By The Rev. Jay Sidebotham
I sometimes compare the spiritual journey to a road trip on the highway of life. In order to move forward, it helps to keep on eye on the rear view mirror. In other words, if we’re trying to anticipate the way God will act in the future, embracing courage to move forward with hope, it’s helpful to look back at the ways God has acted in the past. Perhaps that is why, again and again in scripture, a retrospective view is indicated through genealogies, a way of remembering God at work in history.

The First and Second Book of Chronicles run on parallel track with the First and Second Book of Kings. But while the Book of Kings starts with King David, the First Book of Chronicles takes us all the way back to Adam, in perhaps the most extensive genealogy in all of scripture. Truth be told, this kind of biblical material, name after unpronounceable name, can derail the most well intentioned Bible reader. Some might wave the white flag. Others might just fast forward. Some names are familiar. Many, if not most, are not.

But as you make your way through the Bible, take the time today to read these names in these three chapters, perhaps out loud. If you come to a name that is hard to pronounce, say it with conviction. (As Luther said, sin boldly.) If you have a Bible you don’t mind marking up, highlight names you know. If you run across names that spark curiosity, investigate. As you read aloud, imagine these names read in an ancient gathering. Imagine the meaning and purpose people could find in that retrospective glance, reminded through the reading of these names that God has been active in their community for generations.

Celebrate the good news that God has acted throughout the generations. Let that celebration help you move forward in your own journey today.

QUESTIONS:
It’s been said that in the journey of faith, we don’t need so much to be instructed as reminded. In what ways has God acted in your own history and in the history of those you love? Take some time to give thanks for them.

Who are people you have known, perhaps in preceding generations, who have paved the way for your own forward movement?

PRAYER:
Gracious God, we give thanks that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, encouraging us in the journey of faith. May we live this day as a witness for those who surround us. Amen.

The Rev. Jay Sidebotham is Rector of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Lake Forest, Illinois

By The Rev. Jay Sidebotham
Not with a bang but a whimper. That’s how the Second Book of Kings seems to end. Could it get any worse? Chapter 25 describes the fall of Jerusalem, heart wrenching destruction followed by the deportation of the people into Babylonian exile. It’s the stuff of Shakespearean tragedy, as King Zedekiah tries to flee, a foolish and futile effort. He is captured and forced to watch the execution of his sons, before his own eyes are put out. The people are carried off into exile. That’s almost the end of the story. But not quite.

In the final verses of the book, a small ember suggests a fire could be rekindled. The promise to David that his royal lineage would continue is kept alive. Barely. King Jehoichan of Judah is released from the Babylonian prison. The Babylonian ruler speaks kindly to him, and gives him a seat above the other kings. Jehoiachin puts off prison clothes. He comes to dine with the king. He gets a regular allowance for the rest of his life.

If this was a movie, that last detail would signify sequel. There is more coming. Today, as we come to the conclusion of this sad history in which power dissipates, we are called to hold that in tension with the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans,. This letter, the longest of those attributed to St. Paul, has been instrumental again and again in the renewal and reformation of the church, especially when hope seems lost. The letter bears its own power, the power of the gospel, as seen in the verses that declare the theme of the letter, Romans 1:16, 17: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith.” As you come to the end of the story described in II Kings, as you simultaneously begin Paul’s letter to the Romans, claim the power of God to work even and especially in the brokenness of the human condition.

QUESTION:
Have you ever experienced a glimmer of light in situations that seem beyond hope?
What resources do you have in your own life that help you move forward? Where do you find your power?

PRAYER:
Eternal light, even in the moments when hope seems to have been extinguished, help me to remember the power of your love revealed in Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Rev. Jay Sidebotham is Rector of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Lake Forest, Illinois

Examples of living by the Word of God
By Dr. Zebedi Muga

The book of Kings contrasts the person of the king, Josiah and Jehoiakim. The former, faithful and committed to the ideals of Yahweh, while the latter leans more towards political survival and personal greed than the former. Our reading from 22 – 24, shows the achievements and demise of both. Josiah is credited with return to the ways of Yahweh. The king leads in national repentance and reform of the cult. The latter, Jehoiakim, does not show any commitment in sustaining the achievements and ideals of the ‘document’ that was found in the temples and made a national document from which the whole nation pledges to live by. His punishment is in the form of the nation being overrun by the Empire while his people were taken into exile. The Deuteronomic write attributes this to his laxity and nonchalant attitude to the laws and statues of the document, which is thought to be the book of Deuteronomy. The main question here is, can our political leaders direct our energies to keeping the statutes of God? Can they work with prophets on God in achieving this?

