Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 185

Jul4

Day 185 – Reading – 2 Kings 9 – 11

Read today’s Scriptures. Whoa! The prophesied Jehu. What do you learn about him?

2 Kings 9.

God had previously told Elijah, way back at Mt Horeb, that Jehu would become king over Israel, and he would kill all those involved in the worship of Baal (1 Kings 19:17).  The time had come for Elisha to see to Jehu’s anointing. He sent one of the young prophets to Ramoth-Gilead (that Eastern border town with Syria) to find Jehu and privately commission him.

Say, “I anoint you king over Israel.” THEN OPEN THE DOOR AND FLEE. DO NOT LINGER!”

The young prophet-student did just that … adding, “AND … you shall strike down the house of Ahab your master, so that God may avenge on Jezebel the blood of His servants the prophets of the LORD.”  “AND, the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the territory of Jezreel and none shall bury her.”

“Then he opened the door and fled.”

Jehu came out and told his fellow servants, “Well, the LORD says I am anointed king over Israel.” 

And all those men threw down their garments, blew the trumpet, and proclaimed, “JEHU IS KING!”

FIRST THING:  Jehu plotted to kill Israel’s king Joram. He told the servants who’d proclaimed HIM king to keep quiet and tell no one of this.  Then Jehu mounted his chariot and went to Jezreel, because Joram (injured in the battle) lay there.  King Ahaziah of JUDAH was also visiting him. 

The king saw him coming and sent messengers (who did not return). But a servant exclaimed, “The driving is like the driving of Jehu, for he drives furiously!”

Both the king of Israel and the king of Judah got into their chariots and went out to meet Jehu. They came together at the property of Naboth. (Remember, he was the righteous vineyard keeper whom Jezebel killed so Ahab could make a veggie garden.)

“Is it peace?” asked the king of Israel.

“What peace can there be, so long as the whorings and the sorceries of your mother Jezebel are so many?”

King Joram saw the situation, turned his chariot around, and fled.  Jehu shot an arrow into his back, clear to his heart, and killed him.  “Throw his body onto Naboth’s land, as the LORD had prophesied.’

Judah’s king Ahaziah also fled, and Jehu shot him too.  Ahaziah’s servants carried him back to Jerusalem for burial.

When Jehu came to Jezreel, where the kings lived, Jezebel heard he was coming. She put on her makeup and fixed her hair.  Then she leaned out her window to watch his approach. “Is it peace, your murderer of your master?”

Jehu looked up and asked, “Who’s on my side?”  Several of her eunuch servants nodded.

“Throw her down!” commanded Jehu.  And they did.

She fell splat, for the window was way up high. Some of her blood splattered on the wall and on the horses and they trampled on her.

Jehu and his party went inside, ate, and drank.  Finally, Jehu said that they should see about burying that “cursed woman.”  But outside, only her skull, the bottoms of her feet, and the palms of her hands could be found.  The dogs had totally consumed her.

“Ah,” said Jehu. “This fulfills the word of the LORD that Elijah spoke.” (1 Kings 21:23)

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2 Kings 10.

Jehu continues to fulfill the prophecy and commands of the LORD.  He conspired and succeeded in killing all 70 of Ahab’s sons. He also killed all of Ahab’s great men, close friends, and priests. He left none standing.  He even killed a group of Ahaziah’s (the dead king of Judah) relatives as they came to visit Israel. Jehu struck down all who remained of Ahab in Samaria.

THEN, he tricks the worshippers of Baal into attending a big celebration for Baal.  Not one was to miss this.  And when they all assembled in the house of Baal, and while they were sacrificing, Jehu’s 80 soldiers went in and killed them all.  They brought out the statue of Baal and burned it. Then, they demolished the house of Baal and burned it too …and made it a latrine (toilet) to this day. 

BUT, he did not destroy the golden calves that were in Dan and Bethel.

Nevertheless, because he had obeyed God’s command about the house of Ahab and the worshippers of Baal, He promised King Jehu that his sons would reign on Israel’s throne for four generations.

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But the Syrians under King Hazael began to “cut off parts of Israel,” starting on the east side of the Jordan River, taking all the land of the three tribes of Israel who lived there (Gad, Reuben, 1/2 tribe of Manasseh).

Jehu reigned 28 years in Samaria. When he died his son Jehoahaz reigned in his place.

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2 Kings 11.

This is a repeat telling of the wicked Queen Athaliah (2 Chronicles 22 – 23) when she saw that her son was dead (killed by the second arrow of Jehu). She killed all his children living in Jerusalem and set herself up as Queen in Judah (no one believed her). But she missed the baby Joash, who was hidden with his wet-nurse by a priest and his wife for seven years. At that time, the priest arranged for him to be anointed, crowned, and hailed as king … and for Athaliah to be killed.

The boy-king reigned and did what was right in God’s eyes.

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(WHOA. This was a bloody day of reading. Evil is wiped out, and good (mostly) triumphs.  For a while.

Oh, LORD, I know our hearts are desperately wicked.  How can you love us and forgive?  Thank you for Jesus, the pure, sinless Son who sacrificed his life in our wicked place, so we could be forgiven!)

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 184

Jul4

Day 184 – Reading – 2 Kings 5 – 8

Read today’s Scriptures.  Do you see connections?

2 Kings 5.

The setting:

  • Syria
  • Samaria
  • the Jordan River

Characters:

  • Elisha the prophet,
  • Gehazi, Elisha’s servant,
  • Ben-Hadad II, King of Syria,
  • Naaman, supreme commander of the Syrian army, 
  • a young Jewish servant girl
  • King Jehoram/Joram, (2nd son of Ahab to rule Israel),

Naaman (meaning gracious and fair) was highly regarded by the king of Syria, DESPITE having leprosy. (Lepers didn’t seem to be shunned and isolated as they were in Israel.)  He had conducted many successful raids into Israel on behalf of Ben-Hadad II, and on one of them had brought back a young Jewish girl to be servant to his wife. 

One day, this little girl was brave enough to tell her mistress that Naaman could be healed if he went to the prophet in Samaria.  The wife told Naaman. The Syrian king gave him permission, and sent Naaman to Samaria with a letter to King Jehoram.  He also took looks of gold, silver, and fancy clothes to pay for the healing.

King Jehoram  was shocked and thought Naaman’s request was a way to quarrel with him. But Elisha heard about it and told the king of Israel to send Naaman to him, “That he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.”

Naaman goes, but is insulted that Elisha’s servant gives him the prescription for healing.  Not only does Elisha not come out to mee him, but he says to dip in the Jordan River seven times and he’ll be healed.

“I’m not doing that! Aren’t there better rivers in Syria?  And the guy didn’t even come out to talk to me in person. Doesn’t he know who I am?”   And Naaman gathered his company and his gifts and began to leave.  But…. one of his men asked if it wasn’t “worth a try” since they’d come all this way? 

Naaman relented and dipped in the muddy Jordan 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 times … and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child. He was “clean.”

He went back and tried to pay Elisha with all the treasure, but the prophet of God refused. GOD had healed Naaman, not Elisha. He was only the messenger.  And so Naaman headed back to Syria, a changed man, praising and worshipping the God of Israel.  Until…..

Greedy Gehazi, thought HE could use some of that loot.  On his own, he ran to Naaman, told him a lie (the master changed his mind because unexpected guests had come), was greedy and accepted two silver talents and two changes of extravagant clothing. Then Gehazi deceived his master and hid his loot from Elisha (who could see through walls and across miles) and then lied to him right to his face.  Of course Elisha confronted Gehazi about it, and in the end, the servant (and his descendants) got Naaman’s leprosy.

(UGH!  What lessons learned!!)

  • A lesson about “instant” and “far-reaching” results to greed, lying, and deception (Gehazi)!
  • A lesson about humility and obedience (Naaman). 
  • A lesson learned about boldness to speak out for the LORD, no matter where you live (the slave girl)

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2 Kings 6 and 7.

The Setting:

  • By the Jordan River
  • Syria and Samaria
  • Dothan, north of Samaria

The Characters:

  • Elisha
  • “Sons of the Prophets”
  • Ben-Hadad II, King of Syria
  • King of Israel
  • four lepers

The group of student prophets came to Elisha and wanted to build a bigger lodging place down by the Jordan.  Elisha agreed and went with them.  While chopping wood, on young man heaved a mighty blow with his “borrowed” axe, and the head came off. The piece of iron went flying right out into the Jordan River.  Oh, no!  OH, NO! cried the man. 

