Podcasts about northern kingdom

Fr. Mike explains the relationship between idolatry and adultery, and how one can easily lead to another, especially in our relationship with God. He also talks about the difference between discipline and abuse, as we cover some tough topics today. Today's readings are Isaiah 65, Ezekiel 23-24, and Proverbs 13:21-25. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Join Rod and Janice Hembree on Bible Discovery TV as they delve into the book of Hosea, exploring the complex themes of judgment and mercy. This audio study guides listeners through chapters 1 to 4 of Hosea, focusing on God's command to the prophet to marry a woman of harlotry as a symbolic act to illustrate Israel's unfaithfulness. Discover the profound messages and historical context of Hosea's prophecies, which were delivered during a tumultuous time leading to the fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. This engaging session will deepen your understanding of biblical narratives and their enduring significance.

The Prophet Amos begins his message against the Northern Kingdom with an ominous warning, "The Lord roars from Zion" (1:2). This image of God as a lion is found throughout the book, both in a threatening manner against the wicked, but also in a liberating manner for the righteous. However, all nations should beware God's holiness and power, not just Israel. Enjoy this sample from Lesson 7, "The Lord Roars From Zion (Amos 1:1—5:17)" from Dr. Nick's 20 part course, "The Minor Prophets: The Book of the Twelve." Anyone can join our community of students and stream the entire audio lesson and full course (and other courses too!) whenever they wish.

The sermon examines the fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel through the lens of 2 Kings 17, illustrating how God repeatedly sent prophets as warning signs to call His people to repentance. Despite numerous warnings from figures like Elijah, Amos, and Hosea regarding their idolatry and rebellion, Israel hardened its heart and refused to turn back to God. The preacher emphasizes that God's patience and mercy are intended to lead to repentance, not to condone sin, and warns modern believers against ignoring spiritual convictions. By comparing the nation's gradual descent into corruption with personal choices, the message urges listeners to heed divine warnings before reaching a point of no return. Ultimately, the historical account serves as a sobering reminder that rejecting God's word leads to inevitable judgment and exile.

1 King 12 is one of the great hinge chapters of the Old Testament. It explains how one United Kingdom became two nations, why the Northern Kingdom immediately went spiritually wrong, and how God remained in control even while proud and fearful men made sinful choices.

Daily Dose of Hope July 24, 2026   Scripture: 2 Kings 18   Prayer:  Lord, our Lord, How majestic is your name in all the earth!  We magnify your precious and powerful name.  How often we forget how mighty you are.  You created all.  You created us.  Thank you, Lord, for who you are.  Most of all, thank you for loving us with all our flaws and brokenness.  In all we do, in who we are, help us to be more like you.  We pray for humility, mercy, and compassion.  Help us see others through your eyes.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading.  We've been going through 1 & 2 Kings and it has been quite challenging, mainly because the content is heavy and disturbing.  Yesterday, we read about the demise of the Northern Kingdom.  Today, we get a bit of hope. Today's reading is 2 Kings 18.  Can we all breathe a collective sigh of relief that there is finally a good king who does what is right in the eyes of the Lord?  I mean, King Hezekiah even tears down the altars in the high places, which the other good kings do not do.  This guy is different, we can tell this from the start. But that doesn't mean he won't be challenged.  Assyria is literally breathing down his neck.  This is a great text and we get to see what happens on Monday!  But now, it's time for our going deeper time with Emmy Roberts.  Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope July 23, 2026   Scripture: 2 Kings 17   Prayer:  Dear Holy God, Your love is amazing.  Thank you for the way you care for us.  In these next few moments of silence, Lord, help us focus on you...Lord Jesus, help us set aside every distraction and take this time to lean on you.  We want to hear your voice.  Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading.  We are about two-thirds done with 2 Kings and this has been quite a journey. Today's reading, 2 Kings 17, is what we have been dreading.  The kings are once again leading the people astray.  In the north and the south, they are worshiping other gods, committing child sacrifice, and they have set up altars in the high places.  Both nations are depending on the protection of the pagan nations around them.  They are paying tribute to some and not others, and the political consequences are bad.  God allows Aram and Israel to conquer Judah, and the casualties are significant, although God doesn't allow them to be totally decimated. But destruction does occur in Israel.  All the disobedience, the years of pushing God away, the horrific kings over generations, and the constant warnings that were not heeded, it has all come to a head.  The Assyrians have taken over.  While there is priest allowed to stay to teach the people about their God, it's a warped Judaism mixed with pagan influences.  This is the end of the Northern Kingdom.  I had always been taught that once the Assyrians conquered the Northern Kingdom, that was basically the end of them.  The Assyrians were known for their brutality and moving the native people out of their land, sending their own people to populate it.  But we do see here that some Israelites stay.  Again, Chronicles helps fill in some of the gaps.  Hezekiah (who we will read about tomorrow) invites many from the north to settle in Judah after the Assyrians take over the north and they take him up on that offer.  Most likely, many of the residents stayed, mixing with the new immigrants from Assyrian lands.  This helps make sense of why the Samaritans were so despised in Jesus' time by the Jews.  They were not pure Jews, having many different mixed cultural and religious influences. While this chapter was expected, it is also incredibly sad.  There is a high cost to disobedience.  God offered so much mercy, giving many chances, and sending many prophets to warn the kings and the people.  But they just didn't listen.  Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope July 21, 2026   Scripture:  2 Kings 15   Prayer:  Holy God, You are so good.  Forgive us for the many times we fall short.  Forgive us when we are overcome with selfishness and pride, when we put worldly things and people before you.  Help us to look to you and you alone for strength, wisdom, and guidance.  Give us a repentant heart that wants to follow your ways.  Jesus, we need you.  It's in your name we pray, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We have been working our way through both 1 & 2 Kings this summer and today's reading was 2 Kings 15.   Things aren't going so well in Israel, in the Northern Kingdom.  King after king is evil.  King after king, there is warfare, bloodshed, and idolatry.  This is what happens when God's people turn from him.  In a span of just a few decades, four consecutive kings (Zechariah, Shallum, Pekahiah, and Pekah) are violently assassinated by their successors. This is feeling like a really gruesome Hollywood movie, and it was real!  It feels like we are getting very close to the end of the Northern Kingdom.   The Southern Kingdom has a little more stability.  King Azariah takes the throne at age 16.  Just so you know, Azariah and Uzziah are the same person.  This created some confusion for me.  Uzziah is mainly the name used in Chronicles and Azariah is mainly the name used in Kings.  I say mainly because Uzziah is used in today's chapter when introducing his son, Jotham.  Probably the best explanation is that Azariah was his birth name and Uzziah was the name he took when becoming king.    Regardless of what name we call him, he was a man who started well and ended poorly.  2 Kings says that Azariah is struck with leprosy but doesn't mention why.  2 Chronicles goes into more details.  The king had a fair amount of military and political success and it's possible that it went to his head.  He was yet another king who didn't think the rules were for him.  He wanted more authority.  So, he enters the Temple and burns incense in a place where only the priests were allowed to go.  The priest who catches him (also named Azariah for lots of confusion) stands up to the king and ordered him out of the Temple. This was the king's chance to quickly leave and repent for his wrongdoing. Instead, Azariah/Uzziah becomes enraged that the priest dared to question him. As the king stood in the Temple, leprosy broke out on his forehead. He was shut out of the Temple and spent the rest of his life in isolation, banned from public worship or even normal human socialization. His son, Jotham, handles the affairs of government.   Jotham seemed to learn from his father's mistakes and does what is right in the Lord's eyes.  Overall, he ended well, even though he didn't totally clean out the pagan idols in the high places.  Not totally getting rid of the pagan temples and altars will not end well for Judah in the years to come.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

The Bible uses the name Israel with reference to the man Jacob, his twelve sons, the twelve tribes who eventually became the nation Israel, the land, the tribes of the Northern Kingdom, and the faithful remnant of the people.

