July 3rd Bible in a Year Readings

2 Kings 22:3-23:30 + Acts 21:37-22:16 + Psalm 1:1-6 + Proverbs 18:11-12
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Old Testament - Wow... I thought today's readings in Second Kings are some of the best readings we've had in a while!  King Josiah cleaned up house for God!  He went to town on all the idols, pagan altars and high places.  Unfortunately, as we'll see in tomorrow's readings, the southern kingdom of Judah is about to meet a similar fate as the northern kingdom of Israel did in recent days readings.  But King Josiah goes down with a fight for the Lord in today's readings!  I wonder about this in our lives today - are we willing to fight for the Lord and his values in the way that Josiah did today?  Or, perhaps "fight" isn't quite the right word, as Jesus taught us to turn the other cheek....  but, then, considering this, should we simply be meek and mild and not fight for things of the Lord?  I don't think Jesus modeled this entirely either.  Jesus turned over some tables in the Temple and turned over some ideas about God during His life...  What can we learn about a zeal for God from Josiah and Jesus' lives? Please post up your thoughts in the Comments section below.  Below is an image of King Josiah and his men destroying a pagan altar from today's readings:

2 Kings 22 verse 8 reminds me of the old adage - "Dusty Bibles lead to dirty lives..."  :) - "Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the court secretary, "I have found the Book of the Law in the LORD's Temple!" Then Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan, and he read it."  That is amazing to think about - that finding the Book of the Law in the Lord's Temple was a big find!  Most commentaries suggest that the scroll was either the entire Pentateuch (Genesis-Deuteronomy) or possibly just Deuteronomy. Imagine if you will that the Bible was "forgotten" about for generations and then finally discovered today!

King Josiah's words in verse 13 are wonderful repentful words - "Go to the Temple and speak to the LORD for me and for the people and for all Judah. Ask him about the words written in this scroll that has been found. The LORD's anger is burning against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words in this scroll. We have not been doing what this scroll says we must do."  Have you ever had ah-ha experiences like this in your life?  Where you realize finally what God wants you to do - and you realize that you have not been doing it?  Well, fortunately God is a God that Psalm 145 verse 8 tells us, "is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love."  There is room for repentance with God!  When you have these ah-ha moments like King Josiah did, will you turn in repentance and humble yourself before God?

2 Kings 23 verses 1 through 3 demonstrate true leadership from King Josiah!  "Then the king summoned all the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem. And the king went up to the Temple of the LORD with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, and the priests, and the prophets--all the people from the least to the greatest. There the king read to them the entire Book of the Covenant that had been found in the LORD's Temple. The king took his place of authority beside the pillar and renewed the covenant in the LORD's presence. He pledged to obey the LORD by keeping all his commands, regulations, and laws with all his heart and soul. In this way, he confirmed all the terms of the covenant that were written in the scroll, and all the people pledged themselves to the covenant."  Below is Josiah renewing the covenant:

New Testament - We get some classic Paul in today's Acts readings!  You'll recall from yesterday's readings, the crowd in Jerusalem got riled up against Paul and the crowd was beating on Paul.  Then, some Roman soldiers come to try to keep the peace and end up arresting Paul and putting him in chains. But what does Paul do?  Go quietly into that good night?  No way!  He speaks to the Roman commander in Greek - which surprises the commander.  (It is thought that Paul spoke 4 languages - Greek, Aramaic, Hebrew & Latin)  And then he speaks to the crowd in Aramaic.  The crowd that was just beating on him!  He turns around and speaks with Love and Truth.  So amazing...  What do you think you or I would do in this type of situation today?  Could we continue to speak Love and Truth to people that were just beating on us?  I am not so sure that I could... I pray that I could!  I pray that I would...  Below is an oil on canvas painting by the Spanish painter El Greco from the year 1614 of "St. Paul":

Bible.org's commentary on today's Acts readings titled "Paul's Defense to the Jews in Jerusalem" is at this link.

