See JESUS in the Old Testament – Just Keith Harris

See JESUS in the Old Testament — Book II of the Psalms

The Royal Bridegroom, the Ransom from Death, and
the King of All Nations

See the Book I overview for an introduction to the Psalms and how to read them in light of Christ.

Book II of the Psalms (Psalms 42–72) continues the prayers of God’s people as they bring their troubles before Him and wait for His help. Alongside David’s prayers, we hear from the sons of Korah and Asaph, with the final psalm attributed to Solomon. These voices draw us into both personal struggles and the suffering of God’s people together. Psalms 42–43 express a deep longing for God’s presence, while Psalm 44 asks why His people suffer even as they seek to remain faithful. Other readings remind us that God is our refuge, that He deserves sincere worship, and that sinners need the cleansing only He can provide. Through sorrow, repentance, and thanksgiving, these psalms teach us to place our hope in Him. They also keep before us the connection between God’s people and His appointed king — a connection that leads us toward Jesus, whose victory secures the salvation of His people.

The scarlet thread comes into particular focus in Psalms 45 and 49. Psalm 45 celebrates a royal wedding, describing the king’s greatness, righteous rule, and enduring throne. Its praise reaches beyond what any earthly descendant of David could fully fulfill. Hebrews 1:8–9 applies its words to Jesus, the Son whose throne lasts forever. This royal wedding also helps prepare us to understand Him as the Bridegroom who loves His church and gave Himself for her (Ephesians 5:25–27). Psalm 49 turns our attention to a need no earthly king or fortune can meet: no human being can pay enough to escape death. Yet the psalmist trusts that God will redeem him and receive him. That hope finds its fulfillment in Jesus, who gave His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). What we could never purchase, He provides through His death and resurrection.

Book II also widens our view to the nations. Psalm 67 asks God to bless His people so that His saving power will be known throughout the earth. Psalm 69 anticipates the rejection and suffering Jesus endured (John 2:17; 15:25), reminding us of the cost of that salvation. Finally, Psalm 72 prays for a king who rules with justice, rescues the needy, and brings blessing to all nations — carrying forward God’s promise to Abraham (Genesis 22:18). Its vision reaches beyond Solomon to Jesus, the greater Son of David, whose reign will never end. As we read, ask the Spirit to help us trust Him in our troubles, seek His mercy for our sins, and rejoice that His salvation reaches people from every nation. He is the Royal Bridegroom, the Ransom from Death, and the King of All Nations.

Let’s dive in together and see JESUS in Book II of the Psalms!

November 4 — Psalm 42
Overwhelmed by sorrow, the psalmist thirsts for God, remembers His steadfast love, and repeatedly calls his downcast soul to hope in Him.
November 5 — Psalm 43
The psalmist asks God to vindicate him and sent His light and truth to lead him home, where he will worship God, his exceeding joy.
November 6 — Psalm 44
Remembering God’s past victories, His people lament present defeat and plead for help, yet in Christ no suffering can separate from God’s love.
November 7 — Psalm 45
A royal wedding celebrates the anointed king and his bride, looking beyond David’s sons to Jesus, the eternal Bridegroom who endures forever.
November 8 — Psalm 46
Though creation trembles and nations rage, God remains His people’s refuge and fortress, dwelling among them and exalted throughout the earth.
November 9 — Psalm 49
No wealth can ransom life from death, but God redeems His people to Himself, pointing to Jesus, who gave His life as our sufficient ransom.
November 10 — Psalm 50
God summons His people to judgment, rejecting empty sacrifice and calling them to worship, obedience, and dependence upon Him in trouble.
November 11 — Psalm 51
Confronted with his sin, David casts himself on God’s mercy, seeking forgiveness and cleansing and a new heart only God can create.
November 12 — Psalm 61
From the ends of the earth, David asks God to lead him to the higher Rock and preserve the King’s throne forever, fulfilled in the reign of King Jesus.
November 13 — Psalm 65
God hears prayer, atones for sin, and blesses the earth with abundance, drawing all peoples to praise Him as the hope of the whole world.
November 14 — Psalm 67
God’s people ask Him to shine His blessing among them so His saving ways will be known and praised with joy by every nation.
November 15 — Psalm 68
David celebrates God’s triumphant march from Sinai to Zion and calls every kingdom to praise Him, anticipating the risen Christ’s ascension.
November 16 — Psalm 69
David’s unjust suffering, zeal for God’s house, and bitter drink point to Jesus, who endured rejection and the cross before gathering His own.
November 17 — Psalm 72
Solomon prays for a righteous King who defends the needy, rules to the ends of the earth, and brings blessing to every nation — King Jesus.

Continue in the See JESUS in the Old Testament readings with Proverbs (Wisdom for Daily Life)!

¹ Proverbs poetically personifies wisdom as a woman calling people to fear the Lord and live according to God’s order. Proverbs 8 does not teach that God’s wisdom — or Jesus — is a created being, nor should every detail be treated as a direct description of Christ. The New Testament nevertheless reveals Jesus as “the wisdom of God” and the eternal One through whom all things were made (John 1:1–3, 1 Corinthians 1:24, Colossians 1:15–17).

See JESUS in the Old Testament — Proverbs (Wisdom’s Invitation)

The Fear of the LORD, the Path of Life, and
the Wisdom of God

The book of Proverbs teaches us to live wisely in the world God made. Much of its instruction comes from Solomon, the son of David whom God blessed with extraordinary wisdom, alongside sayings from other wise teachers. Its wisdom reaches into everyday life — our words, work, friendships, families, and desires — and begins with the fear of the LORD (Proverbs 1:7).

To fear the LORD is to take Him seriously, humbly receiving His instruction and submitting our lives to His authority. Wisdom involves learning to recognize and follow His ways, while foolishness resists His correction. The opening nine chapters prepare us for the shorter sayings that follow, urging us to seek wisdom and warning us about the cost of refusing it. Throughout the book, we must read these sayings as wisdom for life under God’s rule. They describe how He ordinarily orders life, while Job and Ecclesiastes remind us that faithful living does not guarantee immediate prosperity or freedom from suffering.

