Bible Reading Reflection from 1Kings 12-22

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (DG) as a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]

𝟙 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟙𝟚:𝟚𝟞-𝟚𝟟

"Jeroboam said in his heart, "Now the kingdom will return to the house of David. If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will return to their lord, even to Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah."

To retain power, Jeroboam chose to apostatize. Watch out for politicians, DC, police, etc. who do the same thing!

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟙𝟛:𝟛𝟘-𝟛𝟙

"He laid his body in his own grave, and they mourned over him, saying, "Alas, my brother!"  After he had buried him, he spoke to his sons, saying, "When I die, bury me in the grave in which the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones."

The old prophet killed him with his lies. Why did he lie? Because he didn't believe his prophecy? Because he wanted to build some reputation for himself? Whatever, it is clear that he was a deceiver.

However, he wept and confirmed that the prophecy will surely happen. Indeed, two signs authenticating the certainty of this prophecy against apostasy. God is really angry to the point of killing his prophet to make a point.

And if God killed His prophet for a lack of discernment, what hope was there for the Israelites who deliberately sinned against God?

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟙𝟜:𝟙𝟛

"All Israel shall mourn for him and bury him, for he alone of Jeroboam's family will come to the grave, because in him something good was found toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam."

Wow, the only good one in the family of Jeroboam was this child, Abijah, and God chose to take him away (kill him).

Death could be sometimes a judgment or blessing to others. In this case, it's a judgment for the family, and the blessing for Abijah! That he wouldn't see the wickedness and the sufferings of his family dynasty.

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟙𝟝:𝟝

"Because David did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the case of Uriah the Hittite."

David is the most perfect human ruler ever. That's why Messiah is called the Son of David, the Davidic King. Well, David is not a perfect guy. But God is kinder than man. God is more forgiving than man. Once, David himself preferred to suffer in the hands of God than in the hands of a man! Yahweh is a forgiving God, Satan is an accusing Devil. Satan is malevolent, God is benevolent.

That's what God sees of us too. He is more forgiving, more merciful, kinder, gentler than man. What an amazing God! He evaluates our life!

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟙𝟞:𝟛𝟙

"It came about, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went to serve Baal and worshiped him."

Some people dared to sin shamelessly, proudly, and publicly as if it was a virtue.

When sin is not dealt with, it multiplies and sears the conscience of many!

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟙𝟟:𝟙𝟚

"But she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar; and behold, I am gathering a few sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die."

About to die of starvation both herself and her child. The last meal, yet she gave it to Elijah because of the God of Elijah! It turned out to be trading the last meal for a never-ending supply.

The Gospel's offer is the same:  Trading our short life in this corrupt world for the eternal life in the celestial city!

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟙𝟠:𝟜𝟛

"He said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." So he went up and looked and said, "There is nothing." And he said, "Go back" seven times."

Elijah was in front of an angry king. Ahab was furious with Elijah for withholding rain. Then God promised rain, and Elijah prayed. His prayer, still, was not realized. What a terrible situation that must have been?

Ahab, Elijah, and the servant waiting for the sign of rain. His servant walking up and down seven times. Not 2 times or 3.

#Patience. #Learn to wait. #Importune prayer. #Trust.

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟙𝟡:𝟜

"But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, "It is enough; now, O LORD, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers."

Elijah wanted to die and prayed for it. God made him livelier and more energetic than ever seen before. He ate only a bread cake and was able to walk forty days and night journey!

God has a way of surprising His saints!

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟚𝟘:𝟛𝟚-𝟛𝟛

"So they girded sackcloth on their loins and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel and said, "Your servant Ben-hadad says, 'Please let me live.'" And he said, "Is he still alive? He is my brother." Now the men took this as an omen, and quickly catching his word said, "Your brother Ben-hadad." Then he said, "Go, bring him." Then Ben-hadad came out to him, and he took him up into the chariot."

Trying to be kinder, gentler, more loving, and [more] ‘good’ than God; and you shall perish!

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟚𝟙:𝟙𝟡

"You shall speak to him, saying, 'Thus says the LORD, "Have you murdered and also taken possession?"' And you shall speak to him, saying, 'Thus says the LORD, "In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth the dogs will lick up your blood, even yours."'"

What Ahab did was similar to what David did. God sent a prophet to confront them. And God relented from bringing utter destruction in their lifetime seeing them humbling before God.

Let's humble before God. Oh, how often are we covetous of others' success or possession!

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟚𝟚:𝟠

"The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. He is Micaiah son of Imlah." But Jehoshaphat said, ‘Let not the king say so.’"

