WEEKEND RECHARGE!

June 7, 2026 

Monday, June 1—Nehemiah
Tuesday, June 2–Nehemiah
Wednesday, June 3—The Four Threads
Thursday, June 4—The Four Threads
Friday, June 5—The Silent Years

FOLLOWING THE REFLECTIVE QUESTIONS IS A LIST OF THE OLD TESTAMENT KINGS OF THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM (JUDAH) AND A REVIEW OF "CAMDE-400-CALY." 

Below are reflective questions. I encourage you to prayerfully read each one and choose one or two to focus on. 

1. PRAY: Ask God to open your heart so you can hear him speak to you about the issue.
2. RESPOND: Confession. Repentance. Surrender. Thanksgiving.
3. ACT: Take the steps to do what God is calling you to do.

REFLECTIVE QUESTIONS

1. What burden has God placed on your heart that should move you toward prayer and action?
2. How can you grow in depending on God through prayer before attempting to solve problems on your own?
3. How does Nehemiah's example challenge the way you respond to problems and burdens in your life?
4. In what ways can you strengthen the spiritual foundation of your home and your personal walk with Christ?
5. In what ways should God's holiness affect your daily choices and worship?
6. How can you live in greater gratitude and obedience knowing that salvation belongs to the Lord alone?
7. How should God's sovereignty change the way you respond to fear, uncertainty, or current events?
8. In what ways can you grow in trusting God's faithfulness even when circumstances are difficult?
9. In what ways does culture influence your faith either positively or negatively?

HERE'S THE REVIEW OF THE KINGS OF JUDAH IN CASE YOU MISSED IT LAST WEEK

THE KINGS OF THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM

There were 19 kings who led the northern kingdom (Israel) before the country fell to the Assyrians in 722 BC. The fall is documented in 2 Kings 17:6-23. The northern kings did not follow God and led Israel astray. 

Below is a list of the kings who led the southern kingdom (Judah) after Solomon. 

REHOBOAM (931–913 BC) 1 Kgs.  11:43–12:24; 14:21–31; 2 Chron. 9:31–12:16
Solomon's son. Set up altars to pagan gods. Shishak, the king of Egypt, raided the temple. Died of natural causes. 

ABIJAH (913–911 BC) 1 Kgs. 14:31–15:8; 2 Chron. 12:16–14:1
"And he walked in all the sins that his father did before him, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father. Nevertheless, for David's sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, setting up his son after him, and establishing Jerusalem, because David did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kgs.15:3-5). He died of natural causes. 

ASA (911–870 BC) 1 Kgs. 15:8–24; 2 Chron. 14:1–16:14
Removed cult prostitutes and destroyed pagan altars. Mostly followed the Lord during his days. He died of a foot disease seeking only physicians, not the Lord, for healing. 

JEHOSHAPHAT (870–848 BC) 1 Kgs. 22:1–50; 2 Chron. 17:1–21:1
"He walked in all the way of Asa his father. He did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord. Yet the high places were not taken away, and the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places.  Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel" (1 Kgs 22:43–44). He died of natural causes. 

JEHORAM (JORAM) (848–841 BC) 2 Kgs. 8:16–24; 2 Chron. 21:1–20
"And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord" (2 Kgs. 8:18). He died a painful death. 

AHAZIAH (841 BC) 2 Kgs. 8:24–29; 9:14-29; 2 Chron. 22:1–9
"He also walked in the way of the house of Ahab and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done" (2 Kgs. 8:27). His mother was Athaliah, Jehoram's wife. Israel's king Jehu killed both Jehoram and Ahaziah. 

QUEEN ATHALIAH (841–835 BC) 2 Kgs. 11:1–20; 2 Chron. 22:10–23:21
Athaliah did evil in God's eyes. When her son, Ahaziah, was killed she appointed herself as queen. She killed Ahaziah's family except for Joash who was hidden by Jehoshabeath. When Jehoshabeath's husband, Jehoiada, installed Joash as king, Athaliah was killed by her own army. 

JOASH (835–796 BC) 2 Kgs. 11:1–12:21; 2 Chron. 22:10–24:27
Was raised by Jehoshabeath and mentored by her husband Jehoiada the priest. During Jehoiada's life Joash followed God. But after Jehoiada died he ignored the prophets and did evil. His own officials assassinated him. 

