DAILY DEVOTIONALS

2 Kings 1

2 Kings 1 Pastor Mark Hudson In Kings, a big theme is the power of the word of the Lord.  The Bible is the word of the Lord, and that same Bible tells us of how that word changes lives, punishes evil doers, is always fulfilled, and should always be respected, listened carefully to, and obeyed.  As a Bible reader, you know that many people who are within the believing community outwardly, are inwardly rejecting…

Esther 9

Esther 9 Devotional Pastor Mark Hudson Chapter 9 starts out in verse one with a phrase that summarizes the entire book, “on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, the reverse occurred: the Jews gained mastery over those who hated them.”  For a time, Haman was close to killing all the Jews and now Haman is dead.  For a time, Haman was second only to the…

Esther 8

Esther 8 By Pastor David Groendyk Haman is dead! That’s good news. If we were quizzed on the book of Esther, I suspect most of us would think that was the end of the story. However, there is still a problem. The edict that was sent out to destroy, kill, and annihilate the Jews is still in effect, and edicts decreed by the kings of the Medes and the Persians cannot and will not be…

Esther 7

Esther 7 Devotional By Pastor Lawrence In Psalm 74:10-11 the psalmist pleads with God saying, “How long, O Lord, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile your name forever? Arise, and defend your cause O God.” Is that not our question and ongoing concern today as well? Have we not all longed at times for the day of justice when the righteous are vindicated and the wicked finally get their just due?…

Esther 6

Esther 6 Devotional Pastor Mark Hudson “A coincidence is a miracle in which God prefers to remain anonymous” (Jon D. Levenson Esther: A Commentary p. 19).  I love how Biblical authors say things like, “On that night the king could not sleep.” Then from verse 1 to v. 4,”Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on the gallows that he had…

Esther 5

Esther 5 Devotional By Pastor Lawrence “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom but the fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” That is the substance of all the wisdom literature found in the Bible, as it is quoted in various forms in the books of Job, Psalms and Proverbs. It also sums up the greatest difference in our passage this morning between Esther and her antagonist Haman. Haman is…

Esther 4

Esther 4 Pastor Mark Hudson This chapter changes the course of events in this narrative. Chapter 3 ends with the king and Haman sending out an edict (from India to Ethiopia) to kill all the Jews. They celebrate their genocidal plans with a drink (or two). Meanwhile, Mordecai learns of this and he ‘tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes and went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out…

Esther 3

Esther 3 By Pastor David Groendyk If the principal theme of yesterday’s chapter was, “Will God’s people identify themselves with the Lord and love him more than they love the world or even their own lives?” then the theme of today’s chapter is, “What will the world do to those who do identify with the Lord and love him?” The answer is: hate them. Another great reversal happens in Esther 3—Mordecai the rescuer now has…

Esther 2

Esther 2 Devotional By Pastor Lawrence It would be really unfair to compare Esther with Cinderella, for she didn’t choose to go to the dance, if you will, and she certainly didn’t fall in love with any prince charming. No, this story is not one that little girls dream about, for no girl wants to be placed in a harem to serve as a plaything for a king. Similar to Daniel and his three friends…

Esther 1

Esther 1 Pastor Mark Hudson Reversal.  That seems to be the theme of Esther.  Or don’t get sucked into believing those in power are in power.  This first chapter is such a fascinating way to tell the story . . . of what? The near extermination of the Jews How God is always in control How God’s covenant faithfulness can never be thwarted. No one can stop, obstruct, prevent God from accomplishing His will.  All…

1 Kings 22

1 Kings 22 Devotional By Pastor Lawrence Kings Jehoshaphat and Ahab make strange bedfellows. As good and wise as Jehoshaphat appears to be in many situations, he seems to be a very bad judge of character, at least in this case. Certainly, it is a foolish thing for Jehoshaphat to pledge his people and his horses to Israel’s king, when Israel’s king pays no mind to the Lord. Inquiring the will of the Lord in…

