AM May 9th John 20

May 9^th John 20 (The Witness to the Resurrection)           The Lord is risen

1: The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. 2: Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. 3: Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 4: So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. 5: And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. 6: Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, 7: And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 8: Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. 9: For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

The Lord appears to Mary

10: Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. 11: But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 12: And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13: And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. 14: And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15: Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 16: Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 17: Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. 18: Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

The Lord appears to the disciples

19: Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20: And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21: Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22: And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

The Lord appears to Thomas

24: But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25: The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 26: And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27: Then saith he to Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28: And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29: Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

D. The Epilogue                        The purpose of John’s Gospel

30: And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Mary Magdalene came very early before the sun was up to the tomb. When she saw the stone rolled away she ran to find Peter and John, and said they have taken away the Lord. Peter and John ran to the tomb to find it just as Mary had said. John arrived first but Peter following went right inside. They saw the clothes lying as if Jesus had disappeared from inside them. It was immediately apparent that a resurrection had taken place. If the body had been stolen the grave clothes would have been missing or scattered all on a mess on the floor. They didn’t know the scriptures about the resurrection yet so they had no revelation from the Lord to guide them. The Disciples went home but Mary stayed weeping in her bereavement. When she looked back into the tomb she saw two angels sitting at the ends of the shelf on which Jesus had been laid. The angels asked her why she was weeping. This encouraged her to talk about her grief. She said l am weeping because my Lord has been taken away and l do not know where they have buried him. Right at that moment she felt someone behind her and when she turned she saw Jesus but didn’t recognise him. He also asked why are you weeping. She thinking that he was the gardener said Sir if you have removed the body tell me where you have laid him out. Jesus just called her by her name. ‘Mary’, he said. And suddenly she knew it was Jesus. Nobody ever spoke to her like that except Jesus. She turned around and reached out for him. But he said don’t touch me just now because l have not ascended to my Father but go and tell my brethren that l am going to ascend unto my Father and Your Father and to my God and Your God. Mary went and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord. And she told them the things he had said to her. On that same day the First day of the week the disciples were holed up in a room because they were afraid of the Jews when suddenly Jesus appeared in the middle of them. And He said. Shalom to you. As my Father has sent me so l send you. And so began the ministry of the Apostles recorded by Luke in his narrative of the Acts of the Apostles. When he had said this he breathed on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Jesus gave the apostles judicial authority to forgive sins or to not forgive sins. At this time Thomas was not with them. When the disciples told him of this event he frankly didn’t believe them. Eight days later they were together again and Jesus appeared to them again this time Thomas was present. Jesus said to Thomas come and touch my hands and feel my side and stop doubting and believe. Thomas fell at Christ’s feet and called exclaimed My Lord and my God. John explains that there was much more that Jesus did that is not recorded in this book and that if everything was recorded then the world would be full of the books that could be written. But he says this book has been written so that the reader might believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah of Israel and the Son of God, and that in believing that you might have the life of God through his name.

Ø  What did Peter and John discover at the tomb?

Ø  Recount the events of the resurrection?

Ø  Why did John write his Gospel?

Apologies

Hi everybody. My apologies for being off line. I'm praying that normal service is now restored.

PM May 3rd 2 Kings 4

May 3^rd 2 Kings 4

Elisha, the widow and the oil

1: Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. 2: And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil. 3: Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. 4: And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. 5: So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out. 6: And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. 7: Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.

A old woman bears a son

8: And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. 9: And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. 10: Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither. 11: And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there. 12: And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him. 13: And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people. 14: And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old. 15: And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door. 16: And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid. 17: And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.

Elisha raises him from the dead

18: And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers. 19: And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother. 20: And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. 21: And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out. 22: And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again. 23: And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well. 24: Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee. 25: So she went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite: 26: Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well. 27: And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not told me. 28: Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me? 29: Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child. 30: And the mother of the child said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her. 31: And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked. 32: And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. 33: He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD. 34: And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. 35: Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36: And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son. 37: Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.

