Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 14 July 2018

OK, first off, the last two days have been lousy.  No better way to put it.
I woke yesterday feeling none too good, and things went downhill from there, and still are in that region.  I had long planned to attend a special event at the church tomorrow, but at this point I'll be in the same horizontal mode I've been in since last evening and most of today.  She (Wife) is holding her own, but we're in that "take stuff out of the freezer and heat it up for lunch/dinner etc." mode right now.  I don't often get ill, and over a life of 50+ years of working, learned how to keep going regardless, unless things Got Real Bad, which rarely happened.  But right now I feel lousy and probably am not safe around people anyway, and certainly not  on the highway.
Which is the other side of that.  Wife needed something yesterday afternoon as I was getting into the downhill path, and we thought it unwise to wait.  So, I hopped in car.  No  problem.  Swung quickly by library.  No problem.  Headed over to the store 1/4 mile away.  No problem.  Got the essentials.  Jumped in car.  Dead.  D-E-D dead.  Short click in starter, and headlights would't turn on.  D-E-D dead.  Got in touch with the 'roadside assistance' that comes with our phones.  He arrived in a very timely fashion, got me started, I made it home.  Just.  By that point, the battery was so dead, even the dome light wouldn't work.  Nephew-in-law next door thinks battery may be shot .  Two year warranty on the battery, which expired last fall, so we are out of luck there.  So, we're housebound until Tuesday (s.s. check due then) .  Since I feel lousy anyway, it's probably just as well.
But it's not how I'd planned the next few days. Guess I'm not driving this bus. 
But, again, when your car is approaching 19 years old and has about 233,000 miles on the odometer, we don't expect a whole lot.  So it goes.
I slept a bit earlier, and am about to go try to do likewise in a few minutes. 
A good day and evening is wished for all.

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Today, chapters 17 and 18 in 2nd Chronicles.
This had to be interesting reading for the people in or just leaving the Babylonian Captivity, and for centuries thereafter.  It's a map of where things went wrong, and why, and who.

2nd Chronicles 17

1And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel.

2And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.

3And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;of…: or, of his father, and of David

4But sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.

5Therefore the Lord stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance.brought: Heb. gave

6And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.was…: that is, was encouraged

7Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Ben–hail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.

8And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tob–adonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests.

9And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.

10And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.fell: Heb. was

11Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats.

12And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store.castles: or, palaces

13And he had much business in the cities of Judah: and the men of war, mighty men of valour, were in Jerusalem.

14And these are the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers: Of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand.

15And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand.next…: Heb. at his hand

16And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the Lord; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour.

17And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand.

18And next him was Jehozabad, and with him an hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for the war.

19These waited on the king, beside those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah.

2nd Chronicles 18

1Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.

2And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth–gilead.after…: Heb. at the end of years

3And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth–gilead? And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war.

4And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the Lord to day.

5Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramoth–gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the king's hand.

6But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides, that we might enquire of him?besides: Heb. yet, or, more

7And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the Lord: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imlah. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

8And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah.officers: or, eunuchsFetch…: Heb. Hasten

9And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.void…: or, floor

10And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the Lord, With these thou shalt push Syria until they be consumed.they…: Heb. thou consume them

11And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth–gilead, and prosper: for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.

12And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.with…: Heb. with one mouth

13And Micaiah said, As the Lord liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.

14And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth–gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.

15And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the Lord?

16Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the Lord said, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace.

17And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?but evil: or, but for evil

18Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the Lord; I saw the Lord sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.

19And the Lord said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth–gilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.

20Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will entice him. And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith?

21And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the Lord said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.

22Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil against thee.

23Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the Lord from me to speak unto thee?

24And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.into…: or, from chamber to chamber: Heb. a chamber in a chamber

25Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;

26And 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 return in peace.

27And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, then hath not the Lord spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, all ye people.

28So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth–gilead.

29And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.

30Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that were with him, saying, Fight ye not with small or great, save only with the king of Israel.

31And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.

32For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him.from…: Heb. from after him

33And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: therefore he said to his chariot man, Turn thine hand, that thou mayest carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.at a venture: Heb. in his simplicitybetween…: Heb. between the joints and between the breastplatewounded: Heb. made sick

34And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the even: and about the time of the sun going down he died.