July 26th readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
2 Chronicles 17:1-18:34 ~ Romans 9:25-10:13
Psalm 20:1-9 ~ Proverbs 20:2-3

Old Testament - Today in 2 Chronicles 18, Ahab is not happy about the Arameans occupying Ramoth-gilead at the beginning of today's readings.   A good location-profile of Ramoth-gilead is at this link. 

King Jehoshaphat of Judah wisely suggests that they should consult God before going into battle against the Arameans.  At which time King Ahab of Israel trots out his 400 yes-men "prophets" who say they should definitely go to war and that they will be victorious.  I love Jehoshaphat's reaction to these 400 yes-men in verse 6 - "But Jehoshaphat asked, "Isn't there a prophet of the LORD around, too? I would like to ask him the same question.""  Ahab's reaction in verse 7 is quite telling...  "There is still one prophet of the LORD, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything but bad news for me! His name is Micaiah son of Imlah."  This verse really stands out for me in a big way in our world today.  I wonder if sometimes we - you and me - look for supposed "prophets" of the Lord that are yes-people to our particular likings - instead of looking for Truth.  Meaning...  and I'm just putting this out there, so bear with me.  Do we sometimes maybe even decide to attend a particular church because it tells us basically what we want to hear?  It keeps us in our comfortable place... we get yes-messages...  When, instead, should we be okay with attending a church that will give us some challenging and convicting messages on occasion?  Biblical messages mind you - which surely can be challenging to our modern ears at times.  I heard somewhere once before that church should be a place that "comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable."  I like that...  Now, don't get me wrong.  I am not saying we need to be in super-strict churches per se.  I just think we should really watch for churches that are giving a yes-message all the time to our particular likings verses churches that teach the Truth.  I don't think church is the only area of where we might default to looking for yes-messages.  I think this can happen in books we read, TV we watch, or even with friends or with work.   Are we listening to 400 yes-people in our lives or are we okay with 1 Micaiah coming in and sharing a perceived "bad-news" message?  (which may ultimately be very good news if we'll just listen to it...  if Ahab had really listened to Micaiah's message in today's readings, think he still would have rushed out to battle?)

Below is an image of Micaiah and the false prophets before Ahab and Jehoshaphat -

New Testament - Without a doubt, Romans chapter 10 verses 9 & 10 are the most important verses some of read this year and really take to heart - "For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. "  Do you believe these verses to be true?  Have you acted upon these verses?  If not, will you?

 

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Romans titled "Israel's Failure is the Scripture's Fulfillment" is at this link and "The Only Road to Righteousness" is at this link.

Psalms - Psalm 20 is a prayer for a king as he goes out into battle.  Maybe another way to read this Psalm, personally, is as a prayer for yourself as you go out into battle against a sin or a struggle in your life.  And this verse 5 then is for you as you go into this battle - "May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory, flying banners to honor our God. May the LORD answer all your prayers."

Proverbs - Proverbs chapter 20 verse 3 is such great wisdom - "Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling."  I once was a fool who insisted on quarreling with Tony back in about 3rd grade :) after either I beat him or he beat me in the 50 yard dash at Field Day.  Tony kept trying to avoid the fight with me.  But I kept on pressing it.  And I got whupped!  It was really a great learning experience for me.  I have avoided fights ever since!  Don't get me wrong.  I don't think we are called to be submissive and let people walk all over us.  I think we can confidently and strongly hold our ground on important issues - without fighting or quarrelling.  How about you?  Do you avoid fights?  Do you realize this is a mark of honor?  Or do you insist on quarrelling?  Think this is a good idea...?

What verses or insights jumped out for you in today's readings?  Please post up in the Comments section below!

Grace,
Mike

Comments

[Erin]

have just joined - looking forward to reading and sharing. best, Erin

[Vance Brown]

2 Chronicles 17

7
In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent out his officials to teach in all the towns of Judah. These officials included Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah.
8
He sent Levites along with them, including Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah. He also sent out the priests, Elishama and Jehoram.
9
They took copies of the Book of the Law of the LORD and traveled around through all the towns of Judah, teaching the people.
10
Then the fear of the LORD fell over all the surrounding kingdoms so that none of them declared war on Jehoshaphat.
11
Some of the Philistines brought him gifts and silver as tribute,
and the Arabs brought
seventy-seven hundred
rams and seventy-seven
hundred male goats.

The English Standard Version (ESV) of verse 11 reads:
11
Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver for tribute,
and the Arabians also
brought him 7,700 rams
and 7,700 goats.

Eastman’s 1897 Bible Dictionary says this about Arabians in the Bible:

It was anciently divided into three parts:,
(1.) Arabia Felix (Happy Arabia), so called from its fertility. It embraced a large portion of the country now known by the name of Arabia. The Arabs call it Yemen...

(2.) Arabia Deserta, the el-Badieh or "Great Wilderness" of the Arabs. From this name is derived that which is usually given to the nomadic tribes which wander over this region, the "Bedaween," or, more generally, "Bedouin,"

(3.) Arabia Petraea, i.e., the Rocky Arabia, so called from its rocky mountains and stony plains. It comprehended all the north-west portion of the country, and is much better known to travellers than any other portion. This country is, however, divided by modern geographers into
(a) Arabia Proper, or the
Arabian Peninsula;
(b) Northern Arabia, or
the Arabian Desert;
(c) Western Arabia, which
includes the peninsula
of Sinai and the
Desert of Petra...
In later times, this
was inhabited by the
descendants of Esau,
and known as the Land
of Edom or Idumea,
also as the Desert of
Seir or Mount Seir.

The whole land appears (Gen. 10) to have been inhabited by a variety of tribes of different lineage, Ishmaelites, Arabians, Idumeans, Horites, and Edomites; but at length becoming amalgamated, they came to be known by the general designation of Arabs. The modern nation of Arabs is predominantly Ishmaelite. Their language is the most developed and the richest of all the Semitic languages, and is of great value to the student of Hebrew.

NOTE: True devotion of the heart, life, and worship led the children of Israel in this passage enabled them to experience the reality of the one and true God (God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob). This, in turn, caused the Arabs of their day to worship and bring offerings.

Would that happen today!!!

Are we willing
—not out of obligation to “earn” favor in any way—

but out of a disciplined commitment to yield ourselves to the Father so we regularly fast and pray for Arabs and Muslims?

Can you imagine what practical effec that would have on erasing terrorism in the world?

TRY TO IMAGINE THIS... in prayer !

What would happen if we decided to really get serious?… how about fasting once a week, every week, to fast and pray for Arabs and against terrorism.

Then, by God’s grace, this wonderful promise could be fulfilled IN us and THROUGH us… so many Muslims would have NO choice but to bow to Jesus as Lord and Savior !

Romans 16:20 (Amplified Bible)

And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) be with you.