Tag: Kings

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Refusing gifts of gratitude.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Then Naaman and his entire party went back to find the man of God. They stood before him, and Naaman said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept any gifts.” And though Naaman urged him to take the gift, Elisha refused. Then Naaman said, “All right, but please allow me to load two of my mules with earth from this place, and I will take it back home with me. From now on I will never again offer burnt offerings or sacrifices to any other god except the Lord. However, may the Lord pardon me in this one thing: When my master the king goes into the temple of the god Rimmon to worship there and leans on my arm, may the Lord pardon me when I bow, too.” “Go in peace,” Elisha said. So Naaman started home again.” ‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭5‬:‭15‬-‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

After Naaman is miraculously healed of a deadly skin disease, he was not only convinced of the one true God, he was also grateful. When facing death and escaping it via a miracle – gratitude races to the top of the heart. When you’ve been given to, there’s supposed to be a desire to give back – at least when one recognizes how the Kingdom of God works. Naaman came prepared, I doubt the guy travelled with a a caravan of expensive clothes and large amounts of silver just to take a trip to the hill country above Samaria.

Naaman’s gratitude was a key part of his transformation. He wasn’t just healed of Leprosy, he got wrecked by the reality of God’s undeserved goodness.

The shocker is Elisha refused the extravagant gifts.

Naaman insisted, Elisha resisted.

I wonder why? Did he not need the money? Couldn’t he have received it so that he could give it away to the poor?

Money does strange things to people. Obviously Naaman had a lot of wealth and had no problem trying to give it away. And sadly, we know what even the idea of having some money, snuck & tucked away for oneself, did to Gehazi. Did greed just creep in so fast that it overwhelmed the young man – Gehazi just couldn’t let it go. ”But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, the man of God, said to himself, “My master should not have let this Aramean get away without accepting any of his gifts. As surely as the Lord lives, I will chase after him and get something from him.” ‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭5‬:‭20‬. It was for “Elisha…” – right?! Greedy people always believe they are going to get away with it.

Maybe Elisha had learned some lessons and already figured out that he was just a steward for his own master, he didn’t need to own or keep anything. God was the one that healed Naaman, not Elisha. Elisha just sent Naaman on the humiliating task of dunking his pride in the dirty Jordan river.

After refusing Naaman’s gifts, Naaman seemed so caught off guard that he asked to take some Samarian dirt home with him! Plus – Naaman swore off of pagan sacrifices to fake gods. He truly was a changed man! I love it when new believers get so confessional because the Spirit of God brings freedom in repentance!

As a pastor, I can tell you that it is humbling to receive gifts. Cards of appreciation are definitely encouraging, but I often tell folks who give me money or gift cards out of their generosity – I’m going to be saving this gift and giving it to someone that God directs me to bless! They have to be okay with that.

Prayer.

​Dad,
I love the fact that Elisha refused Naaman’s grateful gift. And, I’m sad that Gehazi couldn’t handle Elisha refusing to receive that much money. It looks like greed, but I have no idea what was going on in Gehazi’s heart. I do see what gratefulness looks like from such a powerful commander of the Syrian army who had it all, but almost lost it because of a deadly skin disease. I hope to live a life of both gratefulness and generosity – I think they go together.

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When your mentor is missing.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen when he was taken up. Then Elisha returned to the bank of the Jordan River. He struck the water with Elijah’s cloak and cried out, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” Then the river divided, and Elisha went across.” ‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Just moments before these verses, the agreement for Elisha to succeed Elijah had just barely made the deadline of God whisking Elijah off to heaven in spectacular style – fire driven horses and chariot, flaming from the sky scooping up Elijah in a whirlwind. Elijah’s cloak comes floating down to the ground at Elisha’s feet! Elisha had just asked Elijah for a double portion of the power God entrusted in His prophet. Elijah kinda shrugged it off – yeah, we’ll see.

