Living by the Book - Hendricks+Hendricks

Ok, get ready for some lists. haha. Here is the Bible study method from Howard Hendricks in his book, "Living by the Book". If there is ever someone who complains that they hate inductive study, or can't get into it/can't get anything out of it --- there is another way to study outlined in this book that gets to the same result.
Hendricks says that there are 3 steps to understanding Bible passages: Observation, Interpretation, and Application.

He begins with observation=
His chapters on this initial step center around two lists that he developed. The first has to do with our attitude and outlook as we approach reading a biblical text; he says:
"Read thoughtfully
read repeatedly
read patiently
read selectively
read prayerfully
read imaginatively
read meditatively
read purposefully
read acquisitively
read telescopically" (p. 75)
Then he defines and describes each of these attitudes. It's a good section, especially for those who don't fancy themselves "readers" - he wants to show how to approach a reading so as to suck the most out of it possible.
He then adds one final list and describes it - a list of clues. This list shows which things we may need to pay attention to in a given text:
"Things that are emphasized
things that are repeated
things that are related
things that are alike
things that are unlike
things that are true to life" (p. 141)

The second step to studying a passage of Scripture is to interpret it. In this section, he begins by talking about hazards to avoid when it comes to interpreting, and then talks a little bit about genres of literature. Then he gives his LIST for interpreting! haha. (he loves lists)
"Content
Context
Comparison
Culture
Consultation" (p.221)
For content, he means asking the who? what? when? where? how? questions. Context means looking at the passage before and after yours. Comparison means looking at cross-references or other similar/relevant passages. Culture means understanding the history. And consultation means using outside references such as a commentary or the like.

Finally, Hendricks talks about how to find the application for a paticular passage. He suggests asking the following 9 questions=
"1. Is there an example for me to follow?
2. Is there a sin to avoid?
3. Is there a promise to claim?
4. Is there a prayer to repeat?
5. Is there a command to obey?
6. Is there a condition to meet?
7. Is there a verse to memorize?
8. Is there an error to mark?
9. Is there a challenge to face?" (p. 308)

kings of Israel and Judah

So, I did a study of the kings of Israel and Judah; and thought I would share my list for anyone interested. It's hard to format to show the chronology/who was ruling at the same time as who - so, I'll just list them seperately for this blog.
Kings of the Northern tribes of Israel=
Jeroboam - king for 22 years. evil. 1 Kings 12ff
Nadab - king for 2 years. evil. 1 Ki. 14:20, 15:25ff
Baasha - assassinated Nadab. king for 24 years. evil. 1 Ki. 15:27ff
Elah - king for 2 years. 1 Ki. 16:8
Zimri - assassinated Elah. king for 7 days.
Tibni/Omri - divided Northern kingdom/ civil war for 6 years
Omri - Tibni was killed by Omri's people. king for a total of 12 years. evil. 1 Ki. 16
Ahab - king for 22 years. married to Jezebel. very evil. 1 Ki.16:29-1 Ki. 22:40
Ahaziah - king for 2 years. evil. 1 Ki.22:40ff
Jehoram/Joram(son of Ahab) - king for 12 years. evil 2 Ki. 3ff
Jehu - assassinated Jehoram/Joram(son of Ahab). king for 28 years. 2 Ki.10ff
Jehoahaz - king 17 years. evil. 2 Ki. 13
Joash/Jehoash - king for 16 years. evil. 2 Ki. 13
Jeroboam 2 - king 41 years. evil. 2 Ki. 13-14
Zechariah - king 6 months. evil. 2 Ki. 15
Shallum - assassinated Zechariah. king 1 month. 2 Ki. 15
Menahem - assassinated Shallum. king 10 years. evil 2 Ki. 15
Pekahiah - king 2 years. evil. 2 Ki. 15
Pekah - assassinated Pekahiah. king 20 years. evil. 2 Ki. 15
Hoshea - assassinated Pekah. king 9 years. evil. last king of Israel. 2 Ki. 15-17

Kings of Judah - the Southern tribe =
Saul
David - king for 40 years. right.
Solomon - king for 40 years. right, but corrupted by wives.
Rehoboam - king for 17 years. evil. 1 Ki. 12ff
Abijam - king for 3 years. evil. 1 Ki 15
Asa - king for 41 years. right, but died of foot disease. 1 Ki. 15ff
Jehoshaphat - king for 25 years. right. 1 Ki. 22:41ff
Jehoram/Joram(son of Jehoshaphat) - king for 8 years. evil. 2 Ki. 8
Ahaziah - king for 1 year. evil. also killed by Jehu. 2 Ki. 8-9
Athaliah - queen for 6 years. evil. Ahaziah's mother; assassinated most of the court. 2 Ki.11
Joash/Jehoash - king for 40 years. right. 2 Ki. 11-12
Amaziah - king for 29 years. right.  2 Ki. 14
Azariah/Uzziah - king for 52 years. right. 2 Ki. 15
Jotham - king for 16 years. right. 2 Ki. 15
Ahaz - king for 16 years. evil. 2 Ki. 16
Hezekiah - king for 29 years. right. 2 Ki. 18ff
Manasseh - king for 55 years. super evil. 2 Ki. 21
Amon - king for 2 years. evil. 2 Ki. 21
Josiah - king for 31 years. right. 2 Ki. 22ff
Jehoahaz - king for 3 months. evil. taken into captivity by Pharoh Neco. 2 Ki. 23
Jehoakim/Elikim - king for 11 years. evil.
Jehoiachin - king for 3 months. evil. taken captive. last in the line of Davidic kings (until Messiah) 2 Ki. 24
Mattaniah/Zedekiah - king for 11 years. evil. tried to rebel against Babylon and got overthrown. Last king of the Judah kingdom. 2 Ki.24-25

I looked at Chronicles too; but didn't list those passages for this blog. When it says, "right" that means that it said of that king: "did right in the sight of the Lord" - although, it was often qualified by big sins that the king committed -- none of the kings were perfect.