Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 8; Psalm 145

Elisha had told the woman whose son he had brought back to life, “Take your family and move to some other place, for the Lord has called for a famine on Israel that will last for seven years.” So the woman did as the man of God instructed. She took her family and settled in the land of the Philistines for seven years. – 2 Kings 8:1-2

GOD’S TIMING IS ALWAYS GOOD.

After seven years, the woman and her son returned from the land of the Philistines. The famine was over, just as Elisha had said it would be. She went to the king to ask about getting her house and land back. Right before she had arrived, the king had asked Elisha’s servant to tell him some stories about the great things he had seen Elisha do. Just as Gehazi had finished the story about Elisha bringing the widow’s son back to life, the mother and her boy walked in.

“Look, my lord the king!” Gehazi exclaimed. “Here is the woman now, and this is her son—the very one Elisha brought back to life!”

“Is this true?” the king asked her. And she told him the story. So he directed one of his officials to see that everything she had lost was restored to her, including the value of any crops that had been harvested during her absence. – 2 Kings 8:1-6

AND SHE TOLD HIM THE STORY.

God had done something wonderful for this woman, and she was willing to use that story for God’s purposes. She was willing to retell her story of how her son had been dead, but now he was alive and standing beside her. The woman was grateful for the miracle she had witnessed firsthand, but it was not just her story to tell — she realized that the story of God raising her son from the dead fit into God’s story.

What has God done for you? How does your story fit into His? Perhaps there is someone who needs to hear your story in order to trust God with their own.

EVERYTHING SHE HAD LOST WAS RESTORED TO HER.

Sometimes our story is like this woman’s — a story of God performing a miracle of healing for ourselves or for someone we love. But sometimes our story holds memories of regret and pain. It can be difficult to share the difference God has made in your life when it reveals a moment that holds shame or embarrassment. Perhaps God wants to restore what you have lost by using your story to help others.

I am grateful this morning that we serve a God who is willing to redeem our story for His purposes. Father God, I give you permission to use me in the lives of others today. Give me eyes to see the opportunities you will place before me, trusting in you to restore what I have lost. Redeem my story for your glory, I pray. Amen.

Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts;
let them proclaim your power.
I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor
and your wonderful miracles.
Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue;
I will proclaim your greatness.
Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness;
they will sing with joy about your righteousness.
The Lord is merciful and compassionate,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
The Lord is good to everyone.
He showers compassion on all his creation.
All of your works will thank you, Lord,
and your faithful followers will praise you.
They will speak of the glory of your kingdom;
they will give examples of your power.
They will tell about your mighty deeds
and about the majesty and glory of your reign.
For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.
You rule throughout all generations.
The Lord always keeps his promises;
he is gracious in all he does. – Psalm 145:4-13

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 6:24 – 7:20, Psalm 102

Some time later, however, King Ben-hadad of Aram mustered his entire army and besieged Samaria. As a result, there was a great famine in the city. The siege lasted so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty pieces of silver, and a cup of dove’s dung sold for five pieces of silver. – 2 Kings 6:24

Times were just about as hard as they get for those in the city. They were surrounded by their enemy, with no way to leave the fortified city to get more food. They cried out to the king of Israel for help, but there was nothing he could do. The people were in desperate situations — desperate enough to eat their own children (6:26-29).

When the king heard this, he tore his clothes in despair. And as the king walked along the wall, the people could see that he was wearing burlap under his robe next to his skin. – 2 Kings 6:30

The king’s grief turned to anger, as grief often does, and he directed all of his frustrations towards Elisha. He sent one of his men to Elisha’s house to cut off his head, but Elisha would not open the door. So the king went himself.

And the king said, “All this misery is from the Lord! Why should I wait for the Lord any longer?” – 2 Kings 6:30b

SOMETIMES LEADERSHIP IS HARD.

There are seasons of life when circumstances are almost unbearable and it takes its toll on our leaders. There are seasons of life when there is nothing anyone can do to relieve our pain or rescue us from our circumstances, and we find ourselves blaming God. We get impatient and tired of waiting on God to heal, save, or comfort us. But if we can just hang onto our faith a little longer, we will see God move on our behalf. No matter how difficult things get, we must keep asking God to strengthen our faith in Him.