Proverbs Section I Overview

Our first readings bring us into a father’s instruction to his son and wisdom’s invitation to all who will listen. Proverbs 1 warns against joining sinners in their pursuit of dishonest gain and calls us to respond to correction. Proverbs 3 teaches us to trust in the LORD with our whole hearts rather than lean on our own understanding, receiving even His discipline as an expression of fatherly love. Proverbs 4 describes two paths and urges us to guard our hearts, recognizing that our desires shape the direction of our lives. Proverbs 5 brings that instruction into marriage, exposing the ruin of adultery and encouraging faithful delight in one’s spouse. These chapters show us that wisdom concerns both the heart and what flows from it. Proverbs 9 gathers the choice before us into two competing invitations: wisdom offers a feast that leads to life, while folly offers stolen pleasures that lead to death. We are called to consider whose voice we are following and where that path will take us.

The scarlet thread leads us toward Jesus, whom the New Testament reveals as the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24, 30). In Proverbs 8, wisdom is poetically portrayed as a woman calling people to receive instruction, with her place alongside God in creation showing how deeply wisdom belongs to His ordering of the world; this personification should not be read as a direct description of Jesus in every detail or as teaching that He was created. He is the eternal Son through whom all things were made (John 1:1-3). Solomon himself failed to live faithfully by the wisdom he taught, deepening our need for the One greater than Solomon (Matthew 12:42). Jesus perfectly embodies God’s wisdom, and through His death and resurrection, saves sinners who have walked in folly. In Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3).

As we read, ask the Spirit to help us receive correction, turn from the paths of sin, and trust Jesus with every part of our lives. Wisdom’s invitation calls us to more than knowing the right answers — it calls us to walk with the LORD who gives life.

Let’s dive in together and see JESUS in the first section of Proverbs!

October 29 — Proverbs 1
Proverbs introduces wisdom as skill for godly living rooted in the fear of the LORD, warning against sinners and calling us to receive instruction.
October 30 — Proverbs 3
The wise trust the LORD with all their heart, receive His loving discipline, treasure wisdom above riches, and practice love toward others.
October 31 — Proverbs 4
A father urges his children to prize wisdom, avoid the way of wickedness, guard their hearts, and keep their whole lives on the path of righteousness.
November 1 — Proverbs 5
A father warns that adultery’s seductive path ends in ruin and death, calling his son to covenant faithfulness and joyful delight in his own wife.
November 2 — Proverbs 8 ¹
David moves from cries of “How long?” to confident praise, trusting God’s steadfast love and faithfulness while deliverance still seems distant.
November 3 — Proverbs 9
Wisdom and Folly offer rival feasts leading to life or death; those who fear the LORD choose wisdom’s table, pointing to Jesus, the Bread of Life.

Continue in the See JESUS in the Old Testament readings with Book II of the Psalms!

See JESUS in the Old Testament — Book I of the Psalms

The Anointed Son, the Suffering Savior, and
the King of Glory

The book of Psalms gives us words to bring before God in every season of life. There are songs of joy and thanksgiving, laments and cries for help, confessions of sin, and prayers offered when God seems far away. Written by David and other authors across generations of Israel’s history, these 150 Spirit-breathed and inspired songs teach God’s people to pray and worship together. They also carry the Story forward that we have been following: the God who creates, makes promises, delivers His people, and remains faithful even when they are not. In the Psalms, we hear God’s people responding to who He is and what He has done. Their words to God are also His Word to us, teaching us to know Him, trust Him, and bring our hearts before Him in worship.

Because the Psalms are poetry, we need to pay attention to how they communicate. Their writers use figurative language, pictures, comparisons, and lines that repeat or develop a thought to help us understand and feel what they are saying. When David calls God his rock or his shepherd, that imagery helps us see something of God’s strength and care. When a psalmist asks how long suffering will continue, we hear the prayer of someone learning to trust God in the middle of it. The Psalms give us room to grieve, confess, rejoice, and wait. They also shape those responses through the truth of who God is. Even their prayers for judgment teach us to entrust justice to Him rather than take revenge ourselves.

The Psalter — another name for the book of Psalms — is divided into five books: Book I (Psalms 1-41), Book II (42-72), Book III (73-89), Book IV (90-106), and Book V (107-150). We will read selections from each, beginning with Book I.

Book I Overview

Psalms 1 and 2 introduce the whole collection by placing before us the way of the righteous and the reign of God’s anointed King. Together, they call us to delight in God’s Word and take refuge in His Son. Most of the remaining psalms in Book I are attributed to David. Through his prayers and songs, we hear the struggles of God’s appointed king and the faith of a man who needs God’s help. Enemies threaten him, sorrows weigh on him, and his own sin requires forgiveness. Again and again, he turns to the LORD as his refuge.

Here the scarlet thread leads us to JESUS, the greater Son of David. JESUS Himself taught that the Psalms spoke of Him and must be fulfilled (Luke 24:44). He is the truly righteous One whose obedience never failed and the Anointed Son whose Kingdom cannot be overthrown. Our selected readings bring these connections into view: Psalm 2 anticipates His kingship, Psalm 16 points to His resurrection (Acts 2:25-32), and Psalm 22 gives words to the suffering He endured on the cross (Matthew 27:46). Psalm 23’s picture of the LORD caring for His sheep helps us understand JESUS as the Good Shepherd (John 10:11). Psalm 24 celebrates the King of Glory, directing our worship toward the LORD whose greatness no earthly king can match.

As we read Book I, we will encounter both our need and God’s faithfulness: the foolishness of sin, the blessing of forgiveness, the pain of waiting, and the security of belonging to Him. These psalms invite us to trust the Savior who suffered for His people and rose victorious. Ask the Spirit to help you see JESUS in these songs and prayers — and, through His Word, to grow in the knowledge of Him.

