July 7- To Caesar You Shall Go!

July 7, 2011

Scripture Readings:
1 Chronicles 4:5-5:17; Acts 25:1-27;
Psalm 5:1-12; Proverbs 18:19

For Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.  And I will show him how much he must suffer for me. 
 ~Jesus- Acts 9:15

1 Chronicles 4:5-5:17

Well, today we have another genealogy list.  The author of Chronicles, who is believed to be Ezra, is preserving the historical and genealogical information that is crucial for the people group chosen to bring the Messiah into the world.  This list includes Jabez who is famous for his prayer to God that gave him extended land and God's blessing.

We learn today that Reuben, the first born son of Jacob/Israel, lost his birthright to Joseph's sons because he slept with his father's concubine. It is also noted that Judah became the most powerful tribe and provided a ruler for the nation of Israel.

Hope you are enjoying the small break in reading long Old Testament passages.  These sections at the front of 1 Chronicles give you a little breather!

Acts 25:1-27

You have to wonder as Paul sat confined in Caesarea if he thought back to what was told to him after his conversion incident on the road to Damascus.  He had been told that the Lord was calling him to testify before kings and rulers about Jesus Christ.  He was also told that he must suffer for the sake of Jesus.

Today, Festus has become the governor.  Felix is gone and Festus takes over the case of Paul. When approached by the Jewish religious leaders about bringing Paul to Jerusalem for trial, Festus brings the idea to Paul.  Paul exercises his right as a Roman citizen and appeals to Caesar, rather than going back to Jerusalem.  It is in Rome that Paul will have the opportunity to witness to the most powerful man on earth.

In the meantime, another king is in town to visit Festus.  His name is King Agrippa.  He is in town with his wife Bernice, and King Agrippa is the last in the line of the Herodians.  He is a Jew by religion, but was wholly committed and loyal to Rome.

Paul will have an opportunity to witness to the power players of his day.  God chose him for this very purpose.

What have you been chosen by God to do?

Psalm 5:1-12

I like Verse 3, "Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly."

Proverbs 18:19

This proverb is true.  It is hard to make amends with an offended friend.  Arguments separate good friends.

What did you notice today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton

July 6- Following The Way

July 6, 2011

Scripture Readings:
1 Chronicles 2:18-4:4; Acts 24:1-27;
Psalm 4:1-8; Proverbs 18:16-18

1 Chronicles 2:18-4:4

Today, we are continuing with the genealogy that began with Jacob and continues through to David.  In chapter 3, we learn of some sons of David who were not mentioned in the books of 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings.  Their names are Shimea, Shobab, and Nathan.  In the gospel of Luke, we see that Nathan is the descendant of David through whom Mary is born.  Mary provides the blood line to King David necessary for Jesus to be the King of the Jews.  In the genealogy provided in the book of Matthew, Joseph, David's step father, provides the  legal line to the throne of David through Solomon.  These genealogies would have been available in the Temple in Jerusalem during the life of Jesus and directly after his death and resurrection.  You can rest assured that his enemies checked his genealogy during the conflicts that arose about who he was.  These genealogies were destroyed in 70 A.D. when the Temple was destroyed.  After the destruction of the Temple, Jewish genealogies were no longer continued.

What do you think about God's meticulous tracing of Jesus' family tree?  God takes His promises seriously.  You can trust God's Word.

Acts 24:1-27

We see that Paul is put on trial in Caesarea.  A lawyer named Tertullus accuses Paul of treason against Rome and of trying to defile the Temple in Jerusalem. Tertullus implies that the Jews could have handled this matter on their own without the interference of Rome.

Paul admits that he is a follower of The Way.  This is what Christianity was called in the beginning.  Paul says that he had gone to Jerusalem to worship.  He did not argue with anyone or incite any riots. When brought before the Jewish High Council, he confessed that he was on trial because he believes in the resurrection of the dead. Felix listens with interest, as he is familiar with Jewish customs and the rise of The Way.

We learn that Felix is married to a Jewish woman named Drusilla and that both Felix and Drusilla are familiar with The Way.  Felix listens to Paul's testimony about Jesus and keeps Paul in prison for two years to please the Jews.  We have no indication that either Felix or Drusilla ever made a profession of faith in Christ, although Felix called Paul to discuss these issues frequently.

