Woman of the Week ~ Priscilla

I'm staying in the book of Acts for a couple more weeks.  This week will be about a woman, who along with her husband, made the choice to do right.

Verses: Acts 18:1-3, 18-28, Romans 16:3-5, 1 Corinthians 16:19, 2 Timothy 4:19

Background – parents, husband, children, siblings

What is she most known for?

Victories? Defeats?

How can I be like her?

How can I avoid being like her?

Did she reach a place when she needed to reset?  If so, did she?  For good or evil?

Sapphira ~ Woman of the Week

Some women have books of the Bible named after them, others have multiple chapters written about their lives.  But there are many who we read just a handful of verses about their lives.  Unfortunately, the verses about Sapphira are sad and disappointing.

Verses:  Acts 5:1-11

Background – parents, husband, children, siblings
We know nothing about Sapphira's background, only that her husband's name was Ananias.  "Of these unhappy people we have no farther account than what is recorded here. In reference to birth, connections, etc., their names are written in the dust."  (Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible)

What is she most known for? Victories? Defeats? How can I be like her? How can I avoid being like her?

The first four chapters of the books of Acts are full of excitement and growth.  Jesus ascended up to heaven after His resurrection and the disciples gathered in Jerusalem waiting for the promise.  The Spirit was poured out in Acts chapter two and 3,000 souls were added to the church.  A lame man was healed in chapter three which caused the priests and Sadducees to bring Peter and John before the council in chapter four.  Chapter four ends after Peter and John are released, with the people praying for boldness and having all things common.  They were selling land and possessions and laying the proceeds at the apostles' feet.

It is at this point that Acts chapter five opens.  "But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet."  There was no sin in keeping part of the money.  The sin was in lying about it.

"The sin of Ananias was not in keeping back part of the purchase money, but in pretending to have brought all to the Apostle. He wished to pose as a saint, and at the same time to line his own nest."  (A Devotional Commentary by F. B. Meyer, B.A.)

"Ananias and Sapphira were evidently persons who professed faith in Christ with the rest of the disciples. While all were making sacrifices for the present necessity, they came forward among the rest, pretending to bring all the money they had got for a possession, which they had sold. A part of this price, however, they kept back, not being willing to trust entirely to the bounty of Providence, as the others did; thinking probably, that, as the whole was their own, they had a right to do with it as they pleased. And so they had: they were under no necessity to sell their possession; but the act of selling it for the ostensible purpose of bringing it into the common stock, left them no farther control over it, nor property in it; and their pretense, that the money which they brought was the whole produce of the sale, was a direct lie in itself, and an attempt to deceive the Holy Spirit, under whose influence they pretended to act. This constituted the iniquity of their sin." (Adam Clarke)

When Ananias took the money to the apostles, God immediately revealed this lie to Peter.  Verse 5 says, "Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God."  Immediately, Ananias fell down and gave up the ghost.

Did she reach a place when she needed to reset?  If so, did she?  For good or evil?
Sapphira is a great example of how each of us is responsible for our own actions.  Even though she had agreed with her husband about keeping the money back, she was not struck dead at the same time as Ananias.

Verse 7 says that it was about three hours later when Sapphira came in.  Evidently, Ananias was buried and she was not informed.  "She came in about three hours after, expecting to share in the thanks of the house for her coming in, and consenting to the sale of the land, of which perhaps she was entitled to her dower or thirds; for she knew not what had been done. It was strange that nobody ran to tell her of the sudden death of her husband, that she might keep away; perhaps some one did, and she was not at home; and so when she came to present herself before the apostles, as a benefactor to the fund she met with a breach instead of a blessing."  (Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible)

In verse 8, Sapphira was given an opportunity to come clean.  Peter didn't accuse her, but asked "Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much."  This was her moment to make things right.  She had no way of knowing if her husband had changed their story, but she stuck to their agreement.

