Read: 2 Chron. 19-23
Jehoshaphat had a weakness of befriending the wrong kind of person. He was rebuked for aligning with Ahab, an enemy of the Lord. But he was approved of all the good things he had done for the Lord and encouraged to continue following God. When the children of Moab, Ammon and Seir came a against him, he gathered the people to praise the Lord and call out to him. God caused Moab and Ammon to fight the people of Mt. Sir until they all died. Then the people of Judah went out and plundered them and gained great treasure. It was a great victory to win a battle they didn’t even have to fight!
In the end of Jehoshaphat’s reign, he aligned himself with Ahaziah king of Israel who, like Ahab, was wicked. They were going to build ships together. God had already rebuked him for doing this very thing. The ships all broke and it was a failed venture and probably led to his death. He left his oldest son Jehoram to rule in his place. He put his other sons over cities and gave them great gifts. Once Jehoram had established his kingdom, he killed all his brothers so they wouldn’t rise up against him. Jehoram was a wicked king.
Because he rebelled against God, God sent a plague to the people and a digestive illness to him which would cause his bowels to fall out eventually. On top of that, God stirred up the Philistines and the Arabians against him. They came and took his wives, sons, and all this treasures. Only his youngest son, Ahaziah was saved. He was also evil and made friends with Jehoram, Ahab’s son and king of Israel. This led to his death by Jehu, who had come to kill all Israel.
Jehoram’s mother, Athaliah reigned in his place and killed all the king’s son except for Joash who was hid in the house of the Lord for six years. Jehoiada, the elderly priest planned a coop to make Joash king. When the people all yelled, “God save the king.” Athaliah heard it and came running. They surrounded her and took her outside and killed her.
The Kings and Chronicles are full of power-hungry, greedy kings who rebelled against God. Sometimes there would arise a king who follow the Lord. It is such a picture of our world. Power and greed have always been the downfall of mankind. It is the spirit of the anti-christ. Lord, may we, the Church, not fall under this spell of power and greed but stay humble and pure.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Monday, June 29, 2015
Mon.’s Devo - A Living Sacrifice
Read: 1 Kings 22; 2 Chron. 18
Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, was the son of Asa and he was a good king. Ahab, king of Israel was a bad king. Ahab bought Jehoshaphat’s friendship with sheep and oxen and persuaded him to go to war against the Syrians to win back Ramoth-gilead. Ahab asked his 400 false prophets if they would win and they all told him what he wanted to hear. Jehoshaphat asked to hear from a prophet of God which meant they would have to ask Micaiah. Micaiah was a true prophet of God who had prophesied against Ahab many times before and Ahab didn’t want to ask him but Jehoshaphat insisted.
They even told Micaiah what he should say. He did just that but he must have said it sarcastically because Ahab saw right through it. He asked for the truth and when Micaiah gave it to him, Ahab threw Micaiah into prison. He prophesied that Israel would not win and that Ahab would fall in battle.
That is exactly what happened and God spared Jehoshaphat.
Prophets in the Old Testament gave the word of God at the expense of their own lives. They loved not their life unto death. It reminds me of what we are suppose to be…a living sacrifice. When we became Christians we gave up our lives and through baptism we were buried with Christ and raised to reign with Him. It is a great privilege to suffer for the kingdom of God because great will be our reward.
Lord, help us to see how temporary our lives are and how glorious it is to live for You. Let our lives be a living sacrifice to
Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, was the son of Asa and he was a good king. Ahab, king of Israel was a bad king. Ahab bought Jehoshaphat’s friendship with sheep and oxen and persuaded him to go to war against the Syrians to win back Ramoth-gilead. Ahab asked his 400 false prophets if they would win and they all told him what he wanted to hear. Jehoshaphat asked to hear from a prophet of God which meant they would have to ask Micaiah. Micaiah was a true prophet of God who had prophesied against Ahab many times before and Ahab didn’t want to ask him but Jehoshaphat insisted.
They even told Micaiah what he should say. He did just that but he must have said it sarcastically because Ahab saw right through it. He asked for the truth and when Micaiah gave it to him, Ahab threw Micaiah into prison. He prophesied that Israel would not win and that Ahab would fall in battle.
That is exactly what happened and God spared Jehoshaphat.
