The Nurse Theologian

What does it say? Job was a wealthy man who feared God. Satan accused that Job honored God only because God made him wealthy. The Lord God gave Satan the power to strike all that Job had, so he took away all that Job owned, as well as his sons and daughters. Job did not curse God but worshiped the Lord. Satan accused that if Job’s life is touched he will curse the Lord. The Lord allowed Satan to give Job boils, yet when his wife told him to curse God he blessed the Lord. Job’s three friends Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar came to Job to sympathize and comfort him. These friends sat with him for a week. Job laments his life, stating that it would have been better if he had never been born. Eliphaz believes that the innocent do not suffer as Job has; therefore, implying that Job must have sinned against the Lord. 
What does it mean? Having wealth and fearing God seem to go hand in hand. Are not the wealthy and healthy the blessed ones? Satan’s accusation is that Job fears God and turns away fro…

What does it say? It was in Haman’s heart to hang Mordecai on the gallows but it was in the kings heart to honor him; therefore, Haman’s own pride became his dishonor as he was charged with leading Mordecai throughout the city on horseback. At Esther’s banquet she revealed that she is a Jew and Haman had contrived to have her and all the Jewish people destroyed. The knowledge that he had been tricked by Haman angered the king, so the king ordered Haman hung on the very gallows that he built to hang Mordecai. Mordecai was promoted to the place of Haman and Esther the Queen put him in charge of the house of Haman. The king put on Mordecai’s finger the signet ring of the king to make law. Mordecai made it lawful for the Jews to assemble and defend themselves from their enemies on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month and the people throughout the kingdom rejoiced when they heard the news. On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month the Jewish people throughout the kingdom rose up and def…

What does it say? King Ahasuerus displayed his riches for 180 days, then he gave a seven day banquet for his invited guests while Queen Vashti entertained the women. The king wanted the Queen to come into his banquet, so that he could parade her beauty before his guest but she refused; therefore, the king asked his advisors and Memucan a prince suggested divorce and to send out word that the every man should be master in the home. The kings advisors suggested that beautiful young virgins be brought to the king and the one who pleases him should become queen. Mordecai was raising his uncle’s daughter (Esther) Hadassah. She was taken to the kings palace, given cosmetics,  and brought into see the king in the tenth month. The king married Esther, made her queen and served a royal banquet in her honor. Mordecai heard two men plotting against the king, he told Esther and she related to the king; therefore, the two men were hanged. The king promoted Haman as head prince; therefore, all the k…

What does it say? The priests and the Levites who returned to Jerusalem with the governor Zerubbabel are listed. The chief priestes and Levites who had come up with Zerubbabel during the reign of Darius as well as those who served in the days Nehmiah the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe. The Levites from all the land were sought out for the dedication of the the wall of Jerusalem. Choirs were appointed to sections of the wall. Great sacrifices were offered and they rejoiced and their joy was heard from afar. The people gave to the priests and the Levites their dues as was required by the law. On that day, the book of the law was read allowed and it was heard that Moses said, “No Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God,” so, they applied this to all foreigners. During Nehemiah’s absence, Tobiah the Ammonite official had been given a room in the temple; this displeased Nehemiah, so he cleaned Tobiah’s things out of the room and restored its proper use. Also, the…

What does it say? Nehemiah the governor and leaders signed the document. They vowed (knowing the curse) to walk in God’s law as was given through Moses, to keep all of the commandments and statues of the law; they also vowed not to intermarry with the people of the land and to keep the Sabbath. They also vowed to give a temple tax, one third of a shekel. They cast lots for who would bring up wood to burn in the temple at appointed times; and vowed to bring in the first born, the first fruits, and give one-tenth of what up from the ground to the Levites. Lots were cast for one-tenth of the people to live in Jerusalem, while nine-tenths lived in the other cities of Judah; those who lived in Jerusalem were blessed by the people. The people who did not live in Jerusalem lived on their own property. The sons of Judah, the sons of Benjamin, the priests, and Levites who lived in Jerusalem are listed and numbered according to their patriarchal names. The Levites who were in charge of singing k…

