And with that, let's get into our study of God's word tonight. We're going to do two chapters

again tonight in our trek through the Bible book by book and chapter by chapter verse by

verse. So chapters 23 and 24, you can turn there at this time if you're not there already.

And why don't we begin with a word of prayer and we'll ask God's blessing on our time together

in His Word if you would join with me.

Loving Heavenly Father, we love you, we love your Word, and we love this time that we

have together on a Thursday night to just put aside all the cares and the affairs of our busy

lives and focus our attention on you and what you have for

us here in your word. Lord, would you enable us by the Holy Spirit to give you our undivided

attention with no distractions? Lord, will you speak into our lives through

your word? And when you do, Lord, speak clearly in that still small voice of the Holy Spirit.

Lord, you want to hear and heed your word tonight.

So Lord speak, your servants are listening.

In Jesus' name, amen.

All right, before we jump in, I think we need a little bit of a back story here before we pick

it up in chapter 23.

Last week we were introduced to a very wicked woman by the name of Athalia and no surprise.

She's the daughter of one Ahab and Jezebel, so no wonder.

But last week in the previous chapter we were told that she had actually murdered all of her

own grandchildren, her own flesh and blood, and she did so in order to stay in power, to eliminate

any potential threat to the throne.

And this is right out of Ahab and Jezebel's evil playbook.

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