O. Addison Gethers e-mail address : [email protected] or [email protected] window live messenger: [email protected] aim: durangoadd64 skype: cowboys62 yahoo messenger: OADDISONGETHERS
----- Original Message ----- From: "Donnie Parrett" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, April 10, 2009 10:30 PM Subject: Daily Bible Reading For Saturday April 11 >1 Kings 16-18 (The Message) > > 1 Kings 16 > 1-4 The word of God came to Jehu son of Hanani with this message for > Baasha: "I took you from > nothing-a complete nobody-and set you up as the leader of > my people Israel, but you plodded along in the rut of Jeroboam, making my > people Israel sin and > making me seethe over their sin. And now the consequences-I > will burn Baasha and his regime to cinders, the identical fate of Jeroboam > son of Nebat. Baasha's > people who die in the city will be eaten by scavenger > dogs; carrion crows will eat the ones who die in the country." > > 5-6 The rest of Baasha's life, the record of his regime, is written in The > Chronicles of the Kings > of Israel. Baasha died and was buried with his ancestors > in Tirzah. His son Elah was king after him. > > 7 That's the way it was with Baasha: Through the prophet Jehu son of > Hanani, God's word came to him > and his regime because of his life of open evil before > God and his making God so angry-a chip off the block of Jeroboam, even > though God had destroyed him. > > Elah of Israel > 8-10 In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah son of Baasha > began his rule. He was king > in Tirzah only two years. One day when he was at the > house of Arza the palace manager, drinking himself drunk, Zimri, captain > of half his chariot-force, > conspired against him. Zimri slipped in, knocked Elah > to the ground, and killed him. This happened in the twenty-seventh year of > Asa king of Judah. Zimri > then became the king. > > 11-13 Zimri had no sooner become king than he killed everyone connected > with Baasha, got rid of > them all like so many stray dogs-relatives and friends > alike. Zimri totally wiped out the family of Baasha, just as God's word > delivered by the prophet > Jehu had said-wages for the sins of Baasha and his son > Elah; not only for their sins but for dragging Israel into their sins and > making the God of Israel > angry with their stupid idols. > > 14 The rest of Elah's life, what he said and did, is written in The > Chronicles of the Kings of > Israel. > > Zimri of Israel > 15-19 Zimri was king in Tirzah for all of seven days during the > twenty-seventh year of the reign of > Asa king of Judah. The Israelite army was on maneuvers > near the Philistine town of Gibbethon at the time. When they got the > report, "Zimri has conspired > against the king and killed him," right there in the > camp they made Omri, commander of the army, king. Omri and the army > immediately left Gibbethon and > attacked Tirzah. When Zimri saw that he was surrounded > and as good as dead, he entered the palace citadel, set the place on fire, > and died. It was a fit > end for his sins, for living a flagrantly evil life before > God, walking in the footsteps of Jeroboam, sinning and then dragging > Israel into his sins. > > 20 As for the rest of Zimri's life, along with his infamous conspiracy, > it's all written in The > Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. > > Omri of Israel > 21-22 After that the people of Israel were split right down the middle: > Half favored Tibni son of > Ginath as king, and half wanted Omri. Eventually the Omri > side proved stronger than the Tibni side. Tibni ended up dead and Omri > king. > > 23-24 Omri took over as king of Israel in the thirty-first year of the > reign of Asa king of Judah. > He ruled for twelve years, the first six in Tirzah. > He then bought the hill Samaria from Shemer for 150 pounds of silver. He > developed the hill and > named the city that he built Samaria, after its original > owner Shemer. > > 25-26 But as far as God was concerned, Omri lived an evil life-set new > records in evil. He walked > in the footsteps of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who not only > sinned but dragged Israel into his sins, making God angry-such an > empty-headed, empty-hearted life! > > 27-28 The rest of Omri's life, the mark he made on his times, is written > in The Chronicles of the > Kings of Israel. Omri died and was buried in Samaria. > His son Ahab was the next king after him. > > Ahab of Israel > 29-33 Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel in the thirty-eighth year of > Asa king of Judah. Ahab > son of Omri was king over Israel for twenty-two years. > He ruled from Samaria. Ahab son of Omri did even more open evil before God > than anyone yet-a new > champion in evil! It wasn't enough for him to copy the > sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat; no, he went all out, first by marrying > Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal > king of the Sidonians, and then by serving and worshiping > the god Baal. He built a temple for Baal in Samaria, and then furnished it > with an altar for Baal. > Worse, he went on and built a shrine to the sacred whore > Asherah. He made the God of Israel angrier than all the previous kings of > Israel put together. > > 34 It was under Ahab's rule that Hiel of Bethel refortified Jericho, but > at a terrible cost: He > ritually sacrificed his firstborn son Abiram at the laying > of the foundation, and his youngest son Segub at the setting up of the > gates. This is exactly what > Joshua son of Nun said would happen. > > 1 Kings 17 > 1 And then this happened: Elijah the Tishbite, from among the settlers of > Gilead, confronted Ahab: > "As surely as God lives, the God of Israel before whom > I stand in obedient service, the next years are going to see a total > drought-not a drop of dew or > rain unless I say otherwise." > > 2-4 God then told Elijah, "Get out of here, and fast. Head east and hide > out at the Kerith Ravine > on the other side of the Jordan River. You can drink > fresh water from the brook; I've ordered the ravens to feed you." > > 5-6 Elijah obeyed God's orders. He went and camped in the Kerith canyon on > the other side of the > Jordan. And sure enough, ravens brought him his meals, > both breakfast and supper, and he drank from the brook. > > 7-9 Eventually the brook dried up because of the drought. Then God spoke > to him: "Get up and go to > Zarephath in Sidon and live there. I've instructed a > woman who lives there, a widow, to feed you." > > 10-11 So he got up and went to Zarephath. As he came to the entrance of > the village he met a woman, > a widow, gathering firewood. He asked her, "Please, > would you bring me a little water in a jug? I need a drink." As she went > to get it, he called out, > "And while you're at it, would you bring me something > to eat?" > > 12 She said, "I swear, as surely as your God lives, I don't have so much > as a biscuit. I have a > handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a bottle; > you found me scratching together just enough firewood to make a last meal > for my son and me. After > we eat it, we'll die." > > 13-14 Elijah said to her, "Don't worry about a thing. Go ahead and do what > you've said. But first > make a small biscuit for me and bring it back here. Then > go ahead and make a meal from what's left for you and your son. This is > the word of the God of > Israel: 'The jar of flour will not run out and the bottle > of oil will not become empty before God sends rain on the land and ends > this drought.'" > > 15-16 And she went right off and did it, did just as Elijah asked. And it > turned out as he > said-daily food for her and her family. The jar of meal didn't > run out and the bottle of oil didn't become empty: God's promise fulfilled > to the letter, exactly as > Elijah had delivered it! > > 17 Later on the woman's son became sick. The sickness took a turn for the > worse-and then he stopped > breathing. > > 18 The woman said to Elijah, "Why did you ever show up here in the first > place-a holy man barging > in, exposing my sins, and killing my son?" > > 19-20 Elijah said, "Hand me your son." > > He then took him from her bosom, carried him up to the loft where he > was staying, and laid him > on his bed. Then he prayed, "O God, my God, why have > you brought this terrible thing on this widow who has opened her home to > me? Why have you killed her > son?" > > 21-23 Three times he stretched himself out full-length on the boy, praying > with all his might, > "God, my God, put breath back into this boy's body!" God > listened to Elijah's prayer and put breath back into his body-he was > alive! Elijah picked the boy > up, carried him downstairs from the loft, and gave him > to his mother. "Here's your son," said Elijah, "alive!" > > 24 The woman said to Elijah, "I see it all now-you are a holy man. When > you speak, God speaks-a > true word!" > > 1 Kings 18 > 1-2 A long time passed. Then God's word came to Elijah. The drought was > now in its third year. The > message: "Go and present yourself to Ahab; I'm about > to make it rain on the country." Elijah set out to present himself to > Ahab. The drought in Samaria > at the time was most severe. > > 3-4 Ahab called for Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. Obadiah > feared God-he was very > devout. Earlier, when Jezebel had tried to kill off all the > prophets of God, Obadiah had hidden away a hundred of them in two caves, > fifty in a cave, and then > supplied them with food and water. > > 5-6 Ahab ordered Obadiah, "Go through the country; locate every spring and > every stream. Let's see > if we can find enough grass to keep our horses and mules > from dying." So they divided the country between them for the search-Ahab > went one way, Obadiah the > other. > > 7 Obadiah went his way and suddenly there he was-Elijah! Obadiah fell on > his knees, bowing in > reverence, and exclaimed, "Is it really you-my master Elijah?" > > 8 "Yes," said Elijah, "the real me. Now go and tell your boss, 'I've seen > Elijah.'" > > 9-14 Obadiah said, "But what have I done to deserve this? Ahab will kill > me. As surely as your God > lives, there isn't a country or kingdom where my master > hasn't sent out search parties looking for you. And if they said, 'We > can't find him; we've looked > high and low,' he would make that country or kingdom > swear that you were not to be found. And now you're telling me, 'Go and > tell your master Elijah's > found!' The minute I leave you the Spirit of God will > whisk you away to who knows where. Then when I report to Ahab, you'll have > disappeared and Ahab will > kill me. And I've served God devoutly since I was > a boy! Hasn't anyone told you what I did when Jezebel was out to kill the > prophets of God, how I > risked my life by hiding a hundred of them, fifty to a > cave, and made sure they got food and water? And now you're telling me to > draw attention to myself > by announcing to my master, 'Elijah's been found.' Why, > he'll kill me for sure." > > 15 Elijah said, "As surely as God-of-the-Angel-Armies lives, and before > whom I take my stand, I'll > meet with your master face-to-face this very day." > > 16 So Obadiah went