Psalm 113 celebrates the sovereignty and the omnipotence of God and attributes all political power to God. God is interested and is active on behalf of those at the periphery. The king ‘being the son of God’ is expected to act on behalf of the poor and the lowly. Today there is need for the political leadership and ‘the political class’ to act on behalf of those at the periphery instead we find them greedy and venal focused on their own needs and wants. This text challenges this, and demonstrates that all things belong to and emanates from God.

The reading in Acts 28 illustrates how Paul manages two situations i.e., the one where he is thought to have extraordinary powers while the latter part pictures him engaging in dialogue of faith with the Jews. Though their reaction is negative he does not give up but is emboldened to continue in his ministry of preaching. How do we manage potentially adverse situations in our lives? Paul could have been tempted to focus only his publicity of the situation and benefits accrued from the situation but he does not. Instead he points his subjects to God and continues with his ministry of encouragement. It is my prayer that when god uses us in a situation we will give all the glory to him and not us.

Questions
1. Are we committed to the study of the word and use of the same in our daily our undertaking.
2. What examples can we learn from the lives of Josiah, Hezekiah and Zedekiah?
3. What lessons to we learn about God from Psalm 113?
4. What examples do we learn from Paul concerning his experience in Malta?

Dr. Zebedi Muga is Head of the Department of Biblical Theology and Philosophy at St. Paul’s University in Limuru, Kenya

Bringing God at the center of our actions and activities, an example of King Hezekiah
By Dr. Zebedi Muga

The Old Testament text, (2 Ki. 19 – 2), shows how a new king reacts to the taunts of the invaders and their intended colonization of the land. The new king demonstrates reliance and dependence on and the intervention of God. The king receives a message from the Assyrians and puts it to the Lord. Perhaps this is an example our political leaders can learn from this text, on how to respond to the issues of our time. The empire and its killing machines and systems have come to our doorstep. How do we respond to it? King Hezekiah gives a good example on how he goes about meeting the challenges encouraged by the prophet of God. He does not ignore the prophets, as his predecessors had done before, but engages and interrogates the situation together with the prophet.

The reading of the Psalms demonstrated that keeping the law of God brings joy and exultation in the land, to its inhabitants and hearers to the good news of the law. The text illustrates the benefits of keeping and adhering to the demands of the law of the Lord. It singles out particularly the benefits that accrue to those who practice social justice (cf. Ps. 112:6). The rest of the text serves as an encouragement in the face of difficulty.

The reading from the book of Acts focuses on Paul’s journey to Athens under guard. He is put in chains to go and defend the emperor in defense of himself against the charges that have been brought against him. It is interesting to note that his advice is ignored by the centurion who prefers to listen to the ships captain (the Professional). Paul’s reaction is also not ‘I told you so’, when things go bad but he is tactful and continues to encourage in the face of an adverse situation. Today’s prophets also have the task of learning from Paul’s example. When the empire comes to the doorstep, how do man and woman of God practice their ministry and faith? Can the man and woman of God challenge intelligently the issues that come with the coming of the empire to our doorstep?

Questions
1. How do we react as men and women of God in the face of adversity? What can we learn from King Hezekiah?
2. What lessons does Ps. 112 teach about our commitment to read and live by the word of God?
3. How do we exercise our prophetic ministry in this times when the empire comes to the doorstep?

Dr. Zebedi Muga is Head of the Department of Biblical Theology and Philosophy at St. Paul’s University in Limuru, Kenya

By Dr. Zebedi Muga

Bringing God to the center of our life and work and our time

The first reading (2 Ki. 16 – 18), describes issues affecting Israel in the period just before the fall of the Northern Kingdom. It shows how the kings of the time went about managing their political issues e.g., political alliances with super powers such as Assyria and Egypt. It appears that examples set by the political leadership in terms of social, political and religious integrity were wanting. They did not keep the law and did not rule justly or listen to God’s voice.

