Short Reflection from 2 Kings 1-12

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

[2:34 pm, 07/05/2022] S.R: 𝟚 𝕂𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊 𝟙:𝟙𝟞

"Then he said to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, 'Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron--is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of His word?--therefore you shall not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but shall surely die.'’"

God wants His people to trust Him and no one else, or else, it's consequential. Let the sinners do whatever they want, but let the people of God fear and tremble before Him!

 

𝟚 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟚:𝟙𝟜

"He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, ‘Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?’ And when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over."

Elisha didn't trust in his religiosity, but he didn't doubt Elijah's religiosity. And it happened that he could perform miracles.

There are many Elishas who are afraid, doubtful, or confused, we need an Elijah figure to assure them by our doctrine and conduct!

 

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.’"

Not all leaders are worthy of our attention. May we be like Jehoshaphat among Jehorams!

 

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."

An importunate woman! May my prayer be like that!

 

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'?’"

A clear voice of reason in the midst of emotional rage! But from a lowly servant, but a loving servant. Notice how he addressed "My father."

We need people like this in our lives!

 

𝟚 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟞:𝟙𝟡

"Then Elisha said to them, 'This is not the way, nor is this the city; follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.' And he brought them to Samaria."

Would you accuse Elisha of telling a lie? When I play a game of chess, I pretend to plan an attack on one particular pawn, when actually my goal is to checkmate the king surprisingly! And that's me being smart not deceitful!

 

𝟚 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟟:𝟞

"For the Lord had caused the army of the Arameans to hear a sound of chariots and a sound of horses, even the sound of a great army, so that they said to one another, ‘Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.’"

Interesting, how God used the sin pattern of the Israelites to deliver them. Israel is not supposed to take help from Egypt. They often did, and this time God used the rumor of sin.

Sin is not that bad at all in the wisdom of God.

 

𝟚 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟠:𝟙-𝟚

"Now Elisha spoke to the woman whose son he had restored to life, saying, ‘Arise and go with your household, and sojourn wherever you can sojourn; for the LORD has called for a famine, and it will even come on the land for seven years.’ So the woman arose and did according to the word of the man of God, and she went with her household and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years."

Hmmm! It's not right to leave the promised land and dwell in the lands of the heathens. Yet, there are exceptions. Even Jesus had to go to Egypt and came back to die in Jerusalem. God is amazing!

 

𝟚 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟡:𝟙𝟝-𝟙𝟞

"but King Joram had returned to Jezreel to be healed of the wounds which the Arameans had inflicted on him when he fought with Hazael king of Aram. So Jehu said, ‘If this is your mind, then let no one escape or leave the city to go tell it in Jezreel.’ Then Jehu rode in a chariot and went to Jezreel, for Joram was lying there. Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to see Joram."

Jehu was unlike Gideon, Joshua, or Saul. He was brave, energetic, and wise. He killed 2 Kings of two countries in a day and the queen Jezebel too.

Wrong or right, if you have got to do it, do it quickly. Jesus said the same to Judas Iscariot.

 

𝟚 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟙𝟘:𝟙𝟘

"Know then that there shall fall to the earth nothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORD spoke concerning the house of Ahab, for the LORD has done what He spoke through His servant Elijah."

Jehu killed two kings of two countries and the queen in a day. He also killed all 70 princes in a day. He also killed 42 Royal relatives in a day.

This guy was so effective because he believed he was chosen by God. Even Genghis Khan believed he was chosen by God to punish other nations.

Don't believe in yourself but if you believe God has chosen you to do something, there's nothing much you cannot accomplish.

 

𝟚 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟙𝟙:𝟙

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

I fear a cruel woman more than a cruel man!

 

𝟚 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟙𝟚:𝟟-𝟠

"Then King Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and for the other priests and said to them, ‘Why do you not repair the damages of the house? Now therefore take no more money from your acquaintances, but pay it for the damages of the house.’ So the priests agreed that they would take no more money from the people, nor repair the damages of the house."

Interesting account between the king and the priests regarding money.

The king did try to help repair the temple but not from his pocket or his government, but to be raised by the temple.

There's no evidence that the priests were corrupt, unwise, or lazy. Maybe the money wasn't sufficient. Maybe the repair of the temple wasn't urgent.

But the king being ambitious or zealous found another way to solve the issue.

Short Reflection from 1 Kings 1-22

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

[8:18 pm, 12/06/2022] S.R: 𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟙:𝟜𝟡

"Then all the guests of Adonijah were terrified; and they arose and each went on his way."

Hopefully, we don't follow a presumptuous leader and end up like this!

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟚:𝟚𝟘

“Then she said, ‘I am making one small request of you; do not refuse me.’ And the king said to her, ‘Ask, my mother, for I will not refuse you.’”

But he did refuse! Wisdom is more important.

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟛:𝟙

"Then Solomon formed a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter and brought her to the city of David until he had finished building his own house and the house of the LORD and the wall around Jerusalem."

