THE WRONG PATH

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 9

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

Southeast of Haifa lies Mount Carmel. As you stand on its peak, below you can see the fertile plains of the Jezreel Valley which, during the course of 7,000 years, has seen countless battles. The Book of Revelation identifies this spot as the place where the final battle of Armageddon will be fought. It was on Mount Carmel that Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal.

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

Key Verse: 2 Kings 9:6

Then he arose and went into the house. And he poured the oil on his head, and said to him, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I have anointed you king over the people of the Lord, over Israel…'”

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, thank You for setting such an example for me. You demonstrated that as a human being, not using Your divine nature to help Yourself, I too can “do the things that please Him.” I ask that I will be given daily grace to remain always faithful to You. Because of Your indwelling Presence, I live with confidence in Your keeping power. May the smile of Your approval be upon me. In Your Name I pray, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

From my earliest memories hearing or reading children’s Bible stories, I saw Jehu as a hero. Those stories would gloss over the worst parts. Jehu driving his chariot “furiously” was an exciting mental picture for me. I could imagine myself driving a chariot like that. Then there was the death of Jezebel and the dogs consuming the remains of this exceedingly wicked woman. I may have been older when I remember thinking that this was justice because of her crimes against humanity. Around this time I also remember seeing the body of the Italian dictator, Mussolini, near the close of World War II, hanging from a balcony in a central city square. It was justice, people said. I understood from Scripture that all of us “reap what we have sown.” A New Testament reading I’ve just looked up is Galatians 6:7-10. Those verses speak to me of reaping good things also. This “good” reaping will continue into eternity in Heaven as I stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ, where believers are judged according to their works and eternal rewards are given or withheld (see 2 Corinthians 5:6-10).

Yours for laying up treasures in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-21),

David

P.S. I have chosen to ask my son Ron to continue recording the video version of my blog, since I have not quite been up to the task lately. Thank you for your ongoing prayers! The “vlogs” can be found HERE.

The statue of Elijah at the Carmelite Monastery on Mount Carmel reflects the Lord’s victory over the prophets of Baal. Shortly afterward, fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifice, the altar, and even the water.

A LAMP

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 8

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

On display at the Convent of the Sisters of Zion in the Old City of Jerusalem on the Via Delarosa are several oil lamps from ancient times.

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

Key Verse: 2 Kings 8:19

Yet the Lord would not destroy Judah, for the sake of His servant David, as He promised him to give a lamp to him and his sons forever.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, You light up my life. I pray for grace to always walk in the light as You are in the light (1 John 1:7). In Your bright and shining Name I pray, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I’ll never forget the morning that Debbie Boone appeared on 100 Huntley Street in the late 80’s. Her hit song You Light Up My Life had been at the top of the pop charts. She was in Toronto in a stage production where she was playing the part of Maria Von Trapp in The Sound of Music. As we entered into our prayer time before going to air, Debbie sobbed, saying to the Lord, “It’s been so long, so long, Lord.” She was experiencing the Presence of the Lord in our Green Room as we knelt in prayer, and with her busy schedule, even though she knew Jesus as her Saviour, she may not have taken the time to let His Light permeate her daily experience. I trust I’m not being too repetitive when I write again…Jesus changes everything! I pray again, “Lord Jesus, I throw open the blinds that hide or dim Your Light. I see You Jesus! Shine Jesus shine!” As the Scriptures say, “But we see Jesus who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9).

Yours for Jesus, our “Lamp,”

David

P.S. Here’s a video of Debbie Boone when she came back to 100 Huntley Street in the mid-90’s. At the beginning of the interview with Lorna Dueck (after she sings), Debbie shares who she was thinking of each time she sang You Light Up My Life (click).here

CHARIOTS OF FIRE

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 6-7

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

Herod’s Gate (named after Herod the Great), also known as Gate of the Flowers, is a gate in the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. It adjoins the Muslim Quarter and is a short distance east of the Damascus Gate. The city gate that is mentioned in 2 Kings 7:1 may have looked like this.

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

Key Verse: 2 Kings 6:17

And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, as Your disciples asked You, “Teach us to pray!” Even so, I ask You this blessing, not just what to say when I pray, Lord, but to actually do it with fervency. I believe You now for Your Spirit to come upon me, giving me a spirit of intercession. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

As I read today’s Scriptures, I thought how that during the years 1938 to 1945, when my Dad was separated from us by WW2, my mother carried the family devotions responsiibility. Thank you, Norma Hazel Pritchard Mainse, for being a great MOTHER!!! (see photo below).

The well-known London, England, pastor, Charles Spurgeon, preached on “Man’s Extremity, God’s Opportunity.” I think of his message as I meditate on the circumstances of Israel in today’s reading. If you can find the time, click here to read Spurgeon’s sermon (PDF file).

