2020 Bible Vision

Ryan Hofstetter

4.30.2020

2 Chronicles 29-32

Summary:  Hezekiah became king of Israel at 25 and reigned for 29 years. Hezekiah wanted to do what was right in God’s eyes and repair the damage the previous kings and people had done. Hezekiah began by repairing and consecrating the Temple. Hezekiah celebrated the Passover, even though it was passed time, because he knew it was the right thing to do. This inspired the people and they destroyed the so-called sacred stones and Asherah poles and made sure that there were no longer false gods in the nation. Hezekiah called for the nation to provide for the priests and pay tithe. God had provided so well for the people because of the faith they have shown that the priests had more than they could handle that was tithed to them. God gave with abundance. The king of Assyria decided to lay siege to Israel and take it for himself because of their abundance.  However Hezekiah called out to God in great faith and God sent an angel who annihilated all the fighting men, leaders, and officers of Assyria’s army. The king of Assyria was murdered by his own sons. Hezekiah became proud and God got angry with him and the people, but Hezekiah and the people repented. Hezekiah lived his life for God and lead his people well in pursuit of God

What is one key verse?   2 Chronicles 31:21

And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered.

How does what you read change your vision of God?  It didn’t change my vision. It just confirms what I already know. God listens and cares for his faithful people.

How does what you read change your vision of yourself or others?  It just confirms that I need to stay strong in my faith, that I need to trust that God is with me and he wants the best for me and that I need to listen to Him and do what His word says.

How will you Go With God because of this reading?  I will try to be more faithful and listen better to His word.

Where did you see Jesus in these chapters?  In how Hezekiah led with faith and led his people to faith.

Dana and April Hayes

4.29.2020

2 Chronicles 26-28

These chapters are about a bunch of “Young Bucks” leading Judah.

Uzziah comes to power after his father is killed. Uzziah is 16 years old and he reigns for 52 years. He does a lot of good, cool civic projects and amasses a massive army and… of course… the power leads to pride. He goes into the temple and tries to burn incense to God, which only the priests were allowed to do and gets in trouble… he gets leporasy!

Jotham takes over for Uzziah at the age of 20 and he reigns for 16 years and he does pretty awesome, then Ahaz takes over at the age of 20 and he does not do very well. He eventually gets handed over to Aram and Isreal and it all goes downhill from there. But…
Ahaz is the father of Hezikiah and he did pretty well. We will be hearing about him next.

Chronicles can be a little hard because it bounces back and forth between the history of Judah and the history of Isreal so keep that in mind as you read it. It bounces all over the place. Remember, Isreal was divided into two separate kingdoms at this point in history.

The key verse for me in this section is

2 Chronicles 26:5B talking about Uzziah: “Whenever he sought the Lord, God have him success.”

Isn’t that where we all want to be? I want to be successful in everything I do so that make me want to NEVER give up seeking the Lord in his word and in prayer

Evan Renwick

4.28.2020

2 Chronicles 21-25

“Pride Comes Before the Fall”

A key verse in these chapters is: 

While he was still speaking, the king said to him, “Have we appointed you an adviser to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?” So the prophet stopped but said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.”

2 Chronicles 25:16 

This verse changed my vision of how God speaks to us and even warns us through others, and how important it is for us to be attentive of what God is trying to say to us and refusing to let pride drowned out his voice. 

The thing that impacted me most was: Seeing the seriousness of  pride and the detrimental effect it has on our relationship with God and how it will ultimately lead to our downfall.

This verse has helped me view myself as a man who needs to be more aware of how God may be speaking to me through others and the need to respond humbly, and  how God may be prompting me to speak his truth in Love through me to benefit those around me.

 Moving forward I will strive to walk humbly with God and to pray, worship, and love him above all else. 

