“The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.” (Proverbs 18:8 ESV). In this proverb, Solomon observed the destructive appeal of gossip. He described the words of a whisperer—someone who spreads secrets or slander—as “delicious morsels.” These words were not just heard and dismissed; they
“And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done.” (2 Kings 18:3 ESV). After a long succession of mostly wicked kings, Hezekiah emerged as a striking exception. The biblical writer described him in glowing terms, noting that he did what was right in
“In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah the son of Amaziah, king of Judah, began to reign. He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem.” (2 Kings 15:1–2 ESV). Azariah, also known as Uzziah, was one of the longest-reigning kings of Judah. He
“You have indeed struck down Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Be content with your glory, and stay at home, for why should you provoke trouble so that you fall, you and Judah with you?” (2 Kings 14:10 ESV). After King Amaziah of Judah defeated Edom, he became proud and sought to challenge
“Now the rest of the acts of Joash and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?” (2 Kings 12:19 ESV). Joash began his reign with great promise. Rescued from death as a child and raised under the godly guidance of the high priest
“Thus Jehu wiped out Baal from Israel. But Jehu did not turn aside from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin—that is, the golden calves that were in Bethel and in Dan.” (2 Kings 10:28–29 ESV) Jehu had been chosen by God to bring judgment on the house
“Now Elisha came to Damascus. Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick. And when it was told him, ‘The man of God has come here,’ the king said to Hazael, ‘… inquire of the Lord through him, saying, “Shall I recover from this sickness?”’ (2 Kings 8:7–8 ESV). Elisha traveled to Damascus, the capital of
“One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul” (Acts 16:14 ESV). The gospel’s entrance into Europe began through an unexpected person: a businesswoman named
“But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” (Acts 15:11 ESV). After certain Judaizers came to Antioch, teaching that circumcision was required for salvation, Paul and Barnabas were sent to bring the question to the apostles at Jerusalem. After much deliberation, Peter stood and
“And Elisha said to the king of Israel, ‘What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother.’ But the king of Israel said to him, ‘No; it is the Lord who has called these three kings to give them into the hand of