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. 

PM April 30th 1 Kings 17

April 30^th 1 Kings 17 

Elijah warns Ahab of drought

1: And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. 2: And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 3: Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 4: And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. 5: So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 6: And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. 7: And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.

Elijah - Widow of Zarephath

8: And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 9: Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. 10: So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. 11: And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. 12: And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. 13: And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. 14: For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth. 15: And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. 16: And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah. 17: And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. 18: And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son? 19: And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed. 20: And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son? 21: And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again. 22: And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. 23: And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth. 24: And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.

1 Kings 18 Elijah speaks to Ahab again

1: And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth. 2: And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria. 3: And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly: 4: For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.) 5: And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts. 6: So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself. 7: And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah? 8: And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here. 9: And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me? 10: As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not. 11: And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here. 12: And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth. 13: Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD's prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water? 14: And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me. 15: And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day. 16: So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17: And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? 18: And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim. 19: Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.

Elijah on Mt Carmel

20: So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel. 21: And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. 22: Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. 23: Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: 24: And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken. 25: And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. 26: And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. 27: And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked. 28: And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. 29: And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. 30: And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. 31: And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: 32: And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. 33: And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. 34: And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. 35: And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. 36: And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 37: Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. 38: Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39: And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God. 40: And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

The drought ends

41: And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. 42: So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, 43: And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. 44: And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. 45: And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. 46: And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

1 Kings 19 Elijah flees to Mt Horeb

1: And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. 2: Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. 3: And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. 4: But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. 5: And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. 6: And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. 7: And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. 8: And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.

The Lord speaks to Elijah again

9: And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? 10: And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 11: And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: 12: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 13: And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? 14: And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 15: And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: 16: And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. 17: And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. 18: Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

Elijah calls Elisha

19: So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. 20: And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee? 21: And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.