Daniel Bohner

4.27.2020

2 Chronicles 17-20 

Summarize what you read in one paragraph: Jehoshaphat becomes King of Judah and makes a great impact as King. He loves God and as the Bible says follows God’s commandments. So of course God looked on him with favor. Jehoshaphat does something amazing and sends out his officials to teach the word of God to the people. Though Jehoshaphat does amazing works as King he had flaws. He allied himself with Ahab King of Israel. One of if not the evilest King of Israel. The two Kings send for Micaiah a prophet of God. Micaiah tells the outcome of the battle as well as describes a meeting between God and all the Heavenly hosts. God asks the Spirits “who will entice Ahab King of Israel to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead”? One Spirit agreed to do this. The two Kings go to battle and Ahab is killed by an act of God and God rescues Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat does get rebuked because of his alliance but does not learn His lesson. Now after sometime Jehoshaphat and Judah become aware of an invasion. Immediately Jehoshaphat turns himself and the people to God! God hears his people and comes to their aid. At the end of 20 though Jehoshaphat allies himself with Ahaziah King of Israel (after Ahab) and this displeases God because of this God destroys the plans the two Kings had. 

Now then let the fear of the Lord be upon you; be very careful what you do, for the Lord our God will have no part in unrighteousness or partially or the taking of a bribe.

2 Chronicles 19:7 NASB 

How does what you read change your vision of God? It reminds me just how Holy God is between the meeting of the Heavenly hosts and what he wouldn’t stand for from Jehoshaphat who was a pretty solid king. 

How does what you read change your vision of yourself or others? Well I see that God does not like compromise when we pair up with people who are evil or just tolerating certain things that we absolutely know we shouldn’t. 

How will you Go With God because of this reading? (What is an action step?) Definitely not allowing myself to compromise with any evil because as disciples we do not want to displease God. Being very vigilant and on guard. 

Where did you see Jesus in these chapters? (What made you think about Jesus?) Honestly I saw Jesus in Jehoshaphat because I believe The King did have love for all of Israel and truly wanted to see the kingdoms and people United. I know Jehoshaphat wasn’t perfect but come one he was human. I believe though that I did see Jesus qualities In Jehoshaphat. 

Kelsey McIlwain

4.25.20

2 Chronicles 13-16

Summarize what you read in one paragraph:

Today’s reading summarizes the reigns of two kings of Judah: Abijah and Asa. During King Abijah’s reign, he faced opposition from King Jeroboam of Israel. Even though Judah was greatly outnumbered, God delivered Israel into his hands because of his leadership in keeping the people of Judah faithful to their covenant with God. King Asa followed in his father’s footsteps, leading Judah to continually seek God wholeheartedly and obey his commands. Unfortunately, King Asa does not finish well. After 35 years of peace, King Baasha of Israel laid siege on the kingdom of Judah. Instead of crying out to God, King Asa immediately calls on King Ben-Hadad of Aram for help. Asa is visited by a prophet who corrects him on his unfaithfulness to God. Unfortunately, this lack of trust in God becomes a detrimental pattern for him and, after a couple years, King Asa develops a foot disease and dies.

What is one key verse?

2 Chronicles 16:8-9.

“Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the Lord, he delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.”

How does what you read change your vision of God?

Today’s reading gives me a better understanding of how much God values wholehearted commitment to Him and why. God has a flawless track record of being able to provide for our needs. That being said, He is limited in how much impact He can have in our lives when we waver in our faithfulness to seek Him out as our sole provider for comfort, strength, or whatever else we feel that we are lacking. Being completely obedient to God and seeking Him out not only honors Him, but also allows Him to provide for us and protect us from putting our hope in things that can fail.

How does what you read change your vision of yourself or others?

This helps me see how quickly I can disregard all that God has done in my life and run to other people or things for security. I want to be more aware of where I instinctually turn to get my needs met. Is it God or another person or thing that I’ve put my hope in?

How will you Go With God because of this reading? (What is an action step?)

I will Go With God by stopping to consider what my automatic response to facing challenges is. If it is to go to anyone or anything but God, I will stop and commit some time in prayer to lay my anxieties, fears, stress, etc. at His feet.

Where did you see Jesus in these chapters? (What made you think about Jesus?)

This passage made me think about how Jesus relied primarily on God to sustain Him during His time on earth. He was intimately connected to God and did not look to people to meet His needs, setting a perfect example for all of us.

