Dave R Phillips

The story of Naaman is truly amazing. When we step back and look at the context within which the narrative takes place, it’s even more amazing. Naaman is the commander of the Aramean army. When I read that this morning, my brain froze: the Aramean army? How have I missed this in the past. The Arameans are the proverbial thorn in the side of Israel. The were the subject of 1 Kings 20 where 127,000 of their men died in fighting the king of Israel (even though Ahab was horrible, God chose to defeat the Arameans).

Simple put, these were not allies or friends of Israel, yet God listens to those who would honor him.

In their skirmishes, Naaman has gained a servant girl from Israel–she serves Naaman’s wife. Naaman has leprosy and the young girls knows about Elisha and presumably the Lord of all, but that might be stretching it a bit. Elisha’s fame had no doubt spread.

“If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 2 Kings 5:3

Naaman goes to the king of Aram and asks permission to go find this prophet. The king writes a letter and sends him with gifts to find the prophet and be healed. King Joram (not a good king, but not as bad as his father) read the letter and tore his robes, afraid that the king of Aram is picking a fight by asking him to do the impossible.

Elisha heard about the request and intervened, “Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.” (2 Kings 5:8) So Naaman goes to see Elisha and is given a task from a messenger,

Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” 2 Kings 5:10

Naaman is ticked! It’s already humiliating enough that he has to go into the land of Israel and ask for a favor, now he has to wash in their river? What’s so special about “your” river? Argh!!

Here’s an amazing part, perhaps a side story, but don’t miss this:

Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” 2 Kings 5:13

Naaman listens to his servants. He listened to his wife who listened to a young girl they captured (probably not for honorable reasons!). Here’s the commander of the army, a man of power and position, yet he listens to those around him and hears their wisdom. The environment he had established must have been one where he was approachable even though he commanded many.

He humbles himself, washes in the Jordan and is cleansed. Naaman is super excited, so he goes back to Elisha with all of his attendants to offer a huge sum of money, but Elisha refuses to accept any contribution. God alone is honored in this story.

Naaman acknowledges that God is the one true Lord of all. He vows to serve only God, but asks for one favor, more grace (now this is a bit odd):

“But may the Lord forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down and he is leaning on my arm and I have to bow there also–when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord forgive your servant for this.” 2 Kings 5:18

Elisha’s reply is simply: “Go in peace.” Naaman’s leprosy is cleansed and his heart is changed, but there is a bit of a rub here. He has to return to his pagan land, its rituals and its rulers. He doesn’t resign his position and become a priest, he keeps his position and commits to navigating the difficult path of walking in the presence of the profane while carrying the message of God in his heart. “Go in peace” is a huge burden. I wish I knew more about how Naaman walked along these lines, but perhaps the more important lesson is that God is the God of grace, even to our enemies.

Gehazi Lies

Meanwhile, Elisha’s right-hand man does something foolish. He chases after Naaman and conjures up a story about needing some money after all. Naaman is more than happy to give him even more than he asks for and sends Gehazi on his way. When Gehazi returns, Elisha asks him where he’s been.

“Your servant didn’t go anywhere,” Gehazi answered. 2 Kings 5:25

Elisha gave him a chance to confess his sin, but the tongue deceives Gehazi and he lies. One so close to Elisha, it’s hard to understand what motivated him. Surely he was with Elisha when the boy was revived from the dead. No doubt Gehazi heard prophesies and watch them come true. Yet here he is lying to Elisha. Though it’s a bit of a stretch, it reminds me of Judas living a lie as a disciple, all the while fixated on money. The keeper of the purse was offended by the extravagant give of perfume on the feet of Jesus, perhaps his turning point. Gehazi can’t believe Elisha would turn down so much gold and silver and somehow figures he alone could intervene.

