King Ahaziah dies

2 Kings Chapter 1

After King Ahab's death, Moab declared itself a nation independent of Israel.
One day Israel's new king, Ahaziah, fell through the latticework of an upper room in the palace and was seriously injured. So he sent messengers to the temple of Baal-zebub, to ask whether he would recover. But the angel of the Lord told Elijah to go meet the messengers of the king and give them a message from the Lord. He told them that there was no God in Israel and the king would never get well and would surely die.

When the messengers returned to the king, they told him of the message from the Lord. Then they described the prophet as a hairy man with a leather belt around his waist. The king knew the messenger was Elijah and he sent fifty soldiers to arrest him. When the soldiers reached Elijah sitting on atop a hill, they called him Man of God and demanded he come with them. But Elijah replied, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you." And the fire of God fell down and killed them all. So the king sent another captain and fifty men and again the fire of God killed them all. Once more the king sent another captain and fifty men, but this time the captain fell to his knees and pleaded for his life and the lives of his men. So the Lord told Elijah to go with them.

Elijah repeated to the king the Lord's message that he should not have sent messengers to Baal-zebub to ask if would get well. He said there was no God in Israel and the king would never leave his bed and will surely die.

So Ahaziah died according to God's message. Then he did not have a son to succeed him, so his brother Joram became the next king.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Baal-zebub was not the same god as Baal the Canaanite god worshiped by Ahab and Jezebel. Baal-zebub was thought to have the power of prophecy.

Kings 1 & 2 were originally one book. This chapter shows a great nation split into two because the people forgot God.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Haven't you noticed? It's all about attitude. The third captain who went to Elijah was being genuine and he appealed to Elijah for mercy. His attitude showed respect for God and saved the lives of his men. In today's world, be sure you have a right attitude toward God. Before religious words come from your mouth, make sure they are from your heart. God knows all.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents. especially her mother whose cancer has returned, and Arlene’s nephew David. Pray for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer. Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS. Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who was given 14 months to live with cancer, but has made it six years. The pain has returned and she needs our prayers.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has 90 percent of her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. She will require long therapy and insurance may soon be a problem since her job was not held for her.
Pray for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues. Update on Stella: She has shed the feeding tube and is taking formula on her own! But breathing problems are still with her, though improving all the time. She continues to have a long road, so prayers are still needed. She has been moved to a St. Louis hospital.
Pray for Carolyn’s friend Margaret and her husband who were in a car accident. As elderly drivers they may face a life change which may cost them their independence. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
Pray for Brian and Ashley, as they lost the expected baby boy. It was so sad because she was 4 months and we had seen the sonogram of him moving and sucking his thumb.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.