July 3, 2025
“And he defiled Topheth, which is in the Valley of the son of Hinnom, that no one might burn his son or his daughter as an offering to Molech.” (2 Kings 23:10 ESV). King Josiah, in his sweeping reforms, deliberately targeted the Valley of Hinnom—also known as Gehenna—as a place to abolish one of the
July 2, 2025
“Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, ‘Hear the word of the Lord: Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon.’” (2 Kings 20:16–17 ESV). Isaiah was the Lord’s prophet during the time of four kings of
June 30, 2025
“And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done.” (2 Kings 18:3 ESV). After a long succession of mostly wicked kings, Hezekiah emerged as a striking exception. The biblical writer described him in glowing terms, noting that he did what was right in
June 29, 2025
“In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah the son of Amaziah, king of Judah, began to reign. He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem.” (2 Kings 15:1–2 ESV). Azariah, also known as Uzziah, was one of the longest-reigning kings of Judah. He
June 28, 2025
“You have indeed struck down Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Be content with your glory, and stay at home, for why should you provoke trouble so that you fall, you and Judah with you?” (2 Kings 14:10 ESV). After King Amaziah of Judah defeated Edom, he became proud and sought to challenge
June 27, 2025
“Now the rest of the acts of Joash and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?” (2 Kings 12:19 ESV). Joash began his reign with great promise. Rescued from death as a child and raised under the godly guidance of the high priest
June 26, 2025
“Thus Jehu wiped out Baal from Israel. But Jehu did not turn aside from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin—that is, the golden calves that were in Bethel and in Dan.” (2 Kings 10:28–29 ESV) Jehu had been chosen by God to bring judgment on the house
June 25, 2025
“Now Elisha came to Damascus. Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick. And when it was told him, ‘The man of God has come here,’ the king said to Hazael, ‘… inquire of the Lord through him, saying, “Shall I recover from this sickness?”’ (2 Kings 8:7–8 ESV). Elisha traveled to Damascus, the capital of
June 22, 2025
“And Elisha said to the king of Israel, ‘What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother.’ But the king of Israel said to him, ‘No; it is the Lord who has called these three kings to give them into the hand of
July 2, 2024
“Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you” (2 Kings 20:5 ESV). Hezekiah, king of Judah, was sick to the point of death. The prophet Isaiah came