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 2 Kings 9:7-10,
"You are to destroy the house of Ahab your master, and I will avenge the blood of my servants the prophets and the blood of all the Lord's servants shed by Jezebel. The whole house of Ahab will perish. I will cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel—slave or free. I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah. As for Jezebel, dogs will devour her on the plot of ground at Jezreel, and no one will bury her."
This was the word of the Lord to one of the commanders in Israel's army, Jehu. Ahab, an evil king in the eyes of the Lord and his worthless, wicked wife, Jezebel, had earned the Lord's judgement and it was to come in the form of Ahab being replaced as king over Israel, being put to death together with his wife and his entire family.
Such can be the judgement of the Lord - simply horrific!
Yes, this is our God of love that John tells us of in 1 John 4:8 and 16. In his letter, John is careful to point out this aspect of God's nature. In 2 Kings, the author is careful to point out God's justice together with his wrath.
You see, God is both loving as well as just, our God who can bring his wrath. God has never presented himself as an "angry god" in the Old Testament, and "a god of love" in the New. That kind of ignorance is reserved for those who do not care to spend much time in the Scriptures. Listen how he presents himself in Jeremiah 9:24, "I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight"
When the Lord revealed himself to Moses, he said, "The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation." Exodus 34:6-7. God is both loving and our just judge who brings his wrath.
John says God is love in 1 John 4:8 and 16. The writer of Hebrews also tells us, "It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Hebrews 10:31.
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.
"You are to destroy the house of Ahab your master, and I will avenge the blood of my servants the prophets and the blood of all the Lord's servants shed by Jezebel. The whole house of Ahab will perish. I will cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel—slave or free. I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah. As for Jezebel, dogs will devour her on the plot of ground at Jezreel, and no one will bury her."
This was the word of the Lord to one of the commanders in Israel's army, Jehu. Ahab, an evil king in the eyes of the Lord and his worthless, wicked wife, Jezebel, had earned the Lord's judgement and it was to come in the form of Ahab being replaced as king over Israel, being put to death together with his wife and his entire family.
Such can be the judgement of the Lord - simply horrific!
Yes, this is our God of love that John tells us of in 1 John 4:8 and 16. In his letter, John is careful to point out this aspect of God's nature. In 2 Kings, the author is careful to point out God's justice together with his wrath.
You see, God is both loving as well as just, our God who can bring his wrath. God has never presented himself as an "angry god" in the Old Testament, and "a god of love" in the New. That kind of ignorance is reserved for those who do not care to spend much time in the Scriptures. Listen how he presents himself in Jeremiah 9:24, "I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight"
When the Lord revealed himself to Moses, he said, "The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation." Exodus 34:6-7. God is both loving and our just judge who brings his wrath.
John says God is love in 1 John 4:8 and 16. The writer of Hebrews also tells us, "It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Hebrews 10:31.
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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