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 21-23 and (for Lent) Psalm 60.

We only have to read about Hezekiah's son Manasseh that he "immolated his child by fire. He practiced soothsaying and divination, and reintroduced the consulting of ghosts and spirits" (21:6) to know where this is going to lead. But not right away.

After a short reign by his son, Manasseh's grandson was raised to the throne at just eight years of age. Ten years later, during renovations in the Temple, an old book was found. Quite possibly it was the entire Torah; it was at least the Book of Deuteronomy. The proclamation of the Word of God led to a time of renewal. But a deadly cancer had already metastasized in the national culture. It was more than a godly king could offset. 

Start reading 2 Kings here and Psalm 60 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.