This brings us to the life and ministry of Elijah. We see that Elijah first warns Ahab of a drought which is the judgment of God on the northern kingdom because of their backslidings. Then we have the interesting case of the widow of Zarephath. Then we read of the encounter of Elijah with Ahab and the contest on Mt Carmel. Elijah then brings the drought to an end and flees at the threats of Jezebel. Then we read of the word of the Lord coming again to Elijah and finally Elisha is raised up by the Lord to replace Elijah. It’s interesting that Elijah raises no army nor is e a king but he is the Prophet of the Lord who brings a special word from the Lord to the wayward king and he leads a massive revival that is all cantered on one showdown on Mt Carmel. So how did Elijah achieve so much? He achieved so much by prayer in private and a public demonstration of the power of God in a very public place. It all starts with Elijah coming to Ahab to warn him of the coming drought. This drought was no ordinary drought it was an act of God in judgment. In the Law we saw that the Lord promised rain and fruitful harvest to Israel if they were faithful to the LORD but he also warned of drought and failed crops if they forsook the LORD. Now Elijah will call upon the name of the LORD to shut up the heavens to rain. He tells Ahab that the LORD has said that it will not rain for three years. And then he prays fervently that it will not rain. Then the LORD told Elijah to go and hide himself. He went and hid on the eastern banks of the Jordan in the rocky cliffs where a little brook would give him water. And he was fed morning and evening by ravens. (This is interesting because ravens were unclean) They brought him bread and flesh and so God who told him to be there provided for all his needs. After a while the brook dried up and then the LORD told him to go to Zarephath. (A seaside village on the coast in the far north of Palestine.) There the LORD commanded a widow to shelter him. It’s interesting that God was working in the life of other people in Israel and their obedience was as much an instrument of God as the man of God himself. This was a gentile village outside of Israel. We cannot fail to notice that first ravens and now a gentile woman? God often does what seems strange to us. When Elijah arrived she was gathering sticks to commit suicide with her son. Now God will move in her life to save her life and to provide for his servant. Elijah asks for a drink of water and a little bread. She answered that she had just a small among of flour and a little oil and it will be her last meal. He says to her don’t be afraid. Bring me a little cake and make one for yourself and your son. The barrel of flour will not run out and the cruise of oil will not run out until the day that the LORD sends rain. The LORD provided every day all that they all needed for the day. But after many days the boy became sick. She spoke to him saying have you come to slay my son? So he carried him up into the loft where he slept and he laid him o his bed and then prayed to the LORD for the boy he laid beside him three times. And Elijah pleaded with the Lord for the dead boy. Everything in Elijah’s life would be accomplished by prayer. Then the Lord heard his prayer and the child was revived. Then he brought him to his mother. She said, now l know that you are a man of God. This was a sign from heaven which confirmed Elijah’s prophetic message. Then after three years the LORD told Elijah to go to speak to Ahab again because he was going to send rain again. There was a very bad famine in Samaria and Ahab had called for Obadiah who was his house steward. Obadiah feared the LORD a great deal. When Jezebel had tried to kill all the prophets in Israel Obadiah had taken 100 prophets and hid them in a cave. And he had given them bread and water. Ahab sent Obadiah to find grass for the flocks. Ahab and Obadiah searched for green grass. Obadiah met Elijah and he fell on his face. Elijah told him to go and fetch is master Ahab. Obadiah told Elijah all that he had done and said he was afraid to go because Ahab might be cross with him and kill him. Elijah reassured him that he would see Ahab this day. When Ahab came he said to Elijah you are the one who has brought all this trouble on Israel. But he answered no l have not troubled Israel but you and your fathers house have forsaken the LORD and followed Baalim. He said l will meet you at My Carmel, bring the priests of Baalim 450 and bring the prophets of the grove 400. When they met on Mt Carmel Elijah spoke to Israel calling on Israel to make a choice between following the LORD or Baal. Then he called for a public demonstration of the power of God to enable Israel to know who was right and who they should follow. He said bring two bullocks and let the priests of Baal make an offering to their God and if he answers by fire then he will be the Lord of Israel. The people liked the idea so the Baal worshippers made an altar and called on their god but there was no answer and no fire. From morning to noon they danced and pleaded but no fire came. Elijah mocked them saying maybe he is asleep or maybe he has gone for walk! Then after they had injured themselves and done all they could Elijah said to the people come near and he rebuilt the altar of the LORD out of twelve stones. He also made a trench around it and filled it with water he arranged the bullock on the wood and he poured water onto the altar and it ran into the trench. And then he told them to do it again. And then do it a third time. And then at 3pm he called on the name of the LORD and the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the sacrifice, the wood and the stones and the dust and the water in the trench. Then the people fell on their faces saying only the LORD is God. They took the prophets of Baal and Elijah executed them all. Then Elijah told Ahab that it was gong to rain. Elijah went and called on the name of the LORD and the rain came again. Ahab told Jezebel his wife what Elijah had done and Jezebel sent a message to Elijah says l will kill you before tomorrow. Elijah ran to Beer-sheba where he left his servant and he went another day’s journey and sat under a juniper tree and asked the LORD to take his life. Elijah was exhausted so the Lord provided regular food and drink and sleep for two days and then on the strength of this food he went for 40 days he went to Horeb. Then the Lord spoke to him, saying why are you here Elijah? He said l have done everything and yet my life is now in danger. He said l am the only prophet left alive. The LORD told him to go and stand before him. And a great wing came and smashed the rocks in pieces. But the Lord was not in the wind. Then the LORD sent an earthquake. But the LORD was not in the earthquake. Then the LORD sent a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. When everything was finished there was still a quite voice from the LORD. Then the LORD spoke to him again, what are you doing here Elijah? And he repeated l have done everything for you and now they want to kill me. The Lord said go to Damascus and anoint Hazael king over Syria. And anoint Jehu king of Israel. And by the way l have still got 7,000 in Israel that are faithful to me. Elijah found Elisha ploughing with twelve oxen and Elijah passed by him he threw his overcoat on him. Elisha stopped and ran after Elijah and he said let me go and say farewell to my parents and then l will follow you. Elisha went back and killed the oxen and gave the meat to the people and then he went back a followed Elijah. We see in this passage that God was doing two things in the life of Elijah he was doing and work of God through him and he was doing a work of God in him.

• Why was there a drought?
• How did Elijah bring the nation to its knees?
• How did it work? 

AM May 1st John 15

May 1^st John 15

7 “I am the true vine”

1: I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2: Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3: Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4: Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5: I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6: If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7: If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8: Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 9: As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10: If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11: These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12: This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13: Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14: Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15: Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. 16: Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17: These things I command you, that ye love one another.

