2 Kings 20:1 - 21:18 Outline

Chapter 20

Hezekiah Told He Would Die (1-3)

God Grants Hezekiah Fifteen More Years (4-6)

Hezekiah Asks For A Sign (7-11)

King Of Babylon Shown Treasures Of Judah (12-13)

Isaiah Warns Of Babylon's Victory Over Judah (14-18)

Hezekiah Dies (19-21)

Chapter 21

Manasseh Reigns (1-2)

Evil Acts Of Manasseh (3-6)

Asherah Image Placed In The Temple (7-9)

The Lord Speaks Out Against Manasseh (10-16)

Death of Manasseh (17-18)

2 Kings 18:1 - 19:37 - Thoughts

And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. (2 Kings 19:14)

Hezekiah was at the end of himself.  He had no more gold or silver to offer the king of Assyria.  He was out numbered and found no human possibility for deliverance.  God had him right where He wanted him!

Why do we seem to think of God as a "last resort" when all other options fail?  God wants to be our first option with no plan B.  Proverbs 3:5-6 say it best, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

Finally, Hezekiah takes the letter from his enemy, unfolds it before the LORD in the temple and says the most amazing and heart-felt prayer. (2 Kings 19:15-19).  It was a short prayer, but consisted of three key things:

1. He acknowledged who God is to get his perspective right.
2. He asked for special attention. Lord, please pay attention to this area in my life. He recognised the attack was on God and not personal.
3. He prayed for the outcome to be for God's glory.

May we follow in Hezekiah's footsteps in this regard.  Allow us to quickly turn to Jesus for help and may we learn to pray for the right perspective and for the right motivation.

2 Kings 18:1 - 19:37 - Outline

Chapter 18

Reign of Hezekiah (1-2)

Hezekiah Reinstates Temple Worship (3-4)

God Blesses Hezekiah (5-8)

Recap Of Assyria Capturing The Northern Kingdom (9-12)

Hezekiah Pays Tribute To King Of Assyria (13-16)

Assyrian Dignitaries Come To Jerusalem (17-18)

Rabshakeh Warns Judah Not To Trust In The LORD (19-25)

Judah Leaders Try To Quiet Rabshakeh (26-27)

Rabshakeh Tries To Scare The People (28-35)

People Follow Hezekiah's Words (36-37)

Chapter 19

Hezekiah Asks Isaiah To Pray To The LORD (1-4)

The Lord Promises To Deliver Jerusalem (5-6)

Rabshakeh Sends Another Letter To Hezekiah (8-13)

Hezekiah Prays To The LORD (14-19)

God Promises To Defend Jerusalem (20-34)

God Delivers Jerusalem (35-37)

2 Kings 17:1 - 17:41 - Thoughts

They feared the LORD, yet served their own gods (2 Kings 17:33)

Proverbs 1:7 tells us that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge and Proverbs 9:10 that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.  So it is good that the people feared the LORD, right?

My "fear" (excuse the pun) is that people misunderstand what the "fear of the LORD" really is.  In 2 Kings 17, the people were fearing the LORD because He sent lions into the land and some people were being killed.  They feared for their lives and wanted to find a way to appease the LORD so He would no longer be angry.  This was a common practice for the pagan nations.  Figure out what the gods want, give it to them, then they'll return the favor with rain, good crops, protection and pleasure.

But this is not how things work with the God of the universe.  He is not impressed with our sacrifices or rituals.  He just wants us to believe Him, have faith in Him and obey His commands (Hebrews 11:6).

The fear of the LORD that is mentioned in Proverbs is a healthy reverence for who God is and His holiness.  When He gives is a mere glimpse of His holiness and our sinfulness, it should bring us to fear and trembling (Isaiah 6:1-5).  That healthy fear should drive us to want to be closer to God and to desire holiness and to be cleansed.  We will long to repent and obey the commandments of God (Romans 2:4).

Ultimately, the Assyrians failed to understand what God told the children of Israel years earlier, "To obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams." (1 Samuel 15:22).

Lord, help us to not try and do ritualistic things to please You.  May all our works be for Your glory and not because we fear You'll be angry with us otherwise.