NOTE: The man was responsible for the axe he borrowed. Moses’ Law said that if an item was LOST, the borrower would have to make full restitution. (Exodus 22:7-15)  The poor student prophet had no money for an axe, that’s why he borrowed it. He could NOT pay the price of a new one.  .

Elisha took pity on him, asked where it had gone in, then cut off a stick and threw it into the water.  THE IRON AXEHEAD FLOATED!.  The young prophet dashed into the water to get it.  A Miracle!

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Now this is kind of funny.  Wherever the Syrian King planned to attack Israel, God gave Elisha a “heads-up” and he told the king of Israel so they could be ready, or move away.  This happened again and again until the Syrian king was pulling his hair out.  “There must be a spy among us!”

But one of his servants said, “No, m’lord. It is Elisha, the prophet in Israel. HE tells the king of Israel the words you speak in your bedroom.

The king ordered, “Go, see where he is that I may seize him.

“Behold, he’s in Dothan,”

So the Syrian army with horses and chariots surrounded the city. Elisha went out early that morning and saw them.  But his servant was terrified. “WHAT SHALL WE DO???”

“Don’t worry,” said the prophet of God. “Those who are with US are more than those who are with THEM.  And he prayed that the LORD would open the servant’s eyes. 

When the LORD did, the eyes of the young man saw, and behold, the mountain was FULL of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

When the Syrian army attacked, Elisha prayed that God would strike them with blindness.  Then Elisha went to the Captain and said, ” You are going the wrong way. Follow me and I’ll take you to the man whom you seek.”

And he led them right into the middle of Samaria.  Then he prayed that their eyes were opened, and they were.  EEK!!  And King Jehoram came out and said, “SHALL I KILL THEM ALL?”

“No,” cried Elisha.  “Set bread and water before them and then talk to their leader.”  King Jehoram went over and above. He served them a great feast.  And when they were full and drunk, he sent the away to their master.

And… (get this) “The Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel.”

(That’s what comes from obey God and loving (being kind) to your enemies. HA!!  (a good lesson learned!)

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2 Kings 8.

Remember the Shunammite woman? Elisha came and restored her young son to life after he died of an illness.  Elisha had also said that she was to move away because a famine was coming for SEVEN years.  She listened to him and moved to the land of the Philistines. Now she was back after those years. She asked the king to have her land restored.  And, what do you know!  Elisha’s servant Gehazi just happened to be there talking to the king.  The king had asked to hear of some miracles of Elisha, and BEHOLD there was the woman and her son.  And so, the story told, the king restored the woman’s land to her, PLUS all the crops that had grown in the last 7 years.

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The Elisha went to Damascus the capital of Syria.  King Ben-Hadad II was sick.  The king sent Hazael, his servant, to ask Elisha if he would live or die. (He sent 40 camel-loads of goods along too.)

Hazael asked for the king, “Will he recover from this sickness?”

Well, Elisha knew the sad truth.  YES, Hazael would recover from the illness, but this messenger, Hazael, would kill him and become king in his place.  Elisha saw with grief all the horrible things that the new king Hazael would do to Elisha’s people, Israel. (Set fortresses on fire, rip open bellies of pregnant women, dash the little ones to pieces.)

“WHAT?” cried Hazael.  “Am I but a dog to do such a thing??”

“The LORD has shown me.”

Back in the king’s chamber, Hazael told Ben-Hadad he would recover … then suffocated him to death. He then became king of Syria.

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Next, we see a repeat of the story in Judah (2 Chronicles 21:4-20). Jehoshaphat dies and Jehoram his son becomes king in Judah (south).  He was evil like Ahab (Jehoram’s wife was the daughter of Ahab), but God did not destroy him for the David’s sake and the “promised Lamp” to come.

He died and Ahaziah his son reigns for one year. His mother was the wicked Athaliah. He got sick and died.

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The history of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah is so discouraging. Israel has only wicked kings, but because of the intermarriage with the house of Ahab, the evil invades Judah too, until the wicked Athaliah is killed (Chapter 11).

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 183

Jul2

Day 183 – Reading – 2 Kings 1 – 4

Read today’s Scriptures.  Elijah/Elisha, how do they encourage you?

2 Kings 1.

We are backing up a little in time, and peering at the northern kingdom (Israel) and catch up with the southern kingdom, whose king was the boy, Joash. (Refer to the “kings” chart.

After Ahab died, his equally wicked son Ahaziah became king.  (Moab is going to rebel against Israel as Verse 1 says, but not until the NEXT king comes along. (chapter 3) First, God deals with this wicked king/son of Ahab.)

King Ahaziah fell through the lattice in his upper chamber and lay sick (injured internally?).  He sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub (prince Baal), the god of Ekron (Philistine). 

*** (I guess his father, Ahab, never told Ahaziah about how Elijah’s true God had defeated 400 of this god’s priests on Mt. Carmel, who had called on, inquired of, and pleaded desperately with … and NONE had evoked a response from that dead god.) 

WE might ask, the same question Elijah asks when he heard what the king was doing.  “Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron???

When the men returned to King Ahaziah, he was furious with Elijah.  He sent a captain with 50 men to bring the prophet back to Samaria.  Elijah’s signature “fire from heaven (from God)” took care of them.

Ahaziah sent another captain with 50.  Same thing.

Ahaziah sent a third captain with 50.  This man was scared-smart.  He fell to his knees and pleaded with Elijah to spare his life and that of his men. This was a sign from God that it was safe for Elijah to see the king.

Elijah tells king Ahaziah, “You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.”

And he died.

Ahaziah had no sons, so Jehoram, his brother (another son of the wicked King Ahab), began to reign. 

NOTE:  (DON’T GET CONFUSED.  In the south, in Judah, another Jehoram, Jehoshaphat’s son, reigned there when that king died.  Two Jehoram kings! (Must have been a popular name.)  However, the passage beginning in 8:16, refers to the northern king as a shortened “Joram,” so that helps.)

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In chapters 2-4 today (and then in 5-8 tomorrow), we take a little side trail to see Elijah “pass the mantle” (literally) to his protegee, Elisha, and then some of Elisha’s “double-spirit” ministry.

“Now when the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal in the area of Ephraim.” 

(It seems that the LORD informed both prophets that this was about to happen, and Elisha was hyper-vigilant.  WHY?  Remember, Elijah told the other man that if he SAW HIM DEPART, he would get the request of a double-ministry.  Elisha was NOT leaving Elijah’s side, even though the older man “tested” him three times.)

On their way from Gilgal to Bethel (7 miles), Elijah told Elisha to STAY THERE.  Nope, said his apprentice. “As the LORD lives, and as you live, I will not leave you.”

At Bethel some prophets told Elisha that the LORD would take Elijah that day. I know, he said.  Elijah again told Elisha to “STAY THERE” while Elijah went on fourteen miles to Jericho, but again the younger man refused.

At Jericho, again some prophets told Elisha that the LORD would take Elijah soon.  I know, he said. Keep quiet.

For a third time, Elijah told Elisha to STAY THERE while he went to the Jordan River.  Nope, Elisha said.

The 50 prophets followed the two to the river an witnessed the event.  Elijah took off his cloak, struck the river water, and it split so the two men could cross.  On the other side Elijah again asked what Elisha wanted. “A double portion of your spirit on me,” came the answer.

As they began to walk … CHARIOTS OF FIRE AND HORSES separated them.  Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

“My father, my father!  The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!”   And he saw Elijah no more.

Elisha tore his own clothes in grief.  Then he picked up Elijah’s cloak, walked to the Jordan, and struck the water.

It parted. 

He walked across.

Of course, the 50 prophets wanted to search for Elijah, thinking maybe God dropped him somewhere in the valley.  Elijah said no at first (he’d seen Elijah disappear INTO HEAVEN), but after they pleaded, he said okay.  After an intensive search, Elijah (or his body) could not be found, and Elisha gave them that “I told you so!” look.

Then, the first proof of prophethood.  A town had water that made the people sick.  God used Elisha (and a bowl of salt) to cure it.

When Elisha returned to Bethel, some nasty pagan boys (actually young men) came out to make fun of his bald head. (Usually, prophets of God kept the Nazarite vow and never cut their hair. Now, here was a prophet of God WITH NO HAIR.)

