2 Kings 6:1-7:20 ~ Acts 15:36-16:15 ~ Psalm 142:1-7 ~ Proverbs 17:24-25
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Old Testament - 2 Kings 6 today opens up with a very interesting little story about the floating ax head! :) Apparently in those days the iron in an ax head was very costly - far too costly for prophets to have been able to afford. Hence, they had to borrow it. If the prophet who lost the ax head had not been able to recover it, he would have then had to have become an indentured servant for a period of time to the person he borrowed it from to pay back the cost. So, Elisha's recovery of the ax head I think demonstrates a simple moral of this opening story in today's readings: God cares for the welfare of those who love God. Whaddya think on this moral of the floating ax head story? Have you had experiences in your life where God has done some small things - or maybe even big things - that don't seem super spiritual at first glance, but simply saved you a lot of heartache/costs/time? I know I have... Praise God that He floats ax heads and even "floats" you and me too! God is indeed our great Life Preserver...
Today in 2 Kings 6 verse 27 we will read this verse that King Joram says to an Israelite during a time of a severe famine – “"If the LORD does not help you, where can I get help for you?” I think the thing to note in this verse is that the King realized he could not end the famine on his own, but that only God could end the famine. (I think the King may have actually been trying to blame God for the famine - and certainly Elisha he blames later in the chapter). I wonder about this in our lives today – do we try to help others and even try to help ourselves using our own power and without relying on God at all? And maybe sometimes even blame God for problems we see, like this King? Do we think we can end a “famine” or whatever problems we see at work, in our community, in our family, or in our world all on our own? Or should we be asking for God’s help in these areas of our lives? I’ve been thinking about this more and more lately – about how little I truly pray for others. I see areas of my life, my family, my community, my work, my church, my favorite charities, our world, that need some help. Need some changing. Need some love. And sometimes I think that I can institute these changes all on my own! Which is foolish. Instead, I should be praying for God’s providence and work in these areas of my life where I see a “famine.” Yes, I do think that God will oftentimes answer our prayers by encouraging us to “do something” to work on a change. But, we’d be wise to prayerfully approach all areas of our life and to pay attention to where God is asking us to “do something” – and to pay attention to where God is flat-out doing the work! Are there any “famine” areas in your life? In your personal relationship with God or others? In your work, church, community? Are there “famine” areas you see in our world? Will you today begin praying to God about these “famines” in the knowledge that famines can truly only end if God is involved in the work? Will you allow God to get involved in the famine areas of your life? Will you pray more consistently than ever before for the famine areas you see in your life?
In 2 Kings 7 today we read about God scaring off the Aramean army! Below is an image from a 15th century Dutch Bible for 2 Kings 7 verse 8 - "When the lepers arrived at the edge of the camp, they went into one tent after another, eating, drinking wine, and carrying out silver and gold and clothing and hiding it."
And below is an image from the same 15 century Dutch Bible for verse 17: "The king appointed his officer to control the traffic at the gate, but he was knocked down and trampled to death as the people rushed out. So everything happened exactly as the man of God had predicted when the king came to his house."
Bible.org's commentary on today's Second Kings readings titled "Saved from the Syrians: The War that Never Happened" is at this link and "Feast or Famine" is at this link.
New Testament - In Acts 15 today we read about Paul not wanting to bring along John Mark on the next missionary journey. Good news is that Paul and Mark were eventually reunited in missionary efforts. Some speculate that it was because Barnabas went with Mark at this juncture, Barnabas' patient encouragement helped Mark's eventual effective ministry. In fact, John Mark is the very same Mark who wrote the Gospel of Mark! How's that for encouragement changing the world?? Is there anyone in your life today who you think could be a great worker for God's kingdom with some encouragement? Will you be like Barnabas was for John Mark and work with and encourage that person? Below is an image of Barnabas the encourager:
Today in Acts 16 we read about Paul's 2nd missionary journey, which took place around AD 49-52. - (map courtesy of ccel.org/bible/phillips/JBPhillips.htm)
Great readings about the conversion of Lydia of Philippi today! She was a business woman and a Gentile (like Cornelius) who loved God. And the Lord opened her heart and she believed! Praise God for his continual ministry of opening people's hearts to the Gospel. Has your heart been opened like Lydia's was opened?
Bible.org's commentary on today's Acts readings titled "When Division Becomes Multiplication" is at this link.