Elisha - poisoned stew becomes edible

38: And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets. 39: And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not. 40: So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof. 41: But he said, Then bring meal. And he cast it into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat. And there was no harm in the pot.

Elisha feeds many with little food

42: And there came a man from Baal-shalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat. 43: And his servitor said, What, should I set this before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat: for thus saith the LORD, They shall eat, and shall leave thereof. 44: So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of the LORD.

2 Kings 5 Elisha cures Naaman of Leprosy

1: Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper. 2: And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife. 3: And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy. 4: And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel. 5: And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment. 6: And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have therewith sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy. 7: And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me. 8: And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel. 9: So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. 10: And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. 11: But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. 12: Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. 13: And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? 14: Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 15: And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant. 16: But he said, As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused. 17: And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules' burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD. 18: In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon thy servant in this thing. 19: And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way.

Gehazi gets Naaman’s Leprosy

20: But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him. 21: So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well? 22: And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments. 23: And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him. 24: And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed. 25: But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither. 26: And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? 27: The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.

2 Kings 6 Elisha makes an axe head float

1: And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us. 2: Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye. 3: And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go. 4: So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood. 5: But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed. 6: And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim. 7: Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.

Elisha captures Syrian troops

8: Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp. 9: And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down. 10: And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice. 11: Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel? 12: And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber. 13: And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. 14: Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. 15: And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? 16: And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 17: And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. 18: And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. 19: And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria. 20: And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 21: And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them? 22: And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master. 23: And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.

Syrian army surrounds Samaria

24: And it came to pass after this, that Ben-hadad king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria. 25: And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver. 26: And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king. 27: And he said, If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress? 28: And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow. 29: So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son. 30: And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh. 31: Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day. 32: But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him; and the king sent a man from before him: but ere the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away mine head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door: is not the sound of his master's feet behind him? 33: And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of the LORD; what should I wait for the LORD any longer?

