What Just Happened?

Reading:   2 Kings13

This is one of those chapters that goes something like this:

Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah -lightning bolt- blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah ....

In-other-words, a lot of droning, snooze-worthy, genealogical, can't recall, blandness but smack dab in the middle -BAM- there is a bit of magical wonder that leaves you confused, "...What just happened?"  This chapter was a terrific example of such an occurrence.  In the middle of the, uh, I honestly can't remember and don't care to reread, bland stuff, hidden like a cleverly laid trap, are these two verses...

2 KINGS 13:20-21

20 And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. 

21 And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet. 

Seriously...the chapter went from a mundane list of kings, successors, their acts of blah blah blah then those two incredible verses and right back into another chain of who cares (okay, I'm being harsh.  I do care and I'm sure I will find meaning and noteworthy sustenance in these other verses on another day but today they just wore me down).

Elisha died!? Really...why was this not a bigger event? And why was it smothered in a chapter of mud?  Oh, and thought I might mention, yeah, a dead guy was hidden in the grave and he came back to life when he touched Elisha's bones - thought you might like to know.  UNBELIEVABLE?!!  I think the death of Elisha and the incidental brought-back-to-life bit are two pretty awesome events and it is sad that they are buried.

Also, with all the fiction out there about the searches for the Holy Grail, Solomon's Temple, Ark of the Covenant, etc. I am overwhelmingly aghast that there has been no search for the bones of Elisha (here proven to revive the dead).  I may just add, no, I am adding, Elisha's Bones to my list of book ideas.

~Kipling

Jehoash the Ill-Advised

Reading:   2 Kings 12

The tale of King Jehoash (aka Joash) is somewhat short, especially considering the great pomp and circumstance surrounding his birth (2 Kings 11).  In his forty years as king, Jehoash did manage to repair the much dilapidated temple of Solomon and taught the priests therein an important lesson in humility.  He was an honest God-fearing man and king, well, that is while Jehoiada, his aged advisor, teacher, tutor, prophet and councillor, was alive, then, not-so-much...

2 KINGS 12:2

2 And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 

After reading chapter 12 of 2 Kings, it is easy to deem the works of Jehoash good, and they were, but, the rest of the story is revealed in 2 Chronicles 24.  It seems that after the death of Jehoiada, the good king lost his way and began listening to the advise of the not-so-wise kind; even to the point where he ordered the stoning of a prophet who spoke for The Lord (a prophet who was also the son of Jehoiada)...

2 CHRONICLES 24:21-22

21 And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the Lord. 

22 Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The Lord look upon it, and require it. 

Shortly thereafter, Jehoash was conspired against and murdered by his own servants.  So, yes, Jehoash did do "...that which was right in the sight of The Lord all his days..." but the second part of the verse must be understood.  Jehoash only did that which was right while "...Jehoiada the priest instructed him."  When Jehoash lost his prophetic councillor he also lost his way and his salvation - forty-six years of righteousness, one act of wickedness, done!

~Kipling

God Save the King

Reading:   2 Kings 11

Although "God Save the King" has been used in verse prior to this (5 times in fact), it jumped out at me today and demanded my attention...

2 KINGS 11:12

12 And he brought forth the king's son, and put the crown upon him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king.

I was confident I would find something interesting about "God save the king" on the interweb and I must say, I wasn't disappointed. I discovered some outright unruly displeasure for the phrase in regards to its usage in the King James Version of the bible...crazy, right?  Anyway, there were also some impressive articles refuting the ignorant, self-aggrandizing, buffoons.  The article I found most akin to my beliefs, and well written to boot, was God Save the King, by Will Kinney.  Here are some highlights from the article...

A modern version proponent recently wrote... [that] the King James Version translators used a dynamic equivalence method in which they inserted God's name where it is not in the original. This is in the phrases "God save the king" and "God save king [king's name]" in 1 Samuel 10:24; 2 Samuel 16:16; 1 Kings 1:25,1 Kings 1:34, 1 Kings 1:39, 2 Kings 11:12; and 2 Chronicles 23:11. 

This person then goes on to say that the King James translation of "God save the king" is "DEPLORABLE" because 1. a literal, word-for-word translation method was not used 2.the translators used colloquialism and idiom 3.they deceive the reader into thinking that these words are in the original 4.they take God's name in vain. 

I am often amazed at the criticisms against the King James Bible that the modern version proponents bring up. They don't usually discover these things for themselves but copy and paste them from some anti-KJV site, like those of Doug Kutilek or James White.

They profess a great love for God's words, yet if you ask them where we common Christians can get a copy of the infallible words of God, they soon reveal that the only "infallible bible" they have exists solely in their minds and imaginations. They don't believe any translation can be the infallible words of God nor do they have any "Hebrew and Greek texts" that completely represent the originals. Their mystical bible is made up of their own personal opinions and preferences, and of course, their "bible" differs from the "bible" the next scholar has dreamed up for himself. Each man becomes his own final authority... 