Psalms - Psalm 1 today begins the 150 Psalms of the Psalter again!  You'll note that in the One Year Bible we actually read through the Psalms twice during the course of the year. I think this is good because the Psalms have taken some time to really sink in for me personally. Once they sink in, they are phenomenal. I have a great friend who has shared with me that she "Prays the Psalms" every morning. I pray that during the course of this year you will have the experience of Praying the Psalms as you go through the One Year Bible.  I do believe praying the Psalms can indeed renew our passion for God:

It is often said that in 65 of the books of the Bible God speaks to us, but in the Psalter, the book of Psalms, we have the opportunity to speak to God. And in all kinds of ways and with all kinds of emotions. The Psalms can help you learn to express in pray everything to God – what you are happy about and what is troubling you. The Psalms are religious poetry. The 150 Psalms are comprised of Laments, Confessions, Crys, Petitions, Praise, Reflection, Reports, History, Blessings, and Wisdom. The author of many of the Psalms was King David. The Psalms were compiled over centuries and reached this final form in approximately the third century B.C. The Psalms were prayed in the temple and have been prayed in churches for the past two thousand years. The Psalms were quoted by Jesus, including Psalm 22:1 when Jesus was on the cross: ""My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"" (see Matthew 27:46) It is thought that the book of Psalms is one of the two books of the Old Testament most frequently quotes in the New Testament – along with the book of Isaiah.  See more commentary of the Psalms online at bible.org at this link.  Martin Luther said this about the book of Psalms: "The Psalter is the favorite book of all the saints. Each person, whatever his circumstances may be, finds in the book psalms and words which are appropriate to the circumstances in which he finds himself and meet his needs as adequately as if they were composed exclusively for his sake, and in such a way that he himself could not improve on them nor find or desire any better psalms or words."

Today we read this reflection on the godly in Psalm 1 verse 2: "But they delight in doing everything the LORD wants; day and night they think about his law."  How well does this verse ring true with your life today?  Do you delight in being obedient to God?  Do you think about God's Word, the Bible, day and night?  Should you? This year, will you?   

Proverbs - Proverbs 18 verse 12 is one of the wisest Proverbs around in my opinion - "Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor." The Message puts it this way - "Pride first, then the crash, but humility is precursor to honor." Pride is such a deadly condition...  I pray that we ask God for humility very often.  Maybe daily?  Maybe hourly?

Worship Video: Today's readings reminded me of Forrest Frank's song "Your Way's Better:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1LRsp8qBY0

Is God's way better than your way? Click here for His way in your life!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: "Blessed are those who do not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but who delight in the law of the LORD and meditate on his law day and night." Psalm 1:1-2 TNIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you delight in the law of the LORD. Pray that you are meditating on his law day and night. Pray that through grace you are not walking in step with the wicked or sitting in the company of mockers.

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.

p.s. #3 - I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:

II Kings 22:3-23:30

King Josiah found out what many of us have experienced when renovating, moving or just plan cleaning out stuff from top to bottom, you find things you’ve completely forgotten about which hold and give our lives great meaning. We also will find junk. Hilkiah the high priest found not only what was valuable, the Book of the Law, but the reason Jerusalem and its people existed.

How often have I dragged things into my life, set them up as idols, and dragged some more things in to make more clutter, which hide the Book of the Law that gave my life meaning, I did that for almost twenty years.

This particular passage also shows that a woman was trusted by God to hold and deliver a message to His people, Huldah. You Go Girl!

After the house (Temple) is thoroughly cleaned and the nation purified of its idols and high places, the people were told they must celebrate the Passover, not, “If you can find the time,” or “If you feel like it,” but they were given a command to do. I wonder if the knowledge of the fate of the false prophets helped them along in their celebration and worship (22:20).

If the people were commanded to worship maybe that is the reason God gave this Word to the prophet Jeremiah (6):

6 During the reign of King Josiah, the LORD said to me, "Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every spreading tree and has committed adultery there. 7 I thought that after she had done all this she would return to me but she did not, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it. 8 I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adultery. 9 Because Israel's immorality mattered so little to her, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stone and wood. 10 In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to me with all her heart, but only in pretense," declares the LORD.

