Keeping the Prophets Straight

I have a difficult time keeping the prophets and their respective kings straight.  Perhaps I'm more concerned about this than I need to be, but I do like to know where people "fit" into the big picture.  I notice that many of us do this in our daily lives -- we meet someone new and try to figure them out by learning where they went to school, where they live, who they know, etc.  I suppose my concern and curiosity with regards to the prophets and their overall "place" is somewhat similar.  In any event, I've done a bit of investigating and appended an earlier chart of the kings of Judah and Israel with an extra column containing the associated prophet(s).  The ones with names in italics are those who don't have a separate book in the Old Testament.  And note that among the web-based resources I got this information from there is a lot of discrepancies.  In particular, Obadiah for some researchers is much earlier in the timeline, around the time of King Ahab.  A greater number of resources placed him towards the end of this timeline and so I've placed him there.  Here's the updated chart:

Israel
Reign (estimate)		Leader	Prophet(s)
1050-1010		Saul	Samuel
1010-970		David	Samuel, Nathan
970-930		Solomon
Kingdom divided into Israel and Judah
Israel			Judah
Reign (estimate)	Leader	Prophet(s)	Reign (estimate)	Leader
931–910	Jeroboam	Ahijah	931–914	Rehoboam
			914–912	Abijah
910-909	Nadab		911–871	Asa
909–886	Baasah	Jehu
886-885	Elah
885	Zimri
885–874	Omri	Micaiah	871–848	Jehoshaphat
874–853	Ahab	Elijah
853–852	Ahaziah	Elisha
852–841	Jehoram		848–841	Jehoram
841–814(3)	Jehu		841	Ahaziah
			841–835	Athaliah (queen)
814(3)–797	Jehoahaz		835–796	Joash
797–782	Jehoash	Joel, Jonah	796–767	Amaziah
782–747	Jeroboam II	Amos, Isaiah	767–739	Uzziah
747	Zechariah
747	Shallum
747–742	Menahem	Micah	739–734	Jotham
742–740	Pekahiah
740–731	Pekah		734–728	Ahaz
731–722	Hoshea Fall of Samaria to the Assyrians (722)
			728–699	Hezekiah
			699–643	Manasseh
		Nahum	642–640	Amon
		Zephaniah	640–609	Josiah
			609	Jehoahaz
		Habakkuk	609–598	Jehoiakim
			598–597	Jehoiachin
		Ezekial, Daniel, Obadiah, Malachi	597–587	Zedekiah Fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians (587)

If you'd like to do some of your own investigating, here's a list of a few web-based sources:

http://www.thebookwurm.com/

http://www.spiritrestoration.org/

http://www.understandingchristianity.org/

Again, I cannot and will not vouch for the entire content of these sites, but they (and many others!) do provide information that can be interesting/helpful/challenging as we read and study our Bibles.

Psalms

As I mentioned last time, I've been reading ahead in our "reading thru the Bible in one year" challenge.  I've been delving into Psalms exclusively the past couple weeks which continues to be a blessing given the craziness of the year.  I was particularly struck (yet again!) by the words in Psalm 118:24 "This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."  Here's my personal take on it.


"This is the day" -- not yesterday, not tomorrow, but today.  Stop with the "remember whens" and don't worry about the future.  Focus on today.
"which the LORD hath made;" -- God gave us today for some reason.  So whether today finds you struggling at work, relaxing with friends, ill, or whatever, remember that God has a reason.  I don't seem to ever find His reasons obvious, but I pray that one day it will be explained to me or that I'll see it myself in heaven.  
"we will rejoice and be glad in it." -- it's easy to rejoice and be glad when life is going "our" way.  It's more difficult to rejoice in the dark times, yet we are told to do so.  Most of us know people who always seem to be "rejoicing" even when their struggles are mighty.  And we know people who seem to have everything the world deems valuable yet still seem miserable.  Observe without judging others, then let us examine our own selves.  Not every day is going to be perfect, yet we can always find joy in something, even if it's "only" getting into your bed at the end of a difficult day.


Another psalm that always touches me is Psalm 100:

 "¹Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

 ²Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

 ³Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

 ⁴Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

 ⁵For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."

