101010AM@COD The Most Quoted Verse - Lev. 19.17-18

I want to encourage you to be in a habit of reading through the Bible. 

Noticing that OT verses are used in the New Testament can help us as we read through the OT.

INTRODUCTION

1. What OT books are most quoted or alluded to in the NT?

According to the BlueLetterBible:

Isaiah ————163

Psalms ———-146

Exodus ———114

Genesis ———-94

Deuteronomy —65

2. Exodus 20 (Deuteronomy 5) is the most commonly referred to chapter.

3. What verses are most often referred to?

3. Psalm 118.22, Isaiah 6.9 & Exodus 20,12 —–—— 6 times

2. Psalm 110.1 ———— 8 times

1. Leviticus 19.17-18 — 10 times  (1) &Matt 18.15; Luke 17.3

4. Right here in Leviticus 19 is verse the most quoted and alluded to in the N.T.  Turn to Leviticus 19 and look through the chapter to see if you can figure out which verse it is. 

5. PURPOSE STATEMENT:  Tonight we will ...

· look at the context of these verses

· look at the meaning of these verses

· review the NT allusions to these verses

· and hopefully make some applications along the way.

6. Background:

Leviticus:

· Explain the “story books” and “supplemental information” books

· Leviticus fits in with the Exodus part of the story of the OT

· Egypt, Red Sea, manna, water from the rock, Mount Sinai, 10 commands, Moses up the mountain, golden calf, second session on the Mountain (tabernacle & offerings instructions), dedication of the tabernacle, then God gives Moses Leviticus.

Chapter 19:

· 1-8 Get right with God — sacrifices

· 9-10 Stories about the priests

· 11-26 Stay right with God — rules for the nation’s separated, holy living

· Chapter 19 is about social regulations

  

A. I AM the Lord  and the immediate context

Notice the pattern of concluding each section with “I am the Lord.”  The expression “I am the Lord” has an interesting history.

Ex 5.2 Pharaoh tell Moses and Aaron, “Who is the Lord that I should obey Him?”

Ex. 6.7  God tells Moses how He will bring judgments and rescue Israel, Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”

Ex 7.5 “And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out my hand on Egypt.”

Ex 7.17 (plague of blood) by this you will know that I am the Lord

Ex 8.22 Moses tell pharaoh that God will not send the flies on Goshen, “in order that you may  know that I am the Lord in the midst of the land.”

Ex. 9.14 (hail) I will send all My plagues to your very heart, and on your servants and on your people, that you may know the there is none like Me in all the earth.

9.20 He who feared the Word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servant and his livestock flee to the houses.

The expression “I am the Lord” was meant to say “I mean business. Don’t ignore me.”

The OT verse most referred to in the NT is in the section that include verses 17 & 18.

  

B. Explanation of verses 17 & 18

Leviticus 19

17 'You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.      cross references / Matt 18.15;  Luke 17.3

Matthew 18:15 "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.

Luke 17:3 “Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.”

· 2272 śānē˒) hate, to be hateful.     The verb śānē and its derivatives have the root meaning “to hate.” It expresses an emotional attitude toward persons and things which are opposed, detested, despised and with which one wishes to have no contact or relationship. It is therefore the opposite of love. Whereas love draws and unites, hate separates and keeps distant.  Harris, R. L., Harris, R. L., Archer, G. L., & Waltke, B. K. (1999, c1980). Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (electronic ed.) (879). Chicago: Moody Press

· Hate is part of the old life. (Titus 3.2-3)

· “rebuke your neighbor” —- Resolve conflicts. Don’t let things fester.

· “not bear sin because of him.” —-

“I will allow no man to drag me down so low as to make me hate him. No race can hate another without itself being narrowed and hated. Character, not circumstances, makes the man.” ———-Booker T. Washington

Hate injures as much or more than the person we hate.

18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

a) Deut. 32.35 “Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in due time; For the day of their calamity is at hand, And the things to come hasten upon them.' 36 "For the Lord will judge His people And have compassion on His servants,”

b) bear any grudge (naw-tar) : to keep, keep guard, reserve, maintain

· The picture is of a farmer who watches or guards his vineyard.

· It is also used in the sense of nurturing, keeping or cherishing one’s anger or wrath.

· “A grudge is the only thing that doesn’t get better when it is nursed.”

  

C. New Testament allusions and quotes

1. 

Matt 5.   Sermon on the mount

43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor  and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors  do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. 

· Notice the opposites   love-hate; bless-curse; do good-hate; pray-spitefully use, persecute

· How to fight Satan comments

· “Neighbor” includes our enemies.

