Vanity of Vanities! All Is Vanity1
In the book of Ecclesiastes, or The Preacher, Solomon has left us his own biography. It is the life of a seeker after pleasure, the history of Solomon the prodigal, written by Solomon the preacher. In this first chapter, he gives us the introduction and the theme of its sad contents. It has well been called the saddest book in all the Bible.
Ecclesiastes 1:1-15
1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
This is Solomon speaking as the wise man, but we would love it better to hear the voice of Solomon the saint, who said, “Your love is better than wine.”2 “He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.”3 How dark are the forbidden ways! How sweet are the roads of holy fellowship!
3 What does man gain by all the toil
at which he toils under the sun?
4 A generation goes, and a generation comes,
but the earth remains forever.
5 The sun rises, and the sun goes down,
and hastens to the place where it rises.
6 The wind blows to the south
and goes around to the north;
around and around goes the wind,
and on its circuits the wind returns.
7 All streams run to the sea,
but the sea is not full;
to the place where the streams flow,
there they flow again.
8 All things are full of weariness;
a man cannot utter it;
the eye is not satisfied with seeing,
nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 What has been is what will be,
and what has been done is what will be done,
and there is nothing new under the sun.
10 Is there a thing of which it is said,
“See, this is new”?
It has been already
in the ages before us.
11 There is no remembrance of former things,
nor will there be any remembrance
of later things yet to be
among those who come after.
“As much as if he said, ‘It is all a weary-go-round.’ This system of things is an everlasting self-repetition and it is quite sickening. One generation goes, another comes. The sun rises, and the sun goes down. That was what the sun did yesterday, and what I expect it will do tomorrow. The wind blows north, and the wind blows south; and this is all it has been doing for these thousands of years. The rivers run into the sea, and it would be some relief to find that sea growing fuller; to spot the clear waters wetting the dry pebbles on the seashore, and reaching up to the green fields, and floating the boats and fishes up in the forest. But we are denied even that inconvenient novelty, because even after many streams and rivers have tumbled worlds of water into the sea, its tide will not overstep its boundary. The flood rises, but still refuses to cross its border.
“Words themselves are weariness. It would tire us to list their endless variations and their busy similarities that make up this endless weariness of existence. There are no novelties, no wonders, no discoveries. This universe does not provide an eye full or an arm full of newness to we who inhabit it. The present only repeats the past; the future will repeat them both. The inventions of today are the forgotten arts of yesterday; our children will forget our wisdom, only to have the pleasure of fishing up, as new geniuses, our outdated truisms. There is no new thing under the sun and yet no peace.
“Never ending responsibilities and momentary pleasures, the same atoms with minor alterations, sameness and yet constant change, make up this boring assortment. Woe is me for this weary world!”4
12I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. (Solomon began his search by looking for supreme delight in knowledge, but his quest was useless. Had he used his efforts to know Christ, he would have found that knowledge to be a fountain of delight.) It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 14I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
15 What is crooked cannot be made straight,
and what is lacking cannot be counted.
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1 Ecclesiastes 1:2
2 Song of Solomon 1:2
3 Song of Solomon 2:4
4 From the Royal Preacher: Lectures on Ecclesiastes by James Hamilton (1814-1867).
Year One, November 2
Seek First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness1
Solomon gives a description of the ways that he searched for the greatest pleasure, but without success. Everything seemed to be in his favor. He had a great mind and almost unlimited resources at his command. If Solomon could not find satisfaction when he had the whole world at his command, how much less can common people hope to find it with far less money and much more limited knowledge? There is no satisfaction apart from God.
Ecclesiastes 1:16-18
16I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” 17And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind. (He did not limit his research to serious subjects, but investigated all he could of the silly and insane things of human nature. Even if we assume that he gorged himself with the lighter as well as the heavier literature of his times, including the humorous side of life, the result was the same. The hunger of the soul was not satisfied with laughter any more than with hard study. It will always be that way. The library is not heaven. Neither are the amusements of the world a paradise.)
18 For in much wisdom is much vexation,
and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
1I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. 2I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” (In his mental madness, he tried one thing after another, from serious to carefree. From clearheaded thinking to wild excitement. But he did not find rest. How could he? True joy is found only in God.) 3I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. (But in wine there is madness and not happiness. Drunkards prove this.) 4I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. (He became preoccupied with building. But it only amused him until the works were finished. Then he was as dissatisfied as before. If he had built as high as Babel’s tower he would still not have reached heaven.)
5I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. 6I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. (But in all his gardens he could not grow the tree of life or the plant of content, and therefore he failed here also.) 7I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. 8I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man.
But in all his treasure houses and halls of music, he could not possess the pearl of great value2 or hear the song of sweet peace.3 The poorest person of faith in Solomon’s kingdom was far happier than he was. Alas, poor rich Solomon!
9So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. (But it only remained to make him feel more deeply the emptiness of earthly joys. His wisdom only served to make him feel the hollowness in his heart more intensely. The light from his learning only helped him to see more clearly the “darkness visible”4 in which he stumbled around.) 10And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. 11Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. (The little joy he felt in chasing after any one of his various desires vanished when he finally got hold of it. He became a worn out man; a man tired and bored, but unable to rest after getting what he thought would make him happy. He went round and round like a mill horse, harnessed to his work, but never getting beyond the weary circle of unrest. To know Jesus, to love God, to find satisfaction in heavenly things; this is wisdom. The foolishness of Solomon should force us to seek Jesus. May God allow that to be true about us.)
1 Matthew 6:33
2 Matthew 13:45-46 , “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”
3 Perhaps a reference to Luke 2:14, “and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
4 “No light; but rather darkness visible, served only to discover sights of woe.” From John Milton’s Hell in Paradise Lost.
Year One, November 3
In the Day of Adversity Consider1
Ecclesiastes 7:1-14
1 A good name is better than precious ointment,
and the day of death than the day of birth.
Almost everyone would like to have a good reputation. To be known as a righteous person is a good reason for choosing to live a life of integrity. And to have died as a martyr for the faith, or to have lived as a persecuted believer, or endured poverty rather than undermine Christian principles is a great blessing. To die being remembered for holiness and kindness means the difficult trials of life were worth it. To these, the day of death is the completing of a life of honor, the celebration of a life lived well.
2 It is better to go to the house of mourning
than to go to the house of feasting,
for this is the end of all mankind,
and the living will lay it to heart.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter,
for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
Experience has proven to all wise people that the trustworthy lessons they have learned in the house of mourning are more valuable, more strengthening, more comforting, and more joyous than the shallow, thoughtless activities of so many. People who live superficial and irresponsible lives are only wearing a mask to hide the sadness in their hearts. Their lives shined for an instant and then they were gone, leaving a deeper unhappiness behind. They are like thorns that blaze for a moment and leave only black spots where they once grew.
5 It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise
than to hear the song of fools.
6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot,
so is the laughter of the fools;
this also is vanity.
7 Surely oppression drives the wise into madness,
and a bribe corrupts the heart.
A bribe twists the judgment and kills the conscience.
8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning,
and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9 Be not quick in your spirit to become angry,
for anger lodges in the heart of fools.
The best person feels the occasional flash of anger, but bad people feed the flame. Their anger smolders long. It is ready to burst forth whenever the breath of memory fans it. To be angry and not sin2 is very difficult. May God give us grace to rule our temper, or it will be our ruin.
10 Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?”
For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.
Those who wish for “the good old days” should think before they speak. It is a great question whether things were ever better than at this present moment. Let us stop pointless complaining and try to make our present days better. And if we cannot improve them, let us leave them to God.
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance,
an advantage to those who see the sun.
People who have an inheritance and no wisdom are in a sad situation. With wealth comes great responsibilities, but they have no grace to measure up to them. The truest wealth is true religion. The richest person is the one who has God for their inheritance.3
12 For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money,
and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.
If we understand that the wisdom Solomon is talking about is true wisdom, which is real godliness, then his meaning becomes clear. There is no real life apart from faith in the Lord Jesus. Faith is our best protection in this life, as well as the greatest way to live.
13 Consider the work of God:
who can make straight what he has made crooked?
14In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.
Troubles and afflictions are part of this life. On this side of heaven there must be thorns with the roses and clouds with the sunshine. Wisdom acts correctly in all situations. We should bless the Lord when his mercies overflow and repent4 when he strikes us with the rod. The Lord does not intend that his Birds of Paradise should build their nests on any of the trees of this life’s forest. Therefore he sends his roughest winds to rock the branches back and forth so that his chosen may take wing and fly upward to the heavenly land where they may light on the tree of life and sing forever, never more to be disturbed.
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1 Ecclesiastes 7:14
2 A reference to Ephesians 4:26
3 Romans 11:33, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!”
4 repent, repentance - The act or feeling of remorse, regret, sorrow or shame that results in a change of heart or purpose.
Year One, November 4
Put Devious Talk Far From You1
Ecclesiastes 10:1-14
1 Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench;
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
No matter how beautiful the jar or how excellent the fragrance, dead flies will destroy the precious lotion. And even so, what seem like unimportant faults will spoil a fine character. Being rude, having a short temper, making jokes about serious matters, unwillingness to give or spend money, self-centeredness, and a thousand other harmful flies have often turned the wonderful perfume of a Christian’s life into a destructive odor to those who were around him. Let us pray for grace to avoid the smaller errors, so that they will not do serious harm to us and the gospel. When something is really good it is a shame to spoil it by not correcting our small faults. Little things can ruin our influence for good. Watch out for little flies!
2 A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right,
but a fool’s heart to the left.
The wise person is sensible and applies themselves to accomplishing their goals. The foolish person may have good intentions, but does not make the effort to achieve them.
3 Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense,
and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
4 If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place,
for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.
5There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: 6folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. 7I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.
