In addition, they distributed to the males three years old or more whose names were in the genealogical records—all who would enter the temple of the LORD to perform the daily duties of their various tasks, according to their responsibilities and their divisions. – 2 Chronicles 31:16

Today's Scripture Reading (June 5, 2026): 2 Chronicles 31

My eldest granddaughter is working on getting her Learner's Driver's License. Which means she has reached the age appropriate for those licenses, which in the area where I live is fourteen. Thinking about her journey as she begins to drive, I realize she is almost exactly the same age I was when I got my Learner's License. Life is repeating itself.

Back when I got my Learner's License, there was a conversation among the Federal Government Agencies about raising the age to get a Driver's License. I don't know how serious the argument was, but I took it seriously enough to put a little more effort into preparing for the test. Obviously, over the last half-century since I took my first driving test, the age hasn't changed, though some other details of the licensing process have.

Driver's Licenses are part of the "How old do you have to be?" conversation we have in so many different places in our society. The "How old do you have to be to consume alcoholic beverages?" conversation has always been of interest to me. Again, where I live, the age is eighteen. For many other locales, you need to be twenty-one to consume adult beverages. I have had conversations with young adults who have been surprised that they can't go to a liquor store or bar when they are traveling because they were underage there, but not here. It is an extension of the "how old" conversation.

In the church, the conversation continues. How old do you need to be to take communion or to be an active member of the church? How old should you be to play on the Worship Team or sing in the choir? Currently, our worship team features a pair of twelve-year-olds: one on guitar and the other on drums. I am amazed at how talented they are every time they play. What do you think? Where would you draw the line?

As Hezekiah prepares the workers for the Temple, he apparently has to answer the question, "How old?" I find it very interesting where he draws the line. First, working in the Temple is hereditary, so workers must have the right genealogy. Second, workers in the Temple must be male. Neither of these regulations is a surprise or an expectation that we carry into the contemporary church. They are artifacts of a different time, where people lived with a different understanding of what was right. I believe Paul released us from these understandings when he wrote to the Galatian Church, "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28). But maybe the most surprising requirement is the one on age; every qualified (genealogy) male over the age of three. (Some argue that maybe this is an error and the age should be thirty, but for our purpose, let's accept the age of three.) In God's community, if you are older than three, there should be a task for you in the church.

Can I ask how you are doing? I admit that my church isn't doing as well as it could. But the church is a community where everyone is important, and where even a three-year-old should have an age-appropriate task to undertake for the faith community. It might be challenging to get a three-year-old involved in a meaningful way, but we need to put some effort into the project.

Of course, this passage also puts a twist on Jesus's words;

Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there (Matthew 13-15).

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 20

The king and his officials and the whole assembly in Jerusalem decided to celebrate the Passover in the second month. – 2 Chronicles 30:2

Today's Scripture Reading (June 4, 2026): 2 Chronicles 30

Christmas always falls on December 25. You can argue that Jesus was not born on December 25, but we know that. You can argue that Christmas is just an extension of pagan rituals in the Northern Hemisphere that celebrate the Winter Solstice, or the longest night of the year, and again, you would be partly right. Christmas, as originally constructed, was about competing with pagan celebrations held in late December. And, by the way, Christmas won the competition throughout most of the world, even though pagan beliefs have infiltrated it, rather than Christian beliefs infiltrating a pagan festival. I am not sure which is better. The truth is that we don’t know when Jesus was born. Arguments could be made that Jesus’s actual birthday was sometime in late April, June, or even September. However, the actual date is unknown. Birth dates weren’t something to remember in ancient times. No one knew the date of their birth, so they couldn't celebrate it. And in a few places in our world, it is still that way. 

Pope Julius I, a fourth-century pope (337-352), decided that we should celebrate Christmas on December 25, even though he knew that Jesus was not born on that day. The Pope felt that the day and the celebration of the birth stories of Jesus found in Matthew and Luke deserved celebration. He also decided that in the grand scheme of things, the date didn’t matter; the celebration did.

King Hezekiah, his advisors and officers, and the leaders in Jerusalem decided to celebrate the Passover during the second month of the Jewish year. Passover celebrates a specific date, and unlike Christmas, where we don’t know the true date, the actual date of the first Passover, the moment when the angel of death “passed over” the houses of the believing Jews during the deaths of the firstborn in Egypt, took place during the first month of the Jewish year. The Mosaic Law specified that the Passover should be celebrated during the first month, not the second.

