I Kings 14

Jeroboam sends his wife to Ahijahverses 1-3

At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick

and Jeroboam said to his wife

Arise – I pray you – and disguise yourself

that you be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam

And get you to Shiloh – BEHOLD – there is Ahijah the prophet

which told me that I should be king over this people

And take with you ten loaves – and cracknels

and a cruse of honey and go to him

he shall tell you what shall become of the child

LORD warns Ahijah of Jeroboam’s wife’s visitverses 4-5

And Jeroboam’s wife did so – and arose – and went to Shiloh

and came to the house of Ahijah

BUT Ahijah could not see

for his eyes were set by reason of his age

And the LORD

said to Ahijah

BEHOLD – the wife of Jeroboam comes to ask a thing of you

for her son – for he is sick

thus and thus shall you say unto her

for it shall be – when she comes in that she shall feign

herself to be another woman

Ahijah gives LORD’S message regarding Abijahverses 6-11

And it was so – when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet

as she came in at the door

that he said

Come in – you wife of Jeroboam

Why feign you yourself to be another?

FOR I am sent to you with heavy tidings

Go – tell Jeroboam

thus says the LORD God of Israel

Forasmuch as I exalted you from among the people

and made you prince over MY people Israel

and rent the kingdom away from the house of David

and gave it you

and yet you have not been as MY servant David

who kept MY commandments – and who

followed ME with all his heart

to do that only which was right

in MINE eyes

BUT have done evil above all that were before you

for you have gone and made you other gods

and molten images – to provoke ME to anger

and have cast ME behind your back

THEREFORE – BEHOLD

I will bring evil on the house of Jeroboam

and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisses

against the wall – and him that is

shut up and left in Israel

and will take away the remnant of the

house of Jeroboam

as a man takes away dung

till it be all gone

Him that dies of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat

and him that dies in the field shall the fowls of the

air eat – for the LORD has spoken it

Ahijah sends Jeroboam’s wife homeverses 12-13

Arise thou therefore – get you to your own house

and when your feet enter into the city – the child shall die

and all Israel shall mourn for him – and bury him

for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave

BECAUSE in him there is found some good

thing toward the LORD God of Israel

in the house of Jeroboam

Ahijah tells her all descendants will dieverses 14-16

Moreover the LORD shall raise HIM up a king over Israel

who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam that day

But what?

Even now

For the LORD shall smite Israel – as a reed is shaken in the water

and HE shall root up Israel out of this good land

which HE gave to their fathers

and shall scatter them beyond the river

because they have made their groves

provoking the LORD to anger

and HE shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam

who did sin – and who made Israel to sin

Israel mourns death of Abijahverses 17-18

And Jeroboam’s wife arose – and departed – and came to Tirzah

and when she came to the threshold of the door

the child died

And they buried him – and all Israel mourned for him

according to the word of the LORD

which HE spoke by the hand of HIS servant

Ahijah the prophet

Nadab reigns after Jeroboamverses 19-20

And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam – how he warred

and how he reigned

BEHOLD – they are written in the book of the

chronicles of the kings of Israel

And the days which Jeroboam reigned were

two and twenty years

and he slept with his fathers

and Nadab his son reigned in his stead

Rehoboam reigns seventeen yearsverse 21

And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah

Rehoboam was forty and one years old

when he began to reign

And he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem

the city which the LORD did choose out of all

the tribes of Israel to put HIS name there

And his mother’s name was Naamah an Ammonitess

Rehoboam did evil during his reignverses 22-24

And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD

and they provoked HIM to jealousy

with their sins which they had committed

above all that their fathers had done

for they also built them high places – images – groves

on every high hill – and under every green tree

and there were also SODOMITES in the land

and they did according to all

the abominations of the nations

which the LORD cast out

before the children of Israel

King Shishak – king of Egypt takes treasureverses 25-28

And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam

that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem

And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD

and the treasures of the king’s house

he even took away all

and he took away all the shields of gold

which Solomon had made

And king Rehoboam made in their stead brazen shields

and committed them to the hands of the chief of the guard

which kept the door of the king’s house

And it was so – when the king went into the house of the LORD

that the guard bare them

and brought them back into the guard chamber

Rehoboam was son of Ammoniteverses 29-31

Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam – and all that he did

Are they not written in the

book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days

and Rehoboam slept with his fathers

and was buried with his fathers in the city of David

and his mother’s name was

Naamah an Ammonitess

and Abijam his son reigned in his stead

COMMENTARY:

