Read Zephaniah 3:14–20

The forest fires raging in California and Western Canada have caused an incredible amount of devastation. Homes have been destroyed, communities erased, and lives lost. Many wonder if things will ever return to normal. After returning from the exile, life in Judah was not the same as it used to be. The Jewish people returned to a land devastated by war. No longer an independent nation with their own king, they had become a province in the mighty Persian Empire.

Into such discouraging circumstances God sent the prophet Zephaniah with a message of hope. God had not abandoned His people (v. 17). While their situation might have given them the impression that they were alone, the reality was that God was with them as He always had been. God was a mighty warrior, intent on saving them (v. 17). This portrait of God was designed to encourage them to have hope for the future.

After decades in exile, followed by decades of malaise, the Jewish people needed hope that God’s wrath could be assuaged, and that they would see the other side of Him again. He declares in Zephaniah that the time for rebuke is over. Instead, He will respond to them with delight and singing (v. 17). More than that, He will undo the effects of their sin. Oppressors who had been sent to afflict them will be removed (v. 19). The lame and exiled who find themselves helpless will be rescued and brought home to a hero’s welcome!

God will return things better than they were before. After enduring the punishment for their covenant violations, Israel could rest in the knowledge that their God had never abandoned them, and that He was a God who restores.

Go Deeper

Are you tempted to give up on God because you have endured a difficult season? Recall all that He has done for you in Christ to restore you to Himself. Read Zephaniah’s message of hope and remember that God loves and cares for you as well. Extended Reading: 

Zephaniah 3

Pray with Us

Lord, the message of Zephaniah fills us with joy: You respond to Your people with delight and singing. Thank You for the hope and assurance that we need today as much as did Your people in Zephaniah’s time.

At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home.Zephaniah 3:20

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Read Nahum 1:1–15

Revenge is a dish best served cold, or so we are told. But as people committed to the Bible, we are commanded not to take revenge. We are told to love our enemy, not plot his downfall. Yet if you have ever suffered an injustice, you know the feelings that can bubble up in your heart. If I don’t take care of this, who will? If I don’t take care of this, they might get away with it. Is there anyone you can turn to who will take care of things for you?

In biblical times, Assyria was a world power that excelled at cruelty. From one of their principal cities, Nineveh, this empire ran roughshod over the ancient Near East. In his providence, God used this nation to chastise His people. But the Assyrians took delight in their cruelty and took credit for their own success (Isa. 10:10–11), so God decided to defend His people. The judgments described here are severe: Their allies would abandon them, they would be childless, their precious idols and temples would be destroyed (Nah. 1:14).

This would have been a cause for rejoicing among Israelites. God promised to defend them when their enemies attacked. He had done so in the past, but with the arrival of Nineveh they might have wondered if He would do so again. The prophet declares that He would (v. 12). This was a joyous word from the Lord. Nahum calls it “good news” (v. 15). Their enemy would be totally and triumphantly defeated.

Rejoicing at the downfall of an invader is understandable, but how can it be squared with exhortations to avoid revenge? Nahum provides the answer. Because God is fully capable of judging with perfect righteous judgment, His people can leave that difficult work to Him.

Go Deeper

Have you been wounded and are struggling with a desire for revenge? What does Nahum teach us to do with those emotions? Extended Reading: 

Nahum

;

Habakkuk 1

Pray with Us

In our flesh we crave revenge on our enemies, on those who hurt us. Holy Spirit, encourage us with Nahum’s “good news” that it’s God who fights for us as our defender from any evil.

The LORD is slow to anger but great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished.Nahum 1:3

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Read Jonah 3:1–10

For a number of years, my father, a pastor in Brooklyn, New York, volunteered with a second chance program. Young men and women who had early encounters with the legal system were given a chance to have their records expunged in exchange for community service. They were given a second chance for a purpose.

God gave both Jonah and the people of Nineveh second chances as well. Most of us are familiar with Jonah’s story. After God told the prophet to go to the city of Nineveh, Jonah fled in the opposite direction. The Lord disciplined the prophet with unusual means, and Jonah spent a few nights in a watery jail cell before he was released on parole (read Jonah 1–2).