The One we are seeking is the Anointed Son, the Suffering Savior, and the King of Glory.

Let’s dive in together and see JESUS in Book I of the Psalms!

October 9 — Psalm 1
JESUS perfectly embodies the blessed man who delights in God’s Word and flourishes like a watered tree, wholly unlike the wicked.
October 10 — Psalm 2
The nations rebel in vain against the LORD and His Anointed Son, JESUS, whose Kingdom reaches the ends of the earth and offers refuge.
October 11 — Psalm 3
Surrounded by enemies, David trusts the LORD as his shield and deliverer, confident that salvation belongs to God and asking His blessing.
October 12 — Psalm 8
David praises the majesty of God, who crowns humanity with honor and dominion — fulfilled perfectly in the Son of Man who rules over all.
October 13 — Psalm 13
David moves from cries of “How long?” to confident praise, trusting God’s steadfast love and faithfulness while deliverance still seems distant.
October 14 — Psalm 14
David laments humanity’s corruption and the oppression of God’s people yet hopes for salvation, fulfilled in JESUS, who restores His people.
October 15 — Psalm 16
David delights in the LORD as his portion and refuge, looking beyond death to the resurrection of JESUS and everlasting joy in God’s presence.
October 16 — Psalm 19
Creation declares God’s glory, His perfect Word revives and guides, and David asks the LORD, his Rock and Redeemer, to cleanse and guard from sin.
October 17 — Psalm 22
David’s cry of suffering points to Jesus’s crucifixion, while his answered prayer anticipates the risen King’s praise among all people.
October 18 — Psalm 23
David trusts the LORD as his Shepherd, pointing to JESUS, the Good Shepherd whose presence leads His people safely home forever.
October 19 — Psalm 24
The earth belongs to the LORD, and only one with cleans hands may ascend His holy hill — fulfilled by JESUS, the victorious King of Glory.
October 20 — Psalm 27
David seeks the LORD as his light and salvation, desiring His presence above all and waiting to see His goodness despite surrounding enemies.
October 21 — Psalm 31
In deep distress, David entrusts his life and times to the LORD — words JESUS fulfills as He commits His spirit to the Father on the cross.
October 22 — Psalm 32
David celebrates the blessing of forgiven sin, showing that honest confession brings release from guilt and pointing to justification by faith in Christ.
October 23 — Psalm 34
David invites the afflicted to taste the LORD’s goodness and seek refuge in Him, while the righteous sufferer’s unbroken bones point forward to JESUS.
October 24 — Psalm 35¹
Falsely accused and hated without cause, David asks the LORD to vindicate Him, foreshadowing JESUS, the righteous Sufferer opposed to the world.
October 25 — Psalm 36
David contrasts the godless way of the wicked with the LORD’s immeasurable steadfast love, under whose wings His people find refuge and life.
October 26 — Psalm 37
David calls the righteous to trust, delight in, and wait for the LORD rather than envy evildoers; JESUS promises the meek will inherit the earth.
October 27 — Psalm 40
David praises God for lifting him from the pit, while his obedience points to JESUS, who came to do God’s will as the perfect sacrifice.
October 28 — Psalm 41
Sick, sinful, and betrayed by a close friend, David seeks God’s mercy and restoration, foreshadowing the betrayal Jesus would endure.

Continue in the See JESUS in the Old Testament readings with Part 1 of Proverbs (Wisdom’s Invitation)!

¹ Imprecatory psalms ask God to judge evil and defend His people. They do not authorize personal vengeance but place justice in God’s hands (Deuteronomy 32:35, Romans 12:19). Christians may pray for evil to end, for enemies to repent, and for Christ’s righteous Kingdom to come, remembering that we escape judgment only through His mercy.

See JESUS in the Old Testament — Job

The Righteous Sufferer, the Living Redeemer, and
the Wisdom of God

The book of Job wrestles with one of the hardest questions of life: how should we understand suffering when we cannot see what God is doing?

Job is introduced as a righteous and faithful man, yet he suffers devastating loss without knowing the heavenly events behind it. His friends insist that suffering must be the direct result of personal sin, but the book shows how inadequate that explanation can be. Job’s anguish is real, his questions are honest, and his suffering is not neatly explained. Instead, we are taught that our view is limited while God’s wisdom is perfect, calling us to trust Him even when we cannot understand His purposes.

Job’s longing also points forward to Jesus. In his suffering, Job cries out for someone who could stand between himself and God (Job 9:33), speaks of a witness in heaven (Job 16:19), and finally declares, “I know that my Redeemer lives” (Job 19:25). Job didn’t yet possess the full revelation of Christ, but his hope for an advocate, vindicator, and living Redeemer finds its fulfillment in Him nonetheless. Jesus is truly the righteous sufferer, the One who suffered not for His own sin but for ours, and His resurrection gives firm foundation to Job’s hope that death would not have the final word. In Jesus, we see that God’s wisdom and saving purposes reach far beyond what human eyes can see.

While not every chapter of Job is included, these readings have been carefully chosen to highlight the Righteous Sufferer, the Living Redeemer, and the Wisdom of God. You’ll see Job’s faith tested (chs. 1-2), his grief and debates with his friends (chs. 3-4, 9, 14, 16, 22-23), his confession of a living Redeemer (ch. 19), his search for true wisdom (ch. 28), and his final defense (ch. 31). Elihu’s speeches then begin to redirect attention toward God’s greatness (chs. 32-33, 37) before the LORD Himself answers from the whirlwind (chs. 38-41). Job receives no simple explanation for all that happened; instead, he encounters the wisdom, power, and sovereignty of God and responds in humility and trust (ch. 42). The book leaves us not with every question answered — nor does it set out to do that, but we end with a clearer view of the God who is worthy of faith even in suffering and with hope in the Redeemer who lives.

Let’s dive in together and see JESUS in Job!

