II Kings 2:1 – 3:27

September 01, 2010

Elijah is taken to heaven. Elisha knew Elijah was going to be taken away, but he faithfully stayed with him until the end. Before going, Elijah asked Elisha what he could do for him and Elisha asked for a share of his spirit. God granted it—and Elijah was gone.

Elisha returns and comes to the Jordan with Elijah's coat in his hand. Moments before Elijah had used that same coat to part the water. Elisha asked for the same spirit. Now here he is at the water. People are watching. Should I try it? What if it doesn't work? I'll look like a fool. Elisha picks up the coat. He asks a question. "Where are you, LORD?" He strikes the water, and the water parted. Elisha chose to believe. He chose to risk it. He chose to step out on the ledge where either God provided, or he looked like a fool. God showed up and fulfilled His promise. 

The kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom join together to put down an uprising from the Moabites. They are in the desert and they are without water. They seek a prophet to inquire of the LORD. Elisha, because he has respect for the king of Judah (Jehosophat), tells them what to do. "Dig holes and trenches in the valley. Water will come to fill them up. This is easy for the LORD. And, (my paraphrase) oh yeah—the LORD will deliver Moab to you." They dug the ditches and the water came. The Moabites thought the water was blood and they went to gather what they thought would be the plunder. Instead, they were caught and soundly defeated.

It may require being in the trenches, but God's promises WILL come to pass and wickedness WILL be defeated. 


Next Entry: II Kings 4:1–44

II Kings 1:1–18

August 31, 2010

II Kings (as the introduction in my Bible says), "Not for the faint of heart."

Over and over throughout this book there is a recurring theme. There is a harvest to be reaped, the way of the transgressor is hard, and the wages of sin is death. Galatians 6:7 - "Do not be fooled: You cannot cheat God. People harvest only what they plant."

King Ahaziah (who was Ahab's son) falls. King Ahaziah wants to know if he will recover from his injuries so he sent messengers to inquire of the god of Ekron. Ahaziah witnessed the power of God for both the good and the bad in his father's life. Yet, here he is, doing the same as his father before him. God sends Elijah to confront his actions. Is there no God in Israel? Really? Do you need to get your questions answered from some god in Ekron? Because of his choices Ahaziah dies.

We have had a paradigm shift of thinking. Our Pastor has been preaching on a series of lessons entitled, "Ready, Set, Go."  Ready—prepare yourself (Moses is dead); Set—expand your territories (the stages you go through before you begin the journey); and Go. The "Go" lesson is next week.

For over three years now we have wondered when "the storm" in our life is going to be over. The focus has been on the over. God has promised us His protection and we absolutely believe in His promise. While we have claimed God's promise of protection, we have not had a clear picture of what "over" looks like. One thing is certain: life can not (and should not) ever return to status quo. It can't! God has done so much for us. We just cannot return to pre-storm normal.

Throughout this whole process our hands have been open before the LORD. What is His will? Did He have other plans for us? Our Pastor has often told the story of a farmer who lost his land during a recession and then God used him as a missionary. Is that what God wants of us? What is His plan?

We do not fear "the storm." Our belief is that no storm in and of itself can destroy us. CANNOT! Evil cannot trump God. However, if God has other plans for us and He decides to use "the storm" to remove us from our home and business as a way to accomplish those plans, then we are okay with that. We trust Him because we know He only wants what is best for us. If He has something else in mind for our lives, then so be it. We believed that then, and we believe that now. We've opened our hands in full surrender. We've been intentionally attentive to His leading. We've earnestly sought God's will for our lives. There is nothing more we know to do. God has not given us even the slightest indication that HIS plan for our future includes using this storm to change our life's trajectory.

When we first began our joint project with my sister and brother-in-law we were hoping to use any profits to fund Mission Trips. We had went on a trip to help build a church in Puerto Rico several years prior and really enjoyed it. But then "the storm" hit. The hope of continuing to go on Missions Trips was now out of the question; we couldn't afford it because of what we were having to spend to defend ourselves from my sister and brother-in-law's false accusations. We were disappointed, but then we came to a new understanding. God wanted to use us and His Story right here—right where we are. We didn't need to go to foreign soil to be used by Him. We can tell His Story right where we are—that is our mission field. We are to tell His story right where we are!

And then came the "Ready, Set, Go" sermon series. For several years we have been in a holding pattern because "the storm" hasn't moved. We've been waiting ... waiting for the "over." When will the storm be OVER? The focus has been on the over. Over. Over. Over. When will "the storm" be over?

Our focus has now changed. We no longer see the "over" as an ending point. We now see it as the launching pad for the "go." God has something in mind for us, and everything up to this point is preparing us for the launch. There has been a paradigm shift in our thinking. We are now focused on the "GO." 

I've written many times in this journal that the journey is what is important and that the "end" is a moot point. Now I see it is even more than that. The journey is still what is important, but the "end"? The "end" is actually the launching pad into a whole new journey.

GO! I can't wait to hear the next sermon. God has shown us what our "Ready" and "Set" are. He has shown us how we are to expand our territory. The Book! I am to write the book. Clear back when we first met Jane (Her Name Was Jane), people began saying a book should be written to tell the story. I always nodded, but I never took it seriously. It kept happening over and over and I started to wonder. Am I really supposed to do this? I don't have any writing skills! I'm terrible at knowing how to properly use grammar! I don't have a dream of becoming a writer! But then I started to understand I was supposed to somehow tell HIS Story! God didn't need my ability; He wanted my availability!