Then we find Elisha standing alone in the field. Elisha had just witnessed a most unexpected, extraordinary miracle, but as he stands there, he realizes, “I have no idea what to do now!” Elijah’s last order was to stay in Jericho, but Elisha refused, not wanting to let Elijah out of his sight.

What does one do when your mentor has moved on? Now, Elisha would be self directed, depending completely on the Lord to lead him. And in that awkward silence, Elisha picks up Elijah’s cloak and walks back to the edge of the Jordan river, where he and Elijah had previously seen God miraculously part the water to walk across on dry land. As Elisha stood there, the Bible reveals his anxious heart when it says, he struck the water and cried out. It reminds me of Moses and his hit-the-rock moment!

Oftentimes, I’ve noticed, the Old Testament prophets had shown a wide variety of real emotions, mostly angsty, deeply dark and moody. Sure, the miracles are amazing, but prophets obviously carried the difficult weight of delivering God’s word often to leaders who did not want to listen and definitely did not want to obey God. After the water parting, Elisha did go on to perform twice as many miracles as his mentor, Elijah – https://bit.ly/ElishaMiracles. The Talmud records that Elisha struggled with this anger his whole life, eventually becoming the cause of his own death, “The Talmud teaches, Sotah 47a, that Elisha had been sick with the same sickness twice before and he recovered. His sicknesses were a punishment for his having behaved in a harsh way twice. Once, when he cursed the youths who had behaved in such an insolent fashion towards him. The second time was when he excommunicated Gechazi and cursed him with Tzara’at (a form of spiritual leprosy).” Even though God used Elisha in extraordinary ways, Elisha could not get free from his own issues. Even after Elisha’s death, it’s recorded that his own bones had the power to bring a dead man back to life! According to 2 Kings 13:21, a corpse touched Elisha’s bones and was restored to life!

Elisha’s life and calling from God tells a story as well. Was Elisha too young? He was probably in his twenties when Elijah met him in his family’s field. Was his time with Elijah too short? He served under Elijah for six years. Was Elisha influenced by Elijah’s own self esteem and even depression towards the end of his own ministry?

Sometimes, with folks that have “seen it all” in ministry have a darker reality of what ministry really looks like. Personally, I watched the effects of longtime ministry on my own mentors. It changed them, it seemed to have sucked some of the joy and faith out of them. Whatever it was, I often said, “I had no interest of sitting in that seat of leadership.” I wonder how much of all that Elijah faced impacted Elisha?

Prayer

​Dad,
As I read about Elijah’s life and ministry calling and compared it to Elisha’s, I realized – everyone has issues they have to deal with from within. Ministry calling, although fulfilling in so many ways, is also an exposure to the full gamma of human expression from the people we serve. The highest of highs, but also the lowest of lows! I’ve seen people behaving at their best, as well as at their worst. I’m privy to the most private behaviors in families and relationships. It is a lot to carry. At this season of life, I understand far better of how the world works, the church works and how hard it is to keep our souls in shape before you. Thank you for your long suffering grace as we do life over the long haul.

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Modern Politicians

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Hide me from the plots of this evil mob, from this gang of wrongdoers. They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows. They shoot from ambush at the innocent, attacking suddenly and fearlessly. They encourage each other to do evil and plan how to set their traps in secret. “Who will ever notice?” they ask. As they plot their crimes, they say, “We have devised the perfect plan!” Yes, the human heart and mind are cunning.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭64‬:‭2‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Is it just me, or does David’s enemies sound a lot like today’s politicians?

We know that David wrote this under severe persecution by king Saul. We also know that God withdrew His Spirit from Saul and gave him a tormenting spirit because Saul had willfully disobeyed God and refused to come clean about it 1 Samuel 15:26 & 16:14. Plus, God had already chosen and anointed David as the future king of Israel, but allowed Saul to continue as king for 22 more years. Saul spent the rest of his miserable, neutered life chasing down David to kill him. He was unable to do so because God was protecting David.