Elisha replied, “Listen to this message from the Lord! This is what the Lord says: By this time tomorrow in the markets of Samaria, six quarts of choice flour will cost only one piece of silver, and twelve quarts of barley grain will cost only one piece of silver.”

The officer assisting the king said to the man of God, “That couldn’t happen even if the Lord opened the windows of heaven!”

But Elisha replied, “You will see it happen with your own eyes, but you won’t be able to eat any of it!” – 2 Kings 7:1-2

Four men with leprosy who had been sitting at the entrance of the city gates decided to take their chances and surrender to the Aramean army. At twilight they started walking towards the enemy camp, but when they got there it was empty. The enemy was nowhere to be found, for the Lord had caused the army to hear “the clatter of speeding chariots and the galloping of horses and the sounds of a great army approaching.” In their panic, they had left all of their supplies and animals, and they had run for their lives.

The four lepers feasted, loaded their arms with the treasures they had found, and traveled back uphill to the city of Samaria to share the good news. The gatekeepers shouted the news to the people in the palace, but the king was skeptical. The news seemed too good to be true. He proceeded with caution, sending scouts to verify what the four men had reported. When they came back with good news, the people of Samaria rushed down to the camp, escaping the city that had become a prison for them. They were finally FREE! The officer who had failed to believe that God could do something as big as what Elisha had foretold was trampled by the people in their desperate rush to find food.

SOMETIMES HOLDING ONTO OUR FAITH IS HARD.

When times get difficult, God wants us to look to Him for rescue; when our circumstances seem impossible to survive, God wants us to trust in Him to be our Savior. God has given us the ability to cling to him during good times and in bad, because faith is a gift from Him. It is not something we have to muster up on our own, it is generously and freely given to us.

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. – Ephesians 2:8-10

This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior.
May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. – 2 Peter 1:1b-2

And this is my prayer for you today. No matter what you are going through, I pray that God will give you more and more grace, that you will experience a supernatural peace, and that your faith in Him will grow as you continue to build on what you know of our God and Savior. May you fully experience FREEDOM in Christ today — freedom from your sinful nature, freedom from your fears and worries, and freedom from the kind of doubt that causes one to walk away from their faith. I pray that each morning you will allow God to create you anew.

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 6:1-23

One day the group of prophets came to Elisha and told him, “As you can see, this place where we meet with you is too small. Let’s go down to the Jordan River, where there are plenty of logs. There we can build a new place for us to meet.”

“All right,” he told them, “go ahead.”

“Please come with us,” someone suggested.

“I will,” he said. So he went with them.

When they arrived at the Jordan, they began cutting down trees. But as one of them was cutting a tree, his ax head fell into the river. “Oh, sir!” he cried. “It was a borrowed ax!”

“Where did it fall?” the man of God asked. When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it into the water at that spot. Then the ax head floated to the surface. “Grab it,” Elisha said. And the man reached out and grabbed it. – 2 Kings 6:1-7

Have you ever heard the saying — He was at the right place at the right time? This seems like that kind of moment. Elisha had no plans to go to the Jordan River, but ended up taking the trip due to a last minute invitation. The goal of the journey was to collect some logs for the new meeting place, but Elisha allowed himself to get sidetracked for the sake of a fellow worker in distress.

WILLING TO BE USED BY GOD WHEREVER, WHENEVER

While on this work trip, Elisha was able to retrieve a borrowed ax head that had fallen into the river. He simply broke a stick and threw it in where the ax head had landed, causing it to float to the surface. A small miracle to some, but huge for the man who would have been unable to replace the ax head (2 Kings 6:1-7).

While at home, Elisha received a visit from Naaman, the commander of the Aramean army. When he was struck with leprosy, Elisha instructed Naaman to dip himself in the Jordan River seven times and Naaman was healed. Through his healing, Naaman came to believe in the one true God (2 Kings 5:1-15).

