183 - Faithful before the Lord his God

Chareen's Thoughts

• Hezekiah and the people sing a psalm at the festival about the Lord.
• Hezekiah and the people destroyed all the high places, poles and altars through out the land.  First king in a long time who has done this.
• He brought about many reforms and called the people to follow the statutes of Moses.  
• Hezekiah did this throughout all Judah, and he did what was good, right, and faithful before the Lord his God.  And every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in keeping with the law and the commandments to seek his God [inquiring of and yearning for Him], he did with all his heart, and he prospered. 2 Chronicles 31:20-21.
•  The Lord hears the cry of Israel and sends a word via Micah.
• He addresses and denounces Israel's leaders, their wickedness, the conspiracy in the palace and their place among the nations.

And every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in keeping with the law and the commandments to seek his God [inquiring of and yearning for Him], he did with all his heart, and he prospered. 2 Chronicles 31:20-21.

blessings
Chareen

172 - So much more with His Spirit

The Miracle at the Grave of Elisha by Jan Nagel 1602

Chareen's Thoughts

• Jehoash visited Elisha on his death bed.  Elisha tells him to shoot the arrow of deliverance.  
• Elisha died and was buried. Once a man was thrown into Elisha's tomb and when he touched Elisha's bones the man revived and stood up.
• But he did not slay their children; he did as it is written in the Law, in the Book of Moses, where the Lord commanded, The fathers shall not die for the children, or the children die for the fathers; but every man shall die for his own sin. 2 Chronicles 25:4
• More good and bad kings for Israel and Judah. History repeating itself. Jehoahaz, Hazael, Amaziah, Uzziah(Azariah), Jeroboam,

Amazing to think that the power of God was so strong upon Elisha that even after his death people were raised from the death.  How much more do we have being anointed with the Holy Spirit?  And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you. Romans 8:11

Blessings
Chareen

170 - Joash's godly reigns

Source

Kathleen's thoughts.

2 Kings 11: 17-20 2 Chronicles 23: 16-21 Revival under Jehoiada

2 Chronicles 24: 3 Jehoiada acquired two wives for him, and he was the father of sons and daughters

2 Kings 10: 34-36 Jehu's death  Jehu rested with his fathers, and he was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz became king in his place. Jehu reigned over Israel for 28 years.

2 Chronicles 24: 4-7, 2 Kings 12: 4-8 Faithless priests. Joash took it to heart to renovate the Lords temple and told the priests what to do by collecting money from all Israel to repair the temple of your God as need year by year, and do it quickly. However the Levites did not hurry. The King asked Jehoiada the high priest and he said. But by the 23rd year of the reign of King Joash the priest had not repaired the damage to the temple. In the end they decided not to take money from the people and would not repair the temple's damage.

2 Kings 13: 1-2 Jehoahaz In the twenty-third year of Judah's King Joash son of Ahaziah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king over Israel in Samaria He reigned 17years. He did what was evil in the Lord's eyes. and followed the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.

2 Kings 13: 3-7, 22 Hazael king of Aram oppressed Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz.

2 Kings 12: 9-16 2 Chronicles 24: 8-14 Joash repairs the Temple.

Joel 1: 1-20 Plague of insects. Destroys the land and famine prevails.




God is telling us to wake up and take note of what is going on around you. Watch what the locusts are doing to our land and families today.  The day and the hour is drawing near make sure you ready for the bridegroom your oil lamps are burning and don't run out of oil for them.

Blessings
Kathleen.

170 - The Temple Repaired

King Joash repairs the temple.
Source

Chareen's Thoughts

• Jehoiada was the priest in Jerusalem.  He made a covenant between the LORD, the king and the people.  At this the people tore down the temples of Baal and killed the priests of Baal.  
• King Joash was seven years old when he became the king and he did what was right in the LORD's sight throughout the time of Jehoiada instructed him.
• Joash instructed the priests to collect the taxes instructed by Moses to maintain and repair the temple.  The priests however did not do it so he called Jehoiada in and enquired why it was not done.
• Jehoahaz became king of Israel and did evil before the Lord who handed him over to Hazael king of Aram. They were oppressed and Jehoahaz saught the Lord who then released them from their oppression.
• By the 23 year of King Joash's reign the priests still had not repaired the temple so Joash took the responsibility and repaired it.  He placed a box at the altar to collect money for it's repair and used that to pay for it.
• Moreover, they did not require an accounting from the men into whose hands they delivered the money to be paid to the workmen, for they dealt faithfully. 2 Kings 12:15 can you imagine that in today's society ?
• Once the repairs were complete the money left over was used to make articles for the LORD's temple. Articles required to make offerings.
• Today we are introduced to the book of Joel.  His opening words are about a plague of locusts.

