by Paul Apple | Jul 20, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD’S PEOPLE CAN EXPECT TO RETURN FROM EXILE AND TAKE UP POSSESSION OF THEIR RIGHTFUL STANDING IN THE PROMISED LANDINTRODUCTION:The impact on the exiles in Babylon of this short story of God’s watchcare over the Shunammite woman cannot be underestimated....
by Paul Apple | Jul 19, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: NEVER DISPUTE THE LORD’S PROMISE OF SALVATION – NO MATTER HOW DESPERATE THE SITUATION – HE WILL ALWAYS COME THROUGH –4 SALVATION LESSONS FROM THE SIEGE OF SAMARIAINTRODUCTION:The account of the Siege of Samaria continues the series of salvation lessons...
by Paul Apple | Jul 18, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: WE ALL NEED GOD TO OPEN OUR EYES TO HIS TRUE CHARACTERINTRODUCTION:Elisha performs his function here as the man of God, as the prophet of God, in pointing people to the true character of God in every situation. Despite the pressure from the attacks against...
by Paul Apple | Jul 14, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: MINISTERS OF THE WORD SHOULD TURN TO THE MASTER IN CRISIS SITUATIONS BECAUSE HE WILL SHOW CONCERN AND EXERCISE CONTROLINTRODUCTION:This is a very interesting short story from the standpoint of biblical hermeneutics. What is the point of the author? What main...
by Paul Apple | Jul 13, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: COVETOUSNESS SEVERELY COMPROMISES MINISTRY INTEGRITYINTRODUCTION:The temptation of greed and covetousness always poses a serious threat to ministry integrity. The servant of God is all too familiar with the material sacrifices he has made and the worldly...
by Paul Apple | Jul 13, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD’S GRACE TO HEAL THE LEPROSY OF SIN EXTENDS TO GENTILES WHO TURN FROM THEIR PRIDE AND SUBMIT TO HIS SIMPLE PLAN OF SALVATIONINTRODUCTION:This account probably took place at a later point in time since Gehazi is still viewed with some measure of respect in...
by Paul Apple | Jul 1, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE PERFORMANCE OF MIRACLES BY ELISHA DEMONSTRATES GOD’S ABUNDANT AND GRACIOUS PROVISION FOR HIS PEOPLEINTRODUCTION:This series of miracles focuses on the ministry of Elisha – looking back to similar incidents in the ministry of Elijah – and looking forward...
by Paul Apple | Jun 30, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: TOTAL VICTORY CANNOT COME BY TRUSTING THE ARM OF THE FLESH OR EVEN BY PARTIALY OBEYING GOD’S REVEALED WORDINTRODUCTION:Further confirmation of Elisha’s new role as the chief prophet of God comes from his interaction with the kings of Israel and Judah in...
by Paul Apple | Jun 29, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE MIRACULOUS ASCENSION OF ELIJAH COMPLETES THE TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY AND POWER TO ELISHAINTRODUCTION:This passing of the mantle from Elijah to Elisha demonstrates the ongoing authority and power of the Lord as He leads and protects and provides for His...
by Paul Apple | Jun 25, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: DENYING ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESISTING GOD PROVE DISASTROUS SINCE GOD IS A CONSUMING FIREINTRODUCTION:This chapter wraps up the story of the reign of Ahaziah that was begun at the end of 1 Kings – showing that the break between 1 and 2 Kings is very...
by Paul Apple | Jun 24, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD’S PEOPLE STRUGGLE TO CONSISTENTLY FOLLOW HIS WAYSINTRODUCTION:This seems like a strange place to finish off the book of 1 Kings. Not much happening of significance in this short account of the reign of Jehoshaphat in Judah and of Ahaziah in Israel....
by Paul Apple | Jun 22, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE PROPHETIC WORD OF TRUTH ALWAYS HITS ITS TARGETINTRODUCTION:This passage brings us to the sad conclusion of the life of King Ahab – just as the Word of God promised. The contrast between the multitude of false prophets and the one true prophet points to...
by Paul Apple | Jun 19, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE LORD’S JUSTICE CATCHES UP TO AHAB AND JEZEBEL FOR THEIR ABUSE OF POWER IN KILLING NABOTH IN ORDER TO SEIZE HIS VINEYARDINTRODUCTION:How many of the Ten Commandments can Ahab and Jezebel break in this short story? Here we have a case study regarding...
by Paul Apple | Jun 18, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD’S GRACIOUS DEFENSE OF ISRAEL AGAINST TWO SYRIAN ATTACKS FAILS TO COMPEL OBEDIENCE FROM KING AHABINTRODUCTION:The amazing part of this story is the graciousness of the Lord to intervene on behalf of the Northern Kingdom and deliver them from two assaults...
by Paul Apple | Jun 15, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD’S CALL DEMANDS TOTAL COMMITMENTINTRODUCTION:This is a very simple story about the initial call of Elisha to the prophetic ministry to take over for the aging prophet Elijah. It contains valuable lessons for leadership transition, for any general call to...
by Paul Apple | Jun 14, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD WORKS IN WAYS THAT WE CANNOT SEE SO DON’T DESPAIR OVER LACK OF VISIBLE MINISTRY IMPACTINTRODUCTION:I have grown up all my life with a misunderstanding about this controversial text of Scripture. I just assumed that it was a psychological profile of a...
by Paul Apple | Jun 11, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: ONLY THE REAL GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE – FEAR AND SERVE HIM!INTRODUCTION:God’s discipline is intended to drive His people to repentance and full dependence on His provision. King Ahab and Queen Jezebel had established a thriving counterculture of Baal...
by Paul Apple | Jun 10, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: TRUST IN GOD AS THE SOVEREIGN OF LIFE, THE SUSTAINER OF LIFE AND THE SOURCE OF LIFEINTRODUCTION:Israel’s apostate condition had blossomed into full foliage with the widespread adoption of Baal worship. Pagan practices were overtaking the land at a rapid...
by Paul Apple | Jun 9, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE EVIL DYNASTIES OF THESE FIVE ISRAELITE KINGS PAINT A GRIM PICTURE OF DEATH, DESTRUCTION AND BLOODSHEDINTRODUCTION:This is not pleasurable reading. There are not many glimmers of hope in these kingdom vignettes where entire households are brutally...
by Paul Apple | Jun 8, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD DESIRES LEADERS WHO DEMONSTRATE A FAITHFUL HEART LIKE KING DAVID RATHER THAN THOSE WHO CONTINUE IN THE PATTRN OF SIN, INSTABILITY AND STRIFEINTRODUCTION:We are now immersed into the evaluations of the various kings who governed over the southern and...