We are now deep into the life of Elisha and while Elijah performed only four miracles Elisha performed eight miracles. First we read of the widow and the oil and then the story of the old woman who bore a son. Elisha raises him from the dead. Some of these miracles are very strange indeed. A poisonous stew is made edible. He feeds many people with just a little food. He curses a gentile military leader of leprosy but his leprosy comes on Gehazi. Then he makes an iron axe head float. Then Elisha captures Syrian troops. And then we end with the Syrian army surrounding Samaria. So let’s go back and look at the poor widow. She came to Elisha with a complaint – she said my husband is dead and you know that l serve the Lord yet my creditors have come to take my two sons to be servants. Elisha says what do you want me to do and then he says what is in your house? She says l have nothing except a small pot of oil. So Elijah said go and borrow as many pots as you can from your neighbours. And then come in and shut the door with your sons and pour out your oil into these vessels until they are all full. She did so and in the end she said bring me another vessel and there were none and so the oil stopped flowing. And then Elisha said go and sell the oil and pay your debt and live and have rest with your children. And then another day Elisha was passing Shunem and a great woman persuaded him to come in to eat bread. She said to her husband he is a holy man she said lets make a little room with a bed and table and stool and light. And they made this little room a place for Elisha to come to whenever he was led of the LORD. Elisha came in and lay on the bed and then he called his servant saying what can we give her for all this kindness. Gehazi said she has no child. So Elisha called her and said about this time next year you will hug your own child. But she said don’t mock me but she conceived a son exactly as Elisha had said. The child grew but one day he was sent out to the reapers and suddenly he said my head, my head. They carried him to his mother and he knelt until noon and then died. She went and laid him on the prophet’ bed and shut the door. She said to her husband call the man of God but he said it’s not a Sabbath day but she went to speak to him. When Elisha saw her coming he sent his servant asking if all is well. She said I’m well. But she fell at his feet and Elisha’ servant would pull her away but Elisha said leave her alone. He said God has hid this thing from me. Elisha told his servant to go and put his staff on his face. The servant came back saying the child is dead. Elisha went in and shut the door and lay on the child and the child revived then the child sneezed seven times and opened his eyes and Elisha called his servant to call the boys mother. In these miracles we see the movement of God in the life of families bringing children to life. Then there was a lack of food in the land and Elisha came to Gilgall and the sons of the prophets were sitting around a pot. Elisha said put the pot on the fire to boil water and gather herbs but one of them took a poisonous plant and put it in the pot by mistake. When the men were eating the soup one cried out there is death in the pot. But Elisha said bring me flour and he put the flour in the pot and it became edible. On another occasion Elisha met a man from Baal-shalisha and he brought bread – 20 loaves and some full ears of corn and he said give it to the people but the servant said how can a hundred men eat this little food? But it was set before the people and they all ate and were full. One cannot forget the feeding of the 5000. In the next narrative we have the famous account of the healing of Naaman the Syrian. This is a very well known passage He was a great man and yet he had leprosy. But there was a young girl in his family who told him of Elisha and he went and submitted himself to bathing seven times in the Jordan. And he came up clean before the Lord. One cannot help but think of the ministry of John the Baptist. Naaman thought that he could give payment but it was refused by Elisha. He could not profit on the gift of God. But His servant wished to have something for himself and so he had the leprosy of Naaman. He thought that he could take things to himself and that nobody would know but the LORD knows everything and the Lord judged him for his avarice. Then we read of the man who wishes to build a house and he borrows an axe but the head came off and fell into the Jordan. He turned to Elisha for help and he cut down a tree and threw it into the water and that axe floated. Having been a man of God in families in a number of ways he then is used of the Lord in commerce but now he will deal with a very big thing a Syrian invasion. Interestingly enough this was an invasion by Naaman’s army. What is interesting is that Elisha knew beforehand everything that the Syrians would do and he warned his king of what he knew. The Syrian king was greatly intrigued about Elisha and sent to spy on him. In the morning when Elisha woke he saw that the city was surrounded by the Syrian army. Elisha’s servant was very upset and asked Elisha what they were going to do but Elisha prayed that the Lord would open his eyes. And then he saw that the LORD’s army was defending the city with chariots of fire. Then Elisha prayed that the LORD would smite the Syrians with blindness and the LORD did as Elisha asked. Then Elisha led them in their blindness to Samaria. Then he prayed that the LORD would open their eyes and they found themselves in Samaria. These men were given food and never returned to Israel. After this Ben-hadad king of Syria came and besieged Samaria. It was so bad that an ass’s head sold for four silver coins. Then as the king was passing near the wall a woman cried to him for help because of a disagreement over the eating of her child with another woman. The king put on sackcloth and ashes and humbled himself before the Lord. All of these incidents are most interesting and strange to our ears. What we do see is that God works through Elisha in families in individuals and in whole nations and that the most unusual cases will present themselves to us at times. In those times it is God at work among us.

• What are your thoughts about the place that Elisha stayed at?
• What Happened to Naaman and to Gahazi?
• How did Elisha save Israel from the Syrians?

AM May 3rd John 16

May 3^rd John 16

1: These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. 2: They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 3: And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4: But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

The Lord teaches – Holy Spirit

5: But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? 6: But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. 7: Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8: And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9: Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10: Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11: Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. 12: I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13: Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14: He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15: All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

The Lord teaches – Prayer

16: A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. 17: Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? 18: They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith. 19: Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? 20: Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 21: A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. 22: And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. 23: And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24: Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

