Hebrews 11 - Faith in Action from the Old Testament

LINK: Hebrews 11 (Memorize 11:6)

BACKGROUND 

This chapter is often called the "Hall of Fame of Faith" as the writer gives an example of Old Testament people "who through faith and patience inherit the promises" (6:12). It will be a fun review of what we read in the first year of the Bible Book Club!

In the description of what faith does and how it works (11:1-3), let's define three Greek words:

Assurance (hupostasis - hupo, under, histēmi, to stand) literally, "to stand under." Amplified says, "the confirmation, the title deed."

Conviction (elegchos) - "a proof, that by which a thing is proved or tested" (Enhanced Strong's Lexicon, 1650).  Amplified says, "faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses." 

Commended/Gained Approval (martureo) - literally, "obtained a good testimony," "to bear witness i.e., to affirm that one has seen or heard or experienced something or that he knows it because taught by divine revelation or inspiration" (Enhanced Strong's Lexicon, 3140). This word also occurs twice in 11:4, once in 11:5 and 39. 

The "ancients" who bore witness (11:3) are the "great cloud of witnesses" mentioned in Hebrews 12:1. They witness to us through their examples of faith.  God spoke to them through His Word, and they obeyed despite not seeing with their eyes what God had promised. 

God's Word even made something out of nothing in Creation. We do not see Him, but He is evidenced by what He has made. Though not a person, Creation is the first "witness" that God is real (Genesis 1:1-31)!

I will not go into each story about each of the "ancients" who bore witness, but I have created one link to all the Bible Book Club posts about all the people listed in this Hebrews 11:4-32. In addition, I included the people connected to the incidences in Hebrews 11:33-38 even though their names were not mentioned:

The Hall of Fame of Faith

These posts are just to refresh your memory in case you forgot about their stories. It will be fun to see if you can remember them on your own. What a great review! Most Bibles will also have a cross-reference to their stories in the margin. Have fun! 

These people of faith died but did not necessarily see all that they had been promised. They looked beyond this world to heaven ("the better country") and better things to come (11:20).  If they had received it, it would have been sight and not faith!

All of these men and women were so convinced of God's faithfulness that they radically changed their lives according to His will and word; some even to the point of torture and death (11:35; 1 Kings 17:17-24; 2 Kings 4:18-37).  May we follow their example!

Hebrews 11:6 is a good verse to remember and memorize about faith:

And without faith it is impossible to please Him,

for he who comes to God must believe that He is

and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. 

None of these people received God's total reward because they died before Christ came. But they will be rewarded with followers of Christ too! We have received God's total reward in Jesus Christ. Can you say HALLELUJAH?

REFLECTION/APPLICATION 

"Faith is putting all your eggs in God's basket, 

then counting your blessings before they hatch." 

"Seeing is believing" may be a good rule of thumb when buying a used car but it is a poor way to live the Christian life. For the one desiring to live in a God-honoring manner, the quote might better read: "Not seeing is believing," because "faith is being . . . certain of what we do not see" (11:1). 

Receiving Jesus as your Savior was an act of faith in which you accepted the trustworthiness and credibility of God, banking your life and eternity on His promises. But the exercise of faith doesn't end at salvation. By faith, God's people were courageous in battle, patient in suffering, and joyful in difficulty. They acted in response to His commands and promises, even when they could not see the reason for what they were asked to do. 

Is faith the operating principle in your life today? Or is your motto "seeing is believing"? To help boost your faith take a piece of paper and see if you can list at least 10 things you know are true about God but that you can't see with your eyes. For example, "God is loving. He works everything together for good." Now think through the decisions and responsibilities you will face in the next 24 hours and determine to put your faith to work. (The Daily Walk, December 2008, p. 18)  

PRAYER

Praise to You for giving us the total reward, Jesus! Thank You that You have given us everything we need to walk by faith and not by sight. Thank You that we have the Scriptures that tell us about these wonderful Old Testament heroes of the faith. May we follow their example today. Amen. 

Daniel 6 - Shutting the Lions' Mouths and the Bottom Line

LINK: Daniel 6

BACKGROUND

The Chronological Order of the Book of Daniel 

Daniel 1–4: Captivity and interpretation of dreams and visions (Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar) 

Daniel 7: Vision of the four beasts (Babylon, Belshazzar) 

Daniel 8: Vision of the ram and he-goat (Babylon, Belshazzar) 

Daniel 5: Belshazzar’s feast—Conquest of Babylon (Babylon, Belshazzar) 

Daniel 9: Vision of the seventy weeks (Persia, Darius) 

Daniel 6: Daniel in the lions’ den (Persia, Darius) 

Daniel 10–12: Daniel’s prayer and visions (Persia, Cyrus) (Wiersbe, W. W. Be resolute, p. 9)

There is much debate about King Darius because there is no historical evidence for his reign outside of the Bible. Here are three possible explanations:

1) Darius may be another word for Cyrus. Daniel 6:28 may be translated as, "So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius even the reign of Cyrus the Persian." It was common for ancient rulers to use different names in various parts of their realms (D.J. Wiseman, "Some Historical Problems in the Book of Daniel," in Notes on Some Problems in the Book of Daniel, pp. 12-14). 