· § Love—If the sun shown on you today, God loves you.

· It is how we show we are our heavenly Father’s sons.

· Self interest versus true love. Love is given without thought to what you will get in return.

· Love is necessary to be “perfect” or complete  tevleioß .

2.  

Matt 19.     SUMMER—-29 MINISTRY IN AND AROUND PEREA       The Rich Young Ruler

16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?"

17 So He said to him, "... But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."

18 He said to Him, "Which ones?"

Jesus said, "'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 19 'Honor your father and your mother,'  and, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' " 

20 The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?"

21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 

· § “good thing shall I do”  O-Precious Blood of Only Son—Salvation is not what I do; It is what Christ did.

· In spite of his contention that he was following the commandments, there was something that he was holding on to.

· This prompts me to think, “What do I have that I am not willing to invest in heaven?”

· To be “perfect” or complete, we must be willing to let go of anything we have.

 3. 

Matt 22.37    LAST WEEK after Triumphant Entry       a lawyer testing Christ

35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?"

37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

· This and “the first and great commandment” are the two guiding principles behind all the laws God gave. 

· If you think that learning the 10 Commandments is too difficult, start by learning and understanding these two.  All the law belongs under one of these two commands.

4.

Mark 12.  LAST WEEK after Triumphant Entry

28 Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, "Which is the first commandment of all?"

29 Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment.  31 And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

32 So the scribe said to Him, "Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. 33 And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."

34 Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." But after that no one dared question Him.

· Loving one’s neighbor is more important than all the offerings and sacrifices.

· Love is not something we do to convince someone to become a Christian. It is just the core of who we are as Christians.

· Behold to love “is better than sacrifice” too.   1 Samuel 15.22

· Understanding the importance of love is an indication that one is “not far from the kingdom of God.”

 5. 

Luke 10.  FALL 29—LATTER JUDEAN MINISTRY   Parable of the Good Samaritan

25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

26 He said to him, "What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?"

27 So he answered and said, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.' "

28 And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live."

29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

30 Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.' 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?"

37 And he said, "He who showed mercy on him."

Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." 

· § “to justify himself” — Sin and need of a Justifier  (Someone to fix not just fake it, pretend.)

· Love involves mercy or compassion.  He showed ...

· Our neighbor is someone we see who needs us.

· Love is demonstrated by things we do to help others.

6. 

Romans 13.⁸ Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. ⁹ For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."  ¹⁰ Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 

· We have a debt or obligation to love.

· Loving is at mandatory as paying a debt.

· Being obligated to love is a good thing.

· Loving is the fulfillment of the law.

 7.

Galatians 5. 13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! 16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

· Loving is a purpose of our liberty.

· If we don’t love we are in danger of “devouring ourselves.”

· Loving is a result of walking in the Spirit.  It is not a fleshly instinct.

 8. 

James 2.1 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. 2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, 3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, "You sit here in a good place," and say to the poor man, "You stand there," or, "Sit here at my footstool," 4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? 7 Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called? 

8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well; 9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. 

· Love is a demonstration of or a result of  our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

· Love does not show partiality.

· Treating someone well because of their status is not love.

· It is especially important to love the poor and undesirable. The harder it is to love someone, the more important it is to do so.

· Not loving makes us a “transgressor.”

  

CONCLUSION

Unsaved—

· Admit that you fall short.

· Avail yourself of God’s love for you and provision through Christ’s death and resurrection.

· John 1:12 “But as many as received...

Saved—

· Love is not a theoretical, abstract idea for discussion and dissection.

· It is not a command, it is the command.

· It has to be active, something you do, and intentional, it does not come natural.

101006 2 Kings 20-22

2 Kings 20
20.2  turned his face to the wall... This is a curious statement.  I suspect an idiom of some sort.
20.15  What have they seen...
20.16  Thus says the Lord...  This is a puzzling exchange.  At first it seems like Isaiah makes an insightful logical deduction, but then we have a Divine pronouncement.  So is it "natural" consequences, Divine judgement, or some kind of combination of the two.
20.19b  This is a breathtaking attitude for someone who trusted the Lord like Hezekiah.
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2 Kings 21
21.7-8  It is interesting that He invokes the names of David, Solomon, and Moses as he reinforces the importance of the declarations that he had made.  God is a personal God and his covenants with people are important.
21.13  as one wipes a dish...  It is too bad the the ESV and a lot of the other versions don't reflect the masculine gender of the verb to wipe.  Mrs. Salzman (using the KJV) liked to say something about it being proof that at least one man had done the dishes.  :o)
21.16  Moreover...  He shed innocent blood.   It reminds me of what God said to Cain and makes me wonder how loud the cry must have been.
21.18  Now the rest...  It is interesting that 2 Kings does not record his captivity or repentance.  Makes me wonder why.
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2 Kings 22
22.3  In the eighteenth year...  I wonder why it took eighteen years.  He was eight when he began to reign, so maybe it had a lot to do with his handlers.
22.8  I have found the Book of the Law...  Things must have been in an awful state of disrepair and disorder (organizationally and physically).
21.19  heart was penitent and you humbled yourself...  Josiah's sensitivity to sin "touched" God's heart and won His favor.
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101004-5 2 Kings 17-19