"Ananias and his wife agreed to tell the same story, and the bargain being private, and by consent kept to themselves, nobody could disprove them, and therefore they thought they might safely stand in the lie, and should gain credit to it. It is sad to see those relations who should quicken one another to that which is good harden one another in that which is evil."  (Matthew Henry)

After confirming their lie, just as Ananias had, Sapphira fell down immediately and gave up the ghost.  "It was not by Peter’s words, nor through Peter’s prayers, nor through shame, nor through remorse, that this guilty pair died, but by an immediate judgment of God.  It was right in this infant state of the Church to show God’s displeasure against deceit, fraud, and hypocrisy: had this guilty pair been permitted to live after they had done this evil, this long-suffering would have been infallibly abused by others; and, instead of leading them who had sinned to repentance, might have led them to hardness of heart by causing them to presume on the mercy of God. That hypocrisy may be afraid to show her face, God makes these two an example of his justice."  (Adam Clarke)

We have many examples in the Bible of marital unity that lead to great things being done for the kingdom of God. Sadly, this couple's unity was their downfall.  The Pulpit Commentary concludes the account with this:  "Buried her by her husband. What a strange example of conjugal unity! One in their Jewish religion, one in their conversion to the faith of Christ, one in their hypocrisy, one in their terrible death, one in their common grave! one in the undying record of their guilt in the Book which is read by every nation under heaven!"

Repost: Shame, Shame, Shame

I stumbled on this old post this morning and wanted to repost it.  I've talked to several young mothers recently, moms living in that stage of constant chaos, just trying to keep their little ones fed and clothed.  Don't worry about that perfect life.  Live with love and the rest will take care of itself.

Through the years I have purchased the Sisterchicks series by Robin Jones Gunn. "Sisterchicks on the Loose," "Sisterchicks in Sombreros," "Sisterchicks do the Hula" and many others. They are fun reading, but usually have a little more to them than you would expect at first glance. The definition of a Sisterchick is : n.: a friend who shares the deepest wonders of your heart, loves you like a sister, and provides a reality check when you’re being a brat.


With our upcoming trip, I decided to reread "Sisterchicks in Gondolas." This book is about two sisters-in-law on a trip to Venice. I won't spoil it for you if you want to read it, but here's what the back cover says:

Jenna and Sue have been sisters-in-law for nearly thirty years but inseparable friends for only the last five. When Jenna is invited to a week’s stay at a fifteenth century restored palace on a quiet canal in Venice, Sue is her travel companion of choice. The catch? They must cook for a group that is staying at the palace for a retreat. It’s the first time Sue has been this far from home, and both women are coming out of a valley season of life where they operated each day in long shadows of fear. Entering into the lilting gondola-paced Italian lifestyle and discovering corners of Venice most tourists never see, they welcome a new time of refreshing. And over boiling pots of pasta, they dare each other to dream again.

During one heartfelt conversation, Sue apologizes to Jenna and Jenna utters three simple but profound words, "Shame OFF you."

I think women, especially moms, need that message. We can be so hard on ourselves. If our house isn't spotless, with magazine perfect meals on the table, not a single speck of dust in sight, we start feeling like failures. I've read blogs by young mothers who confess to all the things they aren't perfect at. I want to say, "Shame off you."

I'm not talking about being lazy and sitting around eating chocolate covered cherries all day while your children run around like hooligans and your husband searches for clean socks. I'm talking about the times when LIFE happens. A sick child takes precedence over a clean kitchen - I can't tell you how many times Mom stopped whatever she was doing to take care of Rod. A single phone call can change the course of your week. When you rush out the door to the hospital or funeral home, no one is looking under the bed for dust bunnies.

So the next time you're beating yourself up because of your shortcomings, take a lesson from Sue and Jenna. Later in the book, the phrase is repeated with another, "Shame off you and Grace on you." Extend the same grace to yourself that you willingly extend to others.

Woman of the Week - Sapphira

Verses:  Acts 5:1-11

Background – parents, husband, children, siblings

What is she most known for?

Victories? Defeats?

How can I be like her?

How can I avoid being like her?

Did she reach a place when she needed to reset?  If so, did she?  For good or evil?