Verse 1 makes me smile -- my singing ability leaves a bit to be desired, but I can certainly join in the worship with a "joyful noise".  Verse 2 reminds me of my grandmother and her sisters.  While they did their housework  and other chores, they sang.  Music can bring such joy and peace.  Worship music, be it traditional hymns or contemporary Christian music can enable conversations about faith.  I'll sometimes find myself humming as I'm shopping and only become aware of it when someone asks me what the song is.  I'll share the lyrics and perhaps if they follow up we can have a short discussion on faith.  Doesn't happen often, but it makes my mindless humming less embarassing!  Verse 3 is humbling.  I can take no credit for myself.  Period.  I can exercise, eat well, and groom myself, but ultimately my fate is in God's hands.  Verse 4, to me, can refer to the gates of heaven, the gates that surrounded the tabernacle, our churches today, or most generally, the earth.  Whatever you consider to be the gates and courts, be thankful for them.  I'm guilty of sometimes entering church on Sunday morning pre-occupied with what's coming up for the week or other worries.  I'd like to better remind myself to be thankful for today and for being with others who love God.  Verse 5 gives comfort.  God is forever.  His mercy is forever.  He recognizes my sin and forgives me it, I hope even those sins I commit without even thinking they are sin.  And he is the same God yesterday, tomorrow, and most importantly for me, today.

God Bless and have a great week!

Busy Days.....

Yesterday at church we had a bit of a check-in as to how our year long experiment for Christ project is going.  I am amazed at what we've accomplished, started by a small group of our ladies and expanded to those who want to participate.  I hope no one has felt any pressure to do anything -- we should never pressure each other in the name of God.  For me personally, this "project" has come close to my heart in that I believe I'm listening more to the Holy Spirit in my heart and acting on such.  If that hasn't been your experience, please don't think I find ANY fault in you!

With regards to the daily Bible reading, I'm a bit ahead right now.  Over the next couple weeks my schedule has been filled up with even more driving.  That said, I'm at the part where we start to read the remainder of the Psalms, which is for me a real blessing in that they remind me to praise God in all that happens in my life as well as providing comfort when life gets a bit to hectic.  If you're behind or haven't even started, the Bible is ALWAYS there.  My cell phone blew up (well, not quite that bad!) last week and I took the opportunity to upgrade to a really fancy phone (my birthday is in March and I have now received my gifts for the next few years!).  I downloaded a Bible app onto it.  I'm really excited by this as not only does it include many different translations (I'm curious about the translations and use them to help me when wording confuses me) BUT there are also several reading programs accessible so that I can commit to reading again next year using a slightly different program if I choose.

In any event, wherever you are in your journey is not my business.  Just be confident in God's love and let him guide you.

Discipleship

My ladies' Bible study this year is studying the Gospel of Matthew.  Today's lesson was on chapter 10 wherein Jesus selects his 12 disciples/apostles (both terms are used in the 4 gospels to delineate these men) and empowers them and sends them out, first to teach the Israelites (as an aside, in my previous readings of this book I'd never picked up on the fact that at this time, Jesus only wanted to have these men approach Israel, not the Gentiles.  Jesus did not limit himself this was, but for this time, the 12 were to only "target" Israel).

Merriam-Webster's online dictionary defines a disciple as "one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another".  Dictionary.com's definition is "a pupil or adherent of the doctrine of another".  In my Bible study this week we were talking about how being a disciple implies continued learning on our part as well -- perhaps analogous to the requirements of schools that teachers keep current through coursework of their own.  In any event, what does it mean for us today to be disciples?  As you can imagine, the answer is as broad as anything else -- our churches and denominations promote differing "styles" to us.  As individuals we also have beliefs about our personal discipleship based on our own learning.  I personally believe that as members of the family of Christ, God knows what our personal "missions" are.  I don't believe that there is one answer that is true for every person, but if we seek God first and listen to what He has to say to us, I believe that the answer we arrive at is the correct one (yes, I do recognize that many disagree with me, so please leave any comments you may have!).  Here are some broad brush-stroke thoughts to get you started:

• While we are guaranteed salvation by grace through faith, our life on earth is NOT guaranteed to be easy.  Jesus warns the 12 about being persecuted.  With the exception of John, all 11 disciples were put to death because of their ministry (with the exception, of course, of Judas Iscariot).
• Again, discipleship requires being students.  I have read through the entire Bible 3 times and through various parts of it much more often.  But I keep reading.  Every time I pick it up and read, I learn something new.  Technology makes it even more convenient for us -- you can download an entire Bible onto a phone/computer or find one on-line.  As a church we are reading through the Bible chronologically this year -- what a joy to be able to share the experience with friends!
• Disciples give the credit to God.  Period.  Without God we can do nothing.
• Disciples take a stand for Christ.  Even when it isn't a popular choice.
• God comes first for disciples.  As a mother, I often struggle with this one.  I know in my mind that God is in control, but I fail to fully trust Him and worry and "over-parent" often.
• God also comes before self to disciples.  Before you take a bite of that sandwich, thank God.  Before you get out of bed in the morning, thank God for another day of life.  We get into such "busy-ness" that we (I!) forget to put God first.
• Discipleship requires discipline (same root word, no?).  I believe that as we become more dependent on God that we ourselves can become more dependable.  
• Disciples seek to be like Christ.  As with anyone we admire on earth and try to be like, how much more wonderful is it to seek to be like Christ?

