anitasanecdotes

2 Kings 4 opens with the wife of one of the company of prophets asking Elisha for help. Her husband has died and she cannot pay the creditors. She has a little oil and Elisha has her start pouring oil into any container she can find or borrow. After she has filled all of them he tells her to sell some to pay her debt and use the rest to support her family.

Then a wealthy Shunnamite woman convinces her husband to build a small chamber for Elisha and his servant to use when they pass their way. Elisha asks her how he can help her and she says that she has no son. Elisha prays and the woman conceives a son. Later though, the boy dies. The Shunnamite woman goes to find Elisha. He comes to her house and prays. The boy is brought back to life.

The prophets make a poisonous stew by accident. Elisha throws some flour in the pot and the stew becomes edible. :Later someone brings some loaves of barley and ears of grain to Elisha and he feeds 100 people with it and has some left over.

God has definitely blessed Elisha. He reminds us of Jesus.

In 2 Kings 5, Naaman a commander is afflicted with leprosy. His king sends a note to the king of Israel asking if there is someone who can cure him. Elisha tells the king to send Naaman to him. Elisha sends a messenger out to him and tells him to wash himself in the Jordan 7 times and he will be healed. Naaman becomes angry because he thinks that Elisha should have come out and performed a miracle on him. Naaman’s servant tell him that if Elisha had told him to do something difficult he would have done it. Why not do this simple thing? Naaman washes in the Jordan and is healed.

Naaman offers payment for Elisha’s service but Elisha refuses. His servant however follows Naaman and asks for payment. When he returns Elisha asks him where he went. He says he didn’t go anywhere but Elisha confronts him .Because of his disobedience he now becomes leprous.

We are into big shows, aren’t we? Naaman would have accepted a miraculous healing or even a difficult feat to perform but he balked at simply washing himself clean. God is found in the simple more often than He is revealed in the show.

In 2 Corinthians 3, Paul states that he doesn’t need special letters of recommendation. Those who believe are his letter of recommendation written on his heart.

We are letters of Christ written with the Spirit. We reflect his glory and are continually being transformed into his image.

In 2 Kings 1 Ahab’s son Ahaziah follows in his father’s footsteps and worships Baal. He becomes injured and sends messengers to ask Baal if he will recover. Elijah intercepts the messengers and tells the king that because he is not faithful he will die. The king sends 2 captains with 2 sets of fifty men to try to get Elijah to come to the king. Elijah asks God to kill them with fire and He does. The third captain the king sends pleads with Elijah to spare him and his men and to come to the king. God tells Elijah to go with courage. Elijah repeats his prophecy and the king dies.

In 2 Kings 2 Elijah is going to be taken up into heaven. He and Elisha make a journey which ends across the Jordan River. Along the way prophets tell Elisha that Elijah is leaving him. Elisha asks for Elijah’s spirit and when Elijah is taken up chariots of fire and a whirlwind, Elisha takes up his mantel and receives his spirit.

Elisha goes to Jericho and by God’s power purifies a spring of water. He then curses some boys who are taunting him and two bears kill the boys.

In 2 Kings 3 Ahaziah is succeeded by Jehoram. While he does not worship Baal he still is evil in the sight of the Lord. He asks Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom to help him fight the king of Moab. While they are traveling to the battle they can find no water. Jehoshaphat asks them to find a prophet and Elisha comes to them. He grants them water. The battle does not go well and they retreat.

In 2 Corinthians 2 Paul writes that someone has caused the community pain. He encourages them to forgive and console him. They are to reaffirm their love for him. Forgiveness is to be offered so as to not be outwitted by Satan. Satan loves it when we remain at odds with one another.

In 1 Kings 22 King Jehoshaphat of Judah and the king of Israel want to take some property back from the king of Aram. Jehoshephat has the king of Israel ask God first. The king gathers 400 prophets together who all say that this is a good idea. Jehoshephat still has his doubts so he asks if there is any other prophet to consult. The king mentioned Micaiah but the king doesn’t like him because he never says anything good to the king. A messenger is sent to Micaiah with the message that all the prophets agree to the battle and Micaiah should say the same. Micaiah says he will only say what God wants. Micaiah tells them that if they go into battle the king of Israel (Ahab) will die. He also says that the other prophets have been given a lying spirit. They decided to fight anyway. Ahab was killed in the battle.

Ahab didn’t want to hear the truth from Micaiah. He would rather hear lies from the other prophets and be destroyed than listen to Micaiah and live. Often we surround ourselves with those who agree with us even if it means that we will make bad choices. The word of the Lord is not always easy to hear. It often tells us that we are going in the wrong direction. It is our decision whether to follow that word or to believe the lies that may sound better or easier. We will also have to deal with the consequences of taking the easy way out.

Psalm 60 is a song of realization that David has been going the wrong way and the people are being punished by God. David promises to do as God desires and fight God’s enemies.

Psalm 61 is a prayer at the end of life. Even in the last days David remains faithful.

