"About this time next year," Elisha said, "you will hold a son in your arms." "No, my lord!" she objected. "Please, man of God, don't mislead your servant!" – 2 Kings 4:16

Today's Scripture Reading (March 7, 2026): 2 Kings 4

An episode of the dramedy M*A*S*H, entitled "Captains Outrageous," chronicles the trials of the company priest, Father Mulcahy, to secure a promotion to Captain. The episode first aired on December 10, 1979. Mulcahy tries to contain his disappointment every time the promotions list comes out, only to find his name isn't on it. However, all of his friends know how much the spiritual leader wants a promotion. The promotion won't change the priest's job at the M*A*S*H, but it will be recognition that he is doing a good job, and sometimes, we all need that kind of encouragement.

Colonel Potter, the company commander, decides to take the bull by the horns and sends a letter to the promotion board that repeatedly uses the word "outstanding" to describe the priest's work. Company clerk Max Klinger takes it upon himself to read the letter of recommendation to Father Mulcahy, but Mulcahy is trying hard not to raise his expectations. After all, he has gone through this dance before; he has repeatedly thought this would be the time for his promotion, and when his name is not on the list, he has felt the crushing disappointment.   

Potter assures his priest that this time the promotion is in the bag, only for the army to lose Mulcahy's file. And, once again, it looks like Mulcahy will be left off the promotions list. Colonel Potter is in a panic and pulls out all the stops to get the promotion through, commenting that his priest starts his prayers with "while I'm in the neighborhood."

The Shunammite woman has sought out Elisha, not because she needed anything, but because she wanted to do something to help Elisha's ministry. She is a woman of affluence, so she needs little. She opens her home to him, prepares meals for him, and even builds a room for the priest on her roof. But there is something in her life she has longed for that has never happened. She has no son, and her husband is old.

So, Elisha calls the woman to him and promises her a son by this time next year. The Shunammite woman responds by asking Elisha not to say that. She has hoped for years, but she still doesn't have a child to hold in her hands. And she doesn't want to get her hopes up. The reaction is very similar to Father Mulcahy's before the promotion. And it is close to how we feel when we have struggled with disappointment over the things of life.

Yet, we, along with the Shunammite woman to whom Elisha is speaking, need to remember that our God can still do anything if we will have a mustard seed's worth of faith and a smattering of hope. And if we are disappointed, God can give us the strength to handle it and go on with the life that is in front of us. But sometimes when we least expect it, God moves to remind us of how important we are to Him.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 5

"By what route shall we attack?" he asked. "Through the Desert of Edom," he answered. – 2 Kings 3:8

Today's Scripture Reading (March 6, 2026): 2 Kings 3

On August 2, 1914, German troops entered Luxembourg and Belgium. Both countries had declared their neutrality in the early days of World War I. Germany had requested free passage through the two territories, but both countries denied Germany access to their land. The problem that Germany faced was that the quickest way to Paris was from the north through Belgium. German strategists had determined that victory in World War I depended on defeating France quickly, so they needed to attack France from the north. The Germans hoped that the other nations would ignore the violation of Luxembourg and Belgium's territories. That didn't happen. The United Kingdom, which had also declared its neutrality, found that the violation of Belgian territory was a bridge too far and entered the war on the side of France.

Germany's move made sense. Between the terrain and France's military build-up on the German-French border, the easier option was to move through Luxembourg and Belgium, if only the rest of the world had allowed that strategy to happen. But they didn't, and taking the route through Belgium might have cost Germany the war, but who knows what might have happened if Germany had taken the harder path to Paris, attacking from the German border to the east of the French Capital.

Moab has been paying tribute to Israel under Ahab's rule. However, after the death of Ahab, Moab decides that this might be the time to break the hold that Israel has on them. Joram takes his father's throne and doesn't want to appear weak before the nations of the world. But he also has no military experience, so he does something that is sometimes very hard for any of us. He asks for help. He asks Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, whether he will support him as Jehoshaphat had supported his father, Ahab, and whether Jehoshaphat has any advice on the route they should take to reach Moab. Israel had a border with Moab in the north. However, Jehoshaphat invites Joram to come through Judah, traveling around the southern end of the Dead Sea, and then through the desert territory of Edom to attack Moab from the south, something that Moab might not be expecting. Unlike Belgium in the First World War, Edom was already paying tribute to Judah, so it was not in any position to stop or oppose this move, if it even knew it was happening.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 4

When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. – 2 Kings 2:1

Today’s Scripture Reading (March 5, 2026): 2 Kings 2

Many years ago, I worked in a local pharmacy. Part of the job was receiving all the advertising materials that went along with selling various companies' products. Advertising campaigns could be complex or exceedingly simple. I remember one year, Hallmark Cards sent out advertising that included one simple statement: “Christmas, December 25.” I admit, we mocked Hallmark that year. “Did you know Christmas falls on December 25 this year?” “I wonder when New Year's is this year? I’m sure Hallmark will send us advertising to tell us.”

