199th Week, I Kings Chapters 20-22, Proverbs Chapters 15 & 16 (Click on the Title for Video Intro)

Click on the Title for Video Intro 

Monday, I Kings Chapter 20

1 Kings 20

Delores Little

THOUGHT

This is the chapter where Ben-Hadad got his army together with 32 other kings to come against King Ahab. God, being so loving, sends a prophet to Ahab. In  verses 13-14 it says, “Meanwhile a prophet came to Ahab king of Israel and announced, This is what the Lord says: ‘Do you see this vast army? I will give it into your hand today, and then you will know that I AM THE LORD.’ ‘But who will do this?’ asked Ahab. The prophet replied, this is what the Lord says: ‘The young officers of the provincial commanders will do it.’  ‘And who will start the battle?’ he asked. The prophet answered, ‘You will.’

Isn’t it interesting to see Ahab listening to a prophet? Is it because the Baal ones were dead? (Only God knows) But Ahab does go out, and he does get victory.  However, he messed up big time in keeping Ben-Hadad alive in verse 33 and sends him away.  What happens?

Verse 42:  He said to the king, This is what the Lord says: ‘You have set free a man I had determined should die. Therefore it is your life for his life, your people for his people.’ 

Verse 43:  Sullen and angry, the king of Israel went to his palace in Samaria.

What does this have to do with us today?  Well, what battles has God sent us into to share His Word with others or to help someone in need? Do we obey? I have fallen so short of God’s Glory in doing these things in my lifetime, but how I thank God He sent Jesus to forgive us and pick us up and try again.

How was God trying to show Ahab that He was the, I AM THE LORD?  He wanted Israel to follow him and not their own ways. Two chapters before Ahab witnessed how God worked and showed his people that God was the true God and not the Baal ones.  Ahab said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!” 

PRAYER

Father, we do confess we have not done what You have asked us to do at times, but how we praise and thank You that You are always there for us.  Let us keep our eyes on You daily. We pray this in from 

II Peter, “Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” AMEN

Tuesday, I Kings Chapter 21

1 Kings 2l

Delores Little

THOUGHT

In this chapter we see the greed Ahab has as he wants this man Naboth’s vineyard, and Naboth says, “No”, to selling it. This was the inheritance from Naboth’s father, and he wasn’t going to give it up. Ahab went home sullen and angry, and his ungodly wife, Jezebel, told him what she would do to get it for him.  She had him killed by lies told about him. Then God sent Elijah to Ahab.

Verse 19-20: Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?’ Then say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick your blood. Yes, yours!’  Ahab said to Elijah, ‘So you have found me, my enemy!’  ‘I have found you,’ he answered, ‘because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord.’

Notice how Ahab says Elijah is his enemy? He never could relate to this Godly man.  Then the next few verses Elijah tells him what God is going to do to him, his family and his wife.

Now what does that have to do with us today?  Have you ever wanted something so badly that it ached inside?  Was greed alive and well in our heart and soul?  We still have in our world today those who will kill people to get what they want. Notice though that God knows everything and will reveal it in His time and place. We Christians can sin in word, thought, and deed in all these things. That is why God sent Jesus to show us righteous living. 

PRAYER 

Father, forgive us when we don’t have You as the center of our lives every day. Help us to be those servants You’d have us to be by Your grace and love and joy. Let us be those lights of Jesus for others every day. Bless the Salt Shakers on the road You have for them. Following You is the best thing we could ever do. It is like being on a roller coaster with the ups and downs we go through, but it does draw us closer to You.  What a trip it is.  So glad You are on the road with us.  In the Name of Jesus.  AMEN

Wednesday, I Kings Chapter 22

1 Kings 22

Jeanie Boldt

THOUGHT

We are finishing the book of I Kings.  It has been a great journey.  I am going to conclude the book with input from Nelson’s Quick Reference Bible Commentary.  

FIGHT YOU OWN BATTLES. Jehoshaphat had no reason to meddle in Ahab’s wars.  He made the mistake of marrying Ahab’s daughter so there were family obligations to fulfill.

