1 Kings 20:1-16
Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together. Thirty-two kings were with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and closed in on Samaria and fought against it. 2 And he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “Thus says Ben-hadad: 3 ‘Your silver and your gold are mine; your best wives and children also are mine.’”
4 And the king of Israel answered, “As you say, my lord, O king, I am yours, and all that I have.”
5 The messengers came again and said, “Thus says Ben-hadad: ‘I sent to you, saying, “Deliver to me your silver and your gold, your wives and your children.” 6 Nevertheless I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they shall search your house and the houses of your servants and lay hands on whatever pleases you and take it away.’”
7 Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land and said, “Mark, now, and see how this man is seeking trouble, for he sent to me for my wives and my children, and for my silver and my gold, and I did not refuse him.”
8 And all the elders and all the people said to him, “Do not listen or consent.”
9 So he said to the messengers of Ben-hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you first demanded of your servant I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’”
And the messengers departed and brought him word again. 10 Ben-hadad sent to him and said, “The gods do so to me and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people who follow me.”
11 And the king of Israel answered, “Tell him, ‘Let not him who straps on his armor boast himself as he who takes it off.’”
12 When Ben-hadad heard this message as he was drinking with the kings in the booths, he said to his men, “Take your positions.” And they took their positions against the city.
Ahab Defeats Ben-hadad
13 And behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel and said, “Thus says the Lord, Have you seen all this great multitude?
Behold, I will give it into your hand this day, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”
14 And Ahab said, “By whom?”
He said, “Thus says the Lord, By the servants of the governors of the districts.”
Then he said, “Who shall begin the battle?”
He answered, “You.”
15 Then he mustered the servants of the governors of the districts, and they were 232.
And after them, he mustered all the people of Israel, seven thousand.
16 And they went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the booths, he and the thirty-two kings who helped him.
The Scriptures explain chaos and trouble in established lives.
True upset, true emotion. God helps us daily. Unusually, this is about Ahab. And it wasn't, this was about the Children of God. And Ahab is one of His children. God has given Ahab opportunity to turn to God. Ahab literally has time to sit down and consider the Reality of God and decides, Scriptures tell us, to look to his interests only.
Ahab ends up like Henry VIII, being cleaned up — ultimate God insult — his blood is cleaned up by dogs. This Verse is the Opportunity to consider God and others. God is saying God is Father of all and even Ahab has a role in Helping the Eternal.
Considering others. Considering the needs of the many.
My Brother John gave me the gift of going to Washington DC for my birthday.
He brought my niece along with us. We walked everywhere and John's phone told him one day we walked 18 miles. Every day we traveled far. We saw just about everything. We'd been in Washington D.C. for a few days, and we went to Arlington Cemetery to find our Great, great Uncle Artells Elliott. My Grandmother told us so many stories of her Army Uncle, we felt we had just about met Artells. Every visit was like a gift and Artells would come from all areas of the earth. The Military had always been Artells' passion, and he'd been once expelled from VMI for smoking cigarettes at the wrong time. Artells was understood to have lived a vivid life, with colorful experiences. He'd brought home one of the first German Police Dogs as a gift for the family. Cop. The dog we have photos of, ninety years later. Even the dog's history and life have times there were unhappy consequences. Because the stories are real.
Artells had been an assistant to General Patton. He and Patton got on very, very well. And one day he followed Patton into a hospital to see injured soldiers and Patton encountered what he considered failure to do the man's best. Letting down those depending on him. General Patton struck a soldier with PTSD. The General had had a magnificent career and Artells was soon being reassigned due to Presidential removal of the General. Even illustrious careers and bravery have consequences, when self conflicts with Gracious Duty. Artells was loyal to Patton, but he did agree the slapping and the humiliation was over the top.
We were earnest and serious the day we got to Arlington Cemetery.
We watched the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier several times. We knew other family had attempted to find Artells and the cemetery isn't the most easily navigated due to the intense size. John said today we weren't going home until we found Artells. We were on foot again and my foot decided to have a blister rub on the top of my foot to the shoe. I tried limping to avoid the raw patch. Suddenly, I knew this was take my shoes off and walk or ruin the rest of the trip.
The roads are narrow in Arlington Cemetery. Carriage and hearse width.