When pursued by the enemy, Elisha was able to save the Israelite army from ambush time and time again by revealing where the Aramean army was waiting to attack them. When the king of Aram sent his troops to seize Elisha, he was able to speak the word and the entire Aramean army was blinded. At the same time, he was able to speak the word and allow his servant to see the heavenly troops and chariots of fire surrounding them to protect them from their enemy (2 Kings 6:8-18).

AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME

Just like Elisha allowed God to use him when strategically positioned for spiritual opportunities, God showed up for the Israelites time and time again. In the same way, He continues to show up for us over and over again. He is consistently at the right place at the right time.

As the Aramean army advanced toward him, Elisha prayed, “O Lord, please make them blind.” So the Lord struck them with blindness as Elisha had asked. – 2 Kings 6:18

Father God, thank you for the many ways in which you answer our prayers. Thank you for your faithful presence when we need you the most. We are grateful for this morning’s reminder that you are always ready to help us, and that you have a plan to strategically position us in the lives of others. Lord, we want to be available to be used by you — wherever, whenever.

“And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus — the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” – Acts 20:22-24

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 21, Psalm 90

Jehoram’s brothers—the other sons of Jehoshaphat—were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael, and Shephatiah; all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Judah. Their father had given each of them valuable gifts of silver, gold, and costly items, and also some of Judah’s fortified towns. However, he designated Jehoram as the next king because he was the oldest. But when Jehoram had become solidly established as king, he killed all his brothers and some of the other leaders of Judah. – 2 Chronicles 21:2-4

It was Jewish tradition that the oldest son would become the father’s successor, so Jehoram was naturally named as king. But having silver, gold, authority, and honor was not enough for Jehoram. He wanted to do what he wanted to do, so he killed his brothers. There was potential for Jehoram’s brothers to complicate his life and get in the way of his plans. Therefore, because it was within his rights as king to kill his brothers, that is what he did.

HE EXERCISED HIS RIGHT TO END THE LIFE OF ANOTHER PERSON SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT GET IN THE WAY OF WHAT HE WANTED TO DO WITH HIS LIFE.

Jehoram had the choice to follow in his father’s footsteps and lead the people of Judah in the worship of the one true God, or he could follow the ways of his father-in-law. You see, the alliance between Jehoshaphat and Ahab had led to Jehoram marrying one of Ahab’s daughters. The young king was influenced by his wife and did what was evil in the Lord’s sight (21:6). He built pagan shrines and led the people of Judah in the worship of pagan gods, influencing them to stray away from their God (21:11).

While Jehoram was exercising his rights as king, God was exercising His authority as the Supreme Almighty God. Jehoram could choose to live his life however he wanted to because he had free will, but there would be consequences to his sinful ways. He knew what God required of His people, but he blatantly chose a different way. The outcome of the life he had chosen was painful and led to an excruciating death.

JUST BECAUSE HE HAD THE LEGAL RIGHT TO STOP THE BEATING HEART OF ANOTHER HUMAN BEING DID NOT MEAN HE HAD THE SPIRITUAL RIGHT.

The Lord caused the Philistines and Arabs to attack Judah and its king. They looted the royal palace, carrying away everything that was valuable, including Jehoram’s sons and his wives. The only son left behind was the youngest son, Ahaziah.

After all this, the Lord struck Jehoram with an incurable intestinal disease. The disease grew worse and worse, and at the end of two years it caused his bowels to come out, and he died in agony. His people did not build a great funeral fire to honor him as they had done for his ancestors. Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. No one was sorry when he died. They buried him in the City of David, but not in the royal cemetery. – 2 Chronicles 21:18-20

Jehoram had the opportunity to do great things for God, but he desired to do great things for himself. Jehoram had the choice to live for the glory of God, but instead he lived to bring glory to himself. Jehoram took the gift of freewill and made a mess out of his life, and he influenced the whole nation of Judah to abandon the One who had so faithfully provided for them generation after generation. And his whole life can be summed up in these words:

NO ONE WAS SORRY WHEN HE DIED.

Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.
But not the wicked!
They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
Sinners will have no place among the godly.
For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,
but the path of the wicked leads to destruction. — Psalm 1:1-6

Father God, help me to see beyond what I want to do today to see what you want to do with my life. Take this selfish heart and give me a heart that beats in unison with yours. Teach me the many ways you are calling me to respect life and submit to your ways, so that you can be glorified in all that I say or do. Watch over my path and help me to grow stronger in my faith so that I can bear fruit for you in every season. As a society, help us to look beyond what we have been given the legal right to do in order to clearly see what we have and have not been given the spiritual right to do. Amen.

Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love,
so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.
Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery!
Replace the evil years with good.
Let us, your servants, see you work again;
let our children see your glory.
And may the Lord our God show us his approval
and make our efforts successful.
Yes, make our efforts successful! – Psalm 90:14-17

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 5, Psalm 51

The king of Aram had great admiration for the commander of his army, Naaman, because through him the Lord had given Aram great victories. But although Naaman was a mighty warrior, he suffered from leprosy. – 2 Kings 5:1

Even though God was doing great things through Naaman, even though Naaman was a mighty warrior, there was still something in his life that he was suffering with — something he needed God to heal in order to be whole. The king of Aram sent Naaman to the king of Israel with gifts, asking for him to heal Naaman. Elisha sent a message to bring the warrior to him. When Naaman and his entourage showed up at the door, Elisha sent a messenger out to Naaman: “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy” (2 Kings 5:10).

HOW DO WE REACT WHEN GOD TELLS US TO DO SOMETHING WE DO NOT WANT TO DO?

But Naaman became angry and stalked away. “I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!” he said. “I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me! Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers in Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?” So Naaman turned and went away in a rage. – 2 Kings 5:11-12

ARE THERE TIMES WHEN OUR PRIDE GETS IN THE WAY OF FOLLOWING GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS?

Naaman’s officers reasoned with him and convinced Naaman to go down to the muddy waters of the Jordan River. He dipped himself seven times, just as the man of God had instructed him. His skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child and he was healed! (2 Kings 5:13-14)

WHAT IS MY RESPONSE WHEN GOD ANSWERS IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAN I THOUGHT HE WOULD?

This story is a great reminder of our own stubborn behavior. We want God to heal us or to make us whole but we have a preconceived idea of how He should do that. What God desires is obedience and complete surrender to whatever He tells us to do — for physical healing or spiritual cleansing.

HOW OFTEN DO OUR PRECONCEIVED IDEAS GET IN THE WAY OF OUR OBEDIENCE?

Let’s dip into the words of King David as he asked God to cleanse him from his unrighteousness after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba. Let’s allow Psalm 51 to wash over us in complete surrender to the God who heals and makes us whole again. Perhaps God is doing mighty things in your life and through your life, but you need Him to remind you today that you have been forgiven and He has washed you clean. Let’s dip seven times in the river of God.

Dip #1: Create in me a clean heart, O God. Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.

Dip #2: Create in me a clean heart, O God. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.

Dip #3: Create in me a clean heart, O God. Against you and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.

Dip #4: Create in me a clean heart, O God. Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Oh give me back my joy again; you have broken me – now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt.

Dip #5: Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.

Dip #6: Create in me a clean heart, O God. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and make me willing to obey you.

Dip #7: Create in me a clean heart, O God. You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repent heart, O God.

“Go in peace,” Elisha said. So Naaman started home again. – 2 Kings 5:19

How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
Don’t let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. – Psalm 19:12-14

Today we are celebrating the freedom we are experiencing in the United States of America because of the sacrifice of those who gave their lives on and off the battlefield. How fitting that our journey through the Old Testament would take us to a passage that celebrates the freedom we experience when we allow God to cleanse and purify us from our sin. Because of the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for our sins, we can experience freedom from the old ways of our sinful nature, allowing God to restore to us the joy of our salvation!

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Blot out the stains of my sins and be glorified by your righteousness at work in my life! Wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Amen.

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 20:31-37

Jehoshaphat was a good king, following the ways of his father, Asa. He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. During his reign, however, he failed to remove all the pagan shrines, and the people never fully committed themselves to follow the God of their ancestors. – 2 Chronicles 20:32-33

Jehoshaphat had seasons of leading the people of Judah in the worship of the Lord Almighty, but he remained soft in areas that God had clearly defined as sin. He was permissive in allowing the people to do what they wanted to do — to worship false gods. And since the king was not fully obedient to God’s instructions, the people never fully devoted themselves to God. The weakness of his stance against sin left the door open for God’s people to focus their lives on what THEY wanted to do rather than on how God required them to live, and soon he, too, was pursuing a life apart from God’s plan.

