My Daily Meditation

Today’s Reading

The Second Book of Kings

Chapter 6:1-33

1 And the children of the Prophets said unto Elisha, Behold, we pray thee, the place where we dwell with thee, is too little for us.

2 Let us now go to Jordan, that we may take thence every man a beam, and make us a place to dwell in. And he answered, Go.

3 And one said, Vouchsafe, I pray thee, to go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go.

4 So he went with them, and when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood.

5 And as one was felling of a tree, the iron fell into the water: then he cried, and said, Alas master, it was but borrowed.

6 And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he showed him the place. Then he cut down a piece of wood, and cast in thither, and he caused the iron to swim.

7 Then he said, Take it up to thee. And he stretched out his hand, and took it.

8 Then the king of Aram warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, and said, In such and such a place shall be my camp.

9 Therefore the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware thou go not over to such a place: for there the Aramites are come down.

10 So the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him, and warned him of, and saved himself from thence, not once, nor twice.

11 And the heart of the king of Aram was troubled for this thing: therefore he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not show me, which of us bewrayeth our counsel to the king of Israel?

12 Then one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king, but Elisha the Prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel, even the words that thou speakest in thy privy chamber. (a)

13 And he said, Go, and espy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And one told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.

14 So he sent thither horses, and chariots, and a mighty host: and they came by night, and compassed the city.

15 And when the servant of the man of God arose early to go out, behold, an host compassed the city with horses and chariots. Then his servant said unto him, Alas master, how shall we do?

16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us, are more than they that be with them.

17 Then Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I beseech thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the servant, and he looked, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

18 So they came down to him, but Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness, according to the word of Elisha.

19 And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will lead you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.

20 And when they were come to Samaria, Elisha said, Lord, open their eyes that they may see. And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.

21 And the king of Israel said unto Elisha when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them, shall I smite them?

22 And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: doest thou not smite them that thou hast taken with thy sword, and with thy bow? but set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.

23 And he made great preparation for them: and when they had eaten and drunken, he sent them away: and they went to their master. So the bands of Aram came no more into the land of Israel.

24 But afterward Ben-Hadad king of Aram gathered all his host, and went up and besieged Samaria.

25 So there was a great famine in Samaria: for lo, they besieged it until an asses head was at four score pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove’s dung at five pieces of silver.

26 And as the king of Israel was going upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O King.

27 And he said, Seeing the Lord doth not succor thee, how should I help thee with the barn, or with the wine press?

28 Also the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow,

29 So we sod my son, and did eat him: and I said to her the day after, Give thy son, that we may eat him, but she hath hid her son.

30 And when the king had heard the words of the woman, he rent his clothes, (and as he went upon the wall, the people looked, and behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh)

31 And he said, God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.

32 (Now Elisha sat in his house, and the Elders sat with him.) And the King sent a man before him: but before the messenger came to him, he said to the Elders, See ye not how this murderer’s son hath sent to take away mine head? take heed when the messenger cometh, and shut the door, and handle him roughly at the door: is not the sound of his master’s feet behind him?

33 While he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him, and said, Behold, this evil cometh of the Lord: should I attend on the Lord any longer?

(a) Editor’s thought - There is no where that one can hide that God will not find one.

My Daily Meditation

Today’s Reading

The Second Book of Kings

Chapter 5:1-27

Good morning friends and brethren in Christ our Savior

Today our reading takes us to Naaman, who as is written below suffered from leprosy.  We learn that in his desire to become healed, he expected something, for lack of a better tern, showy. That Elisha should lay hands upon, and speak out, thus healing. However, in this case, he, (that is Naaman) is told to go wash in the Jordan River.  Naaman, through his unbelief, thinks this is not worthy, not a way to be healed.  It is only after his servant tells him to basically give it a try, that he relents and does as required and is healed.  

Contrast that with the Gospel of Matthew 8:5-10, wherein the centurion says that Jesus only speak the word and his servant, would be healed.  When we seek God, not only in healing, but in all things, we should trust in Him to answer.  Remove the doubt, and believe for as Scripture says, with God all things are possible. 