Elisha cursed the taunting boys, and some bears came out and ate them. All 42 of them.  Seriously?  To ridicule God’s prophet was to ridicule God, Himself.  This was God’s warning to all who attempted to interfere with the newly invested prophet’s ministry. 

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Okay, back to Jehoram/Joram, king of Israel (north). He reigned 12 years and was evil in God’s sight, though not as bad as Ahab and Jezebel.

During Jehoram’s reign, the king of Moab, who had been paying tribute to Ahab, decided to stop now that Ahab’s second son was king. This made Jehoram mad, and he called Jehoshaphat (remember they had a marriage alliance) for help. Somehow, he also managed to get the King of Edom to help. They marched around the south end of the Dead Sea, planning to attack Moab. But they ran out of water. The animals (for food) and the army were desperate for a drink.

We need a prophet! Is there a prophet around here?  There’s Elisha, who took over for Elijah.

Elisha would not help King Jehoram or the King of Edom, but … he had regard for the “good” King Jehoshaphat, so he helped them and Moab retreated.

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Chapter 4 tells of Elisha and the widow of one of the prophets. She was poor, and a creditor was coming to take her son into slavery to pay what she owed.  Elisha told her to go beg and borrow all the vessels she could from her neighbors. She did, and then she began to pour the bit of remaining oil she had into all the vessels and jars.  She kept pouring until every last one was FULL!  Then she sold the oil and the money paid for her debts and left some for her and her son to live on. 

Another woman, a wealthy Shunammite, offered Elisha food and a place to stay whenever he was in the area.  Elisha wondered how he could repay her. When he learned that she and her old husband were childless, he prophesied that she would have a son at that time the following year. And she did. 

A few years later, the boy got sick and died. IN FAITH, she went and got the prophet. Elisha came, prayed for the boy, and he was resurrected to life. 

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While Elisha was visiting the prophets in Gilgal, a famine was in the land. The men gathered wild herbs for a stew and put them in a pot to cook. One man unknowingly gathered poisonous gourds and put them in the pot too.  The prophets got sick while eating and cried out to Elisha.

Elisha called for some flour and threw it into the pot.  Now they ate without harm. 

Then a man came with some loaves of barley bread and some fresh ears of grain as an offering for Elisha.  The prophet told the man to give it to all the men so they could eat.

“How can I set this before a hundred men?”

“Give it to them,” answered Elisha. “For the LORD says they shall eat and have some left.”  And it was so.  

And so God used Elisha in these many ways to provide for His people in need.

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(Oh, for faith to believe and act on the Word of God as these people did.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 182

Jul1

A NEW MONTH! We are halfway through the year!

Day 182 – Reading – Obadiah 1 and Psalms 82 & 83

Read today’s Scriptures.  Do you see connections?

Obadiah 1.

Did the appearance here of this minor prophet surprise you? It did me. 

We are still reading about the divided nation = Israel vs Judah, both still living in the land God gave them.  So why the prophet Obadiah??

Obadiah is probably a contemporary of Elijah and Elisha, who prophesied mostly to the northern kingdom of Israel. Obadiah spoke only to the southern kingdom of Judah.

Now remember when Edom (Esau) along with Ammon and Moab came around the southern end of the Dead Sea to attack Judah?  (2 Chronicles 20). The Bible calls them “a great multitude” and “a horde.”  The people (and Jehoshaphat the king) were terrified of them.   Then, remember Jehoshaphat’s wonderful prayer to the LORD, reminding and claiming His promises of help?

  • “If disaster comes upon us, we will stand before this House and before You, and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.  Execute judgment on them now, for we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us.“

And remember the LORD’s reply.

  • “Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s. You will not need to fight in this battle.  Stand firm, hold your position, and SEE the SALVATION of the LORD on your behalf. 

And Jehoshaphat appointed singers to sing to the LORD, and to praise Him as they went. And as they began to sing and praise Him, the LORD set an ambush, so that Ammon, Moab, and MOUNT SEIR were routed, so that none escaped alive.

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Obadiah is now prophesying against this Edom (Esau, Mt. Seir)  for the ill treatment of God’s beloved Judah.  He says,

  • “The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?”  Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars …. from there I will bring you down, declares the LORD.
  • Your mighty men shall be dismayed … so that every man from Mount Esau will be cut off by slaughter. Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever.

Obadiah prophesies of the time when Judah will be carried off into captivity by Babylon.  At that time Edom helps their captors, by catching runaways, and killing them!  God roughly calls them out.

  • “Do not GLOAT over the day of your brother, in the day of his misfortune; do not REJOICE over the people of Judah in the day of their ruin; do not BOAST in the day of distress. 
  • “Do not ENTER THE GATE of my people in the day of their calamity; do not GLOAT over his disaster in the day of his calamity; do not LOOT his wealth in the day of his calamity.
  • “Do not stand at the crossroads to CUT OFF HIS FUGITIVES; do not HAND OVER his survivors in the day of distress.”

But in that day, that’s just what Edom did, and God punished them for it.  “As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head.  There shall be no survivor for the house of Esau,” for the LORD has spoken. 

(Hey, you don’t mess with God’s chosen people! HE may discipline them, but not YOU!)

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Psalm 82.

This psalm speaks NOT of persecuting the helpless, but RESCUING them. (It’s almost like this is sent ahead to Edom!)

  • “Give justice to the weak and the fatherless, maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

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Psalm 83.

This psalm is also very like Obadiah’s message to Edom (and to all who would persecute His Chosen… even TODAY)

  • “O God, do not keep silence; do not hold Your peace or be still, O God.

 

  • “They lay crafty plans against your people; they consult together against your treasured ones.

 

  • “They say, ‘Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!”

(Have you heard this mentioned about Israel today in the news???)

 

  • “For they conspire with one accord; against You they make a covenant, the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab, and the Hagrites, Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia with the in habitants of Tyre; Asshur also has joined them; they are the strong arm of the children of Lot.

(Yes, Israel is surrounded to day by those who hate them and want to destroy them!)

 

  • “O my God, make them like whirling dust, like the chaff before the wind. As fire consumes the forest, as the flame sets the mountains ablaze, so may You pursue them with Your tempest and terrify them with Your hurricane!

 

  • “Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever; let them perish in disgrace, that they may know that YOU ALONE, whose name is the LORD are the Most High over the  earth.”

 

Oh, my goodness.

This SO reminds me of recent affairs in the Middle East.

And the hate threats towards Israel.

(Oh, God!)

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Days 180 & 181

Jun30

Sundays and Mondays studies are posted together on Mondays

Day 180. Reading 1 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 18

Day 181.  Reading 2 Chronicles 19 – 23

Read Today’s Scriptures.
What insight or comfort do you receive?
 

Day 180 – 1 Kings 22.

After that ill-advised truce between King Ahab’s Israel (north) and King Ben-Hadad’s Syria (farther north), there were three years without war. Each country was trading in the other’s bazaars.  

But, there was a sore spot between the two kings. It was the town of Ramoth-Gilead.  Officially, it was in Israel’s territory, way east, across the Jordan River and right up next to Syria. (See map on yesterday’s post.) Syria was gradually “taking” the town, and Ahab didn’t like it.

So… when King Jehoshaphat of Judah (south) came to visit Ahab, Ahab asked him if he would go with him and battle for it and try to settle the dispute with Syria.

“Sure,” Jehoshaphat said. “My people are yours and my horses are yours. But … hey, let’s inquire of the the LORD first.”

King Ahab gathered his 400 prophets and inquired if they should go up against Syria at Ramoth-Gilead.

They ALL said, “Go up, for the LORD will give it into your hand.”

This seemed a little fishy to King Jehoshaphat, and he asked if there was ANOTHER prophet of the LORD that they could ask.

King Ahab grumbled, but finally said, yes, there was ONE, but Ahab didn’t like him because he ALWAYS prophesied against him.  Jehoshaphat pressed him, and Micaiah was called.  After a bit of messing around this real prophet of God said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd.“

“SEE!!! I told you.  He never says anything nice about me!” bemoaned Ahab.  And Ahab promptly put Micaiah in prison with meager food rations.

But, the Word of the LORD which Micaiah spoke came true.  The two Jewish kings went up to battle with the king of Syria, who had told his men to “fight with neither small or great, but with the King of Israel (Ahab) only.”

