, after the seventy years he
specified, God moved Cyrus, the conqueror of Babylon, a pagan king, to
build a
new temple for him at Jerusalem and allow the people to return. God had
not
forgotten his promises to David, Israel or Abraham. His Christ would one
day come. As you read note the symptoms of decline.Finish this reading by pausing to ask yourself:
1) What’s the main thing it teaches me about God or his purposes in Christ? Then praise him for this.
2) What’s the main thing it teaches me about his will for me or the world? Then pray that home.
Devotion to offer up
You could read this aloud and perhaps as a springboard to further prayer.