In this episode of the Story of Scripture, Ted Ryskoski, Lance Lawson, and Rachel Chester discuss Nehemiah’s narrative of the remnant of God’s people as they seek to find their identity and security without their own king.
How will the new temple, the law, and their beloved promised land help or hinder them? How can we learn from their experience so long ago?
The people of the promise are called out of another global empire to the promised place of God, but nothing is quite the same.
In this episode of the Story of Scripture, Ted Ryskoski, Lance Lawson, and Rachel Chester discuss the return from exile, the temple rebuilt, and what that means for us today.
In this episode of the Story of Scripture, Ted Ryskoski, Lance Lawson, and Rachel Chester discuss the end of a kingdom and the beginning of a new chapter in God’s story.
The kingdom of Judah has been defeated and exiled, but the book of Ezra begins a new chapter of hope for God’s people.
The great prophet Elisha dies, the king of Judah copies foreign temples and practices child sacrifice, and the land and blessing of Solomon’s reign is officially at an end.
In this episode of the Story of Scripture, Ted Ryskoski, Lance Lawson, and Rachel Chester discuss the inevitable fall of and exile of the northern kingdom of Israel, and the beginning of the end for the southern kingdom of Judah.
In this episode of the Story of Scripture, Ted Ryskoski, Rachel Chester, and Lance Lawson discuss 2 Kings chapters 6 – 12.
The promise Elijah delivered to Ahab finally comes to fruition and justice is served. God is patient and merciful, and he is also just and faithful to his promises: both to rescue and to judge.
Despite these consequences to their idolatry, however, the kings and the people of Israel continue in their stubborn idolatry.
This week the story of Kings continues with more tension between the leaders of the divided kingdom of Israel and the prophets of God. Join Ted, Rachel, and Lance for a conversation about evil, assassinations, miracles, and she-bears.
How does the Exodus story continue to replay throughout the Old Testament, and why is Jezebel the worst?
In this episode of the Story of Scripture, Ted Ryskoski, Lance Lawson, and Rachel Chester discuss the kings and prophets of a now divided Kingdom of Israel.
The prophets take center stage as covenant “watchdogs” and one of the most important prophets in Scripture, Elijah, takes on an idolatrous and murderous king and queen.
In this episode of The Story of Scripture, Ted Rysoski, Lance Lawson, and Rachel Chester discuss Solomon’s reign: from a wise king who loves Yahweh, to a another leader who turns from Yahweh. What can we all learn from Solomon, and how does he point to Jesus?
In this episode of The Story of Scripture, Ted Ryskoski, Lance Lawson, and Rachel Chester discuss the complicated, but ultimately hopeful legacy of King David: the humble, shepherd-king who was imperfect, but ultimately faithful to his Lord. The next chapter of God’s story begins with King Solomon, renowned for his wisdom, who built the Temple for Yahweh to reside with his people in Jerusalem and expanded the kingdom to all that was promised to Abraham. In David we see the pinnacle of a humble king, in Solomon the pinnacle of the kingdom, but cracks begin to show . . .
King David is victorious over his rebellious son, but grieves for all he has lost. After his failures, he is still a victorious king, but he is weakened and weary, and reminded that it has always been and still is Yahweh who is his rock and deliverer. Ted Ryskoski, Lance Lawson, and Rachel Chester mourn another faithful follower who chooses to go his own way, instead of trusting in God, but rest in the same hope David proclaims so many years ago: the faithfulness of God and the promise of a better King to come.