2 Kings 17:1 - 17:41 - Outline

Chapter 17

Reign of Hoshea (1-2)

King of Assyria Takes Israel (3-6)

Reason God Allowed Israel To Fall (7-23)

Assyrians Repopulate Israel (24-26)

King of Assyria Sends a Priest Back (27-31)

Fear Of The Lord Without Service (32-41)

2 Kings 15:8 - 16:20 - Thoughts

Ahaz said, "I will not ask, nor will I test the LORD!" (Isaiah 7:12)

It may seem odd that I'd quote Isaiah while speaking on 2nd Kings, but this passage was written during this same time in history.  We get a glimpse of what was going on with Ahaz and his heart.  You see, God offered to deliver Judah from the northern kingdom and Syria, but Ahaz had another deliverer, the Assyrians.  Ahaz had made a treaty with Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria rather than turning to the true and living God.

God still delivers Judah, but Ahaz misses out on a huge blessing and Assyria begins to gain strength and will eventually cause all sorts of problems for Judah and take Israel captive.

God loves to deliver us from our troubles if we throw up our hands and turn our lives over to Him.  As long as we continue to try and make treaties with the world, God will let us try and sort things out for ourselves.  Unfortunately, all we are really doing is selling ourselves to the world and eventually becoming their captive.

Lord, please deliver me from my pride, selfishness and independence.  Help me to be dependent more and more on You as I realize that without you I can do nothing. (John 15:5)

2 Kings 15:8 - 16:20 - Outline

Chapter 15

Power Struggle in Israel (8-31)

Reign of Zechariah (8-12)

Reign of Shallum (13-15)

Reign of Menahem (16-12)

Reign of Pekahiah (23-26)

Reign of Pekah (27-31)

Reign of Jotham (32-38)

Chapter 16

Reign of Ahaz (1-4)

Syria and Israel Come Against Judah (5-6)

Ahaz Seeks Help From Assyria (7-9)

Ahaz Commands Urijah To Build Assyrian Altar (10-11)

Ahaz Makes Offerings On Pagan Altar (12-16)

Ahaz Dismantals Temple Articles (17-20)

Romans 1 - Thoughts

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. (Romans 1:16)

This is an obvious key verse in this chapter.  It drove Paul to sacrifice all his time for the purpose of spreading the gospel.  Paul wanted to get to Rome because it was the economic and political epicenter of the world.  From there, the gospel could be spread everywhere because of the huge influx and outflow of people throughout the world.  Yet God did not allow Paul to go to Rome right away.  God allowed Paul to write this letter to them first and thus allow us to have access to such a wonderful book.

The purpose of the book of Romans is clear from verse 16.  Paul wants us to really understand the gospel, or good news of Jesus Christ.  This good news is powerful and available to all people.  This good news is that Jesus paid the price completely and do nothing but believe in Him and the work He did for us.

I wonder if my heart is sometimes ashamed of the gospel.  I tell myself, "People don't want to hear this."  Perhaps they don't, but this is no excuse not to share.  This is truth and people love the darkness more than the light, so I shouldn't be shocked at rejection.  Yet sometimes, people respond as the Holy Spirit leads.  Their eyes are opened and their souls are saved.  Oh what a glorious day.

Romans 1 - Outline

Chapter 1

Greetings (1-7)

Paul's Desire To Go To Rome (8-15)

Not Ashamed of the Gospel (16-17)

All Know There Is A God, No Excuse (18-23)

God Allows Self Worship (24-32)

2 Kings 13:14 - 15:7 - Thoughts

Then he said, "Take the arrows"; so he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, "Strike the ground"; so he struck three times, and stopped. And the man of God was angry with him, and said, "You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed it! But now you will strike Syria only three times." (2 Kings 13:18-19)

The text indicates that Elisha was telling Joash to shoot all the arrows into the ground.  After three arrows, Joash stopped and did not completely obey the command from God.  Gods blessing and deliverance was tied to Joash's obedience.

God wants to work in our lives, but we need to be prepared to obey His commands even if they don't make any sense to us.  Often it is the simple things God tells us to do.  If we are obedient in these, God will then work mighty things in and through our lives.

How easy is it for me to focus on what I do for God, my works.  God tells us that obedience is better than sacrifice (I Samuel 15:22) and that our obedience is a sign of our love for Jesus. (John 14:21 - "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me."

God wants us to live pure and holy lives.  We can't do it without His help, but with His help we can do it.  May we worship our God through simple obedience.