The type of the vine was commonly used in Israel to describe the relation of God to his covenant people. In this part of Christ’s teaching to his disciples he declares himself to be the true vine. He says l am the True Vine and my Father is the husbandman. Christ continues the analogy saying that every branch in him that does not bear fruit. i.e. godly living under the mosaic law the Father will cut off from Israel so that ‘it’ - Israel may produce more fruit. Now that the disciples are clean through the word which Christ had spoken they are to remain ‘in’ the vine. Abide in me, and l in you, Christ says, because the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine. You will not be able to bear fruit of righteousness unless you abide in me says Christ. Then he says, I am the vine and you are the branches. Christ is saying, I am the Messiah and you are my followers and you will not be able to produce righteous deeds unless you abide in me, because without me you can do nothing. If a man does not abide in me then he is cut off and he withers and like dead branches he is gathered to be burnt in the fire. Now this cannot be said of any of Gods children who are saved. This is describing Jews who are living according to the law. If they do not live righteously they will be cut off from the ministry of Christ and they will face the fire of judgment. However Christ says to his own people, if you abide in me then you will be able to ask anything and it will be done unto you. The glory of the father is seen in the righteousness of the disciples. This is pure law. He says, If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love; in the same way that I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. How very different to the situation that the christian finds himself in. He is accepted in Christ once and for all. His sins are forever forgiven. The disciples are to keep themselves in the fathers love by keeping the commandments of Christ. Christ says that these things are being said to you so that you might have the joy of God in your souls. Then Christ reiterates his commandment. This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. He says, Greater love has no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends. And you are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you. Christ is saying you are my friends if you obey my commandments. This is not said to Christians under Grace. Christians under grace do keep the commandments of Christ, but not in order to be Christ’s friend but because they are in a saved relationship with Christ. Christ explains that he is not going to call them servants anymore because servants do not know what their Lord is doing. He says l am going to call you friends; because everything that I have heard from my Father I have made it known to you. Christ says to the Apostles, You did not choose me but I chose you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should be permanent and that whatsoever you will ask of the Father in my name, he will give it you. Its pretty certain that the Apostles didn’t understand what Christ was saying. He was saying that they are to go forth and produce righteous deeds that will bring glory to God. And that they are free to ask for anything and God will do it for them. Lastly he says, I command you - that you love one another. And so we have this amazing balance between All authority to command blessing and the injunction to love toward each other.

• What does the husbandman do to those branches that do not bear fruit?
• What does it mean to Abide in Christ?
• In what way did the disciples come into a new relationship?

AM April 30th John 14

April 30^th John 14

6 “I am the way, the truth & the life”

1: Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2: In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3: And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4: And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5: Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7: If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 8: Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9: Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 10: Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11: Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. 12: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13: And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14: If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

(The Witness to the Witnesses) The Lord’s private last words

15: If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16: And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17: Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18: I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19: Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 20: At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21: He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22: Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23: Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24: He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. 25: These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28: Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. 29: And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. 30: Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. 31: But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

All of the teaching of the following chapters was missed by Judas. Christ is giving his last words to the disciples before his betrayal and trials. In the previous chapter Christ has said, that he was going away for a little while and you will seek me but you will no find me. This had raised the boast of Peter that he would follow the Lord to the end but Christ had revealed to Peter his weakness, telling him that he would deny him three times before the night was over. Then Christ says, Do not let your heart be troubled. You believe in God. Now believe also in me. Christ says, you believe in God now believe also in me. Christ is calling on the disciples to become believers in him. Previously they had been believers in God but now they are to become believers in Christ. And what are they to believe about Christ? That he was going away but that he was going away to prepare a place for them and that he was coming back to take them to the place that he will prepare. Christ was not speaking about the resurrection he was talking about his return in Glory at the end of the age. His ultimate purpose is that they might be with him where he is. Then he said where l am going you know and the way to that place you know. Thomas spoke for the rest. He said, Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way? Jesus answered in the famous words; I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, except by me. If you had known me, then you should have known my Father also and from now onward you will know him, and you will have seen him. Philip answered, Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied. Jesus answered to Thomas, Have I been with you so long and yet you do not know me, Philip? Then he said, He that has seen me has seen the Father; so how can you say, Show us the Father? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? And the words that I speak to you do not come from me but from my father who lives in me, he does the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me because of my works. Then Jesus said, truly, truly, I am telling you the ultimate truth. He that believes on me, will do the works that l do and he will do greater works than l have done, because I go am going to my Father. And whatsoever you will ask in my name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Comforter, one who will abide with you for ever; He will be the Spirit of truth; who the world cannot receive, because it does not see him or know him. but you will know him because he will live with you and he will be in you. I am not going to leave you without a protector. For a little while the world will see me no more but you will see me (in the resurrection) and because l live, you will live also. On that day (the day of resurrection) you will know that I am in my Father and you in me, and I in you. And He that has my commandments, and keepeth them, he is the one who loves me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas (the other Judas not Judas Iscariot) said, Lord, how is it that thou wilt reveal yourself to us and not to the world? Jesus said to him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our abode with him. He that loves me not does not keep my sayings: and the word which you hear is not mine, but the Father's who sent me. The Comforter, who is the Holy Spirit, who the Father will send in my name, he will teach you everything, and help you to remember everything that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not like the peace of the world. Do not let not your heart be troubled, do let it be afraid. You have heard that l said, I am going away and will come again to you. If you did love me you would rejoice, because I said, I am going to go to the Father: because my Father is greater than I. So Now I have told you before it happens so that when it happens you will believe in me. From now on l will not talk much about this with you because Satan has come and yet he has found nothing in me. (That is he has found no means whereby he can tempt me to sin) I am doing the commandments of my Father that the world will know that l love my Father. Now let us get up and go on further. This long involved conversation was a preparation by Christ for his disciples for the days ahead. Christ was concerned for them that they do not allow themselves to become too downcast when the cross comes. They are to realise that Christ’s going will be so that the Holy Spirit might be given and that Christ’s return will be glorious. Christ says; if you love me keep my commandments. Christ also encourages the disciples to pray in faith and to go on from faith in God to faith in himself.