The Gehazi went from Elisha’s presence and his skin was leprous — it had become as white as snow. 2 Kings 5:27

Elisha’s Supernatural Provisions

2 Kings 3-4

Moab Defeated by Joint Armies

Chapter 3 recounts a time when the kings of Israel (Joram), Judah (Jehoshaphat) and Edom (well…governor of Edom) united to confront Moab. Joram was a notch better than his ancestors, but still far from being good in God’s eyes. Still, for some reason, this union was allowed and the unified front assembled and marched through the desert to confront Moab.

After a roundabout march of seven days, the army had no more water for themselves or for the animals with them. 2 Kings 3:9

This is interesting from a military perspective. Logisticians are notorious for saying, “logistics wins wars,” because armies can’t fight without provisions. Here we see the great plans of these three kings runs aground. Jehoshaphat knows what to do: find a prophet and ask God. My question a this point is simple: why didn’t you ask before you started marching?

Nonetheless, they figure out that Elisha is the prophet to ask, so they find him and pose the question. Elisha only agrees to entertain the question because Jehoshaphat has joined the battle, so he intervenes and asks God for support. The response is favorable. Water will appear miraculously and they will win the battle.

The next day, water appears and the issue of verse 9 is resolved. In addition, the Moabites are fooled by the sun reflecting off of the unexpected pools of water at sunrise and decide to go and grab the plunder:

To the Moabites across the way, the water looked red–like blood. “That’s blood!” they said. “Those kings must have fought and slaughtered each other. Now to the plunder, Moab!” 2 Kings 3:22-23

Fools. Convinced that the Israelites were dead and dying the Moabites pounce in to grab plunder only to find an able and fit army that slaughtered the Moabites. End of chapter 3: “The fury against Israel was great; they withdrew and returned to their own land.” (2 Kings 3:27)

The Widow’s Olive Oil

Here’s an interesting story of God’s provision for a widow who seeks Elisha’s help. One of the company of prophets died and his widow has two sons and apparently some debt that is to be collected by making slaves of her two sons. The plan is simple and secret: collect empty jars from our neighbors and bring them to your house and shut the door, then fill all of the jars from the one jar of oil you have. She doesn’t hesitate, doesn’t question his direction, she simply does what he says. When all the jars were miraculously filled, the oil stopped flowing.

She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.” 2 Kings 4:7

The Shunammite’s Son Restored to Life

To set the stage for this story, “a well-to-do” woman lived in Shunem where Elisha often traveled to (or through). She talks to her husband and the add a room to their house for Elisha to stay in when he is traveling through.

“Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us.” 2 Kings 4:10

How cool is that! Elisha wants to bless her so he asks his servant (Gehazi) what can be done. He tells Elisha that she has no son, so Elisha lets the woman know that within a year she will have a son. She is very humbled by this announcement and scared at the same time.

The boy grows, but apparently has a brain tumor or something that causes him extreme headaches. The boy dies and his body is placed on Elisha’s bed in their house. Elisha sends Gehazi to lay his staff on the boy’s head, but when that doesn’t work, Elisha takes direct action. He closes the door so he and Gehazi can pray. Again, a private miracle happens. The boy is revived and reunited with his family.

Two More Stories of Elisha

The first story labeled, “Death in the Pot” refers to stew in a pot that was made during a famine. Apparently is was really horrible, so Elisha adds some flour and the stew is fixed! Whatever was harmful in the stew was immediately neutralized.

The second story is a precursor to Jesus’ feeding of 4,000 or 5,000. In this story, 20 loaves of fresh bread are used to feed 100 men at the word of Elisha.

“Give it to the people to eat. For this is what the Lord says: “They will eat and have some left over.” 2 Kings 4:43

They are all fed and indeed, some was left over.

God provides his people. Always. Many times this provision comes in private, one to another, no fanfare, no public display. God is not a magic genie to be summoned upon, but rather the Lord of all, worthy of praise. Our part of the process is to give it all to God and trust completely in his provision. Lord, help me to do my part.

February 8, 2017

Elijah Succeeded by Elisha; Chariots of Fire

2 Kings 1-2 and Psalm 63

“Man of God, the king says, ‘Come Down!'”

