Daily Bread Pastor Mike Anderson

  2 Kings 17:1-18:12 Hoshea Rules in Israel Hoshea did what was evil in the Lord's sight but apparently not as bad as the previous kings. While that is saying something, it is not saying too much. The king was paying a heavy tax to the king of Assyria but eventually colluded with the king of Egypt, which landed him in prison.  Hoshea Rules in Israel Finally, the inevitable happened. The king of Assyrian invaded Israel and totally beseiged the city of Samaria, the capital of the Northern kingdom of Israel. The people of Israel were exiled to Assyria. If you think this seems harsh, you haven't read the previous chapters, where Israel kept on worshipping idols and making sacrifices to pagan shrines and various abominations to the Lord. It is amazing God was so patient and merciful for the sake of His covenant promise. God sent prophet after to prophet to warn them, but they refused to listen to them as their stubborn ancestors also refused to listen to Moses. It got so bad they e...

Audio Readings Uzziah Rules in Judah Like many other kings, Uzziah generally did what was right in the Lord's eyes, but he did not tear down the pagan shrines and still allowed people to burn incense and offer sacrifices. He lasted for 52 years and then was struck with leprosy and eventually died from it. The king's son, Jotham, was given the throne.  Zechariah Rules in Israel Zechariah, son of Jeroboam II, did not fare so well. He only lasted six months ruling in Samaria. Shallum, son of Jabesh, assassinated him in public and became the next king in Israel.  Zechariah was the fourth descendant of Jehu and thus the reign of Jehu just as the Lord had promised.  Shallum Rules in Israel  Shallum holds the record for the shortest reign at 1 month, and then he was assassinated. Menahem, the man who assassinated him, succeeded as the next king.  Menahem Rules in Israel Menahem continues the horrific run on the kings of Israel, as he not only attacked a town unprovoked...

  Audio Readings 2 Kings 13:1-14:29 Jehoahaz Rules in Israel We see a familiar pattern again to today with King Jehoahaz of Israel. He does the same evil that his father Jehu sucuumbed to during his reign. The Syrian army led by King Hazael and his son, Ben Hadad thoroughly defeated Israel. When Jehoahaz repented, God relented. But sure enough Israel returned to sin even leaving the pagan Asherah pole standing in Samaria. Jehoahaz was followed by his son, Jehoash.  Jehoash Rules in Israel Jehoash ruled 17 years in Israel and followed the evil ways of Jeroboam. He also went to war with King Amaziah in Judah.  "The reign of Jehoash saw a civil war among the people of God, with the Southern Kingdom of Judah and the Northern Kingdom of Israel at war." Guzik “This war with Amaziah may be seen in ample detail in 2 Chronicles 25; it ended in the total defeat of Amaziah who was taken prisoner by Joash, and afterwards slain in a conspiracy at Lachish.” (Clarke) Elisha’s Final Prop...

audio readings 2 Kings 10:32=12:21 At the end of Jehu's reign, King Hazael and Syria had taken over many key cities in Israel. Jehu died, and his son Jehoahaz took over. Jehu reigned for 28 years in Israel.  Queen Athaliah Rules in Judah If you thought Queen Jezebel was bad, Queen Athaliah isn't far behind. Whereas Jezebel might have been murderous, Athaliah was a manipulative power monger with a violent side on top of it! As soon as Jehu died, she tried to kill off all of his sons who would be rightful heirs to the throne. But there was one son, Joash, who was hid by his aunt in a bedroom, so he avoided being killed. Then he was transported to the temple, where he was kept safe for 6 more years.  Revolt against Athaliah Meanwhile Jehoida, the priest, recruited commander, palace guards, and other mercenaries to guard the temple and royal palace. They swore on oath to both Jehoida and future king Joash. He brought out spears and shields from the temple that were used by King Da...

