2 Kings 4-6; Proverbs 21:11-21

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He who loves pleasure will become poor;
 whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich. —Proverbs 21:17

2 Kings 1-3; Proverbs 21:1-10

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Elijah's Ascension, Gustave DorĂ© 1832–1883
2 Kings 2:7-14
Fifty men of the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?"
 "Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit," Elisha replied.

"You have asked a difficult thing," Elijah said, "yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise not."

As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!" And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart.

He picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the cloak that had fallen from him and struck the water with it. "Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

Psalms 63-65

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Because of its lack of water and good routes, the Judean wilderness has been (mostly) uninhabited throughout history. Consequently it was an ideal place for those seeking refuge from enemies or retreat from the world. When on the run from King Saul, David hid in various places in the Judean wilderness (the Wilderness(es) of Ziph, Maon, and En Gedi are part of the Judean Wilderness). John the Baptist preached here, and it seems likely that this was the wilderness where Jesus was tempted. Herod the Great built two fortresses (Herodium and Masada) in this area for protection should his people ever revolt against him. —from BiblePlaces.com


The Nahal Darga is the largest wadi in the northern Judean desert, and it is one of the five largest in the entire Judean desert. It is 27 miles (43 km) long and drains about 89 sq. mi. (230 sq. km). The Nahal Darga is up to 650 feet (200 m) deep. Most wadis begin with an abrupt drop of 100 meters (330 ft.), but this one drops in a series of short falls, each less than 10 meters (33 ft.). The water stays in small pools at the bottom of each fall because the narrow shape of the canyon keeps sunlight from reaching it. These pools are the most reliable source of water north of En Gedi. —from BiblePlaces.com
A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.
O God, you are my God,
 earnestly I seek you;
 my soul thirsts for you,
 my body longs for you,
 in a dry and weary land
 where there is no water.

I have seen you in the sanctuary
 and beheld your power and your glory.

Because your love is better than life,
 my lips will glorify you.


I will praise you as long as I live,
 and in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
 with singing lips my mouth will praise you. —Psalm 63:1-5

1 Kings 7-9; Proverbs 18:1-12

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Solomon's Prayer of Dedication
"Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven and said:
O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today.

Now LORD, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, 'You shall never fail to have a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons are careful in all they do to walk before me as you have done.' And now, O God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David my father come true.

But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! Yet give attention to your servant's prayer and his plea for mercy, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day. May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which you said, 'My Name shall be there,' so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive." —1 Kings 8:22-30

1 Kings 4-6; Proverbs 17:15-28

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God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon's wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than any other man, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Calcol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He described plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also taught about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon's wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom. —1 Kings 4:29-34

1 Kings 1-3; Proverbs 16:22-33

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"Solomon showed his love for the LORD by walking according to the statutes of his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places." —1 Kings 3:3

2 Samuel 22-24; Proverbs 16:12-21

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"The wise in heart are called discerning,
 and pleasant words promote instruction." —Proverbs 16:21

2 Samuel 19-21; Proverbs 16:1-11

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To man belong the plans of the heart,
 but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue.
All a man's ways seem innocent to him,
 but motives are weighed by the LORD.
Commit to the LORD whatever you do,
 and your plans will succeed.
The LORD works out everything for his own ends—
 even the wicked for a day of disaster.
The LORD detests all the proud of heart.
 Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.
Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
 through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.
When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD,
 he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.
Better a little with righteousness
 than much gain with injustice.
In his heart a man plans his course,
 but the LORD determines his steps.
The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
 and his mouth should not betray justice.
Honest scales and balances are from the LORD;
 all the weights in the bag are of his making. —Proverbs 16:1-11

2 Samuel 16-18; Proverbs 15:22-33

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He who ignores discipline despises himself,
 but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.
The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom,
 and humility comes before honor. —Proverbs 15:32-33

1 Samuel 25-27; Proverbs 11:22-31

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No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

Playwright and US Congresswoman Clare Boothe Luce (1903–1987) once said, “No good deed goes unpunished.” Sadly, it sometimes seems as if this aphorism is true.

David, soon to be king of Israel, had an experience that corroborates this idea. While hiding from Saul, he and his men watched over the property of a rich landowner named Nabal. But later, when David asked a favor of Nabal, he was met with scorn. “Surely in vain I have protected all that this fellow has,” said David. “He has repaid me evil for good” (1 Sam. 25:21).

Before David could carry out revenge, Nabal’s wife intervened and kept David from acting rashly. Soon, God struck Nabal dead (v.38). Then David praised God for keeping him from evil and for returning “the wickedness of Nabal on his own head” (v.39).

Perhaps you’ve had an experience when kindness was repaid with ingratitude, a generous gift was treated as an entitlement, kind actions were interpreted as an attempt to control, or well-intended advice was received with scorn.

David’s story reminds us that even when it seems as if we’re being repaid with evil for doing good, we don’t have to take matters into our own hands; we can trust God with the outcome. — Julie Ackerman Link

This is my Father’s world—
O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet. —Babcock
© 1966 Singspiration, Inc

One day God will right every wrong.