The dates for Easter and related special celebrations might shift through late March or early April. Thanksgiving in the United States has been on the fourth Thursday of November since 1941, so the actual date changes, but Turkey Day is always on or between November 22 and 28. In Canada, Thanksgiving always falls on the second Monday, which again is always between a certain set of calendar days. Some special dates remain fixed every year. Christmas, regardless of the Hallmark advertising, is always on December 25. New Year’s Eve always falls on December 31. These dates never change. And I have friends who are already actively preparing for next Christmas Day, which will once again happen on December 25. They anticipate it. And they annoy me with social media posts throughout the year, letting me know how many sleeps are left before Christmas.

It appears that Elijah’s departure from the earth was a well-known event. We aren’t quite sure how so many people knew, but it was expected. Elisha knew that this was the last day for his friend, as did the prophets in Jericho. There were probably others. Something was going to happen on this day. Even Elijah seemed to understand that something special was about to take place.

It was a time like no other. Enoch also appears to have just disappeared without enduring death. Genesis states that, “Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away” (Genesis 5:24). But the event with Enoch doesn’t seem to have been prophesied. The prophecy of being taken away was something that only Elijah experienced. The Prophet had fulfilled his task, and now he was passing the mantle of leadership on to those who would follow him, including his friend Elisha.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 3

Elijah answered the captain, "If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!" Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men. – 2 Kings 1:11

Today's Scripture Reading (March 4, 2026): 2 Kings 1

I remember the brother of one of my friends somehow came to believe that the firetrucks that roamed the city were setting the devastating fires that occasionally broke out wherever people gathered. After all, back in the day, we called these people "firemen," a term that's politically incorrect today. What he couldn't figure out was why the police didn't arrest these men. I mean, they advertise their presence with a siren and drive around in big red trucks. How much easier could it be to arrest these people who are responsible for the destruction and even death of so many people every year?

When I was a young teen, the water heater at my girlfriend's house blew up, burning down the house. I heard the news on the radio while delivering my early morning papers. It was a weird moment to hear the news on the radio, and then receive a panic phone call from my friend before I left for school. The family all survived the incident without injury, but it was a traumatic moment even for me, who lived half a city away. On that day, I was thankful for the firefighters who answered the call in the wee hours of the morning and rescued my friend and her family.

Sometimes I wonder if Elijah had an unhealthy relationship with fire; after all, it was fire that he called down on the sacrifice on Mount Carmel in his battle with the prophets of Ba'al and Asherah. On the day that Elijah was taken up into heaven in a whirlwind, can anyone say tornado, or "I don't think we are in Kansas anymore," it was horses and a chariot of fire that separated Elijah from his lieutenant, Elisha.

As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11).

Here, fire comes down from heaven and consumes the soldiers who came to take Elijah into custody. Some have questioned Elijah's actions here. Did these soldiers really deserve to die? It is a good question, but probably directed at the wrong person.

Ahaziah has fallen, and he has sent for foreign priests to tell him if he will live. But his messengers are intercepted by Elijah, who wants to know why they are going to question a foreign god to find out if the Israelite King will live. And because of their lack of faith, Elijah gives them the answer: no. The messengers returned to Ahaziah, who then sent his soldiers to find Elijah and bring him to Ahaziah. But it wasn't an innocent invitation. Ahaziah was ready to use force to get Elijah to either change his mind or admit that he really doesn't know.

I said I wondered if Elijah had an unhealthy relationship with fire, but that is not really true. After all, in all these circumstances, it isn't Elijah who controls the fire. That decision belongs to God, and God was willing to use fire to send a message first to King Ahab, then to King Ahaziah, and finally to Elisha that God was still on the throne and still ready to help, even the Kings of Israel.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 2

Their father had given them many gifts of silver and gold and articles of value, as well as fortified cities in Judah, but he had given the kingdom to Jehoram because he was his firstborn son. – 2 Chronicles 21:3

Today's Scripture Reading (March 3, 2026): 2 Chronicles 21

An heir and a spare. The concept that, in hereditary circles, families need someone to take the mantle of leadership, and a backup just in case the unthinkable happens. In British Royalty, we don't have to go back too far to find a moment of the unthinkable. On December 11, 1936, Edward VIII abdicated after less than 11 months on the throne of the United Kingdom, and George VI, the spare, became King. Elizabeth, who became one of the longest serving monarchs, was less than a spare at the time of Uncle Ed's abdication. It seems that George VI was okay with being a spare, never really wanting to be King. But the reluctant King was one of the leaders the British Empire needed during the Second World War.

Not all spares have been comfortable with the idea. Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, seems to have been one of those who were uncomfortable with the reality of living as a "spare." As a result, he disengaged himself from the working Royals and left the Empire for a greener pasture, he thought might have been available for him in the United States. Of course, as happens in Royal families, today, Harry is less than a spare in the family. The true spare at this moment in time is actually Princess Charlotte.