The text raises issues of how foreign political and religious influences impact the local society and spirituality. It appears that the examples set by the king should have been emulated by the people. According to the writer, this does not seem to have been the case. Instead, the king, for the sake of his political survival, opened doors for negative foreign influence into the cult and national spirituality.

The text raises questions of greed, personal survival both social and political intrigue at the expense of personal integrity and good relations with humanity and the divine. God does not appear as central for both the Kings and the rulers. They focus on their personal and political survival. Psalm 111 emphasizes the sovereignty and the omnipotence of God, which we need to remember. That it is God who is above all gods and does that which humans cannot do. That in all our issues God must be at the center.

Paul in Acts 26 challenges the status quo of his time. The reading shows how he is put on his defense and he responds cogently to the issues raised. Can we too stand up to scrutiny?

Questions
1. What are the socio-political issues being raised by the text in 2 Ki 16 – 18?
2. Who are the main characters going about resolving their issues in the text?
3. Is God at the center of their activities?
4. How Does Psalm 111 demonstrate the centrality of the Divinity?
5. How examples can we learn from Paul’s defense of the faith?

Dr. Zebedi Muga is Head of the Department of Biblical Theology and Philosophy at St. Paul’s University in Limuru, Kenya

By the Rev. Jim Lemler

“The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

A royal Psalm, probably used for the crowning of a king or the gathering of the royal house in the great Temple of God… The Psalmist sings praise of God the Sovereign of the Universe and of the earthly King who is God’s earthly representative.  The Psalm itself alludes to a mystical and marvelous king who was a priest as well, Melchizedek, and says that the royal one of God is anointed as both king and priest.

Melchizedek  was both, by tradition, both king and priest of Salem.  According to the Hebrew tradition, he met Abraham and offered bread and wine in thanksgiving for the rescue of Lot.  His name itself means “king of righteousness.”  He is the proto-type and model of what a king ought to be.

Well… there are kings and there are kings.  Some live into the aspiration of royal and priestly kingship.  Others don’t.  Welcome to the 13^th through 15 chapters of II Kings.  Jehoahaz is identified as evil.  Joash did better.  In the midst of it all, the prophet Elishah dies.  The kings continue, anointed by God to lead and to offer prayer for God’s people.   There is war.  There is palace intrigue.  There are good and bad decisions.  Sometimes there is conflict between the earthly king and the Sovereign of the Universe.

Paul has a profound inner sense of the sovereignty of God.  For him, God is the Ruler of the Universe, the Creator and the Redeemer, and Jesus is truly the King of love, grace, and life.  The 25^th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles describes a whole tapestry of royal power.  There is the local king, Agrippa.  There is the great emperor of Rome, to whom Paul eventually appeals his case.  But behind and underneath it all is the great king and sovereign of life and hope, God the Creator and Redeemer of the Universe.  Jesus is the Christ, the “Christos” or one anointed with the royal and saving power of God.  Jesus is the Lord of life who lives the role and life “after the order of the anointed Melchizek.”  Paul knows that and bets his life on it.

We don’t think much about kings in our day and age.  However, there are many things that claim sovereignty, power, and allegiance in modern life.  Our call as people of faith is to embrace and be embraced by the sovereignty of God and to recognize the one who is “King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.”  Love and life invite our allegiance and seek to be recognized as the source of power.  And we… we are “kings and priests to God” ourselves, anointed with the royal seal of God’s love forever.

Questions
What claims sovereignty in your life?  How do you live amidst the powers of modern life which claim attention and allegiance?

Where do you see the sovereign love of God in your daily living?  How do you draw strength from that love anointed as you are with the grace of God?

Prayer
Sovereign God, you are the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Grant that I may recognize you and serve you, and anoint me with your love and Spirit for your mercy’s sake.  Amen. 

The Rev. Jim Lemler is rector of Christ Church in Greenwich, Connecticut.

By the Rev. Jim Lemler
“Do not be silent, O God of my praise.  For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues!”

It was awful, and the Psalmist minces no words.  They are out to get me.   There is falsehood, enmity, accusation, and deceit all around me.  Just read… just pray the words.  They are heartfelt and poignant.  Now, thanks be to God, our lives generally do not have the intensity of opposition expressed in the 109^th Psalm, but we do know what opposition, rejection, and cutting words are and the effect they have on us.

