Kings

Unseen Warriors

/ Tim A. / 1 Comment

And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, “Alas, my master! how shall we do?”  And he answered, “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see.” And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
2 Kings 6:15-17

This is an event in the life of Elisha, a disciple of Elijah,  and he even witnessed the fiery chariot which carried him away.

To recap what has happened prior to this we see the king of Syria planning an attack on Elisha.. Elisha knew just about every  move the king of Syria made so the king of Israel knew of any attack coming against them.  So the Syrian kings answer was to get Elisha out of the way.

Elisha’s servant had risen from sleeping through the night to go out at early light and saw the Syrian troops on the hills around them.  He runs and tells Elisha, and Elisha sees an even great army than that of Syria.  Then Elisha prays to the LORD to open the eyes of the servant.  The LORD hears his prayer and opens the servants eyes so he can see the massive Unseen Warriors of the LORD of hosts.  They are otherwise known as angels of the LORD.  Angels are here to serve us, and that is exactly what they are doing for Elisha.

I have at least one angel watching over me.  NO!  I do not know his name; and in fact I may have more than one.  One thing for which I am certain is that God watches over me and you.

“Open his eyes that he might see” was his prayer to the LORD, and God heard and the servants eyes were opened to see the Unseen Warriors – seeing the unseen.

LORD God Almighty always keep me alert spiritually to the work You do around me.  Sometimes I know I am blind to many things in Your word.  So I ask You Lord, today, to open my eyes that I might see.  I know that You are with me.  Help me O LORD to glorify Your most holy name.  Amen.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”

According to the Word of the LORD

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 And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years. And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him.  And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.  And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.  And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.
In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.
1 Kings 16:29-34

Since the beginning of the kings of the northern kingdom of historical Israel the kings have it said of them “… did evil in the sight of the LORD.”  Ahab was the worst.  He had even married a woman who was just as wicked as he was; or worse.

I find that it is with great purpose this event with Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt Jericho being ignorant of Joshua’s curse (Joshua 6:26), or did not believe it.  He lost His sons to death; which could mean he no other sons.  His eldest son died during the building of its foundation; and the youngest died in the raising of the gates.

What purpose does this serve here?  There is a very wicked king who hates the LORD, Ignores the word of the LORD, and commits acts of murder in the worship of idols (demons) because of child sacrifice, and so many other things.

We who read this today ought to lift up our eyes to the truth of God’s word, and stand in awe of how amazingly wonderful it is.  God fulfills every word He has spoken, even the words of judgment.

That would definitely include the words He spoke through the Lord Jesus Christ.  All the words Jesus spoke are the word of God.  Jesus is the Living Word of God.  Believe Him when He says, “My Father and I are One,” and when He says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the end.” Believe Him and trust His work and great gift of the cross (death), burial, and resurrection, turning from your sin to Him.

Have We Not…?

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Have ye not known? Have ye not heard? Hath it not been told you from the beginning? Have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?  It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: that bringeth the princes to nothing; He maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.
Isaiah 40:21-23

While other nations were making themselves gods to their own liking, the prophet Isaiah was calling of Israel to get back to the worship of Jehovah, the Living and only God who made all things.

Four questions are asked: Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? and Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?

Have you not known? It is He who sits on the circle of the earth. This One is sovereign over all the earth,  He sends the rain, and the drought. He sends the winds of the earth. He sets up kings and kingdoms, and he pulls them down.

There is much vanity in making your own god. It is really the worship of self, and the worship of demons.

Have you not heard? It is He who sees the people of earth are as small as a grasshopper, and He can end your life with a whisper. It is He also that loves the people of the planet He populated with billions of us. He loved us so much, even in our fallen estate, that He sent His only begotten Son to die in our place.

There is no hope for you or all of Adam’s race except through God’s Son Jesus Christ.

Has it not been told you from the beginning? It is He who stretches out the heavens like a curtain. He is the One who created the heavens, and the earth and all that is in it; and He started with nothing, but His word.

The LORD God is still working for our good and His glory. He made us in His image, and we disobeyed Him, and lost that being “made in His image.” That “image” is restored through the cross of Jesus and His death, His burial, and His resurrection. Some of you who are reading this have probably heard the story of Jesus since you were small children, and yet you do not believe Him. Why not do so today?

Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is He who laid the foundations of the earth. It is He who knows the end from the beginning. It is He who holds this creation together, and keeps it from flying to pieces. It is He who says, “I am the first and the last, the beginning and the end, the Alpha and the Omega” (Revelation 1:8; 21:6; 22;13).

It is He and He alone in whom you need to trust. Call on His name, and He will hear. His name is Jesus, and He is Christ.

 

In A Tough Time

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And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison;  and he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon; and changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life.  And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.
2 Kings 25:27-30

Also read 2 Kings 24:8-12.

To the best of my remembering the prophet Jeremiah is not even named in the book of the Kings. I do remember reading the prophet though that he had warned the king, that if he would go out to the king of Babylon in surrender he and his might be taken, but would live (Jeremiah 21:8-10). It seems that that is what Jehoiachin had done. A few years later God remembers His promise, and blesses the former king of Judah. By the king of Babylon freeing Jehoiachin from prison, and feeding, and caring for him we see that the prophecies of the prophet are true.

In tough times, we sometimes have to make quick decisions, and in  making tough decisions, based on God’s direction from His word, His will will be done.

How does a Christian make decisions based on God’s direction? By being in the word of God systematically, daily reading and studying the word of God, putting it into our minds and our hearts. In the tough and rough times we will be prepared, and the Holy Spirit will bring it to mind and we will act on it.

If you are not a follower of Jesus Christ you need to know Him. You will never make the right decision about your life until you come to Christ Jesus. You will never know true love until you know the love of God; for God is love (1 John:4:8). You cannot know God who is love until you call on the One who died on the cross for your sins, that He was buried, and that He rose again; confessing with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believing that He rose from the dead. Then you will have eternal life.

When you know Jesus you will have His help in tough times. One word of warning though. When you come to Jesus believing Him, things might get tougher and rougher; do not fear He is with you through it all, and He will never leave you, nor forsake you.

According To the Word of the LORD

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Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORD spake concerning the house of Ahab: for the LORD hath done that which He spake by His servant Elijah. So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his kinsfolks, and his priests, until he left him none remaining.
2 Kings 10:10-11

Jehu is a character of contradiction. I say that because he is chosen to be the next king of Israel, and he is ordained by God’s word to rid the population of Israel of their king Joram, a son of Ahab, an family that was doomed by the word of he LORD. Jehu does everything just as the LORD has told him, of the destroying of Ahab’s wife Jezebel, and his heirs. Just as the LORD had said.

I say Jehu is a character of contradiction due to the fact that he was also a man who never turned away from the path of Jereboam, who had set up golden calves in Bethel and Dan (2 Kings 10:31).

Nevertheless, he did do the will and word of the LORD in his actions, but no heart for God. How is this possible? That is the part I cannot grasp.

The point I want to make with this post is that there  is not a word which the LORD God has spoken, that will fail to be fulfilled. Not one. There are many, and many may be reading this and thinking that the Bible is not the word of God, and there is no way you can prove that it is. How about the issue of these prophecies?

The LORD had spoken through Elijah in First Kings 21:17-26, all that He would do to Ahab and Jezebel, and now we read that it happened just as Elijah had said. Do you realize that there are prophecies that have been spoken by God, that have not yet been fulfilled? There are probably hundreds that are yet to come to pass. They will in the LORD’S own time.

Many of those are of the second coming of Jesus Christ; His return to Jerusalem (Zechariah 14). Jesus said, “I will come again” (John 14:3). He said this before they crucified Him. His death did not stop Him from returning, it gives greater meaning to His coming again. Why? Because He did not stay dead. He rose from the grave with a new body that can never die. That is also what happens to everyone who has repented of their sins, by turning away from sin, toward Christ Jesus. When this body of flesh dies we too shall receive a new body that shall never perish.

Since the promises of the Old Testament were fulfilled, yet many of them have not been; then we must believe that they are being fulfilled, or they will be fulfilled just as GOD has spoken. The prophet Isaiah wrote,

“So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Isaiah 55:11

If we trust the LORD God, then we will trust His word, and His Son Jesus Christ.