These words, in this psalm, were oddly given to the choir director to turn into a song (what a weird song). A song about the frustrating moments that David experienced. These evil issues often come with leaders and politicians when they’ve lost their ability to see, speak or lead with integrity. David records the mindset of these kinds of leaders.

They plot! They spend all their energy on conniving, convincing and controlling rather than leading to a positive future. They fight invisible enemies with worthless words that do not inspire greatness, they only instill fear and divisiveness. They aim their bitter words at all that oppose them. They conspire with others, those magnetized by the promise of power and position. They shrewdly scheme to set traps in hopes that no one will ever find out they are buried in bitterness with no hope of fixing the problems of their people. Their hearts are too perverse to solve humanity’s problems. True leaders don’t attack people, they attack the problems! They don’t blame others, they rise to solve the issue, injecting hope and confidence in others.

At this point in David’s life, his faith was in God who would deal with Saul directly, “But God himself will shoot them with his arrows, suddenly striking them down. Their own tongues will ruin them, and all who see them will shake their heads in scorn,” Psalms‬ ‭64‬:‭7‬-‭8‬.

Prayer

​Dad,
Things haven’t changed much, have they? We are still the broken, selfishly driven people that got booted out of the garden! Oh, and when we get a little power and get a little cash – it quickly goes to our head and chills our heart. You are still the same though – yesterday, today and forever. You still see us, know us and grieve over the dumb, unjust ways we live, rule and reign. And, even though I know David was a man after your own heart, he didn’t fare that well either. When he was at the top of his game and his rooftop he lost it all by lusting after the neighbor. The wife of one of his best warriors. Uriah had no idea what was coming. I am so grateful that your long suffering has put up with us for so long. Yet, I know all this will come to the end and then there’s the judgement. Even though my sin is covered by Jesus’ sacrifice, I will still be held accountable for every gift, every moment I squandered; every decision I’ve made as a Pastor. But… at least I’m not a king nor politician 😬.

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God puts out a hit on Ahab.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“When he arrived there, he found Jehu sitting around with the other army officers. “I have a message for you, Commander,” he said. “For which one of us?” Jehu asked. “For you, Commander,” he replied. So Jehu left the others and went into the house. Then the young prophet poured the oil over Jehu’s head and said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I anoint you king over the Lord’s people, Israel. You are to destroy the family of Ahab, your master. In this way, I will avenge the murder of my prophets and all the Lord’s servants who were killed by Jezebel. The entire family of Ahab must be wiped out. I will destroy every one of his male descendants, slave and free alike, anywhere in Israel.”2 Kings‬ ‭9‬:‭5‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

God spoke to Elisha and gave him instructions to send out his student prophet to a difficult assignment- the assassination of Ahab, the wicked king of Israel. But before doing that, the young prophet must anoint and install a new king.

Elisha was VERY specific. He told him to take the olive oil, go to Ramoth-gliead, find Jehu, get him alone in a room and pour the oil over his head. Then, to tell him the Lord has anointed him to be the king of Israel. Last step – run for your life! The prophet did as Elisha instructed, but either added the following or we are not privy to what Elisha told him to say.

Either way, the rest of the message was an order for Jehu to elliminate Ahab’s entire family lineage. God said He would avenge the murders of his prophets and servants killed by Jezebel’s orders. And, in a very NSFW moment, the prophet tells Jehu what to do with Jezebel’s dead body! He says, “Dogs will eat Ahab’s wife Jezebel at the plot of land in Jezreel, and no one will bury her.” Then the young prophet opened the door and ran just like Elisha told him to do. If you want to read about Jezebel’s gruesome end, you’ll find it in ‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭9‬:‭32‬-‭37‬.

God says he owns and operates vengeance because He is the only one who can handle it properly. God is always true, just and right – Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, He says in Deuteronomy 32:35. Not only does God properly handle vengeance and retribution, He knows it is toxic poison for us to handle even the smallest amount of it. Humans feel that holding onto revenge makes us powerful- it does not. It makes us weak! Holding onto anger, grudges and thoughts of revenge not only tears holes in our soul but it also hardens our heart. It gives the deceiver, the liar and thief, a foothold to enter into our mind causing havoc and irreparable damage.

