Category: “Listening to God” Devotional

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=1Kings+022

 

CHAPTER 22 (ESV)

18 And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we refrain?” And he answered him, “Go up and triumph; the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” 18 But the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?” 18 And he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.’” 18 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?” 19 And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left; 20 and the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said one thing, and another said another. 21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, saying, ‘I will entice him.’ 22 And the Lord said to him, ‘By what means?’ And he said, ‘I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And he said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.’ 23 Now therefore behold, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the Lord has declared disaster for you.”

24 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “How did the Spirit of the Lord go from me to speak to you?”

 

REFLECTION

1. Ahab recognized the sarcasm in Micaiah’s voice and demanded he tell the truth. That prophet then told the king he would be killed in the battle.
2. The “lying spirit” from the Lord (v23) troubles many. Two observations help. God is able to turn the evil done by Satan and his minions to accomplish good. The lying spirit may have had its own purpose in deceiving Ahab.
3. Perhaps most important, God did not deceive Ahab at all! Through Micaiah the Lord fully revealed what He intended. Ahab then chose to act on the lie told by his own prophets and so rode to his doom.
4. God always reveals His truth to human beings. He is not responsible if men reject the truth in favor of lies.
5. At present, what do I need for God’s instruction? Have I heard God’s truth? What’s my choice? Why?

 

PRAYER

Lord, help me understand Your truth and Your will. Give me the glad willingness to obey and to follow and not to repeatedly asking in hope of changing Your mind to fit mine.

 

HYMN

Your Will Be Done – youtu.be/fgXE9Di1CUA

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=1Kings+021

 

CHAPTER 21 (ESV)

1 Now Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2 And after this Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house, and I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its value in money.” 3 But Naboth said to Ahab, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.” 4 And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him, for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food.

5 But Jezebel his wife came to him and said to him, “Why is your spirit so vexed that you eat no food?” 6 And he said to her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money, or else, if it please you, I will give you another vineyard for it.’ And he answered, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’” 7 And Jezebel his wife said to him, “Do you now govern Israel? Arise and eat bread and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

 

REFLECTION

1. Ahab wanted a vineyard which belongs to Naboth. Old Testament Law forbade permanent sale of family land for it’s regarded as God’s gift. Thus Naboth refused the king’s offer to buy or trade his vineyard. The king went home and sulked. Jezebel scornfully told him to “act as king” (v7), and promised to get him the vineyard. To Jezebel, a king could use his royal power anyway he wished to get what he wanted.
2. Christian parents and leaders need to realize that we’ve been given a commission to servanthood not kingship. As Jesus said, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve”. (Matt 20:26-28)
3. Have I ever used my position for my own benefit, even at the loss of another? Recall the situation and converse with God.

 

PRAYER

Use the following paragraph to continue the conversation with God.

“Meekness was the method that Jesus used with the apostles. He put up with their ignorance and roughness and even their infidelity. He treated sinners with a kindness and affection that caused some to be shocked, others to be scandalized, and still others to gain hope in God’s mercy. Thus, he bade us to be gentle and humble of heart”. – John Bosco

 

HYMN

Make Me A Servant – youtu.be/r6U8O_WnPZY

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=1Kings+020

 

CHAPTER 20 (ESV)

29 And they encamped opposite one another seven days. Then on the seventh day the battle was joined. And the people of Israel struck down of the Syrians 100,000 foot soldiers in one day. 30 And the rest fled into the city of Aphek, and the wall fell upon 27,000 men who were left.

Ben-hadad also fled and entered an inner chamber in the city. 31 And his servants said to him, “Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Let us put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads and go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will spare your life.” 32 So they tied sackcloth around their waists and put ropes on their heads and went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please, let me live.’” And he said, “Does he still live? He is my brother.” 33 Now the men were watching for a sign, and they quickly took it up from him and said, “Yes, your brother Ben-hadad.” Then he said, “Go and bring him.” Then Ben-hadad came out to him, and he caused him to come up into the chariot. 34 And Ben-hadad said to him, “The cities that my father took from your father I will restore, and you may establish bazaars for yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” And Ahab said, “I will let you go on these terms.” So he made a covenant with him and let him go.

35 And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow at the command of the Lord, “Strike me, please.” But the man refused to strike him.

42 And he said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore your life shall be for his life, and your people for his people.’” 43 And the king of Israel went to his house vexed and sullen and came to Samaria.

