Chronological Bible Journey Podcast

Day 115 | 2 Samuel 8:15-18; 1 Chronicles 18:14-17; 1 Chronicles 6:16-30, 50-53, 31-48; 2 Samuel 9:1–10:19; 1 Chronicles 19:1-19 In today’s reading from 2 Samuel 8–9, we witness David reigning over Israel with justice and righteousness, fulfilling God’s call for godly leadership. David doesn’t just rule with authority—he rules with mercy, keeping his covenant with Jonathan by restoring his son Meph...

Day 114 | 2 Samuel 7:1-17; 1 Chronicles 17:1-15; 2 Samuel 7:18-29; 1 Chronicles 17:16-27; 2 Samuel 8:1-14; 1 Chronicles 18:1-13; Psalm 60 We walk through 2 Samuel 7—a defining moment in David’s story and God’s greater redemptive plan. David wants to build a house for the Lord, but God redirects his intentions with a breathtaking promise: not only will David not build a temple, but God will build D...

Day 113 | 2 Samuel 6:12a; 1 Chronicles 15:1-28; 2 Samuel 6:12b-16; 1 Chronicles 15:29; 2 Samuel 6:17-19a; 1 Chronicles 16:1-43; 2 Samuel 6:19b-23 Today’s reading covers the powerful story of David bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. After Uzzah’s tragic death due to disobedience, David realizes the importance of following God’s exact instructions. We see how the Levites are prepared, th...

Day 112 | 2 Samuel 5:1-3; 1 Chronicles 11:1-3; 1 Chronicles 12:23-40; 2 Samuel 5:17-25; 1 Chronicles 14:8-17; 2 Samuel 5:6-10; 1 Chronicles 11:4-9; 1 Chronicles 3:4b; 2 Samuel 5:13, 4-5, 11-12; 1 Chronicles 14:1-2; 1 Chronicles 13:1-5; 2 Samuel 6:1-11; 1 Chronicles 13:6-14 We see the long-awaited moment when David is finally made king over all of Israel—15 years after being anointed. Instead of ru...

Day 111 | 2 Samuel 3:6–4:12 We see David’s remarkable character as a godly leader unfold. Instead of celebrating the deaths of his enemies—Abner and Ish-bosheth—David mourns them, refusing to take vengeance or rejoice in their downfall. Even when others take matters into their own hands and try to “help” David claim the throne, he condemns their actions and declares that only God saves him from hi...

Day 110 | 2 Samuel 2:1–3:5; 1 Chronicles 3:1-4a; 2 Samuel 23:8-17; 1 Chronicles 11:10-19; 2 Samuel 23:18-39; 1 Chronicles 11:20-47 David finally steps into his long-awaited role as king—but not without first seeking the Lord's direction. Rather than rushing into power, David asks God where to go, modeling humility and obedience. He’s made king over Judah, but the rest of Israel follows Saul’s...

Day 109 | 1 Samuel 30:1-31; 1 Chronicles 12:20-22; 1 Samuel 31:1-13; 1 Chronicles 10:1-14; 1 Chronicles 9:40-44; 2 Samuel 4:4; 2 Samuel 1:1-27 We witness a powerful contrast between David and Saul. After discovering their camp raided and families taken, David seeks the Lord’s direction before acting—a habit that defines his leadership. Meanwhile, Saul’s tragic reign comes to an end as he falls in...

Day 108 | 1 Samuel 26:1–27:7; 1 Chronicles 12:1-7; 1 Samuel 27:8–29:11; 1 Chronicles 12:19; Psalm 56 We watch two men—David and Saul—face fear and desperation, but respond in completely different ways. David continues to be pursued by Saul, but he refuses to harm God’s anointed, choosing instead to trust the Lord to fight for him. Meanwhile, Saul, frantic and disconnected from God, turns to a forb...

Day 107 | 1 Samuel 23:13-29; Psalm 54; 1 Samuel 24:1–25:44 David continues to flee from Saul and finds himself in a season of exhaustion, fear, and uncertainty. Yet in the midst of the chaos, God gives him the gift of godly friendship through Jonathan and unexpected wisdom from Abigail. We see how David resists taking vengeance into his own hands and chooses instead to honor God’s timing and trust...

Day 106 | 1 Samuel 22:1-2; Psalm 57; Psalm 142; 1 Chronicles 12:8-18; 1 Samuel 22:3-23; Psalm 52; 1 Samuel 23:1-12 David was running for his life, hiding in a cave with no army, no throne, and no clear future—yet he chose to trust and praise God. In 1 Samuel 22–23 and Psalm 57, we get a powerful glimpse into how David responded in his darkest hour. He didn’t wait until the storm passed to praise—h...

Day 105 | 1 Samuel 20:1–21:15; Psalm 34 In today’s reading, we witness the deep contrast between Saul’s fear and David’s faith. While Saul spirals into paranoia, hunting David with relentless jealousy, David chooses to trust God despite being on the run. Psalm 34, written during this season of David’s life, gives us a beautiful model of how to respond to trials—with praise, prayer, and trust. What...

Day 104 | 1 Samuel 17:32–19:17; Psalm 59; 1 Samuel 19:18-24 Today’s reading takes us through one of the most iconic battles in Scripture—David vs. Goliath. But beyond the battle, we see a deeper theme emerging: faith vs. fear. While Saul and Israel cowered before the Philistine giant, David saw something different—God’s power. His trust in the Lord led to an incredible victory, yet Saul’s jealousy...

