I love how Jesus compares the enormous kingdom of God to such small things. It shows the power that we all can have in our communities to grow the kingdom of God
Micaiah accounts that the Lord said those without a shepherd “had no master”. May we look to the Lord our shepherd, not only as the provider of green pasture and safety, but as our Master to be honored and obeyed in all things.
Hi Annie!
So, I’m not any sort of Bible genius and I could be very wrong. I would definitely recommend seeing if any well known authors have touched this subject, maybe look for podcasts (but try to make sure they seem trustworthy and like they have their facts straight.)
My thinking is that God didn’t send a deceiving spirit to his prophets in order to harm them or lie to them personally, but use them as a tool to get the attention of the king. The king was so bent on the idea that HIS prophets would give him good answers, but Micaiah was purposefully giving him “bad” ones.
I think God wanted the king to understand that just because he wouldn’t be getting what he wanted, didn’t mean that it was a bad thing. I think he also was testing his faith to see how much of it was in God, and how much of it was in his (the king’s) appointed people.
I believe we can apply this to our very lives by asking two questions: do we bail and turn to others for advice when things don’t go our way? And, how much of our time, faith, and trust are poured into other people and other things before they’re poured into God?
Hope this helped in some way!
Lydia, thank you so much! Great stuff!! I am so so grateful for how this group helps me understand deeper thoughts about God and this world. I always read all the comments. Thank you for helping us all!!
Therr are so many things in the readings today that confuse me. God sent a deceiving spirit to his own prophets? And I’m no completely understanding the conversation about the blood of the Galileans. Mixed with who’s sacrifices? If you can help add insight- please do! Thanks!!
When reading the OT it helps me to ask how does this relate to my life today? So when Micaiah was told that he should tell the king the same thing the other prophets are saying (essentially lie) but he (eventually) tells the truth – what God says, i thought about how easy it is to conform to the evil and sin of today’s world and reject the word of God. Sin and temptation are everywhere and I’ve come to realize how easy it is to idolize wordly ideals and put myself first while losing sight of God, especially in the presence of nonbelievers. As I continue to strengthen my faith I hope that like Micaiah I don’t do what I know in heart is wrong just because it’s the easy thing to do or because “everyone else” is doing it, but instead I look to God and do what he says.
3 The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals, 4 but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel.
May we walk like Jehoshaphat…in God’s commandments and not according to the world.
I needed to read this verse today, especially with the way our world is going. I am not of this world, but a foreigner. I will seek God and walk in his commandments!
I wish Jehoshaphat would have stayed walking with the Lord… I think he doesn’t finish well and we get a little glimpse into it bc he aligned himself with Ahab in the marriage of his daughter and again when he went to battle with Ahab :( We need to finish strong! God, please help us finish strong!
I just love the example of the yeast and the flour at the end of the Luke passage. We must spread His gospel until it is so intertwined in our culture that you cannot separate it from our lives.
I feel like the parable of the fig tree and not producing fruit didn’t have an end to the story. I wanted to hear what happened to the tree after the next year with nurturing it. Did anyone else seen the story was unfinished? Or does anyone have any insight on the meaning of the parable? Thanks! You women are always so helpful in helping me understand scripture
I think this story is one of grace and redemption; how God deals with us as sinners. We have a chance to produce fruit for Him. Changing our ways to align with His. Living our lives according to His plan. Bringing others to know and love Him too. We need to be fertilized in His Word. How does it end? We’ll only know on Judgement Day when He looks at what we’ve done (how much fruit we’ve produced) in growing His kingdom.
” No art, no arms, can save those whom God has appointed to ruin. What can hurt those whom God will protect? And what can shelter those whom God will destroy? Jehoshaphat is safe in his robes, Ahab killed in his armour; for the race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong.” –Matthew Henry
I think Micaiah lied because of Ahab. Ahab was an evil king and he knew Ahab would be cunning and figure out what Micaiah was saying. Think of what Ahab did in battle. He disguised himself. That’s very cunning and evil.
A bit confused about 2 Chron 18. First i don’t understand why Micaiah would lie just after saying he would say only what God told them him. Then Ahab forces him to the truth (?). And lastly, why Jehoshaphat even went to war – I don’t think God told him to.
What I take from this passage is that the Lords will will always prevail. Man will make plans but the Lord determines his steps. May we fear the Lord and trust in His mercy and grace.
“Micaiah replied sarcastically, ‘Yes, go up and be victorious, for you will have victory over them!” – 1 Chronicles 18:14
i’m not sure how it is translated in other versions.. but nlt helped me with the perspective that he said that because the other prophets were urging him to agree to their prophecies… obviously the king did not believe him v.15 (maybe because of the way he delivered it) and so he spoke of the true prophecy…
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13But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, what my God says, that I will speak.”
Is anyone else having issues since updating the app?
Hi Heather,
I did have issues with the app too. I ended up deleting and redownloading the app. Then it started working for me.
Yes all of my progress since the beginning of the year is gone….so disappointing
I love how Jesus compares the enormous kingdom of God to such small things. It shows the power that we all can have in our communities to grow the kingdom of God
Oh, the Sabbath. ❤️
Micaiah accounts that the Lord said those without a shepherd “had no master”. May we look to the Lord our shepherd, not only as the provider of green pasture and safety, but as our Master to be honored and obeyed in all things.