Jehosheba ~ Woman of the Week

Let's play the "Would You Rather?" game for a minute.  Would you rather - have a lengthy post written about your evil life and how it ended, or a short post about one single act of bravery that you performed on behalf of your God and your nation?  It's a silly question, but it fits with today's post.  It's short, but so much sweeter than last week's post.

Verses: 2 Kings 11:1-21, 2 Chronicles 22:10-12 

Background – parents, husband, children, siblings
Jehosheba (called Jehoshabeath in 2 Chronicles) was the daughter of King Joram but not the daughter of Athaliah.  She was the granddaughter of Jehoshaphat, but not of Ahab.   She was married to Jehoiada the high priest.  Her half brother was king Ahaziah.  We don't read of her having any children of her own.

"Not by Athaliah, but another woman; for an high priest, as her husband was, would not have married the daughter of such an idolatrous woman, nor would she have married her to him."  (John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible)

I couldn't find the meaning of Athaliah's name, but The Pulpit Commentary said Jehosheba's name meant "Jehovah is the oath." 

What is she most known for? Victories? Defeats? How can I be like her? How can I avoid being like her?

I'll cover what she is known for in the next section, but there is one important aspect that made the difference in Jehosheba's life - who she married.  I wonder if Athaliah had a hand in this.  If she could marry her step-daughter to a priest, she would have one less person with whom to compete.  Jehosheba's marriage to the high priest took her from the king's house to God's house.  "The husband neutralized the evil influences of his wife’s upbringing."  (A Devotional Commentary by F. B. Meyer, B.A.)

"It was a special providence that Joram, though a king, a wicked king, married his daughter to Jehoiada a priest, a godly priest. Some perhaps thought it a disparagement to the royal family to marry a daughter to a clergyman, but it proved a happy marriage, and the saving of the royal family from ruin; for Jehoiada's interest in the temple gave her an opportunity to preserve the child, and her interest in the royal family gave him an opportunity to set him on the throne."  (Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible)

Did she reach a place when she needed to reset?  If so, did she?  For good or evil?
Everything we know about Jehosheba can be found in that place of reset.  She didn't have time to plan.  She couldn't call her friends to help her fast and pray.  She had to act and she had to act immediately.  "When Jehosheba rushes into the nursery of the king and picks up Joash, what shall she do with him? Shall she take him to some room in the palace? No; for the official desperadoes will hunt through every nook and corner of that building. Would God that we were all as wise as Jehosheba, and knew that the Church of God is the best hiding-place."  (The Biblical Illustrator)

"As aunt of the royal children, Jehosheba would have free entrance into the palace, and liberty to visit all the apartments. She did not dare openly to oppose Athaliah’s will, but contrived secretly to save one of the intended victims, the smallest of them, an infant of a year old."  (The Pulpit Commentary)

"The person that delivered him was his own aunt, the daughter of wicked Joram; for God will raise up protectors for those whom he will have protected. The place of his safety was the house of the Lord, one of the chambers belonging to the temple, a place Athaliah seldom troubled. His aunt, by bringing him hither, put him under God's special protection, and so hid him by faith, as Moses was hidden." (Matthew Henry)

A beautiful summary of Jehosheba and Athaliah is, "a woman’s ruthlessness was outwitted by a woman’s cunning."  (Expositor's Bible Commentary)

His Word Is Enough

Along with studying women of the Bible, I am reading one chapter in the Bible each day.  I read Proverbs with its 31 chapters in January.  This month I'm reading Matthew which has 28 chapters.

While reading Matthew chapter 8 on Friday, I was amazed at the many times Jesus healed or delivered with just His Word.  He touched people, but He also just spoke.

Verse 3 He touched a leper and healed him
Verse 13 He spoke the word to the Centurion and his servant was healed.
Verse 15 He touched Peter's mother-in-law and healed her.
Verse 16 He cast out spirits with His word.
Verse 26 He rebuked the winds and sea and there was a great calm.
Verse 32 He spoke the word and evil spirits came out of two men.