What does it say? Ezra the priest and scribe brought out the book of the law of Moses, he stood up on a platform, opened the book the people stood up, he blessed the Lord, he read the word from early morning to midday and the Levites explained the law to the people. The people began to cry but Nehemiah, Ezra and the Levites told the people to rejoice and they did celebrating a festival to the Lord because they understood the word. The leaders gathered in a council regarding the words of the law and proclaimed a proclamation that the feast of booths should be observed, so the people made booths of olive branches and lived in them for seven days; during the feast Ezra read from the book of the law of God daily and on the eight day they had a solemn assembly. The people confessed their sins and they wore sackcloth with dirt upon them. The Levites commanded the people to arise and recounted the entire history of the Old Testament before the assembly in prayer to the Lord; blessing the Lord…

What does it say? Nehemiah appointed two men in charge of Jerusalem; Hanani his brother and Hananiah the commander of the fortress to bar the gates during the night and post guards; he consider them honorable men. Than it was put into Nehemiah’s heart to enroll everyone by their genealogy; however, the genealogical book of those who came up first was found. These are remembered by their patriarchal names along with the priests, the Levites, the temple servants and the sons of Solomon’s servants. Those who came up previously who could not prove their genealogy to a son of Israel, a son of Aaron, or a son of Levi were also remembered but restricted from temple service. The entire assembly that previously came up was 42,360 persons, 7,337 servants (245 of the people were singers), 736 horses, 245 mules, 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys. The treasury that was given by these who first returned was remembered. Lastly, it was remembered that the people settled into the land and lived in each thei…

What does it say? Sanballat the Samaritan and Tobiah the Ammonite became angry; therefore, they mocked the Jews who were rebuilding the wall. Nehemiah prayed to the Lord because the people were demoralized, they continued to rebuild and the wall was joined together to half its height. Sanballat, Tobiah and the other people of the land conspired to come and fight against Jerusalem; therefore, they prayed to the Lord for protection, stationed guards night and day, and Nehemiah spoke encouraging words to the Jews in the Lord. The Jews continued the rebuilding project and each man had his sword at his side ready to rally together at the sound of the trumpet. Day and night each man remained in Jerusalem, didn’t remove his clothing, and kept his sword with him at all times. Some of the people cried out because their Jewish brothers were taking advantage of them, taking their property and putting them in bondage for food. Nehemiah scolded those who were charging interest to his brother and re…

What does it say? Nehemiah inquired about the Jews and the condition of Jerusalem. Nehemiah lamented the condition of Jerusalem and confessed that it was right for the Lord to punish Israel for their sin; he then reminds the Lord of his promise of restoration if they repent. Nehemiah was cupbearer to the king. Artaxerxes the king saw that he was sad and asked the reason; therefore, Nehemiah confessed it was because of the condition in Jerusalem and requested that the king allow him to go repair the city and the wall of the city for which the king granted him the request. Nehemiah arrived with a letter from the king to the governors of the provinces but Sanballat was displeased. Nehemiah came to Jerusalem and was there three days before he arose at night, riding on a donkey, surveying the condition of the wall. When he returned, Nehemiah revealed to the Jewish officials his plan to rebuild the wall, but when Sandballat and Tobiah heard that the Jews were rebuilding the wall they accused…

What does it say? The men who came to Jerusalem were numbered and named according to their patriarch. Ezra did not see any Levites camped with him so, he sent for them to come. Ezra had not asked for troops to protect them as they journeyed to Jerusalem but asked through fasting and prayer for the Lord might protect them along the way. Ezra gave the treasure to 12 priests and 10 Levites to hold on to until the treasure could be brought to the house of God. The Lord protected them from thieves along the way; three days after arriving in Jerusalem the treasure was weighed out in the house of God into the hands of the high priests. The exiles that arrived with Ezra offered burnt offerings to God and delivered the kings edicts to the governors. Ezra found that the exiles who returned ahead of him had intermarried with the people of the land and he lamented their action. Ezra makes a prayer of confession regarding the rebellion of Israel and the grace of the Lord. Ezra sees the intermarriag…

What does it say? The people who had been placed in the land by Esarhaddon king of Assyria requested to take part in the building of the temple but where rejected by the people of Judah. Therefore, the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah. They also wrote a letter to king Ahasuerus accusing the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem saying, if they are allowed to rebuild the walls of the city they will revolt. The king wrote a decree to stop the work because it was found in the records that the city had a history of rebellion. The work was stopped until the second year of Darius king of Persia. During the days of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah the building project resumed. The adversaries wrote to Darius requesting that he look into his records to see if Cyrus had in fact written a decree for the Jews to rebuild the temple. It was found in the records that a decree had been issued for rebuilding the temple as well as the cost. Darius, therefore, issued a decree for the Jew…