King Jehoshaphat (Judah) rode out in his chariot in regal clothing and a crown on his head.  But wily King Ahab disguised himself as a lowly soldier.  The Syrians of course, went after Jehoshaphat, who cried out to the LORD for help.  When the Syrian captains saw that he was not King Ahab they turned away.  

Then ,,, a random soldier drew his bow and randomly shot an arrow into the air.  “Oops!” That deadly missile flew right to the disguised King Ahab and entered his body through the crack separating his breastplate from his chain mail.  A scream.  And, “TURN AROUND AND CARRY ME OUT OF THE BATTLE FOR … I … AM … WOUNDED!  And troops fled every man to his city.

In the evening, King Ahab died.  His blood flowed into the bottom of the chariot. His body was brought to Samaria and buried.  

“And they washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria, and the dogs liked up his blood.”  Just as Elijah had prophesied.

Ahaziah, his son reigned in his place. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father, King Ahab, and in the way of his mother, Queen Jezebel. He served Baal and worshiped the pagan gods. He provoked the LORD, the God of Israel to anger in every way that his father did.

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Meanwhile, in the south, King Jehoshaphat continued to reign over Judah. (We’ll learn some good things about him tomorrow from 2 Chronicles 19-23.  He continued to clean up the pagan worship that his father King Asa had begun.)

Jehoshaphat eventually died and HIS son, Jehoram reigned in his place. Jehoram was exceedingly wicked, and you will find out why (below) and how (tomorrow’s reading).  

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2 Chronicles 18.

Here are a few interesting details on the story above about King Ahab in the north, and King Jehoshaphat in the south going to battle together for Ramoth-Gilead.

Jehoshaphat had GREAT RICHES and honor.  He – STUPIDLY!!! – made a marriage alliance with king Ahab.  (Ah ha! … now we see why the southern king was willing to go to war with Ahab against the Syrians.)  Jehoshaphat had arranged for his son, Jehoram, to marry Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab & Jezebel.

And the fall out of this union nearly wiped out the godly line of David through whom the Messiah Jesus would come!!! We’ll see that tomorrow.

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Day 181 – 2 Chronicles 19.

When King Jehoshaphat returned to Judah after that narrow escape with the Syrians and the death of Ahab, he was met by Hanani, a prophet of God, for a thorough scolding. 

“Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD?”  (Yes, it did seem strange that he would help the wicked King Ahab fight the Syrians … until we learned that his son had married Ahab’s daughter.  There was a political obligation there.)

Hanani told the king of Judah that he SHOULD be punished … but that, “some” good had been found in him. He’d gotten rid of the pagan Asherah poles, and … MORE IMPORTANTLY, Jehoshaphat had “set his heart to seek the LORD.”  After that …

  • He went out to the people in his land and “brought them back to the LORD, the God of their Fathers”.
  • He appointed judges in all the fortified cities and reminded them that the LORD was watching them. They should make sure there was no injustice or bribery.
  • He appointed special Levites in Jerusalem to decide disputed cases.

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2 Chronicles 20.

And then, a threat of war came to Judah (south). The descendants of Israel’s old relatives: (Moab & Ammon, both from Abraham’s nephew Lot) and Edom (descended from Jacob’s twin, Esau) joined together. They came around the south end of the Dead Sea, with the plan to de-throne Jehoshaphat.

Thankfully, the king did not call on the wicked kings in the north to help him, but “set his face to seek the LORD.” He proclaimed a fast for all his people. And prayed this prayer;

  • “O LORD, God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven?  You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand You.  Did You not, our God, drive out the in habitants of this land before Your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham, Your friend?
  • “And they have lived in it, and have built in it a sanctuary for Your Name, saying, “If disaster comes upon us (the sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine), we will stand before this house and before You (for Your Name is in this house) and cry out to you in our affliction, You will hear and save!
  • “And now behold, the men of AMMON, MOAB, and MOUNT SEIR, whom Your would not let Israel invade when we came up from Egypt – Behold, they “reward us” by coming to drive us out of Your possession.
  • “O our God, will you not execute judgment on them?  For WE ARE POWERLESS AGAINST THIS GREAT HORDE that is coming against us. “WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO!  But our eyes are on You.”

**** (Oh, my goodness, what a prayer!  What if WE should pray this way, with such dependence on God!  What if modern Israel would pray this way, in total dependance on the LORD, their God! How would YOU respond, O LORD our God?)

As all Israel, with the little children and women, stood before the LORD, the Spirit of the LORD came on Jahazel, a descendent of Asaph, the Levite. And he said,

  • “LISTEN, all Judah, inhabitants of Jerusalem, and king Jehoshaphat. Thus says the LORD. “Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, FOR THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS BUT GOD’S.”
  • “Tomorrow go down against them.  YOU WILL NOT NEED TO FIGHT IN THIS BATTLE.  Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD, on YOUR behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.
  • “DO NOT BE AFRAID AND DO NOT BE DISMAYED.  Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you!”

Jehoshaphat, all Judah and Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping Him. They praised the LORD, the God of Israel with a very loud voice.

And they arose early in the morning and went out to meet the horde. Jehoshaphat stood and encouraged them. “Hear me, Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, an you will be established. Believe the prophet and you will succeed.

AND THEN … Jehoshaphat appointed singers to sing and praise the LORD, as the went before the army.

“Give thanks to the LORD, FOR His steadfast love endures forever.”

And when they BEGAN to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, so that they were routed.  They each destroyed one another!!!!!  Dead bodies all around. None escaped.

WOW!

Jehoshaphat and the people came to take the spoil and found GREAT NUMBERS of goods, clothing, precious things – which they took for themselves until they could carry no more.

They returned to Jerusalem with GREAT JOY for the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies. 

And the fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel.  So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet … for his God gave him rest all around.

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At the end of his life, King Jehoshaphat joined in a venture to build a shipping fleet to Tarshish – with Israel’s wicked King Ahaziah (north).  But God destroyed all the ships because of this ungodly alignment.

Eventually Jehoshaphat died and was buried in the City of David (the southern part of Jerusalem, below the Temple Mount and palace).

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2 Chronicles 21.

Jehoshaphat’s first-born son, Jehoram (the one he’d arranged a marriage with wicked Ahab/Jezebel’s daughter, Athaliah), ascended the throne.  HE WAS NOTHING LIKE HIS GODLY FATHER!  Immediately, he killed all his brothers, six in all, plus some of the princes of Israel (north), to assure his place in the kingdom.  (These men, were the lineage of “the house of David” through whom God had promised the reigning Messiah. Jehoram killed them all!) 

And yet God did not destroy him, even though he did what was totally evil in His sight, for God was not willing to destroy the house of David because of the Covenant He’d made with David. God had promised “a lamp to him and to his sons forever.”  But what about this totally evil man of darkness???

Do not fear. God is Sovereign over all.

But meanwhile Jehoram grew worse. He made high places for pagan worship. He led Judah into whoredom and made them go astray.

Elijah the prophet sent him a letter from the north. “Because you have walked in the ways of the kings of Israel (north) and have enticed Judah into whoredom, and killed your brothers, I, the LORD, will bring a great plague on your people, children, wives, possessions and YOU YOURSELF will have a severe sickness of your bowels, until them come out of your body.”

WHOA! (Leave it to Elijah to terrify!)

God stirred up the Philistines against Jehoram, and the Arabians, and they came and invaded Judah and carried away Jehoram’s possessions, his sons, and his wives. (Only Jehoahaz, his youngest son remained.)

Then God struck him with that dreaded bowel disease, an incurable disease.  In two years’ time all his bowels came out and Jehoram died IN GREAT AGONY. 

No one regretted his departure. He was buried in the city of David, BUT NOT IN THE TOMBS OF THE KINGS.

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2 Chronicles 22.

So, Ahaziah/Jehoahaz, Jehoram’s youngest son reigned. He walked in the ways of his grandfather, King Ahab (north), for his mother was his counselor in doing wickedness. 

God ordained his downfall through His appointed Jehu, whom God had appointed to destroy the house of Ahab. (Remember, that was one responsibility the old prophet, Elijah had, to anoint Jehu.)  And Jehu did that – he killed Ahaziah/Jehoahaz and all the remaining princes of Ahab.

Now, there was no one able to rule the Kingdom of Judah.  

Why?  Because the wicked mother (daughter of Ahab) destroyed all the royal family of Judah. She proclaimed herself queen – but nobody took her reign seriously.

WAS JUDAH WIPED OUT?

WAS THERE TO BE NO SEED OF DAVID LEFT TO COME AS MESSIAH?