Ahaziah managed to survive a year as king of Judah (or as it is referred to here, “king of Samaria”), but his days are about to end. He has a fall and is seriously injured, so he dispatches messengers to call upon Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, to determine his fate. God sends an angel to Elijah to intercept the messengers and give Ahaziah a message, essentially, you will die for being an idiot.

When the messengers return with bad news from Elijah, Ahaziah immediately figures out where the message was from so he sends a captain and 50 men to fetch Elijah. The captain finds Elijah and shouts for him to come down!

Elijah answered the captain, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!” Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men. 2 Kings 1:10

Not once, but twice! The third band of men was led by a wise captain, “please have respect for my life and the lives of these fifty men, your servants!” (2 Kings 1:13). He begs Elijah to come down, so Elijah agrees. I bet no one even touched their sword!

Elijah is presented to the king and once again hears the message: you are going to die. Ahaziah had no son, so Joram, his younger brother succeeded him. End of chapter 1.

Elijah Taken Up to Heaven

Elisha and the company of prophets know that the day has come for the Lord to take Elijah from them. What they didn’t know was how he was to be taken. Elijah asks Elisha to let him go three times, but Elisha refuses, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you” (verses 2, 4 and 6).

Elijah uses his cloak to divide the waters of the Jordan as he and Elisha continue their journey. They walk across on dry ground as if it were just another day in the park. But this is the day the Lord will take Elijah so he asks Elisha for one last request,

“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied 2 Kings 2:9

The NIV Study Bible notes that this isn’t an extravagant request, rather, “Inheritance law assigned a double portion of a father’s possessions to the firstborn son (see Deuteronomy 21:17).”

Elijah called home:

Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. 2 Kings 2:11-12

I can’t help but remember the Rich Mullins song that references this narrative, “and when I go I want to go out like Elijah.” Same here Rich. I don’t want to taste the horrible disease my mother had to deal with. Strap me to a rocket when it’s time or let me vanish, but not a slow decay.

Elisha now takes the place of his master. He did indeed witness his departure and God granted him his desire to serve the kingdom well.

“Get out of here, baldy!”

Did someone really put that in the Bible? No joke! Elisha is walking to Bethel when:

some boys came out of the town and jeered at him. “Get out of here, baldy!” they said. “Get out of here, baldy!” 2 Kings 2:23

Result:

Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys. 2 Kings 2:24

Can someone say, “not a good plan boys?” The captains of the guard that were consumed by fire started this reading and we end it with bears mauling those who would dare taunt Elisha.

God takes care of his messengers.

February 7, 2017

Psalms 60, 61 and 62

Psalm 60

Twice in this short psalm David includes pointed words of lament for God has “rejected us” for our transgressions. He begs God to remember that there are many who fear the Lord and are worthy of rescue.

Give us aid against the enemy,
for human help is worthless.
With God we will gain the victory,
and he will trample down our enemies.Psalm 60:11-12

When we give God the glory, we can boldly ask for his help.

Psalm 61

It’s funny. I decided to grab my guitar and sing through psalm 61. To God be the glory, this is not music for public consumption, but straight from my heart to the Lord as tears stream down my face.

From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.Psalm 61:2

I wish I had an ounce of talent that could turn this psalm into a worship song that would elicit the emotion I feel at this moment. So intimate. So real. Holy Spirit you are all over my heart right now. To God be the glory. Teach me how to honor your name above all others.

Why am I still weeping?

Psalm 62

An oddly emotional morning as I sing through these psalms. The Holy Spirit is ministering to me. Somehow I need to share this.

Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.Psalm 61:5-8

Such a comforting warm embrace. Am I the only one who feels like this? Am I the only one who appreciates the quiet? I guess I’m just so odd that I don’t actually fit in anywhere, but I know that God loves me anyway.

Surely the lowborn are but a breath,
the highborn are but a lie.
If weighed on a balance, they are nothing;
together they are only a breath. Psalm 61:9

“If weighed on a balance, they are nothing.”

Nothing.