It continues in chapter 9:
Verse 2 He spoke to the one sick of palsy and he arose.
Verse 20 The woman with the issue of blood touched Him and in verse 22 Jesus told her that her faith had made her whole.
Verse 25 He took Jairus' daughter by the hand and she arose
Verse 29 He touched the eyes of two blind men and their eyes were opened

I've been thinking on this and wondering why Jesus chose to touch some and not others.  I think it's a beautiful example of what happens in our lives today.  Sometimes we can feel His presence so strongly.  It's a beautiful, almost indescribable feeling.  It mends broken places in us.  But there are other times we can't feel a thing.  We may see others being touched, but our own spirit feels dry and empty.  It's in those times that we need to turn to His Word.  We need to search the scriptures for the answer to our problem.  We can't rely solely on feelings.

The last couple of days we were in Hawaii it was very rainy.  But after the rain out comes the sun and with it rainbows.  We don't see rainbows often in California, but they are in abundance in Hawaii.  I am always awed when I see them.  They are a reminder of God's promise.  Others may use them for different purposes, but rainbows will always be God's reminder that He keeps His Word.

Just as we were taxiing down the runway on January 31st, I snapped shots of this beauty.  I'm thankful that even when I can't feel it, God is always faithful and His Word is true.

Standing on the Promises

Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring,
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
 Standing on the promises of God.

Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises I now can see
Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises I shall not fall,
List’ning every moment to the Spirit’s call.
Resting in my Savior as my All in all,
Standing on the promises of God.

Woman of the Week ~ Jehosheba

Spending a week studying Athaliah was enlightening, but I'm so thankful for godly women in the Bible!  I'll be looking at the one who kept Athaliah from accomplishing her ultimate goal.

Verses: 2 Kings 11:1-21, 2 Chronicles 22:10-12

Background – parents, husband, children, siblings

What is she most known for?

Victories? Defeats?

How can I be like her?

How can I avoid being like her?

Did she reach a place when she needed to reset?  If so, did she?  For good or evil?

Athaliah ~ Woman of the Week

You might need to pour yourself a cup of coffee before you read this, it's a long one!

I've always considered Jezebel the most wicked woman in the Bible.  Athaliah comes a very close second and I think she would have outdone Jezebel if she had lived longer.

Verses: 2 Kings 8:18, 26, 2 Kings 11:1-20, 2 Chronicles 22:1-12, 2 Chronicles 23:12-21

Background – parents, husband, children, siblings
The family tree of Athaliah got a little confusing, but this visual is helpful:

She was married to Jehoram (also known as Joram), the son of Jehoshaphat, who was the king of Judah.  Her father was Ahab, the king of Israel.  She had a brother (or at least half brother) named Ahaziah who was king of Israel and she had a son with the same name who was king of Judah!  Here's another chart, as you can see there is more than one king that shared a name with another.

One of the most interesting things in the family tree is that her husband was a descendant of David, which made her children of the line of David as well.  Matthew's account of the genealogy of Christ includes Joram but skips three generations.

"And Joram (Jehoram) begat Ozias; called Uzziah and Azariah. He was not the immediate son of Joram; there were three kings between them, Ahaziah, Joash, and Amaziah, which are here omitted; either because of the curse denounced on Ahab's family, into which Joram married, whose idolatry was punished to the third or fourth generation; or because these were princes of no good character; or because their names were not in the Jewish registers."  (John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible)

"The reason why these, rather than other names, are omitted, must be sought in religious considerations - either in the connection of those kings with the house of Ahab (as Lightfoot, Ebrard, and Alford view it); in their slender right to be regarded as true links in the theocratic chain (as Lange takes it); or in some similar disqualification." (A Commentary on the Old and New Testaments by Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown {JFB})

God made two promises regarding these families:
To David, 2 Samuel 7:16, "And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever."
To Ahab, 2 Kings 21:21-22, "Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel,  And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin."

What is she most known for? Victories? Defeats? How can I be like her?  How can I avoid being like her?
Athaliah was the one who linked the evil house of Ahab to the house of David.  Her marriage to Jehoram brought Baal worship to the nation of Judah, just as Jezebel's marriage to Ahab had introduced Baal worship to the nation of Israel.

