Let the Prophets Speak

Better to enjoy the fruits of your labor while you have it, because we all leave the world the same as we entered it.

Kohelet reminds us that we will never understand God and thus challenging Him is a waste of time. Instead we should focus on our lives, keep our promises, and be smart about our actions.

Kohelet advises us that despite the seeming futility of our efforts, we should still not fold our hands and do nothing. However we should choose something meaningful, with purpose and together with others.

There is a time and season for everything, we must enjoy and experience each moment, and live properly each moment of our lives.

We don't understand the ways of God, but it is better to be wise than to be foolish, and it is important to enjoy the momentary pleasures that we are privileged to experience.

Kohelet examines three possible paths; physical pleasure, wisdom, and purposelessness. He begins by observing that while he derived pleasure from seeking out the luxuries oif this world, they were only fleeting and temporary.

Wisdom itself is a source of pain and anxiety. Maybe it would be better to be ignorant?

Everything that was will be again, there is nothing new under the sun.

We introduce the Book of Ecclesiastes, and begin reading this masterpiece in which we encounter the seeming futility of the search for meaning in our lives.

The kingdom of Judah is destroyed, and the people are exiled. Cyrus of Persia issues a proclamation to allow the return of the exiles.

The reign of Josiah reaches its greatest height in the most wonderful Passover celebration in history. Tragically Josiah meets his untimely death due to a severe military error.

Josiah cleanses the nation and the Temple. A hidden Torah scroll is found and sparks a renewal of the covenant between God and His people.

Menasheh and Amon lead the people of Judah back on the sorry and evil path towards darkness.

Hezekiah leads the people to a miraculous victory over the Assyrian forces, but arrogance gets to his head.

Under Hezekiah's leadership, the wealth and bounty of the harvest is celebrated, storehouses are built, and the priestly class is supported in their holy work.

Hezekiah reunites the people of Judah and the remnants of the people of Israel in a wonderful and joyous celebration of Passover.

Hezekiah begins his remarkable reign with a dramatic restoration of the Temple.

King Ahaz leads the people down a path of corruption, idol worship and abomination. The Kingdom of Judah begins to fall apart as it is attacked from all sides.

Yotam is faithful to God and has a mostly successful reign for 16 years.

Once again, we read of a King who rules successfully until his arrogance got the better of him.

We read of the reign of King Amatzyahu of Judah. While he started with great promise, arrogance once again brings a King down to an ignominious end.

We read of Yo'ash's refurbishing of the Temple, and how he abandoned God due to arrogance after his mentor Yehoyadah passed away.

Athaliah is deposed, Yehoyadah the High Priest leads the reestablishment of the House of David and the 6 year old Yo'ash is placed on the throne of Judah.

The House of Ahab is destroyed in the North, but its negative influence persists in the Kingdom of Judah. Achaziah fails dramatically and is killed and almost the entire House of David is wiped out by Athaliah in a violent coup.

King Yehoram rules with a murderous iron fist, leads the people astray, and the once great Kingdom of Judah begins to fall apart.