straight to Ahab and told him. And Ahab went out to > meet Elijah. > > 17-19 The moment Ahab saw Elijah he said, "So it's you, old troublemaker!" > > "It's not I who has caused trouble in Israel," said Elijah, "but you > and your government-you've > dumped God's ways and commands and run off after the > local gods, the Baals. Here's what I want you to do: Assemble everyone in > Israel at Mount Carmel. > And make sure that the special pets of Jezebel, the four > hundred and fifty prophets of the local gods, the Baals, and the four > hundred prophets of the whore > goddess Asherah, are there." > > 20 So Ahab summoned everyone in Israel, particularly the prophets, to > Mount Carmel. > > 21 Elijah challenged the people: "How long are you going to sit on the > fence? If God is the real > God, follow him; if it's Baal, follow him. Make up your > minds!" > > Nobody said a word; nobody made a move. > > 22-24 Then Elijah said, "I'm the only prophet of God left in Israel; and > there are 450 prophets of > Baal. Let the Baal prophets bring up two oxen; let them > pick one, butcher it, and lay it out on an altar on firewood-but don't > ignite it. I'll take the > other ox, cut it up, and lay it on the wood. But neither > will I light the fire. Then you pray to your gods and I'll pray to God. > The god who answers with > fire will prove to be, in fact, God." > > All the people agreed: "A good plan-do it!" > > 25 Elijah told the Baal prophets, "Choose your ox and prepare it. You go > first, you're the > majority. Then pray to your god, but don't light the fire." > > 26 So they took the ox he had given them, prepared it for the altar, then > prayed to Baal. They > prayed all morning long, "O Baal, answer us!" But nothing > happened-not so much as a whisper of breeze. Desperate, they jumped and > stomped on the altar they > had made. > > 27-28 By noon, Elijah had started making fun of them, taunting, "Call a > little louder-he is a god, > after all. Maybe he's off meditating somewhere or other, > or maybe he's gotten involved in a project, or maybe he's on vacation. You > don't suppose he's > overslept, do you, and needs to be waked up?" They prayed > louder and louder, cutting themselves with swords and knives-a ritual > common to them-until they were > covered with blood. > > 29 This went on until well past noon. They used every religious trick and > strategy they knew to > make something happen on the altar, but nothing happened-not > so much as a whisper, not a flicker of response. > > 30-35 Then Elijah told the people, "Enough of that-it's my turn. Gather > around." And they gathered. > He then put the altar back together for by now it was > in ruins. Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes of Jacob, > the same Jacob to whom God > had said, "From now on your name is Israel." He built > the stones into the altar in honor of God. Then Elijah dug a fairly wide > trench around the altar. He > laid firewood on the altar, cut up the ox, put it > on the wood, and said, "Fill four buckets with water and drench both the > ox and the firewood." Then > he said, "Do it again," and they did it. Then he said, > "Do it a third time," and they did it a third time. The altar was drenched > and the trench was filled > with water. > > 36-37 When it was time for the sacrifice to be offered, Elijah the prophet > came up and prayed, "O > God, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, make it known > right now that you are God in Israel, that I am your servant, and that I'm > doing what I'm doing > under your orders. Answer me, God; O answer me and reveal > to this people that you are God, the true God, and that you are giving > these people another chance > at repentance." > > 38 Immediately the fire of God fell and burned up the offering, the wood, > the stones, the dirt, and > even the water in the trench. > > 39 All the people saw it happen and fell on their faces in awed worship, > exclaiming, "God is the > true God! God is the true God!" > > 40 Elijah told them, "Grab the Baal prophets! Don't let one get away!" > > They grabbed them. Elijah had them taken down to the Brook Kishon and > they massacred the lot. > > 41 Elijah said to Ahab, "Up on your feet! Eat and drink-celebrate! Rain is > on the way; I hear it > coming." > > 42-43 Ahab did it: got up and ate and drank. Meanwhile, Elijah climbed to > the top of Carmel, bowed > deeply in prayer, his face between his knees. Then he > said to his young servant, "On your feet now! Look toward the sea." > > He went, looked, and reported back, "I don't see a thing." > > "Keep looking," said Elijah, "seven times if necessary." > > 44 And sure enough, the seventh time he said, "Oh yes, a cloud! But very > small, no bigger than > someone's hand, rising out of the sea." > > "Quickly then, on your way. Tell Ahab, 'Saddle up and get down from the > mountain before the rain > stops you.'" > > 45-46 Things happened fast. The sky grew black with wind-driven clouds, > and then a huge cloudburst > of rain, with Ahab hightailing it in his chariot for > Jezreel. And God strengthened Elijah mightily. Pulling up his robe and > tying it around his waist, > Elijah ran in front of Ahab's chariot until they reached > Jezreel. > > > Please join us on Skype Monday thru Friday at 8:00 EST for our Morning > Skype Prayer Time. > > > Contact Me At: > Donnie Parrett > 1956 Asa Flat Road > Annville, Kentucky 40402 > Home Phone: 606-364-3321 > Church Phone: 606-364-PRAY > Skype Name: Donnie1261 > Email: [email protected] > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/DBILG?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
