| Date | Version | Reading Plan |
|---|---|---|
| November 1, 2025 | ESV (2016) | OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027 |
1 Kings 14
Observation & Interpretation
1 Kings 14:13 – The LORD spoke to Jeroboam’s wife through the prophet Ahijah that the LORD found something pleasing to Himself in Rehoboam’s son, Abijah, who had fallen sick.
- This is the only place in which the northern royalty is commended by God. It seems that Yahweh spares this boy from experiencing the full force of the covenant curse. (ESVEC – Comment)
1 Kings 14:14 – The LORD spoke of how He would raise up a king who would cut off the house of Jeroboam that day.
- a king for himself Refers to Baasha who assassinates Jeroboam’s son, Nadab (1 Kings 15:27-30).
1 Kings 14:1-31 – This sad and disappointing narrative is in the Bible to say something terribly important about people like Rehoboam and Jeroboam. About people like us. Left to ourselves, we find it terribly easy to choose death rather than life and to choose sin rather than obedience. (ESVEC – Response)
Luke 1
Observation & Interpretation
Luke 1:16-17 – The angel of the Lord told Zechariah that the Lord would go before his son in the spirit and power of Elijah.
- Verse 17 clarifies that the Baptist fulfills the prophesy about Elijah in Malachi. “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers” (Mal. 4:5-6; cf also Sir 48:10). We see from this that the prophecy about the coming of Elijah should not be interpreted literally. John comes “in the spirit and power of Elijah.” Indeed, in Matthew 11:14 Jesus says that John the Baptist is the Elijah predicted in Scripture. It seems, then, that the prophecies from the OT may be fulfilled in unexpected ways. (ESVEC – Comment)
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.
