Daily Devotional

[Prayer_Warrior]

September 28, 2024 Saturday

2 Samuel 18:5-9 (KJV) And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;
Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.
For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.

A house divided and father burying his son

David Jacobs

My grandfather was a strict and quiet man. He was a good man and cared deeply for his family, but he rarely shared or showed his emotions. He had 6 children: 4 sons and 2 daughters. The sons, my father and uncles, all had a unique relationship with their father. All of the sons respected their father so much, some trying to follow in his footsteps in their professional choices, others with the way they raised their families. Not much was shared between the father and the sons until my grandfather was diagnosed with a rare neurological disease in his last years.

Suddenly, a lifetime of regret for not saying how he felt came flowing out because he knew he would not have much time left. In the final 2 years of his life, he became closer to his family than the previous 86 years, barely having enough time to share things that he had held deeply for so long.

King David and his son, Absalom, had been fighting for years. Absalom had similar ambitions to his father, wanting the throne for himself. Absalom was charismatic, handsome, and much of the population was willing to fight on his side. In these verses, a large battle draws near, with the armies of David and Absalom meeting to see who will win the throne. However, it seems David’s primary concern is that his son should not be harmed in the fray. He has already lost his son, Amnon, at the hands of Absalom, who killed his half-brother for raping his sister. David seems that he cannot bear to lose another, and presumably blames himself for the relationship problems that he has faced in his family. It turns out to be too late: Absalom gets stuck in a tree and one of David’s most fearsome soldiers, Joab, kills him. In the final verses, David breaks down, realizing his son is dead, his failures as a father, and that he will not get the chance to share how he felt with Absalom.

Learn from these passages! As devotees of Christ, we should bring light into the world. Would you light a lamp and put it under a bowl (Matthew 5:15, Luke 8:16)? Of course not! Share your light with the world, especially with those you love the most. David never got the chance; do not lose yours.

[Prayer_Warrior]

September 29, 2024 Sunday

2 Samuel 23:1-7 (KJV)
Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,
The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.
The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.
Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.
But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:
But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place.

Dying breaths

David Jacobs

I have seen a few people taking their final breaths on Earth. It is a humbling, saddening, and beautiful experience. I was lucky to have the opportunity to say goodbye to my best friend, holding his hand as he took his final breath. He was sick for a long time, and the last days with him were more intimate and emotionally crushing than any I have ever experienced. He had prepared for his final day, and although he was too sick to move or talk much, he had a plan and knew when his time had come. He called me the morning of the day he died and told me he would die at around 11 pm that evening. He invited his closest friends and family together, and we said our goodbyes, and he shared the most important books, movies, and music with us that he wanted us to remember him with. At 11 pm, my mother, an intensive care nurse, called us in because she knew he was about to die. Sure enough, a few minutes later and just as he predicted, he drew his final breath.

We cannot predict how our final breaths will be, but we can, like my friend make preparations for it and, more importantly, prepare for life eternal. Perhaps no character in the Bible other than Christ has as many incredible stories as King David. He was an obedient and devout disciple of God, asking for God’s advice and listening to His word, but he was not afraid of sin, committing adultery and arguably murder. Here we see his last words, thankful to God first and foremost, reflecting on a life of achievement, granting him every desire, and warning against evil.

David, like my deceased best friend, chose to surround himself with those he was most thankful for. The 23rd and final chapter of 2 Samuel contains David’s last words and then lists all of David’s mighty warriors, the people that helped “grant me my every desire.” Last on that list: Uriah the Hittite, the husband of Bathsheba, the married woman that David committed adultery with and that David placed in the thickest fighting so that he would be killed and David could marry his wife. It may be a coincidence that Uriah’s name is last, but it may also be the biggest regret that David felt, even on his deathbed.

Life is filled with regrets. How can we cope with these regrets? As David did so piously: turning to the Lord in prayer. Prepare your heart, be right with your word and deed, and go to God for forgiveness when you have sinned. Although David’s every desire may have been granted, he took the life of one of his mightiest warriors, Uriah, and his name is the last phrase in the book of 2 Samuel. Go to God and ask yourself: what regrets am I harboring?

