DAY 171    Read 2 Chronicles 24; 2 Kings 13 and 14.

Today's reading:  The succession of evil deeds continues generation after generation, king after king, with only an occasional break in the deadly pattern.

Memory gem:  "Yet he [God] sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the Lord; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear"  (2 Chronicles 24:19).

Thought for today:
Some time ago, one of the strangest tragedies in the record of wildlife occurred at Niagara Falls.  The wild geese were migrating southward for the winter.  Great flocks of them, wearied by the long journey from the north, settled down to rest on the quiet waters of the Niagara River above the falls.  At first slowly, then faster, the careless birds were carried toward the brink of the thundering falls.  On The very edge of the plunge, each bird trumpeted wildly and, by a supreme effort of wings, lifted itself from the clutching waters; then, wheeling in triumph over the chasm, returned upstream to repeat the performance.  Like boys taking turns on a slippery slide, these birds by the hundreds kept up their dangerous sport.

Fog settled down and night came on.  Many of the players began to show signs of weariness, but they did not stop.  Game wardens tried to frighten the birds away, but a strange fascination seemed to hold them.  All night the swish of wings and the trumpeting of triumph or despair continued.

The next morning the lower parts of Niagara River were strewn with the white bodies of those birds that, in the darkness, had misjudged the precipice or were too tired to lift themselves from the plunging waters.  And, strange to say, this experience is repeated every year.  In varying numbers, the southbound flocks take up this fight with the falls.

They are only geese; but how like them is our race!  One generation after another repeats the dangerous game of sin and crime and war, and plunges on over the falls.

The best way to break away from the deadly cycle of sin is to give your heart to Christ, your Saviour, and consecrate your energies and life to Him and bear your witness wherever you are.

DAY 170    Read 2 Kings 11 and 12; 2 Chronicles 23.

Today's reading:  The apostasy of the northern kingdom spread into Judah because of Jehoshaphat's unwise friendship with Ahab.  Wicked Queen Athalia shares the same fate as that of her idolatrous mother Jezebel.

Memory gem:  "Johoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and the people, that they should be the Lord's people"  (2 Kings 11:17).

Thought for today:
"Jehoiada commanded the officers to lay hold of Athalioah and all her followers, and led them out of the temple to a place of execution, where they were to be slain.

"Thus perished the last member of the house of Ahab.  The terrible evil that had been wrought through his alliance with Jezebel, continued till the last of his descendants was destroyed.  Even in the land of Judah, where the worship of the true God had never been formally set aside, Athalia had succeeded in seducing many.  Immediately after the execution of the impenitent queen, 'all the people of the land went into the house of Baal, and brake it down; his altars and his images brake they in pieces thoroughly, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.'  (2 Kings 11:18).

"A reformation followed.  Those who took part in acclaiming Joash king, had solemnly covenanted 'that they should be the Lord's people."   And now that the evil influence of the daughter of Jezebel had been removed from the kingdom of Judah, and the priests of Baal had been slain and their temple destroyed, 'all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city was quiet.'  2 Chronicles 23:16, 21."--Prophets and Kings, p. 216.

NOTE: Joash (see 2 Kings 11:2) is called Jehoash in verse 21 and elsewhere.  Later a king of Jehu's dynasty in Israel was named Jehoash, also sometimes called Joash.

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Difficult or obscure words:
2 Kings 11:5.  "Without the ranges"--between the ranks or under armed escort.

DAY 169    Read 2 Kings 9 and 10; 2 Chronicles 22.

Today's reading:  The evil results of Ahab's wicked reign bring tragedy to the unrepentant worshipers of Baal; Jehu destroys one false religion but fails to bring about a true reformation.

Memory gem:  "Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin"  (2 Kings 10:31).

Thought for today:
Mrs. Richards and I had the privilege of riding in a taxi from the town of Mosulin Mesopotamia to the ancient mounds which cover the biblical city of Calah, one of the oldest cities in the world.  In 1845 Layard found the Black Obelisk of Shalmanser III there.  On that monument, now in the British Museum, was a picture of King Jehu of Israel paying tribute to Shalmaneser.  So here we find the name of an Israelite king actually inscribed on an obelisk by the king of Assyria who forced him to pay tribute.

