II Chronicles continues the story of Israel beginning with the rule of King Solomon down to the division of the kingdom into Judah and Israel and the fall of Jerusalem (586 BC) to the Babylonian Empire and the exile of the leaders, as prisoners, to Babylonia.  It closes with the order of King Cyrus of Persia allowing the Jews to return to their homeland. 

The Chronicler, the author, uses many stories from other sources, especially I and II Kings, some scholars suggest that Chronicles was rewritten after the return from exile to encourage the people of Israel. 

Both I and II Chronicles emphasize the importance of faithfulness to God, obedience to His commandments, and the consequences of turning away from Him. These lessons are relevant for believers today in understanding the importance of maintaining a strong and faithful relationship with God.

The book of Ezra was originally considered to be one book combined with Nehemiah. They cover events before and during the lives of the prophets for whom the books were named. The Babylonians sacked Jerusalem and destroyed the temple in 586 BCE. In 539 the Persians conquered Babylon. Shortly thereafter Cyrus, the King of Persia, issued a decree to allow the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple. It would take 20 years to rebuild the Temple, and still, it did not compare to the grandeur of the First Temple. King Solomon had built the First Temple at the height of his empire; the Second Temple was built by exiles returning to their homeland after losing everything. 

The purpose of the book of Ezra is to encourage faithfulness to God. After the exile and then the rebuilding of the Temple, it was necessary to remind the people of what it meant to follow God. They had regained the ability to live their own lives and it was a critical moment – would they focus on themselves or on serving God?

We all encounter times when we gain new freedom; perhaps graduation, a new promotion, or retirement, that gives us more time where we can direct our path more than before. When we are given new freedom, do we dream of doing things for ourselves or do we recenter on God?

The Hebrew people are finally able to return from exile, but their home, Jerusalem, is in ruins.  The temple has been destroyed, and the walls around the city have crumbled.  But their hope is restored when a young man, Nehemiah, who has never even seen Jerusalem, leads the effort to rebuild the walls.  He is able to lead a divided and frustrated group of people to extraordinary effort.  Through hard work and prayer, the walls rise from the ashes in an amazing 52 days.  The message of Nehemiah is that the people of God can do remarkable things when their plan and purpose come from God.

The Book of Esther is written during the return of God’s people from exile in Babylon.  When the people return to Jerusalem, they find there is no temple, no king, and no religious leadership.  The Jewish people must wrestle with their identity.  Are they still connected to God?  Are they still God’s covenant people?  During this return, Esther, a young faithful woman reminds the people of God’s faithfulness and their calling, even in difficult moments.  

The story is an example of how God fulfills the covenant promise in one crucial moment in history. Although God’s work is not seen through miraculous intervention, it is recognized through the faithfulness of God’s people in an ordinary moment. 

The Book of Job is a poetic and philosophical exploration of the nature of suffering. One of the earliest written books in the Bible, the narrative centers around Job, a righteous man who faces immense suffering and loss.  Job’s friends attempt to explain his suffering and loss as a consequence of sin, but the book challenges this simplistic understanding.  

The book challenges the notion that suffering is always a direct consequence of personal sin. Job’s suffering is not a punishment but a part of a larger drama that involves God, Satan, and the testing of Job’s faithfulness.  Job’s unwavering faith in God, despite his suffering and the misunderstanding of his friends, highlights the importance of trusting God even when circumstances are dire. 

The book of Job invites us to struggle with questions of suffering and faith.  Job’s honest questioning of God’s purposes shows that bringing our doubts and questions before God is acceptable. This encourages believers to engage in a genuine and open relationship with God, even in the face of life’s difficulties. The Book of Job provides profound theological insights into the nature of suffering, God’s sovereignty, and the importance of faith in the face of adversity. Its themes resonate with believers today, offering guidance on navigating the complexities of life and maintaining trust in God.  

We encourage you to begin your Bible reading time by reciting the month’s memory verse and then the daily Bible reading. Reflect on the reading – did it raise questions or confusion; did it inspire you or warm your heart? Then, to live in a spirit of gratitude, write down three things for which you’re grateful. Finally, close your devotional time in prayer. While you might not feel the same way each day, the ongoing discipline of having a daily devotional time will have lasting impact on your life and certainly deepen your relationship with God.