[Prayer_Warrior]

September 30, 2024 Monday

1 Kings 2:1-10 (KJV)
Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,
I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;
And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:
That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.
Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.
Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.
But shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table: for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother.
And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.
Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.
So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.

Show thyself a man

David Jacobs

Two of the earliest memories that I have of my parents involve them giving me advice. First, I remember my parents telling me to “look both ways before crossing the street.” I used to walk with my brother to our primary school, and we were quite proud to be able to do it by ourselves. The other piece of advice I remember is “always wear your seatbelt.” This good piece of advice from my parents to a young child, and again, it involved me being excited and proud to finally be able to get out of a car seat and use a seat belt on my own.

King David has reached his final days and must choose one of his many sons to be an heir to the throne. His sons have killed each other (2 Samuel 13) and his sons have died in an attempt to overthrow him (2 Samuel 18), so some of David’s top choices may have already died. However, he chooses his son Solomon, the son of his wife Bathsheba. Solomon is wise and his father imparts some final words of wisdom: be strong, be a man, and listen to God as he did.

I am not sure how David interpreted his father’s message to follow the commandments of God considering he is the son of Bathsheba, the woman that David committed adultery with and then was responsible for the death of her husband, but we can certainly understand that Solomon realizes the responsibility that his father is bestowing upon him. For all of David’s faults, he always came to God for counsel. David has always been the character with which I most easily identified in the Bible: he has his good moments, and he has his bad (really, really, bad moments), but he always clings to his relationship with God.

The relationship with our natural parents and our Father in Heaven is where we should turn in times of trouble, just as King David did, just as Solomon will do. What advice have your parents given you? More importantly, what advice have you learned from God? Seek his counsel in prayer and you will hear His lessons.

[Prayer_Warrior]

October 01, 2024 Tuesday

1 Kings 8:54-62 (KJV) And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven.
And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying,
Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.
The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us:
That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers.
And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require:
That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else.
Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.
And the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before the LORD.

He has not failed one word of all his good promised

David Jacobs

I have bounced around to several churches over the years, partially because I have changed locations and partially because my perception of the congregations changed. It is important to feel comfortable in the place that you worship and be surrounded by people that you are motivated by and can trust. It is more important that you are motivated by God and feel that you can trust in Him.

There is not much that needs to be said about these verses. I think that it is a beautiful prayer and is a good summation of what Solomon believes. Read these words and consider your own life and the community that you worship and share ideas with: do you/they walk in the ways of the Lord? Reflect on Solomon’s message and give praise to God.

Prayer
Blessed be the Lord and those that come in the name of the Lord! Caring God, you have not left my side and have forgiven me when I have left yours. In my darkest moments I have felt alone, but you have kept your promises and waited, patiently, for me to return to your side. Lord I ask that you help me to keep your commandments and continue to walk your path to salvation, helping others to follow you along the way. May the blessings of my mind and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. Amen.

[Prayer_Warrior]

October 02, 2024 Wednesday

1 Kings 3:16-28 (KJV)
Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.
And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.
And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.
And this woman’s child died in the night; because she overlaid it.
And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.
And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear.
And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.
Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.
And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.
And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.
Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.
Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.
And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.

An uneven split

David Jacobs

I used to run a discussion group with one of my best friends. This group would meet once a week and discuss various topics that were important to us, and the two of us gained a bit of notoriety due to the success of the group. My friend left for a while and I had to run the group on my own, and when he came back, I was so busy with other things that I was not as involved as I was previously. There were multiple occasions where we argued about who was more important to the group and who was “in charge” of the group. We decided to “agree to disagree” and didn’t talk about the group dynamics anymore. The damage had been done, however, and our friendship and the group suffered as a result of our foolish pride.

King Solomon was known through all of Israel for his wisdom. This story is perhaps the best example of his wisdom at work, with two prostitutes coming to him claiming to be the mother of a child. Neither woman will back off of their claims, so Solomon asks for a sword to cut the child in two. One woman asks that Solomon not do this and instead gives the baby to the other woman. As a result, Solomon feels that she is the rightful mother or at the very least, cares about the child more than the other woman.

