Today's Reading - July 1, 2010

2 Kings 18:13-19:37
Acts 21:1-17
Psalm 149:1-9
Proverbs 18:8

Question of the day: Why was the Lord willing to allow the Assyrians to conquer Israel, but not Judah, when both kingdoms had turned their back on him?

God did finally punish Judah as well by allowing Nebuchadnezzar to conquer Jerusalem, taking the Jews to Babylon. The reason for this plan may have been because a remnant was allowed to return from captivity, keeping the Jewish heritage alive

Today's Reading - June 30, 2010

2 Kings 17:1-18:12
Acts 20:1-38
Psalm 148:1-14
Proverbs 18:6-7

Question of the day: What does it mean in 2 Kings 17:9 when it say that "The people of Israel had also secretly done many things that were not pleasing to the Lord their God"?

It refers to the fact that the sin in Israel was so embedded that not only did the King lead the people into sin but the people themselves built altars and idols on their own.

Today's Reading - June 29, 2010

2 Kings 15:1-16:20
Acts 19:13-41
Psalm 147:1-20
Proverbs 18:4-5

Question of the day: Why was Paul so eager to get into a civic fight with the people of Ephesus?

Paul was at heart an evangelist, and not doubt saw this as an opportunity to proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ. He was an effective communicator to people who were not Jews, and welcomed the chance to preach.

Today's Reading - June 28, 2010

2 Kings 13:1-14:29
Acts 18:23-19:12
Psalm 146:1-10
Proverbs 18:2-3

Question of the day: What does it mean in Acts when Paul talks about John's baptism?

John the Baptist ministered to people before Jesus began his ministry. The Old Testament laws were in force that people had to obey, and were judged on how well they obeyed them. John's message was to be baptized as a symbol of your repentence, and then to obey the laws to earn your salvation. Thus, when Paul was talking about John's baptism, he wasn't referring to the physical act being different. It was the mental act of repenting from your life and where you placed your trust. John's baptism placed trust in obeying the law. Jesus' baptism placed trust in Jesus, who died for our sins and was raised on the third day.

Today's Reading - June 27, 2010

2 Kings 10:32-12:21
Acts 18:1-22
Psalm 145:1-21
Proverbs 18:1

Question of the day: This passage mentions this for the first and only time in the history of Israel. What is it?

The passage mentions that Judah was ruled by a queen. Queen Athaliah was the only woman ruler either Israel or Judah ever had. The only other time Israel was led by a woman was when Deborah judged Israel before there were kings.

Today's Reading - June 26, 2010

2 Kings 9:14-10:31
Acts 17:1-34
Psalm 144:1-15
Proverbs 17:27-28

Question of the day: What were Epicurean philosophers?

Epicureanism is a system of philosophy based upon the teachings of Epicurus, founded around 307 BC. Epicurus was an atomic materialist, following in the steps of Democritus. His materialism led him to a general attack on superstition and divine intervention. Thus his followers would have been fundamentally opposed to Paul's teachings about God.

Today's Reading - June 25, 2010

2 Kings 8:1-9:13
Acts 16:16-40
Psalm 143:1-12
Proverbs 17:26

Question of the day: Why did the prophet have to run after delivering the news to Jehu?

The prophet for all practical purposes was advocating treason in an assembly of Army officers. He did not know how they would react.

Today's Reading - June 24, 2010

2 Kings 6:1-7:20
Acts 15:36-16:15
Psalm 142:1-7
Proverbs 17:24-25

Question of the day: Who was John Mark?

John Mark was the writer of the gospel of Mark, and was a cousin of Barnabas, who defended him to Paul, leading to their disagreement. John Mark's mother was a prominent citizen of Jerusalem and the Apostles and early disciples of Jesus could often be found there.

Today's Reading - June 23, 2010

2 Kings 4:18-5:27
Acts 15:1-35
Psalm 141:1-10
Proverbs 17:23

Question of the day: Wasn't Gehazi's punishment too severe for his sin?

Gehazi had been serving Elisha, but his faith did not live up to his experience. He was greedy, he lied to Elisha, but most of all, he imperiled Elisha's mission by going around Elisha's wishes. So Gehazi was punished. It may have taught him well, as later on we see him testifying before the king. Also, his punishment may not have been as bad as we think it is, as the term leprosy was used for a variety of skin diseases.

Today's Reading - June 22, 2010

2 Kings 3:1-4:17
Acts 14:8-28
Psalm 140:1-13
Proverbs 17:22

Question of the day: Why were the people of Lystra so easily swayed, thinking Paul and Barnabas were gods one moment, and stoning them the next?