In chapter 3, we see God return to Jonah a second time with a mission (3:1). God once again told Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh, calling them to repent. Again, Jonah was resistant. Why did he resist? Was it fear? Was it bitterness? As an Israelite who had suffered at the hands of Nineveh, he preferred to avoid this calling.

Thankfully, God didn’t leave the outcome in Jonah’s hands. It was God’s message and His heart on display, as He called a second time for Jonah to deliver this message! We learn that the “Ninevites believed God” (v. 5). Their turnaround was so complete that “a fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth” (v. 5). God had saved Jonah for a reason, and this time the prophet obeyed. “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened” (v. 10).

Go Deeper

God has redeemed you for a purpose, too. Have you resisted His call in your life? Have you noticed that His call to service will not go away? Consider what mission God has for you! Extended Reading: 

Jonah 1-3

Pray with Us

Dear God, thank You for the assurance that You redeemed us for a purpose. You called us to Yourself out of our wanderings in hopelessness. Help us to discern and follow Your call on our lives.

When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented.Jonah 3:10

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Read Amos 5:4–15

I lived in eastern Iowa for a decade. Every Wednesday a tornado warning siren would blare over the air. My family and I quickly learned that this was only a test, and we grew to ignore them. But occasionally the siren would blare at a different time, and we would scramble to the basement in haste. The siren was calling us to take immediate action so we would live!

The prophets of Israel are often characterized as full of judgment and destruction. But we can also look at them as God’s warning sirens. During the days of Amos, Israel was not living according to the covenant, so God sent the prophet with a warning. “Seek me and live; do not seek Bethel” (v. 4). By inviting the people to seek Him, God was sounding the alarm.

This alarm also warned them where not to go. Bethel was an infamous city in Israel. Generations before, a king named Jeroboam had built a temple to a false god there (1 Kings 12:29). As a result, he led the nation into idolatrous worship and away from the Lord. Years later, Bethel continued to be a place where people went to sacrifice and pray to a pagan deity. Like a family fleeing from a tornado to the second story of their home, Israel was turning to false gods for help. They needed to be told where to go, but they also needed to be told where not to go! The other cities, Gilgal and Beersheba, also had associations with wickedness.

Far more than just judgment and destruction, the prophet Amos was calling Israel to change their ways while there was still time. Eventually God would lose patience, but until that moment there was a chance to escape punishment. All they needed to do was seek Him, and they would live.

Go Deeper

Are you hearing sirens going off in your spiritual life? What is God warning you to do or not to do? Extended Reading: 

Amos 5

,

Obadiah

Pray with Us

Father in heaven, thank You for Your prophets who spoke Your word in a mighty way. Today, we are called to seek You and live. It is a comfort to know that Your Son Jesus opened for us the way to You and gave us eternal life.

Seek good, not evil, that you may live.Amos 5:14

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Read Joel 2:12–27

It is possible to settle a lawsuit without admitting guilt. Sometimes the cost of the legal proceedings is so high that an accused person may just settle the case with a fine, while never actually admitting they are guilty. While our legal system allows this procedure, it would be hard to say the person who paid the fine actually repented.

A survey of Israel’s history could lead one to believe that the nation had been paying fines, but never really admitting they did anything wrong. They seemed to commit the same sins over and over again. Idolatry, abusing the poor, and taking advantage of foreigners all appeared on their rap sheet since the book of Exodus. Even though God had called them to repent more times than we can count, they had not done so with their whole hearts.

The prophet Joel describes what true repentance looks like. He uses an ancient image for expressing distress: tearing a garment a person is wearing. Generally tearing a garment will ruin it, so this act was reserved for expressing the deepest of distress. But tearing a garment could also be done for show. Here the prophet invites his audience to an even greater level of commitment: rending or tearing their hearts (v. 13).

This expression signifies a genuine decision to turn from violating God’s covenant. It is an act that, while it cannot be seen externally, is transformative spiritually. Joel calls his readers to this because, unlike a torn garment, a torn heart will be accepted by God. Joel knew God’s character. Since the days of Mt. Sinai God had consistently reminded Israel that He was unlike any god they had ever encountered (Ex. 34:6). Joel invokes that self-declaration of God here, using it to entice the Israelites to repent.

