4/16/24 “An Interesting View of Our Spiritual Warfare” (Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 18-21)

“Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel. So, David said to Joab and to the leaders of the people, ‘Go, number Israel from Beersheba to Dan, and bring the number of them to me that I may know it.’” (1 Chronicles 21:1-2).

King David had been reigning in Israel for years. God had richly blessed him and preserved him wherever he went. Now his heart is moved to have his general Joab go and take a census of the people to see how many men there would be who could go to war for Israel. Joab then brings back a report showing there were 1,300,000 who were “valiant men who drew the sword” (2 Samuel 24:9).

What is interesting is why David did this. As we consider from the Scriptures why he did this, we get a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes as we are engaged in our own spiritual warfare which we wage against Satan and his allies (2 Timothy 2:4). The inspired author of Chronicles mentions that it was Satan who “stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel” (1 Chronicles 21:1). However, the writer of 2 Samuel tells us that that God moved David to numbered Israel because, “the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel” (2 Samuel 24:1). So, the Bible describes both God and Satan having a part to play in David’s choosing to number Israel.

It is interesting to compare these events with what happened in the 1st 2 chapter of the book of Job as we see Satan going before God to get permission to afflict Job. Each time God set boundaries on what he would allow Satan to do to Job. The first time, God would allow Satan to “touch all” that Job had, but he could not “lay a hand” on Job himself (Job 1:12). The second time, God allowed Satan to afflict Job’s body, but Satan was told to “spare his life” (Job 2:6).

Whose fault was it that David numbered Israel? Actually, it was David’s fault! Because God was angry with Israel, He “allowed” Satan to tempt David to number Israel. However, although Satan tempted David, which God allowed him to do, David still had the power to choose not to give into the temptation (James 1:13-15). King David succumbed to this temptation because he had begun to trust in the power of his army instead of the power of God to deliver him from his enemies.

Following his receiving word of how many in Israel could serve in the army, we read: “And David's heart condemned him after he had numbered the people. So, David said to the Lord, ‘I have sinned greatly in what I have done; but now, I pray, O Lord, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly’" (2 Samuel 24:10). God would punish Israel by sending His angel which resulted in the death of 70,000 people, but He also restrained the angel and stopped him from killing more. He also gave David an opportunity to repent and offer his sacrifice to God for his sin (1 Chronicles 21:14-15, 18-27). Thus, in God’s infinite wisdom He accomplished His purposes to punish Israel’s sin for which He was angry with them, did not take away David’s freedom to make his own choices, and provided a way for redemption for David and Israel.

As I consider this behind the scenes look of what goes on behind the scenes of my own spiritual warfare, I am awed by the power and wisdom of God. I am also reminded of how Satan continually probes for opportunities to lead me astray. Today I will strive to cling to God’s hand and look to Him in faith as I war against my adversary, the devil.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world” (1 Peter 5:8-9).

4/15/24 “The Blessing of Consulting God about the Proper Order” (Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 15-17)

“He said to them, ‘You are the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel to the place I have prepared for it. For because you did not do it the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order’" (1 Chronicles 15:12-13).

These words were spoken by King David following the great disaster that occurred the first time David tried to have the ark of God carried to Jerusalem. During this first time, David had the ark of God transported on a cart driven by Uzzah and Ahio (2 Samuel 6:1-5). God had not authorized the ark of God to be transported in this manner. As a result, when the oxen stumbled and Uzzah took hold of the ark of God to stabilize it, God’s anger was aroused as He struck Uzzah so that he died (2 Samuel 6:6-7). Following this David became angry and afraid (2 Samuel 6:8-9). This should teach us that there are negative consequences when we fail to fear God by not respecting God enough to seek how He wants us to serve Him and follow His proper order.

To King David’s credit, he did not remain angry. He decided to find out how God wanted the ark of God to be transported. God had specifically commanded that the ark of God was to be transported by having the priest carry it on their shoulders using poles (Exodus 25:14). As the opening verses above indicate, once David found out the proper way to carry the ark of God, he called the priests unto himself, told them what to do. Then we read, “And the children of the Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders, by its poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord” (1 Chronicles 15:15). The ark of God is brought to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 15:16-28).

It is interested to note the great joy that David now feels following these events. God’s people went down to get the ark of God and brought it up to Jerusalem “with joy” (1 Chronicles 15:25). The people sang with “resounding joy” (1 Chronicles 15:16). As the ark of God is brought into Jerusalem, David “appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to commemorate, to thank, and to praise the Lord God of Israel” (1 Chronicles 16:4). David then composes a psalm and delivers it into the hand of Asaph and his brethren to thank the Lord: “Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!” (1 Chronicles 16:8-10). There is great joy to be had when we follow God’s proper order!

As I read these events, it serves as yet another reminder of why David is described as a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). Although David had made a mistake earlier by not following God’s Word on how to transport the ark of God, David repented and sought to find out how God wanted the ark of God to be moved. As the powerful King of Israel, David was humble enough to submit himself to the Will of God. When he followed God’s Way, David’s anger over the tragedy that had happened to Uzzah was removed and his heart was filled with great joy!

Today, I will strive to consult God’s Will for how He wants me to worship Him. I will not try to come up with my own ideas of how to serve God. I will submit my will to His Will and let His joy fill my life!

“Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is also to be feared above all gods” (1 Chronicles 16:23-25).

4/14/24 “Understanding the Times” (Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 11-14)

“For at that time they came to David day by day to help him, until it was a great army, like the army of God… of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command” (1 Chronicles 12:22, 32).

Following the death of King Saul, David comes to the throne. However, not all Israel followed David at this point. Saul’s son Ishbosheth continued to reign over the majority of Israel for 2 years. During this time only the tribe of Judah followed David (2 Samuel 2:10-11). There was a long war civil war during this time between those who followed Ishbosheth and those who followed David. The followers of David grew stronger while Ishbosheth and his allies became weaker (2 Samuel 3:1).

The 12th chapter of 1 Chronicles describes how people began to leave Ishbosheth in droves and come over to follow David. As the opening verses above indicate, this continued to happen until the followers of David became a “great army” (1 Chronicles 12:22). The inspired author summarizes why these various individuals came over to David’s side: “All these men of war, who could keep ranks, came to Hebron with a loyal heart, to make David king over all Israel; and all the rest of Israel were of one mind to make David king” (1 Chronicles 12:38).

