Today’s readings:
Monday, May 6: 1 Chronicles 15-17

Today, I received this as an email from my Bishop, Daniel Beaudoin. It’s a great summary of what we are reading as we journey through Chronicles, so I though I would share. I hope you enjoy!

As we read through the Old Testament books of 1 and 2 Chronicles, you might find yourself asking, “Didn’t we just read all of this in 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings? Why the need for so much repetition?
The books of 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings tell the five-hundred-year story of Israel’s monarchy from King Saul through the Exile into Babylon. By the time you make it though 2 Kings, you have truly accomplished a marathon of reading. And how do we celebrate? By dutifully reading 1 Chronicles which begins with nine chapters of genealogical lists. 
You might be interested to know that in the Jewish Scriptures 1 and 2 Chronicles do not follow 1 and 2 Kings. In the Jewish Scriptures 1 and 2 Chronicles are placed at the very end. Why? Because that’s where they belong. 1 and 2 Chronicles are not a repeat of 1 and 2 Kings. 1 and 2 Chronicles are a retelling of 1 and 2 Kings from a much later time in Israel’s history.
Many Bible scholars date the writing of 1 and 2 Chronicles between 400 and 300 B.C. God’s people have returned from Exile and are back in the Promised Land. They have rebuilt the Temple and reconstructed the wall around Jerusalem. I cannot emphasize enough the impact the Exile had on God’s people. Like the Exodus out of Egypt, the Exile to Babylon proved a profound event that marked God’s people for centuries afterwards. It caused many of God’s people to ask, “After all that occurred (the destruction of the Temple, the destruction of Jerusalem, the Exile), how do we know that God is still with us?”
As you read through 1 and 2 Chronicles with these new insights, and consider your own community of faith, how might you answer the question, “How do we know that God is still with us?”

  Our next readings:
Tuesday, May 7: 1 Chronicles 18-21
Wednesday, May 8: 1 Chronicles 22-24
Thursday, May 9 1 Chronicles 25-27

The reading for:
Sunday, May 5: 1 Chronicles 12-14

These few chapters of Chronicles revisit the Ark’s trip to Jerusalem. What should have been a day full of celebration turns into a day of fear an trepidation.

• The Ark travels from Hebron.
• One of the oxen stumble.
• Uzzah reaches out to protect the Ark.
• God’s anger burns.
• Uzzah is struck down and dies on the scene.

An unfortunate moment for Uzzah, which turns into a blessing for Obed Edom. Wouldn’t you like to have been him? Wouldn’t you like to have your house blessed to be the home of God’s Holy Covenant? Wouldn’t you love to have the Holy of Holies sit in your midst. Wow! What an honor that must have been. For Obed-Edom, it was an honor, and we are told, his family was “blessed” because of it.

Perhaps, if there is anyone in the Bible that I would like to have been, I believe I might choose Obed-Edom. But then, come to think about it, we already have that same blessing that Obed-Edom once had! Saint Paul writes:

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.
(1 Corinthians 6:19a)

We are a dwelling place for God. We are the house of God’s Spirit freely given to us. We are blessed much like Obed-Edom as we become the home of the Holy of Holies. That is a true blessing.

May you be blessed like Obed-Edom, and may you remember that God’s covenant is written upon your hearts as the Holy Spirit dwells within.

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

  Our next readings:
Monday, May 6: 1 Chronicles 15-17
Tuesday, May 7: 1 Chronicles 18-21
Wednesday, May 8: 1 Chronicles 22-24

The reading for:
Saturday, May 4:
1 Chronicles 9 – 1 Chronicles 11

Well that was short! Our few chapters of Chronicles summarized 1 Samuel chapter 9 through 2 Samuel chapter 5. Talk about short and concise. Made for a pleasant reading through these few chapters especially when compared to all the names we’ve been reading.

To simplify things, our writers have removed the drama and tension between Saul and David. There’s no David and Goliath. There’s no fear and David living on the run. There is little tension. Instead, our story shifts to a bit more positive nature, with the story of the Kings and the blessings that they shared as they lead the nation of Israel.

