READING THRU THE
OLD TESTAMENT?
(Recent Posts)
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Made in Elements
(Recent Posts)
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It is easy to read the opinions of others in a Bible study guide. But the real value (blessing) of the Bible comes primarily through reading and pondering the Bible text itself.
2Kings 16-25 - Jul 12, 2026
2Kings: 16-25
16: Ahaz reigns in Judah
17: Hosea reigns in Israel … The fall of Israel … Exile because of idolatry … Assyria resettles Samaria
18: Hezekiah reigns in Judah … Sennacherib attacks Judah
19: Isaiah reassures Hezekiah … Sennacherib defies the Lord … Hezekiah’s prayer … Isaiah prophesies Sennacherib’s fall
20: Hezekiah’s illness and recovery … Hezekiah and the Babylonian envoys
21: Manasseh reigns in Judah … Manasseh’s idolatry denounced … Amon reigns in Judah
22: Josiah reigns in Judah … Josiah repairs the Temple … Hilkiah finds the Book of the Law
23: Josiah’s reforms … Josiah restores the Passover … Josiah’s death in battle … Jehoahaz’s reign and captivity … Jehoiakim reigns in Judah
24: Jehoiachin reigns in Judah … Jerusalem captured … Zedekiah reigns in Judah
25: Fall and captivity of Judah … Gedaliah made Governor of Judah … Jehoiachin released from prison
Ponder:
? How many of the Kings, Prophets, Priests, or people faithfully kept their covenant promises to God?
? What does that say to people who believe God’s Blessings, either present or eternal, depend on their keeping their covenants with God?
? How common is it for false prophets to say something like “Follow Me” or “come home”?
2Kings 1-15 - Jul 5, 2026
2Kings 1-15
1: Elijah denounces Ahaziah
2: Elijah taken to Heaven … Elisha succeeds Elijah
3: Moab rebels against Israel
4: Elisha and the widow’s oil … Elisha and the Shunammite woman … Elisha raises the Shunammite’s son … Elisha purifies the deadly stew
5: Naaman healed of leprosy … Ghazi’s greed and punishment
6: The axe head recovered … Horses and chariots of fire … Ben-hadad’s siege of Samaria
7: Elisha promises food … The Syrians flee
8: The Shunammite’s land restored … Hazel murders Ben-jadad … Jehoram reigns in Judah … Ahaziah reigns in Judah
9: Jehu anointed king of Israel … Jehu assassinates Joram and Ahaziah … Jehu executes Jezebel
10: Jehu slaughters Ahag’s descendants … Jehu strikes down the prophets of Baal .. Jehu reigns in Israel
11: Athaliah reigns in Judah … Joash anointed king in Judah … Jehoash reign in Judah
12: Jehoash repairs the temple … The death of Joash
13: Jehoahaz reigns in Israel … Jehoash reigns in Is Israel … The death of Elisha
14: Amaziah reigns in Judah … Jeroboam II reigns in Israel
15: Azariah reigns in Judah … Zechariah reigns in Israel … Shallum reigns in Israel … Menahem reigns in Israel … Pekahiah reigns in Israel … Pekah reigns in Israel … Jotham reigns in Judah
Ponder:
? What things in these stories prompt us to marvel that people continually trust unrighteous leaders more than they trust and follow God?
? What can these stories teach us about how to recognize false and true religious leaders?
1Kings 12-22 - Jun 28, 2026
1Kings 12-22
12: Rehoboam’s folly … The Kingdom divided … Jeroboam’s golden calves
13: A man of God confronts Jeroboam … The prophet’s disobedience
14: Prophecy against Jeroboam … the death of Jeroboam … Rehoboam reign in Judah
15: Abidjan reigns in Judah … Asa reigns in Judah … Nadab reigns in Israel … Baasha reigns in Israel
16: Elah reigns in Israel … Zimri reigns in Israel … Omri reigns in Israel … Ahab reigns in Israel
17: Elijah predicts a drought … The widow of Zarephath … Elijah raises the widow’s son
18: Elijah confronts Ahab … The prophets of Baal defeated … The Lord sends rain
19: Elijah flees Jezebel … The Lord speaks to Elijah … The call of Elisha
20: Ahab’s wars with Syria … Ahab defeats Ben-hadad … Ahab defeats Ben-hadad again … A prophet condemns Ben-hadad’s release
21: Naboth’s’ vineyard … The Lord condemns Ahab … Ahab’s repentance
22: Ahab and the false prophets … Micaiah prophecies agains Ahab … Ahab killed in battle … Jehoshaphat reigns in Judah … Ahaziah reigns in Israel
Ponder:
? What in these events would have prompted the Jews to look for a perfectly righteous Leader/Savior?
? What in our time prompts us to look for a perfectly righteous leader/Savior?