Again, as the opening verses indicate, among those who came over to David’s side were men of the tribe of Issachar “who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do” (1 Chronicles 12:32). While others who came over to David were “mighty men of valor” and “captains in the army” and were noted for the abilities to fight on the battlefield (1 Chronicles 12:21), these men of Issachar were noted for their ability to discern the times in which they lived. They were able to recognize that God had anointed David to be king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:13) and that now was the appropriate time to unite all Israel together to make David the king over the whole nation. It was important to David’s success that he have such men among his followers who had “understanding of the times” and to “know what Israel ought to do”

As I consider these men of Issachar, I ask, “Do we not need such people in the Lord’s church today?” It is one thing to know what the Bible says; it is another to know how to go about implementing those godly instructions into everyday living today. For example, the Bible speaks about Paul preaching till midnight (Acts 20:7). Would it be wise to encourage our preachers to preach 3 or 4-hour lessons in a day and age in which most people would struggle to remain focused for 30 minutes (i.e. the average length of a TV sitcom). Then again, how should we go about trying to reach the lost in an age where people are becomingly increasingly disconnected from each other? Should we go out and knock on doors or should we try to use technology (e.g. such as Facebook) to try to get the message of God across?

I am not suggesting we should “water down” any of the messages from God’s Word, but we do need to understand the times in which we live. The methods and techniques the church might have used in the 1950’s and 1960’s may not be very effective today. May God give us more people in the church who are like these men of Issachar who have “understanding of the times” and to know what we should do. Like those of David’s day, such will be a great blessing to the Lord’s church today! I will strive to follow God and understand the times in which I live as I apply His Word to my life!

“My son, let them not depart from your eyes-- Keep sound wisdom and discretion” (Proverbs 3:21).

4/13/24 “The Death of the Unfaithful” (Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 8-10)

“So, Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the Lord, because he did not keep the word of the Lord, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. But he did not inquire of the Lord; therefore, He killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse” (1 Chronicles 10:13-14).

After describing the descendants of the various tribes of Israel in the first nine chapters of the book of 1st Chronicles, the inspired author now turns his attention to the first kings of Israel. Whereas the book of 1st Samuel describes King Saul’s reign over 21 chapters, the chronicler only devotes one chapter to Saul’s reign and focuses solely upon the final days of Saul as dies in battle at Mount Gilboa in a battle with the Philistines (1 Chronicles 10:1-10).

As mentioned in the opening verses above, the writer of 1st Chronicles makes it perfectly clear why Saul died. He died “for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the Lord” (1 Chronicles 10:13-14). He then describes in what ways Saul had been unfaithful.

First, Saul had been unfaithful to “keep the word of the Lord” (1 Chronicles 10:13). At the very beginning of Saul’s reign Samuel had told Saul to wait for him and Samuel would come and offer sacrifices to the Lord. Instead, Saul grew impatient and offered the sacrifices himself (1 Samuel 10:8; 13:8-14). On another occasion God, through the prophet Samuel, told Saul to utterly destroy all the Amalekites and their possessions. However, Saul chose to spare Agag their king and the best of the animals of the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:2-3, 12-28). Saul was unfaithful because he refused to follow God’s commands!

Saul was also unfaithful because he “consulted a medium for guidance”, but “he did not inquire of the Lord” (1 Chronicles 10:13-14). Before the eve of the battle against the Philistines in which he would lose his life, Saul was greatly afraid and troubled. King Saul then consulted a spiritualist, a medium, for guidance as to what he should do (1 Samuel 28:8-19). Saul’s failure to humble himself before God and seek God’s guidance and direction in his life was another way in which he had been unfaithful.

The life of Saul is a very sad one. His kingdom had started out so promising as he had been anointed by the prophet Samuel and blessed by God to lead the people of God (1 Samuel 10:1). However, because of his unfaithfulness to follow God’s commands to him, God told Saul that he would tear the kingdom from him (1 Samuel 13:13-14; 15:27-29). Rather than accept God’s judgment upon him regarding the kingdom, Saul spent the rest of his life fighting against God’s Will for him as his soul was filled with distress and his heart was filled with jealousy over David who would succeed him (1 Samuel 16:14; 18:8-9). Saul would spend many of the years of his reign pursuing David all over the countryside trying to kill David in his jealous rage.

As I think about Saul, I surely do not want to follow his example. I do not want to die the death of the unfaithful. I rejoice that God has not left me to guide myself in life. He lovingly gives me direction because He made me and knows what is best for me. I will strive to seek His guidance and heed His commands for me in my life. “Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah!”

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12)

4/12/24 “Tragedy Has Come Upon My House” (Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 5-7)

“Then Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brethren came to comfort him. And when he went in to his wife, she conceived and bore a son; and he called his name Beriah, because tragedy had come upon his house” (1 Chronicles 7:22-23).

The beginning of the book of Chronicles lists the descendants of the various tribes of Israel. The 7th chapter of Chronicles describes the descendants of Ephraim, a grandson of Jacob, who made up one of the 12 tribes of Israel. However, tragedy had fallen upon Ephraim as the men of Gath had killed his descendants in order to take away their cattle (1 Chronicles 7:20-21). Understandably, Ephraim mourned many days over this tragedy (1 Chronicles 7:22). After his brethren came to comfort him, Ephraim and his wife were blessed with the birth of another son (1 Chronicles 7:23).

However, what is interesting is what Ephraim and his wife chose to name this newborn son. Ephraim called the name of this child “Beriah” which means “in tragedy” because tragedy had come upon his house. It is interesting that rather than rejoice in the future as God had blessed Ephraim with another child, Ephraim chose to dwell on the tragedy of the past and so named his newborn son.

It is understandable and appropriate that Ephraim and his wife would grieve over the loss of their family from the tragedy which happened to them. Grief is a natural part of the human experience and it is appropriate and essential to allow ourselves to grieve and pour out the pain we feel over the loss of loved ones. Jesus understood grief. “He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with GRIEF (emp. Mine), and we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him” (Isaiah 53:3). The apostle Paul encourages appropriate grieving as he writes, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15).

The concern with Ephraim and his wife was, not only did they appropriately pour out their grief for a time following the loss of their descendants, but they let that grief begin to dominate their lives as is seen in the naming of their newborn son Beriah. They begin to dwell on their grief rather than allow themselves to experience joy as in the birth of another child.

Following the rebuking of a young man who had sinned and his subsequent repentance, the apostle Paul urged the Christians at the church at Corinth to forgive him and reaffirm their love for him lest he be “swallowed up with too much sorrow” (2 Corinthians 2:7). Ephraim and his wife were in danger of being “swallowed up with too much sorrow over the tragedy which had earlier befallen their family.

As I think about this interesting account of Ephraim and his wife I have to consider: Do I tend to dwell on the tragedies of the past or rejoice in the hope of the future? Am I in danger of being “swallowed up with too much sorrow” over the tragedies of the past or do I allow myself to pour out my grief for a time, but then cling to God’s hand and look forward to the future opportunities that await me?