When the Wicked Rule: GOD is Still Faithful

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And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign.  Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for the daughter of Ahab was his wife: and he did evil in the sight of the LORD. Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David His servant’s sake, as He promised him to give him alway a light, and to his children.
2 Kings 8:16-19

Joram was the son of Ahab and was king of the northern kingdom of Israel. Jehoram was the son of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat was a king who did right in the eyes of the LORD.

Jehoram had married the daughter of Ahab, Israel’s most wicked king, and he did evil in the sight of the LORD.  Jehoram was king of Judah, where they had a few king who did do right in the eyes of the LORD, but Israel had none, but those who did evil in the eyes of the LORD.

There is a reminder to us that God still reigns supremely, and that He can be trusted because He is always faithful to fulfill every word He speaks, and is written.

If you will notice verse 19, “Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David His servant’s sake, as He promised him to give him alway a light, and to his children.” GOD had made a covenant with David, not because David was perfect or sinless, but because he was always trusting the LORD, His mercied, grace, and loving kindness. He believed the LORD was God, and trusted his life, and knew the kingdom was the LORD’S.

Am I more like Jehoram, like Ahab; or am I more like David? That is the question we need to ask ourselves today. The mind and heart of Jehoram was on wicked, vile, and evil things. The heart and mind of David, for the most part ,was on doing the will, and work of the LORD his God.

When David sinned, he kept his account with God short, by going to God in prayer in repentance and confession. When the wicked sin they say, “I have not sinned,” and go on their way feeling justified in their actions, no matter how vile or wicked or depraved they are.

God wants us to trust Him completely. Coming to Him through the cross of Jesus, His death on the cross, His burial, and resurrection, calling on His name in repentance, and faith in Him is the only way to salvation from our sin.

Christ Jesus died in my place. It should have been me dying on that cross. He also died for you. It should have been you hanging on that cross by three rusty spikes/nails.

Even today we must trust that even “When the Wicked Rule; GOD is Still Faithful.” You can trust the LORD to do what He says He will do.

Though Judah/Israel has no king today it does not mean that God has broken His promise. There is a coming King, and His name is Jesus the Christ of God, and He is known as the King of kings, and Lord of lords. Jesus is a descendant of David. When He returns it will be to rule and reign on the earth.

Gracious LORD

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And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.
And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
1 Kings 20:13 & 28

The LORD God who made the heavens and the earth is gracious, loving, and kind. There is a phrase used in Old Testament in almost every book that tells that God wants us; the people of all the  earth to know. God wants us to know that He is the LORD God. That is that He receives glory from all who believe Him, trust Him, and love Him.

Ahab was a wicked king of Israel who had “sold himself to do evil” (1 Kings 21:20), yet GOD gave him every opportunity to trust Him. Once in verse 13, and once again in verse 28 God tells Ahab that in this battle against Syria He would give him victory over them. So “that you may know that I am the LORD.”

What does Ahab do with that opportunity? He squanders it and shows his hatred for the LORD God, by his disobedience. He refuses to hear the prophets who give him the word of the LORD.

There are many who see the God of the Bible as harsh and cruel, but these people do not know Him because they are their own gods who knows more than the One who created them. We as human beings, or as I like to call us, of Adam’s king, are fallen, sinful, dead, and condemned people apart from a mighty work of God. The prophet Isaiah says that our righteousnesses are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). Jeremiah another prophet of God, tells us that the heart of man is deceit, and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). Paul the 13th Apostle tells us that there is none righteous, no not one (Romans 3:10), and in verse 23 of that same chapter of Romans he says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

God hates sin, but He loves the world, the people in it so much He gave the greatest gift ever given. He gave His only begotten Son to die as the only sinless sacrifice for our sins. He died that we might live, and that is possible because He was buried, and rose again.

If you will believe in Him, you will have eternal life. Your eternal destination depends on it. He is the Gracious LORD.