Even so, the Lord’s love is unfailing.

February 6, 2017

Psalms 58 and 59

Psalm 58

Then people will say,
“Surely the righteous still are rewarded;
surely there is a God who judges the earth.” Psalm 58:11

This psalm appears to be a reaction to horrible leadership, judges who “devise injustice,” who are wicked from birth! The title attributes this to David which is quite interesting since this would precede Jeroboam and his wicked line of successors. Those hanging onto the faith for decades would hold verse 11 close, trusting that God will impose judgment…one day.

“Break the teeth in their mouths, O God;
Lord, tear out the fangs of those lions! Psalm 58:6

Words of anger, perhaps even hatred, but all centered in faith that God will take care of the problem. Notice the psalm doesn’t say, “Let me break the teeth of their mouths…” Though it certainly seems like it’s one step closer than mere civil disobedience. Tense times for David. Worse times were yet to come.

Psalm 59

Sub-title: “When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him.”

I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me.
Arise to help me; look on my plight! Psalm 59:4

David knows that they are prowling around looking for him, hoping to gain honor from Saul by killing David because they have no idea what is really going on. David knows Saul is God’s anointed, yet out of his mind. He is incredibly patient in hiding and avoiding the hunters.

You are my strength, I watch for you;
you, God, are my fortress,
my God on whom I can rely. Psalm 58:9

Words of assurance when we all face trials to be sure. David shows great wisdom in these words:

But do not kill them, Lord our shield, or my people will forget.
In your might uproot them and bring them down. Psalm 59:11

At a time when battles were fought and won by strength over weakness, David knows he can’t be the one that attacks. If God can provide a refuge and let time tick away, their own foolishness will expose themselves and Israel wins–not just a king over king–all the people win.

February 5, 2017

Ahab Rejects Warning and Dies

1 Kings 20-22

The last three chapters in 1 Kings includes much of the story of Ahab, King of Israel (and Samaria from and outsider’s perspective). This is covered 2 Chronicles as well, but here we find some interesting interactions between Ahab and Ben-Hadad (King of Aram), prophets, Naboth and finally Micaiah (a Nathan-like prophet).

Ben-Hadad

Ben-Hadad king of Aram and Ahab exchange words and begin a war of threats in chapter 20. BH tells Ahab he’s going to take everything after a siege against Samaria. Ahab’s response, “Just as you say, my lord the king. I and all I have are yours” (1 Kings 20:4). BH sends messengers again and threatens Ahab further, but this threat seems more personal, “they will seize everything you value and carry it away” (1 Kings 20:6). Ahab is not happy about this threat and lashes back at BH,

“Tell my lord the king, ‘Your servant will do all you demanded the first time, but this demand I cannot meet.'” 1 Kings 20:9

Game on! The taunting reaches its pinnacle. BH’s response:

Ben-Hadad: May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if enough dust remains in Samaria to give each of my men a handful.

Ahab: One who puts on his armor should not boast like one who takes it off.1 King 20:10

Oddly enough, a prophet is sent by the Lord in support of Ahab. This is odd to me because Ahab is far from God as we read in the closing remarks about Ahab. Still, these are God’s people. Somewhere in the multitude there are those who love the Lord.

“But who will do this? asked Ahab (1 Kings 20:14) and how will it be done? The prophet provides details and 232 junior officers along with 7,000 set out against BH, a ridiculously small number compared to the Arameans. BH sent out a comparable force, but they were completely defeated and the Israelites “inflicted heavy losses on the Arameans” (1 Kings 20:21). End of scene.

BH’s advisors explain the Ahab’s god is the god of the hills and in order to win, they must be drawn out onto the plains. Great idea! Next Spring, the battle is taken to the plains, but the Lord will not be ridiculed. A prophet speaks on behalf of the Lord,

Because the Arameans think the Lord is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the Lord.1 Kings 20:28

Once again, the Lord gives Ahab a chance to honor him as the true Lord by coming to his aid–a one-sided deal.

