Sunday, May 19, 2013

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BONES

Suggested Reading: 2 Kings 13-14

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

Perhaps it was a tomb not unlike the one above in which Elisha was buried. In this photo you can see the Tomb of the Sons of Hezir and the Tomb of Zechariah on the right.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: 2 Kings 13:21

So it was, as they were burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band of raiders; and they put the man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.

Imagine the surprise of the graveyard crew when they were running from the Moabites, to find the man they had just thrown in the tomb of Elisha running after them! Perhaps this is the reason why in some cathedrals the bones of people judged to be very godly are on display. I wouldn’t count on the same thing happening with those bones. Stretch this last of Elisha’s miracles a bit to connect to the bones, as it were of Paul, Peter, John Wesley, and others. When we read their writings, there is a sense that we are touching the very structure of their lives and spiritual life is flowing. There were no bones left behind in the tomb of Jesus (I’ve personally checked it out in both suggested tombs), yet life definitely flows into us from contact with the living Christ. We can never read too often Colossians 2:13-22.
If we really like figuring out things, the Jehoash/Joash kings in both the north and the south will prove an enjoyable challenge. Their mother’s names may be the key to solving the puzzle.
We are first introduced to the Prophet Jonah here (2 Kings 14:25). Perhaps Jonah knew that Nineveh, capital city of Assyria, would soon devastate Israel and in an ethnic cleansing move the Assyrians would disperse the ten tribes of the north over the entire world. This may be the reason Jonah headed west to Spain instead of Northeast to Nineveh.
These readings include many references to Chronicles. We’ll be in those books soon. It will test our determination to read and to try to comprehend what we are reading. A good dose of sanctified stubbornness is required to maintain consistency. AMEN!!!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, I pray for Your consistency to be strong in me. This is a two-year journey which may well be the most important two years of my life. I’m counting on Your indwelling Presence to keep me true. In Your all-powerful Name, Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I should point out that no ministry funds are used for trips such as the one depicted below with Ron and Ann in Petra (the Biblical Selah mentioned in today’s reading). In yesterday’s blog I put pictures of the backpacking trip around Israel with my 14 and 16 year old sons. Norma-Jean would meet us from time to time with food and fresh underwear (too much information). She borrowed a Volkswagen van from our friends, Jay and Meridel Rawlings, who lived in Haifa. We saved for some time to be able to go on that trip. It’s worth every cent we paid and more.

In today’s reading I noticed that Jonah was from Gath Hepher. This is not the “Gath” of the Philistines from which Goliath came. This place is located between Cana of Galilee and Nazareth. It’s now called Mishad. This is the village which figures prominently in the conversion of my Arab son-in-law. I’m well over my 100 words in this segment. I’ll try to remember to tell the story tomorrow, God willing, of how God saved Nizar’s life in the ancestral hometown of Jonah.

Yours for consistency and integrity,

David

Ron and Ann, who format the blog for me so I only have to fill in the blanks, are in Biblical Selah (now Petra) in the ancient territory of Edom. In today’s reading, Judah conquered this city which is carved out of solid rock. Thanks, Ann and Ron for all your help. I dub you, “Blog Boosters!”

 

14 thoughts on “Sunday, May 19, 2013”

  1. Haha! I like your statement today in regards to our reading, David “A good dose of sanctified stubbornness is required to maintain consistency.” I was going to put it another way but I like your statement much better!

    The main thing I’m learning from 2nd Kings is about faltering and hope. These various Kings had an opportunity to walk with their Lord as King David once did, but most of them faltered in this walk. The Lord stood by His people, even though many of them fell out of relationship with Him. God believed in His people, He trusted that a remnant would carry on His truth to future generations when a Saviour would one day be revealed. Many faltered, yet the stalwart remained hopeful and secure in their faith, trusting that the Lord would not forget His promise that He would be with them, and they would be His people. No, they didn’t have it easy, there were many ups and downs, but believing in and trusting their God was always the better way. I believe the same holds true for Christians today. We have a Lord that is faithful and true, we can trust in Him and put our faith in Him, for He is with us and willing to guide us through the power and wisdom of His Holy Spirit. We will never go wrong by putting our life in the hands of Jesus Christ and allowing Him to live through our life. As Charles Stanley would say, “This is living life at it’s best”.

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  2. Back from Cuba where I was offline for the past week, but now caught up with readings and blogs. If possible, it would be helpful, if in some way, we could have a reading list (for campers, boaters etc.,) who would like to follow the blogs specific readings in our bibles, when away and offline. Many thanks and grateful to be living in Canada!

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  3. Connected with them through the Spirit of the Word, indeed. Looking forward to reading on with determination. Bless all saints in worshiping, today!

    Praying for comfort and strength to the Bosma family, friends, and their church congregation in Ancaster.

    And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phil 4:7 KJV

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  5. It is good to know that in some circumstances stubbornness can be a virtue. It usually gets me trouble most time. LOL. Wishing the saints a relaxing Victoria Day tomorrow.

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  6. Thank you Pastor David for your teminology of “sanctified stubborness”. A friend was question me about reading right throught these very difficult books of the Bible. Now I know what to tell her.
    Wishing you all a great weekend, enjoy the sunshine, God bless!

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  7. Great way to put it David M. :sanctified stubborness. 😀 …the possible one time we need to employ this side of ourselves…but our commitment to follow this blog through the 2 years should also keep us consistent. Sometimes it does get a bit ‘sluggish’ as we trudge through some of these books, but at same time, I find it is bringing to light things I have missed in other readings. With your much appreciated help, I might add!! Thank you David, thank you Reynold for the wonderful pictures, and thank you Ron, for your part in putting this all together. Blessings on this beautiful long weekend everyone!

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  8. Dear David and precious fellow bloggers
    These past two days your persenal family pictures down memery lane have been so uplifting we truly feel privilidged and honored to share them with others so looking forward to your book in june
    I like Scott and everyone truly appropiate the sayng ( a good dose of sancfified stubbornness to maintain consistency )
    I leave you with an exert of one of my favorite worship songs the title my hope of Paul Baloche

    My hope is built
    On nothing else
    Then your great love,your rightchesnus

    I will not walk
    Another way
    I trust your love
    I trust your way

    Im holding on
    Im holding on to you
    Im holding on
    Im holding on to you

    Have a blessed day xxxx Carole

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  9. The Lord said,”…I set my face like a flint…” even though He knew what He was facing in Jerusalem was suffering and pain. I like your definition too, David. Charles Price preached today on “When Bad Things Happen to Good People.” And the role of pain and suffering in our lives as Christians. A.B. Simpson said the same thing in” Streams in the Desert”(Mrs. C.E. Cowman, p.162). I quote, The pressure of hard places makes us value life. Each time our life is given back to us from such a trial, it is like a new beginning, and we learn better how much it is worth, and make more of it for God and man. The pressure helps us to understand the trials of others, and fits us to help and sympathize with them.” May God be with you, David and the Bosma family. Enjoy your holiday everyone.

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  10. Dear David,

    May the Lord richly bless you & yours – & all who make this blog possible. We readers are truly blessed by it daily.

    With blessings, love, & prayers,
    Marg

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