• What did Jesus mean when he said I am the way, the truth and the life?
• What did Jesus mean by I am in the Father and the Father in me?
• What did Christ promise his disciples?

PM April 29th 1 Kings 14

April 29^th 1 Kings 14

Ahijah warns Jeroboam

1: At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. 2: And Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise, I pray thee, and disguise thyself, that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam; and get thee to Shiloh: behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, which told me that I should be king over this people. 3: And take with thee ten loaves, and cracknels, and a cruse of honey, and go to him: he shall tell thee what shall become of the child. 4: And Jeroboam's wife did so, and arose, and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. But Ahijah could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age. 5: And the LORD said unto Ahijah, Behold, the wife of Jeroboam cometh to ask a thing of thee for her son; for he is sick: thus and thus shalt thou say unto her: for it shall be, when she cometh in, that she shall feign herself to be another woman. 6: And it was so, when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet as she came in at the door, that he said, Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam; why feignest thou thyself to be another? for I am sent to thee with heavy tidings. 7: Go, tell Jeroboam, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the people, and made thee prince over my people Israel, 8: And rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it thee: and yet thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes; 9: But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back: 10: Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone. 11: Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat: for the LORD hath spoken it. 12: Arise thou therefore, get thee to thine own house: and when thy feet enter into the city, the child shall die. 13: And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam. 14: Moreover the LORD shall raise him up a king over Israel, who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam that day: but what? even now. 15: For the LORD shall smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, and he shall root up Israel out of this good land, which he gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their groves, provoking the LORD to anger. 16: And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin. 17: And Jeroboam's wife arose, and departed, and came to Tirzah: and when she came to the threshold of the door, the child died; 18: And they buried him; and all Israel mourned for him, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by the hand of his servant Ahijah the prophet.

Jeroboam dies

19: And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred, and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. 20: And the days which Jeroboam reigned were two and twenty years: and he slept with this fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his stead.

Rehoboam king of Judah

21: And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD did choose out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess. 22: And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done. 23: For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree. 24: And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. 25: And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem: 26: And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made. 27: And king Rehoboam made in their stead brasen shields, and committed them unto the hands of the chief of the guard, which kept the door of the king's house. 28: And it was so, when the king went into the house of the LORD, that the guard bare them, and brought them back into the guard chamber. 29: Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 30: And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days. 31: And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess. And Abijam his son reigned in his stead.

1 Kings 15 Abijam King of Judah

1: Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah. 2: Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. 3: And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father. 4: Nevertheless for David's sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem: 5: Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. 6: And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life. 7: Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam. 8: And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead.

Asa King of Judah

9: And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah. 10: And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. 11: And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father. 12: And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. 13: And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron. 14: But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days. 15: And he brought in the things which his father had dedicated, and the things which himself had dedicated, into the house of the LORD, silver, and gold, and vessels. 16: And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 17: And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 18: Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Ben-hadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying, 19: There is a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold; come and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me. 20: So Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-beth-maachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. 21: And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah. 22: Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted: and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and king Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah. 23: The rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? Nevertheless in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet. 24: And Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead.