As time passed, and "the storm" drug on and on (and we were waiting for the "over"), I would find myself doubting and saying, "If there is a book..." IF. I couldn't bring myself to say when. It felt so presumptuous of me to say "when." Was I an idiot? Do you really think you could write a book? The problem was I was looking at me. This isn't about me. It is about God. It is HIS Story! I now know that absolutely, positively, without-a-doubt there is to be a book. The "over" is a launching pad. The expand your territory is The Book. We are now praying for the title, the chapters, every word. It is no longer IF—it is WHEN. It is HIS Story.

Addendum: 4/29/14 ~ Now, more years have passed and we still believe what I first wrote in 2010.  The waiting for "the storm" to be over—truly is over, and He has given us many "go" opportunities. God is slowing revealing what He wants done, and we will do it. 

Addendum #2: 2015 Update ~ Six months after I wrote this addendum God began to show me what "The Book" was supposed to be. It caught me totally unaware and it was completely unexpected. See LORD – What Am I to Do?;  The LORD Answers!; and I Didn't Know—BUT GOD DID!!


Next Entry: II Kings 2:1 – 3:27

I Kings 21:1 – 22:53

August 27, 2010

Ahab decides he wants Naboth's Vineyard. "I Kings 21:2 - "Give me your vineyard." Naboth says no. It was his family's land; an inheritance from the LORD. Ahab goes home and pouts and sulks and refuses to eat. Jezebel asks him what is wrong. She chastises him saying, "Aren't you king? Is this how you lead? If you aren't man enough to do it, I'll do it for you." (my paraphrase) So, Jezebel schemes a plan and puts it in motion. She has everyone gather together and then sits two trouble makers across from Naboth. They, in front of everyone, falsely accuse him of blaspheming God. Naboth was taken out and stoned to death. 

It wasn't enough for Jezebel to just take the land and dispose of Naboth. She instead schemed a plan. She falsely accused Naboth of a crime, and then publicly humiliates him and has others kill him. She set the plan in motion and then sat back and let other people do the dirty work. They let her know that Naboth has been killed. Jezebel tells the king—get up—go take the vineyard, Naboth is dead.

God tells Elijah to go to Ahab and tell him that what he has done to Naboth will be done to him. When Elijah arrives to see him, Ahab says, "So you have found me, my enemy!" Elijah replies, "Yes, I have found you. You have always chosen to do what the LORD has said is wrong, so the LORD says to you, "I will soon destroy you..."

Ahab's enemy was God, not Elijah. Elijah was just God's representative. It was God who found Ahab, not Elijah. I Kings 21:29 - "There was no one like Ahab who had chosen so often to do what the LORD said was wrong, because his wife Jezebel influenced him to do evil."

When Ahab finds out what is going to happen to his entire family he humbles himself before the LORD. God does not take away the punishment but delays it until Ahab's son becomes king, and then—THEN the trouble would come. You cannot escape the discipline of God. The decisions we make do matter! They matter for generations.

Ahab (king of Israel) asks Jehoshaphat (the king of Judah) to join him in battle against Aram. Ahab wanted to get back the land Aram had taken years before. Jehoshaphat says they should inquire of the LORD first to see if it was God's will. So, Ahab calls his prophets (not the LORD's prophets) and they all tell him what he wants to hear. Go...do it. God will give you victory. But Jehoshaphat says, "Isn't there a prophet of the LORD here? Let's ask him what we should do?" Ahab replies that there is a prophet, but he doesn't like him. I Kings 22:8 - "I hate him." Ahab hated him because he didn't tell Ahab what he wanted to hear; he told him the truth. Jehoshaphat reprimands Ahab for talking that way, so Ahab sends for Micaiah. The messenger tells Micaiah that all the other prophets have spoken with one voice. All have said "go," so you should say the same. Micaiah replies that he can only say what the LORD tells him to say.

Choose your accountability friends carefully! Seek people who will tell you the truth. 

Micaiah at first sarcastically repeats what the other prophets have said. Then Micaiah said what he really saw and told Ahab not to go into battle. What Micaiah says next is astounding. Even though it was underlined in my Bible, I truly had never really grasped the enormity of what it was saying. I'm going to take the time and space to write it out in its entirety. It is found in I Kings 21:19–23.

 "Hear the message of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne with his heavenly army standing near him on his right and on his left. The LORD said, 'Who will trick Ahab into attacking Ramoth in Gilead where he will be killed?' "Some said one thing; some said another. Then one spirit came and stood before the LORD and said, 'I will trick him.' " "The LORD asked, 'How will you do it?' The spirit answered, 'I will go to Ahab's prophets and make them tell lies.' " "So the LORD said, 'You will succeed in tricking him. Go and do it.' " Michaiah said, "Ahab, the LORD has made your prophets lie to you, and the LORD has decided that disaster should come to you."

