Read 2 Kings 5-7
 
2 Kings 6:8-13 When the king of Aram was at war with Israel, he would confer with his officers and say, “We will mobilize our forces at such and such a place.” 9 But immediately Elisha, the man of God, would warn the king of Israel, “Do not go near that place, for the Arameans are planning to mobilize their troops there.” 10 So the king of Israel would send word to the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he would be on the alert there. 11 The king of Aram became very upset over this. He called his officers together and demanded, “Which of you is the traitor? Who has been informing the king of Israel of my plans?” 12 “It’s not us, my lord the king,” one of the officers replied. “Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in the privacy of your bedroom!” 13 “Go and find out where he is,” the king commanded, “so I can send troops to seize him.” And the report came back: “Elisha is at Dothan.”
 
DO you see God’s grace here? Think about Israel’s spiritual disobedience and remember each king of Israel turned from God. Yet, the LORD of heaven’s armies empowered Elisha to protect disobedient Israel from Syria. I AM’s deep love for his people relentlessly moved him to teach them his covenant people: “For I said to your ancestors when I brought them out of the iron-smelting furnace of Egypt, ‘If you obey me and do whatever I command you, then you will be my people, and I will be your God.’” (Jeremiah 11:4) He doesn’t demand we are perfect before he comes to us, but God does command we seek his perfection.
   The king of Syria became very upset. Each time he had attempted to attack Israel, Joram, the king, knew where and when the Syrian army would attack. What else could it be but a spy within his ranks? But the king’s servants knew Elisha had used God’s knowledge to warn Israel.
   Remarkably, Syria’s king believed this seemingly impossible explanation. But he still did not submit to God. He wanted to destroy God’s messenger. This is Satan’s way. From one generation to the next, the Bible records people reacting to God’s truth with hateful revenge toward the LORD’s messengers. This is mankind’s natural heart. The culture today calls God’s Word “hate speech” because they hate hearing God’s commands against their evil desires.
   How do you personally respond to God’s Word for you? Are you comfortable that he knows your thoughts and even what you “speak in the privacy of your bedroom”?
   Carefully consider your private words, actions and thoughts. None are sealed against God’s knowledge. If you are fearful of God’s response, the Holy Spirit is convicting you to reject what you are doing or thinking. As Elisha warned Israel of Syria’s attacks, the Holy Spirit is warning you right now of Satan’s attack on your soul. God’s Spirit is pointing you to a right fear of God’s justice. He is directing you to the truth.
   Be confident and comforted to know your omniscient God wants to look past your sins and see his grace. He will hear your prayers. He will speak clearly to warn you. He will lead you to the right place to be safe with him.
 

Read Obadiah
 
Obadiah 1 This is the vision that the Sovereign Lord revealed to Obadiah concerning the land of Edom.
&
10 “Because of the violence you did to your close relatives in Israel, you will be filled with shame and destroyed forever.”
 
WE again recall Edom, founded by Esau, is Israel’s and Judah’s cousin in the generational lineage. Yet, from the time Israel approached Edom on their journey to the Promised Land (See Numbers 20:14), the history of the nations’ relationship has been marked with animosity and violence.
   God had directed Edom to be in a mountainous, desert-like area south and east of the Promised Land. It seemed a harsh environment. But in the providence of God’s creation, Edom would proper and become wealthy. A busy trade route passed through Edom. Copper was mined from the mountains. This is another example of pagan nations prospering because the LORD has created resources throughout the world. He gave to all mankind the knowledge to use his creation.
   The Bible also recounts that the LORD destroyed kings and nations when they became prideful in their wealth. This was Edom’s problem. Their pride caused them to believe the were impregnable in their mountain fortress. And they could do violence against their northern cousins because of their physical wealth and power. Edom’s attitude pointed to the four reasons God used Obadiah to declare his judgment.
   First, as noted, Edom was continually violent against Israel. It was an ongoing hatred originating in Esau’s desire to kill Jacob (Genesis 27:42). They looked for ways to take advantage of Israel’s and Judah’s weaknesses, even to join with other nations against Israel.
   Second, Edom gloated when (other nations) exiled your relatives to distant lands. The Jews’ distress was Edom’s delight. But when we consider each person on earth is related to us as God’s creation, we are to pray for our enemies and love them. Matthew 5:44-47 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. 46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.” This, indeed, is a high call to faithfulness.
   Third, Obadiah 13-14 lists several ways Edom assisted Israel’s enemies. They plundered Judah, gloated over its destruction, seized their wealth and even killed those trying to escape during various wars.
   Fourth, Edom essentially received what they had done to Israel. The prophet said in verse 15 “The day is near when I, the Lord, will judge all godless nations! As you have done to Israel, so it will be done to you. All your evil deeds will fall back on your own heads.”
   Obadiah’s message underscores once more the cost of rejecting God’s Word. Violence begets violence. We must remember Jesus sober warning and great promise: John 5:29Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment.   
 