I was astonished to read that the priests of the land were given the instruction to fix the temple and for 23 years did nothing.  It took the king's hand to make it happen.  I was also impressed with the fact that no accounting was needed because the men worked in integrity.
This made me think about my own personal integrity and do I walk in it ?

Joash placed a collection box near the altar.  The end of today's reading refers to this verse which I somehow missed in my earlier readings. Deuteronomy 16:16-17   16 ... They shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed: 17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you.
I know this verse is speaking about the males appearing before the Lord but as I read it I was struck about the principle behind this.  What are your thougths.
Blessings
Chareen

169 - The Priest Instructed Him

Joash

Chareen's Thoughts

• Ahab had 70 sons in Samaria.  Jehu demanded all 70 killed.
• Through deception Jehu gathered together all the servants of Baal and had them killed at Baal's temple.
• And the Lord said to Jehu, Because you have executed well what is right in My eyes and have done to the house of Ahab as I willed, your sons to the fourth generation shall sit on Israel’s throne. 2 Kings 10:30 [Fulfilled in II Kings 15:12.]
• Joash became King and Athaliah is executed.
• But Jehu paid no attention to walking in the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not quit the sins with which Jeroboam made Israel to sin. 32 [So] in those days the Lord began to cut off parts of Israel. Hazael [of Syria] defeated them in all the [across the Jordan] territory of Israel 2 Kings 10:31-33
• In the seventh year of Jehu, [a]Joash began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 Joash did right in the sight of the Lord all his days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 3 Yet the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places. 2 Kings 12:1-3

I was encouraged in today's reading about the Lord's blessing to the FOURTH generation and the second thing that stood out to me today was: Joash did right while the priest instructed him.  I learned that we always need to surround ourselves with godly council.

blessings
Chareen

168 - Prophesy always fulfilled

The Death of Jezebel

Chareen's Thoughts

• Elisha instructs one of the sons of the prophets to find Jehu who is a descendant of Jehoshaphat and anoint him King of Israel in private.
• Jehu then slayed Joram. When Joram saw Jehu, he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, How can peace exist as long as the fornications of your mother Jezebel and her witch crafts are so many? 2 Kings 9:22 And when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, he met the princes of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah’s slain brothers, who attended Ahaziah, and he slew them. 2 Chronicles22:8
•  Jezebel is thrown from a window and dies.  The Lords word is fulfilled concerning her death and body.

 Today's reading showed me the Lord always fulfills His word and He is always searching the land for someone who loves Him.

Blessings
Chareen

167 - Those with us are more than those with Them.

Kingdoms of Israel and Judah

Chareen's Thoughts

• Today's reading starts with the siege of Samaria. 
• [Elisha] answered, Fear not; for those with us are more than those with them. Then Elisha prayed, Lord, I pray You, open his eyes that he may see. And the Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. 2 Kings 6:16-17
• Samaria continued to be under siege.  The famin became so severe that families were eating their own children!
• Elisha sends word that the Lord will end the siege but because of the Captain of the Gaurds unbelief he wont eat of the abundance.
• The siege ended.
• Kings come and kings go.  We read of more kings dying and new kings who are evil and so the same old things repeat themselves. Ben-hadad dies, Ahaziah is evil and Hazel murders to take the throne.

  

[Elisha] answered, Fear not; for those with us are more than those with them ... 2 Kings 6:16-17 

I often forget that He is for me it's time to stop looking at my circumstances and trust Him

Blessings
Chareen

166 - Elisha's miracles

Elisha Refusing Gifts from Naaman.

Kathleen's thoughts

2 Kings 4: 38-44 Elisha's other miracles...A man from Baal-shalishah came to the man of God with a sack full of 20 loves of barley bread from the first bread of harvest. Elisah tells his attendant For this is what the Lord says' They will eat and they will have some left over. It reminds me of Jesus feeding the multitude and there too was left over.