Kings are not always wise in choosing whom they honor. Sometimes the best people experience the pain of seeing less qualified people promoted over them. Sometimes God gives the least worthy people positions of power and influence, while people of character and grace are left to suffer in the cold shade of poverty. The Lord is behind this. He has wise reasons for bringing it about. Therefore we should cheerfully submit to his will. Let us not envy or flatter the great or be dissatisfied with our own situation. Wrongs will be righted in good time. God’s people can afford to wait. Meanwhile it is better to be in the lowest condition and enjoy the love of God, than to sit among princes and live without our Father’s presence.
8 He who digs a pit will fall into it,
and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.
Never set traps for others or disobey beneficial laws because they are unpleasant. Evil will come of it.
9 He who quarries stones is hurt by them,
and he who splits logs is endangered by them.
There is some risk in any kind of job. This is a good reason to ask the Lord to keep us safe every day, however free from danger our work may seem to be.
10 If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge,
he must use more strength,
but wisdom helps one to succeed.
Knowledge is power. A little common sense will save a lot of effort. It is good to have our wits about us. Christian people should never be stupid. Let us sharpen our axes.
11 If the serpent bites before it is charmed,
there is no advantage to the charmer.
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor,
but the lips of a fool consume him.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness,
and the end of his talk is evil madness.
14 A fool multiplies words,
though no man knows what is to be,
and who can tell him what will be after him?
Quiet rivers run deep, but the babbling brook is shallow. Great talkers are usually little doers. People of many words are rarely people of great deeds. No one person really knows all that much. If we talk a lot, we will most likely get into subjects that we do not understand and so reveal our foolishness. An ignorant person, if they are quiet, may pass for wise; but a talkative person advertises their own lack of common sense. A quiet tongue shows a wise head. We seldom get into trouble by silence, but noisy tongues often bring grief to their owners. “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”2 We should aim to edify with our words. However, this is often forgotten and people talk as if their tongues were their own. They forget Jesus said, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.”3
Oh Lord, keep our lips, so that we will not sin against you.
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1 Proverbs 4:24
2 Colossians 4:6
3 Matthew 12:36
Year One, November 5
At Evening Time There Shall Be Light1
We shall read once more in the book of Ecclesiastes. This selection is the wise man’s famous words to young people.
Ecclesiastes 11:9-10
9Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. (Solomon seems to dare the young man to throw caution to the wind and seek his own pleasure. But he warns him there is a price to be paid if he does. The cost will not be worth it! It never pays to sin, because the truth is, every sin will face punishment.) 10Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity. (There is a way for youth to have true joy. Let the wise young person try it. Our young days will soon be over, let us make them as happy as we can. Enjoy life while we have it. Everyone agrees with this advice, but few know that the best way of accomplishing it is to be given salvation by believing in Jesus.)
Ecclesiastes 12:1-7; 13-14
1Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; (Youth is the best time for serious thinking about important things and deciding to believe in Jesus. Old age robs much of the incentive and ability to consider the crucial subject of eternity. The mind is not as sharp as it used to be and the body is weakening. Both make examining subjects that have been ignored for a long life all the more difficult to consider. Young people should beware of delay and give up the idea that they can wait until they are older to think about giving their lives to Jesus. No tree is so easily bent as the green sapling.) 2before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, (meaning that in old age, sicknesses are many and are felt more sharply than when we are young.) 3in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, (the arms are no longer powerful) and the strong men are bent, (the old persons legs are unsteady beneath their weight) and the grinders cease because they are few, (their teeth are almost gone) and those who look through the windows are dimmed, (the eyes grow dim) 4and the doors on the street are shut—(the senses are gradually fading, both ears and eyes become like doors closed to the outside world) when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, (their nights are tiring, the first crowing of the rooster wakes him.) and all the daughters of song are brought low—(their own voice is gone, and they are no longer able to hear the voice of others) 5they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; (elderly people are full of worry, boldness and courage vanish) the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— 6before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, (The spinal cord, the skull, the heart, and the circulation of the blood are pictured here in beautiful imagery; all these fail us in death.) 7and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
13The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. (This, then, is the heart of the matter. But the question is, how are we to fulfill the whole duty of man? We may rest assured that we are quite powerless to do it ourselves. Only in Christ Jesus can we find the law fulfilled. He is ours if we believe in him. This is true wisdom. Solomon would have been wiser even if this were all he knew.)
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1 Zechariah 14:7
1 Zechariah 14:7
Year One, November 6
Be Kind to Everyone1
2 Chronicles 9:31
31And Solomon slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David his father, and Rehoboam his son reigned in his place. (The wisest man in the world died and so must we all. There is no getting around it. What a change came over the nation when the great ruler passed the scepter into the hands of his unfit successor. It is sad when great fathers have foolish children.)
2 Chronicles 10:1-8; 10-16; 19
1Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. 2And as soon as Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), then Jeroboam returned from Egypt. 3And they sent and called him. (The people had felt the government of Solomon had been too dictatorial. They had decided to demand more compassionate laws before they would allow Rehoboam to be their king. They hoped they would be given more liberty if they threatened to set up another king instead of him.) And Jeroboam and all Israel came and said to Rehoboam, 4“Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke on us, and we will serve you.” 5He said to them, “Come to me again in three days.” So the people went away.
He did the right thing to take time for thinking about his decision. Important steps should not be taken in a hurry. We can do in an hour what we cannot undo in a lifetime.
6Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, “How do you advise me to answer this people?” 7And they said to him, “If you will be good to this people and please them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.” (Lowering our expectations will often win over those who oppose our ideas. To give in a little in order to gain much is wise policy. The people had a right to what they asked. If the young prince would have agreed to their demands with a graceful spirit, he would have been the beloved ruler of an enthusiastic people.)
8But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him.
10And the young men who had grown up with him said to him, “Thus shall you speak to the people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you lighten it for us’; thus shall you say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s thighs. 11And now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’”
These young advisors thought it would be dangerous to give the people what they asked for. If the king agreed to their request, would they not be encouraged to ask for more later? Let them be put in their place immediately with an iron fist. To consent to their demands would only inflate them with pride and lead to even more rebellion. We have heard men talk like this in our own day, but we judged them to be conceited fellows. If the people ask for right things, let them have them. No harm can come from it.
12So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king said, “Come to me again the third day.” 13And the king answered them harshly; and forsaking the counsel of the old men, 14King Rehoboam spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.” 15So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of affairs brought about by God that the LORD might fulfill his word, which he spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
16And when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, “What portion have we in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Each of you to your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, David.” So all Israel went to their tents.
19So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day. (The sin of Solomon inflicted his son Rehoboam, but God was not unjust. The unwise action of Rehoboam led naturally to the ten tribes breaking away. God’s ways are always just. We may be confident that if he seems to act unjustly, it is not really the case. God’s ways are fair and in the end men will confess that it is so.)
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1 2 Timothy 2:24
Year One, November 7
Do Not Be Afraid of Them, for I Am With You1
1 Kings 12:26-33
26And Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom will turn back to the house of David. 27If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the temple of the LORD at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah” (Jeroboam was afraid that when the ten tribes went up to the temple in Jerusalem every year, their old love for their fellow Israelites would return, that they would see the magnificence of David’s palace and be sorry they had rebelled against the ancient line of kings. He thought that allowing his subjects to worship in the Lord’s temple would endanger his position as king. He was a clever man, and like Ahithophel, he had no fear of God. So he decided to set up a new religion. God’s honor meant nothing to him. Efforts to conform with worldly desires and other attempts to satisfy human nature have often been the reasons for starting false religions.)
28So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold. And he said to the people, “You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” (People naturally love things that require little effort. They prefer a religion that will not trouble them or interrupt their lives very much. That is the reason Jeroboam appealed to the shameful tendencies of their human nature. But how disgraceful it was for Israel to forsake the living God and bow before the image of a bull just as an excuse to not have to travel so far. May we never leave the good old paths of truth because it would be convenient, or give us a better chance of advancement in our job or better opportunities to make more money. Let us hold tightly to the Lord with all our heart.)
29And he set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. (At both ends of the land, so that no one would have far to travel.) 30Then this thing became a sin, for the people went as far as Dan to be before one. 31He also made temples on high places and appointed priests from among all the people, who were not of the Levites. (The true priests remained faithful to the Lord, so Jeroboam appointed other men to be priests. This speaks well for the Levites. Even if all other people become idolaters, God’s ministers must not.) 32And Jeroboam appointed a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month like the feast that was in Judah, and he offered sacrifices on the altar. So he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he made. And he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places that he had made.
33He went up to the altar that he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, in the month that he had devised from his own heart. And he instituted a feast for the people of Israel and went up to the altar to make offerings. (He dared to make himself a priest and change the seasons God had appointed for worship. He was not afraid to set up an altar to compete with the true one or to adore God by bowing down to the image of an animal. All of this is disgusting in the sight of God. We fear that many in our day are also guilty of Jeroboam’s sin. They invent rituals and ceremonies of their own and desert the Lord, who is a Spirit, and must be worshiped in spirit and truth.2 Oh for grace to be faithful to the Word of God in all things.)
1 Kings 13:1-10
1And behold, a man of God came out of Judah by the word of the LORD to Bethel. Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make offerings. 2And the man cried against the altar by the word of the LORD and said, “O altar, altar, thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name, and he shall sacrifice on you the priests of the high places who make offerings on you, and human bones shall be burned on you.’” 3And he gave a sign the same day, saying, “This is the sign that the LORD has spoken: ‘Behold, the altar shall be torn down, and the ashes that are on it shall be poured out.’” (This was bravely spoken. The prophet did not fear the wrath of the king or the anger of the crowds around him. Messengers of God must not be afraid of how people might react to their message.)
4And when the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar at Bethel, Jeroboam stretched out his hand from the altar, saying. “Seize him.” (He was greatly irritated to have this first and greatest ceremony of his new religion interrupted by this zealous messenger of the Lord. “Seize him!” cries the king, as he puts forth his own hand to order the arrest.) And his hand, which he stretched out against him, dried up, so that he could not draw it back to himself. 5The altar also was torn down, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign that the man of God had given by the word of the LORD. 6And the king said to the man of God, “Entreat now the favor of the LORD your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me.” (The Lord can soon bring down the strongest heart. This proud ruler went quickly from threatening to begging. The God who shriveled his hand could just as easily paralyzed his whole body, but in his wrath he remembered mercy.) And the man of God entreated the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored to him and became as it was before. (God’s servants are very willing to pray for their enemies and return good for evil.)
