Day 195 of My 3rd Bible Study Journey - 14 July 2023 reflections
Day 195, 14 July 2023
1) 2 Chronicles 28:1-27, 2 Kings 16:1-20, 2 Kings 17:1-41
2 Kings 16:1-9
Ahaz, King of Judah
2Ch 28:1-27
1 (Isa 1:1) In the seventeenth year of Pekah son of Remaliah,
Ahaz son of Jotham, king of Judah, became king.
2 Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king,
and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem.
He did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord his God
like David his father.
3 (Dt 12:31; Lev 18:21; 2Ki 21:2) He walked in the way of the kings
of Israel and even made his son pass through the fire according
to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord dispossessed
before the children of Israel.
4 (Dt 12:2; 1Ki 14:23) He sacrificed and made offerings on the high places,
on the hills, and under every green tree.
5 (2Ki 15:37) Then Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah,
king of Israel, came up to Jerusalem to battle, and they besieged Ahaz
but could not subdue him.
6 (2Ki 14:22; 2Ch 26:2) At that time Rezin king of Aram recovered Elath
for Aram and expelled the Judeans from Elath. The Edomites came to Elath
and live there to this day.
7 (2Ki 15:29) So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath--Pileser king of Assyria,
saying, "I am your servant and your son. Come up and save me from the hand
of the king of Aram and from the hand of the king of Israel,
who are rising up against me."
8 (2Ki 12:17-18) Then Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found
in the house of the Lord and in the treasures of the king's house,
and sent a present to the king of Assyria.
9 (Isa 22:6; Am 9:7) So the king of Assyria listened to him.
The king of Assyria went up to Damascus, captured it,
exiled the people to Kir, and killed Rezin.
[1] In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of
Jotham king of Judah began to reign.
[2] Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen
years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the
LORD his God, like David his father.
[3] But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son
to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen,
whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel.
[4] And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the
hills, and under every green tree.
[5] Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came
up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him.
[6] At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave
the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath,
and dwelt there unto this day.
[7] So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying,
I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the
king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel,
which rise up against me.
[8] And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the
LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to
the king of Assyria.
[9] And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of Assyria went
up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to
Kir, and slew Rezin.
2 Chronicles 28:1-15
Ahaz, King of Judah
2Ki 16:1-20
1 (1Ch 3:13; Isa 1:1) Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign,
and he was king in Jerusalem for sixteen years. And he did not do
what was correct in the eyes of the Lord as David his father.
2 (Ex 34:17; Jdg 2:11) And he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel,
and he cast images for Baal worship.
3 (Lev 18:21; 2Ch 33:2) And he made sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom,
and he burned his sons in the fire according to the detestable acts
of the nations that the Lord had displaced before the sons of Israel.
4 He even made sacrifices and offered incense on the high places
of the hills and under every green tree.
Judah Defeated
5 (Isa 7:1; 2Ki 16:5-6) So the Lord his God gave him
into the hand of the king of Aram. They struck Ahaz and took captive
many prisoners and brought them to Damascus.
He was even given into the hand of the king of Israel,
and he attacked Ahaz with a great slaughter.
6 (2Ki 15:27; Isa 9:21) And Pekah the son of Remaliah killed
120000 in Judah in one day, and they were all strong men,
but they abandoned the Lord God of their fathers.
7 And Zikri, a mighty warrior from Ephraim, killed Maaseiah
the son of the king, and Azrikam the official of the palace,
and Elkanah second to the king.
8 (2Ch 11:4; Dt 28:25) And the sons of Israel took captive 200000
of their kin, women, sons, and daughters.
They also took much plunder and brought the plunder to Samaria.
9 (Ezr 9:6; Isa 47:6) And there was a prophet there whose name was Oded,
and he went out to the army as it approached Samaria and said to them,
"See that the anger of the Lord God of your fathers is against Judah,
and He gave them into your hand, and you all have killed them
in a rage that has reached even to heaven.
10 (Lev 25:39-46) And now you are planning to subdue for yourselves
the people of Judah and Jerusalem as male and female slaves.
Do you all not surely have among you guilt before the Lord your God?
11 (Jas 2:13) And now listen to me. Return the captives whom you have taken
captive from your relatives
because the burning wrath of the Lord is on you all."
12 And some men who were heads of the people of Ephraim rose up
before those coming from the war: Azariah the son of Jehohanan,
Berekiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum,
and Amasa the son of Hadlai.
13 And they said, "You will not bring the captives here, for guilt
from the Lord will be on us, and you plan to add to our sin and guilt.
Our guilt is great, and there is already a burning anger against Israel."
14 So the soldiers left the captives and spoil before the officials
and all the assembly.
15 (Dt 34:3; 2Ki 6:22) Then the men who were designated by name took
the captives and clothed those who were naked from the plunder.
So they clothed them, gave them sandals, offered them food and drink,
anointed them with oil, and led them on donkeys, even all those who stumbled.
They brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees,
which was near their kinsmen. Then the officials returned to Samaria.
2 Chronicles 28
[1] Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned
sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was
right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father:
[2] For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel,
and made also molten images for Baalim.
[3] Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt
his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the
LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.
[4] He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the
hills, and under every green tree.
[5] Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of
Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them
captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the
hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.
[6] For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty
thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken
the LORD God of their fathers.
[7] And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king's son, and
Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king.
[8] And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two
hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil
from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.
[9] But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he went
out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold,
because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath
delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage
that reacheth up unto heaven.
[10] And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem
for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there not with you, even with
you, sins against the LORD your God?
[11] Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have
taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon
you.
[12] Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son
of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of
Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from
the war,
[13] And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for
whereas we have offended against the LORD already, ye intend to add more to
our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is
fierce wrath against Israel.
[14] So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes
and all the congregation.
[15] And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the
captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and
arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and
anointed
them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to
Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to
Samaria.
2 Chronicles 28:16-21
16 At that time King Ahaz sent to the king of Assyria for help.
17 (Ob 1:10) The Edomites continually came and struck Judah
and carried off captives.
18 (Eze 16:57; 16:27) Even the Philistines made raids on the cities
of the lowlands of the Shephelah and the Negev of Judah.
And they captured Beth Shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soko and its villages,
Timnah and its villages, and Gimzo and its villages; and they settled there.
19 (2Ch 21:2) For the Lord humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Judah,
for he allowed depravity to spread in Judah and continually transgressed
against the Lord.
20 (2Ki 15:29; 1Ch 5:26) So Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came
against him, but he brought him distress and not strength.
21 For Ahaz took a portion from the house of the Lord
and palace of the king and the officials, and he gave it
to the king of Assyria, but the king did not help Ahaz.
[16] At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him.
[17] For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away
captives.
[18] The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of
the south of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth,
and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof,
Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.
[19] For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he
made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD.