 

Read 2 Kings 3, 2  Chronicles 21
 
2 Kings 3:14-18 Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I wouldn’t even bother with you except for my respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah. 15 Now bring me someone who can play the harp.” While the harp was being played, the power of the Lord came upon Elisha, 16 and he said, “This is what the Lord says: This dry valley will be filled with pools of water! 17 You will see neither wind nor rain, says the Lord, but this valley will be filled with water. You will have plenty for yourselves and your cattle and other animals. 18 But this is only a simple thing for the Lord, for he will make you victorious over the army of Moab!”
 
THIS is the only time the kings of Israel, Judah and Edom joined against a common enemy. These nations are all from Abraham’s line. But Edom, remember, descended from Esau, Jacob’s brother. God did not choose Esau to be a patriarch of the covenant. His descendants were not the chosen people. Through most of its history, Edom opposed Israel and Judah. And soon we’ll read of God’s judgment on this nation. This one time, though, all three went to war against Moab.
     But they were poor planners! They had no supply chain. Where was the water? How could these three armies forget their most basic need? Desperate for relief, they began to seek God. What do you think? Perhaps they should have sought God’s instructions before they began their campaign. 
     In need of God’s Word, they go to Elisha. Elisha’s reputation as a prophet under God’s power had been quickly confirmed. Elisha’s response was to reject Israel and Edom because of their idolatrous lives. But because Jehoshaphat had pursued a godly life, Elisha agreed to help the three armies. The LORD’s favor is on those who seek and obey him.
   Interesting, isn’t it, the prophet called for music to open his mind to God. Then he learned the LORD will send water to do two things: revive the army and defeat the enemy.
     We can thank God he is willing to reveal his love and mercy even to those who continually reject him. How would we know God if he required us to be fully righteous before we were saved? Israel’s and Edom’s cultures that rejected God’s commands illustrate our sin nature. Our nature is to live in our own desires. Then we go unprepared into each day’s battle against temptation, disconnected from God’s bounteous Living Water. It is only God’s mercies that pour his Living Water into our thirsty souls and saves us.
     God’s Love Story is about God pursuing you to be his own. Do you need to drink from the well of his bountiful love? Are you thirsting for his righteousness? Through the law, the prophets, the epistles, the Son and the Spirit, the Father has revealed himself to you. Are you drinking his truth?
 

Read 2 Kings 2, 4, 6:1-7
 
2 Kings 2:13-14 Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen when he was taken up. Then Elisha returned to the bank of the Jordan River. 14 He struck the water with Elijah’s cloak and cried out, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” Then the river divided, and Elisha went across.
 
TWO times in perhaps just an hour or so, God divided the waters of the Jordan River, so Elijah and Elisha could safely cross over. Surely this was as remarkable as God parting the Jordan in Joshua 4. It is also God’s same miracle power that parted the Red Sea. This same power was on Jesus when he walked on Galilee’s water (John 6). God worked through Elijah and Elisha as he did with Moses, Joshua and Jesus for one purpose: to demonstrate his majesty and his might. This is God’s testimony, “I AM who I AM.” so his people will testify to the nations.
   When Elisha asked, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he expressed the sure hope and expectation God would continue his work. He awaited the spiritual cloak of God’s power on his life, so he would be the LORD God’s tool to shape his will in Israel. Elisha is confirming, “Here I am, LORD. Send me.”
   The Jordan River’s parting also gave evidence for the other prophets to confess “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” The public witness and proclamation underscored Elisha was Elijah’s successor. Still, the witnesses needed one more piece of evidence:
 
2 Kings 2:17 But the prophets kept urging Elisha until they shamed him into agreeing, and he finally said, “All right, send them.” So fifty men searched for three days but did not find Elijah.
 