People do wrong things not because they don't know the right things but because they don't want to do the right things in the right ways!

In doing so, they condemn themselves that they are guilty.

Another plain example. Everyone knows that if we work hard, we will get a good result in any exam; but we don't want to work hard, and try to get by other means –cheating, bribery, stealing, depending on luck, etc...

Bible Reading Reflection from 1Kings 1-11

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (DG) as a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day] 

𝟙 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟙:𝟚𝟛

"They told the king, saying, "Here is Nathan the prophet." And when he came in before the king, he prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground."

Nathan, a prophet of God, bowing down before the King!

Daniel served Nebuchadnezzar very well! Joseph served Pharaoh very well!

Man of God respects, honors, and obeys the rulers. Men of God are humble people. They respect everyone! They behave kindly, gently, and humbly in all situations with all people!

Oh! How we ought to be known for our respect and regard for one another!

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟚:𝟜𝟞

"So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he went out and fell upon him so that he died. Thus the kingdom was established in the hands of Solomon."

What a political strategy! Killing every potential rebel in chapter 2. David instructed him, and so, it was done!

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟛:𝟚𝟠

"When all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had handed down, they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice."

Wisdom is feared, respected, adored, admired, and loved by people. You may be young or even poor, if you are wise, you are better than great!

Wisdom is not just the intellectual reasoning capacity, but also the capacity to apply it in a real-life situation.

Wisdom, righteousness, integrity, and character, all belong to the same family, in the biblical understanding!

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟜:𝟛𝟜

"Men came from all peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom."

He asked for wisdom, God granted him wisdom; everyone wants to listen to him.

Notice, they didn't ask for wisdom (they should have), they just came to him [Solomon the Wise].

James tells us to ask God for wisdom!

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟝:𝟙𝟚

"The LORD gave wisdom to Solomon, just as He promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a covenant."

Wisdom builds one's relationship. Wisdom builds one's house. Wisdom builds one's community. Wisdom builds peace. Wisdom prospers.

Wisdom builds, while folly destroys!

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟞:𝟙𝟚-𝟙𝟛

"Concerning this house which you are building, if you will walk in My statutes and execute My ordinances and keep all My commandments by walking in them, then I will carry out My word with you which I spoke to David your father. I will dwell among the sons of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel."

Who wants to live with lazy people? We don't enjoy those who keep procrastinating, telling lies, are disobedient, and are wicked in their deeds.

Certainly, you don't want to share your bed with a filthy, smelly, dirty guy. Why would God want to dwell with us when we are disobedient?

However, God's Spirit lives in us permanently. Oh, how often have we grieved Him! When we live in our own way, we are restraining the blessings of the Spirit in our life!

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟟:𝟜𝟟

"Solomon left all the utensils unweighed, because they were too many; the weight of the bronze could not be ascertained."

How rich was Solomon! He never asked for it. God blessed upon those who pleased Him. May we live to please God, not for blessing, because blessing will follow after it. And even if it doesn't follow, that's alright because we aren't after blessing but to please Him who made us and redeemed us!

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟠:𝟜𝟞

"When they sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin) and You are angry with them and deliver them to an enemy, so that they take them away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near;"

A long prayer but a good one. Theology [doctrine] of man and sin is revealed in this verse: that everyone is a sinner! 👍

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟡:𝟠

"And this house will become a heap of ruins; everyone who passes by will be astonished and hiss and say, 'Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?'"

And so, the Israelites disobeyed God, and the temple was destroyed; they were taken into captivity. If God was strict towards His chosen people whom He had delivered with wondrous work from Egypt, why do the Gentiles expect leniency from Him?

Jesus repeated the [demand of] seriousness of being a follower of God: to enter the narrow gate, even after that is to walk the narrow way. Furthermore, He said “only a few” find it, forget about walking, even finding – only a few find it.

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟙𝟘:𝟠-𝟡

"How blessed are your men, how blessed are these your servants who stand before you continually and hear your wisdom.  Blessed be the LORD your God who delighted in you to set you on the throne of Israel; because the LORD loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, to do justice and righteousness."

Here, two groups are blessed because of a wise man. Those who are around him, and the God of heaven who gives wisdom upon him.

BTW, the Hebrew has different words for “blessed,” the first one means the people around him were fortunate to have a wise king; and then the second one means God is to be spoken well of, to be praised for raising up a wise king.

That's what will happen if we are wise! Let's be wise. It's good for yourself, for people around you, for your visitors, and for the fame of God's name!

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟙𝟙:𝟚

"Solomon clung to these in love."

