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: Saturday, April 11, 2009 11:31 PM Subject: Daily Bible Reading For Sunday April 12 >1 Kings 19-22 (The Message) > > 1 Kings 19 > Revenge from Jezebel > 1-2 Ahab reported to Jezebel everything that Elijah had done, including > the massacre of the > prophets. Jezebel immediately sent a messenger to Elijah with her threat: > "The gods will get you for > this and I'll get even with you! By this time tomorrow you'll be as dead > as any one of those > prophets." > 3-5 When Elijah saw how things were, he ran for dear life to Beersheba, > far in the south of Judah. > He left his young servant there and then went on into the desert another > day's journey. He came to a > lone broom bush and collapsed in its shade, wanting in the worst way to be > done with it all-to just > die: "Enough of this, God! Take my life-I'm ready to join my ancestors in > the grave!" Exhausted, he > fell asleep under the lone broom bush. > > Suddenly an angel shook him awake and said, "Get up and eat!" > > 6 He looked around and, to his surprise, right by his head were a loaf of > bread baked on some coals > and a jug of water. He ate the meal and went back to sleep. > > 7 The angel of God came back, shook him awake again, and said, "Get up and > eat some more-you've got > a long journey ahead of you." > > 8-9 He got up, ate and drank his fill, and set out. Nourished by that > meal, he walked forty days > and nights, all the way to the mountain of God, to Horeb. When he got > there, he crawled into a cave > and went to sleep. > > Then the word of God came to him: "So Elijah, what are you doing here?" > > 10 "I've been working my heart out for the God-of-the-Angel-Armies," said > Elijah. "The people of > Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed the places of worship, and > murdered your prophets. > I'm the only one left, and now they're trying to kill me." > > 11-12 Then he was told, "Go, stand on the mountain at attention before > God. God will pass by." > > A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks > before God, but God wasn't > to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn't in > the earthquake; and after > the earthquake fire, but God wasn't in the fire; and after the fire a > gentle and quiet whisper. > > 13-14 When Elijah heard the quiet voice, he muffled his face with his > great cloak, went to the > mouth of the cave, and stood there. A quiet voice asked, "So Elijah, now > tell me, what are you doing > here?" Elijah said it again, "I've been working my heart out for God, the > God-of-the-Angel-Armies, > because the people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed your > places of worship, and > murdered your prophets. I'm the only one left, and now they're trying to > kill me." > > 15-18 God said, "Go back the way you came through the desert to Damascus. > When you get there anoint > Hazael; make him king over Aram. Then anoint Jehu son of Nimshi; make him > king over Israel. Finally, > anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. > Anyone who escapes death > by Hazael will be killed by Jehu; and anyone who escapes death by Jehu > will be killed by Elisha. > Meanwhile, I'm preserving for myself seven thousand souls: the knees that > haven't bowed to the god > Baal, the mouths that haven't kissed his image." > > 19 Elijah went straight out and found Elisha son of Shaphat in a field > where there were twelve > pairs of yoked oxen at work plowing; Elisha was in charge of the twelfth > pair. Elijah went up to him > and threw his cloak over him. > > 20 Elisha deserted the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Please! Let me > kiss my father and mother > good-bye-then I'll follow you." > > "Go ahead," said Elijah, "but, mind you, don't forget what I've just > done to you." > > 21 So Elisha left; he took his yoke of oxen and butchered them. He made a > fire with the plow and > tackle and then boiled the meat-a true farewell meal for the family. Then > he left and followed > Elijah, becoming his right-hand man. > > 1 Kings 20 > 1-3 At about this same time Ben-Hadad king of Aram mustered his troops. He > recruited in addition > thirty-two local sheiks, all outfitted with horses and chariots. He set > out in force and surrounded > Samaria, ready to make war. He sent an envoy into the city to set his > terms before Ahab king of > Israel: "Ben-Hadad lays claim to your silver and gold, and to the pick of > your wives and sons." > 4 The king of Israel accepted the terms: "As you say, distinguished lord; > I and everything I have > is yours." > > 5-6 But then the envoy returned a second time, saying, "On second thought, > I want it all-your > silver and gold and all your wives and sons. Hand them over-the whole > works. I'll give you > twenty-four hours; then