july

Day 182: Wednesday, July 1, 2026

II Kings 10:        Jehu brought about what the LORD said through Elijah in I Kings 21 wherein Ahab was told that his house would come to an end. Jehu later tricked the worshippers of Baal and killed them, but he did not walk faithfully in the law of the LORD. The LORD used Jehu to bring about His word spoken against Ahab through Elijah, but that did not mean that he followed the LORD. Jehu died and his son, Jehoahaz, became king over Israel.

II Kings 11:       This chapter corresponded to II Chronicles 22. Athaliah seized the throne over Judah by having her own grandsons murdered. She was a wicked woman. An infant son of Ahaziah, Joash, was hidden and spared from the murderous intentions of his grandmother.  He was later made king and the wicked Athaliah was deposed by execution. Remember that Athaliah was a daughter of Omri, a former wicked king who had reigned as king over Israel.

II Kings 12:         Jehoash (aka “Joash”) was a good king over Judah. He wanted to ensure that repairs were made to the temple. The repairs were not done quickly. The priests spent most of the money on themselves and did not hire out the work.  Another reason was listed in II Chronicles 24:7. That to do with abuses done to the temple articles by the sons of wicked Athaliah. Sadly, Hazael, king of Aram, came and Joash gave him the sacred things from the temple. Later, Joash was killed by two of his servants, Jozacar and Jehozabad. Joash’s son, Amaziah, became king over Judah.

Day 183: Thursday, July 2, 2026

II Kings 13:         Jehoahaz, king over Israel, died and his son, Jehoash (aka “Joash”), became king over Israel. Again, there are two kings with the same name, Joash, one over Israel and one over Judah. Also, there was another king over Israel named Jeroboam. He was known as Jeroboam II.  The prophet Elisha died in this chapter. After Elisha’s death, a dead man was buried in Elisha’s grave and when his body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life again. Jehoash won back cities in Israel that Hazael, king of Aram, had taken.

II Chronicles 24:        About 125 years after Solomon had the temple built, repairs were needed. Joash, king of Judah, made preparations for those repairs. The sons of Athalia had made it difficult, but the work was completed. Jehoida, the priest, died at 130 years of age. He had overseen the temple repairs. After Jehoida’s death, the officials of Judah forsook the LORD and worshipped idols. The LORD sent prophets, but they and their messages were rejected. Zechariah, the son of Jehoida, was murdered by those men. This might be the Zechariah that Jesus mentions in Matthew 23:34, but there is a possible issue.  The Zechariah mentioned there is the prophet who lived about 300 years after this event. It is possible, according to Luke 11:51 that Matthew’s writing, in Matthew 23:34 was referring to a descendant of the Zechariah who was killed in II Chronicles 24:20-21.  The chapter concluded with King Joash being killed by two men.  His son, Amaziah, began to reign as king over Judah.

Day 184: Friday, July 3, 2026

II Kings 14:        Amaziah reigned over Judah and started as a good king, but he provoked Jehoash (Joash), king of Israel, to fight. Jehoash told Amaziah not to bother, but Amaziah would not listen. Jehoash led Israel over Judah in victory. Jehoash died and his son, Jeroboam II, reigned over Israel. After Amaziah died, his son, Azariah reigned over Judah. In II Chronicles 26:1 he was called “Uzziah”. The prophet Jonah was first mentioned in this chapter. Jeroboam II reigned over Israel for forty-one years. After his death, his son, Zechariah, reigned as king over Israel. 

II Chronicles 25:        Amaziah started well, but his pride and idolatry proved to be his downfall. This chapter corresponded to II Kings 14, but gave information about his idolatry after defeating Edom. His pride brought him to challenge Joash, king of Israel. Joash warned Amaziah, but Amaziah would not listen. Israel defeated Judah and fifteen years later, Amaziah died.