Daily Dose of Hope July 17, 2026   Scripture:  2 Kings 13   Prayer: Lord, We thank you that you are a God of miracles. For the people reading this devotional today, I'm sure that many of them need a miracle of some kind. Give them the courage to ask and the faith to believe that you can do anything. You are all-powerful and totally good. We need you, Lord, and we need your healing power in our lives. May it be so. In Your Name, Amen   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We have been working our way through both 1 & 2 Kings this summer and today's reading was 2 Kings 13, smack dab in the middle of the book.  In this chapter, we are back to the Northern Kingdom.  There is a lot of king drama here.  Over and over again, the kings do evil in the eyes of the Lord.  Truly, it's amazing God didn't just strike them down right there.  But he continued to show grace in so many ways.  The kings and people would worship others gods and do deplorable things in the eyes of the Lord.  But God had compassion on them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  It was because of the faithfulness of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that God did not destroy all the people.  Because he certainly could have.    So, I started thinking about this.  Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were far from perfect people.  They were broken, just like us, but they also did their best to stay true to the Lord.  They stayed faithful.  Maybe this sounds strange, but this gave me a lot of encouragement.  We are all sinful, we all mess up, but our desire to remain faithful to God does not go unnoticed.  What difference will our faithfulness have on future generations?  How will God have compassion on future generations because we tried, in our own flawed way, to stay true to Him?  How will our spiritual legacy make a difference?  It's worth spending some time thinking about.    This chapter also discusses the death of Elisha.  This is so fascinating – yes, he has physically died but not even death stops his ministry. His prophecy about Syria obviously plays out but he is still actually doing miracles. When a group of Israelites were burying a corpse, they are interrupted by a group of Moabite raiders. Hastily, they throw the corpse into Elisha's grave, presumably on top of his bones. The dead man is revived. Elisha has continued to give life to Israel, even after death.   More king drama on Monday.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Come Follow Me Kids Podcast - a primary podcast for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. (Not officially affiliated in any way.) This week we are studying 2 Kings 17–25“He Trusted in the Lord God of Israel”We will learn about king Hezekiah and king Josiah. Mahershalalhashbaz Isaiah's sonZaphnathpaaneah Joseph when prime minister of EgyptTilgathpilneser king of AssyriaChushanrishathaim king who oppressed IsraelNebuchadnezzar king of BabylonBerodachbaladan king of BabylonMephibosheth. grandson of king SaulHazarmaveth sons of NoahAmmishaddai follower of MosesChedorlaomer king of ElamBashanhavothjair Son of ManassehHezekiah King of IsraelAre you looking for a scripture study church podcast? You are listening to Come Follow Me Kids! A Come Follow Me Podcast For Kids. This is specifically a Primary Podcast or Primary Scripture Study Poscast that studies Come Follow Me. Welcome to Come Follow Me Kids! We are a scripture study podcast that accompanies the Come Follow Me Manual by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We play games, sing songs, and tell stories to go along with the scriptures. This year we are specifically studying the Old Testament. We sometimes use audio clips from the Friend Magazine and other church sources, however we are not officially sponsored by the church in any way. If your children would like a free baptism shout out or to be guests on this podcast, email us at comefollowmekidspodcast@gmail.com. If you like this podcast, please leave us a review. Thank you! Despite the prophet Elisha's powerful ministry, the people of the Northern Kingdom of Israel did not repent. Eventually, the Assyrian Empire conquered and scattered the ten tribes of Israel. Meanwhile, the Southern Kingdom of Judah wasn't doing much better: idolatry was also widespread there.Amid all this spiritual decay, the scriptures mention two kings of Judah who, for a time, turned their people back to the Lord. One was Hezekiah. During his reign, the Assyrians conquered much of Judah. But Hezekiah and his people showed faith in the Lord, who saved Jerusalem in a miraculous way. Later, after another period of apostasy, Josiah became king. Inspired in part by a rediscovery of the book of the law of Moses, Josiah brought reforms that revived the religious life of his people.Like Israel and Judah, we all make both good and bad choices. When we sense that our lives need some reforms, we can take encouragement from these two bright spots in the dark years of Judah's history. Perhaps the examples of Hezekiah and Josiah can inspire us to “trust in the Lord our God” (2 Kings 18:22).

Daily Dose of Hope July 9, 2026   Scripture: 2 Kings 7   Prayer:  Lord God Almighty, You have given us everything.  Not only did you create the world, but you created us.  Everything we have is a gift from you.  Forgive us for when we begin to think that things are "ours."  Soften our hearts.  Help us become more generous.  Lord, I give you my whole self.  I want to offer myself as a living sacrifice; may I be pleasing in your sight.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We have been working our way through the Old Testament books of 1 & 2 Kings this summer.  Today, our reading is 2 Kings 7.   At the end of yesterday's chapter, we read about how the king of Aram and his large army laid siege to Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. This led to a famine and a great deal of anguish among the people. People were desperate, going so far as to resort to cannibalism.   The king of Israel is horribly distraught and seeks out the prophet Elisha.  At the beginning of today's chapter, we hear the prophet's response.  Elisha says that the Lord has spoken and that by that time tomorrow, there will be fine flour and barley available at affordable prices.  The officer who was present with the king was highly skeptical and you can see his response. He says, "...even if the Lord should open the floodgates of heavens, could this happen?" Elisha declares that it will but that because of his cynicism and lack of faith, he wouldn't get to enjoy any of it.   As we read through the chapter, we begin to see how God takes care of the situation. The Aramean army is scared off and the Israelites get to enjoy the plunder. Food becomes readily available and the siege is over. Once again, the Lord has spoken through Elisha.   Over the next few days, we will continue to see Elisha at work. What's fascinating to me is that Elisha served as prophet of Israel for six decades. His words were often unpopular and not always heeded, but he persevered. It takes a strong person to be a prophet. I wanted to mention that God is still giving people the gift of prophecy; certain people bring a message from God to his people. Just like in Old Testament days, prophets are often ignored, maligned, and/or pushed to the fringes. The reality is that rarely do prophets bring a message of approval. They typically bring a word from God that challenges the faith community and the religious leaders.  I have known several people with the gift of prophecy and they typically have a difficult time finding a church that accepts them.   Have you known someone with this gift? What's been your reaction to it? If you haven't known a prophet, how do you think you might respond? How does reading about Elijah and Elisha affect your view of prophets?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Today we read about the critical moment when Assyria destroys the Northern Kingdom, and the ten northern tribes are exiled and assimilated among the nations. Fr. Mike explains how this moment and the foreign possession of Samaria is key in order to understand Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman in John 4. We also read about how the prophet Micah beautifully foreshadows the birth of Jesus. Today's readings are 2 Kings 17, Micah 5-7, and Psalm 140. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

When we walk with the Lord, we will see His work in our life, but if that work seems to stop, we should seek to figure out why. Today, as we dive into Jeremiah 2, we see the sins of Israel and how they hard caused a rift in their fellowship with the Lord. Join us as we examine this key chapter on ways we break our fellowship with the Lord. DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1.    Think back to our first study yesterday in Jeremiah 1. What was God's call upon Jeremiah? What kind of message was Jeremiah to bring to the people? What would be the people's reactions? What kind of determination was Jeremiah to have? 2.    In verses 2 & 3, the Lord remembers the early days when Israel was a new nation. How does He describe her devotion to the Lord? In practical terms, what do you think this looked like? 3.    Verses 4 & 5 start to get to the problem. Why does the Lord ask, "What injustice did your fathers find in Me?" What do we know to be the answer? Why, then, did the people turn from God? 4.    How does the Lord describe His care and provision of the people in verses 6 &7?  5.    Despite God's faithfulness, how did the people respond to Him at the end of verse 7? What did the priests fail to do in verse 8? What did they do instead?  6.    What did the podcast suggest that we should do when God seems distant? In these opening verses, what did the people and leadership do instead?  7.    Verses 9-12 ask a question that could be just as relevant today. Think back to the nations of the world, how many can you think of have changed it's "god" or it's religion? If you can think of this ever happening, how central was the Lord to that change (either way)? Why do you think that is? 8.    Verse 13 is a key verse for the entire Book of Jeremiah. What does it say? What does it mean? How were the people going after broken cisterns that could not hold water? Have you ever done this in your life? What was the outcome? 9.    In verses 14 to 19, what is the state of the nation of Israel? Is this referring to just the Northern Kingdom or both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms? What difference does this make in the interpretation of these verses? 10.    What were they doing in verse 18, going down the road to Egypt? According to the podcast, how does the Battle of Carchemish factor into this situation?  11.    In verse 19, what were the people lacking? Why is this so vital to restoring a relationship with the Lord?  12.    In verse 22, how is the people's manmade attempts at righteousness just vain attempts at moral reform? Why is their stain still before the Lord? How does this speak to people's modern-day attempts at personal reform and self-improvement?  13.    In verse 23, what were the people saying about their own sin? Why did they have no shame in verse 26? What did they declare in verse 35? Do this self-evaluations represent people who know God and walk with Him? If not, what do these traits point to in their own spiritual condition?  14.    How do verses 27 & 28 characterize their idolatry? How do people make these same statements today? What are the modern-day "idols" that people say these kinds of things to? 15.    In verse 30, how did the people respond to the Lord's chastening? What does it look like to have a heart that is sensitive to the Lord's rebuke and discipline?  16.    Skim verses 31 to 37. These verses reflect the hard-hearted callousness of people who have turned from God. What are some principles that you can see in these verses? Has any of these principles ever been part of your walk with God? What happened to shake them from you?  Check out our Bible Study Guide on the Key Chapters of Genesis! Available on Amazon just in time for the Genesis relaunch in January! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube. As always, we are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.   

Daily Dose of Hope July 1, 2026   Scripture: 2 Kings 1   Prayer:  Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. And kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you will renew the face of the earth. Lord, by the light of the Holy Spirit you have taught the hearts of your faithful. In the same Spirit help us to relish what is right and always rejoice in your consolation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  This summer, we've been working our way through 1 & 2 Kings.  Yesterday, we finished 1 Kings and today, we begin 2 Kings.  I would love to hear your feedback.  What did you learn from the book of 1 Kings?   Our reading for today is 2 Kings 1.  We immediately find that the clash between Elijah, a prophet of Yahweh, and the Israelite monarchy continues.  Despite past warnings, Ahaziah, the king of the Northern Kingdom, is worshiping and consulting with other gods. Thus, Yahweh, the one true God will continue to demonstrate that he is supreme.   In today's chapter, Yahweh demonstrates his power and supremacy through the sending of fire. The king has become injured and wants to see if he will recover from his injury. He sends some messengers to consult the god, Baal-Zebub, to provide guidance on his recovery. One has to stop and wonder what in the world he was thinking. Why is he intentionally snubbing Yahweh to consult a false god?   His messengers are met by Elijah the prophet who expresses God's anger at the situation. Through Elijah, God makes it clear that Ahaziah will not recover but rather will die in his bed. In an attempt to get more clarity (or possibly a new prophecy), the king sends several groups of soldiers to summon Elijah. The first two groups are consumed by fire.   Ahaziah, clearly not learning the lesson, sends a third group. This group pleads for mercy from Elijah, as they know their lives are in danger. They are allowed to live, Elijah addresses the king, and Ahaziah dies shortly after.   What are we to make of this? I don't understand why the king of Israel insisted on consulting Baal rather than Yahweh. But what I do know is that God wants us to always consult him first.  When we are in trouble, instead of trying to figure it out ourselves, God desires that we reach out to him FIRST. God loves us, God truly wants the best for us, and God wants to lead us in his direction. We may think we are so much better than Ahaziah but in many ways, we do exactly the same thing. We may not consult a false god, but we try to do life on our own. Yet, we have a God who is powerful and good. Seek God first. Listen. Obey.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