 

REFLECTION

1. Please read this whole chapter, at least vv29-43 to get a clear picture of the story.
2. When desperate, Ahab was eager for God’s help and direction. With the battles won, Ahab quickly reverted to his arrogant ways. Ahab had been commanded to kill Ben-Hadad. When Ahab was rebuked he did not repent but became “sullen and angry”.
3. In v31, the Hebrew root word for “merciful” is the same word used to describe the “steadfast love” that God has for Israel and that God desires from Israel (8:23). Ahab has practiced this loyal love with his enemy, forgetting love for God.
4. When the danger is past, too many revert to their old attitudes and ways. It is not what we know about God that counts. What counts is how we respond to Him once we know.

 

PRAYER

Sing or read slowly this old hymn by Amy Carmichael and ask God, “Is it I?”

Many crowd the Savior’s kingdom, few receive his cross; many seek his consolation, few will suffer loss for the dear sake of the master, counting all but dross.

Many sit at Jesus’ table, few will fast with him; when the sorrow-cup of anguish trembles to the brim, few watch with Him in the garden, who have sung the hymn.

Many will confess his wisdom, few embrace his shame; many, should he smile upon them, will his praise proclaim; then, if for a while He leaves them, they desert his name.

But the souls who love him truly, let woe come or bliss, these will count their dearest hearts’ blood not their own, but His. Savior, thou who thus hast loved me, give me love like this.

 

HYMN

Many Crowd the Savior’s Kingdom – youtu.be/s4UT8oIjWss

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=1Kings+019

 

CHAPTER 19 (ESV)

1 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” 3 Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” 8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

 

REFLECTION

1. Elijah’s human side is revealed as we witness his deep depression and discouragement after so great a demonstration of God’s power. His example shows that we can confess our weaknesses, discouragements, and fears to the Lord. He will both hear them and, amazingly, minister to us regarding them and work through us despite them to accomplish His work.
2. When Elijah was asking for death, what did God say to him? What did God do to comfort him?
3. In my faith journey, have I ever been as depressed and disappointed as Elijah to the point I couldn’t go on any further (especially coming off of a spiritual “high”)? What was it? How did I come out of it? Was it any of God’s word or the sense of God’s presence with me? Or was it someone that God brought to minister to me then?
4. Am I in such condition now? How would the past experiences help me? How would I face it now?

 

PRAYER

Read the following verses slowly trying to appreciate coming to God “with confidence”.

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. “ (Heb 4:18-18)

 

HYMN

He Will Hold Me Fast – youtu.be/936BapRFHaQ

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=1Kings+018

 

CHAPTER 18 (ESV)

18 And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals. 19 Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

20 So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. 23 Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. 24 And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.”

 

REFLECTION

1. In many ways, Ahab’s story is familiar: a powerful ruler continues the evil practices instituted before him, marries one who encourages further evil, and has significant opportunity to repent and turn to God, but continues in disobedience, bringing much suffering to his nation and his own untimely death. Despite all Ahab saw God doing, he remained bent toward sin. And he witnessed one of God’s most awesome displays of power on Mt. Carmel!
2. As Ahab’s life demonstrates, sin can gain an increasing hold on our soul. Especially when we are allied with another drawn to evil, sin acts to numb our spirit to the truths of God. Yet just as sin becomes habitual, so holy living can become habitual. Just as sin numbs the spirit to the things of God, so obedience opens the spirit to God’s transforming power.
3. Do I have a relationship similar to that of Ahab and Jezebel, in which a person close to me encourages me toward sin? Do I sense God guiding me to make a change in this relationship?
4. What kind of idolatry is alive in my life? Money? Reputation? Career? Appearance? Comfort? In what ways does this idolatry cause me to turn my back on God or His people?

 

PRAYER

Spend some time in silence before God. Invite the Holy Spirit to shine in the deepest parts of my heart. Whatever revealed, ask God to take over and to help me to live my life clearly aware of the Emmanuel God with me.

 

HYMN

Only A Holy God – youtu.be/Jxn_fu6rdCU

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=1Kings+017

 

CHAPTER 17 (ESV)

9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” 11 And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 12 And she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.” 13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’” 15 And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.