Acts 21:37-22:16

I seem to be in a comparative mood today. While Paul is giving his defense before the crowd in Jerusalem in Aramaic, a statement he made to them caught my attention (Acts 22):

1 …listen to me as I offer my defense." 2 When they heard him speaking in their own language, the silence was even greater. 3 "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. At his feet I learned to follow our Jewish laws and customs very carefully. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just as all of you are today.

What specifically ran away with my imagination is the mention of the name Gamaliel, the renowned Jesus scholar and teacher. Hmmm, the other time this name is mentioned in this book is in the fifth chapter,

34 A Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered the men to be taken outside for a little while …38 And now, I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this work is of men, it will be overthrown; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God."

So Paul two chapters latter (7), didn’t even take his own teachers advice and participated in the killing of Stephen and then precedes to arrest and persecute all the Christians he can find, very interesting.

Psalm 1:1-6

In reading this Psalm again I am reminded how much like a passage in Jeremiah (17) this Psalm is:

This is what the LORD says:
"Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who depends on flesh for his strength
and whose heart turns away from the LORD.

6 He will be like a bush in the wastelands;
he will not see prosperity when it comes.
He will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
in a salt land where no one lives.

7 "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.

8 He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit."

Proverbs 18:11-12

The eleventh verse reminds me that what ever I might think is true does not make it truth, what something appears to be is not necessary what it is.

Grace and peace,
Ramona

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Psalm 1 is both a challenge and a blessing. It blesses because it promises stability and fruitfulness in our lives. Psalm 1 also challenges me personally because often I want to be recognized or sit in the seat of the scoffers among us rather than find satisfaction in God's Word. This is quite a challenge for a young lawyer like me who can often delight more in what he knows about the law rather than just delighting the the law of the Lord. Although most Christians I know are perhaps too dismissive about our legal system, I try to see it as a profession within which I can serve God. Keeping my priorities straight is the problem.

Paul

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Without sounding like a heretic, I believe some people should read the Bible a little less and 'do it a lot more'. I know some 'Chrisitans' who have such a big Bible head, but they are so far from being like Jesus in the basic stuff of godly character as outlined in the fruit of the Spirit. Pharisees probably meditated day and night on the law but they must have missed something in God's directives to them, since they became oppressive to the people with all their interpretations and regulations.
I know Jesus didn't say, "you are blessed if you know more." He said, "Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." I know from my personal experience with the person I know best---ME---that I know far more about the Bible than I need to know. The knowledge of God needs to lead to obedience and love for God and people. If it doesn't I have missed the mark. And to be sure, I have missed it.
I am working at putting into practice some of the most basic practices of what our Lord Jesus modeled for us and taught us. Having a lot of information from the Scriptures has not prevented me from sinning in thought, word and deed. It's only when I choose to 'run in the path of His commands that I have been set free.' Interesting that the last verse of Psalm 119 (a chapter all about the Bible) closes this way, "I have gone astray like a lost sheep, Seek your servant'. Even the people who know the Bible alot fall hard, but what's important is that they know that our faith is not about us doing something for God but letting God do something for us.

Luch

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I enjoyed reading Bob's commentary on The Psalms.
My late husband and I loved reading together at least one or two psalms daily. It was the last book I read to him before he passed on to a new life, a book I've passed on to my daughter to read and keep.

Truly, The Psalms are poetry at their BEST. I completely agree with Bob.
They are expressions of man's deepest thoughts and feelings, they cut right through our very core...Our ability to genuinely express the deepest of ourselves is what makes us truly human, it unites to the Supreme Being: core to Core, being for Being... What better way to worship than to feel one with Him!

Bob also mentions Deitrich Bonhoeffer. I must have mentioned one of his famous books (a while back) that was also written while he was in prison, " A Reason to Live, A Reason to Die" ---a must read for everyone.

Enjoy the celebration of our Freedom. God bless America and all the peoples who enjoy freedom!!!