I honestly can’t say how long that positive nature will continue, after all, we know how the story of the kings comes to an end with sin, greed, and eventual exile. But at least for now, lets enjoy the readings we have as we continue to read on!

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Our next readings:
Sunday, May 5: 1 Chronicles 12-14
Monday, May 6: 1 Chronicles 15-17
Tuesday, May 7: 1 Chronicles 18-21

1 Chronicles 3 – 1 Chronicles 5
1 Chronicles 6
1 Chronicles 7 – 1 Chronicles 8

Name after name after name. By now you are probably tired of reading all the names of Ancient Israel. You might also wonder the point of reading all these names. I realize they aren’t that much fun to read through yet they are part of the story, and the story that is being told is the linage of the coming Messiah. Which means, this is the story of the coming of Christ. Each one of these names lead and point to the one we gather to worship, praise, and adore. For that, each and every one of these names is important. So keep reading, one name at a time.

Also, a bit of encouragement, the story of Chronicles begins soon, so keep reading on.

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Our next readings:
Saturday, May 4: 1 Chronicles 9-11
Sunday, May 5: 1 Chronicles 12-14
Monday, May 6: 1 Chronicles 15-17

1 Chronicles 1 – 1 Chronicles 2

We turn the page again to the 13th book of the Bible, and as we start reading we get name after name, after name. I know these two chapters weren’t the most fun to read. Someone even said, “I’ll join you after you get through Chronicles. I can’t pronounce half the names anyways!” Not sure I’d agree with that approach. Sure the names are different. Someone might say the same 4000 years from now as they look at our names. Yet, they still tell a story, and not just any story, God’s story. Which makes it our story! So I’d encourage you to keep reading on. As we do, here’s a good intro on what to expect as we keep reading through the Chronicles of Ancient Israel:

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Our next reading: 1 Chronicles 3-5

2 Kings 23 – 2 Kings 25

Our story of 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings comes to an unfortunate end. Not long ago Israel was sent into exile by the Assyrians, and today’s reading places Judah into the hands of the Babylonians.

Despite the Josiah. Despite the resurgence in faith. Despite all the good things that seem to be taking place as one false altar after another is torn down and left in shambles. Despite all of that, the inevitable happens . . . the consequence of the peoples unfaithfulness, leads to deportation and exile.

One of thee things that I had forgotten was that a remnant is always left behind for Judah. Under the reign of Jehoiachin, as the people were deported to Babylon, “the poorest of the land” (24:15) were left behind in Jerusalem. Then again under the reign of Zedekiah as Nebuchadnezzar attacked a second time, “the captain of the guard left some of the poorest people of the land to be vinedressers and tillers of the soil” (25:12). Finally, Gedaliah is appointed as “governor over the people who remained in the land of Judah, whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had left” (25:22).

All of this is an interesting feature to take note of. One might ask, why leave the remnant behind? Is this for a faithful rebuilding? I’d like to think so, however the footnote in my Bible does’t leave me too much hope. “After a few months in office he (Gedaliah) is assassinated by Ishmael and ten other men. Many of the remaining people flee to Egypt at this point, taking the prophet Jeremiah with them (Jer. 43-44). ” (Lutheran Study Bible, Augsburg Fortress, p. 636) While I know that God isn’t done with the people, the people see to be done with God or at least Jerusalem and the once Promised Land.

Peace,
Pastor

Our next reading: 1 Chronicles 1-2

Thursday, April 25: 2 Kings 12 – 2 Kings 14
Friday, April 26: 2 Kings 15 – 2 Kings 17
Saturday, April 27: 2 Kings 18 – 2 Kings 19
Sunday, April 28: 2 Kings 20 – 2 Kings 22

Over the past few day’s I’ve enjoyed a long weekend vacation. It’s hard to believe that it’s been since mid October since I last took a Sunday off. Six months is a long time without a break. Honestly, every day I said to myself, “I should blog.” Then I thought it’s okay to step away. I’ve kept up on my reading, still true to that!

So . . . where to start?