2 Kings 17
17.28   how they should fear the Lord...  This is used in the sense serving the Lord or observing the law.
17.33  so they feared the Lord but also served their own gods...  This is a very curious and interesting statement.
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2 King 18
18.4  He broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made... 
18.5  trusted the Lord ... so that there was none like him...  A great legacy to be remembered by.
18.12  neither listened nor obeyed.   the reason that Assyria took Israel captive.
18.30  Do not let Hezekiah make you trust n the Lord...  He not only trusted the Lord but "caused" others to trust Him too.
18.35  This reminds me of the quote by Scarecrow, "But some people without brains do a lot of talking."
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2 Kings 19
19.14  and spread it before the Lord...  The expected response of a man who trusted the Lord.
19.28  your complacency has come into my ears...  This is an interesting description of Sennacherib's rant against God.

101004 2 Kings 15-16

2 Kings 15
15.8  He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin.   This is a sad refrain that I have almost memorized from the frequency of it being repeated.  What a sad legacy for Jeroboam.  (1 Kings 14:16; 15:30; 16:2; 16:19; 16:26; 16:31; 10:29; 10:31; 13:2; 13:6; 14:16; 15:30; 16:2; 16:19; 16:26; 16:31; 2 Kings 10:29; 10:31; 13:2; 13:6; 13:11; 14:24; 15:9; 15:18; 15:24; 15:28; 17:22)
15.30  The ultimate "being voted out."
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2 Kings 16
16.14  that was before the Lord...  seems like a much better creditual that fancy smancy like the one in Damascus.
16.15  altar shall be for me to inuire by...   Keil and Delitzch says, "לְבַקֵּר יִהְיֶה־לִי, the brazen altar "will be to me for deliberation," i.e., I will reflect upon it, and then make further arrangements."  It would be interesting to check some other translations..

2 Kings 14

2 Kings 14
14.11  so much for leaving well enought alone.
14.25  Sea of Arabah...  Hamath lay northeast of Israel, and the Sea of the Arabah was the Salt (Dead) Sea (v. 25).   --http://www.soniclight.com/constable/notes/pdf/2kings.pdf
14.28   http://studylight.org/enc/isb/view.cgi?number=T4037
14.28  to Judah in Israel...  This is a curious phrase.  I can't imagine Jeroboam giving it to Judah.

101002 2 Kings 12-

2 Kings 12
12.4  the money for which each man is assessed ... Sounds more like a tax than a tithe.
12.15  they dealt honestly... 
12.18  and all the gold that was found in the treasuries of the house of the Lord... It's almost like he considered it national resources.
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2 Kings 13
13.5  a savior...  no name given

101001 2 Kings 11-

2 Kings 11
11.3  Jehosheba... Huray for Jeshosheba!  A brave, just, and cunning woman.
11.4  Carites...  (car' i teess) A term of uncertain meaning in 2 Kings 11:4,2 Kings 11:19 and in Hebrew text of 2 Samuel 20:23, where Cherethites is usually read. The Carites were either mercenary soldiers recruited from Cilicia by Judah and other countries such as Egypt, or the meaning of the term can no longer be determined. They were military personnel who helped Jehoiada, the priest, install Joash as king and assassinate the queen mother Athaliah.  --Holeman Bible Dictionary.

100930 2 Kings 9-10

2 Kings 9
9.21  at the property of Naboth...  The poetic justice is hard to miss here.
9.27  When Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this...  Jehu did Judah a favor too.
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2 Kings 10
10.9  but who struck these down...  A politically shrewd move, the likes of which explains verse 31.