Opposition and intrigue, sometimes open rebellion and war were the daily lot of the ancient kings of Israel.  Kings II 10 – 12 tells the story in vivid detail.  Jehu continues his murderous action against the descendents of Ahab and those who oppose him.    He uses force to slaughter the worshipers of Baal.  The destruction continues as Jehu’s sons meet opposition and threat.  Sometimes there is victory, and sometimes the kings are faithful.  At other times, there is defeat, and the kings fall short.  They meet opposition, but they do not rely on God.

Paul takes a different approach, relying consistently on God even in the face of relentless accusation and opposition.  His opponents speak all manner of evil against him, asserting that he is an agitator and troublemaker.  Falsely, they accuse him of sedition and perverting the truth.  Paul defends himself by telling his story and relying on God. “I have a hope in God…”he says.   Paul stands before those who have opened their mouths against him, and, in face of this opposition, he enters and gives voice to hope in God.

It is true.  All of us can pray the words of the 108^th Psalm.  We know opposition and challenge, and we have experienced rejection and cutting words.  There is a temptation to respond like the kings of ancient Israel attempting to control and bring harsh words and actions against harsh words and actions.  Paul seems to beckon us to something different.  “I have hope in God,” he says.  When we are hurt, when we are opposed, we can enter the hope of God’s love and life.

Questions
When have you experienced bitter opposition or cutting words in your life?  What are the challenges that face you now?  How do you attempt to deal with them… denial, anger, sadness?

Where do you perceive God’s gift of hope for you?  How might you embrace and enter that hope more fully?

Prayer
Blessed God, you know about bitterness and opposition and have walked the way of ridicule and accusation.  Be with me, when I face such things and give me the faith to hope in you with heart and soul, I pray.  Amen.

Rev. Jim Lemler, rector of Christ Church in Greenwich, Connecticut.

By the Rev. Jim Lemler
“My heart is firmly fixed, O God, my heart is firmly fixed.  I will sing and make melody… For your steadfast love is higher than the heavens…”

Psalm 108 acknowledges the sovereignty and power of God.  The Psalmist offers thanksgiving and song for the victory which originates from and belongs to God.  God’s love is steadfast.  The Psalm calls for human beings to fix our hearts on that love.   The issue before us is whether we will do that or not.  Will we trust in God?  Will we believe that God is sovereign, active, and purposeful in our lives?

Certainly that was the continuing issue for God’s people as it unfolds throughout the First and Second Book of Kings.  Would God’s people trust God, or would they put their faith in human agency, in kings good or bad?  II Kings 7 – 9 continues to tell the story and raise the question.  We immediately encounter Elisha, the prophet of God who alternatively shows great deeds of God’s love and healing to people and advises kings while calling them to accountability.  Elisha relies on God.  Elisha trusts God.  Even his Hebrew name means “God has granted salvation.”  So, the question of trust unfolds in these chapters.  There are machinations galore.  There is rebellion and intrigue.  There is deliverance and new beginning.  Always Elisha represents the question:  will God’s people trust their Creator and Redeemer?

It’s really the same question for Paul standing accused before the judgment council in the 23^rd chapter of Acts.  He is challenged and even physically struck.  A conspiracy emerges to take his life.  Will he trust God?  Will his heart be fixed on God?   God encourages him, and Paul believes.   He stands firm and fast in the steadfast love of his Creator and Redeemer.  He walks his walk living into what God has told him, “Just as you have testified for me in Jerusalem, so you must bear witness also in Rome.”

It has been said that the greater problem facing Christians today is not theological atheism but functional or practical atheism.  We may have a sense that God exists, but we find it difficult to trust in God’s efficacy and power.  We don’t really believe that God can do what God promises.  We believe that we have to make things happen, that everything depends on us.  The invitation of Scripture this day is to believe and trust in God’s presence, power, and steadfast love.  It is to fix our hearts on the God who loves us.

Questions
Where is your heart “firmly fixed” in your life?  Who are prophets in your living that point you toward truth and trust?

Like Paul, where is God calling you to move on in your faith?  What is one way that you can grow in trusting the love of God?

Prayer
Gracious, loving God.  Help me to trust in your more fully.  Enrich and strengthen my faith, and let my heart be firmly fixed on your steadfast and efficacious love this day.  Amen.

The Rev. Jim Lemler is rector of Christ Church in Greenwich, Connecticut.

By Rev. Loren Mead, author, consultant and founder of The Alban Institute.