7And the king said to the man of God, “Come home with me, and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.” (Notice that Jeroboam never said a word that indicated he had repented or was humbled by this experience. He was hardened in his proud rebellion against God. He might have been willing to reward the prophet, but he would not thank the Lord who sent him.) 8And the man of God said to the king, “If you give me half your house, I will not go in with you. And I will not eat bread or drink water in this place, 9for so was it commanded me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘You shall neither eat bread nor drink water nor return by the way that you came.’” 10So he went another way and did not return by the way that he came to Bethel.
It was not proper for God’s servant to have any fellowship with rebellious Israel. No, not even so much as eating a piece of bread or taking a sip of water with them. The true believer’s duty is to avoid all unnecessary fellowship with people of sin. “What harmony has Christ with Belial?”3
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1 Jeremiah 1:8
2 John 4:24
3 2 Corinthians 6:15 NASB updated
Year One, November 8
The LORD Your God…Is a Jealous God1
1 Kings 13:11-30
11Now an old prophet lived in Bethel. And his sons came and told him all that the man of God had done that day in Bethel. They also told to their father the words that he had spoken to the king. 12And their father said to them, “Which way did he go?” And his sons showed him the way that the man of God who came from Judah had gone. 13And he said to his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” So they saddled the donkey for him and he mounted it. 14And he went after the man of God and found him sitting under an oak. And he said to him, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?” And he said, “I am.” 15Then he said to him, “Come home with me and eat bread.” 16And he said, “I may not return with you, or go in with you, neither will I eat bread nor drink water with you in this place, 17for it was said to me by the word of the LORD, ‘You shall neither eat bread nor drink water there, nor return by the way that you came.’” 18And he said to him, “I also am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘Bring him back with you into your house that he may eat bread and drink water.’” But he lied to him. 19So he went back with him and ate bread in his house and drank water.
20And as they sat at the table, the word of the LORD came to the prophet who had brought him back. 21And he cried to the man of God who came from Judah, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Because you have disobeyed the word of the LORD and have not kept the command that the LORD your God commanded you, 22but have come back and have eaten bread and drunk water in the place of which he said to you, “Eat no bread and drink no water,” your body shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.’” 23And after he had eaten bread and drunk, he saddled the donkey for the prophet whom he had brought back. 24And as he went away a lion met him on the road and killed him. And his body was thrown in the road, and the donkey stood beside it; the lion also stood beside the body. 25And behold, men passed by and saw the body thrown in the road and the lion standing by the body. And they came and told it in the city where the old prophet lived.
26And when the prophet who had brought him back from the way heard of it, he said, “It is the man of God who disobeyed the word of the LORD; therefore the LORD has given him to the lion, which has torn him and killed him, according to the word that the LORD spoke to him.” 27And he said to his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” And they saddled it. 28And he went and found his body thrown in the road, and the donkey and the lion standing beside the body. The lion had not eaten the body or torn the donkey. 29And the prophet took up the body of the man of God and laid it on the donkey and brought it back to the city to mourn and to bury him. 30And he laid the body in his own grave. And they mourned over him, saying, “Alas, my brother!”
This is a very frightful illustration of the great truth that the Lord our God is a jealous God. He expects those he honors, by making them his servants, to obey him. He has clearly stated, “Among those who are near me I will be sanctified.”2 To treat any of God’s commands as unimportant may bring God’s chastisement3 on even the best of people. The old prophet at Bethel must have backslidden very far from God, or he would not have tempted the man of God so wickedly. However, the man of God should not have been so quick to believe a story that contradicted what God had personally commanded him. The Lord saw it necessary to take his life. Let us hope that as a righteous man he had hope in his death. Let us hope also that the death of the prophet from Judah became a warning to the old prophet at Bethel and was the means of restoring him to his right state before God. This may have been one of those terrible, but righteous acts where the Lord calls back his wandering followers. It is a lesson for all of us to walk before God with a fear of offending him and a holy jealousy that his name is honored.
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1 Deuteronomy 6:15
2 Leviticus 10:3
3 chasten, chastening or chastisement - The act of discipline which may include scolding, criticizing or pain inflicted for the purpose of correction or moral improvement.
Year One, November 9
The Root of the Matter Is Found in Him1
1 Kings 14:1-10; 12-13; 17-18
1At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. 2And Jeroboam said to his wife, “Arise, and disguise yourself, that it not be known that you are the wife of Jeroboam, and go to Shiloh. Behold, Ahijah the prophet is there, who said of me that I should be king over this people. 3Take with you ten loaves, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what shall happen to the child.”
Bad people cannot help respecting God’s true messengers. Why did Jeroboam not go to the prophets of the golden calves? In times of great need, the ungodly and those who follow false religions lose their faith in what they claimed to believe in. They begin to look around for something that will provide them more comfort. King Jeroboam had seen the power of the prophet’s word before, so he wanted to hear what he had to say about his sick son. Many sinners are like Jeroboam. In his heart he knew Ahijah was a minister of the true God and that what he had to say was worth hearing.
4Jeroboam’s wife did so. She arose and went to Shiloh and came to the house of Ahijah. Now Ahijah could not see, for his eyes were dim because of his age. 5And the LORD said to Ahijah, “Behold, the wife of Jeroboam is coming to inquire of you concerning her son, for he is sick. Thus and thus shall you say to her.”
When she came, she pretended to be another woman. 6But when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, he said, “Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why do you pretend to be another? For I am charged with unbearable news for you. (Those who think they can hide from God will be absolutely amazed. God will unmask them and make them ashamed. Some sinners pretend they are saints, but “the Lord knows those who are his.”2) 7Go, tell Jeroboam, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: “Because I exalted you from among the people and made you leader over my people Israel 8and tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you, and yet you have not been like my servant David, who kept my commandments and followed me with all his heart, doing only that which was right in my eyes, 9but you have done evil above all who were before you and have gone and made for yourself other gods and metal images, provoking me to anger, and have cast me behind your back, 10therefore behold, I will bring harm upon the house of Jeroboam and will cut off from Jeroboam every male, both bond and free in Israel, and will burn up the house of Jeroboam, as a man burns up dung until it is all gone.”’” (Jeroboam would have no living relatives to continue his name. His whole family was going to be wiped out and his name erased from the families of Israel. God knows how to punish as well as how to bless.)
12“Arise therefore, go to your house. When your feet enter the city, the child shall die. 13And all Israel shall mourn for him and bury him, for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found something pleasing to the LORD, the God of Israel, in the house of Jeroboam.”
17Then Jeroboam’s wife arose and departed and came to Tirzah. And as she came to the threshold of the house, the child died. 18And all Israel buried him and mourned for him, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by his servant Ahijah the prophet.
Matthew Henry says this about this child: “Good people are those who have good things toward the Lord God of Israel. They have good tendencies, good intentions and good desires toward him. If there is only one good thing like that, God will find it. God looks for it. No matter how little it is, he is pleased with it. A little grace goes a great way with great folks. It is so rare to find princes who look with favor on religion, that when they are found, they are worthy of double honor. God fearing characteristics are very special and heart warming when they are found in those who are young. The image of God in miniature has an unusual glow and beauty in it. A good child in the house of Jeroboam is a miracle of divine grace. To be there and not be tainted is like being in the fiery furnace and not being burnt or injured. Observe the care taken of him. He is the only one of all Jeroboam’s family that will be buried and mourned as one that lived an acceptable life. Those that are distinguished by divine grace will be distinguished by divine providence.”3
In this family we trust there are some who have hopeful signs of grace in them. If there are, let them be encouraged by knowing that the Lord notices the smallest amount of grace that may be found in any one of us.
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1 Job 19:28
2 2 Timothy 2:19
3 Matthew Henry (1662-1714).
Year One, November 10
God Is With Us at Our Head1
While the new kingdom of the ten tribes was under the rule of Jeroboam, Rehoboam died and was replaced by his son, Abijah.
2 Chronicles 13:1-16; 18; 20
1In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah began to reign over Judah. 2He reigned for three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah.
Now there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. 3Abijah went out to battle, having an army of valiant men of war, 400,000 chosen men. And Jeroboam drew up his line of battle against him, with 800,000 chosen mighty warriors. (The horrors of civil war are almost unimaginable. Surely every male in the two nations must have been drafted into one or the other army. We should be thankful when we are blessed with peace in our own country. A day is coming when the Lord will stop all wars on this earth.)
4Then Abijah stood up on Mount Zemaraim that is in the hill country of Ephraim and said, “Hear me, O Jeroboam and all Israel! 5Ought you not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingship over Israel forever to David and his sons by a covenant of salt? 6Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up and rebelled against his lord, 7and certain worthless scoundrels gathered about him and defied Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and irresolute and could not withstand them.
8“And now you think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David, because you are a great multitude and have with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made you for gods. (Abijah was wise to explain the reason for the battle. When it comes to whether Jehovah or golden calves should be worshiped, the answer is clear.) 9Have you not driven out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made priests for yourselves like the peoples of other lands? Whoever comes for ordination with a young bull or seven rams becomes a priest of what are not gods. 10But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him. We have priests ministering to the LORD who are sons of Aaron, and Levites for their service. 11They offer to the LORD every morning and every evening burnt offerings and incense of sweet spices, set out the showbread on the table of pure gold, and care for the golden lampstand that its lamps may burn every evening. For we keep the charge of the LORD our God, but you have forsaken him. 12Behold, God is with us at our head, and his priests with their battle trumpets to sound the call to battle against you. O sons of Israel, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your fathers, for you cannot succeed.”
This speech was intended to prevent bloodshed. Abijah’s motive was deserving of praise. We cannot be sure that Abijah was a spiritual man, but he and the nation of Judah still worshiped Jehovah and still had the Lord on their side.