2) Darius may be Ugbaru, the conqueror of Babylon. He was appointed by Cyrus at the age of 62 and died a few weeks after the conquest and eight days after Cyrus' arrival on November 6 (William H. Shea, "Darius the Mede: An Update," Andrews University Seminary Studies 20, Autumn 1982, pp.229-47).

3) Darius was Cambyses, Cyrus' son. He ruled Persia from 530-522 B.C. (Charles Boutflower, In and Around the Book of Daniel, 1977, pp.142-55.).  (The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, 1:1347)

By the way, this Darius the Mede is not to be confused with Darius I mentioned in Ezra, Haggai, and Zechariah or Darius II (Persian) mentioned in Nehemiah.

The other two administrators and 120 satraps appointed by Darius were probably jealous of Daniel's equal position with them and resented him because he was a Judean. Because Daniel did nothing to warrant criticism, they had to accuse him of something. They knew Daniel would not worship Darius. So, they had Darius make a rule that those who did not worship him would be thrown in the lions' den. Of course, Daniel worshiped God alone and Darius was bound to throw him into the lions' den even though it greatly distressed him (5:6, 9). God miraculously shut the lions' mouths, and Daniel was not harmed. Darius is overjoyed and throws Daniel's accusers and their families into the den.

There are two levels to this story. The first is that God has miraculous power to protect people ("top line" blessing), but the "bottom line" of this story is that "all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land" heard of the God of Daniel because of Darius' proclamation:

I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel; For He is the living God and enduring forever, And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, And His dominion will be forever. He delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has also delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. (Daniel 6:26-27)

God was glorified among the peoples of the earth! This is the "bottom line" of this great story!

REFLECTION

What is all this "top line - bottom line" stuff? Here is a short video that explains a bit of it:

This just gets me so excited! Please watch it!!!

Here is also more from . . . 

CHARACTERISTICS OF DANIEL

He realized that he had a work to do 

Like Joseph in Egypt, Daniel didn’t complain about his lot in life but tried with God’s help to make the best use of it. He knew that the sovereign Lord whom he trusted had a special plan for his life and he sought to fulfill it. He didn’t campaign for promotions; the Lord brought them to him. He did his work well, he was a faithful and dependable servant, and even his enemies couldn’t find anything to criticize (Dan. 6:1–5). If anybody deserved the divine approval of Jesus found in Matthew 25:21, it was Daniel. 

Daniel was both a government employee and a prophet of the Lord. God gave him his high position so he could use it to serve the Lord and the Lord’s people. The record doesn’t tell us, but there may have been many times when Daniel represented the Jewish captives before the king and helped to make life easier for them. He may have influenced the decision of Cyrus to allow the Jews to go back home. We need dedicated believers in places of authority, men and women who can be examples of godliness and instruments of righteousness. 

He had a disciplined prayer life

Jewish people were accustomed to pray at nine o’clock in the morning, noon, and three o’clock in the afternoon, the third, sixth, and ninth hours of the day, and Daniel carried that discipline with him to Babylon. Those who set aside special times of prayer are more likely to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thes. 5:17), for the special times of prayer help to sanctify all times and keep us in touch with God. 

When Daniel and his friends needed to know Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and understand it, they gave themselves to prayer, and when the Lord gave them the answer, they prayed further and thanked Him (Dan. 2:14–23).  When Daniel’s life was in danger, he went to his home and prayed, and the Lord delivered him from the lions (6:10). Frequently Daniel asked the Lord or His messengers for wisdom to understand the visions the Lord gave to him. Daniel depended on prayer. 

In the church today, it seems that many people turn to prayer only when everything else has failed. Their translation of Psalm 46:1 is, “God is our last refuge when our own strength is gone and we don’t have anywhere else to turn.” What a tragedy! A.W. Tozer used to say, “Whatever God can do, faith can do, and whatever faith can do prayer can do, when it is offered in faith.”¹ Daniel not only prayed alone but he also prayed with his friends, because he knew the value of two or three believers assembling together to cry out to God. “I’d rather be able to pray than to be a great preacher,” said evangelist D.L. Moody; “Jesus Christ never taught His disciples how to preach, but only how to pray.” (Wiersbe, W. W. Be resolute, p, 151)

¹ A.W. Tozer, The Set of the Sail (Christian Publications), 33. 

APPLICATION

Dialogue with God about His glory spreading throughout the whole earth and what part you might play in that!

PRAYER

Lord, we praise You for Your power to shut the lions' mouths, and that Your glory will spread throughout the whole earth! Amen.

Daniel 3 - The Fiery Furnace

LINK: Daniel 3

BACKGROUND

In Babylonian religious culture, statues were worshiped. The image in Daniel 3 stood 90 feet high and 90 feet wide. The pressure to bow down to it must have been enormous; but like the food and wine in Daniel 1, Daniel and his three friends discerned that this would violate God's Law and refused to worship the image (Exodus 20:3). So, they suffered the furnace of fire.

