ROYAL PROVISION

“And as for his provisions, there was a regular ration given him by the king, a portion for each day, all the days of his life” (2 Kings 25:30 NKJV).

After being in prison for over thirty years in Babylon, Jehoiachin, king of Judah was finally freed by the king of Babylon. He was then provided with an allowance from the king for the rest of his life. This generous and charitable act by the king of Babylon pictures how God takes care of His own. After freeing us from the prison of sin, God then provides for us. Thus we want to note two things about the provisions for Jehoiachin - the provisions were dependable and the provisions were daily.

The provisions were dependable - “His provisions, there was a regular ration given him by the king, a portion for each day, all the days of his life.” The provisions were dependable in at least a threefold way: First they were dependable in quality - the provisions were always from the king. They did not come from some soup kitchen on skid row. Second, they were dependable in amount - the provisions did not go from sufficiency one day to scraps the next. They were sufficient all the time. Sin gives you plenty for a short time then goes to scraps and starvation. God’s ways are always best. Third, they were dependable in time - the provisions for Jehoiachin continued “all the days of his life.” With God providing our provisions, we can say as the Psalmist, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” (Psalm 23:6).

The provisions were daily - “Given him by the king, a portion for each day.” The provisions were not given Jehoiachin for a year in advance. It was a day by day provision. God often provides for us in this same manner. The children of Israel were given manna day by day, not a week or month or a year at a time. Further, the Lord Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). Coming daily teaches us to look daily to Him for our supplies. It teaches us to put our faith in our Savior not in our surpluses.

(Adapted from Butler Daily Bible Reading)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“God doesn’t take anything from His people without giving something better in return!”

Anonymous

Word Study

Destroy

In Gal. 1:13 we read, “For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it!” (NKJV)

Destroy is the Greek word portheo (πορθέω = por-theh'-o). The word means to attack and cause complete destruction, to pillage, to devastate, to reek havoc, to annihilate. Figuratively, portheo means to lay waste, to destroy. The word was used in secular Greek of besieging a town or of soldiers ravaging. Thus portheo applied not only to cities and lands but also to people. In Classical Greek portheo means to make havoc of, destroy, or pillage. In the Septuagint, the word carries the idea of plundering and destroying. In the New Testament portheo is used three times, always in reference to Paul’s persecution of the Church prior to his conversion. Further, Paul uses the imperfect tense which speaks of his continuous attempt not just to ravage but to ruin and destroy Christianity.

Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus

Old Testament Prophecy – That He would be in Egypt for a season (Num. 24:8; Hos. 11:1)

New Testament Fulfillment – Matt. 2:15

Bible Facts

Blood is the source of life and health (Leviticus 17:11; 14) - Up until 120 years ago, sick people were ‘bled’ and many died as a result (e.g. George Washington). Today we know that healthy blood is necessary to bring life-giving nutrients to every cell in the body. Way back in Leviticus God declared that “the life of the flesh is in the blood.” This is long before science understood its function.

Bible Quiz

How many years did Adam live?

**Answer to last week’s trivia: What surprised a Pharisee when Jesus ate dinner at his house? Jesus didn’t wash His hands (Luke 11:38).

That’s in the Bible

“Under the sun”

““Then I returned and considered all the oppression that is done under the sun: And look! The tears of the oppressed, but they have no comforter - on the side of their oppressors there is power, but they have no comforter” (Eccl. 4:1 NKJV).

Instead of saying ‘all’ of something, we could say ‘everything under the sun’ because that would include just about anything. Interestingly enough, the Lord Jesus is called the “Sun of Righteousness” in Malachi 4:2 (that’s “Sun” with a ‘u’). Actually, the Lord Jesus and the sun have a lot in common. Both have risen in the East, and both give light and life. There are many more parallels to God in nature and in the heavens, for “The heavens declare the glory of God” as it is written in Psalm 19:1.

Did You Know – Christian History

John was the last of the original apostles, but the truths of Christianity did not die with him. Polycarp, one of spiritual children continued to stand firm in the faith in Christ as the Son of God. Polycarp, was born in Smyrna, Asia about 69 A.D. He learned much by listening to John and became a leader of the church at Smyrna. In many ways his character reflected that of his teacher. He had the same noble Christian spirit, full of gentleness, yet inflexible in speaking out against error.

Because of this, Polycarp attracted the attention of the authorities. When the authorities searched for Polycarp, friends persuaded him to leave the city and hide in a farm-house. There he spent his time in prayer. He was eventually betrayed and arrested. Interestingly enough, before he was led away, Polycarp spoke politely to his captors and even ordered food to be set before them. While they were eating he prayed for them. Then he was led away.

Ordered to renounce Christ and give obedience to Caesar as Lord, Polycarp answered: “Eighty and six years have I served Christ, nor has He ever done me any harm. How, then, could I blaspheme my King who saved me? You threaten the fire that burns for an hour and then is quenched; but you know not of the fire of the judgment to come, and the fire of eternal punishment. Bring what you will.” He was then burned at the stake and was pierced with a spear for refusing to burn incense to the Roman Emperor. On his farewell, he said “I bless you Father for judging me worthy of this hour, so that in the company of the martyrs I may share the cup of Christ.”

Polycarp occupies an important place in the history of the early Christian Church. He is among the earliest Christians whose writings survived. He was an elder of an important congregation which was a large contributor to the founding of the Christian Church. He is from an era whose orthodoxy is widely accepted by Eastern Orthodox Churches, Oriental Orthodox Churches, Church of God groups, Sabbatarian groups, mainstream Protestants and Catholics alike. The sole surviving work attributed to him, Polycarp's letter to the Philippians, is a mosaic of references to the Greek Scriptures, preserved in Irenaeus’ account of Polycarp’s life.

A Little Humor

Moses was up on the mountain with God complaining that the people were disobeying Him and not following directions, and God became tired of their actions. So God told Moses to give the people 2 tablets and call Him in the morning

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Sin deceives, defiles, deadens, and destroys!!”