September 19 — Job 1
God permits Satan to test Job, who loses his children, servants, and possessi9ons yet worships the LORD, trusting Him amid overwhelming grief.
September 20 — Job 2
Job holds fast his integrity through bodily affliction, receiving both good and adversity from GOD as his friends come to mourn with him.
September 21 — Job 3
Job gives voice to the darkness of deep suffering, lamenting the day of his birth and longing for the rest he cannot find in life.
September 22 — Job 4
Eliphaz assumes Job’s suffering must prove hidden sin, a mistaken judgment that earthly circumstance always reveals a person’s spiritual standing.
September 23 — Job 9
Unable to contend with the Almighty, Job longs for an arbitrator to plead his case, anticipating Jesus, the one Mediator between GOD and man.
September 24 — Job 14
Job laments the brevity of human life and longs for renewal beyond death, anticipating the resurrection secured by Jesus for all who belong to Him.
September 25 — Job 16
Abandoned and falsely accused, Job looks beyond his miserable comforters to a witness in heaven, anticipating Jesus who intercedes for sufferers.
September 26 — Job 19
Rejected by those closest to him, Job declares that his living Redeemer will vindicate him and that even after death he will see GOD.
September 27 — Job 22
Eliphaz falsely accuses Job of wickedness and urges him to repent, unaware that he himself will need Job’s intercession and GOD’s mercy.
September 28 — Job 23
Unable to find GOD or understand His purposes, Job trusts that He knows his way and will bring him through suffering like refined gold.
September 29 — Job 28
Though people uncover earth’s treasures, true wisdom belongs to GOD, is found ultimately in Jesus, and teaches us to fear Him and turn from evil.
September 30 — Job 31
Job concludes his defense by recounting a life of integrity before GOD and asks Him to hear the charges against him and answer.
October 1 — Job 31
After Job’s friends fall silent, young Elihu speaks in anger, insisting that understanding comes from the Almighty rather than age.
October 2 — Job 33
Though he misrepresents Job, Elihu says GOD may use suffering to warn sinners and describes a mediator, anticipating Jesus’s saving work.
October 3 — Job 37
Elihu points to the storm as a display of GOD’s awesome majesty, calling Job to consider His perfect knowledge, power, justice, and care.
October 4 — Job 38
The LORD answers Job from the whirlwind and questions him about creation, revealing that His sovereign rule is beyond human understanding.
October 5 — Job 39
GOD displays His wisdom and power through the wild creatures He governs and sustains, showing Job that all creation remains under His care.
October 6 — Job 40
Job humbly pledges silence, but the LORD continues, challenging his understanding of justice and displaying His power through Behemoth.
October 7 — Job 41
GOD describes the untamable Leviathan, showing that no creature stands beyond His rule and pointing toward Jesus’s final victory over Satan.
October 8 — Job 42
Job repents before GOD, is vindicated before his friends, intercedes for them, and receives restoration, pointing to the mercy of Jesus.

Continue in the See JESUS in the Old Testament readings with Book I of the Psalms!

See JESUS in the Old Testament — Kings & Chronicles

The Son of David, the Greater Temple, and
Hope Beyond Exile

For the majority of the See JESUS in the Old Testament reading plan, we can simply follow each book with chapters moving sequentially, but the history of Israel’s kings is recorded across 1-2 Kings and 1-2 Chronicles. These books often cover the same periods, just from different angles. So, for this portion of Part II, the readings will move chronologically across these four books of the Bible.

Kings & Chronicles traces Israel’s monarchy from the final days of David through Solomon, the divided kingdom, the fall of Israel, the fall of Judah, and the exile. Read together, they give us two complementary perspectives on the same history. 1-2 Kings emphasizes covenant faithfulness, prophetic warning, and the judgment that comes when kings and people repeatedly turn from the LORD. 1-2 Chronicles looks back on much of that same history with special attention to David’s line, the temple, worship, repentance, and GOD’s continuing promises. Across both, one truth becomes increasingly clear: even the best earthly kings are not enough. Israel needs a righteous Son of David who will faithfully rule GOD’s people and never fail.

That hope points directly to JESUS. The covenant GOD made with David promises an enduring royal line, and throughout these books the Davidic dynasty is preserved even through rebellion, judgment, and exile. Solomon builds the temple and GOD’s glory fills it, but the temple is later defiled and ultimately destroyed. Yet the temple itself points beyond the building to the greater reality of GOD dwelling with His people, fulfilled in JESUS, the true and greater Temple. The failures of Solomon and the kings who follow also sharpen the longing for the greater Son of David — the King of kings who perfectly obeys, reigns forever, and brings the blessing GOD promised to His people and the nations.

These readings move chronologically through that story to highlight the Son of David, the Greater Temple, and Hope Beyond Exile. You’ll see David prepare for the temple and Solomon build it; Solomon’s wisdom, prosperity, and eventual failure; the kingdom divide; prophets like Elijah and Elisha confront idolatry; faithful kings such as Hezekiah and Josiah lead reform; and persistent rebellion against GOD bring first Israel and then Judah into exile. Yet exile is not the end. 2 Kings closes with a surviving heir of David, and 2 Chronicles closes with Cyrus’s decree allowing the people to return and rebuild the temple. The kingdom is broken, the temple is gone, and the people are scattered — but GOD’s promises remain.

The story leaves us looking ahead to JESUS, the true Son of David, the greater Temple, and the King whose Kingdom will never end.

Let’s dive in together and see JESUS in 1-2 Chronicles and 1-2 Kings!