"The word, “God (אלהים)” is not in the Hebrew, which says, “live (subjunctive) the king.” The subjunctive mood expresses a wish. The translators understood this passage as the invocation of the providential preservation of the life of the king. Thus “God” was added  

to convey the meaning of the utterance. If not to God, who else would God-fearing Hebrews address this plea to? To an impersonal "fate"? Such would be a Pagan attitude. Whereas contemporary English speakers might say, "Long live the king" without necessarily having God in mind, the preservation of life and God were intrinsically linked in the mind of a God-fearing Hebrew." 

Realize that the King James Bible and all these other versions are English translations, written to English speaking persons (the target audience) expressing what this Hebrew phrase means in English. We do not have kings here in America, but those God fearing nations that had or continue to have kings or queens to this day still say 'God save the king' or 'God save the queen'. 

The fact is directly implied and recognized that it is God who gives and preserves the life of the king, as well as everyone else on this planet.

Bravo, Mr. Kinney!  Not exactly where I thought today's blog would go...I thought I would find a nice story, poem, or lyrical verse to share and instead discovered a debate.  That's okay, much more interesting and I always love a good scrape!

~Kipling

A Great Sacrifice to Baal

Reading:  2 Kings 10

Before we destroy poor old Baal, let's get a handle on who exactly he was and why he had so many worshippers.  The Encyclopaedia Brittanca explains the erstwhile deity as such...

Baal, god worshiped in many ancient Middle Eastern communities, especially among the Canaanites, who apparently considered him a fertility deity and one of the most important gods in the pantheon. As a Semitic common nounbaal (Hebrew baʿal) meant “owner” or “lord,” although it could be used more generally; for example, a baal of wings was a winged creature, and, in the plural, baalim of arrows indicated archers. Yet such fluidity in the use of the term baal did not prevent it from being attached to a god of distinct character. As such, Baal designated the universal god of fertility, and in that capacity his title was Prince, Lord of the Earth. He was also called the Lord of Rain and Dew, the two forms of moisture that were indispensable for fertile soil in Canaan. In Ugaritic and Old Testament Hebrew, Baal’s epithet as the storm god was He Who Rides on the Clouds. In Phoenician he was called Baal Shamen, Lord of the Heavens.

So there we have the basic bio of Baal and from it we can gain an understanding of why so many people chose to worship him (fertility and all).  Of course there is the tiny matter of, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" (Ex. 20:3). ...

2 KINGS 10:18-19

18 And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them, Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu shall serve him much. 

19 Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal. 

Sneaky, sneaky, Mr.Jehu!  So he gathered together all of the Baal worshippers; all the prophets, priests, servants, disciples, "...All their wives, and all their children, and all their sheep, and all their cattle, and all their cats and dogs. All of them..." Okay, maybe not all that other stuff but I had to give a nod to Vulcan from the classic film, Baron Munchausen.  Anyway, they were all gathered together in the house of Baal and to ensure a complete tactical success Jehu went as far as to threaten his own men with their lives if the allowed anyone to escape... 

2 KINGS 10:24-25, 28

24 And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings, Jehu appointed fourscore men without, and said, If any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escape, he that letteth him go, his life shall be for the life of him. 

25 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal. 

28 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. 

Well done, right?  Uhh...well, umm, yeah, good job Jehu but uh, why did he continue to worship other idols (v.29).  Concerning don't you think?  Oh well, let's not find fault in one so brazen as to accomplish such a heavy task for The Lord.  He did destroy the house of Ahab and he did destroy Baal out of Israel and he did gain a promise from God that his seed would reign for four generations but how much more could it have been if he were but righteous till the end...

~Kipling

Treachery of Hazael

Reading:   2 Kings 8-9

It's one thing to premeditate a murder but to premeditate a murder, get called out from a man of God who has seen your future action, and then commit the murder anyway - quite on another level of wrong!  Yet here, in chapter eight, we are witness to such an occurrence.

The king of Syria was sick and, curious as to what the future held, he sent his right hand man, Hazael, to inquire of the Israelite prophet (after so many encounters with Elisha, I'm sure the king had much respect for the man).  Hazael went forth as requested but, in the dark chambers of his heart, planned to slay the king upon his return...

2 KINGS 8:10, 14-15

10 And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, Thou mayest certainly recover: howbeit the Lord hath shewed me that he shall surely die. 

14 So he departed from Elisha, and came to his master; who said to him, What said Elisha to thee? And he answered, He told me that thou shouldest surely recover. 

15 And it came to pass on the morrow, that he took a thick cloth, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died: and Hazael reigned in his stead. 

Now let me add some additional spiritual shackles to good 'ol Hazael.  I'm sure you noticd there are a few missing verses (11-13), I wanted to let the actual murder happen in verse so that you could see how conniving and deceitful Mr. Hazael ("I'm in a mist, I'm in a mist," a little nod to Watership Down) was when confronted.  Elisha prophesied that the king would recover but also stated that "...he [would] surely die."  Hazael, no doubt, was a bit shocked by this statement and wondered if Elisha might know of his murderous intent.   Elisha then started to weep, having seen the truth in Hazael's reaction (v.11).  This is where Hazael had to be quick on his toes in order to mask his surprise...

2 KINGS 8:12-13

12 And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child.  

13 And Hazael said, But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The Lord hath shewed me that thou shalt be king over Syria. 