Here’s a little insight about the four lepers mentioned in 2 Kings 7:3. There is a tradition, not in the Bible, that these were the former servants of Elisha, Gehazi and his three sons. Review from yesterday 2 Kings 5:27.

Yours for fervently inviting God’s intervention in our lives and circumstances,

David

P.S. Happy Mother’s Day month!

My mother, Norma Hazel Pritchard Mainse

IDENTIFY

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 4-5

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

Seen in this photo is the Jordan River as it enters the northern part of the Sea of Galilee. In our reading, General Naaman, a leper from Syria, dipped his body seven times in the Jordan and was completely healed. This part of the Jordan Valley is a tangle of dense thorn bushes and tropical vegetation. In the Hebrew Bible it is called the “jungle of the Jordan” (Jeremiah 12:5; 49:19).

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

Key Verse: 2 Kings 4:34

And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I pray that I will learn from my daily readings. The child in today’s reading opened his eyes as another sign of life. Please open the eyes of my understanding so that I may see with insight all that You would reveal to me. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

God, who healed Naaman, is our God! In the Fall of 1955, Doctors Gamble and Flak of Peterborough, Ontario, told the President and Dean of the Bible College where I was a student in residence that they did not expect me to survive. The students identified with me in fasting and prayer. In my perception it seemed that the school officials were swimming into my dorm room. I was delirious with a fever of 105 degrees. They identified with me in the laying on of hands. I felt immediately like I was under a cooling shower. The fever departed and I got up and dressed, got into my 1947 Plymouth car, drove to the hospital, and asked Emergency to call the doctor. I experienced a miracle! God had one or two things for me to do.

Yours for God’s miracles,

David

P.S. I promised the other day that I would share with you a March, 2000 newspaper article from The Ottawa Citizen about the conversion of Canada’s first Prime Minister. It’s a poor photo of part of the article, but the headline says it all (click on the photo to enlarge it)…

THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 3

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

Here at the southern end of the Dead Sea you can see how dry and difficult the land would be to inhabit or even cross. The Kings of Israel and Judah took this route in their campaign against Moab, and here God provided the miracle of water.

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

Key Verse: 2 Kings 3:15

But now bring me a musician.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I sing unto You “a new song.” I pray for Your Holy Spirit to fill me with the refreshing water of life. You said, Lord Jesus, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37). I’m doing that just now as I worship You. My spiritual thirst is being quenched. Thank You, Jesus!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

This month we will celebrate mothers! I’ve been so very blessed by the music of the mother of my four children. In the churches I pastored, she played piano or organ and led choirs. I was reading my diary from January 2, 1963. Here’s some of what I read: “We measured the children and weighed them. Elaine, 3′ 5″ and 40 lbs – Ellen, 3′ and 30 lbs – Reynold 2′ 8″ and 29 lbs. Norma-Jean is 3 and 1/2 months pregnant and weighs ???” (I’m being careful here). I love you, mother of my children. X0 X0! Ron arrived on May 29th, 1963, in the Deep River hospital. Ann, the mother of Ron’s three children, also gave birth to their daughter Andrea on May 29th, 1986. Andrea is now married to Rev. Jason Patterson, has earned her PhD, and is a mother of two herself.

Happy Mother’s Day to all you who have biological or adopted children and all women who celebrate being spiritual mothers to many children!

Yours because of “MOTHERS,”

David

P.S. Here’s a link I found on You Tube to a beautiful rendition of “Sing Unto the Lord” by a lovely couple. I believe they are from India (click here). You may have to endure an automobile commercial before the song, but it’s worth waiting for.

Another photo of the desert wilderness at the south end of the Dead Sea. David Reynold, our oldest son, has taken some amazing photographs. I must include soon some of his Uganda photos where he and the mother of his three children, Kathy, serve as missionaries.

GUIDANCE

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 1-2

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

In the Ancient Agora Museum in Athens Greece is a monument base commemorating the victory in a race at the Panathenaic Games from the 4th century BC. In these games a fully armed warrior jumps on and off a moving chariot. In today’s reading a chariot and horses of fire appear.

