2 Kings 2

WEEK  17                                            2 Kings 2

MONDAY  Reflections

There was nothing supernatural about Elijah's cloak nor by seeing him go into heaven. The seeing of Elijah going into heaven was evidence of Elisha's faithfulness to the very end. The cloak of Elijah had no power but it represented to Elisha and those he would meet that he had taken on Elijah's role as prophet to Israel. Elisha didn't receive the power of the Spirit because he was in the right place or had the right clothes. He received the power of God because he was faithful to Elijah and God. Too often people want to find a shortcut to getting supernatural power, but in truth, it was not only Elisha's faithfulness at the end but his consistent faithfulness up to this time.

 

God wants consistency and faithfulness in us over the long haul. Yes, God can and does give mercy, but faithfulness has a special reward. Just being at the right place at the right time one time won't give you a double blessing.

2Ki 2:1-25
(1)  And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
(2)  And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.
(3)  And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
(4)  And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.
(5)  And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
(6)  And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.
(7)  And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.
(8)  And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.
(9)  And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
(10)  And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.
(11)  And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
(12)  And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.
(13)  He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
(14)  And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.
(15)  And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.
(16)  And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send.
(17)  And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not.
(18)  And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?
(19)  And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren.
(20)  And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him.
(21)  And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.
(22)  So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.
(23)  And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.
(24)  And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.
(25)  And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.

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Lamentations 2

WEEK  16                                       Lamentations 2

SATURDAY  Reflections

The writer says in verse six that God has destroyed His tabernacle. God destroyed the very means He set up for the Jews to worship him. This sounds bad and it is sad, but God made it very clear to Solomon it wasn't the temple that pleased God, only obedience. The Jew of the time might think this was horrible of God, but it really wasn't. It is like a husband or wife throwing down their wedding ring after their mate repeatedly has been caught having an affair. Yes, the ring is valuable but everything the ring stood for is now worthless. They don't even want to see it anymore. This was the image God was giving His people. Their generational disobedience brought them to this point and God was showing them just how deep the betrayal went.

Lam 2:1-22
(1)  How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger, and cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, and remembered not his footstool in the day of his anger!
(2)  The Lord hath swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob, and hath not pitied: he hath thrown down in his wrath the strong holds of the daughter of Judah; he hath brought them down to the ground: he hath polluted the kingdom and the princes thereof.
(3)  He hath cut off in his fierce anger all the horn of Israel: he hath drawn back his right hand from before the enemy, and he burned against Jacob like a flaming fire, which devoureth round about.
(4)  He hath bent his bow like an enemy: he stood with his right hand as an adversary, and slew all that were pleasant to the eye in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion: he poured out his fury like fire.
(5)  The Lord was as an enemy: he hath swallowed up Israel, he hath swallowed up all her palaces: he hath destroyed his strong holds, and hath increased in the daughter of Judah mourning and lamentation.
(6)  And he hath violently taken away his tabernacle, as if it were of a garden: he hath destroyed his places of the assembly: the LORD hath caused the solemn feasts and sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion, and hath despised in the indignation of his anger the king and the priest.
(7)  The Lord hath cast off his altar, he hath abhorred his sanctuary, he hath given up into the hand of the enemy the walls of her palaces; they have made a noise in the house of the LORD, as in the day of a solemn feast.
(8)  The LORD hath purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion: he hath stretched out a line, he hath not withdrawn his hand from destroying: therefore he made the rampart and the wall to lament; they languished together.
(9)  Her gates are sunk into the ground; he hath destroyed and broken her bars: her king and her princes are among the Gentiles: the law is no more; her prophets also find no vision from the LORD.
(10)  The elders of the daughter of Zion sit upon the ground, and keep silence: they have cast up dust upon their heads; they have girded themselves with sackcloth: the virgins of Jerusalem hang down their heads to the ground.
(11)  Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, my liver is poured upon the earth, for the destruction of the daughter of my people; because the children and the sucklings swoon in the streets of the city.
(12)  They say to their mothers, Where is corn and wine? when they swooned as the wounded in the streets of the city, when their soul was poured out into their mothers' bosom.
(13)  What thing shall I take to witness for thee? what thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for thy breach is great like the sea: who can heal thee?
(14)  Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.
(15)  All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?
(16)  All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee: they hiss and gnash the teeth: they say, We have swallowed her up: certainly this is the day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen it.
(17)  The LORD hath done that which he had devised; he hath fulfilled his word that he had commanded in the days of old: he hath thrown down, and hath not pitied: and he hath caused thine enemy to rejoice over thee, he hath set up the horn of thine adversaries.
(18)  Their heart cried unto the Lord, O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a river day and night: give thyself no rest; let not the apple of thine eye cease.
(19)  Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street.
(20)  Behold, O LORD, and consider to whom thou hast done this. Shall the women eat their fruit, and children of a span long? shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord?
(21)  The young and the old lie on the ground in the streets: my virgins and my young men are fallen by the sword; thou hast slain them in the day of thine anger; thou hast killed, and not pitied.
(22)  Thou hast called as in a solemn day my terrors round about, so that in the day of the LORD'S anger none escaped nor remained: those that I have swaddled and brought up hath mine enemy consumed.