What does it say? Cyrus king of Persia made a proclamation during which he gave credit to the Lord God for his kingdom and encouraged the survivors to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the house of God. Every man that was stirred of heart returned to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem and Cyrus returned the articles of gold and silver numbering 5,400. The leaders returning were Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum and Baanah; also the people returning were numbered by their patriarchal name. Then the priests where numbered by their patriarchal name, as well as the Levites. There were also 652 who returned but were not able to give evidence of their patriarch, those priest who could not give evidence were excluded from priesthood. The entire congregation was 42,360, plus the servants were 7,337, and they had many animals that they brought with them. Those who returned gave willingly to rebuild the house of the Lord and they all lived…

What does it say? Josiah reinstated the passover celebration and set the priests in their offices and encouraged them and the Levites in the service of the house of the Lord. Josiah and the officers contributed for the people, the passover sacrifices. The Priest sacrificed the animals, sprinkling the blood, the Levites skinned and roasted them for the people. They celebrated the passover, then the feast of unleavened bread for seven days in the 18th year of Josiah’s reign. After setting the house of the Lord in order, Josiah went up against the king of Egypt in battle and died; the people lamented at his death and burial. Joahaz became king but was displaced to Egypt and Eliakim (Jehoiakim) his brother became king in his place. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon captured Jehoiakim and took him to Babylon; therefore, Jehoiachin his son became king in Jerusalem. After a brief reign, he too was taken to Babylon. Zedekiah was made king by Nebuchadnezzar but he rebelled against the Lord, ignori…

What does it say? Assyria invaded Judah coming up against the cities in Judah, so Hezekiah prepared for defense and encouraged the people to be strong and courageous trusting in the Lord God. Sennacherib sent his servants to speak to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall to frighten and terrify them, speaking of the Lord as if he were like the gods of other nations (idols) that were made with human hands. Hezekiah and Isaiah the prophet called out to the Lord in prayer and the Lord delivered Judah from Sennacherib. Hezekiah became prideful though all that he accomplished and had was given to him by the Lord; Hezekiah became ill and his heart was humbled, so the Lord did not pore out wrath on Judah during his days. His son Manasseh became king in Judah at the age of twelve, his reign was 55 years, during which he reversed all of the changes his father made in Judah, acting more abominably than the inhabitants of that the Lord sent Israel to remove from the land. Manasseh was capt…

What does it say? Ahaz became king in Judah and acted wickedly in many ways. The Lord God used the king of Aram and Israel to punish Judah for the wicked acts under the leadership of Ahaz. However, the Lord did not allow Israel to make slaves of Judah as they had it in their mind to do, for he rose up Obed as a prophet to preach against enslaving their brothers and warned of the wrath of God against Israel if they did not repent, so they clothed them and let them go free. King Ahaz asked Assyria to help against his enemies and Assyria took the wealth of Judah. After this Ahaz fell further into idolatry, sacrificing to the gods of Damascus and closing the doors to the house of the Lord, making alters for himself in Jerusalem. Hezekiah became king in Judah. He opened the doors to the house of the Lord and repaired them, bringing in the priests and the Levites, and he instructed them to cleanse the house of Idolatry and be ministers. It took a total of sixteen days to cleanse the whole ho…

What does it say? Amaziah became king and followed the word of the Lord but not with a whole heart. He followed the word of the Lord regarding those who killed his father; therefore, as the word said, he did not kill there sons. Amaziah hired 100,000 troops from Israel to go into battle against the Edomites. A man of God came and told him that if he went into battle with these men God would defeat him but without them he would give him victory; so he dismissed the men but while the army of Judah was fighting the edomites these men attacked the cities of Judah. Amaziah bowed down to idols, the gods of Edom; therefore, God sent him a prophet to rebuke him but he refused to listen. After defeating Edom Amaziah became proud and challenged Joash king of Israel and Joash defeated Judah and took the treasury out of the house of God. Amaziah’s reign would end buy fleeing to Lachish and dying there but he would be buried in Judah. Uzziah became king, like Amaziah, at the beginning he followed t…