WEAKENING OUR STANCE AGAINST SIN CAN LEAD TO THE PURSUIT OF A LIFE APART FROM GOD.

Some time later King Jehoshaphat of Judah made an alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel, who was very wicked. Together they built a fleet of trading ships at the port of Ezion-geber. Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu from Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat. He said, “Because you have allied yourself with King Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy your work.” So the ships met with disaster and never put out to sea. – 2 Chronicles 20:35-37

He frustrates the plans of schemers so the work of their hands will not succeed. He traps the wise in their own cleverness so their cunning schemes are thwarted. — Job 5:12-13

Stepping outside of God’s plan is never a good idea; living to please ourselves instead of pleasing God is defiance. We serve a God of mercy, but that does not mean He is permissive; we serve a God of grace, but that is not the same as tolerance. We may desire to be a merciful people to those who are living in sin, but we can show God’s mercy without redefining what is right and what is wrong.

TO REDEFINE SIN IS NOT MERCY; TO WEAKEN OUR STANCE IS NOT COMPASSION.

Mercy is defined as compassion and forgiveness, but it should not lead to the acceptance of a view that is contrary to what is biblical. We can have pity on those who are hurting without celebrating their sin. In love, we should guide others onto the path God has for them; in love, we should encourage others to fully surrender themselves to God.

We serve a good God! He loves us and wants what is best for us. He is a righteous God and He clothes us in His righteousness for our own happiness and for His glory. The boundaries He has created are for our own benefit and evidence of His unfailing love for us. His mercy rescues us from our sin; it does not create an allowance for sin.

How kind the Lord is! How good he is!
So merciful, this God of ours!…
What can I offer the Lord
for all he has done for me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation
and praise the Lord’s name for saving me.
I will keep my promises to the Lord
in the presence of all his people. – Psalm 116:5,12-14

Lord, how great is your mercy; let me be revived by following your regulations. – Psalm 119:156

People who conceal their sins will not prosper,
but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. – Proverbs 28:13

Seek the Lord while you can find him.
Call on him now while he is near.
Let the wicked change their ways
and banish the very thought of doing wrong.
Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them.
Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. – Isaiah 55:6-9

Sing a new song of praise to him;
play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy.
For the word of the Lord holds true,
and we can trust everything he does.
He loves whatever is just and good;
the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth. – Psalm 33:3-5

GOD’S MERCY RESCUES US FROM OUR SIN; IT DOES NOT CREATE AN ALLOWANCE FOR SIN.

Lord, give us a heart that reflects your heart. Teach us what it means to be merciful. Give us the courage to speak truth without becoming judgemental; give us a heart of compassion that seeks to draw others towards you. May your unfailing love be reflected in the way we treat others. Give us ears that are willing to listen to the lost, eyes that see opportunities to serve you by serving others, and wisdom to always speak truth in love.

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 20:1-30, Psalm 58

Everything was going well for King Jehoshaphat and the people of Israel until the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites declared war on them. When Jehoshaphat found out that a large army was marching towards them, he was terrified. He knew that they needed God’s protection in order to survive this battle, and he knew he needed God’s guidance in order to lead his people through this difficult time. He called on the people to fast and seek the Lord’s help, and that is what they did. As the people gathered in front of the Temple, Jehoshaphat led out in prayer.

CALLING ON GOD FOR HELP

“O Lord, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you! O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? Your people settled here and built this Temple to honor your name. They said, ‘Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war, plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.’” – 2 Chronicles 20:6-9

God had rescued His people over and over again. He was powerful enough to do it before and the people had confidence He could do it again. They knew they could stand in God’s presence, cry out to Him, and be heard. They knew their God would rescue them. What a beautiful example of faith in action. God’s people knew they were powerless against the strength of the army pursuing them. They did not know how to win the battle on their own, but they did know who to look to for help. They gathered together and prayed. The Spirit of the Lord came upon a man named Jahaziel, giving him a message for the people:

“Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel. But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!” — 2 Chronicles 20:15-17

DO NOT BE AFRAID. DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED. THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS, BUT GOD’S.

