June 7th

It's remarkable how many of the miracles that Elisha performed are similar to Christ's miracles.

June 6th

Jehoshaphat was a noble king.  He made real reforms and wanted his people to worship God.  What would it be like if we had leaders like that?

June 5th

I was impressed that even though Ahab was so evil, when he repented and asked for mercy God pulled back his punishment.  God is merciful.  God is long sufferring.  God wishes no man to be lost, but wants all men to come to repentance.  Even still Ahab returned to his sin later.  WE often spit on the grace that we receive. 

June 4th

Jehoshaphat was really a great king.  I like that he sent a teaching "squad" to all of the towns in Judah to make sure that they understood that Law.  It just makes sense and I am sure that the Lord was honored by it. 

I really love the story of Elijah.  I love how the Lord took care of him with the ravens and the widow.  I really enjoy how he taunted the prophets of Baal and then how the Lord showed His power by sending fire on the sacrifice.  Then Jezebel pledged to kill Elijah.  Where was her fear of the Lord?  That's amazing.  But Elijah took the threats to heart and was really scared.  Then the Lord showed Elijah His power to protect, but He scolded him for his lack of faith.  Elijah was inspiring to me.  He stood up for the Lord for the most part.  He wanted to people of Israel to be faithful.  I'm sure it hurt him to see his people worshipping idols and not the Lord.   How much of the blame goes to the kings and how much should go to the people themselves?  God reminds him later that he is not the only person faithful to God.

June 3rd

2 Chronicles 15
 ¹ The Spirit of God came on Azariah son of Oded. ² He went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.

This is a scripture that gives one hope.  If you seek the Lord, He will be found by you.  If you are with Him, He will be with you.  If we can only be true to the Lord.  Lord give us strength.

Later Asa begins to depend on his own strength and the strengths of other kings.  He is duly punished by the Lord.  He doesn't even ask the Lord to heal his malady.  It's hard to finish the race.

June 2nd

It breaks my heart to see Rehoboam and the people following after other gods.  How foolish.  What a slap in the face to God.  How He must have hated that and been hurt by that.  I should be careful that I also don't do things that insult the Lord.

June 1st

     This passage says a lot about the advice that one follows.  Old folks often have much better advice to give than the young.  Ask them and they'll tell you!   On the other hand, Rehoboam takes the wrong path, because of God's will.  I first also noted that Rehoboam's mother was an Ammonite (enemy of the people of Israel).  What on earth was Solomon thinking marrying all of these foreign women?
      Jeroboam had a wonderful opportunity to walk in God's ways and be so blessed, but he built a couple of golden calves for political reasons and said, "Israel, here are your gods!"   How foolish!   Lord, help us to take the opportunities to serve you that you put before us.