Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

Why save Nineveh?

July 4, 2020

The story of Jonah begins in chapter 1 with a call to Nineveh. It is the capital of Assyria which has been an enemy of Israel and will ultimately conquer this northern kingdom. He did not want to proclaim Jehovah’s word there, so he embarked for a city in the opposite direction. He slept while a violent storm overtook the ship. The religious beliefs of the sailors are shown by their throwing dice to determine with whom the gods are angry.

Jonah seems unconcerned when he is singled out and suggests that he should be drowned to save the ship. The crew attempts to row out of the waves with no success. When he is tossed into the sea and it grows calm, a huge fish swallows him.

What would you do if you were inside a fish? In Jonah 2 the future prophet prays to Yahweh. He recounts to his creator the terror he feels at being in the water and his dread at residing in a fish. He did what we are called to do. He repented of the disobedience that landed him in this situation. Even as he does this, his hatred of the Ninevites is evident. This chapter ends with the release of Jonah from his captivity.

Our God is a God of second chances and Jonah gets his second chance in chapter 3. Jehovah instructs him again to go to Nineveh and call them to repentance. When he did, they listened and changed their ways. Even the King of Assyria believed this preacher straight from his three hardest days. If these idolaters can listen to what Yahweh has to say, why can’t we.

Have you ever witnessed a fit thrown by someone that you respected? That is what happens in Jonah 4. After Nineveh repents and Jehovah determines not to punish them at this time as He had originally stated, the prophet pitches a fit. He leaves the city and proceeds to pout about the great forgiveness of the Lord.

A plant grows near his shelter and provides shade from the heat. When a worm and the heat cause the vine to die, he once again asks to die. The point to this story is that even those called by God may not act in a manner that would be expected. Even ministers are human.

Israel defeats Judah

July 4, 2020

Another Godly King takes the throne in 2 Kings 14. Amaziah becomes King of Judah after Joash dies. As with others, the people continue to worship at the high places. He followed the scriptures in his revenge against those who killed his Father. He defeated Edom in battle and then was defeated by Israel when he wanted to conquer them. The King of Judah is chased to Lachish where he is assassinated.

Later Jehoash dies, and Jeroboam II becomes King of Israel. He is used by Jehovah to preserve Samaria and Israel. This was despite his failure to worship the Lord exclusively. His patience for all of us is shown again and again. When Jeroboam died, his son Zechariah became the King of Israel.

Amaziah, the King of Judah has a plan to conquer the land of Seir in 2 Chronicles 25. A man of God overrides his plan to use mercenaries from Israel and while they conquer their enemy, they have thousands killed in raids by the Israelites. He even decides to worship the idols he took from Seir. Condemnation of this action from Jehovah comes and a war against Samaria is planned.

Jehoash of Israel defeats Amaziah of Judah and attacks Jerusalem and confiscates items from the Temple. Amaziah is left alive and he outlives Jehoash. He is eventually chased from Jerusalem and murdered.

The death of Elisha

July 3, 2020

Jehu is King of Israel when Joash becomes King of Judah in 2 Kings 12. Joash followed the Lord but did not remove the high places and the people continued to worship idols. They accepted money for repairs of the Temple.

As happened many times before, the King of Judah, Joash, does not ask Jehovah to protect the country. The Arameans capture Gath and turn to Jerusalem. Instead of trusting the Lord to protect them, he buys off the enemy. He was assassinated by Jozabad and Jehozabad, two of his officials. his son, Amaziah succeeded him.

Samaria is still the capital of the northern kingdom in 2 Kings 13. Jehoahaz becomes King of Israel and continues like his predecessors. The Arameans are still ruling the Israelites. The King of Israel asks for Jehovah’s help and it is granted, but nothing changes in their worship. When he dies, his son, Jehoash becomes King of Israel.

While he is in power Elisha dies and King Jehoash visits before his death. God allows His assistance to the northern kingdom, but only for the time and area that the King has faith for. Another story of the resurrection power of Yahweh through His prophet even after he is dead is told. His sixteen years of rule is nothing to brag about or report here and when he dies, Jeroboam succeeds him to the throne.

After years of neglect, the Lord’s house needed distinct improvements. In 2 Chronicles 24 Joash repairs the Temple. A tax was collected to make these changes. The tax money was distributed directly to the workers.

Often the loss of a mentor or spiritual advisor changes the dynamic of the leader. The priest, Jehoiada, that was instrumental in Joash’s coronation dies. He stops following Jehovah and Judah does the same. The priest’s son, Zechariah, confronts the King and is murdered for his trouble. Yahweh will see that proper punishment is given.

