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Today's Bible Reading...
May 1 - II Kings 1-3
Questions:
1. What did the angel tell Elijah to do when King Ahaziah sent messengers to
consult Baal-Zebub, the god of (1:3,4)
2. What happened to 50 men when they went to tell Elijah the king wanted to see
him? (1:10)
3. What happened when Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water
with it? (2:8)
4. What did Elisha want to inherit from Elijah? (2:9)
5. Who went to heaven in a chariot of fire and horses of fire in a whirlwind?
(2:11)
6. Who did the spirit of Elijah rest on? (2:15)
7. Why did Elisha ask for a new bowl and salt? (2:21)
8. What happened to the young men who teased Elisha about his baldhead?
(2:23-24)
9. For whom did Elisha call when Joram, Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went to
see him? (13:15)
10. Why did the Lord tell them to make the valley full of ditches? (3:16-17)
II Kings covers the last 12 kings of the Northern Kingdom and the last 16 kings
of the Southern Kingdom. The Northern Kingdom, called Israel, fell (721 B.C.) to
the Assyrians. The Southern Kingdom, called Judah, fell 600 B.C. to the
Babylonians. Elijah and Elisha were prophets of God who were sent to the
Northern Kingdom in an effort to save them.
Ahaziah, son of Ahab, fell through the lattice of his upper room. He sent
messengers to Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, to see if he would recover from his
injury. God was angry that he would go to a false god. God sent an angel to give
Elijah a message for the king. When the captain and his company of 50 men went
to Elijah to deliver a summons from the king, Elijah struck them down with fire.
It happened a second time with a second group of 50 men. A third group was sent,
this time they pleaded for their lives. Elijah went with them and delivered the
message to the king. The king died because he sent people to consult a false
god.
On his last day on Earth, Elijah toook his cloak, rolled it up and struck the
water with it. The water divided and he and Elisha crossed it. As they walked
along, a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of
them. Elijah went to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha took the cloak that had
fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. The water parted as before. The
spirit of Elijah had rested on Elisha. Elisha healed the water of the city by
putting salt into a new bowl and throwing the salt into the spring. At Bethel
some youth showed severe disrespect for Elisha's message and God's power. They
teased Elisha about his baldhead. Elijah called down a curse on them and God
sent two bears out of the woods that mauled forty-two of the youth.
Mesha, king of Moab, rebelled against Israel. King Joram, Jehoshaphat the king
of Judah, and the king of Edom decided go against Moab. Elisha told them to make
ditches. They would not see wind or rain, but the valley would be filled with
water. When the Moabites heard that the kings were coming they stationed
themselves on the border. The sun was shining on the water and it looked like
blood to them. They thought the kings had fought and slaughtered each other.
They were ready to plunder. But when they entered the camp of Israel, the
Isrelites rose up and fought them. When the king of Moab saw that the battle had
gone against them he took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him as king, and
offered him as a sacrifice on the city wall.
What can we learn from these verses?
1. Baal-Zebub was different from Baal, the Canaanite god. Baal-Zebub's temple
was located in the city of Ekron. This god was thought to have supernatural
power of prophecy. King Ahaziah wanted to learn his fate. The king's action
showed disrespect and disobedience to God. Because of this act, the king died.
Don't disobey God by inquiring information from false gods.
2. The young men who jeered at Elijah paid for it with their lives. When you
make fun of religious leaders you are attacking God's people. You are not just
mocking a person, but also the spiritual message from God. Don't condone the sin
that religious leaders commit, pray for them, forgive them, don't joke about
them.
3. The water in the ditches looked like blood to the Moabites. God works in
strange ways.
Prayer: God help me never to be tempted to seek knowledge of the future by using
methods that are not of you. Help me to always turn to you for guidance and
wisdom. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
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