However, in Judah, fewer and fewer people were actually celebrating the Passover. The nation needed a revival, and the leadership in Jerusalem agreed that this could not wait. They decided that celebrating the Passover was more important than the date. There wasn’t time to make the celebration what it should be in the first month of the year, so, for this year only, they decided to hold it in the second month. After all, didn’t the celebration mean more than the date?

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 31

In the first month of the first year of his reign, he opened the doors of the temple of the LORD and repaired them. – 2 Chronicles 29:3

Today's Scripture Reading (June 3, 2026): 2 Chronicles 29

If you were given the power to change something for just one day, what would you want to change? Often, people running for political office try to tell us what they would do on their first day, as a way of telling us what they would want to do, even if they only held power for just a single day. These first-day aspirations make an interesting list of achievements. Of course, politicians of every stripe often overpromise what they can do on that first day. So, sometimes it is interesting to look back and see what they actually accomplished on Day One of their political term.

For Bill Clinton, Day One was actually Day Two, and one of the most significant things he did was reverse the so-called "Mexico City Policy, a Ronald Reagan-era policy that placed a ban on abortion counseling through federally funded clinics. Clinton also reinstated scientific research on fetal tissue.

It is perhaps not surprising that, during the first week of his presidency, George W. Bush reversed Bill Clinton's Day Two actions, reinstating the "Mexico City Policy." Sometimes, I wonder if this is all presidents do: try to erase the legacy of those who have gone before.

Barack Obama's term also started on Day Two when he reversed the Bush-era policy that restricted public access to presidential records. Of course, one of the most significant things achieved during his time as President of the United States was an attempt at Universal Health Care, often referred to as the Affordable Care Act, or "Obamacare." Obamacare becomes important because it will become the target of another President's Day One action. On Day One of Donald Trump's first term as President, President Trump instructed his agencies to take down Obamacare to the "maximum extent of the Law." It foreshadowed the extent of the effort that President Trump would spend on erasing President Obama's policies.

Joe Biden came into office during the COVID-19 pandemic, so it is not surprising that on his First Day he signed orders mandating mask wearing and freezing debt collection for federal Student Loans. He also began the process of rejoining the Paris Climate Accords and the World Health Organization, reversing the actions taken by his predecessor, Donald Trump. 

On Day One of President Trump's Second term, he basically reversed everything that Joe Biden had done during his four years in office. The Executive Order that Donald Trump signed on Day One was titled "Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions." The Order reversed 78 Biden-era executive orders, most of which dealt with diversity, equity, and Inclusion and climate change.

We don't know what King Hezekiah did on his first day, but one of the first things he did was begin restoring the Temple, which had been neglected by his father, King Ahaz. And that restoration began with the doors of the Temple, so that people could once more enter the courts and priests could minister before God in His Temple, something that had not been a priority for the past sixteen years, as King Ahaz had led the nation in a different direction.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 30

In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and deported the Israelites to Assyria. He settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River and in the towns of the Medes. – 2 Kings 17:6

Today's Scripture Reading (June 2, 2026): 2 Kings 17

In 722 B.C.E, Sargon II ascended the throne of Assyria after overthrowing the king, who we believe was also his brother, Shalmaneser V. The caveat that we think Shalmaneser was Sargon's brother is necessary because Sargon II makes a great effort to divorce himself from any concept of the past. The tale that Sargon seems to want the people to believe is that Ashur, the national god of the Assyrians, had called him specifically to be King over the Assyrians. Sargon describes his brother as a crooked and deceitful King who had brought disgrace to Assur, the city of Ashur, and had driven his people into a kind of slavery. As a result, Ashur had placed the responsibility for leading the nation on the shoulders of Sargon.

One of the first things that Sargon did was finish the siege of Samaria, the capital city of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The siege was begun under the leadership of Shalmaneser, but Sargon believed that he was raised to power to end it. Here is how Sargon II describes the decision

The men of Samaria with their king were hostile to me and consorted together not to carry out their vassal obligations and bring tribute to me, so they fought me… I clashed with them and took as booty 27,280 people with their chariots and their gods in whom they trusted. I incorporated 200 chariots into my army. The rest of the people I made to dwell within Assyria. I restored the city of Samaria and made it greater than before (Inscribed Prisms of Sargon II from Nimrud).