Once again, the Aramean’s attack the southern kingdom. An injured Joash is assassinated in his bed. Amaziah, his son follows him as monarch.

The death of Jezebel

July 1, 2020

Jehu is anointed the King of Israel in 2 Kings 9 at the instruction of Elisha. He is told to eliminate all of Ahab’s heirs. In doing so he kills not only Joram of Israel but Ahaziah of Judah. All the descendants from Ahab’s line are murdered. Jezebel is also killed by being thrown from a window. She is eaten by dogs as was prophesied by Elijah before he was taken by Jehovah.

More gruesome events are recorded in 2 Kings 10. Jehu sends a message to the leaders of Samaria requesting them to appoint one of Ahab’s family as the new King. They refuse because they are afraid of this murderer. He asks for their loyalty to be shown by killing all seventy of Ahab’s male family members. Then the heads are piled up. The new king continues his slaughter of the families of the two Kings.

Jehu deceives and kills the servants of Baal. He takes care to not execute any of the followers of Yahweh. Jehu is not a follower of the Lord but is guaranteed his family will reign up to four generations. His son Jehoahaz is the second of these monarchs.

Athaliah was Ahaziah’s mother. In 2 Kings 11, after he is killed, she becomes queen of Judah and exterminates the rest of the family. Joash, the former King’s son, is kept safe and becomes king. When he is old enough, they proceed to crown him King and his grandmother runs to the Temple to try to save her own life. She is removed from the Temple and executed.

The idols and altars are destroyed, and the new King makes a covenant with Jehovah. Joash was only seven when he began to reign.

Elisha heals Naaman

June 30, 2020

Aram was a perennial enemy of Israel and Naaman was commander of their army according to 2 Kings 5. They had taken captives from the Israelites. The commander’s wife had a slave girl who knew of Elisha and his ability to work miracles by Jehovah’s power. Naaman had leprosy.

The King of Aram sent a letter to Joram in Samaria. Of course, the King does not know who they are talking about. Elisha tells the King to send the man to him and he will prove there is a prophet in Israel. There was no face to face meeting and when the Commander was told to wash seven times in the Jordan river he became angry.

He was accustomed to being treated with more respect. His servants convinced him to follow the instructions and when he did, he was healed. The Aramean recognizes that there is no other God, but Jehovah. Elisha declined the gifts that were offered, but his servant chased them down and took some things for himself. He was rewarded with leprosy for his greed.

More miracles are given in 2 Kings 6. Elisha causes an axe head to float to help one of the prophets. He sends Aramean soldiers away after they are blinded. They came to kidnap him, and Yahweh saved him from that fate. He even had the King of Israel feed them and send them home. Famine comes to Samaria because of the siege by Aram. Even Joram the King threatens Elisha for allowing God to cause this distress. People today still maintain, it is not my fault, even though it is.

The Arameans are defeated in 2 Kings 7 even though the King and majority of Israelites did not follow Jehovah. One of the King’s officers saw the deliverance but died before he could enjoy it. Four Lepers play a significant role in the discovery that the enemy camp had been deserted. How often have you missed a blessing simply because you refused to believe?

Elisha had warned the woman from Shunam to take her family and leave before the famine began. In 2 Kings 8, Joram, the King of Israel is asked to return their property after seven years absence. He had just been told about how Elisha had brought her son back to life.

Elisha travels safely wherever Yahweh leads him. He appears in Damascus and the King of Aram, Ben-Hadad, sends an envoy to have him seek the Lord. The truth is that the King will die, but Hazael is told to tell him he will live. When the Prophet cries, he tells that God has shown him the terrible treatment the Israelites will suffer at Hazael’s had after he kills Ben-Hadad and becomes the King of Aram.

Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat becomes the King of Judah. He marries one of Ahab’s daughters and does not follow Jehovah. When he dies, his son, Ahaziah becomes King of Judah. The King of Judah goes to visit Joram, King of Israel, because Joram has been injured in battle.

Elijah’s trip to Heaven

June 29, 2020

The book of 2 Kings begins in chapter 1 with Ahaziah the son of Ahab and Jezebel. He has fallen through a window and been injured. He sends messengers to inquire of the god of Ekron, Baal-zebub. Notice that this is the same chief of demons from the New Testament that Jesus was accused of casting out demons by.

Elijah is sent to intercept the messengers. “Is there no god in Israel?” This is the question he asks of them. He also informs them that the King will not recover from his injuries. When Ahaziah heard that message he wanted to know who the man was. He is given the description and knows it must be Elijah.