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

: 6 And it was so, when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, that he said, Cone in, you wife of Jeroboam, why feignest you yourself to be another? For I am sent to you with heavy tidings. (5234 “feignest” [nakar] means to falsely act as though one does not know another person, acknowledge, to misjudge, disfigure, pretend, or make a false presentation)

DEVOTION: Have you ever tried to surprise someone and somehow, they knew it was you? Here is the wife of Jeroboam king of the ten tribes of Israel who wanted to know what was going to happen to her son.

Jeroboam was not sure about the welcome he would receive if he came or his wife came if they identified themselves because of the way has turned the hearts of the ten tribes away from the LORD.

The LORD is not surprised by what happens here in the earth. HE is not a God who is far away from the day to day life of HIS people. HE is close to HIS people either to bless or to curse. Our actions determine HIS actions. Many times HE is more gracious than we deserve. HE is very forgiving. HE wants us to repent of our sins and turn our life toward HIM daily.

Jeroboam was not willing to turn his life around and follow the LORD. He enjoyed sin for a season but when it affected his son he wanted to know if the LORD would allow him to live.

Consequences of our sin affect our families as well as us. We need to understand this fact. If we don’t raise our children to honor the LORD or we try but not with enough effort we can see our children going away from the LORD rather than closer to the LORD.

The LORD wants us to know that HE takes sin seriously especially when it is in the life of the leader of HIS nation. The leaders of local churches will answer to the LORD for their preaching and leadership. The Bible tells us that we face a greater judgment.

The people in the pews have to not blame the pastor for their sins but also have to confront their pastor if he is not preaching the truth of the Word of God. Never allow tickling of your ears to make you feel good in church.

CHALLENGE: No pretending allowed with the LORD!!!!

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

: 8 And rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it you: and yet you have not been as MY servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed ME with all his heart, to do that only which was right in MINE eyes. (7167 “rent” [qara] means to tear away, to rip, to take something away from someone, remove from power, or disassociate.)

DEVOTION: After reading the Bible about all that David did in his life would we describe David like the LORD described him? I don’t think so!!! We would see all of David’s sins and tell the LORD that HE had a wrong evaluation of the life of David.

Have you ever told the LORD HE was wrong about something? The answer should be NO!! HE is always perfect in HIS knowledge. How could God describe David in such a way after all we know about him? The answer is that when sin is confessed the LORD buries it in the deepest sea. HE chooses not to see it at all. David confessed his sins and the LORD forgave him and moved them as far as the east is from the west.

Do we really understand how God works in our lives? Probably not!! HE wants us to confess our sin and if it is genuine the LORD forgives them. HE doesn’t bring them up again.

So here we have God describing David with a good relationship with HIM. HE states that David had a heart that always wanted to please HIM. HE said that David did what was right in HIS sight. In our sight he was a sinner who didn’t deserve those compliments from the LORD.

We tend to be an unforgiving people. We are worse than the LORD at times. We don’t know the hearts of those we consider worst sinners than ourselves and yet that is the sin of pride.

CHALLENGE: Remember God’s description of David after his death. HE is the final judge. Our responsibility is to be encouragers of the brethren.

: 13 And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam. (2896 “good” [towb] means beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, fine, joyful, kindly, pleasure, sweet, or well favored.)

DEVOTION: The first king of the divided nation of Israel was evil. He set up to golden calves for the people to worship. He provoked the LORD to anger. The LORD was going to end his family from reigning over the ten tribes.

The occasion for the LORD to convey this message was the sickness of Jeroboam’s son, Abijah. Jeroboam sent his wife to the prophet Ahijah. She was to disguise herself and take gifts to Ahijah. However the LORD warned Ahijah that she was coming in a disguise. The reason for this taking place was that Ahijah was blind. Ahijah tells her that her son was going to die.

Here was a young man who was sick in the king’s house. This young man, Abijah, was the only one in the king’s family that brought joy to the LORD. This young man was the one who of the king’s family who would go to die and be buried.