Hopefully there was something in this material that either gives you pause to think or helps you on your own personal journey.  

Biblical Roots of Current-day Jewish Holidays and Observations

Shabbat, (the Sabbath - the weekly day of rest) on Saturday, is marked with most people spending the day together with family and friends. The Biblical origin stems from God having “rested” on the seventh day after completing creation (Genesis 2:2-3). 

Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the Jewish new year. Its origin is Biblical (Lev. 23:23-25): “a sacred occasion commemorated with loud blasts [of the shofar, the ram’s horn].” The term Rosh Hashanah, “beginning of the year,” is rabbinical, as are the formidable themes of the festival: repentance, preparation for the day of Divine judgment, and prayer for a fruitful year. The two-day festival falls on 1-2 Tishrei in the Jewish calendar, usually September in the Gregorian calendar, and starts at sundown of the preceding evening, as do all Jewish observances. Major customs of Rosh Hashanah include the sounding of the shofar in the middle of a lengthy synagogue service that focuses on the festival themes, and elaborate meals at home to inaugurate the new year. The prayer liturgy is augmented with prayers of repentance.

Yom Kippur, eight days after Rosh Hashanah, is the day of atonement, of Divine judgment, and of “affliction of souls” (Lev. 23:26-32) so that the individual may be cleansed of sins. The only fast day decreed in the Bible, it is a time to enumerate one’s misdeeds and contemplate one’s faults. The Jew is expected, on this day, to pray for forgiveness for sins between man and God and correct his wrongful actions against his fellow man.

Sukkot, described in the Bible (Lev.23:34) as the “Feast of Tabernacles” begins five days after Yom Kippur). Sukkot is one of the three festivals that were celebrated (until 70 CE) with mass pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem and are therefore known as the “pilgrimage festivals.” On Sukkot, Jews commemorate the Exodus from Egypt (c. 13th century BCE) and give thanks for a bountiful harvest. In the five days between Yom Kippur and Sukkot, many householders erect sukkot - booths for temporary dwelling, resembling the booths in which the Israelites lived in the desert, after their exodus from Egypt - and acquire the palm frond, citron, myrtle sprigs and willow branches with which the festive prayer rite is augmented.
Shemini Atseret, is the “sacred occasion of the eighth day” (Lev. 23:36) following Sukkot, with which Simhat Torah is combined. Celebration of Shemini Atseret/Simhat Torah focuses on the Torah and is noted for public dancing with a Torah scroll in one’s arms and with recitation of the concluding and beginning chapters of the Torah, renewing the yearly cycle of Torah reading.
Hanukkah, beginning on 25 Kislev (usually in December), commemorates the triumph of the Jews, under the Maccabees, over the Greek rulers (164 BCE) - both the physical victory of the small Jewish nation against mighty Greece and the spiritual victory of the Jewish faith against the Hellenism of the Greeks. Its sanctity derives from this spiritual aspect of the victory, and the miracle of the flask of oil, when a portion of sacramental olive oil meant to keep the Temple candelabrum lit for one day lasted for eight days, the time it took for the Temple to be rededicated.  While the victory over the Maccabees is placed in the apocryphal First Book of the Maccabees and not in “our” Bible, it IS mentioned in John 10:22-23 which says, “Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem.  It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.” (NIV). Hanukkah is observed, as in the Diaspora, for eight days. The central feature of this holiday is the lighting of candles each evening - one on the first night, two on the second, and so on - in commemoration of the miracle at the Temple. TheHanukkah message in Israel focuses strongly on aspects of restored sovereignty; customs widely practiced in the Diaspora, such as giftgiving and thedreidl (spinning top - sevivon in Hebrew), are also in evidence. The dreidl’s sides are marked with Hebrew initials representing the message “A great miracle occurred here”; in the Diaspora, the initials stand for “A great miracle occurred there.”
Purim, another rabbinical festival in early spring, occurs on 14 Adar (15 Adar in walled cities), commemorating the deliverance of beleaguered Jewry in the Persian Empire under Artaxerxes, as recounted in the Book of Esther. This festival compensates for the solemnity of many other Jewish observances by mandating merriment. A festive reading of the Scroll of Esther is marked by noisemakers sounded whenever the villain Haman’s name is recited.