August 13 — 1 Chronicles 1
The genealogy from Adam sets Israel’s story within GOD’s larger plan for all humanity.
August 14 — 1 Chronicles 2
The genealogy narrows to Judah and David’s family line, tracing the promise toward the King GOD would raise up for His people.
August 15 — 1 Chronicles 6
The genealogy of Levi traces the priestly line and temple servants, showing the importance of worship and sacrifice among GOD’s people.
August 16 — 1 Chronicles 22
David prepares Solomon to build the temple, pointing ahead to the greater Son of David who will bring GOD’s presence to His people.
August 17 — 1 Chronicles 28
David charges Solomon to build the temple according to the LORD’s plan, preparing for the place bearing GOD’s name and presence.
August 18 — 1 Chronicles 29
David and the people give willingly for the temple, praising the LORD as the true King whose Kingdom and glory belong to Him forever.
August 19 — 1 Kings 1
Solomon is anointed king as David’s successor, showing the LORD preserving the throne through the son of David He had chosen.
August 20 — 1 Kings 2
David charges Solomon to walk in the LORD’s ways, and Solomon’s kingdom is established as judgment and justice come to David’s house.
August 21 — 1 Kings 3
Solomon asks the LORD for wisdom to rule His people, showing both the promise of David’s son and the need for a King whose wisdom is perfect.
August 22 — 1 Kings 4
Solomon’s kingdom enjoys peace and abundance, giving a glimpse of the blessing GOD’s people long for under the Son of David’s reign.
August 23 — 1 Kings 6
Solomon builds the temple in Jerusalem, preparing a dwelling place for the name and presence of the LORD among His people.
August 24 — 1 Kings 8
Solomon dedicates the temple with prayer and sacrifice, asking the LORD to hear, forgive, and dwell with HIs people according to His covenant.
August 25 — 2 Chronicles 7
The LORD fills the temple with His glory and calls His people to repentance, promising mercy while warning that unfaithfulness will bring judgment.
August 26 — 1 Kings 10
Solomon’s wisdom, wealth, and glory draw the nations to Jerusalem, giving a glimpse of the Kingdom blessing under the Son of David.
August 27 — 1 Kings 11
Solomon turns from the LORD to worship other gods, and the kingdom fractures because even the wisest king cannot keep the covenant.
August 28 — 1 Kings 12
The kingdom divides between Rehoboam and Jeroboam, showing the ruin that comes when GOD’s people reject Him and turn to false worship.
August 29 — 1 Kings 17
God provides for Elijah, the widow, and her son during the famine, showing His power to preserve life when His people have turned from Him.
August 30 — 1 Kings 18
GOD answers Elijah by fire on Mt. Carmel, exposing the emptiness of Baal and calling His people back to Himself.
August 31 — 1 Kings 19
GOD meets Elijah in his fear and weariness, sustaining him and reminding him that His work continues even when His servant feels alone.
September 1 — 1 Kings 21
Ahab and Jezebel’s murder of Naboth exposes the injustice of Israel’s corrupt kings, bringing the LORD’s judgment against their house.
September 2 — 2 Kings 2
The LORD takes Elijah up and confirms Elisha as his successor, showing that His Word and work continue through the servant He appoints.
September 3 — 2 Kings 4
GOD works through Elisha to provide for the needy, give life to the barren, and raise up the dead, displaying His mercy and power in times of need.
September 4 — 2 Kings 5
GOD heals Naaman the Syrian through Elisha, showing grace to an outsider who humbly receives His Word by faith.
September 5 — 2 Kings 13
Even after Elisha’s death, GOD shows mercy to Israel and preserves them because of HIs covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
September 6 — 2 Kings 17
Israel is carried into exile because they persistently reject the LORD, showing the ruin that comes from generations of idolatry and unbelief.
September 7 — 2 Chronicles 20
The LORD delivers Judah as Jehoshaphat leads the people to seek Him in prayer and praise, showing that the battle belongs to the LORD.
September 8 — 2 Chronicles 23
The LORD preserves the line of David through Joash and restores him to the throne, showing His faithfulness to keep His covenant promises.
September 9 — 2 Kings 18
Hezekiah trusts the LORD and leads Judah in faithfulness, standing as one of David’s better sons while pointing beyond himself to a greater King.
September 10 — 2 Kings 19
The LORD answers Hezekiah’s prayer and delivers Jerusalem from Assyria, showing that salvation belongs to Him and His Word will not fail.
September 11 — 2 Chronicles 29
Hezekiah reopens the temple and restores worship, calling Judah back to the LORD through cleansing, sacrifice, and praise.
September 12 — 2 Chronicles 30
Hezekiah calls all Israel and Judah to keep the Passover, inviting people to return to the LORD who is gracious and merciful.
September 13 — 2 Chronicles 33
Manasseh’s wickedness brings judgment, but his repentance shows the mercy of the LORD to humble sinners who turn back to Him.
September 14 — 2 Kings 22
Josiah hears the book of the Law and humbles himself before the LORD, showing the power of GOD’s Word to expose sin and call His people back.
September 15 — 2 Kings 23
Josiah leads Judah in covenant renewal and reform, removing idols and restoring the Passover as he seeks to turn the people back to the LORD.
September 16 — 2 Kings 24
Judah’s final kings return to rebellion as Babylon rises against Jerusalem, showing that GOD keeps His promises of judgment against unfaithfulness.
September 17 — 2 Kings 25
Jerusalem falls, the temple is destroyed, and Judah is carried into exile, showing the devastating judgment brought by covenant unfaithfulness.
September 18 — 2 Chronicles 36
Judah’s exile comes after generations of rejecting the LORD’s Word, yet Cyrus’s decree opens a door of hope beyond judgment.

Continue in the See JESUS in the Old Testament readings as we begin Part III — Seeing JESUS in Poetic and Wisdom Literature beginning with the book of Job!

See JESUS in the Old Testament — 2 Samuel

The Forever King, Covenant Kindness, and
the Altar of Mercy

2 Samuel records the reign of David, God’s chosen king, and continues the story begun in 1 Samuel (see our overview of 1 Samuel). Under David’s rule, Israel is united, Jerusalem becomes the nation’s capital, and God establishes His covenant with David, promising that his throne and kingdom would endure forever. Though David proves to be a faithful king in many ways, his grievous sin with Bathsheba reminds us that even Israel’s greatest king cannot perfectly fulfill God’s purposes. Yet God’s covenant stands, pointing beyond David to Jesus Christ, the greater Son of David, whose Kingdom truly will never end.

