Old Testament – Interesting readings in 2 Kings 4 about the Shumanite woman, her son and the prophet Elisha today! You'll note that in verse 20 her son dies, and in verse 21 she places her son on Elisha's bed – in part so that no one will know that her son died. As she gets to verse 22-24 she is saddling up on a donkey to go straight to Elisha without anyone in her family knowing her son had died! Below is a painting by Rembrandt from 1640 titled "The Departure of the Shumanite Woman":
As the Shumanite woman nears Mount Carmel Gehazi, Elisha's servant, comes out to greet her and still she won't even tell him that her son has died! She says everything is fine. She wants to deliver the news first and directly to Elisha! I like this woman's focused faith. She knew that Elisha delivered the Word that she would have a son in previous day's readings, and now that her son had died, I think she had faith that Elisha, being a prophet in relationship with God, would be able to revive her son. Do you have a focused faith like this when it comes to your relationship with God and Jesus? Do you always take your problems directly to the One who can truly revive you? Below is an image of Elisha and the Shumanite woman by artist C.F. Vos:
Did anyone else notice that at the end of chapter 4 today Elisha busted out with a miracle that seemed to foreshadow Jesus' loaves and fishes miracles?? Very cool to consider the parallels between Jesus' feeding of the 5,000 and Elisha feeding 100 here in chapter 4 verses 42-44: "One day a man from Baal-shalishah brought the man of God a sack of fresh grain and twenty loaves of barley bread made from the first grain of his harvest. Elisha said, "Give it to the group of prophetsso they can eat." "What?" his servant exclaimed. "Feed one hundred people with only this?" But Elisha repeated, "Give it to the group of prophets so they can eat, for the LORD says there will be plenty for all. There will even be some left over!" And sure enough, there was plenty for all and some left over, just as the LORD had promised." (That's Jesus below, not Elisha 🙂
In chapter 5 we get to the story of the healing of Naaman. I found it very interesting that Naaman needed to humble himself and wash up in the waters of the lowly river Jordan! Know anyone else that did some "washing up" in the river Jordan?? :) Maybe all of us somehow need to humble ourselves and symbolically be washed up in the river Jordan to receive true healing? Below is a portrait by artist Guy Rowe of the prophet Elisha with Naaman washing in the river Jordan:
Bible.org's commentary on today's Second Kings readings titled "The Shunammite's Son Resurrected" is at this link, "Death in the Pot" is at this link, "The Miracle of the Bread" is at this link, "The Healing of Namaan" is at this link, and "The Sin of Covetousness" is at this link.
New Testament – Peter's teaching at The Council at Jerusalem in Acts 15 verse 11 is one of the most important verses that all of us should really meditate upon and know and believe: "We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the special favor of the Lord Jesus." Do you believe Peter here? Do you believe this to be true? Does this simple message of this little button below ring true to you?
Bible.org's commentary on today's Acts readings titled "The Jerusalem Council: The Gospel Defined and Defended" is at this link.
Psalms – Psalm 141 is a beautiful prayer of David's – praying for deliverance from the wicked and their ways. Verse 4 is powerful – "Don't let me lust for evil things; don't let me participate in acts of wickedness. Don't let me share in the delicacies of those who do evil." Is this a prayer you could incorporate into your prayer life? What might be some examples of "delicacies of those who do evil"? Will you pray to God to avoid these "delicacies" and "treasures" that will ultimately fail you?
Proverbs – Proverbs 17:23 today teaches us: "The wicked accept secret bribes to pervert justice." This should be a reminder to each of us to never accept bribes! Bribes always pervert justice…
Worship Video: Today's readings in Acts remind me of MercyMe's song "You Reign:"
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deeds along with those who are evildoers; do not let me eat of their delicacies." Psalm 141:4 TNIV
Prayer Point: Pray that your heart is not drawn to what is evil. Pray that you take no part in wicked deeds. Pray that you do not eat the delicacies of evildoers.
Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
God bless, Mike
p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.
p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.
p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
2 Kings 4:18-5:27
I’ve always loved the story of Naaman for two reasons, the first reminds me of why it is important to keep a humble spirit no matter how high and mighty we get, and the second shows me that people who are honest and truthful see and hear the news about God and change their direction.
