Nathan Whitley's Blog, page 12

Daily Readings in the Bible Ezra 7-10

Eighty years after Zerubbabel had led the first remnant of Jews to Jerusalem, Ezra led an additional 1,500 Jewish men and their families to Jerusalem. Ezra was the son of a priest born in Babylon. Not only was Ezra a priest, but he was also a scribe. A scribe, such as Ezra, studied and taught the Law of Moses. Ezra could function as both a priest and a teacher. He could offer sacrifices at the Temple, but he could also read, interpret and teach the Law. Ezra pictures the Lord Jesus Christ as bot...

Daily Readings in the Bible Ezra 4-6

Zerubbabel led the initial Jewish remnant from Babylon to Jerusalem. He was a descendent of David, being that he was the great-grandson of Jehoiakin (Jeconiah). In Ezra, Zerubbabel is also called by his Chaldean name “Sheshbazzar” (Ezra 1:8,11; 5:14-16), and the Persian title for governor “Tirshatha” (Ezra 2:63). His Hebrew name, Zerubbabel, means “descended from Babylon,” meaning that he was born while exiled in Babylon. This is more than likely the case, considering his great-grandfather becam...

Daily Readings in the Bible Ezra 4-7

Zerubbabel led the initial Jewish remnant from Babylon to Jerusalem. He was a descendent of David, being that he was the great-grandson of Jehoiakin (Jeconiah). In Ezra, Zerubbabel is also called by his Chaldean name “Sheshbazzar” (Ezra 1:8,11; 5:14-16), and the Persian title for governor “Tirshatha” (Ezra 2:63). His Hebrew name, Zerubbabel, means “descended from Babylon,” meaning that he was born while exiled in Babylon. This is more than likely the case, considering his great-grandfather becam...

Daily Readings in the Bible Ezra 1-3

After seventy years of captivity in Babylon, a remnant of Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem. Covering one hunderd years of history, the book is divided into two parts. The first part of the book chronicles twenty years of a remnant of Jews returning to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple under the leadership of Zerubbabel (Ezra 1-6). After a gap of sixty years, the second part of the book records an additional remnant of Jews returning, and the proceeding reformation under the leadership of E...

Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Chronicles 35-36

Our reading through First Kings to Second Chronicles has been a roller coaster of emotions. We’ve read of the beauty of Solomon’s Temple being built. Followed by Solomon’s fall, and the division of the kingdom. There have been godly kings, and evil kings. Battles have been won and lost. Israel was taken captive by the Assyrians, and then Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed as Judah was taken into captivity by the Babylonians.

History has shown that no nation or people can rise higher than th...

The Covenant of Salt

Salt is produced from the combination of two of the most deadly chemicals known to man – sodium, an unstable metal, and chlorine, one of the deadliest gases. When these two deadly chemicals are combined they produce sodium chloride, also known as common table salt. Salt is the only known rock that humans consume.

Additionally salt is produced “from oceans and lakes which can be produced by letting shallow holes of water dry up in the sun. The salt which remains is coarse grained, not like our fi...

Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Chronicles 32-34

Manasseh became king of Judah at the age of twelve, and reigned for fifty-five years. He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. He built the high places, which Hezekiah his father had broken down. He erected altars for the purpose of worshiping Baalim, and made groves to worship the host of heaven. He even built altars for idols in the Temple. To make matters worse, he caused his children to pass through the fire. He sought the counsel of witches and wizards, used enchantments, and co...

2 Chronicles 28-31

Ahaz was one of Judah’s worst kings. Ahaz offered sacrifices to heathen gods, made one of his sons pass through fire as a sacrifice (2 Kings 16:3), and did much damage to the Temple (2 Chr. 29).

Hezekiah reversed the atrocities his father caused. He purged Judah of his father’s idolatry. He restored the Temple and reintroduced true worship. Furthermore, he reestablished the Passover as a national celebration. Hezekiah was a man of godly character and resolve. It seems this account of Hezekiah’s ...

Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Chronicles 25-27

Uzziah, king of Judah, reigned for 52 years. That’s a rather long tenure. One who would reign that long might come to believe they could do anything. That’s the trap Uzziah fell into.

The Chronicler wrote, “But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the Temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense” (2 Chr. 26:16). Uzziah’s name meant “The Lord is my strength.” And it was the Lord who enabled him ...

Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Chronicles 21-24

The apostle Paul asked the Galatian church, “Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth” (Gal. 5:7)? That same question could be asked of Joash, king of Judah. Joash became king of Judah at the tender age of seven. As long as he listened to the godly counsel of Jehoiada, he did well. The two of them spearheaded the restoration of the long-neglected Temple.

But when Jehoiada passed away, Joash was influenced by the other leaders of Judah to worship idols. “Now after the...