Go Deeper

What is holding you back from genuine repentance? Are you hoping to escape with a fine, but never admit guilt? What would it look like to rend your heart today? Extended Reading: 

Joel 2

Pray with Us

“Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love” (Joel 2:13). What a powerful message! May we learn the true repentance of the heart.

“Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart.”Joel 2:12

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Read Daniel 2:24–45

Would you want to know the future if you could? Which details would you like to know? Some would like to know the results of the next election, or the price of the Dow Jones Industrial Average on a certain day. But the future is a mystery, inaccessible to all but the God who controls all things. Of course, that doesn’t stop us from wondering, which leads to uncertainty.

God uses His knowledge of the future to make an important point: He can be trusted. God did this during the time of Daniel by giving the king of Babylon a dream he couldn’t understand. Then God gave Daniel the meaning of the dream. The people of Israel had experienced the trauma of military defeat. The nation wondered, does God have a plan for us? Does He have a plan at all? Their reaction reveals typical human uncertainty. So, God took pains to show that He had things under control; He knows the future (Isa. 46:10).

In a series of visions, God revealed the rise and fall of empires in the region. These were significant details which could not be predicted with such specificity by mortals. In doing so He made it clear that He had His hand on world events. The dream was trustworthy and so was the God who revealed it (2:25). In addition, God showed the powerful Babylonian king and the humble prophet how much they didn’t know!

This prophetic dream covered more than just ancient times. It extended to the end of times as well, when God establishes a kingdom that will endure forever. This kingdom, promised to the nation during the days of King David (2 Samuel 7), represents a great victory over Israel’s enemies and the enduring hope of all who trust in God today.

Go Deeper

Do you ever wonder about what’s next? Does it ever cause you to doubt whether God really has things under control? How do these prophetic visions calm your fears? Extended Reading: 

Daniel 1-2

Pray with Us

We are in awe of the vision of the future You revealed to us in the book of Daniel! Lord, You are in control of the rise and fall of empires and of each individual human destiny. It gives us great comfort. Hallelujah!

The God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed.Daniel 2:44

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Read Ezekiel 33:10–15

How do you react to difficult feedback? Do you accept the critique as being for your own good? Or do you write it off, suspecting the messenger of unfair motives? By the time we get to Ezekiel, a lot of hard words have been spoken against Israel. It’s easy to wonder if God had their best interest in mind. The attentive ear will listen to the words of the prophet Ezekiel and hear the note of redemption.

During Ezekiel’s day, the political invasions God promised were starting to become reality. Even so, Israel wasn’t taking the hint. They were asking all the wrong questions. “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live (v. 10)? Facing strong punishment, they wondered how they would ever recover. Like a person facing bankruptcy due to their poor decisions, or a confiscated driver’s license they wondered, How or when will life go back to normal?

Thankfully the Lord presented the answer right away: Turn! This one word sums up the Lord’s purpose in judgment. His goal was to compel His people to turn from their godless behavior and turn to Him, the source of all joy. Today, we might use the word repent to describe a change of mind that leads to a change of action.

God was not judging Israel because He enjoyed it (v. 11). Rather, He was punishing them because He wanted them to live. To really live meant loving Him above all other things (Deut. 6:4). In the New Testament, God makes the same plea. Jesus says, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent” (Rev. 3:19).

Go Deeper

We too need to hear the call to repentance. It doesn’t mean you are not a child of God, it means you still sin and need to change. Pray that the Lord will give you a spirit of repentance to hear, turn, and really live! Extended Reading: 

Ezekiel 33

Pray with Us

Merciful God, give us a spirit of repentance! Teach us to turn away from sin and turn to You with all our worries, hardships, and trials. May we hear Your voice even in the “valley of the shadow of death.”

I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.Ezekiel 33:11

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Read Jeremiah 25:15–32

Who is in charge? Political scientists use the term “anarchy” to describe the way our world operates because no one is in charge to enforce laws or resolve conflicts. Countries act in their own best interest. Given this state of affairs, we might wonder if the buck stops with anyone at all. The prophet Jeremiah reminds us that God is in control of all things, even the movements of countries on the world stage.