The Israelites camped opposite them like two small flocks of goats, while the Arameans covered the countryside. 1 Kings 20:27

There was no way Ahab could possibly win this battle, the odds were heavily in BH’s favor. But that day was the Lord’s day.

The Israelites inflicted 100,000 casualties on the Aramean foot soldiers in one day. The rest of them escaped to the city of Aphek where the wall collapsed on 27,000 of them. And Ben-Hadad fled to the city and hid in an inner room. 1 Kings 29-30

BH has a plan that seems ok with Ahab. He puts on sack-cloth and begs for his life. Ahab ignores all that the Lord has tried to speak to him and simply lets Ben-Hadad go. The prophets provide God’s response.

The Prophets

The last part of chapter 20 includes strong words by the prophets against Ahab. The prophet provides a parable (like Nathan did for David) and Ahab responds as expected, trapped by his own words.

This is what the Lord says: “You have set free a man I had determined should die. Therefore it is your life for his life, your people for his people.” 1 Kings 20:42

Ahab departs sulking and angry–he takes out his frustration on Naboth.

Naboth

Naboth has a nice garden close to Ahab’s palace. The king decides he should have the garden so he gives Naboth a choice: give it to me or sell it to me; either way Ahab wants the garden. Naboth refuses. This is his land, the inheritance from his ancestors. No deal. Ahab whines to Jezebel and she lets her husband know she will handle the issue promptly. She hires two “scoundrels” to trump up false charges against Naboth then incite the community to stone him for his transgression. The plan works, of course, and Naboth is stoned. The garden is now available.

When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went down to take possession of Naboth’s vineyard. 1 Kings 21:16

Elijah returns to the narrative…nothing good happens when Elijah talks to Ahab!

This is what the Lord says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood–yes, yours! 1 Kings 21:19

Elijah is not done. Finally, Jezebel’s demise is prophesied as well,

And also concerning Jezebel the Lord says: ‘Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel’ 1 Kings 21:23

Dogs must be the insult of insults for that age. Sadly this seems to foretell a fitting end for Ahab and Jezebel. Both stood against the Lord.

There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel his wife. He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the Lord drove out before Israel. 1 Kings 21:25

Micaiah

Enter Micaiah, a prophet of the Lord and Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. The kings meet, oddly enough, after 3 years of “no war” (I wonder if “no war” is equivalent to “peace” ??). Ahab inquired of his prophets, but Jehoshaphat wants a “real” prophet and Micaiah is recommended. Ahab doesn’t like him because he never has anything good to say! Not surprising, after some interaction (quite interesting), Micaiah predicts Ahab’s death and is, of course, rebuked, led away as a prisoner.

Ahab has this great plan: let’s go to war, you put on kingly garments and I’ll wear a disguise. Seriously Jehoshaphat, what are you thinking? They go into battle and surprise, the Armeans recognize the king. Jehoshaphat announces he is not the king they are looking for so they back off. But in the heat of battle, something odd happens,

But someone drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the sections of his armor. The king told his chariot driver, “Wheel around and get me out of the fighting. I’ve been wounded.” All day long the battle raged, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. The blood from his wound ran onto the floor of the chariot, and that evening he died.1 Kings 21:34-35

When they washed out the chariot, the dogs licked up his blood.

The end of a despicable king, followed by another bad egg, Ahaziah, his son.

Compare that to Jehoshaphat (king of Judah), Asa’s son who did pretty well. The northern kingdom is not doing so well as the book of 1 Kings comes to a close.

February 4, 2017

The Lord Appears to Elijah; Elisha’s Call

1 Kings 19 and Psalm 57

The Lord, the God of all, showed up on Mount Carmel and the words that Elijah spoke were once again shown truthful, even beyond expectation. What is Ahab’s response? Run to momma! Jezebel strikes out against Elijah, she threatens to kill him within 24 hours so he runs.

“I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.1 Kings 19:4-5

An angel appears to Elijah twice, feeds and nourishes him to support his journey to Mount Horeb, the mountain of God, the place where Moses met with God and received the Ten Commandments.