Prophets in the Old Testament gave the word of God at the expense of their own lives. They loved not their life unto death. It reminds me of what we are suppose to be…a living sacrifice. When we became Christians we gave up our lives and through baptism we were buried with Christ and raised to reign with Him. It is a great privilege to suffer for the kingdom of God because great will be our reward.
Lord, help us to see how temporary our lives are and how glorious it is to live for You. Let our lives be a living sacrifice to
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Sun.’s Devo- The War for Our Inheritance
Read: 1 Kings 20-21
Ben-adad came up against Israel and sent a messenger to tell Ahab that he wanted his silver, gold, wives, children, and the best of what he owned. Ahab agreed to this until he talked to his elders. They told him not to agree with Ben-adad. Ben-hadad means “son of a shouter”. That is exactly what Satan is - a shouter. He intimidates with his shouts and wants to steal our inheritance.
God sent his prophet to tell Ahab that He would deliver them through the young men of the princes of the provinces if he would order the battle. Ben-hadad had a host with 32 kings and chariots and Ahab had 232 princes. Ahab obeyed the word of the Lord and sent the princes. They won and sent the king home.
Ben-hadad came back at the end of the year thinking they needed to fight Israel in the plains since they couldn’t win in the hills. God is god of the hills and the plains. Israel went out and slew 27,000 of the Syrians. Ben-hadad begged for his life and made a covenant with Ahab. He would give back the cities he had stolen if they would spare his life. Ahab agreed without asking God. God sent a prophet to him who disguised himself as a wounded warrior. He rebuked Ahab for letting Ben-hadad escape. It would be his life for Ben-hadad’s.
Then we have the story of Naboth’s vineyard. Ahab did the same thing to Naboth as Ben-hadad tried to do to him. He wanted his inheritance. When Naboth refused to give it to him, his wife, Jezebel devised a plan to steal it and kill Naboth. It worked and Ahab was happy till Elijah showed up with the word of the Lord. God was going to show vengeance for Naboth and Ahab would lose everything along with his inheritance. Ahab humbled himself so God postponed his sentence for the next generation.
Lord, you honor our inheritance. Let us fight for what You have given us and promised us and never give it away.
Ben-adad came up against Israel and sent a messenger to tell Ahab that he wanted his silver, gold, wives, children, and the best of what he owned. Ahab agreed to this until he talked to his elders. They told him not to agree with Ben-adad. Ben-hadad means “son of a shouter”. That is exactly what Satan is - a shouter. He intimidates with his shouts and wants to steal our inheritance.
God sent his prophet to tell Ahab that He would deliver them through the young men of the princes of the provinces if he would order the battle. Ben-hadad had a host with 32 kings and chariots and Ahab had 232 princes. Ahab obeyed the word of the Lord and sent the princes. They won and sent the king home.
Ben-hadad came back at the end of the year thinking they needed to fight Israel in the plains since they couldn’t win in the hills. God is god of the hills and the plains. Israel went out and slew 27,000 of the Syrians. Ben-hadad begged for his life and made a covenant with Ahab. He would give back the cities he had stolen if they would spare his life. Ahab agreed without asking God. God sent a prophet to him who disguised himself as a wounded warrior. He rebuked Ahab for letting Ben-hadad escape. It would be his life for Ben-hadad’s.
Then we have the story of Naboth’s vineyard. Ahab did the same thing to Naboth as Ben-hadad tried to do to him. He wanted his inheritance. When Naboth refused to give it to him, his wife, Jezebel devised a plan to steal it and kill Naboth. It worked and Ahab was happy till Elijah showed up with the word of the Lord. God was going to show vengeance for Naboth and Ahab would lose everything along with his inheritance. Ahab humbled himself so God postponed his sentence for the next generation.
Lord, you honor our inheritance. Let us fight for what You have given us and promised us and never give it away.
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Sat.’s Devo - Elijah’s Journey
Read: 1 Kings 17-19
Elijah gives his first recorded word to Ahab and it is not an encouraging word. He tells him that it won’t rain till God says it will. Then God told Elijah to run and hide by the brook Cherith which was before the Jordan. He was to drink water from the Cherith and God would send a raven to feed him twice a day. Cherith means “a cutting”. Elijah was to drink of that till it dried up. I think that during this time God was cutting away all the things that Elijah held on to so that God could entrust Elijah with the responsibility and power He was going to put on Elijah.