Psalms - Psalm 142 is a prayer of David's when he was fleeing Saul and was hiding in a cave. David is praying for deliverance to God from his enemies. I thought verse 3 was powerful - "For I am overwhelmed, and you alone know the way I should turn. Wherever I go, my enemies have set traps for me." Have you ever felt this way? Overwhelmed? And traps every which way you look? And you have no idea which way to go? At a time like this, will you cry out to God as David did in this Psalm? Will you "pour out your complaints before him and tell him all your troubles"? (v. 2) Do you believe that God knows which way you should turn? Will you allow God to ""be your place of refuge"? In times like these, will you allow God to be "all you really want in life"? (v. 5) Some say that David wrote Psalm 142 while in a cave in Adullam. And apparently, some people believe that this cave in the photo below could have been the cave where David lived in Adullam and wrote Psalm 142... I don't know how true this is, but it's kind of fun to think about this cave maybe being the place in any case:
Proverbs - Today in Proverbs chapter 17 verse 24 we will read – “A discerning person keeps wisdom in view, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.” This is a powerful little Proverb. I have been thinking about this quite a bit in recent weeks. I have found that sometimes the world can be so tempting – or maybe distracting is another way to say it. I have found that I have lately had a lot of opportunities to go out and do “fun stuff.” Perhaps you could say I’ve been offered opportunities to “wander to the ends of the earth.” And it’s been tempting. But, I have realized that if I schedule myself 24 x 7, I don’t spend much time thinking about God at all. Reading the Bible? Maybe I can skip it for today. . . And praying for others?? Forget about it. I’m just afraid that we can spend our lives being so distracted that we will lose sight of wisdom. We absolutely need to keep wisdom in view each and every day. That is why I love the One Year Bible format in so many ways – it provides each of us with at least 15 minutes of wisdom in our lives each day! How about you? How are your days being spent currently? Are you feeling distracted? Are you keeping wisdom in view each and every day? Do you see the wisdom in spending quality time with God each and every day? Do you see the wisdom in not taking any “spiritual vacations”? (Spiritual vacations are a very bad idea. . . even when you go on a regular vacation, please bring God with you!) Like this Proverb teaches us today, let us keep wisdom in view and not let our eyes foolishly wander to the ends of the earth!
YouTube: Today's Psalm reminds me of Todd Agnew and Rebecca St. James' "Our Great God:"
Do you know Our Great God? Click here to meet Greatness!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture this week: "Be joyful always!" 1 Thessalonians 5:16 NIV
Love Your Neighbor: Please join me in making a $25 microfinance loan through www.KIVA.org.
Comments from You & Questions of the Day: What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
God bless,
Mike
2 Kings 6:1-7:20
Random thoughts on Today’s Old Testament Readings:
Sometimes I forget, we forget that the mercy of God is not limited to the righteous. Jesus speaking, “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:45 KJV)”
Every single one of Israel’s kings were wicked, yet God provided a prophet to speak to them, He never gave up on them even though He knew in his foreknowledge those that would seek and turn to Him and those that would reject Him. . Yet although the kings were wicked not everyone in an ungodly nation, community, family and or business is wicked. Who knows why the righteous find themselves in an ungodly environment; maybe like Joseph in Potiphar’s house and in the prison, God allows blessings to flow through the righteous person.
Clearly Elisha served as a buffer, a mediator for God within Israel. “And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: (Acts 17:26-27 KJV)”
I must remember that even when people are absolutely wicked and like King Ahab, completely sold out to evil, God’s mercy is still applied to their lives even in the midst of His judgment. Random acts of Kindness began with God not us.
Posted by: R | June 23, 2007 at 04:34 PM
On axeheads...sometimes it amazes me how God takes an interest in seemingly unimportant issues...I missed an appointment(that was important to me but had nothing to do with "spiritual" issues) to go to a messianic service and God made sure another door opened up...Thank God for weekends:).During the week I usually don't have time to got through the commentaries but today I did.I raised some questions on Naaman which John (thanks a lot)answered and reading through Bob's comments on Naaman was like a confirmation...Like Ramona pointed out,God's mercy is truly awesome....Jesus' teachings on blessing your enemies shows up here when the Syrian soldiers were fed in Samaria....
On spiritual vacations....I will be changing continents on friday....so will miss out on my regular prayer meetings and fellowships.I sure do hope the internet service has improved where I'm going but I know like Lydia....where there's a heart that's longing for God,there's always a God that fulfills that longing...