One of the saddest lines in the Bible. What a tragedy! The wisest king couldn't walk out of them. Consequently, the anger of God was upon him. Followed by the rebellion in the land. Then the kingdom got divided. And he also died in this chapter!

What are we clinging to which God forbids us?

Bible Reading Reflection from Matthew 22-28

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (LRAU) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible] 

𝕄𝔸𝕋𝕋ℍ𝔼𝕎 𝟚𝟚:𝟙𝟙-𝟚𝟚

"But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, and he said to him, ‘𝔽𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕕, 𝕙𝕠𝕨 𝕕𝕚𝕕 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕖 𝕚𝕟 𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕨𝕖𝕕𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕔𝕝𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕤?’ 𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕒𝕟 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕤𝕡𝕖𝕖𝕔𝕙𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕤."

There's no easy way to heaven. It's a life of obedience.

The king invited everyone, including the beggars. One of the most improperly dressed people on earth are beggars. Yet the king had no objections against these beggars. His objection was against only one man. And He dealt with him harshly, but justly, that this man himself had nothing to protest about.

On the day of judgment, no one will even think of an excuse. And now, here on earth, we even dare to challenge God! Pity, O Man!

 

𝕄𝔸𝕋𝕋ℍ𝔼𝕎 𝟚𝟛:𝟚𝟜

"You blind guides, who strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!"

One of the most amusing verses in the entire Bible. It was against the religious elites of the Jews. Jesus was harsh on them because they were supposed to be the godliest people because of their position and status.

Jesus was compassionate to the poor. He was merciful to the woman caught in adultery. He was gentle to the Samaritan woman. He was rebuking the noble Nicodemus.

He dealt differently with different people. Indeed, to whom much is given, much will be required of him. However, in all instances, no matter who or when, He always confronted their sins!

 

𝕄𝔸𝕋𝕋ℍ𝔼𝕎 𝟚𝟜                                                   

(particularly)

v36. "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone."

Satan doesn't know. We don't know. But there's a difference:

Satan works hard, never gives up, never takes a holiday, the busiest being on earth, to destroy us.

However, we, on the other hand, are like that servant of the parable; we aren't anticipating His return. We haven't even considered how we ought to live in the last days!

 

𝕄𝔸𝕋𝕋ℍ𝔼𝕎 𝟚𝟝:𝟠-𝟡

“And the foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’  But the prudent answered, saying, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’"

Sometimes don't you wish, reading this parable and thinking to your heart, the prudent ones lend some of their oils and they all go out to meet the groom! That will be a better story, a kind of fairy story "and all lived happily ever after," what do you think?

It sounds better than Christ's story. My proposed modification looks more cool, more loving, and more beautiful. I may go on to say that instead of Christ, I should have been the scriptwriter and the director.

Well, that's what we are saying when we don't want to submit to God's will in any aspect of our lives. We want to be in charge. We want to be the god of our life, destiny, and plan.

 

𝕄𝔸𝕋𝕋ℍ𝔼𝕎 𝟚𝟞:𝟙𝟙

“For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me."

Hmmm! The longest chapter of Matthew, and the 2nd longest in the entire New Testament! So, obviously, many great verses that stand out to me, but this verse is more.

Christian organizations, indeed have a lot of poor people, orphanages, mission schools, etc., yet they don't have Christ. No matter how loving you are to the point of sacrificing your life, if you don't have Christ, you are doomed. On the other hand, no matter how wretched you are, if you have Christ, you are a child of God.

BTW, even those who are the most loving people, most helpful people are as filthy as rags in front of God. So, though James and other biblical texts tell us to love our neighbors and visit the orphans and widows, they are unprofitable compared to devotion to God.

Let's be devoted, disciplined, and find the favor of God. We also remember Jesus, commending Mary over Martha.

 

𝕄𝔸𝕋𝕋ℍ𝔼𝕎 𝟚𝟟:𝟙𝟠

"For he knew that because of envy they had delivered Him over."

Envy. Let that sink in.

Psalmist Asaph was envious of the prosperity of the wicked, and he nearly slipped (Psalm 73). The Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes were envious of Jesus and let Him be crucified.

 

𝕄𝔸𝕋𝕋ℍ𝔼𝕎 𝟚𝟠:𝟙𝟚-𝟙𝟝

"And when they had assembled with the elders and took counsel together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ And if this is heard before the governor, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble.” And they took the money and did as they had been instructed, and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day."

Money has always been powerful. It is so powerful that it takes money to betray Christ. It takes money to deny Christ's Resurrection.

Remember? It took money to trap Christ also, regarding paying taxes.

Will our money condemn us too!

Will our money betray our faith in Christ too!

Money! Money! Money!