100929 2 Kings 8

2 Kings 8
8.1-2  sojourned in the land of the Philistines...  It is interesting that Elijah told her to leave, especially in light of the hard time that soo many preachers give to poor Elimelech, Ruth's husband for doing the same thing.
8.10  God tell him...but the Lord had shown him... At first this seems like a lie until you realize that it what not the sickness that caused his death.
8.18  for the daughter of Ahab was his wife...  Two things. One, Scripture is full of examples of wicked wives pulling their husbands down.  Second, what on earth was a godly man like Jehoshaphat thinking to have his son marry Ahab's daughter?

100927 2 Kings 6-7

2 Kings 6
6.17  so the Lord opened his eyes...  This gets me to thinking about what there is to see that my phyiscal eyes are not able to.
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2 Kings 7
7.9  If we are silent...punishment will overtake us...  This is a thought provoking and a little convicting.

100924 1 Kings 4-5

1 Kings 4
4.23, 26-27 I wonder why she told her husband and Gehazi "all is well" and why the Lord hid it from Elijah.
4.35  sneezed seven times...  an odd detail
4  Three odd miracles.  Thinking about the context.
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1 Kings 5   Luke 4.23-30
5.8  It is kind of interesting that Elijah had such close connection to the palace.
5.19 Go in peace.   I find this facinating that Elisha to Naaman that he could go into the temple with the king, go through the motions of official worship to Rimmon, and still be a true worshiper of Jehovah.  I wonder what implications this has for people in India, and other places where religion is part of ruling.
5.20  spared this Naamon the Syrian...  I have to laugh at such a hateful and spiteful attitude and most of all that he would act on it.
5.26  Was it a time for...   This captures the heart of 1 Peter 2.24c.

100923 2 Kings 3

2  Kings 3
3.2  though not like his father...  Unless this had political ramifications that are mostly unrelated to spiritual things, it is unclear to me what might have motivated Jehoram to get rid of the Baals and not the bulls that Jeroboam set up.  Normally it would seem to show some spiritual softening, but he "sill clung to the sin of Jeroboam.
3.11  poured water on the hands of Elijah...  We should probably understand this as a cultural idiom, but it seems to prompt thoughts about what their spiritual relationship was like as well.
3.27  This is an odd verse.  It doesn't seem like a very satisfying win and the phrase "there came great wrath against Israel seems odd to my 21st century western hear.

100223 2 Kings 1-2

2 Kings 1
1.9  Wordplay contributes to the irony here. The king tells Elijah to “come down” (Hebrew יָרַד, yarad), but Elijah calls fire down (יָרַד) on the arrogant king’s officer.  ---NET Bible translation notes
1.13  entreated him...  Isaiah 66.2b
1.17 Jehoram became king ... in the second year of Jehoram...
King Jehoram of Israel—the son of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, and successor to his brother Ahaziah on the throne of Israel. He reigned twelve years, B.C. 896-884 (2 Kings 1:17; 3:1). His first work was to reduce to subjection the Moabites, who had asserted their independence in the reign of his brother. Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, assisted Jehoram in this effort. He was further helped by his ally the king of Edom. Elisha went forth with the confederated army (2 Kings 3:1-19), and at the solicitation of Jehoshaphat encouraged the army with the assurance from the Lord of a speedy victory. The Moabites under Mesha their king were utterly routed and their cities destroyed. At Kir-haraseth Mesha made a final stand. The Israelites refrained from pressing their victory further, and returned to their own land.
     Elisha afterwards again befriended Jehoram when a war broke out between the Syrians and Israel, and in a remarkable way brought that war to a bloodless close (2 Kings 6:23). But Jehoram, becoming confident in his own power, sank into idolatry, and brought upon himself and his land another Syrian invasion, which led to great suffering and distress in Samaria (2 Kings 6:24-33). By a remarkable providential interposition the city was saved from utter destruction, and the Syrians were put to flight (2 Kings 7:6-15).
Jehoram was wounded in a battle with the Syrians at Ramah, and obliged to return to Jezreel (2 Kings 8:29; 9:14-15), and soon after the army proclaimed their leader Jehu king of Israel, and revolted from their allegiance to Jehoram (2 Kings 9). Jehoram was pierced by an arrow from Jehu's bow on the piece of ground at Jezreel which Ahab had taken from Naboth, and there he died (2 Kings 9:21-29).
Relatives
■Grandfather (paternal): King Omri
■Father: King Ahab
■Mother: Queen Jezebel
■Brothers: King Ahaziah