First, this passage tells us Elisha is now the prophet of authority. The others must ask his permission to search for Elijah. Yet, in a sense, the men are searching for God. They wanted physical proof he was really gone into heaven. After the search, each man knew in his heart and mind that God had powerfully and graciously acted before their eyes. There was no death’s door for Elijah! Think of the testimonies they told the rest of their lives. Assured in God’s visible power, they would repeatedly tell of I AM’s grand display of eternal life.  
   Jesus’ disciples responded to his resurrection and ascension in the same way, didn’t they? At first the disciples doubted, even mocked the news, “He is risen, just as he said.” (Matthew 28:6) Then they saw Jesus alive and watched him ascend to heaven. With this blessed evidence they testified throughout their lives of God’s eternal life. No authority or power on earth could stop them from repeatedly testifying to the good news, “He isn't here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee…that he would again rise on the third day.” (Luke 24:6, 7b)
   Be assured, it’s good to faithfully search for God. When you do, you will see the magnificent work he has done and is doing. You will be convinced of his work to come. And you will be joyful to repeatedly tell the good news.
   In Christ, you are as the prophets. The Spirit has saved you to give you a voice of truth. When you know the way to the Lord, you will testify to those who also must know. 
  

Read 2 Kings 1, 22:29-40, 2 Chronicles 19-20
 
2 Kings 1:13-17 Once more the king sent a third captain with fifty men. But this time the captain went up the hill and fell to his knees before Elijah. He pleaded with him, “O man of God, please spare my life and the lives of these, your fifty servants. 14 See how the fire from heaven came down and destroyed the first two groups. But now please spare my life!” 15 Then the angel of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him, and don’t be afraid of him.” So Elijah got up and went with him to the king. 16 And Elijah said to the king, “This is what the Lord says: Why did you send messengers to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether you will recover? Is there no God in Israel to answer your question? Therefore, because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die.” 17 So Ahaziah died, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.
 
ISRAEL’S new king Ahaziah continued his father Ahab’s idolatry. When injured, he sought healing from the pagan idol Bael-zebub – the fly god. How could people worship the “Lord of the Flies” while rejecting the LORD God Almighty?   
   A third captain of 50 men pleaded to Elijah for his life because the LORD had consumed two other captains and their 50 men in fiery judgment. (He used fire to judge at other times, didn’t he?) The LORD permitted Elijah to go with this captain. Why was the third captain spared?
   Faithful humility is the key. The first two captains demanded Elijah go with them. This third captain learned from what he saw. He became appropriately fearful of being too brash and demanding before God’s prophet. Remember, “Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor.” (Proverbs 15:33) Then he humbly and wisely requested: “Please spare my life and the lives of these, your fifty servants.” This is the captain’s confession of the LORD’s power to either save him or condemn him.
   Each moment of our lives we approach the power of the living God with unbelief, demands or humility. God’s power is continually present all around us. We must understand each breath is at his mercy. Be humble, then, before God. Fear God. Demonstrate your heart is prepared to hear him. Act to obey his instructions.
          The captain, his 50 men, Ahaziah and even Elijah learned something about God that day. Sadly, Ahaziah learned Idolatry leads to death. The captain understood a humble heart leads you to knowing God’s grace. Elijah would have learned once more of God’s power to protect and uplift his prophet. Fear God, and you don’t have to fear man.

Read 1 Kings 20 – 22
 
1 Kings 21:17-19 But the Lord said to Elijah, 18 “Go down to meet King Ahab of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He will be at Naboth’s vineyard in Jezreel, claiming it for himself. 19 Give him this message: ‘This is what the Lord says: Wasn’t it enough that you killed Naboth? Must you rob him, too? Because you have done this, dogs will lick your blood at the very place where they licked the blood of Naboth!’”
&
1 Kings 21:25-26 (No one else so completely sold himself to what was evil in the Lord’s sight as Ahab did under the influence of his wife Jezebel. 26 His worst outrage was worshiping idols just as the Amorites had done – the people whom the Lord had driven out from the land ahead of the Israelites.)
 