We are briefly introduced to Athaliah in 2 Kings chapter 8.  She reappears in 2 Kings chapter 11.  A very significant event occurred between these chapters - Jezebel was killed, her wicked life finally coming to its expected end.

The Expositor's Bible Commentary sums up Athaliah perfectly:

"Athaliah, who, as queen-mother, was more powerful than the queen-consort (malekkah), was the true daughter of Jezebel. She exhibits:
the same undaunted fierceness, 
the same idolatrous fanaticism, 
the same swift resolution, 
the same cruel and unscrupulous wickedness.

It continues:
It might have been supposed that the miserable disease of her husband Jehoram, followed so speedily by the murder, after one year’s reign, of her son Ahaziah, might have exercised over her character the softening influence of misfortune. On the contrary, she only saw in these events a short path to the consummation of her ambition.
Under Jehoram she had been queen: under Ahaziah she had exercised still more powerful influence as Gebirah, and had asserted her sway alike over her husband and over her son, whose counselor she was to do wickedly. It was far from her intention tamely to sink from her commanding position into the abject nullity of an aged and despised dowager in a dull provincial seraglio."  A seraglio or serail is the sequestered living quarters used by wives and concubines - Athaliah had no intention of disappearing.

2 Kings 11:1 says, "She arose and destroyed all the seed royal."  It's interesting that she did this, especially since she seemed to have great power over her sons.  2 Chronicles 24:7 says, "For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God; and also all the dedicated things of the house of the LORD did they bestow upon Baalim."

"Athaliah, as wife of Joram and mother of Ahaziah, had guided both the internal and the external policy of the Jewish kingdom; she had procured the establishment of the worship of Baal in Judah  and had maintained a close alliance with the sister kingdom of Israel. The revolution effected by Jehu touched her nearly. It struck away from her the support of her relatives; it isolated her religious system, severing the communication with Phoenicia; and the death of Ahaziah deprived her of her legal status in Judah, which was that of queen-mother, and transferred that position to the chief wife of her deceased son. Athaliah, instead of yielding to the storm, or merely standing on the defensive, resolved to become the assailant, and strike before any plans could be formed against her. In the absence of her son, hers was probably the chief authority at Jerusalem. She used it to command the immediate destruction of all the family of David, already thinned by previous massacres, and then seized the throne." (Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible)

For six years Athaliah ruled in Jerusalem.  "Athaliah used her power to establish the exclusive worship of BaaI through the kingdom of Judah, and to crush that of Yahweh. She stopped the temple service, gave over the sacred vessels of the sanctuary to the use of the Baal priests, and employed the temple itself as a quarry from which materials might be taken for the construction of a great temple to Baal, which rose in the immediate neighborhood." (Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible) 

Did she reach a place when she needed to reset?  If so, did she?  For good or evil?

Athaliah was just like her mother.  Although there was no direct prophesy concerning her death, she must have known her deeds would not go unpunished.  She was married to Jehoram when Jezebel was killed. She was the daughter of Ahab and God would not allow her to continue indefinitely.

I'll be studying Jehosheba next week, so I don't want to go too deeply in to who she was, but this brave woman saved one child from Athaliah's massacre.  2 Kings 11:4 tells that in the seventh year of Athaliah's reign, Jehosheba's husband, the high priest, brought forth this young child and anointed him king of Judah.

2 Kings 11:13-14 says, "And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the temple of the LORD.  And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets: and Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason, Treason."

Matthew Henry's commentary says, "We may suppose it was designed when they had finished the solemnity of the king's inauguration, to pay a visit to Athaliah, and call her to an account for her murders, usurpation, and tyranny; but, like her mother Jezebel, she saved them the labor, went out to meet them, and hastened her own destruction.  Seeing what was done she cried out for help. She saw the king's place by the pillar possessed by one to whom the princes and people did homage and had reason to conclude her power at an end, which she knew was usurped; this made her rend her clothes, like one distracted, and cry, “Treason! treason! Come and help against the traitors.” Josephus adds that she cried to have him killed that possessed the king's place. What was now doing was the highest justice, yet it was branded as the highest crime; she herself was the greatest traitor, and yet was first and loudest in crying Treason! treason!"