(side note: I searched, Mount Horeb to Mount Carmel, to see how far apart they are and Google provided a map from Mount Carmel, SC to Mount Horeb, WI: 942.4 miles. Wrong. But interesting.)

The NIV Study Bible puts the journey at about 250 miles…on foot! When Elijah finally gets to Mount Horeb, he hides in a cave.

The Lord Appears to Elijah

One of the most powerful scenes in this part of the Old Testament unfolds.

The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”1 Kings 19:11-13

Pause. Soak it in. God revealed himself on Mount Carmel in a mighty way, supernatural to be sure, but beyond expectations–he was the powerful wind and fire for all to witness. That’s the God I want to see! Enough of this waiting around Lord, kick some butt, let’s get this show going!! No. God is not the Lord of my fantasy, he is the Creator and he will show up in his way in his time.

A gentle whisper.

Elijah knew this was the Lord. Think about it. For the last 60 years Jeroboam and his family has been systematically and boldly destroying everything that Moses lived for. David and Solomon faithfully created the kingdom of Israel in the Promised Land. They had everything they could have wanted until Solomon married and adopted pagan rituals. The whole nation of Israel is torn apart and being flipped upside down. Few can see what is happening. Most just go along with the ridiculous Jeroboam rituals, but Elijah (and others no doubt) can see the turmoil. It’s personal. It’s overwhelmingly difficult. Elijah cries out to God,

He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 1 Kings 19:14

He trusts God, absolutely no doubt, but that doesn’t make it any easier. This is painful to consider. Oh Elijah, how you must be hurting. God does not rebuke Elijah for his outrageous run. He speaks to him in a whisper and gives him instructions for the next chapter in Israel’s history.

The narrative is only a few verses in length, but the whole trial took weeks to endure. Elijah feels like he’s alone, the only one who gets it, but the Lord assures him he has a plan. God names Elisha as Elijah’s successor, defines who to anoint as the next king and comforts Elijah by letting him know,

“…Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.” 1 Kings 19:18

There are so many times when we feel alone. I know it’s ridiculous even when that emotional reaction happens, but Elijah is an emotional guy. The narrative gives us all grace and reminds us that God is able, even willing, to meet us where we are.

The Call of Elisha

Three verses are used to describe Elijah’s appointment of Elisha, 1 Kings 19:19-21. That’s it! Elijah shows up while Elisha is on the job working the fields. No fanfare, no procession, just shows up and throws his robe on Elisha and says, “tag, you’re it!” Elisha understands. He takes the oxen he was driving to support his vocation and slaughters them, cooks them over the wooden equipment and feeds those around him then departs. He leaves it all behind to follow Elijah, to follow the call of God.

Who is willing to do that today? Am I willing to burn it all and follow God’s call? Or am I holding on tightly to what I have in flagrant disobedience? Decision time.

February 3, 2017

Elijah, the Widow and the Test on Mount Carmel

1 Kings 17-18

Finally, the Lord sends a true prophet, Elijah to speak some truth into to kings of Israel. Jeroboam began in 930 b.c. and Ahab in 874 b.c., something like 60 years of depravity, of fake religion that misled all the people of Israel (Northern Kingdom). Elijah enters the scene and speaks to Ahab,

“As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” 1 Kings 17:1

Elijah is initially fed by ravens, sent by God, to give him food. He drank from a brook until it dried up, then the Lord sent Elijah to Zarephath where a widow would supply his needs from a jar of flour and a jug of oil that “will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land” (1 Kings 17:14).

The widow’s son became ill and eventually died. In her grief she lashed out at Elijah, “Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?” 1 Kings 17:18. Elijah took her son to the upper room and cried out to the Lord. God answered by reviving the boy an d Elijah gave the boy to his mother and said, “Look, your son is alive!” 1 Kings 17:23

And so the legacy of Elijah is established.