Naaman couldn’t understand why the prophet didn’t come out of his house to meet him and then became thoroughly offended when a “servant” gave him the message to go wash in the dirty Jordan river. Anger and being incredulous will not stop God from working in ones life if a teachable spirit is within. If Naaman’s men found him unapproachable and beyond reasoning, they would not have been able to encourage him to go do what the prophet told him to do. If Naaman had had a strong sense of “entitlement”, he would never have listened to the “lowly” servant girl and gone to Samaria. To be able to lay aside preconceived notions and to admit, even if only to oneself, there can be some solution to a problem other than the one already thought out means pride has to be set aside.
Too often, we look up to our church’s leadership instead of looking to God. Naaman went looking for an appointment with a prophet and failed to get one, what he did get was an appointment with God. I wonder how many of us miss God because we become offended when the preacher/pastor/priests doesn’t do what we expected him to do or say so we throw out the instructions because the “preacher/pastor/priests didn’t grant a personal meeting and wave his hands all around.
Acts 15:1-35
The verse that has captured my imagination is verse two,
2 Paul and Barnabas, disagreeing with them, argued forcefully and at length.
It is O.K. to disagree on matters. If we are willing to listen to what others have to say, disagreements cause us to think about what we really believe and help us to hone our reasoning skills. Yet some would call that rebellion. Truth will always stand firm no matter what is thrown it’s way. If we are willing to honestly debate an issue and are open to change if we are wrong, arguing forcefully, like Paul and Barnabas, will always yield serendipitous results for all parties in the debate. To take advantage of the find we just have to stop wearing our feelings on our fingertips and put them aside ‘cause how we feel about something and what is truth, more than likely is not synonymous.
Psalm 141:1-10
I wonder if David wrote this Psalm when he had a strong desire to take vengeance on his enemies, specifically when Saul was chasing him. When reading this for today’s reading I got a deep sense of desperation. David would not strike back at Saul because he said Saul was the Lord’s anointed. Although Saul was trying to kill him, David made no offensive attacks to strike back.
Because David was always on the run, he was unable to go to a formal worship service in the Tabernacle.
2 Accept my prayer as incense offered to you, and my upraised hands as an evening offering.
When someone is attacking you for no reason, our nature is to “bad mouth” them, “talk them down,” but David writes,
3 Take control of what I say, O LORD, and keep my lips sealed.
No matter what was being said about him or done to him, David seems to say I won’t do to him what he is doing to me, assassinating my character. When I am wronged, I have to fight a sense of entitlement that says I have the right to pay them back. I want to pay back evil for evil and it is a struggle that I don’t always overcome. In order to pay back evil for evil, I believe we take on the character of the currency we use, malevolence
4 Don't let me lust for evil things; don't let me participate in acts of wickedness. Don't let me share in the delicacies of those who do evil.
When we set our hearts to give “pay back,” unless someone stops us we go headlong to our destruction.
5 Let the godly strike me! It will be a kindness! If they reprove me, it is soothing medicine. Don't let me refuse it. But I am in constant prayer against the wicked and their deeds.
David goes on to finish this Psalm by saying with a certainty, those who are pursuing him to destroy him will be themselves destroyed because their actions set traps that ensnare them.
Proverbs 17:23
I grew up with secrets, people keeping many secrets, and I will not participate in things done “under cover.” If you’ve got a secret, don’t tell me. Keeping secrets takes too much work and it tires you out trying to keep everything undercover. Eventually the cover will be blown off and what would have been a tiny little scandal if confessed when the incident first happened because a “Perpetrator” (Perp-walk) on the evening news for the world to see. Transparency is the only way to be.
