Week 18   Day 7

Even the great Elijah 

            ran away        

            to hide 

            quit 

            to put an end to it all 

In his hungry isolation

            he was fed 

                         strengthened 

                         renewed 

                         and brought back

Elijah alternated between powerful encounters with the king

            and bouts of depression     

A rhythm of triumph and suffering.

We call it grace and it goes with God  

We don't earn it

            or deserve it 

We live in a world where

            there's no such thing as a free lunch 

            we reap what we sow 

            we applaud when someone gets their due 

How then do we understand 

            God's love  

            mercy  

            forgiveness

God loves to love us

Amazing grace - its God's gift to you

            accept it 

            with gratitude.      

     1Naboth had a vineyard in Jezreel, next to the palace of

Ahab.  2So Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, "Give me your

vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it

is next to my house; for it I will give you a vineyard better than

it.  Or, I will give you its worth in money."  3But Naboth said,

"The Lord forbid that I should give the inheritance of my

fathers to you!"

     4So Ahab went into his house sullen and displeased.  He lay

down on his bed, turned away his face, and would eat no food. 

     7Then Jezebel his wife said, "You exercise authority over

Israel!  Arise, eat food, and let your heart be cheerful; I will

give you the vineyard of Naboth."  8So she wrote letters in

Ahab's name, sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to

the elders and nobles in the city.  9She wrote, "Proclaim a fast,

and seat Naboth with high honor among the people.  10Seat

two scoundrels before him to bear witness against him, saying,

'You have blasphemed God and the king.'  Then take him out,

and stone him, that he may die."

     15When Jezebel heard that Naboth was dead, she said to

Ahab, "Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth." 

     17Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah, 18"Arise, go

to meet Ahab.  He is in the vineyard of Naboth.  19Speak to

him, saying, 'Thus says the Lord: "Have you murdered and

also taken possession?  In the place where dogs licked the

blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood, even yours."'"

     20Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me, my enemy?" 

He answered, "Because you have sold yourself to do evil: 

21'Behold, I will bring calamity on you.  I will make your

house like the house of Jeroboam.  24The dogs shall eat

whoever belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, and the birds

of the air shall eat whoever dies in the field.'"

     25There was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do

wickedness in the sight of the Lord, because Jezebel his wife

stirred him up. 

     27When Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes

and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and went about mourning. 

28And the word of the Lord came to Elijah, saying,  29"See

how Ahab has humbled himself before Me?  Because he has,

I will not bring the calamity in his days.  In the days of his

son I will bring the calamity on his house."
            _{This Bible passage was condensed from the NKJV}

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