Jonah 1:        Some sixty years or so before the Assyrians would conquer the Northern Kingdom (Israel), the LORD called Jonah to go to Assyria’s capital city, Ninevah, to preach. Jonah refused to go and set sail. The LORD appointed a storm and the men on the ship came to find that Jonah was the reason for the storm. Jonah told them to throw him overboard, but they were initially unwilling to do so. Finally, they did throw Jonah overboard and the storm subsided. The LORD then appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah. Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights.

Jonah 2:       After three days and nights in the belly of the fish, Jonah prayed to the LORD! His prayer made up up most of the chapter. The LORD heard Jonah and commanded the fish to vomit Jonah up and the fish obeyed. Jonah was vomited up on the dry land.

Day 185: Saturday, July 4, 2026

Jonah 3:        Jonah preached the message of the LORD and the people of Nineveh responded in repentance.  The LORD withheld His wrath and spared the people of Nineveh.

Jonah 4:       Jonah did not want the LORD to spare Nineveh and it was revealed that this was why he initially fled. Jonah knew that the LORD was a gracious and compassionate God. Jonah did not want  the people of Nineveh to receive those things from the LORD. Jonah prayed again, but that time it was not good. He went out of the city and watched to see what would happen. The LORD appointed a plant, a worm, and a strong wind to bring Jonah to see that His ways are best. The book ends with a question from the LORD to Jonah.

II Kings 15:        Aazariah reigned over Judah for fifty-two years. He was stricken by the LORD with leprosy. The reason for that was listed in II Chronicles 26:16-21. His son, Jotham, reigned for sixteen years after him. There were several who reigned as king over Israel in a short amount of time. The kings of Israel were treacherous and took the throne by force. One of them, Menahem, was very wicked. During those years, the Assyrians began taking some people from the Northern Kingdom into exile. After Jotham died, his son, Ahaz reigned as king over Judah. 

II Chronicles 26:       This chapter focused on Uzziah, who was also known as Azariah.  He has a fifty-two-year reign as king of Judah. He started well, but became prideful after some military victories. He went into the temple to burn incense and although he was warned by the priests, he would not listen. The LORD struck him with leprosy and he lived the rest of his life as a leper. His son, Jotham, co-reigned and then fully reigned after Uzziah’s death. The prophet Isaiah was mentioned in this chapter.

Day 186: Sunday, July 5, 2026

Isaiah 1:        Isaiah prophesied during the reigns of four kings of Judah. That occurs from the mid 700’s BC to around 686 BC. The LORD was sick of the peoples’ vain worship. He would not listen to them because of their sin and their unwillingness to repent and return to Him. But, in verses 16-20 there was hope for them if they returned to the LORD. The remainder of the chapter was a rebuke and a warning to the people.

Isaiah 2:         Isaiah spoke of a future time when the LORD would draw people, both Jew and Gentile, to Himself. His kingdom would be finally realized. The LORD would be rightly exalted while the unbelievers would be justly dealt with. Judah and Jerusalem were warned because of their idolatry.

Isaiah 3:        Isaiah told of a future time wherein Jerusalem and Judah would be judged because of their unrepentance regarding sins. They had sided against the LORD and they would be judged for it. Isaiah prophesied about that decades before the Southern Kingdom (Judah) fell to the Babylonians in 586 BC.  

Day 187: Monday, July 6, 2026

Isaiah 4:        The message turned hopeful as the Messiah was alluded to and His future reign was pictured.

Isaiah 5:        Isaiah pictured a vineyard that produced very little fruit. The vineyard, according to verse 7, was Israel at the present time. The LORD would judge the Northern Kingdom severely. The future Assyrian exile was alluded to in verse 26. There is some speculation that this included the future judgment on the Southern Kingdom as well. They would be taken into exile in Babylon is 586 BC. There were several woes given. The reasons for those woes were listed.

Isaiah 6:        Isaiah was allowed to go before the LORD and see Him. This was in 739 BC. Isaiah recognized his unworthiness to be in such a standing. The LORD called Isaiah to go and preach, but told him that the people would not listen. An interesting thing from verses 9-10 is that in Acts 28:25-27 the Apostle Paul  wrote that the Holy Spirit said these things in Isaiah 6:9-10. Isaiah said that the LORD God said these things. This was Trinitarian in nature. The sad picture was that the Lord Jesus would be rejected by many of the Jews.