13Jeroboam had sent an ambush around to come upon them from behind. Thus his troops were in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them. (Jeroboam was not a man of words, but of deeds. While Abijah was delivering his speech, Jeroboam was surrounding his opponent.) 14And when Judah looked, behold, the battle was in front of and behind them. And they cried to the LORD, and the priests blew the trumpets. 15Then the men of Judah raised the battle shout. And when the men of Judah shouted, God defeated Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. 16The men of Israel fled before Judah, and God gave them into their hand. (Prayer and praise are superior weapons. We should not be surprised that the Lord got involved when his people brought him into the fight by using prayer and praise.)
18Thus the men of Israel were subdued at that time, and the men of Judah prevailed, because they relied on the LORD, the God of their fathers.
20Jeroboam did not recover his power in the days of Abijah. And the LORD struck him down, and he died. (He was made to feel how impossible it is to fight against God. But he would not quit and died without repenting2 for his actions. He is remembered because the way he lived brought God’s curse on him. May the good Lord save us from such an end.)
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1 2 Chronicles 13:12
2 repent, repentance - The act or feeling of remorse, regret, sorrow or shame that results in a change of heart or purpose.
Year One, November 11
Thanks Be to God, Who Gives Us the Victory1
2 Chronicles 14:1-15
1Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David. And Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days the land had rest for ten years. (Asa’s reign was a change for the better. Abijah worshiped Jehovah, but he allowed idol worship in his kingdom. The godless group multiplied and polluted the nation with their idolatry and immoral behavior. Abijah and his favorite queens supported and helped these evil people and the nation grew worse. It is remarkable that even though his mother and father were bad, Asa did what was good. It is clear from this that children will not turn out wicked simply because their parents were.)
2And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. 3He took away the foreign altars and the high places and broke down the pillars and cut down the Asherim 4and commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to keep the law and the commandment. (Asa made a complete change. He got rid of not only the images of the false gods, but the sacred groves where they were worshiped. Oh that we might live to see such a complete cleaning up of our own land! Let us pray for it.) 5He also took out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the incense altars. And the kingdom had rest under him.
6He built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest. He had no war in those years, for the LORD gave him peace. 7And he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the LORD our God. We have sought him, and he has given us peace on every side.” So they built and prospered. (They obeyed God and he blessed them. But even though this was obvious, their history shows their faithfulness did not last long.) 8And Asa had an army of 300,000 from Judah, armed with large shields and spears, and 280,000 men from Benjamin that carried shields and drew bows. All these were mighty men of valor.
9Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and 300 chariots, and came as far as Mareshah. 10And Asa went out to meet him, and they drew up their lines of battle in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. (The good king had his trials. His obedience brought prosperity, but it did not protect him from every trouble.) 11And Asa cried to the LORD his God, “O LORD, there is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, you are our God; let not man prevail against you.”
This is a great example of the prayer of faith. The million soldiers of Zerah are not enough to shake his faith. He knows they are nothing before the Lord and does not fear their large number. He is not discouraged because his army is not as strong as Zerah’s. He knows the Lord is all powerful and does not depend on the strength of his people. It is a glorious thing to be able to call on the Lord our God and then to rest in him without concern or fear; knowing that our cause is safe because it is about the Lord’s honor and it is in his own hands. Let us follow Asa’s example. Let us trust God and not be afraid when we encounter great trails and difficulties.
12So the LORD defeated the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. 13Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as Gerar, and the Ethiopians fell until none remained alive, for they were broken before the LORD and his army. The men of Judah carried away very much spoil. 14And they attacked all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of the LORD was upon them. They plundered all the cities, for there was much plunder in them. 15And they struck down the tents of those who had livestock and carried away sheep in abundance and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem. (They were more than conquerors, as believers always are. They gained greatly by the very thing that threatened to destroy them. If we will only trust the Lord in the same way, the same experience will certainly be ours. Greater is he that is for us than all that are against us.2)
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Year One, November 12
If You Seek Him, He Will Be Found by You1
2 Chronicles 15:1-17
1The Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded, 2and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The LORD is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. (While they were still thrilled with the victory it was a good time to remind them where their great strength came from. God sent them a prophet while the rewards of obeying him were before their eyes, to urge them to continue obeying the Lord. The prophet did not congratulate and flatter king Asa. Instead, he reminded him that he must continue to follow the Lord who had done so much for him. Pastors are not sent to please us, but to guide us.)
3“For a long time Israel was without the true God, and without a teaching priest and without law, 4but when in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them. 5In those times there was no peace to him who went out or to him who came in, for great disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands. 6They were broken in pieces. Nation was crushed by nation and city by city, for God troubled them with every sort of distress. 7But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.” (Israel’s history was clear. When they were faithful to God they prospered, when they turned their backs on him he did not bless them. They made or unmade their own fortunes. Have we not also learned by this time that we are happy when we live near to God and miserable when we fall back into our old evil habits? Let us not forget this remarkable truth.)
8As soon as Asa heard these words, the prophecy of Azariah the son of Oded, he took courage and put away the detestable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities that he had taken in the hill country of Ephraim, and he repaired the altar of the LORD that was in front of the vestibule of the house of the LORD. (The cleanest room can be cleaned even more. Asa investigated the situation and found there was more to be done. Here and there, the idol worshippers secretly kept their idols, but this time they must be found and destroyed.) 9And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and those from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who were residing with them, for great numbers had deserted to him from Israel when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.
10They were gathered at Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa. 11They sacrificed to the LORD on that day from the spoil that they had brought 700 oxen and 7,000 sheep. 12And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul, 13but that whoever would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, should be put to death, whether young or old, man or woman. 14They swore an oath to the LORD with a loud voice and with shouting and with trumpets and with horns. 15And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and had sought him with their whole desire, and he was found by them, and the LORD gave them rest all around. (The people were great at promising, but slow in performing. Their hearts were fickle. What they resolved on one day with great enthusiasm, they forgot the next. It was not long before they would again fall in love with their idols. They were a lot like we are!)
16Even Maacah, his mother, King Asa removed from being queen mother because she had made a detestable image for Asherah. Asa cut down her image, crushed it, and burned it at the brook Kidron. (This was a masterstroke. He removed the queen-mother and destroyed her idol in the most humiliating manner. The king would not secretly allow sin even in those nearest and dearest to him. It must have caused him much pain, but he loved his God too well to back away from doing what he knew was right.) 17But the high places were not taken out of Israel. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was wholly true all his days. (There is imperfection in even the best work. Everything we do includes a “but.” The false gods were torn down, but the forbidden altars to the true God were left untouched. This may be thought to be a lesser evil, but it would have been better to follow through with all the work. Still, we must admire Asa. His heart and intention were right before God.)
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1 2 Chronicles 15:2
Year One, November 13
Cursed Is the Man Who Trusts in Man1
2 Chronicles 16:1-14
1In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and built Ramah, that he might permit no one to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. (The king of Israel was annoyed because the peace and prosperity of Judah, and the nation’s faith in the true God, had inspired many of his subjects to move to the land under Asa’s rule.) 2Then Asa took silver and gold from the treasures of the house of the LORD and the king’s house and sent them to Ben-hadad king of Syria, who lived in Damascus, saying, 3“There is a covenant between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I am sending to you silver and gold. Go, break your covenant with Baasha king of Israel, that he may withdraw from me.” 4And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, and they conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali. 5And when Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah and let his work cease. 6Then King Asa took all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber, with which Baasha had been building, and with them he built Geba and Mizpah.
What a proof this is that the best believers may fall into unbelief and sometimes place their trust in humans. Asa turned to Syria for help and for a while he was glad he did. The good outcome probably convinced him he was right in asking King Ben-hadad for help. But we are mistaken if we measure the correctness of our actions by their result. The Lord was angry with Asa and chastised2 him with trouble for the rest of his life. He took the temple gold to bribe a heathen king to break his treaties, but his great fault was that he trusted in human power rather than in God.
7At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because you relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you. 8Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the LORD, he gave them into your hand. 9For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.” (Hanani was faithful to Asa and told him the truth. This godly king should have been touched in his conscience, but his soul was not in agreement with God. He did not receive the rebuke like a gracious person should have.) 10Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in the stocks in prison, for he was in a rage with him because of this. And Asa inflicted cruelties upon some of the people at the same time.
His trust in physical means had apparently led to good results and so the king resented the prophet’s warning. He became irritated and, sadly, the old nature in him took over. Until this time Asa had been a fair-minded king, but now he acted like a tyrant. We must not judge anyone by their isolated actions, but by the general course of their life. After all, Asa was one of the best kings in Judah’s history.
11The acts of Asa, from first to last, are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 12In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet, and his disease became severe. Yet even in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but sought help from physicians. (As a child of God he could not be left undisciplined for such sins. The disease in his feet became a heavy rod with which the Lord used to strike him. It is sad to see him at this time repeating his reckless trust in the creature instead of the Creator. We may call in the physician, but we must not forget our God. The most skillful doctor will do us no good unless God is in it.) 13And Asa slept with his fathers, dying in the forty-first year of his reign. 14They buried him in the tomb that he had cut for himself in the city of David. They laid him on a bier that had been filled with various kinds of spices prepared by the perfumer’s art, and they made a very great fire in his honor.
The people knew how to value a good king. His memory was very fragrant among them. May our names also “smell sweet and blossom in the dust.”3
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1 Jeremiah 17:5
2 chasten, chastening or chastisement - The act of discipline which may include scolding, criticizing or pain inflicted for the purpose of correction or moral improvement
3 English poet James Shirley (1596-1666) from The Contention of Ajax and Ulysses
Year One, November 14
You Bless the Righteous, O LORD1
Asa evidently died in a backslidden condition. But the Lord had mercy on his people and gave them a good ruler in Jehoshaphat, the good son of a good father. Today, we read about his early days as king over Judah.
2 Chronicles 17:1-11
1And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place and strengthened himself against Israel.