Oh my goodness—oh my goodness—oh my goodness! Did you see that? Do you understand what it is saying? How did I not understand this before? How did I think consequences happened? Mere coincidence? Happenstance? Of course this happens! Of course it happens this way! Think about it! There are conversations happening between the LORD and the heavenly armies about us!!! You! Me! God has promised His blessings and protection for those who love AND obey Him. He has promised curses and punishment for those who do not. How did I think those blessings—verses—curses happened? I most definitely believe in angels. I most definitely believe they are sent by God for our protection. I guess I just never stopped and thought about the other side of the equation; how the consequences for disobedience comes.

So many of us have God as a God of love only. We often hear people say, "God is so good"; "I'm so blessed." We often totally ignore that God is also a just Judge and He is a God of discipline, correction, and yes—punishment. We don't want to associate those things with God. We prefer to blame those things on the devil. But, if God is Provider of blessings, then He is also a God who determines consequences. Yes, God is love. It is His love for mankind that requires His discipline. If there were no accountability for our actions, what would be the point of love?

Yahweh—LORD. A name the Israelites felt was too holy to be spoken by human lips. I AM—the "One who is" unchanging, unfathomable. LORD—God Almighty. To ignore or deny a part of God is to deny God. God is holy. God is just. God is fair. God does judge. God does reward. God does punish. God does forgive. The way we choose to live our lives determines what we receive from the LORD. 

There is a heaven AND there is a hell. Blessed be the name of the LORD.


Next Entry: II Kings 1:1–18

I Kings 19:1 – 20:43 (Continued)

August 26, 2010

Ben-Hadad of Aram gathers 32 other kings and decides to surround and attack King Ahab of Israel. They demand that Ahab give them his gold and silver and the best of his wives and children. Ahab is surrounded and tells them they can have it. But that isn't enough for Ben-Hadad; he wants everything Ahab has. Ahab doesn't know what to do. He is far out numbered and surrounded. His advisers tell him not to agree to the demands. Ben-Hadad vows to destroy him completely, saying only handfuls of dust will be left. Ahab answers with a great quote, "The man who puts on his armor should not brag. It's the man who lives to take off his armor who has the right to brag."

Ben-Hadad and his group were so arrogant and cocky. They are in their tents getting drunk thinking there was no way they could be defeated. A prophet goes to Ahab (the same Ahab that was following Baal when Elijah called down fire), and tells him that God will hand the "big" army over to him so he would know that the LORD is God. Ahab asks God questions. Who will you use? ...the young officers. Who will lead them? ...you. Ahab gathers the army, and marches out against Ben-Hadad at noon. Ben-Hadad and his men are in their tents getting drunk. Ben-Hadad is so sure of himself that he tells his men, if they come in peace—take them alive. If they come in war—take them alive. Instead, Ahab and the army of Israelites began to defeat them and they ran. They were thoroughly defeated. But that wasn't enough to stop Ben-Hadad. He threatens to attack them again in the spring. They make excuses about why they lost the first round saying Ahab must have won because their gods are mountain gods, so let's fight them in the valley. We'll be able to win in the valley. Then we will win! 

So, spring arrives, and Ahab and his men march out to meet Ben-Hadad's army who had gathered to fight them. Israel's army looked like two small flocks of goats. Ben-Hadad's army covered the land. A prophet again comes to Ahab and says: The people of Aram says that I the LORD am only a god of the mountains, not a god of the valleys, so I will allow you to defeat this huge army so you will know that I am the LORD! For seven days the two armies were camped across from each other. On the seventh day the battle began. The Israelites killed 100,000 soldiers in one day. The rest of them ran away to a city for protection and the city wall fell on them killing 27,000. Bed-Hadad hid, but he did not have a heart change. He was between a rock and a hard place. So what did he do? Well, he gathered some men together and they schemed. Everyone knew that Ahab was a merciful person so they decided to act like they were sorry, and act like they were repenting, and act like they wanted forgiveness. It was all an act. The truth is all they wanted was to fool Ahab so they could get out of the predicament they were in. So they put on rough cloth and ropes around their heads to show sadness and they went to Ahab. 

And sure enough, Ahab was merciful and allowed Ben-Hadad to live and have his cities. Ahab decided to make a peace agreement with Ben-Hadad and let him go free. Ahab decided. He didn't inquire of the LORD. Because God had already clearly told Ahab that he was to destroy the entire army, and because Ahab chose not to consult God, the punishment would now become his. His life would be taken and his people would suffer.


Next Entry: I Kings 21:1 – 22:53

I Kings 19:1 – 20:43

August 25, 2010

Elijah hears that Jezebel vows to have him killed, and he runs for his life. Elijah had just prayed down fire from heaven and for the rains to begin, and now he is running away in fear. It's so easy to read these stories and think—wow—look what Elijah did. But think about it!! Think about the pressure and stress he felt. He believed in the LORD and what God said, but it was him—standing all alone—before the people. What if the fire didn't come down? What if the rain didn't start? It's not like God pulled Elijah aside and they had a practice run and Elijah could see that God could do it. He was God's servant, on the front line. If he misunderstood God's direction, he was going to look like a fool. The stress of the position he was in had to be enormous. Six times Elijah prayed with no result, and then God answered. 

Elijah was exhausted. Fear took over, and he ran. He forgot whose servant he was (God's), and instead looked at what he (man) had done. "I" can't do this. "I" have had enough. God knew Elijah was exhausted. Elijah slept, and then God said—get up and eat. He ate, fell asleep again, and then God told him to get up and eat again. Sometimes it is the simple things, like food and rest, that God uses to replenish our spirits. When you are on the front lines fighting the battle, it can take a lot out of you physically, mentally and emotionally. God knew that Elijah needed food and rest. 

