1 Kings 17
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1 Kings 17:21-24, And he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, please let this child’s life return to him.” The Lord heard Elijah’s prayer, and the life of the child returned, and he revived! Then Elijah brought him down from the upper room and gave him to his mother. “Look!” he said. “Your son is alive!”
Then the woman told Elijah, “Now I know for sure that you are a man of God, and that the Lord truly speaks through you.”
The evil of King Ahab and the idolatry and disobedience among God’s people has gotten really, really bad. Thus, God sends prophets to point out the error of their ways and essentially be their theological conscience.
In this chapter, we meet the prophet Elijah. His name literally means “My God is Yahweh” and that is basically the theme of his entire career. The chapter begins with Elijah proclaiming to King Ahab that there would be no rain for the next few years until the one true God declared it so. This is particularly important because the main Canaanite god, Baal, was worshiped as the god of rain. By Yahweh stopping all rain and dew, he is declaring that HE alone is God and that Baal is a fake god with no power.
The Scripture doesn’t explicitly state the response of King Ahab but we can guess it wasn’t good, for God tells Elijah to leave the area and go hide by Kerith Brook.
As you read through the chapter, Elijah’s obedience and trust in God are quite remarkable. He trusts God to provide provisions for food and water through animals and people! My favorite aspect of this chapter is how God uses an impoverished outsider, the widow of Sidon (a city in what is now Lebanon), to provide care and nourishment to one of the most faithful of all of God’s prophets. Keep in mind that a widow would have been one of the poorest and most vulnerable people in that world. And yet, God chooses her and she (possibly out of desperation) agrees to be part of God’s plan. As a result, she and her son are saved from the drought, the ensuing famine, and even illness. At the end of the chapter, her faithfulness to Elijah is rewarded with God bringing her son back to life. By being faithful and open to God at work, this widow puts to shame many others who rejected the one true God.
How often God uses the weak and lowly to shame the powerful. I think this is something we all need to reflect on today. When have you personally seen this at work?
Let’s pray…Lord, Help us remember who and whose we are. How often we behave like we have all the answers, like we don’t need you, like we know better than you. Forgive us, God. Help us live with a spirit of humility and grace, being open to new things you are doing in our lives. In Your Name, Amen.
1 Kings 16
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I Kings 16:29-34, In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years. Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than did all the kings of Israel before him. In Ahab’s time, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho. He laid its foundations at the cost of his firstborn son Abiram, and he set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, in accordance with the word of the Lord spoken by Joshua son of Nun.
The Northern Kingdom is one, hot sinful mess! King after king, there is disobedience, idolatry, and violence. By the time we get to King Ahab at the end of chapter 16, we think it can’t get any worse. And yet, it really does. Ahab was the worst of the worst. He went above and beyond when it came to deliberately thumbing his nose at God and he took pagan worship to a new level.
Then, there was child sacrifice. To be honest, I wasn’t really clear about what verse 34 meant – what does it mean to build the foundations of a city or the gates at the cost of a child? Apparently, infants (alive or dead) would be placed in a container and then literally placed in the masonry of the foundation. The idea was to ward off evil and please the gods. I have a hard time even typing the words. How absolutely horrific and blatantly against the law of the one true God.
One more aspect of Ahab’s total disregard for the Lord – the rebuilding of Jericho. Most of you probably remember the great story of Joshua and the people of God conquering Jericho after circling for seven days. At the time, God warned of death to the person (and their family) who attempted to rebuild the city. And Ahab rebuilt it. The author is reminding us that while it might not appear to be so, God’s Word still stands. God is still in control. Ahab will not have the final word. Evil does not win.
Let’s pray…Lord, We trust in YOUR Word and YOUR Word alone. In the midst of evil, we cling to you. Remind us of your presence today. We need you, Lord, oh how we need you! More of you and less of me. In Your Name, Amen.
1 Kings 15
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I Kings 15:11-14, Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as his father David had done. He expelled the male shrine prostitutes from the land and got rid of all the idols his ancestors had made. He even deposed his grandmother Maakah from her position as queen mother, because she had made a repulsive image for the worship of Asherah. Asa cut it down and burned it in the Kidron Valley. Although he did not remove the high places, Asa’s heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life. He brought into the temple of the Lord the silver and gold and the articles that he and his father had dedicated.
And so begins the saga of various kings reigning over both Israel (the Northern Kingdom) and Judah (the Southern Kingdom).
In the Northern Kingdom, there is a quick turnover of leadership, which naturally leads to instability. There is also a blatant disregard for God’s laws, including what has become a culture of pagan worship. We see God occasionally send a prophet to hold the king accountable, and regardless of whether the king changes his behavior, we can see the Lord attempting to be in relationship with his people and call his people back to him.