my servants will arrive to search your palace and > the houses of your > officials and loot them; anything that strikes their fancy, they'll take." > > 7 The king of Israel called a meeting of all his tribal elders. He said, > "Look at this-outrageous! > He's just looking for trouble. He means to clean me out, demanding all my > women and children. And > after I already agreed to pay him off handsomely!" > > 8 The elders, backed by the people, said, "Don't cave in to him. Don't > give an inch." > > 9 So he sent an envoy to Ben-Hadad, "Tell my distinguished lord, 'I agreed > to the terms you > delivered the first time, but this I can't do-this I won't do!'" > > The envoy went back and delivered the answer. > > 10 Ben-Hadad shot back his response: "May the gods do their worst to me, > and then worse again, if > there'll be anything left of Samaria but rubble." > > 11 The king of Israel countered, "Think about it-it's easier to start a > fight than end one." > > 12 It happened that when Ben-Hadad heard this retort he was into some > heavy drinking, boozing it up > with the sheiks in their field shelters. Drunkenly, he ordered his > henchmen, "Go after them!" And > they attacked the city. > > 13 Just then a lone prophet approached Ahab king of Israel and said, > "God's word: Have you taken a > good look at this mob? Well, look again-I'm turning it over to you this > very day. And you'll know, > beyond the shadow of a doubt, that I am God." > > 14 Ahab said, "Really? And who is going to make this happen?" > > God said, "The young commandos of the regional chiefs." > > "And who," said Ahab, "will strike the first blow?" > > God said, "You." > > 15 Ahab looked over the commandos of the regional chiefs; he counted 232. > Then he assessed the > available troops-7,000. > > 16-17 At noon they set out after Ben-Hadad who, with his allies, the > thirty-two sheiks, was busy at > serious drinking in the field shelters. The commandos of the regional > chiefs made up the vanguard. > > A report was brought to Ben-Hadad: "Men are on their way from Samaria." > > 18 He said, "If they've come in peace, take them alive as hostages; if > they've come to fight, the > same-take them alive as hostages." > > 19-20 The commandos poured out of the city with the full army behind them. > They hit hard in > hand-to-hand combat. The Arameans scattered from the field, with Israel > hard on their heels. But > Ben-Hadad king of Aram got away on horseback, along with his cavalry. > > 21 The king of Israel cut down both horses and chariots-an enormous defeat > for Aram. > > 22 Sometime later the prophet came to the king of Israel and said, "On the > alert now-build up your > army, assess your capabilities, and see what has to be done. Before the > year is out, the king of > Aram will be back in force." > > 23-25 Meanwhile the advisors to the king of Aram said, "Their god is a god > of the mountains-we > don't stand a chance against them there. So let's engage them on the plain > where we'll have the > advantage. Here's the strategy: Remove each sheik from his place of > leadership and replace him with > a seasoned officer. Then recruit a fighting force equivalent in size to > the army that deserted > earlier-horse for horse, chariot for chariot. And we'll fight them on the > plain-we're sure to prove > stronger than they are." > > It sounded good to the king; he did what they advised. > > 26-27 As the new year approached, Ben-Hadad rallied Aram and they went up > to Aphek to make war on > Israel. The Israelite army prepared to fight and took the field to meet > Aram. They moved into battle > formation before Aram in two camps, like two flocks of goats. The plain > was seething with Arameans. > > 28 Just then a holy man approached the king of Israel saying, "This is > God's word: Because Aram > said, 'God is a god of the mountains and not a god of the valleys,' I'll > hand over this huge mob of > an army to you. Then you'll know that I am God." > > 29-30 The two armies were poised in a standoff for seven days. On the > seventh day fighting broke > out. The Israelites killed 100,000 of the Aramean infantry in one day. The > rest of the army ran for > their lives back to the city, Aphek, only to have the city wall fall on > 27,000 of the survivors. > > 30-31 Ben-Hadad escaped into the city and hid in a closet. Then his > advisors told him, "Look, we've > heard that the kings of Israel play by the rules; let's dress in old > gunnysacks, carry a white flag > of truce, and present ourselves to the king of Israel on the chance that > he'll let you live." > > 32 So that's what they did. They dressed in old gunnysacks and carried a > white flag, and came to > the king of Israel saying, "Your servant Ben-Hadad said, 'Please let me > live.'" > > Ahab said, "You mean to tell me that he's still alive? If