Day 132 One Year Bible Read Along

05/13/24 • 11 min

Bible in a Year: 365-Day Reading Plan | Daily Bible Recap Project | Catholic Ascension + Prayers |

Summary of 2 Kings 15-16:

2 Kings 15-16 narrates the reigns of several kings in the divided kingdom of Israel and Judah. The chapter begins by introducing Azariah (also known as Uzziah) as the king of Judah. Despite his initial faithfulness to God, Azariah later succumbs to pride and attempts to offer incense in the temple, resulting in him being struck with leprosy. After his death, his son Jotham takes over the throne of Judah.

Meanwhile, in Israel, a series of kings rise and fall rapidly. Menahem becomes the king of Israel and reigns for ten years, but his rule is marked by violence and oppression. After his death, his son Pekahiah succeeds him but is assassinated by Pekah, who then becomes the king. Pekah's reign is filled with turmoil as the Assyrians invade Israel and capture many of its territories.

The chapter concludes with the reign of Ahaz, who becomes the king of Judah. Ahaz does evil in the sight of the Lord, introducing idol worship and even sacrificing his own son in the fire. He seeks assistance from the Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III, but this alliance leads to further destruction and oppression.

Key People/Places/Events:

Azariah (Uzziah): King of Judah
Jotham: King of Judah
Menahem: King of Israel
Pekahiah: King of Israel
Pekah: King of Israel
Ahaz: King of Judah
Tiglath-Pileser III: Assyrian king
Assyrian invasion of Israel
Idol worship and sacrifices

Questions to Consider:

How did the actions and decisions of the kings in Judah and Israel affect their respective kingdoms?
What were the consequences of idol worship and turning away from God?
How did alliances with foreign powers impact the stability and well-being of Judah and Israel?
What lessons can be learned from the rise and fall of these kings in terms of leadership and faithfulness?
How did the Assyrian invasion shape the geopolitical landscape of the region at that time?

Summary of John 3:1-18:

John 3:1-18 is a well-known passage that features a conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, a Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council. Nicodemus comes to Jesus by night, acknowledging Jesus as a teacher from God due to the signs He has performed. Jesus responds by telling Nicodemus that in order to see the kingdom of God, one must be born again.

Confused by Jesus' statement, Nicodemus questions how a person can be born again when they are already old. Jesus explains that being born again refers to a spiritual rebirth, a transformation that comes through faith in Him. He emphasizes the necessity of being born of water and the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God.

Jesus further elaborates on the purpose of His coming into the world, highlighting God's love for humanity and His desire to offer eternal life through belief in Him. He uses the analogy of Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness to illustrate that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life.

Key People/Places/Events:

Jesus
Nicodemus: A Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council
Spiritual rebirth
Kingdom of God
Moses and the serpent in the wilderness

Questions to Consider:

What does it mean to be "born again" in the context of Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus?

Summary of 2 Kings 15-16:

Key People/Places/Events:

Azariah (Uzziah): King of Judah
Jotham: King of Judah
Menahem: King of Israel
Pekahiah: King of Israel
Pekah: King of Israel
Ahaz: King of Judah
Tiglath-Pileser III: Assyrian king
Assyrian invasion of Israel
Idol worship and sacrifices

Questions to Consider:

How did the actions and decisions of the kings in Judah and Israel affect their respective kingdoms?
What were the consequences of idol worship and turning away from God?
How did alliances with foreign powers impact the stability and well-being of Judah and Israel?
What lessons can be learned from the rise and fall of these kings in terms of leadership and faithfulness?
How did the Assyrian invasion shape the geopolitical landscape of the region at that time?

Summary of John 3:1-18:

Key People/Places/Events:

Jesus
Nicodemus: A Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council
Spiritual rebirth
Kingdom of God
Moses and the serpent in the wilderness

Questions to Consider:

What does it mean to be "born again" in the context of Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus?

Previous Episode

Day 131 One Year Bible Read Along

Summary of 2 Kings 13-14: 2 Kings 13-14 describes the reigns of two kings in Israel: Jehoahaz and Jehoash. The chapter begins by describing Jehoahaz's wicked reign and how he angered God with his idolatry. As a result, the king of Syria oppressed Israel. Jehoahaz prayed for God's help and was eventually granted some victories over the Syrians, but he ultimately died and was succeeded by his son, Jehoash. Jehoash started off strong by asking the prophet Elisha for guidance and defeating the Syrians three times. However, he also fell into sin and idolatry, leading to a lack of success in battle. The chapter concludes with Jehoash's death and his son, Amaziah, taking over the throne.

Key people/places/events: Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Syria, Elisha, Amaziah

Questions to consider: How did Jehoahaz's sin impact Israel? What was the significance of Jehoash seeking Elisha's guidance? How did Jehoash's sin impact his success in battle?

Summary of John 2: John 2 recounts the first of Jesus' miracles: turning water into wine at a wedding in Cana. The chapter begins by describing the wedding and how Jesus and his disciples were in attendance. When the wine ran out, Jesus instructed the servants to fill six large jars with water and then serve it to the guests. The water miraculously turned into wine, which the master of the banquet praised as better than the previous wine. This miracle caused Jesus' disciples to believe in him even more.

Key people/places/events: Jesus, disciples, wedding in Cana, servants, master of the banquet

Questions to consider: Why do you think Jesus performed his first miracle at a wedding? What was the significance of the water jars? How did this miracle impact the disciples' faith in Jesus?

Next Episode

Day 133 One Year Bible Read Along

2 Kings 17-18 Summary, Key People/Places/Events, and Questions to Consider:

In 2 Kings 17-18, the fall of the Northern Kingdom, Israel, takes center stage. King Hoshea, the last king of Israel, fails to pay tribute to Assyria, leading King Shalmaneser of Assyria to lay siege to Samaria, eventually leading to Israel's downfall. The Israelites are then exiled, and Assyrians populate Samaria. The new inhabitants face lion attacks, interpreted as a punishment from God, leading to the import of Israelite priests to teach the people how to worship God.

Key people involved in these chapters include King Hoshea of Israel, King Shalmaneser of Assyria, and King Hezekiah of Judah. Important places include Samaria (the capital of Israel) and Jerusalem (the capital of Judah). Significant events include the fall of Israel, the Assyrian exile, and the religious reforms instituted by King Hezekiah in Judah.

Questions to consider might include:

How did the actions of King Hoshea contribute to the downfall of Israel?
What role did the Assyrian exile play in shaping the future of the Israelite nation?
How did King Hezekiah's reforms impact the religious landscape of Judah?

John 3:19-36 Summary, Key People/Places/Events, and Questions to Consider:

John 3:19-36 details further teachings of Jesus and the testimony of John the Baptist about Jesus. Jesus talks about people loving darkness more than light because their deeds were evil. John the Baptist reaffirms his role as the forerunner to Christ, expressing joy at the success of Jesus's ministry and stating that Jesus must increase while he, John, must decrease.

Key people in this passage include Jesus and John the Baptist. The significant event here is John the Baptist's reaffirmation of Jesus's role as the Messiah and the Son of God.

Questions to consider might include:

What does Jesus mean by people loving darkness more than light?
How does John the Baptist view his role in relation to Jesus?
What does the phrase "He must increase, but I must decrease" signify in the context of John the Baptist's testimony about Jesus?