WHAT ABOUT GOD’S PROMISES?

But … there was a woman named Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, and the wife of the priest, Jehoiada.  She went into the “nursery” and carried away the very youngest son of the king, less than 1-year-old Josiah, AND HID HIM FROM HIS WICKED GRANDMOTHER. 

Josiah, the SEED OF DAVID, the “lamp of Israel,” lay hidden in a cradle. He stayed with the godly couple for six years, while Athaliah “reigned” over the land.   

****(Doesn’t this remind you of how God kept the baby Jesus safe from King Herod when he sent Joseph and Mary to Egypt?)

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2 Chronicles 23.

Finally the time had come.

Josiah was seven years old.

He’d been trained by the priest, who now took courage.

Jehoida gathered the commanders of the army. They went through Judah and gathered the Levites from all their cities, as well as the fathers of the houses of Israel.

Jehoida showed them the boy-king, Josiah and said, “Behold, the king’s son! Let him reign as the LORD spoke concerning the sons of David.”

Then Jehoida revealed his carefully-though-out plan.  All the Levites and priests who had come off duty were divided into thirds and placed around the House of the Lord at the gates. “NO ONE MAY ENTER EXCEPT THE MINISTERING PRIESTS.” 

“Surround the king, each with his weapon in his hand.  Anyone approaching shall be killed.  Be with the king at all times.”

THEN, he brought out Josiah, the king’s son and placed the crown on his head.  “Long live the king!”

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YIKES!  When Queen Athaliah heard the noise, she went to see what was happening and saw the young king. 

She tore her clothes and cried, “TREASON! TREASON!”

Jehoida commanded the captains to seize her. “Take her out of the court of the House of the Lord, and kill her!”  They led her through the horse gate of the king’s house and… did the deed.  The end of that wicked Ahab/Jezebel line … except for Josiah, whom the LORD had chosen to carry David’s seed.  WHEW!

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Jehoida made a covenant between himself, the people, and the young king, that they ‘should be the LORD’s people.   He saw to it that the altars and images of Baal were destroyed. He reinstituted the sacrifices and offerings that Moses wrote about in the LAW.

Then he took the young boy king from the house of the LORD to the king’s house.  They set him on the ROYAL THRONE.  All the people rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been killed.

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****(WOW. What a long tale of evil and good.  God is ALWAYS in control. HE is sovereign. He will fight for His people.  He will see that not a word of his prophecy EVER fails. His covenants are sure. HE IS GOD, and KING, and the LORD of Hosts forever and ever. Glory be to His name!)

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 179

Jun28

Day 179.  Reading 1 Kings 20-21

 
Read today’s Scriptures.

1 Kings 20….

…tells a surprisingly good story about the wicked King Ahab.  Until the last part, that is.

We see King Ben-Hadad, king of Syria, again in this chapter. (Syria is the country just north-east of Israel, with Damascus as the capital.) (This map also shows the two places Elijah stayed during the drought, and Mt. Carmel, where the great “showdown” happened. Samaria is the capital of Israel, where Ahab lives.) 

 

 

Remember, in Chapter 15, King Asa (south) had paid Ben-Hadad a large amount of gold and silver from the temple, to harass King Basha (north) so he’d stop fortifying the border. The Syrian King had agreed. Now, it seems, Ben-Hadad was sure King Ahab could also be easily defeated.

“Hey, King Ahab, give me your silver and gold and the best of your wives and children.” 

“Okay, sure,” said Ahab.

Then Ben-Hadad got greedy. “I will send my servants to you tomorrow, and they will search your house and take whatever pleases them.”

“Um, no! The gold and silver and best wives and kids I will do, but NOT THAT,” sent back King Ahab.

“Okay, then. It’s war!”

“Make my day!” replied Ahab.

Now, here is the strange part.  A prophet of God came to Ahab and told him that he would get the victory, “So you will know that I am the LORD.”  Ahab got some military instructions from the prophet, and at noon they went out to confront King Ben-Hadad’s army.

The Syrian king was drunk, however, and commanded, “If they come in peace, TAKE THEM ALIVE!  But if they come out for war …. TAKE THEM ALIVE!”  (Huh?)

Ben-Hadad didn’t have the chance to do either, because King Ahab struck his forces a “very great blow!” The Syrians fled and Ben-hadad escaped on a horse.

The prophet of God told King Ahab to rest up, for in the Spring the king of Syria would be back.  (Now, the Syrians believed that Israel’s God was only a god of the hills. That’s why they were defeated.  Next time they would bring lots of chariots and fight on the plains.  The Jewish God would be defeated there.)

Oh, Syria.  You’ve a lot to learn!!

So, in the spring Ben-Hadad mustered the Syrians and went up to fight against Israel … in the plains. The army of Israel that encamped before them was as “two little flocks of goats” compared to the Syrians who filled the country.  (Hahaha. Oh, Ben-Hadad, did you never hear of David and Goliath??)

The prophet of God came to Ahab and said, “BECAUSE the Syrians claim the LORD is only a god of the hills, I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and YOU SHALL KNOW that I am the LORD.”

And the people of Israel struck down of the Syrians 100K foot soldiers in one day.  When the rest fled to a town, the wall fell on them and 27K more were killed.  Ben-Hadad hid deep in the town and sent a message to King Ahab, “Please let me live.“

AND HERE IS WHERE KING AHAB WENT WRONG.  God had “devoted the Syrian king to destruction,” meaning he was to be killed.  But King Ahab thought it would be cool not to kill him.

“He’s alive? He’s “my brother!” he said.

“Yes! Your brother, Ben-Hadad!”

“Go, bring him out.”

When the Syrian king was brought out, King Ahab invited him up into his own chariot. And the two kings made a trade deal between their countries. And …. Ahab let him go.

LATER…

The prophet of God came to King Ahab with a bit of play-acting, but then told him.  “Because you have let go the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore YOUR life shall be for HIS life, and YOUR people for HIS people.”  Dire news indeed.  Instead of the Syrians and their king under this law, now Ahab and Israel would be “devoted to destruction.”

Ahab, went home, vexed and sullen.  

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1 Kings 21.

King Ahab’s boredom caused him to sin.  He saw a lovely vineyard that he coveted for himself. It belonged to another, but he WANTED it, and the obsession grew. 

(Oh, my goodness, this reminds me of our favorite King David. 

Idleness is a TERRIBLE sin.

It leads to much worse sin. 

Desire and lust and a flame in the belly, which James 1:14-15  says leads to death.

Watch out for it!!)

Ahab at first proposed to Naboth, the vineyard’s owner, that he give it to the king, in exchange for a “better vineyard.”  Or… he could sell it to Ahab, who would give him the vineyard’s value in money.” 

Reasonable, right?  NOT!

What Ahab neglected to realize in his coveting, is that the men of Israel had their land as a divine allotment from God.  They were not to sell/give it to someone outside their tribe.  He said “The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.”

Ahab “lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food.”  

Really??  What a spoiled-brat!!

Enter his wicked wife, Jezebel.  “Hey, Hubby.  What’s wrong?”

“Naboth won’t give me his vineyard!”

“ARE YOU NOT THE KING OF ISRAEL!” she said.  “Get up, eat some bread, be happy!  I’ll get the vineyard for you!’

And the wicked Jezebel set into motion her wicked plan.  She defamed Naboth before of the town council, and tricked them into condemning the innocent vineyard owner. They killed him and sent a sweet note to the Queen.

“Naboth has been stoned. He is dead.”

And so, she skipped into King Ahab’s room with the news, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard for Naboth is not alive, but dead.”   And quickly, without any questions, Ahab got dressed and went down and took possession of it.

Sick!  And after all God had done for the king!

And God sent His top man, Elijah, to condemn the king.  “Arise, Elijah, go down and meet Ahab king of Israel in the vineyard of Naboth.

With this gruesome prophecy.

  • “Thus says the LORD: ‘In the place where dogs liked up the blood of Naboth, shall dogs lick up YOUR blood.”

“Oh, my enemy!  You have found me!” said Ahab to Elijah.

And the LORD’s message continued.

  • “I have found you because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the LORD.
  • I will bring disaster upon you. I will utterly burn you up, and will cut off from Ahab EVERY MALE, bond or free in Israel.   
  • And….. of Jezebel, the dogs shall eat Jezebel within the walls of Jezreel.
  • Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city, the dogs shall eat, and anyone of his who dies in the country the birds of the heavens shall eat.”   