The next place Elijah was sent was to Zarephath where a widow woman was going to take care of him. Zarephath means “refinement”. He was to put his faith out there and call something that wasn’t into being. The woman didn’t have enough for her and her son and she was to be Elijah’s provision. Since Elijah knew what God had said about her being his bread and water he knew he would have to speak it into being and he did. God came through for him. It was there that Elijah saw the power of God raise the dead to life.
When it was time, God sent Elijah to meet Ahab and all the prophets of Baal. They met on Mt. Carmel and had a showdown of power. Baal didn’t come through but God came down from heaven with fire that consumed the altar, the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, the dust, and what little water they had left. Elijah killed all 850 prophets of Baal (18:19) with the sword then ran when Jezebel threatened his life! Is that why he had to pass his mantle so quickly to Elisha?
Elijah fled to Beersheba which was the place both Abraham and Isaac made oaths with Abimelech of peace and safety. They dug wells there as a sign of their oath. As Elijah is having his pity party and wanting to die, God places a cruse of water at his head and a baked cake on the fire. An angel touched him and told him to eat and drink because he had a great journey ahead. He was told to anoint Hazael to be king over Syria and Jehu, king of Israel and Elisha to take his place.
Elijah went first to Elisha and threw his mantle on him. Elisha knew what it meant so he sacrificed his oxen and followed Elijah. What a story!
Lord, in whatever place we are in on our journey whether it is by the brook Cherith having our flesh cut off, or in Zerepheth being refined or in the battle at Mt. Carmel, or having our pity party in Beersheba, let us always find You. You are our compass and You hold the answers to the future. We trust in You.
Elijah gives his first recorded word to Ahab and it is not an encouraging word. He tells him that it won’t rain till God says it will. Then God told Elijah to run and hide by the brook Cherith which was before the Jordan. He was to drink water from the Cherith and God would send a raven to feed him twice a day. Cherith means “a cutting”. Elijah was to drink of that till it dried up. I think that during this time God was cutting away all the things that Elijah held on to so that God could entrust Elijah with the responsibility and power He was going to put on Elijah.
The next place Elijah was sent was to Zarephath where a widow woman was going to take care of him. Zarephath means “refinement”. He was to put his faith out there and call something that wasn’t into being. The woman didn’t have enough for her and her son and she was to be Elijah’s provision. Since Elijah knew what God had said about her being his bread and water he knew he would have to speak it into being and he did. God came through for him. It was there that Elijah saw the power of God raise the dead to life.
When it was time, God sent Elijah to meet Ahab and all the prophets of Baal. They met on Mt. Carmel and had a showdown of power. Baal didn’t come through but God came down from heaven with fire that consumed the altar, the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, the dust, and what little water they had left. Elijah killed all 850 prophets of Baal (18:19) with the sword then ran when Jezebel threatened his life! Is that why he had to pass his mantle so quickly to Elisha?
Elijah fled to Beersheba which was the place both Abraham and Isaac made oaths with Abimelech of peace and safety. They dug wells there as a sign of their oath. As Elijah is having his pity party and wanting to die, God places a cruse of water at his head and a baked cake on the fire. An angel touched him and told him to eat and drink because he had a great journey ahead. He was told to anoint Hazael to be king over Syria and Jehu, king of Israel and Elisha to take his place.
Elijah went first to Elisha and threw his mantle on him. Elisha knew what it meant so he sacrificed his oxen and followed Elijah. What a story!
Lord, in whatever place we are in on our journey whether it is by the brook Cherith having our flesh cut off, or in Zerepheth being refined or in the battle at Mt. Carmel, or having our pity party in Beersheba, let us always find You. You are our compass and You hold the answers to the future. We trust in You.
Friday, June 26, 2015
Fri.’s Devo - When the Righteous are in Authority…
Read; 1 Kings 15:25-16:34; 2 Chron. 17
Asa, who was a good king reigned in Jerusalem 40 years. His son, Jehoshaphat reigned after him. Jehoshaphat walked with God like David had. He fortified his cities and sent teachers and priests to all the cities to teach them the law. The fear of God fell on the land and on their enemies so that they were protected. His kingdom was blessed with abundance and favor.