Grace and peace, Ramona
====
The Shunammite's attitude to her problem truly is inspiring….also Naaman's attitude to God is somewhat puzzling…he realises that there is just one God,that bowing to other gods is a sin…yet he makes excuses for bowing down to other gods being under the authority of a heathen king…this is a miracle that should've changed his life and the kings…but he chose to thank God for his trouble…and move on without God in His life…. Comparing Naaman's servant and Gehazi….She served with her heart,touched by her master's condition she adviced him seeking no reward for herself…Gehazi on the other hand served because he wanted recognition…and reward…. Elisha went around blessing and feeding people in times of famine…I think it's a call to men of God to leave the call to "sow into fertile ground"ie giving to the prophet to get a prophet's reward….instead to feed the sheep…. God bless you all Anka
====
I remember several years ago reading about Naaman in some class and learning that the Jordan river was FILTHY. Apparently there were several beautiful and clean rivers right where Naaman was. No one would ever bathe in the Jordan, especially someone of Naaman's status. Funny how God can push us out of our comfort zone in order to receive the forgiveness and cleanliness we need, isn't it? As an aside, that Guy Rowe portrait is amazing! So detailed and real-looking and beautiful! Thank you for the work you do with this blog- it really is a blessing.
Lindsey
====
Mike,
It seems several of Elisha's signs and wonders foreshadowed what Christ did on a smaller scale.
Oil – Water into wine
Restoration of Life – Elijah and Elisha prayed and asked – Jesus commanded.
Feeding – as you said
Naaman – cleansing of leper – picture of salvation – great detail in the commentary from bible.org.
Biggest thing that struck me about Naaman was how he had to humble himself to go in the Jordan river.
"As long as Naaman was proud, he would never obey the Lord in humble belief or faith….Self conceit and the various ego trips of men are typical of the unregenerate heart and even of the carnal mind of the regenerate. It is so hard to realize just who we are, mere creatures, and to submit to God’s plan. We must let God be God!" http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=836
To me, because I went through this process – and it was difficult, becoming humble and willing to submit your will to God's is an INTEGRAL part to the salvation process. I think it is enveloped in the thought that you must come to God with a "right heart" – and HE KNOWS if it is right or not.
Without that humility and abandonment of pride, in my opinion all the praying in the world will not help you achieve salvation. Because that praying will end up being lip service and mean nothing if the Heart is not right.
I can easily see myself as Naaman sitting on his horse saying – "I have to do what???? Hey, I am here am I not??? I showed up, and I am willing to do a lot of things for salvation – get on my knees, pray, acknowledge, but you want what? Complete submission?? I..I..I.. don't know about that???
I am just ever so thankful that God made me aware that what I did initially was not good enough. It was not until I got off "my horse" – was finally broken and submissive that the process of salvation was completed (in my case).
John
====
Anka,
Not sure Naaman moved on without God in his life.
"Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, "Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. Please accept now a gift from your servant….
…for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the LORD."
We just don't know. He proclaimed God, and said his sacrifices in future would be to God. But he wanted forgiveness if he got caught in a "state/official" ceremony. (Actually this is a good sign, as it shows a sensitivity and knowledge that it would be wrong to bow down to an idol.)
We don't know how God acted in his case. Maybe it was a needless worry in that after seeing Naaman cured and hearing the story – the king may have exempted Naaman from such ceremonies. The king cared enough to send him to Israel, needs his battle expertise – who knows what compromises for ceremonial functions the king would be inclined to favor.
Elisha's absence of a "yeah or nay" seems to indicate that he was willing to leave it in God's hands.
[commentary gave as an option, that Naaman may even have thrown some of the "earth from Israel" down on ground before kneeling in a ceremony.] – again, we just don't know.
====
Psalms 141:3 really stands out to me this morning, “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord. Keep watch over the door of my lips.” Through the lips of my mouth can come gossip, lies, slander, hateful or sarcastic words, or words said in a tone of voice that can invoke hurting another person’s feelings. I think this is a verse that I need to include over and over again in my daily prayers!
God Bless! Pat
====
I think you are correct about the Shunamite woman's faith. Having lived in an isolated area in Africa I've come to realize that life there is closer to Bible times than the lives we live in the US. There when a person dies, they are buried immediately. I think, because of her faith, she didn't tell anybody because they would have had the child buried before she even got back. Her silence ensured that the child would still be there when she returned with Elisha whom she knew could heal him.