Isaiah 7:       It was the early 730’s BC.  Ahaz, king of Judah, was under siege from Israel and Aram. The LORD promised deliverance for Judah and when Ahaz would not ask for a sign from the LORD, the LORD gave a sign anyway. The sign would be that a child would be born and before he was old enough to discern good and evil, Israel and Aram would fall. Israel’s fall to the Assyrians was foretold and that happened in 722 BC.  There was a dual-prophecy here in that there would be the birth of another child.  That child would be the Messiah. His name would be Immanuel!

Day 188: Tuesday, July 7, 2026

Isaiah 8:        Isaiah and his wife had a son. His name was symbolic for describing Assyria and their power. Again, Israel’s fall to the Assyrians was foretold. The destruction would be swift and complete, but for those who would trust in the LORD, He would be their refuge.

Amos 1:         Amos was a sheepherder from the Southern Kingdom (Judah). He prophesied, under the LORD’s direction, during the reign of Uzziah of the Southern Kingdom (790-739 BC.) and the reign of Jeroboam II of the Northern Kingdom (793-753 BC.). His prophetic word to the Northern Kingdom was about three decades before their fall to the Assyrians in 722 BC. The first two chapters were prophecies concerning several kingdoms who would be judged by the LORD. Obadiah’s prophetic words toward Edom were echoed near the end of this chapter.

Amos 2:         The judgements continued.  They including Moab, Judah, and Israel. Israel’s warnings covered more verses than the others. This word against Israel continued through chapter 6.

Amos 3:         The LORD would deal severely with Israel. They were His chosen people, yet they had continually dishonored Him. They knew His statutes and saw His kindness toward them. Still, they would not honor Him. Their judgment was certain.

Amos 4:        The LORD revealed how He had dealt with Israel on numerous occasions in judgment so as to draw them to Himself.  Yet, they would not return Him. The LORD warned them to prepare to meet Him.

Day 189: Wednesday, July 8, 2026

Amos 5:        The judgements against Israel continued. The LORD called the Northern Kingdom to seek Him and live, but they would not listen. Amos detailed their transgressions. They perverted justice and treated the truly poor with contempt. The day of the LORD was foretold. It would be a terror even to Jews who had not repented and trusted the LORD. The LORD was sick of their phony worship unto Him and it would come to an end. The fall of the Northern Kingdom to the Assyrians was mentioned again. 

Amos 6:       Israel had enjoyed a time of ease. They felt secure because of their ease and military strategy, but that would soon come to an end. The LORD was going to bring them low by the hand of the Assyrians. 

Amos 7:       The LORD gave Amos visions so as to reveal to him what He was going to do. Israel’s judgment and destruction were certain. The so-called priest, Amaziah, told Jeroboam II what Amos had prophesied against him. Amaziah then told Amos to go back to Judah to make his money preaching in the Southern Kingdom. Amos told Amaziah that he was sent by the LORD to the Northern Kingdom to prophesy. He also told Amaziah of the judgement he would personally face and that Israel would certainly be taken into exile.

Amos 8:        Amos received the vision of the basket of summer fruit. The LORD told Amos that the time was at hand for Israel to answer for their transgressions. Not only was judgment coming, but a famine was coming. This famine, however, was a famine of the word of the LORD. The people of the Northern Kingdom would finally seek to hear from the LORD, but He would be silent and not answer them.

Day 190: Thursday, July 9, 2026

Amos 9:         Although the Northern Kingdom’s judgment was certain, they would try to flee. They will not be successful in the attempts. The LORD was going to judge them. Yet, the LORD spoke of a day in the future when His people would be restored. He also pointed to a future work of the LORD wherein He would save Gentiles. James, a half-brother of Jesus, would quote from verses 11-12 of this chapter in Acts 15:16-18 at what would be known as the Jerusalem Council. The LORD always had in mind to save Gentiles! 

