TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Amos 1:13-2:2
No Ammonite or Moabite or any of his descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD. - Deuteronomy 23:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
When the H1N1 virus began spreading across North America, public fear and panic spread even faster. But it wasn't long before scientists had engineered a vaccine. Despite all the apprehension about the virus itself, many parents were just as concerned about the safety of the vaccines. With the disease and the proposed cure being so new, patients were fearful about the unforeseen long-term effects.

If only we could be so cautious toward sin. Today we read about the long-term effects of the unthinkable actions taken by Lot's daughters, nearly one thousand years after they occurred. It is obvious that the sins of both the Ammonites and the Moabites were many, and God's judgment against them was decisive. Amos wasn't the only prophet to deliver such a harsh message. Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel all pronounced some sort of judgment over both nations, and Zephaniah prophesied that their doom would be like Sodom and Gomorrah's, the culmination of centuries of animosity.

Because of their descent from Lot, God extended considerable grace and leniency toward Moab and Ammon, forbidding Israel to attack them and granting them their own land (Deut. 2:9, 19). That grace was repaid with guile in the time of Israel's wanderings (Numbers 22), in the Promised Land (Judges 10-12), in the days of Saul (1 Sam. 14:47) and David (2 Sam. 8:2) and in almost every chapter of Israel's Old Testament history. Lot's daughters' acts were evil from the start, but who could have predicted how widespread the effect of their crimes would prove to be?

Even more unpredictable was the single most important bright spot through it all. Ruth, the great-grandmother of David and ancestor of Jesus' earthly father Joseph, was a Moabite who married into an Israelite family and wholeheartedly accepted faith in the one true God. In the Lord's infinite wisdom and boundless grace, He saw fit to include a descendant of Lot in the line of Christ.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When the so-called natural repercussions of our sins entangle us, God often extends a hand of grace more readily than He strikes with judgment. As His treatment of the Moabites and Ammonites proves, this is nothing new but rather an eternal attribute of His divine love. While one sin can have far-reaching effects, God's grace is always available to us. There is hope for you today, whatever your sins may be. With it comes great responsibility to obey.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Samuel 11:1-27
The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast. - Proverbs 5:22
TODAY IN THE WORD
Paula Bernstein and Elyse Schein first met at a New York City cafe. Neither woman left her seat for hours, because they were so fascinated to learn as much as they could about each other. You would be too if you had to wait 35 years to meet your identical twin. The women discovered they had been part of a psychological study about the effects of nature versus nurture, a study so controversial that the results have been sealed until 2066. But the women knew right away that, despite being raised in completely different circumstances, they shared a deep connection.

The nurturing that David received in his life could not have been more different from that of Lot's daughters, David's distant ancestors. Whereas they had been raised in one of the most immoral communities of all time, David grew up in a family that worshiped the true God, developing into a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22). But what David did in today's reading is evidence that no amountof positive nurturing can eliminate the depraved sin nature inherited by us all.

Just about all of David's decisions in this passage were wrong. By staying behind while his armies fought, David diverged from doing what was right and opened the door for impurity to take hold of his heart. Adultery, murder, deceit, and treachery were all rooted in that one nearly negligible act of selfishness. And it took almost no time for David's sins to manifest in one dire consequence after another. By the time David learned the results of his actions, he had become more concerned about hiding his sin than the death of his people (v. 25).

By contrast, Uriah's deeds were honorable, and that's the injustice of sin. Even the righteous suffer the consequences of other people's crimes. Uriah and other men died. Bathsheba lost her husband. Joab was made an unwitting instrument of sin. And, above all, the Lord was displeased with David. The consequences had only begun to unfold.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Staying pure and holy to God is more than just avoiding sexual sins like David's. The slippery slope of sin began with a failure to fulfill his responsibilities as God's servant. Being holy to God involves staying away from sin and being devoted to what He has for us to do. Think about what tasks God has assigned you, and then do them wholeheartedly. Thank Him for giving you a purpose and an escape from sins of selfishness. Doing whatever your own heart desires apart from God is vastly overrated.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Samuel 12:1-14
Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes? - 2 Samuel 12:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
One of the most difficult decisions facing a defense attorney is the choice of whether to allow the defendant to testify on his or her own behalf. A convincing testimony can help a jury identify with the person on trial, making the claims of innocence more believable. On the other hand, if the defendant appears abrasive, deceitful, or cold, the decision to take the stand can backfire very quickly, especially if the prosecuting attorney is armed with condemning ammunition.