[20] And Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed
him,
but strengthened him not.
[21] For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the LORD, and out of
the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of
Assyria: but he helped him not.
2 Kings 16:10-18
10 (Isa 8:2) Then King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-Pileser
king of Assyria and saw an altar that was in Damascus.
King Ahaz sent to Uriah the priest a pattern of the altar and model of it,
according to the manner of its construction.
11 Uriah the priest built an altar according to all that King Ahaz had sent
from Damascus. Thus Uriah the priest worked until King Ahaz
came from Damascus.
12 (2Ch 26:16-19) When the king came back from Damascus
and saw the altar, the king approached the altar and made offerings on it.
13 He offered his burnt offering and his grain offering, poured out
his libations, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings upon the altar.
14 (2Ch 4:1; Ex 40:6) And the bronze altar that was before the Lord
he moved from the front of the house, from between the altar
and the house of the Lord. He put it on the north side of the new altar.
15 (Ex 29:39-41) Then King Ahaz commanded Uriah the priest, "Upon the great
altar offer the morning burnt offering, the evening grain offering,
the king's burnt offering, and his grain offering with the burnt offering
of all the people of the land, their grain offering, and their libations.
Sprinkle on it all the blood of the burnt offering and all the blood
of the sacrifice, and the bronze altar will be for me to inquire by."
16 So Uriah the priest did everything that King Ahaz commanded.
17 King Ahaz cut off the bases of the stands and removed the basin from them.
He took down the sea from off the bronze oxen that were under it
and put it on stone pavement.
18 The structure for the Sabbath that they had built in the house
and the king's outer entrance he removed from the house of the Lord
for the king of Assyria.
[10] And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria,
and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the
priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the
workmanship thereof.
[11] And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz
had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it against king Ahaz came
from Damascus.
[12] And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and
the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon.
[13] and he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and poured his
drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, upon the
altar.
[14] And he brought also the brasen altar, which was before the LORD, from
the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the
LORD, and put it on the north side of the altar.
[15] And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar
burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the
king's burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of
all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink
offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all
the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to inquire
by.
[16] Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded.
[17] And king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the laver
from off them; and took down the sea from off the brasen oxen that were
under it, and put it upon a pavement of stones.
[18] And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and
the king's entry without, turned he from the house of the LORD for the king
of Assyria.
2 Chronicles 28:22-25
The Death of Ahaz
22 (Isa 1:5) And at the time that he was oppressed he increased
in unfaithfulness against the Lord.
23 (2Ch 25:14) So he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus
that had devastated him, for he said, "Because the gods of the kings
of Aram have helped them, I will sacrifice to them so that
they might help me." But they were his downfall in Judah
and the downfall for all of Israel.
24 (2Ch 29:7; 2Ki 16:17-18) And Ahaz gathered the vessels from the house
of God, and he cut up the vessels. Then he shut the doors of the house
of the Lord, and he made altars in every corner of Jerusalem.
25 (2Ch 28:3) Then in every city in Judah he made high places to make
offerings to other gods. So he provoked the Lord God of his fathers.
[22] And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the
LORD: this is that king Ahaz.
[23] For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he
said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I
sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him,
and of all Israel.
[24] And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in
pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house
of the LORD, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem.
[25] And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense
unto other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers.
2 Kings 16:19-20
19 Now the rest of the deeds of Ahaz that he did, are they not written
in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?
20 Ahaz slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers
in the City of David. Then Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.
[19] Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, are they not written in
the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
[20] And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the
city of David: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.
2 Chronicles 28:26-27
26 (2Ki 16:19-20) Now the remainder of the acts and all his ways,
from first to last, are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
27 (2Ch 21:20; 24:25) So Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him
in the city of Jerusalem because they did not bring him to the tombs
of the kings of Israel. Then Hezekiah his son was king in his place.
[26] Now the rest of his acts and of all his ways, first and last, behold,
they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
[27] And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even
in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of
Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.
2 Kings 17:1-4
Hoshea, King of Israel
2Kgs 18:9-12
1 (2Ki 15:30) In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea son of Elah
became king in Samaria over Israel for nine years.
2 He did evil in the sight of the Lord, only not as the kings of Israel
who were before him.
3 (Hos 10:14) Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against him.
Hoshea became his servant and gave him gifts.
4 But the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea,
for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt
and offered up no gift to the king of Assyria as he had done year by year.
So the king of Assyria detained him, and then put him in prison.
[1] In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah
to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years.
[2] And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as the
kings of Israel that were before him.
[3] Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his
servant, and gave him presents.
[4] And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent
messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of
Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him
up, and bound him in prison.
2 Kings 17:5
Israel Exiled to Assyria
5 Then the king of Assyria went throughout all the land, went up to Samaria,
and besieged it for three years.
[5] Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to
Samaria, and besieged it three years.
2 Kings 17:6-41
6 (Dt 28:64; 1Ch 5:26) In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria
seized Samaria and exiled Israel to Assyria. He put them in Halah,
in Habor by the River of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
7 (Jos 23:16; Ex 20:2) This happened because the children of Israel had sinned
against the Lord their God, who had brought them up from the land of Egypt
from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They had feared other gods
8 (Lev 18:3; Dt 18:9) and walked in the statutes of the nations,
whom the Lord dispossessed before the children of Israel,
and walked in the statutes which the kings of Israel had made.
9 (2Ki 18:8) The children of Israel ascribed things to the Lord their God
that were not so, and they built for themselves high places
in all their cities from the watchtower to the fortified city.
10 (1Ki 14:23; Ex 34:13; 2Ki 16:4) They set up standing stones
and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.
11 There they burned incense on all the high places, as the nations did
whom the Lord had carried away before them. And they did wicked things
to provoke the Lord to anger,
12 for they served idols, of which the Lord had said to them,
"You shall not do this thing."
13 (1Sa 9:9; Jer 18:11) But the Lord warned Israel and Judah
by all the prophets and by all the seers, saying,
"Turn from your evil ways, and keep My commandments and My statutes,
according to all the law which I commanded your fathers
and which I sent to you by My servants the prophets."
14 (Dt 31:27; Ac 7:51) But they would not listen. They stiffened their necks,
like the neck of their fathers, who did not believe in the Lord their God.
15 (Dt 12:30-31; 32:21) They rejected His statutes and His covenant
that He had made with their fathers and the decrees He had given them.
They followed idols, and became idolaters, and followed the surrounding
nations, concerning whom the Lord commanded them, that they should not
do like them.
16 (1Ki 12:28; 14:15) They forsook all the commandments of the Lord
their God, made themselves cast images (two calves), made an Asherah pole,
worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.
17 (2Ki 21:6; 1Ki 21:20; 2Ki 16:3) They caused their sons and daughters
to pass through the fire, used divination and omens, and sold themselves
to do evil in the sight of the Lord to anger Him.