The process would not have been pretty. Sargon would have had the inhabitants of Samaria stripped naked; fishhooks would have been inserted into the lower lips of the captives with a series of strings that would tie the Samarians together. And then they would be forced to march hundreds of kilometers to their new home. Only the lowest class of people would be left in the former territory of the Northern Kingdom. Those who were considered smart or talented enough would be retrained to serve the Assyrian Empire, while the rest would be forced into a life of slavery.

The Bible makes it clear that all of this took place because of the sin of Israel and its people. After two hundred years and the nineteen kings who had served Israel since the civil divorce the nation had experienced with Judah and the House of David, the Kingdom came to an end as King Hoshea surrendered his Kingdom to Sargon and the Assyrians. And the Northern Kingdom would fade into the pages of history, never to return.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 29

Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD. – Isaiah 38:2

Today's Scripture Reading (June 1, 2026): Isaiah 38 & 39

In 1716, Christopher Bullock wrote in his comedy play "The Cobbler of Preston," that "'Tis impossible to be sure of anything but Death and Taxes." It is the reality of life. The two things that we will not escape are death and taxes. They are also the two things we often try to put off. Every year, I make a deal with myself: this year, I am going to do my taxes early, and every year I am sitting at my desk during that last week before the tax deadline, trying to figure out what I owe the government. And death? Well, we simply don't think about that, or we convince ourselves that our deaths are still a long way down the road.

I have had the conversation with a few people who believed that they would never die. Jesus will come and take them away before their expiry date on this earth. And most of those people have already died. Even those who continue to live on this Blue Marble have to confront the idea that even though we believe that we will receive a new body, a perfect body, for that to happen, we have to die.

The author of Hebrews writes this;

Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him (Hebrews 9:27-28).

Isaiah was an advisor to King Hezekiah. Hezekiah was a good king who did what was right. But even that did not save him from the decree that one day he would die.

Hezekiah was a good king, but there was evidence that he was a little unfocused. And while he led the nation through a revival, he also needed a revival for himself. And then Isaiah appeared on his doorstep with the news that the good King was going to die. The problem was that Hezekiah was in his late 30s at the time, and he still had things to do. The Jewish rabbis in the Talmud wrote that there had been an argument taking place behind the scenes. Hezekiah and Isaiah were arguing about who should visit whom. So, when Isaiah comes to King Hezekiah, he may not have been in a stellar mood. King Hezekiah was the opposite of his ancestor, King Solomon. Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. Hezekiah was 39 and still a confirmed bachelor. He hadn't found a wife, and he hadn't produced an heir. Then Isaiah announced that the King would die, meaning he would never marry or have a son to take over the throne of David.

Hezekiah does exactly what we should do in times of stress and trouble. He turned and cried out to God with his petition. God doesn't always respond the way that we want him to, but we should still turn to him with our questions and desires. For Hezekiah, the petition was, "Do not let it end this way. There are things that I have not done, but if you will give me the gift of time, I promise that I will do them." And God relented. He gave Hezekiah the gift of time he had requested.

Hezekiah did not forget this experience. He became very cognizant of his expiry date. Tradition says that Hezekiah married Hephzibah, the daughter of Isaiah. And together, they had a son and heir named Manasseh. Hezekiah, even though he was a good king, had never really humbled himself before God. But now, he humbled himself. It is an example that we all need to understand and follow throughout the various stages of our lives.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 17

For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. – Isaiah 37:32

Today's Scripture Reading (May 31, 2026): Isaiah 37

Tater Jones grew up in a country house. In front of his house, there was a long, straight dirt road. Tater went everywhere that he needed to go, and sometimes just went to places where he wanted to go, on his bicycle. But what he really wanted was a Moped. Have you ever seen a moped? It is not a scooter. It definitely is not a Harley, which is what most young kids want. A Moped actually has pedals and this little engine that sounds like an angry mosquito.

So, time goes by, and finally Mom says to Tater, "You have proven yourself. For your birthday, your Dad and I are going to buy you a Moped." Tater was on top of the world. He was getting a Moped. And on top of getting the Moped, the same year, the county decided to pave the long, straight dirt road that ran past the front of Tater's house. Tater got his Moped, put on his helmet, climbed aboard, and his mom warned him to be careful. Tater was off down that long, newly paved road on the back of his angry mosquito.