O Altar, Altar

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And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.  And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, “O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; ‘Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee.’ And he gave a sign the same day, saying, ‘This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; ‘Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.’ ”
1 Kings 13:1-3

This introduces us to an unnamed prophet who has gone from Judah to Bethel with a word from the LORD, to Jereboam. Jereboam his sinned grievously by setting up two golden calves; one in Dan, and the other in Bethel.

Jereboam is there offering sacrifice, and this prophet comes with the word of the LORD, which includes a prophecy of the birth of Josiah, a much later king of Judah. As a sign that this word from the LORD was the truth he says, “Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.”

In the verses that follow we see that is exactly what happened. God still proves His word to be true. As is said by Jesus many times, “He that has ears to hear; let him hear.” The problem with many who do not believe in God is they have no desire for Him. They love the life they have, and think all is well; but they are perishing in their self deceiving minds. They do not want God to tell them how to live their lives. So they do not want to hear.

I really imagine the Jereboam did not want to hear the word of the LORD from this Judean prophet. But he heard it whether he like it or not, and there was no change except in his rebellious hand, as he ordered the prophet to be arrested.

The word of the LORD from this prophet was to Jereboam, reminding him there was the LORD God who was in control, and had given him a promise to have a kingdom as long as he obeyed the commandments of the LORD, and having a heart for Him. He did not obey, and his family was destroyed (read 1 Kings 15).

Our message for today is that the word of the LORD is trust worthy, faithful, and true from the smallest letter to the largest. When God says  it; it will be done. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away but My word shall never pass away” (Matthew 24:35). In Psalm 119 and verse 89 the psalmist wrote, “Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven,” and it does not do harm to the word of God if we do not believe it; it is still the truth of God and stands sure.

The word of God is all about Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him would not perish, but has everlasting life” (John 3:16).

You are a sinner condemned to an eternity of torment. We were all born in a sinful  body, condemned to hell, and without some work of God, we would certainly go there. But God who is rich in mercy for His great love which He gave us in His Son Jesus will give light, and life eternal to all who will believe Him. In Him alone is the only way of eternal salvation.

Will you believe today? Will you call on His name? He is waiting.

The Heavy Yoke

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And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men’s counsel that they gave him; and spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.” Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that He might perform His saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
1 Kings 12:13-15

Solomon was the anointed king of Israel following David. He had been told by God Himself that if he would live as David had, that is, in fellowship with Him, the He would bless him by a continuing, perpetual kingdom. Read 1 Kings chapters 11 and 12.

Solomon is now gone to be with his fathers, and Rehoboam is king. Because of Solomon’s idolatry, due to the deception of his foreign wives, which began because he did not heed God’s word concerning marriage of foreign women. These women are not to blame, but rather, it is Solomon’s own undoing.

A prophet named Ahijah comes to a servant of King Solomon and tells him; his name is Jereboam that God is about to dived the kingdom of Israel, and that Jereboam will be the king of the northern kingdom. Ten of the twelve tribes of Israel would be in his rule. Judah and Benjamin would be only David’s descendants place of rule.

Through all of this travesty of the kingdom God shows Himself to be sovereign Lord over Adam’s kind. He has sent the prophet with the word of the LORD that this will take place, and He uses a matter of taxes to divide the kingdom. Jereboam is in on the rebellion and is appointed the first king of the northern kingdom which is called Israel, and the southern kingdom is Judah.

The division started when Rehoboam refused the counsel of the elders when he had asked what to do about the request from the people that the tax load be reduced. The elders said to do what the people requested. The King had also asked the young counselors about it, and they told Rehoboam to increase the taxes; and that what King Rehoboam did. Jereboam and those of Israel departed, and they were divided, just as God had said.

What can we learn from these things? One thing is that we need to hear and take heed to the word of God, and keep His commandments. Don’t tell me that the commandments of the LORD are done away with. They are not, The commandments show us when we have sinned, and point us to our Savior.

Another thing we can see is that those who are in leadership and positions of power, need to listen to the people. Pastors need to listen to the people whom they shepherd. We are all servants of God. Listen to Him.

The last thing I will point out is that when God says something and anytime God says something, then you can certainly count on it coming to pass. God will hasten His word to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12).

