Daily Bible Reading Day 131

1Kings 20-21; John 3:1-21.  Ahab sees a vineyard close to his house that he desires. Naboth is the owners name and he wont give it to Ahab even though Ahab promises to generously compensate him. Ahab is sullen and wont eat. What a selfish boy! Jezebel promises to deliver it and she does. She arranges a feast with Naboth as head. She or someone else hires two worthless fellows to accuse Naboth of blasphemy. He is taken out and stoned to death. Ahab takes over the vineyard. Then Elijah comes and prophecies Ahab's demise. Ahab puts on sackcloth and ashes. God is impressed with Ahab's humbling of himself and promises that total destruction to Ahab's family wont come in his lifetime, which turns out to be rather short.

Jehoshaphat from Judah comes up to help Ahab against Aram. The false prophets predict victory but Micaiah predicts Ahab's death. In battle Ahab disguises himself but a random arrow finds him and he dies. His son takes over. The son is cut from the same cloth as his father.

Jehoshaphat becomes king during Ahab's fourth year. He's a good king. His attempt to get gold from Ophir fails. Not much is said about him in Kings as compared to Chronicles. Interesting because Chronicles really hails him as one of three kings descended from David that are faithful and walk in David's ways. 

Nicodemus comes to Jesus by night. John will show Nicodemus' growth in faith in two more scenes later in his gospel. This is really a significant scene in John's Gospel. In a sense Israel is confronted with the kingdom and entrance into it but does not fully comprehend. Jesus continues to teach Nicodemus and connects the kingdom with God sending his son (Jesus) into the world as a sacrifice. Today those who are waiting for the kingdom have missed it just like Israel did because they are waiting for the wrong kind of victory. The victorious battle the ended Satan's reign took place on the cross and in the grave and came by the resurrection.