In chapter 25, Jeremiah delivers sobering news to the nations (v. 15). God’s wrath is symbolized as a cup of wine which will make them staggering drunk. God lets them know that they will experience war (v. 16). While Jerusalem was due for hard discipline, the nations had worn out God’s patience and He intended to punish them as well (v. 17). This would involve startling geopolitical shifts, causing some empires to rise and others to fall.

The list of nations would have shocked Jeremiah’s audience (vv. 19–25). Israel’s neighbors Egypt, Philistia, Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, Sidon, and more were put on notice! Many of these nations played a negative role in Israel’s politics for centuries. Now God was informing them, through Jeremiah, that they would all be torn down.

For little Israel, an island in a sea of enemies, this might have come as good news. But it was also a reminder that God doesn’t play favorites when it comes to disobedience. They would endure their own judgment (v. 18). It’s easy to look out at the world and declare that God will one day judge the nations, but at times we forget that our own people will fall under judgment if we do not repent. “You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword on all who lives on the earth” (v. 29).

Go Deeper

Are you quick to rejoice when God judges disobedience in other nations? Have you considered that God commands “all people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30)? Extended Reading: 

Jeremiah 25

Pray with Us

Father, may we heed the sobering message of Your “weeping prophet” Jeremiah: You don’t play favorites, and You punish disobedience. Thank You that in Christ, You extend Your love and forgiveness to us.

The LORD will roar from on high; he will thunder from his holy dwelling.Jeremiah 25:30

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Read Song of Songs 2:3–13

Of all emotions, love is the most celebrated in art, literature, and song. There seems to be no end to our appetite for depictions, words or melodies that extol the delights, depths, or devastations of romantic love. Song of Songs describes the love between a man and a woman. In a world that has debased, monetized, and distorted the nature of this relationship, it is a breath of fresh air.

While marriage customs of their day may seem strange to us, we understand the emotion of seeing our beloved from afar. “Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men” (v. 3). Her love stands out among his peers. The passage encourages those who have not tasted love not to get ahead of themselves (v. 7). Love is powerful. In each other’s presence the old has passed away, all things are made new (vv. 11–13).

Are you wondering why this description of romantic love is in the Bible? Consider that after God made Adam, He declared that man shouldn’t be alone (Gen. 2:18). Even the relationship between Christ and the church is described as a marriage (Ephesians 5). Instead of attempting to resolve the tension of this little book by spiritualizing the difficult bits away, we should stop and consider that God gave humans the capacity to experience an emotion as powerful as love. But, like all other emotions, sin has marred love. Our capacity to love can become disordered. Song of Songs shows that this is not what God intended. And the Bible points to the perfect love Christ has for His church, showing us how to love well.

Go Deeper

Are you in a relationship that could be described by the Song of Songs? If so, rejoice. God has given you the capacity to enjoy it. Are you waiting to be in a Song of Songs relationship? Be patient as you trust God to bring you the right one. Extended Reading: 

Song of Songs 1-2

Pray with Us

Even though love is often marred by sin in today’s world, You showed us beautiful love in Song of Songs. Even more, Lord Jesus, You gave us Your perfect, eternal love. Teach us to love You more!

Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away.—Song of Songs 8:7

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Read Proverbs 1:1–7

I serve as president of a small public charity that gives scholarships to undergraduate students. Recently one recipient wrote a letter of thanks, saying: “I am grateful for your investment in my career, and it won’t go to waste.” Then he quoted Proverbs 14:23, “All hard work brings a profit.”

Proverbs and Ecclesiastes are two books of the Bible considered wisdom literature. Both books offer important observations about God and humanity, living with wisdom versus living foolishly. Wisdom can be described as the knowledge it takes to live life skillfully. Having wisdom doesn’t mean you’ll always be profitable, but it does mean that you’ll be able to navigate your way through life’s various situations.

