On this episode of The Alabaster Jar, Dr. Lynn Cohick is joined by Dr. Carol M. Kaminski as she shares insights from her work on the books of 1 & 2 Chronicles and how the stories of the kings point to qualities like prayer, humility, and trusting God. Specific passages on King Jehoshaphat and King Manasseh are examined to show themes of repentance, forgiveness, and God's faithfulness. This conversation helps listeners understand how narratives in the Old Testament can shape our understanding of spiritual formation.

Key Takeaways:

• The book of Chronicles can help cultivate godliness through its focus on qualities like prayer, humility, and seeking God's face in difficult times.
• Stories of kings like Jehoshaphat and their dependence on God in the face of overwhelming challenges provide examples of trusting in God.
• Passages like 2 Chronicles 7:14 and 30 emphasize themes of repentance, reconciliation, and forgiveness in relation to God's people.
• Even the most sinful kings, like Manasseh, could find restoration through repentance, showing God's great mercy and compassion.
• Understanding the biblical narrative, including shifts between covenants, helps interpret themes of victory, persecution, and God's faithfulness.

Episode Breakdown:

0:03 - Cultivating godliness through the study of Chronicles.
2:04 - Cultivating Godliness through Reading Chronicles.
7:01 - King Jehoshaphat's leadership and faith in the face of overwhelming odds.
13:53 - Trusting God and understanding biblical stories.
22:46 - Repentance and Forgiveness in Chronicles.
28:55 - King Manasseh's repentance and restoration in 2 Chronicles.

Episode Resources:

1–2 Chronicles (The Story of God Bible Commentary) by Dr. Carol M. Kaminski

Cultivating Godliness: An Eight-Week Bible Study In 1-2 Chronicles by Dr. Carol M. Kaminski

Out of a Far Country: A Gay Son's Journey to God. A Broken Mother's Search for Hope. By Christopher Yuan and Angela Yuan

Episode Sponsor:

The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a newly formed 501©3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to equip women in a context that is biblically rooted, theologically robust, and ethnically diverse to thrive as leaders in the academy and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology. Learn more about The Center for Women in Leadership at: https://www.leadershipwithoutapology.org/.