Everybody has a code to live by. Does your personal rulebook show as much concern for the poor and defenseless as Leviticus's?

You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.

~Leviticus 20:26

I believe it does.  I usually put others before myself when it comes to helping someone in need.  I'm a very good listener and if they need someone to come to their defense I will be right there for them.

Athaliah & Jehosheba

When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family.

~II Kings 11:1

Who might be included here?  Other sons?  Grandsons?  What would cause such a total loss of natual affection that Athaliah could do such a thing?

• If she wanted to destroy the whole royal family then I think she definitey would have included other sons and grandsons.
• Greed

Have you ever been so eager to get your own way that you did something you're not proud of, even ashamed to admit you did?  What was it?  What was the outcome?

• I think everyone gets this kind of eagerness, however, I don't think I've every done anything so drastic that it was practically a comitted crime or something

But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed.

~II Kings 11:2

Why do you think Jehosheba saved only Joash?  What might have been going through her mind during these events?

• So that Isreal would still have a king to rule the people
• that Isreal really needed a king inorder for it to survive.

Recall a time in your life when you bravely did what was right.  Was it hard or easy?  What was the result?

• I can't think of a recent event but I do imagine that most brave actions don't come with an easy dicision

He remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

~II Kings 11:3

For six years God let Athaliah reign unopposed while young prince Joash hid.  Have you ever had to wait for God's plan to be fulfilled?  Six years?  Longer?  Describe what you learned.

• Definitely!  I've been waiting for close to three years for God's plan to be fulfilled  for me to have a job.  I sure hope it won't be six years or longer until then.  But what I have learned during this time is to just not worry about it and let God take care of all the business.  Take the hand that He has stretched out to you and follow His lead.

In the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the commanders of units of a hundred, the Carites and the guards and had them brought to him at the temple of the LORD. He made a covenant with them and put them under oath at the temple of the LORD. Then he showed them the king’s son.  He commanded them, saying, “This is what you are to do: You who are in the three companies that are going on duty on the Sabbath—a third of you guarding the royal palace, a third at the Sur Gate, and a third at the gate behind the guard, who take turns guarding the temple—and you who are in the other two companies that normally go off Sabbath duty are all to guard the temple for the king.  Station yourselves around the king, each of you with weapon in hand. Anyone who approaches your ranks is to be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes.”

  The commanders of units of a hundred did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each one took his men—those who were going on duty on the Sabbath and those who were going off duty—and came to Jehoiada the priest.  Then he gave the commanders the spears and shields that had belonged to King David and that were in the temple of the LORD.  The guards, each with weapon in hand, stationed themselves around the king—near the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple.

  Jehoiada brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him; he presented him with a copy of the covenant and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and shouted, “Long live the king!”

~II Kings 11:4-12

This passage contains details of the careful preparatoin Jehoiada made before showing young Joash to anyone.  Why would such preparation be necessary?  What would have happened if Joah had been killed?

• Because Athaliah could have found out about his whereabouts and have killed Joash and if that happened Jesus would not have had a bloodline.

When Athaliah heard the noise made by the guards and the people, she went to the people at the temple of the LORD.  She looked and there was the king, standing by the pillar, as the custom was. The officers and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her robes and called out, “Treason! Treason!”

  Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of units of a hundred, who were in charge of the troops: “Bring her out between the ranks and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the temple of the LORD.”  So they seized her as she reached the place where the horses enter the palace grounds, and there she was put to death.

~II Kings 11:13-16

Note Athaliah's response when she sees the child king.  How could she have responded differently?  Why did she respond as she did?

• I suppose she could have responded with mere disappointment, but she responded in teh way she did because she wanted to kill Joash so she could be the solo ruler as a female

Every situation can bring different responses from us.  Describe a difficult situation in your life and list possible responses to that situation.  which response did you choose?  Was it the right one?  Why or why not?

• I just recently encountered a difficult situation yesterday.  The story goes that I recieved a call while I was on vacatoin from a hopeful future employer saying that they were interested in interviewing me.  I explained that I was currently on vacation and that I would be back in about a weeks time.  They understood my situation and told me that I could call them back and firm up a date with them once I returned home.  So a week goes by and I called them back.  However, the response that I got was very different from what I expected to here.  Here , during that span of time.  They talked with another candidate and decided that they really liked this person so they went ahead and filled the possition anyway.  I was shocked to hear that answer of course!  I could have responded with "But why?  I followed through with what you told me to do!  This isn't fair!"  However the only way I could think of professionally responding was just saying a mere "Thank you" for at least letting me know about what the did.  I would say that I have definitely chosen the right one to respond with because, if there would ever be a chance that the position I was looking at taking became available again in teh near future, I could apply for it again and hopefully they would be interested in checking me out again, hopefully this time with getting an actual interview in the process.