The only way to escape the devastating fires of rage and fury is to give our grievances to God and let forgiveness flow freely. Forgiveness does not mean the perpetrator goes free, it means that we are set free of the self afflicted prison that revenge will bring. Let God be our champion of justice and not our own seething and planning our enemy’s demise!

Prayer

​Dad,
One of the greatest and hardest lessons as a young believer was the time you told me to forgive my third father – my stepfather, Ben. He was viscously evil, with a super hard heart and burned out conscience. I knew he had a hard life himself, but he turned bitter and took it out on those closest to him. When you told me to forgive him, I had no understanding of why I or anyone should forgive him. But I was learning obedience and did what you asked. I told him to his face, “I forgive you for what you have done to my mother and sister!” His response was to laugh at me in most wicked voice. But as I walked away, I knew I was FREE of him! Free of his damaging words and free of the fear he brought into our family. I learned that forgiveness is powerful to the victim and shocking to the offender. Thank you for teaching me while I was so young. Learning forgiveness instead of revenge has kept my enemy list down to zero!

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What happens when God fights for you?

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“During the battle the five kings escaped and hid in a cave at Makkedah. When Joshua heard that they had been found, he issued this command: “Cover the opening of the cave with large rocks, and place guards at the entrance to keep the kings inside.” ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭10‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Joshua records a brief but brutal ending to a war between Israel and the Amorites. King Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem had sent messengers to several other local kings: Hoham of Hebron, Piram of Jarmuth, Japhia of Lachish, and Debir of Eglon, inviting them to join him in defeating Gibeon, a large fortified city and new ally with Israel. Joshua writes, “So these five Amorite kings combined their armies for a united attack. They moved all their troops into place and attacked Gibeon.” Adoni-zedek believed this to be a strategically easy victory.

For many of the battles Israel would face, their enemies began to realize they were going up against Israel’s God – Jehovah, the one true God, The men of Gibeon sent messengers to Joshua asking for Israel’s help. This massive battle is famous because of two miracles. One, God chased the Amorites off with a hailstorm – which killed more men than the battle itself. But this is also the famous story of the sun standing still for a day, because Joshua asked God for more time to finish off the enemy.

The Amorites were exceedingly wicked. God told Moses to completely destroy the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. Why? God told Moses, it will “prevent them from teaching you to imitate their detestable customs in the worship of their gods, which would cause you to sin deeply against the LORD your God.” Just do a search on the immoral things the Amorites practiced while worshiping fake gods. God’s warnings to the Amorites did not persuade them to repent. Eventually God’s judgement was to thoroughly remove them from the earth.

It was clear to the five kings in cahoots with each other that they were losing, so they fled to the hills and all five of them hid in a cave at Makkedah. As they were seen running from the battle, the Israelite men reported it to Joshua. After the Amorite armies had been defeated, Joshua returned to the cave and had the five kings brought out. He had the five kings laid out on the ground and told his own commanders to put their foot on each of the Amorite king’s necks. As they did this, Joshua told them to never be afraid, but instead be strong and courageous – a life tagline for him. Then Joshua killed each of the five kings by impaling them on sharpened poles, where they hung until evening. As the sun was going down, Joshua gave instructions for the bodies of the kings to be taken down from the poles and thrown into the cave where they had been hiding, Joshua‬ ‭10‬:‭24‬-‭27‬. Five Amorite kings died a horrible death – befitting the horrible life and leadership over the people they were suppose to serve. Joshua was indeed a warrior leader over Israel and God honored him by giving him many battle wins over their enemies.