(And oh, wow, you will read about this happening in 2 Kings 9:10, 30-37.)

(“There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the LORD like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited.  He acted very abominably in going after idols.”)

And here’s another VERY INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT. Ahab tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. (This was not his usual pouting.)  In the Old Testament, this is a sign of REPENTANCE.  Was it sincere? 

God saw this evil, weak, man’s heart. “Because he has humbled himself before me,” said the LORD. “I will not bring this disaster in his days, but in his son’s days I will bring the disaster on his house.”

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(Wow. There is hope for you and me.  God sees a person’s heart. He knows if repentance is real. He knows if we truly will humble ourselves before Him.  O, my heart, fall on your knees before the all wise, living God. He is merciful to save.)

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 178

Jun27

Day 178.  Reading 1 Kings 17-19

Read the Scripture chapters.
The mighty prophet, Elijah: How does he illustrate trust in God?
 

1 Kings 17.

Here’s a refresher on this wicked king.

Yesterday, we learned a little about King Ahab (north) and his wife Queen Jezebel.  Ahab did EVIL in the sight of the LORD, MORE THAN ALL WHO WERE BEFORE HIM. He took Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, king (and priest of Baal) in Sidon. Ahab served Baal and worshiped him, and erected an altar for him in Samaria. AHAB DID MORE TO PROVOKE THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, TO ANGER THAN ALL THE KINGS OF ISRAEL BEFORE HIM. 

And today…

Enter the prophet Elijah, from Tishbe.  Boldly, he approached the evil king, “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.”

Not good news. 

“Get out of town, now,” is basically what God said to Elijah.  Where? “Depart from here (Samaria) and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.”  (about 25 miles away)  Elijah would have water from the brook (until it dried up), and the Ravens would feed him bread and meat each morning and evening.

(Ever wonder what kind of bread? Or meat? A raven might bring?  I just read a story about a Raven in England that became a pest to tourists, for it would snatch food from their hands, pacifiers from babies’ mouths, or grab toys, iPhones, small cameras, or golf balls and fly off with them.  Imagine now some pita-type bread cooling on a ledge, dried fish in a basket, fried locusts on a plate….  NOTHING non-Kosher, of course.)

Anyway, Elijah hid and ate these gifts as the rest of Israel began to swelter and thirst.  Crops withered, ponds and drinking holes dried up. Cattle & sheep began to die.   AHAB IS GETTING VERY ANGRY!

Meanwhile, the Cherith Brook also dried up, and God sent Elijah north to the Mediterranean coast to the town of Zarephath, right near (get this) Sidon, Jezebel’s own family territory.  God led him to a Gentile widow living there with her son, and possibly some household staff. 

He asked her to bring him some water. (Reminds me of Jesus and the woman at the well.)   She agreed, and as she was going, Elijah called after her, “Oh, and bring me a morsel of bread to eat as well.”

Can you imagine her look as she turned back to him?  “Are you kidding?  I have only a mere handful of flour and a drop of oil in this jug.  I was going to make a tiny morsel for my son and me to eat, and THEN WE ARE GOING TO DIE!”

Elijah: “Don’t be afraid. FIRST, make me a little cake to eat, THEN something for your son and yourself.   (There’s a lesson here. Do you see it? Did she?)  I imagine the woman standing there with her mouth agape.

And Elijah continues, “For thus says the LORD, the God of ISRAEL. “The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain on the earth.”   I imagine the woman still standing a minute longer, taking in his words, perhaps glancing at the bag and jar.  Then, turning and doing what Elijah asked.  And she and her household ate for MANY days.  WOW!

Faith and obedience work miracles, even for a Gentile woman living in a pagan land.  And can you imagine her testimony?  AND, the MIRACLE that was soon to happen?  

****(Jesus mentions this woman and her story to the men in the Nazareth synagogue in Luke 4:24-26. (Read it!)

Oh, the miracle?  The widow’s son got sick and died.  She brought his body down to Elijah and asked (much like we would), “Is this what I get for believing your words of Israel’s God and taking care of you?  My son has died!”

But Elijah – the prophet of that great God – took the boy, earnestly prayed for him, and life returned to his body!! Joy again was in that household!

James 5:16. “Confess your sins to one another and PRAY for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power and is working.”

And the thrilled, relieved, thankful widow said, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is true.”

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1 Kings 18.

A new message from God, three years into the drought.  “Elijah, Go, show yourself to King Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth.”

Elijah obeyed.

Meanwhile, Ahab was very angry at Elijah. His wife, Jezebel, was killing all the prophets of God in an attempt to get Elijah.  A godly man in their household, one Obadiah, took 100 of the prophets and hid them in caves.  He fed them bread and water (from the king’s house??)

Ahab and Obadiah went out on a search for some springs and grass for the king’s horses and mules, one each way.  As Obadiah went, Elijah met him. 

“Is that YOU, my lord?” Obadiah asked.

“It is I.” said Elijah. “Go tell your lord, ‘Behold Elijah is here.”

“WHAT???  Do you want me dead??  There has been no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent to seek you, to no avail.  And NOW, you say, Go tell him that Elijah is here.  As soon as I go, the Spirit of the LORD will whisk you away, and he will kill me!”

“Calm down, brother,” Elijah said. “I will surely show myself to him today.”

Obadiah found and told Ahab.

Ahab met Elijah. “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”

“I HAVE NOT TROUBLED ISRAEL, BUT YOU HAVE…BECAUSE YOU HAVE ABANDONED THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD AND FOLLOWED BAALS” answered Elijah in Godly anger.

“Now, send and gather all of Israel to me at Mount Carmel… AND the 450 prophets of Baal, and the 400 prophets at Asherah, who sit at Jezebel’s table.”

(And Ahad did.)

Elijah to the people:  HOW long will halt between God and Baal.  Follow God, or follow Baal. 

Silence from the people.

Elijah: “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the LORD, but you have 450 men of Baal.  Let’s have a contest.  And the God who answers with FIRE, He is God.” 

“Good idea,” said the people. 

And so the contest ensues. You know the details, two bulls were prepared on the altars. The prophets of Baal wailed and wept and called and prayed and cut themselves for hours and hours. (Perhaps he was going to the bathroom and couldn’t hear! haha)

NOTHING.

When it was Elijah’s turn, he drenched the bull and wood with four jars of water, THREE TIMES. (This, in a time of scarcity of water!)   

Then, no shouting or cutting himself, or dancing around. Just a prayer for God’s glory. “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that YOU are God in Israel.”  

THEN THE FIRE OF THE LORD FELL and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust and licked up the water in the trench. 

And the people fell on their faces, “The LORD, he is God!”

Then ….. Elijah had them seize all the prophets of Baal, and he slaughtered them, down by the brook Kishon.   Jezebel had killed the prophets of God (Verse 13), now Elijah killed her prophets.

Then, “Hey, Ahab, you better go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a rushing rain.  Get home before it hits full force!”  THEN ELIJAH PRAYED FOR RAIN.

James 5:17-18. “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three and a half years it did not rain on the earth.  Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.”

Ahab drove his chariot furiously to Jezreel. (before the wheels could get mired in mud).

The hand of the LORD was on Elijah and he out ran Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

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1 Kings 19.

And, oh boy, was Jezebel mad!!  “I will kill Elijah by tomorrow, or may the gods kill me!”

And… our mighty, fearless, Elijah … WAS AFRAID!  What?  He got up and ran for his life, all the way to Beersheba. (about 100 miles!!!!)  And then a day’s journey into the wilderness. 

He prayed that God would kill him. 

He slept, then and angel woke him and fed him some food and water.

Then he fell back to sleep.

Later the angel woke him and fed him more food and water.  (On the strength of THAT food, Elijah went forty days and nights, all the way to Mt. Horeb (Sinai), the Mount of God.)  SERIOUSLY??

And God spoke to him, encouraged him. A fierce wind, a rough earthquake, and a fire came, “but God was not in them.  INSTEAD, God spoked to Elijah with a low whisper.  BUT ELIJAH HEARD IT.

(Another lesson here, if we could find it.)

God encouraged him by saying he wasn’t alone – there 7,000 more in God’s service in Israel.

God encouraged him by giving him more work to do.

  • He had to anoint Hazael in Damascus as king over Syria.
  • He had to anoint Jehu as king over Israel.
  • He had to take on Elisha as his apprentice to take over when he was gone.