2 Kings 11:15-16 tells of Athaliah's end, "But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranges: and him that followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the LORD.  And they laid hands on her; and she went by the way by the which the horses came into the king's house: and there was she slain."  Verse 20 says, "And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king's house."

The final summary of Athaliah is simple, "There the sword of vengeance fell. Athaliah disappears from history, and with her the dark race of Jezebel." (Expositor's Bible Commentary) 

Repost: Jezebel ~ Woman of the Week

While working on my woman of the week, Athaliah, I realized for the first time that she was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel.  I'll post about Athaliah tomorrow, but I thought this piece about Jezebel was worth a re-read.

When I think of a wicked woman, I think of Jezebel.

Verses:  1 Kings 16:31, 1 Kings 18:4-19, 1 Kings 19:1-2, 1 Kings 21:5-25, 2 Kings 9:7-37

Background – parents, husband, children, siblings

We are first introduced to Jezebel in 1 Kings 16:31, speaking of her husband Ahab, "he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him."  Jezebel's father, whose name means "with him is Baal," conspired against the Tyrian king, Pheles, killed him, and seized the throne. His reign lasted 32 years, and he established a dynasty which continued on the throne at least 62 years longer.

We don't know how many children Ahab and Jezebel had.  2 Kings chapter 10 says Ahab had 70 sons, but that number probably included sons from other wives and grandsons.  They had at least two sons Ahaziah (1 Kings 22:51-53) who reined after Ahab's death and Joram (2 Kings 9:22) who also reigned.

What is she most known for? Victories? Defeats? How can I be like her? How can I avoid being like her?

In 1 Kings chapter 18 we read that Jezebel "cut off the prophets of the LORD."  "Being an idolater, she was a persecutor, and made Ahab one. Even in those bad times, when the calves were worshipped and the temple at Jerusalem deserted, yet there were some good people that feared God and served him, and some good prophets that instructed them in the knowledge of him and assisted them in their devotions. These Jezebel aimed to extirpate, and put many of them to death."  (Matthew Henry)  Not only did she set out to destroy the prophets of the true God, she had 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the groves who ate at her table.  

The rest of chapter 18 tells of the meeting on Mount Carmel, how the false prophets tried to get Baal's attention, leaping on the altar, cutting themselves, and yelling, all to a god that did not hear.  Elijah didn't waste anytime when it was his turn, but repaired the altar and with just a short prayer, God, the true God, answered by fire.  The people "fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God,"  and all the prophets of Baal were slain.

It doesn't appear that Jezebel was at Mount Carmel, because "Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword."  "Ahab's conscience would not let him persecute Elijah (some remains he had in him of the blood and spirit of an Israelite, which tied his hands), but he told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, not to convince, but to exasperate her.  It is not said he told her what God had done, but what Elijah had done, as if he, by some spell or charm, had brought fire from heaven, and the hand of the Lord had not been in it."  There is not an ounce of repentance or fear in Jezebel. Her reply was a threat to the man of God.  "Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time."

We jump a couple of chapters before Jezebel rears her ugly head again.  In chapter 21 we find a very pathetic Ahab.  If ever a man was deserving of disrespect, it was Ahab.  He pouted like a baby when he couldn't get his way.  Jezebel tries to find out the problem.  Matthew Henry put it perfectly, "Nothing but mischief is to be expected when Jezebel enters into the story - that cursed woman."  While Ahab is pouting on his bed, Jezebel is plotting for the destruction of an innocent man.  

I Kings 21:7 says, "And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite."  "The meaning is, “Art thou king, and yet sufferest thyself to be thwarted in this way by a mere subject? I, the queen, the weak woman, will give thee the vineyard, if thou, the king, the strong man, wilt do nothing.”" (Albert Barnes)

With Ahab's own seal, Jezebel sent orders to have Naboth convicted of blaspheming God and the king.  "When, instead of a help meet, a man has an agent for Satan, in the form of an artful, unprincipled, yet beloved wife, fatal effects may be expected. Never were more wicked orders given by any prince, than those Jezebel sent to the rulers of Jezreel. Naboth must be murdered under color of religion." (Matthew Henry)

After Jezebel's orders are obeyed, she hands the vineyard over to Ahab.  This time, God had had enough.  He sent Elijah to meet Ahab in the vineyard.  There is a curse upon both Ahab and Jezebel.  Ahab humbled himself, he still had a small measure of the fear of God in him and God said, "I will not bring the evil in his days."  What a merciful God!