“If the Lord Be God, Follow Him”1 Kings 12–13; 17–22The prophet Elijah - come follow me Podcast for kids. Following the curriculum from the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This week we learn The Holy Ghost speaks to me in a still, small voice. When the Lord asks me to sacrifice, I can obey in faith. I can choose to follow Jesus Christ.The house of Israel was in disarray. The kingdom had divided, with ten tribes forming the Northern Kingdom of Israel and two tribes forming the Southern Kingdom of Judah. But worse than their separation from each other was both kingdoms' separation from their covenants. Wicked kings led the people away from the Lord, and many people wavered in their faith.In this setting, the Lord called Elijah to be a prophet. His life shows that a person can have great faith in the Lord even in bad circumstances. Sometimes the Lord responds to such faith with impressive, public miracles, like fire falling from heaven. But He also works quiet, private miracles, like feeding a faithful widow and her son. And most often the Lord's miracles are so individual that they are known only to one person—for example, when the Lord reveals Himself to you through “a still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12).For more about Elijah, see “Elijah” in the Bible Dictionary.Are you looking for a scripture study church podcast? You are listening to Come Follow Me Kids! A Come Follow Me Podcast For Kids. This is specifically a Primary Podcast or Primary Scripture Study Poscast that studies Come Follow Me. Welcome to Come Follow Me Kids! We are a scripture study podcast that accompanies the Come Follow Me Manual by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We play games, sing songs, and tell stories to go along with the scriptures. This year we are specifically studying the Old Testament. We sometimes use audio clips from the Friend Magazine and other church sources, however we are not officially sponsored by the church in any way. If your children would like a free baptism shout out or to be guests on this podcast, email us at comefollowmekidspodcast@gmail.com. If you like this podcast, please leave us a review. Thank you!

And Jerusalem was even more corrupt than the Northern Kingdom

The ancient world around Israel was saturated with the idol worship representing gods of sex, money, power, and war. Both the Southern Kingdom of Judah and the Northern Kingdom of Israel succumbed to these temptations, but the worst was the Northern Kingdom of Israel. What happened when God's people confused outward success with spiritual faithfulness? Hear Amos expose the false security of prosperity and the deadly pull of idolatry. Measure justice and righteousness by God's standard, not the changing values of the culture. Listen to the Lion who roars before judgment falls and respond while His grace is still extended. Rest in the hope that the God who warns His people also promises future restoration through the Messiah.

And the Northern Kingdom took on the idolatry of the Assyrians and the Assyrians conquered them.

Hosea is the first of the 12 Minor Prophets and it will not be easy to forget him or his message. God told him to preach against the Northern Kingdom of Israel not only in verbal oracles, but also to symbolize that message through his own marriage — his "wife of harlotry" represents Israel! Enjoy this sample from Lesson 2, "Hosea's Symbolic Marriage (Hos 1-3)" from Dr. Nick's 20 part course, "The Minor Prophets: The Book of the Twelve." Anyone can join our community of students and stream the entire audio lesson and full course (and other courses too!) whenever they wish.

Daily Scripture Reading and Reflection: The fall of the Northern Kingdom serves as a warning to every generation. Today's reflection examines the consequences of shedding innocent blood and rejecting God's law.

Daily Dose of Hope June 22, 2026   Scripture:  1 Kings 16   Prayer:  Almighty God, We come before you with awe and humility.  We are nothing without you.  We need you desperately, Lord.  Help us gather our scattered thoughts today as we focus on you.  In these next few moments of silence, help us remember that we belong to you.  Help us lay our worries and cares on the throne of your grace...We pray this in the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently working our way through 1 Kings.  It's been quite a ride so far!  Let's see what we have in store today.    Our reading on this Monday is 1 Kings 16.  The Northern Kingdom is one, hot sinful mess! King after king, there is disobedience, idolatry, and violence. By the time we get to King Ahab at the end of chapter 16, we think it can't get any worse.  And yet, it really does. Ahab was the worst of the worst. He went above and beyond when it came to deliberately thumbing his nose at God and he took pagan worship to a new level.  Then, there was child sacrifice. To be honest, I wasn't really clear about what verse 34 meant–what does it mean to build the foundations of a city or the gates at the cost of a child? Apparently, infants (alive or dead) would be placed in a container and then literally placed in the masonry of the foundation.  The idea was to ward off evil and please the gods. I have a hard time even typing the words. How absolutely horrific and blatantly against the law of the one true God.   One more aspect of Ahab's total disregard for the Lord–the rebuilding of Jericho. Most of you probably remember the great story of Joshua and the people of God conquering Jericho after circling for seven days. At the time, God warned of death to the person (and their family) who attempted to rebuild the city.  And Ahab rebuilt it.  The author is reminding us that while it might not appear to be so, God's Word still stands. God is still in control. Ahab will not have the final word.  Evil does not win.    And evil does not win today.  It's a good reminder for all of us because there are times when the depravity around the globe can be almost overwhelming.  God will have the final word.  Of course, we live on the other side of the cross.  We know that Jesus has won victory over sin and death.  However, we do live in an in-between time.  Maybe a better way to say it is that the war has been won but there are still some battles remaining.  Until Jesus returns in final victory, evil will still have a place in this world.  When he returns, we can look forward to a time when evil will be vanquished for good.  No more tears, no more violence, no more injustice.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope June 19, 2026   Scripture: 1 Kings 15   Prayer:  Almighty God, As we close this week, we pray that today will be a day that we see glimpses of your glory.  We need you, we yearn for you.  Lord, help us set aside our distractions and settle our scattered thoughts so we can focus on you and you alone.  In the next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers... In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently working our way through 1 Kings.  I don't know about you, but some of this is really hard to read.  The kings are leading the people astray in detestable ways.  It's easy to almost have a visceral reaction to it.   Today's reading is 1 Kings 15.  Here, we begin the saga of various kings reigning over both Israel (the Northern Kingdom) and Judah (the Southern Kingdom).  In the Northern Kingdom, there is a quick turnover of leadership, which naturally leads to instability.  There is also a blatant disregard for God's laws, including what has become a culture of pagan worship.  We will see God occasionally send a prophet to hold the king accountable, and regardless of whether the king changes his behavior, we can see the Lord attempting to be in relationship with his people and call his people back to him.   In the Southern Kingdom, there were also a number of leaders, some who disobeyed God and others who made an earnest attempt to follow God's law.  In today's chapter, we meet King Asa, who does what was right in the Lord's eyes.  He cleans up the pagan symbols and altars, the shrine prostitutes, and brings the precious articles back to the temple.   What's interesting is that in the Southern Kingdom, even when the kings are disobedient, God extends grace because of David's obedience and devotion.  In some ways, God gives them a pass because he remembered the faithfulness of their forefather David.  Even when the kings were sinful, God kept his promise.  He promised that a descendent of David would sit on the throne forever and he made it so.    Our God is a God who keeps his promises.  How many of you need to hear today that God keeps his promises?  Even when we fall away, God keeps his promises.  Even when life feels hard, God keeps his promises.   Below is a list of just a few of God's promises.  On this day filled with so much uncertainty because of the storm, let's focus on God's promises:   1.         God promises to always be with you.  Matthew 28:20 (and surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age), Hebrews 13:5 (Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."  Romans 8:38-39 (For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.)   2.        God promises strength.1 Cor. 10:13 (No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.), 2 Cor. 12:9 (But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me), Phil. 4:13 (I can do all this through him who gives me strength.), Eph. 6:10 (Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.)   3.        God promises peace.  John 14:27 (Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.), John 16:33 ("I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world.")   4.        God promises to answer prayers.  Luke 11:9 ("So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.), John 16:24 (Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.). Matthew 7:8 (For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.   5.        God promises to take care of your needs. Matthew 6:32-33 (For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.), 2 Cor.9:8 (And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.)   6.        God promises freedom from sin.  John 8:36 (So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.), Romans 6:22 (But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.), Romans 8:1 (Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...)   7.        God promises everlasting life.  John 3:16 (For God so loved the world...), I John 5:13-14 (I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life...) On the podcast, this is when the discussion with Emmy Roberts begins.  Tune in! Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope June 18, 2026   Scripture: 1 Kings 14   Prayer:  Holy God, We come before you today with humility and gratefulness.  We praise your powerful name.  Thank you, so much, Lord, that you came to earth to dwell among us and show us a different way of being.  Help us to pay attention to your example.  Help us to be more loving and more merciful in all we do.  Help us to be even but a small reflection of you.  You are King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Thank you, Jesus.  Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  Just a reminder, it's VBS week at New Hope.  There are a lot of amazing children and volunteers on our campus.  Please keep them in prayer.   We are currently working our way through 1 Kings.  Today's reading is 1 Kings 14.  It becomes clear that Jeroboam will face the consequences of his sin.  His son gets ill and Jeroboam sends his wife to seek the wisdom of a prophet.  The prophet is clear – because Jeroboam was so sinful, his son will die, and the entire house of Jeroboam will be obliterated.  No matter how important or untouchable someone things they are, sin has consequences.    While Jeroboam ruled in the Northern Kingdom, Rehoboam reigned in the Southern Kingdom, Judah.  Things aren't going well there either.  They also worshiped other gods, set up altars in the high places, had shrines with male prostitutes, and did things absolutely detestable in the eyes of the one true God.  We see God lifting his hand of protection and allowing the king of Egypt to successfully attack Jerusalem and carry off treasures from the temple.    Things are going really bad in the north and the south.  What has happened to God's people?  How did they get to this place?  I think sometimes we can ask ourselves the same questions.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope June 17, 2026   Scripture: 1 Kings 13   Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father, I come before you today with humility.  You are holy, you are perfect, and I am painfully flawed.  Forgive me, Lord, for the way I fall short over and over again.  Forgive me for not being loving, patient, and kind.  Jesus, I want to follow your example.  I want to have a clean and pure heart.  How I need you.  Create in me a pure heart, Lord, and renew a right spirit within me.  I love you.  Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently working our way through 1 Kings.  Yesterday, we read about how the divided Kingdom began – with one arrogant, ego-driven king who decided to listen to really poor counsel.    Today's reading is 1 Kings 13.  We read about Jeroboam, the king in the Northern Kingdom yesterday.  Things have gotten really bad.  It seems he has instituted his own cult in Israel. There are pagan gods and altars everywhere.  While the chapter doesn't specifically say this, idolatry usually coincides with other sin too.    We read about a prophet visiting Jeroboam.  He warns him of the consequences of his disobedience.  What are the consequences? Well, a new king, Josiah, will rise up.  And Josiah will clean up the pagan altars, kill the pagan priests, and punish Jeroboam. As a sign of the authenticity of the prophet's message, he says that the altar by which Jeroboam was standing would split in two. Jeroboam isn't thrilled with this message, of course, and attempts to get the man seized but God intervenes. Jeroboam's hand is paralyzed and then, just as the man prophesied, the altar splits and the ashes pour out. Yes, the message is all true; there is no doubt it will come to pass.   This is a bit of an odd chapter. The man of God who visited Jeroboam ends up with an untimely death because of disobedience himself. You see, no matter who you are, there are always consequences to sin. Always. We live on the other side of the cross and while we can repent and receive forgiveness, we still often must face the consequences of our own bad choices: debt, divorce, job loss, relationship issues, and damage to the Kingdom.   Think of an example of when your sin caused consequences you deeply regretted. How did the situation play out? Was there healing and restoration OR are you continuing to deal with the pain of sin? Whatever the situation, submit it to God today.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