The foundation of wisdom is learning to respect the Lord. Proverbs describes this as the fear of the Lord (v. 7). The phrase does not mean being terrified of God. Rather it means having respect for Him and His ways. Ecclesiastes ties this to obeying God’s commandments (Eccl. 12:13). Neither the Proverbs nor Ecclesiastes make promises the way promises are typically understood. Both agree that failure, difficulty, and frustration are part of the human condition. Wisdom literature does remind us that, in the end, we answer to a God who does not always tell us why He does what He does.

In life, we may work very hard at something and still fail. That does not negate the biblical principle that hard work is good. It also does not negate that in a sinful world hard work does not always produce the fruit we want. Wisdom stands as the bedrock foundation of our confidence. We are to fear the Lord above all else and trust that He alone controls the results of your labor.

Go Deeper

Do you feel like you bear the responsibility for the results of your work? Have you considered that your toiling and striving may be more about yourself than about honoring God? Extended Reading: 

Proverbs 1-2

Pray with Us

Lord, thank You for the important principles You revealed in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. We ask for Your wisdom and knowledge. May we trust You, even when we don’t understand Your ways.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.Proverbs 1:7

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Read Job 1:1–22

Have you ever questioned God? When something terrible happens to us, we may wonder if we can ask God hard questions. The short answer is, yes. But we also don’t want to cross into sinfully accusing God. We must ask, Is my question a real question or an accusation? Has God already given me an answer that I just don’t like, or am I genuinely confused about what He is doing?

The first chapter of Job is a case study in tragedy. Job had lost everything: children, wealth, property, status. Yet, Job was known to be a man of God, blameless and upright (Job 1:1). The question is one we all face, why do bad things happen to people who love and follow God?

Job was experiencing unbelievable suffering. But his first step took him to the feet of God. In an attitude of worship, Job reminded himself of two things he knew to be true: people arrived into the world without anything, and they leave without anything (v. 21). Furthermore, God can give blessings and take them away: “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” (v. 21).

Note that Job did not accuse God of maliciousness. However, he did express anger at God. He did not withdraw from God because he lost trust in Him. Instead, he took a step closer to the One who controls all things. In this, Job showed us how to suffer. There is little value in charging God with wrongdoing when we face difficulty. Like Job, we don’t have all the facts (Job 42:1–3). However, we should lament to the One who holds the answers, the One who controls all things.

Go Deeper

Are you facing a difficult situation? Have you considered the relative weakness of your power when compared to God’s? While you may not understand what He is doing, that doesn’t change His position or love for you. Extended Reading: 

Job 1-2

Pray with Us

Lord, how do we go through the inevitable suffering of this life? In the book of Job, You showed us how. Despite all his trials, anger, and confusion, Job didn’t sin against You. Thank You for Job’s honesty and faith!

In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.Job 1:22

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Read Esther 4:9–17

While a large contingent of Jewish people returned to their homeland, many remained in exile where the kings of Babylon and Persia had taken them. Some exiles rose to positions of authority and power and made lives for themselves in foreign lands. Most importantly, they remained committed to the God of Israel. They refused to give in to the practices and customs of the people among whom they lived, even when it meant persecution.

Esther was one individual who faced persecution. Married against her will to the king of Persia, she found herself in a position of dubious influence. Her people were under threat of annihilation, and she was the only one who could do something about it by speaking to the king about the matter in an official capacity.

Esther knew that approaching the king brought great risk; she could be killed for breach of protocol (v. 11). But she had great faith, believing that the God of Israel was not bound by borders, procedure, or protocol! Gathering the Jewish community in Susa she invited them to fast, which often was accompanied by prayer. She would entrust herself to God as she took a risk for His people. Her declaration, “If I perish, I perish” (v. 16), should not be interpreted as a nihilistic expression of defeat. Rather, it was an expression of faith that, having done all she could, she was now entrusting herself to her God who controls all things.

Esther’s commitment was rewarded. The king looked upon her with favor and granted her requests. God delivered the Jewish community from certain death and destroyed their enemies in dramatic fashion. “For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor…and many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them” (8:16–17).

Go Deeper

What can we learn from Esther? How can you apply her courage and act of faith to a difficult situation you are facing? Extended Reading: 

Esther 4-5

Pray with Us

Holy God, May Esther’s courage and faith inspire us to be brave and faithful through all the twists and turns of our destiny. Teach us to walk worthy of Your kingdom!