Ahab had been king over Israel for several years when Jehoshaphat became king. He was an active and warlike prince who needed to be guarded against. Jehoshaphat took normal precautions for the defense of his nation, but he did not place his trust in Syria like his father had.
2He placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim that Asa his father had captured. 3The LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals, (Notice the difference between David’s earlier ways and his last ways. What a pity that such a contrast had to be made. Sadly, many good people have their first warm, zealous, consistent ways, but gradually decline from their first love and grow cold and worldly. We should imitate that which is good in people, but avoid their faults that would have an evil influence over us. Jehoshaphat was not an idolater and was not tempted by the example of his neighbors to worship Baal.) 4but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel.
5Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand. And all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor. 6His heart was courageous in the ways of the LORD. (He was enthusiastic about following the Lord. His delight was to obey Jehovah.) And furthermore, he took the high places and the Asherim out of Judah.
It is good when we can serve God with joy, because then our service is real and from the heart. The Lord made the king popular with his people and they gave him many presents, but this did not make him proud. Instead, by God’s grace, the more they raised him up the more he rejoiced in the Lord.
7In the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah; (Princes and judges have great influence. When they give themselves over to promoting virtue they can accomplish great things. May God teach those who govern and those who are great. Then they will truly benefit the nation.) 8and with them the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, and with these Levites, the priests Elishama and Jehoram. 9And they taught in Judah, having the Book of the Law of the LORD with them. They went about through all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.
The holy teaching of the priests and Levites supported the instruction given by the officials. Education is of small value if it is separated from true religion. There is more need for people to know their Bible than anything else. Ministers, when they teach, should carry their Bibles with them, to give weight to their words, and bring conviction on all who hear them.
10And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, and they made no war against Jehoshaphat. (When we are right with God he will make things right all around. He calms the raging of the sea and the unrest of the people. When the Lord gives peace no one can upset us.)
11Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver for tribute, and the Arabians also brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats.
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1 Psalm 5:12
Year One, November 15
His Bread Will Be Given Him1
We now turn from the more peaceful history of Judah to the troubled history of their more sinful neighbor Israel. The family of Jeroboam was killed by Baasha. Baasha reigned over Israel for twenty-four years. “He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin which he made Israel to sin.”2 Baasha’s son, Elah, became king, but after two years he and all his descendants were murdered by his captain, Zimri, while he was “drinking himself drunk” in his palace at Tirzah.3 Zimri reigned only seven days before he was overthrown by Omri, a rival commander. Omri attacked Tirzah and when Zimri knew all was lost, he set fire to the palace and died in the blaze. Omri had a troubled and wicked reign of twelve years and was then succeeded by the notorious Ahab, of whom we will now read.
1 Kings 16:29-34
29In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. 30And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him. 31And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took for his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him. (The strong-willed Jezebel completely mastered the indecisive Ahab. She became the real ruler of Israel. She killed the prophets of Jehovah and forced the people to worship her demon gods.)
32He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. 33And Ahab made an Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. 34In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation at the cost of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun. (It was a time of monstrous evil. God was not feared. The people ignored the Lord and even gloried in defying the Most High. Unbelief and superstition usually go hand in hand. Where some are worshiping a thousand false gods, others are always found who make fun of the one and only Lord. But even when this happens, the Lord’s word is being fulfilled. After defeating Jericho, Joshua prophesied, “Cursed before the LORD be the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho. At the cost of his firstborn shall he lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest son shall he set up its gates.”4 In his arrogance, Hiel of Bethel did exactly what the Lord had proclaimed.)
1 Kings 17:1-6
1Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” (Elijah leaps onto the scene like a lion from the hills. Who he was, or what he had been, we are not told. He comes in thunder, and speaks lightning. The times were ready for an Elijah, and Elijah was ready for them.) 2And the word of the LORD came to him, 3“Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 4You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” (God is a good master and never allows his servants to starve. He will provide for his own, even if all the land is unfruitful because of drought.)
5So he went and did according to the word of the LORD. He went and lived by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. 6And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.
He had plain food, but enough food. But what unlikely providers! Ravens are robbers of food, not providers. Yet they forgot their own hunger and the cries of their young to feed the prophet. Perhaps they brought the bread and meat from Ahab’s kitchen. There was not much to be found anywhere else! An old writer observes, “Oh God! You that provide meat for the birds of the air, will make the birds of the air provide meat for man before you will allow man’s dependence on you to be disappointed. Oh do not let our faith in you be inadequate, because your care can never be inadequate to us.”5
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1 Isaiah 33:16
2 1 Kings 15:34
3 1 Kings 16:9
4 Joshua 6:26
5 Author unknown.
Year One, November 16
Feed on His Faithfulness1
1 Kings 17:7-24
7And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.
8Then the word of the LORD came to [Elijah], 9“Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” (When one door shuts, another opens. God is not limited to only one way of providing for his servants. It was wonderful that Elijah was fed by ravens. We now see a new wonder when he is fed by a widow who is both poor and a foreigner.) 10So he arose and went to Zarephath. (He did not question the command, but obeyed it. This is the walk of faith.) And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. (As unlikely as it seemed that this poor woman could provide for the prophet, Elijah spoke to her with confidence.) And he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” 11And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.”
12And she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.” (The good woman recognized Jehovah’s servant and was ready to serve him, but his request for bread touched her in a tender place. She had barely enough for one small meal and then she expected to die with her child.)
13And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. 14For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth.’” (She was to exercise obedient faith first. Then her needs would be supplied. Many try to reverse this order.) 15And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. 16The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah. (Our little will always be enough. We may often scrape the bottom of the barrel, but there will always be a handful left. It may be that we shall never have much in hand, but this is not a sin. Fulfillment of our needs will come to us fresh from our heavenly Father and never grow stale.)
17After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill. And his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. 18And she said to Elijah, “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to cause the death of my son!” (All too often we mistake the reasons for our troubles and place the blame on the wrong causes. The prophet had kept the child from starving. How could the woman blame him for his death? Sorrow clouds our judgment and we may say or do things for which we are later sorry. Elijah knew this and was very tender toward her.)
19And he said to her, “Give me your son.” And he took him from her arms and carried him up into the upper chamber where he lodged, and laid him on his own bed. 20And he cried to the LORD, “O LORD my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son?” 21Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the LORD, “O LORD my God, let this child’s life come into him again.” 22And the LORD listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. (Prayers are often answered by what the world calls the laws of nature. In this case, the prophet prayed and was clearly answered by a miracle. Whether good things come to us by so-called laws of nature or by miracles, we know that if we pray like Elijah, we will have like Elijah.)
23And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and delivered him to his mother. And Elijah said, “See, your son lives.” 24And the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth.”
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1 Psalm 37:3 NKJV
Year One, November 17
I Will Speak of Your Testimonies Before Kings1
1 Kings 18:1-15; 17-20
1After many days the word of the LORD came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth.”
To unbelievers this would seem like a command to dive into the raging waves of the ocean or to walk into a lion’s den. But soldiers of the Heavenly King do not hesitate. They obey.
2So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria. 3And Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly, 4and when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water.) (Here was a dove living in the eagle’s nest. Obadiah was not a half-and-half man, but feared the Lord fully. As a result, he won the respect of even the ungodly Ahab. The king trusted Obadiah more than any of the idol worshipers in his court. Obadiah lived in a wicked society, but he was still committed to God. He showed his zeal by feeding the prophets when food was scarce and being kind to them might have cost him his life. If Obadiah was so faithful when his circumstances were so difficult, what kind of people should we be who live in so much better situations?)
5And Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the valleys. Perhaps we may find grass and save the horses and mules alive, and not lose some of the animals.” (Judgment alone cannot soften the heart. God was punishing Ahab and all he thought about was saving his animals. He cared more for his horses than he did for the starving people over whom he ruled.) 6So they divided the land between them to pass through it. Ahab went in one direction by himself, and Obadiah went in another direction by himself.
7And as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him. And Obadiah recognized him and fell on his face and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?” 8And he answered him, “It is I. Go, tell your lord, ‘Behold, Elijah is here.’” 9And he said, “How have I sinned, that you would give your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me? 10As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent to seek you. And when they would say, ‘He is not here,’ he would take an oath of the kingdom or nation, that they had not found you. 11And now you say, ‘Go tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here.”’ 12And as soon as I have gone from you, the Spirit of the LORD will carry you I know not where. And so, when I come and tell Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me, although I your servant feared the LORD from my youth. 13Has it not been told my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the LORD, how I hid a hundred men of the LORD’s prophets by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water? 14And now you say, ‘Go tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here”’; and he will kill me.”
The good man was afraid. He had not been living the life of separation from the world and therefore his faith was far inferior to that of lonely Elijah. But the prophet put up with his weakness, because he knew his heart was right. We who are strong must forgive the defects of the weak and not expect everyone to be equally bold.
15And Elijah said, “As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.”
17When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “It is you, you troubler of Israel?” 18And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the LORD and followed the Baals. 19Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
20So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. (See the holy boldness of Elijah and how it awed the king. Elijah was far more royal than Ahab. His faith made him a king before the Lord. We should act with the same heroic spirit. Never fear the face of the Lord’s enemies. Face them with unflinching bravery. Our highest aim should be to win the Lord’s, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”2)
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1 Psalm 119:46
2 Matthew 25:23
Year One, November 18
How Long Will You Go Limping Between Two Different Opinions?1
1 Kings 18:20-29
20So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. (The whole band of 850 priests, in all their showy outfits, gathered on the mountaintop to confront the one lone prophet of the living God.) 21And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. (In silent awe, the crowd listened to the one courageous man of God, as he offered them the great choice of God or Baal, and proposed one grand test to prove which was truly God.) 22Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the LORD, but Baals’s prophets are 450 men.
Some say there is safety in numbers, but numbers do not prove something is right. A brave person is someone who holds to the truth, when thousands love a lie.
23Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. 24And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.”
