April 10, 2026 - 2 Kings 1-3

What a damning question from Elijah to Ahaziah, when Ahaziah had fallen sick and inquired of Baalzebub, the god of Ekron!  “Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baalzebub, the god of Ekron?” 

At another time, the prophet Isaiah warned: 

1 “Woe to the obstinate children,”

         declares the LORD,

         “to those who carry out plans that are not mine,

         forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit,

         heaping sin upon sin;

      2 who go down to Egypt

         without consulting me;

         who look for help to Pharaoh’s protection,

         to Egypt’s shade for refuge.

      3 But Pharaoh’s protection will be to your shame,

         Egypt’s shade will bring you disgrace.

      4 Though they have officials in Zoan

         and their envoys have arrived in Hanes,

      5 everyone will be put to shame

         because of a people useless to them,

         who bring neither help nor advantage,

         but only shame and disgrace.” (Isaiah 30:1-5)

How often do we, like Israel, look for help in all the wrong places?  Rather, with Psalmist, let this be our testimony:  “Lord, you are my portion and my cup of blessing; You hold my future” (Psalm 16:5).

Our God, our help in ages past,

Our hope for years to come,

Our shelter from the stormy blast,

And our eternal home:

Under the shadow of your throne

Your saints have dwelt secure;

Sufficient is your arm alone,

And our defense is sure.

Before the hills in order stood

Or Earth received her frame,

From everlasting you are God,

To endless years the same.   –Isaac Watts (1719)