18 (1Ki 11:13; 11:32) Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel
and removed them from His presence. None remained except the tribe of Judah.
19 (1Ki 14:22-23; 2Ki 16:3) Judah also did not keep the commandments
of the Lord their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made.
20 (2Ki 15:29; 13:3) The Lord rejected all the seed of Israel, afflicted them,
and gave them into the hand of plunderers
until He had cast them out of His presence.
21 (1Ki 11:11; 11:31) For He had torn Israel from the house of David,
and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king. Jeroboam diverted Israel
from following the Lord and caused them to sin greatly.
22 For the children of Israel walked in all the sins which Jeroboam
committed. They did not turn aside from them
23 (2Ki 17:6; 17:13) until the Lord removed Israel from His presence
as He had said by all His servants the prophets. So Israel was exiled
from their land to Assyria until this day.
Assyria Resettles Samaria
24 (2Ki 18:34; 17:30-31) Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon,
Kuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and put them in the cities of Samaria
instead of the children of Israel.
They possessed Samaria and lived in its cities.
25 (2Ki 17:32; 17:34) Right at the beginning of their settling there,
they did not fear the Lord, so the Lord sent lions among them,
and they killed some of them.
26 So they said to the king of Assyria, "The nations which you have exiled
and settled in the cities of Samaria do not know the law of the god
of the land. Therefore He has sent lions among them; they are killing them,
because they do not know the requirements of the god of the land."
27 Then the king of Assyria commanded, "Escort back one of the priests
whom you exiled from there and let him go and dwell there.
Let him teach them the law of the god of the land."
28 Then one of the priests whom they had exiled from Samaria
came and lived in Bethel. He taught them how they should fear the Lord.
29 (1Ki 12:31; Mic 4:5) But each nation was making its own gods,
and they put them in the houses of the high places that the people
of Samaria had made, each nation in the cities where they were living.
30 The men of Babylon made Sukkoth Benoth, the men of Kuthah made Nergal,
the men of Hamath made Ashima,
31 (2Ki 17:24; 17:17) the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak. The Sepharvites
were burning their children in fire to Adrammelek and Anammelek,
the gods of Sepharvaim.
32 (1Ki 12:31; 2Ki 17:29) They feared the Lord and made from amongst
themselves priests of the high places, who were working for them
in the houses of the high places.
33 They feared the Lord, and they were serving their own gods,
after the manner of the nations whom they exiled from there.
34 (Ge 32:28; 35:10) To this day they continue to practice
their former customs. They do not fear the Lord, nor are they doing
according to the statutes, requirements, the law or commandment
that the Lord commanded the children of Jacob, whom He named Israel.
35 (Jdg 6:10) The Lord had made a covenant and commanded them, saying,
"You shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them.
You shall not serve them or sacrifice to them.
36 (Ex 6:6; Dt 6:13) Rather, the Lord, who brought you up
out of the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm,
Him you shall fear, to Him you shall bow down, and to Him you shall sacrifice.
37 The statutes, the ordinances, the law, and the commandment, which He wrote
for you, you shall observe to do forever. And you shall not fear other gods.
38 (Dt 4:23; 6:12) The covenant that I have made with you, you shall not
forget. You shall not fear other gods.
39 (2Ki 17:36) Rather the Lord your God you shall fear,
and He will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies."
40 But they did not listen; rather they were practicing their former customs.
41 (Zep 1:5; Mt 6:24) So these nations feared the Lord and were serving
their carved images, both their children and their grandchildren,
as their fathers did, and so they are doing to this day.
[6] In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and
carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by
the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
[7] For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD
their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under
the hand of Pharoah king of Egypt, and had feared other gods,
[8] And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from
before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had
made.
[9] And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right
against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their
cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
[10] And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under
every green tree:
[11] And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen
whom the LORD carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke
the LORD to anger:
[12] For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall
not do this thing.
[13] Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the
prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and
keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I
commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.
[14] Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to
the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God.
[15] And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with
their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they
followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round
about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not
do like them.
[16] And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them
molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the
host of heaven, and served Baal.
[17] And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the
fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil
in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
[18] Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of
his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only.
[19] Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked
in the statutes of Israel which they made.
[20] And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and
delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his
sight.
[21] For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the
son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the LORD, and
made them sin a great sin.
[22] For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he
did; they departed not from them;
[23] Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all
his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land
to Assyria unto this day.
[24] And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and
from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the
cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed
Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.
[25] And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they
feared not the LORD: therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which slew
some of them.
[26] Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which
thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner
of the God of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold,
they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land.
[27] Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the
priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and
let him teach them the manner of the God of the land.
[28] Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came
and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.
[29] Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses
of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their
cities wherein they dwelt.
[30] And the men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, and the men of Cuth made
Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima,
[31] And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their
children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
[32] So they feared the LORD, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them
priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the
high places.
[33] They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of
the nations whom they carried away from thence.
[34] Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the LORD,
neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after
the law and commandment which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom
he named Israel;
[35] With whom the LORD had made a covenant, and charged them saying, Ye
shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor
sacrifice to them:
[36] But the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great
power and a stretched out arm, him shall ye fear, and him shall ye worship,
and to him shall ye do sacrifice.
[37] And the statutes, and the ordinances, and the law, and the commandment,
which he wrote for you, ye shall observe to do for evermore; and ye shall
not fear other gods.
[38] And the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not forget; neither
shall ye fear other gods.
[39] But the LORD your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of
the hand of all your enemies.
[40] Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner.
[41] So these nations feared the LORD, and served their graven images, both
their children, and their children's children: as did their fathers, so do
they unto this day.
2) Our Daily Bread for 14 July 2023 titled Deep Waters
Proverbs 20:4-5,24-25
4 (Pr 19:15; 10:4) The sluggard will not plow because of the cold;
therefore he will beg during harvest and have nothing.
5 (Pr 18:4 ) Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
but a man of understanding will draw it out.
24 (Pr 16:9; Jer 10:23) Man's goings are of the Lord;
how can a man then understand his own way?
25 It is a snare to the man who dedicates rashly that which is holy,
and after the vows to make inquiry.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold;
Therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water;
But a man of understanding will draw it out.
24 Man's goings are of the LORD;
How can a man then understand his own way?
25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy,
And after vows to make enquiry.
When Bill Pinkney sailed solo around the world in 1992-taking the hard route
around the perilous Great Southern Capes-he did it for a higher purpose.
His voyage was to inspire and educate children. That included students at his
former inner-city Chicago elementary school. His goal? To show how far they
could go by studying hard and making a commitment-the word he chose in naming
his boat. When Bill takes schoolkids on the water in Commitment, he says,
"They've got that tiller in their hand and they learn about control,
self-control, they learn about teamwork . . . all the basics that one needs
in life to be successful."