he's alive, > he's my brother." > > 33 The men took this as a good sign and concluded that everything was > going to be all right: > "Ben-Hadad is most certainly your brother!" > > The king said, "Go and get him." They went and brought him back by > chariot. > > 34 Ahab said, "I am prepared to return the cities that my father took from > your father. And you can > set up your headquarters in Damascus just as my father did in Samaria; > I'll send you home under safe > conduct." Then he made a covenant with him and sent him off. > > 35 A man who was one of the prophets said to a bystander, "Hit me; wound > me. Do it for God's > sake-it's his command. Hit me; wound me." But the man wouldn't do it. > > 36 So he told him, "Because you wouldn't obey God's orders, as soon as you > leave me a lion will > attack you." No sooner had the man left his side than a lion met him and > attacked. > > 37 He then found another man and said, "Hit me; wound me." That man did > it-hit him hard in the > face, drawing blood. > > 38-40 Then the prophet went and took a position along the road, with a > bandage over his eyes, > waiting for the king. It wasn't long before the king happened by. The man > cried out to the king, > "Your servant was in the thick of the battle when a man showed up and > turned over a prisoner to me, > saying, 'Guard this man with your life; if he turns up missing you'll pay > dearly.' But I got busy > doing one thing after another and the next time I looked he was gone." > > The king of Israel said, "You've just pronounced your own verdict." > > 41 At that, the man ripped the bandage off his eyes and the king > recognized who he was-one of the > prophets! > > 42 The man said to the king, "God's word: Because you let a man go who was > under sentence by God, > it's now your life for his, your people for his." > > 43 The king of Israel went home in a sulk. He arrived in Samaria in a very > bad mood. > > 1 Kings 21 > 1-2And then, to top it off, came this: Naboth the Jezreelite owned a > vineyard in Jezreel that > bordered the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. One day Ahab spoke to Naboth, > saying, "Give me your > vineyard so I can use it as a kitchen garden; it's right next to my > house-so convenient. In exchange > I'll give you a far better vineyard, or if you'd prefer I'll pay you money > for it." > 3-4 But Naboth told Ahab, "Not on your life! So help me God, I'd never > sell the family farm to > you!" Ahab went home in a black mood, sulking over Naboth the Jezreelite's > words, "I'll never turn > over my family inheritance to you." He went to bed, stuffed his face in > his pillow, and refused to > eat. > > 5 Jezebel his wife came to him. She said, "What's going on? Why are you so > out of sorts and > refusing to eat?" > > 6 He told her, "Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite. I said, 'Give me > your vineyard-I'll pay > you for it or, if you'd rather, I'll give you another vineyard in > exchange.' And he said, 'I'll > never give you my vineyard.'" > > 7 Jezebel said, "Is this any way for a king of Israel to act? Aren't you > the boss? On your feet! > Eat! Cheer up! I'll take care of this; I'll get the vineyard of this > Naboth the Jezreelite for you." > > 8-10 She wrote letters over Ahab's signature, stamped them with his > official seal, and sent them to > the elders in Naboth's city and to the civic leaders. She wrote "Call for > a fast day and put Naboth > at the head table. Then seat a couple of stool pigeons across from him > who, in front of everybody > will say, 'You! You blasphemed God and the king!' Then they'll throw him > out and stone him to > death." > > 11-14 And they did it. The men of the city-the elders and civic leaders- > followed Jezebel's > instructions that she wrote in the letters sent to them. They called for a > fast day and seated > Naboth at the head table. Then they brought in two stool pigeons and > seated them opposite Naboth. In > front of everybody the two degenerates accused him, "He blasphemed God and > the king!" The company > threw him out in the street, stoned him mercilessly, and he died. > > 15 When Jezebel got word that Naboth had been stoned to death, she told > Ahab, "Go for it, Ahab-take > the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite for your own, the vineyard he > refused to sell you. Naboth is > no more; Naboth is dead." > > 16 The minute Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he set out for the vineyard > of Naboth the Jezreelite > and claimed it for his own. > > 17-19 Then God stepped in and spoke to Elijah the Tishbite, "On your feet; > go down and confront > Ahab of Samaria, king of Israel. You'll find him in the vineyard of > Naboth; he's gone there to claim > it as his own. Say this to him: 'God's word: What's going on here? First > murder, then theft?' Then > tell him, 'God's verdict: The very spot where the dogs lapped up Naboth's > blood, they'll lap up your > blood-that's right, your blood.'" > > 20-22 Ahab answered Elijah, "My enemy! So, you've run me down!" > > "Yes, I've found you out," said Elijah. "And because you've bought into > the business of evil, > defying God. 