Day 228...(1 Chronicles 1,2; Ecclesiastes 10)..."Historians Will Love This Reading"

If you like genealogy and history, you are going to love 1 Chronicles. Matthew begins with a whole chapter dedicated to Jesus'. Did you know most of the first 12 chapters of 1 Chronicles is basically genealogy and history. If you love it enjoy. If you don't read through with the broader theme of the roots of our faith in mind.

Ecclesiastes has more zingers today. Here is my favorite..." If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success." Is this where Stephen Covey came up with "sharpening the saw" the leadership concept? I guess we know which one came first.

Day 227...(2 Kings 25; Ecclesiastes 9)..."More Zingers from Ecclesiastes"

Just when you thought "the preacher" in Ecclesiastes peaked with one liners...he comes up with a new zinger.

"The race is not always to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor satisfaction to the wise, Nor riches to the smart, Nor grace to the learned. Sooner or later bad luck hits us all. No one can predict misfortune. Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds in a trap, So men and women are caught By accidents evil and sudden" (The Message)

Ecclesiastes is definitely not boring or lacking colorful insight. I have enjoyed reading this time through these chapters. Perhaps because we have many cynics, sarcastics, and ranters for these times we live today.

Day 226...(2 Kings 23,24; Eccesiastes 8)..."Josiah Was A Leader Unlike Others."

Josiah was a good king. 2 Kings 23 tells us specific reasons he was admired. As I read through the chapter, he cleaned house. Out with worship and symbols of other gods. Out with leaders not obedient to God. Out with any practices contrary to God's law.

As a result Josiah is remembered as a king beyond comparison. He was more obedient and humble before the Lord than most everyone but David. In a listing of so many bad kings, this leaves hope that leaders can be good. Our world can be cynical toward leaders today...yet, we are reminded in 2 Kings leaders can be good.

All leaders today would do well to remember the obedience and humility of Josiah.

Day 225...(2 Kings 21,22; Ecclesiastes 7)..."Really Young Kings Who Served a Long Time"

Manasseh became king at twelve and did evil in the Lord's sight. Josiah became eight and did well in the Lord's sight. Their kingdoms started young and lasted a long time. Manasseh reigned fifty five years. Josiah reigned thirty-one year. I am fascinated that one could become king so young and serve so long. The outcome though is the same as other kings. One was good and one was bad.

Manasseh was one of the most evil kings. His evil was more corrupt than other kings. Here is a sample of his evil..."He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger." One of the worst bad kings.

Josiah, on the other hand, received high praise..."He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left." I like that image of not turning to the right or left. It sounds like his comparison to David is very noteworthy.

Day 224...(2 Kings 19,20; Ecclesiastes 6)..."A Question for all Ages"

One question for all ages is asked by Hezekiah. Will there be peace in my lifetime? Thousands of years later...we ask the same question. As much as things change, this hope stays the same. Here is the passage...

"The word of the LORD you have spoken is good," Hezekiah replied. For he thought, "Will there not be peace and security in my lifetime?"

Day 223...(2 Kings 17,18; Ecclesiastes 5)..."In Our Place"

One common trait in the human condition is humankind forgetting to worship God and falling into disobedience. This lack of obedience would send Israel into exile. Here is how it is stated in 2 Kings.

"All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt from under the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt."

This theme comes up also in Ecclesiastes.

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

"Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few."

God is in Heaven and we are on earth. This puts humankind in their place. Or should I say puts us in our place!

Day 222...(2 Kings 15,16; Eccesiastes 4)..."Teamwork Teaching out of Nowhere"

Ecclesiastes turns negative again. Is there a passage more negative? ..."And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive. But better than both is he who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun." Ouch! I cannot think of a more negative passage from the one known as the "preacher."

Out of nowhere, though, comes teaching about teamwork...

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down,his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!"

Ecclesiastes is an up and down Book.