Jehoiada then made a covenant between the LORD and the king and people that they would be the LORD’s people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people.  All the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.

Then Jehoiada the priest posted guards at the temple of the LORD.  He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards and all the people of the land, and together they brought the king down from the temple of the LORD and went into the palace, entering by way of the gate of the guards. The king then took his place on the royal throne.  All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was calm, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword at the palace.

~II Kings 11-17-20

Why was this a victory for the Lord as well as for the monarchy?

• so that God's people could survive and have a positive ruling king

In verse 17 the peopel make a covenant, a promise to "the Lord's people."  If you have ever made such a promise, what has it meant in your life?

• It has meant a great deal in that I know I should keep it until my promise is fulfilled.

The people who crucified Jesus - what did they hate in him? Is it the same today?

“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.

They all answered, “Crucify him!”

~Matthew 27:22

I'm not totally sure if it was hatred, I think it was more jealousy of fear of the fact that whatever Jesus woudl prophecy, He would be right.  I'm not quite sure if it is the same today.  Any thought on that?

The Shunammite Woman

One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat.  She said to her husband, “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God.  Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us.”

~II Kings 4:8-10

Why do you think stopping at this woman's house became a habit for Elisha?  Why do you think she wanted to go as far as to add on a room for him?

• Elisha thought that he had some guidance from God for them
• She thought Elisha might have some wisdom for them

Have you ever been hospitable when it was difficult or inconvenient?  Or only when it fit into your schedule?  By this standard, how would you describe true hospitality?

• I don't believe I've ever had a difficult situation gong on at the same time when I needed to be hospitable, so most of it would be whenever someone would need a place to stay. 
• True hospitality is when someone kindly offers you a place to stay as you visit them

One day when Elisha came, he went up to his room and lay down there.  He said to his servant Gehazi, “Call the Shunammite.” So he called her, and she stood before him.  Elisha said to him, “Tell her, ‘You have gone to all this trouble for us. Now what can be done for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?’”

She replied, “I have a home among my own people.”

  “What can be done for her?” Elisha asked.

Gehazi said, “She has no son, and her husband is old.”

  Then Elisha said, “Call her.” So he called her, and she stood in the doorway.  “About this time next year,” Elisha said, “you will hold a son in your arms.”

“No, my lord!” she objected. “Please, man of God, don’t mislead your servant!”

~II Kings 4:11-16

Why do you think the Shunammite woman responded the way she did when Elisha told her she would have a child?  What was she afraid of?  See verse 28 also.

• she thought she was too old to conceive a child
• She thought that Elisha was lying to her
• This is what verse 28 says:
  

  “Did I ask you for a son, my lord?” she said. “Didn’t I tell you, ‘Don’t raise my hopes’?”

  It looks like Elisha's prophecy became true

The child grew, and one day he went out to his father, who was with the reapers.  He said to his father, “My head! My head!”

His father told a servant, “Carry him to his mother.”  After the servant had lifted him up and carried him to his mother, the boy sat on her lap until noon, and then he died.  She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, then shut the door and went out.

  She called her husband and said, “Please send me one of the servants and a donkey so I can go to the man of God quickly and return.”

  “Why go to him today?” he asked. “It’s not the New Moon or the Sabbath.”

“That’s all right,” she said.

  She saddled the donkey and said to her servant, “Lead on; don’t slow down for me unless I tell you.”  So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel.

When he saw her in the distance, the man of God said to his servant Gehazi, “Look! There’s the Shunammite!  Run to meet her and ask her, ‘Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is your child all right?’”

“Everything is all right,” she said.

  When she reached the man of God at the mountain, she took hold of his feet. Gehazi came over to push her away, but the man of God said, “Leave her alone! She is in bitter distress, but the LORD has hidden it from me and has not told me why.”

  “Did I ask you for a son, my lord?” she said. “Didn’t I tell you, ‘Don’t raise my hopes’?”  

