Well done – you are coming to the end of May and into the first few days of June as you continue your week of readings in the week ahead.

As we continue in the Old Testament, we see how fragile revival can be. Hezekiah’s faith brings a moment of hope, but his son Manasseh plunges Judah back into darkness. Even the reforms of Josiah can’t hold off the coming exile. Yet through it all, God remains faithful. He is preserving a remnant, keeping the covenant alive, and working out his purposes in history.

In the New Testament, Jesus continues to reveal who he truly is — the Good Shepherd, the Light of the World, the Resurrection and the Life. He opens blind eyes, calls dead men from their graves, and confronts the darkness with unwavering authority. The signs are clear, yet opposition grows. Some believe. Others plot his death. The story is building to a climax.

week 5: 28 may – 3 june

oT – 2 Kings 19-1 Chronicles 8

Judah experiences a season of hope under King Hezekiah, as spiritual renewal takes root. But the revival is short-lived. His son Manasseh becomes one of the most corrupt kings in Judah’s history, leading the nation back into deep rebellion. A string of mostly unfaithful kings follows, with one bright exception: Josiah. Under his reign, there is another revival, marked, like Hezekiah’s, by the repairing of the Temple and the rediscovery of the Book of the Law. These two signs — the restoration of God’s house and the return to God’s Word — signal a people being called back to covenant. But despite Josiah’s reforms, the momentum is not enough to stop the decline. Judah, like Israel before it, is eventually conquered and carried into exile. As 2 Kings closes, 1 Chronicles begins—retelling Israel’s story not from a political perspective but a spiritual one. Written for those returning from exile, it opens with sweeping genealogies, tracing God’s faithful hand from Adam through to the post-exilic community. These records aren’t just historical. They’re theological, showing that God’s purposes continue, and that the line leading to Christ is still intact. Amid the names, don’t miss the brief but beautiful prayer of Jabez in chapter 4 — a quiet moment of faith and longing in a long list of names.

May 28: 2 Kings 19-20; May 29: 2 Kings 21-23; May 30: 2 Kings 24-25; 1 Chron 1:1-16; May 31: 1 Chron 1:17-2:55; June 1: 1 Chron 3-4; June 2: 1 Chron 5:1-6:53; June 3: 1 Chron 6:54-8

See here for an introduction to the books of 1 and 2 Chronicles.

NT – John 8:31-11:57

In this section of John’s Gospel, the tension between Jesus and the religious leaders escalates. Jesus teaches that a person’s ability to accept the truth hinges on who their true father is. Though the leaders claim Abraham as their father, Jesus exposes a deeper reality, saying their actions reveal a different lineage, one rooted in lies and opposition to God. He continues to provoke their outrage by healing a blind man on the Sabbath, but turns the moment into a powerful sign: physical sight restored as a picture of spiritual sight regained. Jesus declares himself the Good Shepherd, one who knows his sheep, lays down his life for them, and leads them into fullness of life. His words and works stir controversy, especially as he claims equality with God. The hostility deepens until, in a final climactic sign, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. It is a stunning display of his authority over life and death and a clear pointer to his identity as the Messiah. Some believe. But for the religious leaders, it is the last straw. From this moment on, the plot to kill him takes full shape.

May 28: John 8:31-59; May 29: John 9:1-23; May 30: John 9:24-41; May 31: John 10:1-21; June 1: John 10:22-42; June 2: John 11:1-29; June 3: John 11:30-57

Look out for the new introduction to June’s readings but if you want just carry on with the daily readings, you can find turn straight to the June Readings and carry on from the 4th June.