Do you know people who want to hear about God all the time, but never profess faith in Him?  God's grace is extended to all people, but ultimately, if a decision for Christ is not made, judgment awaits the person.

Psalm 4:1-8

"The Lord has set the godly apart for Himself."  It is nice to think that God sets us apart to be with Him.  He is relational.

Proverbs 18:16-18

Gifts can put you in front of important people.  Felix was hoping that the Apostle Paul would bribe him with gifts.  That is why he kept calling Paul in front of himself.  Greed.

What did you notice today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton

July 5- God's Viewpoint

July 5, 2011

Scripture Readings:
1 Chronicles 1:1-2:17; Acts 23:11-35;
Psalm 3:1-8; Proverbs 18:14-15

Why waste your money looking up your family tree? 
Just go into politics and your opponents will do it for you.  
~Mark Twain

1 Chronicles 1:1-2:17

Today, we begin to read the book of 1 Chronicles.  We see a pattern in Scripture of the Holy Spirit giving an account of history and then coming back to revisit the story with a microscope in order to focus on what is important to God.  In the second chapter of Genesis, the seven days of creation described in the first chapter of Genesis are revisited with an emphasis on the creation of man.  Deuteronomy is a retelling of the Law, after the book of Leviticus, with the idea of seeing the Law applied as the Israelites wander in the desert for forty years.  Now, the books of 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings are retold in 1 and 2 Chronicles from God's viewpoint.  Where the first books emphasized the kingdoms of Israel and Judah from the perspective of the palaces, Chronicles looks at the kingdoms from the perspective of the Temple. This is more of a religious history, rather than a political history.  The books of 1 and 2 Chronicles are thought to have been written during the Babylonian captivity by Ezra.  Today, we will begin to read God's viewpoint on this part of Israel's history.

We start with a genealogy.  Remember that tracing the roots of Jesus back to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are key.  As a matter of fact, God's promise of a Redeemer Child who will save the world goes back to the Garden of Eden where Eve is given the promise in Genesis 3:15.  After Noah survives the flood with his three sons, Shem is the son who is given the promise of blessing by God.  As we read the genealogies, we see that information about the lines of Noah's sons who are not the chosen one to bring forth the Messiah (Ham and Japheth's lines) are not emphasized in the Bible.  The story of Shem's line is expanded and continued through Abraham, Issac, and Jacob.  The line continues down to David, who is born from Jesse.  As we read, it is good to think back to all of the stories we have learned about these great characters in history through the Biblical accounts. 

Why is God focusing on these people and not all of the other people on earth?  Because this is the story of how the Messiah, who comes and saves the whole world from the problem of sin and separation from God, accomplishes His great victory for humanity.  This Messiah will become the King of Kings on the earth and rule the world forever. It is His genetic line that is important to follow in the story.  That is why the Bible focuses on the ancient people of Israel.  It is through this group that the world receives her Savior.

Acts 23:11-35

Now that Paul has successfully testified about Jesus in Jerusalem, Jesus comes to Paul in another vision and tells him that he must now go to Rome and testify there. 

We see that Paul's persecution continues, as a group of Jewish men vow to neither eat nor drink til they have killed Paul.  Paul's nephew finds out about the plot and thwarts it by informing the Roman officials and having Roman guards escort Paul out of the city, 200 soldiers strong.

They are sending Paul to Governor Felix in Caesarea.  Paul is kept in Herod's headquarters as he awaits his hearing before the Governor.

What do you think about Jesus showing Himself to the Apostle Paul and yet, Paul is bouncing around from persecution to persecution? What does that tell you about how God sees our trials?  Are you surprised that Jesus is with Paul in the trials, rather than rescuing Paul FROM his trials?

How does this change your perspective on your trials?

Psalm 3:1-8

Can't you picture the Apostle Paul saying this psalm aloud to himself in the midst of his trials?

Proverbs 18:14-15

It is hard to endure a crushed spirit.  Intelligent people welcome new ideas.