Audio Readings 1 Kings 9:14-10:31 Jehu Kills Joram and Ahaziah Today we see the prophet Elijah's prophecy fulfilled against the descendants of Ahab, and also evil Queen Jezebel. King Joram, the more evil of the two kings, was killed with an arrow that pierced him in the back and went through his heart. Instead of a proper burial, they threw him on to the plot of Naboth for the murder of he and his sons. Ahaziah, the king from Judah, was also shot and killed. But he was buried in Judah properly, because he was related to Jehoshaphat, and was a descendant David.  The Death of Jezebel The death of Jezebel was not pretty, as she was thrown out of a window, trampled on by horses, and eaten by dogs leaving only her skull, feet, and hands.  God’s promise against Jezebel and the house of Ahab was exactly and righteously fulfilled (1 Kings 21:19, 21:23-25). Eventually they buried her remains because she was a daughter of the king.  Jehu Kills Ahab’s Family Not only was the curse f...

Audio Readings 2 Kings 8:1-9:13 The Woman from Shunem Returns Home After the famine was over, the woman came back to Israel after living in the land of the Philistines as Elisha had instructed her. She came to the king to see if she could get her land back. Ironically right at that time Gehazi, Elisha's servant, was meeting with the King. The King had asked him to tell him stories about the deeds done by Elisha. Just as he was telling the King about the story of Elisha bringing back the woman's son from the dead, the woman stood in their midst. How is that for confirmation?  God often authenticates the things he has done through unusual circumstances just to prove this could not happen through human means.  Hazael Murders Ben-Hadad  King Ben-Hadad of Syria lay sick and asked Hazael, his servant to bring gifts to the man of God (Elisha) and ask him if he would die of this sickness. When Hazael met Elisha with the gifts, Elisha told him to tell the King he would recover, th...

  Lydia of Philippi Believes in Jesus This is another huge story for our missiology as Christians. Paul and Silas went on the Sabbath down to the river out to see if there were any Jews meeting there. Sure enough they ran into Lydia, a wealthy woman, who dealt in expensive purple cloth. She was a God seeker, and when she heard Paul's message, she believed, and she and her WHOLE HOUSEHOLD were baptized.  Why is this story important?  1. A influential woman comes to faith and leads her whole household to Jesus. Later, the church of Philippi becomes a major and influential in the 1st century church. This is one of the first instances of a woman playing a leadership in the church. This gives credence to the idea of women being in leadership of the church. There are others instance of women playing key wrongs in the growth as well in Acts too.  Remember Galatians 2:20 "In Christ there is no Jew nor Greek, slave or free, male or female, but all are one in Christ Jesus!"...

Audio Readings 2 Kings 6:1-7:20 The Floating Ax Head Elijah's powers were manifest in many ways. As a man was cutting down trees with an axe, it fell off and sank to the bottom of the Jordan River. Elijah threw a stick where the axe went in and it floated to the top.   Elisha Traps the Arameans In this story, we see another side of Elisha. Whenever the King of Aram would plan to attack Israel, Elijah would tell the King of Israel about their plans. Soon the King of Aram's officers told them to go out and capture Elisha. Elisha's servants were nervous, but Elisha told them the Lord would protect them. He even told them of a vision the Lord gave him in which the hills were filled with thousands of horses and chariots of fire. He said to his young servant, " There is more on our side than theirs!"  What a good thing to think of when you are facing an enemy. You know that the Lord is on your side and you can envision that there are more on your side than theirs. If Go...

Audio Readings 2 Kings 4:18-5:27 Today we continue to hear stories about the dynamic and supernatural ministry of Elisha, the Prophet. When you read the stories you will see a resemblance to some of the things Jesus did during his public ministry. For example: 1. After the widow from Shunem had a child miraculously as Elijah had predicted, the child got sick and died. Then we read of how though Gehazi his servant could not heal the boy with Elijah's staff, so Elijah did this ... When Elisha arrived, the child was indeed dead, lying there on the prophet’s bed. 33 He went in alone and shut the door behind him and prayed to the Lord. 34 Then he lay down on the child’s body, placing his mouth on the child’s mouth, his eyes on the child’s eyes, and his hands on the child’s hands. And as he stretched out on him, the child’s body began to grow warm again! 35 Elisha got up, walked back and forth across the room once, and then stretched himself out again on the child. This time the boy snee...