1 Now was there one Naaman captain of the host of the King of Aram, a great man, and honorable in the sight of his lord, because that by him the Lord had delivered the Aramites. He also was a mighty man and valiant, but a leper.

2 And the Aramites had gone out by bands, and had taken a little maid of the land of Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife.

3 And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the Prophet that is in Samaria, he would soon deliver him of his leprosy.

4 And he went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus saith the maid that is of the land of Israel.

5 And the king of Aram said, Go thy way thither, and I will send a letter unto the King of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiments,

6 And brought the letter to the king of Israel to this effect, Now when this letter is come unto thee, understand, that I have sent thee Naaman my servant, that thou mayest heal him of his leprosy.

7 And when the king of Israel had read the letter, he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God to kill and to give life that he doth send to me, that I should heal a man from his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.

8 But when Elisha the man of God had heard that the King of Israel had rent his clothes, he sent unto the King, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a Prophet in Israel.

9 Then Naaman came with his horses, and with his chariots, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.

10 And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash thee in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be cleansed.

11 But Naaman was [h]wroth and went away, and said, Behold, I thought with myself, He will surely come out, and stand, and call on the Name of the Lord his God, and put his hand on the place, and heal the leprosy.

12 Are not Abanah and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash me in them, and be cleansed? so he turned, and departed in displeasure.

13 But his servants came, and spake unto him, and said, Father, if the Prophet had commanded thee a great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?

14 Then went he down, and washed himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again, like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

15 And he turned again to the man of God, he, and all his company, and came and stood before him, and said, Behold now, I know that there is no God in all the world but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a reward of thy servant.

16 But he said, As the Lord liveth (before whom I stand) I will not receive it. And he would have constrained him to receive it, but he refused.

17 Moreover Naaman said, Shall there not be given to thy servant two mules’ load of this earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt sacrifice nor offering unto any other god, save unto the Lord.

18 Herein the Lord be merciful unto thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon, to worship there, and leaneth on mine hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I do bow down, I say, in the house of Rimmon, the Lord be merciful unto thy servant in this point.

19 Unto whom he said, Go in peace. So he departed from him about half a day’s journey of ground.

20 And Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of God said, Behold, my master hath spared this Aramite Naaman, receiving not those things at his hand that he brought: As the Lord liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.

21 So Gehazi followed speedily after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?

22 And he answered, All is well: my master hath set me, saying, Behold, there be come to me, even now from mount Ephraim two young men of the children of the Prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.

23 And Naaman said, Yea, take two talents: and he compelled him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and gave them unto two of his servants, that they might bear them before him.

24 And when he came to the tower, he took them out of their hands, and laid them in the house, and sent away the men: and they departed.

25 Then he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.

26 But he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is this a time to take money, and to receive garments, and olives, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?

27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and to thy seed forever. And he went out from his presence a leper white as snow.

My Daily Meditation

Today’s Reading

The Second Book of Kings

Chapter 4:1-44

Friends, and brethren, greetings in the name of our Redeemer, Christ Jesus

In the below chapter, we see God, through Elisha performing miracles, that will later be likewise read in the NT Gospels.  Nay sayers, would suggest then that much of the aforementioned were then later copied into the NT to attribute them to Christ. However such is not so as it is God that is performing these miracles first here through one of His prophets, and later on through His Own Son, Who is indeed, imbued with God’s Holy Spirit, and is quite capable of performing them by Himself.  

The point however, is more that God can, and will perform such for those seek, and follow His teachings and His words.  As has been mentioned in many previous postings, that those who place their trust in Him, will reap accordingly.  Some would wont to say in these times that there are no miracles, yet, every day we read of people that have become ill, and are restored or saved from a potential deadly accident. Each time a child is born to my mind is a miracle. Every day that God gives this earth is a miracle, as it is written, if He were to take His spirit away, all flesh would perish and return to dust (Job 34:14-15)

Still others would suggest and put forth the proposition that it is the mind of man that has done all these things. Yet I ask you, who gave man, his mind? God indeed has endowed us with intelligence, but it is how we use it that matters. Recall also that man uses his knowledge for both good and evil. It is because we are now flawed, that these events occur. 