Pinkney's words paint a portrait of Solomon"s wisdom. "The purposes of a
person's heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out"
(Proverbs 20:5). He invited others to examine their life goals.
Otherwise, "it is a trap," said Solomon, "to dedicate something rashly
and only later to consider one's vows" (v. 25).
In contrast, William Pinkney had a clear purpose that eventually inspired
thirty thousand students across the United States to learn from his journey.
He became the first African American inducted into the National Sailing
Hall of Fame. "Kids were watching," he said. With similar purpose,
let's set our course by the deep counsel of God’s instructions to us.
By: Patricia Raybon
Reflect & Pray
In your life, what is the why for your work or ministry?
What legacy do you hope to leave by what you accomplish?
Inspire me, faithful God, to commit to working
with a purpose that glorifies You.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 7 Promises of Grace - Day 6 Humility and Exaltation
1 Peter 5:6-7
6 (Jas 4:10; Mt 23:12) Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,
that He may exalt you in due time.
7 (Ps 55:22; 37:5) Cast all your care upon Him, because He cares for you.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God,
that he may exalt you in due time:
7 casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
"I was so humble I was given an award for humility," the pastor quipped.
"They gave me a humility plaque - but they had to take it back when I hung it
on my office wall."
Humility is rare among 20th Century Christians. Our pride takes two
seemingly contradictory forms: Self-exaltation and self-denial. But both
focus on self, not on God.
Francois Fenelon, 17th century French archbishop, From his
"Letters of Spiritual Counsel" wrote:
"He who so completely forget himself that he never thinks of self ... is
truly humble. If we had the light to discern it, we should see clearly that
when we think we are humbling ourselves we are exalting ourselves;
when we think we are annihilating ourselves we are seeking out own life."
True humility, as Fenelon implies, means recognising who we are in the light
of who God is. Excess of self-importance and low self-esteem are both
self-centered perspectives; true humility is God-centered.
When we humble ourselves, we become intensely aware of God and less
aware of ourselves. We can focus on his face and get our eyes off our own
image. We can stop worrying about how others perceive us. Such humbling
is difficult - as one 70-year-old saint joked, "It ain't the heat that gets
you, it's the humility." But when we submit to him and fell the weight of the
"Mighty hand of God" upon us, we can forget ourselves, abandon
ourselves to his presence, and cast our cares upon him.
Application
a) What form does my pride usually take - self-exaltation or self-degradation?
b) Why must I humble myself in order for the Lord to lift me up?
c) How can today's verse encourage me when times are tough?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
2 Chr 31:21
21 And in every deed that he undertook in the service of the house
of God and with the law and commandment to seek out his God,
he did this with all his heart, and he found success.
21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house
of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God,
he did it with all his heart, and prospered.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Protection in Times of Trouble
Ps 27:1-6
PSALMS 27
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom will I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
of whom will I be afraid?
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) When the wicked came against me
to eat my flesh -
my enemies and my foes -
they stumbled and fell.
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) Though an army should encamp against me,
my heart will not fear;
though war should rise against me,
in this will I be confident.
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) One thing I have asked from the Lord,
that will I seek after -
for me to dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to see the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in His temple.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) For in the time of trouble
He will hide me in His pavilion;
in the shelter of His tabernacle He will hide me;
He will set me up on a rock.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8 - 9) Now my head will be lifted up
above my enemies encircling me;
therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes,
came upon me to eat up my flesh,
They stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear:
Though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after;
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion:
In the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me;
he shall set me up upon a rock.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up,
Above mine enemies round about me:
Therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy;
I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2022 edition?)
Where do Muslims live?
Canada is a land of immigrants. And Muslims are coming in increasing numbers
to our shores. Where do they live? How can we pray for these areas? Use this as
your more effectively for Muslims in Canada.
Data for those population figures is extrapolated for the 2011 National
Household Survey and population growth projections by Pew Forum. These have
also been adjusted by +40% as reliable sources state that on 60% of Muslims
self-identify on government surveys and forms. These estimates are still on
the conservative end of the spectrum. Percentages represent that of the total
Canadian population, not provincial
BC - 136493 - 7.5%
AB - 195240 - 11%
SK - 17279 - 1%
MB - 21349 - 1.2%
ON - 1001542 - 55%
QC - 418946 - 23%
NB - 4543 - 0.003%
NS - 14629 - 0.1%
PEI - 1127 - 0.0006%
NFLD - 2065 - 0.001%
Yukon - 69 - 0.00004%
NWT - 473 - 0.0003%
NU - 86 - 0.00005%
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 "In the last days it shall be," says God,
"that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even on My menservants and maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below:
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]
Footnotes
Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
And
Thank you for praying through the
5 Days of Prayer for Sikhs.
"My name is Kam. I'm 29 years of age, and I grew up Sikh. As a teenager,
I struggled with depression, brokenness, and addiction to
cannabis. I didn't know how to stop or how to get help.
Then a friend invited me to church. As I spent time with Christians
and heard the message of the Gospel, I experienced the
love of Jesus Christ, and it was like nothing I'd known before.
One night I had a dream where I saw Him - a figure surrounded by
light who I knew was Jesus, the light of the world.
As I began to understand the gospel message, I encountered a reassuring and
confident solution to the problem of sin. I knew that I needed a solution
to my sin problem, and I gave my life to Christ.
Slowly, God began to heal my broken heart and my addiction.
Nine years have passed, and I am a devoted husband and a father
to two beautiful boys. I grow deeper in love with Jesus each day.
I ask you to continue praying with me, and others around the world, for Sikhs.
God is the only one who can draw people to Himself. He works in and through
the prayers of His people. I want Sikhs to know the freedom
and healing that is only available through Jesus Christ."
13 (Ro 14:17; 12:12) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy
and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope,
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
[13] Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that
ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
ROMANS 15:13
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
14th Day of the Month
a) Pray for God's kingdom to come
in your home, neighbourhood, city or community,
and in our nation ( Matt 6:10
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
)
b) Pray for those who serve with
denominations and Christian organisations
in Canada - that God will bless their ministry
and anoint them for effective service.
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and and pray for your nation to follow the Lord.
Pray to the Lord: "Inspire me, faithful God, to commit to working
with a purpose that glorifies You."
Pray to the Lord and pray to be humble in His sight.
Pray to the Lord and pray to seek Him daily.
Pray to the Lord and pray to Lord as Salvation.
Pray for Muslims in Canada to know Jesus as Saviour.
Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
Pray for God's kingdom to come in your home, neighbourhood, city
or community, and in our nation.
Pray for those who serve with denominations and Christian organisations
in Canada - that God will bless their ministry and anoint them
for effective service.