In the Southern Kingdom, there were also a number of leaders, some who disobeyed God and others who made an earnest attempt to follow God’s law. In today’s focus verses, we meet King Asa who does what was right in the Lord’s eyes. He cleans up the pagan symbols and altars, the shrine prostitutes, and brings the precious articles back to the temple.
What’s interesting is that in the Southern Kingdom, even when the kings are disobedient, God extends grace because of David’s obedience and devotion. In some ways, God gives them a pass because he remembered the faithfulness of their forefather David. Even when the kings were sinful, God kept his promise. He promised that a descendent of David would sit on the throne forever and he made it so. Our God is a God who keeps his promises.
How many of you need to hear today that God keeps his promises? Even when we fall away, God keeps his promises. Even when life feels hard, God keeps his promises.
Below is a list of just a few of God’s promises. Remember them today.
1. God promises to always be with you. Matthew 28:20 (and surely I am with them always, even to the end of the age), Hebrews 13:5 ( Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Romans 8:38-39 (For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.)
2. God promises strength. 1 Cor. 10:13 (No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[b] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.), 2 Cor. 12:9 ( But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me), Phil. 4:13 (I can do all this through him who gives me strength.), Eph. 6:10 (Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.)
3. God promises peace. John 14:27 (Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.), John 16:33 (“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”)
4. God promises to answer prayers. Luke 11:9 (“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.), John 16:24 (Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.) Matthew 7:8 (For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
5. God promises to take care of your needs. Matthew 6:32-33 (For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.), 2 Cor. 9:8 (And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.)
6. God promises freedom from sin. John 8:36 (So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.), Romans 6:22 (But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.), Romans 8:1 (Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…)
7. God promises everlasting life. John 3:16 (For God so loved the world…), I John 5:13-14 ( I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life…)
Let’s pray…Lord, thank you for your faithfulness. Thank you for your steadfastness. Thank you for your love. Help us always remember that we can count on your promises. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
1 Kings 14
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Scripture – 1 Kings 14:6-8: 6So when Ahijah heard the sound of her footsteps at the door, he said, “Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why this pretense? I have been sent to you with bad news. 7Go, tell Jeroboam that this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I raised you up from among the people and made you a leader over my people Israel. 8I tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you but you have not been like my servant David, who kept my commands and followed me with all his heart, doing only what is right in my eyes.’”
To put this in context, remember that in 1 Kings 11, the prophet Ahijah told Jeroboam that God would make him the King of Israel and would build a dynasty as enduring as the one He built for David, if Jeroboam would walk in obedience and do what is right in God’s eyes.
As I read this scripture, I flashback to my mother. I remember how she would give me loving, gentle guidance and encouragement. I remember how she would speak to me about doing the right things and warn me not to put myself in a bad situation. And I remember the direct conversations (well really reminders, because I wasn’t talking much) she would have with me when I screwed up. Perhaps some of this example rings true with you.
The encouragement: “Sure, you can have the car tonight. Have fun with your friends.”
The conditions: “Be sure to be home on time. Remember, nothing good happens after curfew.”
The consequences: “Don’t think you can sneak in at this hour. I have been waiting up, worried about you. We’ll talk about this more tomorrow, but you’re grounded and can’t use the car for the next two weeks.”
God sends prophets to us, He sends the Holy Spirit to us, He speaks to us constantly, if only we will listen. And there is always a price to pay when His grace in sending us guidance contrasts with a faithless response. As we see with Jeroboam, as well as Rehoboam, a king cannot properly rule himself or his people without humility and ongoing dependence on God’s help. And while we are not kings, as friends, as spouses, as parents, as leaders in every field of human endeavor, and as ambassadors for Jesus in our lives, we have to keep the same prayerful, humble, obedient posture. Just like with Mom, we are encouraged and blessed, we are given a chance to understand the conditions, and we understand that there will be consequences if we err. This is important as we live our lives. It is magnified in importance when our decisions and actions affect our friends, our families, our coworkers, our church, or our community.
As you reflect on the lessons from the prophet Ahijah (or Mom), consider this:
What actions or decisions are facing you today that you should approach with prayer?
Is there a nudge from the Holy Spirit that you have been resisting? Why?
Is there a major event in your future that you really know you need to approach with an abundance of God’s guidance?
Can you think of a situation where taking time to pray, to wait for God’s direction, is a bad thing to do?
Let’s Pray.
Abba Father, you bless us in so many ways and you offer us so much more, asking only that we worship and serve you. You sent your Son to show us how to live, how to pray, how to serve, how to love. Through Him, we are redeemed, no matter how we fall short of your plan. Your Holy Spirit lives in us and guides us in all things if we will only listen. Thank you for your gifts and grace. Help us today to be humble, to be patient, to be prayerful, to be attentive and to be obedient. Help us be the best representative for Jesus we can be in our thoughts, words, and actions. Amen.