Kiana González Cedeño

4.24.2020

2 Chronicles 10-12

In today’s reading, we see what happens after Solomon dies in the previous chapter. In chapter 10, there is a great lesson that we learn through King Rehoboam. As he is learning how to take over as the new ruler, he refers to his advisers about how to deal with his father’s “harsh yoke.” On the one hand, the elders tell him, to be kind and to please the servants. On the other hand, his younger counterparts tell him to be harsher. As we read in the chapter, we see that King Rehoboam listens to his younger counterparts, ignoring the advice of the elders of the community, which leads to a rebellion of Israel. Here, King Rehoboam is simply looking for what my mom likes to call, convenient advice: the advice that you want to hear. Do you have this tendency? Are you seeking the wisdom of the elders in your church/community, or do you just look for the advice that tells you what you want to hear? 

As we move on through our reading, there is a lineage of Rehoboam’s Kingdom, and then move one to another great lesson in Chapter 12. Due to the disobedience of Rehoboam’s Kingdom, Shishak invades his kingdom and great calamity (as usual) falls on the Israelites. However, in verse 6, we see God’s incredible mercy and justice. While He does abandon His people (v. 5), God sees how the leaders of Israel humble themselves and say

“The Lord is Righteous,” then “[w]hen the LORD saw that they had humbled themselves, the LORD’s message came to Shemaiah: ‘They have humbled themselves; I will not destroy them, but grant them a little deliverance….” (v.7).

2 Chronicles 12:7

How amazing is that! It really is that simple. Whether you listen to the wrong advice and get yourself in a crazy dilemma or you think you abandon God’s law for a moment, all it takes is returning to our knees and calling on the name of our amazing God. Furthermore, because of the incredible sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, God never abandons us. He is with us, always! Isn’t that just the coolest?

Kim & Jerry Jones 

4.23.2020

2 Chronicles 6-9

These chapters outline the work of Solomon to fulfill David’s heart-filled dream of builidng a house in God’s name. Even though David was not to build the house, he raise a son, Solomon, who knew to be obedient to God’s wishes. Not only did Solomon follow God’s specific plan, he ruled as a wise man. He built a happy and prosperous kingdom. Ultimately, he ruled for forty years and even influenced the Queen of Sheba with his wisdom.

A key verse in these chapters is: 

2 Chronicles 7:17-18

“And as for you, if you will walk before me as David your father walked, doing according to all that I have commanded you and keeping my statutes and my rules, then I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father, saying ‘You shall not lack a man to rule Israel’”.

This verse is important because it establishes the concept of obedience to God. In addition, it illustrates the importance of raising children to know God and follow Him. If we do this, then God will bless us, and we can bless others.

How does what you read change your vision of God?

This reading just continues to reinforce the importance of staying connected to God. If we don’t, then we won’t know His will and be able to follow it. Ultimately, we are called to obedience, if we call ourselves Christians (“Christlike”). There cannot be deviations; God deals harshly with unrepentant disobedience. We need to guard ourselves to stay in line with His will always. 

How does what you read change your vision of yourself or others? 

If I obey God, He will be there to direct my life. He will help me to move forward to be a successful coworker, parent, and spouse. 

How will you Go With God because of this reading? (What is an action step?) 

We need to work harder to spend more time together in God’s word. Having such busy lives makes us susceptible to slacking off in studying. Moving forward we will dedicate time each day in God’s word together.

Where did you see Jesus in these chapters? 

Jesus was obedient to God unto death. He gave His life as God called Him to do to save all of our souls! Would that we could be SO obedient.

Monty Binkley

4.22.2020

1 Chronicles 1-5

The 1st chapter of 2 Chronicles vs 10 reads that Solomon is asking for wisdom to govern the people. God grants Solomon wisdom. Solomon later has the temple built and then has the temple dedicated. Solomon is starting out as the new king doing things the way that he should do them. He is seeking God, and he is later on his knees and raising his hands upward as he is having the temple dedicated. We see from these passages of scripture that Solomon has his heart in the right place.

2 Chronicles 1:10

Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

But will he continue to use his God-given wisdom to glorify God or himself? We will soon see.

