Daily Reading
Daily Thought
God spoke through his prophet Elijah against evil King Ahab, “Because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the Lord, behold, I will bring disaster upon you. I will utterly burn you up, and will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel” (1Kings 21:20-21). Time passes, Ahab passes, and Israel has a new king, Jehu. “Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria” (2Kings 10:1 ). Jehu did what kings do and eliminated the competition. “They took the king’s sons and slaughtered them, seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel” (2Kings 10:7).
God means what he says and his judgment teaches one thing, at least–we should take God seriously because he takes us seriously, for evil or good. There were good kings, as well, and God had spoken through his prophet Nathan to the righteous King David, “Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever” (2Samuel 7:16). While Jehu ruled in Israel, Athaliah reigned in Judah, and she attempted to destroy the house of David, but one newborn, Joash (also called Jehoash) was hidden away for six years in a bedroom in the house of the Lord. Athaliah would not find him there because she did not go there–she worshipped in the house of Baal. Her reign was evil and ended terribly and “Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign” (2Kings 11:21). The throne of David continued. We live history, but we do not create it for it is written by God.
Daily Prayer
My God, You are King of kings and Lord of lords. My kings sit on earthly thrones, while You sit on the throne of heaven. I pledge my allegiance to You and Your kingdom forever. Your will be done as it has always been.
I serve at Your pleasure and for Your pleasure, God. May the desires of my heart be shaped by You, so that I will seek after what is righteous and good, pure and holy. May I delight in following You and may You be praised by my works and my words. May all that I do declare that You are my King.
Amen