It is interesting that later in the same passage above, one of Ephraim’s descendants would be Joshua, the son of Nun, who would lead God’s people into the Promised Land (1 Chronicles 7:27). There was a great blessing awaiting Ephraim in the future. One of his descendants would become one of Israel’s greatest leaders. Today, I will choose not to be “swallowed up with much sorrow”, but we eagerly embrace the future and the joyful opportunities that God will offer to me!

“Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him!" (Lamentations 3:22-24).

4/11/24 “May I Not Cause Pain!” (Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 1-4)

“Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, "Because I bore him in pain." And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, ‘Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!’ So, God granted him what he requested” (1 Chronicles 4:9-10).

As the writer of the book of first Chronicles lists those among the descendants of Judah, the son of Israel, he describes one whose name was Jabez. His mother called his name “Jabez” which means, “He will cause pain”. She did this because in much pain she bore him (1 Chronicles 4:9). She attached this label to him thinking that he would not only cause pain to her during childbirth, but also, he would bring pain to others as well! Her choice for his name certainly did not help his self-esteem!

However, Jabez did not wish to live up to his name. He did not want to be known as one who caused pain to others. Instead, he desired to be more “honorable” (1 Chronicles 4:9). He prays to God and petitions God to bless him, enlarge his territory, for God’s hand to be with him, and for God to keep him from evil. He makes these requests of God because as he says, his fervent desire is, “that I may not cause pain!” (1 Chronicles 4:10).

 As I consider his prayer, I ask myself, “Do I strive to follow his example and not cause pain to others?” Do you know of people who always seem to be in the midst of a lot of “drama”? In other words, they always seem to be upset at something or someone. Instead of love, joy and peace filling their lives, their lives all full of hate, anger, and fighting. Because of this, not only do they cause a lot of pain in their own lives, but they cause a lot of pain to the lives of others as well as they engage in gossip, backbiting, and complaining.

The church at Corinth was filled with many who had given into the temptation to have a divisive spirit and who caused pain to others. The apostle Paul pleaded with them to rise above this and to strive to have unity among themselves: “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10).

On the other hand, Jesus spoke to his disciples about how they should not cause pain to others. Christ said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). King David, wrote, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1).

The prayer of Jabez teaches me that in whatever circumstances I may find myself, I do not have to act in a way that causes pain to others. Jabez found himself born to a woman who expected he was going to cause pain to others. Jabez could have resigned himself to fulfilling her expectations of him since she had so named him. Instead, he chose to be “more honorable” and petitioned God to guide his life so he would not cause pain to others. Today, I rejoice that when others around me engage in gossip, backbiting, and complaining and cause pain to others, God has given me the power to choose to not engage in such divisive activity. Like Jabez, I will strive to “not cause pain”!

“Therefore, let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way” (Romans 14:13).

4/10/24 “God’s Anger is but for a Moment, His Favor Is for Life” (Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 23-25)

“Surely at the commandment of the Lord this came upon Judah, to remove them from His sight because of the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he had done, and also because of the innocent blood that he had shed; for he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, which the Lord would not pardon” (2 Kings 24:3-4).

The book of 2 Kings closes with one of the saddest pictures in all the Scriptures. The Babylonians have come up and attacked Jerusalem and carried away its people to Babylon and destroyed the buildings and walls around Jerusalem. Regarding Nebuzaradan, a servant of the king of Babylon, it is said, “He burned the house of the Lord and the king's house; all the houses of Jerusalem, that is, all the houses of the great, he burned with fire. And all the army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard broke down the walls of Jerusalem all around” (2 Kings 25-9-10). As the book of 2 Kings begins to close, God’s people are suffering and their city lay in ruins.

Why had all this happened? As the opening verses above indicate, God was removing His people from His sight because of their sins. King Manasseh, who had reigned years before, had committed great sin and filled the city with “innocent blood” (2 Kings 24:3-4). God would not pardon this sin, but would execute punishment for this sin. God was angry and it was time for His people to experience His wrath. “For because of the anger of the Lord this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, that He finally cast them out from His presence…” (2 Kings 24:20).

However, lest we be filled with exceedingly great sorrow at reading these things, the book of 2 Kings concludes in a very interesting way. Notice the final 4 verses of the book: “Now it came to pass in the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, that Evil-Merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, released Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison. He spoke kindly to him, and gave him a more prominent seat than those of the kings who were with him in Babylon. So Jehoiachin changed from his prison garments, and he ate bread regularly before the king all the days of his life. And as for his provisions, there was a regular ration given him by the king, a portion for each day, all the days of his life” (2 Kings 25:27-30).

The book concludes with the king of Babylon bringing Jehoiachin, one of the former kings of Judah, out of prison, sitting him at his table, clothing him, and feeding him well for the rest of his life. The book ends with a message of better days coming for God’s people. Yes, God had been very angry with His people and was punishing them for their sins. However, God also made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that He would bless the whole world through one who would come through their seed (i.e. Jesus Christ). God’s favor was still going to be upon His people as He would see that this promise was fulfilled.

As I consider these things, I shudder at the thought of God’s wrath coming upon our country because of all the innocent blood (e.g. the practice of abortion) which has been shed in our land and all the evil our nation practices. However, I know God’s favor still rests upon those who seek to remain faithful in the midst of all the evil which surrounds us. Today, I rejoice that, though I am sure God is angry with the sins of our nation, His favor still rests upon those who strive to do His Will!

“For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).

4/9/24 “Casting Your Care upon the Lord” (Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 19-22)

“And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. Then Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and said: "O Lord God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God” (2 Kings 19:14-16).

King Hezekiah ruled the Judah during the time of the Assyrian takeover of the northern kingdom of Israel (2 Kings 17:6-7; 18:1-2). Hezekiah was a godly king who served God and strove to remove idolatry from the southern kingdom of Judah (2 Kings 18:3-4). God’s Word testifies to his faithfulness to God: “He trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him. For he held fast to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses” (2 Kings 18:5-6).

However, King Hezekiah faced a great challenge. Unlike his father Ahaz who had served the king of Assyria and paid tribute to the Assyrians (2 Kings 16:1-8), Hezekiah trusted in God and refused to serve the king of Assyria (2 Kings 18:7). As a result, the king of Assyria sends his forces to attack Judah and threaten the capital city of Jerusalem (2 Kings 18:13). He sends his official, the Rabsaris, to urge Jerusalem to surrender to his forces (2 Kings 18:17-35). The Rabsaris (i.e. also called the Rabshakeh) mocks the idea of Hezekiah or Judah trusting in God’s power to deliver them from the powerful hand of the king of Assyria. He relays the word of the king of Assyria as he says, “Who among all the gods of the lands have delivered their countries from my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem from my hand?” (2 Kings 18:35). Later, the king of Assyria sends a letter by his messengers again making similar threats to King Hezekiah and the nation of Judah and boasting how he had conquered all the other nations who had stood in His way (2 Kings 19:9-13).