If he had been on trial today, King David should have pleaded the Fifth Amendment, because his response to the prophet Nathan was a self-incriminating testimony if ever there was one. His anger over the loss of one poor man's lamb was indicative of his true personality, but it lay in stark contrast to the indifference he showed toward Uriah's death. Sin has a way of warping us to the point we no longer resemble the image of God created in us.

The account of 2 Samuel 12 probably occurred many months after Uriah's death, since Bathsheba had already given birth to David's son. Enough time had passed that David didn't see the correlation between Nathan's story and his own wicked deeds. But once confronted with his sin, David was immediately repentant. He received forgiveness and escaped the death penalty he had recommended for himself (v. 13), but God did not erase the consequences (v. 14).

The most immediate punishment was levied on another innocent victim: David's son. He was struck with an illness and died a week later (v. 18). In general, David's family became increasingly dysfunctional from that point forward. But Nathan's specific prophecy was fulfilled in the wickedness of David's son, Absalom (16:21-22). What David had done in secret was repaid to him, shamefully, for his kingdom to see. The punishment fit the crime, and it was an embarrassment for Israel, David's family, and the testimony of the Lord's people.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Impure pleasure almost always leads to shame. What we think is protected by privacy cannot be hidden from God's sight, nor can the consequences be prevented. For David, one short period of snowballing indiscretion caused an otherwise righteous life to unravel. We need to stay constantly vigilant to stay pure, serve God, and flee from temptation. Live this day and every day as if your life were an open book that anyone could read, and ask the Lord for the help only He can give.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 9:11-28
He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. - Hebrews 9:26
TODAY IN THE WORD
One of the best-selling toys is a collection of nameless stuffed animals—nameless, that is, until their new child owners supply them each a name along with the appropriate six-digit code on Webkinz.com. The popular children's social network allows kids to create a virtual room for a digital version of their plush pals where they can decorate, furnish, and add rooms as well as feed, dress, and interact with their pets. Children love the idea that the toys they hold in their arms are just copies of something much grander.

The tabernacle was a physical representation of something far greater outside of the natural realm. In Hebrews 9, the author of Hebrews introduces this extraordinary concept that true, heavenly realities exist, corresponding to earthly objects incorporated into Israel's worship of God. Being heavenly, they required a better sacrifice that could transcend the divide between the world we see with our eyes and the world we see by faith alone. That sacrifice came in the person of Jesus Christ, and the purification He accomplished was true, perfect, and final.

These past several days have taught us that sin is ingrained in our nature, no matter how righteous we may try to be on our own. But the blood of Christ can cleanse even our consciences, making these earthly vessels suitable for heavenly service (v. 14). The ways of worship assigned by God to His people had been an amazing object lesson of His plan of redemption and purification through the blood of His Son.

The crimes of impurity committed by mankind deserve a punishment of judgment and death. Ultimately, however, Jesus Christ took that punishment upon Himself not only paying for our sins but taking them away as well. We deserved condemnation, but through Christ we receive salvation. Our purity isn't ceremonial, virtual, or imagined. Because of Jesus, it is heavenly.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Isn't it encouraging to know that there is more to our lives than what we see before us? There is much more to you than what you see in a mirror. In Christ, we are written into the new covenant established by His death and resurrection, and our inheritance is eternal life. From a heavenly perspective, our sins have been washed away. There is no reason to stay in sin! Yes, the penalty for sin is severe, but look instead today on the opportunity to serve in purity afforded you by Jesus Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 5:22-6:11
I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. - Exodus 6:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
Political leaders are notorious for their promises. Very rarely can an elected official fulfill every goal laid out on the campaign trail—some don't manage to live up to any. Plans for resurrecting an economy or cleaning up the political system are usually beyond the power of any one person, so it's easy to blame an opponent for failure. But when plans succeed, most politicians are quick to take the credit and watch their popularity skyrocket.

God's promise to Israel was loftier than any human leader could guarantee. And unlike the flimsy plans of men, God's prediction didn't contain the word if. His superiority was definite, and the deliverance of His children was a statement of fact. But the certainty of God's acts wasn't the only notable thing about this promise.