Christ gives this teaching so that the disciples will not be offended. First they will be excommunicated from the Jewish religious communities. In fact there will come a time when those who try to kill you will mistakenly think that they are doing Gods service. They will be mistaken because they do not know the Father or his son. The future ministry of the Apostles, at this time, is focused only on the Jewish communities of Israel. Then Christ said, l am going away yet none of you ask me where l am going. And because l have said this to you, an overwhelming sorrow has come upon you. However it is necessary for me to go away because if l do not go away the Holy Spirit will not come to you. But if l do go l will send the Holy Spirit to you. When the Holy Spirit comes he will convince the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. The sin that the Holy Spirit will convince the world of will be unbelief. The righteousness that the Holy Spirit will convince the world of will be the fact that Christ the righteous one has ascended to the Father. And the judgment that the Holy Spirit will convince of will be the judgment of the Prince of this world which took place at the cross. Then Christ said a strange thing. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. What would they be? Well at this time they could not even comprehend the Cross let alone the resurrection. They had no concept of a ministry to Gentiles. They had no concept of ‘the Church’; it remained at this time a mystery later to be unfolded by the Apostle Paul. The Later epistles of Paul – The prison epistles, would contain a body of truth that most believers in that future day would reject. Yet they were the teachings of Christ which at this time they were unable to bear now. We must never forget that some truth is difficult for people to understand or accept. The true Pastor understands where people are in their understanding of divine truth and teaches stage by stage, as the people are able to bear it. Then Christ says, when the Holy Spirit comes he will lead them into all these truths, stage by stage. He will take all the truth regarding Christ and reveal it to the disciples and he will tell them things to come – Prophesy. We must never apologise for teaching Prophesy. What is the matter with us if we do not have an interest or teach prophesy. The Holy Spirit will ‘show you things to come’. Christ then said l am only going to be away for a little while. The disciples asked him about this. And he said, of a truth, of a truth, I am telling you the ultimate truth, you will weep and mourn but the world will rejoice: and you will be full of sorrow, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. Like a woman who when she has given birth forgets the pain of childbirth because of the joy which fills her soul at the birth of a child. And now you will have bereavement but I will see you again and when l do see you your hearts will be filled with joy and nobody will be able to take your joy from you. In that day all you questions will be answered. Of a truth, of a truth, I tell you the ultimate truth. What ever you will ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. So far you have asked for nothing in my name: In that day - ask, and you will receive, and in that your joy may be indescribable.

• How does Christ prepare the disciples for persecution? And how did they react to this prophecy?
• What will the Comforter do when he comes?
• How does Christ encourage the disciples for the coming troubles?

PM May 2nd 2 Kings 1

May 2^nd 2 Kings 1

A. Elijah’s ministry

Elijah predicts Ahaziah’s death

1: Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab. 2: And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease. 3: But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron? 4: Now therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed. 5: And when the messengers turned back unto him, he said unto them, Why are ye now turned back? 6: And they said unto him, There came a man up to meet us, and said unto us, Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that thou sendest to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron? therefore thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. 7: And he said unto them, What manner of man was he which came up to meet you, and told you these words? 8: And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite. 9: Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down. 10: And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. 11: Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly. 12: And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. 13: And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight. 14: Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight. 15: And the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king. 16: And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. 17: So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his stead in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son. 18: Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

2 Kings 2 Elijah taken up to heaven

1: And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 2: And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel. 3: And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. 4: And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho. 5: And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. 6: And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on. 7: And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan. 8: And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. 9: And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. 10: And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. 11: And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12: And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.

B. Elisha’s ministry Elisha comes back alone

13: He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; 14: And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over. 15: And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him. 16: And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send. 17: And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not. 18: And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?

Elisha purifies a spring

19: And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren. 20: And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him. 21: And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land. 22: So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.

Elisha mocked by some boys

23: And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. 24: And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them. 25: And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.

2 Kings 3 Elisha helps Joram defeat Moab

1: Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years. 2: And he wrought evil in the sight of the LORD; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made. 3: Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom. 4: And Mesha king of Moab was a sheepmaster, and rendered unto the king of Israel an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred thousand rams, with the wool. 5: But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. 6: And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all Israel. 7: And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I am as thou art, my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses. 8: And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom. 9: So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days' journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them. 10: And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab! 11: But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may inquire of the LORD by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah. 12: And Jehoshaphat said, The word of the LORD is with him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him. 13: And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab. 14: And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee. 15: But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him. 16: And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches. 17: For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts. 18: And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand. 19: And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones. 20: And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was offered, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water. 21: And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on armour, and upward, and stood in the border. 22: And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood: 23: And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil. 24: And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country. 25: And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees: only in Kir-haraseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it. 26: And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through even unto the king of Edom: but they could not. 27: Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.