What did you notice today as you read?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton

July 4- The Anatomy of Captivity

July 4, 2011

Scripture Readings:
2 Kings 23:31-25:30; Acts 22:17-23:10;
Psalm 2:1-12; Proverbs 18:13

And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

~Francis Scott Key

2 Kings 23:31-25:30

Happy Independence Day or Happy Fourth of July!   As most of you know, the Fourth of July  commemorates the adoption of Declaration of Independence signed on July 4, 1776.  Fundamental to the American way of thinking is the idea that a free people have a right to govern themselves and be represented in their legislative assemblies.  The Declaration of Independence boldly proclaimed  America's independence from Great Britain.  Did you know that both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both passed away on July 4, 1826 on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the document? How cool is that?

Today, we are not going to be reading about freedom and independence.  We are reading about captivity.  As we finish reading the book of 2 Kings, the kingdom of Judah is finally taken into captivity by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.  You might be interested to know that present day Iraq is where ancient Babylon was located. 

If you have ever wondered how one might go about taking a kingdom captive, today's reading is a virtual instruction manual.  I am now going to list out the steps you might want to take if you ever decide to become a despot who captures a nation.  Here is the short version:

• Lay siege to the capital city. 2 Kings 24:10
• Take the king hostage. Vs. 12
• Carry away the kingdom's treasure. Vs. 13
• Take captive their princes, best soldiers, craftsmen and metal smiths. Vs. 14
• Leave the poorest people in the land. Vs. 14
• Take the wives, officials, and queen mother into captivity, along with all of the well educated elites. Vs. 15
• Install a puppet government. Vs. 17
• Rename the puppet government king in order to exert control over him. Vs. 18
• If the puppet king rebels, besiege the capital city again. 2 Kings 25:2
• Surround the city with soldiers. Vs. 4
• Gouge out the eyes of the puppet king and lead him away in bronze chains. Vs. 7
• Burn down the major religious temple, royal palace, and all the houses. Vs. 9
• Destroy all the major buildings. Vs. 9
• Tear down the protective wall of the city. Vs. 10
• Leave the poorest people to care for the fields and vineyards. Vs. 12
• Kill the rebel puppet king's key advisers and religious leaders.  Vs. 21
• Appoint a new governor for the territory who is from your own country. Vs. 22

There you have it!  With this simple list you should be able to take a people group into captivity.  Go forth and conquer!

Lesson:  God promised to punish the nation of Israel if they forsook Him and followed other gods.  When the Northern kingdom of Israel forsook God, they were taken into captivity by Assyria.  When the Southern kingdom of Judah forsook God, they were taken into captivity by Babylon.  God keeps His promises.  We are to follow no other god, but the One True God of Israel revealed to us through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Acts 22:17-23:10

Today, we resume Paul's testimony in front of the crowd in Jerusalem who has gotten quiet to listen to him as he addresses them in their own language.  He speaks of falling into a trance and seeing a vision of Jesus, who has a conversation with him and tells Paul to leave Jerusalem because the people will not believe his message about Jesus.  Paul argues with the Lord that because he was a devout Jew, who even persecuted Christians, his witness would be credible.  Jesus tells him in the vision to leave Jerusalem because He (Jesus) is going to send Paul far away to the Gentiles. 

When Paul says, "Gentiles," the crowd goes wild with anger.  They throw off their coats and throw dust in the air.  The Roman guards bring Paul into custody to be beaten.  He is saved from this when he tells the guards that he is a Roman citizen by birth.  They are not allowed to beat a Roman citizen without a trial.  Thank God for legal recourse!

Paul is taken to the Jewish High Council. His trial reminds me of Jesus being before this same High Council not that long ago.  Paul is struck in the face by the command of Ananias, the High Priest, who also had Jesus on trial.  Paul calls him a white washed wall, which was one of Jesus' favorite descriptions of the Jewish religious leaders.  Paul is unaware that he has called the High Priest this.  Paul apologizes when he realizes he has offended the High Priest.  Please note that as we read Paul's epistles, we will get an indication that Paul has eye sight problems.  This is why he would not have recognized that he has offended Ananias.

Being a Pharisee by training, Paul is able to divide the group, who are made up of both Sadducees and Pharisees, by declaring that he is on trial because of his hope in the resurrection of the dead.  This divides the council with some Pharisees arguing in Paul's defense.  They begin to physically tug him back and forth, so the Roman commander takes him away.

Paul is walking in the footsteps of Jesus.  He, alone, is the apostle who is trained in Scripture like His Master.  He was a member of the religious leaders to whom he is now testifying. He is intellectually able to go toe to toe with the religious leaders of his day.  The Holy Spirit is leading him to testify and suffer for Jesus.

