A Gentle Ramble through the Bible CHRONOLOGICALLY

                                                  2 Kings 18:1-12 and 2 Chron 29-31 and Isaiah 14 (v24-end), Isaiah 18-20    Hezekiah Becomes King - The First Passover, Again When Ahaz dies, his son Hezekiah becomes king and immediately tosses all the idols out of the Temple. He calls for a renewed devotion to YHWH. Frankly, he’s looking for all the help he can get to avoid being conquered by the Assyrians. But this first effort is a comedy of errors. Will Hezekiah decide to hedge his bets by forming an alliance with Egypt? Things get pretty dicey, and the Lord calls on Isaiah to step up in a graphic way. This lesson needs to come with a warning label. A free Study Guide is available. A video version of the class is available on YouTube. More info at EversBibleClass.com .

                                                 2 Kings 17 and 2 Chron 28 and Isaiah 9 & 50, Hosea & Micah   The Last King of Israel The Lord’s going to take one more shot at saving Israel, and it’s going to be a dramatic one. This time, he doesn’t just have the prophet speak the words...the Lord has him act them out. Israel, the Lord’s chosen wife whom the Lord has wooed and protected and fed and cherished, has been hopelessly unfaithful for their entire marriage. She’s run away with idols every chance she’s gotten. So as shocking as it is, it should be no surprise that the Lord wants Hosea to act out the “state of the marriage.” The Lord tells Hosea to find a prostitute to marry--specifically one Hosea is 100% sure will be unfaithful to him. Meanwhile, in Judah, the prophet Micah adds another prophetic voice, calling both kingdoms to act justly, lo...

                                                2 Kings 15 and 2 Chron 26 and Isaiah 1-4   War on All Sides--so what does that have to do with Jesus? What if you were attacked on all sides simultaneously? And what if the Lord showed up and said, “Don’t worry. I will protect you. Let me prove it to you.”     That’s an offer you jump at, right? But the King of Judah turns to the King of Assyria for help instead. Say, what? You think Assyria is going to protect you, when they are already poised to crush you?     It's like asking the fox to protect the hen house.The results are disastrous for both Israel and Judah. Thousands of Israelites are deported to far-flung places across the Assyrian Empire.   Don’t miss the discussion and additional whiteboard session in the second half where we dive into Isaiah’s “A virgin shall conceive” and fin...

                                               2 Kings 15 and 2 Chron 26 and Isaiah 1-4   Isaiah and a Peek at the End Times King Uzziah of Judah is pretty proud of himself. Judah is thriving under his economic leadership. So he figures he should be more important than anyone, including the priests. He shows up with incense and crashes the Holy Place in the Temple. Hmmm...I wonder what could go wrong here? Israel is in complete turmoil as the kingdom changes hands three times in seven months. Into all this chaos, the Lord sends Isaiah. We take a peek at future events so we have a good frame of reference for understanding Isaiah's messages. A free Study Guide is available. A video version of the class is available on YouTube. More info at EversBibleClass.com .

                                              2 Kings 15 and 2 Chron 26 and Amos   Amos: The "Not A Prophet" Amos isn’t a prophet--nobody in his family is a prophet--but the Lord takes him from Judah and sends him to Israel to proclaim the coming disasters about to overtake Israel, Judah, and all the surrounding nations.  As long as he speaks against Israel’s enemies he is welcome company, but as soon as he starts calling Israel out, he is quickly given the boot.  In this revealing class, we’ll look at the difference between the Lord’s grievances against the foreign nations and his grievances against Israel and Judah. We’ll think about what the Lord says he wants instead of sacrifices and praise songs. And we’ll consider the “plumb line” Amos saw. What might that be, and does it have significance for us today? A free Study Guide is available. A video version...

                                             2 Kings 14 and 2 Chron 25 and Jonah   Israel's on the Brink so God sends Jonah Israel gets Jeroboam version 2, and he's as bad as his namesake. You'd think the Lord would come down hard, right? The problem is--Israel's borders have shrunk so much it's in danger of disappearing altogether. So either the Lord will let Israel be wiped out or he'll have to let this wicked king be a victor in battle. What will the Lord choose? We know one thing for sure--the Lord's gonna send a prophet. And guess who it is this week? Jonah! Yay! This is one of my favorite stories in the Bible. Jonah is sent to both Jeroboam and to Assyria. Crazy! This week is a ton of fun. A free Study Guide is available. A video version of the class is available on YouTube. More info at EversBibleClass.com .

                                            2 Kings 11-13 and 2 Chron 23-24 and Joel   Here Come the Prophets--but no one listens Athaliah seizes power in Judah and kills all her own grandchildren. True story. She misses one though, due to some heroics by a gal named Jehosheba. That boy, Joash, eventually becomes king. He starts well but ends very poorly. Even Jesus calls him out 800 years later! We say goodbye to Elisha and hello to the books of the prophets. This takes to a whole new level of understanding Scripture. You don’t want to miss this. We start with the book of Joel. He introduces the concept of “The Day of the Lord” and provides a thumbnail sketch we can use as a template to understand all the rest of the prophets. A free Study Guide is available. A video version of the class is available on YouTube.   More info at EversBibleClass.com .