2 Kings 13:14 - 15:7 - Outline

Chapter 13

Elisha Gives Prophecy of Victory Over Syria(14-20)

Last Miracle of Elisha (21)

Victory Over Syria (22-25)

Chapter 14

Reign of Amaziah (1-4)

Amaziah Shows Justice and Kindness (5-6)

Amaziah Defeats Edom (7)

Amaziah Makes War With Israel (8-)

Johoash Defeats Judah (13-)

Death of Jehoash (15-16)

Death of Amaziah (17-20)

Reign of Azariah (21-22)

Reign of Jeroboam (23-24)

God Delivers Israel (25-27)

Death of Jeroboam (28-)

Chapter 15

King Azariah/Uzziah (1-7)

Galatians 5 & 6 - Thoughts

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16)

This verse is so important for the Christian desiring to walk in the ways of God.  Usually we get this backwards.  We want to say, "If I can simply not fulfill the lust of the flash, then I'll be able to walk in the Spirit."  This just doesn't work.  We are incapable of saying no to our flesh.  We were born with a sin nature and sinning comes natural.  Only by the power of the Holy Spirit are we able to love others more than ourselves.

Paul continues in chapter 5 to give a list of fleshly and spiritual characteristics in our lives.  The ultimate fruit of the God's Spirit living in us is our ability to love others.  This is an unselfish love which crosses ethnic and cultural boundaries and will be a sign to all that we are different.

I must continue to ask myself, "Am I walking in the Spirit?  Am I loving others more than myself?"  If not, I need to ask God for help and a refreshing of His Spirit within me.  Only then will I be able to not fulfill the lust of my flesh.

Galatians 5 & 6 - Outline

Chapter 5

Liberty in Christ (1)

No Profit in The Law (2-5)

Legalism Hinders and Permeates (7-9)

Paul Speaks Against Legalistic Teachers (10-12)

Balance of Liberty and the Law (13-15)

Battle Between Flesh And The Spirit (16-)

Works Of The Flesh (19-21)

Fruit Of The Spirit (22-23)

Death To The Flesh (24-25)

Chapter 6

Restoration In Love (1-2)

Service To God (3-5)

Principles of Sewing and Reaping (6-10)

Boast Only In Christ (11-17)

Salutations (18)

2 Kings 11:1 - 13:13 - Thoughts

Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the LORD all the days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him. (Verse 12:2)

King Jehoash did what was right as long as his uncle, Jehoiada the priest, instrected him.  Once Jehoiada dies, Jehoash quickly went away from the LORD.

This is a common problem in the church today.  We can get our eyes on a leader or a teacher.  Our motivation for following Christ may be because of a family member or someone we respect in the church.  If that person falls away from Christ or dies, we can quickly turn from Jesus ourselves.  That's why it is so important for us to keep our eyes on Jesus and not on people.  Pastors, parents, spouses, friends, relatives, coworkers will all fail us.  But Jesus will never fail.

2 Kings 11:1 - 13:13 - Outline

Chapter 11

Athaliah Murders Family (1-3)

Jehoiada's Covenant (4-8)

Captains Guard Joash (9-11)

Jehoiada Anoints Joash (12-14)

Athaliah is Killed (15-16)

Jehoiada Renews Covenant (17-18)

Joash Made King (19-21)

Chapter 12

Joash Becomes King (1-3)

Joash Repairs Temple (4-5)

Offering Taken For Temple Repairs (9-10)

Money Used For Repairs (11-16)

War With Syria (17-18)

Death of Joash (19-21)

Chapter 13

Reign of Jehoahaz (1-2)

God's Judgement on Jehoahaz (3-7)

Death of Jehoahaz (8-9)

Reign of Jehoash in Israel (10-13)

Galatians 3 & 4 - Thoughts

But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith." (Verse 3:11)

Paul quotes from Habakkuk 2:4 where we see Habakkuk struggling with God in the midst of a terrible time in Israel's history.  Sin and idolatry were prevalent, no one seemed to be seeking the LORD, Israel had been taken captive by the Assyrians and the Babylonian armies were poised to destroy Jerusalem.  Habakkuk asks God, "O LORD, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear?" (Habakkuk 1:2)

Finally, God answers Habakkuk, but not to explain the details of His plan.  He simply tells Habakkuk to have faith.  Faith that the God of the universe is still in control.  We must believe God at his word.  This belief is accounted to us for righteousness just as it was for Abraham. (Genesis 15:6)(Romans 4:3)(Galatians 3:6)(James 2:23).