By Peter Eddington - Because of King Solomon's sins, God split the nation of Israel into two parts—north and south. Only Judah remained in Jerusalem as the Southern Kingdom. The other tribes became the Northern Kingdom. However, this punishment was not to be forever. God desires for Israel to be united once again—for

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Get your Hosea Scripture Journal now. Listen to our text today, Hosea 5:5: The pride of Israel testifies to his face; Israel and Ephraim shall stumble in his guilt; Judah also shall stumble with them. — Hosea 5:5 What if the strongest evidence against you… is your pride? That's what God says here. "The pride of Israel testifies to his face." No investigation is needed. No external witness is required. Their pride testifies for them. It shows up in how they live, how they respond, and how they refuse to listen. Pride always reveals itself. Pride resists correction. Pride dismisses conviction. Pride assumes, "I'm fine," even when everything is drifting. And that's exactly what was happening. "Israel (the Northern Kingdom) and Ephraim (the lead tribe in the North) shall stumble…" This is a predicted collapse. Pride blinded them long enough that when the fall came, they didn't even see it coming. Then Hosea adds: "Judah (the Southern Kingdom) also shall stumble with them." Judah would witness the truth. They saw the warning because they watched Israel fall. And still—they followed them into the fall of pride. That's how pride works in us. We see it in our nation when we believe progress has replaced truth. We see it in churches when conviction is softened to keep people comfortable. We see it in leadership when influence matters more than integrity. We see it in our own lives when we resist correction but justify our choices. Our pride doesn't just oppose God. It pulls us away from God while convincing us that we're still close to God. So don't just look at Israel. Don't just look at Judah. Look at yourself. Where are you resisting God right now? Where have you grown too confident, too comfortable, too unwilling to listen? And then give that pride to God before your predictable fall. DO THIS: Identify one area where you've resisted correction or conviction, and take a step of humility today—listen, confess, or change. ASK THIS: Where has pride shown up in my thinking or decisions? What correction have I resisted recently? Where am I assuming I'm fine instead of asking God to examine me? PRAY THIS: God, expose the pride in me that I cannot see. Humble my heart so I can walk closely with you and not drift away. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Humble And Kind"

In this insightful episode of the Who's Who in the Bible series, Fr. Assisi Saldanha, C.Ss.R., explores the life, leadership, and legacy of Jeroboam, the first king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The video traces Jeroboam's journey from a capable and respected leader under King Solomon to the central figure in Israel's division following Solomon's death. It examines his role in challenging oppressive policies, negotiating with Rehoboam for justice, and leading the northern tribes to independence.Fr. Saldanha highlights how Jeroboam was initially seen as a liberator and even a “new Moses” for his people. However, the episode also reflects on the decisions that ultimately shaped his legacy, particularly the establishment of golden calves at Bethel and Dan, which became a lasting symbol of Israel's religious unfaithfulness. Through a balanced appraisal of his achievements and failures, viewers are invited to consider the challenges of leadership, faith, and responsibility.Watch this fascinating episode and explore the entire Who's Who in the Bible series to discover the lives and lessons of other influential Biblical figures.

In this insightful episode of the Who's Who in the Bible series, Fr. Shiju Mulasseril C.Ss.R., examines the life and leadership of Rehoboam, the son and successor of King Solomon. Set against the backdrop of a kingdom at the height of its power yet burdened by heavy taxation and forced labor, the episode explores the critical decisions that shaped Israel's future.When the northern tribes appealed for relief, Rehoboam rejected the wise counsel of experienced elders and instead followed the advice of his younger companions, choosing a path of greater severity. This fateful decision led to the division of the United Kingdom of Israel into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah, fulfilling the prophecy spoken by Ahijah.Beyond the historical narrative, Fr. Shiju draws valuable spiritual lessons about responsible decision-making, the influence of the company we keep, and the importance of listening to the voices of the poor and marginalized. This episode invites viewers to reflect on leadership, humility, and justice, and challenges us to make choices that promote unity, compassion, and faithfulness to God.

In this thought-provoking episode of the Who's Who in the Bible series, Fr. Assisi Saldanha, C.Ss.R., explores the fascinating story of the House of Omri, one of the most powerful and influential dynasties in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Delving into the lives of Kings Omri and Ahab, Queen Jezebel, and Jehu, he uncovers the complex interplay of politics, faith, power, and covenant loyalty that shaped Israel's history.The episode examines the political instability that characterized the Northern Kingdom, contrasting it with the enduring Davidic dynasty in Judah. Viewers will discover how Omri emerged as a strong ruler who established Samaria as Israel's capital and strengthened the kingdom through strategic diplomacy. Fr. Saldanha also offers fresh insights into the often-debated figures of Ahab and Jezebel, exploring the challenges they faced and the religious tensions that arose from foreign influences and the worship of Baal.The story culminates in the dramatic rise of Jehu and the downfall of the House of Omri, raising important questions about leadership, faithfulness, and the consequences of abandoning God's covenant.Join us for this enriching journey into biblical history and spirituality.

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Get your Hosea Scripture Journal now. Listen to our text today, Hosea 4:15-19: Though you play the whore, O Israel, let not Judah become guilty. Enter not into Gilgal, nor go up to Beth-aven, and swear not, "As the Lord lives." Like a stubborn heifer, Israel is stubborn; can the Lord now feed them like a lamb in a broad pasture? Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone. When their drink is gone, they give themselves to whoring; their rulers dearly love shame. A wind has wrapped them in its wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices. — Hosea 4:15-19 You don't have to join sin to be shaped by it. Watching it is often enough. That's the warning God gives to Judah (the Southern Kingdom). Israel (the Northern Kingdom) had already drifted into idolatry and compromise, but Judah was told not to follow. In other words, don't go where they go or adopt what they've adopted. Do not follow their example. I have told my kids this numerous times when I see one of their friends walk down a sinful path. And it's a good reminder. Then Hosea says: "Enter not into Gilgal… nor go up to Beth-aven…" These were once sacred places, but they had been corrupted. What used to be holy had become dangerous, so God tells them to stay away. And notice that even their language had become empty. Saying, "As the Lord lives," sounded right, but their lives no longer matched their words. They were no longer men of their word. God describes Israel as stubborn, unwilling to be led, until there comes a point when people cling to sin so tightly that they no longer want freedom. Their pattern is straightforward. When one indulgence ends, they move to another. There is no restraint, only repetition. Even their leaders "love shame," celebrating what should be rejected. This is identical to how "Pride" is celebrated in the month of June. Then come the results of sin and shame. "A wind has wrapped them in its wings." Judgment comes swiftly, and everything they trusted fails them. What they thought would save them only exposes them. Consider your own life today. You may not be doing what the culture is doing, but are you getting too close to it? Watching it. Accepting it. Slowly becoming shaped by it. What you tolerate, you accept. What you accept, you imitate. Don't become what you're watching. DO THIS: Create distance from one influence that is quietly shaping your thinking away from God. ASK THIS: Where are you being influenced more than you realize? What are you tolerating now that you once resisted? Are you setting boundaries or drifting closer? PRAY THIS: Father, help me see clearly what is shaping my life and give me the courage to walk away from anything that pulls me from you. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Run To The Father"