But one of the most interesting finds of Calah consisted of many beautiful carved ivory plaques which archaeologists believe may have covered the walls of Ahab's palace.  These plaques had evidently been taken as loot from the destruction of Ahab's "ivory house" in Samaria.  When the city was looted by the Assyrians in 722 B.C., many of these plaques were torn from the walls and carried away to Assyria.

So we see that one discovery after another sustains the historical authenticity of Bible statements.  They all join together in one voice saying, "The Holy Bible is true."

Why not read this Bible?  Why not study it, believe it, accept its teachings, meditate upon its truths, find your life changed for good, and your hope enriched and strengthened?

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Difficult or obscure words:
2 Kings 9:1.  "Box"--rather: flask, or vial.
2 Kings 9:14.  "Joran had kept Ramoth-gilead"--rather: Joram's forces ("all Israel").  The king himself had left the field to seek healing at Jezreel (see verse 15).
2 Kings 9:21.  "Against Jehu"--rather: to meet Jehu.  They did not suspect danger, or they would have taken a bodyguard.

DAY 168    Read 2 Kings 6 through 8.

Today's reading:  Elisha, as a citizen of Israel, finds himself in peril of capture by an angry Syrian king; but only Elisha's servant is worried.

Memory gem:  "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them"  (Psalm 34:7).

Thought for today:
We can imagine the excitement and fear of Elisha's servant when he saw the town of Dotham surrounded by the enemy.  He asked the prophet, "What shall we do?"

Elisha calmed his fear by saying, "They that be with us are more than they that be with them"  (2 Kings 6:16).

Then the prophet prayed that God would open the young man's eyes.  He did, and suddenly Elisha's servant saw all the hills surrounding the city covered with the shining hosts of God.

So it is with us today.  "They that be with us are more than they that be" against us--more in power, more in wisdom, more in loyal service to the King of kings.  Let us be of good courage, remembering that we are no farther away from heaven today than were Abraham, Daniel, the apostles Peter and John.  The angels of God are with us now, as they were with God's people of old.  They are interested in you; they are interested in me; and they care for us.  So let us open and read the book of Holy Scripture, the Holy Bible, the Book of the angels.

NOTE:  The king of Syria mentioned here is Ben-hadad II.  Ahaziah, only surviving son of King Jehoram of Judah, had the same name as the sickly successor of Ahab.  This king of Judah is also called Jehoahaz (see 2 Chronicles 21:17) and Azariah (see 2 Chronicles 22:6).  He was a nephew to King Jehoram (Joram) of Israel through his mother Athaliah.

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Difficult or obscure words:
2 Kings 6:25.  "Fourth part of a cab"--about a cupful.
2 Kings 8:26.  "Daughter of Omri''--This is the same as the "daughter of Ahab" verse 18.  A common Hebrew practice is to mention the originator of the regnal family rather than the immediate parent.  Athaliah was the daughter of Abah and wicked Queen Jezebel, therefore sister of Jehoram (Joram) of Israel.

DAY 167    Read 2 Kings 4 and 5.

Today's reading:  Elisha is sometimes called the "miracle working prophet."  We marvel at the ministry of this man of God among the stiff-necked people of an apostate nation.

Memory gem:  "If the prophet had commanded you to do some great thing, would you not have done it?  How much rather, then, when he says to you 'Wash, and be clean'?"  (2 Kings 5:13, RSV).

Thought for today:
We raise the question, Is God particular?  For one example, take your Bible and turn to the fifth chapter of the second book of Kings.  Naaman comes from a far country.  He comes in his great chariot with his fine horses and retinue of servants.

He drives up in front of the prophet's house, but Elisha merely sends his servant to the door.  If such a man of nobility should come to your door, would you not rush out to greet him yourself?  But no, that is not what the prophet of God did.  Acting on God's instruction, he sent his servant out with the message, "If Naaman wants to be healed of leprosy, let him go down to Jordan and bathe seven times."

Naaman went away very angry, saying, "Here I am, the captain of the army of Syria, with my fine horses, my chest of great treasures, and all my fine apparel.  I thought he would place his hand on the malady and call upon his God to heal me.  I am not going to get down in that muddy Jordan.  If I need a series of baths, why not Abana and Pharpar, the crystal-clear rivers of Damascus?"  And so he went away in rage.

But, friends, later he thought better of it.  On the advice of one of his servants, he finally went down and bathed in old Jordan just as God had instructed him.  He dipped beneath the water, but when he came up he was still just the same.  Down again; up again--just the same.  What difference did it make?  Why go down seven times, as God had said--water is water!  He was just the same after he came up the sixth time.