The king’s response to God’s promise was to bow low to the ground and worship God. The people followed his example and did the same. Then the Levites stood and began praising the Lord with loud shouts. The next morning, King Jehoshaphat encouraged God’s people to once again believe in God — to stand firm in their faith. He appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, praising God as they walked toward the valley.

“Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever!” – 2 Chronicles 20:21b

At the exact moment the people began to sing and praise the Lord, God caused their enemy to start fighting each other. When the army of Judah arrived on the battlefield, they found that the battle was already over. There were dead bodies as far as they could see. Not one of their enemies had escaped!

They gathered together the plunder strewn across the battlefield and named that place the Valley of Blessing. God had given them victory over their enemies and they were overflowing with joy. They marched into Jerusalem and headed to the Temple of the Lord. And God gave the people of Judah a season of peace — “rest on every side” (20:30).

YOU WILL NOT EVEN NEED TO FIGHT. TAKE YOUR POSITIONS, THEN STAND STILL AND WATCH THE LORD’S VICTORY.

In 2022, pregnancy centers across America responded to threats from those upset by the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, a federal ruling legalizing abortion in 1973. These domestic terrorist groups declared war against every organization that stands for life. They threatened, “If abortion isn’t safe for women, then neither are you.” They vandalized pregnancy centers across the nation, many of which were set on fire. While most of America celebrated this decision, the anger and threats of radical groups intensified.

Pregnancy help organizations across this nation continue to call upon their faith communities to join them in praying for God’s hand of protection against those who desire to shut them down. God’s people are faithful to pray and the Lord has been faithful to respond. We have taken our pro-life positions, stood firm in our calling to help those facing pregnancy decisions, and watched the Lord’s victory over our enemies. And now we are praising God and asking Him for “rest on every side” — our faith is stronger and the need for our services is bigger than ever! We serve a big God and this battle is not ours, it is His!

The godly will rejoice when they see injustice avenged…
Then at last everyone will say,
“There truly is a reward for those who live for God;
surely there is a God who judges justly here on earth.” – Psalm 58:10-11

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 19, Psalm 93

In the battle against the Arameans, King Ahab had bled to death while King Jehoshaphat returned safely to Judah. King Ahab had led the people of Israel with a sinful heart, and God had declared that he would die. And the king had time to consider his choices as he sat propped up in his chariot, slowly dying while he watched his enemies. But Jehoshaphat was given another opportunity to please the Lord through his leadership.

There was a man named Jehu who was known to be a seer — who could see situations and people through spiritual eyes. He confronted Jehoshaphat regarding his love for those who hate the Lord, but he also affirmed the action Jehoshaphat had made to remove the Asherah poles. Jehoshaphat was sincerely committed to seeking God, and God would use his leadership to draw the people of Judah back to Him.

Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, but he went out among the people, traveling from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, encouraging the people to return to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. He appointed judges throughout the nation in all the fortified towns, and he said to them, “Always think carefully before pronouncing judgment. Remember that you do not judge to please people but to please the Lord. He will be with you when you render the verdict in each case. Fear the Lord and judge with integrity, for the Lord our God does not tolerate perverted justice, partiality, or the taking of bribes.” – 2 Chronicles 19:4-7

LEAD WITH INTEGRITY

Leadership is a big responsibility and it was important to Jehoshaphat that those who were given the authority to pronounce judgment would do so with integrity and wisdom. The judges could not be swayed by the demands of the people or influenced by popularity. These judges need to operate to please only the Lord. Then Jehoshaphat appointed priests to become judges that specialized in the matters of the church.

“You must always act in the fear of the Lord, with faithfulness and an undivided heart. Whenever a case comes to you from fellow citizens in an outlying town, whether a murder case or some other violation of God’s laws, commands, decrees, or regulations, you must warn them not to sin against the Lord, so that he will not be angry with you and them. Do this and you will not be guilty. – 2 Chronicles 19:9b-10

LEAD WITH AN UNDIVIDED HEART

Jehoshaphat was calling the leaders of Judah to be faithful to the Lord, living out their calling with loyalty to God alone. God would use these leaders to warn His people against what God had defined as sin. If they chose not to speak out against sinful behaviors, they would be found guilty of sinning against the God who had appointed them to a place of leadership.