Pray that families in Laos will be delivered from worshiping false spirits
and instead worship the one true God.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.
1) 2 Chronicles 28:1-27, 2 Kings 16:1-20, 2 Kings 17:1-41
2 Kings 16:1-9
Ahaz, King of Judah
2Ch 28:1-27
1 (Isa 1:1) In the seventeenth year of Pekah son of Remaliah,
Ahaz son of Jotham, king of Judah, became king.
2 Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king,
and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem.
He did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord his God
like David his father.
3 (Dt 12:31; Lev 18:21; 2Ki 21:2) He walked in the way of the kings
of Israel and even made his son pass through the fire according
to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord dispossessed
before the children of Israel.
4 (Dt 12:2; 1Ki 14:23) He sacrificed and made offerings on the high places,
on the hills, and under every green tree.
5 (2Ki 15:37) Then Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah,
king of Israel, came up to Jerusalem to battle, and they besieged Ahaz
but could not subdue him.
6 (2Ki 14:22; 2Ch 26:2) At that time Rezin king of Aram recovered Elath
for Aram and expelled the Judeans from Elath. The Edomites came to Elath
and live there to this day.
7 (2Ki 15:29) So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath--Pileser king of Assyria,
saying, "I am your servant and your son. Come up and save me from the hand
of the king of Aram and from the hand of the king of Israel,
who are rising up against me."
8 (2Ki 12:17-18) Then Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found
in the house of the Lord and in the treasures of the king's house,
and sent a present to the king of Assyria.
9 (Isa 22:6; Am 9:7) So the king of Assyria listened to him.
The king of Assyria went up to Damascus, captured it,
exiled the people to Kir, and killed Rezin.
[1] In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of
Jotham king of Judah began to reign.
[2] Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen
years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the
LORD his God, like David his father.
[3] But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son
to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen,
whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel.
[4] And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the
hills, and under every green tree.
[5] Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came
up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him.
[6] At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave
the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath,
and dwelt there unto this day.
[7] So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying,
I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the
king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel,
which rise up against me.
[8] And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the
LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to
the king of Assyria.
[9] And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of Assyria went
up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to
Kir, and slew Rezin.
2 Chronicles 28:1-15
Ahaz, King of Judah
2Ki 16:1-20
1 (1Ch 3:13; Isa 1:1) Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign,
and he was king in Jerusalem for sixteen years. And he did not do
what was correct in the eyes of the Lord as David his father.
2 (Ex 34:17; Jdg 2:11) And he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel,
and he cast images for Baal worship.
3 (Lev 18:21; 2Ch 33:2) And he made sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom,
and he burned his sons in the fire according to the detestable acts
of the nations that the Lord had displaced before the sons of Israel.
4 He even made sacrifices and offered incense on the high places
of the hills and under every green tree.
Judah Defeated
5 (Isa 7:1; 2Ki 16:5-6) So the Lord his God gave him
into the hand of the king of Aram. They struck Ahaz and took captive
many prisoners and brought them to Damascus.
He was even given into the hand of the king of Israel,
and he attacked Ahaz with a great slaughter.
6 (2Ki 15:27; Isa 9:21) And Pekah the son of Remaliah killed
120000 in Judah in one day, and they were all strong men,
but they abandoned the Lord God of their fathers.
7 And Zikri, a mighty warrior from Ephraim, killed Maaseiah
the son of the king, and Azrikam the official of the palace,
and Elkanah second to the king.
8 (2Ch 11:4; Dt 28:25) And the sons of Israel took captive 200000
of their kin, women, sons, and daughters.
They also took much plunder and brought the plunder to Samaria.
9 (Ezr 9:6; Isa 47:6) And there was a prophet there whose name was Oded,
and he went out to the army as it approached Samaria and said to them,
"See that the anger of the Lord God of your fathers is against Judah,
and He gave them into your hand, and you all have killed them
in a rage that has reached even to heaven.
10 (Lev 25:39-46) And now you are planning to subdue for yourselves
the people of Judah and Jerusalem as male and female slaves.
Do you all not surely have among you guilt before the Lord your God?
11 (Jas 2:13) And now listen to me. Return the captives whom you have taken
captive from your relatives
because the burning wrath of the Lord is on you all."
12 And some men who were heads of the people of Ephraim rose up
before those coming from the war: Azariah the son of Jehohanan,
Berekiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum,
and Amasa the son of Hadlai.
13 And they said, "You will not bring the captives here, for guilt
from the Lord will be on us, and you plan to add to our sin and guilt.
Our guilt is great, and there is already a burning anger against Israel."
14 So the soldiers left the captives and spoil before the officials
and all the assembly.
15 (Dt 34:3; 2Ki 6:22) Then the men who were designated by name took
the captives and clothed those who were naked from the plunder.
So they clothed them, gave them sandals, offered them food and drink,
anointed them with oil, and led them on donkeys, even all those who stumbled.
They brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees,
which was near their kinsmen. Then the officials returned to Samaria.
2 Chronicles 28
[1] Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned
sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was
right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father:
[2] For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel,
and made also molten images for Baalim.
[3] Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt
his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the
LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.
[4] He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the
hills, and under every green tree.
[5] Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of
Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them
captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the
hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.
[6] For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty
thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken
the LORD God of their fathers.
[7] And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king's son, and
Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king.
[8] And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two
hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil
from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.
[9] But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he went
out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold,
because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath
delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage
that reacheth up unto heaven.
[10] And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem
for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there not with you, even with
you, sins against the LORD your God?
[11] Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have
taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon
you.
[12] Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son
of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of
Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from
the war,
[13] And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for
whereas we have offended against the LORD already, ye intend to add more to
our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is
fierce wrath against Israel.
[14] So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes
and all the congregation.
[15] And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the
captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and
arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and
anointed
them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to
Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to
Samaria.
2 Chronicles 28:16-21
16 At that time King Ahaz sent to the king of Assyria for help.
17 (Ob 1:10) The Edomites continually came and struck Judah
and carried off captives.
18 (Eze 16:57; 16:27) Even the Philistines made raids on the cities
of the lowlands of the Shephelah and the Negev of Judah.
And they captured Beth Shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soko and its villages,
Timnah and its villages, and Gimzo and its villages; and they settled there.
19 (2Ch 21:2) For the Lord humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Judah,
for he allowed depravity to spread in Judah and continually transgressed
against the Lord.
20 (2Ki 15:29; 1Ch 5:26) So Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came
against him, but he brought him distress and not strength.
21 For Ahaz took a portion from the house of the Lord
and palace of the king and the officials, and he gave it
to the king of Assyria, but the king did not help Ahaz.
[16] At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him.
[17] For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away
captives.
[18] The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of
the south of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth,
and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof,
Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.
[19] For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he
made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD.
[20] And Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed
him,
but strengthened him not.
