April 24 - Evening
"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.
Elisha said to the king of Israel, 'Why do you want to involve me? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother.'
'No,' the king of Israel answered, 'because it was the Lord who called us three kings together to deliver us into the hands of Moab.'
Elisha said, 'As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve,if I did not have respect for the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not pay any attention to you. But now bring me a harpist.'
While the harpist was playing, the hand of the Lord came on Elisha."
- Second Kings 3:12-15
So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.
Elisha said to the king of Israel, 'Why do you want to involve me? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother.'
'No,' the king of Israel answered, 'because it was the Lord who called us three kings together to deliver us into the hands of Moab.'
Elisha said, 'As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve,if I did not have respect for the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not pay any attention to you. But now bring me a harpist.'
While the harpist was playing, the hand of the Lord came on Elisha."
- Second Kings 3:12-15
Elisha Called to Help Israel, Judah and Edom vs. Moab
Mesha, the king of Moab, stopped paying his tribute to Israel after Ahab died, so the king of Israel, Joram (Ahab's second son to rule) went to war against Moab with his allies: Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom
When the troops of Israel and Judah run out of water in the wilderness of Edom Jehoshaphat asks to inquire of the Lord, YHWH. One of the troops has heard of Elisha and his association with the former prophet Elijah, and Jehoshaphat approves.
Elisha sarcastically greets the pagan king Joram of Israel and insults this son of Baal worshippers Ahab and Jezebel and their god.
But, Joram, king of Israel, replies that they called Elisha because it was his God, YHWH, who was trying to kill them here in the Edom wilderness, not Baal, the god of the storms and rain. Clearly, part of the Baal theology was polytheism (many gods) and not monotheism (one God, like the religion of true Israel and the Mosaic Law)
Elisha agrees to help because Jehosophat, a true worshipper of the Lord, is present. Elisha asks for a harp player who will play music while Elisha enters into the presence of his God and receives a supernatural utterance. The use of harpists and music to receive prophetic utterances while in an ecstatic state was a common practice at this time in the history of the Near East. (Map)
Elisha receives an answer that will both alleviate the need for water and cause the defeat of Moab. (2 Kings 3:14-27) (Also, the Moabite stone records similar details 1, 2)
Kubernesis (Gr) – Governments (Eng) – kybernesis is Greek word that comes from the Greek word kubernao, meaning “steer.” In classical Greek kubernesis referred to piloting a ship and was used to refer to governing. It is used only in 1 Corinthians 12:28 and is translated at “gifts of administration” in the NIV.
I will pray and seek the Lord's will in my life.
When I need direction I will turn to the Word of God and prayer.
When I need direction I will turn to the Word of God and prayer.
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Personal
Medicare
Church
Perseverance in service to saints
Nation
Government reform
World
Colombia
Inside the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem in the northwest section of the Old City known as the Muslim Quarter. (Details)
Someone to Quote
“Christianity no only gives your life meaning, it also best fits the facts of history, science, reason, and the experience of the real world.”
- David A. Noebel, Understanding the Times
Something to Ponder
Names for Satan:
Devil (Jn.8:44)
Liar (Jn.8:44)
Murderer (Jn.8:44)
Thief (Jn.10:10)
Accuser (Rev.12:10)
Devouring Lion (1Pt.5:8)
Angel of Light (2Cor.11:14)
Oppressor (Ac.10:38)
Word Stealer (Mk.4:15)
Faith Sifter (Lk.22:31)
Devil (Jn.8:44)
Liar (Jn.8:44)
Murderer (Jn.8:44)
Thief (Jn.10:10)
Accuser (Rev.12:10)
Devouring Lion (1Pt.5:8)
Angel of Light (2Cor.11:14)
Oppressor (Ac.10:38)
Word Stealer (Mk.4:15)
Faith Sifter (Lk.22:31)
Here’s a Fact
Numbers 13:22 mentions the Egyptian city of Zoan as being built seven years after the city of Hebron. Zoan was a royal Egyptian store city. Today it is called San el-Hagar. The Hyksos kings made Zoan their capital until its fall in 1580 BC to the new Pharaoh Amosis (notice “-mosis” or the source of the name “-moses” in the name given to an adopted prince we know as Moses). Excavations at Zoan have revealed statues, sphinxes and a very large temple with a stele with the name Rameses and the fragments of the largest colossus of an individual ever known – a 92 foot tall Rameses.