These readings have been carefully chosen. You’ll see the Forever King in David’s reign (chs. 1, 5-8) and especially in God’s covenant promse (ch. 7), which ultimately finds its fulfillment in Jesus. You’ll see Covenant Kindness in David’s gracious welcome of Mephibosheth (ch. 9), a beautiful picture of mercy extended because of a covenant. Finally, you’ll see the Altar of Mercy in the closing chapter (ch. 24), where judgment is stopped through sacrifice on Araunah’s threshing floor — the very place the temple would later stand. Together, these readings show that while David was a great king, he was only a shadow of the greater King to come. Jesus Christ is the true Son of David, whose everlasting Kingdom, perfect covenant faithfulness, and once-for-all faithfulness accomplish forever what David’s reign could only foreshadow.

Let’s dive in together and see Jesus in 2 Samuel!

August 1 — ch. 1
David mourns Saul and Jonathan, showing honor even in grief as the kingdom begins to pass to the LORD’s anointed.
August 2 — ch. 5
David is anointed king over all Israel and establishes Jerusalem, as the LORD exalts him and gives His people victory through him.
August 3 — ch. 6
David brings the ark to Jerusalem with exuberant joy, rejoicing before the LORD as God’s presence comes near His people.
August 4 — ch. 7
God promises David a lasting kingdom and a Son whose throne will be established forever, pointing to Jesus, the forever King from David’s line.
August 5 — ch. 8
The LORD gives David victory over his enemies and establishes his reign, showing the strength and justice of the kingdom God promised.
August 6 — ch. 9
David shows covenant kindness to Mephibosheth, welcoming the helpless son of Jonathan to his table like one of his own sons.
August 7 — ch. 11
David’s sin against Bathsheba and Uriah exposes the failure even of Israel’s greatest king and the need for a righteous Son of David.
August 8 — ch. 12
God confronts David’s sin through Nathan, showing both the seriousness of sin and the mercy of God toward the repentant.
August 9 — ch. 15
Absolam steals the hearts of Israel and drives David from Jerusalem, showing the sorrow and division brought by sin within the king’s house.
August 10 — ch. 22
David praises the LORD as his rock, refuge, and deliverer, looking to the God who saves His king and shows steadfast love to His anointed.
August 11 — 23:1-7
David’s final words look ahead to a righteous ruler whose reign will be like morning light, pointing to Jesus, the true King from David’s line.
August 12 — ch. 24
David’s sin brings judgment on Israel, but God shows mercy at the altar, pointing to the need for sacrifice where wrath is turned away.

Continue in the See JESUS in the Old Testament readings as we the books of 1-2 Kings and 1-2 Chronicles!

See JESUS in the Old Testament — 1 Samuel

The Promised Anointed, the Rejected King, and
the Champion Who Saves

1 Samuel records Israel’s transition from the period of the judges to the establishment of the monarchy. God raises Samuel up as prophet, priest, and judge to lead His people during a time of spiritual decline. When Israel demands a king “like all the nations”, they reject the LORD as their true King. God grants their request by giving them Saul, but Saul’s repeated disobedience reveals that Israel’s greatest need is not merely a human king but one who will faithfully submit to God’s Word. Throughout the book, God sovereignly directs ordinary events and extraordinary moments alike to accomplish His purposes and prepare the way for His chosen king.

1 Samuel repeatedly points us to Jesus Christ. Hannah’s song anticipates the LORD’s anointed before David takes the throne (1 Samuel 2:10). Samuel anoints David, the man after God’s own heart, while Saul — the rejected king — demonstrates the tragic consequences of refusing God’s commands. David’s victory over Goliath is more than a story of courage; as Israel’s representative champion, he wins a victory the people could not achieve for themselves, foreshadowing Jesus defeating sin and death on behalf of His people. David’s patient refusal to seize Saul’s throne also reminds us that God’s Kingdom advances according to God’s timing and ways.

While not every chapter of 1 Samuel is included, these readings have been carefully chosen to highlight the Promised Anointed, the Rejected King, and the Champion Who Saves. You’ll follow Samuel’s miraculous birth and faithful ministry (chs. 1-7), Israels’ demand for a king (ch. 8), Saul’s rise and rejection (chs. 13, 15), David’s anointing and victory over Goliath (chs. 16-17), his covenant friendship with Jonathan (ch. 20), his years as a faithful fugitive (chs. 22, 24, 30), and the death of Saul (ch. 31). As 1 Samuel closes, David has been anointed but has not yet taken the throne. God has made His choice, and the stage is set for the reign of His chosen king. Even so, David is only a shadow of the greater Anointed One to come — Jesus Christ, the perfect King and Champion who saves His people and whose Kingdom will never end.

Let’s dive in together and see Jesus in 1 Samuel!