AMAZIAH (796–767 BC) 2 Kgs. 12:21; 14:1–20; 2 Chron. 24:27–25:28
"And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not like David his father. He did all things as Joash his father had done. But the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places" (2 Kgs. 14:3–4). Killed by his officials. 

UZZIAH (767–740 BC) 2 Kgs. 14:21–22; 15:1-7; 2 Chron. 26:1–23
For most of his life Uzziah followed in the ways of God. As long as he obeyed God he prospered. But in the end pride got the best of him and after he entered the temple and attempted to do the work reserved only for priests, God struck him with leprosy and he was alienated from the people. He installed his son as a co-regent. 

JOTHAM (746–732 BC) 2 Kgs. 16:1–20; 2 Chron. 28:27–32:20
Co-reigned with his father for six years. "And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord according to all that his father Uzziah had done, except he did not enter the temple of the Lord" (2 Chron. 27:2). Died of natural causes. 

AHAZ (732–716 BC) 2 Kgs. 16:1–20; 2 Chron. 27:9–28:27
"And he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as his father David had done, but he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel. He even made metal images for the Baals, and he made offerings in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom and burned his sons as an offering, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel. And he sacrificed and made offerings on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree (2 Chron. 28:1–4). Died of natural causes. 

HEZEKIAH (716–687 BC) 2 Kgs. 18:1–20:21; 2 Chron. 28:27–32:20
Unlike his father Ahaz, Hezekiah did right in the eyes of the Lord. He cleansed the temple and restored temple worship. He reinstituted Passover and invited those in Israel who had not been taken captive by the Assyrians. He destroyed pagan altars. When the Assyrian king, Sennacherib, invaded Judah, Hezekiah and Isaiah prayed for God's deliverance. God sent an angel to deal with the Assyrians. Hezekiah was struck with a terminal illness but God graciously gave him fifteen additional years. Unfortunately, his pride during that time led him to show the Babylonians his military weapons and treasures. God granted him peace during his lifetime but the consequences of Hezekiah's pride was Judah's ultimate downfall. Hezekiah died after the fifteen promised years. 

MANNASSEH (687–643 BC) 2 Kgs. 21:1–18; 2 Chron. 32:33–33:20
Mannasseh was Judah's longest serving king. Unfortunately, he did not follow the Lord. He "did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel. For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had broken down, and he erected altars to the Baals, and made Asheroth, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them" (2 Chron. 33:2–3). He was overthrown and taken captive by the Assyrians. Only then did he humble himself and repent "and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God" (2 Chron, 33:13). 

AMON (643–641 BC) 2 Kgs. 21:18–26; 2 Chron. 33:20–25
Amon "did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done. Amon sacrificed to all the images that Manasseh, his father had made, and served them.  And he did not humble himself before the Lord, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself, but this Amon incurred guilt more and more. And his servants conspired against him and put him to death in his house" (2 Chron. 33:22–24). 

JOSIAH (641–609 BC) 2 Kgs. 21:26–23:30; 2 Chron. 33:25–35:27
Josiah followed God and sought to restore the temple that had fallen into disrepair. During the restoration process, the Book of the Law was found. Josiah read God's Word and initiated a spiritual revival in Judah. He also celebrated Passover according to the instruction of the Law. He was a strong king who served the Lord. He was killed in battle by the Egyptian king, Neco. 

JEHOAHAZ (SHALLUM) (609 BC) 2 Kgs. 23:30–34; 2 Chron. 36:1–4
Put in chains by the Egyptian king, Neco. Died in Egypt.

JEHOIAKIM (ELIAKIM) (609–597 BC) 2 Kgs. 23:34–24:6; 2 Chron. 36:4–8
Jehoiakim did "what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God. Against him came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and bound him in chains to take him to Babylon" (2 Chron. 36:5–6). Jehoiakim died in Babylon. 

JEHOIACHIN (JECONIAH) (597 BC) 2 Kgs. 24:6–16; 25:27–30; 2 Chron. 36:8–10
Jehoiachin did evil in the sight of the Lord. He was captured by Nebuchadnezzar with 10,000 others and taken to Babylon where he died. 

