The Chapter-A-Day thread. (2)

[agamemnonoftroy]

1 Kings Chapter 21

Todays story is Ahab covets Naboth's vineyard

Naboth had a vineyard next to the kings palace (verse 1)

Ahab wanted the vineyard for a garden. Ahab offered to buy it or give Naboth a better vineyard somewhere else (verse 2)

When Naboth said no, Ahab went to bed and refused to eat, such was his anger (verse 4)

Jezebel the wife of Ahab hatched a complicated plan to get Naboth stoned for blasphemy (verse 10)

So King Ahab got the vineyard that he wanted (verse 16)

So what can we learn from this chapter

King Ahab was a rich man and had lots of vineyards. Notwithstanding his vast wealth he wanted Naboth's vineyard as well as all his own land.

Ahab did not need Naboth's vineyard. It was just greed.

In our own lives we should be more thankful for all Gods wonderful gifts to us. We should not always be worried that someone else had a better one than we have.

This goes back to the 10 Commandments. Thou shalt not covet. It would do us all good to remember that commandment in our daily lives.

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

1 Kings Chapter 21 verse 17

Elijah tells Ahab that he will die because of the murder of Naboth (verse 19)

And of Jezebel also spake the Lord saying, The dogs shall eat Jexebel by the walls of Jezreel (verse 23).

God also says that the male heirs of Ahab will also be wiped out (verse 24)

Part of this punishment upon Ahab was for encouraging the Israelites to worship idols (verse 26)

Here is one of the main differences between the Old and New Testaments

In the Old Testament God was constantly punishing the Israelites for worshiping idols.

God makes a promise to Ahab that his decendents will be wiped out because Ahab encouraged the Israelites to worship idols.

The worship of idols breaks the first Commandment. In the Old Testament worshiping idols got God more angry than anything else.

When we get to the New Testament there is very little talk of idols. Jesus was more concerned with hypocricy, and the way that the Pharisees had led the Israelites astray in their false teaching of the scriptures.

Love thy neighbour as thyself is more dominant in the teaching of Jesus.

 

[rick357]

*[[Col 3:5]] NHEB-ME* Put to death, therefore, whatever is worldly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

The OT is about an earthly kingdom and obediance...the NT ups the ante and is about a kingdom that reaches to the soul of man in his heart and mind not just his actions.
It serves to show us that idolatry was not about superstition but instead those things Paul has listed as wordly...and in short the self.

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

*[[Col 3:5]] NHEB-ME* Put to death, therefore, whatever is worldly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

The OT is about an earthly kingdom and obediance...the NT ups the ante and is about a kingdom that reaches to the soul of man in his heart and mind not just his actions.
It serves to show us that idolatry was not about superstition but instead those things Paul has listed as wordly...and in short the self.

Rick357 There is a definite change of emphsis between the Old and New Testaments.

The main enemies of Jesus seemed to be the Pharisees in the New Testament.

I believe that Jesus suggested that money could be an idol.

Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

Matthew 19 verse 24

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

Rick357 There is a definite change of emphsis between the Old and New Testaments.

The main enemies of Jesus seemed to be the Pharisees in the New Testament.

I believe that Jesus suggested that money could be an idol.

Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

Matthew 19 verse 24

Rick357,

There is an interpretation of what Jesus said that the eye of a needle was a small gate, and camels could only go through if they crouched on their knees.

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

1 Kings Chapter 22

King Jehosophat of Judah, and King Ahab of Israel were considering starting a war with Syria.

The prophet Micaiah said dont go to war, so Ahab put him in prison (verse 27)

Ahab and Jehosophat started a war with Syria against Micaiah's advice.

During the battle Ahab was hit by an arrow and died (verse 34)

That was the end of the war with Syria (verse 36)

Ahab's son Ahaziah became King of Israel (verse 40).

He only reigned for 2 years over Israel (verse 51)

Ahaziah was an evil king and worshiped Baal (verse 53)

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

1 Kings Chapter 22

Jehosophat was King of Judah for 25 years (verse 42).

God was mostly pleased with Jehosophat (verse 43)

Jehosophat made peace with the King of Israel (verse 44)

Jehosophat took all the sodomites out of the land (verse 46)

After Jehosophat died his son Jehoram became King of Judah (verse 50)

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

1 Kings Chapter 22

King Jehosophat of Judah, and King Ahab of Israel were considering starting a war with Syria.

The prophet Micaiah said dont go to war, so Ahab put him in prison (verse 27)

Ahab and Jehosophat started a war with Syria against Micaiah's advice.

During the battle Ahab was hit by an arrow and died (verse 34)

That was the end of the war with Syria (verse 36)

Ahab's son Ahaziah became King of Israel (verse 40).

He only reigned for 2 years over Israel (verse 51)

Ahaziah was an evil king and worshiped Baal (verse 53)

Rick357

Ahab was an evil king. God planned for Ahab to die in battle against Syria.

God planned that Ahab's advisors would give him false advise, so that Ahab would die.