We are not sure of the age of Abijah. His name means “My father is the LORD.” Here is one family member who didn’t follow the family example. He wanted to please the LORD. It is rare to find one individual in a family that wants to serve the LORD. Abijah was sick and the LORD was going to allow him to die without reigning in this evil nation.

As the LORD looks at our family, does HE have joy toward each one of our family members? Does HE have joy when HE thinks of us?

Our four children are following the LORD. We have thirteen grandchildren that we would like to see following the LORD. We praise the LORD for his grace and mercy. It is our prayer, that those who receive these devotionals are seeing their families love the LORD.

We need to remember that if there is one member or more that is not following the LORD, we have access to the throne of God in prayer to ask the Holy Spirit to influence those loved ones toward the LORD. We are to never give up!!!

Our God is still in the miracle business. Sometimes HE chooses to take someone out of a bad situation. This happened in this instance. Not sure why but we know that the LORD knows what is best for us all, if we are servants of HIM. Abijah was a servant of the LORD.

CHALLENGE: Remember to tell your children, grandchildren and if you have some great grandchildren that you were praying for their relationship to the LORD. Our family is our first mission field. Then we can reach the rest of the world.

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 18 And they buried him; and all Israel mourned for him, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by the hand of his servant Ahijah the prophet. (5030 “prophet” [nabiy] means spokesman, speaker, prophetic guild, companion or follower of prophet or inspired man.)

DEVOTION: God has spoken through men and women throughout the ages. HE calls men to be prophets and women to be prophetess. HE wanted HIS people to know what HE thought about their actions throughout history. HE wants to communicate with humans either through individuals or through HIS own speech.

HE communicated one on one with Moses and Abraham. HE communicated with Jacob through a dream. HE is communicating with us through HIS Son and the Bible.

We have no excuse for not knowing what the LORD expects of us and what HE is planning for the future. Here HE communicates with Ahijah a man called to be a spokesman for HIM.

Ahijah is given a prophecy regarding the future of the Jeroboam’s family. He was not going to be followed for long by someone from his family because of the sinful way he moved the children of Israel away from the LORD through the establishment of the two golden calves.

Inspired men were used by the LORD to warn HIS children concerning their future if they continued down the path they were on. Here we have God judging someone who knew ahead of time that he was going to split the kingdom because of the sins of Solomon but continued to go the way of Solomon away from the LORD.

We need to listen to the Word of God regarding what will happen to us if we are not obedient to the LORD. There are men who understand the Word of God today but there doesn’t seem to be any prophets who hear from the LORD except through the Bible and the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

When someone preaches the Word of God the Holy Spirit can convict of sin and show someone how they can restore their relationship with the LORD.

CHALLENGE: Listen to the Word of God when it speaks to you about what is happening in your life and world. Obedience is always key to staying in tune with the LORD.

: 22 And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked HIM to jealousy with their sins which they had committed above all that their fathers had done. (7065 “jealousy” [qana] means to envy, to get heated, become excited, to annoy, to cause to be desirous or zealous for exclusivity in relationship.)

DEVOTION: Sin by HIS people stirs up the LORD. HE doesn’t like it when HIS people don’t obey HIM and go in their own direction. This is what Israel and Judah had done. It was something that the LORD had to deal with because of their lack of faithfulness to HIM.

HE had provided a nation that could honor HIM but instead there was infighting and there was a division that didn’t please HIM. Each of the two nations Israel and Judah didn’t serve HIM.

They thought that they could do as they please and the LORD would let it go and not punish them for their sins. They were wrong. Both nations are covered in this chapter with the LORD judging each.

There was death in the family of Jeroboam. There was the nation of Egypt coming to Jerusalem and taking all the wealth found there away. Each nation didn’t honor the LORD and the LORD showed them that HE was not pleased.

Nations that claim to be following the LORD have to be aware that when they stop the LORD is going to deal with them. This is happening today with our world. Each nation that claimed to follow the LORD has drifted away from HIS commandments and is now just beginning to face the consequences of their actions.

We need a revival in our land. It can only happen when HIS people humble themselves and pray and seek HIS face.

CHALLENGE: Are we willing to follow HIM to that point even today. The nations of Israel and Judah were not.

DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)

Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)

Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)

Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)

Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)

SOUL

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)

Frugality (wise use of resources)

Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)

Acts of Jeroboam recorded in Chroniclesverse 19

Acts of Rehoboam recorded in Chroniclesverse 29

Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)

Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)

Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)

Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

House of the LORDverse 28

DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

Commandmentsverse 8

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)verses 5, 7, 11, 13-15, 18, 21, 22, 24, 26, 28

God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign)verses 7, 13

LORD God of Israelverses 7, 13

Bring evil upon house of Jeroboamverses 10, 11

Word of the LORDverse 18

Sight of the LORDverse 22

Provoked to jealousyverse 22

House of the LORDverses 26, 28

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)

Nationsverse 24

Egypt – Shishak kingverses 25, 26

Took away the treasures

Took away shields of gold

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

Disguiseverses 2, 6

Evilverses 9, 10, 22

Other godsverse 9

Molten imagesverses 9, 23

Provoke LORD to angerverses 9, 15

Cast LORD behind backverse 9

Build grovesverses 15, 23

Sinverses 16, 22

Cause others to sinverse 16

Provoke LORD to jealousyverse 22

Build high placesverse 23

Sodomitesverse 24

Abominationsverse 24

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

Servantverse 8

Kept commandmentsverse 8

Follow LORD with all heartverse 8

Doing right in LORD’S eyesverse 8

Goodverse 13

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

Jeroboamverses 1-20

Sent his wife regarding sick son

LORD going to cut off his house

Sins of him

Acts written in book of chronicles of the kings of Israel

Reigned twenty-two years

Jeroboam’s son sick: Abijahverse 1

Ahijah the prophetverses 2, 4-6, 18

Asked what is going to happen to Abijah

LORD told him Jeroboam’s wife was coming

Jeroboam’s wife went to see Ahijahverses 2-17

Told child would die when she entered house

LORD’S message to Jeroboamverses 7-14

House of Davidverse 8

David obeyed LORD

Israelverse 15

Provoked the LORD to anger

Inheritanceverse 15

Nadabverse 20

Son of Jeroboam

Jerusalem chosenverse 21

Rehoboam – son of Solomonverses 21-31

Reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem

Mother: Naamah the Ammonite

Built high places – images and groves

Sodomites

Abominations of the nations

Made brazen shields to replace gold

Acts written in book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah

War between him and Jeroboam

Judah did evil during reign of Rehoboamverse 22

Solomonverse 26

Abijam kingverse 31

Church (New Testament people of God)

Last Things (Future Events)

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QUOTES regarding passage

14:22–24. Rehoboam turned from the Lord after he had become established on the throne and was strong (2 Chron. 12:1, 14). This revival of idolatry reintroduced conditions that had prevailed in the days of the Judges before David turned the nation to the Lord. The Lord’s jealous anger was directed at those responsible for the sins that destroyed His beloved people. The high places were sometimes places where Yahweh was worshiped but not as He had commanded. The sacred stones or pillars and Asherah poles (cf. 1 Kings 14:15) were aids to the worship of male and female Canaanite idols. The high hills and spreading trees were favorite locations for these cultic shrines. Male shrine prostitutes (sodomites) were used in pagan worship. The same practices that moved God to purge the land of the moral cancer that plagued it in Joshua’s day were those to which the Israelites returned under Rehoboam’s leadership. (Constable, T. L. (1985). 1 Kings. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 517–518). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

They became vain in their imaginations concerning God, and changed his glory into an image, for they built themselves high places, images, and groves (v. 23), profaning God’s name by affixing to it their images, and God’s ordinances by serving their idols with them. They foolishly fancied that they exalted God when they worshipped him on high hills and pleased him when they worshipped him under the pleasant shadow of green trees. (2.) They were given up to vile affections (as those idolaters Rom. 1:26, 27), for there were sodomites in the land (v. 24), men with men working that which is unseemly, and not to be thought of, much less mentioned, without abhorrence and indignation. They dishonoured God by one sin and then God left them to dishonour themselves by another. They profaned the privileges of a holy nation, therefore God gave them up to their own hearts’ lusts, to imitate the abominations of the accursed Canaanites; and herein the Lord was righteous. And, when they did like those that were cast out, how could they expect any other than to be cast out like them? (Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 503). Peabody: Hendrickson.)