When we truly grasp this idea, we can put aside our worries and begin to enjoy the freedom we have in Christ.  Legalism usually comes from a lack of trust in God's control.  We think we must do all these things to please God or work harder to help God out of a bind.  God wants to use us, but He doesn't need us.

Lord, please help me to enjoy the freedom You give to me even when I cannot understand it.  Help me to know You are in control and I can rely on Your Spirit to do the work through me and not by my own strength.

Galatians 3 & 4 - Outline

Chapter 3

Spirit Works Through Faith (1-6)

Justification Through Faith (7-14)

Jesus, Not The Law, Is The Blessing To All Nations (15-18)

Purpose Of The Law (19-25)

We Are Sons And Daughters Of God (26-29)

Chapter 4

Bondage of Sin (1-5)

Don't Turn Back (7-10)

Paul Reminds Them of Their Start (11-16)

Warnings About False Teachers (17-18)

Paul's Desire To Be With Them (19-20)

Old Testament Example of Sarah and Hagar (21-31)

2 Kings 9:14 - 10:36 - Thoughts

This is the word of the LORD (9:36)

How often do we read in the Old Testiment, "Thus says the LORD" or "The LORD said?"  It is very frequent.  I read these words, but do I stop to think about what this means?  The LORD cannot lie.  What He says will happen.  God is faithful and just.  These are comforting words when I'm struggling and need to hold onto the promises of God, but they are also convicting when I realize that God is a God of justice and He doesn't just wink at my sin and ignore it.

As a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, I know my sins have been seperated from me as far as the east is from the west.  Jesus paid the price for my sin and I am free.  However, as children of the King, He doesn't want us walking in sin or using grace as a doormat or excuse to do our own thing.  That isn't being a follower of Christ.  So God will chasen us and wants us to repent from our sins quickly and turn back to Him.

For those who don't trust in Jesus Christ as their Saviour, it is a much different story.  Unfortunately they will be required to stand in judgement of their sins someday.  I don't think anyone in this situation actually believes this to be true.  If they did, they would repent and accept Jesus Christ.  Instead, they don't believe God and His promises.  Instead, they say things like, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." (2 Peter 3:4).  Being wise in their own eyes, they become fools.

This thought should break the heart of a Christian.  If God's word is true, and every follower of Jesus should believe it is, then people are dieing every day and going to hell.  We have the good news, why don't we share?  It makes me wonder if I actually believe it to be true.

A wise pastor once said, "The wheels of God's judgment turn slowly, yet they grind completely."  God gives us a choice of life or death and then begs us to choose life.

2 Kings 9:14 - 10:36 - Outline

Chapter 9

Jehu Conspires Against Joram (14-15)

Watchmen Join Jehu (16-19)

Joram Meets Jehu (20-22)

Jehu Kills Joram (23-26)

Jehu Kills Ahaziah (27-28)

Jezebel Dies (29-37)

Chapter 10

Jehu Gives Ahab's Sons A Chance To Fight (1-4)

No One Challenges Jehu (5-6)

Ahab's Sons Killed (7-10)

Jehu Kills Remaining Friends of Ahab (11)

Jehu Kills Brothers of Ahaziah (12-14)

Jehu Kills All Loyal To Ahab (15-17)

Jehu Kills Worshipers of Baal (18-28)

Jehu Continues In Calf Worship (29-31)

God Cuts Off Parts Of Israel (32-36)

Galatians 1 & 2 - Thoughts

...they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised (Verse 2:9)


It is so good to see unity in the church, when believers recognize that each of us has a different ministry and yet we are all working toward the same goal: seeing souls saved.  That is the main focus of Romans 8:28, "all things working together for good."

But it is very important that we don't simply seek unity for the sake of unity.  Paul makes it clear in 1 Corinthians 5 that we should have nothing to do with those who call themselves Christians, yet don't follow the basic doctrines of the Bible.

May we seek unity in the church and not compromise doctrine. It is a balance that can only be achieved by the power of the Holy Spirit. That is why we should be doing all things through His power. (Zech 4:6)