Roslyn

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Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground; But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark. (Genesis 8:8-9 KJV)

The dove and symbols of a dove represent the Holy Spirit. After the flood, Noah sent forth a dove. Unlike the raven, Noah had sent out previously, the dove found no place to alight; yet the raven flew “back and forth” until the waters had dried from the earth (Gen. 8:7). The raven also feeds on carrion, feeding on death, the dove feeds on life. As I read through this section and of the Old Testament, I took a step back and looked at the big picture, David, Solomon—the two Josiah’s, Hezekiah all may have strived to be “good,” but not one was good. The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Psalms 14:2-3 KJV)

I am always amazed how multifaceted the Bible is. When we think we “Got It,” something new is uncovered. Here we have evidence that no man or woman is righteous. No matter how good we try to be, no matter how much we have a heart after God it it ain’t all about Jesus it is nothing, we are clothed in nothing but filthy rags in what we present to God as righteousness. Generation after generation tried and all failed, but then Jesus came …

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2 KJV).

We can look at Noah, Jacob, Joseph Moses, Daniel, all the kings and prophets; some delivered messages of redemption, some were chosen by God to deliver words of judgment, some did wonderful things for God and many turned their backs and brought in their own religion, but none were Jesus, even though they are listed in Hebrews 11. The only one the Holy Sprit came upon and dwelt in and on was Jesus. Everyone else the Holy Spirit came and left, but Jesus ….

Today our righteousness is not from anything we do or say, it is because we, all those who have called on the name of Jesus, are seen by God through the lens of Jesus, He and He alone is the lens that God uses to see us. It ain’t about us, it is all about Him.

Grace and peace,
Ramona

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2 Kings 23:20 " ' "You will join the members of your family who have already died. Your body will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all of the trouble I am going to bring on this place." ' " is NOT a scripture of prophesy. However, it sure reminds me of the Rapture when Christ will gather the believers to Him before He starts the clock ticking on the seven years of Tribulation. What a marvelous our Lord is! He always takes care of those who love Him.

God Bless!
Pat

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Regarding the question of fighting at the top of the post: I personally think nothing's more misdunderstood in Christ's church than fighting and getting angry when necessary. The body of Christ has been grossly over-feminized with too many "nice" and dare I say wimpy people.

Heard a man interviewed on Focus on the Family recently who wrote "No More Mr. Christian Nice Guy" or something like that. I like that idea of men and women of Christ being kind but also being able to stand firm and get angry when necessary. My heavens, the Old Testament was filled with real men and women who certainly didn't mince words when God directed.

Wendy

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I wrote in my journal 2 Kings 22:19. I think it struck me because when I humble myself knowing that He is my Lord, and I cannot do anything without Him, He has heard me. :)

Johnnie

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great humility quote.
We were reading these chapters in Acts at church sunday night and my pastor explained about some egyptian guy who killed 4000 and since the ppl were so angry, the commander assumed Paul must be that man. But Paul's Greek dialecty surprised him. My pastor was talking about how this was Paul's moment, the day he had longed for, to get up and speak to his ppl and was sure he could reason with them, 'look, i'm one of you guys, i understand'. But obviously he was wrong. Actually, he had the crowd listening intently under later Paul mentions proclaiming the gospel to the gentiles (whom the Jews had intense prejudice for then). so, after he said 'gentile', he lost the crowd.
I love this psalm! one of the first i memorized as a child!

Jenny

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At first I was puzzled as to why God would not turn his anger away from Israel when -- finally -- there was someone in charge (Josiah) who was kickin' **** and takin' names for the Lord. And then I realized what's NOT in this passage: any indication that the people were happy about this new state of affairs.

In fact, I could imagine how angry most of them might have been that their long-standing pagan rituals and sinful ways of life were being overturned by a 'theocrat'. We hear that word today and think of it in pejorative (negative) terms, but Josiah was one of the very few people actually doing God's work. Israel needed a theocrat if they were going to keep from falling into the pit!