God bless you all
Posted by: Anka | June 23, 2007 at 04:34 PM
2Kings7:2
"Look, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?"
The king’s officer doubted the prophecy, and his doubt was based on several faulty premises.
i. First, he doubted the power of God. If God willed it, He certainly could make windows in heaven and drop down food from the sky for the hungry, besieged city of Samaria.
ii. Second, he doubted the creativity of God. In the mind of the king’s officer, the way food could come to the city was from above, because the city was surrounded by a hostile, besieging army. He had no idea that God could bring provision in a completely unexpected way. “How often faith breaks down in this way! It knows that God is, and that He can act. But it only sees one way, and refuses to believe that such a way will be taken. The supply came without the opening of heaven’s windows.” (Morgan)
iii. Third, he doubted the messenger of God. Though the promise was admittedly hard to believe, the king’s officer could have and should have believed it because it came from a man with an established track record of reliability.
iv. All in all, the officer well illustrates the conduct of unbelief:
· Unbelief dares to question the truthfulness of God’s promise itself.
· Unbelief says, “This is a new thing and cannot be true.”
· Unbelief says, “This is a sudden thing and cannot be true.”
· Unbelief says, “There is no way to accomplish this thing.”
· Unbelief says, “There is only one way God can work.”
· Unbelief says, “Even if God does something, it won’t be enough.”
http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/1207.htm
Posted by: John | June 23, 2007 at 04:35 PM
2 Kings 6 (NKJV)
6
So the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And he showed him the place. So he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float.
7
Therefore he said, “Pick it up for yourself.” So he reached out his hand and took it.
I like this quote By: Bob Deffinbaugh , Th.M. based on this passage above.
“How many times I have wished that God would do the job Himself, supernaturally, and not leave any of the hard work to me. But what we read in our text is very true to the way God works. He provides us with the means—the tools—to do what He has purposed, and then He expects us to labor to accomplish it.
These “tools” are not just material things, like axe heads, but are divine enablements such as spiritual gifts (see 1 Corinthians 12:1ff.).”
Excellent comment.
2 Kings 6 (NKJV)
9
But the prophet sent this message to the king, “Make sure you don’t pass through this place because Syria is invading there.”
Bob Deffinbaugh , Th.M. makes a very interesting and thought-provoking comment:
“Wars are commenced, but they are supernaturally terminated in a way that prevents the loss of human life. I believe I know how this unique period of time can be explained. Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army, is healed of his leprosy, and he is drawn to faith in the God of Israel (2 Kings 5)... [S]urely he does not wish to engage the Israelites in battle. Can’t you just see this man, kneeling in prayer, beseeching God to keep him from going to war with His people? I believe the answers to his prayers are described in 2 Kings 6 and 7.”
2 Kings 6 (NKJV)
16
He replied, “Don’t be afraid, for our side outnumbers them.”
God’s nature is to be victorious, and He has given us His victory. Jesus died so we can know His victory.
This reminds me of a song by Words and Music: Jim Gum, Jay LaVergne © 1998, called “He Walked That Road”:
He stumbled on his way, Just like I’ve done
Yet his gaze was fixed, On the great beyond
Beneath a crown of thorns, I saw his bloody face
Beaten by the hands, Of this fallen race
CHORUS:
He walked that road for me, He took my place
He wiped out my regrets, And didn’t leave a trace
He walked that road for you, To set you free
He walked that road for you and me
Acts 16 (NKJV)
6
Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.
7
After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit [of Jesus] did not permit them.
NOTE:
I was curious: Where was Bithynia? According to www.encyclopedia.com:
“BITHYNIA [Bithynia], ancient country of NW Asia Minor, in present-day Turkey.”
Wikipedia (the free encyclopedia) provides further information:
“The most important cities were Nicomedia and Nicea, which disputed with one another the rank of capital..."
"...at a much earlier period the Greeks had established on the coast the colonies of Cius (afterwards Prusias, modern Gemlik); Chalcedon (modern Kadıköy)...”
I am unsure why the Lord Jesus would stop such devoted servants of the Lord—who literally gave up all for the Gospel—from entering into Bithynia.
Yet, the Lord Jesus—being sovereign—is working out His perfect plan.
It is interesting to note is that even though the Apostle Paul and his companions were not allowed to go to Bithynia, God later used Christians this area to bless all Christians and the world with the clear and definitive affirmation that: Jesus is Lord!
