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Just like Elijah did...

2 Kings 1:1-18

The Lord’s Judgment on Ahaziah

1 After Ahab’s death, Moab rebelled against Israel. 2 Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers, saying to them, “Go and consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, to see if I will recover from this injury.”

3 But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Go up and meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?’ 4 Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘You will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!’” So Elijah went.

5 When the messengers returned to the king, he asked them, “Why have you come back?”

6 “A man came to meet us,” they replied. “And he said to us, ‘Go back to the king who sent you and tell him, “This is what the Lord says: Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending messengers to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!”’”

7 The king asked them, “What kind of man was it who came to meet you and told you this?”

8 They replied, “He had a garment of hair[a] and had a leather belt around his waist.”

The king said, “That was Elijah the Tishbite.”

9 Then he sent to Elijah a captain with his company of fifty men. The captain went up to Elijah, who was sitting on the top of a hill, and said to him, “Man of God, the king says, ‘Come down!’”

10 Elijah answered the captain, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!” Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men.

11 At this the king sent to Elijah another captain with his fifty men. The captain said to him, “Man of God, this is what the king says, ‘Come down at once!’”

12 “If I am a man of God,” Elijah replied, “may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!” Then the fire of God fell from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men.

13 So the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. This third captain went up and fell on his knees before Elijah. “Man of God,” he begged, “please have respect for my life and the lives of these fifty men, your servants! 14 See, fire has fallen from heaven and consumed the first two captains and all their men. But now have respect for my life!”

15 The angel of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So Elijah got up and went down with him to the king.

16 He told the king, “This is what the Lord says: Is it because there is no God in Israel for you to consult that you have sent messengers to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!” 17 So he died, according to the word of the Lord that Elijah had spoken.

Because Ahaziah had no son, Joram[b] succeeded him as king in the second year of Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah. 18 As for all the other events of Ahaziah’s reign, and what he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?

Commentary: 2 Kings 1: 1-18 Life Application Study Bible

1:1 Because 1 and 2 Kings were originally one book, 2 Kings continues where 1 Kings ends.  the once great nation of Israel was split in two because the people forgot God.  The book begins with Elijah a prophet of God, being carried away to heaven.  It ends with the people of Israel and Judah being taken into captivity.  In 1 Kings, the beautiful temple of God was built.  In 2 Kings, it is desecrated and destroyed.  Our world is strikingly similar to the world described in 2 Kings. National and local governments do not seek God, and countries are tormented by war.  Many people follow the false gods of technology, materialism, and war.  True worship of God is rare on the earth.  In our chaotic and corrupt world, we can turn to examples such as David, Elijah, and Elisha, who were devoted to God's high honor and moral law and who brought about renewal and change in their society.  More important, we can look to Jesus Christ, the perfect example.  For nations to do God's will, they need individuals who will do God's work.  If you heart is committed to God, he can work through to accomplish the work he has called you to do.

1;2 Baal-Zebub was not the same god as Baal, the Canaanite god worshiped by Ahab and Jezebel (1Kings 16:31-33) Baal-Zebub was another popular god whose temple was located in the city of Ekron.  Because this god was thought to have the power of prophecy, King Ahaziah sent messengers to Ekron to learn of his fate.  Supernatural power and mystery were associated with Baal-Zebub.  Ahaziah's action showed the kings's disrespect for God.

1:8 For more information on Elijah, see his Profile in 1 Kings 17 p. 525 Life Application Study Bible.

1:13-15 Notice how the third captain went to Elijah, Although the first two captains called Elijah "man of God," they were not being genuine--God was not in their hearts. The third captain also called him "man of God," but he humbly begged for mercy.  His attitude showed respect for God and his power and saved the lives of his men.  Effective living begins with a right attitude toward God.  Before religious words come to your mouth, make sure they are from your heart.  Let respect, humility and servanthood characterize your attitude toward God and others.

1:18 The book of the annals of the kings of Israel and the book of the annals of the kings of Judah (8:23) were history books.  The inspired writer of 2 Kings selected facts from these books to retell the story thoughts and selection process to make sure that the truth, God's Word, would be written.

ELIJAH THE PROPHET (FULL MOVIE)

Say "NO" To Transgender Restrooms Here's WHY...

Romans 1:20-32New International Version (NIV)

20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

Leviticus 18:22New International Version (NIV)

22 “‘Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.

Commentary Romans 1:26-27

God's plan for natural sexual relationships is his ideal for his creation.  Unfortunately, sin distorts the natural use of  God's gift.  Sin often means not only denying God but denying the way we are made.  When people say that any sex act is acceptable as long as nobody gets hurt they are fooling themselves in the long run (and often in the short run) sin hurts people-individuals, families whole societies.  Because sex is such a powerful and essential part of what it means to be human it must be treated with great respect.  Sexual desires are of much importance that the Bible gives them special attention and counsel more careful restraint and self control with any other desire.  One of the clearest indicators of a society or person in rebellion against God is the rejection of God's guidelines for the use of sex.  Homosexuality (to exchange and abandon natural relations of sex) was as widespread in Paul's time as it is in ours many pagan practices encourage it.  God is willing to receive anyone who comes to him in faith and Christians should love anyone no matter what the background.  Yet, homosexuality is strictly forbidden in scripture (Leviticus 18:22) Homosexuality is considered an acceptable practice in the world today even by some churches.  But society does not set the standard for God's Law.  Many homosexuals believe that their desires are normal  and that they have the right to express them.  But God does not obligate nor encourage to fulfill all of our desires (even normal ones).  Those desires that violate His Law must be controlled.  If you have these desires you can and must resist acting upon them consciously avoid places and activities you know will kindle temptations of this kind.  Don't underestimate the power of Satan to tempt you nor the potential for serious harm if you yield to these temptations.  Remember God can and will forgive sexual sins just as He forgives other sins.  Surrender yourself to the Grace and Mercy of God asking Him to show you the way out of sin and into the light of freedom and His Love. Prayer, Bible study, and strong support in a Christian church can help you to gain strength to resist these powerful temptations.  If you are already deeply involved in homosexual behavior seek help from a trustworthy, professional, and pastoral counselor.

A Real Mother Is A Virtuous Woman

M-most O-outstanding T-tender H-hearted E-everyone R-respects

The Wife of Noble Character

Proverbs 31:10-31

10 [b]A wife of noble character who can find?

    She is worth far more than rubies.

11 Her husband has full confidence in her

    and lacks nothing of value.

12 She brings him good, not harm,

    all the days of her life.

13 She selects wool and flax

    and works with eager hands.

14 She is like the merchant ships,

    bringing her food from afar.

15 She gets up while it is still night;

    she provides food for her family

    and portions for her female servants.

16 She considers a field and buys it;

    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17 She sets about her work vigorously;

    her arms are strong for her tasks.

18 She sees that her trading is profitable,

    and her lamp does not go out at night.

19 In her hand she holds the distaff

    and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

20 She opens her arms to the poor

    and extends her hands to the needy.

21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;

    for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

22 She makes coverings for her bed;

    she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,

    where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them,

    and supplies the merchants with sashes.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;

    she can laugh at the days to come.

26 She speaks with wisdom,

    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

27 She watches over the affairs of her household

    and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children arise and call her blessed;

    her husband also, and he praises her:

29 “Many women do noble things,

    but you surpass them all.”

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,

    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.