DAY 157 Read 2 Chronicles 10 through 12; 1 Kings 12.
Today's reading: We begin the sad story of Israel's decline from the glory of Solomon to the ignominy of captivity and dispersion.
Memory gem: "When he humbled himself, the wrath of the Lord turned from him, that he would not destroy him altogether: and also in Judah things went well" (2 Chronicles 12:12).
Thought for today:
"With the rending of the kingdom early in Rehoboam's reign, the glory of Israel began to depart, never again to be regained in its fullness. At times during the centuries that followed, the throne of David was occupied by men of moral worth and far-seeing judgment, and under the rulership of these sovereigns the blessings resting upon the men of Judah were extended to the surrounding nations....From time to time mighty prophets arose, to strengthen the hands of the rulers, and to encourage the people to continued faithfulness. But the seeds of evil already springing up when Rehoboam ascended the throne, were never able to be wholly uprooted; and at times the once-favored people of God were to fall so low as to become a byword among the heathen.
"Yet notwithstanding the perversity of those who leaned toward idolatrous practices, God...would do everything in His power to save the divided kingdom from utter ruin. And as...His purpose concerning Israel seemed to be utterly thwarted by the devices of men inspired by satanic agencies, He still manifested His beneficent design through the captivity and restoration of the chosen nation."--Prophet and Kings, pp. 96, 97.
NOTE: It will be impossible to keep the narratives in Kings and Chronicles strictly parallel. Another difficulty will be the variant spelling of names in the two records and the fact that some kings of Judah had the same names as some kings of Israel.
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Difficult or obscure words:
2 Chronicles 10:11. "Scorpions"--probably a figure of speech for whips of thongs armed with metal or bone hooks or points.
2 Chronicles 11:18, 20. "Daughter"--probably: granddaughter. The Hebrew word can mean a female descendant, even as "son" can mean a male descendant.
Today's reading: We begin the sad story of Israel's decline from the glory of Solomon to the ignominy of captivity and dispersion.
Memory gem: "When he humbled himself, the wrath of the Lord turned from him, that he would not destroy him altogether: and also in Judah things went well" (2 Chronicles 12:12).
Thought for today:
"With the rending of the kingdom early in Rehoboam's reign, the glory of Israel began to depart, never again to be regained in its fullness. At times during the centuries that followed, the throne of David was occupied by men of moral worth and far-seeing judgment, and under the rulership of these sovereigns the blessings resting upon the men of Judah were extended to the surrounding nations....From time to time mighty prophets arose, to strengthen the hands of the rulers, and to encourage the people to continued faithfulness. But the seeds of evil already springing up when Rehoboam ascended the throne, were never able to be wholly uprooted; and at times the once-favored people of God were to fall so low as to become a byword among the heathen.
"Yet notwithstanding the perversity of those who leaned toward idolatrous practices, God...would do everything in His power to save the divided kingdom from utter ruin. And as...His purpose concerning Israel seemed to be utterly thwarted by the devices of men inspired by satanic agencies, He still manifested His beneficent design through the captivity and restoration of the chosen nation."--Prophet and Kings, pp. 96, 97.
NOTE: It will be impossible to keep the narratives in Kings and Chronicles strictly parallel. Another difficulty will be the variant spelling of names in the two records and the fact that some kings of Judah had the same names as some kings of Israel.
----------------
Difficult or obscure words:
2 Chronicles 10:11. "Scorpions"--probably a figure of speech for whips of thongs armed with metal or bone hooks or points.
2 Chronicles 11:18, 20. "Daughter"--probably: granddaughter. The Hebrew word can mean a female descendant, even as "son" can mean a male descendant.
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