Three years into the famine, Ahab enlists Obadiah (not the prophet) to search for food and water. The go in opposite directions to cover more land when Elijah meets Obadiah. Elijah tells Obadiah to let Ahab know that he wants to talk. Obadiah is afraid to tell Ahab, but Elijah assures him this is a good plan.

Ahab greets Elijah spitefully, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?” 1 Kings 18:17. Elijah sets the record straight, unafraid of what this man could do to him,

“I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals. Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat a Jezebel’s table.” 1 Kings 18:18-19

Game on! Elijah has been given clear direction from the Lord and will now demonstrate the impotence of Baal and Asherah in front of everyone. At the same time, he will discredit Jezebel, the one who seems to be the one running things in Ahab’s name (not that Ahab is good, I just think he’s a sloth while Jezebel is off killing prophets and establishing her rule).

Elijah poses a test to prove God is the one true God and Ahab’s people enthusiastically agree. But as the test begins, the prophets of Baal fail to pass the test, from morning till noon, “there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made” (1 Kings 18:26). Elijah taunted them (must have really been a crazy scene), “but there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention” (18:29).

It’s important to note that Elijah took “twelve stones, one for each of the tribes” (1 Kings 18:31) here. God is the God of unity even though the kingdom is divided, he has not forgotten the lower kingdom.

Now Elijah steps up and builds an altar to God. He even uses the precious water (my guess is this is sea water, not drinkable) to completely cover the sacrifice…three times…totally drenched! The Lord responds to Elijah’s prayer and “burns up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench” (18:38). The people figured out that God was real and Baal was false (clever). They seized the prophets of Baal and slaughtered them. Elijah prays for the drought to end and God brings rain on the land.

Elijah tells Ahab to go have dinner “for there is the sound of a heavy rain” (1 Kings 18:41) coming from the distance. After 3 years of no moisture, surely this would get their attention!

What was Elijah’s response?

The power of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel. 1 Kings 18:46

He ran. Somehow he was more afraid of Jezebel than anything else that happened. Strange, but somewhat comforting to know a man of such faith is still a man, still human, still vulnerable. Not that I’m one ounce of the man Elijah was, but the narrative is here for a reason. May God help us all to understand.

February 2, 2017

Bad Kings

1 Kings 15-16 and Psalm 56

Southern Kingdom

Abijah succeeds Rehoboam. Bad becomes worse! “He committed all the sins his father had done before him” (1 Kings 15:3). The civil war that started with Rehoboam and Jeroboam continued throughout Abijah’s reign.

Asa follows Abijah. “Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord…Although he did not remove the high places, Asa’s heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life” (1 Kings 15:11,14). The civil war continues.

Northern Kingdom

Nadab takes over after Jeroboam. “He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the ways of his father” (1 Kings 14:26). He only lasted for 2 years. Nadab was killed by Baasha.

Baasha ruled for 24 years. “He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the ways of Jeroboam” (1 Kings 15:34). Baasha killed the entire family of Jeroboam. The civil war continued.

Elah, Baasha’s son, was next…for 2 years. Elah was killed by one of his officials (Zimri).

Zimri took the throne from Elah and killed all of Baasha’s family as predicted by the prophet Jehu. Zimri lasted 7 days! One week.

Omri declared king after Zimri’s suicide. There was division within division, but Omri won out by killing the opposition. He reigned for 12 years. “But Omri did evil in the eyes of the Lord and sinned more than all those before him” (1 Kings 16:25).

Ahab followed Omri. He was even worse than those before him!

He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. 1 Kings 16:31

Jeroboam set the stage for the Northern Kingdom to go from bad to worse while Asa attempted to correct the Southern Kingdom. Though there is war between the two, there are few details about these battles (more in 2 Chronicles), it seems that the kings are mostly focused inwardly. Solomon’s vast business efforts seem to have bought freedom for some time, but trouble is brewing outside of Israel and Judah. It won’t be long before the Assyrians and Babylonians enter the scene. For now, we see how sin controls the thoughts and actions of our ancestors. Not a pretty sight to say the least.