1 And one of the wives of the sons of the Prophets cried unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant mine husband is dead, and thou knowest, that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take my two sons to be his bondmen.

2 Then Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou at home? And she said, Thine handmaid hath nothing at home, save a pitcher of oil.

3 And he said, Go and borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, empty vessels, and spare not.

4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and pour out into all those vessels, and set aside those that are full.

5 So she departed from him, and shut the door upon her, and upon her sons. And they brought to her, and she poured out.

6 And when the vessels were full, she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is no more vessels. And the oil ceased.

7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go and sell the oil, and pay them that thou art in debt unto, and live thou and thy children of the rest.

8 And on a time Elisha came to Shunem, and there a woman of great estimation constrained him to eat bread: and as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.

9 And she said unto her husband, Behold, I know now, that this is an holy man of God that passeth by us continually.

10 Let us make him a little chamber, I pray thee, with walls, and let us set him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick, that he may turn in thither when he cometh to us.

11 And on a day, he came thither and turned into the chamber, and lay therein,

12 And said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite: and when he called her, she stood before him.

13 Then he said unto him, Say unto her now, Behold, thou hast had all this great care for us, what shall we do for thee? Is there anything to be spoken for thee to the king or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people.

14 Again he said, What is then to be done for her? Then Gehazi answered, Indeed she hath no son, and her husband is old.

15 Then said he, Call her. And he called her, and she stood in the door.

16 And he said, At this time appointed, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Oh my Lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid.

17 So the woman conceived, and bore a son at that same season, according to the time of life, that Elisha had said unto her.

18 And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father, and to the reapers.

19 And he said to his father, Mine head, mine head. Who said to his servant, Bear him to his mother.

20 And he took him and brought him to his mother, and he sat on her knees till noon, and died.

21 Then she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him and went out.

22 Then she called to her husband, and said, Send with me, I pray thee, one of the young men and one of the asses: for I will haste to the man of God, and come again.

23 And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him today? it is neither new moon nor Sabbath day. And she answered, All shall be well.

24 Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward: stay not for me to get up, except I bid thee.

25 So she went, and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And when the man of God saw her over against him, he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, the Shunammite.

26 Run now, I say, to meet her, and say unto her, Art thou in health? is thine husband in health? and is the child in health? And she answered, We are in health.

27 And when she came to the man of God unto the mountain, she caught him by his feet: and Gehazi went to her, to thrust her away: but the man of God said, Let her alone: for her soul is vexed within her, and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told it me.

28 Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Deceive me not?

29 Then he said to Gehazi, Gird thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any, salute him not: and if any salute thee, answer him not: and lay my staff upon the face of the child.

30 And the mother of the child said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. Therefore he arose, and followed her.

31 But Gehazi was gone before them, and had laid the staff upon the face of the child, but he neither spake nor heard: wherefore he returned to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not waken.

32 Then came Elisha into the house, and behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed.

33 He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the Lord.

34 After he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands, and stretched himself upon him, and the flesh of the child waxed warm.

35 And he went from him, and walked up and down in the house, and went up and spread himself upon him: then the child sneezed seven times, and opened his eyes.

36 Then he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her, which came in unto him. And he said unto her, Take thy son.

37 And she came, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.

38 Afterward Elisha returned to Gilgal, and a famine was in the land, and the children of the Prophets dwelt with him. And he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the children of the Prophets.

39 And one went out into the field, to gather herbs, and found as it were a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his garment full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew it not.

40 So they poured out for the men to eat: and when they did eat of the pottage, they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, death is in the pot: and they could not eat thereof.

41 Then he said, Bring meal. And he cast it into the pot, and said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat: and there was none evil in the pot.

42 Then came a man from Baal Shalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, even twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.

43 And his servant answered, How should I set this before an hundred men? He said again, Give it unto the people, that they may eat: for thus saith the Lord, They shall eat, and there shall remain.

