The prophet's visions continue. There is an elaborate lampstand which symbolises the wisdom and power of God, and either side of it are two olive trees, an emblem of fruitfulness. These stand for Joshua the High Priest and Zerubbabel, who are wo...

There are two visions in chapter 5: the flying scroll and the woman in a basket. Both relate to the purging of wickedness from the land. The huge scroll flies like a bat or a bird of prey. Remorselessly, it seeks out the thieves and liars who dishono...

These are the last of Zechariah's visions. He sees chariots representing the four winds, pulled by different coloured horses. Chariots in the ancient world were the epitome of military power – fast, mobile and capable of delivering crushing bl...

After Zechariah's strange visions, we turn to a powerful and thought-provoking sermon. During the 70 years of exile, the people of Bethel have religiously fasted in commemoration of the Temple's destruction. Should they carry on, they ask, ...

This chapter is a lovely picture of blessing. The deserted city will be repopulated. Verse 4 speaks of old men sitting in the city squares, and children playing. This is more significant than we might think: these old men have someone to care for the...

A roundabout march in the desert for seven days, no water for themselves or their animals – desperate, tired, hungry and the battle is still to come. It is in this moment of crisis that Jehoshaphat finally asks the question: 'Is there no proph...

From kings, battles and the sweep of history the narrative shifts to focus on a widow and her two sons. This is a wonderful reminder of the unique way the Bible tells the story of God’s action in the world and at the same time shows his love and co...

Naaman has it all: he's a top military commander, a great man and highly regarded. But he has leprosy, one of the most feared diseases of his day. The words of a servant girl prompt him to seize the opportunity to be healed.

On the surface the situation is dire. An army with horses and chariots surrounds the city. Yet this chapter includes a dramatic reveal. Elisha’s frightened servant has his eyes opened to reality as it is, rather than reality as he sees it: 'Th...

As we know from elsewhere in Scripture, people with leprosy were outcasts from society and not allowed to live in the city. Rejected and feared by society, their lives outside the city gates depended on charity. Yet in 2 Kings 7 it is they who bring ...

The books of Kings are not for the squeamish. They deal with people who will do anything for power, including betrayal and murder. Here the Syrian king, Benhadad, seeks reassurance from an Israelite prophet, Elisha, that he'll recover from his i...

This story proceeds at a breakneck speed, like Jehu's driving (verse 20). Evidently the Israelite army officers have grown tired of King Joram, perhaps because of his unsuccessful alliance with Judah's King Ahaziah against Syria (8.28–29).

King Jehu was determined to purge Israel of every trace of Ahab's family and the Baal-worship they had promoted. The list of his murders is deeply depressing, especially because it was done in the name of the LORD.

The bloodthirsty King Jehu has killed not just the Israelites who stood in his way, but Ahaziah, king of Judah (9.27). The way was open for another palace coup, but this one is carried out, unusually, by a woman – his mother Athaliah.

This period of Israel's history sees the nation under continuous attack by the Syrians to the north, and in occasional conflict with Judah to the south. King Jehu's son Jehoahaz and grandson Jehoash are both condemned for 'leading Isra...

Judah's King Amaziah takes over from his father, the murdered King Joash (12.20–21). Like his father, he is commended for doing 'what was pleasing to the LORD', though like him he didn't purge the kingdom of Baal-worship.

Titus is ministering in Crete, and Paul is not very complimentary about Cretans (verses 12–13) – 'liars, wicked beasts and lazy gluttons' is not diplomatic language. As usual in his letters, we only have one side of the conversation.

It's probably true to say that most of us assume we are good people. We are unlikely, if we're part of a Christian community, to be habitually adulterous or drunk or prone to stealing or violence. In Paul's day these things needed to b...

The last chapter of this brief letter draws a sharp contrast between life before faith in Christ and life after it. Before, Paul says, 'we' – he probably means just himself – were 'foolish, disobedient and wrong' (verse 3). &#...

Paul is in prison and has come into contact with Onesimus, a slave who has fled from his Christian master Philemon. Onesimus has become a Christian too; Paul sends him back to Philemon 'not just as a slave, but more than a slave: he is a dear br...