Biblical Shakers

Click on Title for Video Intro Monday, Habakkuk Introduction Habakkuk Intro  Delores Little THOUGHT We find out Habakkuk was in Jeremiah’s time.  The book of Habakkuk is somewhat unique in that it includes no oracle addressed to Israel.  It is a dialogue between the prophet and God. In the first two chapters he argues with God over His ways that appear to him unfathomable, if not unjust.  Having received replies, he responds with a beautiful confession of faith. We will read about the following:   1. Habakkuk’s first complaint:  “Why does the evil in Judah go unpunished?” 2. God’s Answer:  “The Babylonians will punish Judah.”  3. Habakkuk’s second complaint:  “How can a just God use wicked Babylon to punish a people more righteous than themselves?” 4. God’s Answer:  “Babylon will be punished, and faith will be rewarded.” 5. Habakkuk’s Prayer:  After asking for manifestations of God’s wrath and mercy (as he has seen in the past)...

Click on Title for Video Intro Monday, II Kings Chapter 25  II Kings 25 Mindy Strayer THOUGHT I actually really loved the life application writing from my Bible. They do a good job of summarizing the big picture of 2 Kings and the chapter we read.  I would like to share that with you.   The book of II Kings opens with Elijah being carried to heaven-the destination awaiting those who follow God. But the book ends with the people of Judah being carried off to foreign lands as humiliated slaves-the result of failing to follow God. Second Kings is an illustration of what happens when we make ruinous alliances, when our consciences become desensitized to right and wrong, and when we are no longer able to discern God’s purpose for our lives. We may fail, like the people of Judah and Israel, but God’s promises do not. He is always there to help us straighten out our lives and start over.  And that is just what happened in the book of Ezra. When the people acknowledged ...

  Click on Title for Video Intro Monday, II Kings Chapter 20 II Kings 20 Verse 5 Matt Strayer Verse 5:  Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, this is what the lord, the God of your father David says, “I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the Lord.” THOUGHT Part of this chapter I found perplexing, and part I found truly amazing. First, the perplexing part: I don’t understand theology as well as most, but if the prophet Isaiah told me I was about to die and would not recover, I would probably just accept it. Those were the words of the Lord, and yet Hezekiah got down and prayed which changed the final outcome. The odd thing is that it seems to me God changed His mind. It is not many times in scripture we see God do this.  The amazing part is Hezekiah’s true faith and trust in the Lord. Even after Isaiah had told him that he was going to die, he got down on his knees and prayed ...

  Click on Title for Video Intro Monday, II Kings Chapter 15 II Kings 15 Bart Strayer THOUGHT This chapter covered seven kings of both Israel and Judah. Were they well behaved? Let’s see. Azariah: Did right. Zechariah: Did evil. Shallum: Didn’t say (reigned only 1 month) Menahem: Did evil. Pekahiah: Did evil. Pekah: Did evil. Jotham: Did right. What gages ‘did right’ and ‘did evil’? If you’re basically a good person, you do right. Right? Not necessarily. God is looking on the horizon for people who are standing in the gap of light that love Him with all of their hearts, minds, and strength. Full submission to God’s Will with love and obedience to Christ, His Son, is doing right. Anything less is questionable. As I read this, I thought if my name were listed, ‘what would be behind it?’ Did ‘right’, or did ‘evil’? PRAYER Dear God, again we thank You for Your Word. As we continue along our journey of life together, give us favor in the activities of Your Will. Put up roadblocks in are...

  Click on Title for Video Intro Monday, II Kings Chapter 10 II Kings 10 Verse 30 Jeanie Boldt What a gruesome chapter. What terrible actions. It is hard to believe that some men thought their actions were of GOD. The Lord wanted these sinful people gone but Jehu went way over what was asked. He allowed his power and cruelty to come before the blessing and consent of God.  How wrong he was. Sometimes we need to remember to put our new Christians in the New Testament with Paul’s letters and the story of Jesus. These happenings would make a new believer close the Word. Sometimes it is even hard for me to believe what  survival was back before Christ. Verse 30:  The Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in accomplishing what is right in my eyes and have done to the house of Ahab all I had in mind to do, your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.” THOUGHT It is hard to believe the things the Lord asked of Jehu. I believe we need ...

  Click on Title for Video Intro Monday, II Kings Chapter 5 II Kings 5 Verse 13 Jane Jones Verse 13:  But his servants caught up with him and said, “Father, if the prophet had asked you to do something hard and heroic, wouldn’t you have done it? So why not this simple ‘wash and be clean’?” THOUGHT Why do we think that everything great that comes from God is huge, impressive, hard and heroic? Obedience to God begins with humility. These first five chapters have been such great lessons on humility. We must believe that His way is better than our own. We may not always understand His ways of working, but by humbly obeying, we will receive His blessings. We must remember that (1)God’s ways are best; (2)God wants our obedience more than anything else;  (3)God can use anything to accomplish His purposes. The only thing that Naaman had to do to have his leprosy washed away is similar to what we must do to have our sin washed away -- humbly accept God’s mercy. We need to be humbl...

  Click on Title for Video Intro Monday, II Kings Introduction II Kings Intro Delores Little February 24, 2006 THOUGHT All the kings are recorded in 1 & 2 Kings except for Saul. The purpose of 1st and 2nd Kings is to illustrate the blessings that result from faithfulness and obedience to the Lord and His judgment upon unfaithfulness and disobedience. The first 17 chapters in II Kings focus on the prophets Elijah and Elisha. We see the legacy in chapter 2 that Elijah will hand down to Elisha.  In the first 9 chapters I want you to see things God did. I call them “miracles”. Nineteen kings ruled the northern kingdom for 210 years in the divided kingdom. In chapter 17 they are taken by the Assyrians. Judah had another 135 years before they were taken, a total of 465 years. Judah had 19 Kings and one  Queen, Athaliah, who took control by force. The prophets who prophesied during this time in Judah & Israel were Elijah, Elisha, Amos, Hosea, Jonah, Obadiah, Joel, Isaiah...