In 1 Kings 20 and 21 Ahab makes a series of bad decisions. He disobeys God’s commands regarding a battle and, bowing to pressure from his wife Jezebel, he kills a citizen to get his land against God’s wishes. Elijah confronts Ahab with his sin and tells him that God will destroy him and his family. Ahab humbles himself before God and God takes compassion on him but not on his descendants.

As 2 Corinthians 1 opens Paul is encouraging them to be steadfast in their sufferings. The church is undergoing great tribulation. Paul reminds the Corinthians that as they are sharing in the sufferings of Christ they will also share in his consolation.

Paul had promised to come to Corinth and was delayed. He is now saying that God led him to stay away for their sakes.

Paul makes the statement that everyone of God’s promises is a “Yes.” While this yes may not be the one we are expecting and while it may also contain a “No” toward the path we are already on, we need to see all that God is doing in our lives as a resounding “Yes” that his will is being worked out.

In 1 Kings 18 and 19 Jezebel had been killing off prophets of the Lord. Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace, hid the remaining prophets and fed them.  While Obadiah is out trying to find grass for the livestock Elijah meets him.  Elijah sends Obadiah to tells Ahab he wants to meet him. Elijah challenges Ahab to meet him with prophets of Baal and Asherah.

Elijah reproves the people for worshiping both God and Baal. He sets out a challenge for Baal to show the people who the true God is. After much dramatic display God wins the challenge. The people recognize that the Lord is God. Elijah has the people seize the prophets of Baal and kills them. God then causes it to rain after three years of drought.

Ahab tells Jezebel what happened. Jezebel threatens to kill Elijah so he runs away. An angel of the Lord sustains Elijah so he could go Mt. Horeb. Elijah hides in a cave. Elijah feels sorry for himself because Jezebel is after him. He feels as if God has forgotten him even though he has been faithful. God tells Elijah to stand on the mountain because God is passing by. There is a strong wind and an earthquake and a fire but God is not in these things. Then there is silence.

Elijah comes out of the cave and God speaks to him again. Elijah repeats his complaint. God tells Elijah to return to Damascus. He is to anoint two kings who will rout out all those who have worshiped idols. God also sends Elisha to him to become a prophet.

When we feel like we are alone in the struggle we often look for a dramatic sign that God is there. Perhaps we should look in the silence of our hearts. It is there we will find Him.

In 1 Corinthians 16 Paul closes his letter. He encourages weekly offering collection on the first day of the week. As he finishes this letter he repeats the themes he has emphasized throughout the letter: stay alert, be strong in the faith, do everything in love, and support those who are called to serve the saints.

1 Kings 16 discusses the succession of kings Israel has during the time that Asa is king of Judah.  All of them including the last, Ahab, do what is evil in God’s sight. Ahab marries a foreign woman Jezebel and they worship Baal.

In 1 Kings 17 the prophet Elijah is called to speak to Ahab. God tells Ahab that there will be a drought. He then has Elijah go into hiding and the ravens feed him. The wadi where Elijah is hiding dries up and God tells him to go to Zarephath to be fed by a widow. Elijah meets the widow but she only has a handful of meal and a little oil. She is planning to make the last cakes for her son and her before they die. Elijah tells her that God wants her to make cakes for him. She obeys and God continues to provide her with meal and oil throughout the drought.

Later, the woman’s son becomes ill. She comes to Elijah, whe takes the boy from the woman and prays for him. God heals the boy.

God may ask us to give all that we have for Him. If we are willing, God will not leave us wanting.

Psalm 58 speaks of God’s power to judge over that of the gods. Only our God has real power.

Psalm 59 speaks of a time when the writer is being pursued by his enemies. Rather than being afraid he calls on God and is confident that God will protect him. God is his fortress, who shows him and all of us his steadfast love.

In 1 Kings 14 Jeroboam who has built altars to other gods has a son who is ill. He decides to approach the Lord but not he himself, rather he has his wife go to the prophet Ahijah. Not only that, but he has her go in disguise. The disguise does not work God knows who is actually approaching Him and responds by revealing Jeroboam’s sin and saying that his reign will come to an end soon. Jeroboam’s line also will not continue to rule Israel. Additionally, his child will die. God sees this as a blessing to the child who has found favor with the Lord.

Unfortunately, things are also not going well for Rehoboam. He leads the people of Judah into evil ways which include abominations in their worship. Israel and Judah are constantly in battle.

1 Kings 15 reveals that Rehoboam’s son is just as wicked as his father. It is not until the next king, Asa< that things change for the people of Judah. He removes all the temples and idols from Judah and is true to the Lord all his life.

Jeroboams successor Baasha and Asa continue to battle.  Baasha continues to lead Israel in sin and Asa leads Judah in righteousness. When Asa dies, his son Jehoshaphat becomes king of Judah.

This is a time of great tribulation in Israel and Judah. It is hard to see how God is working things out. We must have faith.

