Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 3:1–4:17, Mark 14:22–50, Prov 6:6–11

Today’s Theme: Poured Out

Today we read that Jesus poured out His life blood for many, this pouring out is today’s theme. We see it in the call to worship God with music, where we should pour out our hearts before God, we see it in the call to have a life of service where we pour out our lives for others.

We also see the pouring out in God’s great provision for us, the living water He gives and the great salvation we have in being able to pour out our distress and sorrow before Him.

Jesus poured out His life for us so that we should live our lives for Him. Be energised by that truth today and pour out your life before and for God.

2 Kings 3:1–4:17

A glimmer of hope

He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, though not like his father and mother, for he put away the pillar of Baal that his father had made.(2 Kings 3:2, ESV)

There appears to be a small glimmer of hope with the son of Ahab, he is not as evil as his parents. We do not need to allow the shortcomings of our parents or forefathers to define us, we can be new in Christ.

A life of service

And Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord?” Then one of the king of Israel’s servants answered, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.”(2 Kings 3:11, ESV)

Elisha lived a life of service before Elijah and was known for his service. Jesus showed us an example of the servant-like lives we should have, when He washed the disciples’ feet and told us to do the same.

Music is spiritual

But now bring me a musician.” And when the musician played, the hand of the Lord came upon him.(2 Kings 3:15, ESV)

Note the spiritual nature of music, God created music. When we read the biblical accounts of heaven (not the modern visions which all seem to contradict each other), we see that it is a place full of music, worship, praise and song.

The enemy knows the power of music and so he uses it to drive home evil messages and steal the worship that belongs to God alone.

Music should be a part of our lives as Christians, as we worship and praise God in song. Spend time before God in worship today. As we worship God, we feel His presence and bring Him joy. Let rivers of living water flow today.

Miracles are a small thing for God

This is a light thing in the sight of the Lord. He will also give the Moabites into your hand,(2 Kings 3:18, ESV)

Doing this great miracle is a simple and small thing to God, He is all powerful and can do anything, nothing is too difficult for Him.

Living water

The next morning, about the time of offering the sacrifice, behold, water came from the direction of Edom, till the country was filled with water.(2 Kings 3:20, ESV)

The Lord provides water in a dry and thirsty land. If you are in a dry place today, cry out to Him for living water.

The demonic power of fear

Then he took his oldest son who was to reign in his place and offered him for a burnt offering on the wall. And there came great wrath against Israel. And they withdrew from him and returned to their own land.(2 Kings 3:27, ESV)

This was a demonic and wicked king. His desperate and dark act infuses his troops with the will to win and they smash the Israelites forces with a demonic fierceness and fury.

The Israelites were possibly frightened by the ceremony and extremeness of the sacrifice and so lost faith, thinking Moab’s god was real and was angry. This coupled with the inspired enemy troops led to their defeat.

We must not allow ourselves to be caught up in the deception, evils and lies of the enemy. Keep your eyes on God in the midst of the battle and keep on fighting in faith.

The devil will do and empower the most abominable things, to capture your faith with fear and take your eyes off God and His word. Stay focused, and keep fighting in Jesus’ name.

God’s abundant provision

When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another.” Then the oil stopped flowing.(2 Kings 4:6, ESV)

This woman responded to God’s word from the prophet, in faith. God will provide for us as His vessels, with all that we need.

Be kind

But the woman conceived, and she bore a son about that time the following spring, as Elisha had said to her.(2 Kings 4:17, ESV)

This child was a miraculous reward for her kindness, we should be kind too.

Mark 14:22–50

Poured out for many

And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.(Mark 14:24, ESV)

Jesus’ blood was not spilt, it was poured out as a ransom for many, not for all, but for the many elect from every nation, tribe and tongue.

The sorrow of Jesus

And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.”(Mark 14:34, ESV)

Jesus was under great emotional strain and distress, this was part of His suffering for us. If you are in a place of sorrow, depression, stress or pressure, Jesus understands and has taken the burden in the garden.

Cast your cares on Him today, He is our faithful, loving and powerful saviour. Don’t try to handle your distress on your own, you need God’s strong arms to help you, so humble yourself and trust Him with every distress.

Surrender your will to God’s

And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”(Mark 14:36, ESV)

This was the great victory of Jesus, that He laid down His will before God. If Jesus did this, how much more should we.

Be alert and aware

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”(Mark 14:38, ESV)

We should be alert and aware (not taken up in delirium and emotional excesses), and pray that we are not caught out by the enemy.

Jesus the teacher

Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.”(Mark 14:49, ESV)

Jesus spent most of His ministry teaching; He taught in the temple, in synagogues and in the streets and homes of the people, pointing them back to God.

He even teaches now by declaring that the only reason He is allowing Himself to be seized, is to fulfil the scriptures.

Proverbs 6:6–11

Prepare and gather

she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.(Proverbs 6:8, ESV)

We should have this mentality with our study of God’s word and with money too.

Sleep and slumber

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,(Proverbs 6:10, ESV)

I constantly feel this coming against me but the victory is won by God’s grace (or these notes would never be written, for example). Lord, help us to be energetic in all that we do.

We need to make a conscious decision to serve God with everything and ask the Holy Spirit to energise our bodies and change our hearts, so that we so desire God that, that desire wakes us up and carries us forward.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Mark 14