Today we begin the second book of Kings which describes division and destruction. This book of 26 Chapters was written between 846 – 586 BC and its author is unknown. The book describes the effect of division and disobedience. The Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ten tribes) is taken captive by the Assyrians, and then the southern Kingdom of Judah (Two tribes) are taken captive by the Babylonians. Elijah’s ministry is handed on to Elisha. The ministry of Amos 760 BC, Hosea 753 BC, Micah 742 BC, Isaiah 740 BC, and Jeremiah 627 BC commences. The Prophetic books of the OT give insight into the times recorded in Second Kings. For 490 years, the greedy landowners of Judah had harvested the land during the Sabbath years. The land owed God seventy years. The poor who had no land were not taken captive. The poor inherited the earth! In today’s reading we have the closing events in the life of Elijah and the beginning of Elisha’s ministry. When Ahab died Moab rebelled against Israel. Ahaziah had an accident and was sick and he sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron as to whether he would recover of this disease. But the angel of the LORD told Elijah to go and intercept the messengers saying is there not a God in Israel that you go to inquire of Baal-zebub? Elijah told them to take the message that he would never leave his bed but that he would die in it. They didn’t go to inquire of Baal-zebub but went back to Ahaziah. He said why have you come back so soon and they repeated what they had heard. The king asked what the man looked like and they said he was hairy and had a leather belt. The king knew it was Elijah. So he sent a captain with 50 men to arrest Elijah but he called on fire from heaven on them and they were consumed. The king sent another 50 men and they were destroyed too. So the king sent a third 50 but the captain pleaded for is life and the Lord told Elijah to go with them and not to be afraid. Elijah went and delivered his message and the king died. Jehoram reigned in his place. The next incident the last in Elijah’s life is most interesting. He is the second of only two men that never died. Elijah is taken up to heaven without dying. Elijah and Elisha went together to Bethel and prophets met Elisha and said do you know that Elijah will go up to heaven today and he said yes. Then they moved on to Jericho and some other prophets said do you know that Elijah will be taken up to heaven today and he said yes. 50 prophets stood to watch while Elisha and Elijah went to the Jordan and Elijah took off his clock and hit the water with it and they divided so that they went over it on dry land. Elijah asked Elisha what he would like to be given him and he said a double portion of your Spirit. Elijah said what you have asked is a hard thing to give but if you see me leaving then you will have it. As they walked on a chariot of fire came and separated Elijah from Elisha and a tornado carried Elijah up to heaven. Elisha saw it all so he took his old cloak and tore it to pieces. His old life was ended. Elisha went back to the Jordan and cried where is the God of Elijah? and he hit the water with Elijah cloak and the waters divided again and he walked over it on dry ground. When the prophets saw it they knew that Elisha was the prophet of the Lord. Then the prophets said let us send 50 men to find Elijah. But Elisha said no so they pleaded with him and he said ok go. But they never found Elijah even after searching for three days. When they returned he said l told you not to go. The first thing that Elisha did was to heal a spring from its poisoned waters. Then one day Elisha was walking along and 42 little children came and made fun of him because he was bald but he cursed them I the name of the LORD and two female bears came and killed the children. No-one is to mock a man of God. A war broke out between Jehoram and Moab when Ahab died. Mesha king of Moab was a shepherd. Jehoram asked for Jehoshaphat to help him in battle and it was agreed. They attacked through the country of Edom but it was a long journey in the desert and they became thirsty. So they called for Elisha but the Lord would not speech to Jehoshaphat so a minstrel was brought who prophesied what they were to do. They were to dig trenches and wait till morning. In the morning a great flood came into the valley giving them enough to drink. When the Moabites came to battle the water appeared to be like blood and they assumed that there had been a great defeat and they thought they would come and take the spoil but when they advanced the armies of Israel and Judah surrounded them and they were destroyed. Some fled but they were soon found and executed. The army also spoiled the land of Moab ruining the fields and filling in the wells. When the king of Moab found the battle was difficult he sacrificed his son to his god but Israel and Judah were disgusted and left him.