Nancy
====
Acts 15:1, 5, 24, The Council at Jerusalem
1 Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.”
5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”
24 We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said.
The disputes, the arguments between the Pharisees and Paul and Barnabas were due to, as the Letter written after the Jerusalem Council described, unauthorised people which did not belong to them (the apostles and elders). This acknowledgement is important: the disputes were not from God. These 'people' were not from God.
The Key elements of the success of the Jerusalem Council:
1) Unity in Christ
Acts 15:3
3 The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the believers very glad. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.
Although Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles while, Peter, James and other apostles and elders were for the Jews, they were different. But they were one in Christ. They welcomed Paul and Barnabas when they went to Jerusalem. 'All the believers' were very glad, hearing the work of God via Paul and Barnabas. This showed their unity in Jesus as supposed to the 'unauthorized people' who were not glad at what Paul and Barnabas said and did; but instead they aroused disputes.
2) Collective Wisdom and confirmations
Acts 15:6, 7a, 12, 13
6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question.
7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them:…
12 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
13 When they finished, James spoke up.
Peter spoke of his witness about the Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit. Paul and Barnabas shared their witness of God's work via them to the Gentiles. James also spoke up.
3) Back to Jesus (not Moses!!!) and the Bible
Acts 15:10 -11, 15
15 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:…
10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
Peter said that, we were saved through the grace of Jesus (as opposed to the 'unauthorised people' that it was due to Moses!)
James quoted the bible to support the decision (Amos 9:11,12).
In any disputes, we should go back to Jesus (not Moses) and the Bible (which directs us to Jesus)!
The requirements to the Gentiles:
Acts 15:28-29
28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.
I believe we should pay attention to this requirement in the Letter written by the Jerusalem Council for it summed up the laws of Moses that is applicable to the Gentiles.
Frederick
====
Mike and everyone, Psalm 141:5 NASB "5 Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; It is oil upon the head; Do not let my head refuse it, For still my prayer is against their wicked deeds." The rebuke of the righteous is a blessing, a kindness, not something to be upset about. David considered it as the oil priests were anointed with. Psalm 133:2 NASB "2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, Coming down upon the beard, Even Aaron’s beard, Coming down upon the edge of his robes." Also in Proverbs 27:6a KJV "Faithful are the wounds of a friend." And in Proverbs 6:23b NASB 'And reproofs for discipline are the way of life" Psalm 141:8-10 NASB "8 For my eyes are toward You, O God, the Lord; In You I take refuge; do not leave me defenseless. 9 Keep me from the jaws of the trap which they have set for me, And from the snares of those who do iniquity. 10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, While I pass by safely." Our eyes need to be ever toward the Lord; He is our refuge, He can keep us from the jaws and snares of evildoers. And we need to trust that in His justice, He would let the wicked fall into their own nets, while He delivers us – amen.
God bless! Joyce
====
Did anyone else notice that at the end of chapter 4 today Elisha busted out with a miracle that seemed to foreshadow Jesus' loaves and fishes miracles??
I did notice this and was surprised because this is my third time through the Bible, and I never remembered this miracle by a prophet. I also vaguely remember the story of the Shumanite woman, but forgot that a prophet had brought her son back to life.
This is why we need to keep reading and studying the Bible. We also need to work on our praying….at least I do. I pray from the heart, but I also have a one year book of personal prayer that show me how people of great faith pray: people who struggle with the same things I do, and for family, and our world.
Judith
====
In 2nd Kings love the shunammite woman and her story is neat because she teaches faith in silence. She believed God sent her a child and that even if he was sick he could resurrect him to life. That's a promise she believed Amen.
Naaman learned the hard way that bribes or money won't buy a fancy healing. Yes God does what he says he will but it's not by your works or might and may humble you and even if it's a weird request Do it anyway!
Again Proverbs backs up not to take bribes of be the one bribing..it will only lead to trouble. Amen
One response to “June 23rd Bible in a Year Readings”
Barbara
My first blog. I like the Israelite servant girl whom God sent to live with Aramites, basically unbelievers. She must have been treated kindly and suggested good advice for her master, Namaan. I love how God uses us wherever we are to glorify Him, another example Daniel working for Babylon government!