“Take courage as you fulfill your duties, and may the Lord be with those who do what is right.” – 2 Chronicles 19:11b

LEAD WITH COURAGE

The instructions Jehoshaphat gave to those who had been placed in key leadership roles apply to us today. It is an honor to be chosen by God to have a voice among His people, but that voice needs to be consistent with the heart of God — the God who instructs us on what is good and what is evil. To soften the standards set by God is defined by God as sin (2 Chronicles 19:10).

Your royal laws cannot be changed.
Your reign, O Lord, is holy forever and ever. – Psalm 93:5

Father God, give us spiritual eyes to see your perspective on what is going on in the world around us. Give us a voice that reflects your heart, leading with courage and integrity. May our hearts be undivided — loyal to you and obedient to your instructions. May we never lead from our own wisdom, but daily seek wisdom from you. Help us to lead with the love of Christ, while not allowing our compassion on others to redefine the life you have called us to live. May we be known for our integrity, faithfulness and courage, while still being known for our respect, compassion and love. Amen.

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 1-4; Psalm 86

Elijah knew God was about to take him to heaven and so he said to his assistant Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.” Without hesitation, Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double portion of your spirit and become your successor” (2 Kings 2:9). In other words, I WANT WHAT YOU HAVE!

God saw the desire of Elisha’s heart. He saw that this request was not for his own glory or to boost his own pride, but that he wanted to live the kind of life that would make an impact on those around him. He felt God calling him and was praying for God to richly equip him for his calling. His prayer was very similar to the prayer of King Solomon, asking God to give him wisdom to fulfill God’s purpose in his life. Elisha had been watching God work in a mighty way through Elijah and he desired for God to use him in the same way. And that is exactly what God did.

ELISHA ASKED FOR A DOUBLE PORTION OF THE SPIRIT AND WAS ABLE TO DO MIRACULOUS THINGS.

Just as Elijah had done, Elisha was able to part the waters of the Jordan River by striking it and to walk across on dry land (2 Kings 2:14).

Elisha came to the city of Jericho, whose unclean water source was causing death and infertility. The impact on the soil was causing the land to be unproductive, which was affecting their food supply. Elisha placed salt in the water supply and healed the water, breathing new life into the town (2 Kings 2:19-21).

By having a double portion of the Spirit, Elisha was able to enter God’s presence and hear from God. God spoke through Elisha telling the kings that He would provide water for their men and animals, as well as victory over their enemy (2 Kings 3:15-18).

There was a widow of one of the prophets whose sons were about to be sold as slaves in order to repay her debt. Elisha was able to take the only thing she had left, a flask of olive oil, and make it a source of income for her. Using the small flask, they were able to fill every available jar in the village with olive oil. By doing this, God provided for the widow and her two sons (2 Kings 4:1-7).

Elisha wanted to thank a woman who had been kind to him by providing him with a place to stay. He inquired as to what she needed and found out that she did not have a son. Elisha prophesied, “Next year at this time you will be holding a son in your arms,” and that is exactly what happened (2 Kings 4:8-17). When that same boy died and his mother grieved heavily, Elisha was able to stretch himself out across the child and bring him back to life (2 Kings 4:18-35).

When poisonous fruit was mistakenly added to a stew being prepared for the prophets during a time of famine, Elisha was able to add flour to the stew and heal it so that the group would have something to eat (2 Kings 4:38-41).

During this same time of famine, Elisha was able to bless a sack of bread and have it feed a large group of people with food leftover. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? (2 Kings 4:42-44)

SO WHY DON’T WE ASK GOD FOR A DOUBLE PORTION OF HIS SPIRIT?

What stops us from asking God for a double portion of His Spirit so that God can use us in a mighty way in the lives of those around us? With the Spirit in our lives, dry ground can be walked upon, water can be healed, God can be heard, needs can be provided, wombs can be filled, the dead can be raised, the hungry can be fed, the sick can be healed, the lost can be found, and enemies can be defeated.