It is true for the Christian, and the non-Christian – unbeliever. if you do not believe one sentence of God’s word, does not nullify the truth of His word. The New Testament is just as much the word of God as is the Old Testament. In the New we hear of God sending His only begotten Son into a sinful world which God loved so much, that He sent Him to die for the sins of the world. He did. He died on a cross for your sins and mine, He was buried carrying our sins away as far as east is from the west, leaving them there, and He conquered death by rising from the grave, walking with us forty more days, then ascending into heaven where He is forever seated at the right hand of God the Father.

The only way of salvation is through Jesus Christ who was proven to be the Son of God by the resurrection from the dead (Romans 1:4). Call on the name of the Lord, and you will be saved (Romans 10:13).

This House

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And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying,
“Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in My statutes, and execute My judgments, and keep all My commandments to walk in them; then will I perform My word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father: and I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel.
1 KIngs 6:11-13

King David had a heart to build a house for the LORD. However, the LORD would  not allow David to build because he had been a man at war, and had shed much blood. God had told him, “Your son will build me an house,” and thus we see after Solomon is anointed King, that he begins to build that house.

The LORD is not so concerned with a physical house; as He is with the human heart. The heart of Solomon was what God wanted.

Could or would Solomon walk in the statutes of God? Would or could execute the judgments of God? Would or could he keep all the commandments of God? The answer to all three questions is; NO!

The house GOD wants to dwell in is the house of the human heart. That heart of the man or woman is corrupt and evil, unless that heart is changed by God Himself. Second  Corinthians 5:1through 2 speaks of this house. I leave the reference hear for you to investigate, and see for yourself.

GOD wants to make your heart His house to dwell in. He made that possible only through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ on a cross. He was buried, and He rose from that grave and is alive forever  more.

If you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, your shall be saved. Will you do that today.

Throw Her Down

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And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window.  And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, “Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?” And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs.  And he said, “Throw her down.” So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trode her under foot.  And when he was come in, he did eat and drink, and said, “Go, see now this cursed woman, and bury her: for she is a king’s daughter.”  And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands.
Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, “This is the word of the LORD, which He spake by His servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ‘In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel: and the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, ‘This is Jezebel.’ ”
2 Kings 9:30-37

Dwelling By The Brook

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And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, “As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.”  And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
“Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.”
So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.  And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
1 Kings  17:1-7

Let Your Heart Be Perfect With The LORD Our God

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Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto His people Israel, according to all that He promised: there hath not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised by the hand of Moses His servant. The LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers: let Him not leave us, nor forsake us: that He may incline our hearts unto Him, to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments, and His statutes, and His judgments, which He commanded our fathers.  And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night, that He maintain the cause of His servant, and the cause of His people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require: that all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else. Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in His statutes, and to keep His commandments, as at this day.
1 Kings 8:56-61

Zealous for the Righteousness of GOD

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Moreover the altar that was at Bethel, and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, both that altar and the high place he brake down, and burned the high place, and stamped it small to powder, and burned the grove.  And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchres that were there in the mount, and sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchres, and burned them upon the altar, and polluted it, according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words.  Then he said, “What title is that that I see?” And the men of the city told him, “It is the sepulchre of the man of God, which came from Judah, and proclaimed these things that thou hast done against the altar of Bethel.”  And he said, “Let him alone; let no man move his bones.” So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria.  And all the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke the LORD to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Bethel.  And he slew all the priests of the high places that were there upon the altars, and burned men’s bones upon them, and returned to Jerusalem.
2 Kings 23:15-20

Help me, O LORD my God: O save me according to Thy mercy: that they may know that this is Thy hand; that Thou, LORD, hast done it.
Psalm 109:26-27

Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: for the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
Proverbs 22:22-23

No Harm In The Pot

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And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, “Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets.”  And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not.  So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, “O thou man of God, there is death in the pot.” And they could not eat thereof.  But he said, “Then bring meal.” And he cast it into the pot; and he said, “Pour out for the people, that they may eat.” And there was no harm in the pot.
2 Kings 4:38-41

Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed Thy strength unto this generation, and Thy power to every one that is to come.
Psalm 71:18

The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
Proverbs 15:33

Wisdom and Evil

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And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.  And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.  For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.  And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.  And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.  And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.
1 Kings 4:29-34

Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.  For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
Psalm 37:1-2

I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
Proverbs 8:12-14

The greatest and wisest of men, is the Man Christ Jesus who died for our sins, was buried , and rose again.