'I will most certainly bring doom upon you, make mincemeat of > your descendants, kill > off every sorry male wretch who's even remotely connected with the name > Ahab. And I'll bring down on > you the same fate that fell on Jeroboam son of Nebat and Baasha son of > Ahijah-you've made me that > angry by making Israel sin.'" > > 23-24 As for Jezebel, God said, "Dogs will fight over the flesh of Jezebel > all over Jezreel. Anyone > tainted by Ahab who dies in the city will be eaten by stray dogs; corpses > in the country will be > eaten by carrion crows." > > 25-26 Ahab, pushed by his wife Jezebel and in open defiance of God, set an > alltime record in making > big business of evil. He indulged in outrageous obscenities in the world > of idols, copying the > Amorites whom God had earlier kicked out of Israelite territory. > > 27 When Ahab heard what Elijah had to say, he ripped his clothes to > shreds, dressed in penitential > rough burlap, and fasted. He even slept in coarse burlap pajamas. He > tiptoed around, quiet as a > mouse. > > 28-29 Then God spoke to Elijah the Tishbite: "Do you see how penitently > submissive Ahab has become > to me? Because of his repentance I'll not bring the doom during his > lifetime; Ahab's son, though, > will get it." > > 1 Kings 22 > 1-3 They enjoyed three years of peace-no fighting between Aram and Israel. > In the third year, > Jehoshaphat king of Judah had a meeting with the king of Israel. Israel's > king remarked to his > aides, "Do you realize that Ramoth Gilead belongs to us, and we're sitting > around on our hands > instead of taking it back from the king of Aram?" > 4-5 He turned to Jehoshaphat and said, "Will you join me in fighting for > Ramoth Gilead?" > > Jehoshaphat said, "You bet. I'm with you all the way-my troops are your > troops, my horses are > your horses." He then continued, "But before you do anything, ask God for > guidance." > > 6 The king of Israel got the prophets together-all four hundred of > them -and put the question to > them: "Should I attack Ramoth Gilead? Or should I hold back?" > > "Go for it," they said. "God will hand it over to the king." > > 7 But Jehoshaphat dragged his heels: "Is there still another prophet of > God around here we can > consult?" > > 8 The king of Israel told Jehoshaphat, "As a matter of fact, there is > still one such man. But I > hate him. He never preaches anything good to me, only doom, doom, > doom-Micaiah son of Imlah." > > "The king shouldn't talk about a prophet like that," said Jehoshaphat. > > 9 So the king of Israel ordered one of his men, "On the double! Get > Micaiah son of Imlah." > > 10-12 Meanwhile, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat were seated on their > thrones, dressed in their > royal robes, resplendent in front of the Samaria city gates. All the > prophets were staging a > prophecy-performance for their benefit. Zedekiah son of Kenaanah had even > made a set of iron horns, > and brandishing them called out, "God's word! With these horns you'll gore > Aram until there's > nothing left of him!" All the prophets chimed in, "Yes! Go for Ramoth > Gilead! An easy victory! God's > gift to the king!" > > 13 The messenger who went to get Micaiah said, "The prophets have all said > Yes to the king. Make it > unanimous-vote Yes!" > > 14 But Micaiah said, "As surely as God lives, what God says, I'll say." > > 15 With Micaiah before him, the king asked him, "So Micaiah-do we attack > Ramoth Gilead, or do we > hold back?" > > "Go ahead," he said. "An easy victory. God's gift to the king." > > 16 "Not so fast," said the king. "How many times have I made you promise > under oath to tell me the > truth and nothing but the truth?" > > 17 "All right," said Micaiah, "since you insist. > I saw all of Israel scattered over the hills, > sheep with no shepherd. > Then God spoke: 'These poor people > have no one to tell them what to do. > Let them go home and do > the best they can for themselves.'" > > 18 Then the king of Israel turned to Jehoshaphat, "See! What did I tell > you? He never has a good > word for me from God, only doom." > > 19-23 Micaiah kept on: "I'm not done yet; listen to God's word: > I saw God enthroned, > and all the angel armies of heaven > Standing at attention > ranged on his right and his left. > And God said, 'How can we seduce Ahab > into attacking Ramoth Gilead?' > Some said this, > and some said that. > Then a bold angel stepped out, > stood before God, and said, > 'I'll