14:22–24 Judah outdid her ancestors in evil, provoking the Lord to jealous anger (v. 22). Signs of idolatrous practice were everywhere (vv. 23, 24). She even practiced sacred prostitution to promote fertility (v. 24). Judah had begun the downward slide toward doom that Israel was in. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (1 Ki 14:22–24). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

Ver. 24. And there were also Sodomites in the land, &c.] Such as were addicted to unnatural lusts between men and men, which the men of Sodom were guilty of, from whence they had their name: Jarchi interprets the word adultery, and some versions render it whore mongers; and filthy actions of this nature, both by men and women, usually attended idolatrous practices; among the Heathens; in their temples and groves such wickednesses were privately perpetrated: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the Lord cast out before the children of Israel; the Canaanites, of whose uncleannesses, incests, and bestialities, see Lev. 18. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, pp. 737–738). London: Mathews and Leigh.)

14:24 male cult prostitutes. One aspect of the syncretistic worship of Judah under Rehoboam was religiously legitimized prostitution within the sanctuary. It is possible that the sexual intercourse envisaged had a specifically ritual character, designed to persuade the gods and goddesses to act in a similar way and deliver, through their intercourse, fertility to the land and to the community (cf. Hos. 4:1–19). (Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 627). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.)

FROM MY READING:

(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)

THE CROSS AND OURSELVES

The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19:10
The first thing the cross does is to show us to ourselves. Of course, we always defend ourselves, do we not? It isn’t my fault, we say, it is his. If only he understood. Or take husbands and wives, when they separate from one another. You listen to the story of the husband: “This woman is impossible!” Then you listen to the woman: “This man of mine—I could not live with him. He is an impossible man!” It is always somebody else, is it not? We are never wrong—we are very wonderful. If only we could be understood. It is always somebody else, always that other person.
Do you know what the gospel does, what the cross does? It shows you to yourself. And nothing else in the whole world does that but the cross. There is nothing that will ever humble a man or a nation but the cross of Christ. The cross tells us the simple, plain truth about ourselves.
Think of it like this. Why did the Son of God ever come into this world? Why did He leave the courts of glory? Why was He born as a little babe? Why did He take unto Him human nature? There is only one answer. He came because man could not save himself. He said that. “The Son of man,” he says, “is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). And when I look at the cross and see Him dying there, what He tells me is this: You have nothing whereof to boast. The cross tells me that I am a complete failure, and that I am such a failure that He had to come from heaven not merely to teach and preach in this world, but to die on that cross. Nothing else could save us.
A Thought to Ponder: And when I look at the cross and see Him dying there, what He tells me is this: You have nothing whereof to boast.

(From The Cross, pp. 143-144, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

Inspiration
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)
The Bible insists its writers were supernaturally influenced by God to such an extent that their words were given divine accuracy. The unique word translated “inspiration” in our text could be rendered “God blowing” or “God puffing.” Peter speaks of “holy men of God” who “spake” as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). David was conscious that his own “tongue” was speaking words that the Holy Spirit of the Lord gave him (2 Samuel 23:2). Jeremiah was given audible instruction and told to reproduce those words precisely (Jeremiah 30:1-2; 26:2), as was Isaiah (Isaiah 6:8-10), who clearly knew he was being controlled by God (Isaiah 59:21).
These are samplings of some 2,600 claims in the Old Testament for direct inspiration of the text of Scripture. God used several methods to make sure that His Word was “puffed” out, and on one occasion even wrote them with His own finger on tables of stone—twice (Exodus 31:18; 34:1). Those words were not only inspired but inscribed!
The writings of the 27 books of the New Testament are also full of declarations of God’s personal inspiration of the words. Jesus claimed to speak only what God the Father instructed Him to say (John 12:46-50). Paul knew he was given revelation (Ephesians 3:3-4) and insisted on equivalent standing with God’s commands (1 Thessalonians 2:13). Peter demanded remembrance of the apostles’ teachings (2 Peter 3:1-4, 15-16), John insisted on the accuracy of what he shared (1 John 1:1-3), and Jude verified the words of the other apostles (Jude 1:3, 17).
It seems we are confronted with an all-or-nothing proposition. Either all Scripture is inspired or none of it is. (HMM III , The Institute for Creation Research)

Live Like It’s Morning

The fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth.