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Amos 2

WEEK  16                                                  Amos 2

FRIDAY  Reflections

Amos, in chapter 2, concludes his first prophecy. He finishes lashing out at the nations surrounding Israel and Judah then moves to Judah. Judah, though part of God's chosen people, remained faithful to the line of David as Israel broke free. Judah was, in one way, a brother but still an enemy. Since they had the temple of God located in Jerusalem, they might have thought they had the high ground with God. Israel probably enjoyed hearing that God was going to bring judgment on them as well. However, this first prophecy ends with the greater condemnation coming down on Israel. 

Among the sins of Israel, God points out that both father and son are using the same servant girl for sexual purposes. Ignoring the command of God on fathers and sons sharing the same woman as a wife, I want to look at a deeper issue. These men were using these servant girls up. There was no love for these women, but she was little more than an object to fulfill themselves on. God made women in His image and as co-laborers with men. They were in the beginning both called Adam by God. They were never to be less. Yet here and unfortunately throughout human history, women have been denigrated to be nothing more than things. When women are made nothing more than sex objects it is worse than slavery. It is no wonder God wasn't happy. 

Amo 2:1-16
(1)  Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime:
(2)  But I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the palaces of Kerioth: and Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet:
(3)  And I will cut off the judge from the midst thereof, and will slay all the princes thereof with him, saith the LORD.
(4)  Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the LORD, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked:
(5)  But I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem.
(6)  Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;
(7)  That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in unto the same maid, to profane my holy name:
(8)  And they lay themselves down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar, and they drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god.
(9)  Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath.
(10)  Also I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and led you forty years through the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite.
(11)  And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites. Is it not even thus, O ye children of Israel? saith the LORD.
(12)  But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not.
(13)  Behold, I am pressed under you, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves.
(14)  Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself:
(15)  Neither shall he stand that handleth the bow; and he that is swift of foot shall not deliver himself: neither shall he that rideth the horse deliver himself.
(16)  And he that is courageous among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day, saith the LORD.

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Matthew 16

WEEK  16                                            Matthew 16

THURSDAY  Reflections

Jesus healed the sick and raised the dead but now the religious leaders want to sign. How many do they need? I can't help but remember the country song which I heard years ago that said: "Here's your sign," and the sign read, "I'm stupid" (I looked it up as I was writing this and decided I didn't necessarily like the song by Travis Tritt & Bill Engvall). This being said, the Pharisees and Sadducees were being stupid. The problem was they didn't want to believe; they wanted a sign so they could say Jesus was under their authority. If Jesus had done another sign they wouldn't have believed in him. Jesus by using the illustration of the morning and evening sun, said they needed to interpret what signs had been done. Jesus, by referencing Jonah, was saying that the heathen city understood and repented, but they hadn’t.  

Jesus wasn't there to play their games any more than he is for us today. Some people have made the same claim today, “If I had a sign,” but the truth is, it wouldn't be enough. The reason is that they want God to be under their authority. From my reading of Scripture, I believe if a sign would truly help someone come and stay in the faith then God would give it. The Bible shows us, time after time, that miracles rarely produce a changed heart.  

Mat 16:1-28
(1)  The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
(2)  He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
(3)  And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
(4)  A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
(5)  And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.
(6)  Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
(7)  And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
(8)  Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?
(9)  Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
(10)  Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
(11)  How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
(12)  Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
(13)  When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
(14)  And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
(15)  He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
(16)  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
(17)  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
(18)  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
(19)  And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
(20)  Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
(21)  From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
(22)  Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
(23)  But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
(24)  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
(25)  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
(26)  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
(27)  For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
(28)  Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

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Proverbs 19

WEEK  16                                            Proverbs 19

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

"Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death" (verse 18 NIV). There is much argument over the discipline of children. An exact reading of some of Proverbs (especially in some translations) sounds little more than child abuse. This is NOT what is being taught. God hates abuse. What is being taught is captured in this proverb. Without discipline (structure/direction/ appropriate correction) children go down the way which will lead to trouble and death, if not physical then spiritual death. However, with the right guidance, there is hope for children, and if I might add, hope for the future. 

What proverb inspires you today?



Pro 19:1-29
(1)  Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
(2)  Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
(3)  The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.
(4)  Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.
(5)  A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
(6)  Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
(7)  All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.
(8)  He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.
(9)  A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.
(10)  Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
(11)  The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
(12)  The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.
(13)  A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
(14)  House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.
(15)  Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
(16)  He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.
(17)  He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
(18)  Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
(19)  A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.
(20)  Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
(21)  There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
(22)  The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.
(23)  The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
(24)  A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
(25)  Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
(26)  He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.
(27)  Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.
(28)  An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
(29)  Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.

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