Saul Reads the Bible

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: 2 Kings 5:1-6:7
Poetry/Prophecy: Ezekiel 23:36-23:49
New Testament: Colossians 3:1-3:25

In 2 Kings, we read of Elisha’s healing of Naaman, the commander of the army of the King of Syria. He is thankful to God and to Elisha, and offers him gifts. Elisha refuses, but Elisha’s servant Gehazi goes behind Elisha’s back and accepts some of [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: 2 Kings 4:1-4:44
Poetry/Prophecy: Ezekiel 23:22-23:35
New Testament: Colossians 2:1-2:23

In 2 Kings, we read about some of Elisha’s miracles performed on behalf of several everyday people.

In Ezekiel, we read more about the fate of Judah: to suffer for her spiritual adultery at the very hands of her ex-lovers.

In Colossians, Paul continues to talk about the deity of [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: 2 Kings 3:1-3:27
Poetry/Prophecy: Ezekiel 23:1-23:21
New Testament: Colossians 1:1-1:29

In 2 Kings, King Jehoram of Israel enlists the help of King Jehoshaphat of Judah and the king of Edom in attacking the Moabites. God saves them in the desert by giving them water when they need it, and gives this alliance a great victory in battle [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: 2 Kings 2:1-2:25
Poetry/Prophecy: Ezekiel 22:1-22:31
New Testament: Philippians 4:1-4:23

In 2 Kings, the mantle passes from Elijah to Elisha. Elijah is taken up into heaven, and Elisha receives a double portion of his spirit. Elisha immediately uses this new-found power in three instances.

In Ezekiel, God recounts the abominable acts of the “bloody city” (Jerusalem), and [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: 2 Kings 1:1-1:18
Poetry/Prophecy: Ezekiel 21:1-21:32
New Testament: Philippians 3:1-3:21

Today in the Old Testament, we begin the book of 2 Kings, which is simply a continuation of 1 Kings. (In fact, the two were originally a single book.) Ahab’s son Ahaziah is injured in an unfortunate accident, and seeks a prediction from the god of [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: 1 Kings 22:11-22:53
Poetry/Prophecy: Ezekiel 20:39-20:49
New Testament: Philippians 2:1-2:30

In 1 Kings, King Ahab presses Micaiah for the truth, but then chooses to press on with his attack at Ramoth Gilead despite Micaiah’s grim prophecy. Ahab dies, and his son Ahaziah takes over as king of Israel. Jehoshaphat dies, and his son Jehoram takes over [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: 1 Kings 21:17-22:10
Poetry/Prophecy: Ezekiel 20:19-20:38
New Testament: Philippians 1:1-1:30

In 1 Kings, Elijah confronts King Ahab over the murder of Naboth and, amazingly, Ahab shows remorse. After that, Ahab allies with King Jehoshaphat of Judah to go to war with Syria in order to reclaim Ramoth Gilead for Israel. They send for a prophet of [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: 1 Kings 20:26-21:16
Poetry/Prophecy: Ezekiel 20:1-20:18
New Testament: Ephesians 6:1-6:24

In 1 Kings, King Ahab is again delivered by God from the hands of the Syrians. However, Ahab releases and makes a treaty with the Syrian king, in opposition to God’s wishes. In the aftermath of all this, Ahab’s wife Jezebel has the owner of a [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: 1 Kings 20:1-20:25
Poetry/Prophecy: Ezekiel 18:23-19:14
New Testament: Ephesians 5:1-5:33

In 1 Kings, God shows up to deliver King Ahab of Israel from King Ben Hadad of Syria. The Syrian army is routed, but King Ben Hadad’s advisers convince him that his army was defeated only because the fight took place in the mountains, and the God [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: 1 Kings 18:41-19:21
Poetry/Prophecy: Ezekiel 18:1-18:22
New Testament: Ephesians 4:1-4:32

In 1 Kings, God ends the famine with a massive downpour. However, after being threatened by Jezebel, Elijah finds himself feeling discouraged. God appears to Elijah as a soft whisper to encourage him and to give him his marching orders, including appointing Elisha as his successor.

In [...]