Navigating the Worlds of Science and Religion
1 Kings 10: The Queen of Sheba shows up to meet and test Solomon. We then learn all about Solomonās amount of wealth. Iļø still struggle with this part of the Old Testament considered the fact that wealth doesnāt seem to be as valued in the New Testament.
Continue reading “11/1 Reading (1 Kings 10-12; 2 Corinthians 13)”
1 Kings 7: Lots of detail on the palace Solomon built for himself including the furnishings. Also discussion of the furnishings for the temple.
Continue reading “10/31 Reading (1 Kings 7-9; 2 Corinthians 12)”
1 Kings 4: Provides an overview of Solomon and all of his people who served him and helped him rule all over the land. It ends with description of his wisdom and how everyone came to listen to him. Iām intrigued by one of the last verses: āHe described the botany of trees, whether the cedar in Lebanon or the hyssop that grows out of the wall. He also described cattle, birds, anything that crawls on the ground, and fishā (CEB version; 1 Kings 4.33).
Continue reading “10/30 Reading (1 Kings 4-6; 2 Corinthians 11)”
2 Samuel 22: Notes from the NRSV version indicate that this chapter is actually a psalm and is essentially the same as Psalm 18. According to the scholars this was actually written ālong after Davidās timeā (p. 478). Interesting little tidbit. Verses 1-20 focus on God rescuing the psalmist (assuming itās supposed to be David). Verses 21-51 focus on Davidās military activities. Overall the psalmist is thanking and praising God for being there to help.
Continue reading “10/27 Reading (2 Samuel 22-24; 2 Corinthians 10)”
2 Samuel 19: David mourns Absalom. His general, Joab, confronts David telling him he better focus on his soldiers who were willing to die to save him instead of his enemy who did die trying to defeat him. He then returns to Jerusalem. We see some division emerging between Judah and the rest of Israel at the end of this chapter.
Continue reading “10/26 Reading (2 Samuel 19-21; 2 Corinthians 9)”
2 Samuel 16: More troubles for David. He is cursed by Shimei, a man from the same clan as Saulās family. Back in Jerusalem, Absalom asks Ahithophel to give him advice. He tells Absalom to have sex with Davidās secondary wives that he left behind in the palace when he fled. He has sex with all of them in a tent on the roof so everyone can see them.
Continue reading “10/25 Reading (2 Samuel 16-18; 2 Corinthians 8)”
2 Samuel 13: The downward spiral in Davidās house continues. In this chapter, his son, Amnon, rapes his half-sister Tamar. He does this because he loves her, but after he rapes her, he despises her. She flees back to her brother, Absalom, who takes her in and protects her. David gets angry with Amnon, but doesnāt do anything. Two years later Absalom tricks Amnon into coming to his house and he kills Amnon. The other princes flee. Absalom fled and hides until David forgives him a few years later.
Continue reading “10/24 Reading (2 Samuel 13-15; 2 Corinthians 7)”
2 Samuel 10: David goes to war with the Ammonites and Arameans after the Ammonites disrespect him. They lose and become servants to David.
Continue reading “10/23 Reading (2 Samuel 10-12; 2 Corinthians 6)”
2 Samuel 4: Two men who led raiding parties for Ishbosheth end up killing him in his house, chopping off his head, and delivering his head to David thinking this would please David. They were wrong. David gets angry and has them both killed. We also learn that Saulās son Jonathan had a son, Mephibosheth.
Continue reading “10/20 Reading (2 Samuel 4-6; 2 Corinthians 5)”
I’ve talked with several people about 2 Cor. 3 and my original thoughts on it (see here). I just want to get that info down so I can refer to it later.