King Jehoram of Judah—the eldest son and successor of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. He reigned eight years (B.C. 892-885) alone as king of Judah, having been previously for some years associated with his father (2 Chr. 21:5, 20; 2 Kings 8:16). His wife was Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. His daughter Jehosheba was married to the high priest Jehoiada. He sank into gross idolatry, and brought upon himself and his kingdom the anger of Jehovah. The Edomites revolted from under his yoke, and the Philistines and the Arabians and Cushites invaded the land, and carried away great spoil, along with Jehoram's wives and all his children, except Ahaziah. He died a painful death from a fearful malady, and was refused a place in the sepulchre of the kings (2 Kings 8:16-24; 2 Chr. 21).
Relatives
■Father: King Jehoshaphat
■Wives: Athaliah—daughter of Ahab and Jezebel
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2 Kings 2
2.13  the moment of truth
2.20  salt...  Salt seemed like the worst thing to add to brackish water to make it pure, just as return to Yahweh must have appeared to be a backward step to many idolatrous Israelites. Nevertheless, since salt is what God ordered, it was effective. The use of salt may have symbolized a break with the past since this is what rubbing certain sacrifices with salt to sanctify them indicated (Lev. 2:13; Num. 18:19; Ezek. 43:24).21 Yahweh, not Baal, could restore blessing and fertility to His people. This miracle was another polemic against Baal worship (cf. 1 Kings 18; et al.). Baal's worshippers credited him with ruling over the waters on and beneath the earth, including underground springs and fountains.22 God's permanent healing of the spring would have served as a continuing reminder of Yahweh's ability to bring fruitfulness and blessing out of the deadly sterility of idolatry.  --Dr. Thomas Constable / http://www.soniclight.com/constable/notes/pdf/2kings.pdf
2.23  he cursed them in the name of the Lord...  Bethel was a center of idolatry in Israel; it was one of the golden calf sites (v. 23). Evidently Elisha's approach triggered a mass demonstration against him by many young men. The Hebrew word na'ar translated "lads" in 2:23 describes young men, not boys...   --Dr. Thomas Constable / http://www.soniclight.com/constable/notes/pdf/2kings.pdf

100921 1 Kings 19-22

1 Kings 19
19.5  And he laid down and slept...  sometimes a very spiritual thing to do.
19.13  What are you doing here?  That is a great question to ask ourselves often.

1Kings 20
20.9  I am having a hard time sorting out what exactly he is saying.
20.11  I love this proverbs.
20.34  Why did he let him go?
20.43  Sounds like a little pouting going on.

1 Kings 21
21.25  none who sold himself ... like Ahab...  I find the expression sold himself to be full of stuff to think about.
21.25  His wife incited... What a great helpmeet.

1Kings 22
22.5 What was Jehoshaphat doing up their with
22.13  let your word be like the word of one of them... but Micaiah was l=not the "get along to go along later.

100919 1 Kings 15-18

1Kings 15
15.3  not wholly true... Now, to me this would seem to indicate some inclination toward the Lord, but the next verse doesn't give much encouragement to that thought.
15.4  nevertheless, for David's sake...   I find this curious, because I am not sure that I would want a wicked offspring to rule just so I would have kin on the throne.  Something to think about.
15.10  Abishalom...  It is said in 1 Kings 15:2 that “his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom;” but in 2 Chr. 13:2 we read, “his mother's name was Michaiah, the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah.” The explanation is that Maachah is just a variation of the name Michaiah, and that Abishalom is probably the same as Absalom, the son of David. It is probable that “Uriel of Gibeah” married Tamar, the daughter of Absalom (2 Sam. 14:27), and by her had Maachah. The word “daughter” in 1 Kings 15:2 will thus, as it frequently elsewhere does, mean grand-daughter.  ---WebBible Encyclopedia
http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/abijah.html?zoom_highlight=abishalom
15.26  and in his sin...  How horrible to have a sin named after your or assigned as "your" sin that you made people so.  God save me from such a sorry legacy.
15.25 Nadab ... did what was evil...

15.33 Basha ... did what was evil...
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1Kings 16
16.7  and because he destroyed it...   Even our sin accomplishes God righteous purposed.
16.8  Elah ... drinking himself drunk ... 
16.12  according to the Word of the Lord... 
16.15, 19  Zimri reigned seven days... his sins ... doing evil ...  Quite a record for seven days.
16.29  Ahab ... did evil ... more than all who were before him...  and over achiever.  :o(
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1Kings 17
17.1  Now Elijah...  A real turn of events.
17.24  now I know that you are a man of God...  It is funny that with the miracle of the unending meal and oil, she wasn't sure of him until now.
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1 Kings 18
18.3  Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly...  It is interesting to have such a strong believer serving so close to the monster Ahab.
18.6  so they divided the land...  Didn't Ahab have people who could do that for him?
18.21  between two opinions...