I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.Esther 4:16

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Read Nehemiah 2:1–20

What kind of work is most valuable in the eyes of God? Some people think that the kind of work God most values is ministry. That assumption can leave many with the sense that the work they do every day has little value beyond a paycheck. Are those in ministry the only ones storing up treasure in heaven? Nehemiah suggests that is not the truth.

While Ezra returned and set his focus on restoring obedience to the Law in Israel, Nehemiah faced a different problem. A high-ranking official in the court of Persian king Artaxerxes, Nehemiah was in a key position of influence (Neh. 1:11). So, when he received a report that Jerusalem was defenseless and in a state of disrepair, he sprang into action. “I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem” (v. 12). Nehemiah did not make a distinction between spiritual and earthly work. He understood that work can be spiritual when the motive is right.

Nehemiah recognized that he had a promise from the Lord that he could claim. God promised He would send Israel into exile if they disobeyed Him, but He also promised to bring them back and restore them to their place if they repented (Neh. 1:9). Israel was back in the land, but it didn’t appear they would thrive because a city without walls is vulnerable. So, the official prayed for favor with the king to start a construction project! He then relocated to Israel to oversee the work. Some might consider this kind of work of lesser value than more spiritual work, but that’s not how God saw it. When the king granted his request, Nehemiah noted it was “because the gracious hand of my God was on me” (v. 8).

Go Deeper

Do you ever wonder about the value your work has to God? Why was Nehemiah’s work so significant? How did he honor God with his efforts? Extended Reading: 

Nehemiah 2-4

Pray with Us

Father God, help us to discern and then follow Your plan and purpose for our lives, not our own ambitions. Teach us to always seek You in our journey on this earth.

The gracious hand of my God was on me.Nehemiah 2:8

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Read Ezra 7:1–10

In the classic film The Princess Bride, the swashbuckling Inigo Montoya tries to restart his life after the failed kidnapping of Princess Buttercup. “When the job went wrong, you went back to the beginning,” he reminded his leader. Israel went wrong and they ended up in exile. In the book of Ezra, the people could return! But after 70 years, what kind of nation would they build? Ezra, a teacher who returned with the nation, showed them the way. They needed to go back to basics.

Ezra understood that if they were going to rebuild their nation in a way that would honor God, they needed to know and obey the Law of God. For the nation of Israel, the beginning started with the Law of Moses. Centuries before, God had made a covenant with Israel. That covenant included many things they needed to obey. Now given a second chance, Ezra made it his aim to set the nation on the right footing. He was a man who “devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel (v. 10).

Although Israel had endured seventy years of exile, Ezra understood that God had not changed. Therefore, those who wanted to be in a right relationship with Him needed to return to His word.

Centuries have come and gone since Jesus Christ walked this earth and proclaimed the good news of salvation. If people today want to build, or rebuild, their lives in a way that pleases God, they need to return to the simple message that Jesus proclaimed from the beginning: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matt. 3:2). There is no need to search for a new message, go back to the beginning.

Go Deeper

What basics did you understand when you first became a Christian? What might you need to return to today? Extended Reading: 

Ezra 5-7

Pray with Us

Father, show us what lessons we need to learn from the book of Ezra. May we follow Ezra’s example of coming back to You and Your Word. May we learn from this godly leader how to serve You with diligence!

Whatever the God of heaven has prescribed, let it be done with diligence.Ezra 7:23

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Read 2 Chronicles 36:15–23

If you own stock in a company, you are keenly aware of one thing: If the company goes out of business, your dividends disappear. You can’t expect to be paid when the company that is supposed to pay you no longer exists!

God made promises of forgiveness to Israel, but at the end of 1 and 2 Kings the nation was in exile. Had God gone out of business? What happened to the promises He made? The books of 1 and 2 Chronicles retell the story of God’s people in light of their return from exile. More than a repetition of 1 and 2 Kings, Chronicles allows us to re-read this part of their story with the knowledge that God brought them back, just as He promised. These books show that God planned to save enough Israelites who would return and reconstitute the nation decades after they went to Babylon. In His wisdom, He coordinated the collapse of the Babylonian empire (Jer. 25:11–12), and orchestrated the rise of Cyrus, king of Persia (Isa. 44:28). It was God’s plan all along, and He was faithful to complete it.

