Often the thoughts that I share here come from my reading. I am usually reading a couple of periodicals, a reference book, a book on preaching and my Bible at any given time. Only recently I added a book that is destined to become a classic beside White Fang, Great Expectations and The Grapes of Wrath. It's called Rick and Bubba's Big Honkin' Book of Huntin'. It's one of those books you just can't put down. (Not to mention it is the only book I've ever owned that has a 3-D 12 point buck on the cover.) I thought I might share some insight from that book but then I realized it might be a little too deep for some of my regulars. You know who you are.
So I turned to Biblical Archaeology Review for inspiration when I saw this headline, "Understand the Fun and Beauty in Mathmatical Concepts." As my friend Jamey Ragle would say, "Now, ain't that a blessing!" Those guys need to dig up something fast or I'm cancelling my subscription! Thankfully there's always the Bible. You can depend on God's Word for worthwhile reading everytime. So I have just finished I Kings and I'm beginning II Kings. The last chapter of I Kings ends with the story of the death of evil King Ahab. Listen to this for a word picture; "So the king died and was brought to Samaria, and they buried him there. They washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria (where the prostitutes bathed), and the dogs licked up his blood, as the word of the Lord had declared," (I Kings 22:37 - 38) After reading that text I can't get the 70's tune "Workin at the Car Wash" out of my head. Anyway, II Kings begins with Elijah pronouncing a death sentence upon King Ahaziah, Ahab's son and successor. It seemed Ahaziah had been snooping in the attic for last year's Christmas ornaments or something when he fell through the lattice work. I'm not kidding, read it for yourself; ""Now Ahazariah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself." (II Kings 1"2) I know someone has had the same flashback I just had of Chevy Chase in the attic of the Griswold's home with a an old mink wrap and mittens watching movie reels of childhood holidays. Ok, so the king sends, not for a doctor, but for word from a prophet of Baal to tell him if he will survive from his injuries. He knew prophets on the king's payroll are sure to give a hopeful diagnosis. But along the way God's prophet, Elijah, intercepted the messenger and delivered bad news to Ahaziah. "Tell him he is going to die" Elijah told the king's servant.
Of course, this wasn't the cheerful report Ahaziah wanted to hear so he sent an army captain and fifty soldiers to bring Elijah to Samaria in an effort to persuade him to change his report. When the men arrived at the mountain retreat of Elijah the prophet called down fire from heaven and the captain and his fifty soldiers became crispy critters. Ten years earlier Elijah had called to heaven and God burnt up the sacrifice on Mt. Carmel in front of 450 tired and bleeding prophets of Baal. King Ahaziah sent another captain and another fifty men and they met the same fate. So the third captain began to see a pattern that he didn't like. He was smart enough to bow before Elijah and ask for mercy. So God told Elijah to spare this man's life and the lives of his fellow soldiers and follow them to see the king. So I'm reading with great anticipation how this confrontation between the prophet and the king turns out. (Yes, I have read it before, but I had forgotten the details.) Elijah walks up to the king and says, "You will certainly die! So he died..!" (II Kings 1:6 - 7) So much for cliff hangers.
So I encourage you when Redbook, Men's Health or Cosmo leaves you feeling like you have wasted your money pick up your Bible. I'm not sure if it made Oprah's summer reading list but it always makes mine!
Pastor Ken
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