IN 1 Kings 20-22, you read the story of Ahab and Jezebel. Their sins were so great that “Jezebel” is still a term used for absolute evil. You can see why. The Bible describes how she plotted against the farmer Naboth. Naboth owned a vineyard Ahab desired. Ahab sulked as a spoiled child when Naboth refused to sell it to him. In response to grant her husband’s desire, Jezebel hired two men to falsely accuse Naboth of blasphemy and lying, and Naboth was stoned to death. In God’s law, blasphemers were to be stoned when accused by two witnesses. Be alert! One of Satan’s tools is to misuse God’s law to destroy God’s people. He even tried to do that with Jesus, the Living Word. In true obedience to the Law, Jezebel should have been stoned for her idolatry and lying. Ahab then possessed Naboth’s vineyard. But he lost all. No one else so completely sold himself to what was evil.
   In response, Elijah returns to Ahab to pronounce God’s judgment over Ahab. Although Ahab at times seemed to seek the Lord in his life, he does so at his own gain. He had the attitude, “If it is good for me, I’ll do as God commands.” His character, then was to reject the Lord for his own desires.
   You learn more of Ahab’s disobedient heart in a conversation he has with Jehoshaphat. As the two kings consider going to war together, Jehoshaphat, Judah’s king, insisted they speak to a particular prophet. Ahab’s response is, “I hate him. He never prophesies anything but trouble for me! His name is Micaiah son of Imlah.” In response Jehoshaphat replied, “That’s not the way a king should talk! Let’s hear what he has to say.” Indeed, Jehoshaphat knew what would happen to kings who disobey God.
   As God commanded Ahab to follow him and graciously gave to Ahab many “second opportunities” to obey God, Ahab followed his own way. Ahab’s and Jezebel’s ongoing evil destroyed Ahab’s family. Ahab’s gain of a vineyard and of his own personal desires was his family’s fatal loss.

Read 1 Kings 17-19
 
1 Kings 19:1-3 When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal. 2 So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.” 3 Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there.
 
ELIJAH has been on a deliberate, formative faith journey toward a powerfully intimate relationship with the LORD God. I certainly hope you’ve taken a few minutes to read 1 Kings 17-19. Only the ministries of Jesus and Elisha re more powerful and personal than Elijah’s. “Elijah” means “Yahweh is my God.” Or you could say, “All who God is, is my God.” He came from Gilead, east of the Jordan River to enter Samaria to confront the pagan Ahab and his wife Jezebel. Elijah is the model prophet into which John the Baptist will be formed. Elijah, too, came to Jesus’ glory at Jesus’ Transfiguration (Matthew 17:3) These three chapters record most of his prophetic work. There are six ways God empowered Elijah to demonstrate, “Yahweh is my God.”
    In 1 Kings 18, you read how the LORD gave to Elijah a great victory over the Baal worship that was destroying Israel. Victory was the LORD’s through Elijah’s hands! Jezebel was furious her prophets were dead and promises to annihilate Elijah. What does the victorious, God-empowered prophet do? He retreats. What’s happened? How can a man so powerfully anointed to do God’s work want to quit his work so quickly? Has Elijah suddenly lost his faith in God?
   The man who God had anointed to have even resurrection power, was suddenly overwhelmed with in his humanity. As all of us do, even this miracle-working prophet minimized God’s life-giving presence. Perhaps Elijah thought the Lord had depleted his ability to protect him. Maybe Elijah was emotionally tired from the stress of battle. Likely, he was just plain afraid of Jezebel’s passionate promise to kill him. The threats came directly from Israel’s throne. Who could stop the hateful Jezebel? Elijah stared too intently into the evil menace. And he ran.
   Uncertainties and threats in our own lives quickly disturb our peace and faith. We cast doubt toward God, wondering, “Are you there, LORD? Will you be there tomorrow, LORD? I know you said you’d stand by me, but will you really, God? Can I truly put my faith in you?” When things go wrong, our human eyes too often point us the wrong direction.
   What threatens you today? If you have struggled for some time with an issue, gaze even more intently toward the Lord. Seek his face. Get close to him. Pray with a good friend. Find good recordings of the Bible and listen to the spoken Word. Listen to Christ-centered music.
   Learn from Elijah and see God, the Comforter, restore his tired prophet. Read through chapter 19. You will discover, as Elijah did, God’s tender care. El Shaddai transformed Elijah’s tired faith to vigor and strength once more. Then later, God even did this: 2 Kings 2:11 As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven.
   This is for you, too. Be strengthened. Be steadfast in the sure hope of eternal life.
 