DELIVER YOUR OWN MESSAGE. False prophets usually agree in their messages of success and glory.  The messenger tried to get Micaiah to imitate them, but he gave the true message of the Lord.  It was not easy to be a prophet in Israel in that day, but Micaiah was faithful. 

KNOW YOUR OWN ENEMY.  Ahab clearly tried to make Jehoshaphat a decoy and get him killed, but God overruled and Ahab was slain instead.  The prophecy of I Kings 21:19 was fulfilled in V38.  

LEARN FROM YOUR OWN MISTAKES.  When the new king of Israel, Jehoshaphat’s brother-in-law, asked for a new alliance, Jehoshaphat refused.  He had learned his lesson the hard way, but at least he had learned and profited from his mistakes.  He was a great and godly man, and we must not allow one event to discredit his service for the Lord.  

The One we are to follow is God and do it daily obeying His Ways – not ours.  Satan will throw everything into our way as he doesn’t like us Christians at all.  We got victory through Jesus.  We are to test the spirits even of our Pastors and ourselves and make sure we stay with the Word of God and not false teachings which have come into many churches. 

PRAYER

Father, help us to be all You have us to be for You. Thank You for loving us so deeply.  Keep us faithful to Your Word and not stray from it.  Help us to be truthful and encouraging to all.  In the Name of Jesus.  AMEN 

Thursday, Proverbs Chapter 15

Proverbs 15 

Verse 22

Bart Strayer

Verse 22:  (Amplified Bible) Where there is no counsel, purposes are frustrated, but with many counselors they are accomplished.

THOUGHT “The utility of wise counsel”

We all have wonderful testimonies about how good counsel can pull us through the pitfalls of life. With no counsel we are left to work out life’s problems alone. God did not design us to be loners. Without outside counsel, it is easy to lose our perspective in times of struggle.  He wants us to depend on Him and be good counsel for each other. 

After struggling with a project, I remember having talks with Mindy, and she was able to identify areas of my thinking that had been clouded by despair.  Good counsel is so important. I think of the relationship between Jeanie and Delores. What a mutual blessing to both. On the opposite side of things, there is Job. Job was surrounded with bad counsel. If Job had not been spiritually strong, the counsel he got could have been detrimental to his faith. Try to think of 4 or 5 people that you would consider good counselors. Keep this list handy.  Good counsel is in high demand.

PRAYER

Dear God, we thank You for the counselor of counselors, the Holy Spirit, given to us because of our faith in Jesus Christ, Your Son. Help us on this day to provide good counsel for each other. Help us to know when to talk and when to listen. We ask that You would help provide the words and wisdom we need to help our friends when they most need us. We will be careful to give You all the praise. In Jesus Name. AMEN

Friday, Proverbs Chapter 16

Proverbs 16

Verses 3,9,20

Bart Strayer

Verse 3:  Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

Verse 9:  In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

Verse 20:  Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

THOUGHT “A dash of salt, a sprinkle of sugar, and a whole lot of God”

I hope you all don’t mind, but the application portion of my Bible hit the nail on the head with the point I would like to make. If you don’t mind, I am going to repeat it.

“There are different ways to fail to commit whatever we do to the Lord. Some people commit their word only superficially. They say the project is being done for the Lord, but in reality they are doing it for themselves. Others give God temporary control of their interests, only to take control back the moment things stop going the way they expect. Still others commit a task fully to the Lord, but put forth no effort themselves, and then they wonder why they do not succeed. We must maintain a delicate balance: TRUST GOD AS IF EVERYTHING DEPENDED ON HIM, WHILE WORKING AS IF EVERYTHING DEPENDED ON US.  Think of a specific effort in which you are involved right now. Have you committed it to the Lord?”

PRAYER

Dear God in Heaven, we thank You for helping us through yet another week of service. We thank You for all the blessings You have showered on this group of believers. Help us to commit ourselves to You wholeheartedly on a daily basis. Help us to find that balance between trusting You and depending on

ourselves. We ask that You help us commit our plans and guide our steps. In Jesus Name. AMEN