Proverb
"If you say, 'But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?' "
- Proverbs 24:12
Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?' "
- Proverbs 24:12
Coach’s Corner
Daydreams in the mind of a man of action become the plans for that mans successful endeavors.
2 Kings 3:14-27
New International Version (NIV)
14 Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, if I did not have respect for the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not pay any attention to you. 15 But now bring me a harpist.”
While the harpist was playing, the hand of the Lord came on Elisha 16 and he said, “This is what the Lord says: I will fill this valley with pools of water. 17 For this is what the Lord says: You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink. 18 This is an easy thing in the eyes of the Lord; he will also deliver Moab into your hands. 19 You will overthrow every fortified city and every major town. You will cut down every good tree, stop up all the springs, and ruin every good field with stones.”
20 The next morning, about the time for offering the sacrifice, there it was—water flowing from the direction of Edom! And the land was filled with water.
21 Now all the Moabites had heard that the kings had come to fight against them; so every man, young and old, who could bear arms was called up and stationed on the border. 22 When they got up early in the morning, the sun was shining on the water. To the Moabites across the way, the water looked red—like blood. 23 “That’s blood!” they said. “Those kings must have fought and slaughtered each other. Now to the plunder, Moab!”
24 But when the Moabites came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and fought them until they fled. And the Israelites invaded the land and slaughtered the Moabites. 25 They destroyed the towns, and each man threw a stone on every good field until it was covered. They stopped up all the springs and cut down every good tree. Only Kir Hareseth was left with its stones in place, but men armed with slings surrounded it and attacked it.
26 When the king of Moab saw that the battle had gone against him, he took with him seven hundred swordsmen to break through to the king of Edom, but they failed. 27 Then he took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him as a sacrifice on the city wall. The fury against Israel was great; they withdrew and returned to their own land.
New International Version (NIV)
14 Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, if I did not have respect for the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not pay any attention to you. 15 But now bring me a harpist.”
While the harpist was playing, the hand of the Lord came on Elisha 16 and he said, “This is what the Lord says: I will fill this valley with pools of water. 17 For this is what the Lord says: You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink. 18 This is an easy thing in the eyes of the Lord; he will also deliver Moab into your hands. 19 You will overthrow every fortified city and every major town. You will cut down every good tree, stop up all the springs, and ruin every good field with stones.”
20 The next morning, about the time for offering the sacrifice, there it was—water flowing from the direction of Edom! And the land was filled with water.
21 Now all the Moabites had heard that the kings had come to fight against them; so every man, young and old, who could bear arms was called up and stationed on the border. 22 When they got up early in the morning, the sun was shining on the water. To the Moabites across the way, the water looked red—like blood. 23 “That’s blood!” they said. “Those kings must have fought and slaughtered each other. Now to the plunder, Moab!”
24 But when the Moabites came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and fought them until they fled. And the Israelites invaded the land and slaughtered the Moabites. 25 They destroyed the towns, and each man threw a stone on every good field until it was covered. They stopped up all the springs and cut down every good tree. Only Kir Hareseth was left with its stones in place, but men armed with slings surrounded it and attacked it.
26 When the king of Moab saw that the battle had gone against him, he took with him seven hundred swordsmen to break through to the king of Edom, but they failed. 27 Then he took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him as a sacrifice on the city wall. The fury against Israel was great; they withdrew and returned to their own land.
2 Samuel 22
New International Version (NIV)
David’s Song of Praise
22 David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. 2 He said:
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
3
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior— from violent people you save me.
4
“I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemies.
5
The waves of death swirled about me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
6
The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me.
7
“In my distress I called to the Lord; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears.
8
The earth trembled and quaked, the foundations of the heavens shook; they trembled because he was angry.
9
Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it.
10
He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet.
11
He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind.
12
He made darkness his canopy around him— the dark rain clouds of the sky.
13
Out of the brightness of his presence bolts of lightning blazed forth.
14
The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded.
15
He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy, with great bolts of lightning he routed them.