The Kingdom of God is like a Mustard Seed
13But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, what my God says, that I will speak.” -ellie
Hi Annie!
So, I’m not any sort of Bible genius and I could be very wrong. I would definitely recommend seeing if any well known authors have touched this subject, maybe look for podcasts (but try to make sure they seem trustworthy and like they have their facts straight.)
My thinking is that God didn’t send a deceiving spirit to his prophets in order to harm them or lie to them personally, but use them as a tool to get the attention of the king. The king was so bent on the idea that HIS prophets would give him good answers, but Micaiah was purposefully giving him “bad” ones.
I think God wanted the king to understand that just because he wouldn’t be getting what he wanted, didn’t mean that it was a bad thing. I think he also was testing his faith to see how much of it was in God, and how much of it was in his (the king’s) appointed people.
I believe we can apply this to our very lives by asking two questions: do we bail and turn to others for advice when things don’t go our way? And, how much of our time, faith, and trust are poured into other people and other things before they’re poured into God?
Hope this helped in some way!
This helped me a lot today! Thank you!
This helped me a lot!! Definitely gave me a better perspective on those verses!
Lydia, thank you so much! Great stuff!! I am so so grateful for how this group helps me understand deeper thoughts about God and this world. I always read all the comments. Thank you for helping us all!!
Therr are so many things in the readings today that confuse me. God sent a deceiving spirit to his own prophets? And I’m no completely understanding the conversation about the blood of the Galileans. Mixed with who’s sacrifices? If you can help add insight- please do! Thanks!!
When reading the OT it helps me to ask how does this relate to my life today? So when Micaiah was told that he should tell the king the same thing the other prophets are saying (essentially lie) but he (eventually) tells the truth – what God says, i thought about how easy it is to conform to the evil and sin of today’s world and reject the word of God. Sin and temptation are everywhere and I’ve come to realize how easy it is to idolize wordly ideals and put myself first while losing sight of God, especially in the presence of nonbelievers. As I continue to strengthen my faith I hope that like Micaiah I don’t do what I know in heart is wrong just because it’s the easy thing to do or because “everyone else” is doing it, but instead I look to God and do what he says.
Great perspective. I like the way you think :)
Amen!
Good word
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3 The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals, 4 but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel.
May we walk like Jehoshaphat…in God’s commandments and not according to the world.
I needed to read this verse today, especially with the way our world is going. I am not of this world, but a foreigner. I will seek God and walk in his commandments!
I wish Jehoshaphat would have stayed walking with the Lord… I think he doesn’t finish well and we get a little glimpse into it bc he aligned himself with Ahab in the marriage of his daughter and again when he went to battle with Ahab :( We need to finish strong! God, please help us finish strong!
I just love the example of the yeast and the flour at the end of the Luke passage. We must spread His gospel until it is so intertwined in our culture that you cannot separate it from our lives.
I didn’t even think of it this way until reading your post. Thank you for that insight! How beautiful.
this helped me a lot :)
I love a good baking metaphor! Thanks for sharing what this one meant!
I feel like the parable of the fig tree and not producing fruit didn’t have an end to the story. I wanted to hear what happened to the tree after the next year with nurturing it. Did anyone else seen the story was unfinished? Or does anyone have any insight on the meaning of the parable? Thanks! You women are always so helpful in helping me understand scripture
I think this story is one of grace and redemption; how God deals with us as sinners. We have a chance to produce fruit for Him. Changing our ways to align with His. Living our lives according to His plan. Bringing others to know and love Him too. We need to be fertilized in His Word. How does it end? We’ll only know on Judgement Day when He looks at what we’ve done (how much fruit we’ve produced) in growing His kingdom.
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” No art, no arms, can save those whom God has appointed to ruin. What can hurt those whom God will protect? And what can shelter those whom God will destroy? Jehoshaphat is safe in his robes, Ahab killed in his armour; for the race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong.” –Matthew Henry
I think Micaiah lied because of Ahab. Ahab was an evil king and he knew Ahab would be cunning and figure out what Micaiah was saying. Think of what Ahab did in battle. He disguised himself. That’s very cunning and evil.
A bit confused about 2 Chron 18. First i don’t understand why Micaiah would lie just after saying he would say only what God told them him. Then Ahab forces him to the truth (?). And lastly, why Jehoshaphat even went to war – I don’t think God told him to.
I think he lied because the lying spirit from the Lord was upon him.
What I take from this passage is that the Lords will will always prevail. Man will make plans but the Lord determines his steps. May we fear the Lord and trust in His mercy and grace.
Thank you x
Hi Grace, in the NLT Version it says,
“Micaiah replied sarcastically, ‘Yes, go up and be victorious, for you will have victory over them!” – 1 Chronicles 18:14
i’m not sure how it is translated in other versions.. but nlt helped me with the perspective that he said that because the other prophets were urging him to agree to their prophecies… obviously the king did not believe him v.15 (maybe because of the way he delivered it) and so he spoke of the true prophecy…
wow! thanks misce, that actually clears up a lot of confusion!
Okay thanks so much! Knowing that it was sarcasm makes it easier to understand.