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Dear fellow pray-er,
Prayer Diary for the period Thursday 12th September – Wednesday 30th October 2024.
The Old Testament readings continue with King Solomon, an account of his wives and concubines and how they led him astray. Despite his wisdom, he forgot who it was that had placed him on the throne and so the grace of God deserted him. If you refer back to Deuteronomy 17:17 we read about kings of Israel “17 He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.”
We then learn of the consequences of Solomon’s actions that God is going to bring about on the kingdom. How much do we need to keep our eyes on those laws we have been given by God, to stay on the straight and narrow path. And then Solomon’s death. Rehoboam, his son, becomes king in his stead. However, the northern tribes rejected him leaving him as king over the tribes of Judah and Benjamin only. The northern tribes made Jeroboam their king. You might notice the account of the prophet from Judah who went to the altar at Bethel, whilst King Jeroboam was standing by it, and “cried out against it” and then prophesies that a later king would come in the form of King Josiah who: 15 Even the altar at Bethel, the high place made by Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin—even that altar and high place he demolished. He burned the high place and ground it to powder, and burned the Asherah pole also. (see 2 Kings 23:15) That prophesy took 340 years to come true. But it did!
We come now to Elijah. The accounts of him being fed by the ravens, his time with the widow of Zarephath and the restoration of her son are wonderful faith builders as to how God will care for us in the direst situations that we find ourselves in. And it doesn’t end there …… Elijah meets up with Ahab, King of Israel (Israel now consists of the ten northern tribes) and throws down a challenge that Ahab plus 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah should meet him at Mount Carmel. (Mount Carmel is located up near Haifa on the coast.) The scene is set for all to see whether the Lord or Baal would set light to one of two sacrifices that had been set up on wood. In some ways the description as to how Elijah taunts the prophets of Baal is laughable and yet it does demonstrate Elijah’s absolute faith and trust in God - our God who never sleeps or fails to watch over each of us. Elijah also reveals, I think, his humanity in that following the amazing events at Mount Carmel, he flees for his life after the threat by Jezebel, King Ahab’s wife, to kill him. However, there is encouragement for him from the Lord and instructions to anoint Elisha to succeed him as prophet. We also come across Naboth and his treatment by the unscrupulous actions of Jezebel; her death prophesied by Elijah (which we read about later in 2 Kings 9) and how Ahab humbled himself, and his death also prophesied by Elijah.
We continue with 2 Kings – Elijah taken up into heaven and Elisha’s first recorded actions of striking the water of the Jordan with Elijah’s cloak and crying out “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” and the water dividing to the right and the left! Oh, that our prayers would be answered so quickly! Notice also the little referred to miracle of the healing of the water in Jericho. Then the Shunammite’s wife and her son, Naaman’s healing and more, too numerous to mention.
We then turn back to Exodus. How we should live, laws to guide and steer us in ways that will enable us to live in harmony with one-another.
Finally, Leviticus – the consecration of Aaron and his sons and the start of their ministry. Chapter 16, perhaps, reminds us that the Lord is Holy, and we should do well to remember that when we are at times somewhat casual in the way we approach him?
The New Testament readings continue in Acts with Paul’s travels around the Mediterranean. The riot in Ephesus - what can we learn from that today in our lives? – and then on to Paul’s arrest, his journey to Rome, shipwreck off Malta and the safe landing of all that had been on board and then the snake bite with no ill effect! We leave Acts with Paul having reached his final destination of Rome and still continuing to preach. “Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.” May we all have that courage and faith!
Paul is in chains in Rome and writes his Epistle to the Philippians. He writes with encouragement to them. Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone write to us “I thank God every time I remember you.” Perhaps we need, in these days of rush and hurry, to write such words in our emails? A particular point which stood out to me was that they should “do everything without complaining or arguing.” When we are tired or disheartened this can be difficult. But, good to bear in mind.
Then his letters to Timothy. I think there is a lot going on in this country and around the world today that ring loud bells about what he writes in 2 Tim 3. Finally, his epistle to Titus in Crete. I draw to your attention Titus 3:4 - “But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.”
However long-ago these narratives were written, there is so much for us to learn from them and to encourage us in our walk with the Lord.
May God bless you,
Peter and Sylvia