seduce him.' > 'And how will you do it?' said God. > 'Easy,' said the angel, > 'I'll get all the prophets to lie.' > 'That should do it,' said God. > 'On your way-seduce him!' > "And that's what has happened. God filled the mouths of your puppet > prophets with seductive lies. > God has pronounced your doom." > > 24 Just then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah came up and punched Micaiah in the > nose, saying, "Since when > did the Spirit of God leave me and take up with you?" > > 25 Micaiah said, "You'll know soon enough; you'll know it when you're > frantically and futilely > looking for a place to hide." > > 26-27 The king of Israel had heard enough: "Get Micaiah out of here! Turn > him over to Amon the city > magistrate and to Joash the king's son with this message, 'King's orders: > Lock him up in jail; keep > him on bread and water until I'm back in one piece.'" > > 28 Micaiah said, "If you ever get back in one piece, I'm no prophet of > God." > > He added,"When it happens, O people, remember where you heard it!" > > 29-30 The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah attacked Ramoth > Gilead. The king of Israel > said to Jehoshaphat, "Wear my kingly robe; I'm going into battle > disguised." So the king of Israel > entered the battle in disguise. > > 31 Meanwhile, the king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders (there > were thirty-two of them): > "Don't bother with anyone, whether small or great; go after the king of > Israel and him only." > > 32-33 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat they said, "There he is! > The king of Israel!" and > took after him. Jehoshaphat yelled out, and the chariot commanders > realized they had the wrong > man-it wasn't the king of Israel after all. They let him go. > > 34 Just then someone, without aiming, shot an arrow randomly into the > crowd and hit the king of > Israel in the chink of his armor. The king told his charioteer, "Turn > back! Get me out of here-I'm > wounded." > > 35-37 All day the fighting continued, hot and heavy. Propped up in his > chariot, the king watched > from the sidelines. He died that evening. Blood from his wound pooled in > the chariot. As the sun > went down, shouts reverberated through the ranks, "Abandon camp! Head for > home! The king is dead!" > > 37-38 The king was brought to Samaria and there they buried him. They > washed down the chariot at > the pool of Samaria where the town whores bathed, and the dogs lapped up > the blood, just as God's > word had said. > > 39-40 The rest of Ahab's life-everything he did, the ivory palace he > built, the towns he founded, > and the defense system he built up-is all written up in The Chronicles of > the Kings of Israel. He > was buried in the family cemetery and his son Ahaziah was the next king. > > Jehoshaphat of Judah > 41-44 Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king of Judah in the fourth year of > Ahab king of Israel. > Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king and he ruled for > twenty-five years in > Jerusalem. His mother was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. He continued the kind > of life characteristic of > his father Asa-no detours, no dead ends-pleasing God with his life. But he > failed to get rid of the > neighborhood sex-and-religion shrines. People continued to pray and > worship at these idolatrous > shrines. And he kept on good terms with the king of Israel. > 45-46 The rest of Jehoshaphat's life, his achievements and his battles, is > all written in The > Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. Also, he got rid of the sacred > prostitutes left over from the days > of his father Asa. > > 47 Edom was kingless during his reign; a deputy was in charge. > > 48-49 Jehoshaphat built ocean-going ships to sail to Ophir for gold. But > they never made it; they > shipwrecked at Ezion Geber. During that time Ahaziah son of Ahab proposed > a joint shipping venture, > but Jehoshaphat wouldn't go in with him. > > 50 Then Jehoshaphat died and was buried in the family cemetery in the City > of David his ancestor. > Jehoram his son was the next king. > > Ahaziah of Israel > 51-53 Ahaziah son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria in the > seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat > king of Judah. He ruled Israel for two years. As far as God was concerned, > he lived an evil life, > reproducing the bad life of his father and mother, repeating the pattern > set down by Jeroboam son of > Nebat, who led Israel into a life of sin. Worshiping at the Baal shrines, > he made God, the God of > Israel, angry, oh, so angry. If anything, he was worse than his father. > > > > 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 -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