In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul speaks of our hope of the resurrection. He tells of the necessity of knowing that Jesus was raised or else everything Christians stand for is false. But he also speaks about the resurrection of the dead in the last days. He assures believers that we will be raised and be given glorified bodies. God has given us this victory through Jesus. He encourages us to be faithful, excelling in the work of the Lord. Our labor is not in vain.

In 1 Kings 12 and 13 Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, is made king. Jeroboam comes to him with the people of Israel. They plead for him to be kinder to them than his father was saying that if he is kinder they will be faithful servants. Rehoboam goes to the older men who counsel him to do as they say and he will have servants for life. Instead, Rehoboam goes to his young friends for advice. They recommend that he deal harshly with the people and force their obedience. Rehoboam does as the young men counsel.

While this seems like the foolishness of youth, and it is, it is also part of God’s plan to break up the kingdom because of Solomon’s sin.

The people of Israel realize that Rehoboam does not have their interests at heart. When he sends his taskmaster out to force them into labor they kill him. Israel makes Jeroboam their king and Rehoboam remains king of Judah. Rehoboam gets ready to fight for the restoration of his kingdom, but God speaks to Shemaiah, a prophet, who tells Rehoboam that this split is from God.

Jeroboam fearing that Rehoboam would want to become king of all of Israel, and knowing that he was able to worship God in Jerusalem, sets up altars in several high places and encourages the people to worship other gods. He makes golden calves to assist in their worship.

This, of course, is a sin against God. As a matter of fact it is the same sin that got Solomon in trouble and made the split kingdom in the first place.

While Jeroboam is at one of the altars a prophet from Judah condemns the altar. Jeroboam tries to grab the man but his hand withers. The altar is destroyed. Jeroboam asks the prophet to pray that God would heal his hand. God answers the prophet’s prayer. Even after seeing the power of God Jeroboam continues to worship other gods.

It appears that both kings are going to have a hard time of it because of their foolish decisions.

1 Corinthians 14 addresses an apparent disagreement regarding the gift of speaking in tongues and the gift of prophecy. Paul encourages them to seek the gift of prophecy over the gift of tongues so that the whole body may be edified. The spiritual gift of tongues is only helpful in worship if there are those who can interpret what is being said, whereas the gift of prophecy will build up the entire body.

Paul also deals with the issue of praying through the Spirit in tongues. This gift, letting the Spirit pray for us in a language we don’t know, is good, but can be done without really engaging in prayer with the mind. Paul encourages mindful prayer more so that we are involved in the action.

Paul encourages orderly conduct in public worship so that outsiders may understand and be moved. There is of course the instruction regarding women speaking in church. In a careful reading of the text it appears as if the women were questioning aloud about things that were happening during worship. This was causing excess noise and disturbing the service. Paul encourages the women to wait to ask their husbands what was going on when they get home instead of asking during the service itself.

Over all, the lessons Paul is teaching are to be actively and mindfully involved in worship, engaging our minds in prayer and praise. The teaching should be understandable and should build up the church either through encouragement, consolation or even reproof as long as it edifies. When in worship make every effort to be worshipful and not be distracted or distracting.

1 Kings 10 describes all of the riches Solomon has attained. He is very wealthy because people from other lands come to him to hear his wisdom and bring gifts in return. Israel prospers because of their king.

1 Kings 11 describes the women Solomon loves. They are from many foreign lands in disobedience to the commands of the Lord that the people of Israel stay away from women who worship other gods. God warns that they will turn Solomon’s heart away from the Lord. When Solomon was old his wives did turn him away from God. He began to worship other gods.

God becomes angry. He vows to tear apart Solomon’s kingdom after he dies. Because of his father David, God allows one tribe to remain as the house of David. God raises up enemies against Solomon  God gives Jeroboam the ten tribes of Israel. David’s line keeps Jerusalem under Solomon’s son Rehoboam.

Solomon was known for his wisdom but he failed to show it in his own faith. He did what he knew to be against the Lord’s covenant and the people of Israel suffered.

1 Corinthians 13 is probably the most well-known chapter in the New Testament and perhaps the entire Bible. It speaks of the love that we are to have for one another. It follows the theme that Paul has been establishing throughout the letter to the Corinthians. True love treats others with respect and deference. All the faith in the world becomes null and void if it is not backed up with love for the other. This kind of love holds us together when our differences threaten to break us apart. It is the love of God.

In 1 Kings 8 and 9 Solomon brings the Ark of the Covenant into the inner sanctuary of the house of the Lord. Solomon prays to God to make this the place where He metes out His mercy and forgiveness, His justice and compassion to His people and even to the foreigner: whoever turns to the Lord. Then Solomon blesses the people reminding them of their covenant with God to keep His commandments.

God hears Solomon’s prayer and consecrates the house. As long as the people remain faithful the house will stand, but if they turn away the house will fall.

God is now in one place. The people can turn to that place and know that God will hear their prayers.

In Psalms 56 and 57 David is being harmed by those who hate him. David puts his trust in God for protection and offers words of praise.