| Date | Version | Reading Plan |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2026 | ESV (2016) | ESV Life Journal Plan – 2026 |
1 Kings 9
Observation & Interpretation
The LORD appeared to Solomon a second time and told him that if he did as the LORD commanded, he would not lack a man on the throne. But, if they turned aside from following the LORD, Israel would be cut off and become a byword among the nations. At the end of the twenty years, Solomon gave Hiram the twenty cities in the land of Galilee but these cities displeased Hiram and they were called the land of Cabul (meaning displeasing, dirty, rubbish). Solomon employed forced labor but did not do so among the people of Israel. The people of Israel were his officials, commanders, officers, etc. Solomon also built a fleet of ships that brought gold back from Ophir.
2 Chronicles 8
Observation & Interpretation
A similar account to 1 Kings. Solomon rebuilt the cities that Hiram had given him. He made slaves of the people of the lands but did not make slaves of the Israelites. Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh to the house that he had built for her and said that she was not to live in his house. “Unfortunately, the fact that Solomon restricted her to a special residence did not restrict her from leading him off into idolatry (1 Kgs. 11:1–8).” (BBC). Solomon offered up burnt offerings according to the commandment of Moses as well as the annual feasts. Hiram sent to Solomon ships by the hand of his servants ships and they brought back to Solomon gold from Ophir.
Romans 5
Observation & Interpretation
Coming in from the previous chapter, Paul speaks of how believers in Christ have been justified by faith and the rejoicing that follows. Christ died for the ungodly while we were still weak, showing His love for us that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. While we were once enemies, we have now been justified by Christ’s blood and saved by Him from the wrath of God. Moreover, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom reconciliation was received.
Just as sin came through Adam—and death through sin—so death spread to all men because all sinned. Death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift of Christ is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass (Adam), much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. Death reigned through Adam but much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by one man’s disobedience many were many sinner, so by one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. The law came in to increase trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Resources
- J. I. Packer et. al, The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016)
- Colin Hansen (Editor in Chief), TGC Bible Commentary (Columbia, MO: The Gospel Coalition, 2022)
- Iain M. Duguid (Series Editor), ESV Expository Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2018-2025)
- Faithlife Study Bible (Lexham Press, 2016)
- Believer’s Bible Commentary (Thomas Nelson, 2016)
- CSB Study Bible Notes (Holman Bible Publishers, 2017)
- The New American Commentary (Brentwood, TN: Holman Reference)
- Lane T. Dennis and Wayne Grudem (Editors), ESV Study Bible, Crossway, 2008.
