Skip to main content

April 10 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 100

100 days in the books.....or 100 days in the Book!

We're finishing 1 Kings today.  There's no happy ending here.  We've still got a long way for that.

Image result for naboth's vineyard

DAILY READINGS

1 Kings 20-22 & Psalm 100

DAILY NOTES

1 Kings 20
  • Ahab fights the Arameans.  Initially, he concedes to their king (Verse 4).  When King Aram asks for more than Ahab is comfortable with, he asks his elders for advice.  The war is initiated afterwards.
  • Don't forget that Ahab is not a hero.  Elijah has defeated Ahab's Baal prophets.  Ahab does not have complete prophetic support.  The victory he sees is God's.
    • By the way, by the end of the chapter, Ahab is portrayed as a "resentful and sullen" person.  The next chapter offers the same description.  Does that mean he's a big cry baby?
1 Kings 21
  • Ahab wants Naboth's vineyard for himself.  Naboth refuses.  Ahab sulks, and his wife, Jezebel, plots to have Naboth killed.
  • The prophet Elijah appears again and gives a judgement against Ahab and Jezebel.  Ahab repents (sackcloth).  Consequently, his life is spared.
1 Kings 22
  • Fighting with Aram again.  
  • The two kingdoms join together to fight Aram.  While 400 prophets said to go to battle, King Jehoshaphat asks for one more.  The last one, Micaiah, predicts that they will be defeated.  
    • Ahab is defeated and dies as a result.  
  • The chapter (the book) ends with King Jehoshaphat ruling Judah as a faithful king and Ahaziah ruling Israel as one who did evil in the sight of God.  
Psalm 100
  • A song of praise.  Since we are God's people, we are to offer him praise.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS

We're reading about the kings of Israel and Judah.  Have you noticed how much the prophets come into play?  Those pesky prophets always have some word from God.  Most times, we don't want to hear it.  That's why Ahab didn't want to have Micaiah come.  Ahab knew he was going to mess everything up for him.  

None of us really want to hear from a prophet, do we?  Prophets aren't here to give us pleasantries.  They're hear to offer us a word from God.  Typically, that word needs to be given because we aren't following along too well.  

Are there prophets around still today?  I believe so.  Maybe they don't travel in packs and play with entrails like in the Old Testament.  But God still has something to say, and we're still people.  We still need to hear from God.  

Be on the look out for God's prophets.  You'll have a good idea if it's a prophet speaking by how angry or uncomfortable s/he is making you feel.

Stay blessed...john
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

February 16 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 47 Before the movie Shrek, the best known talking donkey was Balaam's donkey.  That's what we're reading about today.   Of course, that's only part of the story between Balak and Balaam.   DAILY READINGS Numbers 22-24 & Psalm 47 DAILY NOTES Numbers 22:2 Apparently, Israel is making a name for itself.  The Moabites are terrified and distressed/irritated by the news of what the Israelites are doing. Numbers 22:5-6 Balaam is, apparentely, a diviner with a good reputation.  Balak is "overcome with fear" and his response is to go to Balaam.  Balak knows that "whomever you bless is blessed, and whomever you curse is cursed." Numbers 22:8 This is the recurring theme for Balaam.  He will only say what  God tells him to say.  That is, there's no money back guarantee.  Even if it doesn't align with what Balak wants, Balaam will only give the words that God gives him. There is no indication why Balaam w...
Post a Comment
Read more

April 3 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 93 After today we'll have finished another book of the Bible.  King David's place in the story of God is winding down. DAILY READINGS 2 Samuel 22-24 & Psalm 93 DAILY NOTES 2 Samuel 22 This is a psalm of praise and thanksgiving.  Psalm 18 is a variation of this psalm. 2 Samuel 23 David's reign (and life) are drawing to a close.  These are some of his last words and speak of men that have served under him.   2 Samuel 24 David wants a census of the people.  Since he later sees it as a sin, we can gather that he had prideful purposes for doing so.   The king repents, but also suffers the judgement of the sin.  Technically, 70,000 of the people he just counted suffered. Afterwards, David builds an altar to God. Psalm 93 God's rule over earth is celebrated.  This is what's called an enthronement psalm.  OTHER OBSERVATIONS There's an interesting observation to consider about 2 Samuel 24:1...
Post a Comment
Read more

April 6 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 96 We've come a long way from wondering in the desert.  Now, after many battles and years of disarray, God's people are living in peace and the Lord has a house built. DAILY READINGS 1 Kings 8-10 & Psalm 96 DAILY NOTES 1 Kings 8 Solomon brings the ark of God to the temple. The temple is dedicated.  Solomon offers a prayer for the occasion. Solomon blesses the people. 1 Kings 9 The highlight of this chapter is that God appears to Solomon again (in a dream?).  The line of David will continue through Solomon, assuming he follows the way of God.  The people must also follow. 1 Kings 10 The Queen of Sheba visits Solomon to see for herself his wisdom.  She is amazed (breathless).  The two crowns exchange gifts. Some of Solomon's furniture is described as a way to emphasize the grandeur of his reign and the temple.  Notice how "the whole earth" wanted to see Solomon (10:24). OTHER OBSERVATIONS Solomon's prayer at...
Post a Comment
Read more