Today's Readings and Stuff -- for Saturday, 09 June 2018 (backdated)

weird weekend and this is several days late but posted for continuity

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2nd Kings 3

1  Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.

2  And he wrought evil in the sight of the Lord; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made.

3  Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.

4  And Mesha king of Moab was a sheepmaster, and rendered unto the king of Israel an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred thousand rams, with the wool.

5  But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.

6  And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all Israel.

7  And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I am as thou art, my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses.

8  And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom.

9  So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days' journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them.

10  And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the Lord hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!

11  But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord, that we may enquire of the Lord by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.

12  And Jehoshaphat said, The word of the Lord is with him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.

13  And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the Lord hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab.

14  And Elisha said, As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.

15  But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him.

16  And he said, Thus saith the Lord, Make this valley full of ditches.

17  For thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.

18  And this is but a light thing in the sight of the Lord: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand.

19  And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.

20  And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was offered, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.

21  And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on armour, and upward, and stood in the border.

22  And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood:

23  And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.

24  And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country.

25  And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees: only in Kir–hareseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it.

26  And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through even unto the king of Edom: but they could not.

27  Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.

2nd Kings 4


1  Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.

2  And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.

3  Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.

4  And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.

5  So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.

6  And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.

7  Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.debt: or, creditor

8  And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.

9  And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.

10  Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.

11  And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there.

12  And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him.

13  And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people.

14  And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.

15  And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door.

16  And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid.

17  And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.

18  And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers.

19  And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother.

20  And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.

21  And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out.

22  And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again.

23  And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well.

24  Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee.

25  So she went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite:

26  Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well.

27  And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.

28  Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me?

29  Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child.

30  And the mother of the child said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her.

31  And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked.

32  And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed.

33  He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the Lord.

34  And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm.

35  Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.

36  And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son.

37  Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.

38  And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets.

39  And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not.

40  So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof.

41  But he said, Then bring meal. And he cast it into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat. And there was no harm in the pot.

42  And there came a man from Baal–shalishah, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat

43  And his servitor said, What, should I set this before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat: for thus saith the Lord, They shall eat, and shall leave thereof.

44  So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of the Lord.

Today's Readings and Stuff --- Friday, 08 June 2018

Happy Friday to all.  That used to mean more to me, back when in the work world.  Less so, now.  Of course, many  (like 1973-1984 and 2008-2013) of those years were six and seven day work weeks, normally, and many others (like 1992-2006) had me "on call" 24/7 anyway.  But in those days, Friday meant something.  Now, well, it means less.
It's caused me to take a look at the routines we establish. Yes, the term "routine" sometimes morphs into "stuff we do regularly that's lost much meaning" and that is certainly true.  On the other hand, "routine" also gets into stuff we develop the habit of doing without having to schedule it.  For example, our trash collection is on Thursday morning, generally around 10:00 hours. So, someone, meaning  Yours Truly, has the "honor" of going around our place on Wednesday afternoon/evening, collecting whatever trash isn't already in the can outside (like the week's accumulation of used cat litter that goes out every day or two), and then haul the can to the road for pickup.  After pickup, I haul the can back in.  We're not the kind that has all that much to haul off.  But it needs to go.  Having that as part of the week's routine gets to be automatic.  Same thing for church services on Sunday morning:  I don't have to put it in my scheduling calendar, it's become part of what I am.  At other times in life, I did things like, for example, spending my lunch gnawing on a sandwich at my desk while having a "quiet time" of prayer and Bible study:  everyone else in that office area went out for lunch.  So it became ingrained.
Other things, well, I'm not so sure.  I know people who rigorously have a routine of watching NFL football on Sunday afternoon.  Or NASCAR races.  When we lived in areas on Central Time, it was -- unfortunately -- all too common for some people (including a few of my fellows on the deacon board) to skip worship services, leaving after the adult Bible study, so as to catch the race start or the kickoff.  One church was large enough to have two worship services (and one had three) so some people would come early and leave afterward.  Just part of their routine, but it spoke  of priorities assigned and it bothered me.  Still does.


I can recall that at one time, one day a week was set aside for laundry.  Part of the routine.  Always was done on that day.  No other.  Just "wasn't done" that way.
Happens in churches too.  I've seen the upset in a few places when relatively small things in the "order of service", like the time of taking up an offering, were attempted.  "That's not the way we do things!" was heard, and some hard feelings too.

So the routines that we set up, the patterns of life that we arrange, matter.  They guide our lives, more perhaps than we realize.  If we start our day checking the news, the "body count" from the night before, our minds will be inclined in a certain direction.  If we begin the day in even a moment of prayer and even attention to the Scripture, a different direction.  Yes, the "stuff" of the day will still come, but perhaps our reactions to that "stuff" will be changed.   Perhaps we will be changed as well.  Worth a try.