~II Kings 4:18-28

Why did the woman tell her husband and Gehazi that everything was "all right" when it obviously was not?  What was her goal?

• she didn't want to put anyone else in distress, and she wanted to only tell Elisha

Have you ever been able to say "It's all right" even when something bad has happened to you or someone you love?  Why would you say such a thing during a difficult time?

• It certainly has never been easy to say such a statement when I am obviously not alright and something bad has happened to me. 

Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand and run. Don’t greet anyone you meet, and if anyone greets you, do not answer. Lay my staff on the boy’s face.”

  But the child’s mother said, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So he got up and followed her.

  Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or response. So Gehazi went back to meet Elisha and told him, “The boy has not awakened.”

  When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch.  He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed to the LORD.  Then he got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he stretched himself out on him, the boy’s body grew warm.  Elisha turned away and walked back and forth in the room and then got on the bed and stretched out on him once more. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.

  Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunammite.” And he did. When she came, he said, “Take your son.”  She came in, fell at his feet and bowed to the ground. Then she took her son and went out.

~II Kings 4:29-37

Why do you think the woman insisted Elisha go with her?

• because she didn't thing Gehazi would do a good enough job

Who is an Elisha in your life - someone you immediately go to when you're in need of support and help?

• I think I could say my mom

The Widow of Zarephath

Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land.  Then the word of the LORD came to him:  “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.”

~I Kings 17:7-9

Why is it suprising that God would send Elijah to a widow for food?

• The widow might not have enough to provide for another person other than herself

How has God provided for you in suprising ways?

• He has given me good friends to fall back on when I need them

So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?”  As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”

  “As surely as the LORD your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”

~I Kings 17:10-12

The first words the widow speaks to the prophet Elijah are words of searing honesty: Here is what I have left and here is what I'm planning to do.  What is she telling Elijah with these words?

• She is trying to tell him, I have nothing for you, now be gone and leave me alone

In today's generally abundant society, it is perhaps more difficult than ever to admit that you do not have enough and that you need help.  When have you or someone you know had to be as honest as the widow about your needs?  What did you learn from being in this position?

• I would say prety recently.  A lot of the time when people ask me how I am doing or what I have been up to lately, I usually tell them that I'm looking for a job and am in desperate need of finding one. 
• I have learned that I must be patient with God and he will direct me in the right direction and give me that job that will be just right for me when the time is right.

Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son.  For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain on the land.’”

  She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family.  For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.

~I Kings 17:13-16

Why do you think the widow went and did what Elijah asked her to do?  What did she have to lose?

• because she trusted that the word was from the Lord and therefore she knew she had nothing to lose

Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing.  She said to Elijah, “What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?”

~I Kings 17:17-18

Where was the widow placing blame for her son's death?  Her sin?  Elijah's presence?  God?

• I think she was moreso blaming God than Elijah

“Give me your son,” Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed.  Then he cried out to the LORD, “LORD my God, have you brought tragedy even on this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?”  Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried out to the LORD, “LORD my God, let this boy’s life return to him!”

~I Kings 17:19-21

Now it is Elijah's turn to be completely honest.  Why do you think Elijah was so desperate for the woman's son to return to life?

• because he wanted the woman to keep believing in God

Have you ever been as desperate as Elijah?  What circumstances in your life caused your desperatoin?  What was God's answer?

• I believe I have been
• Fear that I would be a failure, but God has told me to be patient

The LORD heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived.  Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, “Look, your son is alive!”

  Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth.”

~I Kings 17:22-24

Now for a second time, the widow's son is saved by God through Elijah.  What is the widow's response when her son is returned to her?

• She is filled with joy and fully believes in God

Through the foreign woman God reveals his willingness to supply our needs if we will depend on him.  Have you ever doubted God's ability or willingness to give you what you need?

• No I have not.  I know that in time he will provide the right thing I need

Jesus describes characteristics of pharisees in the first century. But what about our own time? What pharisee-like qualities exist in your church? In you?

When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them.  They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.

~Matthew 21:45-46

Well, to explain to anyone that may not know what a pharisee is, they are a person - mostly from the New Testament - that focused mainly on the law of the time and made sure that it was strictly followed.  Today, we have all sorts of "pharisees" that want cetain laws kept by everty individual existing as they are.  In church there may be people that want something done a certain way because that's how it was always done since the beginning.  This is probably pretty typical of every church out there.  In myself, If I want something accomplished and that activity or project contains certain rules, then I would follow those rules as they are written and not divert from them.