Prayer

​Dad,
Wow, wars were brutal then and still brutal today. We live with sin that is so ubiquitous, so invasive, that it rises to the level of mass murder of our enemies. War is hell! I find it interesting that there are times that you judge nations or groups of people yourself, directly punishing them with floods, famines or even storms. Yet, other times you used people, leaders, rulers or kings to make war against a people group, effectively judging them through annihilation. I would much rather have you fighting on my behalf than doing it on my own! Thank you for a future where there will be no more wars. I look forward to that day.

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God’s favorites.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

”One day the widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elisha and cried out, “My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the Lord. But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves.” “What can I do to help you?” Elisha asked. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?” “Nothing at all, except a flask of olive oil,” she replied. And Elisha said, “Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors. Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting each one aside when it is filled.” ‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There are those in our society that are in need and should receive special attention and care. These folks existed in ancient days and they still struggle today. They are widows and orphans. Because God’s heart always leans to the least among us, he expects that we will do the same.

In the U.S. from 2022, there were approximately 11.48 million widowed women and 3.7 million widowed men in the United States, the average age is 59! The word “widow” is sited 80 times from the Old and New Testament. Today’s “orphan” would be our children lingering in foster care. In 2022, approximately 368,530 children were in foster care in the United States. Which is down from 400,000 just 10 years ago.

Here in Kings, with the story of the needy widow, Elisha responds to her desperation by walking her and her sons through a miracle rather than just giving her money. In fact, through this miracle, God allowed this widow to become an entrepreneur, with a sustainable income for her future. That’s a compounded interest miracle!

Kings tells us that this widow’s husband was a part of Elisha’s School of the Prophets, and the widow reminds him that her husband feared the Lord! Since Elisha figured out that this widow was willing to speak up and ask, he knew he could put this skillset, this gift to work! He first asks what she has. She responds with, “I’ve only got one flask of oil.” Olive oil, in ancient days was used for just about everything, far more than it is today. If you had a grove of olive trees, you had a sustainable income for life, because oil was a highly needed commodity.

Next, Elisha puts her to work ASKING. “Go and borrow as many empty jars as you can.” Big jars, little jars, used jars and new ones – who knows what her friends and neighbors let her “borrow” knowing they were helping her out.

Elisha then tells her, “go into your house with your sons.” My wife, Robin, points out the highlight of the miracle about to take place is the fact that her sons were able to experience God’s power and provision right alongside their mother. She begins to pour from her only oil jar. She fills up one jar, then another, and another. The tension rises when the mother discovers they are out of jars, “Soon every container was full to the brim! “Bring me another jar,” she said to one of her sons. “There aren’t any more!” he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing.” (4‬:‭6‬) All the jars were now filled!

She tells Elisha what happened, expecting that he would want to know or maybe even receive part of the miraculous oil himself. Elisha tells her to sell the oil to pay the debt and keep the rest to live on! She receives a miracle and an inheritance check from God!

Caring for widows or children of foster care doesn’t mean we just hand over a bunch of money. God could have made it rain coins from the sky if Elisha asked him to. Working with both widows and children formerly in foster care means helping them understand their own gifts and talents and teach them to become self sufficient is incredibly important. Both still need believers to pray and seek God for miracles on their behalf. But helping them see their worth and value after death, abandonment or abuse is critical for their mental and spiritual well being! It’s money leveraged to teach and get them moving in the right direction. Many of the widows that I have known were properly cared for through planning before their husband’s death. Serving both widows and children of foster care requires building trust – love must be earned before it’s honored! Being involved in their lives becomes a great way to redirect and inspire them to keep going, and discovering what God will do through their lives even after a difficult season of loss. It is a joy, privilege and honor to serve the folks that God considers most valuable because of loss. When we serve widows and children of foster care, we are blessing some of God’s favorites!

Prayer

​Dad,
I enjoy seeing what you love and learning to love it as well. And I know you love widows and orphans. You see their great needs and hear their cries for help. Thank you for enlisting us to share in the joy of praying for, blessing and caring for those you deeply love.

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Cycles of disrepair.