Welcome to Day 2876 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Progressive Christianity and the Northern Kingdom: A Repeated Rebellion. Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2876 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps!   I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2876 of our Trek.   The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Our current series of Theology Thursday lessons is written by theologian and teacher John Daniels. I have found that his lessons are short, easy to understand, doctrinally sound, and applicable to all who desire to learn more of God's Word. John's lessons can be found on his website   theologyinfive.com.   Today's lesson is titled:  Progressive Christianity and the Northern Kingdom: A Repeated Rebellion. After the division of Israel, Jeroboam feared losing his kingdom if the people continued worshiping in Jerusalem. Rather than abolish religion, he reshaped it. He placed golden calves at Dan and Bethel and declared, “Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt” (First Kings 12, verse twenty-eight). He kept the name of Yahweh but changed the worship to fit political and cultural needs. Progressive Christianity walks the same path. It keeps the language of faith while redefining the terms. Jesus becomes a moral teacher rather than the risen Lord. Sin becomes injustice rather than rebellion. Salvation becomes social healing rather than spiritual redemption. Just like the Northern Kingdom, modern progressives offer a god who is familiar in name but foreign in nature. The First Segment is: “Open-Minded” Idolatry The people of Israel did not see themselves as rejecting Yahweh. They simply wanted to be open to other spiritual options. Baal was worshiped for rain, Asherah for fertility, and Molech for prosperity. The land was filled with high places, groves, and alternate shrines. In their minds, it was not apostasy. It was balance. It was maturity. Progressive Christianity mirrors this impulse. Its leaders are often proud to affirm all religions as valid paths to the divine. Jesus is presented as one example among many. Interfaith services blend Scripture with mantras, chakras, and meditation. This “open-mindedness” is not new. It is the same spiritual adultery that the prophets condemned as whoredom. God does not share His throne. The second Segment is: Pagan Intrusion in Sacred Clothing The Israelites introduced forbidden elements into their worship. They practiced divination, consulted mediums, and used cultic rituals they learned from their Canaanite neighbors. They may have justified these things as “spiritual tools,” but the prophets saw clearly what was happening. Paganism was creeping into the house of God. Today, angel cards, energy healing, astrology, aura readings, and manifesting are all being imported into churches, especially those influenced by progressive and New Apostolic Reformation theology. These practices are often wrapped in Christian language. They speak of light, Spirit, and destiny. But they are no different from the forbidden rituals of ancient days. Their power does not come from the Holy Spirit. It comes from the same deceiving spirits that always wait behind the idols. The Third Segment is: The Rise of Prophetic Theater In the Northern Kingdom, the prophets became professional performers. They declared victory and blessing without requiring repentance. They contradicted the true prophets, promising peace while ignoring rebellion. Jeremiah lamented, “They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord, ‘It shall be well with you'” (Jeremiah 23, verse seventeen). Today's “prophecy schools,” such as Bethel's School of Supernatural Ministry, follow a disturbingly similar pattern. They claim to train individuals to “activate” prophetic gifts, to decree and declare realities into being, and to access heaven's secrets at will. But true prophecy in Scripture was never a skill to be mastered or a sensation to be invoked. It was a calling given by God to speak His Word with fear and trembling. At Bethel and similar movements, prophecy becomes performance. It centers on personal revelation, emotional experience, and “manifesting” outcomes rather than repentance, obedience, and holiness. Like the prophets of the Northern Kingdom, these teachers proclaim peace where there is no peace and glory without the cross. The emphasis on “prophetic activation” closely mirrors the divination condemned by Moses, where the divine is manipulated for human ends rather than received with reverent submission. The Fourth Segment is: Cultural Syncretism Rebranded as Revival Ancient Israel thought it could have both Yahweh and Baal. It thought it could use Canaanite worship styles to honor the God of Abraham. But Yahweh had already spoken at Sinai. His worship was not negotiable. Israel's attempt to blend cultures resulted in divine rejection. Progressive Christianity makes the same mistake. It borrows the language of self-help, the values of humanism, and the practices of mysticism. It attempts to wrap them in Christian terms, calling it “revival” or “awakening.” But Yahweh does not share His glory. He is not worshiped on the high places. He is not accessed through emotion, technique, or personal preference. He demands covenant faithfulness. The fifth segment is: The Prophets Were Never Popular In the Northern Kingdom, the true prophets were persecuted. Elijah was hunted. Amos was silenced. Hosea was scorned. They did not tell people what they wanted to hear. They told them what God said. The people preferred the false prophets who promised peace, affirmation, and national greatness. Today, biblical voices that warn against false spirituality are called judgmental. They are told they are stifling the Spirit. They are accused of division and fear-mongering. But their words match the prophets of old. God does not change, and neither does the nature of rebellion. The sixth segment is: The Consequence of Compromise The Northern Kingdom fell. Assyria crushed it, and its people were scattered. The fall was not just political. It was spiritual. The gods they welcomed could not save them. The prophets they trusted led them into ruin. God gave them over to what they had chosen. Progressive Christianity is on the same path. It trades revelation for reinvention. It welcomes what God forbids. It builds golden calves and calls them Jesus. Its trajectory is not renewal but collapse. A house built on sand will fall. In Conclusion The Northern Kingdom did not fall because it rejected religion. It fell because it redefined it. It kept the name of God while reshaping everything else. It embraced the gods of the age and called it progress. Progressive Christianity is repeating this rebellion. It is time to choose whom we will serve. For further study, consider these Discussion Questions Why do you think Jeroboam chose to redefine Israel's worship rather than abolish it outright? How does this reflect the way progressive Christianity reshapes faith today? What are the dangers of being “open-minded” about spiritual truth? At what point does openness become compromise, and how can we recognize the difference? How do modern practices like angel cards, manifesting, and prophetic activation parallel ancient forbidden rituals? Can these practices ever be redeemed or are they inherently incompatible with biblical faith? Why were the true prophets in Israel often unpopular and rejected? How does this help us evaluate popular spiritual leaders today? If the Northern Kingdom's downfall was theological more than political, what does that suggest about the long-term consequences of doctrinal compromise in the Church today? Join us next Theology Thursday to learn The Bible as a Polemic: Confronting the Powers that Rebelled Kingdom:. If you found this podcast insightful, please subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of  ‘Wisdom-Trek,  Creating a Legacy.'                          Thank you so much for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and, most importantly,   I am your friend as I serve you through this Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal. As we take this Trek of life together, let us always:           

Hosea—It’s an Old Testament book written during the fading days of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Hosea describes something of a spiritual dumpster fire. But most remarkable of all, Jesus is mentioned! This week on The Land and the Book, we’ll get to know Hosea—the prophet, AND the book that he wrote. Plus—all the top stories from the Middle East—and a creative idea for sharing your faith with a Jewish friend. All on The Land and the Book.Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/landandthebookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From God's view, the Northern Kingdom of Israel isn't just a history lesson—it's 200 years of calf‑worshiping pukes proving what happens when a nation builds its own religion and rides off from the real God. In Part 5 of “The Story of God,” we zoom out and trace the trail from Solomon's drift and the split of the kingdom, to Jeroboam's golden calves at Bethel and Dan, to 19 kings in 9 dynasties who kept the “sin of Jeroboam” alive while prophets like Elijah, Amos, and Hosea shouted for them to turn back. You'll see how false worship, high places, Asherah poles, Baal altars, and partial obedience finally ended with Assyria riding in and wiping the Northern Kingdom off the map. This message is for folks who suspect they've built a comfortable, home‑made religion instead of actually following Jesus, believers who keep winning little battles but won't lay down their favorite “calf,” and top hands who want to make sure their life points at the real God, not just at tradition. Connect with Save the Cowboy Save the Cowboy is a ranch‑based ministry helping ordinary people follow Jesus in the real world—no fluff, no nonsense, just the truth told in a cowboy way. Website: SaveTheCowboy.org Ranch ministry: LXRanch.org Facebook, Instagram: @SaveTheCowboy Please help us reach more cowboys by liking and subscribing!

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Get your Hosea Scripture Journal now. Our shout-out today goes to Charles Donahue from Keene, NH. Thanks for your partnership in Project23. Our text today is Hosea 1:1. The word of the Lord that came to Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel. — Hosea 1:1 How does a nation drift away from God? Not all at once. Not in one dramatic moment. It happens slowly. Quietly. Over time. One generation compromises. The next generation forgets. Eventually, a culture that once knew God barely remembers him at all. That's the moment Hosea steps into. This opening verse may read like a simple historical note, but it tells us something important. Hosea ministered during the reigns of several kings in Judah—Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah—and during the reign of Jeroboam II in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. By this time, the nation had already been divided for nearly two hundred years. The Northern Kingdom kept the name Israel, while the Southern Kingdom became Judah. Hosea's message was directed mainly toward Israel. And at first glance, things looked strong. Under Jeroboam II the nation experienced economic growth and military success. Borders expanded. Trade increased. Life appeared stable. But spiritually, the nation was collapsing. Idolatry filled the land. Baal worship spread through the culture. Religious activity still existed, but true devotion to God had largely disappeared. In that moment, God raised up a prophet. In the Old Testament, prophets were not primarily predictors of the future. They were messengers sent by God to speak truth to God's people—confronting sin, warning of consequences, and calling the nation back to covenant faithfulness. Hosea was that voice. And history shows a pattern: when a nation begins drifting from God, God sends a warning before judgment comes. He sends truth before consequences. He sends a voice before collapse. So pause today and examine your own life. Spiritual drift rarely feels dramatic while it's happening—but small compromises can quietly move our hearts further from God than we realize. Take a moment today to ask God where drift may be happening in your life, and take one small step back toward him. DO THIS: Take five quiet minutes today and ask God to reveal one area where you may be drifting spiritually—and make one intentional step toward him. ASK THIS: Where in your life might spiritual drift be happening without you noticing it? What small compromise today could slowly move your heart away from God? What is one simple step you could take today to move closer to him? PRAY THIS: Father, help me recognize the places where I may be drifting from you. Draw my heart back toward faithfulness and truth. Amen. PLAY THIS: "The King Is Coming"