Suppose sin were visible - small green spots that break out on the skin. Do you think it would help people to take sin more seriously?

You must distinguish between the unclean and the clean, between living creatures that may be eaten and those that may not be eaten.’”

~Leviticus 11:47

I think it is possible that if sin showed up like a physical illness, such as the chicken pox and was visible to sight and would not go away until you dealt with it, sin would probably be taken more seriously

Jezebel

He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him.

~I Kings 16:31

Many Israelite kings married foreign princesses in order to strengthen Israel's alliances with other countries, but Ahab's marriage to Jezebel gets special mention here.  What does this tell you about Jezebel?

• possibly that Jezebel is manipulative

Jezebel's reputation in scripture is one of sheer wickedness and selfishness.  What sort of reputation do you have with your family?  With your church family?  With your coworkers?  With your friends?  What can you do to make sure your reputation is one that honors God? 

• I would say that I have a good reputation with all of those people
• by praying to Him and giving Him praise

While Jezebel was killing off the LORD’s prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.)

~I Kings 18:4

What does Jezebel's action in this verse tell you about her devotion to Baal?

• that she was possessed to get ride of the true religion

What makes it obvious to people you meet that you serve the Lord?

• I wear a cross necklase

When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The LORD—he is God! The LORD—he is God!”

So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”

~I Kings 18:39; 19:2

Compare Jezebel's and the Israelites' reactions to the Mount Carmel duel.  What do you think Made Jezebel so dedicated to Baal?

• Jezebel though that the Israelites had blasphemed and that Baal was the only true god to be trusted

How dedicated are you to the Lord?  What might cause you to rethink that dedication?

• I am very dedicated and there is no way that I will be rethinking that dedication

Some time later there was an incident involving a vineyard belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. The vineyard was in Jezreel, close to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.  Ahab said to Naboth, “Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, since it is close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it is worth.”

  But Naboth replied, “The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my ancestors.”

  So Ahab went home, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my ancestors.” He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat.

  His wife Jezebel came in and asked him, “Why are you so sullen? Why won’t you eat?”

  He answered her, “Because I said to Naboth the Jezreelite, ‘Sell me your vineyard; or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’”

  Jezebel his wife said, “Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

~I Kings 21:1-7

What does this story tell you about Jezebel and Ahab?  Who do you think was really ruling the nation?  Compare I Kings 21:25

• They are spoiled rotten rulers
• It seems that Jezebel is moreso the ruler of the nation
• This is what I Kings 21:25 says:
  

  (There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife. 

  This verse confirms that Ahab was only submitting to Jezebel's wantings

Then Jehu went to Jezreel. When Jezebel heard about it, she put on eye makeup, arranged her hair and looked out of a window.  

~II Kings 9:30

What is significant about the fact that the Bible mentions that Jezebel "painted her eyes" and "arranged her hair"?  What do you think Jezebel was getting ready for?

• She could have been getting ready for an important event
• I think she was getting ready to seduce soneone

How do you get ready for a difficult situation?  For conflict"

• In either situatoin, I usually pray to God to give me the right words to say to someone if I must confront them and stand up for myself

As Jehu entered the gate, she asked, “Have you come in peace, you Zimri, you murderer of your master?”

  He looked up at the window and called out, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked down at him.  “Throw her down!” Jehu said. So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered the wall and the horses as they trampled her underfoot.

  Jehu went in and ate and drank. “Take care of that cursed woman,” he said, “and bury her, for she was a king’s daughter.”  But when they went out to bury her, they found nothing except her skull, her feet and her hands.  They went back and told Jehu, who said, “This is the word of the LORD that he spoke through his servant Elijah the Tishbite: On the plot of ground at Jezreel dogs will devour Jezebel’s flesh.  Jezebel’s body will be like dung on the ground in the plot at Jezreel, so that no one will be able to say, ‘This is Jezebel.’”

~II Kings 9:31-37

The story of Jezebel's demise is a disturbing one.  She eventually got what we think she deserved, but consider: What do any of us truly deserve?  And what, if we're followers of Christ, will we get instead?

• God's forgivness, and if we ask for that forgiveness, we will receive grace from Him