44 So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left over, according to the word of the Lord.

My Daily Meditation

Today’s Reading

The Second Book of Kings

Chapter 3:1-27

1 Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria, the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat King of Judah, and reigned twelve years.

2 And he wrought evil in the sight of the Lord, but not like his father nor like his mother: for he took away the image of Baal that his father had made. (a)

3 Nevertheless, he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin, and departed not therefrom.

4 Then Mesha king of Moab had store of sheep, and rendered unto the king of Israel an hundred thousand rams with the wool.

5 But when Ahab was dead, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.

6 Therefore King Jehoram went out of Samaria the same season, and numbered all Israel,

7 And went, and sent to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me to battle against Moab? And he answered, I will go up: for I am, as thou art, my people, as thy people, and mine horses, as thine horses.

8 Then said he, What way shall we go up? And he answered, The way of the wilderness of Edom.

9 So went the king of Israel and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom, and when they had compassed the way seven days, they had no water for the host, nor for the cattle that followed them.

10 Therefore the king of Israel said, Alas, that the Lord hath called these three kings, to give them into the hand of Moab.

11 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a Prophet of the Lord, that we may inquire of the Lord by him? And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered, and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.

12 Then Jehoshaphat said, The word of the Lord is with him. Therefore the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom went down to him.

13 And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the Prophets of thy father, and to the Prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the Lord hath called these three kings, to give them into the hand of Moab.

14 Then Elisha said, As the Lord of hosts liveth, in whose sight I stand, if it were not, that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not have looked toward thee, nor seen thee.

15 But now bring me a minstrel. And when the minstrel played, the hand of the Lord came upon him.

16 And he said, Thus saith the Lord, Make this valley full of ditches.

17 For thus saith the Lord, Ye shall neither see wind nor see rain, yet the valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye and your cattle, and your beasts.

18 But this is a small thing in the sight of the Lord: for he will give Moab into your hand.

19 And ye shall smite every strong town, and every chief city, and shall fell every fair tree, and shall stop all the fountains of water, and mar every good field with stones.

20 And in the morning when the meat offering was offered, behold, there came water by the way of Edom: and the country was filled with water.

21 And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered all that was able to put on harness, and upward, and stood in their border.

22 And they rose early in the morning, when the Sun arose upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water over against them, as red as blood.

23 And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and one hath smitten another: now therefore Moab, to the spoil. (b)

24 And when they came to the host of Israel, the Israelites arose up, and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them, but they invaded them, and smote Moab.

25 And they destroyed the cities: and on all the good field every man cast his stone, and filled them and they stopped all the fountains of water, and felled all the good trees: only in Kir Haraseth left they the stones thereof: howbeit they went about it with slings, and smote it.

26 And when the King of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew the sword, to break through unto the king of Edom: but they could not.

27 Then he took his eldest son, that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall: so that Israel was sore grieved, and they departed from him, and returned to their country.

(a) Editor’s thought - Sin, is sin, in the eyes of God. For example, sometimes, in order to spare someone’s feelings we might tell a “white” lie, but it is a lie none the less, and to lie is to sin. 

(b) Editor’s thought - I wonder, and this is speculation on my part, that God might have caused them see this illusion. In other words, did He make them see it out of the wicked desires of their hearts. 

My Daily Meditation

Today’s Reading

The Second Book of Kings 

Chapter 2:1-25

1 And when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

2 Then Elijah said to Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee: for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel. But Elisha said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came down to Bethel.

3 And the children of the Prophets that were at Bethel, came out to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take thy master from thine head this day? And he said, Yea, I know it: hold ye your peace.

4 Again Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee: for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho. But he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.

5 And the children of the Prophets that were at Jericho, came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou, that the Lord will take thy master from thine head this day? And he said, Yea, I know it: hold ye your peace.

6 Moreover Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here: for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan. But he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went both together.

7 And fifty men of the sons of the Prophets went and stood on the other side a far off, and they two stood by Jordan.

8 Then Elijah took his cloak, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, and they twain went over on the dry land.

9 Now when they were passed over, Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee before I be taken from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let thy Spirit be double upon me.

