Sunday, May 3, 2015

DIVISION

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 12

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

 

Beyond the security fence, looking from Israel into Palestine, you can see the area that was ancient Bethany. It is now the present day Arab village of Al-Ezareyya, the Arabic name for Lazarus, the one Jesus raised from the dead in Bethany. This area is situated on the Eastern slope of the Mount of Olives.

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

 

Key Verse: 1 Kings 12:13

Then the king answered the people roughly, and rejected the advice which the elders had given him…

As the wall in the photograph shows, the land is divided. In the days of Rehoboam and Jeroboam, it was also divided. Friedrich Hegel, the philosopher, said, “We learn from history that we don’t learn from history.” Rehoboam may have been able to maintain unity if he had taken time to read Scriptures from Moses, Joshua, his grandfather David, and his father Solomon. Political leaders then and now need the wisdom of the ages and the sages. We need to pray, not only for our western leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-8), but particularly for Jerusalem and the whole region. The current population consists of Jews and Arabs. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” King David wrote those words. We may want to read that psalm and honour his prayer request (Psalm 122).

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Yes, Lord, I pray right now for the peace of Jerusalem. Only You, Lord God, fully understand all the issues involved. Please give wisdom to the leadership of Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and Hamas. There is nothing impossible for You. Just as You gave David and Solomon the wisdom to bring about decades of peace, please do it again. In the Name of Jesus, the One who is the Prince of Peace, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

In Jerusalem this month “Empowered 21” brings together Christian leaders from almost every country on earth. God willing, I’ll be speaking for 25 minutes at a luncheon meeting of leaders from around the world (click here for more info). Please, please, pray for God to use me for His purpose.

In yesterday’s blog, I mentioned the wisdom that can be found in the diligent study of God’s Word. People who have shown themselves to possess wisdom should also be read and studied. Another of my heroes that I’ve mentioned before is the late Rev. Tom Johnstone. He was what you would call “self-educated.” He was a voracious reader who had a brilliant mind, but he did not leave us his thoughts in books. It’s a pity. One time I was visiting the Seniors’ residence, Shepherd Village in Toronto, calling on some of my “old” friends. I noticed a very distinguished looking man around 50 years old who was just leaving the building. I said to Joan Telford, the administrator, “Who is that man?” She said, “Oh, he’s a professor of Mathematics from the University of Toronto. He’s been visiting Tom Johnstone.” Tom would’ve been about 95 then. She went on to say, “There are a number of professors who visit him regularly to learn from him.” Why was I not surprised? He had learned deeply in many subjects. I visited him also. He was a friend who had been like a Grandfather to our children. There is great and wise advice found in James 1:1-7.

Yours, asking for wisdom from God, knowing that according to James, I will not be turned down,

David

Last week, the professor holding the chair of Mathematics at Oxford University in England, Dr. John Lennox, was on the 100 Huntley Street telecast. What a brilliant mind! He was interviewed by our co-host of the week, another brilliant believer in Christ, Michael Coren (click here for part 1 and here for part 2).

13 thoughts on “Sunday, May 3, 2015

  1. WOW!
    I love your prayer for today and I know that your 25 minutes at the “Empowered 21” luncheon will be well researched and will be extremely well received.
    I loved the interviews with Dr John Lennox on Friday and particularly enjoyed the comments about C S Lewis’s last lecture.
    Shalom,
    Graham.
    2012 Holy Land Yellow Bus.

  2. Good Sunday morning to you David,
    Once again thank you for your daily blog and scripture reading. You help me start out my day. Each day as I put on the full armour of God, it is great to know he has chosen me to be one of his children.
    On another matter Alberta is having the election on Tuesday. I pray we will elect the PC Jim Prentice government. Polls say the NDP are leading. Please could you pray for us to get PC’S elected.
    Thank you, David

    • I can’t say for sure, but wouldn’t the better prayer be to ask God that His Will be done for the province, rather than asking God to put one political party over the other? I don’t know, it just seems to me praying to God to allow one party to win over another, is a bit like telling Him what we think is best, instead of trusting Him to allow what is best for His plans to be done. This is just been my experience with elections, I have always prayed His Will to be done, so whatever results we get I believe it was His Will and trust He has His reasons for it.

  3. yes let us pray for God’s Will to be done in our governments! I pray the Holy Spirit will enter the hearts and minds of all our political leaders and guide them to do God’s Will!
    Please pray that the Lord will bring me an answer regarding an ad I placed to do childcare in the late afternoons and evenings for working parent(s) I have a sleep disorder and felt maybe I could help someone needing a reliable secure child care provider.
    I pray God’s Will be done with the young person I met a week ago. I pray our paths cross again and then I would bring up the matter of accommodation! AMEN AMEN AMEN God bless all on this blog!

  4. Thanks Donna I too believe we should pray in God’s will. He knows exactly what we need and He already knows who will be elected.

  5. Lord God Almighty I pray for your hand to be upon David Mainse as he turns his thoughts to you regarding the message You have placed in his heart to present at the “EMPOWER 2” Conference. I pray for a special anointing on him, that he is strengthened and at peace of mind knowing that it is Your Word he is sharing by the Power of the Holy Spirit in the Holy Name of Jesus Our Lord I pray! Amen.

  6. HOW important it is to seek the Lord rather than man when making decisions…Rehoboam missed it…and paid the price…however, it appears that all was in God’s plans due to Solomon’s sins.

Leave a Reply to sah Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.