What does it say?Jehoram succeeded Jehoshaphat as king in Judah. The relationship with the unrighteous that the Lord warned against came to Jerusalem. Jehoram married Ahab’s daughter and did evil in the sight of the Lord. Edom revolted and set up a king over themselves. God inflicted the house of Jehoram with the Philistines and Arabs who carried away his possessions and sons, except for the youngest because the Lord was unwilling to destroy completely the house of David his servant. Ahaziah succeeded Jehoram as king in Judah. Ahaziah slew his brothers at the direction of his mother Athaliah. His manner of leading was just like that of Ahab, king of Israel; therefore, he allied with Jehoram king of Israel. The Lord used Jehu to destroy the house of Ahab and the house of Ahaziah was inflicted in the wake. When Ahaziah died, Athaliah killed his sons but her daughter Jehoshabeath hid Joash from her and took him to Jehoiada the priest who cared for him and rallied the priests and Levites …

What does it say?Jehoshaphat king of Judah allied with Ahab king of Israel by marriage. Ahab talked Jehoshaphat into going up against the city of Ramoth-gilead which was under the control of the king of Aram. Jehoshaphat requested to hear the word of the Lord regarding the matter. There was a lying spirit in the tongues of the prophets in Israel but Micaiah spoke truth about what would happen in the battle. He prophesying the death of Ahab. The Lord saved Jehoshaphat but let him know through the seer Hanani  that he was not pleased with the alliance he had made with Ahab saying,“Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD and so bring wrath on yourself from the LORD? But there is some good in you, for you have removed the Asheroth from the land and you have set your heart to seek God.” (vs. 19:2-3)Jehoshaphat made reforms in the land, appointing judges who would hear cases, directing them to judge righteously and not with partiality or the taking a bribe. They were to …

What does it say?Abijah succeeded Rehoboam as king over Judah. His reign was for three years. Abijah took the forces of Judah and Benjamin up against Jeroboam and the northern tribes of Israel. Jeroboam had caused Israel to sin by making two golden calves, drove out the priests of the Lord and made priests of whoever comes to consecrate himself. Abijah’s forces were 400,000 and Jeroboam’s were 800,000. Abijab called on the name of the Lord and God gave Jeroboam into his hand and 500,000 of Israel fell. After this, Jeroboam slept with his fathers and his son, Asa became king of Judah and Benjamin. Asa removed the foreign altars and high places, tore down the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherim, and commanded Judah to seek the Lord God and observe the law and the commandment. By invoking the name of the Lord, Asa defeated the Ethiopians who came up against Judah and Benjamin. Asa’s reforms where a result of Azariah’s warning that the Lord is with you when you are with him. He told him …

What does it say?The queen of Sheba came to visit Solomon because she heard the fame of his words and wisdom. Once she came and heard Solomon she was amazed and said that his wisdom surpassed what she had heard. She gave Solomon as a tribute gold, spices, and precious stones. Solomon’s wealth and power was eminence. Solomon received 666 talents of gold in one year. Everything in his kingdom was ornate. Even the shields were made of gold. Solomon’s reign was forty years, then he died and his son Rehoboam became king. The kingdom was split between Rehoboam in the south and Jeroboam in the north. The priests and Levites forsook their cities in the north and came to Judah. Jeroboam appointed priests of his own for the high places in the north; however, there were people in the northern tribes who continued to come to Jerusalem and offer sacrifices at the temple. Rehoboam had many wives and concubines and fathered many children. Rehoboam forsook the law of the Lord and God punished him wit…

What does it say?Solomon spoke to assembly of Israel regarding the temple. He told them that it was in David’s heart to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, but it was David’s son who would build the Lord a house. Solomon then prays to the Lord in the presence of the assembly. Solomon ask’s that whenever the people turn and pray towards this house that he (Solomon) built, that the Lord would hear from heaven and act. When the people sin and fall into pestilence, war, or famine because of their sin; if they repent and pray toward the house that he (Solomon) built, he ask’s that the Lord hear from heaven and acts. The Shekinah glory filled the house and sacrifices were offered: 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. This is how the the temple was dedicated. The priest stood on their posts and the Levites played instruments of Music. The assembly then enjoyed a feast together after which Solomon sent them away to their own tents. The Lord answers Solomon’s prayer and promis…