So I take the 2nd Kings stuff in Chapters 22 and 23 here as being God's way of *convicting* Israel... of saying, after much long-suffering, "Look, this is the eternal, unchanging standard not watered down. I've put up with a lot of bad stuff from y'all for a very long time, but look how far you have strayed from what your fathers agreed to!"

God had to do something at this point or He would not have been true to his divine, holy character. Josiah made one last attempt, but not enough people followed. (It's not clear that ANY followed wholeheartedly!) And in fact many may have become even more stubborn in their opposition to his work for the Lord.

Art

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We need to pray for a Josiah for today!! Our churches have become havens of things that need to be crushed and thrown away. As do some of our so called Christian leaders need to renew their humility, and seek HIM on their knees. and repent of the lies they are preaching or the truth they not preaching! Yes, today, I pray for a Josiah!!!

Debbie

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I loved the readings in the OT today too! Further to my comment from yesterday, if Hezekiah had not lived those extra 15 years, King Josiah also would not have been born - and he was one of Judah's best kings. So, both bad and good came of that.

Tammy

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I think Josiah's commitment to tear down all the high places is somewhat unprecedented in our Christian culture. How often do we see such radical obedience when the Lord reveals sin to us? If we struggle with lust, for example, do we stop watching TV, movies, etc.? If we struggle with materialism, do we stop going to the mall? We are so good at dabbling in our "idols" that we rationalize so much. I am included in this crowd, and am definitely not pointing fingers. I often think, "If I go down that pure of a road, I'm going to have to explain myself to my family and friends. I'm going to stick out like a sore thumb. And then, really, how can the Lord use me if I'm alienated from the rest of the world? I better just put up extra barriers but not go to the extreme of ridding myself completely of these things." I have done this in the area of food over and over and over.

Anyway, I think we can use Josiah's example and work hard to totally remove our distractions regardless of who thinks what... including ourselves. Let us be totally committed to what HE thinks, as Josiah was.

Beth

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In reading today's passages, the discovery of God's law definitely stood out. At first reading, I was tempted to wonder how could a nation of God's chosen people loose His Word. However, just thinking about life today, it's easy to see how the pursuit of other gods (money, family, careers, etc.) can quickly gain one's focus and push out room for God's Word.

I also thought about God changing his mind d/t King Josiah's response to the discovery of His Word and the nation sins. No, the punishment was not completely stopped but it was delayed because the King had the proper attitude. Has me wondering what things can we caused to be delayed or come quicker than God's original plan b/c of our response to His Word.

Also took note of prophet Huldah, a woman, being used in the work of God but she also was a wife.

Wanda

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Reaching the Bibleless people of the world is an example of God's word being found and with excitement being followed. I'm sure if you would go to Wycliffe's home page you would be able to find many amazing stories of how the Word of God has changed villages.

CJ

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You're halfway through the year! My church is reading through the Bible also in one year, but we are going straight through. Keep at it!

Danielle

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Regarding the reading/praying the Psalms. There are those who read each verse of the Psalm out loud three times before proceeding to the next to ensure that they are truly hearing/seeing what is said, as opposed to the so easy reading and thinking about something else at the same time, and ending up with no idea what you have just read.

Patricia

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2 Kings 23:24:25
Josiah also got rid of the mediums and psychics, the household gods, the idols, and every other kind of detestable practice, both in Jerusalem and throughout the land of Judah. He did this in obedience to the laws written in the scroll that Hilkiah the priest had found in the Lord’s Temple. Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since.
My Comment: I was just a little puzzled by the sudden death of Josiah today so I found the below and it help explain it. Just thought it might help someone else.
2 Kings 23:29
While Josiah was king, Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt, went to the Euphrates River to help the king of Assyria. King Josiah and his army marched out to fight him,[k] but King Neco killed him when they met at Megiddo.
http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/1223.htm
a. In his days Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt went to the aid of the king of Assyria: This was part of the geopolitical struggle between the declining Assyrian Empire and the emerging Babylonian Empire. The Assyrians made an alliance with the Egyptians to protect against the growing power of the Babylonians.
b. King Josiah went against him . . . Pharaoh Necho killed him: 2 Chronicles 35:20-25 tells us more about this. Pharaoh warned Josiah against battling against him saying, What have I to do with you, king of Judah? I have not come against you this day. Josiah stubbornly refused to hear this warning (which was actually from God) and disguised himself in battle – yet he was still shot by archers and died. This was a sad end to one of the great kings of Judah.
i. “It was not of faith, else why ‘disguise’ himself? There is no record of any prayer before the battle, as in the case of so many of his godly ancestors; and this rash act of Josiah seems unaccountable.” (Knapp)
ii. “The exact place of the battle seems to have been Hadadrimmon, in the valley of Megiddo, for there Zechariah tells us, chapter 12:11, was the great mourning for Josiah.” (Clarke)

