Friday June 10th: 1 Kings 17-19 ~ Conrad

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is: 1 Kings 17-19

"Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God."  1Kings 18:24

I have always enjoyed reading this story.  I find Elijah taunting the prophets to be humorous.  "At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened."  (verse 27)

But today I took note of Elijah's confidence in God.  He could have decided to prepare the altar without all the other prophets watching, but instead he called them all over to watch him (vs 30).  In all their presence, Elijah places the stones and rebuilds the altar and then proceeds to dig a trench around the altar.  He then tells them to "Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood."

At this point, if someone was betting on this outcome, the odds would not be in Elijah's favour.  When I go camping (and I say "I" because those of you who know Pamela, know it's not "we") I make all effort in ensuring I have everything to making a fire easy; dry wood, paper, and a lighter full of fluid.  But Elijah's faith and his confidence is not placed in the wood being dry, having paper, or the lighter fluid.  His confidence was in the lighter - God Almighty!

This brought me to reflecting on areas in my life that I am not relying on the God who not only brought a fire that Elijah prayed for, but "burnt up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench." (38)  

"At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command.³⁷ Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again."  (vs 36-37)

Elijah's desire for God to send the fire was not for his own benefit.  He initially called everyone around so that God would be able to demonstrate His power for all to see.  Elijah is giving God credit for everything and acknowledging the fact that he is following God's commands.  Elijah prayed that prayer in front of everyone to see and hear, not in solitude.  

How am I doing at telling nonbelievers about the miracles that God has done in my life?  Do I have the desire in making sure that others know about the importance in following God?  Do I give God all the credit He is do?  Do I acknowledge His leading?  Do I obey His commands?  Do I believe that God can send the fire today?

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 1 Kings 20:1-22:9, 2 Chronicles 18:1-8, 1 Kings 22:10-28, 2 Chronicles 18:9-27

Thursday June 9th: 1 Kings 15:16-22, 2 Chronicles 16:1-10, 1 Kings 16:1-34, 1 Kings 15:23-24, 2 Chronicles 16:11-14, 2 Chronicles 17:1-19 ~ Jeannine

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Kings 15:16-22, 2 Chronicles 16:1-10, 1 Kings 16:1-34, 1 Kings 15:23-24, 2 Chronicles 16:11-14, 2 Chronicles 17:1-19

I think this must have been a period of time that greatly saddened God.  One king after another provoked the anger of God more than any other before.  I hope that my life and the lives of my children and their children and their children's children, well you get the point, do the exact opposite. I hope that each generation after me loves the Lord and lives lives pleasing to Him.

These chapters are definitely a low point in Israels moral history.  Ahab was an evil man and like those before him "did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him” (1 Kings 16:33)

Cam and I were discussing these chapters last night and he mentioned something that I found really interesting. 1 Kings 16:34 talks about a man name Hiel who rebuilt Jericho and how this fulfilled the prophetic curse that Joshua proclaimed in Joshua 6:26 several hundred years before.

At that time Joshua invoked this curse: "May the curse of the LORD fall on anyone who tries to rebuild the town of Jericho. At the cost of his firstborn son, he will lay its foundation. At the cost of his youngest son, he will set up its gates." - Joshua 6:26

It was during his reign that Hiel, a man from Bethel, rebuilt Jericho. When he laid its foundations, it cost him the life of his oldest son, Abiram. And when he completed it and set up its gates, it cost him the life of his youngest son, Segub. This all happened according to the message from the Lord concerning Jericho spoken by Joshua son of Nun. - 1 Kings 16:34

Hiel's rebuilding of Jericho, the very same walls that the Lord had torn down, was in direct disregard of Joshua's curse and takes place during Ahab's reign, an already decidedly wicked time. I think that this shows the utter contempt with which the warnings of the law were treated, or possibly that the people had removed themselves so far from following God's laws that they were completely ignorant of these types of warnings. Whether Hiel was unaware of the curse or being defiant, he began to rebuild the city and in the process of rebuilding he lost his firstborn. This might have been enough to discourage some from continuing as the curse was clear that he would lose his youngest son as well. Some interpretations believe that he will have lost all of his children in between as well. What kind of a world do you have to live in to be willing to sacrifice two of your children (possibly all of them) to rebuild a wall that God tore down and Joshua cursed?