July 14 — ch. 1
God hears Hannah’s prayer and gives her Samuel, preparing to raise up a prophet who will lead Israel during a time of spiritual need.
July 15 — ch. 2
Hannah praises the LORD who brings down the proud and raises up the humble, looking ahead to His anointed King.
July 16 — ch. 3
God calls Samuel as His prophet, raising up a faithful voice in a time when His Word was rare.
July 17 — ch. 4
Israel treats the ark like a weapon instead of trusting the LORD, and God allows their defeat to show His presence cannot be manipulated.
July 18 — ch. 5
God humbles Dagon and afflicts the Philistines, showing that He alone is the living God and no idol can stand before Him.
July 19 — ch. 6
The Philistines return the ark with guilt offerings, confessing the LORD’s power even as Israel must learn to honor Him as holy.
July 20 — ch. 7
God delivers Israel from the Philistines as Samuel leads them in repentance and prayer, showing that victory comes by returning to the LORD.
July 21 — ch. 8
Israel rejects the LORD as King by demanding a king like the nations, revealing their need for a better King than the one they ask for.
July 22 — ch. 13
Saul disobeys the LORD and loses his dynasty before it began, showing that Israel needs a king whose heart fully belongs to God.
July 23 — ch. 15
Saul’s rebellion exposes his rejected kingship, showing that outward obedience cannot replace a heart submitted to the LORD.
July 24 — ch. 16
God chooses David and anoints him as king, showing that the LORD looks on the heart and provides the ruler His people truly need.
July 25 — ch. 17
David defeats Goliath as Israel’s champion, pointing to Jesus, the greater Champion who saves His people from the enemy they could not defeat.
July 26 — ch. 18
David rises in favor with the people while Saul grows jealous and fearful, showing the conflict between the LORD’s anointed and the rejected king.
July 27 — ch. 20
Jonathan shows covenant loyalty to David, protecting the LORD’s anointed even at great cost to himself.
July 28 — ch. 22
Saul’s violence against the priests exposes the corruption of his kingship, while David begins to gather the distressed and needy around him.
July 29 — ch. 24
David spares Saul’s life, trusting the LORD to judge between them rather than taking the kingdom into his own hand.
July 30 — ch. 30
God strengthens David in distress and uses him to recover what was lost, showing the LORD’s faithfulness to preserve His anointed.
July 31 — ch. 31
Saul dies in defeat, bring his rejected kingship to a tragic end and preparing the way for the king God had chosen.

Continue in the See JESUS in the Old Testament readings as we read the book of 2 Samuel!

See JESUS in the Old Testament — Ruth

The Redeemer, the Restored Inheritance, and
the Coming King

The book of Ruth takes place during the dark days of the judges, yet it tells a remarkably hopeful story of God’s providence and covenant kindness. After famine, loss, and tragedy leave Naomi and Ruth seemingly without hope, God quietly works through ordinary people and ordinary events to accomplish His purposes. Unlike many books of the Old Testament, Ruth contains no dramatic miracles or prophetic visions. Instead, it reveals how God’s sovereign hand is often at work behind the scenes, guiding the lives of His people and showing His steadfast love through their faithfulness to one another.

At the heart of the story is redemption. Ruth, a Moabite widow, finds refuge among God’s people and is redeemed by Boaz, her kinsman-redeemer. His willingness to act on behalf of Ruth and Naomi restores what had been lost and secures a future they could not provide for themselves. In this way, Boaz points beyond himself to Jesus, the greater Redeemer, who rescues His people and brings them into the family of God. Throughout the book, the covenant kindness (Hebrew – chesed) shown by Ruth and Boaz reflects the steadfast love and mercy of God Himself, a love ultimately displayed in its fullness through Jesus.

Because we will be reading the whole book, you will follow the story from beginning to end. You’ll see the Redeemer in Boaz’s gracious work on behalf of Ruth and Naomi, the Restored Inheritance in God’s reversal of their loss and emptiness, and the Coming King in the genealogy that concludes the book. Set immediately after Judges, Ruth provides a hopeful answer to the chaos of those days, tracing the line that leads to King David — and ultimately to JESUS, the Son of David, through whom God’s promise to bless all nations is fulfilled. Ruth herself, like Rahab before her, stands in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5), reminding us that God’s redeeming grace extends to people from every nation who trust and have faith in Him.

Let’s dive in together and see Jesus in Ruth!

July 10 — ch. 1
Naomi returns to Bethlehem in grief and emptiness, while Ruth clings to her and takes refuge among the people of the LORD.
July 11 — ch. 2
God provides for Ruth and Naomi through Boaz, a worthy man whose kindness gives them hope in their time of need.
July 12 — ch. 3
Ruth seeks refuge through Boaz as her redeemer, trusting him to act with covenant faithfulness on her behalf.
July 13 — ch. 4
Boaz redeems Ruth and restores Naomi’s inheritance, carrying forward the family line that will lead to David and ultimately to Jesus.

Continue in the See JESUS in the Old Testament readings as we read the book of 1 Samuel!

See JESUS in the Old Testament — Judges

The Flawed Deliverers, the Ruin of Sin, and
the Need for a King

The book of Judges covers one of the darkest periods in Israel’s history. After the victories and covenant renewal of Joshua, Israel failed to fully obey the LORD and gradually turned to the gods/practices of the surrounding nations. The book follows a tragic pattern often referenced as the Judges Cycle: God’s people rebel against Him and fall into idolatry; God allows foreign nations to oppress them and bring them back to Him; the people cry out for help; God raises up a judge to deliver them; the people enjoy a season of peace; and then, after the judge dies, they quickly return to sin and the cycle begins again (and again). Each repetition reveals a deeper spiritual decline, showing the devastating consequences of covenant unfaithfulness and life lived apart from God’s rule.

The judges themselves point beyond themselves to Jesus. Though God uses Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, Samson, and others to deliver His people, each of them is deeply flawed. Some begin well and end poorly; others display serious moral and spiritual failures even while being used by God. Yet several of these judges are later commended for their faith in Hebrews 11. Their inclusion reminds us that God’s saving purposes are accomplished by His grace rather than human perfection. As we have recently seen in Hebrews, these men and women are part of the great cloud of witnesses who ultimately direct our attention beyond themselves to Jesus, the perfect Deliverer and the true Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2).

While not every chapter of Judges is included, these readings have been carefully chosen to highlight the Flawed Delivers, the Ruin of Sin, and the Need for a King. You’ll see Israel’s repeated failures (chs. 1-2), the faith of Deborah (ch. 4), the rise and decline of Gideon (chs. 6-8), the tragic account of Jephthah (ch. 11), the strength and weakness of Samson (chs. 13-16), and the shocking collapse of Israel’s spiritual and moral life (chs. 17-21). The books repeated refrain — In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes — reveals the heart of the problem. Judges leaves us longing for a righteous King who can truly save His people. That longing finds its fulfillment in JESUS, who perfectly rules, perfectly delivers, and perfectly obeys where every judge failed.