2 Kings 4:18-5:27
I’ve always loved the story of Naaman for two reasons, the first reminds me of why it is important to keep a humble spirit no matter how high and mighty we get, and the second shows me that people who are honest and truthful see and hear the news about God and change their direction.
Naaman couldn’t understand why the prophet didn’t come out of his house to meet him and then became thoroughly offended when a “servant” gave him the message to go wash in the dirty Jordan river. Anger and being incredulous will not stop God from working in ones life if a teachable spirit is within. If Naaman’s men found him unapproachable and beyond reasoning, they would not have been able to encourage him to go do what the prophet told him to do. If Naaman had had a strong sense of “entitlement”, he would never have listened to the “lowly” servant girl and gone to Samaria. To be able to lay aside preconceived notions and to admit, even if only to oneself, there can be some solution to a problem other than the one already thought out means pride has to be set aside.
Too often, we look up to our church’s leadership instead of looking to God. Naaman went looking for an appointment with a prophet and failed to get one, what he did get was an appointment with God. I wonder how many of us miss God because we become offended when the preacher/pastor/priests doesn’t do what we expected him to do or say so we throw out the instructions because the “preacher/pastor/priests didn’t grant a personal meeting and wave his hands all around.
Acts 15:1-35
The verse that has captured my imagination is verse two,
2 Paul and Barnabas, disagreeing with them, argued forcefully and at length.
It is O.K. to disagree on matters. If we are willing to listen to what others have to say, disagreements cause us to think about what we really believe and help us to hone our reasoning skills. Yet some would call that rebellion. Truth will always stand firm no matter what is thrown it’s way. If we are willing to honestly debate an issue and are open to change if we are wrong, arguing forcefully, like Paul and Barnabas, will always yield serendipitous results for all parties in the debate. To take advantage of the find we just have to stop wearing our feelings on our fingertips and put them aside ‘cause how we feel about something and what is truth, more than likely is not synonymous.
Psalm 141:1-10
I wonder if David wrote this Psalm when he had a strong desire to take vengeance on his enemies, specifically when Saul was chasing him. When reading this for today’s reading I got a deep sense of desperation. David would not strike back at Saul because he said Saul was the Lord’s anointed. Although Saul was trying to kill him, David made no offensive attacks to strike back.
Because David was always on the run, he was unable to go to a formal worship service in the Tabernacle.
2 Accept my prayer as incense offered to you,
and my upraised hands as an evening offering.
When someone is attacking you for no reason, our nature is to “bad mouth” them, “talk them down,” but David writes,
3 Take control of what I say, O LORD,
and keep my lips sealed.
No matter what was being said about him or done to him, David seems to say I won’t do to him what he is doing to me, assassinating my character. When I am wronged, I have to fight a sense of entitlement that says I have the right to pay them back. I want to pay back evil for evil and it is a struggle that I don’t always overcome. In order to pay back evil for evil, I believe we take on the character of the currency we use, malevolence
4 Don't let me lust for evil things;
don't let me participate in acts of wickedness. Don't let me share in the delicacies
of those who do evil.
When we set our hearts to give “pay back,” unless someone stops us we go headlong to our destruction.
5 Let the godly strike me!
It will be a kindness! If they reprove me, it is soothing medicine.
Don't let me refuse it. But I am in constant prayer
against the wicked and their deeds.
David goes on to finish this Psalm by saying with a certainty, those who are pursuing him to destroy him will be themselves destroyed because their actions set traps that ensnare them.
Proverbs 17:23
I grew up with secrets, people keeping many secrets, and I will not participate in things done “under cover.” If you’ve got a secret, don’t tell me. Keeping secrets takes too much work and it tires you out trying to keep everything undercover. Eventually the cover will be blown off and what would have been a tiny little scandal if confessed when the incident first happened because a “Perpetrator” (Perp-walk) on the evening news for the world to see. Transparency is the only way to be.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
====
The Shunammite's attitude to her problem truly is inspiring….also Naaman's attitude to God is somewhat puzzling…he realises that there is just one God,that bowing to other gods is a sin…yet he makes excuses for bowing down to other gods being under the authority of a heathen king…this is a miracle that should've changed his life and the kings…but he chose to thank God for his trouble…and move on without God in His life….