When I read this story I think about the useless bickering between my friend and I. If only we had Solomon there to mediate! All of us could use a wise mediator like Solomon from time to time. Better yet, all of us can become a wise mediator like Solomon! Through careful study of the word of God, diligent practice, and experience, we will know the best way to act in nearly any situation. As Christians, the “Golden Rule” is “Do to others what you would have them do unto you.” (Matthew 7:12) In my opinion, a wiser commandment comes from the book of John: “Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:12) If we approach any dispute from this angle, we will always come from a place of love, thinking of how the Lord and his son, Jesus Christ, would act.

Think of a dispute that you heard or were a part of. With John 15:12 in mind, do you think you would act wisely?

[Prayer_Warrior]

October 03, 2024 Thursday

1 Kings 4:29-34 (KJV)
And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.
And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.
For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.
And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.
And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.
And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.

What would you like to be known for?

David Jacobs

What qualities would you use to describe yourself in three words? Think about it for a minute. The first word on your three-word list is probably the quality that you value the most in yourself. The first word that comes to my mind is “funny.” I have traveled and lived in many places, and I have found humor to be one of the most effective ways to break language and culture barriers. It is also something that has gotten me out of (and into) trouble. Most of all, it is a characteristic that I value highly and think that is unique about me. I know it is not the most Christian answer, but we are all gifted in our own ways.

The name Solomon is synonymous with wise, even today. Think of how wise he must have been for his name to still be related to wisdom! The book of 1 Kings is filled with examples of his wisdom, patience, and measured approach to difficult situations. He is a stark contrast to his father, King David, who was an emotional and brash leader. Both kings had their strengths and weaknesses, and I would say that their strengths were required given the times that they led.

Solomon was wise, David was devout. David made sure to teach Solomon about the importance of a strong relationship with God.

Whatever your strengths, be it wisdom, passion, or humor, God wants us to share it with the world. He also wants us to share it with Him, and through our relationship with Him, as was the case with Kings David and Solomon, our best attributes will be enunciated. God will help us understand how He plans to use us, but we must first go to Him, ask, and listen. What gifts can you share?

[Prayer_Warrior]

October 04, 2024 Friday

1 Kings 13:1-5 (KJV)
And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Beth-el: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.
And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee.
And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.
And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Beth-el, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him.
The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD.

The only true word

David Jacobs

In modern times, more people are losing their faith in religion, which is and was the backbone of civilization for thousands of years. Many people claim that religion is not real and that science is the path to truth. Are science and religion opponents? Science has advanced us to heights that we could have hardly imagined. Science has attempted to answer questions about existence, make our lives better, and increase our chance of survival. However, science cannot answer all questions and it does not provide a moral path to walk on. Christianity does. Science and Christianity are not opponents. They are teammates.

Many have claimed to be prophets and many of these prophets have been correct about many things. Some have been correct about most things, accurately forecasting things that seem almost impossible to predict. In these verses, a prophet comes to King Jeroboam, refuses to eat with him citing his wicked ways, and predicts that the altar shall break in half, which it does. The prophet was blessed by God early in this chapter, but makes the mistake of listening to another prophet later in the chapter. After listening to the false prophet and going against God’s commands, the prophet is killed by a lion after leaving.

Think back to the state of our current world: as more people leave religion and listen to other “prophets.” Has the world improved? People are more lost than ever before, turning to temptation and sin where they used to turn to God. Do not make the same mistake as the prophet in these verses!

Continue to walk the righteous path, the path laid out by Christ, a moral path to God’ Heavenly Kingdom. It is the way, the truth, and life. Thanks be to God! Amen

[Prayer_Warrior]

October 05, 2024 Saturday

1 Kings 19:9-18 (KJV)
And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

What doest thou here?

David Jacobs

In my teenage years I was in love with a beautiful girl. We dated for many years after that, growing to be best friends. Eventually, we realized that we wanted to go our separate ways. We spent so much of our time together that it was difficult to adapt to being alone. I became insecure that her family and our mutual friends no longer liked me and that I was alone. It took me a long time to understand that we were simply not meant to be together and the friendship that we had was still strong.