God told Elijah that he would pass by him on the mountain. God wasn't in the winds. He wasn't in the earthquake. He wasn't in the fire. Instead God spoke to Elijah in a quiet and gentle way. God asked him, "Why are you here?" Elijah responded with "I's" again. And again, God asked him, "Why are you here?" Go back the way you came. I'm going to give you Elisha to help you.

When we focus on ourselves, whether it be our abilities or inabilities, we get into trouble. Elijah lost focus and began to look at who he was instead of whose he was. God spoke to him gently and quietly and Elijah got back into the game. Sometimes in the hubbub of life we need to listen for His still small voice and we need to take care of ourselves. Rest. Eat. Drink. Rest.

Lord, when I become weary, help me to focus on who You are and whose I am. Speak to me LORD, show me what you want me to do. Speak Lord, I am listening.

Addendum: 4/27/14 ~ Is this appropriate or what? We have been weary, so weary. The time it takes to deal with all the issues with my husband's elderly parents has been draining and exhausting. We aren't eating, sleeping, or taking care of ourselves properly, and this week I paid the price for it. I came down with a bout of the flu. I literally slept 20 hours in a 24 hour period. My body was exhausted. But now I am back. I want to listen to what God has to teach me. I am ready again to focus on WHO He is and WHOSE I am.


Next Entry: I Kings 19:1 – 20:43 (Continued)   

I Kings 18:1–46

August 23, 2010

Elijah told Ahab that the LORD says it won't rain until he says so. So what does Ahab do? Does he say, "Oh no...I better quit worshiping Baal and start serving God?" No, he instead wants to kill the messenger.

Three years passed. No rain.

Is Ahab ready now to repent? Is he trying to find Elijah to see what he needs to do so it will rain again? No. He instead has spent three years searching for Elijah so he can kill him. Now three years has passed, and Ahab is still trying to avoid the truth and personal responsibility. Instead of repenting, he sent people to search throughout the whole land to try and find a spring or valley that had water in it. He was desperately trying everything, in his own power, to keep from losing his possessions.

God tells Elijah to go to Ahab and tell him that it will soon rain. So Elijah obeys and goes. He runs into Obadiah who Ahab has sent out looking for springs. Elijah tells Obadiah to go get Ahab, but Obadiah is reluctant. What if Elijah isn't there when he returns? Ahab will be mad and kill him. Elijah assures Obadiah he will be there when he returns. Is Ahab thrilled to see Elijah because now he can seek forgiveness and Elijah can pray for rain so his possessions and land can be restored? No. Instead he accuses Elijah of being, "the biggest troublemaker in the land." (Evil blaming the innocent.) Elijah replies, "I haven't made trouble, the choices you and your family made to not follow the LORD's teaching is what has made all the trouble." Then Elijah asks the Israelites, "How long?" How long will you not decide between two choices? If the LORD is God, FOLLOW HIM! If Baal is the true God, then follow him.

And the people said nothing. 

God is either God of all, or He isn't God at all. You can't have it both ways. You can't be on the fence. Either God is God, or He isn't. Admit it! Say it! By following both a small "g" god and capital "G" God, you are effectively saying the LORD is not God. So say it! Admit it! If you can't say He isn't God, then somewhere in your heart you know the truth and you are afraid to totally abandon God. If you are afraid to totally abandon God then it should cause you to want to surrender all to God.

The people said nothing. They refused to give up Baal, their god of power, lust, fertility, and their god of wealth. They believed Baal to be the god who supplied rain for their crops. What irony! As Dr. Phil would say, "How's that working for you?" For three years you've had no rain? But still you reject God and follow your own god that is supposed to be the god who supplies rain? How does that make any sense? Where is the logic in that?

Elijah has them build an altar and he builds one. He tells them to pray to their 'god' and he would pray to the LORD. Whichever 'god' sent fire down to burn the offering would be proof that he was the god. The Israelites pray to their "god." They pray and pray. Nothing. Elijah pokes fun at them and tells them to pray harder, maybe their god is busy, or thinking, or traveling, or maybe even sleeping. They prayed harder and harder. Nothing. I Kings 18:29 - "Baal didn't answer, and no one paid attention." They have a 'god' of rain, yet it hasn't rained for three years. They've prayed and prayed to Baal for him to prove that he is god, and nothing—and no one paid attention.

They still didn't get it. They didn't get that they were following a false god. 

Elijah builds his altar. He uses twelve stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel, the very people who turned their backs on the true God. To make sure no one else can get the glory for what God is about to do; Elijah has them pour water on the meat and wood. He had them do it three times, until the water ran off the altar and filled the ditch. Then he prayed a prayer. We have memorized this prayer and have prayed it many, many times during "the storm."

"Lord, you are the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. Prove that you are the God of Israel and that we are your servants. Show these people that we have done everything that you have commanded us to do. Hear and answer our prayer, so that they will know that you LORD are the God and that you would change their minds."    

Psalm 17:14 - "...save me by your power."

Fire from the LORD came down from heaven and burned the offering, the wood, the stones, the water, and ground. There could be no mistaking. The LORD, He IS the God. When the people saw His power they fell to the ground crying, "The LORD is God, The LORD is God."

