RTW June 12
The God Of….
After their defeat, Ben-hadad’s officers said to him, “The Israelite gods are gods of the hills; that is why they won.”
1 Kings 20:23a
My Takeaways
Something Old
1 Kings 2:18 – Another meddling manipulative woman
To what lengths will I go to get something for someone I love?
Something New
We take away God’s glory, majesty, and power when we make the “God of….”
- Us vs Them
- Me not her
- Concerned over this situation not that one
- Control over this, but not that
How have I stolen God’s deity by selling Him short?
“Many today think that God is a God of hills but not of the plains. They think God is a God of the past but not of the present. They think God is a God of a few special favorites but not of all His people. They think that God is God of one kind of trial, but not of another kind. “Depend upon it, since Satan could not kill the church by roaring at her like a lion, he is now trying to crush her by hugging her like a bear. There is truth in this, but it is not all the truth. Do you really think, my brethren, that God cannot preserve his Church in the particular trial through which she is now passing? Is He the God of the hills of persecution, but not the God of the valleys of prosperity?” (Spurgeon)” ~ Guzik
God will defeat those who seek to defame Him.
Something to Do
Don’t believe God for less that what He can do. Don’t sell Him short or defame His deity.
God is SOVEREIGN! He is Ruler over all!
1 Kings 22:1-9 What stood out to me today was how Ahab consulted his “prophets” (only AFTER Jehoshaphat suggested they find out what the Lord says, though). Ahab had 400 prophets who told him what he wanted to hear – but Jehoshaphat recognized that they were not prophets “of the Lord” … Micaiah, who doesn’t prophesy good and pretty things for Ahab, but prophesies truth (the truth isn’t always pretty). The “prophetic” these days is all about calling out the good in and for people (this is what I was taught at my last church). This is not true prophesy.
Also, these verses showed me that I still don’t seek counsel to hear the truth, but for confirmation of a decision that I’ve already made! Sadly, I do this with the Lord a lot as well – I often make my decision and then invite Him to join me. I’m in that place again, with a life decision and I so want to just be in His will – allowing Him to direct my steps.
-Guard against “making” things happen as Jezebel did with the vineyard that Arab wanted. Seek the Lord. Watch and wait for His timing. Be willing to accept a “No” answer.
-Be quick to humble myself and repent when I become aware of my sin, as Arab did. Ahah was not a good king for the most part but in this, he was a good example.
-Follow Jehoshaphat’s example fo finding out what the Lord has to say when making decisions and action plans.
Something new: the word that I noticed is ‘enticed’ 2 chron. 18:2. The dictionary defines it as ‘to allure or tempt’. Jehoshaphat allowed himself to be involved in something he shouldn’t have been involved with.