In the meantime Israel was not experiencing the same blessings.
After Jeroboam came Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omri, and Ahab. These all reigned during the time Asa was king of Judah. One of them only reigned 7 days! So, we know that Israel was not having the peace and rest that Judah was experiencing and each king led them farther and farther from the true God and into idolatry until Ahab married Jezabel who brought Baal worship to the kingdom. Ahab was provoking God’s wrath while Jehoshaphat was invoking his favor.
It is so true that a nation is blessed when they follow God and make him their Lord. Proverbs 29:2 says, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked bear rule, the people mourn.”
Father, may our nation once again turn their hearts to you and make you their Lord.
Asa, who was a good king reigned in Jerusalem 40 years. His son, Jehoshaphat reigned after him. Jehoshaphat walked with God like David had. He fortified his cities and sent teachers and priests to all the cities to teach them the law. The fear of God fell on the land and on their enemies so that they were protected. His kingdom was blessed with abundance and favor.
In the meantime Israel was not experiencing the same blessings.
After Jeroboam came Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omri, and Ahab. These all reigned during the time Asa was king of Judah. One of them only reigned 7 days! So, we know that Israel was not having the peace and rest that Judah was experiencing and each king led them farther and farther from the true God and into idolatry until Ahab married Jezabel who brought Baal worship to the kingdom. Ahab was provoking God’s wrath while Jehoshaphat was invoking his favor.
It is so true that a nation is blessed when they follow God and make him their Lord. Proverbs 29:2 says, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked bear rule, the people mourn.”
Father, may our nation once again turn their hearts to you and make you their Lord.
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Thur.’s Devo - The Clashing of Kingdoms
Read: 1 Kings 15:1-24; 2 Chron. 13-16
Judah and Israel are now enemies. Jerusalem, the temple, the priests and the law was in Judah so Israel had to manufacture their own worship. Jereobam had had 2 golden calves to keep the people in Israel and allowed just about anyone who brought a sacrifice to be a priest. Abijah, king of Judah reminded Jeroboam, king of Israel, all of this when they met on the battle field. Jeroboam had twice the army of Abijah and ended up ambushing them. Abijah cried out to the Lord and God delivered them with a shout. Abijah chased Jeroboam and took several of his cities. God struck Jeroboam and he died.
When Abijah died, his son, Asa ruled. Asa set his heart to worship God and rid his country of idolatry so God gave him rest from his enemies. During that rest he fortified the cities he had and trained a great army. But it was no match for Zerah, the Ethiopian, who came to battle him with a thousand thousand and 300 chariots. Asa went to the Lord and God sent His host and smote the Ethiopians so bad they were not able to recover.
After this, God sent the prophet, Azariah to encourage Asa with a good word which spurred Asa to continue to cleanse his land of idolatry. People were coming from Israel to live in Judah because they knew that God was with Asa. Asa had a big feast with much sacrificing to renew his nation’s covenant with God.
Asa even had his own mother kicked out of the palace because she had an idol. The only thing Asa didn’t do was to remove the high places.
Basaha, king of Israel rose up and built Ramah on the border of Israel and Judah to keep people from being able to leave Israel for Judah. This is where Asa made his mistake. Instead of asking God to take care of the situation and fight Israel…he hired the Syrians to fight for him. The Syrians did the job and more but God was not pleased. After all God had done for Asa this was a grave mistake.
God sent a prophet to Asa to give him God’s rebuke: because he went to Syria for help, he would continue to have wars. Asa got so mad at the prophet he threw him in jail then unleashed his anger on his own people. Asa brought a curse on himself and was diseased in his feet. Instead of going to God he went to the doctors of his day. He died two years later.
Father, truly your eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show yourself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. May we have a perfect heart.
Judah and Israel are now enemies. Jerusalem, the temple, the priests and the law was in Judah so Israel had to manufacture their own worship. Jereobam had had 2 golden calves to keep the people in Israel and allowed just about anyone who brought a sacrifice to be a priest. Abijah, king of Judah reminded Jeroboam, king of Israel, all of this when they met on the battle field. Jeroboam had twice the army of Abijah and ended up ambushing them. Abijah cried out to the Lord and God delivered them with a shout. Abijah chased Jeroboam and took several of his cities. God struck Jeroboam and he died.