II Chronicles 27:         This short chapter gave some information about the sixteen-year reign of Jotham, king of Judah. He did what was right in the sight of the LORD. After Jotham, Ahaz became king in his place.

Isaiah 9:         The chapter began with hope as it pointed to the Messiah. Matthew, in Matthew 4:15-16, referenced this chapter as it pertained to Jesus being the Messiah. Most of this chapter, however, spoke of Israel’s coming fall and how they would not seek the LORD no matter how heavy His hand was toward them.

Isaiah 10:          The LORD would use Assyria to bring judgment on Israel. Assyria, however, was arrogant and they would later be judged by the LORD. The time would also come when a remnant of the LORD’s people would return to the Him, but His enemies would face Him in judgment.

Day 191: Friday, July 10, 2026

Isaiah 11:        Although the sons of Israel had abandoned the LORD, He would keep His promise concerning the Messiah. Isaiah pointed to a future time when the Messiah would reign and the creation would be restored to right order.

Isaiah 12:        The word concerning the Messianic promise in chapter 11 would bring joy to the remnant of the LORD’s people. They were called to sing to the LORD who would dwell in their midst!

Micah 1:        Micah prophesied during the time of Isaiah. Specifically, he prophesied during the kings of Judah. They were Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. That covered a time from 750-686 BC, although that does not mean that prophesied all of those years, only times during that time frame. Micah prophesied against the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom. Samaria, the Northern Kingdom’s capital would be hit. Jerusalem, the Southern Kingdom’s capital would also be judged. Their idolatry would cost them dearly.

Micah 2:        Most of this chapter detailed why the LORD’s people would be judged. Near the end of the chapter, however, Micah spoke of a future time wherein the LORD would restore His remnant.

Micah 3:        Micah warned the corrupt leaders and false prophets who had led the LORD’s people astray.  Their judgment was coming from the LORD and they would not escape it. Micah prophesied as one with the Spirit of the LORD. He called out the people of Israel and Judah because of their sins. False prophets didn’t dare pronounce such judgments.

Micah 4:        In the last days, the LORD would restore His people. They would not need weapons. The LORD promised to make His people strong. Those from outside would come to know and worship the LORD too.

Day 192: Saturday, July 11, 2026

Micah 5:         Micah, some seven centuries before the Messiah’s birth, told his audience the specific city wherein the Messiah would be born. He would be born in Bethlehem Ephrathah which was in Judah, near Jerusalem. The other Bethlehem was in the Northern Kingdom. Jesus was born in the Bethlehem about five or six miles south of Jerusalem. The remainder of the chapter dealt with the Messiah’s future protection of His people and how the LORD would judge His people so as to bring them out of their idolatry and back to Him.

Micah 6:        The LORD indicted the people of the Northern Kingdom. He reminded them of what He had done for them through the centuries. They were not ignorant and they had no excuse for their rampant sin and idolatry. They had not repented and returned to Him. He would judge them.

Micah 7:       Micah lamented how bad it was. He knew what was coming and that was distressing. Yet, he also knew that the LORD would give help. He cried out for the Messiah to deliver His people. At the conclusion of his prophecy, Micah reminded the reader of the only true and living God. He was God who would pardon His people and show them His compassion. He would keep His promises that He made to Abraham and Jacob. 

II Chronicles 28:       The reign of Ahaz, king of Judah, was chronicled. He was evil. He sacrificed some of his own children to false gods. He brought judgment on the Southern Kingdom. Note that he was called the king of Israel in verse 19, but that was similar to King Jehoshaphat of the Southern Kingdom being referred to as the king of Israel in II Chronicles 21:2. It is possible that this was simply the chronicler’s way of picturing the kings being over God’s people in general. Ahaz tried to maneuver and escape God’s judgment. He was unsuccessful and the LORD judged him severely. After Ahaz died, his son, Hezekiah, reigned as king over Judah. 