For it was at Nicea and Chalcedon that two (2) major creeds of the Christian church were formed.
The Council of Nicea answered the question of Arius: If Jesus is the Son of God, how can he be God? The council of Nicea established officially what the Lord Jesus had taught and what the Church had been teaching from the beginning: Jesus is fully God.
Wikipedia (the free encyclopedia) mentions this interesting historical footnote: “The first Nicene Council was probably held in the now ruined mosque of Orchan.” The power of the Gospel has won, and will win, over opposing beliefs.
This will happen as we pray, walk in the Word by the power of the Spirit, and enter into the spiritual boldness that Elisha knew.
The Council of Chalcedon later established that Jesus is fully human. According to Wikipedia (the free encyclopedia): “Monophysitism (from the Greek monos meaning 'one, alone' and physis meaning 'nature') is the christological position that Christ has only one nature, as opposed to the Chalcedonian position which holds that Christ has two natures, one divine and one human.”
Jesus is fully human and fully God. These life-giving truths were taught by the Lord Jesus, believed by the apostles and by the 1st century church. Only the true Jesus can provide true, real salvation and can make us pleasing to the Father.
So…the Gospel marches on. May we enter into the flow of the power of the Gospel!
Vance
Posted by: Vance | June 23, 2007 at 04:35 PM
II Kings 6-7:20
Ah, the story of the Arameans being trapped by “blindness” is awesome and shows how lacking in common sense men of military training and political leaders can be. If the king’s officers really believed that Elisha knew everything the king did, why would you set out to capture him, would not one think he would know what you are doing? Whether their assumption was true or not common sense, if one had any, would dictate the prophet would know you were coming to get him.
I am amazed how blinded to Truth we humans can be. There were plenty of times in my life that God showed himself to me either with incidents like the Arameans experienced or receiving clear words of direction and warnings from what I now know was God, yet a chose not to believe. According to Proverb’s definition, I was just a plan ordinary garden variety “fool.” Praise God for His Redemptive work on Calvary. Amazing Grace how sweet …
Interesting this official of the king who was trampled to death. He in essence said, “Seeing is believing!” when told about the sudden drop in the price of commodities, that seeing he just had to do to believe, killed him. Somewhere in that is a warning for us. I heard a preacher/teacher once say, “No, seeing is not believing, seeing is knowing. We see because we believe so believing is seeing.”
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. (Hebrews 11:3 NIV)
Acts 15:36-16:15
This disagreement between Paul and Barnabas, IMHO, appears to have been orchestrated by the Holy Spirit. With the break-up of the team, one evangelistic ministry became two! I believe, no, I know that each and every person upon this earth has a purpose that has been designated before the foundation of the earth. When we allow the Holy Spirit to direct us we may wind up like Paul and Barnabas, at odds with each other each thinking the other is wrong and out of line. Because each person is hearing differently, and of course each believes that what they heard in their hearing must also be what the other heard so the other is being disobedient, we clash or worse, someone submits wrongly to the vision of the other and follows along. Then major frustration and resentment develops in the others life.
Today’s reading also goes on to show how when we have an agenda set to do something in ministry, the Holy Spirit is not shy about inserting True plans. It is our job to listen intently to what the Spirit is saying and change course. We mess up when we ignore the Spirit and do our own thing and fail. Then we wonder where God is. “Hey God don’t you know I’m trying to do your work!” In reality, we need to be doing God’s work His way if it is any other way we are doing “Our work our way.”
Psalm 142:1-7
This Psalm is one I believe I need to incorporate into my prayer life, often. I just realized how universal, crossing time and space, these Psalms really are. The condition of man’s heat really has not changed since the Fall of man in the Garden. The tools we have to sin with may have become new and improved, but the sinning, the despair, the desperation and emptiness remains the same, without God.
Proverbs 17:24-25
In reading this verse, 24 Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth,” it just crossed my mind that if our eyes wonder, we will wonder and thus we are unstable. Loyalty, a characteristic we humans desire in our relationships are usually not based on “Truth” which is the only stable thing upon this earth, but based on personalities, family relationships and such like. But unless the person we have given our loyalties too is grounded on the Word of God, our unconditional loyalty to folks will also carry us to the “ends of the earth.” Yikes! This is something I must really think about for a while. Loyalty and unconditional love I don’t believe should be the same thing, have I confused the two.
Posted by: R | June 23, 2007 at 04:36 PM