Read the Bible with Me!

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 2 Kings 12-14 and (for Lent) Psalm 57.

As we continue to flit back and forth between the northern and southern kingdoms (not for long, though), remember that the capital of Israel (north) was Samaria, and the capital of Judah (south), Jerusalem. That might help you keep track of things as they begin to get much more complex.

Notice how the victories of Jeroboam (Israel) which restored the northern kingdom to unexpected prosperity are not attributed to the wicked king, but to the mercy and faithfulness of God. That mercy and faithfulness are precisely what Psalm 57 sing of "to the heavens."

Start reading 2 Kings here and Psalm 57 here.

If you are looking for a solid but approachable companion to the Bible, I can wholeheartedly recommend A Catholic Introduction to the Bible: The Old Testament by John Bergsma and Brant Pitre. Although the authors are top-level Scripture scholars, they write for "real" readers. Notes include recent findings from archaeology and ancient manuscripts, and how each book of the Bible has been understood by the Church Fathers and used in Liturgy.