Elijah is fleeing from Jezebel in these verses, fearing for his life, thinking that he is alone. In his moment of terror, God approaches him, asking him what he is doing. Elijah tells God that he has been devoted to God and that he is the only believer left in Israel. Similar to how I felt at my low point post-breakup, it can feel that way sometimes. Also similar to my situation, Elijah was not abandoned. He was scared and felt alone and helpless. God reassured him that he was not alone, because God was there and also told him that there were still 7000 true believers in Israel.

If you feel alone, like I have, like Elijah did, do not despair. Turn to the Lord and he will reassure you. In your moment of fear, listen to God asking you what you are doing. Answer Him with prayer and you will be comforted. He is our shepherd and will lead you where you need to go.

Prayer
O Lord my shepherd, I shall not want. Strengthen my heart in my times of despair, reminding me to go to you when I feel alone. I forget, my God, that you have never abandoned me and never will. I pray that you also comfort others that feel that they are alone, granting me the wisdom to notice and comfort them, as you have noticed and comforted me. In the name of your son, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

[Prayer_Warrior]

October 06, 2024 Sunday

1 Kings 17:8-24 (KJV)
And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.
So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.
And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.
And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.
And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.
And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.
And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.
And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?
And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.
And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?
And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again.
And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth.
And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.

O Lord, my God, I pray thee!

David Jacobs

My uncle was in a very dark place recently: he was laid off from his job and right after this, he was diagnosed with an illness that required surgery. Being recently unemployed, he lacked insurance to pay for the surgery, which would cost far more than he could afford. He didn’t know what to do, but he did not despair. He came to his family for support, and God provided. Within a few days, his family members had asked their friends, family, and churches for any help that they could give, and his surgery was paid for in full. Not long after his recovery, he was given a job by one of the people that had also donated for his surgery.

It is hard to remain confident and faithful to God when things are not going well in our lives. Why would God want us to suffer so much if he loves us? I ask all devotees of Christ this question: is not everyday that we are allowed to witness God’s creation a blessing? There will be hardships, pain, suffering, and death, but has God not shown us the path to salvation?

In these verses, Elijah asks God the question I posit before: why would God let this boy suffer? Has God abandoned him? How quickly Elijah forgets the beginning of these verses, when he has no food to eat or water to drink and God tells him to go to Zarepath. How quickly he forgets that the widow is able to provide for herself, Elijah, and her son with so little food to begin with. God was with him the entire time, just as he was with my uncle the entire time. It is our perceptions that have changed, not God. He has given us more than we deserve. Remember this and everyday, all things, are a blessing from God.

Our character and faith is tested when we are at our lowest point. These moments are a good reflection of the strength of our faith. When you were at your lowest, how did you respond: with
despair or trust?

[Prayer_Warrior]

October 07, 2024 Monday

2 Kings 2:5-16 (KJV)
And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.
And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.
And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.
And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.
And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
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 hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.
He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.
And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.
And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send.

Do not go! I will not leave you

David Jacobs

Dealing with death is difficult. It may sound trivial, but I used to have a pet rabbit that I truly loved. It was the first rabbit I had ever been around. I knew nothing about rabbits but quickly learned that they are gentle and loving creatures that make good pets. My rabbit was healthy, happy, and middle-aged when he ate something and died within minutes. I was heartbroken, unable to grasp how quickly my cute rabbit was now just an empty carcass. It was hard to let go.

Elisha was a tenacious prophet of God and loyal friend of Elijah. Elisha knows that Elijah will soon join God in Heaven, but he refuses to leave his side. He stays with Elijah as if they are attached at the hip, hoping that what he knows will happen does not happen. Elijah comforts him by asking what he can do for Elisha, to which Elisha replies, asking for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. There seems to be an assumed “passing of the torch,” from Elijah to Elisha, and a few verses later, Elijah is taken by God. Elisha is distraught, but soon realizes that he must let go and that he has a duty, just like Elijah, to continue on his journey.