Elijah had them capture the false prophets and they were all destroyed. Elijah told Ahab to prepare because rain was going to come. Elijah climbed to the top of Mt. Carmel where he bows down with his head between his knees praying to the LORD. He has his servant go and look toward the sea to see if any rain is coming. Seven times! Seven times Elijah bowed down to the ground in fervent prayer. Six times ... nothing happened. Elijah sent his servant to check the skies six times with no result. Thank goodness Elijah didn't give up after 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th times. He believed in his LORD, and he believed in God's promise and he kept praying. On the 7th time a small cloud appeared, and the rain soon began.

Don't give up! Don't ever give up! The fulfillment of God's promise may be coming on the horizon!!


Next Entry: I Kings 19:1 – 20:43

I Kings 17:1–24

August 20, 2010

Elijah.

What kind of faith and courage did it take for Elijah to stand up and make a claim about the future and what God said would happen, before it happened? He trusted God and His word. If God said it, Elijah believed it.

Elijah told Ahab it's not going to rain, and then Elijah left. God gave very clear directions on where he was to go. He sent him to a stream east of the Jordan and the ravens fed him every morning and night. When the stream dried up (because there was no rain), God sent him to a widow's home. The widow's means of living had dried up as well, but she shared what she had and was sustained and blessed for it. Later, when her son died, Elijah prayed and brought him back to life.

Here is what stands out to me. Elijah is being faithful. He is doing what God has asked him to do. Yet, when God sends him to the stream, it dries up! He is caught in the circumstances and consequences of those who have chosen to serve Baal even though he has not. God took care of Elijah, but he wasn't exempt from the consequences caused by others. God didn't put him in some cushy place to wait it out. The stream dried up! Then where does God send him? To someone else whose life had dried up.

God used the widow's willingness and Elijah's presence to save her and her son's life. Then later, when her son died, Elijah was there to save his life. If the stream wouldn't have dried up the widow and her son would have starved to death. Elijah would not have been at the right place, at the right time, to save first her and her son, and then later her son.

God can take even the most impossible situation and make good come from it.    


Next Entry: I Kings 18:1–46

I Kings 15:1 – 16:34

August 19, 2010

Because of Solomon's sins, Israel was divided into two kingdoms: Northern (Israel) and Southern (Judah). Jeroboam was the first king of Israel. Rehoboam was the first king of Judah. Of the eventual nineteen kings who ruled in the Northern Kingdom not one was godly! Not even one! Of the twenty kings who ruled over the Southern Kingdom only eight followed God.

Here is what struck me in these two chapters.

• How the sins or obedience of the "fathers" impacted generations; and 
• How God's "I will" promises do come true.

Sins (or blessings) of the fathers passed down. Jeroboam did his own thing. He created two golden calves. He decided when to have the festivals/worship. He picked whoever he wanted as priests. The decisions Jeroboam made totally went against the Sovereign LORD. Every single king of the Northern Kingdom (Israel) that came after him made decisions against the Sovereign LORD as well. And every single time, the wrong actions of the king is traced back to Jeroboam. "He (the king who was ruling) did what the LORD said was wrong...Jeroboam had led the people to sin." Jeroboam's choices and actions impacted many generations. 

On the Southern Kingdom (Judah) side, every king is compared to King David. Each Southern Kingdom king went down in history as either following the LORD as David did, OR, he went down in history as disobeying the LORD and not following in the steps of David. The decisions we make matter. Our actions impacts generations! We must leave a legacy of being people who followed God. It will still be the future generations choice on whether or not they choose to follow in our footsteps, but they have been given a firm foundation from which to build upon.

God's "I will" promises. When God says "I will"—He does. His promises, both the good and bad, DO come true. Jeroboam is told in Chapter 14 what will happen to his family because of his choices, and in Chapter 15 it happens. In Joshua 6:26, Joshua says what will happen to anyone who tries to rebuild Jericho. In I Kings 16:34 it happened. I wish I knew exactly how many years passed between the time Joshua told the people what would happen if anyone tried to rebuild Jericho and when God's promised result happened. I'm sure Bible scholars have it figured out, but from what I can tell it had to be at least 500 years. God's promises are true. When He says "I will"—it is a fact. Time is of no importance. When God says it—it WILL happen.


Next Entry: I Kings 17:1–24

I Kings 12:1 – 14:31

August 18, 2010

Solomon dies and his son Rehoboam takes over. The people come to him and ask for his mercy. He tells them to go away for three days while he thinks about it.

Rehoboam first consults the older leaders who had advised Solomon. Their advice was to show them mercy, be a servant, and they will serve you. (Jane has written in her Bible, "The secret to success—be a servant.") Rehoboam then consulted his young friends. Their advice was to put your foot down! Tell them you are going to be even harder on them then Solomon. In effect saying—I'm in control, you will do whatever I want or I will force you to do it. The people revolted and the tribes split. Judah with Rehoboam and the rest with Jeroboam. Rehoboam wanted all his kingdom back so he prepared for battle, but God said, "You must not go to war against your brothers."

God clearly says in the Old Testament that you must not go to war against your brother. The New Testament clearly says the same thing in I Corinthians 6. God's "must not" directives are very clear. When God says "must not" there will always be consequences if you choose to disobey. You cannot disobey God without consequences.

