Ironworks

        And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab. And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.         2 Kings 3:13-14                   King Jehoram (Joram) of Israel lived in a very interesting time in Israel. At the outset of his reign, the king of Moab rebelled against Israel (cf. 2 Kings 3:4). He was a wicked king like the kings of the line of Ahab and even further back (cf. 2 Kings 3:3). However, Jehoram was not foolish; he knew he needed help, so he appeal...

        And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease. But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?  2 Kings 1:2-3                    Imagine you know you have a good old drill at home, say a DeWalt or a Makita, and it works just as it is supposed to and the batteries are charged. Yet because you do not have it in your hand, you go out and buy an inferior brand with less power. Sure it is new, but it is truly not even capable of getting the job that your superior drill can do.     ...

          Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD.       2 Ch 21:5-6       Regional accents are quite interesting when you consider all their quirks and differences from each other. However, as one who has lived in varying locations and cultures in the United States, my accent is sort of all over the place. When I was visiting some family in Eastern Arkansas, my cousin correctly introduced me as my cousin Ryan from Texas. However, the young lady to whom he introduced me said, "You're from Texas?" I affirmed yes. To which she replied, “You don't sound like you're from Texas.” Maybe it was the fact that I grew up right on the Rio Grande or maybe this girl just e...

    And Jehosophat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem. And Jehu the And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to king Jehosophat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? Therefore is wrath upon From upon the Lord.   2 Chronicles 19:1-2               Jehosophat was a good king (cf. 1 Kings 22:43) but when you read the words of Jehu son of Hanani you would not think that was true. These were certainly sharp words but what else would you expect from one tasked with reproving a king? Our society is full of so many who have become passive and ineffective. These individuals would rather just keep their head down and take whatever is dealt out to them from the powers at be. We have become so passive that our attitude has been “go along to get along” even in the Lord’s church. Things must change. The writing is on the wall if we do ...

 And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. 1 Kings 16:33  But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel. 1 Kings 20:25-26                   There is a good amount of talk on what makes a good leader. Some love charisma. Some love decisiveness. Some love demeanor. While these are good things to consider, one chief qualification is how they will provoke the governed. The word provocation carries a lot of weight with it. One might provoke others to good things such as the case in regards to our Sunday assemblies. We are familiar with the command found in Heb 10:25 to not fo...