The fire killed Nebuchadnezzar's soldiers but not the four men in the fire.  The fourth man could have been an angel or the pre-incarnate appearance of Christ (Isaiah 43:2; Psalm 91:9-12). 

Through this, they were protected from death and God was glorified among the Gentiles! Nebuchadnezzar did not turn to their God, but he did acknowledge that God is powerful and commanded his people not to speak against the God of all gods! 

REFLECTION

I lived in the midst of a pretty pagan environment during college. I got pressured and condemned quite a bit for following God in the midst of it too. But women have called me and thanked me over the years. Many have turned to Him. 

God richly rewards our obedience and glorifies Himself in the process!

APPLICATION 

"Dare to be a Daniel" and dare to be alone!

PRAYER

Lord, glorify Yourself in how we relate to a lost world today. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

Jeremiah 20 & 21 - Persecution, Lament, and Rejection

LINK: Jeremiah 20 & 21

BACKGROUND

Jeremiah 20 - Pashhur's Persecution and Jeremiah's Lament

Pashhur, chief officer of the temple, did not respond well to Jeremiah's prophecy. He had him beaten and put in stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin (northern gate). After he was released, Jeremiah refused to change his message but changed Pashhur's name instead. Magor-Missabib means "terror on every side." Because Pashhur refused to heed God's message, he would see this terror and be carried away to Babylon. His judgment was not only for having Jeremiah beaten but also for prophesying lies.

This chapter contains the last of Jeremiah's recorded laments. He complained to God about his treatment by others. He considered withholding God's Word, but it was "like a burning fire" within him that he could not keep in (20:9). His lament vacillates between great confidence in God to deep despair as he sees that if the prophecy comes true, Judah will be destroyed. What a difficult message to convey!

Jeremiah 21 - God Rejects Zedekiah's Request

The book now turns toward prophecies directed at specific individuals or groups. The hope of repentance is replaced by the certainty of judgment. In this chapter, Jeremiah begins his rebuke toward the kings. They were to be shepherds to the flock of Judah, but they did not shepherd according to God's way. The first king singled out is Zedekiah who was the last king chronologically. Although Zedekiah requests deliverance as in times past (Probably referring to the deliverance from Sennacherib, king of Assyria, in the days of Hezekiah. See Isaiah 36:37.), God rejects his request and there would be no mercy. This request was probably given between 588 B.C. and 586 B.C. The exile was in 586 B.C.

REFLECTION

The persecution of Jeremiah always cuts my heart. He was being faithful to give God's message that was "like a fire" within him, but he was physically beaten for being faithful to deliver it. 

Isaiah and Jeremiah are so different. Isaiah does not lament about his treatment as Jeremiah does. I think I am more like Jeremiah. I do not like to be persecuted for speaking the truth, and God hears about it when I am!

That is what I love about God. He did not condemn Jeremiah for his laments, and He does not condemn us for our laments, but the ultimate goal in our laments is for Him to bring us to a point of having His perspective on our circumstances so that we might grow to be more like Him. That is a win-win situation!

I have had a few times in my life where I felt like God was wanting me to say something. I prayed about it, sought counsel, prayed about it, searched God's Word for guidelines, prayed about it, resisted God's direction, prayed about it, and eventually did what God wanted me to do because I loved that person enough to not want to see them continue in sin. I did this with much fear and trembling and a big prayer backup.

Sometimes, the truth was received with great humility, and the person thanked me profusely for speaking truth! It was all good! Other times, the truth was not received very well, and it was horrible. Lies and gossip about me spread like wildfire, and I was really mad at God for leading me into it! You can bet that I lamented and complained to God about it too.

It went something like this:

"God, I felt like I followed You every step of the way. I didn't want to do it, but you were "like a fire" within me! I went into this prayerfully, lovingly, and gently, and I came out bruised emotionally. What gives! This is so painful. I wish I had just kept my mouth shut. UGH!"

Unlike Jeremiah, I have never been beaten or put in stocks, but I have been "beaten up" by slander and condemnation, and it hurt!

Yet, God grew me up in those tough times. He helped me to see more of Himself. He helped me to continue to LOVE those who persecuted me. He helped me to pray more diligently and trust Him more fully for His outcome in His time.

And it was all good. :)

APPLICATION

Have you ever been persecuted for doing what is right or speaking the truth in love? Are you still smarting over it? Do not stuff it! Lament! Let God bring you over to His point of view via that process!

Here is a short click regarding the importance of lament by Old Testament scholar, Walter Brueggemann:

I have facilitated a cohort of people since 2021, and in one of our units, we craft a lament. It is so powerful when people read them!

PRAYER

Lord, You are the almighty, sovereign God who sees all things from Your perspective. Help us to grasp a better glimpse of Your perspective and plan for our lives. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

2 Kings 1 & 2 - Ahaziah's Judgment/Elijah and Elisha

LINK: 2 Kings 1 & 2

BACKGROUND 

Overview of 2 KINGS

Memory Pointers: 

1 Kings was about 1 Kingdom until it was split into

Two parts 1/2 way through (end of 11 out of 22).

2 Kings is about 2 Kingdoms: 

Israel's 17 bad kings until  
2 Kings 17 when they were carried off by the Assyrians.  