Jeroboam is afraid the Israelite tribes who are following him might return to following Rehoboam if they continue to go to Jerusalem to worship; so he develops his own temples and two golden calves for the people to worship. He decided what they would worship, when they would worship, and who would be the priests. We can try to "act" like the real deal or "look" like the real deal, but there is only one real deal—God/Christ. There is no other way.

The LORD commanded a prophet to speak against Jeroboam's altar. He clearly said what would happen, and it did. The prophet understood the wickedness of Jeroboam and obeyed God by refusing to compromise or even eat and drink anything in that place. No money offers would sway him. But then on the way home an old prophet approached him, lied to him, and convinced the prophet to come back and eat with him. Thinking the old prophet was speaking for God, he went against what God had told him and it cost him his life.

We have to know what God's Word says! We can not go by what someone else says God is saying unless we line it up with scripture and confirm it is God's Word. Not doing that cost the prophet his life.

Jeroboam continued to do evil. His son becomes ill and he sends his wife to Ahijah to see what will happen. Jeroboam tried to use trickery, but God exposes his plan. Ahijah told Jeroboam's wife what God had revealed to him. God chose Jeroboam, but Jeroboam chose to do evil and because of that evil, disaster was going to happen to his family. His son would die. He would be buried. All the other men in the family would die as well. Those who died in the city would be eaten by dogs. Those who died in the country would be eaten by birds. Everything God said would happen—did. (I Kings 15:29)   

Accountability always happens. Jeroboam sinned → he led the to people sin → God let them be defeated → and Jeroboam and his entire family was destroyed. You cannot escape it. God's word is God's word. It will happen.

How grateful I am that "the storm" we are in is God's battle and not ours. Our only responsibility is to remain faithful and to do what God leads us to do. We will do that. God's part, is God's part. He doesn't need our help. We don't have to plot or plan. We are so grateful that God is in charge of the what, when, how, or why.


Next Entry: I Kings 15:1 – 16:34

I Kings 10:1 – 11:43

August 16, 2010

God clearly and specifically told the Israelites they must not marry people from the other nations because it would cause them to fall away and worship other gods. Must not! Like the old saying goes, "Play with fire and you will get burned." God knew what would happen. You cannot wed (join with others) yourself with those who are unbelievers and not be affected by it. If your actions go directly against God's teachings, those actions WILL take you away from God. You cannot continue to go your own way and obey commandments #1 and #2 at the same time. You can not!

Solomon fell in love with what was wrong, and that caused him to turn away from God and to do what was wrong.

God was angry Solomon turned away from His commands. Because Solomon turned away and broke the agreement God said, "I will tear your kingdom away." God used those words, "I will tear...away," three different times. (I Kings 11:11,12, and 31) Tear away! You cannot hold on to what God is tearing away. How much better it is to willingly surrender your all to Christ than to stubbornly hang on to your pride and your own will. How it grieved God to have Solomon choose to not follow Him and obey His commandments. Solomon, who asked for wisdom and who built the temple, chose to leave God.

How it must grieve God when we, knowing that He died to save us from our sins, willingly choose to leave Him and not obey His teachings. Oh, may I never grieve the God who loved me so much that He provided His own Son for my salvation. 


Next Entry: I Kings 12:1 – 14:31

I Kings 9:1–28

August 14, 2010

Solomon finishes the temple. Then the LORD appeared to him and said, "I have heard your prayer and what you have asked me to do... BUT you must serve me as your father David did... you must obey all I have commanded... IF you do, I will make your kingdom strong... BUT you must follow me... you must not serve or worship other gods. IF you do, I will force Israel to leave the land I have given you... If you serve other gods I will leave this Temple, people will make fun of you and everyone will say, 'This happened because they left the LORD their God... they decided to follow other gods. They worshiped and served those gods, so the LORD brought his disaster on them.' " I Kings 9:3–9

We get to choose how we are going to live our lives. We can choose to follow and serve God, or we can choose to follow what we want and what we make to be our god—SELF. The choice is ours. We can choose blessings (life) or we can choose curses (death).

I'm amazed at how God created us with our own will. He wants us to choose him. God had already created angels. It wasn't God's desire to create puppets with no free will, so God created us in His image with a free will and choice. We get to choose.

I choose to obey. I choose to accept His free gift of salvation. I choose to follow His teachings. I choose God. I choose to believe. I choose faith. I choose life. 


Next Entry: I Kings 10:1 – 11:43

I Kings 7:1 – 8:66

August 13, 2010

I love what Huram named the two pillars at the temple: HE ESTABLISHES and IN HIM IS STRENGTH. I love that.

HE ESTABLISHES—it is God who sets the standard. It is God who decides all things. It is God who is in control. It is God.

IN HIM IS STRENGTH—not in ourselves, IN HIM, no matter what we face our strength comes from HIM and HIM alone. If we can get those two things right, we "get it," and we will have peace even in the midst of a storm.