Encouraged, refreshed, and empowered, Elijah left there and found Elisha.  Elijah threw his cloak on Elisha, and after offering sacrifices, Elisha arose, went with Elijah, and assisted him.

A new life for Elijah.

  • At first hidden away, ministering to a single woman
  • Then a great, grand exhibition of God’s power over evil.
  • And the execution of hundreds of false prophets
  • A fast run, a terrified run, and a very long walk to meet God at Sinai
  • Refreshment, newly commissioned
  • Ready to serve again.

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****(Yes, I wrote this out in story form. It’s longer, but I hope you, like me, got to know Elijah more deeply.  And I pray we have learned the lessons that he, and those around him, did.)

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 177

Jun26

Day 177.  Reading 1 Kings 16 and 2 Chronicles 17.

 
Read the Scriptures.
What are you discovering about the Kings of Israel/Judah?
How can you pray for your own country with these sins?

1 Kings 16.

I skipped a brief reign of Nadab, Jeroboam’s son in 1 Kings 15 yesterday. In the second year of King Asa in Judah (south), Nadab reigned in Israel (north). He did EVIL in the sight of God, just like Jeroboam had.  A man named Basha (house of Issachar), conspired against him and killed him in Philistine territory where they’d been fighting.

Basha then reigned in his place. And, as per prophecy (1 Kings14:9-11), he killed all the house of Jeroboam, leaving “none that breathed.”

King Basha (north) then reigned 24 years, and did EVIL in God’s sight.

Now, to chapter 16.

Because of his evilness, King Basha (north) also had a prophecy of utter destruction against him.  And so, King Basha died, and Elah his son reigned in his place.  In the 26th hear of the southern King Asa’s reign, King Elah (north) began to reign.  He made it two years,  But the Zimri, commander of half of his chariots, conspired against him.  When Elah was at a friend’s house, drunk as a skunk, Zimri came in and killed him.  Zimri then became the new (northern) king.  He also then killed all the remaining relatives of the house of Basha – as prophesied because of Basha’s and Elah’s sin.

King Zimri (north) reigned seven DAYS.  The troops still down in Philistine territory heard this, and made Omri  their “commander-in-chief.  When Zimri heard about it he went into the king’s house, set aflame and died inside.  WHOA!

So, after a power struggle with one Tibni, Omri became the new northern King. (King Asa still was reigning in Judah (south).)  King Omri reigned in the north for twelve years.  Halfway through his reign, he moved the capital to Samaria.  He also “did what was EVIL” in God’s sight.  He died and …. AHAB, his son, reigned in his place in the northern kingdom.

King Ahab reigned 22 years, and did “evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him. And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam, he took his wife, JEZEBEL, the daughter of the Sidonian king (and priest of Baal) and worshiped him. Ahab erected an altar to Baal in Samaria, and made an Asherah (female version of Baal).  HE DID THOSE THINGS TO PROVOKE THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL TO ANGER, more than all the kings of Israel before him.

And, interestingly, during Ahab’s reign, a man named Hiel REBUILT JERICHO. If you remember in Joshua 6:29, Joshua cursed anyone who rebuilt that city, saying that it would be at the cost of the man’s first born and youngest sons.  That prophecy was fulfilled, but Jericho was rebuilt.

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2 Chronicles 17.

Meanwhile in the south, remember the long-reigning King Asa of Judah finally died from that stinky feet disease.  His son, Jehoshaphat reigned in his place.  The LORD was with King Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David.  He did not seek Baals, but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments.  THEREFORE, God established the kingdom in his hand.

He fortified the cities along the Judah-Israel boarder in Ephraim that his father had captured.

More significantly, in his third year of reign, he sent his officials, and with them the Levites, into the cities of Judah to teach them the Book of the Law of the LORD.  And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the land – that were AROUND Judah – and they made no war against King Jehoshaphat.

Some of the Philistines even came to King Jehoshaphat with gifts of silver, and the Arabians brought rams and goats as tribute. 

(This reminds me of Proverbs 16:7, that says, “If a man’s ways please the LORD, even his enemies are at peace with him.”)

Jehoshaphat built garrisons and store cities. His army was great and full of mighty men of valor.

(Why, oh why, don’t we always seek to please and honor and glorify the LORD.  What benefits!)

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(Jehoshaphat DOES make a major mistake, however, which we’ll cover on Sunday.)

 

List of north/south kings:

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 176

Jun25

Day 175.  Reading 1 Kings 15 and 2 Chronicles 13 – 16

 
Read Today’s Scriptures.
We now begin to read through the history of the reigning kings of the North and South. It can be confusing. Here are two helps.
1.) Check out (and maybe print) the list I posted yesterday of the kings and when they reigned.
2.) If you mark in your Bible, use a colored highlighter to mark the kings of the North, and a different color for the Southern kings.

1 Kings 15.

In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam (north), King Abijah/Abijam began to reign over Judah (south).  He reigned for three years. He walked in the sins of his father before him – his heart was not wholly true to the LORD, as the heart of David.

  • “Nevertheless, for David’s sake, the LORD gave him a ‘lamp’ in Jerusalem, setting up his son after him, and establishing Jerusalem, because David did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.”  (I love this promise!)

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2 Chronicles 13.

Now there was war between Abijah (south) and Jeroboam (north). Abijah, with 400K soldiers VS Jeroboam with 800K (who were positioned in front and behind Judah in an ambush stance.

But, although Abijah was not a good king, he had some good words to the Northern army that day.

  • “Hear me, O Jeroboam and all Israel. Ought you not to KNOW that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingship over Israel forever to David and his sons? Yet Jeroboam – a servant of Solomon – rebelled and, because Rehoboam was young and irresolute, took the northern tribes to reign over them. 
  • “And NOW you think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David?  Because you are more in number and have golden calves???   AS FOR US, the LORD is OUR God, and we have not forsaken Him. We have priests ministering to Him, the sons of Aaron, and the Temple of God.
  • “Behold, God is with us at our head.  O sons of Israel, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your fathers, because you cannot succeed.”

A bold proclamation, for sure, but then Judah noticed the 400K soldiers in front of them and the 400K behind them, ready to ambush. They “cried to the LORD, and the priests blew the trumpets, and the men of Judah raised the battle shout.”  And when Judah shouted, GOD defeated Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and all Judah!  WHOA! And the men of Israel fled before Judah, who struck down 500K of Israel.

Why this massive victory?  “Because they relied on the LORD, the God of their fathers.”

Jeroboam (north) did not recover his power in the days of Abijah (south). And the LORD struck him down, and he died.  But Abijah (south) grew mighty.

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2 Chronicles 14.

Abijah (south) died and was buried in the City of David. His son, Asa, reigned in his place, and the land had rest for ten years.  “Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God,”  taking away the foreign altars, the high places, and the Asherim pillars. He also commanded the people of Judah to “seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and keep the law and commands.”

The kingdom had rest under him. He had no war in those years, for the LORD gave him peace.

But then…

  • “Zerah, the Ethiopian, came out against them with an army of a million men and 300 chariots!  WHOA!
  • And Asa cried to the LORD his God.  “O LORD, there is none like You to help between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You, and in Your Name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God; let not man prevail against You.”
  • So the LORD defeated the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah. And they fled.  Asa and Judah pursued them as far as Gerar, and the Ethiopians fell … until NONE remained alive. (a million!!!)  And Judah carried MUCH PLUNDER back to Jerusalem.

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2 Chronicles 15.

Then the Spirit of God came on the prophet Azariah, and he took a message from God to King Asa (south), to Judah, and to Benjamin.

  • “The LORD is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.”  “But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.”

And what was the “work” they had to do?  Clean out the land of all the detestable idols.  And as soon as Asa heard the prophet’s message, he took courage and put away the idols from Judah and Benjamin.

He also gathered those people from the northern tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who were residing with them, for great numbers had deserted to him from Israel (north) when they saw that the LORD was with him.

All these, and Judah entered into a covenant to seek the LORD the God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul.  They rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and had sought him with their whole desire … and He was found by them, and the LORD gave them rest all around.

And King Asa removed his mother, Maacah, from being queen mother, because she had made a detestable image for Asherah.   The heart of Asa was wholly true all his days. 

And there was no more war …. until the thirty-fifth year of his reign.

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2 Chronicles 16.

