2 Kings 1:1-2:25 + Acts 13:42-14:7 + Psalm 139:1-24 + Proverbs 17:19-21
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Old Testament - Today we begin the book of Second Kings!
Author: Unknown
Date: Sixth century B.C.
Content: Second Kings covers a period of approximately 250 years during which time two national tragedies occurred. In 722 B.C. the northern kingdom of Israel was destroyed by the Assyrians, and in 586 B.C. the southern kingdom of Judah was destroyed by the Babylonians. The reigns of the various kings are described in some detail with care being taken to show the spiritual significance of what they were doing. Throughout this whole time of good and bad kings, war and peace, prosperity and ruin, God is seen to be at work, in particular sending prophets to preach his word and warn of judgment to come.
Theme: God’s control over the affairs of men and nations is constantly seen throughout this book. The rulers of men may think they are in control, but even the enemies of God’s people fit into God’s plan by executing judgment upon the wayward nations of Israel and Judah. It must be stressed that sin invariably brings judgment upon the people and righteousness brings God’s blessing. Second Kings also shows that God never sends his judgment without a warning first; in this instance, the warning came through the prophets who were sent. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” pp. 6-7) More commentary on Second Kings is at these 3 links –
https://bible.org/article/introduction-books-first-and-second-kings
https://bible.org/article/argument-first-and-second-kings
https://bible.org/seriespage/1-introduction-and-historical-setting-elijah (Introduction to Elijah)
2 Kings 1 today... wow... Elijah is not to be messed with when he is sitting on top of that hill! Elijah asks a very poignant question twice in this chapter - "Is there no God in Israel?" This is a question each of us will need to ask in our lives at some point - "Is there or is there no God in my life?" Hopefully we've already answered this question affirmatively. It's a sad state of affairs to imagine a country without God. It is a sad state of affairs to imagine our own lives without God.
Today in 2 Kings 2 we read about Elijah going up to heaven in the whirlwind! Elijah was taken to heaven without dying. He is the 2nd person in scripture to do so - Enoch was the first (see Genesis 5:21-24). Jesus of course was also taken to heaven in bodily form after His resurrection from the dead (see Acts 1:9). Below is Italian artist Giovanni Battista's (1683-1754) painting of Elijah's whirlwind scene:
Okay, so 2 Kings 2 verses 23 & 24 are some of the most unique verses in the Bible no doubt... "Elisha left Jericho and went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, a group of boys from the town began mocking and making fun of him. "Go away, you baldhead!" they chanted. "Go away, you baldhead!" Elisha turned around and looked at them, and he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of them." Zondervan's NIV Study Bible has some good commentary on these verses as follows: "The youths from Bethel no doubt assumed that Elisha was going up to Samaria to continue Elijah's struggle against royal apostasy. Some believe that the youths, in their mocking, were telling Elisha to ascend to heaven as Elijah had done. By calling Elisah "baldhead" the youths from Bethel expressed that city's utter disdain for the Lord's representative, who, they felt, had no power. Elisha pronounced a curse that gave warning of the judgment that would come on the entire nation of Israel should it persist in disobedience and apostasy."
Bible.org's commentary on today's 2 King's readings titled "Chariots of Fire" is at this link and "Elisha's Accreditation" is at this link and "Elisha and the Two Bears" is at this link.
New Testament - Great readings today about how Paul and Barnabas' ministry to the Gentiles was growing! Verse 52 is awesome: "And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit."
Psalms - Today we read Psalm 139! I LOVE this Psalm... and had somehow forgotten about it. Is this Psalm anyone's favorite Psalm out there? I would not doubt it if was. This is just an incredibly beautiful Psalm about how much God loves and cares for us. And just how well God knows us. Please read and re-read this Psalm this week if you can. And rejoice in how much God loves you and how much he knows you. Each of the verses in this Psalm are incredible. I'll highlight a few. Verse 3 - "You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am." Do you believe that God charts out your path for you? Do you believe that God gives you true rest? Do you believe God knows where you are every single moment of your life?
Verses 13 & 14 - "You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous--and how well I know it." Do you believe that God was loving and caring and creating you in your mother's womb? Are you amazed by the complexity and wonder of the human body? Could it be anything other than the marvelous workmanship of a loving and creative and living God? (next two images below courtesy of heartlight.org)
And verses 23 & 24 to close out the Psalm: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life." Do you consistently ask God to search your heart and mind? Do you confess to God what is not right in your heart and mind? What needs healing? Do you ask God to even point out to you things that you may not realize are destructive to you and others in your heart and mind? Do you believe that this process of confessing your sins to God and asking for forgiveness and healing will lead you along the path of everlasting life?