Elisha lost Elijah; I lost my rabbit. Obviously one pales in comparison to the other, but letting go is never easy. Do not dwell on missing the person or thing that you have lost; instead, be thankful for the time that you had. I can never forget the day I lost my rabbit, and Elisha won’t forget losing Elijah. Elisha goes from that day, remembering Elijah, and taking the good from their relationship. I am not trying to compare my loss with his, but whenever I see a rabbit, I think about my pet and am also reminded of the good times. “It is not goodbye, it is see you later.”

Prayer
Almighty God, the alpha and omega, you give and you take away. I pray that you let me have the wisdom to trust your choices, my Lord, not to presume that I know better than you. All I have
needed, your hand has provided. My faith is strong in you, and I pray that you strengthen it whenever I am in a state of loss or mourning, as I mourned the passing of your son, Jesus Christ, who died for my sins. Amen.

[saon]

Amen readed completely

[Prayer_Warrior]

October 08, 2024 Tuesday

2 Kings 4:1-7 (KJV)
Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.
And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.
Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.
So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.
And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.
Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.

A debt we can never fully repay

David Jacobs

I am not too fond of the feeling of owing people anything, be it money or even a favor. I always do my best to pay people back right away, because I feel guilty of taking something from someone and not being able to pay them back. I do not particularly appreciate owing people so much that I will not ask when I need help, even though my friends and family would certainly help me with no hesitation. Worst of all, I sometimes do not ask God for help, because I feel that I owe Him most of all.

Taking on debt and feeling indebted makes me feel helpless. “Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8) In these verses, a widow comes to Elisha with creditors coming and no money to pay them. The widow asks Elisha for assistance, and Elisha asks God. All that she had was a jar of oil, and Elisha tells her to ask her neighbors for jars as well. She did, and the jars became filled by God, and she could feed her family and pay her debt.

Sometimes asking for help is the hardest part. We may feel unworthy; we may be embarrassed; we may feel ashamed at being unable not to know what to do. Everybody needs help sometimes, and our friends, family, neighbors, and God are all willing and able to help. “Ask, and it shall be given unto you.” It is easier said than done, but once done, it seems so easy.

Prayer
Precious Lord, forgive me for not asking for your help when I need it. Forgive me for pushing you away when I should have pulled you closer. Help me to be more open with you and those closest to me so that they can help me when I need it and I can say they will be more willing to come to me for help. Lord, I am forever indebted to you. We are all indebted to you, for your son, Jesus Christ, has paid the debt for our sins. In his holy name, I pray. Amen.

[saon]

Amen Thanks for posting

[Prayer_Warrior]

October 09, 2024 Wednesday

2 Kings 5:17-27 (KJV) And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules’ burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD.
In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon thy servant in this thing.
And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way.
But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.
So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?
And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.
And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.
And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.
But 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.
And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?
The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.

The price of greed

David Jacobs

I go to a gym regularly. At my gym, you need to pay to buy a card in order to use the showers. One day I saw a shower card on the ground, and I took the card and thought little of it. I figured that I could use it sometime and the person that lost it might not care or notice. A few days later, the gym asked if I had found the card, and feeling guilty for doing so, I had to sheepishly turn in the card with less money on it. It was a moment of weakness and embarrassment, and I have hopefully learned my lesson.

In these verses, Naaman comes to Elisha expecting to be immediately cured of his skin disease. Elisha tells Naaman to clean himself in a nearby river, which Naaman eventually does. Naaman is thrilled to be cured of his disease and offers to pay Elisha a considerable amount for curing him. Elisha does not accept the offer, but one of the followers of Elisha, Gehazi, quickly follows Naaman and lies, saying that Elisha has changed his mind and wants the reward after all. When Elisha asks Gehazi what he has done, he lies again, and Elisha curses him with the skin disease that he had just cured Naaman of.

“What goes around comes around” is a phrase you may have heard. If you inject positive energy, generosity, and love to the world, that is what you shall receive in return. If you emit negative energy, sin, and take from the world, that is what you will receive in return.

Nobody is free of sin, myself included. Is some reward money or a shower card at the gym worth knowing that what you did was wrong? Repent, learn, and repeat. Ask the Lord for forgiveness. He is waiting.