Obadiah 1: 15-21 Condemnation of nations and future kingdom.

2 Kings 8: 20-22 2 Chronicles 21; 8-10 Revolt of Edom and Libnah.

2 chronicles 21: 12-20 2 Kings 8: 23-24 Elijah's prophecy and Jehoram's death... Jehoram was 32 years old when he became king; he reigned for 8 years in Jerusalem He died to no one's regret and was buried in the city of David but not in the tombs of the kings.

2 Kings 5:1- 27 Healing of Naaman. Naaman a commander of the army for the king of Aram. He was a great man in his masters sight and highly regarded and because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He had a skin disease the servant of his wife told her about Elisha and to send him there for healing. This Naaman did but when he arrived he was told by a messenger to go and wash himself in the river Jordon 7 times and your flesh will be restored and become clean. Naaman became angry and could see no sense in doing this as he could just as well washed himself in the rivers near him instead of just coming down to the Jordon. But his servants told him that if the prophet had told him to do some great thing would he have done it? So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times and was healed. So Naaman and his whole company went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, I know there's no God in the whole world except in Israel Therefore please accept a gift from your servant. But Elisha refused the gift.
He left but Gehazi' the attendant of Elisha thought has let this Aramean Naaman off lightly by not accepting the gift so he decided to go after Naaman but lied to Naaman by saying It's all right My master has sent me to say, I have just now discovered that two young from the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim Please give them 75 pounds of silver and two changes of clothes but Naaman insisted Please accept 150 pounds and Gehazi too this but on his return Elisha said to Gehazi "wasn't my spirit there when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? so Naaman skin disease fell on Gehazi and so he went out from Elisha's presence diseased white as snow.

2 Kings 6: 1-7 The recovery of the Axe.

I just love the miracles here in the Old Testament and it remind's us so of the New Testament in the life of Jesus' ministry. 


Blessings 
Kathleen.

166 - Obedience an act of humility

Elisha Multiplies the Bread

Chareen's Thoughts

• Elisha preformed a few miracles among the people.  Reading them made me think of Jesus and his miracles.  One of them is when 20 loaves of bread are multiplied to feed a 100 men.
• Elisha prophesied that Jehoram would die and all his things and wives would be taken as a consequence of his sin.Thirty-two years old was Jehoram when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being wanted. Yet they buried him in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.2 Chronicles 21:20  
• Naaman was a commander in the army of Aram and highly respected. Today we read about his journey to healing from a skin disease.  It was a simple instruction yet for Naaman a difficult action.   Once Naaman humbled himself he was healed.
• Elisha refused Naaman's thank gift but Gehazi his servant thought to himself I will go and get something.  So he went after Naaman and asked for the gift. As a consequence he was cursed with Naaman's disease.
• The sons of the prophets went out to the river to chop down trees and one looses an ax head in the river.  Elisha threw a stick on the water and the iron ax head floated.

Our healing (emotional, physical, spiritual) is dependent on the simplest acts of obedience and yet we don't do it because of our pride. Let us learn from the life of Naaman and his healing.

Blessings
Chareen

165 - A son restored.

Elisha raising the Shunammites Son

Chareen's Thoughts

• Moab went to war with Israel and the King of Moab offered his son as a sacrifice on the wall of his city during the war.  
• A widow approaches Elisha because her husband has died and she has no income to pay back her creditors.  Elisha instructs her to borrow containers and pour oil into them all. Once they were all full the supply stopped.  He instructed her to sell the oil and pay her creditors.
• The was a woman in Shunem who persuaded Elisha to stop and eat at her home.  From then on whenever he went by he would stop to eat.  She spoke to her husband to add onto their home to accomodate Elisha and his servant.  One day Elisha wanted to repay her kindness but she said there was nothing she needed.  His servant noticed she had no children.  Elisha prophesied a blessing upon her womb of a son within the year.  It came to be.
• The child grew and one day became ill and died. She then went to look for Elisha.  Elisha sent his servant ahead of him to check on the boy. Upon hearing the boy was dead Elisha went in and prayed.  The Lord restored the Shunammites son to her.
• Elisha then advised her to take her family and live in a foreign land because the LORD had announced a seven year famine.  They did as Elisha told them.
• Jehoshaphat died and was buried in the city of David.  His son Jehoram became king. Sadly he killed all his brothers to establish himself.
• He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab, for [Athaliah] the daughter of Ahab was his wife. He did evil in the sight of the Lord. 2 Kings 8:18
• The Lord did not destroy him because of the covenant He had with David.  Jehoram led Judah astray and built high places.
• Edom is judged and condemned.