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

Key Verse: 2 Kings 1:6a

So they said to him, “A man came up to meet us, and said to us, ‘Go, return to the king who sent you, and say to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?…'”‘”

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, please help me to focus on You and You alone. You hold my future in Your hands. I trust You for daily guidance. Grant me grace to keep my eyes on You, Lord Jesus, and I know that as I refuse to be distracted, I can’t go wrong. Thank You, Jesus! Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I have a friend named Herman. Herman was a salesman for Litton Industries, a company that, among other products, manufactured a system for aircraft called “Inertial Navigation.” One day he shared this story with me…

“I’ve just sold and installed one of our systems in the corporate jet of the President of Home Oil of Calgary, Alberta. In order to have automatic guidance to your destination, you punch into the onboard computer the co-ordinates of the latitude and longitude of your desired destination. The unit was installed in Toronto and carried the President to Calgary. Herman received a call from Calgary about four hours after departure. The President sounded angry. He said, ‘We got over Calgary air space and then trouble. It landed us one foot to the left of the centre line on the runway.’ Then he burst into laughter.”

What amazing accuracy! The lesson Herman taught me was that if I want guidance, I simply put God’s promises into effect by praying and believing, and then take off. He has promised guidance to His desired destination for my life. This removes the potential for human error. Solomon got it right when he wrote, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Yours to help navigate our lives always to the centre line on the runway of life. God’s will is our destination, and we must not be distracted by other considerations,

David

Arrowheads displayed in the Archaeological Museum of Pella, Greece.

A warrior’s helmet displayed in the Archaeological Museum of Pella, Greece. By the time the books of Kings conclude, Greece was just beginning to rise as a world military power.

THE PROPHETIC WORD

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 22

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

A panoramic view from the top of the Golan Heights looking west over the south end of the Sea of Galilee.

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

Key Verse: 1 Kings 22:15

Then he came to the king; and the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall we refrain?”

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Dear Lord, please keep me true to You and to Your Word. I do want to be true to Your Word, as Micaiah said, “Whatever the Lord says to me, that I will speak.” What You have said, Lord, is here in my Bible. I pray that I will let You speak through my Bible as Peter said, “The prophetic Word made more sure” (2 Peter 1:19a). I recognize that the written Word is “more sure.” Please continue to open the eyes of my understanding every day as I continue this Bible reading discipline. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

A while back I came across an old letter from my mother to a young man named Jim, who was interested in my teenage sister, Elaine. Elaine is almost six years older than I am. I really liked Jim and hoped he and Elaine would someday be married, but it was not to be. I was eleven at the time. Anyway, here’s some good advice for us all from Mother’s letter…

“It is an encouragement for us to know if we have helped someone heavenward. But then we remember that if we are living close to Jesus our influence is always telling for Him. If we get out of touch, we are ‘scattering abroad,’ instead of ‘gathering with Him.’ Last Sunday I had the privilege of teaching a class of girls, including Elaine [my daughter]. One of them told us how she was troubled because evil thoughts would come to her mind. She never dwelt on them, but if she was right with God, these thoughts should not come. We told her that the very fact that she hated those thoughts and put them from her was proof that they had no part in her life. Christ was tempted, even to devil worship, but He resisted the devil. She surprised me in the evening service by coming and thanking me, as this which had troubled her for a long time was cleared up. And so the Lord does use each one of us to help others if we live where we are useable.”

My mother died just six months after she wrote that letter to Jim. Some years ago, when Jim became a Pastor in Hamilton, he gave me two letters he had received from my mother. I treasure these letters. I have given one to each of my two daughters, Elaine and Ellen.

Yours for reading God’s “more sure Word of prophecy” (2 Peter 1:19a – King James Version).

David

SULKING, POUTING, ETC.

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 21

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

A present-day vineyard in what was ancient Samaria.

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

Key Verse: 1 Kings 21:4

So Ahab went into his house sullen and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no food.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I pray that I will not succumb to the fleshly impulse to sulk and pout over my circumstances. May I mature into Jesus’ faithful follower. And please Father, when I “grow up,” I want to be like Your Son, Jesus. In His Name I ask for Your help, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I remember saying several times to my students when I was a public school teacher, “Grow up!” A chapter title in my most recent book (This Far By Faith) is “From Mess to Maturity, a Work in Process.” GROW UP! I remember the Apostle Paul wrote something about this. He tells us to be no longer children, manipulated by trickery, craftiness, and outright deception. I’ve just read for a New Testament reading, Ephesians 4:11-16. Words such as “equipping – edifying – perfect (complete) – stature – fullness” cause me to do spiritual stretching exercises.

When my children were little and they would pout, I kept a mirror handy so I could show them their facial expression. It’s really hard to retain a snit when you look in a mirror. That screwed-up face would soon become a smile and then lots of laughter. It has been said, “Laughter is the best medicine,” and I would add that laughing at one’s self is, without a doubt, the very best kind of laughter. Need a good laugh? I have a suggestion. Go to the mirror now and make the face you used to make as a child when you were really feeling sorry for yourself because of real or imagined hurt feelings. I’ve just done that. What a good laugh!

Yours for continuing to “grow up,”

David

A man stands atop a large pillar base in the ruins of ancient Samaria.

