I have been using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study for over a year. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I started writing this blog because the only way I can get myself to read the Bible everyday is to pretend that I am teaching someone about what it says to me. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them. I hope that the Spirit is moving in others through these posts as the Spirit has definitely been convicting me.

     When Ahab’s son Joram became king of Israel, he tore down the idol to Baal which Ahab had set up, but he continued the practices of Jeroboam. The passage tells us that he did evil in the sight of the Lord, but not as much as his father. The king of Moab had paid tribute to Israel, but after Ahab’s death he stopped. Joram mobilized the army of Israel to put down this rebellion. He asked Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom to assist him. They both agreed. Joram decided to attack Moab by going through the wilderness. They traveled seven days and found no water.
     Joram cried out in despair to the other kings that God had brought them there to be defeated by the king of Moab. Jehoshaphat asked if there was a prophet of God in the camp whom they could ask what they should do. One of the officers of the army of Israel replied that Elisha, who had been Elijah’s assistant, was there. Jehoshaphat said that they should consult him. Elisha told the kings that he was only willing to consult the Lord for them because of Jehoshaphat. Elisha then told the kings that there would be no wind or rain, but the valley would fill with water. Not only that, but they would be victorious over the army of Moab and conquer the best of their towns.<
     The next morning water began to flow from the direction of Edom and soon there was water throughout the area where the armies were camped. Meanwhile the people of Moab had mobilized for war and were waiting for the three armies to attack. When they got up on that morning, the sun shown on the water and made it appear to be blood. They concluded that the three armies had attacked and killed each other. The army of Moab rushed out to loot the camp. As they entered the camp the army of Israel attacked them. The army of Moab was taken by surprise and routed. Israel easily conquered most of Moab until they came to a final city and besieged it. When the king of Moab failed in a breakout attempt, he took his son and heir and sacrificed him on the wall. This created a great anger against Israel among the people of Moab which led the Israelites to withdraw to Israel.
     The widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elisha for help. A creditor was threatening to take her two sons as slaves if she did not pay him. Elisha asked her what she had that she could sell. She responded that she had nothing except a flask of olive oil. Elisha told her to borrow as many jars as she could get from her neighbors. When she had done that she was to go into her house and close the doors. Then she was to pour oil into each of the empty jars until it was full. The widow did as Elisha had instructed until all of the jars were filled. When she told Elisha what had happened, he told her to sell the oil to pay the debt and live off the money left over.
     When Elisha visited the town of Shunem a well-to-do woman who lived there insisted that he eat at her house. After that whenever Elisha went to Shunem, he ate at her house. She went to her husband and told him that they should build a room for Elisha to stay in when he was in Shunem because he was a man of God. After that when Elisha came to Shunem he stayed there. One day he asked what he could do for her and she responded that she had all she needed. Elisha then asked his servant what they could do for her. His servant told him that the woman had no son and her husband was old. Elisha then called the woman and told her that by the following year she would have a son. She begged him not to raise her hopes, nevertheless she gave birth to a son about that time the following year.
     All of the stories in this passage tell how God provides for those who rely on Him. In the first story He even provided for those who had made bad decisions (the armies should not have marched through the wilderness if they did not know where to find water there).

     In the next town, a man who had been crippled from birth was sitting and listening to Paul preach. While he was preaching, Paul looked directly at the man and realized he had the faith to be healed. Paul called to the man, “Stand up!” The man jumped up and began walking. The crowd started talking among themselves that Paul and Barnabas must be gods. They decided that Barnabas was Zeus and Paul was Hermes (because Paul was the one doing most of the talking). The Temple of Zeus was located just outside of town. The priest of Zeus and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to Barnabas and Saul. When Paul and Barnabas realized what the people were doing, they became frenetic trying to stop them. They insisted to the people that they were mere men and encouraged the people to stop worshiping idols. Soon after some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium. They won the crowds to their side and stoned Paul. Thinking he was dead, they dragged him out of town. The believers gathered around Paul and he got back up and returned to town. The following day Paul and Barnabas left for Derbe. After preaching in Derbe for a while and converting large numbers they returned through the cities they had visited and appointed elders in each church. They preached in a few more towns and then returned to Antioch in Syria.

     Today’s psalm is a prayer of deliverance. If we ask Him, God will rescue us from the wicked and protect us from the violent. God will help those who are persecuted and give justice to the poor. The godly will gladly live in His presence. THe Lord is my God and will listen to my cries for mercy.

     This proverb tells us something both important and difficult. If you are cheerful, you will be healthier. Yet if your health is poor it will be difficult to be cheerful. Nevertheless, being a glum-gus brings us no benefit, so we should always strive to be cheerful since, not only do most of us prefer it when we are cheerful, but our lives go better.