But more important than this change in their physical circumstances was a change in their spiritual condition. God used the exile to lead Israel back to Himself for forgiveness. Their restoration to the land would coincide with their restoration to faithfulness, and it started with the rebuilding of the House of the Lord (2 Chron. 36:23). The Temple was the focus of Israelite worship. It was the place where God promised to meet His people, receive their sacrifices, and forgive their sins! In raising up Cyrus to rebuild the Temple, God began with what mattered most: returning His people to Himself. Solomon’s prayer (2 Chron. 7:14) anticipated that Israel would always find their God in business, ready to forgive them when they turned to Him.

Go Deeper

Are you having a difficult time accepting God’s forgiveness? Turn to promises He made to His people and remind yourself that He has a plan. In Christ He has forgiven you! Extended Reading: 

2 Chronicles 36

Pray with Us

King Jesus, we pray that Your wonderful promises of forgiveness and restoration will spur us to seek a closer communion with You. Our hearts are full of gratitude. Thank You for Your salvation!

I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin.2 Chronicles 7:14

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Read 1 Kings 14:7–16

When experiments go wrong, it can be an opportunity for learning. Thomas Edison famously quipped, “I have not failed. I’ve found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” But when a failed experiment doesn’t provoke change, there is no progress. We must learn from our mistakes, or we will repeat them.

Israel had received the king they desired. They followed the example of the nations around them, raising up leaders that valued power, wealth, and influence. But God desired a different kind of kingship, one that valued obedience, righteousness, and humility.

Time and time again, the nation followed leaders who chose a worldly path and led the nation away from God. Jeroboam, the first king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, set the standard for wickedness. He was given his throne by God, yet when he came to power he quickly gave in to ungodly fear and set up idols to worship, and the nation followed him (v. 9)!

The kings of Israel, like the judges, were supposed to lead the nation closer to the Lord. Instead, Jeroboam led them astray. Judgment came swiftly, “You have aroused my anger and turned your back on me,” God said. He declared that the nation would go into exile for what Jeroboam did (v. 15).

One would expect the nation to learn from this disastrous experiment and turn to God in repentance and righteousness, but they did not. The rest of the books of 1 and 2 Kings detail the repeated failures of Israel leaders and the failure of the people to reject wicked leadership. What would come of the promise to Abraham to bless the nation? Could there ever be a king who could lead the nation like David did? The failures of kingship created an expectation for the one King who would light the world.

Go Deeper

Why do we often repeat the same sinful behaviors over and over? What can we learn from today’s reading that might help us learn and improve? Extended Reading: 

1 Kings 14

Pray with Us

As we read about the failed leadership of Israel’s kings in 1 and 2 Kings, we long even more for the true King, the Savior, the Light of the world. Come, Lord Jesus!

You have done more evil than all who lived before you.1 Kings 14:9

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Read Judges 2:10–23

Experts in financial investing understand that investor memory is not to be relied upon. Investors tend to downplay or even forget downturns in the market and remember very clearly the upswings with exciting returns. We tend not to learn from the pain. The book of Judges can feel a lot like those financial markets. The nation swung from times of obedience and victory to times of disobedience and suffering. Their situation reflected the forgetfulness of people and their need for a strong, godly leader. They didn’t learn from the pain; someone would have to guide them.

When Joshua died, no national leader emerged to shepherd the nation, and they lost spiritual momentum. They failed to drive the Canaanites out and instead became like them! God disciplined Israel by empowering their enemies. The discipline had its intended effect; the people turned to God and begged for help. God raised up judges, who led them to victory and a time of righteousness (v. 16). But when the judge died, like a forgetful investor, they forgot the bad times and turned from the Lord again and again.