[21] For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the LORD, and out of
the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of
Assyria: but he helped him not.
2 Kings 16:10-18
10 (Isa 8:2) Then King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-Pileser
king of Assyria and saw an altar that was in Damascus.
King Ahaz sent to Uriah the priest a pattern of the altar and model of it,
according to the manner of its construction.
11 Uriah the priest built an altar according to all that King Ahaz had sent
from Damascus. Thus Uriah the priest worked until King Ahaz
came from Damascus.
12 (2Ch 26:16-19) When the king came back from Damascus
and saw the altar, the king approached the altar and made offerings on it.
13 He offered his burnt offering and his grain offering, poured out
his libations, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings upon the altar.
14 (2Ch 4:1; Ex 40:6) And the bronze altar that was before the Lord
he moved from the front of the house, from between the altar
and the house of the Lord. He put it on the north side of the new altar.
15 (Ex 29:39-41) Then King Ahaz commanded Uriah the priest, "Upon the great
altar offer the morning burnt offering, the evening grain offering,
the king's burnt offering, and his grain offering with the burnt offering
of all the people of the land, their grain offering, and their libations.
Sprinkle on it all the blood of the burnt offering and all the blood
of the sacrifice, and the bronze altar will be for me to inquire by."
16 So Uriah the priest did everything that King Ahaz commanded.
17 King Ahaz cut off the bases of the stands and removed the basin from them.
He took down the sea from off the bronze oxen that were under it
and put it on stone pavement.
18 The structure for the Sabbath that they had built in the house
and the king's outer entrance he removed from the house of the Lord
for the king of Assyria.
[10] And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria,
and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the
priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the
workmanship thereof.
[11] And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz
had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it against king Ahaz came
from Damascus.
[12] And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and
the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon.
[13] and he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and poured his
drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, upon the
altar.
[14] And he brought also the brasen altar, which was before the LORD, from
the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the
LORD, and put it on the north side of the altar.
[15] And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar
burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the
king's burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of
all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink
offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all
the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to inquire
by.
[16] Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded.
[17] And king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the laver
from off them; and took down the sea from off the brasen oxen that were
under it, and put it upon a pavement of stones.
[18] And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and
the king's entry without, turned he from the house of the LORD for the king
of Assyria.
2 Chronicles 28:22-25
The Death of Ahaz
22 (Isa 1:5) And at the time that he was oppressed he increased
in unfaithfulness against the Lord.
23 (2Ch 25:14) So he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus
that had devastated him, for he said, "Because the gods of the kings
of Aram have helped them, I will sacrifice to them so that
they might help me." But they were his downfall in Judah
and the downfall for all of Israel.
24 (2Ch 29:7; 2Ki 16:17-18) And Ahaz gathered the vessels from the house
of God, and he cut up the vessels. Then he shut the doors of the house
of the Lord, and he made altars in every corner of Jerusalem.
25 (2Ch 28:3) Then in every city in Judah he made high places to make
offerings to other gods. So he provoked the Lord God of his fathers.
[22] And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the
LORD: this is that king Ahaz.
[23] For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he
said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I
sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him,
and of all Israel.
[24] And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in
pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house
of the LORD, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem.
[25] And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense
unto other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers.
2 Kings 16:19-20
19 Now the rest of the deeds of Ahaz that he did, are they not written
in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?
20 Ahaz slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers
in the City of David. Then Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.
[19] Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, are they not written in
the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
[20] And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the
city of David: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.
2 Chronicles 28:26-27
26 (2Ki 16:19-20) Now the remainder of the acts and all his ways,
from first to last, are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
27 (2Ch 21:20; 24:25) So Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him
in the city of Jerusalem because they did not bring him to the tombs
of the kings of Israel. Then Hezekiah his son was king in his place.
[26] Now the rest of his acts and of all his ways, first and last, behold,
they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
[27] And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even
in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of
Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.
2 Kings 17:1-4
Hoshea, King of Israel
2Kgs 18:9-12
1 (2Ki 15:30) In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea son of Elah
became king in Samaria over Israel for nine years.
2 He did evil in the sight of the Lord, only not as the kings of Israel
who were before him.
3 (Hos 10:14) Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against him.
Hoshea became his servant and gave him gifts.
4 But the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea,
for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt
and offered up no gift to the king of Assyria as he had done year by year.
So the king of Assyria detained him, and then put him in prison.
[1] In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah
to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years.
[2] And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as the
kings of Israel that were before him.
[3] Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his
servant, and gave him presents.
[4] And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent
messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of
Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him
up, and bound him in prison.
2 Kings 17:5
Israel Exiled to Assyria
5 Then the king of Assyria went throughout all the land, went up to Samaria,
and besieged it for three years.
[5] Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to
Samaria, and besieged it three years.
2 Kings 17:6-41
6 (Dt 28:64; 1Ch 5:26) In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria
seized Samaria and exiled Israel to Assyria. He put them in Halah,
in Habor by the River of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
7 (Jos 23:16; Ex 20:2) This happened because the children of Israel had sinned
against the Lord their God, who had brought them up from the land of Egypt
from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They had feared other gods
8 (Lev 18:3; Dt 18:9) and walked in the statutes of the nations,
whom the Lord dispossessed before the children of Israel,
and walked in the statutes which the kings of Israel had made.
9 (2Ki 18:8) The children of Israel ascribed things to the Lord their God
that were not so, and they built for themselves high places
in all their cities from the watchtower to the fortified city.
10 (1Ki 14:23; Ex 34:13; 2Ki 16:4) They set up standing stones
and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.
11 There they burned incense on all the high places, as the nations did
whom the Lord had carried away before them. And they did wicked things
to provoke the Lord to anger,
12 for they served idols, of which the Lord had said to them,
"You shall not do this thing."
13 (1Sa 9:9; Jer 18:11) But the Lord warned Israel and Judah
by all the prophets and by all the seers, saying,
"Turn from your evil ways, and keep My commandments and My statutes,
according to all the law which I commanded your fathers
and which I sent to you by My servants the prophets."
14 (Dt 31:27; Ac 7:51) But they would not listen. They stiffened their necks,
like the neck of their fathers, who did not believe in the Lord their God.
15 (Dt 12:30-31; 32:21) They rejected His statutes and His covenant
that He had made with their fathers and the decrees He had given them.
They followed idols, and became idolaters, and followed the surrounding
nations, concerning whom the Lord commanded them, that they should not
do like them.
16 (1Ki 12:28; 14:15) They forsook all the commandments of the Lord
their God, made themselves cast images (two calves), made an Asherah pole,
worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.
17 (2Ki 21:6; 1Ki 21:20; 2Ki 16:3) They caused their sons and daughters
to pass through the fire, used divination and omens, and sold themselves
to do evil in the sight of the Lord to anger Him.