Again, I pray and hope that I, or the generations to follow me, never stray so far from our God as to be so completely ignorant and defiant of the love of God.


Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 1 Kings 17-19

Wednesday, June 8: 1 Kings 15:9-15, 2 Chronicles 14:1-8, 1 Kings 14:19-20, 1 Kings 15:25-34, 2 Chronicles 14:9-15, 2 Chronicles 15:1-19

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Kings 15:9-15, 2 Chronicles 14:1-8, 1 Kings 14:19-20, 1 Kings 15:25-34, 2 Chronicles 14:9-15, 2 Chronicles 15:1-19

A few thoughts on today's reading, which mostly covers the reign of king Asa of Judah.

1 Kings 15:14
Although he did not remove the high places, Asa’s heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life.


This made me think of my own life. I feel like I'm fully committed to God as well, but do I also have some areas of my life where I'm not fully committed? Do I let parts of my life slid in order to suit my personal wants? Answer is yes. Next move is to work at fixing these areas to what God wants from me.

2 Chronicles 14:11
Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you.”

When face to face with a powerful enemy, who wanted to destroy Asa and all of Judah, king Asa first called out to God for help. He didn't try fighting and when realizing he would lose would then call out to God. This too should be the order of events in our day as well, calling out to God in prayer early in the day asking for help. This acknowledges that we turn to God first for help, before facing the days challenges, asking Him for help because we can't do things on our own.

2 Chronicles 15:9
Then he assembled all Judah and Benjamin and the people from Ephraim, Manasseh and Simeon who had settled among them, for large numbers had come over to him from Israel when they saw that the Lord his God was with him.

The Israelites saw God at work in the people of Judah and Benjamin and decided the join them. They knew it was the right way and only way to survive. Do people see God in us, like the Israelites, did in the people if Judah, and want to come join with us in our walk with God?

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  1 Kings 15:16-22, 2 Chronicles 16:1-10, 1 Kings 16:1-34, 1 Kings 15:23-24, 2 Chronicles 16:11-14, 2 Chronicles 17:1-19

Tuesday, June 7th: 1 Kings 14:1-18, 21-24, 2 Chronicles 12:13-14, 2 Chronicles 11-18-23, 1 Kings 14:25-28, 2 Chronicles 12:1-12, 1 Kings 14:29-31, 2 Chronicles 12:15-16, 1 Kings 15:1-8, 2 Chronicles 13:1-22 ~ Danae

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Kings 14:1-18, 21-24, 2 Chronicles 12:13-14, 2 Chronicles 11-18-23, 1 Kings 14:25-28, 2 Chronicles 12:1-12, 1 Kings 14:29-31, 2 Chronicles 12:15-16, 1 Kings 15:1-8, 2 Chronicles 13:1-22

It's something that we see time & time again throughout Israel’s history & unfortunately too often within our own lives as well.  How quickly we fall.

Rehoboam, only one generation from Solomon & all his splendour, from the completion of the Lord’s temple & they quickly turned their eyes from God.  Because of this, God allowed for them to be invaded & the treasures of the temple & the palace carried off.

In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem.  He carried off the treasures of the temple of the Lord & the treasures of the royal palace.  He took everything, including all the gold shields Solomon had made. 
1 Kings 14:25 & 26

When the people became spiritually corrupt & immoral, it was just a short time until they lost everything.  (They even had to replace the gold shields with cheaper bronze.)  Rehoboam tried to keep his appearance of glory, but he couldn't measure up.

It's like that in our lives too.  Just like the “imitation” shields, when God is not our focus, trying to keep the appearance of a Christian life becomes fake (cheap).  Our outer beauty (value) will only come from keeping our hearts & minds in tune with God.

The leaders of Israel & the king humbled themselves & said, “ The Lord is just.”

2 Chronicles 12:6

However, they humbled themselves.  They acknowledged their sins & recognized God’s justice in punishing them. 

It is never too late to repent, to turn back & recommit ourselves to God.