Turning from the Lord meant following other gods, serving and even worshiping them (v. 19). As expected, their disobedience provoked the Lord to anger, and He declared that He would not drive out the Canaanites before them. Instead, they would remain as a test for Israel (v. 22). It was a test they would often fail. But during this difficult time, there were some Israelites who dedicated themselves to obeying the Lord and following His commands. An example is given in the book of Ruth. We are reminded that following God takes sacrificial commitment, and the blessings God showered upon the faithful are worth the sacrifice!

Go Deeper

Have you minimized the effects of sin in your life? Have you forgotten what life apart from God looks like? Take time to remind yourself of your need to remain close to Him. Extended Reading: 

Judges 1-2

Pray with Us

Merciful Father, we receive Your somber warning today about the deadly power of sin in our lives. May we stay close to You and to Your faithful love, we pray.

The LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hands of these raiders.Judges 2:16

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Read Joshua 23:1–16

Think about the last time you completed a significant project. Do you remember the feeling? Do you remember the moments when you almost quit? Do you remember the little victories along the way that kept you going? Finally, you arrived at the finish line!

When Israel crossed the Jordan River into the land God had promised them, they were at the finish line of a journey that had taken 40 years and two generations. But because the land was inhabited, Israel would have to drive out the people who lived there. God was punishing the Canaanites and using Israel to do it. He was making sure the land would be a safe place where His people could thrive.

While the Canaanite coalition had been defeated, many of them remained in the land and represented a significant temptation for Israel. So, with his final words Joshua encouraged the people to remember that God fulfilled everything He promised them (23:14). They should remain loyal to Him with all their hearts!

He warned them against making alliances with the Canaanites who remained (v. 12). These alliances were often sealed with marriages, which meant Israelite families would be merged with Canaanite families. Often this meant that the people of God would worship the gods of the Canaanites. The result of this behavior would be that Israel would not enjoy the land (v. 13).

As the curtain closed on the book of Joshua, the nation stood at a crossroad. Their next steps were critical. Would they follow through on the victories that had brought them control of the land by remaining faithful to God, or would they give in to the temptation and ally themselves with the Canaanites?

Go Deeper

Why was the entry into the promised land such a significant crossroads for Israel? What is the danger for us when we experience victory? How can we avoid letting our guard down at those moments?

Extended Reading

Joshua 21:43

Joshua 23:16

Pray with Us

Almighty God, thank You for the encouragement from Joshua, which resonates in our hearts centuries later: “Not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed” (Joshua 23:14).

Not one of all the LORD’S good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.Joshua 21:45

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Read Deuteronomy 8:1–20

When a child heads off to college it is easy for parents to get anxious. They wonder, is my child ready? Will they succeed? Will the trauma of the teenage years wear off so our relationship can be normal again? Wise parents take time to prepare their child for the big change. As the Book of Deuteronomy opens, Israel is poised to enter the land God had promised them. But the journey had not been easy. What should have been a brief journey took 40 years because of Israel’s disobedience at Kadesh Barnea (see Num. 14:33). Despite this, God had brought them through. As they awaited the command to cross over, God took time to prepare them by reaffirming His covenant with them.

These people were the offspring of the men and women who had met with God at Mt. Sinai (Ex. 20:22). They were too young to understand the special relationship God had with the nation. As they prepared to inherit this land, they needed to be reminded of who they were, who God is, and what He expected of them.

First and foremost, they needed to do carefully what God commanded (8:1). Doing so would enable them to enjoy the land He had promised. To help them obey, God instructed them to remember how He loved them by caring for them in the wilderness (v. 2). Those days were indeed difficult, but God used those trials to train them for their own good (v. 3). He had also provided for them miraculously (v. 4). Even the times of discipline were for their development (v. 5). He concludes by describing the benefits of obedience. They would enjoy a land filled with abundance (v. 9). But they would need to be on guard, for abundance could breed a different kind of unbelief (v. 10)!

Go Deeper

Has abundance or good times ever decreased your dependence on God? Why do you think that happens? How can we remember God during bad times and good?

Pray with Us

We praise You, Lord, for Your love for us, in good times and in times of trials and hardships. Your faithful love endures forever! It accompanied the Israelites in Deuteronomy, and it guides our steps today.

Observe the commands of the LORD your God, walking in obedience to him.Deuteronomy 8:6

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