Ephesians 5:9

When I have to travel across time zones by air, I try various remedies to avoid jet lag. I think I’ve tried them all! On one occasion, I decided to adjust my in-flight eating to the time zone where I was heading. Instead of eating dinner with the rest of the passengers, I kept watching a movie and tried to fall asleep. The hours of elective fasting were difficult, and the breakfast that came right before we landed left much to be desired. But living “out of sorts” with those around me worked. It jolted my body clock into a new time zone.

Paul knew that if believers in Jesus were to truly reflect Him in their lives, they would need to live out of step with the world around them. They “were once darkness” but now they were to live as “children of light” (Ephesians 5:8). And what might that look like? Paul goes on to fill out the picture: “The fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth” (v. 9).

Sleeping through dinner may have seemed foolish to the people on my flight, but even as it’s midnight in the world, as believers, we’re called to live like it’s morning. This may provoke scorn and opposition, but in Jesus we can “walk in the way of love,” following the example of the One who “love[s] us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (v. 2).

By Glenn Packiam, Our Daily Bread)

Heard something today that’s so worth sharing. You know when you go to Wal-Mart and they have the wipes to clean your cart handle? How many of you don’t use them? Well I do and I always thought of the germs only. Was told today that the police chief also suggests you do it also because of all the problems with drugs now days and if they have Fentanyl or something like that still on their hands and they touch that cart then you do it can get into your system. Scary but worth taking the time to clean the handle. All you’d have to do is like rub your nose or touch your child’s mouth…I never even considered this possibility. But here in this tristate area there have been officers exposed and children exposed to just the powder or residue. And has been a very bad situation. Also think about putting your child in the seat and their little hands coming in contact with something.

Nabi˒ represents “prophet,” whether a true or false prophet (cf. Deut. 13:1-5). True prophets were mouthpieces of the true God. In 1 Chron. 29:29 three words are used for “prophet”: “Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the Book of Samuel the Seer [ro˒eh] and in the Book of Nathan the Prophet [nabi˒], and in the Book of Gad the Seer [chozeh].” The words translated “seer” emphasize the means by which the “prophet” communicated with God but do not identify the men as anything different from prophets (cf. 1 Sam. 9:9). The first occurrence of nabi˒ does not help to clearly define it either: “Now therefore restore the man [Abraham] his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live …” (Gen. 20:7).

The second occurrence of nabi˒ establishes its meaning: “And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet” (Exod. 7:1). The background of this statement is Exod. 4:10-16, where Moses argued his inability to speak clearly. Hence, he could not go before Pharaoh as God’s spokesman. God promised to appoint Aaron (Moses’ brother) to be the speaker: “And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God” (Exod. 4:16). Exod. 7:1 expresses the same idea in different words. It is clear that the word “prophet” is equal to one who speaks for another, or his mouth.

This basic meaning of nabi˒ is supported by other passages. In the classical passage Deut. 18:14-22, God promised to raise up another “prophet” like Moses who would be God’s spokesman (v. 18). They were held responsible for what he told them and were admonished to obey him (Deut. 18:19). However, if what the “prophet” said proved to be wrong, he was to be killed (Deut. 18:20). Immediately, this constitutes a promise and definition of the long succession of Israel’s prophets. Ultimately, it is a promise of the Great Prophet, Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 3:22-23). The “prophet” or dreamer of dreams might perform miracles to demonstrate that he was God’s man, but the people were to look to the message rather than the miracle before they heeded his message (Deut. 13:1-5).

In the plural nabi˒ is used of some who do not function as God’s mouthpieces. In the time of Samuel there were men who followed him. They went about praising God (frequently with song) and trying to stir the people to return to God (1 Sam. 10:5, 10; 19:20). Followers of Elijah and Elisha formed into groups to assist and/or to learn from these masters. They were called sons of the prophets (1 Kings 20:35). Used in this sense, the word nabi˒ means a companion and/or follower of a prophet.

The word is also used of “heathen prophets”: “Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table” (1 Kings 18:19).

This word has a feminine form, “prophetess” (nebi˒ah), which appears 6 times. In Exod. 15:20 Miriam is called a “prophetess.” Isaiah’s wife, too, is called a “prophetess” (Isa. 8:3). This usage may be related to the meaning “a companion and/or follower of a prophet.” (Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W., Jr. (1996). Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Nashville, TN: T. Nelson.)

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