Bible Reading Reflection from 2 Kings 18-25

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

𝟚 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟙𝟠:𝟛, 𝟝

v3. "He did right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father David had done."

v5. "He trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel; so that after him there was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among those who were before him."

Finally, a king like David, even better than King Solomon.

But, look at the situation. Though his kingship followed the instructions of the law, he was bullied by the Assyrians, and he had to pay taxes (tributes) to them. His forefathers had brought [led] to those circumstances.

Now, we could be [if not are] godlier and more righteous than the Americans or English, but our forefathers were heathens, uncivilized and uneducated, so, even if we are godly and educated, we do not see anyone among us as smart as Spurgeon or Luther or Edwards!

Our present life affects future generations!

 

𝟚 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟙𝟡:𝟟

“Behold, I will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.”

A rumor was enough to humble that mighty king of Assyria. God is Almighty. He can frighten the mighty with just a rumor.

Has God ever frightened you? Have you ever been frightened enough? Was it from God or from the Devil? Hmmm! Could be from any of them!

 

𝟚 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟚𝟘:𝟚

"Then he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD"

Hezekiah was really sad. His prayer was genuine. His tears were real. He did pray fervently. He turned his face to the wall. To have a kind of privacy, to call upon God. To not be distracted by the people and things around him.

Jesus often withdrew himself to the mountains to pray. Do we withdraw our face, attention, time to pray?

 

𝟚 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟚𝟙:𝟡

"But they did not listen, and Manasseh seduced them to do evil more than the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the sons of Israel."

What a story of contrast. His father Hezekiah was the most righteous king of Judah, [the son] Manasseh was the most wicked king.

If you are righteous, don't think your children too will be, or for that matter, your family members or church members will be!

It proves that religiosity or faith is not a birthright.

The father-son tops the list Downward or Upward! 😂😬

 

𝟚 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟚𝟚:𝟙𝟡

"Because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the LORD, when you heard how I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the LORD."

Again and again, the Scriptures recorded how repentance, humility, and trust in God are what God seeks in a man. They are the means of restoration. They are the means of relenting God's judgment. The message is the same for us today as well, both individually and corporately.

 

𝟚 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟚𝟛:𝟚𝟞-𝟚𝟟

“However, the LORD did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath with which His anger burned against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked Him. The LORD said, "I will remove Judah also from My sight, as I have removed Israel. And I will cast off Jerusalem, this city which I have chosen, and the temple of which I said, 'My name shall be there.'"”

Sin is serious, consequential, and dangerous. No amount of your good deeds can take away sin. Because sin is cosmic treason against God [I think R.C. Sproul said that].

Even in this present society. If you kill a man, you will be put in jail. You may be a doctor saving hundreds of people, but the court will not pardon you for that one single act of crime.

Even our Lord Jesus didn't undo the deed of Adam and Eve. They ate the fruit and the whole world plunged into damnation, and so, everyone dies someday. Jesus came, but still the sin of Adam reigns. He himself died, and we all will die.

It teaches us, sin is that evil!

Josiah was a good king, but God must punish the kingdom because of Manasseh!

 

𝟚 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟚𝟜:𝟚

"The LORD sent against him bands of Chaldeans, bands of Arameans, bands of Moabites, and bands of Ammonites. So He sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD which He had spoken through His servants the prophets."

God is in control of everything. God sent Chaldean to kill His people! The Talibans are under God; so is a coronavirus, Modi, and everyone!

There's safety for those who call out to Him! Let's call upon God, especially in troubled times!

 

𝟚 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟚𝟝:𝟡

"He burned the house of the LORD, the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem; even every great house he burned with fire."

And so, the prophecy was fulfilled. If God did that, why won't He punish the wicked of our generation?  Note the account: the greater to lesser listing–God's house to ordinary homes.

Bible Reading Reflection from 2Kings 9-17

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

𝟚 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟡:𝟛𝟚

“And he lifted up his face to the window and said, "Who is on my side? Who?" Two or three eunuchs looked out at him."”

This chapter recorded many powerful questions of Jehu. He is winsome, fearsome, and successful!

 

𝟚 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟙𝟘:𝟙𝟠-𝟙𝟡

"Then Jehu gathered all the people and said to them, "Ahab served Baal a little; Jehu will serve him much. Now, summon all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers and all his priests; let no one be missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal; whoever is missing shall not live." But Jehu did it in 𝕔𝕦𝕟𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘, so that he might destroy the worshipers of Baal."

Still, Jehu, being Jehu, the trickster. He is a master in battle strategy; gathering armies for himself, attacking decisively, killing two kings, executing the children of two kings, and now, the worshipers of Baal!

Something to learn from Jehu! 👍

 

𝟚 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟙𝟙:𝟙

"When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she rose and destroyed all the royal offspring."

Look out that you do not marry a woman who will dominate you and your family like this woman Athaliah! It's a sin. She is stupid. And You too will be proven to be a stupid man, and there will be chaos everywhere she is.

The character of godliness and gentleness is for everyone. She might have a Ph.D. but without those characteristics, she is like a poison. A poor ugly looking woman with them [godliness and gentleness] is an excellent woman.

Think! Maybe those girls with a Ph.D. look attractive just because of make-up! 😂 Perhaps, those poor ladies with make-up and given an opportunity to study will be more beautiful and brilliant than those girls with Ph.D.! 🙂

 

𝟚 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟙𝟚:𝟙𝟝

"Moreover, they did not require an accounting from the men into whose hand they gave the money to pay to those who did the work, for they dealt faithfully."

Wow! Faithful people. Has anybody trusted you like that? How many people or friends do you have that can have your trust?

This passage should stir us to be faithful (especially in managing money and funds etc.)

