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Bible reading for Nov 5.  2 Kings 18. "He trusted in the LORD the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him. For he held fast to the LORD. He did not depart from following him, but kept the commandments that the LORD commanded Moses." (2 Kings 18:5-6)  GOOD KING HEZEKIAH. Finally, a good king comes to the throne. His reign is not without difficulties, as the land of Judah will experience the invasion of the Assyrians (who sacked Samaria in 722). Hezekiah is forced to pay tribute, and the Assyrian armies return a few years later to ravage Judah and besiege Jerusalem. This chapter focuses on the pride of the Assyrians. The commander (the Rabshakeh) boasts on behalf of King Sennacherib, "Who among all the gods of the lands have delivered their lands out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?'" (v 35) It's a great line to set the stage for God's deli...

Bible reading for March 10:  Exodus 21; Luke 24. "But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe."  (Exodus 21:23-25)  Case law, limitations, and laws of restitution (Ex 21).   The core of the covenant law is now applied to various real life situations , which is also known as case laws. An "eye for an eye" has come to mean having a rigid and strict standard of judgment and it is believed that Jesus spoke against this.  After all, he said, "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also" (Matt 5:38-39).   But Jesus upheld the inspiration of the Old Testament law (Matt 5:17-18).  And the two contexts are different . In Exodus this law, an "eye for an eye", is a l...