Judah's 10 bad and 6 good kings until 
2 Kings 24 when 150 years later they are carried off for 70 years of captivity in Babylon.

2 Kings also tells the shining stories of two men of God: Elijah and Elisha!

BACKGROUND 

1 Kings 1

Ahaziah of Israel - 1 Kings 22:40-2 Kings 1:18

Reigned: 853-852 BC for 2 years
Character: Bad
Overlap with Judah's King: Coregency of Jehoshaphat and Jehoram (853-848 B.C.) 
Manner of Death: Fell through a lattice
Parallel Story: 2 Chronicles 20:35-37

Ahaziah hurt himself in a fall and showed just how far he had fallen from the Lord God of Israel by asking his messengers to go and consult Baal-Zebub. Baal-Zebub was a popular, male fertility god that also had curative powers. The angel of the LORD (the pre-incarnate Christ!) gave a message for Elijah to deliver to his messengers that let them know exactly how He felt about that: 

"You are going to die for consulting a pagan god instead of Me!" 

Ahaziah knew exactly who he was dealing with. Elijah was the same guy who gave Ahaziah's parents, Ahab and Jezebel, so many problems! Many of his soldiers died by fire trying to get Elijah to come down to meet with Ahaziah. The angel of the LORD finally directed him to go down. He pronounced God's judgment on Ahaziah directly, and Ahaziah died. Because Ahaziah had no son, his brother, Jehoram (Joram) became king in his place in 852 BC. The king of Judah at that time was also named Jehoram!

1 Kings 2 - Elijah Passes the Mantle to Elisha

In this chapter, Elijah is taken up in a whirlwind with a chariot and horses of fire. Before he did that he walked while Elisha faithfully followed, refusing to be left behind. They walked by four significant different places that are significant in Israel's history:

1) Gilgal - the first place after the Israelites crossed the Jordan and where they submitted to the covenant of circumcision before they entered the Promised Land (Joshua 4). 

2) Bethel - Abraham worshipped there (Genesis 12-13). Jacob saw the ladder to heaven and vowed to make his father's God His God if God continued to bless and care (Genesis 28). By Genesis 35, Jacob had returned to Bethel and made Isaac's God, his God.

3) Jericho - The sight of Israel's first victory in the Promised Land (Joshua 5-6). 

4) Jordan River - God opened this river to let them into the Promised Land (Joshua 1-4).

(These are all places we have trod as we read the Old Testament last year!)

Before Elijah was taken up, Elisha asked for a double portion of spiritual blessing to carry on the work that Elijah had started, and God granted him his desire because his heart was pure. Elisha would go on to perform even more miracles than his master, Elijah!

REFLECTION

I love the story of Elijah and Elisha. Elisha wanted to be with Elijah to the bitter end because he knew that Elijah's time was short.

That is how I feel about my Elijahs: Ginny and Lorraine, they are two wonderful women of God in their 80s. I have been meeting with them monthly since November of 2001. I also met with them weekly for about six months back in 1997 right before I went to Southeast Asia. They were coworkers in Japan shortly after World War II and lived there until 1987. They cannot believe I would want to make the hour drive north to McMinnville every month to see them, but like Elisha, 

"As surely as the Lord lives and [they] live, I will not leave [them]! (2:2, 4, 6)

They have been rocks in my life. They process with me and pray for me and impart wisdom to me that I can get nowhere else. I have so appreciated their presence in my life.

In his commentary on 2 Kings 2, Warren Wiersbe writes:

It rejoices my heart when I see younger Christians and Christian workers appreciating the “senior saints,” the veterans of Christian service, and learning from them. One day, these “giants” will be called home and we’ll no longer be able to learn from them. [Carol's note: both have been called home.]

These two men [Elijah and Elisha] represented different generations and opposite personalities, yet they were able to walk together. What a rebuke this is to those in the church who label the generations and separate them from each other. I heard one youthful pastor say that he didn’t want anybody in his church over the age of forty, and I wondered where he would get the wise counsel that usually comes with maturity. I thank God for the “Elijahs” in my life who were patient with me and took time to instruct me. Now I’m trying to share that same blessing with others. (Wiersbe, W. W., Be Distinct (12))

I am so grateful for these two "Elijahs" in my life. I, literally, have received a "double portion" just like Elisha!

2012 Update: Ginny has recently been moved to an assisted living facility. At age 87, she is becoming weaker and weaker. Lorraine could not take care of her anymore. 

2014: Ginny was "called home" in 2013. How I miss her! Lorraine and I still meet monthly, and she will be 90 years old in June 2015. 

2023: Lorraine was "called home" in May 2019. HERE is her obituary.

APPLICATION

Where is your Elijah (someone mentoring/discipling you)? Where is your Elisha (someone you can mentor or disciple)?

The Elijah/Elisha relationship also illustrates this principle from Many Aspire, Few Attain by Walt Henrichsen:

7. Avoid an independent spirit 

The seventh reason why people will never finish the race is they have an independent spirit. They are mavericks, loners. They want to serve God, but in their own way. Perhaps you are like the fellow I asked about the Episcopal form of government. He answered, “Well, I’m against bishops unless I can be one.” 