Proverbs - Proverbs 17 verse 20 stood out to me today - "The crooked heart will not prosper." Do you believe this is true? What would make a heart crooked? Whom can heal a crooked heart? Jesus? Has Jesus healed your heart yet? Will you let Him do so?
Worship Video: Today's readings in Psalm 139 reminds me of the beautiful song by Josh Wilson called "Before the Morning."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IK9zt55tCh0
Are you awaiting the Morning dawn in your spiritual life? Click here for a new day!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:13-14 NIV
Prayer Point: Praise God for making you in your mother's womb. Praise God for His wonderful works. Pray that your inmost being is living fully for God today and forevermore.
Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
God bless,
Mike
p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.
p.s. #2 - Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.
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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
II Kings 1-2:25
As I read through these two chapters I realized that the number fifty is all over the chapters. There are three sets of fifty men who are sent by King Ahaziah to take custody of Elijah. In the second chapter, a group of fifty men watches (7) as Elijah and Elisha are beside the Jordon River. Moreover, after the chariot takes up Elijah the prophets offer to form a search party to find Elijah consisting of fifty of their strongest men. I remember that David’s two sons, Ablsalom and Adonijah used fifty men to run before them in their attempt to usurp their father’s throne. I’m not sure if that number is just a number or if there is some significance.
What struck me about the two sets of fifty men who were burnt up at the word of Elijah were their cavalier attitude toward the prophet as they came to arrest him. They called him a “Man of God,” yet their attitude toward him seem to be disrespectful. Could their approach be a form of “Taking the Lord’s name if vain?” Was the tone of their request filled with sarcasm and mockery instead of reverence for the Name of God?
Attitude is everything. Attitude determines approach and approach determines success or failure.
Do I come to God using His name in vain? Do I come to God with an attitude of sarcasm and mockery instead of reverence and godly fear? Sarcasm and mockery are rooted in unbelief so do I really believe that God will do what He has said He will do?
Acts 13:42-14:7
13 45 But when the Jewish leaders saw the crowds, they were jealous.
Why are we moved to jealousy? If the love of money is the root of all evil then jealously must fuel the desire to gain the money that is so sought after. The leaders wanted the crowds for themselves, to fulfill their need for recognition and power. I’m trying to think back to the time when I couldn’t stand Christians. I told myself now that I detested Christians because of the abuse I experienced at the hands of supposed Believers. Now I’m wondering if the real cause, the true cause was jealously disguised under a cloak of pain and fear? I know not all believers are wolves dressed up as sheep so why did a chose to focus on the wolves instead of the sheep. I must do some deep soul searching.
Psalm 139:1-24
5 You both precede and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
God is encamped around about me no matter where I take myself outside of his direction. In the 23rd Psalm, The Lord is the Psalmist’s Shepherd who leads him, guides him, finds food for him. However, in the forth verse, the Psalmist’s dependency on God for everything is broken by the “I” word, “Though I walk …” It appears that God is no longer directing at this point, yet he fears no evil because His rod, His staff comforts David. So the sweet Psalmist of Israel had first hand knowledge of God encasing him with his presence.
Proverbs 17:19-21
21 It is painful to be the parent of a fool; there is no joy for the father of a rebel.
Often times the words of Solomon cuts to the quick and one doesn’t have to think on or contemplate the meaning of his wise words, one knows deep in the heart experientially that the words are true. I can confirm the truth of the above verse.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
Psalm 139 always brings to mind a significant turning point in the way I saw myself. As a young adult, at one stage I was really questioning the point of my existence. A godly man explained to me that I was birthed into the world because God decided the world needed a Caryn. So he found the right mother and father to make a Caryn and planted me in my mother's womb. Psalm 139 confirms that for me, and changed my perspective on my life.
Following that line of thought - it occurred to me this morning that we are so much more than the sum total of our physical being. We are firstly God-designed souls and secondly physical beings.
Caryn
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2 Kings 2 is one of the greatest passages on the power of association and what a genuine mentoring relationship can be. When Elijah appears to be telling Elisha to stay put, Elisha says, "As surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you." So they went on together..." The word that keeps repeating through this chapter is 'they went on together." Several times Elisha says, "Surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you." 2kings 2:6
Has there ever been a more poignant scene in the bible then when Elijah is uniquely whisked away by God, and Elisha cries out, "My father! My father! The chariots and charioteers of Israel....." There was passion and pain in this moment.
Where are the relationships of leadership like this one today in our churches and christian communities? Maybe we're in too much of a rush to go through the years it takes to build into people's lives. There is so much to this story. I thank God for the two or three Elijahs in my life, who have lived so close to God that I have not wanted to let them out of my sight.