The citizens of Lystra were happy to believe that Paul was Hermes and Barbabas was Zeus, as that would have fit in well with their worship of the Greek gods. They were not so easily convinced by their teaching that there was only one God, as that would go against everything that they believed, so when false charges were brought against Paul and Barnabas, they had no reason to protect them.

Today's Reading - June 20, 2010

1 Kings 22:1-53
Acts 13:16-41
Psalm 138:1-8
Proverbs 17:17-18

Question of the day: Why was King Ahab killed and had his blood licked up by dogs when God had in the previous chapter rescinded his punishment and passed it on to his son?

God had rescinded his punishment because Ahab had humbled himself before the Lord after the prophets of Baal were destroyed. Here, Ahab had ignored the word of the Lord given to him by the prophet Micaiah, and brought the punishment on himself.

Today's Reading - June 21, 2010

2 Kings 1:1-2:25
Acts 13:42-14:7
Psalm 139:1-24
Proverbs 17:19-21

Question of the day: Why was Elijah continually trying to get Elisha to stay in a place while Elijah moved on?

Elijah was testing Elisha's loyalty and adherence to his initial vow not to leave Elijah while he was alive.

Today's Reading - June 19, 2010

1 Kings 20:1-21:29
Acts 12:24-13:15
Psalm 137:1-9
Proverbs 17:16

Question of the day: Why does Saul's name change to Paul midway through Acts 13?

Saul believed he was appointed by God to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles, so he possibly changed it at this time to the Greek equivalent to make himself more acceptable to the Gentiles.

Today's Reading - June 18, 2010

1 Kings 19:1-21
Acts 12:1-23
Psalm 136:1-26
Proverbs 17:14-15

Question of the day: Why was Herod Agrippa, a ruler installed by the Roman Empire, eager to curry the favor of the Jews?

Agrippa was himself a Jew, and it was not inconsistent for the Jewish leadership to work with the Romans rulers to maximize their power. When Jesus was held for trial, he was sent to Agrippa, who wanted Jesus to perform some miracles upon demand, which Jesus refused to do. Thus, Agrippa would have had no use for Christians, and would have used their persecution as a way to increase his popularity.

Today's Reading - June 17, 2010

1 Kings 18:1-46
Acts 11:1-30
Psalm 135:1-21
Proverbs 17:12-13

Question of the day: Where else do we know Obadiah from?

Obadiah was also a prophet of the Lord and the author of the Old Testament book that prophesied against Edom. Obadiah himself was an Edomite and a convert to Judaism.

Today's Reading - June 16, 2010

1 Kings 15:25-17:24
Acts 10:24-48
Psalm 134:1-3
Proverbs 17:9-11

Question of the day: In 1 Kings, we are reading about kings of two different kingdoms, Israel and Judah. Why did they split up after King Solomon?

Solomon built Israel (including Judah) into a great and wealthy kingdom, but at the expense of giving away land and putting his own people into slavery to the king of Tyre. Solomon built up Jerusalem, which was located in Judah. When Solomon's son, Jeroboam, took over the kingdom, the tribes in the north refused to follow him and appointed their own king. Thus they created a separate kingdom called Israel. The tribe of Judah, which had always been somewhat separatist, was happy to go it's own way without the others. Only the tribe of Benjamin, located south of Judah, stayed associated with Judah.

Today's Reading - June 15, 2010

1 Kings 14:1-15:24
Acts 10:1-23
Psalm 133:1-3
Proverbs 17:7-8

Question of the day: What did Peter's vision have to do with his encounter with Cornelius?

The vision was God's way of saying, what you formerly thought was off limits for you as a Jew, was now not off limits. This applies to Cornelius because as a Gentile, contact with him by Peter would have been considered wrong.

Today's Reading - June 14, 2010

1 Kings 12:20-13:34
Acts 9:26-43
Psalm 132:1-18
Proverbs 17:6

Question of the day: Why would the author of Acts make a note in chapter 9 verse 36 about how Tabitha's name in Greek was Dorcas?

Luke wrote Acts in Greek, but Tabitha was a Jew, so he wrote about her using her Hebrew name, but translated it for his readers.

Today's Reading - June 13, 2010

1 Kings 11:1-12:19
Acts 9:1-25
Psalm 131:1-3
Proverbs 17:4-5

Question of the day: If Solomon was so wise, why did he marry so many foreign women that he had specifically been warned not to do?

While Solomon was aware of what God had prohibited, he perhaps felt that he could handle these challenges and be an even greater king because of his great wisdom and spirituality. He married these women for political gain and the expansion of his empire, not for romance.

While his marriages did increase his empire, even he could not resist the pull of his wives' beliefs and religious practices. As the saying goes, he flew too close to the Sun and got burned.