Let’s dive in together and see Jesus in Judges!

June 25 — ch. 1
Israel begins to possess the land, but their incomplete obedience leaves enemies among them and sets the stage for future compromise.
June 26 — ch. 2
Israel turns from the LORD after Joshua’s generation, beginning a cycle of rebellion, judgment, crying out, and deliverance through flawed judges.
June 27 — ch. 4
God delivers Israel through Deborah, Barak, and Jael, showing His power to save His people through unexpected and unlikely means.
June 28 — ch. 6
God calls Gideon to deliver Israel from Midian, showing mercy to His fearful people even when their suffering is tied to their own sin.
June 29 — ch. 7
God saves Israel through Gideon’s small and weakened army, making it clear that deliverance comes by His power.
June 30 — ch. 8
Gideon refuses kingship but leads Israel into idolatry, showing the need for a better deliverer who can give God’s people lasting rest.
July 1 — ch. 11
God uses Jephthah to deliver Israel, but his tragic vow reveals how deeply Israel’s faith has been distorted by the nations around them.
July 2 — ch. 13
God announces the birth of Samson, raising up a deliverer set apart from the womb to begin saving Israel from the Philistines.
July 3 — ch. 14
Samson’s sinful desires and conflict with the Philistines show God working through a deeply flawed deliverer to begin rescuing His people.
July 4 — ch. 16
Samson falls through his own sin, yet God grants him final victory over the Philistines, showing his weakness and Israel’s need for a greater Savior.
July 5 — ch. 17
Micah makes his own shrine and priesthood, showing the spiritual confusion of a people who do what is right in their own eyes.
July 6 — ch. 18
The tribe of Dan steals Micah’s idols and priest, revealing how far Israel has fallen when worship is shaped by convenience instead of God’s Word.
July 7 — ch. 19
Israel’s moral collapse is exposed through shocking violence, showing the ruin that comes when everyone does what is right in his own eyes.
July 8 — ch. 20
Israel responds to evil with civil war, revealing a nation broken by sin and in desperate need of righteous leadership.
July 9 — ch. 21
Judges ends with grief, confusion, and compromise, leaving Israel longing for a true King who will lead God’s people in righteousness.

Continue in the See JESUS in the Old Testament readings as we begin the book of Ruth!

See JESUS in the Old Testament — Joshua

The Greater Yeshua, the Scarlet Cord, and
the Promised Inheritance

Joshua begins a new chapter in God’s Story as Israel finally enters the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Under Joshua’s leadership, God brings HIs people across the Jordan River, defeats their enemies, and gives them rest in the land He had sword to give them (chs. 1:1-9, 21:43-45). The book highlights God’s faithfulness to keep His promises and His presence with His people as He leads them into their inheritance. yet Joshua is not merely a story of military conquest but about covenant faithfulness, calling God’s people to trust Him, obey His Word, and worship Him alone.

Joshua also points forward to Jesus. Joshua’s name (Hebrew: Yehoshua, often shortened to Yeshua) means “The LORD saves”, the same name ultimately given to Jesus. As Joshua succeeds Moses and leads God’s people into the promised land, he foreshadows Jesus, the greater Yeshua, who brings His people into a greater inheritance and a better rest (Hebrews 4:8-11). The salvation of Rahab through the sign of the scarlet cord (ch. 2) displays God’s mercy toward those who trust Him, even outsiders, and reminds us that God’s saving purposes extend beyond Israel to all who come to Him by grace through faith. Throughout the book, God proves Himself both faithful to His promises and mighty to save.

While not every chapter of Joshua is included, these readings have been carefully selected to highlight the Greater Yeshua, the Scarlet Cord, and the Promised Inheritance. You’ll follow Joshua’s commissioning (ch. 1), Rahab’s rescue through faith (ch. 2), Israel’s crossing of the Jordan (chs. 3-4), covenant renewal and preparation for conquest (ch. 5), the fall of Jericho (ch. 6), God’s mercy to the Gibeonites (ch. 9), His victory over Israel’s enemies (ch. 10), the fulfillment of HIs promises in giving the land (ch. 21), and Joshua’s final call to covenant faithfulness (ch. 24). These passages show that God keeps every promise He makes, provides salvation for those who put their trust/faith in Him, and points beyond Joshua to JESUS, who leads His people into their eternal inheritance.

Let’s dive in together and see Jesus in Joshua!

June 15 — ch. 1
God commissions Joshua to lead His people into the land He promised, calling Him to courage, obedience, and confidence in God’s presence.
June 16 — ch. 2
God shows mercy to Rahab and preserves her household through the scarlet cord, giving a glimpse of salvation by grace through faith in Him.
June 17 — ch. 3
God leads His people across the Jordan on dry ground through the ark of His presence, showing that He Himself goes before them.
June 18 — ch. 4
God commands His people to set up memorials after crossing the Jordan so future generations would remember His mighty hand and worship Him.
June 19 — ch. 5
God prepares His people to enter the land through circumcision, the Passover, and the end of manna, marking them as His covenant people.
June 20 — ch. 6
God brings down Jericho by His power, judging the city while sparing Rahab and her household according to His promise to her.
June 21 — ch. 9
God’s people are deceived by the Gibeonites because they do not seek His counsel, yet they keep their oath and preserve them alive.
June 22 — ch. 10
God fights for His people, giving them victory over their enemies and showing that the promised inheritance comes by His power, not theirs.
June 23 — ch. 21
God gives His people the land He swore to their fathers, showing that not one word of His good promises failed.
June 24 — ch. 24
Joshua calls Israel to remember the LORD’s saving work and serve Him alone, warning them against idolatry as they renew the covenant.

Continue in the See JESUS in the Old Testament readings as we begin the book of Judges!