May these kinds of relationships continue to emerge, and may we even aspire to be an Elijah to someone.
Luch
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Psalm 139 13-14
Says it so beautifully. This is indeed a pro-life verse if there ever was one!
God knew us before the beginning in time. He created us. "You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mothers womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made" How can abortion ever be right? Why would anyone want to destroy what God created?
I spend many years as a counselor at a Woman's Friend Crisis Pregnancy Center. What an awesome ministry it was. I lead many people to the Lord and helped save the lives of countless babies that would of been aborted. I myself am not able to have children. It was a result of my own sin and my past. When I became a Christian, I repented of my sins especially the most horrible sin of all, which allowed the life my unborn baby to be taken from my body 31 years ago. A day doesn't go by that I don't regret that sin.
I know God has forgiven me and has used me in the battle to save the lives of the unborn. I have been a faithful crusader in the pro-life movement. Adoption should be the only option when there is an unplanned pregnacy, and the mother chooses not to parent the baby. It is not up to anyone to take the life of that baby. God's plans could of been foiled somehow. There are many unborn babies somewhere in heaven that God may of had some kind of marvelous plans for.
I can't wait until I get to heaven to see all my children. I had a miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy several years ago. Many woman can relate to the pain this may of caused them. God can bring you comfort in this situation too.
One message that I would like to get across to readers in here is: If you have had an abortion, God can forgive you, he forgives all sin. There is a wonderful bible study called PACE that you can find out about at your local crisis pregancy center. It is the best way to have closure and peace and to be assured of God's love, grace and forgiveness to get past this particular part of your life that may be weighing heavily upon your heart.
Peace..... God loves you, He'll get you through the pain and onto healing. Rest assured..........
Laura
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Yep - Ps 139 does it for me too. I first really connected with it after watching a Michael W Smith concert video (of his Calgary concert I think), where he spoke the entire psalm ad lib (with no cue cards) - now THAT was something awesome for me to hear, and it inspired me to try learning the psalm myself, and although I never quite managed to remember it enough to relate it as he does, I did plant enough of it in my heart, for it to continue to be a huge blessing to me. And interestingly, Tom D's comments (one-year bible audio) for it today were equally heart hitting -and once again, God has used the psalm to hit me hard about some issues I've only now discovered I've stubbornly been ignoring and for some mad reason being fearful of His Will for my future - but He's definitely doing something awesome in my life just now, and each day's readings provides something new he throws at me to keep me in line :).
On another note, while I have never had kids myself, and actually never really connect with them I'm still hugely pro-life, purely because of this psalm as much as the new technology that is now revealing the foetus at its earliest stages moving and acting with intent - late-stage abortions are nothing less than murder in my view regardless of what reasons are put forward for them to be done. Except in the rarest of cases they should be utterly outlawed. And I think the doctors need to step up and state the gruesome facts more often - although we don't want to see a return to backstreet abortions, neither should women be lulled into any sense of security about late-stage ones in particular being 'acceptable' just because it suits them. But yes, I also appreciate that having undergone such an act, many women will never recover from the impact it will have on their lives, and they need to be healed spiritually as well as emotionally/physically. Appreciate your info Laura.
Romayne
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A MARVELOUS TEACHING TOOL = 2 Kings 2:23-24 – the story of Elisha sending the bears to attack the kids who made fun of him for being bald. Mom took Scripture at face value and used it as a teaching tool. There wasn’t a kid she ever worked with from family, church, scouts, and etc. that wasn’t introduced to this passage. Mom stressed that all people are God’s people and God does not tolerate making fun of other people. If you mock or make fun of other people then you are going to suffer consequences for it. Your bear might not be a four-legged grizzly bear or black bear but the consequence will be severe. It’s amazing how many kids she worked with use to quote this scripture and now as adults they use it to instruct the kids they work with. This is a marvelous lesson for kids and adults alike. Maybe is more people taught this Scripture there would be fewer bullies in schools and this world today.
God Bless,
Pat
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“When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
I am thinking about us people and kids growing up without having parents that help them to be a nice person as adults.
Some will be lost in bad things but some doesn't. Do God feed kids to the enemies ? God need also bad things to happen for to test us that am around a bad person. What are we doing to build up a foundation when it has been destroyed ?
Does we care for that person or do we turn our back from that person ?
I got a big answer in today's reading. I have 4 times seen 3 men coming down in a cloud to me and I have wonder who it was but they are really alive and here in the text do I read there ar 3 men that has been taken up to heaven without beeing dead, Enoch, Elijah and Jesus so now I know who was the 3 men in the cloud I have seen.