16
The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at the rebuke of the Lord, at the blast of breath from his nostrils.
17
“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.
18
He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.
19
They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support.
20
He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.
21
“The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
22
For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I am not guilty of turning from my God.
23
All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees.
24
I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin.
25
The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight.
26
“To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
27
to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.
28
You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.
29
You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light.
30
With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.
31
“As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.
32
For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?
33
It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.
34
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights.
35
He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
36
You make your saving help my shield; your help has made me great.
37
You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.
38
“I pursued my enemies and crushed them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
39
I crushed them completely, and they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet.
40
You armed me with strength for battle; you humbled my adversaries before me.
41
You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes.
42
They cried for help, but there was no one to save them— to the Lord, but he did not answer.
43
I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth; I pounded and trampled them like mud in the streets.
44
“You have delivered me from the attacks of the peoples; you have preserved me as the head of nations. People I did not know now serve me,
45
foreigners cower before me; as soon as they hear of me, they obey me.
46
They all lose heart; they come trembling from their strongholds.
47
“The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be my God, the Rock, my Savior!
48
He is the God who avenges me, who puts the nations under me,
49
who sets me free from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from a violent man you rescued me.
50
Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name.
51
“He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever.”
New International Version (NIV)
David’s Song of Praise
22 David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. 2 He said:
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
3
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior— from violent people you save me.
4
“I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemies.
5
The waves of death swirled about me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
6
The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me.
7
“In my distress I called to the Lord; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears.
8
The earth trembled and quaked, the foundations of the heavens shook; they trembled because he was angry.
9
Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it.
10
He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet.
11
He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind.
12
He made darkness his canopy around him— the dark rain clouds of the sky.
13
Out of the brightness of his presence bolts of lightning blazed forth.
14
The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded.
15
He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy, with great bolts of lightning he routed them.
16
The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at the rebuke of the Lord, at the blast of breath from his nostrils.
17
“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.
18
He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.
19
They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support.
20
He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.
21
“The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
22
For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I am not guilty of turning from my God.
23
All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees.
24
I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin.
25
The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight.
26
“To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
27
to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.
28
You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.
29
You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light.
30
With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.
31
“As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.
32
For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?
33
It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.
34
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights.
35
He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
36
You make your saving help my shield; your help has made me great.
37
You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.
38
“I pursued my enemies and crushed them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
39
I crushed them completely, and they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet.
40
You armed me with strength for battle; you humbled my adversaries before me.
41
You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes.
42
They cried for help, but there was no one to save them— to the Lord, but he did not answer.
43
I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth; I pounded and trampled them like mud in the streets.
44
“You have delivered me from the attacks of the peoples; you have preserved me as the head of nations. People I did not know now serve me,
45
foreigners cower before me; as soon as they hear of me, they obey me.
46
They all lose heart; they come trembling from their strongholds.
47
“The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be my God, the Rock, my Savior!
48
He is the God who avenges me, who puts the nations under me,
49
who sets me free from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from a violent man you rescued me.
50
Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name.
51
“He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever.”
Psalm 92
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 92
A psalm. A song. For the Sabbath day.
1
It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High,
2
proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night,
3
to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp.
4
For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what your hands have done.
5
How great are your works, Lord, how profound your thoughts!
6
Senseless people do not know, fools do not understand,
7
that though the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish, they will be destroyed forever.
8
But you, Lord, are forever exalted.
9
For surely your enemies, Lord, surely your enemies will perish; all evildoers will be scattered.
10
You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; fine oils have been poured on me.
11
My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries; my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes.
12
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
13
planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God.
14
They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green,
15
proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 92
A psalm. A song. For the Sabbath day.
1
It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High,
2
proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night,
3
to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp.
4
For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what your hands have done.
5
How great are your works, Lord, how profound your thoughts!
6
Senseless people do not know, fools do not understand,
7
that though the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish, they will be destroyed forever.
8
But you, Lord, are forever exalted.
9
For surely your enemies, Lord, surely your enemies will perish; all evildoers will be scattered.
10
You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; fine oils have been poured on me.
11
My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries; my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes.
12
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
13
planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God.
14
They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green,
15
proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”