Second Kings 18-20 records the life of one of Israel’s greatest kings, Hezekiah. We are told of him that “He did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did” (2 Kings 18:3). This isn’t just a comment about the things he did, good as they […]

After the apparent success of chapter 18 of 1st Kings on Mt Carmel, we find Elijah succumb to discouragement in chapter 19. It begins by the death threat pronounced against him by queen Jezebel, and we read: “And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongeth […]

The book of James tells us that Elijah was a man ‘just like us’. Really?! “he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months” (James 5:17). I don’t know about you, but this doesn’t sound like the experience of an […]

Have you ever prayed ‘God please use me!’, only then a short time later to have this felling that you are just being used! Exactly what is fair for God to ask us to do? After all, surely God knows that although our spirit’s might be willing, our flesh is often week. It’s quite ok […]

How would you summarise your life? Recently a very dear friend and brother in Christ went home to be with the LORD, and, as is common, at his funeral service a eulogy will be given, presenting a brief summary of his life. My lasting memory is that he was a man who loved God’s word, […]

Chapter 14 of 1st Kings opens with Jeroboam sending his wife to enquire of the prophet Ahijah what will become of their son who had fallen sick. Ahijah had been the prophet who had spoken to Jeroboam when Jeroboam was just a humble servant of Solomon, and prophesied that God had ordained him to become […]

It is an interesting fact that the only part of a Roman soldiers body that was not protected by his battle dress was his back. Quite simply, they were not to retreat, for that would be when they were most vulnerable. We see the same in the amour of God as described in Ephesians 6; […]

We often get told that fear is a good thing, a natural inbuilt protection system; yet the Bible has a very different perspective. 1 John 4:18 says: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love”. If […]

Chapter 11 of 1st Kings starts with three lamentable words: “But king Solomon…” We have just journeyed through 10 chapters where everything has been on the up and up. The throne is established, the surrounding nations subdued and paying taxes. Solomon’s wealth and wisdom is becoming the stuff of legends, and to cap it all, […]