READ THE BIBLE IN 2022: This past week, April 17 through April 23, we read 1 Kings 12 through 2 Kings 8. As we read from 1st and 2nd Kings we saw that wicked kings abound and faithful kings are few. Even a prophet of God is rebuked. We also saw the united kingdom divide. Good kings in the southern kingdom of Judah included Asa and his son Jehoshaphat. The northern kingdom of Israel was not so fortunate, their first king, Jeroboam, established his capital in Samaria and setup golden calve worship in the town of Dan in the kingdom’s northern boundary and in Bethel in the south to keep the ten northern tribes from worshiping God in Jerusalem. One of the northern kingdom’s most notorious couple was King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. Ahab built and altar to Baal in Samaria and encouraged Baal worship. God’s answer was the prophet Elijah, who is known for being fed by ravings, bringing the widow of Zarephath son’s back from the dead, and calling on the Lord to send fire from heaven in his heroic battle against 450 prophets of Baal. Towards the end of his earthly life he anointed his successor, Elisha, who was present when the Lord took Elijah to heaven in a chariot of fire--very much alive! This week (April 24 - 30) read 2 Kings 9 - 1 Chronicles 2.