In the 36th year of Asa’s reign (south), the (northern) king Basha went up against Judah.  He built a fort so no more of his people could leave him and go to King Asa. 

NOTE: Instead of crying to the LORD his God, King Asa took money (gold and stuff from the treasuries of the LORD) to Ben-Hadad, king of Syria in Damascus, and paid him to fight King Basha (north) so he would withdraw from King Asa (south).

Ben-Hadad agreed and sent commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel (north), and they conquered Dan, other cities, and all the territory of Naphtali. The northern king Basha heard of it and withdrew from building the fort against Judah. 

But…

This was NOT what King Asa should have done. The prophet Hanani said to him,

  • “Because you relied on the king of Syria and did not rely on the LORD your God, the army of Syria has escaped you. (He could have battled them and won!)  
  • Were not the million Ethiopians a huge army, yet because you relied on the LORD, he gave them into your hand. The eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward Him. 
  • YOU HAVE DONE FOOLISHLY IN THIS. From now on, you will have wars.

Well, that did not make King Asa (south) happy.  In a furious rage, he took Hanani and put him in stocks in the prison!

“Did that help, Asa???  I think not.  Accept your sin! Repent! Ask forgiveness!!  But he didn’t. In fact, “he inflicted cruelties on some of the people at the same time!”

Three years later, “King Asa (south) was diseased in his feet (did he think about those prison stocks??) and his disease became severe. EVEN THEN, he did not seek the LORD, but went to doctors.  Sheesh!

He died two years later and was buried in a tomb that he’d cut for himself in the city of David.  Curiously, the people filled his casket with various kinds of spices prepared by the perfumer’s art.  (YIKES, did his feet smell THAT bad???)  They made a very great fire in his honor.

(17:1 – And Jehoshaphat, his son, reigned in his place.)

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 175

Jun24

(NOTE:  This is a continuation from Day 174, which I didn’t cover yesterday.  OOPS!   I’ll do it here.) (Day 174 (missing = 1 Kings 13-14) 

Day 175.  Reading 2 Chronicles 10 – 12

 
Read Both Days’ Scriptures.
(Note what causes the declines of the Northern & Southern Kingdoms.)
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NORTH — (Jeroboam built two GOLDEN CALVES and put one each in Bethel (only 12 miles from Jerusalem) and Dan. He made temples for these idols and appointed priests to serve them.)

“Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”

And the people of Israel went up to the altars to make their offerings.  And they sealed their fate.,,,

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1 Kings 13. (This is a crazy-weird chapter!)

A “man of God” from Judah went to Bethel by the Word of the Lord.  He prophesied to the northern king, Jeroboam, who was standing there, about to make an offering to one of his golden calf idols, about a future king of the southern kingdom who would come and sacrifice THE FALSE PRIESTS on it.

Jeroboam stretched out his hand against the “man of God” to seize him. BUT HIS HAND FROZE IN THAT POSITION!  Jeroboam pleaded for him to pray to the LORD to restore his hand. He did, and God answered his prayer.

Jeroboam was so grateful that he invited the “man of God” to his home for some refreshment.

“Not on your life, for God has commanded me saying neither to “eat bread nor drink water in that place, NOR even to return the way I’ve come.”  And off this unnamed “man of God” goes …

So far, so good.

But then the STRANGE PART:  An “old prophet” lived nearby. His sons told him about the happenings at the idolatrous altar at Bethel and what “the man of God” had said.  He sent his sons off to meet the man on his return to Judah. The “man of God” repeated his instructions from God … BUT this (false) prophet counteracted God’s word and lied to him.  He said that he could get some refreshment.

The “man of God” believed this false prophet’s son OVER God’s word to him. (Hey, does God’s Word ever change?)  Sinfully, he returned to the “old prophet’s” house and had some bread and water. 

As he was sitting at the table, perhaps a piece of bread heading toward his mouth … the WORD OF GOD came to him. “You have disobeyed, Now will soon die.“

The “man of God” immediately left, and a lion killed him on the way home, then stood by his body (not eating him). The “old prophet” heard about it, went to the body, took it home with him, and buried it.  He mourned. He told his sons that when HE died, they were to open this man’s grave and bury him there too. (???)

He also admitted, ‘Surely the Word of the LORD against this altar in Bethel will come to pass.”  (It did in 2 Kings 23:15-20 with Josiah.)

The Old Prophet repented and believed, but Jeroboam did not. He appointed fresh false priests (anyone who wanted to be) and continued to cause Israel to sin.

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1 Kings 14.

Then another prophecy came to Jeroboam when his son, the crown prince, got very sick.  Jeroboam told his wife to go to the prophet of God, Ahijah, the one who had told him he would become king, and ask if their son would get better.

His wife obeyed, but the prophet identified her right away, despite being blind, because God alerted him..  Bad news. Yes, the son would die as soon as she returned home.  And here is why.

  • “I exalted you, Jeroboam, from among your people and tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you. Yet you have NOT been like my servant David, who followed me with all his heart.
  • You have done evil. You made for yourself other gods and metal images and have cast Me behind your back. 
  • Therefore, I will bring harm upon the house of Jeroboam and cut off every male. I will burn up the house of Jeroboam until it is all gone.

AND, this dire prophecy as well …

  • And the LORD will strike Israel as a reed is shaken in the water, and root up Israel out of this good land, and scatter them beyond the Euphrates, because they have made their Asherim, provoking the LORD to anger. And He will give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin.

Yep, the boy died as soon as his mother came to the doorway of the house. All Israel mourned for him. He would be the ONLY one of Jeroboam to be buried and mourned, BECAUSE THERE WAS FOUND SOMETHING PLEASING TO THE LORD IN HIM.

Jeroboam reigned 22 years and died. His next son, Nadab, reigned in his place.

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TODAY’S READING:

2 Chronicles 10.

This chapter retells the split of the Kingdom of Israel, after King Rehoboam’s foolish decision to be even harsher to the people than his father, Solomon, had been.

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2 Chronicles 11.

After the LORD forbade Rehoboam from warring against the people of the ten northern tribes, the king turned to Judah/Benjamin, the remaining tribes under his rule, and BUILT UP THE CITIES and FORTIFIED THEM HEAVILY.

It’s interesting that the priests and Levites who lived in all Israel moved south and presented themselves to King Rehoboam. They had left their land and holdings (cities) in Israel and came to Judah and Jerusalem.

“Those who had set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came after them from all the tribes of Israel, to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their fathers. They “strengthened” the kingdom of Judah … for they walked in the way of David and Solomon.

**** (And this saved their progeny.  For after the Babylonian Captivity, only the people of the southern kingdom of Judah returned to rebuild and live in the Land again.)

Rehoboam followed his father’s example and took a lot of wives and concubines (only 78, as compared to Solomon’s 1,000!)  But his “fave” wife was the daughter of Absalom!  Seriously??  And her son, Abijah, is the one he appointed to be king after him.  (Remember, Rehoboam was the son of one of Solomon’s foreign wives, Naamah, the Ammonite.)

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2 Chronicles 12.

So, after Rehoboam strengthened all his cities, sent his many sons to rule them, and welcomed the people and religious leaders from the north….. guess what?  He abandoned the law of the LORD, and Israel with him. (sigh)

And so … Shishak, king of Egypt, came up against Jerusalem with 1,200 chariots and 60,000 horsemen, and people without number, including some from Libya and Ethiopia.  (He actually made it all the way to the Sea of Galilee!!)

He was unable to conquer both Israel and Judah, but he destroyed cities in Judah, took many of the gold treasures Solomon had amassed, and gained some control of the trade routes.

The princes of and the king humbled themselves and said, “The LORD is righteous.”

When God saw this, he sent His prophet, Shemaiah, with the message…

  • I will not destroy them, and I will grant them “some” deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. NEVERTHELESS, they shall be servants to him, “that they may know My service … and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.”

****(This was the first major military encounter with Egypt since the Exodus.  A taste of being enslaved again was bitter. God’s message was clear.  Forsake the worship of God, and they would lose His protection and blessing.)

And so ,,,

Rehoboam reigned seventeen years (five years less than Jeroboam) in Jerusalem, the city that the LORD had chosen out of all of Israel to put His Name..  And although he did “humble himself before God” when the Egyptians came, he will go down in Jewish history as ….

“He did evil, for he did not set his heart to seek the LORD.”

So Rehoboam died and was buried in the City of David.

His son, Abijah, reigned in his place.