Showing results for "1, 2 Kings" in Bibles

Immerse yourself in the timeless wisdom and captivating narratives of the Bible with "Bible 01-03: Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus." This audiobook brings to life the foundational books of the Old Testament, offering a rich and powerful exploration of creation, the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery, and the laws and rituals that guided their lives. From the epic stories of Adam and Eve, Noah's Ark, and the exodus from Egypt, to the detailed instructions for worship and communal living.

The Common English Bibleis not simply a revision or update of an existing translation. It is a bold new translation designed to meet the needs of Christians as they work to build a strong and meaningful relationship with God through Jesus Christ. A key goal of the translation team was to make the Bible accessible to a broad range of people; it’s written at a comfortable level for over half of all English readers.

These two books of the Bible represent hope to a Church that faces difficult times. Persecution was the primary struggle, but the Apostle Paul discussed what the end of days will be like. His words inspired hope in the hearts of the hurting--and continue to inspire a similar hope today.

Sennarcherib, king of Assyria (705-681 B.C.), attacks Jerusalem in 701 B.C., while Hezekiah is king (715-686 B.C.) and Isaiah is prophet (740-686 B.C.). Working together, Hezekiah and Isaiah implore the Lord to save Jerusalem and Judah. And he does. God vows that “[Sennarcherib] will not enter this city or shoot an arrow here” (2 Kings 19: 32). “That night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp."

Although their names sound alike, few men in the Bible are more different than Elijah and Elisha. Elijah loves a show; Elisha is shy. Elijah loves a grand exit; Elisha dies quietly, alone. Yet, in many ways, Elisha is an even greater prophet than Elijah. This is his story.

With the death of Ahab and Jezebel, Jehu (841-814 B.C.) murders all of Ahab’s family, consolidating power in the north. Meanwhile in the south, Athaliah (the only female king) murders her grandchildren and crawls over their butchered bodies to seize the throne, initiating a 7-year reign of terror. With the ensuing chaos, both kingdoms weaken and begin to crumble. Black storm clouds gather in the north as Assyria (Northern Iraq of today) emerges on the stage as a world power.

David forged a united monarchy from a loose confederation of twelve tribes; Solomon overlays that monarchy with a brilliant administrative structure. God grants Solomon his request for “discernment in administering,” and in doing so, Solomon builds a kingdom unlike any that had ever appeared before. Too, Solomon carries out David’s wish to build a temple for the Lord in Jerusalem, a temple worthy of God’s name. Throughout his reign, Solomon lives in wealth and splendor, greater than any other king on earth.

“When David was old and well advanced in years, he could not keep warm even when they put covers over him” (1 Kings 1: 1). Old and sick, the consequences of David’s sin continue to dog him. Adonijah, now David’s eldest surviving son, engineers a palace coup to overthrow David. When David learns of the plot, he anoints his son, Solomon, as king (970-930 B.C.). As David’s tenth son, Solomon is nowhere close to being heir to the throne, but David raises him to power to fulfill a promise made to Bathsheba.

Timothy has been described as the Apostle Paul's spiritual son. Paul invested in the life of the young man and instructed him in the ways of Christian thought. These epistles demonstrate Paul's mentoring of Timothy and in the process provide insight for all who would take the time to join in the instruction.

The epistles of John deal with what it means to be a Christian and how Christianity should be lived out in the lives of those who believe, and it encourages those who support the faith. Jude encourages believers to stand firm. Listeners will enjoy encouragement directly from scriptures.