• How would you describe Elijah's ministry?
• How does Elijah go up to heaven?
• How does Elisha's ministry begin?  

AM May 2nd John 15

May 2^nd The Lord warns of persecution

18: If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19: If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20: Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21: But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. 22: If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. 23: He that hateth me hateth my Father also. 24: If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. 25: But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. 26: But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

Christ continues giving his final teaching to the disciples, He says, it’s not certain, but if the world hates you just remember that it hated me first. Then Christ goes on further to explain that they are a group of men chosen out of the world and therefore the world will hate you. If they have persecuted me then they will persecute you. However if they keep my words they will keep your words. All the persecution that you face will be in my name and because they do not know my Father. If Jesus had not come and spoken unto them then they would have not rejected him and sinned in doing so. But now there is no clock to cover their sin of unbelief. Christ said, my ministry and yours will be to fulfil the scripture - They hated me without a cause. When the Holy Spirit comes he will testify of me said Christ. And you will also be witnesses because you have known me right from the start.

• What does Christ mean by ‘the world’?
• What is the relation between Christ and the world?
• What will the Comforter do when he comes? 

PM May 1st 1 Kings 20

May 1st 1 Kings 20

A Syrian army - Samaria

1: And Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together: and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses, and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it. 2: And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Ben-hadad, 3: Thy silver and thy gold is mine; thy wives also and thy children, even the goodliest, are mine. 4: And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have. 5: And the messengers came again, and said, Thus speaketh Ben-hadad, saying, Although I have sent unto thee, saying, Thou shalt deliver me thy silver, and thy gold, and thy wives, and thy children; 6: Yet I will send my servants unto thee to morrow about this time, and they shall search thine house, and the houses of thy servants; and it shall be, that whatsoever is pleasant in thine eyes, they shall put it in their hand, and take it away. 7: Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, Mark, I pray you, and see how this man seeketh mischief: for he sent unto me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I denied him not. 8: And all the elders and all the people said unto him, Hearken not unto him, nor consent. 9: Wherefore he said unto the messengers of Ben-hadad, Tell my lord the king, All that thou didst send for to thy servant at the first I will do: but this thing I may not do. And the messengers departed, and brought him word again. 10: And Ben-hadad sent unto him, and said, The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me. 11: And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off. 12: And it came to pass, when Ben-hadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions,that he said unto his servants, Set yourselves in array. And they set themselves in array against the city.

A Prophet predicts Ahab’s victory

13: And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it in to thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD. 14: And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Even by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, Thou. 15: Then he numbered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty two: and after them he numbered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand. 16: And they went out at noon. But Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him. 17: And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben-hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out of Samaria. 18: And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive. 19: So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them. 20: And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Ben-hadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen. 21: And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter. 22: And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thy self, and mark, and see what thou doest: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.

Ahab defeats the Syrian army

23: And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. 24: And do this thing, Take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their rooms: 25: And number thee an army, like the army that thou hast lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot: and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. And he hearkened unto their voice, and did so. 26: And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Ben-hadad numbered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel. 27: And the children of Israel were numbered, and were all present, and went against them: and the children of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country. 28: And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 29: And they pitched one over against the other seven days. And so it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined: and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians an hundred thousand footmen in one day. 30: But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and there a wall fell upon twenty and ¹seven thousand of the men that were left. And Ben-hadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber. 31: And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy life. 32: So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Ben-hadad saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother. 33: Now the men did diligently observe whether any thing would come from him, and did hastily catch it: and they said, Thy brother Ben-hadad. Then he said, Go ye, bring him. Then Ben-hadad came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot. 34: And Ben-hadad said unto him, The cities, which my father took from thy father, I will restore; and thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. Then said Ahab, I will send thee away with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and sent him away.