 

𝟚 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟙𝟛:𝟚

"He did evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel sin; he did not turn from them."

How many times have we seen the name of Jeroboam mentioned in the history of the Kings? He is used as an example of a wicked king.

Would we want to be used as an example for sin, evil, wicked things? Of course, not!

 

𝟚 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟙𝟜:𝟙𝟡

“Jehoash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, "The thorn bush which was in Lebanon sent to the cedar which was in Lebanon, saying, 'Give your daughter to my son in marriage.' But there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trampled the thorn bush."”

Nice parable indeed! Nice one, for the proud and haughty!

May we not boast like that!

 

𝟚 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟙𝟝:𝟙𝟞

"Then Menahem struck Tiphsah and all who were in it and its borders from Tirzah, because they did not open to him; therefore he struck it and ripped up all its women who were with child."

I had a neighbour who was named after Menahem. But how bad is this king! Why would people name after him!? Don't give a biblical name to your kids without studying its content!

 

𝟚 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟙𝟞:𝟟

“So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, "I am your servant and your son; come up and deliver me from the hand of the king of Aram and from the hand of the king of Israel, who are rising up against me."”

If he would humble before God than before the king of Assyria; If he would ask God for help than the help of Tiglath-Pileser; he didn't. The prophets were still there. But yes, it's not a week event. It's a compressed story of generations.

There are times or seasons when we don't seek God like King Ahaz. We would say Ahaz is foolish and wicked, but perhaps we are more so.

When was the last time you humbled yourself before God and begged for help? We love the help, recommendations, and favor of men, nah!?

 

𝟚 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟙𝟟:𝟙𝟛

"Yet the LORD warned Israel and Judah through all His prophets and every seer, saying, "Turn from your evil ways and keep My commandments, My statutes according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you through My servants the prophets."

God remains faithful! He did every possible way for the Israelites to repent, yet they did all ways to run away from God. Don’t we see ourselves?

Bible Reading Reflection from 2Kings 1-8

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

𝟚 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟙:𝟙𝟙-𝟙𝟚

"So he again sent to him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he said to him, "O man of God, thus says the king, 'Come down quickly.'" Elijah replied to them, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty." Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty."

The king didn't mind killing another group of 50. Elijah did ask God to consume them. And God killed them.

The king didn't change his mind. Elijah won't compromise either. And definitely, God won't.

Satan will not change his mind. The government will remain secular. The servants of government– employees, bureaucrats, officers, policemen, etc. may need to do like the third group!

 

𝟚 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟚:𝟙𝟠

“They returned to him while he was staying at Jericho; and he said to them, "Did I not say to you, 'Do not go'?"”

Many times, people come up with stupid ideas, plans, and even adventures for vain things! This is a verse to remember when it happens again next time.

BTW, some people are looking for salvation in their devotion, good works, and religious activities; it's vanity. It's only in Christ.

Some people are looking for God's will in dreams, visioners, and luck; it's vanity. Read your Bible, Obey, And Pray; That's All!

 

𝟚 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟛:𝟙𝟜

"Elisha said, ‘As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look at you nor see you.’"

Elisha regarded some men more than some people!

The king of Judah was far godlier than the king of Israel!

One righteous man's presence brings favor to the whole armies!

May we be that man.

BTW, Jesus's act of sacrifice saves many wretched sinners!

 

𝟚 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟜:𝟛𝟘

"The mother of the lad said, "As the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." And he arose and followed her."

The woman was importunate that Elisha had to go with her.

In the New Testament, another woman was so importunate that Jesus healed her daughter.

The Lord teaches us to be importunate in prayer. It involves trust, persistence, never ceasing, and never giving up. No deadline but until!

 

𝟚 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟝:𝟙𝟛

“Then his servants came near and spoke to him and said, "My father, had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, 'Wash, and be clean'?"”

Man [people] reject Christ, not because they think Christ is difficult to follow but because they think Christ is not worth their time to follow.

It's not because they are incompetent to think (intellectually) but because they are depraved to reason (morally); it's a moral problem.

Gospel is a moral issue, not an intellectual issue. Illiterate, uneducated, and less intelligent people can perfectly follow Christ as much as the intellectuals. Please note, that the intellectuals must believe and follow exactly like the rest.

Namaan was ready and hoping for something great but he was told something so simple and ridiculous, and only then he would be cleansed. It's faith in Yahweh that delivers us, not what we do or who we are, or where we come from.

 

𝟚 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟞:𝟚𝟠-𝟚𝟡

“And the king said to her, "What is the matter with you?" And she answered, "This woman said to me, 'Give your son that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.'  So we boiled my son and ate him; and I said to her on the next day, 'Give your son, that we may eat him'; but she has hidden her son."”

God allowed such evil among His people. No surprise Indians are killing one another because of cows or politics or anything! And the world goes on. One day there will be judgment btw! Until then, life goes on!

 

𝟚 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟟:𝟟

"So they fled away in the twilight and abandoned their tents, their horses, and their donkeys, leaving the camp as it was, and fled for their lives."

God is above and beyond our understanding! He let those women eat their own babies in poverty and the next day in prosperity they sold many things for just a small amount!

God did so in an amazing way by scaring the mighty Assyrians. God can do anything and will do anything to fulfil what He has said.

 

𝟚 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟠:𝟙𝟘

“And Elisha said to him, "Go, say to him, 'You shall certainly recover,' but the LORD has shown me that he shall certainly die."”

Elisha knew what a wicked thing Hazael will do. But he didn't warn the king nor try to stop Hazael.

It's God who will allow it to happen. And Elisha could only weep. The weeping of Elisha couldn't change the heart of Hazael. Rather, he went and killed the king confirming the beginning of his wicked deeds.

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...