I enjoyed a comment by one of my faithful readers, “I can’t wait to be done with the kings.” With warning, we might be close to being done with 2 Kings, but we still have the Book of Chronicles to go. Same story . . . different verse. For all of those times we’ve read “and all the acts of (insert kings name here) are written in the book of Annals” it means there is more to the story, hence the stories of Chronicles.

While we have all that to look forward too, the last half of 2 Kings has brought a steady decline to the story of Israel and Judah. A decline that has ended with the exile of Israel in Chapter 17. No longer are they a great and mighty nation. Now , the sins of king after king, have led to exile at the hand of the Assyrians. What a sad tragedy. One can’t say they weren’t warned. Still sad to see God’s people now exiled (again!)

As we lament over Israel, Judah isn’t fairing much better. It seems for every king who “does right in the eyes of the LORD” another king comes along and “does evil in the eyes of the LORD.” Even for the bloodline of David, things don’t bode so well. Ahaz . . . Menasseh . . . those were some real doozies. Sacrificing their children, building high altars to false gods, and innocent blood shed. What a mess. To right their horrible wrongs, Hezekiah and Josiah provide faithful leadership. In each of their reigns, faithfulness is restored, portions of the Temple rebuilt, and in Josiah’s case the rediscovery of the Book of the Law. I wanted to ask, “how do you loose that?” Even with the occasional resurgence in Judah’s story, the domino’s are already in motion. The exile of Judah won’t be too far behind.

Perhaps like the comment shared by one of my faithful readers, I’ll be glad when this part of the story comes to an end. No one like exile and banishment, yet is it out of the darkest times that we find restoration and hope. Hope that comes only in God!

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Our next reading: 2 Kings 23-25

2 Kings 9 – 2 Kings 11

Jehu is appointed King of Israel!
Jezebel dies after being tossed out of the window!
Two great highlights from our reading today.

As the thrones of both Israel and Judah change hands yet again, we encounter the one time, in the nations split history when the kings were nearly from the same linage and family. Let’s not forget that as Solomon strayed from God’s ways, the kingdom was torn in two and Israel was appointed a king that did not come from the linage of King David.

Yet, when Ahaziah of Judah married Athaliah of Israel, the two nations come close to having leaders from the same family when the next generation takes their respective throne. Now I realize that Joash and Jehu are cousins, but this is about as close as it might get. Granted the nations are still at odds with one another, and Joash is only 7 years old as he takes the throne. Yet, still there is hope, and this odd little “semi-reunion” in the family of Abraham.

Not to make things more complicated, because its complicated enough, but here’s a great diagram on the linage of the kings and how they are/are not related to one another.

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

May 5, 2019

This is a great chance to show your support of our youth. This year we will welcome back Grandma’s BBQ, and your dinner will include 1/2 BBQ chicken, macaroni salad, baked beans, roll, dessert, and a drink. Tickets are $10 each and this Sunday will be the last chance to pick up a ticket.

The night will be filled with fun as we raffle away several prizes, play games, and raise funds for our youth. Proceeds will help support our initial efforts to attend the 2021 National Youth Gathering in Minneapolis. If you can’t attend, and would like to make a gift, don’t forget our “Donate Now” page, where you can designate a gift towards youth ministry.

2 Kings 6 – 2 Kings 8

Here’s another little gem that sits on my bookshelf. It’s the Twible by Jana Riess.

Much like Twitter, Jana has brought humor to the Good Book by summarizing every chapter in the Bible in 140 characters or less. Who would have thought that was possible! Of course there is some modern day ties to help connect us with the greater story. Take for example:

2 Kings 6:
“Elisha’s YouTube videos go viral! But when famine comes and folks eat their own kids, he gets blamed. You can never win.”

2 Kings 7:
“Turnaround! Arameans are set packing; Isr (short for Israel) has plenty to eat; Elisha is back in good graces. Wait, is that the other shoe dropping?”

2 Kings 8:
“Elisha, consulted about an ill king, says in a stage whisper, ‘He’s gonna die, but why tell him?BTW, my fee’s 40 camel-loads of stuff.'”

You have to love Jana’s creativity that helps to keep the story of Israel engaging to read.

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Our next reading: 2 Kings 9-11