But when he came up the seventh time, a new light was in his eyes--he was healed--his flesh was like a baby's.  Ask Naaman, as he comes up dancing with health and vitality, if God is particular.  He will say, "Yes, God is particular."  Thank God he learned that lesson in time--God is particular!

DAY 166    Read 2 Chronicles 19 through 21; Psalm 83.

Today's reading:  We return to Judah under Jehoshaphat.  Notice particularly the unusual battle plan Jehoshaphat used.

Memory gem:  "Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper"  (2 Chronicles 20:20).

Thought for today:
We should notice especially here that when Israel began to sing and to praise, the Lord began to work.  This proves that their faith was real.  They believed that the promises of God were as good as the actual accomplishments of the promises.  They believed the Lord or, as more literally translated, "they built upon the Lord," and so they were established or built up.  They proved the truth of the scripture which says, "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith"  (1 John 5:4).

They began to praise God for the victory which they expected.

Now, let us apply this principle to our own lives so that we may live above defeat.  Here comes a strong temptation to do wrong.  The strength of temptation is in our weakness to overcome, as we have often proved to our sorrow.  We have been vanquished and have fallen into sin.  Now we turn to God.  Our eyes are upon Him, and we begin to pray.  What do we say first?  Do we begin to talk about the great temptation and our weakness?  Do we begin with a mournful statement of the hopeless situation in which we find ourselves?  No.  If we follow the example of Jehoshaphat, we will begin first with a joyful acknowledgment of God's mighty power.  We will remind Him of His power before our weakness.  We are not to put our weakness before God's power, but His power before our weakness.  The contrast will bring us courage.

Then as we pray, God's promises come to our minds, brought there by the Holy Spirit.  We can begin to praise God for the victory that has not yet come, because it is already in His promise.  By faith we can see God's hand already bringing us victory.

DAY 165    Read 2 Kings 1 through 3

Today's reading:  A variety of incidents includes the fiery ascension of Elijah and the beginning of Elisha's ministry.

Memory gem:  "The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory"  (Psalm 64:10).

Thought for today:
What a tremendous spectacle this must have been!  Nothing could part Elisha from Elijah on their journey to the schools of the prophets; not even the turbulent Jordan could separate them.  But now as they are walking and talking together, a luminous cloud descends upon them.  A flaming chariot of fire, drawn by horses of fire, swirls down between them--the only thing that could separate them.  Elisha looks heavenward and sees Elijah as he goes up "by a whirlwind into heaven."  This was a triumphant and dramatic event for the Prophet of Fire.

God had used Elijah in a remarkable way.  Before the time of his ministry, the children of God had strayed from the principles of righteousness that He had given them.  A real reformation was needed, and God had thoroughly fitted Elijah for this work,  The great problem of that day was idolatry.

It is easy for us to study the history of days gone by and to forget that the problem of idolatry is one that still confronts us.  I have seen various kinds of paganism in various lands.  I have seen idolatry in its rankest forms.  But, friends, let me say this: Idolatry is found in every country, not merely in the non-Christian portions of the world.  Whatever or whomever we love and serve more than the Creator God is an idol.  This is worshiping the "creature more than the Creator"  (Romans 1:25).

When facing the matter squarely, we must admit that there are many modern gods that need to be destroyed by fire as were the idols of Baal.

Let us abolish the idols in our hearts and worship the true and living God, our Creator, the God of the prophet Elijah.

NOTE:  Jehoram, a second son of Ahab, succeeded Ahaziah as king of Israel.  He is also called Joram (see 2 Kings 8:16) and elsewhere).  Further complicating the identity problem is the fact that his contemporary in Judah, Jehoshaphat's son, is also named Jehoram (see tomorrow's reading).

DAY 164    Read 1 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 18.

Today's reading:  Good King Jehoshaphat becomes involved in a friendship with wicked King Ahab.  Tragic results follow.

Memory gem:  "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people"  (Proverbs 14:34).