A lot of Christians have that attitude. They are against spiritual authority and leadership unless they are the authority and leader. But God says He will not give you that which is your own until you have been part of that which is another man’s (Luke 16:12). 

The prophet Elijah, as he was about to be taken out of this world, said to his follower Elisha, “Tarry here,” (2 Kings 2:2). Elisha answered, “No way, friend. Where you go, I go. There’s no way you can get rid of me.” Where is the guy or gal you have committed yourself to in an Elijah/Elisha relationship? Where is your Elijah? Where is the person that you are going to lock into by the will of God, and go for broke with? You might say, “Well, God is my teacher. He can speak to me as easily as He can speak through someone else. After all, doesn’t the Bible say that you shouldn't be like little tin gods?” 

That’s true. Nobody is your lord except Jesus. But I’m not referring to lordship. I’m talking about your independent spirit. 

Do you remember the argument that Dathan, Korah, and Abiram gave Moses (Num. 16)? “You take too much upon yourself, Moses. God can speak to us just as easily as he can speak to you. We don’t need to follow you.” Don’t we today say the same thing? Don’t we believe in the priesthood of the believer? Don’t our prayers get through to God? Can’t God speak to us? After all, why should we follow someone else’s leadership? 

Moses, in response to this argument, said, “Well, let’s talk this over with God and see what He says.” “Okay, let’s do it.” 

So they went to God and He said, “Moses, step aside and let me show you what I think of that idea.” So Moses stepped aside, and God opened up the earth, and Dathan, Korah, Abiram, and all that belonged to them fell in. God closed the earth back up and then sent fire and consumed the one hundred or so princes that were with them in rebellion. 

God then asked the children of Israel, “Any more questions?” 

The children of Israel got mad at Moses after that and said, “Moses, you dirty rat, you sicced God on us!” Thousands more died of the plague that day because of their attitude. 

Again God asked, “Any more questions?” 

This time the children of Israel answered, “No, we got the point.” 

God does not hanker to an independent spirit. You can be a maverick, you can be a loner and you can go your own way. It’s up to you. But that’s a quick way to climb up on that shelf. It is safer to have a servant’s heart and submit to spiritual authority. We need to make ourselves accountable to others.

PRAYER

God, thank You for the example of the godly life of Elijah who was not afraid to deliver Your message to a wicked and perverse generation. Help us to be bold in our generation. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen

1 Kings 17-19 - Elijah and God's Provision, Power, and Persistence

The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old Testament, page 523

LINK: 1 Kings 17-19 

BACKGROUND

1 Kings 17

Elijah, the prophet of the Lord, burst forth like a bright light in the darkness of King Ahab's reign. He was from Tishbe (#1 on map). He prophesied to King Ahab at the palace in Samaria that there would be a drought. God had warned that He would withhold the rain if His people turned away and served other gods (Deuteronomy 11:16-17), and Ahab had brought Baal worship and the Asherah pole.

After this pronouncement, he went to the Kerith Ravine (#2) and was miraculously provided for by God through the birds and the brook. Sometime during the three and one-half year drought (Luke 4:25; James 5:17), the brook dried up, and he went to Zarephath (#3) where he met a Gentile woman of Phoenicia who believed in the God of Israel and gave all she had to live on (As I read it today, I thought about another widow of faith who gave all she had in Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4.). God miraculously provided for Elijah, the widow, and her son. Note that God used unclean birds (ravens) and a Gentile woman to accomplish His work.  The widow would have to believe again as her son dies later, and God raises him from the dead. This is the first recorded resurrection in the Bible. 

1 Kings 18 

In the middle of the drought, God called Elijah to return to Ahab. Elijah went to gain access via God-fearing Obadiah, who had hidden 100 prophets in order to save them from the wrath of Jezebel. Obadiah was afraid that he would be executed if Elijah did not follow through in going to see Ahab, but Elijah was true to his word and met with Ahab. This eventually led to a showdown between the 450 prophets of Baal and one lone prophet of the God of Israel on Mount Carmel (#6). Of course, God won and proved to the nation that he was THE Lord God.

1 Kings 19

When news of this reached Jezebel, she vowed to end Elijah's life. So, he ran into seclusion in the wilderness past Beersheba (#9) where the angel of the Lord touched him and provided food and drink because the "journey was too great for him" (19:7). In Old Testament language the "angel of the Lord" is the second person of the Godhead, Jesus Christ (see Genesis 16:10, Exodus 3:1–4 and Judges 2:1–4 too. Note that later in Exodus 3, the angel of the Lord is called "God" and "the Lord").

Then, Elijah made his home in Horeb, the mountain of God where Moses saw the burning bush (Exodus 3). Elijah was exhausted and discouraged (He repeated "I alone am left, and they seek my life to take it away" twice in 19:10 and 14), but he hears God's still, small voice that has also been translated "gentle whisper, a tone of a gentle blowing." He was given his "marching orders" to accomplish three tasks (can you name them?), but he only performed the third one, but through that, the first two were accomplished!