Tater rides down that long, straight road until he reaches the highway. His mother had taught him to look both ways before crossing the highway. So, Tater gets off his moped and steps out toward the highway, looks one way, then the other, and just to make sure, looks one way and then the other again. And while Tater is looking, a brand new, shiny red Maserati drives up beside him. Tater had never seen a Maserati before. Tater walks around the Maserati, touching the hood and fenders, feeling how smooth it is, not realizing you don't touch someone else's Maserati. Tater stuck his head inside the open window. Tater really didn't understand the concept of personal space and said a little too loudly. "Hey, Mister, how much does a car like this cost? This is a pretty nice car, Mister. Do you want to sell your car, Mister? If you ever want to sell your car, give me a call. My name is Tater Jones.

The driver looks at Tater and his brand-new moped, and you know he is thinking, "like this kid will ever be able to afford a car like this!"

Tater oohs and aahs and walks around the car a few more times, leaving his fingerprints everywhere he can, and then he gets on his moped and wheels it over beside the driver's side window and sticks his head in the window one more time. "Nice car, Mister, you remember my name, Tater Jones, if you ever want to sell your car."

But the car's driver has had enough. No sooner does Tater lean outside of the car than the driver steps on the gas. It is a straight road – a long straight road. And the Maserati knows how to go. In no time, the car is doing 100, then 110. The driver looks in the rearview mirror, and Tater keeps getting smaller and smaller. One hundred and forty, then 150, and the driver takes another glance in the rearview mirror. And he is amazed, Tater Jones is not getting smaller, he is getting larger. 160 – 170, and Tater Jones is catching up. Two hundred and Tater Jones on his moped passes the Maserati. And then, all of a sudden, it is Tater Jones who is getting smaller in the lead.

The driver of the Maserati is about to pull over and phone the dealership. You don't buy a Maserati to get beaten in a race by a Moped. Tater spins around and then passes the Maserati going the other way. And then he spins around again, and he begins to catch up. to the Maserati one more time. The driver looks down at his speedometer – 230, 240, 250. The Maserati is quickly reaching its top speed, and Tater and his moped are still gaining. Finally, the driver has had enough. He slams on the brakes and pulls over to phone the dealership. Tater, on the other hand, can't quite negotiate the stop, slams into the rear end of the Maserati, and ends up lying on the roof of the car. The driver gets out and sees Tater on the roof, looking absolutely exhausted.

"Tater, can I do anything for you?"

Tater looks at the driver, "Yeah, if you get a chance, could you unhook my suspenders from the rearview mirror?"

Isaiah knows that trouble is coming. But he also knows that God will do something with those left in the city. If Isaiah knew about Tater Jones, he might have offered this advice: when trouble comes, hook your suspenders to God's rearview mirror and hang on for the ride, because the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Isaiah 38 & 39

 

In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah's reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them. – Isaiah 36:1

Today's Scripture Reading (May 30, 2026): Isaiah 36

In the Steven Spielberg movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark," the central premise was that the Hebrew Ark of the Covenant was a physical force capable of overcoming any opposing army. Indiana Jones actually states at one point that an army that carried the Ark with it couldn't be defeated. (Indiana probably should have read 1 Samuel, because the sons of the High Priest Eli thought the same thing, but they got routed and lost the Ark to the opposing Philistines.) But, according to the fictional Professor Jones, lightning would flash from the Ark destroying any force that opposed the army that possessed the Ark. It was because of this 'fiction' that the movie proposes a race that develops between the Nazi scientists of 1940's Germany and Indiana Jones to see who would be the first to find the Ark. If Hitler could find it first, well, maybe the Second World War would have turned out differently. (There is something of a mystery about the probability that Hitler would want to use a Jewish artifact to win the war and exterminate the Jews, but then again, "The Raiders of the Lost Ark" is only a fictional story.) The movie stretches the story of the Ark well beyond the truth.

But the story's central theme fits a central idea about God in our current culture. The idea is this: being a Christian or a God-fearer means that the evil things of the world (in this case, translate evil as anything that opposes your personal purposes) will never be able to touch you. When we carry God into the battle of our lives, things will always go our way. We may not overtly believe that truth, but even in circles that would traditionally look down on what we might call "prosperity theology," when things go wrong, we still wonder what we have done to anger God because we don't feel protected.

The story of Hezekiah illustrates one of the issues we seem to have with religion: sometimes bad things happen even when we are faithful. When bad things happen in life, the appropriate response is to trust God more, not less. Bad circumstances have never been promised not to touch us. The presence of negative circumstances in our lives doesn't mean that God has left the building. God still has a plan, and even during our worst moments, we, like Hezekiah, still have a part to play in his story.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Isaiah 37