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2nd Kings 1

1  Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.

2  And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baal–zebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease.

3  But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baal–zebub the god of Ekron?

4  Now therefore thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.

5  And when the messengers turned back unto him, he said unto them, Why are ye now turned back?

6  And they said unto him, There came a man up to meet us, and said unto us, Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that thou sendest to enquire of Baal–zebub the god of Ekron? therefore thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.

7  And he said unto them, What manner of man was he which came up to meet you, and told you these words?

8  And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.

9  Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down.

10  And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

11  Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly.

12  And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

13  And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.

14  Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight.

15  And the angel of the Lord said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king.

16  And he said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to enquire of Baal–zebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to enquire of his word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.

17  So he died according to the word of the Lord which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his stead in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son.

18  Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

2nd Kings 2

1  And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

2  And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Beth–el. And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beth–el.

3  And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth–el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

4  And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.

5  And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

6  And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.

7  And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.to view: Heb. in sight, or, over against

8  And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.

9  And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

10  And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.

11  And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

12  And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.

13  He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;

14  And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

15  And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

16  And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the Lord hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send.

17  And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not.

18  And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?

19  And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren.barren: Heb. causing to miscarry

20  And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him.

21  And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the Lord, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.

22  So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.

23  And he went up from thence unto Beth–el: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.

24  And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.

25  And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.

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Psalm115

1  Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.

2  Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?

3  But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

4  Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.

5  They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:

6  They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:

7  They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.

8  They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.

9  O Israel, trust thou in the Lord: he is their help and their shield.

10  O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield.

11  Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield.

12  The Lord hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.

13  He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great.and: Heb. with

14  The Lord shall increase you more and more, you and your children.

15  Ye are blessed of the Lord which made heaven and earth.

16  The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

17  The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence.

18  But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the Lord.

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Today, chapter 26 in the Acts of the Apostles.
This has a sad line in it, verse 28.  "almost persuaded".  I don't know about Agrippa's eternal destiny.  But I know of other persons who, likewise, were "almost persuaded".  I was one of them for a very long time.
But it gives our "song of the day", one I hadn't heard in a church house in a long time, even in an evangelistic campaign / "revival".  Almost Persuaded.
An account of the composing of that hymn is found here.

Acts 26

1  Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:

2  I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:

3  Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

4  My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;

5  Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

6  And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:

7  Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.

8  Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?

9  I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

10  Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.

11  And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

12  Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,

13  At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.

14  And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

15  And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

16   But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

17   Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

19  Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:

20  But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

21  For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.

22  Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:

23  That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

24  And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.

25  But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.

26  For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.

27  King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.

28  Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

29  And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.

30  And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:

31  And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.

32  Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.

Today's Readings And Stuff. --Thursday, 07 June 2018

Happy Thursday.  After the last few days of cold weather, "highs" in the mid-60's and lows down into the 40's, we're promised upper 70's today and may even see 80° in the next few days.  Maybe.  Perhaps.  Possibly.
The demolition of the neighbor's house is finally complete:  the big digger just left.  Only took FOUR YEARS after the place burned.  "Your tax dollars at work", as ever.
Wife is in recovery mode after 3 days of dealing with a very active 11-1/2 month old boy. 

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More of the downhill spiral of the nation.  Not too many of us know anyone named Ahab.  Or Jezebel. 

1st Kings 21

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:on high

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.wall: or, ditch

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.

1st Kings 22

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, Enquire, 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 enquire 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 enquire 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.

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.

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 Tarshish 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.

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.

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Always a good idea to be mindful and thankful for what the Lord has done.  Look at this list!  If He can, and has, moved mountains and the seas (that He created), is there any limit to what He can do?

Psalm 114

1  When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language;

2  Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion.

3  The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back.

4  The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs.

5  What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?

6  Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs?

7  Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob;

8  Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters.

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More in the Acts.  This will end with the  Romans having to bear the cost -- financial among other things -- of sending a missionary into the heart of their empire.  Neat trick, that.  And, in the meantime, that missionary is presenting the Gospel to some pretty influential audiences.  And not "just" the rulers.  Those halls were also populated with butlers, guards, hangers-on of various sorts, servants, all the rest.  They also heard the Gospel message, and the records --- non canonical but still worthwhile -- show that some of them believed and were saved.  And spread the message further.  Planting seeds.  That is what it's about.

Acts 25

1  Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.

2  Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,

3  And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.

4  But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither.

5  Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.

6  And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.

7  And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.

8  While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.

9  But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

10  Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.

11  For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.

12  Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.

13  And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.

14  And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:

15  About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.

16  To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.

17  Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.

18  Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:

19  But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

20  And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.

21  But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar.

22  Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.

23  And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth.

24  And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.

25  But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.

26  Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write.

27  For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.