Day 193: Sunday, July 12, 2026

II Kings 16:          The reign of wicked Ahaz, king of Judah, was detailed. He was an evil man. He sacrificed his son by fire to false gods. Instead of turning to the LORD, he turned to Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria. This was an attempt to be delivered against Rezin, king of Aram, and Pekah, king of Israel. He committed more acts of idolatry and later died. After Ahaz died, his son, Hezekiah, reigned as king over Judah. 

II Kings 17:         This chapter detailed the fall of the Northern Kingdom in 722 BC. to the Assyrians. It also told the reader, in verses 7-23, why Israel fell. The king of Assyria brought people from other lands to live in Samaria, the former capital of the Northern Kingdom. They tried to fear the LORD and still show allegiance to their false gods at the same time. The last verse of the chapter summarized the awful consequences of trying to fear the LORD and serve idols at the same time.

Day 194: Monday, July 13, 2026

Isaiah 13:          Isaiah began addressing certain nations and telling of the judgements they would receive from the LORD.  Babylon, the nation which would take the Southern Kingdom into exile in 586 BC., was addressed in chapters 13 and 14. They would be conquered later by the Medes. The LORD’s hand would raise them up and then bring them to destruction.

Isaiah 14:        The oracle against Babylon continued. In verses 12-14 there was a prophecy that had a dual-nature. One part of it pertained to the king of Babylon, which seemed to be referring to Nebuchadnezzar when he would later conquer Jerusalem in 586 BC. The other part has been viewed as pertaining ultimately to Satan and his fall from heaven. The last part of the chapter was a word against Philistia.

Isaiah 15:           The LORD’s judgment against the Moabites would be sudden and severe. Remember, Moab was a son of Lot with his firstborn daughter after she got him drunk so as to conceive a child by him. That happened shortly after Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by the LORD in Genesis 19.

Isaiah 16:         The oracle against Moab continued and their destruction was certain. Yet, in verse 5, there was also a reminder of the Messianic hope that would one day be realized. 

Day 195: Tuesday, July 14, 2026

Isaiah 17:         Damascus, the capital of Syria (Aram), was addressed. Damascus would fall and the Northern Kingdom’s destruction was also foretold. There was the reminder of hope in verses 6-8 wherein Isaiah spoke of a time in the future when people would again turn to the LORD instead of idols.

Isaiah 18:         Ethiopia was a powerful nation in that day, and they were feared by many. Yet, they would not escape the LORD and the judgment He would bring on them. Their own power would not be able to deliver them from the LORD and His judgment. 

Isaiah 19:        The LORD would soon judge the powerful nation of Egypt. The destruction would be sudden and overarching. Yet, the LORD would also save some of the Egyptians. They will look to the Savior,  the Messiah! The LORD would save not only repentant Jews, but also repentant and believing Gentiles.

Isaiah 20:        In the early 700’s BC., Isaiah was commanded by the LORD to go without undergarments and be barefooted so as to picture the future time when Assyria would take Egypt and Ethiopia as captives naked and barefooted. 

Isaiah 21:          The judgments would continue on Babylon, Edom, and Arabia. The Sovereign LORD would accomplish all that He spoke against those nations. 

Day 196: Wednesday, July 15, 2026

Isaiah 22:        The valley of vision refers to the city of Jerusalem, which would face the judgment of the LORD. The people of Judah had trusted in their own devices instead of repenting and trusting in the LORD. Their destruction was certain. Shebna, a steward serving Hezekiah, would be judged severely for his pride and presumption. He would be succeeded by a faithful servant of the LORD, Eliakim.  

Isaiah 23:        Tyre was a coastal city that depended on trade via the sea. The LORD would bring seventy years of judgment on the city. Their wealth would not be able to protect them.

Isaiah 24:         Isaiah moved to talking about a day in the future when the LORD would bring severe judgment on the land. He would be recognized as the Sovereign King over creation.

Isaiah 25:        That day in the future, when the LORD would bring judgment, would also be a time of celebration for those whom the LORD had saved. 

Isaiah 26:         This triumphant chapter contained a song of praise in view of the deliverance that the LORD would bring for His people. It also dealt with the judgment of the LORD on His enemies and the hope that His people would have. Resurrection is alluded to in verse 19.