What does it say?Solomon decided to build a house for God and a royal palace for himself. David his father had numbered the non-Israelites living amongst them during his unsanctioned census of the people. There were 153,600 of whom Solomon assigned 70,000 to carry loads and 80,000 to quarry stones and 3,600 to supervise the work. He also asked Huram, king of Tyre to help build the temple and his palace as he had helped build David’s house. Huram sent Huram-abi who was a skilled craftsmen. In return for the work and material, Huram asked for food. The temple was built and the inside of the temple was overlaid with pure gold. Then the temple was furnished by the magnificent craftsmanship of Huram-abi. At completion, Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and the heads of the tribes to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the ark was placed in the inner sanctuary of the house, the holy of holies. A feast was eaten, singers sang, instruments were played and the cloud filled th…

What does it say?David addressed those whom he appointed about his plans for the temple; namely, the officials of Israel, the princes of the tribes, the commanders, the overseers of property and treasury, and his sons. David assumes the covenant given him through Nathan the prophet (cf. 1 Ch. 17:1-15, & 2 Sa. 7:1-17) to mean Solomon. David states before the congregation that the temple is not for man but for the Lord God. David charges Israel to be strong and courageous in the building of the temple. David talks about all that he has given for the temple; and thereby, employs the congregation to give towards the building project. David then prays to the Lord about this before the congregation. A sacrifice of 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams and 1,000 lambs is made, then they ate and drank. And they made Solomon king and he sat on the thrown instead of David. After David’s death, Solomon went to Gibeon where the tabernacle was to worship the Lord. He offered sacrifices and prayed to God whi…

What does it say?The previous chapter (24) gives the divisions of Levites. In chapter 25 these divisions are given duties to preform. The musicians are divided into three family groups: Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun. The sons of these three and their relatives served in the temple in groups of twelve, for 2 weeks at a time, playing music on lyres, harps and cymbals. Then in chapter 26 other Levites are given the duties of keeping the gates. Others were given the duty of keeping the treasure. Still others were given duties outside of the temple as officers and judges. Then in chapter 27 the commanders of the army are listed into divisions of 24,000, serving for 1 month at a time. Following the army divisions, a chief officer for each tribe is named. Then a list of miscellaneous overseers with their duties is given. Lastly, the persons that made up David’s court.What does it mean?Regarding the musicians, more than music was being preformed for the text says that the sons of Asaph, Heman and…

What does it say?Though David was not to build the temple and was told through Nathan the prophet that one of his descendants would build a house for God, David took it upon himself to prepare for the building. David gathered resident aliens as forced laborers and gathered materials for the building of the temple. David then charges Solomon with the task of building a temple for God and tells Solomon that he intended to build the temple himself but refers to the word of the Lord given through Nathan the prophet as the reason for tasking Solomon with building the temple. (Ch. 22) David turned over the kingdom to his son Solomon before his death, when David had reached old age. In addition to the forced labor and materials; david also provides religious, military, and political leadership for Solomon’s kingdom. The Levites were given a new job because they would no longer need to care for the portable tabernacle and its furnishings which included the ark of the covenant. The age for Lev…

What does it say?The events of chapters 18-20 summarize David’s wars and victories which was drawn from the content of 2 Samuel 8-21. The Chronicler also shows David as a king that ministered justice and righteousness for all his people. (vs. 18:14) The chronicler gives Satan credit for moving David to number Israel. (vs. 21:1) Joab did not agree with the census; therefore, he did not number the tribes of Benjamin or Levi. (vs. 21:6) The Lord was angry; therefore, he struck Israel but gave David a choice through the the prophet Gad, three things: three years of famine, three months of being swept by his foes, or three days of pestilence. David leaned on the graciousness of God and choose the three days of pestilence. This lead to David purchasing the threshing floor of Oran the Jebusite to build an alter on which David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord. After this, the Lord withdrew from destroying Jerusalem with pestilence. What does it mean?The events of chapte…

What does it say?David built houses for himself and prepared a place for the ark of God by pitching a tent for it. This time David ascribed that the Levites should carry the ark of God to its resting place in the tent. The sons of Aaron and the Levites consecrated themselves for the task. David , with the elders of Israel and the captains of the armies went to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-edom to Jerusalem and the Levites carried the ark of the covenant. The Israelites were united as one, shouting and playing musical instruments. The ark of God was placed in the tent and they offered burnt offerings and peace offering before God. Then all of Israel had a meal together; both man and women alike; a loaf of bread, a portion of meat and a raisin cake. David gave thanks to the Lord with a psalm of thanksgiving. Then David was stirred in his heart to make a house of cedar for the ark of God but God told David that he would make him a house permanently. Th…