David

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I like to thank you Mike. I have been reading the Bible Blog for the past few years. It incourages me and makes me think. May God fill you with wisdom and bless your ministry. May His Glory shine now and forever.

Susan

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Proverbs 18 verse 12 is one of the wisest Proverbs around in my opinion - "Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor" God requires humility. How do we obtain humility by obedience. I'm reading God at the center . Habits for spiritual growth. It says meditate on the word which ties in with psalm 1. Stay in the word!! He is our defense. You
Don't always need to defend yourself. Lean into God!

Jane

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Mike, when you say it took the psalms took some time to sink in for you, I feel that way too. It's like the Holy Trinity used to be for me. I just didn't really get it for a long time, but when I did, it all became so clear and I was so grateful.

I'm slowly getting there with Psalms. How could I not? I read the blog everyday, and also have a One Year Book of Personal Prayer that begins with a Psalm that coincides with the one in the blog.

Thanks again for this ministry. It has meant a lot to me, and has helped me get a calmer start to my day.
Judie

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Blessings, I am posting not so much to weigh in on the zeal for God you mentioned above, but to thank you for the oneyearbibleblog! It was blessed me daily for about 2 decades. From 1999 through 2002 I would Fail to read through the Bible in a year before the end of January because I would miss the weekend reading and try to catch up on Monday.

When I realized I could just skip the missed day or two and Jump to the current day’s scripture, it was transforming and I have been here thousands of times!

Seeking God daily and talking/ praying to Him often is zeal for God. Going to the Father for advice, answers and insight daily is zeal. God always answers prayer, but like any good parent on a number of occasions the answer is no or not yet. . . .

Taylor

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You asked for comments about when to fight and when to turn the other cheek, and my thoughts immediately went to Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (most people might recognize these verses from the song, "Turn, Turn, Turn (to Everything There is a Season " made famous by the Byrds in 1965). G-d created us in His image with a wide range of emotions and each of them are appropriate when used in their proper time, as directed by the Holy Spirit. So, there is a time to fight and a time to turn the other cheek. When to exhibit each of these emotions properly requires us to walk and listen humbly with our L-RD on a daily or better yet hourly basis.

Jack

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Josiah was a great king...however the fight that killed him wasn't his...and he never consulted God about it first!! Pity...such a good man of God had such a sad end....All good though. Considering...Thanks Mike!

Allen

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Isn't it interesting that things in the dark come to life. When we clean up, those things we didn't know we needed appear. I can't imagine not having the Word or misplacing it for a lifetime forgotten and the. Poof ! Here it is. How cool! You are amazing Lord.

Wow as the commentary said if Paul had not focused in the Gentiles he probably would have been okay. That is crazy! But sometimes the places we are led might not be the path that is easiest to follow. Jesus didn't say it was easy to do right. Just stay the course. Choose the path less followed. We don't have to be a follower of people. Jesus beat to his own drum. Be like Him.

Wow Psalm 1.3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water..let Him be our reservoir..our source. Amen

Pride cometh before a fall..humility before honor. .don't be prideful and arrogant. It has its price. Be humble..humility and meekness will inherit the land! Amen

Dee

Comments

[Jane S]

Can we ask God for those extra years like king hezekiah did? I asked God to give my mom 1/2 those years and he honored my request! Let’s pray God to bless us with good health so we can bless others. That’s my desire.