The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Kings 18:17-18,
"When he [King Ahab] saw Elijah, he said to him, 'Is that you, you troubler of Israel?' 'I have not made trouble for Israel,' Elijah replied. 'But you and your father's family have. You have abandoned the Lord's commands and have followed the Baals.'"
Ahab was the seventh king over the ten northern tribes of Israel. He was a man rife with sin. I note here he blamed the prophet of God, Elijah, for a severe famine that gripped the land. Elijah refuted the claim he was a "troubler" of Israel, that, in fact, it was King Ahab himself that had brought trouble to the nation by his leading them in idolatry. The famine was due to Ahab's sin, yet Ahab blamed the man of God for the suffering.
Is it not quite a familiar thing we find? Sinful people bring trouble to themselves, and everyone around them, yet blame those who could point the way?
Sinful little man shakes his puny fist against his Creator, God Almighty. Sinful man earns his Maker's judgment by turning from God and suffers. And in his little tirade against his maker for his suffering, he learns absolutely nothing. The deceit in the heart of sinful mankind is blinding.
I am reminded of Proverbs 19:3, "A person's own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the Lord."
Here is how pathetic sinful man looks in Psalm 2:1-6,
"When he [King Ahab] saw Elijah, he said to him, 'Is that you, you troubler of Israel?' 'I have not made trouble for Israel,' Elijah replied. 'But you and your father's family have. You have abandoned the Lord's commands and have followed the Baals.'"
Ahab was the seventh king over the ten northern tribes of Israel. He was a man rife with sin. I note here he blamed the prophet of God, Elijah, for a severe famine that gripped the land. Elijah refuted the claim he was a "troubler" of Israel, that, in fact, it was King Ahab himself that had brought trouble to the nation by his leading them in idolatry. The famine was due to Ahab's sin, yet Ahab blamed the man of God for the suffering.
Is it not quite a familiar thing we find? Sinful people bring trouble to themselves, and everyone around them, yet blame those who could point the way?
Sinful little man shakes his puny fist against his Creator, God Almighty. Sinful man earns his Maker's judgment by turning from God and suffers. And in his little tirade against his maker for his suffering, he learns absolutely nothing. The deceit in the heart of sinful mankind is blinding.
I am reminded of Proverbs 19:3, "A person's own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the Lord."
Here is how pathetic sinful man looks in Psalm 2:1-6,
"Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
'Let us break their chains
and throw off their shackles.'
The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
He rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
'I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.'"
I see this all about me today. I am certain you do as well. Whether it be in politics, religion, the conversation in the public square, in social media, where ever people are, this is still in full bloom today.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
'Let us break their chains
and throw off their shackles.'
The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
He rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
'I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.'"
I see this all about me today. I am certain you do as well. Whether it be in politics, religion, the conversation in the public square, in social media, where ever people are, this is still in full bloom today.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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