This brings us to the end of the First Book of Kings.

The Second Book of Kings continues with the story of reign of Ahab's son King Ahaziah of Israel.

What we have learnt from the First Book of Kings is that in the Old Testament God became very angry with the kings of Israel when they worshiped Baal. There are 10 Commandments. Worshiping Baal broke the first Commandment.

 

[rick357]

It would seem if we take Pauls definition of idolatry and compare it to the works of the flesh listed by him we find they are inclusive of each other....Pauls conclusion is those who do such things will not inherate the kingdom of heaven...same God same result.
Also with Genesis through 2nd Samuel the actions are coming from God with men reacting...God said...God moved...God apperred...God lead....with Kings it seems evil men are doing their will and God is now reacting

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

It would seem if we take Pauls definition of idolatry and compare it to the works of the flesh listed by him we find they are inclusive of each other....Pauls conclusion is those who do such things will not inherate the kingdom of heaven...same God same result.
Also with Genesis through 2nd Samuel the actions are coming from God with men reacting...God said...God moved...God apperred...God lead....with Kings it seems evil men are doing their will and God is now reacting

Rick357,

Paul the Apostle identifies the worship of created things (rather than the Creator) as the cause of the disintegration of sexual and social morality in his letter to the Romans.

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

Welcome to the Second Book of Kings

2 Kings Chapter 1

The son of Ahab had a nasty fall at his home.

Ahaziah felt he was going to die as a result of this nasty fall.

He sent messengers to the servants of Baalzebub for a prognosis (verse 2).

Elijah intercepted the messengers and said that there was already a God in Israel.

Elijah sent he message that Ahaziah would die from his injuries.

Ahaziah did not like the message from Elijah and sent a captain and 50 men to arrest Elijah.

Elijah killed then all with fire from heaven (verse 10).

So Ahaziah set another captain and another 50 men to arrest Elijah.

So Elijah killed this next fifty with fire from heaven (verse 12)

A third captain and a third fifty men were sen to arrest Elijah (verse 13).

But this time the captain begged for mercy on his knees, that he not be killed as all the previous men.

Elijah went with this captain to see Ahaziah. Elijah to told Ahaziah that he would die.

Ahaziah was to die because he sent messengers to Baalzebub (verse 16).

Ahaziah died from his injuries. Ahaziah had no sons. So the hereditory line of Ahab ended here.

God destroyed the hereditory line of Ahab, because he was evil and had worshiped Baal.

The next king was Jehoram (verse 17)

Jehoram was the son of Jehoshaphat King of Judah.

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

So what can we learn from reading this chapter.

1/ First we can learn that God destroyed the line of Ahab becaues he worshiped Baal.

2/ Baal is also called Baalzebub.

3/ Elijah could call down fire from heaven to kill the soldiers King Ahaziah.

4/ Jehoshaphat's son Jehoram became King of Israel.

5/ One would hope that this would create peace between Israel and Judah.

6/ Jehoshaphat worshiped God. Hopefully his son Jehoram would follow in his father's footsteps and also worship God.

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

Rick357,

This thread was started on 8th August 2014.

It followed on from a previous thread, the when it reached 1000 posts.

(At 1000 posts a thread closes and has to be started anew)

The previous thread was started about a year ago February 2014.

In February 2014 there was great enthusiam for this thread which started by studying Genesis.

But a year later only Brinny is still going. I am new I joined during Deuteronomy.

Was the original idea of a chapter a day too ambitious ?

Or is it just the fact that its going to take about 4 years to finish the whole Bible puts people off ?

 

[rick357]

Rick357,

This thread was started on 8th August 2014.

It followed on from a previous thread, the when it reached 1000 posts.

(At 1000 posts a thread closes and has to be started anew)

The previous thread was started about a year ago February 2014.

In February 2014 there was great enthusiam for this thread which started by studying Genesis.

But a year later only Brinny is still going. I am new I joined during Deuteronomy.

Was the original idea of a chapter a day too ambitious ?

Or is it just the fact that its going to take about 4 years to finish the whole Bible puts people off ?

Soloman said there is nothing new under the sun...what has been shall be...If you have been here through deuteronomy...Judges...Samuel...then you have seen how the heart of men can grow dim in its service to God...this is why Jesus has made a covenant where the flesh can be removed....most who believe they live in this new covenant are operating in the old....the hard truth is in the end times people will not endure sound teaching...and the Spirit is our teacher....one can not diminish the written word without making the living word little...

Father I ask that you would strengthen the faith of myself and my brethern...make us to abandon the flesh in everyway that your Spiriit would live throuh us....bringing us into a love for you and all you have revealed to us....by your grace let us endure to the end with full assurance in you...Amen

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

Soloman said there is nothing new under the sun...what has been shall be...If you have been here through deuteronomy...Judges...Samuel...then you have seen how the heart of men can grow dim in its service to God...this is why Jesus has made a covenant where the flesh can be removed....most who believe they live in this new covenant are operating in the old....the hard truth is in the end times people will not endure sound teaching...and the Spirit is our teacher....one can not diminish the written word without making the living word little...

