Welcome back everyone:
O.T. Kings 10-12 We start with Jehu calling together everyone that worshiped Baal and slaying them. So, there was nobody in Israel worshiped Baal. He demolished the house of Baal and made it a latrine. Now that’s an interesting thing to do with it. It was so bad that they made it a toilet, for all to use. And, i’m picturing all the dead bodies in this latrine. Is this hell?
After Jehu dies, Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, destroys the royal family, except for Joash, the son of Ahaziah who was hidden. After seven years, Jehoash was pronounced king. and Athaliah is slain. Jehoash replaces Jehu at 7 years old and then reigns for 40 years in Jerusalem. In these 40 years he repairs the house of the Lord. His servants slay him and his son Amaziah begins his reign.
Kings 13-14 Jehoahaz reigns for 17 years, and did evil in the sight of the Lord. Joash, his son, reigns next. He did evil in the sight of the Lord. Jerobam takes over.
Elisha falls sick and asks Joash, King of Israel, to take arrows and strike the ground. H eonly does it 3 times. Elisha is mad because he didn’t do it 5 or 6 times. (How was he to know that?). Now they will only strike down Syria 3 times, and if he had done more Syria wouldn’t exist anymore? What am I missing here? Does this mean that the issues we have today are from this point in history? Elisha dies, is out in his grave and brings back a person from the dead…. and then King after King.. did evil in the sight of the Lord and were replaced and replaced. Until…
Kings 15-17 Azariah reigns for 52 years and does right in the sight of the Lord. The high places weren’t taken away amd people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places, so the Lord struck the King with leprosy until his death. And then the Kings and their evil ways repeat themselves…. very short reigns for most of the Kings, and violent deaths.
Kings 18 Hezekiah, son of Ahaz, begins his reign. He reigns 29 years, and does right in the sight of the Lord. “He trusted in the Lord the God of Israel, so that there were none like him among all the Kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him.” Why haven’s i heard of how great he was before reading it here? So interesting to read about all these kings.
Kings 20-21 Hezekiah becomes sick and is on his deathbed. He prays to the Lord and the Lord extends his life for 15 more years. The Lord delivers the city from the King of Assyria. He shows all that he has to the people from Babylon, and Isaiah tells him that all that stuff will be taken to Babylonia. Manasseh is the next King, the son of Hezekiah. He reigns for 55 years and does evil. God says that this will be the end of Jerusalem ….. He dies and his son Josiah takes over when he is just 8 years old. he reigned for 31 years and did right in the eyes of the Lord.
Kings 22 Josiah cleans up the land, removes anything that is evil after reading the book of law from Moses? He is relentless in getting rid of people and things.. Still the Lord did not turn away from his great wrath because of Manasseh’s sins. “I will remove Judah from my sight, as I have removed Israel, and I will cast off this city which I have chosen, Jerusalem, and the house of which I have said, My name shall be there”
Psalm 133 “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity” (how true this is…do we do this though?”
Psalm 135 “Praise the Lord!!”
Psalm 136 A retelling of Exodus and “His mercy endures forever”
Psalm 138 The last part of this is what the Kings of the Old testament had as their motto almost…
“Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath
of my enemies,
and your right hand delivers me.
The lord will fulfil his purpose for me;
your mercy, O Lord endures for ever.
Don not forsake the work of your hands.”
(Isn’t this the way to go through life? I think that I have lived this most of my adult life. I ask “What is it I am supposed to do today, Lord. What is my purpose today?)
Psalm 139 God knows us better than we know ourselves. I really like the last line
“and see if there be any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!” ( as we forgive others that sin against us….right?)
N.T. John 17 “I do not pray that you take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil one” We have a reason for being here and we need to live that out. As the psalm said, we need to find our purpose for each day. God what am I supposed to do today? Mom and I ask ourselves, “What is the right thing to do right now?” Sometimes we get it wrong, but we are trying. Sometimes we feel like it’s the right thing to do, and maybe it was, but it doesn’t always feel right when we are done. Sometimes our visits end up feeling sad on the way home… and we try to adjust for a future visit. What did God want us to do? Why were we there? Did we do what we should have done? Why do we feel bad? hmmmm I am very thoughtful right now. Maybe it has to do with some texts today.
John 18 Matt gave us all a talk about this chapter.
“I am he”… and they all fell to the ground!
And then Peter is going to take on the Roman army with a knife! So, the thought is if we have God behind us, then we can take on anything!! What a thought!!
Peter starts denying Jesus….
John 19 I think of John telling this story. It’s real time to him. He’s there with Jesus, his true friend. He sees his friend have a crown to thorns put on his head, and then sentenced to death by his own people. How confusing for John. Like this happened and Jesus just sat there and did’t respond….”come on Jesus, come on my friend….protect yourself”
Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews above his head !!!
But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near (John)……. and at this time John took care of Mary…
John 20 Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early and saw the stone was moved and she went to Peter and John to tell them. John runs to the tomb and finds it empty….. He saw and believed….
Jesus also shows himself to Mary Magdalene… “I have seen the Lord”!
Interesting week… Old testament full of King turnovers. New testament, the death of a King and rising from the dead…. So much to think about!
Bishop Baron asks today “are you an advent person?” Another thing to ponder. Are we waiting for the coming of Jesus, or is he with us now? Father Paul asked today “What are you doing for advent?” Hmmmmmm
Enjoy your advent! Today is the first day of advent! God bless you all in this season…
The Journey Begins 