May 4, 2026Today's Reading: Isaiah 12:1-6Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 21:1-24; Luke 12:1-12“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” (Isaiah 12:2)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! Amen. The people of Judah were in a precarious position. They had watched the Northern Kingdom be completely destroyed by the Assyrian army. Families were separated. The places of worship had been desecrated with idols of false gods. The identity of the Northern Kingdom was gone. King Ahaz refused to listen to God through the prophet Isaiah. King Ahaz had his own plans to protect his people. Ahaz looked to the formidable army of Egypt for protection against Assyria. The very nation that God had freed His people from enslavement, Ahaz cut a deal with and went back to their historic slavemaster. In the previous chapters, Isaiah reminds his hearers of God's attitude towards arrogance and pride. God hates the prideful nature of man. He despises the arrogance of His people and the arrogance of the pagan nations around His people. In their idolatry, they have committed adultery against God. They have had affairs with other gods and lusted after their own hearts' desires. In the worst of times, they still pursued their own hearts and their false gods.In our sin, we fall into the trap of arrogance and pride. We see our accomplishments and what we are capable of achieving. Our electronic advancements and technological advancements give us every answer in the palm of our hands. We can find endless entertainment, both good and bad, with a few swipes of the finger. It can seem as if nothing is out of our reach. Isaiah's words in chapter 12 speak to the remnant that was left behind. The few that remained faithful to God. The epitome of that remnant is found in Jesus Christ. Christ is Israel reduced to one. The final sacrifice, the final King, the final prophet. Christ fulfills all aspects of God's holy law. In faith, you hold fast to the promise that Christ has completed the work for your salvation. Sin, satan, and the world will work tirelessly to turn you away from the work of Christ and point you to your work. In faith, you are held fast to Christ's work and His salvation for you. He has become your salvation. He has completed the work for you. He has paid the price for your sins. He has conquered death for you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Though Satan's wrath Beset our path And worldly scorn assail us, While You are near, We shall not fear; Your strength will never fail us, Your rod and staff will keep us safe And guide our steps forever; Nor shades of death Nor hell beneath Our lives from You will sever. (LSB 714:2)

Are you ready to hear about a prophet of the Northern Kingdom of Israel who not only refused to obey God, but as fast as he could he caught a ship to go as far away from God's instructions as possible? This is Jonah, one of the earlier prophets to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. By refusing to obey God, he had an adventure he would never forget. God had directed him to go east to Israel's most-hated enemy, the Assyrian city of Nineveh. Jonah could not escape God's plan, for God prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah and return him to the shore. In this lesson you will learn that Jonah was an actual historical person and find out the significant themes of this small book. Learn that God loves all people and had a strong evangelistic plan for the world, even in the Old Testament.

Usually, in the Jewish calendar and in the Jewish canon, redemption comes top down. In the Exodus story, God brings about redemption with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, with ten plagues and signs and wonders. In the creation of the State of Israel that we marked with Yom Haatzmaut this week, the Israel Defense Forces brings about the creation and the continued existence of the Jewish state. Tomorrow morning we are going to examine an odd redemption story. Redemption comes not from God, kings, prophets, leaders, or armies, but from four lepers whose names we do not even know. The story, from 2 Kings 7, takes place during war. The Northern Kingdom of Israel was attacked by Aram, that had laid siege to it. There was no food. People were starving. It was as grim as grim could be. In that dark time, four lepers, who are outside the gates of the city, who are not welcome in the city, who have no prospects, bring salvation to Israel. We will do a close textual read of an odd redemption story for what it teaches us about us now.

April 24, 2026Today's Reading: Introit for Easter 4 - Psalm 66:3, 5, 8-9; antiphon: Psalm 66:1-2Daily Lectionary: Exodus 39:32-40:16; Luke 8:22-39“Come and see what God has done.” (Psalm 66:5) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. King Hezekiah is the best king Judah had since David (2 Kings 18:1-3). Like David, he fights the Philistines. He expands Judah's land and he restores true worship (spelled: F-A-I-T-H) by getting rid of the “high places” forbidden in Deuteronomy 12:10-14. He smashes the Asherah pillars and crushes the bronze serpent of Moses, to which Judah burned incense (2 Kings 18:4).  However, the mighty Assyrians under Sennacherib are on the move. Judah faces the same fate as the Northern Kingdom. In the “fourteenth year” of King Hezekiah (Isaiah 36:1 – a clue that suggests the events of Isaiah 36-39 are similar to Passover – see Leviticus 23:5), the Assyrians taunt the Jerusalemites by contending that they should not expect Hezekiah or the LORD to save them.  Why? Because no gods have been able to stand against Assyria! Sounds like Pharaoh, “Who is the LORD?” (Exodus 5:2). Hezekiah takes the derisive letter into the temple and spreads it before the LORD. He asks God to hear the Assyrian blasphemies Assyrians and defend Himself. “So now, O LORD our God, save us, please, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O LORD, are God alone,” (2 Kings 19:19; also Isaiah 36:18-20; 37:1-10). The LORD humbles the gods of Assyria (Isaiah 37:21-29) just as He did with the gods of Egypt (Exodus 12:12). The “angel of death” passes through the Assyrian camp by night and slaughters 185,000 of them (Isaiah 37:36; cf. Exodus 12:23).  Isaiah 38 tells the story of Hezekiah's illness and recovery. Hezekiah offers a psalm of thanksgiving (38:19-20). The “angel of death” slaughtered the Assyrians but passed over Hezekiah. In a sense, Judah has experienced a new Passover or a Passover 2.0 with the angel of death delivering her – this time from the Assyrians. No wonder Psalm 66, first written because of what we have just reviewed, exhorts the people of the Old Testament or any Christian to “come and see what God has done.” And to give “him glorious praise.” King Hezekiah sure did!  We pray this psalm in response to the greater exodus (Luke 9:31) that the LORD Jesus did for us and for our salvation when He suffered (including all the mockery), died, and rose on the third day. He crushed the enemy Satan's head. He achieved and accomplished our salvation through the shedding of His blood from His crucified body. On the night when He was betrayed, during the context of a Passover meal, Jesus instituted His Supper, by which He gives us His crucified, risen, and ascended Body and Blood to eat and drink, with the promise that all our sins are forgiven (Matthew 26:26-28). Jesus is God FOR YOU! In the Lord's Supper, “come and see what God has done for you” and gives you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. LORD Jesus Christ. Thank you for saving me on the cross. I trust You. Amen. 

April 20, 2026Today's Reading: Ezekiel 34:11-16Daily Lectionary: Exodus 33:1-23; Luke 7:1-17“I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep.”  (Ezekiel 34:15a) In the Name of Jesus. Shepherds. Israel's history is full of them: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. When Jacob moved his family to Egypt, they were segregated to Goshen because Hebrew shepherds were considered an abomination to the Egyptians (Genesis 46:34; cf. 43:32). Moses and David were shepherds (Exodus 3:1; 1 Sam 17:34-36). Joshua would shepherd Israel so that “the congregation of the LORD may not be as sheep that have no shepherd” (Numbers 27:17; cf. 1 Kings 22:17; Ezekiel 34:5). Additionally, the prophets, particularly Ezekiel, speak of Israel's kings as shepherds. Most of these king-shepherds abused the flock. King Ahab was one of the worst in the Northern Kingdom, and Manasseh was one of the worst in the Southern Kingdom. The children of Israel were like sheep without a shepherd. These king-shepherds did not strengthen, heal, and bind up the weak and sick. Instead, they ruthlessly subjected them. Preyed on them. Exposed them to wild beasts.   Ezekiel correctly makes the case that Judah's shepherds consumed their flock instead of feeding it. Instead of protecting, they slaughtered. Instead of gathering, they scattered. Consequently, the LORD takes His stand. He will “destroy” and “feed” the voracious-feeding-themselves “fat and strong” unfaithful shepherds “in justice.” They will get what they want as their punishment for their stubborn unbelief, corruption, and unrepentance. In addition, the LORD Himself promises to do what Israel's predatory shepherds will not and cannot do. He will be Israel's shepherd. “I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out … I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep.” He will rescue and gather the scattered. He will “feed them with good pasture” – even on the mountain heights. He will “seek the lost … bring back the strayed … bind up the injured, and … strengthen the weak.” Connect the dots. Ezekiel 34 is to the Old Testament what John 10 and Luke 15:3-7 are to the New Testament. Jesus— Immanuel / God with us— is the Good Shepherd of Ezekiel's prophecy! God the Father sends His only-begotten Son “to seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10). David was both “shepherd” and “prince” of Israel. As such, David prefigures Jesus, who is the greater salvational Shepherd-King! So, when Jesus identifies Himself as “the good shepherd,” He categorically proclaims Himself as the fulfillment of Ezekiel's prophecy. And in Good Friday sacrificial love for you, His sheep, He “lays down his life” (Jn 10:15) and then takes it up again on Easter Sunday (Jn 10:17-18) to win your salvation by His blood as the sacrificial lamb who “takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Good Shepherd Jesus, continue to shepherd and pasture us in Your kingdom as we live in and from our Baptism as You repent, faith, and lead us in Your Word. Amen.

We serve a Triumphant King! And today we'll dig into 1st Chronicles 17 to see how this passage ties right into Jesus' Triumphal Entry and draws our focus to His ultimate kingdom. Join us as we turn to an encouraging chapter from the life of David! DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1.    The podcast mentions that there are several similarities between the books of Kings and Chronicles, specifically that 1st Chronicles… focuses on David, covers both the Northern Kingdom and Southern Kingdom, seeks to explain Israel's downfall in terms of how they broke their covenant with God, and was written around the time of the return from exile to remind the people that they were still God's covenant nation. Why do you think these points were needed as God's people returned from exile?  2.    The podcast also mentions that an underlying purpose of the book of 1st Chronicles was to show that just as God was faithful to His promises to bring judgment, He would also be faithful to bring restoration. How would this have given the people hope in their time of exile? 3.    Since we've already discussed the Davidic covenant from 2nd Samuel 7 a few weeks ago, as you have come to today's study in 1st Chronicles 17, what is your understanding of its significance?  4.    In verse 4, what does the Lord tell David regarding His reasons for not having David build a temple? What does this show us about the priority the Lord places on fancy buildings?  5.    In the past, we've explained that a "Covenant" is a formal set of promises that one (or more) people make to another. In this passage, the Lord makes 8 key promises. In the space below, write the gist of each promise for each verse:  a.    Verse 8: b.    Verse 9: c.    Verse 10: d.    Verse 11: e.    Verse 12: f.    Verse 13 (#1):  g.    Verse 13 (#2): h.    Verses 14: 6.    Having just finished our study of 1st and 2nd Kings, how many kings in those books fulfilled these promises (hint: You don't have to look up the reigns of any kings to answer this question)? Who is the only King who fulfilled these 8 promises?  7.    How has Jesus fulfilled some of these promises already? How will the rest be fulfilled?  8.    In light of these promises, how can you praise the Lord today? Check out our Bible Study Guide on the Key Chapters of Genesis! Available on Amazon just in time for the Genesis relaunch in January! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube. As always, we are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.   