                                           2 Kings 8-10 and 2 Chron 22   Jezebel Gets What's Coming to Her As do her son, the King of Judah, and her grandson, the King of Israel. It's a complete rout and lots of old prophecies get fulfilled--as the story says, "Not a word the Lord speaks falls to the ground." The thing is, though, those prophecies were like 12-14 years old. God told Elijah to do them, but he dies and apparently passes the work to Elisha, who then dawdles around before suddenly doing it all. Why is that? What does that say to us about how WE are to understand when and how to do what the Lord tells us to do? Here's the link to the TED talk about Liquid Lead that I reference during class.   A free Study Guide is available. A video version of the class is available on YouTube.   More info at EversBibleClass.com .

                                          2 Kings 2, 6-7 and 2 Chron 21   Elijah Makes a Dramatic Exit Elijah goes out with a quite literal bang, and Elisha gets a double portion of his spirit (Elijah told him to be careful what he wished for!). Elisha gives the King of Aram fits in a hilarious story that results in the Arameans slinking away with their tails between their legs. Meanwhile in Judah, sixty years of being governed by relatively good kings comes to an abrupt end. The bloodlines of the royal families of Israel and Judah are joined, and we witness the beginning of the end of the nations. We don't do separate breakout groups this time. Instead we stay together and use our backpack tools to figure out why a crazy story about bald heads and bears is in the Bible. A free Study Guide is available. A video version of the class is available on YouTube.   More info at ...

                                         2 Kings 1, 3-5 and 2 Chron 19-20   God Brings Out the Big Guns Not only are dates getting more solid, but we're beginning to run into historical records that corroborate biblical accounts. This commemorative monument ("stele") was set up by one of Israel's enemies--a king of Moab that we run across in this week's lesson.  The northern kingdom of Israel is slipping deeper and deeper into idol worship, and they are enticing Judah to forsake dependence on YHWH. Desperate times call for desperate measures. God shows up in miraculous ways for even the wickedest of kings--all to try to woo his people back. And Elisha is right in the thick of it: calling down fire, purifying poisoned waters, rescuing widows, healing generals. We’ve got some crazy powerful stuff going on here. I wonder if the people will pay attention? A free Study Guide is...

                                        1 Kings 19-22 and 2 Chron 17-18   Elijah Finds a Successor while Israel and Aram go to War Ben-Hadad of Aram picks a fight with King Ahab of Israel. Ahab has virtually no military resources to respond. With his back to the wall, who does he turn to? His idols? Nope. YHWH. But of course, Ahab is only in this for Ahab. He doesn’t do what God tells him to do. When God calls him on it, what does Ahab do? He pouts! Jezebel has to step in and prop him up. A free Study Guide is available. A video version of the class is available on YouTube.   More info at EversBibleClass.com .

                                       1 Kings 16-19   The Prophet Elijah -- Fearless Fireworks and Deep Depression The northern kingdom is in a state of turmoil. We’ve got a civil war within a civil war. Total chaos. Finally, Omri seizes the throne and when he dies his son Ahab becomes king. Ahab is the worst king yet. Case in point? His wife is none other than the infamous Jezebel who starts a program of extermination of God’s prophets. Elijah proves to be elusive. He’s a survivor. On the outside he’s fearless, but behind the scenes we see his anguish and fear and discouragement. In this class we follow Elijah through an incredible mountaintop showdown against Jezebel’s prophets of Baal. Then Elijah faces torrential rain, wind, earthquake and fire. Which terrifying event do you think God was in? (It's a trick question) A free Study Guide is available. A video version of the class...

                                      1 Kings 12-15, 2 Chronicles 10-16   The Great Divide Solomon was the last great king of Israel. After his death, his son Rehoboam’s arrogance causes the kingdom to split into civil war. The ten northern tribes make Jeroboam king, while Rehoboam is left only with Judah and Simeon, thus fulfilling the prophecy of Ahijah. The border between Judah in the south and Israel in the north remains fluid, moving and blending as battles rage. The battles are not just military ones, but are also fought over the people’s gods. Will the people choose YHWH or will they worship the golden calves their kings set up for them? When is God going to lose his patience with these people?     A free Study Guide is available. A video version of the class is available on YouTube.   More info at EversBibleClass.com .

                                     1 Kings 11, Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes   Solomon's Got It All--Wealth, Wisdom, and Women What could possibly go wrong?  Solomon has absolutely everything going for him--good looks, wealth, wisdom, everyone admires him, and the Lord picked him to be king. But he throws it all away. No kidding. The smartest, wisest man in the world fails completely. How can this be? We hear from Solomon in his own words this week as he looks back on what went wrong.    A free Study Guide is available. A video version of the class is available on YouTube.   More info at EversBibleClass.com .