He is the One who gave Solomon wisdom. Jesus is the One who will put and end to all evil. He is coming again.

My prayer for you today is that you be in a Bible believing church, with a Bible preaching preacher, and that if you have not gone to worship with others for awhile, that you will begin Sunday, April 9, 2023; that is Resurrection Sunday.

Of course for the Christian every Sunday  is Resurrection Sunday.

Not For Kings

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“The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows? Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.” Proverbs 31:1-7 (KJB)

Always, Up to Date

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“For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses.” 2 Kings 18:6 (KJB)

Old, outdated, and antiquated are words we might hear from some older people about the Bible.  We would probably hear it more from the mouths of the young, liberally “educated” college student.

The kings of Judah and Israel before Hezekiah were probably thinking they needed to be more “Up to date”, and trying to fit in with nations around them.  After all the Law of Moses, and the commandments were hundreds of years old.  They were written for the wilderness wanderers.  What does that word have to do with me today; or the people I lead?

Israel had fallen. They had been taken captive into Assyria.  It was because they had forsaken GOD, and His commandments (18:11-12).  So how does this coincide with people of 2018, and days and years to come?

My answer to that is this:  If it was good enough for Moses, Joshua, and Hezekiah; Hezekiah after hundreds of year; then it is good enough for me.  Let me get one thing straight though.  It is certain that not one of us can be saved by keeping of the Law of God.  The Law was given to show us our weaknesses.  It is solely by the grace of God that we can be in the presence of God, approaching His throne, and truly worshiping Him.

The word of God, the Law of God is as up to date as next weeks Newspaper, television News broadcast, and it is as up to date as next years Person of the Year publication of Time Magazine. The word of God is still like a two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12).

For Hezekiah, king of Judah loving GOD, and keeping His commandments was not a duty.  He loved GOD, he loved GOD’S word, and he lived accordingly.  Was Hezekiah perfect?  No!  He too was dependent upon the grace of GOD.

The full grace of GOD was displayed by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross hundreds of years later (over 600 years), and Jesus was buried, and He rose from the grave.  It may have been around 2000 plus years ago; but He is still the only One who can save.

Old, Outdated, Antiquated?  Maybe we are the ones who have been outdated…  Something to think about.

Speak the Truth

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“And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak.” 1 Kings 22:14 (KJB)

The king of Judah, the southern kingdom; and the king of Israel, the northern kingdom were joining together to fight a common enemy who was Syria.  Jehoshaphat the southern king went to visit Ahab.  The characters and hearts of these two kings were completely opposed to the other.  Jehoshaphat was  a king who did what was right in the eyes of the LORD (22:42-43).  Ahab was so wicked he sold himself to do wickedness against the LORD (21:20, 25).

Micaiah, whose name means “Who is like the LORD?” is the same as that of Micah, the name of the prophet Micah of the Minor Prophets of the Bible.  I do not think they are one and the same.  Micaiah was a captive of king Ahab.  Ahab hated Micaiah, because he never spoke favorably to what Ahab desired.  He spoke what God said.

In this cooperative effort Jehoshaphat wants to hear what God says about going to battle against  Syria.  Four hundred prophets; and I would put a question mark around the word “Prophets” in that statement.  They only spoke what this king wanted to hear.  Jehoshaphat realizing that calls for a different prophet.  Micaiah is called, told to speak what the others have spoken, and he says the words of the verse above.

O how we need those who stand in pulpits today to speak the word of God, rather than the words of men.  We are told by Paul the apostle to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:14-15).  Ahab did not care for the truth.  Notice his words when Micaiah uses sarcasm to him what he wants to hear, “How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD?” (22:16)

The Christian pastor, preacher, deacon, Bible study teacher, bus driver, etc. needs the resolve, and to resolve to speak the word of God which is truth.  It is the only truth worth speaking.  Do not add to it.  Do not take away from it.