Father I ask that you would strengthen the faith of myself and my brethern...make us to abandon the flesh in everyway that your Spiriit would live throuh us....bringing us into a love for you and all you have revealed to us....by your grace let us endure to the end with full assurance in you...Amen

Rick357

Thank you for your beautiful prayer Rick357.

Let God give us all strength to tread the path before us. May God guide us so that we are treading the paths of rightiousness. Let our hearts be filled with happiness during this season of goodwill. Let us be happy for all the wonderful Christians that will be going to church and giving thanks for the birth of the baby Jesus.
Amen.

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

2 Kings Chapter 2

Elijah goes to Heaven

Elijah was getting old and soon a wirlwind would take him up to heaven (verse 1)

Elijah went travelling with Elisha to Gilgal. Because Elisha was to be the next great prophet of God.

Elijah said tarry here for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel (verse 2)

Elisha said "As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee" and so they went to Bethel.

Elijah said tarry here for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho (verse 4)

Elisha said "As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee" and so they went to Jericho.

Elijah said tarry here for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan (verse 6)

Elisha said "As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee" and they went to Jordan.

Elijah smote the River Jordan with his mantle and the waters parted and they crossed on dry land.

Eljah asked Elisha if there was anything he wanted.

Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah's spirit to be upon him (verse 9).

Elijah said if you see me taken up to heaven then your wish will be done.

As they talked a chariot of fire appeared, and horses of fire appeared.
And Elijah was taken up to heaven in wirlwind (verse 11)

 

[rick357]

2 Kings Chapter 2

Elijah goes to Heaven

Elijah was getting old and soon a wirlwind would take him up to heaven (verse 1)

Elijah went travelling with Elisha to Gilgal. Because Elisha was to be the next great prophet of God.

Elijah said tarry here for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel (verse 2)

Elisha said "As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee" and so they went to Bethel.

Elijah said tarry here for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho (verse 4)

Elisha said "As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee" and so they went to Jericho.

Elijah said tarry here for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan (verse 6)

Elisha said "As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee" and they went to Jordan.

Elijah smote the River Jordan with his mantle and the waters parted and they crossed on dry land.

Eljah asked Elisha if there was anything he wanted.

Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah's spirit to be upon him (verse 9).

Elijah said if you see me taken up to heaven then your wish will be done.

As they talked a chariot of fire appeared, and horses of fire appeared.
And Elijah was taken up to heaven in wirlwind (verse 11)

One of those mysterious stories...where we see what has happened but with no clue why...like Enoch he is simply taken....can we stand as Elijah trusting God against a nation...to turn peoples hearts back to God...An amazing man of God.

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

2 Kings Chapter 2

Elisha takes up the mantle of Elijah

And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. (verse 12)

Then Elisha picked up Elijah's mantle and struck the Jordan with it.

The waters of the Jordan parted and Elisha crossed over the Jordan (verse14)

Although Elisha told them not to go, 50 men went searching 3 days for Elijah (verse 18)

The men of Jericho told Elisha the water was bitter and the ground barren.

Elisha poured some salt on the spring. The water became pure and the ground fertile (verse 21)

Elisha travelled to Bethel. On the way some unruly little children came out of the city (verse 23)

The little children mocked Elisha saying:-
Go up, thou bald head.
Go up, thou bald head.

Elisha cursed the children in the name of the Lord (verse 24)

And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them (verse 24)

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

One of those mysterious stories...where we see what has happened but with no clue why...like Enoch he is simply taken....can we stand as Elijah trusting God against a nation...to turn peoples hearts back to God...An amazing man of God.

Rick357

I believe there were only two ordinany men in the Bible that did not die, Elijah and Enoch.

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

So what can we learn from Chapter 2 ?

1/ Elijah did not die, but was taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire.

2/ Elisha was rewarded for his perseverance with special powers.

3/ Although Elisha cries out "My father" he was not actually the son of Elijah.

4/ Elisha had special powers to part the waters of the River Jordan.

5/ Elisha had special power to make water pure and make land fertile.

6/ The mocks of "Go up, thou bald head" led to serious results.

As a boy I was told the the children were probably teenagers, although it does not actually say teenagers. It would seem unlikely that very young children would come out as a mob and annoy an important prophet of God.

Superficially the chant "Go up, thou bald head" does not seems particularly nasty, but it may be that it represented something very much deeper. Could this chant represent a rejection of God ?

Why would children reject God ? My opinon is that they had another god. My opinion is they were worshipers of Baal. This was Israel, previously the kingdon of Ahab and Jezebel.

If there is one things that makes God angry it is breaking the first Commandment. People that worshiped Baal always got very harsh treatment from God.

This is my opinoin. But I must say that the scriptures do not say the children were worshipers of Baal. That is only my own personal opinion, about why the punishment of the childen was so severe.