2 Kings 3:1-4:17
2 Kings 3
Vs. 1-8 The most significant thing about this part of the story is that a good man like Jehoshaphat was making another very foolish mistake. If he had asked the Lord, the Lord would have told him to stay home.
V. 2 Notice that Jehoram seems better than Ahab. If Jehoshaphat was hoping to be a good influence on Israel, this is as far as it went. Actually, the only thing that Jehoram did was remove that single image. As we'll see later, Jezebel was really still in charge and Baal worship was alive and well in Israel. Actually, it looks like Jehoram's reforms, if you can call them that, were for the eyes of Jehoshaphat.
V. 7 What was Jehoshaphat thinking to say something like this? Soon, it would be true spiritually too, darkly.
Vs. 9-20 The Word of the Lord through Elisha would become public knowledge. You would think that with a man like Elisha at your disposal you could build a country. Unfortunately Elisha was ignored by the northern kingdom and also by the southern kingdom. Again, God's grace is shining through all of this to attract the disobedient and move them to repentance.
V. 11 Jehoshaphat's question is very ironic. If he had consulted a prophet, he wouldn't have been there. But here, it seems he was trying to have a fatherly influence on Jehoram. Ironically, as well known as Elisha was, neither king had a clue. It is an ordinary guy who pointed the way to the prophet.
Vs. 21-27 So how do you explain verse 27? Apparently the human sacrifice called down a valid demonic wrath upon the army of Israel. So then, why were they affected by this? Why didn't God's protection ward this off? It was because they themselves didn't worship God. And Jehoshaphat was out of bounds here, associating with the godless.
As disciples, although we might be walking with the Lord, if we choose to associate with the ungodly, "yoked together" with them, we incur the same judgment they do. This is now the second time Jehoshaphat has been subject to demonic influence by associating with the family of Ahab. Through this association, and the "common sense" reasons of the flesh, that must have seemed like good motives and ideas, Jehoshaphat, a godly man, will totally and completely destroy all the good he had built. His choices will throw Judah into darkness.
2 Kings 4:1-17
Vs. 1-7 This story is similar to the story of Elijah and the widow who had the vase of flour and the oil. This was not only another story of God's power among the people, but it shows that these things happened on an ongoing basis. But there was no real interest in worshiping Yahweh or checking in with Elisha.
Vs. 8-17 What is notable is the faith of the woman. She recognized that God was with Elisha. She was willing to serve the Lord by serving him. Here we have one person in Israel who responded in faith. This portion also introduces Elisha's servant, Gehazi, who himself becomes a symbol of Israel's unbelief.
Acts 14:8-28
Just as in the reading about Elijah and Elisha, you see Elisha almost duplicating the miracles of Elijah, we'll see this with Peter and Paul. In many places it seems that Paul does the same miracles, only more of them. They both must have been working for the same God.
Vs. 8-18 There are two things of note here. First, the healing of the man who had been crippled from birth is similar to Peter and John healing the man at the beautiful gate of the temple who was also lame from birth.
Second, notice that Barnabas is still getting first billing, as the leader, but Paul is clearly the preacher.
V. 14 Notice that Barnabas is called an apostle.
Finally, notice that this crowd is so overcome by what they are doing that they almost worship Barnabas and Paul. Isn't emotion a great thing and true indicator of commitment? Not.
Vs. 19-23 So here is that same devoted crowd killing Paul. Some suggest that Paul was dead and this is where he ascended into the third heaven. We'll have to ask Paul when we get to heaven.
In that crowd, observing, was a teenager or young man who Paul had led to Christ. Later Paul will tell him to remember this time as an encouragement to be willing to trust God and suffer for Christ:
2 Timothy 3:10 Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 4:1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching.
V. 21 Can you believe that the next day they were preaching again and led many to Christ?
Notice that Barnabas and Paul went back through all the churches, encouraging them and structuring the leadership. Praying and fasting was much more real to them because they were on the cutting edge of working in the harvest as disciples, and God was giving them fruit.
V. 22 They gave the disciples a realistic view of following Christ in the harvest. Notice how this sounds similar to 2 Tim. 3:12 above.
Vs. 24-28 This was the first "missionary on furlough" slide show report. According to the Bible Knowledge Commentary: NT, p. 393, Barnabas and Paul had been away somewhere between one and two years. They had traveled over 700 miles by land and 500 miles by sea. Although this missionary journey opened the Gospel to "the ends of the world," it had also raised a lot of Jewish hostility, not just among the unsaved, but also from the true blue Jewish Christians in Jerusalem.
Psalm 140
Can you believe you've read 140 psalms?
I would guess this was written as David was running from Saul. Not only was Saul driven by his hate and fear of David, but it is implied that many of Saul's men, like Abner, were filling his ear with lies and inciting him to go after David. I think it was the lying against David that created the desperation behind the psalm.
There is hardly anything on earth that shakes us like having an aggressive enemy, a stalker who is bent on lies and harm. You feel powerless and totally harassed. But in all things, there is only one real source of strength and hope: The Lord. In Psalm 27 David writes, "Though an army should encamp against me, my heart will not fear, and though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident." Those are some pretty confident words, but God trains us to depend on Him by bringing us to the place where we must depend on Him.
Notice that there are at least 3 pleas for himself; Deliver me, guard me, hear me.
V. 10 I don't know where the "burning coals" thing originated, but here you have it.
Vs. 12-13 David hasn't yet been delivered, but this is where David has his hope set, in the character of God.
As disciples, the Lord leads us through all of what Paul mentions above. He allows lies and complications to hinder our way and harass us. But He does this to train us to fill our minds with the truth of Him and this life. The point isn't to get something "out of our minds," but to keep our minds filled with what is true about Him. Our lives are in the hands of a loving, faithful Father, who, in all that is happening, works for (the) good (of His sovereign plan) with those who love Him. We're already secure with Christ and will live with Him forever and know the riches of His glory. This life on earth isn't about us any more, we're safe. And still, He blesses us.
Proverbs 17:22
Amen. I was reading in Romans this morning, "but the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." That peace only comes from God, being led and influenced, not by the flesh, but by the Holy Spirit. If we remember we are safe and have a place in His coming kingdom, that gives us peace and joy.
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.
I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.
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