“As when a wave,
That rears itself, a wall of polished glass,
For leagues along the shore, and hangs in air,
Falls with one deafening crash, so rose the shout
Of answering acclamation from the crowd
White-faced, with restless lips and anxious eyes,
Baal’s prophets heard, their hundreds cowed and mute
Before one man. They dared not, in mere shame,
Decline the challenge.”2
25Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it.”
He knew their tricks and that they would use sleight of hand to cheat if they could. So he said, “But put no fire to it.”
26And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. (They multiplied their prayers and showy gestures until they had performed every ritual in their religion. But the sun-god would not even lend them one spark from his fiery sphere.) 27And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” (Idolatry deserves contempt. Elijah’s sarcasm was holy, though it was a bitter truth for the prophets of Baal to hear. What would Elijah say today about the Roman Catholic religion that claims their communion bread actually turns into the body of Christ or of other groups who say they are Christian but claim their religious ceremonies are somehow magical? He would laugh them to scorn. As followers of Jesus, we mix pity with our outrage.)
28And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. (Many false religions involve a lot of self-torture. Our God takes no pleasure in the miseries of his children. Many false religions demand lives of pain, affliction and fasting until the bones stick out. These may be part of worshiping a demon god, but the true God has no love for such behavior.) 29And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.
“They writhed and tore
In ecstasies of grief and rage. At last
They hung their heads in mute despair, and looked
Upon the ground.”3
Baal could do nothing. Our next reading will show us what Jehovah did.
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1 1 Kings 18:21
2 From The Days of Jezebel: An Historical Drama by Peter Bayne, 1872.
3 Ibid (above)
Year One, November 19
The LORD, He Is God1
1 Kings 18:30-40
30Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been thrown down. (It was now Elijah’s turn. It was the time for Jehovah to work.) 31Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, “Israel shall be your name,” 32and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. (Elijah had commanded Ahab to “gather all Israel.”2 The challenge was made to all Israel and therefore twelve stones were used to build the altar. The whole nation was about to see if Jehovah would answer by fire. The prophet would have nothing to do with Baal’s altar. Christ has no harmony with Belial.3) And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs4 of seed.
33And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” 34And he said, “Do it a second time.” And they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time.” And they did it a third time. (The twelve jars of water filled the trench and all the materials used for the sacrifice were soaking wet. Any thought that Elijah might start the fire by some trick was eliminated. All this water proved this was a fair and honest test.) 35And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water.
36And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.”
Bishop Hall5 correctly observes, “The prayers of the priests of Baal were as long and boring as Elijah’s was short and to the point. Elijah’s prayer reminded God of his duty to keep his promises, to uphold truth and to receive glory and honor.” The priests of Baal were full of outward strength and sensational action. Elijah’s strength was inward. His method was straightforward, but reverent. His faith was the power of his prayer. His God helped him to pray with complete confidence. There was no question about the outcome. Superstition overflows with rituals and ceremonies. Faith has no use for them.
38Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
The author of “The Days of Jezebel”6 has described this with admirable language:
“Scarce had he spoken when a broad white glare,
Scattering earth’s light, like darkness in its path,
Keener than lightning, calmer than the dawn,
The sword of God, that proves him by fire,
That proves him by fire in every age,
Stooped from above, and touched the sacrifice.
In the white blaze the sun grew dim, and hung
Like a pale moon upon the glimmering sky.
The fierce flame licked the water up, the wood
Crackled aloft, the very altar stones
Glowed fiery red!
Clear broke the shout from that great multitude,
‘Yahweh is the God! Jehovah, he is God.’”
39And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God.” 40And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.” And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there.
Elijah had the law of God to authorize this execution. The men were false prophets and were justly doomed to die. Elijah bared his arm for that terrible task and made the dry bed of Kishon run with blood! We do not strike at people in this way, but oh that every one of sin’s errors and superstitions were put to death. Not one of them should be allowed to escape. Lord, do this killing work among evil systems in our day!
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1 1 Kings 18:39
2 1 Kings 18:19
3 A reference to 2 Corinthians 6:15. Belial is another name for Satan or the devil.
4 a seah was a little less than two gallons. The meaning appears to be that the trench was large enough to plant over three gallons of seed.
5 Bishop Joseph Hall (1574-1656).
6 The Days of Jezebel: An Historical Drama by Peter Bayne, 1872.
Year One, November 20
And He Said, “Go Again,” Seven Times1
1 Kings 18:41-46
41And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.” (Only the prophet’s ears heard that sound. Faith is quick to hear. There was not a cloud in the burning sky and no wind from the direction where the rains usually came from, but Elijah had no doubts and did not hesitate to declare to Ahab that rain was coming where drought had been. Faith never goes beyond God’s promise, but is confident to declare that the Lord will fulfill his word.) 42So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. (Different men go to different appointments. Ahab to eat and drink; Elijah to wrestle and prevail with his God.2)
And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees. 43And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” (Faith expects results. She bows to the earth in humility, but she assumes God will work and looks toward the sea.) And he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again,” seven times. (True faith can wait. Her persistence gains strength from her Lord’s delays. She stays on the watchtower anticipating his arrival. It is a brave thing to be able to say, “Go again,” seven times.) 44And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’”
Prayer was heard, the little cloud was enough of a sign. Faith was now fully assured and made her boast even more courageously.
45And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. 46And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. (To show his loyalty, he acted as a running footman. Elijah was unyielding in his obedience to Jehovah, but he was still willing to serve the king if the king would serve the Lord.)
1 Kings 19:1-8
1Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. (Ahab was easily influenced. His conceited wife was always compelling him toward evil. Woe to the man who marries a Jezebel.) 2Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” 3Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
4But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” (His intense excitement was followed by listlessness. The thrill of a great victory was followed by depression. Man is only dust.3 He prayed to die, and yet the Lord did not intend that he would ever die. Truly we often do not know what we ask.) 5And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. (The Lord had pity on his weary and disappointed servant. Before he had fed him by ravens, then by a poor widow, and now he honors him by supplying his need by angels. We often receive our best encouragements in our worst times. And then how sweet they are!)
7And the angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” (The holy refreshment came twice. When our sorrows are multiplied, the Lord doubles our comforts.) 8And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.
A glorious journey, a heavenly fast, a divine assistance. The struggles on Mount Carmel and the disappointments in Samaria were about to be rewarded by holy fellowship at Horeb. “Blessed are all those who wait for [the Lord.]”4 He will make them a people “who are near to him.”5
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1 1 Kings 18:43
2 A reference to Genesis 32:24-33 where Jacob wrestled and saw “God face to face.”
3 Psalm 103:14, God “knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.”
4 Isaiah 30:18
5 Psalm 148:14
Year One, November 21
There Is a Remnant, Chosen by Grace1
Elijah fled from Jezebel to Horeb where he looked for fellowship with the Lord. He felt greatly annoyed and injured in his soul, because Israel remained idolatrous even after the decisive victory on Mount Carmel over the prophets of Baal. The people were still tremendously influenced by Jezebel and continued to worship Baal and the calves. Therefore Elijah went to Horeb where he could release his pent up emotions in private.
1 Kings 19:9-18
9There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (You, the brave Elijah. Why have you fled to this place? You, leader in Israel, why have you deserted your post? There is no one to teach or rebuke in this lonely, rocky place. What are you doing here?) 10He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” (He was overcome with sorrow. He could have put up with hunger and thirst and even pain; but to see the Lord blasphemed was more than his great spirit could endure. He seems exasperated that the Lord had not stopped Jezebel from killing the prophets who served the Lord. He secretly hopes to see the Lord do terrible things that will strike fear in his ungodly nation and return them to worshiping the true God.)
11And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD.” (Come out of the cave, breathe the fresh air, and see what the Lord will teach you.) And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. (This to teach Elijah that the hearts of people are not won to God by terrors and judgments, but by the gentler force of loving persuasion. Elijah was like earthquakes and fire. His ministry was powerful, but it was not successful. What was needed was a more gentle person; one whose expressive sorrow might win the rebellious people to their God.)
13And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 15And the LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death.”
The best cure for depressed spirits is more work to do for God. Elijah soon recovered his cheerfulness when he had work to do for the Lord he loved so well. After this encounter with God, Elijah never again allowed the fear of Jezebel to discourage him from his labor for the Lord. He never stopped fighting the battles of the Lord until his time of service was over and the Lord took him home. In addition, he found great joy in learning there was still a faithful few, in this backsliding nation, who continued to worship the only true God. The Lord said to him, 18“Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
The Lord knows his own. They may be forced to hide themselves because of cruel persecution, but they are not hidden from him. In these evil days, when so many have set up false gods and turned the heart of our nation away from the gospel, let us remain faithful to the Lord. Let us in no way help or assist in promoting the miserable idols that are so popular today. Let us be among the thousands “that have not bowed to Baal.”
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1 Romans 11:5
Year One, November 22
Will Not God Give Justice to His Elect?1
1 Kings 21:1-16
1Now Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2And after this Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house, and I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its value in money.” 3But Naboth said to Ahab, “The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.” (Naboth did not refuse to sell his vineyard just because he had a natural attachment to it. It was the inheritance of his fathers and the law of God prohibited this kind of sale. The land could only be sold to someone from his tribe, not to someone who belonged to another tribe. Naboth knew this law and bravely decided to obey it.)
4And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him, for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food. (Ahab acted like a spoiled, self-willed child. He was angry and upset because he could not have his way. Those who have not learned to control their desires are miserable people.)
5But Jezebel his wife came to him and said to him, “Why is your spirit so vexed that you eat no food?” 6And he said to her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money, or else, if it please you, I will give you another vineyard for it.’ And he answered, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’” 7And Jezebel his wife said to him, “Do you now govern Israel? Arise and eat bread and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.” (A domineering woman is a tool ready for the Evil One to use. Ahab was bad enough, but he was a mere beginner in evil compared with his fierce pagan queen. Bad women are often very bad; even as good women are the best of the human race.)