ZEDEKIAH (MATTANIAH) (597–586 BC) 2 Kgs. 24:17–25:7; 2 Chron. 36:10–13
Zedekiah was installed by Nebuchadnezzar as a puppet king. Zedekiah "did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God. He did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the Lord" (2 Chron. 36:12). He eventually rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar. After an eighteen-month siege of Jerusalem, the Babylonians breached the wall, destroyed the city, burned the temple to the ground, and took most of the survivors back to Babylon.

CAMDE-400-CALY
Creation. Abraham. Moses. David. Elijah. 400. Christ. Apostles. Letters. Yet-to-Come.

"CAMDE"—HANDHOLDS THROUGH THE OLD TESTAMENT

CREATION (Genesis 1–11)
We considered this part of God's story in the first month of our study. It is foundational to understanding the whole story. We learned about Yahweh Elohim, the powerful and personal God who breathed the breath of life into humanity. Sin disrupted God's fellowship with Adam and Eve, so God graciously began the story of redemption by promising a Savior (Gen. 3:15). After the flood, the earth was populated by Noah's descendants. 

ABRAHAM (Genesis 12–50)
God promised a Savior and chose Abraham to be the founder of a nation through which the Savior would come. This promise was passed down to the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In this section, common issues like lying, jealousy, envy, betrayal, and mockery of God continue as God reveals his plan for his people. Finally, through a series of events, Jacob's small clan settles in Egypt and eventually becomes a powerful nation. 

MOSES (Exodus–Joshua)
For four hundred years in Egypt, the nation of Israel grew stronger. Eventually, the pharaoh enslaved Israel and ordered the killing of all male Israelite infants. Moses was spared, raised in Egypt's royal courts, and educated at its finest universities. But when he took matters into his own hands by killing an Egyptian who was mistreating a fellow Israelite, he was forced to flee for his life. Forty years later, God called Moses to deliver Israel from slavery. However, because of Israel's continued disobedience, the nation wandered in the desert for forty years. Moses died, and Joshua was appointed to lead Israel into the promised land. 

DAVID (Judges—Song of Solomon)
David represents the period of the judges (forerunners of the kings) and the kings of Israel, who ruled over both the united and divided kingdoms. The Davidic Covenant promised that David's throne would be established forever (2 Sam. 7:16). This promise was ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, the King of kings (Rev. 22:16). This section includes Ruth, Esther, Ezra, and Nehemiah, important leaders in God's story, as well as books of poetry and proverbs.

ELIJAH (Isaiah—Malachi)
In Matthew 17:1–5, Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus while he was with Peter, James, and John on the Mount of Transfiguration. Moses represented the law, and Elijah represented the prophets. Prophets appeared before, during, and after the exiles.^[1] They warned Israel of the consequences of disobedience and looked forward to the promised Messiah.

400 (YEARS BETWEEN OLD TESTAMENT AND NEW TESTAMENT)
After the Old Testament ends with the book of Malachi, four hundred years pass before God speaks again through the last prophet, John the Baptist. This time is known as the Intertestamental Period or the Silent Period. 

"CALY" –-HANDHOLDS THROUGH THE NEW TESTAMENT

Christ (Matthew–John)
The Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke), along with John's Gospel, tell the story of Jesus on earth—the incarnation, his teachings, the crucifixion, the resurrection, and his appearances after the resurrection. 

Apostles (Acts)
The Acts of the Apostles begins with Jesus' ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit lit the flame that ignited the church. In Acts, we follow Peter and Paul, learn how Jews and Gentiles united into one body, and see churches start throughout Europe and Asia. 

Letters (Romans–Jude)
The New Testament includes twenty-one letters, thirteen of which were written by Paul. Most of these letters are directed to churches, with a few sent to individuals. 

Yet-to-Come (Revelation)
The Revelation of Jesus Christ was given to an angel, who then revealed it to the apostle John while he was exiled on the Island of Patmos. The Revelation begins with letters to seven churches and then describes the judgments that will end life as we know it, ultimately ushering us into the eternal kingdom.