Beautifully cared for and astonishingly well paved and smooth. Not terribly well-marked for destination. So soon, I was barefoot and my shoes were in my hands. We didn't run into too many people, hence making it more difficult to find Artells. And we walked all over Arlington, and everyone we met said to me, “Thank you for removing your shoes. What a great idea.” Pretty soon all three of us were replying, “Well, it's a Blister, but, yes we see the point.” This began to generate conversation as we walked and ran into other people just as serious at Arlington Cemetery. And one man said, “I know what you are saying about Blisters, but I'm removing my shoes too.” And another couple did too. And then my niece did. My brother and I did agree that it was rather embarrassing a blister should cause a beautiful reaction, when the case started out being necessity.
We finally found Artells and had help after frustration.
A man said he comes out a lot to see both his father and grandfather. And he helped us. By the time we reached Artells, we were dehydrated, tired, warm, serious, intent, determined, a little embarrassed to be lost, and to have so many comments. We found Artells and touched his tombstone. And all of us were misty. A lot of our family has done military service, and like Artells, survived. In that age, long ago, there were only letters from amazing places and our great, great-grandmother so missed her only sibling. His letters brought home Japan, Europe, World War II. The dog who took his place as he served the Nation. Later German Police Dogs would be renamed German Shepherds.
We were proud of our rough and tumble Great, Great Uncle.
We could put our hands on long, lost family history. And my brother urged us to put our shoes on for the photo. He said it's just not 'us' to wander around barefoot and this is, “Artells.”
John was right. Artells knew he wasn't, “all that”. Artells may have been Best of the Best for the tough military men. But in an age of no divorce, Artells was divorced and his children had moved around and past him. He'd been extremely glad, while being in the Veteran's Hospital, at the end of his life, to have great nephews who would travel far to see him, “Off”. My father was a young man to go and pay duty like this. Everyone wept talking about the end of Artells. A good man had served. There had been costs. In fact, Artells children had become the unknowns by their own deliberation.
Ahab. We are all Ahab. The Scriptures tell us no one is good. Jesus explains only God is Good.
The Pride we had in Artells was for the man who held the Line. The Law. The Freedoms. No one out at Arlington Cemetery is out there lightly. The quick and the dead. They died to give us our Freedom. To be part of Republic history rarely sees. The Choice found in Freedom.
One man, one vote.
Sacrifice.
Integrity.
Valor.
Diligence.
Loyalty.
Binding and Building.
Honor.
The Rocks are a Jewish Tradition.
When far from home, bring home a rock for the top of the grave.
Unforgotten.
Theodore Wilson Gate.
1 Corinthians 6:20
you were bought at a price
Therefore, honor God with your body.
So many times in the Gospels, Jesus healed and asked for some type of service. Travel to see Jesus, go see the priest, wash, tell others, remain silent. These men and women answered prayers we didn't even know to pray.
Maintain the Integrity. Improve the Nation. Preserve the Process. Love One Another. All diligence for Justice. Mercy for one another. Worthy.
Revelation 5
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth
and under the earth and such as are in the sea,
and all that are in them, I heard saying:
“Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!”
And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.”
Abba, Father God,
Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your Name.
Your kingdom come, Your Will be done,
on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day
our daily bread,
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory.
Amen.
Jesus Son of God — Bless, Heal, Sustain, Comfort, Guide
President Donald Trump, and his family,
Vice President Pence and his family,
The White House Staff,
Especially those in need of healing today, Ben Carson and Mark Meadows
God Bless Them!
Safety and wisdom for:
Governor Abbott
and all 50 United States Governors and our Legislatures
Praying for Elliott, Harby and their family
For complete blessing of healing.
We long for Your Love and help, Father God, to have Your Kingdom,
Power and Glory upon Your Throne.
The Fringe of Your Robe placed upon all of Your Good Creation.
Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts.
We pray more of Your Good Will filling the whole earth with Your Glory.
We will remember our answered Prayers.
And live this Day. Looking in expectation.
You will strengthen us, the ones we Love.
We will Seek You first and find Your Kingdom.
Covering us with the Name and Power of Jesus,
Brave people. Holding up Life for one another.
We are People with the Help of Jesus,
we can make
Redemption
Strength.
Praying the Victory!
And Virus end!
Knowing God is going to bring
us past the storms into
His Plan of desired Haven
In Psalm 107.
Unity.
Fruitful Justice for
ALL.
For our families and children yet unborn
The Freedom in Jesus we call
Liberty and Justice for
All!
We ask Jesus to dwell in us and those we Love always,
and finding God First.
Amen in Jesus Christ!
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