My prayer this morning was focused on the youth. I got to teach seminary this morning! I prayed that the Spirit would be with them throughout the day, that they might learn something from the discussion, and that they would feel His love for them! I also thanked the Lord for the blessings that come from teaching seminary, I really need them!
2 Kings 1
Chapter one starts off with a rebellion from the Moabites. Moab had been brought in subjection to Israel under David (2 Sam 8:2). With King Ahab's death they see a chance to declare their independence from Israel.
While the war is going on the new king, Ahaziah, apparently falls through some lattice work and is seriously injured. Ahaziah sends messengers to aks Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether he should recover from his injuries. Ahaziah wasn't asking to be healed, he just wanted to know what was going to happen.
Now if you remember back in Deuteronomy the Lord had a few things to say about seeking answers:
"There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God.
For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the Lord thy God hath not suffered thee so to do." (Deuteronomy 18:10-14)
Things like astrology, witchcraft, tarot cards, Ouija boards, seances, idol worship, etc. are all forbidden by God. They are an abomination to the Lord because the source of their power lies with Satan. When we seek answers from such sources we are putting Satan before God. Really, if you think about it, you would see that it's kind of like going to the enemy to ask advice. How smart would that be?
The scary thing about these sources is that they can start our as a harmless diversion, but the intrigue grabs you and soon you are sucked in. There seems to be something real to their power, and there is, it is an open door for evil to walk through.
As a Christian we have a far better place to go when seeking advice, the Lord!
Now, there is a place for asking advice of other people.
"Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety."(Prov 11:14) "
But we need to be careful that we’re not going to other people just to avoid going to God! Are we afraid that we might not hear what we want to hear from the Lord? Ahaziah got pretty harsh words from the Lord. But remember he was in total rebellion against the Lord.
We are constantly being reminded to seek the Lord in the scriptures.The word 'seek' appears in the Old Testament over 200 times. You can see that the Lord is trying hard to make his point with Ahaziah when he sends Elijah to ask, "Why would you seek answers from any other source than me? Am I not still the God of Israel?"
Those are great questions and they really made me think about how the Lord must feel when we look for answers in other places. He is right there, waiting for us to ask, and we are off looking in places that we shouldn't. Places that are sometimes inviting evil into our lives.
I need to be more careful where I seek for answers. Seeking the Lord's advice should be the first source I turn to, not an alternative to what is available to me. Besides, the whole going to the enemy to ask advice really stuck with me. What a terrible plan! We totally give Satan the edge when we turn our backs on the Lord. Trying to be good is hard enough without fueling the power of the enemy!
I really appreciate whoever wrote this chapter in the scriptures. It is only 18 verses, but it has a powerful message that we all need to hear! Be careful where you seek answers!
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