Passover (Pessah), is celebrated in the spring, beginning on 15 Nisan. Passover is the festival celebrating the Exodus from Egypt (c. 13th century BCE) and liberation from bondage. Freedom is, indeed, the festival’s dominant theme. The rites of Passover begin long before the festival, as families cleanse their premises of hametz - leaven and anything containing it - as prescribed in the Bible (Ex. 12:15-20). The day before the festival is devoted to preparatory rituals including ceremonial burning of the forbidden foodstuff. On the holiday evening, the seder is recited: an elaborate retelling of the enslavement and redemption. At this festive meal, the extended family gathers to read the Haggadah and enjoy traditional foods, particularly matza (unleavened bread). The following day’s observances resemble those of the other pilgrimage festivals. Passover is probably second only to Yom Kippur in traditional observance by the generally nonobservant.

Shavuot, the last of the pilgrimage festivals, when enumerated from the beginning of the Jewish year, falls seven weeks after Passover (6 Sivan), at the end of the barley harvest and the beginning of the wheat harvest. The Bible (Deut. 16:10) describes this occasion as the festival of weeks (Heb. shavuot), for so is it counted from Passover, and as the occasion on which new grain and new fruits are offered to the priests in the Temple. Its additional definition - the anniversary of the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai - is of rabbinical origin. 

King Solomon

Today I am focusing King Solomon.  The leadership to get the Temple built, the wisdom portrayed in Proverbs, and the love expressed in Song of Solomon speak to his greatness.  Ecclesiastes is also usually attributed to Solomon (though not all scholars agree on this), most likely written in his later life, and looks back on his failures as a human.  Here’s some basic information on the man and what is known about him.

·          Although most remembered for his wisdom and for his building of the Temple, he was also the king who sins included idolatry and turning away from God which ultimately led to the division of the kingdom during the reign of his son.

·         The time of Solomon is commonly known as the “high time” for the Israelites – they had command over a wide geographical area (often due to strategic marriages by Solomon), tremendous wealth, and the Temple, of course, was built. 

·         Islam has Solomon to be a prophet, known as Sulaiman.

·         Solomon is also widely known for his “famous” encounter with the Queen of Sheba  during which she not only brought a slew of gifts but also asked a number of questions which he answered

·         Solomon had many wives and concubines.  Many of these were not Israelites and led him astray from God toward idolatry

·         Deut. 17:16-17 warns kings not to multiply horses or wives nor gold or silver.  Solomon did all these.

·         Solomon was the child of David and Bathsheba.  He was not the oldest, but was promised the kingship by his father who anointed him so prior to his death when he was only 12.  Solomon’s older brother Adonijah thought he should be king and ended up being killed along with Joab and Shimei, enemies of David.

·         Solomon ruled for about 40 years

·         Some speculation exists around the Song of Solomon – was he writing of his passion for a woman or passion toward God.  I’d never before seen or heard it as the second possibility and re-read it with that slant.  Interesting!

·         Regarding Ecclesiastes:  as I mentioned above, most people ascribe this to Solomon, either written later in his life or written down by someone else after he died.  Others ascribe it to rulers who came after Solomon, either regarding their own “failures” or putting themselves in the place of Solomon and writing as him. 

·         Solomon also wrote several Psalms which were included in our chronological study

·         Solomon’s son Rehoboam succeeded him after his death from natural causes.  I found references that put him at anywhere between 52 and 80 at the time of his death.  52 would signify that he died at about the time his rule ended, the upper ends allowed him to live afterwards.

Kings of Israel and Judah

So we’re reading about all the kings of Israel and Judah and all the wars they get into.  There are a lot of characters to keep track of and, for me, the names are a bit unfamiliar (even after hearing them at least once before!).  So I’ve culled from various websites a table of the kings and estimated dates on their reigns.  While this list and the overlap between these folks is correct, the dates are definitively estimates – I saw variations of up to 10 years on some of these, but went with the ones that were most consistent. 

Israel		Judah
Reign (estimate)	Leader	Reign (estimate)	Leader
931–910	Jeroboam	931–914	Rehoboam
		914–912	Abijah
910-909	Nadab	911–871	Asa
909–886	Baasah
886-885	Elah
885	Zimri
885–874	Omri	871–848	Jehoshaphat
874–853	Ahab
853–852	Ahaziah
852–841	Jehoram	848–841	Jehoram
841–814(3)	Jehu	841	Ahaziah
		841–835	Athaliah (queen)
814(3)–797	Jehoahaz	835–796	Joash
797–782	Jehoash	796–767	Amaziah
782–747	Jeroboam II	767–739	Uzziah
747	Zechariah
747	Shallum
747–742	Menahem	739–734	Jotham
742–740	Pekahiah
740–731	Pekah	734–728	Ahaz
731–722	Hoshea Fall of Samaria to the Assyrians (722)
		728–699	Hezekiah
		699–643	Manasseh
		642–640	Amon
		640–609	Josiah
		609	Jehoahaz
		609–598	Jehoiakim
		598–597	Jehoiachin
		597–587	Zedekiah Fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians (587)