FLCBenton, Congregational Podcast

2 Chronicles, 34:1–4, 8–11, 14–33, Josiah gets serious about the Lord, the book of the Law of Moses is found in the temple, judgement on the people and the temple is pronounced, and Josiah initiates reforms. Colossians 2:8–23, on the practice of religion: superstitions, ceremonies, shadows, and substance.

2 Chronicles, 33:1–25, we meet Manasseh, Hezekiah’s unworthy son, who for years took Israel backwards, before he repented. Colossians 1:24–2:7, Paul struggles, not just to make Christians, but to make mature Christians.

2 Chronicles, 32:1–22, Hezekiah prepares Jerusalem against the attack of the Assyrians, but it is the Lord who rescues his people. Colossians 1:1–23, Jesus, the God-Man, the first, the last, holding all things together, in whom the fullness of God was pleased to dwell!

2 Chronicles, 31:1–21, Hezekiah continues his reforms of the priests, the Levites, the temple, as well as eliminating the high places and illicit shrines in the countryside. Philippians 4:1–23, the Lord is at hand! Therefore, don’t be anxious, but call upon him!

2 Chronicles 29:1–24, we move to the kings of the Davidic dynasty, and the great reformer Hezekiah. A history lesson (an important one!) and also a little bit about the differences between Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles. Philippians 3:1–21, the works of the flesh, and the life of faith, are contrasted.

2 Kings 9:1–13; 10:18–29, a new king, a new dynasty, a bloodbath, but the same old sin! Philippians 2:12–30, powerful words for every Christian to ponder: “work out your salvation with fear and trembling“.

2 Kings 6:1–23, behold, the Army of the Lord! “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them”. Philippians 1:21–2:11, “for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain“; and the greatest story ever told: the humiliation and exaltation of the Christ.

2 Kings 5:9–27, Naaman pitches a fit, his servants speak wisdom to him, he comes to his senses, obeys, and is healed! Not so good for Elisha’s servant. Philippians 1:1–20, Paul, in prison for the sake of the gospel, makes the very best of every situation.

2 Kings 4:38–5:8, just as he took care of widows and other vulnerable people in Israel, the Lord also took care of his faithful prophets. He also uses Naaman, a gentile, to stick a thumb in the eye of the apostate king of Israel! Ephesians 6:1–24, parents and children, masters and slaves: Paul teaches how to be a Christian in each of these positions. Then he teaches us about spiritual warfare and...

2 Kings 4:8–22, 32–37, Elisha and the Shunemite woman. God not only calls the powerful to repentance, but behind the scenes, so to speak, is also the friend and the helper of the poor and the widows, and those who fear him. Ephesians 5:15–33, unity, and peace, and joy are the goal. Submitting to one another, and loving one another, are the necessary paths we must take to achieve those goals.

2 Kings 2: 19–25; 4:1–7, we are introduced to Elisha‘s ministry, and the purpose of miracles in that ministry. Ephesians 4:25–5:14, moral instruction for the people of the new covenant. Perhaps hard to do, but not hard to understand!

2 Kings 2:1–18, Elijah taken to heaven, the mantle now passes to his successor, Elisha. Ephesians 4:1–24, a beautiful passage, extolling the unity of the church under one Lord, one God and Father of us all, and infused by one Holy Spirit!

1 Kings 19:1–21, the aftermath of Elijah’s victory over the prophets of Baal, and a reminder that “the battle belongs to the Lord”. Ephesians 3:1–21, Paul, the apostle to the gentiles, discusses the mystery of the ages, now made known even to the angels in heaven, that the Gentiles themselves, are fellow heirs with the Jews in the body of Christ.

1 Kings 18:20–40, Elijah, the prophet of the living God, defeats the prophets of Baal, who is nothing. Ephesians 2:1–22, what we were, what God did, and what we are – by the grace of God!

1 Kings 18:1–19, after three years of famine, Elijah confronts Ahab to his face, and challenges him and the prophets of Baal to show up for a contest. Ephesians 1:1–23, a new book, filled with soaring, cosmic rhetoric, theologically dense, and wonderfully memorable!

1 Kings 16:29–17: 24, a little bit about the history and character of the north and the south following the split, and we meet Ahab and Elijah. 2 Corinthians 9:1–15, we get a first-hand. look at Paul’s fundraising skills!

1 Kings 12:20–13:5, 33–34, Jeroboam, and the Israelites who rebelled against the house of David, set up a rival kingdom and a rival religion. 2 Corinthians 8:1–24, Paul encourages the Corinthians to contribute to his effort to provide financial relief to Christians in Jerusalem hard hit by a famine.

1 Kings 11:42–12:19, the people of God split! What was the issue? How long did it last? 2 Corinthians 7:1–16, grief, godly grief, and repentance. Paul’s relationship with the Corinthians was not an easy one!

1 Kings 11:1–26, Solomon begins to turn from the Lord, and things go south for Israel. 2 Corinthians 6:1–18, be reconciled to God! And now is the time to do it! And do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers!

1 Kings 9:1–9; 10:1–13, God renews the promise, and the threat, he first announced through Moses; in the queen of Sheba, we see how it was meant to work. 2 Corinthians 5:1–21, Our earthly tent is destined for heavenly glory. Knowing this, we walk by faith, and not by sight.

1 Kings 8:22–30, 46–63, “my name shall be there“, the temple of the Lord, where we can draw near, direct our prayers, a place before which we can stand, and God will hear, see, forgive, and have compassion. 2 Corinthians 4:1–18, the glory of God in the new covenant: the ministry of the word in jars of clay.

1 Kings 7:51–8:21, the temple is completed, the glory, the Lord fills it, and the big pieces of old testament religion are now in place! 2 Corinthians 3:1–18, the letter kills; the spirit gives life! Paul compares what had become of the law of Moses, with the new testament of our Lord and Savior.

1 Kings 5:1–18, Solomon makes preparations to build the temple of the Lord. This is the central place of worship, promised in Deuteronomy 12, the place where the Lord will make his name to dwell; 2 Corinthians 1:23–2:17, Paul encourages the Corinthians to restore a previously excommunicated member of the church, and writes about how Christians in the world are perceived, first, by God, then by the...

1 kings 3:1–15, we are more fully introduced to Solomon, and given a hint at things to come: many wives, lax religious practices, great wealth, and great wisdom; 2 Corinthians 1:1–22, reading between the lines in first and second Corinthians we see that there was a lively correspondence going back-and-forth between Paul in Ephesus, and the Corinthian congregation that he used to Pastor.

1 Kings 2:1–27, preparing for the transfer of power, David and Solomon wrap up some loose ends; 1 Corinthians 13:1–13, gifts are fine – even wonderful – but the fruit of the spirit, faith, hope, and especially love, exceed them all!