1Kings 21

1 Kings 21 Pastor Mark Hudson This is an ugly, tragic, heartless event in the nation of Israel.  If you ever wonder if the exile was too harsh, consider the incidents in the nation chosen by God.  These events are raw, unbridled, uninhibited acts of violence and injustice.  I don’t think I have to retell the story because the narrator simply recounts the story. But, while it may seem that God was not involved, ‘the…

1 Kings 20

1 Kings 20 By Pastor David Groendyk This chapter recounts events that take place probably over a few months of time. Ahab king of Israel and Ben-hadad king of Syria are at war with each other and do battle twice, while two unnamed prophets are sent by God to go to Ahab with two very different messages. If 1 Kings 17–19 is meant to portray the amazing victories of the God of war, 1 Kings…

1 Kings 19

1 Kings 19 Devotional By Pastor Lawrence If we know anything about the weakness of the flesh, it is not so hard to believe that this is the same prophet Elijah who just a few days prior stood up to the king of Israel and took on 450 prophets singlehandedly that is now asking the Lord to take his life. Surely, the man is tired and hungry after running for hundreds of miles. He is…

1 Kings 18

1 Kings 18 Pastor Mark Hudson I Kings 18 charms with drama, ridicule, decisions, fear, prayer, ritual, and murder.  This courageous act by Elijah, who challenges the prophets of Baal, almost gets him murdered by Queen Jezebel.  First notice that there is not one way to serve the Lord.  Elijah is confrontational while Obadiah is secretive.  Elijah is more fire and brimstone, speak directly to those in authority (dare I use ‘truth to power’?) and…

1 Kings 17

1 Kings 17 Devotional By Pastor Lawrence After a succession of wicked but short-lived kings in Israel, King Ahab was introduced as the seventh king of the northern nation in the previous chapter. His reign stands out from his predecessors in that he didn’t just encourage the worship of idols as they did, but he promoted the worship of foreign gods as well actually building a temple unto Baal in the very heart of Israel.…

1Kings 16

1 Kings 16 Pastor Mark Hudson Chapter 16 of I Kings continues the narrative that begins in 15:25.   Nadab, son of Jeroboam reigns for two years until Baasha, the son of Ahijah of the tribe of Issachar kills him.  Then Baasha kills all the house of Jeroboam and I mean all the house.  Baasha fulfills a prophecy but that does not mean what he did was praiseworthy. He reigned for 24 years in the city…

1 Kings 14

1 Kings 14 Devotional By Pastor Lawrence Even atheists will try praying to God when all else fails. Of course, that doesn’t mean that they’ve been converted or are expressing genuine faith but are merely seeking to cover all their bases. Nevertheless, it still testifies to the truth of Scripture that deep down in their hearts they know that there is a God, even though they refuse to submit to him. In our text this…

1 Kings 13

1 Kings 13 Pastor Mark Hudson Here is a chapter where the reader has questions at every turn, but few answers are given.  This chapter continues the idolatry we find in chapter 12.   But as Jeroboam begins his idolatrous worship a prophet from Judah rebukes his entire plan.  The prophet prophesies of the coming King and names him!  Then the prophet tells Jeroboam that this altar will be destroyed, and the ashes poured out.  Basically,…

1 Kings 12

1 Kings 12 Devotional By Pastor Lawrence In Proverbs 13:20 Solomon wrote “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Sayings such as these were collected and recorded to be given to his sons as well as to all God’s people. Sadly, his son Rehoboam didn’t pay them any regard, and his kingdom would suffer much harm as a result. His rival, Jeroboam, also did not walk with…

1Kings 11

1 Kings 11 Pastor Mark Hudson Chapter 11 of I Kings brings all the joy, celebration, and thankfulness to an abrupt and sad end.  Remember Deuteronomy 17:15-17, when God gives the stipulations for a king, “you may indeed set a king over you whom the LORD your God will choose. . . .  17 And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself exces-…