Thought for today:
In one of the famous battles of the Old Testament, Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, went with Ahab, king of Israel, to fight against the Syrians for the return of Ramoth-gilead.  Just before the battle, the king of Syria called his thirty-two captains together and said to them, "Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel"  (1 Kings 22:31).  They knew that when King Ahab was killed, his whole cause would collapse and they would win the victory.  And so it turned out.  Even though Ahab was disguised, one soldier drew a bow at a venture, and Ahab, who was really responsible for this terrible battle, could not avoid the arrow of retribution.  It found him in one of the joints of his armor; it found him in a weak spot, just one weak spot.  He went down in defeat and soon was dead, and the battle was over.  His army was dissipated, and Syria was victorious.

My friends, this is a picture of human life.  Let us make war with neither small nor great, save only our besetting sin, whatever it may be, and under God through Jesus Christ, gain the victory.  Then we'll be on the road toward the City of God.

Sin drives us out from friendship.  Sin drives us out from holiness.  Sin drives us out from peace.  Pride, envy, intemperance, avarice, anger, lust, and sloth--the seven deadly sins--drive us out, out, always out!  Peter denied his Lord and went out and wept bitterly.  Judas betrayed his Master, and went out into the night and hanged himself.  Always out--sin always separates.

Repentance brings us back, draws us near.  Peter repented and went back to Jesus, and to Pentecost.  Ah, friends, repentance brings us back--back to God, back home, back to friendship, back to the church, back to peace.

DAY 163  Read 1 Kings 21 and 2 Chronicles 17.

Today's reading:  A wicked king allows his evil wife to commit a great wrong on an innocent man--all because of covetousness.

Memory gem:  "Take heed, and beware of covetousness; for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth"  (Luke 12:14).

Thought for today:
We might call this "The Sin of Sins."  As a minister, I have had people confess practically every sin and crime possible to man, but I don't remember one single instance that anyone ever confessed this sin to me.  Yet it is the sin back of all sin.

What is this sin?  It is the sin forbidden in the tenth commandment.

Covetousness is really selfishness.  That is why it is the sin of sins.  It is back of all sins--self-exaltation, egotism.  The man who, by the Holy Spirit, observes this commandment will not desire glory for himself.

Covetousness and love are opposite poles in the human heart.  When one comes in, the other goes out.

Life does not consist of things--a fine home, a new car, and so on and so on.  These things are nice to have, and it is not wrong to have them if they are rightly obtained, but life does not consist of them.  Remember the story that Jesus told about the rich man who pulled down his barns to build greater, that he might take his ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

Covetousness is a "respectable" sin.  It is like pride.  Even church members can be guilty of it and not know it.  No doubt many who are covetous do not realize that they are.  That is why they never confess their sin of covetousness.  It is deceitful and prevalent.

God gave Heaven's greatest Gift for our salvation.  Jesus Christ our Lord, gave Himself for our redemption.  The cure for covetousness is true regeneration, conversion, the power of the Spirit of God, that those who are born as the sons of God may walk in the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ who, though He was rich, became poor that we through His poverty might become rich (see 2 Corinthians 8:9).

Let us seek God for the victory over selfishness and the sin we are afraid to mention.

DAY 162    Read 1 Kings 19 and 20.

Today's reading:  Despite the positive evidence Ahab had of the Lord's power, the wicked king seemed unable to realize that all his evil doings were open to God's view.

Memory gem:  "All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do"  (Hebrews 4:13).

Thought for today:
Mr. Westlake, a news reporter, arrived home late one afternoon and found that his wife and children had gone to the zoo.  He was just having a little snack as he relaxed in the living room.  As he finished his sandwich, he said to himself, "I hope they got there all right."  Then he turned on his television set to see if there was anything worth looking at.  The first thing he saw was his wife and children at the zoo!  He watched until they went off the screen.

Then he said to himself: "I had no idea that there was to be any televising at the zoo.  And when I turned the TV on I never dreamed of seeing the zoo; and least of all did I expect to see my wife and children."  In fact, they did not know that they had been televised until they returned home.

If such television should become general, many people would be panic-stricken and fear that their every action might be open to others.  Yet millions go about their daily pursuits completely oblivious to the fact that God does not miss an act, an attitude, a word, or even a thought.

NOTE:  The Ben-hadad against whom Ahab warred is not the same one Asa encountered (see 1 Kings 15).  This is Ben-hadad II.  A Ben-hadad III appears later (see 2 Kings 13).

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Difficult or obscure words:
1 Kings 20:38.  "Ashes upon his face"--rather: bandage over his eyes.  The bandage served a double purpose: It indicated a battle wound, and it disguised the man's identity (see verse 41).