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

SULLEN AND DISPLEASED

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 20

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

The Damascus Gate in Jerusalem leads to the Damascus road, which runs from the capital city of Israel to the capital of Syria. This was a major thoroughfare even in the days of King Ahab and King Ben Hadad. Of course, the Apostle Paul had his life-transforming experience with Jesus on the road to Damascus! (Acts 9).

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

Key Verse: 1 Kings 20:43

So the King of Israel went to his house sullen and displeased, and came to Samaria.

Here is a prime example of a failure in godly leadership by King Ahab. The Lord arranged tests for Ahab. Ahab failed those tests! While Ahab still had his title as King, his wife, Jezebel, had become the real leader. Yesterday’s reading began with the words, “And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done.” Then Jezebel took over. Verse two of 1 Kings 19 says, “Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah saying…” There is no doubt that after the Mt. Carmel confrontation between Elijah and the prophets of Baal, Ahab knew what was right and what he should do. He was too weak as a leader to take his place of authority as King and as a husband. Now, in today’s reading, Ahab continues to waffle in his decisions. While Jezebel is not mentioned in the 20th chapter, we can be sure that Ahab continued in the pattern already established. No doubt he “told Jezebel all.” God was seeking to lead Ahab, but while Ahab knew the victory God gave initially over Ben Hadad, he failed to follow God’s leading fully. Ahab’s reaction to the final word of a prophet of God, probably a graduate of Elijah’s School of the Prophets, caused him to pout in a childish way. Ahab needed to call on God fervently, man up, and lead according to the way God instructed him. He failed to do so. His leadership was slipping away.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, there is a lesson for me to learn here. Two characters in today’s reading failed to follow through as You had instructed. May I hear Your instructions clearly and may I have the intestinal fortitude to follow through. Please keep me from being “sullen and displeased.” I need Your strength, Lord. In the Name of the strongest Leader ever, the Lord Jesus, Himself, Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

The night before last, as Norma-Jean and I were about to close our eyes in sleep, I turned to her and said, “Thank you, darling, for your support of my leadership.” I didn’t bring this up, but in our marriage ceremony almost 59 years ago, she actually promised to obey me. In this day of political correctness, that sounds positively old fashioned. In my early days of ministry, it was generally agreed that the internal discussions of the Board of Deacons in the churches I pastored, and later in the Board of Crossroads, stayed there, and a Deacon or Director would not do as Ahab did in telling all to his wife. From a personal point of view, I wanted to leave these matters inside the Boardroom. I very much wanted my home and my marriage relationship to concentrate on our family and our relationship as husband and wife. I think I can say that the result was harmony in our home, and some success in the ministry to which God called me. For this I give God the glory. Please forgive me if I’ve offended anyone here. It’s just that every time I read about Jezebel, I’m amazed at her control over her husband. Why, even Elijah, fresh from the victory of God sending the fire to consume the sacrifice, was overpowered by her.

Yours for hearing from God,

David

This is the original Damascus Gate from the time of Jesus. It’s below the level of the current gate pictured above.

SUCCESSOR

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 19

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

A view of the Sea of Galilee from the north shore. Jesus commanded, “Peace be still.”

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

Key Verse: 1 Kings 19:12

After the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I’m listening for Your gentle whisper. Father, in spite of the wind, the earthquake, and the fire, I pray that I will hear Your “still small voice.” In the Name of the One who said, “My peace I give unto you,” the Lord of all, Jesus Christ (John 14:27), Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I have great memories from 1978 when Norma-Jean and I saved for quite a while to take our sons to Israel. The girls had come to Israel with us a couple of years before this. The boys’ high school principal, David Craig, told us, “Your sons will learn more in that month than they could ever learn in the same time in high school. You have my permission to take them out of school for a month.” Reynold, Ron and I backpacked from place to place, and Norma-Jean, with a friend’s van, would meet us with supplies from time to time.

On Mt. Carmel we read the chapters we’ve been reading in this blog for the past two days, and we wondered how Elijah could arrive back in Samaria before Ahab got there (18:45-46). Then as we climbed down the east side of Mt. Carmel, we realized that Elijah probably went down the way we were taking, while Ahab, with his horses and chariots, had to go down the gentle slope of the mountain which went in a westerly direction, the opposite direction from Samaria, before he could turn east again.

In a very real sense, I’m travelling every day through the land of the Bible as I read, meditate, pray, and write this blog. After I have finished writing between 4:00 and 6:00 a.m., I am “still.” The telephone never rings. No one knocks at the door, except Jesus. The old hymn says, “Blessed quietness, holy quietness, blest assurance in my soul!” (click here for the lyrics).

Yours for waiting on God in the quiet place,

David