When Abijah died, his son, Asa ruled. Asa set his heart to worship God and rid his country of idolatry so God gave him rest from his enemies. During that rest he fortified the cities he had and trained a great army. But it was no match for Zerah, the Ethiopian, who came to battle him with a thousand thousand and 300 chariots. Asa went to the Lord and God sent His host and smote the Ethiopians so bad they were not able to recover.
After this, God sent the prophet, Azariah to encourage Asa with a good word which spurred Asa to continue to cleanse his land of idolatry. People were coming from Israel to live in Judah because they knew that God was with Asa. Asa had a big feast with much sacrificing to renew his nation’s covenant with God.
Asa even had his own mother kicked out of the palace because she had an idol. The only thing Asa didn’t do was to remove the high places.
Basaha, king of Israel rose up and built Ramah on the border of Israel and Judah to keep people from being able to leave Israel for Judah. This is where Asa made his mistake. Instead of asking God to take care of the situation and fight Israel…he hired the Syrians to fight for him. The Syrians did the job and more but God was not pleased. After all God had done for Asa this was a grave mistake.
God sent a prophet to Asa to give him God’s rebuke: because he went to Syria for help, he would continue to have wars. Asa got so mad at the prophet he threw him in jail then unleashed his anger on his own people. Asa brought a curse on himself and was diseased in his feet. Instead of going to God he went to the doctors of his day. He died two years later.
Father, truly your eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show yourself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. May we have a perfect heart.
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Wed.’s Devo - Rehoboam’s Legacy
Read: 2 Chron. 10-12
Today we have the written chronicle of yesterday’s story. I look at the advise of the two groups of men and I see that happening today in cooperate America. The companies that are ran by younger men are driven by fear and competition but companies run by experienced management that are secure are ran more employee friendly. Fear causes power to be misused. Peace causes generosity.
I see a common thread among the kings. Rehoboam wants to build a huge family because he believes it will stabilize his kingdom. He acts very shrewdly by doing this and gives his sons territories to rule and plenty of provision. The only problem is that he has to have many wives to produce that many children. He has 28 sons and 60 daughters! It took 18 wives and 60 concubines to accomplish that big family. The last sentence of the chapter says, “And he desired many wives.”
The first sentence of the next chapter says, “…when he had established the kingdom,…he forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him.” It seems like having many wives always led to the king forsaking God as in the lives of Solomon and David. In our lives that would be like loving many things that distract us from God. Our world is so full of things that shine and vie for our devotion. Electronics and sports and fame and our abilities have become our wives which have become our gods. When Israel or Judah turned away, God always raised up an adversary to cause them to need Him again. In this case it was Shishack the king of Egypt. He came and carried away their treasures. Rehoboam ended up humbling himself but he never recovered the things that were stolen from him and his legacy was that he did evil because he didn’t prepare his heart to seek the Lord.
Lord, may our legacy be that we kept our treasure because we prepared our heart to seek You.
Today we have the written chronicle of yesterday’s story. I look at the advise of the two groups of men and I see that happening today in cooperate America. The companies that are ran by younger men are driven by fear and competition but companies run by experienced management that are secure are ran more employee friendly. Fear causes power to be misused. Peace causes generosity.
I see a common thread among the kings. Rehoboam wants to build a huge family because he believes it will stabilize his kingdom. He acts very shrewdly by doing this and gives his sons territories to rule and plenty of provision. The only problem is that he has to have many wives to produce that many children. He has 28 sons and 60 daughters! It took 18 wives and 60 concubines to accomplish that big family. The last sentence of the chapter says, “And he desired many wives.”
The first sentence of the next chapter says, “…when he had established the kingdom,…he forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him.” It seems like having many wives always led to the king forsaking God as in the lives of Solomon and David. In our lives that would be like loving many things that distract us from God. Our world is so full of things that shine and vie for our devotion. Electronics and sports and fame and our abilities have become our wives which have become our gods. When Israel or Judah turned away, God always raised up an adversary to cause them to need Him again. In this case it was Shishack the king of Egypt. He came and carried away their treasures. Rehoboam ended up humbling himself but he never recovered the things that were stolen from him and his legacy was that he did evil because he didn’t prepare his heart to seek the Lord.
Lord, may our legacy be that we kept our treasure because we prepared our heart to seek You.
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