"And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel."  There is no word from Jezebel at this time.  I assume she just shrugged it off, believing that Baal would save her.

Did she reach a place when she needed to reset?  If so, did she?  For good or evil?

Ahab had been dead and gone for almost fourteen years.  Elijah had been taken up to Heaven in a chariot of fire.  And there was Jezebel, continuing in her worship of Baal.  I can only imagine that if she had any fear, it was gone once Elijah was gone from the scene.  But Jehu came riding furiously on the scene.

"And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window. " (2 Kings 9:30)  "Jezebel did this that she might present an imposing appearance to Jehu and die as a queen; not to allure him by her charms."  (Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament) 

Matthew Henry gives an excellent final summary, "The greatest delinquent in the house of Ahab was Jezebel: it was she that introduced Baal, slew the Lord's prophets, contrived the murder of Naboth, stirred up her husband first, and then her sons, to do wickedly; a cursed woman she is here called (2Kings 9:34), a curse to the country, and whom all that wished well to their country had a curse for. Three reigns her reign had lasted, but now, at length, her day had come to fall.  Instead of hiding herself, as one afraid of divine vengeance, she exposed herself to it and scorned to flee, mocked at fear and was not affrighted."

2 Kings 9:33 says, "And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trode her under foot."  "When Jehu had taken some refreshment in the palace, he bethought himself of showing so much respect to Jezebel's sex and quality as to bury her. As bad as she was, she was a daughter, a king's daughter, a king's wife, a king's mother: Go and bury her. But, though he had forgotten what the prophet said, God had not forgotten it. While he was eating and drinking, the dogs had devoured her dead body, the dogs that went about the city  and fed upon the carrion, so that there was nothing left but her bare skull (the painted face gone) and her feet and hands. The hungry dogs had no respect to the dignity of her extraction; a king's daughter was no more to them than a common person." (Matthew Henry)

While studying Jezebel, I remembered a book I read "Evicting Jezebel."  I did a review here.  I think this chart is something we all need to pay close attention to in order to keep the Jezebel spirit out of our lives.

The final mention of Jezebel is found in Revelation 2:20.  "Who the individual here referred to by the name Jezebel was, is not known. It is by no means probable that this was her real name, but seems to have been given to her as expressive of her character and influence. Jezebel was the wife of Ahab; a woman of vast influence over her husband - an influence which was uniformly exerted for evil. She was a daughter of Ethbaal, king of Tyre and Sidon, and lived about 918 years before Christ. She was an idolater, and induced her weak husband not only to connive at her introducing the worship of her native idols, but to become an idolater himself, and to use all the means in his power to establish the worship of idols instead of the worship of the true God. She was highly gifted, persuasive, and artful; was resolute in the accomplishment of her purposes; ambitious of extending and perpetuating her power, and unscrupulous in the means which she employed to execute her designs." (Albert Barnes)

Bigger Than the Pain

Pastor White preached a great message yesterday about God being bigger than our pain.  His text was from 2 Kings chapter 5.  My ears perked up when I heard that since it was a chapter I studied just a few weeks ago.  Naaman's servant girl was the main character in Pastor White's message - it was her pain that he talked about.  Although Naaman was a leper, he actually had no physical pain since leprosy kills nerve endings.

Something I completely missed in my studying was how the maid was taken captive.  2 Kings 5:2 says, "And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid."  The going out by companies was not an act of war, but, "Not regular troops, but a sort of banditti of robbers, which made excursions into the land of Israel, to plunder and carry off what booty they could: for boys and girls were a part of the booty of such robbers, whom they could sell for money."  (John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible)

We don't know how long she was held captive, but during that time she must have had tremendous emotional pain.  But God was bigger than that pain.  God helped her and used her to bring Him glory.