The Truth of God is powerful to change lives.  It is powerful to change your life.  Jesus Christ the Son of God, God the Son is the Living Truth (J0hn 14:6).  He is alive and well. He loves you so much that He went willingly to an old rugged cross, laid down His life, died, was buried, and He rose again declaring the victory over sin and death.  That is the Truth.

Resolve today to receive the truth, live the truth, and speak the truth in love for Christ.

The Certainty of GOD’S Word

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“For the saying which he cried by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass.” 1 Kings 13:32 (KJB)

To get a better understanding of these events I would recommend reading chapters 11 – 13 of 1 Kings. Especially pay attention to the thirteenth chapter.

Because of King Solomon’s departure from the worship of GOD alone, and his love for his wives, and women, the kingdom is taken from him when his son Rehoboam is crowned king.  A man by the name of Jereboam is God’s chosen king for the Northern kingdom of Israel, which is also called Samaria, Ephraim, and Israel.  Samaria is made up of ten tribes, and Judah is of the tribe of Judah mostly, and Judah is faithful to the dynasty of David.

Jereboam rebels against God’s word, and sets up idols at Dan and Bethel, golden calves actually, which is actually an affront to GOD [Jehovah/YHWH].

An unnamed prophet comes on the scene while Jereboam is worshiping at Bethel, and speaks the word of the LORD. As a sign he has said that the altar will split in  half, and the ashes be spilled on the ground, and it happens, seemingly under the very nose of Jereboam.  He is angry at the prophet, and while pointing to the prophet to have him seized, his arm turns to mush (dries up), then the sign was fulfilled.

What is so special about this story?  It is truly one of the unique stories of the Bible; and it teaches us a great lesson of faith, and hearing the word of the LORD ourselves, and testing all who claim to speak the word of the LORD.

In the above text of 1 Kings 13:32 we find the old lying prophet certain that the words of the prophet from Judah will be fulfilled.  Just as that altar was split, the ashes spilled onto the ground, they were fulfilled just as the prophet said by the word of the LORD.

There are many people today looking for something sure, solid, and strong.  Many are looking at other things other than to GOD and His word, and His Son.  Look no further than the word of God.  It is certain, sure, solid, and strong.  God is faithful.  He will not leave anything undone which He has spoken.

He has sent us His Son to die for us.  His name if Jesus.  He died on that old rugged cross, was buried, and He rose from the grave and forever lives.  Because He lives those who call on His name in repentance will live eternally with Him.  Call on His name.

That the World Will Know

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“That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else.” 1 Kings 8:60  (KJB)

King Solomon had just ended a prayer during the dedication of the temple. During this dedication he now speaks to the people, and informs them that through these things which he mentioned in prayer the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God…  What are those things by which they may know?  It has to do with the way God loves His people:

  1. He chastises or disciplines His people when they sin;
  2. He hears and answers their prayers when they pray;
  3. He forgives their sins and delivers them out of their troubles;
  4. He keeps them in His hand, and protects them in their enjoying their blessings;
  5. He always reminds them, lets them know that there is no other God; all the others are powerless and false.

Now the question could come to us who are Christians, “How can all the people of the earth know that the LORD is God through us?”  We know and love Jesus, yet, the above things are for you and me as well.

It does say in the book of Hebrews chapter 12…

“But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.” Hebrews 12:8

Just wanted to remind you that no Christian can sin without consequences. We still are disciplined for our sin.

Let us let the world know of God’s holiness, righteousness, love, mercy, and grace. The cross of Jesus is where all of these were put on display by holy God.  Let the world know.

A Tall Order

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Tim A.'s avatarShiloah Baptist Church

The Scripture reading for today is 1 Kings 4 – 6…

“And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying, ‘Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in My statutes, and execute My judgments, and keep all My commandments to walk in them; then will I perform My word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father: and I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel.'” 1 Kings 6:11-13 (KJB)

In our text Solomon and the people were in a large building campaign of building the Temple which had been in King David’s heart to build.  It was not a commandment from God. You see nowhere where David or Solomon are given the design of it from God.  It was David’s design.  God allows its building because it was in David’s heart to always honor the LORD in…

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