JUNE 14 READINGS...2 Kings 1:1-18 2 Kings 3:1-27 & 1 Kings 22:41-50 & 2 Chronicles 20:31-21:4 & 2 Kings 8:6-22 & 2 Chronicles 21:5-7
Today’s readings remind us that being an Old Testament prophet was not a glamorous job. They had to speak the truth, and even when every other prophet told the king what he wanted to hear…the prophet of God had to speak the truth. King Ahaziah fell through the lattice in the upper room of the palace. He asks the false prophets of Ekron if he would survive…this incited Elijah. He asks the kings messengers, and then said to the king…”Is there no God in Israel? Why would you go to a false god to find out what would happen to the king? Therefore, the king will never leave his bed, but die there.” The king becomes enraged at Elijah, and sends fifty men to kill him…Elijah calls down fire from heaven to kill them. The king sends a second group of fifty…and the same thing happens to them. Finally, when the next group of fifty are sent, the leader humbles himself before Elijah…and they are all spared. King Ahaziah dies just like Elijah said he would and his brother Joram replaces him. Notice once again the integrity of Elijah the prophet…also notice the Lord’s hand of protection on him, as he shares the Word of the Lord. We too, need to walk and talk with integrity…and trust the Lord to take care of us.
Elisha is beginning his ministry and the Moabite king is planning to go to war with Israel. Joram ask Jehoshaphat if he will go to war with him, and help. Jehoshaphat agrees, but wants to first hear from the prophet of God…so Elisha is asked and said he would not help the king of Israel, but because Jehoshaphat was involved he would ask the lord. The Lord promises them victory. After this victory Jehoshaphat comes to the end of his reign…he was a good king, but he did not remove all the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and worshipped there. Jehoshaphat dies and his son, Jehoram, takes the throne…and out of fear he killed all his brothers and the leaders in Judah. Jehoram married one of the daughters from Ahab, and did wicked things in the eyes of the Lord…but because of David and the promised dynasty, God did not destroy him. Once again, we see the Lord is a covenant keeping God…and I am so glad He is…for He has a covenant with us.
Please share your thoughts. I am in Tennessee this week, so I don’t know what time each day I will get the devotionals up. I hope you are being blessed in your readings.
TOMORROW’S READINGS…2 Kings 2:1-18 & 2 Kings 2:19-25 & 2 Kings 4:1-44
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