I & II KINGS

Today is Tuesday, and I finished up the last two chapters in I Kings and then read eight chapters into II Kings.  These chapters are so full of spiritual application that it is very hard to write about just a few of them.  Each chapter has a few thoughts in them that would be a blessing to any Christian.  I will just pick a few to share this morning: 1) HUMILITY CATCHES THE HEART OF GOD- I am utterly amazed by the ability of humility to catch the heart of God.  In I Kings 21, we see it illustrated dramatically.  In this chapter, wicked Ahab steals the vineyard of Naboth because his wife Jezebel has him falsely accused and killed.  When Ahad goes to take possession, God sends Elijah to tell him that the dogs will lick up his blood in the same field.  Elijah also tells him that he will cut off his posterity from the earth.  vs. 25 says:  "But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up."  vs. 26 says:  "And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel."  Now, he was wicked through and through and he deserved judgment and judgment was decreed upon him.  BUT... in verse 27 it says:  "And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly."  THEN... we see the response of God to Ahabs humility in verse 29:  "Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me?  because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days:  but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house."  God responded to humility, even when it was found in a most evil man, Ahab.  What if you and I were to learn to walk humbly before God?  Might not God hear our prayer, and see our plight?  Yes, He would!! Humility catches the heart of God!! 2) IT SHALL BE WELL- The expectation of the heart of the woman who is a Shunammite.  Her faith in God's outcome is a challenge to all of us.  Elisha had told the woman she would have a child, and she did.  Though her husband was old, and she was of great size, she still had conceived and born a man child.  When the boy was young, he was in the field with his father and fell.  He hit his head and cried out "my head, my head".  He was taken to his mother, rested on her knees till noon, and then died.  She laid her son on the bed of the guest room prepared for Elisha, and went with a servant to see the Man of God.  Her husband asked why she is going to see the Man of God, not realizing their son was dead.  She answered in II Kings 4:23  "It shall be well."  She knew that IF she could get to the Man of God, it would be well!  Oh that we had enough faith to believe that same thing.  To get to the LORD means that all will be well.  When she said: "It shall be well."  It was a pure expression of her faith in God and the Man of God.  Let us be challenged to have that same faith. Well, I am only going to write about two thoughts since each one of them is more extensive than normal.  I hope you have a blessed day and walk with God each moment of this glorious day.  Pastor Mike Mutchler