Are you prepared to go toe to toe with unbelievers?  Have you studied enough to have the Holy Spirit be able to illuminate your mind?  Are you willing to suffer when people get furious at the gospel message?

Psalm 2

This psalm speaks of the nations raging against the Lord.  Do you see this in our readings?  It says that the kings and rulers plot together against the Lord, but He laughs at them from heaven.

This psalm declares that God has chosen a man to be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  It is His Son, who has been chosen.  The earth is His possession.  The nations are warned to submit to Him and serve Him in fear, because He has the ability to smash them like clay pots.

Do you see Jesus as the King of Kings?  Have you submitted to Him?

Proverbs 18:13

Don't advise people if you don't have your facts straight.

What did you see today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton

July 3- Spiritual Illiteracy

July 3, 2011

Scripture Readings:
2 Kings 22:3-23:30; Acts 21:37-22:16;
Psalm 1:1-6; Proverbs 18:11-12

Once you learn to read, you will forever be free. 
~Frederick Douglass

2 Kings 22:3-23:30

A number of years ago there was a great outcry about illiteracy in America.  People were concerned that children were not properly learning to read.  Attention from the highest levels of government was aimed at instituting programs to insure that America's children would learn to read. There were debates about the best methods for teaching reading.  Some people thought that a phonics program was best, while others liked the look-see method. Why all the fuss?  Why is this important?  Because reading is the key to knowledge.  Without the ability to read a person limits their exposure to truth.  Remember that Jesus said, "The truth will set you free."  Reading promotes freedom.  Today, we see that the kingdom of Judah becomes slaves to paganism because they have become spiritually illiterate.

The Book of the Law of Moses was lost in obscurity in the Temple.  The people of Judah had not read the Law for decades and had become spiritually illiterate.  Paganism was a way of life, and the commands of God, including the calendar of holy days, had been long forgotten.

Good King Josiah decides to renovate the Temple.  He is a man who seeks God and wants to honor the Lord.  During the renovations the Book of the Law of the Lord is found by Shaphan, a court secretary.  When he reads the book he is astounded and takes it to Josiah.  When Josiah hears the book, he tears his clothes in despair.  "Dear God in Heaven, we have sinned," is probably what he thought to himself.  Josiah has his court officers go seek the Lord to find out the consequences of abandoning His laws for all of these years.  The courtiers go to a female prophetess named Huldah.  She tells them that the Lord is going to destroy Judah just as He destroyed Israel because they abandoned God and worshiped pagan gods.  The Lord tells Josiah that He has seen Josiah's repentance and humility and therefore, the destruction of Jerusalem will not occur until after Josiah's death.

After this confirmation, Josiah summons all of the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, in addition to every person from the greatest to the least to an assembly.  He is about to solve Judah's spiritual illiteracy problem.   The king personally reads the whole Book of the Covenant found in the Temple to the gathered assembly.  Remember that this group of people would have included tiny babies, little toddlers, awkward teenagers, and tired parents.  Everyone is going to hear Truth and they are going to stand in the assembly until the King Josiah has finished the whole Law.

At the pillar of the Temple, Josiah takes authority to renew the covenant with God, pledge to obey the Law, confirm the terms of their agreement with God, instruct the High Priest to remove items used for Baal worship, burn the items outside of the city, and carry the ashes away to Bethel.  Josiah is a man who acts on his convictions.  He is one to fight evil and ruffle some feathers for God.

Next, Josiah goes on a campaign to personally rid the country of idolatry.  He ends the pagan priesthood, removes the Asherah pole from the Temple, burns down the houses of temple prostitution, defiles pagan shrines by scattering human bones on them, gets rid of items and statues dedicated to the worship of the sun, tears down and smashes altars, including some built by King Solomon that were dedicated to Molech, Chemosh and Asherah.  He goes from town to town on this clean up campaign.  Can you imagine the sorrow of many of the women and men who were emotionally tied to these pagan gods and practices?  This would have been a gigantic adjustment for the people of Josiah's kingdom.  Josiah exterminates the mediums and psychics.  Never before had there been a king like Josiah.  His passion and obedience stand out in all of history.