More than likely, you've faced desperate situations. During those times, who did you turn to? Today, we'll read the important account of Hezekiah's faith in the Lord and how the Lord miraculously delivered His people. Join us! DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1.    Given the context of this passage, what happened in 2 Kings 18 that would lead to Hezekiah to tearing his clothes here in 2 Kings 19:1? What did this action (tearing his clothes) indicate?  2.    Who did Hezekiah send word for in verse 2? Who was this person and where else is he mentioned in the Bible? What does Hezekiah ask of him in verses 3 &4? How does the fact that Hezekiah sought religious counsel impact the outcome of this passage?  3.    In verse 6, why does Isaiah say that Hezekiah should not be afraid? In verse 7, what does the Lord promise will be the outcome of this altercation with Sennacherib? Given the situation, especially the fact that the Northern Kingdom has already fallen to Assyria, why might this promise have seemed "too good to be true"?  4.    Per our study in 2nd Kings 18, who (or what) is this "Rabshakeh"? In verse 8, how does he accuse the Lord of deceiving the people? What was Assyria's track record in defeating other nations who also trusted in their gods?  5.    In verse 14, what did Hezekiah do? What does Hezekiah pray in verses 15-19? What depth of faith and trust do you see here? How is this depth of faith tied to Hezekiah's overall life pattern of trust and obedience?  6.    What message did the Lord have through Isaiah for Hezekiah in verse 20? What was the Lord's message for Rabshakeh in verses 21ff? What was the Lord's message for the people in verse 29ff?  7.    What happens to the Assyrian army in verse 35? What does Sennacherib have to do in verse 36? How was this clearly by the hand of the Lord?  8.    The podcast mentioned the archeological artifact called "Sennacherib's Prism." How does "Sennacherib's Prism" help shed light on this biblical account?  9.    Based on this passage, what are some principles you can glean for trusting in the Lord, even when everything seems to be going haywire?  10.    As you reflect on this passage, how did Sennacherib and Rabshakeh respond to the Lord's work in their lives? How is this an example of a rebellious response to the clear work of God? What counsel would you give to them about how and why they ought to heed the Lord?  Check out our Bible Study Guide on the Key Chapters of Genesis! Available on Amazon just in time for the Genesis relaunch in January! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube. As always, we are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.   

It's difficult to have faith when we're surrounded by a faithless world, and yet that's not uncommon for God's people. Today we're looking at 1 Kings 17 and the account of Elijah and Ahab. We'll see how Elijah stands for the Lord and how the Lord blesses him and those around him. Join us!  DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1.    According to the podcast, what happened to the nation of Israel 55 years earlier? Which kingdom did Elijah preach to? 2.    Although King Ahab was a king over the northern kingdom, by his mode of life, which God did He really worship? How did this come about? 3.    The podcast mentions that the name "Baal" meant "master". How might this have been a temptation for God's people who often referred to the Lord as "Adonai" which also meant "Lord, master"?  4.    The podcast mentions that "Baal" was the god of nature and fertility and rain. How important were these elements to the Jewish agrarian economy? Why might this have been tempting for the Jewish people to worship Baal instead of the Lord? 5.    Into this scene came Elijah. Elijah's name meant "The Lord is God". Why was this message so radical in Elijah's day and age? 6.    What does the Lord tell King Ahab in verse 1? What kind of intestinal fortitude did this take, given the situation of the Northern Kingdom at this time? How was this taking on the false god Baal?  7.    What does the Lord have Elijah do after this, in verses 3-7? How does the Lord provide for Elijah in these verses? How do you think that would have strengthened his faith? 8.    Where does the Lord send Elijah in verse 9? Was this a region inhabited by Jews? Whose hometown was this? Why would that have been a problem for Elijah? 9.    What does the widow say to Elijah about the Lord in verse 12? What does this indicate about her faith in the Lord? What miracle does the Lord provide for her an answer to her faith? 10.    What happens to her son in verse 17? What does the Lord do through Elijah in verses 19 to 22? What did the podcast say about why this is a "resuscitation" rather than a "resurrection"? 11.    Look up Malachi 4:5. What does this verse say about Elijah? How did this verse factor into Jesus's ministry in the New Testament? 12.    What does Elijah's life show the people of the Northern Kingdom regarding God's covenant with them during this time? Why is this surprising given the spiritual climate of Elijah's day? 13.    In Luke 4, verses 26 and 27, Jesus refers to the events of this chapter. What was His point in saying what He says about what happened here? 14.    Finally, James 5:17 refers to these events as an example of prayer. What was James's point about Elijah? How does that relate to us today? Check out our Bible Study Guide on the Key Chapters of Genesis! Available on Amazon just in time for the Genesis relaunch in January! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube. As always, we are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.   

Which sin does the Bible emphasize most—and what does it reveal about the dangers of institutionalized disobedience? This article argues that Jeroboam's subtle, respectable-looking idolatry became Israel's most destructive sin and offers striking parallels for Adventist mission and the call to uphold true worship today.