What does Hezekiah do as he faces such a great threat? Assyria was an incredibly cruel power which used terroristic techniques to intimidate their opposition such as skinning people alive and leading them into captivity with hooks in their noses and bridles in their lips. As the opening verses above indicate, Hezekiah takes this letter to the house of the Lord and “spread it before the Lord”.

God does intervene. God spoke against the king of Assyria saying, “'But I know your dwelling place, your going out and your coming in, and your rage against Me. Because your rage against Me and your tumult have come up to My ears, therefore I will put My hook in your nose and My bridle in your lips, and I will turn you back by the way which you came” (2 Kings 19:27-28). God did this as “the angel of the Lord” went out and killed 185,000 Assyrians in their camp. The Assyrians turned back and Sennacherib, the king of Assyria is killed by his own 2 sons (2 Kings 19:33-36).

When I consider how God intervened on the behalf of His righteous servant King Hezekiah, I am encouraged to know that God will take up my cause when I am faced by challenging situations or threats from others. Today, I will rejoice that I can “spread out” my cares before the Lord and He will rise up to help me. God is able to deliver me!

“When I cry out to You, then my enemies will turn back; this I know, because God is for me. In God (I will praise His word), In the Lord (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Psalm 56:9-11).

4/8/24 “The Judgments of the Lord Are True and Righteous Altogether” (Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 16-18)

“For He tore Israel from the house of David, and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king. Then Jeroboam drove Israel from following the Lord, and made them commit a great sin. For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they did not depart from them, until the Lord removed Israel out of His sight, as He had said by all His servants the prophets. So, Israel was carried away from their own land to Assyria, as it is to this day” (2 Kings 17:21-23).

After centuries of forsaking God, the northern kingdom of Israel now endures God’s judgment. The nation of Assyria captures the land of Israel and the people of Israel are taken captive to a foreign land (2 Kings 17:4-6). God’s longsuffering with the southern kingdom of Judah would continue, but a couple of centuries after the fall of Israel, the nation of Judah would also face God’s judgment.

Why did this judgment of God occur? “For so it was that the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and they had feared other gods, and had walked in the statutes of the nations whom the Lord had cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made” (2 Kings 17:7-8). Israel had walked according to the nations and not according to God.

What had God done to help His people avoid such a terrible judgment upon themselves? “…the Lord testified against Israel and against Judah, by all of His prophets, every seer, saying, ‘Turn from your evil ways, and keep My commandments and My statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by My servants the prophets.’ Nevertheless, they would not hear, but stiffened their necks, like the necks of their fathers, who did not believe in the Lord their God” (2 Kings 17:13-14). Through His servants, the prophets, God had pleaded with His people to turn from their evil ways!

After such a long period of trying to encourage His people to repent, the time had finally come for God to execute His judgment. “Therefore, the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them from His sight; there was none left but the tribe of Judah alone” (2 Kings 17:18). In order to be a just God, there has to come a time when God executes His justice!

As I read the 17th chapter of the book of kings which describes God’s judgment on Israel, it is interesting the lengthy explanation of why God had brought this judgment on His people. Verses 7 through 23 of this chapter provide the details of why God allowed another nation, more wicked than His own people, to overtake the Promised Land and lead his people away captive. Why did God dedicate all these verses to explaining why He brought such judgment on His people? I believe it is to show that God’s judgments and true and righteous altogether.

Today, I rejoice that God is a just God. He shows no favoritism in His judgments. He isn’t influenced by bribes. He is more than fair in His judgments. As He considers His judgments, He extends His grace and mercy to those who seek it by repentance. He is longsuffering hoping that people repent. He sends His messengers to warn people they need to repent. Praise God that His judgments and true and righteous altogether!

“The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb” (Psalm 19:9-10).

4/7/24 “The Longsuffering of God for His People” (Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 13-15)

“And Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. But the Lord was gracious to them, had compassion on them, and regarded them, because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not yet destroy them or cast them from His presence” (2 Kings 13:22-23).

As one reads chapters 13 through 15 of 2nd Kings, it is difficult to keep track of all the different kings that are reigning in the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Both kingdoms, especially Israel, are spiraling down the drain as they depart further and further from God. Other nations (e.g. Syria and Assyria) begin to attack God’s people and take away their land (2 Kings 13:3; 15:19-20, 29). God allowed this to happen because He was angry with His people; and, He hoped that as a result of being oppressed, His people would recognize their need for God and turn back to Him and repent of the evil of their ways.

However, what is also striking in these chapters is God’s longsuffering with His people during these dark days. God’s people were conducting themselves very wickedly. They were worshipping idols and treating God just as another god among a long list of ones they worshipped. Yet, although God was angry with them and would allow them to suffer persecution in an effort to draw them back to Himself, God would not “yet” destroy them or cast them from His presence (2 Kings 13:23).

Notice other verses from this section of Scripture and how they speak of God’s longsuffering with His people at this time. After God delivered Israel into the hands of the Syrians, we read, “So Jehoahaz pleaded with the Lord, and the Lord listened to him; for He saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them. Then the Lord gave Israel a deliverer, so that they escaped from under the hand of the Syrians; and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents as before” (2 Kings 13:4-5). In addition, later, after Israel had lost much of her land, God prophesied through the prophet Jonah that He would restore the land which he did during the reign of Jereboam the son of Joash even though Jereboam was evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 12:23-25): “For the Lord saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter; and whether bond or free, there was no helper for Israel. And the Lord did not say that He would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven; but He saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash” (2 Kings 14:26-27).

God’s longsuffering does not mean that He will not hold those accountable who have sinned, but it does mean that He suffers with His people as He longs for His people to turn back to Him and restore their relationship with Him by repenting of the error of their ways. Sin creates a breech in one’s relationship with God as it causes one to be separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). In His longsuffering with His people, God waits with outstretched arms towards His people longing for them to turn away from their foolishness of their sinful lifestyle and back to His loving arms.

As a child of God, I greatly rejoice in God’s longsuffering with me. The apostle Peter certainly understood the longsuffering of God as he recalled how longsuffering Jesus had been with him during His ministry on this earth as Peter made one mistake after another, even to the point of denying He knew the Lord. In my walk with God, I know many times I have strayed. God doesn’t give up on me when I stumble and sin. He bears with me with much longsuffering and He stretches out His arms to me reminding me of His love. Today, I praise God for His longsuffering towards me!