 

REFLECTION

1. While hiding from Ahab, Elijah left Israel and went to Jezebel’s homeland, Phoenicia! There he stayed in the City of Zarephath with a penniless widow who first fed the prophet, and then herself and her son when Elijah promised that her near-empty jug of oil would not run dry, and her near-empty jar of flour would not run out. The widow’s faith was rewarded. Instead of starving, the woman and her son were fed daily.
2. Later, when the widow’s son became ill and stopped breathing, Elijah was there to ask God to restore him. The return of the boy to life was final, joyous proof to the widow. God truly did live and speak through Elijah.
3. When we are first called to faith in Christ, it may seem that we, like the widow’s jar of flour, are called on to give up something vital to us. Whatever we give up when we receive Christ, God gives us far more. And ultimately we have eternal life.
4. Ask God what might be my jar of flour today – something that needs filling up. It’s okay to tell God He’s asking too much. At first, the widow did just that. Trusting God is a process.
5. Consider how it would feel to trust God this much. How would my life be different if I trusted God with just a little more every single morning, as the widow did?

 

PRAYER

Tell God what my thoughts are, and listen to God’s response.

 

HYMN

Trust and Obey – youtu.be/mVMwnWoqYnc

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=1Kings+016

 

CHAPTER 16 (ESV)

1 And the word of the Lord came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying, 2 “Since I exalted you out of the dust and made you leader over my people Israel, and you have walked in the way of Jeroboam and have made my people Israel to sin, provoking me to anger with their sins, 3 behold, I will utterly sweep away Baasha and his house, and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 4 Anyone belonging to Baasha who dies in the city the dogs shall eat, and anyone of his who dies in the field the birds of the heavens shall eat.”

5 Now the rest of the acts of Baasha and what he did, and his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 6 And Baasha slept with his fathers and was buried at Tirzah, and Elah his son reigned in his place. 7 Moreover, the word of the Lord came by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha and his house, both because of all the evil that he did in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and also because he destroyed it.

 

REFLECTION

1. One of the best ways to learn is from other people’s mistakes. But this also seems to be the most difficult way for most of us to gain understanding.
2. God rejected Jeroboam’s line because of their commitment to evil, and announced that every male member of the family would be killed. Baasha was the instrument God used to carry out this judgment. Yet when Baasha had assassinated Nadab, Jeroboam’s son, Baasha himself then “walked in the ways of Jeroboam and in his sin”!
3. Baasha had learned nothing from the destruction of Jeroboam’s family. So, as the Prophet Jehu announced, Baasha and his house met the same fate. Baasha failed to learn from Jeroboam’s and Nadab’s mistakes. And it cost him his life.
4. How well do I pay attention to learn from other people’s mistakes? Or do I still think “it can’t happen to me”?

 

PRAYER

Use this verse as my prayer. Acknowledge to God that I am not any better than the others, I am also weak, and may fall and even fail.

“If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word is not in us.” (1 John 1:6, 8, 10)

 

HYMN

Forgive Me, Lord – youtu.be/_x-1-oVxeu4

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=1Kings+015

 

CHAPTER 15 (ESV)

15 And he brought into the house of the Lord the sacred gifts of his father and his own sacred gifts, silver, and gold, and vessels.

16 And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 17 Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and built Ramah, that he might permit no one to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 18 Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king’s house and gave them into the hands of his servants. And King Asa sent them to Ben-hadad the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, who lived in Damascus, saying, 19 “Let there be a covenant between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I am sending to you a present of silver and gold. Go, break your covenant with Baasha king of Israel, that he may withdraw from me.” 20 And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel and conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. 21 And when Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah, and he lived in Tirzah. 22 Then King Asa made a proclamation to all Judah, none was exempt, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber, with which Baasha had been building, and with them King Asa built Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah. 23 Now the rest of all the acts of Asa, all his might, and all that he did, and the cities that he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? But in his old age he was diseased in his feet. 24 And Asa slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place.

 

REFLECTION

1. When Asa became king, he purposed to do the right thing and he did make a lot of reformations. He expelled cult prostitutes, got rid of idols, and deposed the queen mother, his grandmother, because she worshiped a pagan goddess. The Bible described Asa this way: “Asa’s heart was fully committed to the LORD all his life” (v14). And God blessed him and brought longevity and prosperity to him and Judah.
2. However, he didn’t learn the lesson of dependence on God, either. He sought the help of the Arameans, and this is the evidence of Judah’s spiritual downfall. He had depended solely on God’s protection and defeated enemies. But when new challenges came, he used Temple treasures to pay Damascus for an “alliance” and security (v19). His treaty evidenced some lack of trust in Yahweh (2 Chron. 16:7-9). When we rely on our own strength and wisdom more than God, we sin against God.
3. Have I ever encountered any challenge? What was it? What did I do then? Why? What lessons did I learn to rely on God?

 

PRAYER

Lord, give me wisdom so that no matter what challenges I face, I will follow You and Your will. I will make pleasing You as my daily priority.

 

HYMN

Where Thou Leadest Me – youtu.be/HEeA0JJxKZI

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=1Kings+014

 

CHAPTER 14 (ESV)

21 Now Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city that the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonite. 22 And Judah did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins that they committed, more than all that their fathers had done. 23 For they also built for themselves high places and pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree, 24 and there were also male cult prostitutes in the land. They did according to all the abominations of the nations that the Lord drove out before the people of Israel.

25 In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem. 26 He took away the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king’s house. He took away everything. He also took away all the shields of gold that Solomon had made, 27 and King Rehoboam made in their place shields of bronze, and committed them to the hands of the officers of the guard, who kept the door of the king’s house. 28 And as often as the king went into the house of the Lord, the guard carried them and brought them back to the guardroom.

29 Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 30 And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually. 31 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonite. And Abijam his son reigned in his place.

 

REFLECTION

1. When Rehoboam became king, Israel was a great nation. Obviously he didn’t realize how the wealth and power came about and became wicked and turned from worshipping God. God allowed the Egyptian King Shishak to attack Judah. Though his military force wasn’t strong enough to defeat Judah, they surely weakened it. It had only been five years since the death of Solomon, and the Temple and palace were ransacked by foreign soldiers. The glory, power and wealth of Rehoboam and his nation were diminished quickly. When people are spiritually and morally corrupted, all their glory and fame will fly away also.
2. Rehoboam didn’t heed God’s word “the LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”(Deut 6:4-5). Deut explains: “so be careful not to forget the covenant that the Lord your God made with you, and not to make for yourselves an idol…. For the Lord your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God. (Deut 4:23- 24).
3. What’s the core of my life? Is God present in my decision making process? How do I live out my daily life that honors God as my Lord?

 

PRAYER

Read the following scripture passages. Make a prayer of commitment to God that will acknowledge Him as my one and only Lord.

“4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” (Deut 6:4-5)

“23 Take care, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he made with you, and make a carved image, the form of anything that the Lord your God has forbidden you. 24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” (Deut 4:23-24)

 

HYMN

You Are My Lord – youtu.be/4Id7rOGC6yM

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=1Kings+013

 

CHAPTER 13 (ESV)

1 And behold, a man of God came out of Judah by the word of the Lord to Bethel. Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make offerings. 2 And the man cried against the altar by the word of the Lord and said, “O altar, altar, thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name, and he shall sacrifice on you the priests of the high places who make offerings on you, and human bones shall be burned on you.’” 3 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, “This is the sign that the Lord has spoken: ‘Behold, the altar shall be torn down, and the ashes that are on it shall be poured out.’” …

23 And after he had eaten bread and drunk, he saddled the donkey for the prophet whom he had brought back. 24 And as he went away a lion met him on the road and killed him. And his body was thrown in the road, and the donkey stood beside it; the lion also stood beside the body. 25 And behold, men passed by and saw the body thrown in the road and the lion standing by the body. And they came and told it in the city where the old prophet lived.

26 And when the prophet who had brought him back from the way heard of it, he said, “It is the man of God who disobeyed the word of the Lord; therefore the Lord has given him to the lion, which has torn him and killed him, according to the word that the Lord spoke to him.”

 

REFLECTION

1. (It’ll be better to read the whole chapter once to get a clearer understanding of the incident.) A young prophet was sent to Bethel to speak against Jeroboam’s false religion. After he completed his mission and was on the way home, an old prophet who lived nearby stopped him. God had told the young man not to eat or drink in Israel. But the old man lied, saying that God had told him that the young prophet could now stay and dine at his house.
2. Apparently the old prophet lied. As a result, the young prophet was killed by a lion on his way back home.
3. The incident carries an important message. If God’s word was so important that even slight deviation brought death, how terrible Jeroboam’s sin must be.
4. We must be open and sensitive to God’s word and His will for us. We need also to discern of those who tell us what we ought to do.

 

PRAYER

If you observe anything evil within yourself, correct it; if something good, preserve it; if something beautiful, foster it; if something sound, maintain it; if sickly, heal it. Read unwearingly the precepts of the Lord and, sufficiently instructed by them, you will know what to avoid and what to pursue. – Bernard of Clairvaux

So help me, God!

 

HYMN

Give Us Clean Hands – youtu.be/gBjpnIOYIWE