10 And he said, Thou hast asked an hard thing: yet if thou see me when I am taken from thee, thou shalt have it so: and if not, it shall not be.

11 And as they went walking and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and did separate them twain. So Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof: and he saw him no more: and he took his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.

13 He took up also the cloak of Elijah, that fell from him, and returned, and stood by the bank of Jordan.

14 After, he took the cloak of Elijah, that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? And so he also, after he had stricken the waters, so that they were divided this way and that way, went over, even Elisha.

15 And when the children of the Prophets, which were at Jericho, saw him on the other side, they said, The Spirit of Elijah doeth rest on Elisha: and they came to meet him, and fell to the ground before him,

16 And said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men: let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master, if so be the Spirit of the Lord hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. But he said, Ye shall not send.

17 Yet they were instant upon him, till he was ashamed: wherefore he said, Send. So they sent fifty men, which sought three days, but found him not.

18 Therefore they returned to him, (for he tarried at Jericho) and he said unto them, Did not I say unto you, Go not?

19 And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, we pray thee: the situation of this city is pleasant, as thou, my lord, seest, but the water is naught, and the ground barren.

20 Then he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him.

21 And he went unto the spring of the waters, and cast there the salt, and said, Thus saith the Lord, I have healed this water: death shall no more come thereof, neither barrenness to the ground.

22 So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the word of Elisha which he had spoken.

23 And he went up from thence unto Bethel. And as he was going up the way, little children came out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Come up, thou bald head, come up, thou bald head.

24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And two bears came out of the forest, and tore in pieces two and forty children of them.

25 So he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.

My Daily Meditation

Today’s Reading

The Second Book of Kings 

Chapter 1:1-18

1 Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab:

2 And Ahaziah fell through the lattice window in his upper chamber which was in Samaria: so he was sick: then he sent messengers, to whom he said, Go, and inquire of Baal-Zebub the god of Ekron, if I shall recover of this my disease.

3 Then the Angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, and go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is no God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of Baal-Zebub the god of Ekron?

4 Wherefore thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt not come down from the bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt die the death. So Elijah departed.

5 And the messengers returned unto him, to whom he said, Why are ye now returned?

6 And they answered him, There came a man and met us, and said unto us, Go, and return unto the king which sent you, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Is it not because there is no God in Israel, that thou sendest to inquire of Baal-Zebub the God of Ekron? Therefore thou shalt not come down from the bed, on which thou art gone up, but shalt die the death.

7 And he said unto them, What manner of man was he which came and met you, and told you these words?

8 And they said unto him, He was an hairy man, and girded with a girdle of leather about his loins. Then said he, It is Elijah the Tishbite.

9 Therefore the King sent unto him a captain over fifty with his fifty men, who went up unto him: for behold, he sat on the top of a mountain, and he said unto him, O man of God, the king hath commanded that thou come down.

10 But Elijah answered, and said to the captain over the fifty, If that I be a man of God, let fire come down from the heaven, and devour thee and thy fifty. So fire came down from the heaven and devoured him and his fifty.

11 Again also he sent unto him another captain over fifty with his fifty. Who spake, and said unto him, O man of God, thus the King commandeth, Come down quickly.

12 But Elijah answered, and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from the heaven and devour thee and thy fifty. So fire came down from the heaven, and devoured him and his fifty.

13 Yet again he sent the third captain over fifty with his fifty. And the third captain over fifty went up, and came, and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life and the life of these thy fifty servants be precious in thy sight.

14 Behold, there came fire down from the heaven, and devoured the two former captains over fifty with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight.

15 And the Angel of the Lord said unto Elijah, Go down with him, be not afraid of his presence. So he arose, and went down with him unto the king.

16 And he said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Because thou hast sent messengers to inquire of Baal-Zebub the god of Ekron, (was it not because there was no God in Israel to inquire of his word?) therefore thou shalt not come down off the bed, on which thou art gone up, but shalt die the death.

17 So he died according to the word of the Lord which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram began to reign in his stead in the second year of [m]Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, because he had no son.