The third task was to anoint Elisha (whose name means "My God is salvation") to take his place. He did this by throwing his prophet's cloak over Elisha. Doing this symbolized the passing of the power and authority of the office to another individual. Elisha responded immediately. All he needed to do was say good-bye to his family. Elijah's unusual response of "What have I done to you?" is an idiom meaning, "Do as you please" or "What have I done to stop you?"

Elisha slaughtered his oxen and burned his plough as a thank offering to God and a sign of leaving his old occupation behind to follow Elijah as his attendant.

WHEW, God is speaking to me in a "gentle whisper." So I will stop for now. Over the next two days, we will take a break from the narrative to look at three psalms associated with Elijah and this time of idolatry. 

REFLECTION

I love this story of the "gentle whisper." As I was meditating today, I was reminded of a time several years ago when God had accomplished great things through me, just like Elijah, only to have an "evil Jezebel" (no joke) come into my life and chase me away. Like Elijah, I fled and became depressed and discouraged. It had gotten so bad that George thought he was going to lose me. He said that during that time, he and the boys would joke and laugh at the dinner table and I would be somewhere else, off and distant. It was bad.

One day, I was hiding up in "my cave" upon my bed, and I cried out for the Lord's "still, small voice" of encouragement. I even prayed specifically that someone would call me that moment to encourage me. His voice came through a woman who called me at that exact moment to ask me to lead a study. She and some friends had heard I had led a study called "Marriage without Regrets" and they wondered if I might lead one for them too. That phone call opened the door into a FABULOUS group of women that I was privileged to lead in Bible Study for the next three years and are still some of my dearest friends today. Years later, this same woman wrote:

God threw me a LIFESAVER when our paths crossed again. I was drifting away from the Lord when you came along and reminded me that His way is the true and the best way. Thank you for helping me get back on course with the Lord and for challenging me to make my life count. Thank you for being my friend. "Greater love has no one that this that he lay down his life for his friends" (John
15;13).

Honestly, she was much more God's lifesaver to me than I could have ever been to her! Thank you my dear friend!

APPLICATION

Notice that Elijah fell into depression immediately after God had accomplished a great spiritual victory through him.

Maybe you have been depressed in the past or you might be depressed right now! What happened right before that low time? Maybe you are/were physically and emotionally drained from a giving out in ministry for the Lord. Maybe you need to come away and listen to His gentle whisper (19:12).

James 5:17 says that "Elijah was a human as we are . . . (NLT)" In our humanness, we all need quiet resting time where the Lord can refresh because sometimes the "journey is too great" for us (19:7).

I hear the Lord speaking to me right now. So, I am going away to rest in Him.

Come away, my beloved, and rest for a while! Sweet dreams BBC friends!

PRAYER

"Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Lamb of God, we come. Amen.

2 Samuel 8 & 9 - Rest from Enemies and Kindness to Jonathan's Son

LINK: 2 Samuel 8 & 9

BACKGROUND

2 Samuel 8

The events in this chapter are a fulfillment of God's promise to David: that He would give him rest from his enemies (7:11). Israel had been warring with the Philistines for 125 years, and David attacked and defeated them. Next, he defeated the Moabites. The chapter mentions "lines." It was a practice of Eastern kings to have prisoners of war lie down in lines. Then they chose to kill a certain portion of them by lot or measuring line. We do not know why David would attack the Moabites since David had ancestral roots there and had been at peace with them (1 Samuel 22:3-4). Finally, he defeated the Arameans and the Edomites, and "the Lord gave David victory everywhere he went" (8:14) giving him rest from his enemies.

2 Samuel 9

David had pledged to Jonathan that he would never forget their covenant of friendship (1 Samuel 20:14-17), and he honored his promise by showing kindness to Mephibosheth, Jonathan's disabled son, by restoring Mephibosheth's property and allowing him to eat at the king's table.

REFLECTION

Last night, I got a distressed email from a friend pouring out her heart about things that are happening in her neighborhood. They have been slandered, misunderstood, judged, and shunned. It has been terrible.

I followed up by talking with her on Skype. It has been horrible. In addition, there are things happening with her parents and sibling that are yucky. It sounds like this friend has "enemies on every side." Yet, she was dealing with it in such a great way by:

1) Finding comfort in Scripture and standing on His promises,
2) Sending out an "SOS" (Supplication of Saints) and asking for prayer, and
3) Reading the book called Peacemaking Women: Biblical Hope for Resolving Conflict.

She and her husband are seeking "peace on every side" in a biblical way! Let's pray that they can find rest!

What a great feeling for David to be at rest from ALL of his enemies! I am so happy to say that, as far as I know, and "so far as it depends on me" I am at peace with all people (Romans 12:18). It was not always this way, but through the application of the principles from books like Peacemaking Women and The Peacemaker by Ken Sande, peace on all sides is a reality in my life!

It helps to be in a church that has a "culture of peace" because of godly and humble leaders who model it and teach it! (I give a "shout out" to Carey, one of our pastors, who was the mover and shaker behind the whole "peacemaking quake" at our church. YOU GO GIRL!)