[saon]

Reading completed 9th Oct, 2024

[Prayer_Warrior]

October 10, 2024 Thursday

2 Kings 6:11-23 (KJV)
Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?
And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.
Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
And when they came down to him, 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.
And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.
And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?
And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.
And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.

If you can’t beat them, join them

David Jacobs

When I was in middle school, there was a boy that was much bigger than everyone else, and wow, he was a bully! He would really pick on other students and even hurt them, but he was so big nobody dared to stand up to him. He was equally as terrible to teachers, but I remember after school one day I noticed him red in the face, wiping tears from his eyes. Although he was so big, when he broke down he was like anyone else. That student was awful in my teacher’s class, but my teacher put his arm around him, comforted him, and took him into his office so that other people could not see. After that, the student behaved quite well in that class, although I wish I could say the same about other classes!

My teacher’s compassion to a person that had constantly troubled him humbled the terrible student. The student was used to being met by scorn, at school and most likely at home, and that was why he acted the way that he did. In these verses, Elisha shows compassion to the soldiers that have been sent to find him and most likely to kill him and the king of Israel. His compassion turns a foe into a friend, an enemy into an ally. Just like the student and the teacher, a show of compassion and love can turn hate into love. Christ teaches us to turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39), and that is what Elisha does in these verses. How often do we actually do it?

Prayer
Forgiving God, you show compassion to all of humanity. You are patient with us, Abba Father, even when we do not deserve it. Help to remind me of your patience and compassion, O Lord, so that I can inject some of this positivity into my fellow man. You have shown us the way, as did your only begotten son, Jesus Christ, who shed light on the path. In his holy name I pray. Amen.

[saon]

Amen Reading completed 10th Oct, 2024

[Prayer_Warrior]

October 11,2024 Friday

2 Kings 19:14-19 (KJV)
And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.
And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.
LORD, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, LORD, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God.
Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands,
And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.
Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD God, even thou only.

Kingdoms of men destroyed; kingdoms of God, everlasting

David Jacobs

So many countries and empires have risen and fallen but at their height thought that their reigns would never end. In hindsight they may seem so foolish, but at the time, who could blame them for thinking this? Even today, certain global powers expect to be on top forever, but once they start thinking like this is usually about the time they start declining. “18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)

Assyria was a dominant force in the Middle East, conquering any nation that opposed them. Here, Hezekiah appeals to the Lord, praying to Him and asking them to be protected. Not much needs to be said about this prayer. It is beautiful and simple, sincere and powerful. Read and comprehend the meaning, and go forward with a better understanding of God.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, ruler of Heaven and Earth, creator of Heaven and Earth, your humble servant comes to you in prayer. Father, I ask that you forgive those that think they are on the same level as you. I know, and all will know, that you are the one true God. I pray that you keep us safe in these uncertain times, my Lord, calming the hearts of those who wish to see others perish. I pray this in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

[saon]

Amen complete reading

[Prayer_Warrior]

October 12, 2024 Saturday

1 Chronicles 16:8-14 (KJV)
Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.
Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.
Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.
Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;
O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.

Remember the marvelous works that He has done

David Jacobs

I am fairly patriotic towards America (most of the time). There is a famous song called “This Land is your Land” by Woody Guthrie. Most Americans probably know some of the words of this song. It mentions some of the important landmarks and aspects of America: California to New York, the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters. At the end of most verses, he sings, “this land was made for you and me.” The end of the song, however, takes a darker turn. Guthrie mentions “No Trespassing” signs; he mentions the relief office; he mentions hungry people; then he asks, “Is this land made for you and me?” Few Americans know the end of this song, and what most consider as a patriotic and welcoming tune has some dark questions at the end.

The poem that David commands his associates to use to praise God is more welcoming.

Prayer
God does not consider where you are from, who you are, how much money you make, or what color your skin is. He is the creator of Heaven and Earth; He is the judger of all things; all people should seek Him and rejoice in His name. The seas, fields, trees, and people all sing His praises. There is no division, no dark questions, only positivity and love. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel forever and ever. Amen!