GOD’S WORD FOR DECEMBER 23 ~ ~ Proverbs 3:5-6 ~ ~ “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
Today’s section is “ELIJAH, JEZEBEL, AND THE PROPHETS OF BAAL”
One of the key incidents recorded in 1 Kings is the story of King Ahab, his wife Jezebel, and the prophet Elijah. Ahab was the seventh king of Israel; Jezebel was a Phoenician princess, the daughter of King Ithobaal 1 of Tyre, and she instituted the worship of Baal throughout Israel. Baalism was infamous for its human sacrifices, including children. Jezebel also murdered many of the prophets of God and forced many others into hiding.
Jezebel persecuted anyone who did not bow to Baal, but a faithful remnant defied her. One of those who took a courageous stand was the prophet Elijah, who declared a holy war against King Ahab and Queen Jezebel.
Elijah challenged Jezebel’s mystics – the 450 prophets of Baal – to a contest on Mount Carmel to determine whether Baal or the God of Israel was the one true God. Elijah would prepare one bull for sacrifice on the altar of God, the prophets of Baal would prepare another bull for the altar of Baal. “You call on the name of your god,” Elijah said, “and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire –he is God.”
Baal’s prophets danced, shouted, and cut themselves all day long – and no fire came. Elijah taunted them, saying, “Shout louder! …Maybe (Baal) is sleeping!” when the priests had exhausted themselves, Elijah placed his sacrifice on the wood of the altar and had it all doused with water three times.
Then, with calm dignity, he prayed,
“Lord, the God of Abraham, Issac, and Israel, let it be known today that You are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at Your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that You, Lord, are God and that You are turning their hearts back again.” (1 Kings 18:36-37)
Immediately, fire fell from Heaven, consumed the sacrificial bull, the wood, the water, and even the stones of the altar. All the people who witnessed this miracle cried out, “The Lord – He is God!”
Then Elijah ordered the people to seize and kill the prophets of Baal and Asherah. Later, God decreed the death of Queen Jezebel and King Ahab and the annihilation of Ahab’s royal line.
Though Israel was cleansed of these two corrupt political figures, neither the kingdom of Israel nor the kingdom of Judah was the Kingdom of God. No political state, led by mere human beings, could never be God’s eternal Kingdom.
The rest of the narrative of 1st and 2nd Kings – written during the Babylonian exile, approximately 560 to 550 BC – tells a story of a line of kings in both Israel and Judah. Some of the kings were good, some were evil. God judged each according to weather he kept the Law. Again and again, the kings of both Israel and Judah failed the test and led their people into idolatry. And the nation paid the price.
The books of 1st and 2nd Chronicles cover much of the same history 1st and 2nd Kings – but from a different perspective and for a different purpose. The books of Chronicles were written around 450 to 440 BC, after the exile had ended, and have a more encouraging tone, meant to increase the faith of Jews who were rebuilding their lives after the captivity.
The books of Kings warned that the troubles of Israel and Judah were not the result of God’s abandonment, but of the people’s disobedience. The books of Chronicles devote more space to the nation’s triumphs than its failures and encouraged the nation to seek revival and restoration.
Ezra tells how the Jews returned to Judah after seventy years of exile in Babylon. The book of Nehemiah continues the story, focusing on the rebuilding of Jerusalem in times of stress and adversity.
The book of Esther tells the gripping story of a Jewish girl in Persia (her birth name was Hadassah, but she became known as Esther). Through her courage and willingness to sacrifice herself, she became queen of Persia during the reign of King Ahasuerus from 386 to 465 BC and saved her people from genocide. Though the book does not directly mention God by name, His hand can be seen moving events throughout the story
These books of ancient Jewish history are followed by the books of the prophets.
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Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Psalm 9:15
The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made; In the net which they hid, their own foot is caught.
Psalm 9:19
Arise, O Lord, Do not let man prevail; Let the nations be judged in Your sight.
Psalm 9:20
Put them in fear, O Lord, That the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah
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POEM BY HELEN STEINER RICE
“LISTEN IN SILENCE IF YOU WOULD HEAR”
Silently the green leaves grow. In silence falls the soft, white snow.
Silently the flowers bloom. In silence sunshine fills a room.
Silently bright stars appear. In silence velvet night draws near.
And silently GOD enters in, to free a troubled heart from sin.
For GOD works silently in lives; for nothing spiritual survives…..
Amid the din of a noisy street where raucous crowds with hurrying feet….
And “blinded eyes” and “deafened ear” are never privileged to hear………
The message GOD wants to impart to every troubled, weary heart.
For only in the QUIET PLACE can man behold GOD FACE TO FACE!
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Psalm 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God.
John 16:15
All things that the Father has are Mine. Because of this I said that He (the Spirit) will take from what is Mine and will reveal it to you.
Psalm 16:8
I have set the Lord always before me: Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved…..