                                    1 Kings 3-10, 1 Chr 22-29, 2 Chr 1-9   Solomon, Wisdom, and the Temple  After a rocky start, Solomon builds a grand and peaceful kingdom with a brand new Temple as its centerpiece. The Lord grants his wish for wisdom to rule the people and throws in massive riches and honor for good measure. Solomon is so famous that eventually the Queen of Sheba decides she’s gotta see this for herself. Spoiler alert: She’s not disappointed. We find out what the Israelites thought about hell and life after death (you might be shocked). And we had a very deep discussion about Wisdom -- Is Wisdom a person? Why isn't Wisdom talked about in church?    A free Study Guide is available. A video version of the class is available on YouTube.   More info at EversBibleClass.com .

                                   2Sam 19-23, 1Kings 1-2   David Fights Back  David fights back against Absalom and wins, but his kingdom comes at the cost of his son’s life. David is heartbroken.  There’s a strange sequence of events as David returns to Jerusalem. He meets the same cast of obscure characters he met on the way out...wait a second...could this be a chiasm? We pull out our backpack tools to see what hidden secrets we can discover.  A free Study Guide is available. A video version of the class is available on YouTube.   More info at EversBibleClass.com .

                                  2Sam 14-19   Absalom Makes His Move  After Absalom kills his brother Amnon in revenge for the rape of his sister Tamar, Absalom flees across the Jordan. There he bides his time...convinced he is King David’s rightful heir. Through a little subterfuge, Absalom is given another chance and returns to King David’s court, only to betray him by sparking a palace coup! The tables are turned and now David is exiled across the Jordan! Will David prevail or will Absalom retain his grip on the throne? A free Study Guide is available. A video version of the class is available on YouTube.   More info at EversBibleClass.com .

                                 2Sam 10-13, 1 Chr 18-20   David and Bathsheba, Tamar and Amnon  Entitlement and privilege are a deadly combination.   I know...these folks in the Bible are over the top. They are so human! It hits painfully close to home. There are some trigger warnings this week: rape, murder, and infant death. But even in these depths, God shows up. God does not throw us away. Ever.  A free Study Guide is available. A video version of the class is available on YouTube.   More info at EversBibleClass.com .

                                2Sam 3-9, 1 Chr 11-17   Two Kings. Two Commanders. Something's Gotta Give!  King David and King Ish-Bosheth. Commander Joab and Commander Abner. The struggle that began between Saul and David is about to bear fruit.  David continues to have a heart for the Lord, but cracks are beginning to show. He makes some big mistakes this week.  In our breakout sessions we encounter the concept of hesed --an attribute of God that is so broad and deep that it defies description. We reflect on how that impacts our relationship with God in very practical ways. A free Study Guide is available. A video version of the class is available on YouTube.   More info at EversBibleClass.com .

                               1Sam 26 - 2Sam 2, 1 Chr 10   David joins the Philistines. Talk about a plot twist!  The Philistines are Israel's arch-enemies. But sure enough, David joins forces with them and even marches to battle with them against Israel.  No. Really? David, as in King David? Yup. We've got a crazy story this week with another tragic ending. This time we say goodbye to Saul, and we'll take some time in our breakout groups to think about how different the two leaders have been. We're to a part of the Bible where the stories are told in more than one book. Sometimes they're copied from one to the other, but often the authors add additional details so it's worthwhile to read both versions. This week's parallel to 2 Samuel 2 is in 1 Chronicles 10.  A free Study Guide is available. A video version of the class is available on YouTube.   More info at EversBibleClass.com...

                              1 Samuel 20-25   What happens when enemies fall into our grasp?  The answer might surprise you. The power struggle between King Saul and David is life or death. David flees Saul's court and is betrayed. Pressed to breaking point, David faces a tough choice when he catches Saul unawares. Would it be self-defense to kill Saul while he can? Mental illness plays a surprising role this week--leading to David's escape from a Philistine ruler. The ending is not so happy for Nabal, a man whose name literally means "fool."  In the discussion we wrestle with the whole concept of revenge and what that looks like for God's people. A free Study Guide is available. A video version of the class is available on YouTube.   More info at EversBibleClass.com .

                             1 Samuel 16-19   David fights Goliath, but Saul fights a giant too  Saul fights mental illness. At first it seems like simple arrogance combined with a serious case of Imposter Syndrome, but this week King Saul develops a full-fledged case of paranoia.  David arrives on the scene and quickly becomes a national hero. Saul does not react well at all, as you can imagine.  A free Study Guide is available. A video version of the class is available on YouTube.   More info at EversBibleClass.com .

                            1 Samuel 12-15   Saul is Screwing up Royally!  It's like every time he does something, he messes up. And every single time it has to do with disobeying a specific instruction from God. Why does Saul make this so much harder than it needs to be? Samuel pulls no punches. He rakes Saul over the coals no matter who's watching and listening. Saul tries to save face and gets caught in his lies by Samuel. Embarrassment after public embarrassment can't be helping with Saul's Imposter Syndrome. I'm getting a little worried about where this is heading. A free Study Guide is available. A video version of the class is available on YouTube.   More info at EversBibleClass.com .