This is where the fun begins. First fifty-one soldiers are sent to bring the Prophet to the King of Israel. They are destroyed by Jehovah. A second group is dispatched with the same result. What would you have done if you were the commander of the third platoon? Hopefully, you would do what this commander did. He humbled himself before the Lord and begged for the lives of his men and himself.

Elijah delivers the message of doom directly to Ahaziah. He is the last of Ahab’s heirs to take the leadership of Israel. After his death Joram becomes the King. Remember that Jezebel is still alive.

The story of Elijah being taken to Heaven in 2 Kings chapter 2 is very interesting. Notice that he knows it is his last day on earth. Elisha refuses to leave him despite several attempts. When asked what Elijah can do for Elisha, the younger man asks for twice as much of God’s spirit as the older man has. The chariot of fire separates the two and Elijah is taken away.

The great prophet’s cloak is retrieved, and the miracles of Elisha begin. Fifty men looked for him and did not discover where he had gone. The river is parted, water is made pure, and two bears maul forty-two boys that were teasing him.

Joram is made King of Israel in 2 Kings 3. While he wasn’t as bad as his father Ahab had been, he was not a lot improved over he and Jezebel. When the Moabites rebel he asks Jehoshaphat from Judah and the King of Edom to join them. During the travel to Moab, the run out of water. The Judean King wants to consult Elisha. Jehovah provides water and enables them to be victorious over Moab. Their King offers his son as a sacrifice to his god to stop the attack.

A widow of one of the school of prophets came to Elisha in 2 Kings 4 and explained that since her husband’s death she had bills she could not pay. He did not tell her he would pray for her or take her problem to the benevolence committee.

He asked what she had. All he had to work with was her small jar of olive oil. As today, this is not inexpensive. When you read this, not these things. The jar she poured from was her own. No one gave it to her. The jars she poured the oil into were borrowed. Her faith and neighbors controlled how much oil she had to sell. The jars were returned to the neighbors after they were emptied.

Elisha raised a dead boy for his mother. He did this by direct touch and once again not by just prayer. He saved some of the prophets from food poisoning, and this was done with simple flour. He fed one hundred men with twenty loaves of bread and there were leftovers. Jesus was not the first to miraculously feed others.

Obadiah 1, Psalm 82-83

June 28, 2020

Obadiah is one of those minor prophets. He is so minor that the book only has one chapter and 21 verses. The book tells us nothing about this prophet. There are several men named Obadiah in the Bible. One of the Obadiah’s mentioned at the time of the exile into Babylon may be our prophet.

Whoever he is he proceeds immediately into the prophecy against Edom. This is the nation that is directly descended from Jacob’s brother Esau. These people live in the hills and can hide from others in caves.

Edom is being cut off because of what they have done to Judah. They will be destroyed. There is no country of Edom or any account of them. “As you have done it will be done to you. Jehovah has spoken this word through Obadiah, and it will happen.

Other gods are mentioned in Psalms 82, but Yahweh is presiding over all the others. These deities are worshipped by the wicked and the unjust. They are ignorant and do not understand their subservience to the one true God.

Have you ever felt that someone refused to listen to you? These are the thoughts of Asaph in the eighty-third Psalm. He and the Israelites have prayed to be rescued from their neighbors. They do not believe God hears them. The real problem is that they refuse to listen to their creator.

King Jehoshaphat of Judah

June 28, 2020

Jehoshaphat returns home safe to Judah in 2 Chronicles 19. He is trying to follow Yahweh but makes errors like joining in battle with Ahab. Judges were appointed to make decisions for the people. The chief priest is their boss.

Jehoshaphat has the Ammonites, Moabites, and some of the Meunits come after Judah in 2 Chronicles 20. The King prays that Jehovah will defeat the enemies. He admits his own weakness and the Lord’s power. God will fight for them when they go out to battle.

Singers and priests praise the Lord for the success He will give them. Yahweh follows through with what Jehoshaphat was promised. Does it ever make you wonder why anyone would not follow God? Even the surrounding nations are afraid of Jehovah.

Shortly before the King died, he formed an alliance for marine commerce with the new King of Israel, Ahaziah. Eliezer, the prophet, proclaimed the destruction of these ships. The prophecy was fulfilled.

Jehoram was the firstborn son of Jehoshaphat and became King of Judah in 2 Chronicles chapter 21. Even his six brothers are mentioned. Keep in mind he is ruling in Judah and he follows the Kings of Israel by having his brothers murdered. We could also blame it on his wife.

Under his father, other nations had been subdued. Edom and Libnah revolted and separated themselves from Judah. Elijah wrote a letter that accused the King of not following Jehovah, murdering his brothers, and leading the people to follow idols. He even predicted the fall of his kingdom and his death.