Read 1 Kings 15-16, 2 Chronicles 16-17
 
1 Kings 15:9-11 Asa Rules in Judah. Asa began to rule over Judah in the twentieth year of Jeroboam’s reign in Israel. 10 He reigned in Jerusalem forty-one years. His grandmother was Maacah, the daughter of Absalom. 11 Asa did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, as his ancestor David had done.
 
LET’S remember “Israel” defines a different country than under David’s and Solomon’s reigns. Israel is the northern kingdom consisting of 10 tribes of God’s chosen people. Its capital is Samaria. Sometimes Samaria is used instead of Israel. Other times Israel is called Ephraim because Samaria was in this tribe’s territory named for Joseph’s younger son. Judah is the southern kingdom with Jerusalem as its capital. Judah is populated by the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.
   The accounts of Judah’s and Israel’s kings in 1 & 2 Kings and recounted in 2 Chronicles tells you that many of Judah’s kings and each one of Israel’s kings led God’s people to worship idols. Even as many professed a knowledge and belief in God, they did not believe God’s Word to make it the rule of their lives. You’ll find in these kings a fascinating understanding to know God. And still they completely neglected God’s sovereign rule.
   As a result, God’s nation moved from 80 years of unity, peace and prosperity to division, rivalry, war and often famine. How can sin be so attractive when it is so destructive? Yet, we will continually discover how God works through the nations’ sins to point his chosen people to his eternal promise.
   Unfortunately, there are too many symptoms of Israel’s and Judah’s story in Jesus’ church today. From its beginning, the church has experienced too many ways to reject God’s way to unity, peace and prosperity – strength in its mission. Even as God has chosen each person to come to faith in him, we have fought among ourselves over music, preaching style, purpose, ministries, theology, building, tithing, evangelism and so much more. We read God’s story that reveals how passionately he has demonstrated his great love. Still, we become complacent about what we know. Our preferences prevail to easily become unforgiving, jealous and self-centered. The unchurched see us, and we look just like them. It’s difficult sometimes to see Jesus’ hand on his church.
   Asa was one of Judah’s God-centered kings. He stands out against the accounts of disobedience to be a man who faithfully followed God. He believed God’s law was essential for himself and his nation. Asa did what was right in God’s sight.
          Let’s, then, be as Asa. Read and study the Bible. Learn what is just and true. Be humble to do what is pleasing in God’s sight. Then look for opportunities to engage those pleasing ways into your life, so unbelievers
will know there is a difference.  
  
 

Read 2 Chronicles 11-13
 
2 Chronicles 12:7-8 When the Lord saw their change of heart, he gave this message to Shemaiah: “Since the people have humbled themselves, I will not completely destroy them and will soon give them some relief. I will not use Shishak to pour out my anger on Jerusalem. 8 But they will become his subjects, so they will know the difference between serving me and serving earthly rulers.”
 
ONE truth of God’s salvation plan may surprise you. Even when we repent of sin, God will sometimes continue his judgment in some form to remind us of the difference between serving me and serving earthly rulers – or serving sin. We saw this in David’s life. Yes, he repented and prayed for a new, clean heart after his sin with Bathsheba. Still, the LORD’s judgment continued into David’s family and through Absalom’s rebellion. It wasn’t until David died that he was completely free of his sin.
   God sent Egypt to destroy Judah as a judgment on their sin. God uses pagan nations to be  his judgment tool. This happened repeatedly throughout the Bible’s history, and it could be occurring now. But the people humbled themselves to repent. The LORD of Heaven’s Armies then held back his full judgment, but Egypt would rule Judah for a time. None in Judah at that moment had known sin’s high cost. They had not yet personally witnessed how dramatically God would reshape their lives in judgment. As a teaching Father, El Shaddai would give Judah some time to experience the difference between pagan rule and his rule.
   This is a powerful and urgent message for us in the church. Solomon’s sins opened a dark door in Judah’s heart. The Jews became complacent to neglect the first three commandments. They followed their leader into judgment.
   God needs and calls you to be passionate for him. Satan sole purpose is to destroy God’s people. So be awake! Be firmly and completely committed to love God and to stand on his commands. Evil’s forces are all around. But you know the Holy Spirit is within. Use his authority to overcome. Know the difference between the devil’s rule and God’s rule is eternal.