Lessons:  It is possible to become spiritually illiterate.  Do you know people who have NO IDEA what the Bible says?  If you do, they are spiritually illiterate.  You may want to help them learn the truth.  Like Josiah, we are responsible for ending spiritual illiteracy.  It is good to work to eliminate evil influences in the society.

Do you promote Bible study to others?  Have you ever taught Sunday School or VBS? Do you work to reduce immorality in our society?  Do you stand silently by as abortion, sexual immorality, gambling, pornography and prostitution run rampant around you?

Acts 21:37-22:16

Today, as Paul is being carried away from the rioting crowd, the guard who is carrying him asks if he is the Egyptian who led a rebellion.  Paul says that he is not and asks if he can address the crowd.  The guards place Paul on the steps and Paul speaks to the crowd in Aramaic, which is the language of the Jews. The crowd becomes silent at hearing their home language.  You can hear a pin drop as he begins to speak.

He testifies that he is a Jew, trained under Gamaliel in Jerusalem, and was a zealous persecutor of people who followed The Way.  On his way to Damascus to imprison and kill more men and women, he was blinded by a light from Heaven and confronted by Jesus Christ.  After receiving his sight back from a godly man named Ananias, Paul received forgiveness from his sins through faith in Jesus Christ and was baptized.

Our reading ends today with this fabulous personal testimony of the greatest evangelist in history.

Lesson:  A plain spoken testimony is a powerful tool.

With whom have you shared your testimony?

Psalm 1

We are back to psalm one today.  Please consider memorizing this psalm.  It compares the righteous and the wicked.  I hope we will be like trees firmly planted by the river.  Think of the River of Life in the New Jerusalem.

Proverbs 18:11-12

Pride goes before a fall.  Very true.  Humility goes before honor.  The Lord promises this.

What did you learn today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal

Kathy Fullerton

July 2- Just Give Me A Little Time, Lord

July 2, 2011

Scripture Readings:
2 Kings 20:1-22:2; Acts 21:18-36;
Psalm 150:1-6; Proverbs 18:9-10

It is appointed for a man once to die, and then the judgment. 
~Hebrews 9:27

2 Kings 20:1-22:2

One of the worst experiences you can have is to have a family member or close friend be diagnosed with terminal cancer.  The initial response is shock.  Although we all know that none of us get out of this life alive, it is a blow to realize that someone you love is facing the end of their earthly existence. Today, good King Hezekiah becomes terminally ill and is facing death.  Isaiah is called in to see if Hezekiah will recover from his illness and Isaiah comes bearing bad news.  Hezekiah is scheduled to die.

Like many people in this situation, Hezekiah turns to the only person who can alter the situation- God.  Laying in his bed, Hezekiah turns his face to the wall and prays.  He asks God to remember his faithfulness and his obedience to God.  Upon saying these words, he breaks down and cries bitterly. As this is occurring, Isaiah gets another word from the Lord.  God has Isaiah tell Hezekiah that God has heard his prayer.  God intends to heal Hezekiah in three days and will let him live for 15 more years.  Hezekiah asks for a sign from God that this will happen.  God has the sun move backwards ten steps on the sundial to confirm the healing. Hezekiah is healed by a medical treatment.  Faith combined with practical medical attention heals Hezekiah.

Lessons: 1)  Prayer changes things.  If you have ever doubted that God hears prayers, let this story change your doubt to faith!!  Pray for your heart's desire.  Be willing to accept God's answer. 2) Hezekiah is confident in his prayer because he has been a faithful follower of God.  This is a key to having your prayers heard by God.  God hears the prayers of the righteous. 3)We are all appointed a time to die.  Wrap your mind around this fact. 4) God uses medical procedures to heal people, for the most part.  Miraculous healings are not common, although they are possible.

Do you realize the power of crying out to God in prayer? 

Hezekiah is healed and then we see some foolish mistakes in the later part of his life.  He shows the delegation from Babylon all of Judah's treasure.  This is a foolish act of pride.  It will come back to haunt the people of Judah.  After learning that Babylon will take Judah into captivity in the future, Hezekiah responds that he is glad there will be peace during his lifetime.  This shows a lack of concern for his descendants.  We learn further that like King David, Hezekiah is a less than stellar father who produces an evil son.