The temple is done and Solomon and all the people gather. Solomon blesses the people. The first words he said were, "Praise the LORD." He recounted how God had been faithful to them and how He had done everything He promised from the time they were in Egypt to the promises He made to David. Then Solomon faced the LORD's altar, spread his arms out to the sky and said:

"LORD, God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven above or earth below...you keep your promises...you spoke it with your own mouth and finished it with your hands...please listen to my prayer and my request because I am your servant...hear this prayer your servant prays to you today...hear my prayers...hear from your home in heaven...hear in heaven, judge the case, punish the guilty, but declare that the innocent person is not guilty...hear them in heaven...please hear their prayers in heaven...teach them to do what is right...you know what is in a persons heart...Praise the LORD...the LORD has kept all the good promises he gave...then all the people will know—the LORD is GOD."

Solomon starts out his prayer standing with his arms outstretched before the LORD. By the end, Solomon is kneeling with his arms outstretched. Solomon began and ended his prayer with, "Praise the LORD." He repeatedly throughout the prayer refers to himself as "your servant." He is amazed the God, who even the heavens can't hold, would choose to live in the temple. Over and over he asks the LORD to "hear" in heaven and to answer their prayers. He acknowledges they will sin and several different times he refers to II Chronicles 7:14 - "IF my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, THEN I will hear from heaven and heal their land." He acknowledges that the LORD has kept all of His promises, the rest is up to us. "Let us obey all the laws and commands He gave our ancestors... THEN all the people of the world will know the LORD is the only true God. You must fully obey the LORD our God and follow all His commands. Continue to obey in the future as you do now."

Addendum #1: 5/10/18 ~ In I Kings 7:21 - it says the pillars of the Temple in the first Jerusalem were called He Establishes and In Him Is Strength. In Isaiah 60:18 - it says the walls of the New Jerusalem will be called Salvation and the gates Praise.

I love how the names of the pillars of the Temple lay the foundation for how to live your earthly life, in full surrender because He Establishes and In Him Is Strength. When you surrender and go to HIM (walk through the pillars) you receive the salvation HE established through the Cross, and HE gives you the strength to follow HIM in this life. You enter the New Jerusalem through gates of Praise and the walls show the result of your surrendered life and the fulfillment of HIS promises—Salvation. When this life is over and eternity comes your PRAISE is the entrance and you are literally surrounded (the walls around you) by HIS Salvation in the New Jerusalem. How cool is that?

Imagine. What we now have as a promise will be reality.


Next Entry: I Kings 9:1–28

I Kings 5:1 – 6:38

August 11, 2010

Solomon starts to build the temple. He partners with Hiram in order to obtain the needed wood. Solomon showed great leadership qualities in the way he dealt with Hiram and his own men. He treated people fairly. He made sure his men did not become weary by alternating the crews. By doing so he made sure the families at home were happy as well. He even made sure that the job site surrounding the actual temple was respectful and quiet. "There was no noise of hammers, axes, or any other iron tools at the Temple." I Kings 5:12 - "The LORD gave Solomon wisdom as he had promised."

The LORD is faithful. That isn't the question. The question is this: Are we faithful? God continued to remind Solomon (I Kings 6:11) IF you obey all my laws and commands, I will do for you what I promised.

I'm still processing thoughts from the Leadership Conference I attended last week. Jim Collins was a very interesting speaker. His presentation was about the "why" behind the failure of those in leadership, business, or even personal relationships. Here are my notes.

"Good" is the enemy of "great." How do the mighty fall? No one is immune! Any one (business, leader, personal) can fall. You can be sick on the inside and still look well on the outside. There are 5 stages of decline.

Stage 1 - Hubris (outrageous arrogance) born of success. It's not about you! Humility is what separates the great from the good. Opposite of what you would expect. Humility cannot be taught. Humility + will.

Stage 2 - Undisciplined pursuit of more. Breaking Patrick's (Lencioni) law and not filling the positions with "fantastic" and four C's people. Want more NOW!

Stage 3 - Denial of risk and peril. The denial is key. You can still look great which makes it easy to deny. This is not being an optimist. Never confuse faith and facts. Never give up. You can believe—even when you don't know the when.

Stage 4 - Grasping for salvation. The game is up, what you denied can no longer be denied. There is no silver bullet. Greatness is never a single event. Disciplined people. Disciplined thought. Disciplined action. 

          Stage 5 - It's over. Capitulation to irrelevance or death.

How to survive?

Because there is a reason to endure! The desire for money will not do it. Driven by purpose beyond money and success. Core values that will not be compromised. Our core values are not open to compromise. The importance of AND! Preserving core + stimulate progress. It has to be both. Not "or" but AND. It's both. Never compromise the core but be willing to look for new ideas.

1)  Do your diagnostics. Be honest.
2)  Count your blessings (the good things and successes you did not cause). Literally. Write them down on a spread sheet.
3)  What is your questions to statements ratio?
4)  How many key seats do you have?
5)  Where are you on the five stages of decline?
6)  Next meeting—take an inventory of brutal facts.
7)  Make a stop-doing list. It's not what we do but what we are disciplined NOT to do.
8)  Define results—the clicks on a fly wheel.
9)  Double your reach to young people. Core with out compromise.
10)  BUHAG—make goals. Big, Ugly, Hairy, Audacious, Goals

If you set out to be useful—you cannot capitulate. Never, ever, ever, give up. Change tactics, but never the core. Never give up or accept failing. Keep the faith.