Nadab King of Judah

25: And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned over Israel two years. 26: And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin. 27: And Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha smote him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon. 28: Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead. 29: And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he smote all the house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according unto the saying of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite: 30: Because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation wherewith he provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger. 31: Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 32: And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.

Baasha King of Israel

33: In the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasha the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, twenty and four years. 34: And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.

1 Kings 16

1: Then the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying, 2: Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel; and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins; 3: Behold, I will take away the posterity of Baasha, and the posterity of his house; and will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 4: Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat. 5: Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 6: So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah: and Elah his son reigned in his stead. 7: And also by the hand of the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of the LORD against Baasha, and against his house, even for all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD, in provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam; and because he killed him.

Elah King of Israel

8: In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, two years. 9: And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah. 10: And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead. 11: And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he slew all the house of Baasha: he left him not one that pisseth against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends. 12: Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet, 13: For all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin, in provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities. 14: Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Zimri King of Israel

15: In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines. 16: And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp. 17: And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah. 18: And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died, 19: For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin. 20: Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he wrought, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Omri King of Israel

21: Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri. 22: But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned. 23: In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah. 24: And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria. 25: But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse than all that were before him. 26: For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin, to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities. 27: Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his might that he shewed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 28: So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria: and Ahab his son reigned in his stead.

Ahab King of Israel

29: And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years. 30: And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him. 31: And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. 32: And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. 33: And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. 34: In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.

In today’s Bible reading we have the warning of Ahijah and the death of Jeroboam and then we have brief descriptions of four kings of Judah and five kings of Israel. But first we read of the interesting account of the warning of Ahijah to Jeroboams wife. She was sent by her husband because his son was sick and he sent her to ask what would happen to his son. She disguised herself but she could not disguise herself to the Lord. Ahijah was blind but the Lord told Ahijah who she was. The message from the Lord was going to be sad. The Lord said l exalted you and made you prince over Israel and took the kingdom from David and gave it to you, but you have not been like David – you have done evil in my sight - you have served other gods. So l will bring evil on your house and all male sons will be destroyed. He that dies of your family in the city will be eaten of dogs and in the fields by the birds. So go back to the city because when you enter the city your son will die and only he will be buried because there was something good in him. When she returned the child died and was buried and all Israel mourned for him. Then Jeroboam died, he had reigned for 22 years. Nadab reigned in his place. Rehoboam reigned in Judah as king from 41 yrs of age and he reigned for 17 years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He allowed false religion and he also allowed sodomites to continue their evil practise in the land. In Rehoboam’s 6^th year, the king of Egypt, Shishak came and took the treasures of the House of the Lord. And he took the gold shields of Solomon. Rehoboam made brass replicas to replace them. Then he died. In his place Abijah reigned over Judah. He reigned for 3 yrs in Jerusalem. He did the same evils as his father. When he died Asa reigned in Judah in his place. He reigned for 41 yrs in Jerusalem. Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. He kicked out the sodomites from the land and removed all the idols of his father. He prevented his mother from being queen because she had made a grove for idol worship. He destroyed her idol and burnt it by the brook Kidron. Asa did not manage to destroy all the groves to idol worship but he did serve the Lord all his days. In his old age his feet were bad and he died leaving a reformed Judah. Nadab took the throne of Israel in the second year of Asa, but he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He reigned for one year. Baasha took the throne of Israel. He also did evil in the sight of the LORD. The nation was getting worse and worse. Jehu was sent by the Lord to him yet he took no notice of the word of the Lord and died. Next we have Elah he reined over Israel in the 26^th year of Asa. He was raised up by the Lord to execute all the male offspring of Baasha. Zimri then took the throne of Israel he was also an evil king and he committed suicide by burning his house down when he was in it. Omri then took charge. At this time Israel itself was divided into two. Half followed Timri and half Omri, but war broke out and Timri was killed. He reigned for 6 yrs. He did worse than all the kings before him. He died and Ahab reigned in his place. Ahab did evil in the sight of the Lord. His wife was Jezebel who taught him to serve Baal. He did more to provoke the Lord to anger than any king before him. Elijah was sent by the Lord to confront Ahab, but how will he do it? We will see tomorrow.

• Make a list of the kings as they are recorded and notes on each king, such as character, achievements and whether he is righteous or unrighteous.