Hezekiah dies and his son, Manasseh, takes over as king.  He is exceedingly wicked and reinstates Baal worship, Asherah worship, and child sacrifices, as he sacrifices his own son on the altar to Molech/Baal/Chemosh.  This is a Satanic practice where the altar was heated to extremely high temperatures.  The child was then thrown in the lap of the altar and incinerated alive.  In addition to this despicable practice, Manasseh sets up an Asherah pole in the middle of the Lord's Temple.

Angering God through this idolatry, God promises through his prophets to wipe away the people of Jerusalem for doing great evil.  They will go into captivity, just as the Northern Kingdom went into captivity through the Assyrians.

We see the tribes of Israel unable to follow the laws of Moses and unable to follow the God of their ancestors.  God's judgment upon their adulterous behavior is inevitable.

Lessons:  God does not tolerate the worship of any god, but Himself.  God judges evil.

Do you know people who do not love and follow the One True God?

Acts 21:18-36

The Holy Spirit had warned the believers and the Apostle Paul that he would meet with trials in Jerusalem.  In our reading today, this comes to pass.  The Church in Jerusalem is very Jewish.  Although many Jewish believers are welcoming the concept of the Gentiles being grafted in, other trouble makers use this opportunity to whip up opposition to Paul.  Notice that Paul submitted to shaving his head and taking a vow to God, as was customary for Jews, but this does not stop God's will that Paul be persecuted for the sake of Jesus Christ.  His vow does not appease the Jews, who are after him.

The crowd is so riled up and so furious that the Roman guards in the city come to see what the problem is.  They end up rescuing Paul on their shoulders, as the crowd  chants for his death.  This is reminiscent of the riotous crowd who called for Jesus' crucifixion.  Indeed, Paul is identifying with Christ's suffering.  Notice that the Israelites are continuing to rebel against God.  We see it in the Old Testament and in the New Testament.  This is God's will.  This is God's story. The story will unfold as He sees fit.  He will always have a remnant in Israel that call upon His name faithfully, but much conflict will arise from those who war against the God of the Universe.  There is never a dull moment with our sovereign storyteller!

Are you willing to suffer for Christ? Whose side are you on in this story?

Psalm 150: 1-6

Today, my friends, we finish the book of Psalms!!!  We will begin to read it again, tomorrow.  Let everything that breathes, praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord!

Proverbs 18:9-10

God likes hard work.  Being lazy is as bad as destroying things.

What did you notice today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton

July 1- Laying It Out Before God

July 1, 2011

Scripture Readings:
2 Kings 18:13-19:37; Acts 21:1-17;
Psalm 149:1-9; Proverbs 18:8

O eternal and everlasting God, I presume to present myself this morning before thy Divine majesty, beseeching thee to accept of my humble and hearty thanks,  that it hath pleased thy great goodness to keep and preserve me the night past from all dangers poor mortals are subject to...

~George Washington

2 Kings 18:13-19:37

What do you do when you have an enemy?  During the Revolutionary War in America, the colonists wanted to declare their independence from England. America's enemy was England. One of the most famous men in American history and world history is George Washington.  George was the Commander of the Continental Army.  As he approached his enemies, Washington famously brought his trials and tribulations during the war to God in prayer.  He would declares days of prayer and fasting for his troops as they contemplated fighting for freedom.  General Washington was convinced that God was sovereign over the affairs of men. Distinguishing himself among his peers as a man of great faith and prayer, Washington's prayer journals reflect a passionate and humble servant of God, who sought His Creator's will for each day.  Today, we see that good king Hezekiah is like George Washington in that he presents his problems to God and trusts in God's sovereignty over all things.

King Sennacherib has been a thorn in the side of many nations in the ancient world.  The Assyrians have conquered a wide territory and have now set their sites on Jerusalem.  Good King Hezekiah of Judah attempts to save Jerusalem by offering to pay off this King of Assyria.  Sennacherib sends Hezekiah a message that is read aloud at the gates of Jerusalem for all of the inhabitants of the city to hear.  It is a prideful and threatening note that reveals that Sennacherib does not understand or know the One True God of Israel.  It is the Assyrian King's assumption that when Hezekiah tore down all of the pagan shrines and altars, he was disrespecting his own god.  This was not the case.   The king's argument is that even Hezekiah's God will not protect him against King Sennacherib.  He ends his message by saying that it has been the Lord who has directed him to destroy the nations he has conquered.