When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, this word of the Lord came to Shemaiah: “Since they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them but will soon give them deliverance.  My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak.  They will, however, become subject to him, so that they may learn the difference between serving me & serving the kings of other lands.”
2 Chronicles 12:7-8

God will always take us back, but there may be consequences to work through.  Let's just make sure to learn the lesson God wants to teach us the first time so we don't have to go through it again.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 1 Kings 15:9-15, 2 Chronicles 14:1-8, 1 Kings 14:19-20, 1 Kings 15:25-34, 2 Chronicles 14:9-15, 2 Chronicles 15:1-19

Monday, June 6: 1 Kings 12:1-20, 2 Chronicles10:1-19, 1 Kings 12:21-24, 2Chronicles 11:1-4, 1 Kings 12:25-33, 2Chronicles 11:5-17, 1 Kings 13 by Pamela

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is

1 Kings 12:1-20, 2 Chronicles10:1-19, 1 Kings 12:21-24, 2Chronicles 11:1-4, 1 Kings 12:25-33, 2Chronicles 11:5-17, 1 Kings 13

Advice. Sometimes we seek it. Sometimes we give it. Sometimes it comes to us unasked for. It's always hard to know which advice to take and which advice to leave and which advice is truly beneficial in the end. 

Today's passage explores King Rehoboam's rise to the throne and also his desire to seek advice. When questioned if he could ease the load of his new citizens, Rehoboam's was wise to not answer immediately. Instead he asked for time to carefully consider a decision over the next 3 days. Sometimes we jump in to a situation without carefully considering the options and this isn't always good. Rehoboam first seeks the advice of his father's counsel--a group of people who worked closely with Solomon and were experienced in knowing the ways of the people. They recommended that he give in and ease the load in order to create happy citizens who were willing to serve him. Then not really liking what he heard, he sought the advice of his peers who gave him the advice to come down even harder to show them who was boss....and he did just that. We can weigh out our options and take careful time to make sure we don't make a quick decision but we can still sometimes end up following bad advice. 

Although it is sometimes wise to consider all options, I think it also can be detrimental to continually search out advice until you find what you are looking for. With the handy invention of the internet, you can find support for almost any argument you want to make regardless of how crazy or harmful it may be. Even Bible verses can be grossly misinterpreted to support a stance that is contrary to biblical teachings. If you look long enough or ask enough people, you will find people who will give you the advice you are hoping to find.

In the final part of today's reading, we learn about the holy man who is sent on a mission from God to bring a warning. This man had his mission, had his instructions, and was there to follow them. However, he was easily swayed from his instructions by a false prophet who brought him bad advice: to ignore what God had told him and instead follow the words of a man. The holy man made the decision to disobey God's order ‘You shall neither eat bread nor drink water nor return by the way that you came.' because of the lie of the false prophet. Maybe he was hungry? Maybe he thought he was not supposed to stay with the king but an ordinary citizen was ok? Maybe he thought because the man had met him on a different road than he had arrive on that this was part of a new plan? Who knows. What we do know is that there is always a choice to obey and a choices to disobey and with disobedience comes consequences. The prophet's consequences were swift and he met his end at the hands of a lion just mere hours later. 

There's a verse I have up  in my classroom at school "Get all the advice and instruction you can so that you will be wise the rest of your life" Proverbs 19:20 and it's a good grade 1 motto since they are learning by leaps and bounds each day but it is also good for us "seasoned" students too as be work at being discerning when we receive all the advice and instruction and we evaluate its validity and truth. May we seek good advice and follow good advice and know what God would want us to do.
 

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:

1 Kings 14:1-18, 21-24, 2Chronicles 12:13-14, 2 Chronicles11:18-23, 1 Kings 14:25-28, 2Chronicles 12:1-12, 1 Kings 14:29-31,2 Chronicles 12:15-16, 1 Kings 15:1-8,2 Chronicles 13:1-22

Sunday, June 5th:Ecclesiastes 9-12~Jay

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is; Ecclesiastes 9-12

A one of the stated wisest men in the world (based on his request to God and God granting it), personally it is very interesting to see Solomon's perspective and thoughts.  In today's media, there is no end of opinion and posturing from those that I would consider less than wise (I apologize to those who may be Trump enthusiasts).