8So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and she sent the letters to the elders and the leaders who lived with Naboth in his city. 9And she wrote in the letters, “Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth at the head of the people. 10And set two worthless men opposite him, and let them bring a charge against him, saying, ‘You have cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.” 11And the men of his city, the elders and the leaders who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them. As it was written in the letters that she had sent to them, 12they proclaimed a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people. 13And the two worthless men came in and sat opposite him. And the worthless men brought a charge against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death with stones. (The leaders and the two men who pretended to be witnesses were entirely dishonest. They were willing and able disciples of the vicious court of Jezebel.) 14Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned; he is dead.”
A cold-blooded message indeed. Murder was no big deal in their eyes. Yet these very men had just celebrated a religious fast. Superstition has no conscience.
15As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money, for Naboth is not alive, but dead.” 16And as soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab arose to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it. (Naboth had been accused of treason. They said he had “cursed God and the king.” So Ahab claimed that Naboth’s property now belonged to the king. How could he think his actions would be blessed? Never let us dare to take anything that does not belong to us. It will be a curse to us.)
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1 Luke 18:7
Year One, November 23
Evildoers Shall Be Cut Off1
1 Kings 21:17-29
17Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 18“Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria; behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession. (The wicked will not enjoy their victories for long. Before Ahab can enjoy the land he obtained, he is served with an order from the court of God that was terrible to hear.) 19And you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Have you killed and also taken possession?”’ And you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD: “In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your own blood.”’” (Let us applaud the fearless courage of Elijah. He does not hesitate to challenge the arrogant king in the very moment of his joy. Who would like to take the prey from between the lion’s jaws? Yet this heroic man approaches his task with bravery.)
20Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” (Ungodly people often consider faithful ministers to be their enemies, when they are actually their truest friends. We should consider the person who has the courage to tell us unpleasant truth to be our real friend.) He answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the LORD. (If Ahab had not committed a crime, Elijah would not have bothered him. Elijah offended the king, because the king offended the Lord. If people’s consciences are troubled, they should not blame the preacher, but their own sins. Elijah went on to declare the complete elimination of the race of Ahab.)
21“Behold, I will bring disaster upon you. I will utterly burn you up, and will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel. 22And I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the anger to which you have provoked me, and because you have made Israel to sin. (The same sins were to be followed by the same judgments. Disaster was brought on Naboth and now disaster will be brought on Ahab. Pay attention! It is written, “But unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”2) 23And of Jezebel the LORD also said, ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel within the walls of Jezreel.’ (Here was a special word for the proud queen, from the prophet who once feared her and fled from her. God makes his servants brave when they are on his errands. Human nature may fail them, but grace will not.) 24Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city the dogs shall eat, and anyone of his who dies in the open country the birds of the heavens shall eat.”
25(There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the LORD like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited. {Unconverted people will each have their price. Give them what they want and they will sin as Satan tells them to.} 26He acted very abominably in going after idols, as the Amorites had done, whom the LORD cast out before the people of Israel.)
27And when Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his flesh and fasted and lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly. 28And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29“Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son’s days I will bring the disaster upon his house.” (Ahab’s doom was most terrible. Evidently, the threat of it had a great impact on the double-minded king. He had no grace. His sorrow was not the repentance3 of salvation. Yet even his natural fear had something about it that the Lord approved and therefore the doom was delayed for a little while. What power there is in humility and repentance! May God give us the grace to come to him through Jesus Christ in an even more acceptable way. If we add faith to our trembling, we may be quite certain that he who delayed Ahab’s judgment will save us from his judgment completely!)
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1 Psalm 37:9
2 Luke 13:5
3 repent, repentance - The act or feeling of remorse, regret, sorrow or shame that results in a change of heart or purpose.
Year One, November 24
What Accord Has Christ With Belial?1
1 Kings 22:1-9; 13-14; 23; 28; 30-35; 37-38
1For three years Syria and Israel continued without war.
This was evidently a remarkably long time of peace. What an unhappy condition for these poor but sinful people to be in a continual state of war. There was hardly a family that had not experienced the violence of war or the loss of a father or sons.
2But in the third year Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. 3And the king of Israel said to his servants, “Do you know that Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, and we keep quiet and do not take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?” 4And he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead?” And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” (A good person should not join with an idolater so easily.)
5And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Inquire first for the word of the LORD.” 6Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” (There are always plenty of false prophets, because there is money to be made.) 7But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not here another prophet of the LORD of whom we may inquire?” 8And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, Micaiah the son of Imlah, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.” (This rebuke was far too mild. Fellowship with evil people tends to lower the standards of even the best of people.) 9Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, “Bring quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah.”
13And the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, “Behold, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king. Let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.” (This was an evil attempt to keep the prophet from doing the right thing. But Micaiah was a true disciple of Elijah and could not be tempted to join the crowd.) 14But Micaiah said, “As the LORD lives, what the LORD says to me, that I will speak.”
23(And Micaiah said to the king), “Now therefore behold, The LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the LORD has declared disaster for you.”
28“If you return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Hear, all you peoples!”
He spoke like a man of God and called on everyone who was there to be a witness of his prophecy.
30And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your robes.” And the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle. (King Ahab was very cruel. It did not bother him to protect himself and leave his friend exposed to danger. If we keep company with bad people, we will discover they will not hesitate to see us ruined if they think doing so will be to their advantage.) 31Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, “Fight with neither small nor great, but only with the king of Israel.” 32And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is surely the king of Israel.” So they turned to fight against him. And Jehoshaphat cried out. 33And when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him. (This was a special deliverance. We read in 2 Chronicles 18:31 that, “Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; God drew them away from him.” The great danger he found himself him in must have made him feel how wrong he was to associate with Ahab.)
34But a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate. Therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded.” 35And the battle continued that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Syrians, until at evening he died. And the blood of the wound flowed into the bottom of the chariot.
37So the king died, and was brought to Samaria. And they buried the king in Samaria. 38And they washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood, and the prostitutes washed themselves in it, according to the word of the LORD that he had spoken.2
That arrow shot “at random” was guided by divine vengeance. Every syllable of Elijah’s threatening prophecy proved true. “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. ... Your righteous acts have been revealed.”3
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1 2 Corinthians 6:15
2 New King James: “and the dogs licked up the blood while the harlots bathed, according to the word of the LORD which he had spoken.”
3 Revelation 15:4
Year One, November 25
Should You Help the Wicked?1
2 Chronicles 19:1-11
1Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned in safety to his house in Jerusalem. (His rescue from being killed in the battle was very special. Let us hope he was deeply grateful for it. He had foolishly placed himself in danger. It was great mercy that saved him from almost certain death. However, we see that his behavior did not go unrebuked.) 2But Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the LORD. 3Nevertheless, some good is found in you, for you destroyed the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God.”
Jehu’s father had rebuked King Asa and was put in prison,2 but this did not stop the son from doing his duty. He spoke personally and clearly to King Jehoshaphat. He did not hesitate to deliver the Lord’s threatening message. The result was good. The king recognized his sin. He began to do all the good he could. This showed that his repentance was real.
4Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem. And he went out again among the people, from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers.
After we have turned to God, the best thing we can do is to use our influence to convert others.
5He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, 6and said to the judges, “Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the LORD. He is with you in giving judgment. 7Now then, let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the LORD our God, or partiality or taking bribes.”
In all our interactions we are obligated to be absolutely fair. We should never allow the threats or smiles of anyone keep us from doing the right thing. Our heavenly Father is righteous and all his children should be too. Judges are not the only ones who can be bribed. Employees may be bribed to allow suppliers to rob their employers; employers may be tempted to treat their employees unfairly; and children may be persuaded by gifts or threats to tell lies. These things must not happen or we will grieve the Holy Spirit of God.3
8Moreover, in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed certain Levites and priests and heads of families of Israel, to give judgment for the LORD and to decide disputed cases. They had their seat at Jerusalem.
This was to be a central court where difficult cases would be decided. What a blessing it is that in the New Jerusalem we have one who is called Wonderful Counselor,4 and no case is too hard for him.
9And he charged them: “Thus you shall do in the fear of the LORD, in faithfulness, and with your whole heart: 10whenever a case comes to you from your brothers who live in their cities, concerning bloodshed, law or commandment, statutes or rules, then you shall warn them that they may not incur guilt before the LORD and wrath may not come upon you and your brothers. Thus you shall do, and you will not incur guilt. (And today it is still necessary to urge one another to do the right thing. What others think about us is not what is important. Disciples of Jesus should always be honest. If honor is expelled from all the rest of the world, it should still live in the heart of believers.)
11“And behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the governor of the house of Judah, in all the king’s matters, and the Levites will serve you as officers. Deal courageously, and may the LORD be with the upright!” (Let this be our motto in everything we do. The person who acts uprightly never has a reason for fear, because God is with them. Children, learn this line by heart, “Deal courageously, and may the Lord be with the upright!”)
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1 2 Chronicles 19:2
2 2 Chronicles 16:10
3 Ephesians 4:29-30a: “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.”
4 Isaiah 9:6 or Wonderful Lawyer
Year One, November 26
The Battle Is Not Yours but God’s1
2 Chronicles 20:1-15; 17-19
1After this (the reforms of Jehoshaphat including the appointment of “certain Levites and priests and heads of families of Israel, to give judgment for the LORD and to decide disputed cases”2), the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle.
This was discipline against Jehoshaphat for joining with wicked Ahab. Now the wicked join against him. But it was sent in love and therefore it ended well.
2aSome men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you.” 3Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. (He not only feared these invaders because of their huge numbers, but because the Lord sent him the prophet to declare that God’s anger would be shown. However, his fears drove him to prayer. When this is the case, things are certain to get better.) 4And Judah assembled to seek help from the LORD; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD. (Great troubles can only be met by great prayer. Let us use this certain cure when we meet with trials.)
5And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, 6and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. 7Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, 9‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’ 10And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy— 11behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. 12O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
This was a noble prayer. The king reminded the Lord of his mighty power and supremacy; and, of his favors to his people in times past. Then he reminded him of his promise and covenant with his people. This is the way we should pray too. The last sentence is especially sweet: “Our eyes are on you.” They looked to the Lord alone for direction, help, protection and encouragement. We are sure to see good when our eyes are fixed on God alone.