Blessings
Chareen

164- Elisha's ministry begins.

Kathleen's thoughts

2 kings 1: 3-15 Elijah the Tishbite calls down fire 2 times and the third captain of 50 with his 50 men fell on his knees in front of Elijah and begged him, "Man of God, please let my life and the lives of these 50 servants of yours be precious in your sight. And the angel of the Lord said that he must not be afraid of them and he went down with him to the king.

2 Kings 1: 16-18 Ahaziah's death according to the word of the Lord that Elijah had spoken.

Elisha's ministry 868-808bc.

2 Kings 3: 1-3 Joram son of Ahab became king over Israel He too did what was evil in the Lord's sight.

2 Kings 2: 1-8
Elijah divides the Jordon...The time has come for Elijah to go home.
Elijah and Elisha were traveling  from Gilgal and Elijah said to Elisha "Stay her, the Lord is sending me on to Bethel. But Elisha said "As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you" This happened twice more the places were Jericho and then Jordon and each time Elisha was told to stay, he would not.The prophets also told Elisha "Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?"
Fifty men from the sons of the prophets came and stood facing them from a distance while the two of them stood by the Jordan.

Elijah took his mantle rolled it up, and struck the waters, which parted to the right and the left. Then the two of them crossed over on dry ground. Elijah asked Elisha what I can do for  you before I am taken from you? So Elisha answered, Please let me be a double portion of your spirit on me. It will be granted to you if you see me going up into the heavens. They continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire with horses of fire suddenly appeared and separated the two of them. The Elijah went up into the heaven in the whirlwind. As Elisha watched, he kept crying out "My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel"

2 Kings 2: 13-18 Elisha gains the mantle that had fallen off Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the mantle and struck the Jordon after saying Where is the Lord God of Elijah? The waters parted and he walked over to the other side.

2 Kings 2: 19-22 The miracle of fresh water
2 Kings 2: 23-25 Children destroyed
2 Kings 3: 6-9 Jehoshaphat joins Joram
2 Kings 3: 10-20 Elisha's promise... Elisha As the Lord of Hosts lives, I stand before Him. If I did not have respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah I  would not look at you; I wouldn't take notice of you but bring me a musician. The musician played and the Lord's hand came on Elisha. Then he said "For the Lord says, You will not see wind or rain, but the wadi will be filled with water, and you will drink 0 you and your cattle and your animals. This is easy in the Lord's sight He will also hand Moab over to you. You must ruin every good piece of land with stones.
About the time for the grain offering the next morning. water suddenly came from the direction of Edom and filled the land.

I enjoyed today's reading with all the miracles that happened. Healing the water supplying the water protecting them and sending fire. 
I think it must have been the most breath taking sight to see Elijah being taken up into the heavens in the chariot. That sound of the wind and the whirlpool. I love the way everything is recorded to perfection and that God wants us to know he is a God of order and he loves us and wants the best for us.

BL\lessings
Kathleen.

164 - A Double Portion

Elijah carried away into heaven

Chareen's Thoughts

• Today's readings mark the beginning of 2 Kings.
• Elijah calls down holy fire which consumes two army officers and their platoon's of 50 men each. When the third man approaches him humbly the Lord releases him to go to the king with his message.  The king dies according to the word of the Lord.
• From here Elisha demonstrates his commitment.  He stays with Elijah and goes with him asking for a blessing as Elijah is taken to heaven.
• And when they had gone over, Elijah said to Elisha, Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you. And Elisha said, I pray you, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me. 2 Kings 2:9
• The Lord granted Elisha his request and Elijah's mantle was passed on to him.
• King Joram and King Jehoshaphat join forces against Moab.  Jehoshaphat then enquires of the Lord through Elisha. The Lord instructs the kings on what to do.

 How much more of a blessing do we live under being the children of God ?

Blessings
Chareen