18 (1Ki 11:13; 11:32) Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel
and removed them from His presence. None remained except the tribe of Judah.
19 (1Ki 14:22-23; 2Ki 16:3) Judah also did not keep the commandments
of the Lord their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made.
20 (2Ki 15:29; 13:3) The Lord rejected all the seed of Israel, afflicted them,
and gave them into the hand of plunderers
until He had cast them out of His presence.
21 (1Ki 11:11; 11:31) For He had torn Israel from the house of David,
and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king. Jeroboam diverted Israel
from following the Lord and caused them to sin greatly.
22 For the children of Israel walked in all the sins which Jeroboam
committed. They did not turn aside from them
23 (2Ki 17:6; 17:13) until the Lord removed Israel from His presence
as He had said by all His servants the prophets. So Israel was exiled
from their land to Assyria until this day.
Assyria Resettles Samaria
24 (2Ki 18:34; 17:30-31) Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon,
Kuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and put them in the cities of Samaria
instead of the children of Israel.
They possessed Samaria and lived in its cities.
25 (2Ki 17:32; 17:34) Right at the beginning of their settling there,
they did not fear the Lord, so the Lord sent lions among them,
and they killed some of them.
26 So they said to the king of Assyria, "The nations which you have exiled
and settled in the cities of Samaria do not know the law of the god
of the land. Therefore He has sent lions among them; they are killing them,
because they do not know the requirements of the god of the land."
27 Then the king of Assyria commanded, "Escort back one of the priests
whom you exiled from there and let him go and dwell there.
Let him teach them the law of the god of the land."
28 Then one of the priests whom they had exiled from Samaria
came and lived in Bethel. He taught them how they should fear the Lord.
29 (1Ki 12:31; Mic 4:5) But each nation was making its own gods,
and they put them in the houses of the high places that the people
of Samaria had made, each nation in the cities where they were living.
30 The men of Babylon made Sukkoth Benoth, the men of Kuthah made Nergal,
the men of Hamath made Ashima,
31 (2Ki 17:24; 17:17) the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak. The Sepharvites
were burning their children in fire to Adrammelek and Anammelek,
the gods of Sepharvaim.
32 (1Ki 12:31; 2Ki 17:29) They feared the Lord and made from amongst
themselves priests of the high places, who were working for them
in the houses of the high places.
33 They feared the Lord, and they were serving their own gods,
after the manner of the nations whom they exiled from there.
34 (Ge 32:28; 35:10) To this day they continue to practice
their former customs. They do not fear the Lord, nor are they doing
according to the statutes, requirements, the law or commandment
that the Lord commanded the children of Jacob, whom He named Israel.
35 (Jdg 6:10) The Lord had made a covenant and commanded them, saying,
"You shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them.
You shall not serve them or sacrifice to them.
36 (Ex 6:6; Dt 6:13) Rather, the Lord, who brought you up
out of the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm,
Him you shall fear, to Him you shall bow down, and to Him you shall sacrifice.
37 The statutes, the ordinances, the law, and the commandment, which He wrote
for you, you shall observe to do forever. And you shall not fear other gods.
38 (Dt 4:23; 6:12) The covenant that I have made with you, you shall not
forget. You shall not fear other gods.
39 (2Ki 17:36) Rather the Lord your God you shall fear,
and He will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies."
40 But they did not listen; rather they were practicing their former customs.
41 (Zep 1:5; Mt 6:24) So these nations feared the Lord and were serving
their carved images, both their children and their grandchildren,
as their fathers did, and so they are doing to this day.
[6] In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and
carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by
the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
[7] For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD
their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under
the hand of Pharoah king of Egypt, and had feared other gods,
[8] And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from
before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had
made.
[9] And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right
against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their
cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
[10] And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under
every green tree:
[11] And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen
whom the LORD carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke
the LORD to anger:
[12] For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall
not do this thing.
[13] Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the
prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and
keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I
commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.
[14] Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to
the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God.
[15] And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with
their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they
followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round
about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not
do like them.
[16] And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them
molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the
host of heaven, and served Baal.
[17] And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the
fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil
in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
[18] Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of
his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only.
[19] Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked
in the statutes of Israel which they made.
[20] And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and
delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his
sight.
[21] For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the
son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the LORD, and
made them sin a great sin.
[22] For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he
did; they departed not from them;
[23] Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all
his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land
to Assyria unto this day.
[24] And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and
from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the
cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed
Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.
[25] And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they
feared not the LORD: therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which slew
some of them.
[26] Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which
thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner
of the God of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold,
they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land.
[27] Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the
priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and
let him teach them the manner of the God of the land.
[28] Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came
and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.
[29] Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses
of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their
cities wherein they dwelt.
[30] And the men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, and the men of Cuth made
Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima,
[31] And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their
children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
[32] So they feared the LORD, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them
priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the
high places.
[33] They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of
the nations whom they carried away from thence.
[34] Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the LORD,
neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after
the law and commandment which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom
he named Israel;
[35] With whom the LORD had made a covenant, and charged them saying, Ye
shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor
sacrifice to them:
[36] But the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great
power and a stretched out arm, him shall ye fear, and him shall ye worship,
and to him shall ye do sacrifice.
[37] And the statutes, and the ordinances, and the law, and the commandment,
which he wrote for you, ye shall observe to do for evermore; and ye shall
not fear other gods.
[38] And the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not forget; neither
shall ye fear other gods.
[39] But the LORD your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of
the hand of all your enemies.
[40] Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner.
[41] So these nations feared the LORD, and served their graven images, both
their children, and their children's children: as did their fathers, so do
they unto this day.
2) Our Daily Bread for 14 July 2023 titled Deep Waters
Proverbs 20:4-5,24-25
4 (Pr 19:15; 10:4) The sluggard will not plow because of the cold;
therefore he will beg during harvest and have nothing.
5 (Pr 18:4 ) Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
but a man of understanding will draw it out.
24 (Pr 16:9; Jer 10:23) Man's goings are of the Lord;
how can a man then understand his own way?
25 It is a snare to the man who dedicates rashly that which is holy,
and after the vows to make inquiry.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold;
Therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water;
But a man of understanding will draw it out.
24 Man's goings are of the LORD;
How can a man then understand his own way?
25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy,
And after vows to make enquiry.
When Bill Pinkney sailed solo around the world in 1992-taking the hard route
around the perilous Great Southern Capes-he did it for a higher purpose.
His voyage was to inspire and educate children. That included students at his
former inner-city Chicago elementary school. His goal? To show how far they
could go by studying hard and making a commitment-the word he chose in naming
his boat. When Bill takes schoolkids on the water in Commitment, he says,
"They've got that tiller in their hand and they learn about control,
self-control, they learn about teamwork . . . all the basics that one needs
in life to be successful."