13Meanwhile all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. (The prayers of even little ones are powerful with God. All our family should learn to pray. And in times of distress each one should assist in calling on the Lord for help.) 14And the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel,…a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly.
When all his people humbly cry to him, God will soon send a loving word.
15And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s.’”
17“‘You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you.” (When the Lord takes up the battle for his people he makes short work of their enemies.)
18Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping the LORD.
God’s great mercy humbled them to the point of adoration. They did not question the truth of the promise, but immediately worshiped him gratefully.
19And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
This was real faith. Can we not also praise the Lord for favors yet to come? He will bless us, so we should bless him right now.
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1 2 Chronicles 20:15
2 2 Chronicles 19:8
Year One, November 27
God Reigns Over the Nations1
2 Chronicles 20:20-30
20And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” 21And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say,
“Give thanks to the LORD,
for his steadfast love endures forever.”
They marched in faith, they sang in faith and they prepared in faith. Oh that we could meet our daily trials in the same way. We would then experience great deliverances from the Lord and praise him even more.
22And when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. (The people sang more or less all the way. They sang as they got started, but when they got close to the enemy they sang louder and louder. Then the Lord began to work. The Lord threw the various nations into confusion and they began to fight against one another.) 23For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.
24When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked toward the horde, and behold, there were dead bodies lying on the ground; none had escaped. (They marched with hallelujahs and were more than conquerors. They did not need to strike a blow. Let us as a family make up a hallelujah band and continually magnify the Lord.2) 25When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found among them, in great numbers, goods, clothing, and precious things, which they took for themselves until they could carry no more. They were three days in taking the spoil, it was so much. (Faith wins even more than she expects, a blessing that she does not have enough room to receive.)
26On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah (or Valley of Blessing), for there they blessed the LORD. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Beracah to this day. 27Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies. 28They came to Jerusalem with harps and lyres and trumpets, to the house of the LORD. (Those who praise before the blessing are sure to praise afterwards. What a glorious hymn of praise they sang before the Lord.)
29And the fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.
We will now read the Psalm that was very likely sung by the people on their triumphant return to the temple.
Psalm 47
1 Clap your hands, all peoples!
Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
2 For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared,
a great king over all the earth.
3 He subdued peoples under us,
and nations under our feet.
4 He chose our heritage for us,
the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah
5 God has gone up with a shout,
the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
7 For God is the King of all the earth;
sing praises with a psalm!
8 God reigns over the nations;
God sits on his holy throne.
9 The princes of the peoples gather
as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
he is highly exalted!
The Lord Jesus will come again a second time after he overcomes all his enemies and ours, and we will rejoice in words like these. We may sing to the Lord even now, because he has already won a glorious victory. His own right hand and his holy arm have already succeeded.
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1 Psalm 47:8
2 Psalm 34:3, “Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!”
Year One, November 28
Our God Is a Consuming Fire1
2 Kings 1:2-13; 15-17
We now return to the history of the kingdom of Israel.
2Now Ahaziah (the son of Ahab) fell through the lattice in his upper chamber in Samaria, and lay sick; so he sent messengers, telling them, “Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this sickness.” (Shame on an Israelite for going to a Philistine god and leaving the God of heaven for the god of flies.) 3But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? 4Now therefore thus says the LORD, You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’” So Elijah went. (He appeared to the messengers without warning, delivered his prophecy and left suddenly. The messengers of Ahaziah must have been astonished to meet with a man who knew their assignment and gave them an answer to a question they had never mentioned to him.)
5The messengers returned to the king, and he said to them, “Why have you returned?” 6And they said to him, “There came a man to meet us, and said to us, ‘Go back to the king who sent you, and say to him, Thus says the LORD, Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’” 7He said to them, “What kind of man was he who came to meet you and told you these things?” 8They answered him, “He wore a garment of hair, with a belt of leather about his waist.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”
Then, like a true son of Jezebel, he decided to have Elijah killed. Ahaziah was certain that he would never have rest as long as the troublesome prophet survived.
9Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty men with his fifty. He went up to Elijah, who was sitting on the top of a hill, and said to him, “O man of God, the king says, ‘Come down.’” 10But Elijah answered the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.
We serve a prophet who is gentler than Elijah. The Lord Jesus rebuked his disciples when they talked about calling down fire from heaven on his enemies.2 Elijah lived in a different age. He answered the anger of a king by a calm act of faith and the soldiers who came to arrest him lay dead at his feet.
11And the king sent to him another captain of fifty men with his fifty. And he answered and said to him, “O man of God, this is the king’s order, ‘Come down quickly!’” (This captain was more insistent than the first one. He ordered Elijah to surrender immediately. His approach was virtually asking for destruction.) 12But Elijah answered them, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.
13Again the king sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up and came and fell on his knees before Elijah and entreated him, “O man of God, please let my life, and the life of these fifty servants of yours, be precious in your sight. (This captain was wise. Ahaziah had forced him to perform this dangerous mission, but he cast himself on the prophet’s mercy. Humility turns the sword of vengeance away. It is wise to be humble before the Lord.)
15Then the angel of the LORD said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So he arose and went down with him to the king (He came to the gates of Samaria with boldness. He entered the royal palace no longer afraid of Jezebel. The Lord had given his servant such a command of the situation that no one dared to stop him.) 16and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron—is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his word?—therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’”
17aSo he died according to the word of the LORD that Elijah had spoken.
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1 Hebrews 12:29
2 Luke 9:54-55
Year One, November 29
We Shall Not All Sleep, but We Shall All Be Changed1
2 Kings 2:1-14
1Now when the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel.” (Gilgal was where a school for the prophets was located. Elijah’s last earthly work was to visit these schools. No one can overestimate the importance of our theological colleges being filled with holy men. Do we pray for students as we should?) But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. (Elijah knew his time for leaving this world was near and he wanted time alone to pour out his soul before the Lord. He was also a humble man and did not wish others to see his glorious departure and perhaps think more of him than they should. However, God had arranged that Elisha would see his master’s ascension to heaven. The Lord does not intend for his finest works to go unnoticed. Believers who would rather not have attention called to themselves are still “known and read by all.”2)
3And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the LORD will take away your master from over you?” And he said, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.”
4Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. 5The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the LORD will take away your master from over you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.”
6Then Elijah said to him, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. (Elisha could not be shaken off. He felt that he must see the last of his master and must obtain a parting blessing from him.) 7Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8Then Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up and struck the water, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground. (In the past, the river had been at flood stage or dried up at the command of the prophet as he opened or shut up heaven. Now it opened to give him a dry passage. In this, as in many other ways, Elijah was like Moses, who divided the waters of the Red Sea.)
9When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.”
Elisha understood how difficult it would be to be Elijah’s successor. He concluded that he would need a double measure of grace to follow in his footsteps. His request shows that his heart was in his lifework and that he had forsaken every selfish desire. Hs only ambition was to serve his God.
10And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” (It was not in Elijah’s power to give the Holy Spirit. But he could ask it for his friend and give him a sign that the request was granted.) 11And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. (This was a proper departure for one whose fiery spirit and whirlwind force had made all Israel tremble. Elijah was the only mortal to be visibly carried to heaven. Remarkable faithfulness was honored by a remarkable departure.)
12And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” (Elijah had been the protector of Israel, the chariot and horseman of the nation. Now that he is gone, what will Israel do? This was Elisha’s main thought.) And he saw him no more.
Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 13And he took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.
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1 1 Corinthians 15:51
2 2 Corinthians 3:2
Year One, November 30
Whoever Receives You Receives Me1
2 Kings 4:1-14
1Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.”
This was the severe practice of that time. A man’s sons were forced to serve his creditor until his debts were paid, even though their father was dead. The sorrows of this poor woman piled on. Her husband was dead, he left her in debt and her children were going to be taken from her to serve someone else.
2And Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?” (She would be forced to turn over anything of value to pay toward the debts) And she said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” (She was extremely poor. She was a prophet’s wife, but the people were too fond of their idols to give much to the Lord’s servants.) 3Then he said, “Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few. 4Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside.” 5So she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her. 6When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another.” Then the oil stopped flowing.
If we have faith in God, his grace will fill up all our emptiness. When we are unable to receive more, the blessing will be put on hold. This is not because the Lord has used up his power, but because we are not able to hold any more. “According to your faith be it done to you.”2 Great faith shall have great supplies. If we do not have enough, the fault lies completely with us.
7She came and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”
She must pay her debts first and then the remainder will be hers. She had no right to any of the oil until the creditors were satisfied. It was not a sin for her not to pay her husband’s debts when she had no way of paying them. But the moment it was in her power to pay them, she was obligated to do so. It would be good if all Christian people remember this. We are told to, “Pay to all what is owed to them,”3 but the shame is that debt is all too common among Christians.
8One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food. 9And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. 10Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there.”
11One day he came there, and he turned into the chamber and rested there.
We read how Elisha had helped a poor woman. Now he is entertained by a rich woman. God repays those who show mercy. It was a great honor to this Shunammite woman to be allowed to show kindness to the Lord’s servant. She showed her true godliness by doing this without being asked. She provided the good man with everything necessary and, even more, a quiet room all to himself where he would be undisturbed by the business of the household.
12And he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite.” When he had called her, she stood before him. 13And he said to him, “Say now to her, ‘See, you have taken all this trouble for us; what is to be done for you? Would you have a word spoken on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’” She answered, “I dwell among my own people.” (That is, she was content with her life. She did not wish for a special favor from the king.) 14And he said, “What then is to be done for her?” Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.”
Gehazi suggested to the prophet that the birth of a child would fill the house with joy and the Lord granted the generous woman her desire. Those who serve the Lord and are kind to his people will be honored by their Lord. May our house always be open to the ministers of Christ, as our way of showing appreciation for their Lord.
1 Matthew 10:40
2 Matthew 9:29
3 Romans 13:7
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