Reading Time: 4 minutes

“In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent Shaphan son of Azaliah and grandson of Meshullam, the court secretary, to the Temple of the Lord. He told him, “Go to Hilkiah the high priest and have him count the money the gatekeepers have collected from the people at the Lord’s Temple. Entrust this money to the men assigned to supervise the restoration of the Lord’s Temple. Then they can use it to pay workers to repair the Temple. They will need to hire carpenters, builders, and masons. Also have them buy the timber and the finished stone needed to repair the Temple. But don’t require the construction supervisors to keep account of the money they receive, for they are honest and trustworthy men.” ‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭22‬:‭3‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Young Josiah becomes King of Israel at 8 years old. What a heavy responsibility to know that you’ve got to grow and mature into a national leader and that your country is counting on you doing things right. Josiah’s first official act doesn’t take place until he is 36 years old!

Josiah’s family origin story was awful! His grandfather and father were terrible, ungodly kings. His grandfather, Manasseh, had instituted idol worship throughout the land and the country had suffered greatly because of it. He gutted the contents of the temple and replace it with a carved image of Asherah. God’s temple and the pride of the country had become an idolatry whorehouse! Manasseh’s son, Josiah’s father was no better. Amon was so dispised that his own officials conspired against him and assassinated him in his palace. And, the people of the land even killed all those who had conspired against king Amon. They made his son Josiah the next king.

The kingdom, both physically and spiritually were decimated and in complete disrepair! What can an 8 year old do to turn an entire country back to God? The Bible says that young Josiah had determined to turn to God, ”He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right.” Maybe it was his mother, Jedidah, that made the difference.

After growing up and surveying all that had happened under his father and grandfather’s reign, spending 18 years deciding where and when to make change. He decided to reverse the curse of idolatry in his country. Where did he start? Repairing and making the temple a place of honor and glory to God once again. He sent trusted men to find other trusted men to put the Temple tax money to work. He found men to supervise the restoration of the Lord’s Temple! What a genius idea – fix the house of God as a focused priority, to begin turning the people of God towards the one true God. This took faith in God and trust in men to make it all happen. Faith was in short supply and trusting people with money after years of systemic, nonsensical waste on fake gods would also be difficult.

Josiah ordered an odd and risky command, “don’t require the construction supervisors to keep account of the money they receive.” What? Is that legal? Giving money, tax money collected from the people, to construction guys? You know what? It worked. And, wouldn’t you know it. Immediately after Josiah takes this huge risk, entrusting people with money to do what is right, Shaphan just “happens” to come back with extraordinary news, reporting the results of the King’s decision. “Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the court secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the Lord’s Temple!” Then Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan, and he read it. Shaphan went to the king and reported, “Your officials have turned over the money collected at the Temple of the Lord to the workers and supervisors at the Temple.” Shaphan also told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll.” So Shaphan read it to the king.”

The money was disbursed, the work on the Temple had begun and guess what? Hilkiah found the book of the Law! The restoration of the physical temple and the restoration of the spiritual hearts of the people would simultaneously be restored back to God! The cycle of despair and disrepair would end and the Lord would once again be worshiped and obeyed. One, young leader, with a heart to do what was right would temporarily turn a nation back to God.

It can happen again. It can happen today. Nothing is impossible with God. We no longer meet with God in a Temple, because God, through Jesus Christ has made His home in the hearts of His people. Now, individually and cooperatively we are the Temple of God. Can God use young leaders, with a desire to do what is right to turn the Church in America around? Can young leaders be entrusted to rebuild and restore what has been in disrepair in the Church for so many years? Yes! I believe it is possible. Returning to a refurbished temple would not be necessarily the church buildings that have been in decline for decades, it would be the restructuring and restoration of the hearts and lives of those who the Church, the body of Christ today. It would also be finding or rediscovering the laws of God that Jesus himself summarized for us so beautifully – Matthew 22:37-39, “Love God and love others.” And, “love as you’ve been loved” in John 13:34, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” This would be the new revolution.