Jesus was the wisest man ever to live. Instead of building a temple, he cleared it out. Instead of building a palace he had no place to lay his head. And in his greater wisdom he built for his great people the kingdom that we are a part of today!

Stephen VanBueren

4.21.2020

1 Chronicles 28-29

These chapters chronicle the end of King David’s life. David addresses the nation of Israel as a whole, reminding them of God’s anointing of him to rule and lead His people. David shared with Israel that his heart’s intent was to build a house for the Lord, but God had chosen his son, Solomon to do that work. He concludes his address to Israel by reminding them to both seek and observe all of God’s commandments, that they may continue to possess their inherited land.

David then turns his attention to his son Solomon, charging him to: 1. Know God (which is very different than just knowing of God), 2. Serve God with his whole heart and willing mind, because 3. God searches all hearts and 4. Understands every plan and thought, 5. To seek God that you may find Him, but 5. Forsake him and you will be forsaken. David finishes addressing his son by reminding Solomon to not be afraid because God would be with him.

These chapters, and David’s life, conclude by reminding Israel of all that he had done to provide for the house of the Lord. He prays in the presence of of Israel, honoring God and giving thanks for all of His provision, concluding with a prayer to the Lord on behalf of his son Solomon, who is then anointed as King and then passes on “at a good age, full of days, riches, and honor.”

The key verse that really stood out to me was

1 Chronicles 29:3 “Moreover, in addition to all that I have provided for the holy house, I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, and because of my devotion to the house of my God I give it the house of my God.”

To be honest, this passage totally rocked me. What do most American’s spend their professional careers attempting to do? For many, it is the pursuit to save up as much for retirement as possible and then to be able to pass along some sort of savings or life insurance to our children after us. 

But what did King David do?

He said that in addition to all that he had spent his life providing for the house of God, David tells of his own fortune that he personally had amassed. What’s remarkable, and revealing as to the heart that David had for God, is that instead of passing it on to his many children, to make sure that they were taken care of after his passing – because of his love and devotion to God, David takes everything that he had in the bank, and gives it all to the house of God!

What if we all had that same heart and devotion to God’s church? What if, at the end of our lives, we took our inheritance (however great or small) and devoted it to continuing to build up God’s church? What if we worked hard during our professional years, not to amass more stuff, not to be able to safely retire or arrive safely at death, but to have as much as we possible can to leave to God’s church?

I’m reminded of Jesus drawing attention to the poor widow’s offering in Mark 12. Jesus made sure that his disciples knew that she was honored above all others, not because of how much she gave, but because of the fact that she took all that she had and gave it to the Lord.

Anna Struck  

4.20.2020

1 Chronicles 22-27

Summarize what you read in one paragraph:

The consequence of David’s pride was that he would not be chosen to build the temple for the Lord. The task was given to David’s son Solomon in which God would establish Solomon’s throne over Israel forever. David’s response was not of jealousy, but rather he would provide the proper specific steps required to ensure that Solomon would fulfill his task for God. 

What is one key verse?

1 Chronicles 23:32

“And so the Levites carried out their responsibilities for the tent of meeting, for the Holy Place and, under their relatives the descendants of Aaron, for the service of the temple of the Lord.”

This stood out to be because the Levites had specific responsibilities only they could complete for God’s temple. The responsibilities were ranked based on family name. 

How does what you read change your vision of God?

These chapters show me how detailed God is in his planning. This would demonstrate the unconditional love and planning that God has for my life and others.   

How does what you read change your vision of yourself or others?

Knowing God can use me or others to fulfill his purpose even when I do not feel able to be used. There is not anyone within the body that can not be used no matter their circumstances. 

How will you Go With God because of this reading? (What is an action step?)

David did not let his pride of not been chosen by God to build the temple impact his attitude of completing his responsibility to ensure the task was completed. I desire to have that devotion toward God regardless of what he is asking of me.   

Where did you see Jesus in these chapters? (What made you think about Jesus?)

David’s final obedience to God demonstrates the obedience Jesus had to God by dying on the cross.