At this point, God didn't even ask the people of Israel to believe Him. He was making an unconditional promise that required no action from them. He would do all the work. He would bring them out. He would free them. He would redeem them. He would take them as His people and be their God. And He would bring them to the land of promise.

The only action ascribed to Israel was knowledge: they would know that the Lord was God and that He alone delivered them out of slavery in Egypt (v. 7). At the time, they dismissed the message Moses carried to them because to them those promises were just loud words from a strange man who had made their workload even harder. Without proof, they would never believe.

The chapters that follow tell the rest of the story. God gave Israel all the proof they needed and more. He demonstrated His power over Pharaoh's false gods, and He showed His mercy to those who believed in Him and followed His instructions. To ignore what He had done would be nothing short of criminal.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Are you having trouble believing in the power of God to rescue you from any hardship or to provide you with whatever you might need? That could be because you have forgotten what He has done in the past. Take some time to write down the ways God has helped you in the past, beginning with His gift of salvation in Jesus Christ. There is no greater feat nor deeper love than the redemption of a sinner. Thank God for all He has done and praise Him for His ability to continually meet your needs.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Numbers 14:1-10
What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? - Romans 3:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
In Harper Lee's Pulitzer-Prize-winning novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Tom Robinson is convicted of rape despite overwhelming evidence of his innocence. The deciding factor in his trial was the color of his skin. Scout Finch, the story's narrator, described the injustice faced by Tom and her father Atticus, who defended him: “In the secret courts of men's hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed.”

Sometimes evidence isn't enough for people whose priorities have been skewed. The Israelites closed their minds to the truth, not because of the color of the Canaanites' skin, but because of the imposing size of their cities and strength of their people. With a very small exception, the entire country ignored everything God had done to prove His power and dismissed His ability to give them the land.

They had seen God bring plagues down upon Egypt. They watched Him emancipate them from slavery. They saw Him divide the Red Sea so they could cross on dry land and then crush Pharaoh's army beneath the water once all of Israel was safe. They saw God provide quail and manna to eat and water from a rock. They had shaken in fear at His voice. They had already seen God give them military victory and pour out His wrath on their rebellion with the golden calf.

The lack of faith of the majority went beyond hesitancy, apprehension, or fearful doubt. They were ready to stone Joshua and Caleb (and perhaps Moses and Aaron as well) for their requests to enter the Promised Land. Had Israel been a democracy, they would have voted to return to Egypt with a leader of their own choosing! The people God had claimed as His own rejected Him. Compare Israel here with Eve: she allowed her desire for forbidden fruit to overpower her fear of death, while the people of Israel were too fearful to accept the fruitful land of life that God promised to deliver into their hands.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It may be relatively easy to recall people you know who have stubbornly ignored the power of God and adamantly refused to trust in Him. But we may need to reflect a bit more deeply to remember times when our own hearts have been so blinded. Maybe you're even feeling that way right now. If you are facing a strong giant in your own life, put your trust in the omnipotent Lord and Creator of all. Don't let fear stand in the way of doing what is right.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Numbers 14:11-44
How long will they refuse to believe in me? - Numbers 14:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
When Moses was with the Lord on Mount Sinai and the rest of Israel had crafted the golden calf as their new object of worship, God expressed His desire to destroy the people and to make a new nation from Moses and his descendants. Moses pleaded with the Lord to relent, citing the negative image it would leave in the minds of foreign nations and recalling His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 32). God had mercy on His rebellious children.

A little over a year later, Moses found himself in an almost identical situation. We read yesterday about Israel's mutinous reaction to the plan for entering Canaan. Today's passage begins with God's furious response, renewing His intentions to destroy the rebellious people and start anew with Moses. Once again, Moses asked forgiveness for His people, and once again the Lord answered his request. However, Israel would not go unpunished.

All the Israelites who were at least twenty years old were sentenced to die in the wilderness, a result of protracted wandering over forty years. The spies who had given bad reports because they were more afraid of the Canaanites than of God were all killed immediately with a plague. Of the adults, only Caleb and Joshua were permitted to enter the Promised Land, but even they had to wait forty years before it happened. The punishment for Israel's crime this time came directly from God. He withheld the benefits of His special promise from those who refused to trust Him.

Ironically, Moses' pleas for mercy may have indirectly prevented him from entering the Promised Land. Many leaders would have seized the opportunity to become the father of a new nation, but Moses acted unselfishly. Yet later in the book of Numbers, Moses' frustrations with these same people incited him to disrespect God's commands, and his penalty was God's ban on leading the people into Canaan (20:9-12). A wicked people can create the conditions for the downfall of their own leaders.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Failure to trust in God will always lead us to miss out on blessings He intends for us. You might not see your rebellion or the cost as specifically as Israel did in the wilderness, but you may very well spend decades wandering aimlessly with little reward. When God asks you to trust in Him, obey without hesitation—though you should take the time to ensure you are acting on faith in His true will and not selfish impulse. Be willing today to do what is right, no matter how difficult it may seem.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Deuteronomy 6:1-25
Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you. - Deuteronomy 6:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
Certain events in popular culture capture the public's attention and dominate the conversation—they become known as water-cooler moments. It could be celebrity gossip, sporting events, a television show, or (especially in corporate culture) the latest office rumors. What we talk about in those moments when we have nothing else to discuss says a lot about what is most important to us as individuals and as a society.

It is telling, then, that the subject of God and His Word are more often taboo than the topic of our water-cooler discussions. God instructed Israel to do the opposite. He wanted to be at the forefront of Israel's conversation. And it made perfect sense, especially if there had been no official written copy of God's Word prior to God inscribing the Law or Moses recording the Pentateuch. If God's Word wasn't on their lips, it was unlikely to be on their hearts.

Today's passage is one of those chapters that uplifts the spirits of the reader. Israel was being encouraged, not scolded. The Lord spoke reassuringly and with certainty of the victory they were about to enjoy and the relationship of righteousness they would encounter with Him. He did include a warning about the consequences of disobedience, and it stands out in the middle of this passage (vv. 14-16). God was not only jealous, but He was also dwelling among the people of Israel (v. 15). For them to assume that He could not see their actions would certainly be a terrible mistake.

The overall tone of the passage is very positive and reassuring. Even so, God anticipated the skeptical question that would come from the next generation: Why do we have all these rules (v. 20)? The answer had nothing to do with joyless restrictions. God rescued His people from slavery, and He wanted them to prosper and to preserve their legacy as people of faith in the Lord their God. Their obedience to the Law demonstrated the reality of their relationship. True obedience could never be independent of their faith in Him.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Try reading this passage as God's exhortation to you with some New Testament substitutions. Instead of bondage in Egypt, think of how God freed you from slavery to sin. Instead of the inheritance of the Promised Land, consider your eternal inheritance. And when you reach the final verse, read Philippians 3:9 in its place: “And be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Judges 6:1-40
Men cry out under a load of oppression; they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful. - Job 35:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
The decorated war hero and controversial Army general George S. Patton knew more about bravery than most people can imagine. But he also knew plenty about fear. He said, “Courage is fear holding on a minute longer.”

As we discussed at the beginning of our January 6 study, Gideon's accomplishments in battle empowered by the Holy Spirit and the guidance of the Lord were quite remarkable. We'll study his bravery in more detail tomorrow, but today will show that Gideon was also considerably plagued by fear. The cause of his fear was not his own sin, but the wickedness of his family and his community. The Israelites had done evil in the eyes of the Lord.

The exact nature of that evil reveals itself through the discourse in today's passage. The Israelites had been oppressed by the Midianites and Amelekites and other people groups in the land they had come to occupy, but they had also grown quite comfortable worshiping the false gods. Gideon's initial fears may have been directed toward the invading foreigners, but his fears over destroying the Asherah pole and altar to Baal stemmed from his own family (v. 27).

Gideon did eventually obey—after several rounds of testing. He needed proof that the angel was of the Lord, which also frightened him (possibly because of the warning in Ex. 33:20). Then he needed proof not once but twice that Israel would be saved by his hand (vv. 36-39). Gideon's problem wasn't an unwillingness to obey, but rather a surplus of fear.

The wickedness of worshiping foreign gods had infested the Israelites, making them vulnerable both to the wrath of God and the oppression of foreign people. But the fear was compounded within their own ranks. All the evidence points to Gideon being a man of faith and obedience, but a community overrun with sin and spiritual infidelity had created an environment of fear for those who truly loved God.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Does this description sound at all familiar in today's culture? When sinful practices abound and biblical beliefs are ridiculed, believers naturally feel threatened. On one hand, Gideon's story should encourage you to stand against the current of popular thought. But on the other hand, we must all recognize the warning that our sins are not only personal—they contribute to an atmosphere in which people are afraid to live righteously. Our sins weigh on the consciences of those around us. Remember that today.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Judges 7:1-25
Who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised. - Judges 7:1-25
TODAY IN THE WORD
One clinical approach to addressing fear, anxiety, and phobias is exposure therapy. By forcing patients to face their fears, even in a controlled environment, psychologists can teach them that they are capable of coping. They see that being paralyzed by fear is actually worse than addressing the threat head on. As Helen Keller put it, “Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.”

If Gideon had any fear remaining in his heart, God forced him to face those fears to the extreme. The Midianites and their allies swarmed the valley where they camped, and even their camels were innumerable. The next chapter states that 15,000 men survived the battle, which claimed the lives of 120,000 swordsmen (8:10). Whatever the number of opposing soldiers, Gideon probably didn't share the Lord's assessment that his own army of 32,000 soldiers was too large. The prospect of fighting with only 300 men was unthinkable.

That's exactly what God wanted Gideon to do. Was he afraid? Verses 10 through 12 indicate as much, but the Lord didn't criticize Gideon's fear, He erased it by allowing him to hear the enemy express fear not only of the Lord but also of the army that Gideon commanded. Gideon's response was uncharacteristic of his usual hesitant approach. The time for testing was over. He was emboldened by the fears of his enemies and the assurance of His God; he acted immediately and rallied his brave, wise, but very small army.

Once the ingenious plan to surround the enemy, manipulate their fears, and allow the Lord to confuse them further unfolded, the size of Gideon's army increased dramatically. He quickly called for the men from the tribe of Ephraim to join in the fight and apprehend the leaders of the Midianite army. By obeying and trusting in God, Gideon saw the force of his efforts multiply and the threat of his enemies dwindle before his eyes. His fear was replaced with boldness, his inaction with mighty works.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Sometimes it may feel like life would be easier if all the directions and orders for our life were spoken directly to us by the angel of the Lord. But while we may not receive specific verbal instructions, we also don't often face pagan armies while outnumbered three hundred to one. One battle we do wage is the battle within, the struggle against the lure of this world system. Are you longing for material possessions and pleasure? Ask God for the courage to seek instead after His kingdom and righteousness (Matt. 6:33).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Kings 12:1-15
A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense. - Proverbs 19:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
In May 2009, Amanda Bonnen wrote what she thought was an innocently sarcastic note criticizing Horizon Realty, the owner of her apartment building. The short message posted to her Twitter account (a popular Internet chat service) was read by a handful of people, twenty at the most. That number shot skyward when the parent company, Horizon Group Management, sued her for libel and defamation. The lawsuit drew international attention and a fierce public backlash against the company, criticism that far exceeded the original damage of Bonnen's near-silent complaint.

As the successor to his father Solomon's throne, Rehoboam had the opportunity to forgive a minor offense or make an example of a potential enemy. He chose the second option, and it ended up dividing the kingdom.

Jeroboam had been favored by Solomon until the prophet Ahijah foretold that Jeroboam would become king over the northern tribes of Israel, leaving only the tribe of Judah for Solomon's offspring to rule. Scripture doesn't say that Jeroboam acted on the prophecy, merely that he fled when Solomon tried to kill him (1 Kings 11:40). When Jeroboam returned, he tried to make peace with Solomon's son.

The former advisors to Solomon gave Rehoboam wise advice to take the merciful and righteous course of action. Instead, he favored the counsel of his friends, and the prophecy was fulfilled (v. 15). The actual words he chose were laughable. Solomon's riches, power, and wisdom were unrivaled. Boasting that he was mightier and fiercer than his father demonstrated the pride that came before Rehoboam's fall. If he had an ounce of his father's wisdom, he would have known better.

If Solomon had stayed true to his wisdom and his God, perhaps Rehoboam would have inherited that wisdom. But Solomon's allegiance had been split between multiple wives from foreign lands, and their gods received his worship. The kingdom of Israel was torn to pieces.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
For any follower of Christ, a selfish or proud attitude can cause dissension. That is especially true for leaders. Self-serving decisions cause pain, loss, and division for those involved, those who are being led, and for future generations. Selfish motives and peace do not often coexist. If you are in any position of leadership, be sure to remember that your decisions are not your own—the people looking up to you share in the consequences of what you do. Choose grace over pride.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Kings 12:16-33
Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt. - 1 Kings 12:28
TODAY IN THE WORD
Adam and Eve broke the one command given in Eden. Cain, Moses, and Abimelech violated God's hatred of violence. Lot's daughters and David and Bathsheba taught us of the monumental consequences for sinning against God's standards of purity. And as they stood at the threshold of the Promised Land, Israel committed the deadly crime of refusing to trust God. These sins represent specific actions, violations at key moments in people's lives.

But the crime we're currently examining is one that dominated the history of Israel in a chronic cycle. It's the sin of rebellion against, departure from, and unfaithfulness toward the Lord God of Israel. This crime is more of a lifestyle than a single act or decision, and it produces many sins and broad consequences. It is, in a sense, its own punishment. In general, the time between the death of Solomon and the birth of Christ was a dark period in Israel's history, but it holds powerful lessons for the believer.

Today's reading follows the aftermath of Rehoboam's cruel treatment of Jeroboam. The insurrection was immediate. One of Rehoboam's officials was killed (v. 18). Jeroboam was swiftly made king over the Northern Kingdom (all tribes except Judah and the bulk of the divided tribe of Benjamin). Had God not spoken through His prophet Shemaiah, a civil war would have followed (v. 24).

Jeroboam's first major act as king of Israel was despicable. To prevent the affections of the people from swaying back to the line of their greatest king, Jeroboam simply created a new form of worship and a revised history of their nation. He made a cheap knock-off of the Hebrew faith, complete with places to worship and falsified festivals. The instruction to select priests from the tribe of Levi was thrown out as well. In Jeroboam's court, anyone could become a priest (13:33). These were God's chosen people, but under the people's chosen king they no longer served the one true God. The Northern Kingdom's legacy of evil had begun.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Not every conflict has a bad guy and a good guy. Both Rehoboam and Jeroboam reigned in times of great evil. There's a lesson there for us when we find ourselves in conflict with someone we know is in the wrong. Have you ever used someone else's blatant sin as proof that your actions are right? It isn't enough to oppose the wicked if we aren't truly following God in what we do. If you (or someone close to you) are engaged in a dispute, seek godly advice and avoid the consequence of perpetual sin.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Kings 16:29-33
There was never a man like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD. - 1 Kings 21:25
TODAY IN THE WORD
Mario Mendoza was known for his defensive skills on the baseball diamond—and his lack of prowess with the bat. In his nine-year career, he hit a total of four home runs, and his low batting averages became the standard for judging poor hitting—a .200 average is known as the Mendoza line.

In the annals of Israel's kings, Ahab set the standard for wickedness. He is known almost entirely for worshiping foreign gods, oppressing his people, and persecuting the prophets of God (especially Elijah). If Jeroboam had initially appeared to be the very worst king imaginable, Ahab crossed new frontiers of evil. The worship practices instituted by his predecessor were tame compared to the depths to which Ahab stooped. He adopted the Baal worship and Asherah poles that Gideon had torn down so long before because, like Solomon had done, he married the daughter of a foreign king.

Baal worship dominated Ahab's rule, as evidenced by the showdown between Elijah and the prophets of Baal (see 1 Kings 18). He built a temple and altar to this false god and essentially turned Israel into a pagan nation. Were it not for the prophets who spoke the truth about God, Ahab would have eliminated true worship if he had gotten his way. The major consequence of his actions was simple: the Lord was very angry.

But as awful a king as Ahab was and as many wicked things he did toward God and against the people he ruled, even Ahab became the recipient of God's grace. Near the end of his rule, Ahab was confronted a final time by Elijah with a stern rebuke of condemnation. When Ahab heard it, he mourned and fasted and humbled himself before God (1 Kings 21:29). Despite the fact that in 22 years of ruling Israel he had unceasingly provoked God to anger, Ahab garnered God's compassion because of one moment of humility. He still paid for his crimes, but even Israel's wickedest king was a candidate for mercy.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you are feeling guilt or shame over something you have done or are doing, don't think for a moment that God won't forgive you. Nothing in your past can compare with the crimes of Ahab, nor can any sin run deeper than the forgiveness found through the blood of Christ. What you must do, however, is humble your heart. If you are harboring sin, pride is at work. Confess it and feel the relief of having your burdens lifted by the One who gave His life for you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Kings 22:1-40
They delight the king with their wickedness, the princes with their lies. - Hosea 7:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the film, Finding Neverland, Sylvia Llewelyn Davies is found to have a serious illness, but she has no desire whatsoever to learn more. When she finally agrees to further medical examination, she tells her friend, the playwright J. M. Barrie, to allow her to pretend that she's alright: “I'll have the examination, and I'll take whatever medications they advise. But I don't want to know what they're for.” She preferred her imagination to the truth she couldn't escape.

King Ahab (along with Jehoshaphat, Ahab's royal counterpart in Judah) took a similar approach to his affliction with sin. He didn't want to know the truth. But Jehoshaphat didn't feel secure in the twisted version of reality supplied by the 400 prophets. He recognized a twist in their word choice. Depending on which Bible version you're using, you may notice that in verse 6, the word Lord looks different than the LORD used in verses 5, 7, and 8. The second style indicates the name of Yahweh. The prophets used the word adonai, meaning lord or master. Jehoshaphat demanded a prophecy from Yahweh, and Ahab, begrudgingly, knew where to find it.

Micaiah's first message (v. 15) and his narrative about God and the heavenly host (vv. 19-23) seem troubling. Micaiah's initial statement was a carbon copy of the false report from the other prophets—it may have been sarcastic or otherwise unbelievable, for Ahab didn't accept it. The king was equally dismissive of the second, conflicting report (vv. 17-18). But no one, even we as readers, expected the news that God was intentionally luring Ahab to his doom and that He would use a deceiving spirit to do so.

God did not violate His character. He cannot lie (Heb. 6:18; Titus 1:2). The deceitful message came from a spirit under the dominion of God—as all beings are. The message that came directly from the Lord was the truth. Ahab weighed what he wanted to hear against what he suspected to be true and proceeded into battle based on the lie. His death was a picture of his life. He refused to follow the truth and paid the price.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
God always makes the truth available to His people, but He will not shield you from lies that you long to believe. If you feel convicted about something in your life that you suspect might be sin, don't consult people you know who will say anything to make you feel better. Find a friend or some godly leader who will give you the truth. When one person says “no” and four hundred say “yes,” don't let the popular vote outweigh your conscience and the testimony of God's Word. Choose to obey, and choose life.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Chronicles 24:1-19
As long as Jehoiada lived, burnt offerings were presented continually in the temple of the LORD. - 2 Chronicles 24:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
Mike Tyson never had a model life. His father abandoned the family. His mother died when Tyson was only 16. His boxing manager Cus D'Amato became his legal guardian and was a father figure for the talented boxer. But the mentor died in 1985 when Tyson was only 19. Within a few years he fired his trainer, came under contract with the notorious promoter Don King, and his personal and professional life went into a tailspin from which he never recovered.

As the young king of Judah, Joash looked like he would reign as a godly king, but as it turned out, he was simply a king with a godly advisor. His efforts to restore the Lord's temple were an extension of the covenant Jehoiada made with the people of Judah and the king: they were committed to being the Lord's people (23:16).

Joash's ascension to the throne was the final blow in the process of eliminating Ahab's descendants from reigning over Israel. Athaliah, Ahab's daughter, had seized rule over Judah and attempted to kill all the heirs to the throne. But Joash was hidden from her (by Jehoiada's wife, who was Athaliah's sister) and kept safe for six years until assuming power (2 Chron. 22:10-12). The renewal of the temple, the instruments of worship, and the tithe of the people to the service of God were all gestures of the good faith of Jehoiada.

But when Jehoiada died, everything changed, most importantly Joash's circle of trust. After years of rebuilding, the temple was abandoned in an instant, along with the covenant to follow God. It is like a broken record in the chronicles of Israel. Again and again they reject the ways of the Lord and follow foreign gods that bring them nothing but trouble, war, and subservience to other nations. Apparently, the roots of Joash's faith were extremely shallow. It wasn't that Joash no longer heard the truth—God sent prophets to ensure that he did. But Joash and the people who followed him had no interest in the Word. They followed pagan gods that encouraged them to feed the desires of their flesh.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It is of utmost importance that young people who grow up in the faith mature to the point where they can make the faith their own. They need to grow to the point where they make decisions out of a desire to obey and not just a compulsion to please their mentors or parents. But making your faith your own does not mean you need to be left alone. We are called to be disciples, not loners. If you see a young believer in need of guidance, don't critique them harshly. Help them and teach them the ways of God.