Prayer

​Dad,
I try to keep up with the latest, but not so greatest of stats on Your Church and the myriad of challenges and critiques. But I still believe! I still believe in Your plan, Your Church and actively watch and wait for young leaders to step up and in to the spiritual revolution that is coming. I have faith and trust in future Josiah’s! Amen.

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Walking-dead leaders.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

This message from the Lord was delivered to King Baasha by the prophet Jehu son of Hanani: “I lifted you out of the dust to make you ruler of my people Israel, but you have followed the evil example of Jeroboam. You have provoked my anger by causing my people Israel to sin. So now I will destroy you and your family, just as I destroyed the descendants of Jeroboam son of Nebat. The members of Baasha’s family who die in the city will be eaten by dogs, and those who die in the field will be eaten by vultures.” ‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭16‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

You may have known this, but I did not. Rehoboam (Solomon’s son) was set to become the next king. Another leader, Jeroboam, returned from Egypt and led a group of people to confront Rehoboam with a demand for a lighter tax burden. When Rehoboam refused the demand, ten of the tribes rejected Rehoboam and David’s dynasty, splitting the nation. The flashpoint of contention is found in 1 Kings 12:1-16, where Rehoboam seeks advice about taxation from his father’s leaders verses his own young, up-and coming ones. He went with his young leader’s advice and it was a disaster – 10 tribes walked out, becoming the collective nation called Israel. This passage of the history of the kings, identifies God’s response to evil leaders.

The saddest, hardest part, is that the kings of this division were the worst of the worst leaders, eventually causing the tribes to be completely wiped out and actually disappear from history. The kings mentioned in these chapters are called out for their sins and the responsibility of leading the entire nation to sin against God! Here they are – all 19 of them: Jeroboam, Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omari, Ahab, Ahaziah, Joram (Jehoram), Jehu, Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jeroboam II, Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah, Hoshea.

Is a national leader powerful enough to lead millions of their citizens to sin against God? History proves that it did happen, and still happens today. Is God more angry when a leader leads people into rebellion against him? When does He wait for natural consequences to kick in? When does God step in out of mercy? These are difficult questions to reflect on when reading the Old Testament.

In our modern thirst for justice, we often fail to see the wrongs and injustice of leaders who hubristically lead people into sin, rebelling against God and His ways. What God gives us is not just right and true, but good and healthy for the nation and our world! What we mistake for freedoms FROM God’s rules is actually the most insidious of lies masquerading as truth. Even though our own ways are destructive and toxic, we buy it, believe it and follow it because of our own hardened, disordered desires that blind us. How do we discern what leader is the best for our own country?

Prayer

​Dad,
As I look at that landscape of history and see your hand at work, it makes me wonder about our nation’s current dilemma. Our own leadership as president, congress and supreme court seems to be an unmitigated disaster. It’s so very frustrating to watch the octogenarian principal players, mired in complicated oversight that has become the standard of governing this nation. We long for good leadership! We long for just, wholesome, honest and trustworthy leaders. No wonder the Church is divided politically, we still struggle to unite spiritually! God help us! We cry out to you to make things right. We pray that you would resolve the deep hurts and frustrations among the poor, broken and suffering. We repent of our selfish sins of arrogance, indifference and passivity of injustice masked as freedom. Forgive us. Save us from ourselves! Give us leaders who are wise and capable of a godly rule of true authority. Amen.

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The Boast of Nations.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Now I know that the Lord rescues his anointed king. He will answer him from his holy heaven and rescue him by his great power. Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God. Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm. Give victory to our king, O Lord! Answer our cry for help. ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭20‬:‭6‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

King David writes this Psalm after achieving some miraculous victories over a few enemy nations, the Ammonites and Syrians. A main adversary, Hadadezer, had battled with Israel several times, but finally when this General fell, there was a long season of peace. 1 Samuel 10:19, “When all the kings allied with Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they surrendered to Israel and became their subjects. After that, the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites.”