3.8.2026 – Rev. Ben Roberts for Foundry UMC, Washington DC The author has wasted no time being extra scandalous here. It's not just that Jesus is meeting with the Samaritan woman but also that he's doing it at a well. Other biblical narratives of men meeting with women at the well usually ends with some sort of marriage; Isaac and Rebecca.  Jacob and Rachel.  Moses and Zipporah.  These are all encounters at wells. So the overtones for the original audience of this story hint at courtship.  If you've encountered this story before maybe you've heard it sad that this woman social standing should be questioned because of the marriage history that's presented. But Dr. Laura Holmes at Wesley Theological seminary invites us to remember that permission to divorce would have been handed down by male family member it would not have been possible for a poor woman. She couldn't have chosen to get divorced. So the multiple husbands noted in this story likely are “related to tragedies either death or being divorced or both.” So it would be inappropriate to make those sorts of conclusion about here moral or social standing. She also notes for us that we should pay attention to the way that the community responds to this woman's testimony, that many people receive it and believe because of her. If she were ostracized, it is unlikely they would have even listened to what she had to say.  This story also follows closely to that of Nicodemus' the story we heard last week. The contrast being that the Nicodemus story takes place in the middle of the night, but Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well in the middle of the day. Their stories present a series of opposites: “They embody gender, class and status, and ethnic and religious differences. The setup for each encounter also differs: Nicodemus initiates the conversation with Jesus, while Jesus initiates the conversation with the Samaritan woman, and the former is at night (3:2) while the latter is at noon (4:6).”  In both stories, Jesus's answers are interpreted literally causing confusion; when talking of being born again or drinking living water. As Pastor Ginger said last week, very unhelpful answers provided by Jesus. But we see different responses within the confusion. Nicodemus's story somewhat ends after a couple of follow-up questions; he the learned teacher doesn't continue the conversation. While the Samaritan woman asks for the living water and goes and tells others about what she has encountered. So we get some of the feeling that they learned teacher Nicodemus who is inside the community doesn't quite get it what this random Samaritan outsider woman stays engaged and curious.  After the woman asks for the living water, Jesus does something that reveals and points to himself as Messiah. He knows things that haven't be said yet. He tells her about her husbands and current situation, nothing she had shared with him. This, him knowing something that hasn't been reveled,  is enough to begin this revelation and journey for her.  Let's note they have this discussion on worship. Localities are brought up as she says “this mountain” and then says, “but you (y'all) say the place where people MUST worship is Jerusalem.”  We'll talk some more about this, but suffice it to say for the moment the Jewish tradition is telling them that worship must be in Jerusalem, while the Samaritan tradition says it should be on Mt. Gerizim (or this mountain).  She points to this dogmatic divide between their communities and Jesus' response is to say neither Jerusalem nor this mountain. A time is coming when true worship will be in spirit and in truth. Worship that is born not from obligation to ritual but love of heart and active in the world as Jesus was active (mercy, service, justice, compassion). She goes from there and tells others in her community and it's said that many listened to her, came to see Jesus for themselves, and also believed. The woman becomes one of our traditions' first theologians discussing proper worship, first preachers telling her community what Jesus had done, and is every bit a disciple/apostle as those other…guys. And that is lovely.  There are few major stories where the Samaritans were mentioned in the New Testament. We have this story of the Samaritan woman at the well. We have the story of a thankful Samaritan leper. And we have probably the best-known story of the Good Samaritan parable. In each of these cases a person who is Samaritan is held up as an example of someone who did the “right” thing where the more faithful person or the Jewish person in this story does the wrong thing or is just slower at…the thing. For example, in the Good Samaritan parable this is the Samaritan who stops to help the injured person after some priests and Levites had passed by on the other side. Or in the case of the leper the Samaritan is the one who gives thanks and tells the story where the other nine just leave. I'll note that in the other two cases a person is in some ways reduced to being an object lesson, that is they are just held up to teach us something about the ways we're supposed to act. There's not a bunch of character development. We don't learn about the actual people or their communities through these stories. They're just being used to show us something. By comparison, today's story is rather robust for the Samaritan character; despite not being given a name. Last fall (2025) as part of our foundations of sacred resistance series, we did a Bible study that included talking about the Good Samaritan. Someone brought up that it would be helpful for us to expand on who the Samaritans were. Usually we (and the Bible) just note there is animosity between the Jewish community and the Samaritan community. There was one Kingdom and a united monarchy until the time after King Solomon. So we have one Kingdom under David and then under his son Solomon, but after Solomon, the kingdoms and the tribes split. Ten tribes remain in the north, which becomes the Kingdom of Israel, and two remain in the South, which becomes the Kingdom of Judah. The reason for that split is often characterized as a continuation of tax policy and harsh leadership. This would have been around or between 975 and 930 BCE. Whatever the day-to-day on the ground specifics, we end up with two groups where there had previously been one. Differences begin to emerge for a variety of reasons. But we'll start with something that's common, and that is that both groups followed the Torah or the fist 5 books of what we would call the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament (Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy). For portions of this Northern Kingdom that eventually become the Samaritan community, the scriptures stop there without additions of prophetic texts, Psalms or others that Christian circles are familiar with from the Hebrew Bible or Old testament.  And within that holy text of those first five books, there are differences between the Torah used by the Samaritans and the Torah used by the Jews. There are 6,000 differences: half of which are grammatical or small changes for flow, and the other half are larger ones like entire conversations (missing/not included) between characters like Moses and Aaron with Pharaoh and a difference in the 10 commandments. Where we might be familiar with the 10th commandment being “thou shalt not covet,” the Samaritan version has the 10th commandment as an instruction to build and alter at Mount Gerizim (believed to be the place Abraham was going to sacrifice Isacc for this tradition rather than Mount Moriah/The Temple Mount in Jerusalem). So differing scriptures (yet the same), differing instructions, differing locations claiming to be central to the faith if not the center of the world. These realties come together over time. The distinct group of the Samaritans does not really emerge however until after the Assyrian conquest in 722 BCE.  The Assyrians come through and take over the Northern Kingdom (Israel). When the northern Kingdom fell some of the members of the 10 tribes are deported throughout Assyrian territory.  Some remained. But the Assyrians also send colonists and other deported people from other places into the region of the northern Kingdom. And the population that remained from the 10 tribes begins to intermix culturally, religiously, and socially.  Differences are magnified  because of the experience of the Southern Kingdom with the Babylonian exile. Where the Assyrian conquest of the Northern Kingdome sends the people away. The Babylonian conquest takes the people of the southern kingdom in to exile in Babylon (this where books of the prophets come from) but there's an end exile (where there wasn't for the northern kingdom) 200 years later, Persians allow the southern kingdom Judean's to return. This has a big impact on the development of Judaism. And upon their return, while it's said in the book of Ezra, the Samaritans were willing to welcome back these cousins and work with them to rebuild. Those returning did not want to mix because of the ways the Samaritans had mixed with other cultures over the centuries. At some point during the Assyrian conquest and the people being deported. Some lions showed up, killed some people, it was a big mess. It was a whole thing. The Assyrians said, you know, those people we sent into that land don't know how to worship the God of that land. So we need to send a priest back to teach them (2 Kings), because we can't have lions running around killing people. So our tradition, from the start says, those people who remain, those Samaritans who have been mixing, they don't know what they're doing when it comes to worship when it comes to being faithful. They're doing it wrong and need to be fixed. That becomes the one-sided story we inherit. This experience of exile, return and non-return becomes a big divergence for the two groups. The returning Judeans don't want to mix with those people who are doing it wrong. They reject the Samaritan's help. And as the returning Judeans begin to do things like rebuild Jerusalem and the temple after rejecting the Samaritans' help. The Samaritans in turn find ways to oppose its construction by lobbying the Persians.  Laws and prohibitions around mixing and inter-marrying are put in place. The marriage prohibitions persist to this day. Animosity and separation continue to grow over hundreds of years by the time the Jesus story begins. In 128 BCE the Hasmonean's (Judea/Southern Kingdom) destroyed the Samaritan Temple at Mt. Gerizim. Little more than a century later (6-9 AD) around the time of Jesus' birth, the Samaritans dump human bones throughout the temple in Jerusalem, rendering it unclean and unavailable for the Passover celebration. There is long-range tit for tat going on. And at roughly the same time as Jesus' life and ministry and the budding of the early Christian church, the Samaritans were essentially in collaboration with the occupying Romans; collecting taxes and helping keep order compared to the rebellious Jewish community. Samaritan community still exists. By all accounts there are 8-900 people left in the community. The population is mainly split between Tel-Aviv, Israel and Nablus near Mount Gerizim in Palestine/West Bank. There was a NYT article from 2021 called “The World's Last Samaritans – Straddling the Israeli-Palestinian Divide.” So with all of that, recent desecrations and destructions of temples, differing yet the same scripture, vastly differing experiences, prohibitions on marriages and sharing food, and hundreds of years of growing divide; Jesus talks with a Samaritan woman at a well. No shortage of old divides on display for us in the world right now. No shortage of one-sided stories about how awful the other side is, right now. No shortage of stories about how awful we are. No shortage of conflict and suffering because of it. I think I very much like the idea today of Jesus stepping into and interrupting old, entrenched conflict. I like the idea that people, like the woman, are still curious and willing not be held by old tropes and dogmas; social, political, or religious. I like Jesus stepping in and saying not your mountain or ours; it's not what matters and they're not worth staying divided over.  If we keep drinking from these old wells; of nationalism, Christian nationalism, Christian Zionism, racism. Drinking from wells of sexism misogyny, racism, or homophobia. Drinking from the wells of ethnic conflict the wells of polarization. Drinking from these old wells of division and violence will just keep us coming back to these old wells of division and violence. Four years from now, 100 years from now, 200, 700, 3000 years from now. Instead, we're invited to the living water that can satisfy and move us into relationship. And for those who would step into that relationship, having experienced the living water, within them a spring would form and other could experience it too. Through that expansion may  we (with God's help) somehow move closer to the days of Spirit and Truth; changed hearts and just action in the world.

2 Chronicles 10 begins the final major section of 1-2 Chronicles which focuses on the Judean Kings of the Davidic Kingdom. The Northern Kingdom is largely ignored because they have rebelled against God. The Chronicler examines the ups and downs of the southern reigns and judges them based on their fidelity to God's covenant and law. Chapters 10-20 focuses on these kings beginning with Jeroboam through Jehoshaphat. Enjoy this sample from Lesson 8, "Royal Infidelity: Jeroboam to Jehoshaphat (2 Chron 10-20)" from Dr. Nick's ten-part course, "1-2 Chronicles: The Kingdom of the Lord." Anyone can join our community of students and stream the entire audio lesson and full course (and other courses too!) whenever they wish.

Read OnlineWhen the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. Luke 2:22–24Forty days after a firstborn male was born, the law of Moses required that the mother participate in a purification ritual and that the parents were to “redeem” the child by offering a ritual sacrifice. As faithful Jews, Mary and Joseph took these obligations seriously. When they entered the Temple, they were met by a holy man named Simeon, who was among the faithful Jews “awaiting the consolation of Israel.”From its founding, the Kingdom of Israel had endured many troubled times. The last time the Kingdom of Israel had been united was under the reign of King David and his son Solomon in the tenth century B.C. After Solomon's death, the kingdom split into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The Northern Kingdom was captured by the Assyrians in 722 B.C., and the Southern Kingdom was conquered by the Babylonians in 586 B.C., leading to the destruction of the First Temple and the exile of many Jews to Babylon for about seventy years. In the centuries that followed, Greek culture was imposed upon the region after the conquest of Alexander the Great, and the Romans finally captured Judah in 63 BC, maintaining control beyond the birth of Christ.This history of oppression and division created various responses among the Jewish people. Many prophets had foretold the coming of the Messiah, the one who would bring consolation to Israel. Some Jews expected the Messiah to be a political leader who would reunite and restore the Kingdom. Others were indifferent to the prophecies. But a faithful remnant, like Simeon, awaited the Messiah who would bring about a profound spiritual renewal.Simeon was not a Pharisee, Sadducee, or scribe, but an ordinary devout Jew filled with the Holy Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit Who revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Messiah. On the day Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple, Simeon, inspired by the Holy Spirit, came to the Temple and recognized the Christ Child. He took Jesus in his arms and rejoiced, saying, “Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled…”We should all strive to be like Simeon. Like the people of Israel and Judah, we are living in a world where God's Kingdom is often divided or overshadowed by immorality, wars, divisions, and a lack of faith. We might be tempted to address these challenges in various ways, but the best way is to become part of the faithful remnant who, like Simeon, trust in God's promises and eagerly anticipate His transforming action in our lives and in the world. Reflect today on the state of the world. In some places, the Kingdom of God is vibrant and alive; in others, it seems distant or absent. No matter where you find yourself, turn your gaze to the all-powerful Messiah, Who is capable of renewing His Kingdom on Earth as we await its fullness at the end of time. Devote yourself to His mission, and allow the Holy Spirit to inspire you to be an active participant in bringing about the reign of God. My Lord and Messiah, as I see the challenges and divisions in the world around me, help me to trust in Your promises. May I, like Simeon, be filled with faith and hope as I await Your Kingdom. Inspire me to be an instrument of Your grace, helping to build Your Kingdom here on Earth. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Janmad, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Fr. Mike explains the relationship between idolatry and adultery, and how one can easily lead to another, especially in our relationship with God. He also talks about the difference between discipline and abuse, as we cover some tough topics today. Today's readings are Isaiah 65, Ezekiel 23-24, and Proverbs 13:21-25. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.