Creative Space for Wanderers
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 …
and “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 …
Continue reading “Elijah Succeeded by Elisha; Chariots of Fire”
Then people will say, “Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.” 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 …
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 …
and 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 …
Continue reading “The Lord Appears to Elijah; Elisha’s Call”
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 …
Continue reading “Elijah, the Widow and the Test on Mount Carmel”
and Southern Kingdom Abijah succeeds Rehoboam. Bad becomes worse! “He committed all the sins his father had done before him” (). 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, …