Comparing Naaman's servant and Gehazi….She served with her heart,touched by her master's condition she adviced him seeking no reward for herself…Gehazi on the other hand served because he wanted recognition…and reward….
Elisha went around blessing and feeding people in times of famine…I think it's a call to men of God to leave the call to "sow into fertile ground"ie giving to the prophet to get a prophet's reward….instead to feed the sheep….
God bless you all
Anka
====
I remember several years ago reading about Naaman in some class and learning that the Jordan river was FILTHY. Apparently there were several beautiful and clean rivers right where Naaman was. No one would ever bathe in the Jordan, especially someone of Naaman's status. Funny how God can push us out of our comfort zone in order to receive the forgiveness and cleanliness we need, isn't it?
As an aside, that Guy Rowe portrait is amazing! So detailed and real-looking and beautiful! Thank you for the work you do with this blog- it really is a blessing.
Lindsey
====
Mike,
It seems several of Elisha's signs and wonders foreshadowed what Christ did on a smaller scale.
Oil – Water into wine
Restoration of Life – Elijah and Elisha prayed and asked – Jesus commanded.
Feeding – as you said
Naaman – cleansing of leper – picture of salvation – great detail in the commentary from bible.org.
Biggest thing that struck me about Naaman was how he had to humble himself to go in the Jordan river.
"As long as Naaman was proud, he would never obey the Lord in humble belief or faith….Self conceit and the various ego trips of men are typical of the unregenerate heart and even of the carnal mind of the regenerate. It is so hard to realize just who we are, mere creatures, and to submit to God’s plan. We must let God be God!"
http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=836
To me, because I went through this process – and it was difficult, becoming humble and willing to submit your will to God's is an INTEGRAL part to the salvation process. I think it is enveloped in the thought that you must come to God with a "right heart" – and HE KNOWS if it is right or not.
Without that humility and abandonment of pride, in my opinion all the praying in the world will not help you achieve salvation. Because that praying will end up being lip service and mean nothing if the Heart is not right.
I can easily see myself as Naaman sitting on his horse saying – "I have to do what???? Hey, I am here am I not??? I showed up, and I am willing to do a lot of things for salvation – get on my knees, pray, acknowledge, but you want what? Complete submission?? I..I..I.. don't know about that???
I am just ever so thankful that God made me aware that what I did initially was not good enough. It was not until I got off "my horse" – was finally broken and submissive that the process of salvation was completed (in my case).
John
====
Anka,
Not sure Naaman moved on without God in his life.
"Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, "Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. Please accept now a gift from your servant….
…for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the LORD."
We just don't know. He proclaimed God, and said his sacrifices in future would be to God. But he wanted forgiveness if he got caught in a "state/official" ceremony. (Actually this is a good sign, as it shows a sensitivity and knowledge that it would be wrong to bow down to an idol.)
We don't know how God acted in his case. Maybe it was a needless worry in that after seeing Naaman cured and hearing the story – the king may have exempted Naaman from such ceremonies. The king cared enough to send him to Israel, needs his battle expertise – who knows what compromises for ceremonial functions the king would be inclined to favor.
Elisha's absence of a "yeah or nay" seems to indicate that he was willing to leave it in God's hands.
[commentary gave as an option, that Naaman may even have thrown some of the "earth from Israel" down on ground before kneeling in a ceremony.] – again, we just don't know.
====
Psalms 141:3 really stands out to me this morning, “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord. Keep watch over the door of my lips.” Through the lips of my mouth can come gossip, lies, slander, hateful or sarcastic words, or words said in a tone of voice that can invoke hurting another person’s feelings. I think this is a verse that I need to include over and over again in my daily prayers!
God Bless!
Pat
====
I think you are correct about the Shunamite woman's faith. Having lived in an isolated area in Africa I've come to realize that life there is closer to Bible times than the lives we live in the US. There when a person dies, they are buried immediately. I think, because of her faith, she didn't tell anybody because they would have had the child buried before she even got back. Her silence ensured that the child would still be there when she returned with Elisha whom she knew could heal him.