A prophet condemns Ahab

35: And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbour in the word of the LORD, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite him. 36: Then said he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him. 37: Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him. 38: So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his face. 39: And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king: and he said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said, Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver. 40: And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it. 41: And he hasted, and took the ashes away from his face; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets. 42: And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people. 43: And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.

1 Kings 21 Naboth’s Vineyard

1: And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2: And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money. 3: And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. 4: And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread. 5: But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? 6: And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard. 7: And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite. 8: So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth. 9: And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: 10: And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die. 11: And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them. 12: They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. 13: And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died. 14: Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead. 15: And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead. 16: And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it. 17: And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 18: Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it. 19: And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine. 20: And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD. 21: Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, 22: And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin. 23: And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. 24: Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat. 25: But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. 26: And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. 27: And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. 28: And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29: Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house.

1 Kings 22 Micaiah predicts Ahab’s defeat

1: And they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel. 2: And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. 3: And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we be still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria? 4: And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramoth-gilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses. 5: And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day. 6: Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king. 7: And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might inquire of him? 8: And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so. 9: Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah. 10: And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them. 11: And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them. 12: And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the king's hand. 13: And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good. 14: And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak. 15: So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king. 16: And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD? 17: And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace. 18: And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil? 19: And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. 20: And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. 21: And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. 22: And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. 23: Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee. 24: But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee? 25: And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself. 26: And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son; 27: And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace. 28: And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, the LORD hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you.

Ahab dies in battle

29: So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. 30: And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle. 31: But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel. 32: And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel. And they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out. 33: And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him. 34: And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded. 35: And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot. 36: And there went a proclamation throughout the host about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his own country. 37: So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria. 38: And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the word of the LORD which he spake. 39: Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 40: So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.

Jehoshaphat King of Judah

41: And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. 42: Jehoshaphat was thirty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. 43: And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the LORD: nevertheless the high places were not taken away; for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places. 44: And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel. 45: Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he shewed, and how he warred, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 46: And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land. 47: There was then no king in Edom: a deputy was king. 48: Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber. 49: Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not. 50: And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.

Ahaziah King of Israel

51: Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel. 52: And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin: 53: For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.