Hazael asked, with dramatic concern, why the prophet was distressed and was probably not prepared for Elisha's lurid response.  Back pedaling, Hazael sputtered a retort, "What, why? Am I a dog...why would I do such a thing?"  But Elisha stuck it to him, "...Thou shalt be king, that's why!"

At that point, Hazael had no more reason to continue the ruse and responded by shrugging his shoulders, maybe even pointed a finger at Elisha and winked as if to acknowledge his prophetic prowess, then, with a smirk on his face and excitement in his heart (after all, a man of God just told him he would be king), he simply departed.

Hazael was so full of himself and so locked on his endgame (the crown) that he couldn't see the spiritual noose tightening around his neck and though I'm sure he gave some credence to the man of God, he went ahead with his plan and cared not who knew (even God).

Wo be unto the foolish who mock God!  Benjamin Franklin said,

Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools,
that don't have brains enough to be honest.

Amen, brother Benji!!

~Kipling

Choice - Stripped Down by Lepers

Reading:   2 Kings 7:3-20

The way is not always clearly marked but there are some choices that make themselves known by a default of end result.  If the options equal a similar situation to that of the status quo or one of a less desirable result, then the best option is that which affects humanity in the least obtrusive manner; however, if there is an option that might elevate the situation, no matter how minuscule the possibility, that choice is, and must be, the best option!

In this chapter the Samarians are suffering from an intense famine.  There is no food anywhere and the poor, diseased, and sickly, have few options...

2 KINGS 7:3-4

3 And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? 

 4 If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die. 

The lepers had three options:

1)   Stay and die (no one brought food into the gate as everyone was suffering)
2)   Go into the city and die (no food inside to beg for either)
3)   Approach the enemy (they will either be killed or shown mercy)

Option three was the absolute best.  Yes, the probability rested with the enemy most likely killing the men but at least their suffering would not be drawn out, "...we shall but die."  Spoken as if it were a foregone conclusion but a quicker, more merciful, end to their miserable condition.  There was no choice, they had to act as they did and, as luck would have it, the odds paid dividends - quite high dividends!  The Samarian army had been spooked and left all there tents, provisions, and jewels where they stood, unguarded.  The lepers became wealthy men and ultimately ended the famine within the city by proclaiming the desertion of the enemy...Elisha's prophecy fulfilled (see yesterday's blog).

There is a "choice" quote (pun intended) I like from Michael J. Fox,

I have no choice about whether or not I have Parkinson's. I have nothing but choices about how I react to it. In those choices, there's freedom to do a lot of things in areas that I wouldn't have otherwise found myself in.

There are always going to be new and exciting issues, events, roadblocks, and problems and, more often than not, there will be little you can do directly but there will always be freedom in how you react and how others perceive your reaction - and it trickles down from there!

~Kipling

Windows in Heaven

Reading:   2 Kings 7:1-2

I only managed a couple of verses and reread them several times because my eyes refused to stay open.  Anyway, a couple of verses can be sufficient and amply feeds the soul with much more spiritual sustenance then an ignorant dosage of nothing.

Although the verses were a prophesy from Elisha of things to come on the following day, there was still a phrase that tickled my mind, "...if the Lord would make windows in heaven."

2 KINGS 7:2

2 Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof. 

I'm not going to spend time on the meaning of the verse as it wholly pertains to the realization of Elisha's prophecy; but, in regards to the "windows in heaven," I discovered a very applicable General Conference talk by James E. Faust entitled, Opening The Windows of Heaven (October 1998).  The talk is primarily concerned with the importance of tithing and how the windows in heaven will be opened to those who commit themselves to providing that which is God's portion.  I don't think it too far fetched to stretch this promise back to the days of Elisha and, on the flip side, see how the opposite might occur.  What I mean rests with the decided lack of faith and tithes being observed by the Samarian people and the subsequent famine which plagued them as a result.

Basically, the man hoped that there were windows in heaven so that the miracle of sustaining provisions might come to pass.  The windows were there and the miracle did come true but I am saying, if the Samarians were faithfully giving The Lord his due portion, the windows would have already been opened and the famine never realized.

Here is a cool little anecdote from Faust's talk...

 Sister Yaeko Seki experienced part of this precious promise. She writes: 

 "My family and I were spending a day at the Japan Alps National Park . . . . I was pregnant with our fourth child and was feeling rather tired, so I lay down under the trees. . . . I began thinking about our financial problems. My heart became overwhelmed, and I burst into tears. 'Lord, we are full-tithe payers. We have sacrificed so much. When will the windows of heaven open unto us and our burdens be lightened?' 

 "I prayed with all my heart. Then I turned to watch my husband and children playing and laughing together. . . . Suddenly, the Spirit testified to me that my blessings were abundant and that my family was the greatest blessing Heavenly Father could give me." ("The Windows of Heaven," Tambuli, Mar. 1992, 17) 

Had to slip that story in because it definitely makes a point about blessings and their many guises.  Look around and see the whole picture don't equate all blessings with financial or physical results.  Pay your tithing and the windows, which are already there, will be opened and blessings abundant.

~Kipling