It wasn't right nor wise for him to marry the heathen, yet God still answered his prayer. God indeed is more merciful and forgiving and loving than we can ever imagine. But don't test God in sin! Sin always has consequences.

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟜:𝟚𝟝

"So Judah and Israel lived in safety, every man under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon."

When the leader was good, wise, and powerful, the kingdom prospered.

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘 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."

When there were war and conquest, the king because of God's blessing could even have a good business deal with others and build the temple!

Seek God's wisdom!

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟞:𝟙𝟙-𝟙𝟚

"Now the word of the LORD came to Solomon saying, ‘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.’"

Indeed, what good is the magnificent temple if God is not in it? What good is any church if Jesus is not her head? What good is mission organization and strategy if the Lord is not with it?

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟟:𝟜𝟟

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

When we think and talk and compare riches of wealth, remember King Solomon. He didn't even ask for it btw!

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟠:𝟚𝟟

"But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built!"

Indeed, God is bigger than anything we can give Him. No praise, no worship, no offering, nothing is too much for God.

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟡:𝟞-𝟟

"But if you or your sons indeed turn away from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them, and the house which I have consecrated for My name, I will cast out of My sight. So Israel will become a proverb and a byword among all peoples."

The God of the Bible hardly reveals anything without a word of warning! Preachers do well to proclaim the word of God with a warning!

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟙𝟘:𝟚𝟛-𝟚𝟜

"So King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. All the earth was seeking the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart."

This is what God does for whomever He pleases to bless. May God be our strength, refuge, and joy!

 

[1:01 pm, 26/07/2022] S.R: 𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟙𝟙:𝟙𝟜

"Then the LORD raised up an adversary to Solomon, Hadad the Edomite; he was of the royal line in Edom."

God raised up adversaries for King Solomon when he went astray. There's a promise of grace when we walk with the Lord, but the way of transgression is hard. Btw, for those who are beloved of God, even adversaries and hard things in life are chastisements to come back to God and enjoy life. It's not a punishment to harm us or to humiliate us.

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟙𝟚:𝟙𝟘

""The young men who grew up with him spoke to him, saying, "Thus you shall say to this people who spoke to you, saying, 'Your father made our yoke heavy, now you make it lighter for us!' But you shall speak to them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's loins!'""

Guys, if you are still young (below 40) there's not much wisdom among your friends. Maybe they really want your downfall too in envy. Be prudent to take counsel from your elders.

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟙𝟛:𝟙𝟠

"He said to him, "I also am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, 'Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.'" But he lied to him."

People can lie in the name of God. Yeah, even those who are pastors. And yes, they can deceive anyone easily. Yeah, they can deceive even the pastors and those who are scripturally knowledgeable. That's why we need to walk with God all the time, which includes praying, trusting, delighting in God.

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟙𝟜:𝟛

"Take ten loaves with you, some cakes and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what will happen to the boy."

Jeroboam knew the goodness of God. That's why he sent his wife to the man of God. This knowledge, assurance he had was given by the Lord to fear (honor) God and lead him to repentance, but he kept it to excuse himself and to keep sinning against God.

The worst atheist, the person who complained the most against God knows that God is good, at least good enough to tolerate him to even hate God.

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟙𝟝:𝟙𝟜

"But the high places were not taken away; nevertheless the heart of Asa was wholly devoted to the LORD all his days."

There are certain things we cannot purge completely in this dispensation of God on earth. In the new heaven and earth, it shall be purged completely.

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟙𝟞:𝟛𝟜

"In his days Hiel the Bethelite built Jericho; he laid its foundations with the loss of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates with the loss of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which He spoke by Joshua the son of Nun."

Jericho wasn't meant to be set up again. But there will be people who always want to go against God in the most unnatural way. They shall pay the price.

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟙𝟟:𝟙𝟞

"The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke through Elijah."

What a great confirmation of God's Providence! Trusting God to provide for our needs is one of the greatest and the constant struggles of all Christians. We need to remind ourselves of this verse again and again!

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟙𝟠:𝟛

"Ahab called Obadiah who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly)"

A powerful wicked king Ahab has someone working under him who is a servant of God. Indeed, God is more powerful than him.

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟙𝟡:𝟞

"Then he looked and behold, there was at his head a bread cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again."

Humans are weak. The disciples of Jesus found themselves sleeping again in the garden of Gethsemane. Elijah was lying down again. He has to be woken up. Are we sleeping again?

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟚𝟘:𝟜𝟚

"He said to him, "Thus says the LORD, 'Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.'""

The king should not extend a friendship over such a wicked king. Toleration of wicked people or things is evil.

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟚𝟙:𝟛

"But Naboth said to Ahab, ‘The LORD forbid me that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.’"

Look at his courage to stand up against the king. Of course, it costed him his life, but still, then, the Lord required vengeance for his blood!

Fear God and you shall not fear any man.

 

𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟚𝟚:𝟚𝟛

"Now therefore, behold, the LORD has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; and the LORD has proclaimed disaster against you."

If we associate with compromised people, they will hurt us too. The mafia, gangster understood that very well, btw!