Nancy
====
Acts 15:1, 5, 24,
The Council at Jerusalem
1 Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.”
5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”
24 We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said.
The disputes, the arguments between the Pharisees and Paul and Barnabas were due to, as the Letter written after the Jerusalem Council described, unauthorised people which did not belong to them (the apostles and elders). This acknowledgement is important: the disputes were not from God. These 'people' were not from God.
The Key elements of the success of the Jerusalem Council:
1) Unity in Christ
Acts 15:3
3 The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the believers very glad. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.
Although Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles while, Peter, James and other apostles and elders were for the Jews, they were different. But they were one in Christ. They welcomed Paul and Barnabas when they went to Jerusalem. 'All the believers' were very glad, hearing the work of God via Paul and Barnabas. This showed their unity in Jesus as supposed to the 'unauthorized people' who were not glad at what Paul and Barnabas said and did; but instead they aroused disputes.
2) Collective Wisdom and confirmations
Acts 15:6, 7a, 12, 13
6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question.
7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them:…
12 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
13 When they finished, James spoke up.
Peter spoke of his witness about the Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit. Paul and Barnabas shared their witness of God's work via them to the Gentiles. James also spoke up.
3) Back to Jesus (not Moses!!!) and the Bible
Acts 15:10 -11, 15
15 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:…
10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
Peter said that, we were saved through the grace of Jesus (as opposed to the 'unauthorised people' that it was due to Moses!)
James quoted the bible to support the decision (Amos 9:11,12).
In any disputes, we should go back to Jesus (not Moses) and the Bible (which directs us to Jesus)!
The requirements to the Gentiles:
Acts 15:28-29
28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.
I believe we should pay attention to this requirement in the Letter written by the Jerusalem Council for it summed up the laws of Moses that is applicable to the Gentiles.
Frederick
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Mike and everyone,
Psalm 141:5 NASB
"5 Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; It is oil upon the head; Do not let my head refuse it, For still my prayer is against their wicked deeds."
The rebuke of the righteous is a blessing, a kindness, not something to be upset about.
David considered it as the oil priests were anointed with.
Psalm 133:2 NASB
"2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, Coming down upon the beard,
Even Aaron’s beard, Coming down upon the edge of his robes."
Also in Proverbs 27:6a KJV
"Faithful are the wounds of a friend."
And in Proverbs 6:23b NASB
'And reproofs for discipline are the way of life"
Psalm 141:8-10 NASB
"8 For my eyes are toward You, O God, the Lord;
In You I take refuge; do not leave me defenseless.
9 Keep me from the jaws of the trap which they have set for me,
And from the snares of those who do iniquity.
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
While I pass by safely."
Our eyes need to be ever toward the Lord;
He is our refuge, He can keep us from the jaws and snares of evildoers.
And we need to trust that in His justice, He would let the wicked fall into their own nets, while He delivers us – amen.
God bless!
Joyce
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Did anyone else notice that at the end of chapter 4 today Elisha busted out with a miracle that seemed to foreshadow Jesus' loaves and fishes miracles??
I did notice this and was surprised because this is my third time through the Bible, and I never remembered this miracle by a prophet. I also vaguely remember the story of the Shumanite woman, but forgot that a prophet had brought her son back to life.
This is why we need to keep reading and studying the Bible. We also need to work on our praying….at least I do. I pray from the heart, but I also have a one year book of personal prayer that show me how people of great faith pray: people who struggle with the same things I do, and for family, and our world.
Judith
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In 2nd Kings love the shunammite woman and her story is neat because she teaches faith in silence. She believed God sent her a child and that even if he was sick he could resurrect him to life. That's a promise she believed Amen.
Naaman learned the hard way that bribes or money won't buy a fancy healing. Yes God does what he says he will but it's not by your works or might and may humble you and even if it's a weird request Do it anyway!
Again Proverbs backs up not to take bribes of be the one bribing..it will only lead to trouble. Amen
Dee