  2 Kings 3:1-4:17 Elisha Helps a Poor Widow Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors: Elisha made this woman commit herself in faith to God’s provision. To borrow vessels in this manner invited awkward questions, but she did as the word of God through His prophet commanded her.  Elisha told the woman to take what she had – one jar of oil (all that she had) – and pour that out in faith into the borrowed vessels. As she did this, the oil miraculously kept pouring from the original vessel until all the borrowed vessels were filled. At the end of it, she had a lot of oil. The miracle was given according to the measure of her previous faith in borrowing vessels. She borrowed enough so the excess oil was sold and provided money to pay the debt to the creditor and to provide for the future. Had she borrowed more, more would have been provided; had she gathered less, less would have been provided. - Guzik Elisha and the Woman from Shunem This remarkable relationshi...

Audio Readings 2 Kings 2-3 Elijah Taken to Heaven In chapter 2, we not only see Elijah taken up to heaven in a whirlwind with chariots and charioteers, but the passing on of his prophetic ministry to his young associate, Elisha. Elijah tested Elisha by telling him he was going away, but each time Elisha refused to let him go alone. At each test Elisha proved to Elijah that he was fit to be the next prophet in Israel.  When Elijah finally got to the Jordan river, he used his cloak to part the waters. Then, he asked Elisha what he could do for him. Elisha boldly asked for a "double portion" of the same Holy Spirit that had empowered Elijah. The word "double portion" is what is given to the first born son as an inheritance. So, in essence, Elisha was asking for that inheritance as Elijah's spiritual son.  Elijah told him he would know if he received the inheritiance if he saw Elijah when he was taken away. Sure enough when Elijah was taken to heaven on a whirlwind ...

Audio Readings   1 Kings 22 Jehoshaphat and Ahab Jehoshaphat was the king of Judah, and Ahab was the king of Israel. Ahab approached  Jehoshaphat asking him to join him to reclaim Ramoth-Gilead from the Syrians.  Jehoshaphat suggests they consult a prophet, which was the right thing to do. Oddly, Ahab consults 400 prophets, which sounds eerily similar the 450 prophets of Baal. And, of course, they all tell him to go to war.  Jehoshaphat senses something is up and asks if there is a "prophet of the Lord". Makes me wonder if the other 400 are really not prophets at all.  " When Ahab gathered the prophets, they were not faithful prophets of the LORD. These were prophets happy to please their kings, and to tell them what they wanted to hear. Jehoshaphat still wanted to hear from a prophet of Yahweh, the LORD. " - Guzik There is however one more prophet, but here is what Jehoshaphat says of him. There is one more man who could consult the Lord for us, but I hate him....

Audio Readings 1 Kings 20:1-21:29 Ben-Hadad Attacks Samaria The Syrian king, Ben Hadad, had allied with many other kings and threatened King Ahab of Israel to take his possessions and family. Ahab accepted these terms thinking it might help the country from losing much more in the long run.  But then Ben Hadad came back and demanded not just these things from Ahab, but also from all the officials of his palace. So Ahab gathered the elders, and they told him that Ben Hadad was asking for way too much. When Ahab refused to agree to the second demand Ben Hadad and the other kings, who had been drinking, they gave the command to attack.  The elders of Israel rightly saw that such surrender to Ben-Hadad and the Syrians was the first step to a total loss of sovereignty for Israel. If they wanted to remain a kingdom at all, they had to resist this threat.  But this thing I cannot do: Ahab told Ben-Hadad that he would do most of what he requested, but not all. But to deny a tyran...