Daily reading
Today’s reading is: Nah. 1-3; 2 Kgs. 23:1-28; 2 Chr. 34:29-35:19
Video
Nahum Chapter One
- The Book of Nahum is an oracle against Nineveh, given by the Lord as a vision to Nahum the Elkoshite (Nah. 1:1).
- Chapter 1 begins with a trinity of vengeance (Nah. 1:2).
- YHWH is a jealous and avenging God.
- YHWH is avenging and wrathful.
- His vengeance is against His adversaries.
- His wrath is against His enemies.
- His adversaries, and enemies are defined, and their guilt is certain (Nah. 1:2-3).
- Adversaries & enemies may be a reference to angelic and human opponents of God.
- More likely, the fondness of Nahum for poetic couplets is behind this passage.
- Mixed in with the promise of judgment is the promise of goodness (Nah. 1:7).
- A wicked counselor has initiated a scheme, but the Lord brings those schemes to an end (Nah. 1:9-14; Ps. 2:1ff.; Isa. 8:9-10).
Nahum Chapter Two
- The arrival of the ultimate Evangelist heralds the removal of Belial (Nah. 1:15).
- The Lord is described as The One Who Scatters (Nah. 2:1-2), and He directs a mighty army to destroy the Assyrians (Nah. 2:3-12).
- The description of the attackers matches the Babylonians & Medes.
- The flooding reference is uncertain to archaeologists today.
- The lion imagery fits the imagery of Assyria.
Nahum Chapter Three
- The great evil of Nineveh is described in this chapter.
- The harlotries of Assyria are descriptive of the harlotries of mystery Babylon in the Tribulation of Israel (Nah. 3:4; Rev. 17:1-2).
- Assyria should learn from the example of Thebes (Nah. 3:8-10). Unconquerable cities do get conquered, as the Lord brings down a prideful people.
- Gentile nations should observe that sleeping shepherds & scattered people (Nah. 3:18) are indicative of an incurable wound (Nah. 3:19).
Second Kings Chapter Twenty-Three
- King Josiah responded to the message of Huldah by leading a national revival (2nd Kgs. 23:1-27).
- The king assembled the national elders, the prophets, and the priests, in order to re-dedicate themselves to obedience to God’s word (2nd Kgs. 23:1-3).
- At the king’s command, Hilkiah cleansed the temple of all idolatry (2nd Kgs. 23:4-6).
- Josiah removed every form of idolatry within his land (2nd Kgs. 23:7-14), and the former territory of the northern kingdom (2nd Kgs. 23:15-20).
- Josiah’s activity was according to the prophetic word concerning him (2nd Kgs. 23:15-18; cf. 1st Kgs. 13:1-2,31-32).
- The Passover of Josiah’s 18th year was the greatest Passover since the days of the Judges (2nd Kgs. 23:21-23), and Josiah was the greatest King since David (2nd Kgs. 23:25).
(Chapter Twenty-Three continues on Day 220)
Second Chronicles Chapter Thirty-Four
(Outline continues from Day 215)
- Josiah’s response to Huldah’s message was to initiate a Bible study for all his kingdom to study God’s Word and commit to live it (2nd Chr. 34:29-33).
Second Chronicles Chapter Thirty-Five
- Josiah presided over the greatest Passover observance in the history of Jerusalem (2nd Chr. 35:1-19; 2nd Kgs. 23:21-23).
- Josiah oversaw the appropriate service of the priests & Levites (2nd Chr. 35:2-6).
- Josiah financed the appropriate sacrifice of the general population (2nd Chr. 35:7).
- Josiah’s example motivated his officers to financially bless the holy day (2nd Chr. 35:8-9).
(Chapter Thirty-Five continues on Day 220)