Do not get me wrong. The people in my church still have conflict, but conflict is seen as an opportunity for growth and becoming more like Christ. So, there is an attempt to handle it in a Biblical, God-honoring way. 

Just this week, my husband, George, was able to help in coaching two parties toward resolving a conflict, and I got my feelings hurt and had to talk to someone about it. In a "culture of peace," all of this is OK and both situations ended up with misperceptions being cleared up! Peace was/is being restored.

APPLICATION 

Do you have peace on every side in your family? in your neighborhood? in your friendships? or in your church? If not, I heartily recommend that your application be to read these books. If you have to choose one, read The Peacemaker first. I try to read it at least once a year. It is THAT important!

God may even call you toward being the "mover and shaker" behind establishing a "culture of peace" in your church! See HERE for more information.

PRAYER 

Lord, sometimes we are weary from the battles that rage around us. I pray for "rest on every side" from those in whom we have conflict. I pray that You would speak to us about our own part in conflict and give us the humility and courage to go to others, in love (and not in the sword, like David), and make peace. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

2 Samuel 6 & 7 - The Ark Comes to Jerusalem and The Davidic Covenant

LINK: 2 Samuel 6 & 7

BACKGROUND

2 Samuel 6 - Moving the Ark to Jerusalem

One of David's first acts as king was to bring the Ark of the Covenant back from Kiriath Jearim to Jerusalem. The Ark had been separated from the Tabernacle and other places of worship for 100 long years! More recently, it had been captured by the Philistines at Aphek in 1 Samuel 4:11. Remember that the Ark of the Covenant bore the name of God and represented the presence of God who dwelled among His people (Exodus 25:22). It was to be handled with great care and reverence (Exodus 25:14; Numbers 4:15, 20). Putting the ark in an ox cart was not the way God commanded for it to be transported, and Uzzah knew that he could not touch the Ark because no one could touch the Ark and live. It seems like a harsh punishment for someone who was just trying to help, but it has to be seen in the light of God's absolute holiness. David named this spot Perez which means "outbreak against" because of God's wrath. The Ark remained and blessed the house of Obed-Edom for three months until the Lord gave David instruction.

Following this, the Ark was brought properly to Jerusalem with sacrifice, priestly attire, dancing, shouting for joy, and trumpets. You may ask how David could dress in priestly attire when he was not a descendant of Aaron. He was the anointed of the Lord and founder of the messianic line that would be fulfilled in JESUS who would someday come to embrace the offices of priest and prophet (7:12-16; 1 Samuel 2:35; Deuteronomy 18:15-19).

During this celebration, David's first wife and Saul's daughter was embarrassed by his celebration and rebuked him, but David defended his actions as holy zeal! Michal had no children after that time.

2 Samuel 7 - The Davidic Covenant 
(Parallel passage: 1 Chronicles 17)

This is a KEY chapter in the Bible with far-reaching effects for the future of our Bible reading. You would do well to read it over again and mark it in your Bible.

David wanted to build a permanent structure in which the Lord could dwell among His people. Through the Prophet Nathan, God told David that there was not yet a need for a permanent structure but that he would build a house for David that would be a royal house that would never end (7:16; 1 Chronicles 17:25). The kingdom of David and his throne would be forever. Let us pause in the story for a very important announcement:

This is the Scarlet Thread of Redemption!

This promise fulfills the earlier Abrahamic Covenant blessing that the patriarchs would be the father of kings (Genesis 17:6, 16; 35:11). Later Judah, the great-grandson of Abraham, was given the pledge that a promised ruler would come from Judah (Genesis 49:10). David was from the tribe of Judah and part of the Messianic line that would result in a divine descendant and King (Psalm 2:6-7; 110; 89:3-4). We will see in our study of the prophets that they attested to the Davidic Messiah who would rule over all and forever on his throne. Of course, that Messiah is . . .

JESUS!!!! (See Luke 1:31-33)

It is all so very exciting. :)

Now back to our story . . .

Regarding the temple, David would not be allowed to build it, but his son would do it. How did David respond to this? He acknowledged the Lord's goodness and sovereignty! He did not show disappointment because he would not be the one to build the house for God. I believe this indicates that David had the motive of bringing glory to God and not to himself. He trusted in God's sovereignty and timing and was not going to get ahead of God's plan. Why do I believe this? He says "O Sovereign LORD" seven times! (Just remember seven times in 2 Samuel 7.) 

REFLECTION (written in September 2008)

David's dream of building a house for God was perfectly timed for me! Just last night, my women's ministry director reminded me of the vision God had given me for "building" women in our church and beyond through discipleship. She said, "Carol, I still remember that vision you articulated in an email to me over a year ago. It is so obviously your passion. I am so excited. I want to pray into that vision with you."

Then, I got up this morning and meditated on 2 Samuel 7 and read this in the Daily Walk:

"Attempt great things for God, expect great things from God." That motto would provide an apt summary of David's early years as king over the 12 tribes of Israel. He moved speedily to implement his godly convictions and to reverse the godless influences of his predecessor, Saul. And though God would not permit him to fulfill certain dreams (such as building the temple), He never rebuked David for his motives or discouraged him from attempting other great enterprises for Him." 