Listening to Jim Collins speak brought a lot of clarity to my mind. The stages of business or personal failure he presented made so much logical sense and explained so much in what we were witnessing with "the storm" situation in our life. Outrageous arrogance. Undisciplined pursuit of more. Denial of risk and peril. Grasping for salvation. DONE.

It's the harsh reality. A business or personal relationship may be able to make it back from Stage 1–3, by going back to the fork in the road and choosing a different path. But once the stages progress, it's almost impossible to recover because you are past the point of no return.

Jeff Manion was another speaker at the Leadership Conference. Here are my notes from his presentation on The Land Between.

The Land Between is fertile for:

Complaints – Numbers 11:4–6 - the Israelites complained that all they had was manna. Complaining not just about the situation, they were complaining against God. The desert is fertile for complaints.

Meltdowns – Numbers 11:11–15 - It's too heavy... I can't carry this anymore.

God's Provision – AMEN! Numbers 11:16–17 - God sends his spirit on 70 men to help Moses carry the load. Elijah – God provided bread that he could see and smell. Is God too weak to intervene?

God's Discipline – People died. God inflicted pain for redemptive purposes.

The Land Between is fertile ground for transformational growth. I need you to trust me!!  The transformational growth does not happen automatically. It is the choice of the heart. Growth—or—Bitterness and death. Complaint resists eviction. Open your hands to release AND receive. Trust evicts complaint.

"People often quote a common Proverb in times of pain and tragedy: "Time heals all wounds." However, I do not find it to be necessarily true. Over time, some people heal while others become deeply embittered and acidic. The Land Between forces us one way or the other... The habits of the heart that we foster in this space—our responses and reactions—will determine whether the Land Between results in spiritual life or spiritual death." ~ Jeff Manion

I'm so grateful I had the opportunity to attend the Leadership Conference. God used both Jim Collins and Jeff Manion to clarify so much. It helped me make sense out of things that just didn't make sense. The heart of the matter IS the heart of the matter.


Next Entry: I Kings 7:1 – 8:66

I Kings 3:1 – 4:34

August 10, 2010

God tells Solomon to ask for whatever he wants from him. Solomon first replies by recounting how kind and faithful God had been to David, and how faithful David had been in obeying God. Solomon then says, "Lord my God."  My God, not his (David's) God, not the God, but my God. He goes on to say several different times, your servant. Solomon had the order of authority correct.

God

↓

Man

 My God → your servant. God knew Solomon's heart. He knew Solomon was an honest man. God would have never made the same offer to Absalom, Adonijah, or Saul. Solomon didn't ask for wealth, fame, and life for himself. He also didn't ask for revenge or death for his enemies. He asked for an obedient heart, for wisdom, and understanding. And, because Solomon had his heart right, God not only gave him wisdom and understanding, He also gave him what he didn't ask for: wealth, fame, and long life. "If you follow me THEN I will give..."

Solomon had great wisdom. He could discern who was telling the truth and who wasn't. When the two women brought the baby before him (each declaring the baby was theirs) he wisely discerned who the real mother was, and the baby was returned to his mother. 

When our hearts are right God blesses. LORD, may I have an obedient heart. May I obey your teachings.


Next Entry: I Kings 5:1 – 6:38

I Kings 2:1–46

August 09, 2010

David dies. But before he dies he gives Solomon some final instructions. He reminds him to obey God's commands and that IF he does those things THEN he will be successful. He must have complete faith in God. Then David reminded Solomon of what Joab and Shimei had done and for Solomon to decide how they should be held accountable. David also told Solomon to be kind to the children of Barzillai. Barzillai had been kind and helpful to David when Absalom was trying to take the kingdom.

Adonijah goes to Bathsheba and asks her to speak to Solomon about something he wanted. He wanted to marry Abishag. He started out by telling Bathsheba that, "You remember that at one time the kingdom was mine." He had tried to steal the kingdom and in his eyes the kingdom was his, but trying to take something as your own and it being your own is two different things. Adonijah wasn't asking for just any young woman to marry, he wanted Abishag, the young woman who was David's maid servant before he died. Adonijah was still obsessed with getting what David had. Solomon told him that if he was a man of honor (I Kings 1:52) that not a single hair on his head would be harmed. But if he did anything wrong he would die. Adonijah's actions proved he had not changed when he sought forgiveness in I Kings 1:53. He was still using underhanded methods to try and get what he wanted. God held him accountable and he lost his life.

Abiathar, the priest who had supported Adonijah and betrayed David, was stripped of his position and sent away. His life was spared, but he was removed.

Joab realizes he's in trouble. Like Adonijah, he runs and holds onto the altar, trying to use God and force forgiveness. He refuses to leave and is killed there on the spot for the crimes he committed against David and innocent people.

Shimei taunted David as David was leaving and trying to escape from Absalom (II Samuel 16:13-14). Shimei relentlessly pursued David cursing him while throwing stones and dirt at him. Shimei later sought David's forgiveness and David promised not to kill him. Solomon offers Shimei an opportunity to live. Build a house and live in the city and you'll be safe. Leave the city and you will die. Three years later Shimei has several servants run away. He leaves the city to go after them. He broke his promise. He wanted what was "his," and he lost his life.

The LORD held each one accountable for their own actions. The heart of he matter IS the heart of the matter. God cannot be fooled, and He will not be mocked.


 Next Entry: I Kings 3:1 – 4:34