February 1, 2017

Prophets and Prophesy

1 Kings 13-14

God is not pleased with Jeroboam, to put it mildly. “By the word of the Lord,” a phrase repeated twice in the first two verses, a man of God has this message for Jeroboam,

On you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who make offerings here, and human bones will be burned on you. 1 Kings 13:2

The narrative takes a strange turn here. Jeroboam hears the prophet’s words and reaches his hand out against him. His hand shrivels as he does and he asks “the man of God” to intercede and heal his hand. The man of God does that, but when invited to eat and drink with Jeroboam, he refuses because of the command God had given him to deliver the message and return without eating or drinking with these people.

That part makes sense, these are crazy people following Jeroboam’s new religion. Mingling with them can only lead to trouble, so he leaves. Here’s where it goes off-rail. An old prophet (whatever that means) hears about the interaction and tells his sons to “saddle the donkey” so he can catch up with the man of God. He meets him and invites him to eat and drink with him, but again, the man of God refuses. The old prophet then lies to him,

“I too am a prophet, as you are. And an angel said to me by the word of the Lord: ‘Bring him back with you to your house so that he may eat bread and drink water.'” (But he was lying to him.) 1 Kings 13:18

Trapped in a lie, the man of God returns and eats with the old prophet. The Lord gives the old prophet a vision and tells the man of God he will die because he defied the Lord’s instructions. The man of God leaves and is killed by a lion on the roadside. The old prophet retrieves the body, mourns for him and buries his body in his own tomb. He tells his sons to buy himself beside these bones when he dies.

Kinda like a dream within a dream, the man of God comes and goes. Sad, really, he proclaimed truth and was caught in a lying old prophet. Why did he turn back? If he would have simply continued on, there would have been no story.

Even after this Jeroboam did not change his evil ways…the sin of the house of Jeroboam that led to its downfall and to its destruction from the face of the earth. 1 Kings 13:33-34

I’m sure Jeroboam heard that the man of God was killed since his body was not mauled and the old prophet easily recognized him. Perhaps he figured he could continue his religion since the man of God was gone. Foolish.

Chapter 14 includes Ahijah’s prophecy again Jeroboam, the disaster that is coming to his household as a result of his great sin. Jeroboam sends his wife on a secret mission, but the blind prophet, Ahiijah, was told by God that she was coming, the purpose of her visit (sick son) and the message to give her. Of course the message is NOT good and their son dies when she steps into the house on her return.

Jeroboam reigns for 22 years. Nothing good to be said about his legacy. Still, 22 years? In my mortal thinking this is a very long time to lead 10 of the 12 tribes of Israel on a journey far from God.

Meanwhile, the last section in chapter 14 goes back to Rehoboam. He started out on the right path, but soon got lost and somehow forgot all that was holy. Crazy. At this point, he had an incredible palace and temple — I mean INCREDIBLE! The twin towers of its day. But he begins to worship idols, sets up Asherah poles all over the place, even has male shrine prostitutes,

the people engaged in all the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. 1 Kings 14:24

By the fifth year, it all comes crashing down on Rehoboam and on Judah (the southern kingdom).

Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. He carried off the treasures of the temple of the Lord and the treasures of the royal palace. He took everything, including all the gold shields Solomon had made. 1 Kings 14:25-26

His life was calamity. He lost everything of value to Egypt, constantly fighting Jeroboam, then dies and is succeeded by Abijah. The narrative of the kings continues.

As I read through the stories of those in power at the time, I wonder what the common people must have been thinking and doing. The temple is routed, so what happens now? The land is filled with idols and despicable activity. Yet some, no doubt, kept the faith. Those strongest in their faith kept passing down the mantle of righteousness. Lord help us to be strong in you! We have such an advantage with the Bible printed, online, anytime and anywhere. Help us to look only to you and not these lewd activities of the world. Build up your people Lord. Make us strong as the years tick by. Give us patience, but not complacency. You ways Lord, not ours.

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