There were a few gems that stuck with me from today's reading:

1) Chapter 9 vs 12:  Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come: We can plan, work hard and make all sorts of preparation for the future, but no-one knows his appointed time to die.  For me, I often need to take a step back and view my thoughts, actions, and ultimately my plans in light of this.  Am I prepared? Have I done all I can or should have to further the Lord's kingdom?

2) Chapter 9 vs 17:  The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools.We often turn our attention to the loudest and most bold of individuals (sorry...again Trump leaps to mind) while wisdom needs to be sought out from those who may be meek, but are able to impart true wisdom.

3) Chapter 10 vs 4: If a ruler’s anger rises against you, do not leave your post;
 calmness can lay great offenses to rest.  If someone in a position of authority (or anyone for that matter) reacts with strong emotion towards us...it is best to take a breath and be calm in our response as we carry on.  It can diffuse many a situation where we have the potential to only escalate the situation if we respond with emotion.

4) Chapter 10 vs 20: Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird in the sky may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.Whatever our opinion is of those who may be in authority over us (Government Leaders, Pastors, Employers, etc) we should not speak ill of them...even in the privacy of our homes. Somehow in life whenever we speak poorly of someone else...it has a tendency to get back to them. Better to not speak the words at all...than worry about who will repeat what you have said. (Guess I should have paid attention to this before I wrote the comment on Trump:)   

5) Chapter 12 vs 1: Remember your Creator in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say,    “I find no pleasure in them” We need to have a consistent walk with God throughout our lives.  When we are younger (I no longer place myself in this category) we might tend to think that we will have plenty of time to work on our relationship with God once we are not so busy. The habits and activities of our youth have a way of causing scars on our lives. Service to God should be a life-long commitment, regardless of age.    

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:

Saturday, June 4th: Ecclesiastes 5-8 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Ecclesiastes 5-8

Most of the verses that spoke to me today were in Chapter 5.

v1-2 As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God. Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few.

I love that last part in particular.  Who do we think we are?  We need to remember that God is God, and we are not.  Maybe, just maybe, we should sit and listen and let Him do the talking once in awhile!

v4-6  When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him.It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it. Don’t let your mouth make you sin. And don’t defend yourself by telling the Temple messenger that the promise you made was a mistake. That would make God angry, and he might wipe out everything you have achieved.

If the phrase "think before you speak" is true, "think before you promise God" even more so!  We've all heard people make empty promises to us that you know they have no intention of keeping.  God knows, beyond  a shadow of a doubt, whether or not we mean what we say and if we have any intention on following through on our promises.  He cannot be mocked.

v10-11 Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth—except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers!

So true! Wealth does not bring true happiness.  Of course, it can buy stuff that brings fleeting happiness, but it is never a source of true joy.

v18-20 Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life.  And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God.  God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.
Though God never promises material wealth on this earth, He does want us to derive pleasure from the good things this life has to offer, and the good things He brings into our lives.  And there always are good things, if you look for them!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Ecclesiastes 9-12

Friday June 3rd: 1 Kings 11, 2 Chronicles 9:29-31, Ecclesiastes 1-4 ~ Conrad

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is: 1 Kings 11, 2 Chronicles 9:29-31, Ecclesiastes 1-4

A couple of things I thought about while reading today's passages:

"He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. "  1 Kings 11:3

I am pretty certain that I know Pamela better than Solomon knew any of his wives.  Along with that, we have a mutual relationship consisting of respect, trust, and humility that you just cannot have with 700 wives.  But an even more important characteristic in our marriage is our joint decision to put God first.  King Solomon loved many foreign women besides Pharoah's daughter.  Solomon did not follow the Lord completely in His instruction to not intermarry.  

The first 11 verses in this chapter spoke of the danger of a mixed marriage.  Solomon's decision to intermarry resulted in the nation that he helped build, to become split after his reign.  Taken from what should have been his sons, and placed into the hands of Solomon's subordinates.  