If we are not living that kind of life, perhaps it is because we have not asked God to do those kinds of miracles around us. Perhaps we are not living the kind of faith that expects God to move mightily ahead of us. Or perhaps our prayer needs to start by asking God to change the desires of our heart — to send His Spirit to create in us a desire to do what God desires to do today.

I WANT WHAT YOU HAVE!

Heavenly Father, may I have a double portion please? May I have more of your Spirit than I have ever had before. I want to do more than just survive my week; I want to be used by God in a powerful way through the infilling of His Spirit. Dear God, I WANT ALL YOU HAVE TO GIVE ME! Lord, I give you my heart and ask for you to make it beat in unison with yours.

You are my God…
I give myself to you…
You are great and perform wonderful deeds.
You alone are God.
Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth!
Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you.
With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.
I will give glory to your name forever,
for your love for me is great. – Psalm 86:2,4,10-13a

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 22, 2 Chronicles 18, Psalm 133

How wonderful and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in harmony! – Psalm 133:1

There was peace between Aram and Israel for the next three years. During a friendly visit of the two leaders, King Ahab of Israel pointed out to King Jehosophat of Judah that the town of Ramoth-gilead belonged to the Jews.

Then he turned to Jehoshaphat and asked, “Will you join me in battle to recover Ramoth-gilead?”
Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “Why, of course! You and I are as one. My troops are your troops, and my horses are your horses.” Then Jehoshaphat added, “But first let’s find out what the Lord says.” – 1 Kings 22:1-5

SEEKING TO DISCERN THE TRUTH OF GOD

What a great idea! Checking to see what God wants us to do is always a good place to start. King Ahab went to 400 of his prophets and asked them to tell him if he should start a war against Ramoth-gilead or not. They assured him that the Lord would give him victory. But King Jehoshaphat recognized that these prophets were speaking independently of God, so he asked if there was a prophet of the Lord that they could seek advice from.

King Ahab hated Micaiah son of Imlah, but he called for him to appear before him, just as Jehoshaphat had requested. All of Ahab’s prophets were promising the kings that they would be victorious, because that is what Ahab wanted to hear. But Micaiah was a man of God, and he refused to listen to anyone but the Lord.

Meanwhile, the messenger who went to get Micaiah said to him, “Look, all the prophets are promising victory for the king. Be sure that you agree with them and promise success.”
But Micaiah replied, “As surely as the Lord lives, I will say only what the Lord tells me to say.” – 1 Kings 22:13-14

COMMITTED TO SPEAKING ONLY TRUTH

Micaiah went on to explain that God had caused a lying spirit to deceive the prophets of Ahab — to tell Ahab to go into battle so that he would be killed. Ahab was angry and threw Micaiah into prison for not telling him what he wanted to hear. He put on a disguise so that he would not be recognized in battle, for the king of Aram had commanded his army not to kill anyone but the king of Israel.

An Aramean soldier, however, randomly shot an arrow at the Israelite troops and hit the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. “Turn the horses and get me out of here!” Ahab groaned to the driver of his chariot. “I’m badly wounded!” – 1 Kings 22:34

How often do we succumb to the pressure to say what someone else wants to hear? We take the easy way out instead of speaking the truth that the Lord has made clear in scripture. It is not always popular to stand strong for what God has declared as truth, but there is death ahead for those who reject God’s ways. Speaking anything less than God’s truth may seem like the compassionate thing to do, but it does not change what God has commanded.

WE MUST SAY WHAT GOD HAS INSTRUCTED US TO SAY, EVEN IF IT PROVOKES ANGER OR HATE.

“Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies.” – John 7:18

Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. – Ephesians 4:14-16

SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE

Father God, may we stand firm in what you have taught us. May we speak the truth of God in love, even when it is less than popular with those around us. Fill us with your Spirit and guide us as we respond to the chaos of the world we live in. Help us distinguish between the lies that cause fear and the truth that brings peace. May we courageously be the voice of truth that the world so desperately needs to hear. Amen.