Israel had become powerful enough to accomplish peace in the entire region. David writes this Psalm, not to acknowledge his military might or ability – NO! David, as an experienced warrior recognized that Israel’s victories were because of the God they served. And, with a certain amount of humility David writes, “the Lord rescues his anointed king.” Then, he very poetically pens these famous words that would be quoted many times over in times of uncertainty – some nations boast of their chariots and horses… David knew that God had favored him and it was useless to pretend it was because of some amazing number chariots and horses.

Samuel mentions at one point that David had captured a thousand chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers. There is no doubt that David had a massive arsenal of weapons and soldiers to go with them – maybe multiple times the number he captured. So, as the apex warrior of the ancient world, David knew how many chariots, horses, men, spears and swords he had in his massive army. But here in the Psalms he admits, it wasn’t his accomplishments, it was God’s victories and to boast in anything else would be foolish.

David’s success as a warrior would eventually prevent him from building a “home for God,” the temple. God said David’s hands were too bloody, and they were! (1 Chronicles 28:3). But here, David gives high praise and acknowledgement of God’s protection and fulfillment of promise to David and his legacy.

Prayer

​Dad,
Throughout our human history you have had rulers, kings and presidents rise to and fall from power. Some, you promoted and put in place, some you allowed to reign and wield their authority in wild and wicked ways. These rulers, mostly men, have been a mystery as to why some have been allowed to use and abuse their charisma and influence over nations. Whether we have good or godly leaders or tyrants and narcissistic, it is hard to understand your will and your ways through their time in power. The cycles of good or bad rising and falling continue to frustrate us. However, even though I do not understand, I do trust you. Even when I cannot see the reason, nor its end, I have faith in you and know that you are always just, true and right. Amen.

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Concerning God’s first house.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“It was in midspring, in the month of Ziv, during the fourth year of Solomon’s reign, that he began to construct the Temple of the Lord. This was 480 years after the people of Israel were rescued from their slavery in the land of Egypt.” 1 Kings‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Bible gives specific dates about when construction began on the Temple – 480 years after leaving Egypt. There are some fascinating details in this chapter about the building of the temple. First of all, remember, God told David, He didn’t really need a permanent place to visit (1 Chronicles 17:5) Andy Stanley says, “God is a mobile God!” I love that. God also told David, that Solomon would build the temple, but He would only continue to visit as long as the people obeyed His commands (2 Chronicles 7:19-20).

The temple was massively ginormous. It was constructed in near silence vs. 7. And, it was elaborately gorgeous! The chapter ends telling us the construction took seven years! Wow – what an extraordinary achievement in ancient times. But for all the beauty in architecture and decor, in all the detail of perfection in the design and flow of what would take place in God’s first house – it was completely eclipsed by one thing and only one thing. God’s presence! Solomon dedicated the temple in 1 Kings chapter 8 by bringing the Ark of the Covenant in and invoking an amazing prayer of dedication over the building.

God answers by reminding Solomon and the people of His promise. If they are obedient, one of David’s sons will always rule on the throne. If they disobey the commands of God, He will uproot Israel and reject the temple (1 Kings 9:6-7). Solomon and the people of Israel DID NOT keep their promises, disregarding and disobeying God’s laws. But God kept His promise, eventually placing an everlasting King on the throne – Jesus Christ, the Messiah! God also moved His presence, with all of His laws, ways, decrees and desires into a permanent place – into the hearts of those who believe and follow Jesus as Lord.

Prayer

​Dad,
We are now your dwelling place! You have come and written your laws on our hearts, instead of inscribing them on stone. We are now the temple, yet you are still mobile because we are living and moving around, carrying the your Spirit within us. Thank you for abiding in hearts of flesh. Thank you for dwelling among us from within. Because of Jesus, you have not only kept your promise, you have made it possible for us to keep our promises through Christ’s own righteousness. Amen.