Sunday (7/31)

This week we will conclude our reading of the book of 2 Kings. The books of 1 & 2 Kings were written together as one scroll to tell the stories of the various kings and the divided kingdom of the Israelites during hundreds of years after the death of King David from about 970 to 561 B.C. Although the final chapter of the book describes the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple, 2 Kings ends with a glimmer of hope.

 

During the next few months, we will take a break from our 2022 journey through the Old Testament to focus on the Gospel of John during the all-church series, which begins on August 7th. As a congregation, we will read John’s Gospel together. If you would like to purchase a Gospel of John Scripture Journal for $4, which includes all of the verses from the gospel account as well as space for writing notes and journaling, they are available at AUMC on Sunday mornings.

 

If you have not seen the Overview: 1-2 Kings video by the Bible Project that is available on Youtube you are encouraged to watch it before reading the verses for this week:

Overview: 1-2 Kings by the Bible Project

 

If you did not read the previous books of Genesis through 1 Kings, you are encouraged to watch the Bible Project video about the Old Testament. The video is a summary of the Hebrew scriptures. It is available on YouTube.

TaNaK/Old Testament by the Bible Project:

 

Below are some suggestions and questions to help you as you read scripture this week:

1. Approach scripture with humility. Seek to receive what the Bible reveals without trying to make it say what you want it to say.

2. Invite the Holy Spirit to speak a message to you through the verses you read.

3. What do these verses reveal about God?

4. What do these verses reveal about humanity?

5. What do these verses teach me about myself?

6. How do you see yourself in the story when reading biblical narratives?

Which of these characters would I be?

In what ways is their story similar to my story?

7. Read, study, and discuss scripture with a small group or another person.

8. Use a Study Bible. A Study Bible is a very helpful tool for understanding each book of the Bible and individual verses. They include information shared by scholars about historical and cultural realities during the time depicted or the era of the document, the author, when the book might have been written, the intended audience of the document, themes and messages within a book or letter, and more. The NIV, NRSV, ESV, and NLT Study Bibles are worth considering if you do not own one. There are a few available from the AUMC Library in the back of the Chapel. You can also purchase a Study Bible from ChristianBook.com, Cokesbury.com, or Amazon.com.

 

*If you do not have a Bible, consider downloading the YouVersion Bible App for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play for your smartphone or tablet. You can also use www.BibleGateway.com to look up and read various translations of Bible verses online for free.

 

 

Monday (8/1)

Read the verse from Psalm 103 that is below to begin your devotional time:

 

“Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” – Psalm 103:1 KJV

 

Read 2 Kings 5. As you read the bible verses, invite the Holy Spirit to reveal a

word, phrase, or verse from the biblical text that is specifically for you for today.

 

Pray for those who need to experience the healing power of God.

 

 

Tuesday (8/2)

Read Psalm 103:1 to center yourself in God.

 

Solitude and Silence. You are encouraged to spend a few minutes or more alone with God silently listening for the internal whisper of the Holy Spirit. If you struggle to listen, focus on the blessings the Lord has given you, including your life, knowledge of God, salvation through faith in Christ, family members, friends, etc.

 

Read 2 Kings 6:1-7. Choose a question or two from the Sunday list of this devotional to wrestle with as part of your study time.

 

Pray for:

• Those closest to you (family members & friends)
• Those who point others towards God (pastors, teachers, mentors, authors, musicians, etc.)
• Leaders (locally, nationally, and globally)
• People in need throughout the world (the hungry, thirsty, homeless, sick, imprisoned, neglected, abused, lost, etc.)

• Yourself (share your needs and invite the Lord to guide you)

 

 

Wednesday (8/3)

Read Psalm 103:1 to begin your time with the Lord.

 

Read 2 Kings 11:1-12:21. Which word, phrase, or verse is God using to speak to you today from what you read?

 

Pray through your day, including for the people you will be with, or have been with, as well as what you will do, or what you have done.

 

 

Thursday (8/4)

Read Psalm 103:1.

 

Solitude and Silence. You are encouraged to spend a few minutes or more alone with God silently listening. The Hebrew word “bless” in Psalm 103:1 means to worship or praise the Lord. Let your mind focus on worshiping the One who has blessed you more abundantly than you can comprehend.

 

Read the section titles for chapters 13 through 16, then read 2 Kings 17. You are encouraged to use the questions and suggestions from the Sunday list of this devotional to help guide your study time.

 

Pray in response to God using the ACTS acronym as a guide:

Adoration (praise the Lord)

Confession

Thanksgiving

Supplication (share your needs & the needs of others)

 

 

Friday (8/5)

Read Psalm 103:1 to begin your time with God.

 

Read the section titles for chapters 18 through 21, then read 2 Kings 22:1-23:3. Invite the Lord to speak to you through the words of scripture.

 

Pray for those who do not know or understand God and The Bible. Ask our God to open their eyes, ears, and hearts. Pray for the people of God, that we may live in obedience to our King through what the Spirit of the Lord reveals to us in scripture.

 

 

Saturday (8/6)

How are you going to remember and observe the Sabbath this weekend? The Sabbath is a day each week that is set apart from the others to worship God, rest, and enjoy life-giving recreation to experience restoration. Are you setting aside an hour, part of a day, or an entire day as a way to observe the Sabbath? You may need to incrementally observe the Sabbath until you are eventually able to worship, rest, and engage in living-giving recreation for an entire day each week.

 

Read the section titles for the verses of chapter 23 and 24, then read all of 2 Kings 25.

 

Now that you have read the final verses of 2 Kings, spend some time in silence imagining yourself as a Jew living through the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. The feelings of vulnerability, sadness, brokenness, being forsaken, and hopelessness would probably be overwhelming, perhaps even resulting in numbness. Use some of the questions and suggestions from the Sunday portion of this devotional as you continue thinking about what these verses reveal.

 

As you continue in silence, think about the following questions:

When did you live through a season or seasons of loss and heartache? How was God with you as you walked through a dark valley or devastation? How did God reveal himself in the midst of what you endured? Write your answers in a journal or spend some time talking to your spouse, another family member, or friend to share what came to mind.

 

Re-read 2 Kings 27-30. How is the hope that is found in and through God present within what these verses reveal?

 

Read Psalm 79, which was believed to have been written during the time of the exile of the people of the Kingdom of Judah sometime after the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. What does this psalm reveal about the feelings those in exile were experiencing? Notice how the psalmist turns to God for help as part of this prayer. What does the conclusion of this psalm reveal about what we should do even when we endure the worst hardships of our lives?

 

Pray and live in response to our God. You may find it helpful to use some of the words of the psalm as a guide for your prayer.