2 Kings 8:19

In Deuteronomy 7:3–4, God warned Israel against marriages that would turn their hearts towards other gods. This plan shows that the issue was not ethnicity but worship, covenant faithfulness, and spiritual influence. Through Solomon, Ahab, Jezebel, Jehoram, Athaliah, Ezra and Nehemiah, we see what happened when Israel defied God’s command. Forbidden alliances introduced idolatry, weakened families and damaged nations. These accounts challenge believers to consider how marriage shapes faith, leadership, children and future generations, while trusting that God’s boundaries are given for protection, not punishment.

What began as a victorious return to the land in Joshua ends in destruction, defeat, and exile in 2 Kings. The idolatry and sinfulness of Israel and Judah lead to their expulsion from the land - a final ignominy in a long history of unfaithfulness. Yet even in exile, God was preserving his people and the line of David for a future coming King, whose reign would know no end.

In the beginning was the Word … but what came next? This plan is for anyone who wants a better understanding of the Bible. It provides a chronological reading program that endeavors to place all biblical passages in their date order. Part Six of this twelve-part one-year reading plan is titled ‘The Nation Rebels, Divides and Declines, 975 BC–730 BC’.

June – No complicated content, just a monthly chronological journey through the Bible. The Bible isn’t arranged in the order events happened; it’s organized by genre. June follows the reign of Solomon and the early years of Israel’s divided kingdom, moving through Kings, Chronicles, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. You’ll see wisdom given, worship established, and warning signs ignored as leadership shifts and hearts drift. This month highlights God’s generosity in granting wisdom, His desire for wholehearted devotion, and the consequences — both good and painful — of how His people respond to Him.