"Great projects for God are costly, demanding vision, time, sacrifice, and perseverance. The great Christian schools we enjoy today, the majestic churches whose pulpits are aflame with righteousness, the missionary organizations that touch millions of lives spiritually and physically --each began with a dream in the heart of a committed child of God."

"One person with a dream is equal to 99 who only have interests." (March 2008)

Now, it is just a matter of me listening to the Lord and waiting on His sovereign timing for all things to come together for His glory!

2011 Update: How fun to read this post from 2008 and see that we are on the cusp of something very exciting as we have waited on His sovereign timing for discipleship in our church!  I met with the women's ministry leader mentioned above two weeks ago about starting Discipleship Essentials: A Guide to Building Your Life in Christ during the Sunday morning women's study. I am also excited to hear that one of our pastors has a triad of people going through this book right now and many of our staff have read Transforming Discipleship: Making Disciples a Few at a Time and are catching that vision. As late as March of this year, it seemed like this was maybe "dead in the water," but I was wrong! The vision is coming to fruition after many years of waiting and praying (Habakkuk 2:3). YIPEE! "Desire realized is sweet to the soul" (Proverbs 13:19).

And like David, I will look on in wonder but not be involved in the nuts and bolts of it inside the women's ministry because God has called me to minister to women outside the walls of the church. I am so happy to be a resource person for the building project though!  I rejoice like David and am not sad that I cannot be part of the day-to-day "building" because it is all about God's glory!

2015 Update: I continue to thrive building into women outside the walls of the church. I am passionate about equipping them to bring the Good News of the Kingdom of God to every people. This year, I have a group of five women so hungry and F.A.T. (Faithful, Available, and Teachable - see previous post about that HERE)! They are affecting the lives of many others. I also have a group of women leaders in the community that I continue to pray for and encourage to listen and obey. It does not get any better than this!

APPLICATION

The Daily Walk continues:

Do you have a dream of how God might want to use you, your family, your church, your skills, and your resources to impact the world for Him? If not, allow Him to implant in you a dream for His glory; then dream it, plan it, pursue it - and as God enables, achieve it. (p.31)

PRAYER

O Sovereign LORD, who are we that You have brought us this far in our journey with You? We are Your servants. For the sake of Your Word and according to Your will, accomplish things in and through us that bring glory to Your holy name. There is no one like You, and there is no God but You. Make Your name great through the witness of our life and service. And Lord, please build discipleship DNA in every church throughout the world!  We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.

1 Samuel 15 - To Obey is Better Than Sacrifice

LINK: 1 Samuel 15

BACKGROUND

God had a score to settle with the Amalekites (Exodus 17:8-16), and the command to Saul through Samuel was to "utterly destroy" them. God knew that Israel would never live peacefully in the Promised Land if they continued to exist. Yet, Saul only partially obeyed by sparing King Agog and the best of the sheep, oxen, fatlings, lambs, and all that was good. Then, he lied to Samuel about carrying out the Lord's commands and tried to cover up his disobedience by passing the blame on to the people, claiming that they wanted to use the animals for sacrifice.

Samuel's response cuts to the heart of the matter:

Has the Lord as much delight in 
burnt offerings and sacrifices
As in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams. (15:22)

There is no such thing as incomplete obedience. There is just obedience and disobedience, and Saul disobeyed and tried to put a "religious" sheet over it to cover up his sin. As a result, Samuel declared, "The LORD has rejected you" (15:26).

This was the beginning of the end for King Saul.

REFLECTION

What an evening this has been. I cannot read this chapter without thinking of Keith Green's song "To Obey is Better Than Sacrifice." It led me to the video you will hopefully watch in the application section of this post. Then, George and I stayed up until midnight watching a documentary on Keith Green's life. What a blessing and lesson in obedience! He was not perfect, but he wanted to obey God with everything that was in him, and he affected a generation of believers and beyond. He did this all in seven short years of being a follower of Jesus. Amazing.

I want uncompromised obedience in my life and not the "incomplete obedience" like that of King Saul. I want to be poured out for Him, holding nothing back, without excuses.

I pray you want that too.

APPLICATION

You will not regret watching this video as your application from our reading today. Here is Keith performing the song called "To Obey is Better than Sacrifice." He makes reference to Saul in his introduction:



To obey is better than sacrifice
I don't need your money
I want your life
And I hear you say that I'm coming back soon
But you act like I'll never return

Well you speak of grace and my love so sweet
How you thrive on milk, but reject My meat
And I can't help weeping at how it will be
If you keep on ignoring My Word
Well you pray to prosper and succeed
But your flesh is something I just can't feed

To obey is better than sacrifice
I want more than Sundays and Wednesday nights
Cause if you can't come to Me every day
Then don't bother coming at all

La,la,la etc.

To obey is better than sacrifice
I want hearts of fire
Not your prayers of ice
And I'm coming quickly
To give back to you
According to what you have done
According to what you have done
According to what you have done

PRAYER

Lord, all for You. No compromise. Amen

P.S.

Here is Part One of that documentary: