TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 22:47-23:25
They kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” - Luke 23:21
TODAY IN THE WORD
A great-grandmother in California has donated more than 200 pints of blood. Margaret Delfino, who began giving blood in 1954, gave her 200th pint in 2009. An ovarian cancer survivor, she wishes more individuals would give, pointing out, “It can mean the difference between life and death for some people.” She encourages her own family to donate, and she and a granddaughter have a date every eight weeks to do so at a local blood bank.

For many, Margaret Delfino’s blood has doubtless given the gift of life. God’s gift of eternal life is made possible by the blood of Christ. In today’s reading, the events of Passion Week head for a climax.

To begin, Judas accomplished his act of treachery. He let the religious leaders know where they could find Jesus that night, and they showed up with a mob to arrest Him. Judas’ kiss has become an idiom for betrayal by a friend, but it was unnecessary. Jesus identified Himself, did not resist, and even undid the impetuous violence done on His behalf by Peter.

The trials Jesus endured highlight His innocence and the guilt of His accusers—both Jews and Gentiles—and the unfaithfulness of those for whom He was to die—not only religious leaders but also His disciples. As He stood trial, out in the courtyard the future “rock of the church” was denying His Lord three times, even though he had been explicitly warned he would do so that night. Thankfully, Peter’s bitter sorrow wasn’t the end of that story (see John 21:15-23).

Meanwhile, Jesus suffered torture at the hands of the Roman soldiers and two show trials. The soldiers’ mockery showed some familiarity with His ministry—they seem to relish inflicting pain on their helpless prisoner. The Jewish Sanhedrin interpreted Jesus’ few words as blasphemy. Herod hoped to get Him to put on a show, which He refused to do. And Pilate played political games, passing the buck to Herod before condemning Jesus to death in a pragmatic response to the crowd’s demands.

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Why did Peter deny Christ three times? He was afraid. If he was identified as a friend of Jesus, perhaps they would arrest him as well. Would he then be imprisoned or executed? Peter didn’t know, and he acted on base instincts of self-preservation rather than taking a stand for what he believed. Fear is always the enemy of faith. Thankfully, when our courage fails, as it did Peter that night, there is “forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” (Eph. 1:7).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 23:26-56
Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. - Luke 23:34
TODAY IN THE WORD
Several years ago, a twelve-year-old boy was in the middle of his piano lesson when a stray bullet from a drunken robber’s gun hit him. The shot paralyzed him. Police caught the gunman and he was tried and convicted in a court in Oakland, California. The judge sentenced him to 70 years to life in prison, seemingly a just outcome. But what came next transcended justice. The victim, Christopher Rodriguez, rolled his wheelchair to the front of the courtroom, shook the hand of the man who had shot him, and said, “I forgive you.” It is uncertain whether the criminal felt true remorse, but Christopher left the court that day unburdened by hate.

Before He died, Jesus, too, forgave all those who participated in murdering Him (vv. 34-38). The Crucifixion was the turning point of history and the hinge of God’s plan of redemption, but it was also an act of criminal injustice. Jesus forgave the Roman soldiers who cast lots for His clothing and mocked Him. He forgave the religious leaders who sneered at Him and challenged Him to save Himself. He forgave the gawking and passivity of the watching crowd. He forgave the followers who had run away and hidden, including the remaining disciples. His women followers did stay with Him. No doubt their presence was a comfort to Jesus. These faithful eyewitnesses throughout this heart-wrenching time also made preparations for His burial.

Jesus remained in control throughout His crucifixion (vv. 44-49). He continued the ministry of the kingdom right up to the end, forgiving the sins of one of the criminals who hung next to Him and offering him the hope of heaven. He chose the moment of His own death, signaling that it was not defeat but the surrender of His spirit to His sovereign Father. Nature responded to this momentous event with three hours of midday darkness. The inner curtain of the temple was torn in two, meaning that the terms of access to God were forever changed (see Heb. 8:11). And the commander of the execution squad cried out in faith, “Surely this was a righteous man!” (v. 47).

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Scripture commands: “Walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Eph. 5:2). How can we imitate the incredible love of Christ? By loving one another. Jesus said: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). Later the apostle John reflected: “If we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us” (1 John 4:12).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 24:1-35
Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory? - Luke 24:26
TODAY IN THE WORD
Jesus’ resurrection is the central historical event of the Christian faith. Fifth-century church leader John Chrysostom said: “Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again; for forgiveness has risen from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the death of our Savior has set us free. He has destroyed it by enduring it.” Nineteenth-century preacher Charles Spurgeon added: “That very day our Lord won a victory which shook the gates of hell, and caused the universe to stand astonished. . . . On His head are many crowns, and at His feet the hosts of angels bow! Jesus is the master of legions today, while the Caesars have passed away. . . . His cause is not to be crushed, it is forever rising.”

These truths were not, however, immediately clear to Jesus’ followers. On that Sunday morning, the women took the lead. They went to the tomb not in hope but in respect, planning to properly anoint the corpse. But their plan went awry when the corpse turned up missing! Even then, it took a blunt angelic message for them to recall Jesus’ words about being raised to life. Was it possible that He had been speaking not about a distant hope but about a literal, here-and-now reality? They reported this news to the disciples, who treated it as “nonsense” (v. 11). Only the disgraced Peter even bothered to go to the tomb and verify that the body was missing, though, puzzlingly, the graveclothes were still there.

Later that day two followers of Jesus became the first in Luke’s account to talk to the risen Lord, but they failed to recognize Him. While talking to the stranger who joined them on the road to Emmaus, they gave a respectful but inadequate summary of Jesus as a powerful prophet victimized by the ruling powers, a familiar narrative in Jewish history (vv. 19-24). He responded with what must have been an amazing Bible lesson on the suffering of the Messiah (vv. 25-26). The moment of recognition finally came when they broke bread together. Hastily returning to Jerusalem, they found the Apostles already believing as a result of other appearances by Jesus.

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The good news of the kingdom is that Jesus died and rose again. This good news mean that if we call on His name and repent of our sins, we have eternal life and become children of God (John 1:12-13). Have you taken this step of faith? Just tell God you trust in His Son for salvation and accept His sacrifice for sin. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:21). It will be the first step on an unforgettable journey!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Job 41
In that day, the Lord will punish with his sword . . . Leviathan the coiling serpent. - Isaiah 27:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
George Orwell’s Animal Farm uses animals as a powerful allegory, expressing complex truths about Stalin-era communism through relatable characterizations of farm animals. The pigs are contemptible, a horse is hard-working but easily manipulated, and a donkey is wise but hot-headed. The image of animals rising up against their oppressors (and eventually growing to resemble them) sheds light on the human condition. What we understand about animals informs our perspective on concepts that are harder to grasp.

This month in Today in the Word we’ll study many biblical examples that use this same technique—using animals to teach us about ourselves and our God. Sometimes animals are even divinely used to carry out His mission. The uncommon animal in today’s passage reveals the mysterious power of our Lord.

The identity of the Leviathan in Job 41 (like that of the Behemoth in Job 40) has stirred debate for centuries. It has been called a crocodile, a sea monster, a dinosaur, and a mythical creature—and some scholars are content to admit the exact nature of the beast is unknown and unknowable. Some of its characteristics sound otherworldly: fire-breathing (vv. 18-21), impervious to weapons (vv. 26-29), and fearless (v. 33). Other references in Scripture make the animal sound fantastic and fearsome, even a multi-headed monster (3:8, Ps. 74:14; 104:26; Isa. 27:1). So what is this Leviathan?

In actuality, the exact identity of the beast described here really isn’t the point of the passage. The effect conveyed to Job by the voice of God Himself is that a man like Job cowers at the mere thought of such an animal. He would dare not rouse Leviathan—so how dare he challenge God, who reigns in sovereignty over all things (vv. 10-11)?

As today key verse states, the Leviathan will be vanquished by the Lord. Whether it is an actual beast that once roamed the earth, a portrait of evil, or an enemy yet to rear its head against the people of God, Leviathan is at the mercy of the Lord . . . as are we.

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For the rest of the month, we’ll focus on animals with which we are much more familiar, but today is a necessary reminder of how far beyond our understanding the character of God extends. He relates to us as a friend, but we should be careful about questioning His ways. We simply cannot comprehend His rule over us. Do you believe that enough to trust Him when life doesn’t seem to make sense? Be still, and know that He is God (Ps. 46:10).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 3:11-17
I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. - John 1:32
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the biblical account of creation, the three persons of the Trinity each play a distinct role. God (presumably the Father) spoke the light into existence (Gen. 1:3), and the Son was the very Word by which the world came to be (John 1:1-5). The Spirit of God hovered over the waters that had yet to take shape—even at the dawn of time, the movement of the Holy Spirit was best described with a word that expressed the flight of a bird on the wing (Gen. 1:2; cf. Deut. 32:11).

The description in today’s passage can be found in all four Gospels (Mark 1:10, Luke 3:22, John 1:32), and once again it includes the image of a bird—a dove, specifically—and the manifestation of all three persons of the Trinity. The Spirit descended on the Son, and the Father spoke His approval (v. 17). The scene of that rare display of the eternal majesty of the Trinity converging in an earth-bound setting tells us something about the importance of what was about to take place.

John spoke correctly when he professed his need to be baptized by Jesus (v. 13), but his baptism of his Lord was distinct from the baptism of repentance he performed for his followers or the baptism Christ was to bestow upon those who would inherit the Spirit (v. 11). Without sin, Jesus had nothing for which to repent. And He certainly didn’t need to become His own disciple. The purpose must have been unique, and Jesus’ words confirm that.

John was to baptize Jesus “to fulfill all righteousness” (v. 15). The text doesn’t go into further detail than that, but the subsequent display by the Trinity revealed a perfect collaboration of the Son’s obedience, the Spirit’s assistance, and the Father’s approval. The harmony fulfilled the righteous character of God in a public ceremony proclaiming Jesus’ identity as the Son of God. Led and filled by the Spirit, Jesus went into the wilderness to be tempted (Matt. 4:1; Luke 4:1). We associate the image of a dove with peace and hope—fitting, since Jesus assuredly received it as He faced this trial at the outset of His ministry.

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The dove may stand as a symbol of peace, but it is also a strong bird with incredible endurance and precise direction—again, it’s an apt portrait of the Holy Spirit. Depending on the Spirit is no sign of weakness! Today’s passage shows the Son of God being ministered to by a man, showing obedience to the Father, and receiving assistance from the Spirit. We should never feel too proud to yield to the Spirit’s guidance or accept help from others.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Revelation 5
You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, because you were slain. - Revelation 5:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the animal kingdom, the contrast between the lion and the lamb could not be more drastic. Zoologists suggest that lions were once the second most populous land mammal in the world. They are ingeniously designed to vanquish any prey. Velvet paw pads help them stalk silently, yet the sound of their powerful roars stir up a cloud of dust and resonate for miles. They are built to survive and dominate. The lamb, however, is extraordinarily vulnerable—it is designed to die.

A lamb is considered any sheep a year of age or younger, and the name for the animal, lamb, is synonymous with the meat it yields. In Exodus, the Passover lamb was to be a one-year-old, which would have been the typical age since sheep and goats are traditionally bred to give birth in the early spring to properly serve a lamb’s diet (Ex. 12:5). Not all lambs are used for food, obviously, but in ancient Israel (or anywhere they are raised) while a sheep was still a lamb it was at an ideal age to be slaughtered.

So the scene from the throne room of heaven in today’s reading delivers a jarring transition. The elders’ words to John were, “See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah” (v. 5), but what John saw was not the king of beasts, but a Lamb—and a slain one at that (v. 6). Yet this image of a traditionally helpless animal in a fatally wounded state managed to become the ultimate portrait of power.

Once again we see the Son of God (the Lamb) adorned with the Spirit (the “sevenfold” manifestation in the horns and eyes of v. 6) and receiving approval from the Father (who sat on the throne, v. 7). This scene adds another layer of understanding to the way that Jesus’ baptism “fulfilled all righteousness” (Matt. 3:15). Jesus was worthy because He was slain, and by His suffering He redeemed the people of the world—and not just for their sakes, but for God (v. 9). In a mirror image to the mighty Lion making Himself low as a Lamb, He raised lowly sinners to positions of authority and majestic service (v. 10).

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Our relationship with Christ, the Lion and the Lamb, is an eternal paradox. He lowered Himself to lift us up. But in doing so, Jesus has risen, not just from the dead, but to the highest, most glorious position in heaven. While we enjoy a personal relationship with Jesus as a friend and guide, we should also recognize His majesty. Take time today to pray the praises found in verses 11 and 12. Proclaim that He is worthy to receive all praise, honor, glory, and power.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 41:1-40
God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. - Genesis 41:25
TODAY IN THE WORD
It was almost two years after a cow in Britain died of an unknown illness before the disease responsible was diagnosed as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) or mad-cow disease. Because the disease went unchecked for so long, an epidemic erupted, killing hundreds of thousands of cattle and passing a similar disease on to humans who had eaten beef from infected, undiagnosed animals—166 people in Britain died as a result, and the impact to the British economy was in the billions of dollars.

Pharaoh dreamed of the livelihood of his nation being gobbled up. The cows that appeared in his dream symbolized the fruitfulness of Egypt. He may not have deciphered the specifics of the dream, but Pharaoh knew the symbol of livestock well enough that he was deeply troubled by what he saw. Paired with the vision of the grain, the picture of healthy cows being decimated by gaunt ones filled the leader with fear.

Just as Pharaoh, his wise men, and his magicians were unable to interpret the dream, Joseph confessed his own inability to do so (v. 16). The difference was that Joseph trusted God’s ability to solve the mystery because God had given Pharaoh the dream in the first place (v. 25). How ironic was it that Joseph, once hated for the audacity of his dreams, would so humbly present the message of the Lord as it appeared in the dream of a king (cf. Genesis 37)?

Joseph didn’t just reveal God’s message behind the dream, he also immediately laid out an action plan to help Egypt survive the coming famine. Again it’s ironic that the man his brothers called “that dreamer” would prove to be a brilliant strategist with the capacity to save the economy of Egypt from certain doom. No wonder Pharaoh chose Joseph to fill the positionhe described. He had shown, yet again, that he was “discerning and wise” beyond measure (v. 39). Even more impressive, though, was the way God used something as insignificant as a strange dream to promote Joseph, save Egypt, and open the door to reuniting His chosen family of promise.

APPLY THE WORD
In this story, we see God using everything—nations, leaders, trials, even symbols of animals and plants—to fulfill His plan. Like Joseph, be attentive to God’s message wherever He reveals it, and do so with wisdom and humility. God can use the strangest or simplest methods to deliver His message, and He is glorified greatly when His Word is proclaimed and His plans are implemented by those who humbly and obediently submit to His will.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 8:1-15
It will be as you say, so that you may know there is no one like the LORD our God. - Exodus 8:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
Dolly the sheep became the popular poster animal of cloning, but originally frogs had the modern scientific community buzzing about the possibility of cloning. A biologist named John Gurdon experimented with frog cells using the same technique (nuclear transfer) used much later to clone the sheep, and in 1962 he announced his success. The results were greeted with skepticism, but the possibilities of cloned frogs (and any number of creatures) entered the public conversation.

The original phenomenon of multiplying frogs, with the effect of changing the way people think, was unveiled much, much earlier in history. The only major appearance frogs make in the Bible is in their role among the ten plagues on Egypt leading up to the Exodus, and they entered the scene with an emphatic flourish. They represent one of the many ways God used animals as an element of His judgment for the correction or punishment of sin.

After the plague that turned Egypt’s water into blood (see Ex. 7:14-24), the plagueof the frogs was the first to turn a living thing into a disastrous pest. The reason for it was simple: God commanded Pharaoh (through Moses and Aaron), “Let my people go, so that they may worship me” (v. 1). The penalty forPharaoh’s refusal was a display of devastating power from the Lord. Pharaoh interpreted it as a showdown, commissioning his magicians to repeat the devastating act—a proud, entirely irrational response that worsened the nuisance.

Finally, Pharaoh admitted defeat and asked the God of Moses, who was clearly more powerful, to relent and rid the land of frogs all over the homes and people of his land (v. 8). This prayer, through Moses, even came with a specific due date to further prove God’s power (vv. 9, 10). But even as dead frogs piled high in his courtyards, Pharaoh hardened his will against the call of the Lord. Pharaoh had seen all the evidence he could have asked for that the Lord was superior to any power he had known, but that wasn’t enough to change his heart.

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True submissive belief in God doesn’t come as the result of arguments, protests, or acts of force. Remember as you encounter people of other beliefs (or those who claim to have no beliefs at all) that while they may base their beliefs on their understanding of the facts, belief is ultimately a matter of the heart and will. Someone who refuses to believe your point of view will usually be more receptive to your love and compassion. Instead of plaguing them with verbal attacks, show love.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 32:1-14
At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped an idol cast from metal. - Psalm 106:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
When God spoke the Ten Commandments the first time, the people of Israel cowered in fear as Moses received the Word of the Lord. They were frightened by the thunder and lightning, the smoke billowing up around Mount Sinai, and the crescendo of a loud trumpet announcing the coming voice of God. It was the beginning of His presentation of the Law of the Covenant to Moses—by the time that presentation was through, the people would show just how desperately they needed the Law. Though they heard the Lord speaking the Ten Commandments, they didn’t listen.

We’ve already seen that putting animals in an improper place of authority led to the Fall of humankind (cf. Genesis 3). This time, it was not even a living animal, but one forged by the people themselves. Again, the skewed priorities arose from a disrespect for true authority. Moses, whom the people had begged to intercede for them when they couldn’t bear to hear the voice of the Lord (Ex. 20:19), was simply “this fellow Moses” after being gone for forty days (Ex. 32:1). And they no longer regarded God as a fearsome power they were afraid to hear speak. They preferred a golden, immobile image, one they immediately credited for rescuing them from Egypt (v. 4).

Lest the Israelites argue that the commandment against worshiping a graven image had not yet been set in stone, God made clear to Moses that this law was already in effect (v. 8). He had no tolerance for a people that would credit His miraculous work of grace to an inanimate object, and His anger burned against Israel. But Moses sought to temper that anger, not because Israel deserved mercy, but because he wanted God’s name to remain glorified and held in high esteem (vv. 11-13).

Those who worshiped the calf deserved terrible punishment. They had elevated the image of an animal over the eternal majesty of the Lord who created and delivered them. But the pleas of one man of faith brought mercy to the people of promise. Moses could have served as a lone remnant of faithfulness; instead he opted to be an instrument of grace because he held God in the proper attitude of worship.

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Have you ever heard someone credit God with an event you thought was more likely a happy coincidence? While we should be careful what we describe as a revelation of God’s will (e.g. “God gave me this parking spot; He must want me to shop at this store.”) we should remember that God is sovereign over all of His creation. Part of Israel’s mistake was viewing creation as independent and outside of God’s control. Don't be afraid to give God glory for everything.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Numbers 22:21-38
The righteous care for the needs of their animals. - Proverbs 12:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
So far this month we’ve studied the dangers of placing animals in too high a position. Eve listened to the talking serpent as an authority figure, even when its message directly conflicted with what God had told her. And we have seen the Israelites make the fatal mistake of worshiping animals. Today we’ll look at a biblical example on the opposite end of that pendulum’s arc: a man guilty of abusing an animal placed under his care—and ignoring its warnings.

Balaam is a peculiar character. He conversed with God as a prophet, yet he hired out his servants to pagan kings. He sought the counsel of the Lord before agreeing to dispense the curses proposed to him, but he also kept the conversation going with his potential business partners even after God made His objections unmistakably clear. (For this context in detail, include verses 1-20 in your reading today.)

Balaam accompanied the Moabite officials, but God had no intention of allowing him to curse Israel. In His anger, God placed His angel as a barricade to Balaam’s progress—yet only his donkey noticed the angelic presence at first. Balaam had no right to mistreat the animal. If he had stopped to consider his circumstances (namely that he was following his greedy impulses despite knowing that God didn’t approve of the task he had agreed to perform) he may have felt gratitude instead of frustrated rage toward the donkey that was sparing his life.

Instead this stubborn prophet beat his donkey twice more. Even when the donkey miraculously spoke to him, Balaam was still slow to recognize what was taking place. Rather than draw back astounded by what had happened, he continued in his anger and voiced his intent to kill the donkey. Not until a second retort from the animal did Balaam see the peril he was in. The angel reinforced what God had told Balaam earlier: he was to deliver the Lord’s message alone, one that would utterly defy the curse Balak had desired to hear (Num. 23:11). Balaam had viewed his donkey as a being incapable of interfering with his plans of greed. Actually, the beast had better sense than its master.

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Cruelty toward animals generally comes from the mistaken belief that they are not significant parts of God’s plan. But God’s creation is valuable to Him. We’ll see example after example of how God uses animals to accomplish His works and communicate His message. And they are His handiwork! Some animal rights campaigns don’t come from biblical worldview. But the call to treat animals with respect and care is biblical. Honor that in your actions, words, and attitudes.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Judges 15
The boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. - Judges 13:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
The vow of a Nazirite was a special form of consecration in Israel. The purpose was to separate oneself as a living offering to the Lord (Num. 6:1-12). The method involved considerable lifestyle restrictions. A Nazirite was to steer clear of any fruit of the vine. They could drink no wine, no grape juice, and no vinegar. They could eat neither grapes nor raisins. Their hair was to remain uncut for the entire period of consecration (it wasn’t traditionally a lifelong vow). They were also to avoid contact with or even close proximity to any dead body so that they would remain ceremonially clean and holy to the Lord at all times.

Samson was a rare case, dedicated to be a Nazirite from the womb to the grave (Judg. 13:7). He was also careless about upholding the terms of this vow—he broke them all. Samson is hardly the example of godly leadership, but God used him powerfully to lead Israel against the opposition of the Philistines. Samson’s use of animals, however, appears to have been less than godly.

Today’s reading begins with Samson getting the unwelcome news of his intended bride’s marriage to another man. He exacted revenge against the family (despite fighting the Philistines, he had no reservations about marrying one of their ranks) by essentially torturing three hundred foxes and setting fire to the property of the Philistines. Note that nowhere in that account is the Spirit of God to have come upon Samson (vv. 3-5). It unleashed a vicious cycle of revenge and retaliation (vv. 6-8).

Samson was ultimately taken captive by his own people. He may have been leading them as a judge, but they were afraid he would bring more Philistine wrath than he could conquer. Only then did the Spirit come upon him as he broke free from the ropes that had bound him. Even then, he used part of a dead body, the jawbone of a donkey, to strike down the thousand men attempting to apprehend him. His tendency to use animals in his battles with the Philistines was almost certainly not guided by God—his obedience to the call to judge often included a disobedient lack of judgment.

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Looking only at the immediate repercussions, we could come to the conclusion that God overlooked Samson’s misdeeds, including his brazen disregard for the welfare of animals. But surveying the big picture, we can see that Samson’s pattern of following his own impulses ultimately led to the loss of his strength followed by his death in one final blow to the Philistines. His disobedience should break our hearts, not harden them against sins against God, man, and animals alike.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Kings 10:14-29
The king . . . must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself. - Deuteronomy 17:16
TODAY IN THE WORD
The advent of the nuclear arms race introduced problems for the powers involved—the United States and the Soviet Union—as well as all the citizens of the world. In addition to pollution resulting from nuclear production, the threat of devastating damage from purposeful or accidental detonation looms even after the end of the Cold War. Disposing and disarming nuclear warheads is complex practically and politically. Now that they exist in such great numbers, nuclear powers rely on their terrifying weapons for their safety.

They didn’t possess the destructive power of nuclear weapons, but in the time of ancient Israel, horses and chariots were a great equalizer for any nation—at least those nations that didn’t have God as their great defender. But as Israel prepared to enter the Promised Land after their prolonged wilderness wandering, God wanted His people to trust in His strength, not that of horses. Long before the people asked for a king like the other nations had, Moses foretold a time of kings in Israel, and they were forbidden from stockpiling horses (specifically ones from Egypt) in large numbers (Deut. 17:16).

Solomon, however, was the king who did nothing in small doses. Today’s passage catalogs his vast accumulation of material wealth, political success, and military strength. He had thriving revenue streams, a luxurious palace, and incomparable wisdom. Everything any ruler could possibly want, King Solomon had.

That was part of the problem. He reached a point when he no longer had to depend on his God for anything. A large reason for that: his 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses—imported from Egypt (vv. 28-29). Israel’s old oppressor became a provider for Solomon’s army. The majestic, powerful animals gave Israel a sense of security they should have received from God Himself. Perhaps this sense of self-sufficiency contributed to Solomon’s willingness to intermarry with more than 700 women of foreign royal descent—and to surrender his heart to their false gods. With or without God’s approval, Solomon confidently established peace using his own sordid methods. His submission to foreign gods was ultimately Solomon’s downfall—he wasn’t as secure as he believed.

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Solomon should have heeded his father’s words: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (Ps. 20:7). We should do the same. We are tempted in this world to build up our own sense of security by amassing great wealth, possessions, and even information, but if we lack dependence on God, we’re trusting things that are subject to decay, theft, and any number of threats. Put your trust in the eternal, infallible, omnipotent Lord.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Kings 9:30-37
Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. - 1 Kings 21:23
TODAY IN THE WORD
According to information from the Social Security Administration, at least one biblical name has ranked as the most popular baby name atop the list for boys or girls every year in the past century. From Mary in 1910 to Jacob in 2009, biblical names have always been among the most popular in the United States. Other biblical names, however, are rarely used because of their history in the Bible. For boys, there may be no name less popular than Judas. The female equivalent from the Bible that will forever carry an intensely negative connotation is Jezebel.

King Ahab sunk to new lows for royalty in Israel, urged on by his wife Jezebel (1 Kings 21:25). He desecrated the faith of Israel, instigated crimes against the prophets of God, and promoted Baal worship. But the disgusting crime that appeared to arouse the anger of the Lord beyond them all was one Jezebel perpetrated on his behalf. She had a man named Naboth killed so that her husband could take his vineyard. The Lord immediately sent Elijah to proclaim judgment on Ahab, his descendants, and Jezebel. Ahab showed remorse, and the Lord showed him some mercy (1 Kings 21:29). Jezebel remained defiant to the undignified end.

Jehu had just been anointed as king of Israel, and God’s first assignment for his new king was to avenge the murder initiated by Jezebel (v. 7). After killing former king Joram and Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehu arrived at Jezreel. Jezebel greeted the news with actions befitting her selfish, shallow, wicked nature: she put on makeup and did her hair (v. 30). Whether divinely directed or simply as a natural response to her wickedness, the previous servants of Jezebel turned on her without hesitation (v. 33).

Jehu recommended a proper burial for the downfallen queen because of her royal descent, but it was too late. The prophecy of Elijah had come to fruition, an appropriate end for a woman who did as much as anyone in history to influence God’s people negatively. After the dogs were through with her, no one would ever visit her grave or remember her fondly (2 Kings 9:37).

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Perhaps we haven’t stooped as low as Jezebel in the volume of our sins—but we are just as susceptible to pride in our own way. Jezebel was more concerned about her external appearance and meeting her selfish desires. Who among us can claim to be immune to such things? She served as the extreme example of sins that can be routine for us. Take some time today to ask God to forgive you and cleanse you from such unrighteousness.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Daniel 4:28-37
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. - Proverbs 16:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1988, Mike Tyson and Michael Spinks met in the boxing match with the richest purse in history up to that point. Spinks was undefeated and a legitimate title contender, but Tyson knocked him out of the match—and out of boxing—in just 91 seconds. At that moment, Tyson appeared to have cemented his place at the top of his sport. But his success crashed down almost as quickly as his opponents once fell to the mat. Controversy in the ring and financial, personal, and legal trouble out of the ring brought his career to an ignoble demise. By 2005 he lamented, “I’m really embarrassed with myself and my life. People put me so high; I wanted to tear that image down.”

A place of fame and renown might be the most precarious perch in all the world, especially when the person enjoying that position believes he or she is solely responsible for getting there. Nebuchadnezzar was on top of the world when he proclaimed his own greatness (v. 30). No sooner than he had finished his statement, the Lord informed him of his lowly sentence.

Nebuchadnezzar went from mighty king to senile beast. While he likely didn’t turn into a literal animal (he could have been stricken with a disorder called boanthropy, which would cause him to think he was a cow), he definitely did live like an animal. He spent seven years outside of society, unkempt and wild. He didn’t cut his hair, shave his face, or trim his fingernails (v. 33). The man who had an entire empire at his beck and call was eating grass in a bout of insanity.

But after the seven years were over, Nebuchadnezzar did something profoundly human: he repented. He praised God. He saw the Lord’s kingdom as superior to his own (v. 35). He realized that despite all his vast earthly power, he was helpless against the mighty hand of God the Father. With the restoration of his sanity and the destruction of his pride, Nebuchadnezzar returned (v. 36). He escalated to even higher greatness in his kingdom, but the most valuable acquisition for Nebuchadnezzar was his humility before God.

APPLY THE WORD
Animals don’t have to choose to be made low. They are put in their place by God and never question their role in His creation. But we can be tempted to think that we can assign to ourselves the majesty of God, or to devalue our worth below the lowliest of animals. It can be especially tempting to think highly of ourselves when we’re involved in the work of His kingdom. But we must remember that we join Him because of His grace and His love and His care for us.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Jonah 1:17-2:10
In my distress I called to the LORD. - Jonah 2:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
The tiger shark poses more danger to humans in part because it frequently hunts in very shallow waters. It also isn’t particularly picky about what it hunts. Tiger sharks have been known to devour garbage such as car tires, shoes, bottles of wine, even torpedoes. Their eating habits have earned them the nickname, “trash cans of the sea.”

Whatever is discovered in the belly of a shark, fish, or any other aquatic animal, usually doesn’t survive the experience. But when the Old Testament prophet Jonah found himself inside a fish, he was alive, despite his later claim that he would rather die than live to see Nineveh spared (4:3). After Jonah plunged into the Mediterranean waters, his prayers turned humbly and desperately to the God he had disobeyed (v. 7). Jonah recounted these prayers from his temporary shelter in the belly of a great fish.

There has been much debate over whether the word fish precludes the possibility that a whale (a mammal) could have been the animal in question. Not only is such a technicality an insignificant factor in this story, but we should also keep in mind that Jonah’s rescue is completely supernatural in nature. There is little use in calculating a scientific explanation. It would be natural for Jonah to be swallowed up by a great fish—but to survive a 72-hour stay in those circumstances would (and did) require divine intervention, whether he was interred inside a fish, whale, or otherwise.

The fish didn’t just save Jonah, it also preserved the hope of his mission to bring Nineveh to repentance. That began with Jonah’s own prayer. Notice how his prayer mentioned idol worship as a rejection of God’s love (v. 8). While he didn’t go so far as to express compassion for Nineveh, he did confess a vital part of God’s character: “Salvation comes from the LORD” (v. 9).

Finally, Jonah was unceremoniously freed from his aquatic confines. As his reaction later in the book confirms, he was no more compassionate toward Nineveh than he was before the incident. But he did have a restored allegiance to God. In that sense, Jonah emerged from the fish a new, though still flawed, man.

APPLY THE WORD
Sometimes God uses nature in supernatural ways. The book of Jonah is filled with such examples. God changed the sea. He redirected a fish and used it in a miraculous way. He also transformed, how ever gradually, the heart of Jonah. He can change your heart as well. If you ever find yourself dragged down by self-defeating thoughts about your weaknesses and limitations, remember that God can impart His power to accomplish things you could never do on your own.