2Samuel: 11-24 — 1Kings 1-11 - June 21, 2026
2Samuel: 11-24 — 1Kings 1-11
11: David and Bathsheba
12: Nathan Rebukes David … David’s child dies … Solomon’s birth … Rabbah is captured
13: Ammon and Tamar … Absalom murders Amnon … Absalom flees to Geshur
14: Absalom returns to Jerusalem
15: Absalom’s conspiracy … David flees Jerusalem
16: David and Ziba … Shimei Curses David … Absalom enters Jerusalem
17: Hushai saves David
18: Absalom killed … David hears of Absalom’s death … David’s grief
19: Joab rebukes David … David returns to Jerusalem … David pardons his enemies
20: The rebellion of Sheba
21: David avenges the Gibeonites … war with the Philistines
22: David’s song of deliverance
23: The last words of David … David’s mighty men
24: David’s census … The Lord’s judgment of David’s sin … David builds an altar
1Kings: 1-11
Watch a Bible Project video about Kings
: David in his old age … Adonijah sets himself up as king … Nathan and Bathsheba before David … Solomon Anointed king
2: David’s instructions to Solomon … Death of David … Solomon’s reign established
3: Solomon’s prayer for wisdom … Solomon’s wisdom
4: Solomon’s officials … Solomon’s wealth and wisdom
5: Preparations for building the temple
6: Solomon builds the Temple
7: Solomon builds his palace … The Temple furnishings
8: The Ark brought into the Temple … Solomon blesses the Lord … Solomon’s prayer of dedication … Solomon’s Benediction … Solomon’s sacrifices
9: The Lord appears to Solomon … Solomon’s other acts
10: The Queen of Sheba … Solomon’s great wealth
11: Solomon turns from the Lord … The Lord raises adversaries
Ponder:
? Why does the Bible seem to repeat some of the stories of the Kings of the Jews?
? How are the temptations, failures, and successes of the various Kings similar and different from our own as regular people?
? Why can the lives of Jewish kings teach us about our own lives?
1Samuel 17-2Samuel 10- June 14, 2026
1Samuel: — 2Samuel 10
17: David and Goliath
18: David and Jonathan’s Friendship … David Marries Michal
19: Saul Tries to Kill David
20: Jonathan Warns David
21: David and the Holy Bread … David Flees to Gath
22: David at the Cave of Abdullah … Saul Kills the Priests at Nob
23: David Saves the City of Keilah … Saul Pursues David
24: David Spares Saul’s Life
25: Death of Samuel … David and Abigail
26: David Spares Saul Again
27: David Flees to th Philistines
28: Saul and the Medium of En-dor
29: Philistines Reject David
30: David’s Wives are Captured
31: Death of Saul
2Samuel: 1-10
Watch a Bible Project video about 2Samuel
1: David Hears of Saul’s Death … David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan
2: David Anointed King of Judah … Ish-bosheth Made King of Israel … Battle of Gibeon
3: Abner Joins David … Joab Murders Abner … David Mourns Abner
4: Ish-bosheth Murdered
5: David Anointed King of Israel … David Defeats the Philistines
6: Ark Brought to Jerusalem …. Huzzah and the Ark … David and Michal
7: The Lord’s Covenant with David … David’s Prayer of Gratitude
8: David’s Victories … David’s Officials
9: David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth
10: David Defeats Ammon and Syria
Ponder:
? What made some Jewish Kings good kings?
? What made some Jewish Kings bad kings?
? Why were there so few good kings?
? Why does the Bible tell us the stories of the kings more than the stories of individual people?
1 Samuel 8-16 - June 7, 2026
1Samuel:
8: Israel Demands a King … Samuel’s Warning Against Kings … LORD Grants Israel’s Request
9: Saul Chosen to Be King
10: Saul Anointed King … Saul Proclaimed King
11: Saul Defeats the Ammonites … Kingdom is Renewed
12: Samuel’s Farewell Address
13: Saul Fights the Philistines … Saul’s Unlawful Sacrifice
14: Jonathan Defeats the Philistines … Saul’s Rash Vow … Saul Fights Israel’s Enemies
15: The LORD Rejects Saul
16: David Anointed King … David in Saul’s Service
Ponder:
? Why did Israel “demand” a King?
? How did Samuel’s warnings about kings turn out?
? How is having Jesus as King different from having Saul (or any other Jewish king) as our King?
? Why did the Jews reject Jesus as their King?
? What makes you want to have Jesus as your King?
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1Samuel 1-7 - May 31, 2026
Watch a Bible Project video about 1Samuel
1Samuel:
1: The Birth of Samuel … Samuel Given to the LORD
2: Hannah’s Prayer … Eli’s Worthless Sons … Eli Rebukes His Sons … The LORD Rejects Eli’s Household
3: The LORD Calls Samuel
4: Philistines Capture the Ark … Death of Eli
5: Philistines and the Ark
6: Ark Returned to Israel
7: Samuel Judges Israel
Ponder:
? What does Hannah demonstrate about Biblical “love?”
? What might Samuel have learned about God by being left with Eli by his mother?
? What can we learn about priests and priesthood from the example of Eli and his sons?
? What are some different kinds of obstacles that God can overcome?