Pinkney's words paint a portrait of Solomon"s wisdom. "The purposes of a
person's heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out"
(Proverbs 20:5). He invited others to examine their life goals.
Otherwise, "it is a trap," said Solomon, "to dedicate something rashly
and only later to consider one's vows" (v. 25).
In contrast, William Pinkney had a clear purpose that eventually inspired
thirty thousand students across the United States to learn from his journey.
He became the first African American inducted into the National Sailing
Hall of Fame. "Kids were watching," he said. With similar purpose,
let's set our course by the deep counsel of God’s instructions to us.
By: Patricia Raybon
Reflect & Pray
In your life, what is the why for your work or ministry?
What legacy do you hope to leave by what you accomplish?
Inspire me, faithful God, to commit to working
with a purpose that glorifies You.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 7 Promises of Grace - Day 6 Humility and Exaltation
1 Peter 5:6-7
6 (Jas 4:10; Mt 23:12) Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,
that He may exalt you in due time.
7 (Ps 55:22; 37:5) Cast all your care upon Him, because He cares for you.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God,
that he may exalt you in due time:
7 casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
"I was so humble I was given an award for humility," the pastor quipped.
"They gave me a humility plaque - but they had to take it back when I hung it
on my office wall."
Humility is rare among 20th Century Christians. Our pride takes two
seemingly contradictory forms: Self-exaltation and self-denial. But both
focus on self, not on God.
Francois Fenelon, 17th century French archbishop, From his
"Letters of Spiritual Counsel" wrote:
"He who so completely forget himself that he never thinks of self ... is
truly humble. If we had the light to discern it, we should see clearly that
when we think we are humbling ourselves we are exalting ourselves;
when we think we are annihilating ourselves we are seeking out own life."
True humility, as Fenelon implies, means recognising who we are in the light
of who God is. Excess of self-importance and low self-esteem are both
self-centered perspectives; true humility is God-centered.
When we humble ourselves, we become intensely aware of God and less
aware of ourselves. We can focus on his face and get our eyes off our own
image. We can stop worrying about how others perceive us. Such humbling
is difficult - as one 70-year-old saint joked, "It ain't the heat that gets
you, it's the humility." But when we submit to him and fell the weight of the
"Mighty hand of God" upon us, we can forget ourselves, abandon
ourselves to his presence, and cast our cares upon him.
Application
a) What form does my pride usually take - self-exaltation or self-degradation?
b) Why must I humble myself in order for the Lord to lift me up?
c) How can today's verse encourage me when times are tough?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
2 Chr 31:21
21 And in every deed that he undertook in the service of the house
of God and with the law and commandment to seek out his God,
he did this with all his heart, and he found success.
21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house
of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God,
he did it with all his heart, and prospered.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Protection in Times of Trouble
Ps 27:1-6
PSALMS 27
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom will I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
of whom will I be afraid?
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) When the wicked came against me
to eat my flesh -
my enemies and my foes -
they stumbled and fell.
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) Though an army should encamp against me,
my heart will not fear;
though war should rise against me,
in this will I be confident.
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) One thing I have asked from the Lord,
that will I seek after -
for me to dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to see the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in His temple.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) For in the time of trouble
He will hide me in His pavilion;
in the shelter of His tabernacle He will hide me;
He will set me up on a rock.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8 - 9) Now my head will be lifted up
above my enemies encircling me;
therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes,
came upon me to eat up my flesh,
They stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear:
Though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after;
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion:
In the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me;
he shall set me up upon a rock.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up,
Above mine enemies round about me:
Therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy;
I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2022 edition?)
Where do Muslims live?
Canada is a land of immigrants. And Muslims are coming in increasing numbers
to our shores. Where do they live? How can we pray for these areas? Use this as
your more effectively for Muslims in Canada.
Data for those population figures is extrapolated for the 2011 National
Household Survey and population growth projections by Pew Forum. These have
also been adjusted by +40% as reliable sources state that on 60% of Muslims
self-identify on government surveys and forms. These estimates are still on
the conservative end of the spectrum. Percentages represent that of the total
Canadian population, not provincial
BC - 136493 - 7.5%
AB - 195240 - 11%
SK - 17279 - 1%
MB - 21349 - 1.2%
ON - 1001542 - 55%
QC - 418946 - 23%
NB - 4543 - 0.003%
NS - 14629 - 0.1%
PEI - 1127 - 0.0006%
NFLD - 2065 - 0.001%
Yukon - 69 - 0.00004%
NWT - 473 - 0.0003%
NU - 86 - 0.00005%
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 "In the last days it shall be," says God,
"that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even on My menservants and maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below:
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]
Footnotes
Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
And
Thank you for praying through the
5 Days of Prayer for Sikhs.
"My name is Kam. I'm 29 years of age, and I grew up Sikh. As a teenager,
I struggled with depression, brokenness, and addiction to
cannabis. I didn't know how to stop or how to get help.
Then a friend invited me to church. As I spent time with Christians
and heard the message of the Gospel, I experienced the
love of Jesus Christ, and it was like nothing I'd known before.
One night I had a dream where I saw Him - a figure surrounded by
light who I knew was Jesus, the light of the world.
As I began to understand the gospel message, I encountered a reassuring and
confident solution to the problem of sin. I knew that I needed a solution
to my sin problem, and I gave my life to Christ.
Slowly, God began to heal my broken heart and my addiction.
Nine years have passed, and I am a devoted husband and a father
to two beautiful boys. I grow deeper in love with Jesus each day.
I ask you to continue praying with me, and others around the world, for Sikhs.
God is the only one who can draw people to Himself. He works in and through
the prayers of His people. I want Sikhs to know the freedom
and healing that is only available through Jesus Christ."
13 (Ro 14:17; 12:12) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy
and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope,
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
[13] Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that
ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
ROMANS 15:13
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
14th Day of the Month
a) Pray for God's kingdom to come
in your home, neighbourhood, city or community,
and in our nation ( Matt 6:10
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
)
b) Pray for those who serve with
denominations and Christian organisations
in Canada - that God will bless their ministry
and anoint them for effective service.
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and and pray for your nation to follow the Lord.
Pray to the Lord: "Inspire me, faithful God, to commit to working
with a purpose that glorifies You."
Pray to the Lord and pray to be humble in His sight.
Pray to the Lord and pray to seek Him daily.
Pray to the Lord and pray to Lord as Salvation.
Pray for Muslims in Canada to know Jesus as Saviour.
Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
Pray for God's kingdom to come in your home, neighbourhood, city
or community, and in our nation.
Pray for those who serve with denominations and Christian organisations
in Canada - that God will bless their ministry and anoint them
for effective service.
Pray that families in Laos will be delivered from worshiping false spirits
and instead worship the one true God.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.