In Psalm 139 do I read how all babies ar God's treasure and how wrong it is with abortion because whatever in what way the baby has been made from is it a God's creation and I have told so many girls that have been in thoughts of doing an abortion that she don't know but the baby mybe grow up to be a blessing for her. There is many nice and sucess full people that have been made from a father that wasn't good but they made it anyway.
Never destroy God's creation.
That's why we also have the commendment that says we shouldn't murder ( Abortion, killing yourself, put people down...and so on )
It was much to think about and much wisedom in the text today.
Have a blessed day !
Eva
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I loved todays reading. It was fantastic. What a blessing to read His word! My favorite verse of the day is:
"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous--and how well I know it."
This verse has brought me comfort many times in my life. In my life I have had many health problems ranging from; Rheumatoid Arthritis, liver disease, chronic anemia, kidney failure,diabetes and many more. There have been times in my life when I felt disdain towards my body. Once I even cursed it. Since then I have learned my lesson. I am thank full for what God has given me and Praise Him for I know NOW that I am wonderfully made. It has been a long journey of faith and tears. But God has been with me the whole time..giving me hope and strength.
I do not contemplate the negatives anymore. I have my eyes on HIM and I know He loves me. So what do I have to worry about? After all, my life is in His hands. Your life is also in His hands and He loves you and cares for you. So do not worry for tomorrow. God is in control! After all, you are "wonderfully made". :)
Carmen
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Blessings in Jesus' Name. Today's reading were such a blessing to me.
Psalm 139 shows just how much the Lord knows us through and through. Every aspect of our lives depends on His doing. Each individual on earth was created by God so fearfully and wonderfully in our own unique way. God is there waiting on us to fully acknowledge Him and for Him(God) do much abundantly for each of us. He came that we all may have Eternal Life and have it abundantly. Rest in God's Assurance and Love and see His(God) works for us all. God Bless.
Robyn
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Earlier today, I was tempted to stray to a Web sites that I knew was inappropriate -- a site that had tempted me and drawn me in before. I could almost hear Satan whisper in my ear that it was okay to go ahead and look -- God would forgive me. Besides, the Bible doesn't explicitly say anything about looking at that particular site. Maybe it's not so bad after all. Satan was doing a real rationalization number on me! I don't know a lot of Scripture word for word, but I know that David fled temptation and we often have to do the same. So I got up and walked away from the computer. Returning to the computer tonight, it was a blessing to read Psalm 139. It was confirmation for me that God is with me whereever I am, including the times I sit before the computer screen. He knows what I'm thinking and I'm never out of His sight. I want to bring Him joy, and I know that if I had given in to the temptation I would have grieved Him instead. It was reassuring and comforting to be reminded of God's omnipresence.
Sherri
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We just got through with VBS at our church and one of the verses came from Psalms 139..it was I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful, I know that full well!! I am amazed at how God works in such mysterious ways sometimes! Thanks for this OYB blog...I enjoy it very much!
Terri
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Psalm 139 is the scripture that I read that made me KNOW that God loved even me. It is so powerful to know that He chose me to be born. Praise God for her eternal and everlasting love.
Janice
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I will always have special memories of sharing this Psalm with my mother in the last days of her earthly life. It speaks to me of a loving God who cars for us in our mother's womb, through our earthly lives and into eternity. Wow.
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2nd Kings 1:1-2:25
Kong Ahab died. What kind of man was it? Is the topic today. Elijah man of God : but just like us listened to God's voice..trusted the Lord to protect him, he did the Lord's will.
We got to see the successor of Elijah and Elijah got called up in a chariot of fire. Wow! -Elisha- :-) new successor
Acts 13:42-14:7
Paul- a man on the move- went to Iconium- bad idea..Lystra -treated like gods- crowds are fical.
Paul and Barnabus -Christ followers 1st, crowds 2nd and themselves 3rd.
Psalm 139:1-24
Beautiful Psalm
A Psalm of David-Faithful believers -encourage -if not encouraged it will surprise u as He knows all about us..independently..knows me personally
God made us unique: He knows what u love - u don't know your own heart as much as God does!
Dee
Hello. My first blog comment ever. Before i started studying the bible and when my son was little, i read him The Runaway Bunny. When i first read Psalm 139 it was very familiar like i read it before. I know its a secular childrens book, and Psalm 139 is so beautiful and worth memorizing, and i cant help but wonder if book author had read Psalm 139 first.
Posted by: Barbara | June 21, 2025 at 04:11 PM