After reading the message, the king's servant shouts to the people of Jerusalem to surrender.  The people respond in silence as commanded by their King Hezekiah.

A king in the ancient world was the military head of the nation.  Most kings had military commanders, but the king would lead their nation in battle.  Hezekiah tears his robes upon receiving the message from the King of Assyria.  He says, "This is a day of trouble, insult, and disgrace."  Have you ever had a day of trouble, insult and disgrace?  How did you handle it?  Well, here is how King Hezekiah handled it.  He called for the prophet Isaiah to come to the Temple.  In addition, he and his closest advisers begin to seek God in prayer.  Isaiah is able to reassure Hezekiah that the Lord is going to have the Assyrians return home and then, God is going to have Sennacherib killed by the sword.

Sennacherib gets word that his home territory is being attacked by Ethiopians, so he prepares to go home.  As a parting shot, he sends another taunting letter to Hezekiah.  With this letter in hand, Hezekiah goes to the Temple and lays the letter before the Lord. In fervent prayer, Hezekiah asks the Lord to rescue his people so that all the nations of the earth will know that He, alone, is God.  Hezekiah confirms in his prayer that the other gods defeated by Sennacherib were not gods at all.

Through Isaiah, the Lord sends a message to Hezekiah.  This guy is getting a lot of messages recently!  This is the kind of message you want to receive.  Here is what God says to the King of Assyria who is Hezekiah's enemy:

• God is laughing at the pompous King Sennacherib.
• When Sennacherib insulted Hezekiah and the kingdom of Judah, he was insulting the Holy One of Israel.
• His messengers have mocked the Lord.
• You (Sennacherib) brag about all of your accomplishments, but it was I, the Lord, who decided long ago to have all of this happen.
• People have been easy for you to crush because I was controlling the situation.
• I see your comings and your goings.
• I see that you have raged against Me.
• I am going to put a hook in your nose and a bridle in your mouth and make you return home.

Isaiah further prophesies that the people of Judah will not be under siege, but will be able to grow their own crops.  The Lord is not going to allow the Assyrians to enter the city because of His own honor and for the sake of His servant, David.  God says that He will defend the city.

The next thing that happens is that the angel of the Lord, who is Jesus Christ pre-incarnate, goes out and single-handedly kills 185,000 Assyrians in their camp outside of Jerusalem.  The Assyrians awake to see all of the corpses of the troops. In haste, they pack up to go back to Nineveh.  King Sennacherib dies when his own sons plot to kill him.

What can we learn from this story?

Lessons:  God is in control of everything.  He is sovereign.  George Washington was right to pray to God about his enemies.  Hezekiah was right to lay out his problems before the Lord. We should lay out our problems before our Sovereign God. Jesus is a warrior who fights for us.  He is willing and able to get into the battle.  Jesus will fight for you as you struggle against sin and the trials of the fallen world.  God sees those who rage against Him and ultimately, they are judged.

Do you lay your problems before God daily?  Do you find comfort in knowing that God controls everything?

Acts 21:1-17

The Apostle Paul is completing his third missionary journey. Dr. Luke, the author of the book of Acts, details the itinerary for this portion of the trip.  At each place that they stop the Holy Spirit is confirming through the believers that Paul is going to suffer in Jerusalem.  They pray to the Lord about this situation and try to convince Paul to not go to that city. They are laying out their troubles to the Lord just like George Washington and Hezekiah.  There is crying and begging. There is cajoling and fussing. Finally,with Paul insisting that he must go even if it means his death, the believers say, "The will of the Lord be done."

This reading ends with Luke noting that they were cordially greeted by the believers in Jerusalem when they arrived.

Lesson:  Sometimes we just need to say, "May the will of the Lord be done." 

Can you submit to the Lord's will, even if it might mean the death of someone you love?

Psalm 149:1-9

Get out your tambourine and shake it while you read this psalm aloud!

Proverbs 18:8

Do you like to eat dainty morsels?  This proverb says that tidbits of gossip are like dainty morsels we consume.  You can make a nice meal of gossiping over tea or Starbucks.  These morsels will go down into your heart.  May not be too good for your heart, though.

What did you learn today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton