Welcome to the Pauline Family's "Year of the Bible"! I'm reading the Bible clear through this year, and I invite you to read along with me. But first, let us pray:
My God, I adore and thank your loving and wise Providence, manifested on every page of Sacred Scripture. You have always been close to sinful and erring humanity, and have indicated the way and given hope. Amid the shadows of error and corruption, you kindled the light of your truth; amid universal corruption, you are the Just One; amid so much idolatry, humanity in every corner of the earth has cultivated a sincere worship of you.
Let my reading today increase my trust in your goodness, your mercy, and your unfailing faithfulness.
Today's chapters are 1 Kings 22 - 2 Kings 2 and (for Lent) Psalm 52.
Today we finish the First book of Kings (yay!) and begin the Second. There is no fundamental editorial reason for the division of the two books: we are in the middle of the reign of Ahaziah; clearly the original manuscript was written as a continuous whole! So we are in a good place to keep the story going.
Notice the description of Elijah in verse 8 of 2 Kings 1: “He wore a hairy garment with a leather belt around his waist.” The Gospel of Matthew (3:4) will describe John the Baptist in the same way: "John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist." It was a signal: "Elijah has returned; the Messiah is about to appear."
In Chapter 2 we have the call of Elisha, Elijah's successor (the meaning of his mantle), and the dramatic departure of Elijah from this life. The beloved spiritual, "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," was inspired by this biblical scene.
Start reading 1 Kings here, 2 Kings here and Psalm 52 here.
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