With the release of the "Epstein Files," a lot has been made of the troubles of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. We have seen pictures of the Prince with young girls, but we probably have no idea of Andrew's actual involvement with the "Epstein girls." I sometimes wonder how much the concept of being "the spare" had to do with some of the former Prince's later actions. Andrew was born second in the British line of succession, but his position has eroded, and today he is eighth in line for the throne. That does not excuse his actions, but it might shed light on why he made such horrible decisions rather than sticking up for the weak who were being exploited around him.

When Jehoshaphat died, he had made some good decisions regarding his heir and the spares in the family. First, he gave the "spares" gifts of silver, gold, and other valuables. These items were theirs to dispose of as they willed, but there was no more coming once this wealth was gone. But he also spread them throughout the nation and gave them ways to live substantial, important lives. To Jehoram were given the keys of the Kingdom, but his brothers held substantial positions and jobs that were relatively unconnected with the King and the other princes. And maybe that at least had the potential to keep the brothers away from trouble. At the very least, it would hopefully keep them from plotting the overthrow of the heir in favor of one of the spares.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 1

After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat. – 2 Chronicles 20:1

Today's Scripture Reading (March 2, 2026): 2 Chronicles 20

Maybe one of the saddest songs ever written was Simon and Garfunkel's "I Am a Rock." The song was written by Paul Simon very early in his career. In the United Kingdom, the song was released three times in one year. Simon's singing partner Art Garfunkel has called the song one of the most neurotic songs Simon ever wrote. The lyrics of the song describe the dangers of friendship and assert that if you have never loved, you would never have cried. Amazingly, and maybe this is a significant comment on our society, the song strikes a chord with the listener. One of our deepest needs is for a friend who will stand by us through all of the circumstances of life.

Several years ago, a friend told me a story of a night he had experienced in his youth. He thought everything was going well in his life until the night he found himself stranded with a car that wouldn't run and realized that, at two in the morning, he had no one to call. He knew he had a lot of friends, but no one close enough to wake up and ask for help in the wee hours of the morning. He had no money or credit cards, and no real options. That night, my friend discovered that two a.m. friends are rare; very rare.

During the reign of David, Israel's king had subdued the nations of Edom and Moab. Both bordered Israel and effectively became its satellites. But being a satellite of Israel was very different from being friends with David's nation. They found themselves in a position of friendship with Israel only because of Israel's military power. When the nation of Israel was divided into two, Edom became attached to the Southern nation of Judah, and Moab to the Northern kingdom of Israel.

This incident takes place after the death of King Ahab of Israel. Judah found themselves in a two a.m. phase of their history. It would be a time when they would need all of the friends that they could find. But Moab would not prove to be one of those friends. Instead, they took advantage of the confusion in Israel and Judah to cut ties with the nations. It was a time when a decline of Israel's power had begun.

In the Simon song, the singer sings that he touches no one and no one touches him. It is a sentiment that never really works. A truly successful person is never an island. Maybe our success can really be defined by the number of friends who will answer our calls, even at two in the morning when things are not going very well.    

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 21

Now let the fear of the LORD be on you. Judge carefully, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.” – 2 Chronicles 19:7

Today’s Scripture Reading (March 1, 2026): 2 Chronicles 19

I live in an age when higher court judges seem unnecessary. This lack of importance is not because the issues are unimportant, but because we can predict the court’s action with uncanny accuracy. Judges, who are supposed to be impartial, rule in accordance with political expectations far too often. It is no longer a question of reading the law and acting on what it says; the task now seems to include writing a commentary on whether the law is right or wrong, a task that is not part of the court’s mandate.

However, is it possible that the problem is us? We seem to want to make faith the basis for the law of the land. In a society that rails against censorship, we celebrate the restriction of places where the Ten Commandments can be displayed. What is it that is so offensive in the Big Ten? Maybe it is that we have forgotten there should be a line between faith and the law. The first four commandments are a matter of faith, and while I think they are beneficial, I think they are matters of faith. Even so, the commandment against allowing dirt to fall on the name of God, or to take the name of God in vain, could be associated with an understanding in society that it is not beneficial to dance on the nation’s flag. And the next commandment, again not enforceable, is simply take a day off because you are healthier if you do. Number five is also unenforceable, but still a good idea in most circumstances. It says we should honor our parents and those who have gone before us. Maybe we should realize that the law has a job, but so do the spiritual institutions in our society, which teach us to do the right things that go beyond the letter of the law.

However, there is no doubt that society cannot exist if the law does not restrict murder, theft, and dishonesty in certain situations. Such rules must be enforced if society is to exist. But things like mercy and compassion are also needed in society. The idea of not committing adultery or coveting what belongs to someone else is simply a teaching about trust while living in society. All in all, at least 80% of the Big Ten are simply good ideas to follow to strengthen our communities, whether or not they are enforceable as laws.

Jehoshaphat appoints judges and admonishes them to render judgments not as they think, but as is right according to the law. If something makes that not possible, the judges need to address those circumstances. Because, in the end, this was between the judge and God. And if the judge couldn’t be impartial, then they were unnecessary and would harm society rather than be a source of healing and health.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 20