 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

4/6/24 “The Blessing of Godly Instructors and Examples” (Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 10-12)

“In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba. Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him” (2 Kings 12:1-2).

As the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah depart further and further from God, a new king, Jehoash begins his reign in Judah. His grandmother Athaliah had reigned the 6 previous years after she had taken the throne by having all of Jehoash’s brothers murdered. She murdered her own grandchildren! Fortunately, Jehoash’s aunt, Jehosheba, had taken Jehoash and had temporarily hid him in the bedroom and then for 6 years in the house of the Lord while Athaliah reigned (2 Kings 11:1-3). In the final year of Athaliah’s reign, the priest Jehoiada makes a covenant with some of the captains to protect Jehoash and brings Jehoash out and crowns him king of Judah (2 Kings 11:4-12). Jehoiada then has the captains and officers to kill Athaliah (2 Kings 11:13-16). At the young, impressionable age of 7 Jehoash begins his reign (2 Kings 11:31).

Fortunately, young Jehoash has a man in his life who will exercise some godly influence and guidance upon him as he takes hold of the reigns to lead this nation. The man’s name was Jehoiada. Not only did Jehoiada help Jehoash to become king by working with the leaders of the army to overthrow Athaliah, but Jehoiada helped to turn the people of Judah back to God. “Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord, the king, and the people, that they should be the Lord's people, and also between the king and the people” (2 Kings 11:17). Jehoiada also led the people to destroy the temple of the false god Baal (2 Kings 11:18) and worked with the king and the people to raise money and repair the house of the Lord (2 Kings 12:4-14).

As the opening verses above indicate, king Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him (2 Kings 12:2). Later, Jehoash would go astray when, instead of trusting in God, he feared the king of Syria and paid him off so he would not attack Jerusalem (2 Kings 12:17-18).

When I consider the great work Jehoiada performed for Jehoash, I am reminded how blessed I have been to have spiritual mentors in my life who have instructed me and encouraged me on my journey with God. I think about faithful gospel preachers and Bible class teachers who have helped me to understand the Scriptures and make applications of them to my life. I think about elders who have shepherded me as they “watched out for my soul” (Hebrews 13:17). It is a blessing to have godly men and women in my life whose “faith I can follow” (Hebrews 13:7).

Have I taken time to thank those who have been spiritual mentors to me? Today, I will rejoice that I have examples not only in the Bible of those whose faith I can follow but living examples of godly men and women around me who seek to instruct me not only in what they teach to me, but in how they live before me! I also will strive to live in such a way as to encourage others in the faith!

“Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).

4/5/24 “I Will Repay You” (Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 7-9)

“Then Jehu said to Bidkar his captain, ‘Pick him up, and throw him into the tract of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember, when you and I were riding together behind Ahab his father, that the Lord laid this burden upon him: “Surely I saw yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons,” says the Lord, “and I will repay you in this plot,” says the Lord. Now therefore, take and throw him on the plot of ground, according to the word of the Lord’" (2 Kings 9:25-26).

These words were spoken regarding Jehoram the son of Ahab after Jehu had killed him (2 Kings 9:24). Earlier, Elisha the prophet had Jehu anointed to be the next king of Israel (2 Kings 9:1-6). Jehu was then told to strike down the remaining members of the house of Ahab including the sitting king, Jehoram the son of Ahab (2 Kings 9:7-10). Jehu does as he is instructed and shoots an arrow through Jehoram’s heart, as well as having Jehoram’s mother Jezebel killed (2 Kings 9:11-37).

Why was this done? Ahab had been an exceedingly wicked king (1 Kings 21:25-26). After Ahab’s wife Jezebel had Naboth murdered so Ahab could take over his vineyard, God told Ahab through the prophet Elijah, “'Behold, I will bring calamity on you. I will take away your posterity, and will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, both bond and free. I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, because of the provocation with which you have provoked Me to anger, and made Israel sin.” And concerning Jezebel the Lord also spoke, saying, ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’ The dogs shall eat whoever belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the field" (1 Kings 21:21-24).

In addition, the opening verses above indicate to us that God had told Ahab that He had seen the blood of Naboth and Naboth’s sons which had been shed because of Ahab’s selfish desire to have Naboth’s vineyard. Like Abel of ancient times, God had heard the crying out of their blood from the earth asking God for justice (cf. Genesis 4:10). The Lord had “laid a burden” on Ahab by letting Ahab know that God would repay Ahab on this same field which belonged to Naboth. This was fulfilled when Jehu threw the dead body of Ahab’s son Jehoram upon this field and the dogs ate the flesh of Jezebel on this same field.

Although it took many years for God to execute vengeance upon the house of Ahab, in due time justice was done. Perhaps for a while, Ahab’s household might have thought they would not have to experience any ramifications for what they had done. However, God did repay them in full!

Do you ever struggle with feeling like the wicked get away with their crimes? Over the centuries God’s people have struggled with this. The prophet Habbakuk said, “O Lord, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear? Even cry out to You, ‘Violence!’ And You will not save” (Habbakuk 1:2). In the book of Revelation, those souls who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held, cried out with a loud voice saying, “"How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" (Revelation 6:9-10).

Today, I rejoice that I know that God will execute His justice in due time (2 Corinthians 5:10). I don’t need to harbor feelings of vengeance because I trust in God to execute this. I will strive to extend to lost souls God’s mercy and forgiveness as I have also been blessed to be a recipient of these!

“Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:19).

4/4/24 “Does God Meet My Expectations?” (Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 4-6)

“Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elisha's house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, ‘Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.’ But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, ‘Indeed, I said to myself, “He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.” Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?’ So, he turned and went away in a rage” (2 Kings 5:9-12).

During the reign of Jehoram, the son of Ahab, king of Israel (2 Kings 3:1-3), God did many wonderful miracles through his prophet Elisha. Elisha had become a great prophet of God after his mentor Elijah was taken up to heaven in a flaming chariot (2 Kings 2:11). One of the great miracles Elisha did through God’s power was the healing of Naaman.

Naaman was commander of the Syrian army. He was a great and honorable man. The Lord worked through Naaman, even though Naaman did not realize this, to give victory to Syria. But, Naaman was a leper (2 Kings 5:1). A servant girl of Naaman, who was from the land of Israel, told Naaman’s wife about Elisha and how she believed Elisha could heal her master of leprosy (2 Kings 5:2-4).

As the opening verses above indicate, Naaman goes to Elisha’s house to be healed. He expects Elisha to come out, wave his hands, and call on the name of the Lord God. But Elisha doesn’t do this. In fact, Elisha doesn’t come out at all, but sends a messenger to Naaman. This messenger tells Naaman to go wash in the Jordan River seven times. The messenger tells Naaman if he will do this his flesh will be restored and he will be cleansed of his leprosy (2 Kings 5:9-10).

Naaman can’t believe this! This is not what he expected. He can’t believe he left Syria and came all the way down to Elisha’s house just to be stood up by Elisha who doesn’t even come out to meet him! He doesn’t understand why he could not have washed in one of the rivers back home. He is filled with rage and gets ready to leave (2 Kings 5:11-12). However, his servants persuade him to do as the man of God has said. Naaman does so and is cleansed of his leprosy (2 Kings 5:13-14). Naaman humbles himself, thanks the man of God, strives to follow after the one true living God, and returns to land of Syria (2 Kings 5:15-19).

As I read this, I think, “Do I ever get upset because God doesn’t meet my expectations of Him?” In reference to the things which the Bible says God has done (e.g. the virgin birth of Christ, creating the world in 7 days, etc.), do I find it challenging to accept what the Bible says when the “scientific community” rejects it? Regarding God’s commandments, do I have difficulty following those commands of God (e.g. baptism or God’s laws on marriage, divorce and remarriage) that don’t “make sense” to me? When I pray, do I expect God to answer my prayers a certain way; and, when He doesn’t answer my prayers my way, do I become disappointed with Him?

Living by faith means I trust fully in God that He will answer my prayers and direct my paths in a way that He knows is best for me. It means following His commandments when, like Naaman, they may make no sense to me. Today, I will strive to trust fully in God as he leads me on the journey of life!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

4/3/24 “Called Up to Heaven in a Blaze of Glory” (Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 1-3)

“Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, ‘My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!’ So, he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces” (2 Kings 2:11-12).

The prophet Elijah had served God faithfully even though He struggled at times with discouragement. He proclaimed God’s message before kings, challenged the false prophets of Baal, and persevered when his life was pursued by Ahab’s wicked wife Jezebel. After training his successor Elisha, God was now ready to take his faithful prophet Elijah to his heavenly reward.

As the opening verses above indicate, as Elijah and Elisha were walking along, suddenly a chariot and horses of fire came down from heaven and picked up Elijah and carried him up to heaven in a swirling whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11-12). The sons of the prophets doubted that God has actually carried Elijah into heaven and believed that, perhaps, the Spirit of the Lord has taken him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley so they began to search for him in vain (2 Kings 2:15-18). But Elijah had gone into heaven. No eyes of man on earth would behold him again until he appeared with Moses at the transfiguration of Christ (Matthew 17:1-3). What a breathtaking sight it must have been for Elisha to see his mentor Elijah taken up to heaven in a blaze of glory!

As I read these verses, I am encouraged because I am reminded of the reward that is waiting for those who faithfully follow Christ. Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25). One of the basic principles of Christianity is the teaching of the resurrection. The apostle Paul said, “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Because Jesus rose from the dead, we have great hope that we who follow him will rise from the dead as well. Again, the apostle Paul writes, “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20).

Hope is so essential to living the Christian life. It is the anchor of the soul (Hebrews 6:19). Believing in and looking forward to our resurrection from the dead is a source of great encouragement for me and my walk with God. Forgetting the importance of the resurrection can lead to discouragement. The apostle Paul wrote, “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).

As Elijah was caught up in a whirlwind and carried to heaven, even so those Christians who are living on the earth when Christ comes again will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. If I die before the Lord comes again, then I am assured that the Lord will raise me up out of the grave. Today, I will rejoice as I look forward to going to be with the Lord at the sound of the last trumpet!

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

4/2/24 “Dealing with Discouragement” (Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 19-22)

“… and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ So, he said, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life’” (1 Kings 19:9-10).

Elijah the prophet was a great man of God. He was God’s spokesman who faced the great challenge of trying to lead Israel back to God at a time when the forces of government opposed him and God’s people had backslidden into idol worship. He was a great man of faith who, when he called upon God to cause it not to rain in order to chasten God’s people to see the error of their ways, God answered his prayer by causing it not to rain for 3 ½ years (1 Kings 17:1; James 5:17-18). Elijah courageously opposed the wicked King Ahab and won a great challenge against the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel in order to get the people of Israel to see and proclaim that “The Lord, He is God!” (1 Kings 18:22-40). Elijah would be rewarded for his faithfulness to God by not having to experience death as he was called up to heaven in a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2:11). The apostles James, Peter, and John would later see Elijah at the transfiguration of Christ (Matthew 17:1-3).

However, as great a man of faith as Elijah was, he was a man who struggled with discouragement. As the opening verses above indicate, following his challenge against the 450 prophets of Baal and Jezebel’s vow to take Elijah’s life, Elijah becomes very discouraged. He felt like he was all alone. He believed in his heart that there were no more faithful followers of God. In fact, his despair is so great that he prayed that he might die and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” (1 Kings 19:4). He was so depressed he wanted to die!

God intervened to encourage his faithful follower, Elijah. God sends an angel to give him nourishment (1 Kings 19:5-8). However, Elijah’s struggle with discouragement is not over (1 Kings 19:9-10). God has Elijah stand on the mountain before the Lord to witnesses a great and strong wind, an earthquake, and a fire (1 Kings 19:11-12a). After witnessing these strong and mighty acts of the Lord, Elijah will hear the Lord speak to him in a “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12a-18). In the midst of all these awesome acts of the Lord (i.e. great wind, earthquake, and fire) and in the midst of all the crazy things happening in Israel, what Elijah needed to do was to take heed to carefully listen to God’s voice. As God speaks to Elijah, He says, “Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him" (1 Kings 19:18).

As I consider Elijah, and the challenges he faced in serving God in the midst of a godless nation, it is easy for me to relate to him as I serve God today. It is difficult to serve God when so many around you walk contrary to God’s Will and you receive little encouragement to remain faithful to God from other people. It is easy to become discouraged when trying to serve God in such circumstances. 

However, like Elijah, I need to take time to listen to God’s “still small voice”. When everything appears to be tumultuous around me, I need to reflect upon the promises He has made to me. I also need to remember there are faithful servants of God who have not “bowed the knee to Baal” and be encouraged by them. Today, I will rejoice that God still speaks to me through His Word in a “still small voice” and I will rejoice in my brethren who continue to strive to serve God faithfully!

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:9).

4/1/2024 “Trivializing Sin” (Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 15-18)

“Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him. And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him. Then he set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a wooden image. Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him” (1 Kings 16:30-33).

Following the reign of Solomon, God’s people split into 2 separate kingdoms: (1) the kingdom of Israel ruled by Jereboam, and (2) the kingdom of Judah reigned by Rehoboam. Jereboam leads the kingdom of Israel further and further away from God. Those kings ruling Israel after him continue this departure from the ways of the Lord. There are multiple coups where someone conspires against the sitting king of Israel and usurps the throne. For example, Baasha (1 Kings 15:27-28), Zimri (1 Kings 16:9-10) and Omri (1 Kings 16:16-23) all ascended to the throne by staging a coup against the sitting king. The kingdom of Israel was spiraling down as it departed further and further from God. Each of these kings provoked God to anger by their wicked ways. For instance, of Omri it is said, “Omri did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and did worse than all who were before him” (1 Kings 16:25).

However, there would rise up kings in Israel even more evil than Omri. As the opening verse above indicates, Omri’s own son Ahab “did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him” (1 Kings 16:33). He was brash about his sin as he builds an idolatrous temple (1 Kings 16:32), makes a wooden image to worship (1 Kings 16:33), and marries Jezebel who promoted the idolatrous priest of Baal by feeding them at her table (1 Kings 18:19).  Ahab took his sins against the Lord very lightly as he thought it “a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat” (1 Kings 18:31).

As I think about Israel’s downward spiral during the reigns of these kings, it is easy to draw parallels to the downward spiral we are seeing in our own nation, the United States. For example, in recent years, we have seen our states, our schools, and the media promoting such things as gay marriage. There are few things in God’s Word as clear as the fact that God considers homosexuality an abomination (Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11) and that marriage is to be between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6). This is not meant to “bash” or focus only on those who practice the sin of homosexuality because there are many other sins (e.g. lying, cheating, fornication, murder, etc.) which, as a whole, our nation has “trivialized”.

However, rather than pointing my finger at everyone else, I need to look at myself. Do I trivialize my own sin? Do I minimize my sin when I speak angry words that hurt others or tell a “little white lie”?

When I consider the great price that was paid (i.e. the death of God’s Son Jesus) for my sin, I am greatly humbled. Like all others, I have all sinned (Romans 3:23). I deserved to die for my sin (Romans 6:23). God be thanked that I was blessed with the opportunity to hear the good news about Christ and have been forgiven of my sin through his blood (Romans 6:3-4; 6:17-18). I am not better than all the other sinners around me. I am just blessed to be forgiven through Christ and I live by faith in Him. Today, I will strive not to trivialize my own sin and live rejoicing in God’s forgiveness!

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Romans 6:1-2)

3/31/24 “Listening to Evil Thoughts” (Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 12-14)

“And Jeroboam said in his heart, ‘Now the kingdom may return to the house of David: If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn back to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and go back to Rehoboam king of Judah.’ Therefore, the king asked advice, made two calves of gold, and said to the people, ‘It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, which brought you up from the land of Egypt!’” (1Kings 12:26-28).

Following the death of King Solomon, Solomon’s son Rehoboam ascends to the throne of Israel. However, he foolishly rejects the advice of the elders, who encouraged him to lighten the burdens on the people, and as a result 10 of the 12 tribes of Israel rebel against him and refuse to have him as their king (1 Kings 12:1-15). These tribes follow Jereboam and set him up as their king (1 Kings 12:20). God had given Jereboam a wonderful opportunity to lead these 10 tribes of Israel (1 Kings 11:29-38). Earlier through the prophet Ahijah, God told Jereboam, “Then it shall be, if you heed all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build for you an enduring house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you” (1 Kings 11:38).

Everything appears to be falling into place for Jereboam to begin a dynasty of kings to reign in Israel with God’s blessing. But then, Jereboam takes his eye off following God and begins to have evil thoughts that the people he is leading will return back to king Rehoboam of Judah (1 Kings 11:27). Instead of fearing God and remembering God’s promises to him, he listens to evil thoughts of doubt and fears man. His fear of man leads him to institute all sorts of wickedness in Israel contrary to God’s laws: (1) committing idolatry by setting up calves to worship in Dan and Bethel (1 Kings 12:28-29), (2) changing the priesthood from the Levites to just anybody (1 Kings 12:31), and (3) changing God’s appointed feast days (1 Kings 12:32). Jereboam’s legacy will become known by those wicked kings who followed in his ways of whom it will be said: “He did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin by which he had made Israel sin” (1 Kings 15:34; cf. 1 Kings 15:26; 16:19, 26).

Jereboam’s legacy was a terrible one. Forever he would become known by the evil he had done and as the one who had made Israel to sin. This became his legacy because he CHOSE to listen to evil thoughts of doubt and fear man, instead of remembering God’s promise to him and trusting in God.

As I think about Jereboam, I ask myself, “Do I listen to evil thoughts of doubt instead of trusting in God’s promises?” Satan will constantly try to plant evil thoughts in my head as he tempts me, but I don’t have to act on those evil thoughts. I can CHOOSE to put away these evil thoughts by replacing these evil thoughts with promises made to me by God. I do not want my legacy to be about how I gave into evil thoughts, walked in an evil way, and led others to do evil because of my own fears and insecurities. I want my legacy to be of one who clung to God’s promises in faith, glorified Him by the way I lived, and help lead others to know Him! Today, I rejoice that I can trust in the promises of God and through Christ have the power to put away evil thoughts of doubt!

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8).

3/30/24 “To What Am I Clinging?” (Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 9-11)

“But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites-- from the nations of whom the Lord had said to the children of Israel, ‘You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.’ Solomon clung to these in love” (1 Kings 11:1-2).

Solomon’s reign had started off so well. God had blessed him with great wisdom, understanding and “largeness of heart” (1 Kings 4:29). Solomon had been blessed to build the Temple of the Lord and witnessed God’s glory filling the temple (1 Kings 8:10-11). God had appeared to Solomon a second time and promised to continue to bless Solomon and his descendants forever if Solomon would continue to follow after God’s commandments (1 Kings 9:1-5).

However, Solomon began to stray. He began to oppress the people of God burdening them with heavy burdens (cf. 1 Kings 12:4). He mistreated his allies and the allies of his father by giving them worthless cities in exchange for the help they had given him (cf. 1 Kings 9:10-14). Worst of all, he turned from following after the Lord and began to serve the gods of his many wives.

As the opening verse states, Solomon had a terrible weakness for women. It appears he was unable to control his sexual appetites. In fact, he goes on to marry 700 women and has an additional 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3). His desire for all these women weakened his desire for God. In the end, they turned his heart away from the Lord and to their gods. As he turns away from Jehovah God, the Bible says about Solomon’s desire for these women that he, “clung to these in love” (1 Kings 11:2).