All of this came about, and he was not honored as other Judean Kings had been. He died and was buried in disgrace.

The story of Ahaziah being crowned King of Judah is repeated in 2 Chronicles 22. He was no better than his father. He only lived and ruled for one year or less. He was killed along with his officials and those of Joram, the King of Israel. As we read yesterday, Athaliah, his mother tries to take over the kingdom of Judah, but Joash is saved and becomes the monarch.

Jehoiada the priest begins preparation to crown Joash in 2 Chronicles 23. He proceeds around Judah to recruit the Levites to protect the young King. Athaliah had attempted to annihilate all the Davidic lines. Jehovah did not allow this to happen. She hides in the Temple and they remove her and execute her and all her followers. This priest begins the return of Yahweh worship.

Ahab’s death

June 27, 2020

We have another rerun in 1 Kings 22. Micaiah prophecies against Ahab and he is killed just as in 2 Chronicles 18. Ahaziah succeeds his father as King of Israel. Jehoshaphat dies as well.

Jehoshaphat from Judah and Ahab Israel form an alliance through marriage in 2 Chronicles 18. The prophet Micaiah is called for, even though Ahab said he never said anything good about him. They are planning an attack on Aram. Originally Micaiah told them to go.

His actual prophecy tells Ahab that he is being lied to by the other prophets. As was common, this prophet is imprisoned until they return from battle. Ahab goes into battle in disguise, but he is killed by an accidental shot.

Elijah and Ahab and Jezebel

June 26, 2020

Most of us have heard the story of Elijah at Mount Carmel in 1 Kings 18. Ahab’s palace administrator, Obadiah, had saved a hundred prophets of Jehovah in two caves. Obadiah meets Elijah and tells him he will meet with King Ahab. It has been over three years into the drought. Obadiah hesitates, and the prophet assures him today is the day for the meeting.

The confrontation between Baal and Yahweh is ended the way the child of God would expect it to. God won. Not in a close race, the victory was a blow out. The prophets of the false god were destroyed. God brought the needed rain through Elijah as well. One more confrontation was needed.

One of the scriptures in the Bible that has been most helpful to me is 1 Kings 19. Elijah is informed that the King’s wife has threatened his life. He flees from Jezebel and tells Jehovah he wants to do. He can run and wallow in self-pity. Then he is prepared for his next task.

Elijah watches a series of natural events that end in a still small voice according to the King James Version. Yahweh only occupies that voice. How often do we misjudge the presence of the Lord in our circumstances? We are told something by our parents or friends and believe they are speaking for God. Their advice is based on what they believe. Like the prophets of Israel, they do not speak for anyone else.

The instructions are to anoint two Kings and a prophet. Hazael as King of Aram, Jehu for Israel to replace Ahab and Elisha to replace him. He is also informed that there are seven thousand in Israel that have not worshipped the false gods.

Ben-Hadad, the King of Aram, prepares to attack Ahab and Samaria in 1 Kings 20. He sends emissaries to Ahab to present an alternative. All he must do is pay everything that is valuable. Gold, silver and the best of his wives and children are the commodity they trade in. After a while, another offer is made to Ahab. All the wealthy men of Samaria must make the sacrifice that the King did previously. They refuse.

As they await the attack, a prophet from Yahweh visits the King of Israel that this vast army will be defeated by his junior officers, if they start the battle. The Arameans are soundly defeated. The following spring, they return, and the prophet returns to announce that another victory will be had. However, a treaty is made between the nations and a prophet returns to Ahab.

He is disguised as a wounded soldier and tells the King a false story which he believes. When he pronounces a death sentence on the soldier, the disguise is removed, and a prophecy is pronounced against both Ahab and Israel because he made a treaty and did not allow Jehovah to once again give them the victory. He wants our obedience, not our own strategy.

A story given in 1 Kings 21 about a vineyard gives, even more, light upon the relationship and character of Ahab and his wife, Jezebel. By the way, notice that she is still in Samaria even though the King’s best wives were given to the Aramean King, Ben-Hadad.

Naboth had a vineyard close to the palace of Ahab which he wanted to use for a vegetable garden. The King made an offer and was turned down. He became sullen and returned home where his wife got the story from him quite easily. After denigrating him she conspired to have Naboth murdered. Another interesting idea is that Naboth is accused of cursing God and the King. Which god? If it is Jehovah, I don’t think the punishment would have been stoning.

Ahab did not hesitate to take possession of the vineyard. Elijah returns to the King and condemns him for the murder of an innocent man. His entire family will be wiped out. Once again Ahab acts like he is repentant, and Jehovah decides to delay the devastation until after the King’s death.