18 Concerning the rest of the acts of Ahaziah, that he did, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel?

My Daily Meditation

Today’s Reading

The First Book of Kings

Chapter 22:1-53

1 And they continued three years without war between Aram and Israel.

2 And in the third year did Jehoshaphat the king of Judah come down to the king of Israel.

3 (Then the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye not that Ramoth Gilead was ours? and we stay, and take it not out of the hand of the King of Aram?)

4 And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle against Ramoth Gilead? And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, and mine horses as thine horses.

5 Then Jehoshaphat said unto the King of Israel, Ask counsel, I pray thee, of the Lord today.

6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets upon a four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I let it alone? And they said, Go up, for the Lord shall deliver it into the hands of the King.

7 And Jehoshaphat said, Is there here never a Prophet of the Lord more, that we might inquire of him?

8 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man (Micaiah the son of Imlah) by whom we may ask counsel of the Lord, but I hate him: for he doth not prophesy good unto me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

9 Then the king of Israel called an Eunuch, and said, Call quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah.

10 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat either of them on his throne in their apparel in the void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets prophesied before them.

11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him [k]horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the Lord, With these shalt thou push the Aramites, until thou hast consumed them.

12 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth Gilead, and prosper: for the Lord shall deliver it into the king’s hand.

13 And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah, spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one accord, let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak thou good.

14 And Micaiah said, As the Lord liveth, whatsoever the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak.

15 So he came to the King, and the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall we leave off? And he answered him, Go up, and prosper: and the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.

16 And the king said unto him, How oft shall I charge thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the Name of the Lord?

17 Then he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that had no shepherd. And the Lord said, These have no master, let every man return unto his house in peace.

18 (And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good unto me, but evil?)

19 Again he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sit on his throne, and all the host of heaven stood about him on his right hand and on his left hand.

20 And the Lord said, Who shall entice Ahab that he may go and fall at Ramoth Gilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.

21 Then there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will entice him. And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith?

22 And he said, I will go out, and be a false spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. Then he said, Thou shalt entice him, and shalt also prevail: go forth, and do so.

23 Now therefore behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the Lord hath appointed evil against thee.

24 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, When went the spirit of the Lord from me, to speak unto thee?

25 And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go from chamber to chamber to hide thee.

26 And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah and carry him unto Amon the governor of the city, and unto Joash the king’s son,

27 And say, Thus saith the King, Put this man in the prison house, and feed him with bread of affliction, and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.

28 And Micaiah said, If thou return in peace, the Lord hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken all ye people.

29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead.

30 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, I will change mine apparel, and will enter into the battle, but put thou on thine apparel. And the king of Israel changed himself, and went into the battle.

31 And the king of Aram commanded his two and thirty captains over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only against the king of Israel.

32 And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, Surely it is the king of Israel: and they turned to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried.

33 And when the captains of the chariots saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from him.

34 Then a certain man drew a bow [x]mightily, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of his brigandine. Wherefore he said unto his chariot man, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host: for I am hurt.

35 And the battle increased that day, and the king stood still in his chariot against the Aramites, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot.

36 And there were a proclamation throughout the host about the going down of the Sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his own country.

37 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria, and they buried the king in Samaria.

38 And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood (and they washed his armor) according unto the word of the Lord which he spake.

39 Concerning the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he built, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel?

40 So Ahab slept with his fathers, and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.

41 And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign upon Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.

42 Jehoshaphat was five and thirty years old when he began to reign, and reigned five and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.

43 And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father, and declined not there from, but did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord. Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away: for the people offered still, and burnt incense in the high places.

44 And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.

45 Concerning the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his worthy deeds that he did, and his battles which he fought, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah?

46 And the Sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he put clean out of the land.

47 There was then no King in Edom: the deputy was king.

48 Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to sail to Ophir for gold, but they went not, for the ships were broken at Ezion Geber.

49 Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships, But Jehoshaphat would not.

50 And Jehoshaphat did sleep with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.

51Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria, the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel.

52 But he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin.

53 For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked the Lord God of Israel unto wrath, according unto all that his father had done.