Solomon would go on to regret what he had done. The book of Ecclesiastes is essentially Solomon’s confession of how foolish he had been during these years of his kingdom. He would say about this time period, “Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart rejoiced in all my labor; and this was my reward from all my labor. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled; and, indeed, all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:10-11). He realized how incredibly foolish he had been seeking to satisfy himself with pleasure. In the end he concludes, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

Although Solomon realized the errors of his ways and regretted how foolish he had been, the consequences of his sins would out live him. His kingdom would become divided and the majority of the tribes of Israel would no longer follow the reign of his sons (1 Kings 11:11-13). Unfortunately, he had wasted the many blessings God had given to him because of his inability to control his sexual appetites and his clinging to all these women in love.

As I consider this part of Solomon’s life, I ask myself, “What am I clinging to?” Am I clinging to things which are fruitless and a complete wasting away of my life such as desires for sex, money, fame, or power? Or, am I clinging to Jehovah God by walking by faith in Him and setting my mind on things above (Matthew 6:33; Colossians 3:1-2)? Today, I will rejoice in God and cling to Him in faith!

“For You are my hope, O Lord God; You are my trust from my youth. By You I have been upheld from birth; You are He who took me out of my mother's womb. My praise shall be continually of You” (Psalm 71:5-6).

3/29/24 “No God like You” (Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 6-8)

“Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven; and he said: ‘Lord God of Israel, there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts’” (1 Kings 8:22-23).

The above words were spoken by Solomon as he and all Israel rejoice as the ark of the covenant is brought into the temple following its completion and God’s glory had filled the Temple (1 Kings 8:6-10). Solomon is filled with awe as he considers and proclaims to God, “How Great Thou Art”.

As Solomon considers God’s greatness, he mentions two things which are unique about God. First, God keeps His covenant. God had made a covenant with Abraham promising him that although Abraham’s descendants would serve another nation (i.e. Egypt) 400 years, God would bring them out to inherit the Promised Land (Genesis 15:13-16). Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph all clung in faith to this promise of God which He had made to them. God fulfilled this land promise as Joshua and the children of Israel conquered the Promised Land (Joshua 21:43-45). Furthermore, God promised Abraham that through one of his descendants (i.e. Christ) all the world would be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3). Through the eye of faith, God servants throughout the following centuries looked forward to the day when this be accomplished. The promise was fulfilled when Christ came to save men from their sins (Galatians 4:4-5). Solomon praises God for His faithfulness to keep His promises!

Secondly, Solomon proclaims that God is unique because God keeps His mercy towards those who serve Him. Although the servants of God strive to serve Him, they do not always serve Him well. For example, both Abraham and Isaac lied on occasions in an attempt to trust in themselves to save their own lives (Genesis 12:11-13; 26:7). Later, Jacob would get Esau to sell him his birthright and conspire with his mother Rebekah to deceive his father Isaac and get Isaac’s blessing (Genesis 25:29-34; 27:1-29). During their wilderness wanderings following God’s deliverance of them from the oppression they endured in the land of Egypt, the children of Israel complained against God and often doubted His ability to lead them into the Promised Land. In spite of all these failures among His people, God kept showing them mercy and forgiving them as they humbled themselves and turned back to God in repentance.

As I consider Solomon’s words as He proclaims God’s faithfulness to keep His covenant and His uniqueness, I can’t help but proclaim to God, “How Great Thou Art”! I can live my life by faith in God because I know that God has been faithful to keep the promises He has made to His people in the past and He will be faithful to keep the promises which He has made to me. I also can trust in His strength, and not my own, because I realize that in spite of my repeated failures, as I continue to struggle with sin, God will keep continuing to show mercy to me as I turn to Him with a contrite heart and repent.

Today I will rejoice in the great God I serve. Truly, there is no God like Him in heaven above or on the earth below! How wonderful it is to have the privilege of being called His child (1 John 3:1).

“Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; but he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!” (Psalm 32:10-11).

3/28/24 “Give Your Servant an Understanding Heart…” (Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 3-5)

“Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. Therefore, give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?" (1 Kings 3:7-9).

These words were spoken by King Solomon at the beginning of his reign as he felt overwhelmed at leading God’s people. His prayer was spoken out of a spirit of great humility as Solomon realized what an awesome task was before him in governing the children of Israel. God had appeared before Solomon in a dream and said, “Ask, what shall I give you?” (1 Kings 3:5). In his response Solomon asked for “an understanding heart” so that he may discern justice (1 Kings 3:9, 11).

Solomon’s reign began wonderfully. God gave Solomon not only wisdom, but also riches and honor (1 Kings 3:12-13). “And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore” (1 Kings 4:29). God gave Solomon: (1) Wisdom, (2) great understanding, and (3) largeness of heart. In other words, God gave Solomon not only wisdom in the decisions he would make, but of equal importance, God gave Solomon “largeness of heart”, to have empathy for the people he was leading and to “understand”, from their point of view, how the decisions he made would affect them.

Solomon displayed this wisdom and “understanding heart” when 2 harlots came before him with a child whom each woman said was hers. He called for a sword and suggested he will divide the child between the two of them. The real mother of the child cried out for him not to do this, but to give the child to the other woman. Solomon clearly “understood” who the true mother was because with his heart he saw the compassion she had for her child. Solomon had the child given to her (1 Kings 3:16-27). Israel rejoiced being blessed with a king who had the “wisdom of God” (1 Kings 3:28).

As I read these words, I think about how important it is for leaders at any level (i.e. government leaders, church leaders, or leaders in a family) to have wisdom and “an understanding heart”. Being a leader at any of these levels is not just about making decisions and expecting the people to follow them. It is also about understanding the people you are leading, the ability to see things from their point of view, and to be able to discern how to implement the decisions you have to make into a course of action that the people you are leading will be willing to follow. Too often leaders fail because they are unable or unwilling to discern how the people, they are attempting to lead, view things and then get frustrated because those they lead will not follow their decisions. May God give us more leaders like Solomon who have “an understanding heart”!

Today, I rejoice that God will give me wisdom if I seek it! My prayer is as Solomon’s: “Give your servant an understanding heart.” It is a great responsibility to be a leader whether at home, in the church, at work, or in the government. Leaders in any capacity need God’s help to give them an understanding heart and wisdom in the decisions they make. God is infinite in His wisdom. May the Lord bless me with imparting to me just a small portion of his wisdom as I seek to be a leader in whatever capacity I find myself!

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).