It has always been on our prayer list for our kids to marry a strong believer and this is even more so now in our prayers as the dating years appear to be upon them. 

"Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.  “Utterly meaningless!  Everything is meaningless."  Ecclesiastes 1:2

The author for this book is finding that the meaning of life appears to be meaningless.  They are unable to discover a pattern that makes sense.  God is a mystery and death will eventually strike everyone.

"I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives."  Ecclesiastes 2:3

The author is not content with what he is finding.  He actively went out to search for answers.  There were different areas of investigation; education, pleasures, working hard to gain material possessions - all to no avail.  He does not want to stop searching until he finds the answer to the meaning of life.  

Do you know anyone like this?  I do.  They are unsure just as the author is here.  They travel, save money, purchase expensive vehicles, shop for clothes, engage in relationships, but are unable to find the answer.

If life seems to have no purpose to us, we too should be searching.  With God's Word giving us light, we will find the answer!

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:"  

Ecclesiastes 3:1

When God created the world, He also designed time; day and night.  More important are significant periods in one's personal life; there is a time for everything.  Even when we go through tough times, He wants us to make the most out of each opportunity that He places before us.    

As each day passes, God is moving towards the final chapter in history.  The most important fact is to realize that today is the day of salvation.  Just like Pastor Ron's last sermon; "Don't stand around waiting for Me to return".

    

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Ecclesiastes 5-8

Thursday June 2: Song of Solomon 5-8 ~Cameron

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Song of Solomon 5-8

Is anyone else a little hot and bothered? Song of Solomon contains some of the earliest recorded erotica. The final part of chapter 5 (verses 10-16) contains one of the earliest accounts of a woman describing the appealing aspects of her lover's physique.

But why, in verse 1, does he say "my sister"? Some modern translations have substituted "my sister" with "my treasure" or something similar. "My sister" was originally used in order to communicate a truth about relationships.

From Dr. Joel Hoffman
Similarly, kinship terms like “father,” “brother,” “sister,” etc. were used in the Bible specifically to indicate power structure. This is why the romantic Song of Solomon — the Bible’s only full length treatise on relationships — says “my sister, my bride” or “my sister, my spouse.” On its face, that English translation is not only unromantic but in fact felonious. The original point, however, was that the woman in this relationship should be the man’s equal.

Considering the point in history this was written, equality in a relationship would have been very progressive.

I have friends who perform marriage seminars (Doing Family Right). During the intimacy section of the weekends, they have spouses read portions of Song of Solomon to each other. It can get awkward. Try it. Husbands, read chapter 7:1-9 to your wife. Wives, respond with chapter 7:10-13. Now tell the kids to go to bed.

Marriage is a blessing to be cherished and nurtured. Invest in it and you will reap returns.



Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 1 Kings 11, 2 Chronicles 9:29-31, Ecclesiastes 1-4

Wednesday, June 1st: Song of Songs 1-4 ~ Nathan

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Song of Solomon 1-4

I found this book a little confusing when I first started to read these chapters, I wasn't always sure who was represented by what.. etc, so I used the help of the Matthew Henry commentary to help me understand what I was reading. I wanted to get an understanding of this book at the beginning, so I have an idea what I'm reading as we go through it in the coming days.

In the first chapter we read an exchange between God and the church (believers), going back and forth expressing their love for each other. We see poetry used in these verses to show God's great love for us,

Song of Solomon 1:15 How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes are doves.

In the second chapter we read how Christ speaks, concerning himself and the church, and encourages us to get up and come with Him,

Song of Solomon 2:10 My beloved spoke and said to me, “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me.

Chapter 3 talks at the beginning of how the church has lost its way and is searching again for God, and to be right with God again.

Song of Solomon 3:4 Scarcely had I passed them when I found the one my heart loves. I held him and would not let him go till I had brought him to my mother's house, to the room of the one who conceived me.

In chapter 4 we read how Jesus has adopted and called the church to be His. He compliments her beauty in poetic fashion in verse 11,

Song of Solomon 4:11 Your lips drop sweetness as the honeycomb, my bride; milk and honey are under your tongue. The fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Song of Solomon 5-8