Near the end of the message Pastor White said something I had not considered.  When the king of Syria sent Naaman to Elisha he sent "ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment."  This was equivalent to about three million dollars.  When Naaman was healed he offered all that to Elisha.  Elisha refused it. 

Pastor White said it's not in the Bible, but he imagined that when Naaman returned with all the king's goods, the next thing that should have happened was the young maid being returned to her family.  Surely her freedom would have cost less than three million dollars!  He said imagine the difference - she was taken from her home and family, bound and gagged, but returned with celebration!  I don't know if that happened either, but I sure do love the idea!

Either way, this young lady was a testimony to the power of God to be with her (and with us) during the toughest circumstances.

Woman of the Week ~ Athaliah

All the women I studied in January had a positive ending to their story.  As much as I enjoy reading about those who did right, I know there is also value in studying those who chose a darker path.  Athaliah fits that second description.

Verses: 2 Kings 8:26, 2 Kings 11:1-20, 2 Chronicles 22:1-12, 2 Chronicles 23:12-21

Background – parents, husband, children, siblings

What is she most known for?

Victories? Defeats?

How can I be like her?

How can I avoid being like her?

Did she reach a place when she needed to reset?  If so, did she?  For good or evil?

Mother Rewarded by Solomon ~ Woman of the Week

This story is the first example of the wisdom of Solomon.  Even greater than Solomon's wisdom in this story is the example of a mother's love.

Verses:  1 Kings 3:16-28

Background – parents, husband, children, siblings
We don't know anything of this woman's background, only that she had a son.  I was surprised that many commentaries said the word "harlot" actually meant inn keeper or a seller of food, not prostitute.  "These women, according to the Targum, were victuallers or inn keepers; and so Ben Gersom thinks they were sellers of food, as Rahab; though he observes it is possible they might, prostitute themselves: this may be said in their favour, that common prostitutes do not usually bear children, or, when they do, take no care of them, have no affection for them, and much less are fond of them, as these seem to be; but, on the other hand, no mention being made of their husbands, and living together in one house, and alone, and being impudent, brawling, and litigious, give great suspicion of the truth of the character they bear in our version and others."  (John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible)
"Though there is no mention of their husbands, it is probable they might have been at this time in other parts, following their necessary occupations."  (Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible) 

What is she most known for? Victories? Defeats? How can I be like her? How can I avoid being like her?

This is the only story of this woman in the Bible.  She shared a home with another woman and they each had a son, born three days apart.  We don't know exactly how old these babies were, it seemed they could have been as young as a week when one of the sons died in his sleep.  The mother of the dead son tried to cover her tragedy by switching babies in the night.

"When the other woman looked the next morning at the child lying in her bosom, she saw that it was not her own but the other woman's child, whereas the latter maintained the opposite. As they eventually referred the matter in dispute to the king, and each one declared that the living child was her own, the king ordered a sword to be brought, and the living child to be cut in two, and a half given to each."   (Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament) 

Did she reach a place when she needed to reset?  If so, did she?  For good or evil?

No matter how she came to be a mother, her mother's heart would not let her child suffer.  She was willing to fight her roommate for her son, but the moment Solomon spoke of splitting him in half, she was willing to give him up completely to let him live.

"To find out the true mother, he could not try which the child loved best, and therefore tried which loved the child best: the mother's sincerity will be tried, when the child is in danger."  (Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible)

"She that knew the child was her own, rather than the child should be butchered, gives it up to her adversary. How feelingly does she cry out, O, my lord! give her the living child. “Let me see it hers, rather than not see it at all.” By this tenderness towards the child it appeared that she was not the careless mother that had overlaid the dead child, but was the true mother of the living one, that could not endure to see its death, having compassion on the son of her womb. “The case is plain,” says Solomon; “what need of witnesses? Give her the living child; for you all see, by this compassion, she is the mother of it.”"  (Matthew Henry)

Because she was willing to sacrifice her own desires for the life of her son, this mother was rewarded and able to keep him for herself.