Day 103 | 1 Samuel 15:1–17:31 Today's reading dives into one of the most powerful lessons on obedience in Scripture. God commanded Saul to destroy the Amalekites completely, yet Saul decided to keep what “appealed” to him. Instead of following God's instructions fully, he let fear of the people dictate his actions. His partial obedience led to his rejection as king. But in contrast, we see...

Day 102 | 1 Chronicles 9:35-39; 1 Samuel 13:1-5, 19-23, 6-18; 1 Samuel 14:1-52 Today’s reading dives into a pivotal moment in Israel’s history—King Saul’s disobedience and its devastating consequences. Saul, impatient and fearful, takes matters into his own hands by offering a sacrifice that only Samuel was meant to perform. His partial obedience cost him everything—his dynasty and God's favor...

Day 101 | 1 Samuel 9:1–12:25 Today we enter the Kingdom Era as Israel gets its first king—Saul. But was Saul really what they needed? Israel demanded a king like the nations around them, rejecting God as their true King. Even though their request was sinful, God allowed it, giving them what they thought they needed. What can we learn from this? Are we trusting God’s plan, or are we begging Him for...

Day 100 | 1 Samuel 4:12–8:22 Today marks 100 days in our journey through God’s word! As we close the Judges Era, we see Israel’s tragic fall, the capture of the Ark, and the rise of Samuel—the last judge and first great prophet. God’s presence is powerful, and He won’t be treated as a tool for human plans. Yet, despite Israel’s rejection of God as their King, His faithfulness remains. What can we...

Day 99 | 1 Samuel 1:9–4:11 In 1 Samuel 1-4, we see powerful themes woven through God’s story—Hannah’s deep prayer and God’s faithfulness, Samuel’s calling as a prophet, and the tragic downfall of Eli’s sons due to disobedience. God blesses those who honor Him and brings consequences for those who reject Him. Through it all, we are reminded that God speaks—are we listening? Visit bellevue.org/bible...

Day 98 | Ruth 4:13-22; 1 Chronicles 2:9-55; 1 Chronicles 4:1-23; 1 Samuel 1:1-8 We explore the final chapter of Ruth and the beginning of 1 Samuel, connecting two incredible women of faith—Ruth and Hannah. Ruth’s story comes full circle as she becomes the great-grandmother of King David, showcasing God’s redemption and provision. Then, we shift to Hannah, a woman of deep faith who longed for a chi...

Day 97 | Ruth 1:1–4:12 In the midst of the dark and chaotic Judges era, the book of Ruth shines as a story of faithfulness, redemption, and God’s provision. Naomi, bitter and broken from loss, believes her life is over—yet God is writing a greater story. Ruth, a Moabite widow, chooses loyalty over comfort and follows Naomi to Israel, where God’s law makes a way for their survival. Enter Boaz, a ma...

Day 96 | Judges 19:1–21:25 The final chapters of Judges (19-21) reveal just how far Israel had fallen—so much so that their own society became indistinguishable from Sodom and Gomorrah. With horrifying events, tribal warfare, and moral chaos, these chapters demonstrate what happens when people reject God as their King. Yet even in the depths of sin and destruction, God is still sovereign. As Judge...

Day 95 | Judges 16:1–18:31 It's the dramatic end of Samson’s story, a man gifted with strength but plagued by weakness. His entanglement with Delilah leads to his downfall, revealing the dangers of compromise and ignoring God’s calling. Yet, even in his final moments, Samson turns back to God for one last act of victory. Meanwhile, Israel’s spiritual decline continues as Micah sets up a person...

Day 94 | Judges 11:29–15:20 We witness the tragic consequences of Jephthah’s reckless vow, leading to the heartbreaking loss of his own daughter. Meanwhile, we meet Samson, a man of great strength but little wisdom, who disregards his Nazarite vow and begins a life driven by impulse, revenge, and personal desires. Yet, despite their flaws, God still uses these men to accomplish His plans. This pas...

Day 93 | Judges 9:22–11:28 We witness the tragic downfall of Abimelech, a self-proclaimed king who ruled Israel through treachery and violence, only to meet his end by a millstone thrown from a tower. His story highlights the consequences of corrupt leadership. Meanwhile, Israel falls into its recurring cycle of sin, turning to idols and facing oppression. When they finally cry out to God, He chal...

Day 92 | Judges 7:1–9:21 God leads Gideon through an incredible test of faith, whittling his army down to just 300 men against 135,000 Midianites to prove that victory belongs to Him alone. After receiving divine assurance, Gideon leads his tiny army to an impossible triumph. But victory is short-lived—Israel turns to idol worship, and Gideon himself makes a golden ephod that becomes a trap. His s...

Day 91 | Judges 3:31–6:40 Israel’s cycle of sin and redemption continues in Judges 3-6 as Deborah and Barak lead the nation to victory over their enemies, with an unexpected heroine, Jael, delivering the final blow. But after 40 years of peace, Israel falls back into sin, leading to Midianite oppression. God raises up Gideon, an unlikely and hesitant leader, to rescue His people. As Gideon wrestle...