Today's Reading - June 12, 2010

1 Kings 9:1-10:29
Acts 8:14-40
Psalm 130:1-8
Proverbs 17:2-3

Question of the day: What was wrong with the cities that King Solomon gave to King Hiram?

The cities were nothing more than a muddy plain that smelled of decaying plants. They were possibly given because of their proximity to Tyre.

Today's Reading - June 11, 2010

1 Kings 8:1-66
Acts 7:51-8:13
Psalm 129:1-8
Proverbs 17:1

Question of the day: Who is the Saul that is mentioned in Acts 8?

Saul is a Pharisee who will turn from persecuting the Christians to spreading the Gospel to Gentiles after an encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus.

Today's Reading - June 10, 2010

1 Kings 7:1-51
Acts 7:30-50
Psalm 128:1-6
Proverbs 16:31-33

Question of the day: What was Stephen talking about when he mentioned the Tabernacle?

The Israelites were commanded by God to build a Tabernacle, which was a temporary structure that would be the dwelling place of the Lord. The Tabernacle was carried by the Israelites as they wandered the desert prior to entering the Promised Land. It was used until King Solomon built the temple referred to in 1 Kings 7.

Today's Reading - June 9, 2010

1 Kings 5:1-6:38
Acts 7:1-29
Psalm 127:1-5
Proverbs 16:28-30

Question of the day: In Acts 7, Stephen is asked a question, but tells a story without answering the question. Why?

Stephen was relating to his accusers their common history, and beginning the outline of the story that will answer their question. Check back tomorrow for more!

Today's Reading - June 8, 2010

1 Kings 3:3-4:34
Acts 6:1-15
Psalm 126:1-6
Proverbs 16:26-27

Question of the day: Who was Ethan the Ezrahite

He was best known for writing the 89th Psalm, from which the gospel song, "I Will Sing Of the Mercies of the Lord" was based.

Today's Reading - June 7, 2010

1 Kings 2:1-3:2
Acts 5:1-42
Psalm 125:1-5
Proverbs 16:25

Question of the day: Did God strike down Ananias and Sapphira?

God did not strike down people for their sin under the New Convenant. While the Bible doesn't give us a specific reason for their death, it's not unreasonable to believe that they died from shame at being found out.

The important part of this account is that we see the contrast between someone who fully believed and obeyed (the account of Joseph, the Levite for Cyprus, who gave it all), and Ananias and Sapphira, who lied about the price the had received for the land. They were wrong, not for keeping a portion back, but for trying to deceive God.

Today's Reading - June 6, 2010

1 Kings 1:1-53
Acts 4:1-37
Psalm 124:1-8
Proverbs 16:24

Question of the day: Why did David's advisors feel that Solomon should be king rather than Adonijah?

They saw in Adonijah the same rebellious spirit that was evidenced in his brother Absalom, who was killed in battle when he tried to take the throne away from King David. Also in 1 Chronicles 22:9, David reveals that God had told David that his son Solomon would reign over Israel and would build a permanent temple for the Lord.

Today's Reading - June 5, 2010

2 Samuel 23:24-24:25
Acts 3:1-26
Psalm 123:1-4
Proverbs 16:21-23

Question of the day: Peter said, "Jesus Christ of Nazarene", was Christ Jesus' last name?

Christ is the English translation of the Greek word Khristos, which translated from the Hebrew word for Messiah. So Christ is used as a title here, Jesus the Messiah.

Today's Reading - June 4, 2010

2 Samuel 22:1-23:23
Acts 2:1-47
Psalm 122:1-9
Proverbs 16:19-20

Question of the day: How soon after Jesus' death did the Holy Spirit come?

The Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost, which was 50 days after Jesus was crucified. The Holy Spirit was sent to comfort and guide the followers of Christ. Not coincidentally, the day of Pentecost commemorated the day the Israelites received the Ten Commandments, which guided them under the law.

Today's Reading - June 3, 2010

2 Samuel 20:14-21:22
Acts 1:1-26
Psalm 121:1-8
Proverbs 16:18

Question of the day: 2 Samuel 21:19 says that the brother of Goliath had a spear which had a handle that was as thick as a weaver’s beam How thick is a weaver's beam?

A weaver's beam was a part of a loom used to make cloth. It would have been 2.5 to 3 inches in diameter, which would be about the thickness of the barrel end of a baseball bat. In other words, this giant was huge!

Today's Reading - June 2, 2010

2 Samuel 19:11-20:13
John 21:1-25
Psalm 120:1-7
Proverbs 16:16-17

Question of the day: What did Jesus mean when he told Peter, "But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go”?

According to ancient historians Tertullian and Origen, Peter was crucified upside down, and this was Jesus foretelling Peter's death as a martyr.