The next events that occur in our daily Bible reading are the invasion of the Syrian army and Ahab’s victory over them then we have the incident of the vineyard of Naboth. The Prophet Micaiah predicts Ahabs defeat and it follows that Ahab is killed in battle. Jehoshaphat becomes king of Judah and Ahaziah king of Israel. But first Ben-hadad gatheres his army to invade Samaria. Ban-hadad is spoiling for a fight so he gathers a formidable army of 32 kings and he makes outrageous demands of Ahab. First he demands all the treasures of precious metal and then he demands all the most precious human treasures the women and children. Then he says l am sending servants to your house tomorrow and they will take anything they like for me. Ahab calls for all the elders and they say take no notice of him. Ahab told the enemy not to boast of victory yet. Ben-hadad was furious and put the whole army in battle formation. Then a prophet of the Lord came to Ahab telling him that he will win a great victory. In this way he will know that the LORD is God. Ahab asked how the battle was to be won and the Lord said by your princes, only 232 of them. They went out against the Syrians and killed them and the great army fled. The prophet of the Lord encouraged Ahab in the battle because another battle would soon come. Later that year the Syrians came again to attack Ahab and his kingdom. Then another prophet told Ahab that they would have a great victory again. The battle started and 100,000 infantry wre killed on the Syrian side in one day. The rest ran away into the safety of the city walls but the wall of the city collapsed leaving them open to attack again. Ben-hadad came and pleaded for peace and Ahab granted him mercy. Then we have a very strange incident. One prophet tells another prophet to strike him but he refuses and because of this disobedience to the word of the LORD he is told that a lion will kill him which happens as soon as he leaves the city. So the prophet goes to find another man and he says to him strike me and he did wounding him. Then the prophet went out and covered his face with ashes and spoke to Ahab and told him that because he had shown mercy to Ben-hadad who had been appointed for death so he would loose his life instead. The king Ahab went away dejected. Much later Ahab saw a vineyard next to his palace which was very good so he asked Naboth if he could buy it, but Naboth refused. Ahab was fed up and refused to eat so his wife Jezabel said whats the matter and Ahab explained. Jezabel said don’t worry l will get the vineyard for you so she wrote letters in Ahabs name to the elders of the city reporting him for blaspheme and demanding that they should stone him. The elders hear the false witnesses against Naboth and they executed him. Jezabel heard of the killing and told Ahab that he was now free to buy the vineyard. However the word of the LORD came to Elijah telling him to go and confront Ahab and telling him where to find him. He warned him of the judgment of the LORD saying that where the dogs licked Naboths blood there they will lick your blood. The Lord said you have done great evil and all your male children will die. Ahab rent his clothes and put ash on his head and fasted and the LORD told Elijah because he has humbled himself before me l will delay the judgment all his life but l will judge his descendants after his death. Next we have the story of the 401^st prophet – Micaiah. Three years of peace ended with the invasion again of Syria. Jehoshaphat went to Ahab to ask if he would join forces with him in battle. Jehoshaphat said to Ahab my servants are your servant, my horses are your horses. But can we not get a word from the LORD about this matter? So Ahab gathered 400 of his yes men and said to them shall l go to war or stay at home? He was an evil man but in a fix he still wanted to know Gods will. They all answered Yes Go up and the LORD will deliver the enemy to your hand. Then Jehoshaphat said isn’t there a prophet of the Lord beside all these (yes men). Ahab said yes there is one prophet Micaiah, but l hate him he never says anything good about me. The king said bring Micaiah. So when he came the kings of both kigdoms and 400 of the yes men were gathered. Those who came to Miciaiah said to him now don’t be awkward you prophecy what we tell you. But he answered As the LORD liveth – what the LORD says, that will l speak. When he came they asked him what the Lord says and he said. Go and the Lord will proser you! The king was frustrated at him saying tell me the truth. And the prophet said l saw all Israel scattered as sheep without a shepherd (The kings were the shepherds of Israel) Ahab said l told you that he wouldn’t say a good thing about me. Then Micaiah opened heaven and revealed the lies of the false prophets. Then Zedekiak went to Micaiah and slapped his face – Micaiah gave him a sharp warning. Then Ahab said his servants go and put Micaiah into prison and feed him on bread and water. If he could not shut his mouth he would starve him out. So Micaiah told the people if Ahab returns from battle than l am a false prophet. Listen to me all of you. So they went to battle but Ahab descided that he would disguise himself. The king of Syria told his men don’t fight all the men just focus on the king. In the melee a man drew his bow probably thinking l had better do something and he released it at random and the arrow flew up and came down and struck home between the links of his armour and he said l am wounded take me out of the battle he died that day. His blood was washed out of the chariot and the dogs licked the ground as the prophet had said. Ahaziah his son took the throne in his place. In Judah Jehoshaphat reigned in his fathers place. He was a good king serving the Lord all his days. He reigned for 25 years. He expelled all the sodomites out of the land. He made ships to go to get gold but they never sailed. When he died his son Jehoram reigned in his place. In the north Ahaziah reigned after Ahab.

• How did Ahab defeat the Syrian invasion?
• What sort of man was Micaiah?
• How was Micaiahs ministry tested?

1 The Net Bible says… 20:30 The remaining 27,000 ran to Aphek and went into the city, but the wall fell on them. They tried to escape beind the city walls but the wall fell leaving them open to attack.