(P.S. And thanks for Mom. Happy Mother’s Day!) Paul Brooks
1 Kings 13
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I Kings 13:1-5, At the Lord’s command, a man of God from Judah went to Bethel, arriving there just as Jeroboam was approaching the altar to burn incense. Then at the Lord’s command, he shouted, “O altar, altar! This is what the Lord says: A child named Josiah will be born into the dynasty of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests from the pagan shrines who come here to burn incense, and human bones will be burned on you.” That same day the man of God gave a sign to prove his message. He said, “The Lord has promised to give this sign: This altar will split apart, and its ashes will be poured out on the ground.”
When King Jeroboam heard the man of God speaking against the altar at Bethel, he pointed at him and shouted, “Seize that man!” But instantly the king’s hand became paralyzed in that position, and he couldn’t pull it back. At the same time a wide crack appeared in the altar, and the ashes poured out, just as the man of God had predicted in his message from the Lord.
Jeroboam has instituted his own cult in the Northern kingdom. A prophet visits him to warn him of the consequences of his disobedience. What are the consequences? Well, a new king, Josiah, will rise up who will clean up the pagan altars, kill the pagan priests, and punish Jeroboam. As a sign of the authenticity of the prophet’s message, he says that the altar by which Jeroboam was standing would split in two. Jeroboam isn’t thrilled with this message, of course, and attempts to get the man seized but God intervenes. Jeroboam’s hand is paralyzed and then, just as the man prophesied, the altar splits and the ashes pour out. Yes, the message is all true; there is no doubt it will come to pass.
This is a bit of an odd chapter. Be sure to read through it all. The man of God who visited Jeroboam ends up with an untimely death because of disobedience himself. You see, no matter who you are, there are always consequences to sin. Always. We live on the other side of the cross and while we can repent and receive forgiveness, we still often must face the consequences of our own bad choices: debt, divorce, job loss, relationship issues, and damage to the Kingdom. Think of an example of when your sin caused consequences you deeply regretted. How did the situation play out? Was there healing and restoration OR are you continuing to deal with the pain of sin? Whatever the situation, submit it to God today.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, We need you. On our own, we get ourselves into all kinds of messes. We sin, we harm others, and we harm your Kingdom. Forgive us, Lord. Help us continue to seek you, to resist temptation, and to have laser focus on who you have called us to be. More of you, Jesus, and less of me. Amen.
1 Kings 12
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1 Kings 12:16-19, When all Israel realized that the king had refused to listen to them, they responded,
“Down with the dynasty of David!
We have no interest in the son of Jesse.
Back to your homes, O Israel!
Look out for your own house, O David!”
So the people of Israel returned home. But Rehoboam continued to rule over the Israelites who lived in the towns of Judah.
King Rehoboam sent Adoniram, who was in charge of forced labor, to restore order, but the people of Israel stoned him to death. When this news reached King Rehoboam, he quickly jumped into his chariot and fled to Jerusalem. And to this day the northern tribes of Israel have refused to be ruled by a descendant of David.
Rehoboam, the king who succeeded Solomon, has the ability to unite his people but his own arrogance gets in the way. Listening to poor counsel and his own ego, he instead decides to rule with a heavy hand and oppress the people. When those in the Northern regions hear about this, they decide it’s time to separate from Judah. They want nothing to do with Rehoboam and reject his rule over them. They boldly state that they will not have a descendant of David in authority over them.
What an avoidable mess. With one bad decision, Rehoboam tears down what David and Solomon worked so hard to build. The truth is that it’s a lot easier to break apart what belongs together than restore what’s already broken. Can you think of examples of this in your own life? Relationships, families, organizations, churches – it is so much harder to restore than it is to dismantle.
Friends, what broken things in your life need restoration? Take a moment and pray for that right now. Jesus Christ is the only true way to restore and rebuild. Lean into Jesus.
Jesus…Hear our prayers…
1 Kings 11
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I Kings 11:9-13, The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord’s command. So the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.”
Solomon had many, many, many women, wives and concubines from many foreign nations. He begins to worship their gods. He begins to drift from the one true God.
Friends, we could kind of see this coming. Those with absolute power and tremendous wealth have a hard time not getting distracted and to say Solomon was distracted is an understatement. The author of 1 Kings says that Solomon’s wives led him astray but let’s be real, hearts begin to drift far before we make that bad decision. Solomon had probably gradually, slowly been becoming more self-absorbed, self-reliant, and focused on his own wants and needs. Self-importance and arrogance is the beginning of thinking that we don’t really need God. We don’t need to seek God’s will. We’ve got it all covered.
But Solomon had broken God’s covenant and for that, there would be consequences. More tomorrow…
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, We don’t have it all covered. Sometimes we act like we do but it just isn’t the case. Create in me a clean heart, O Lord, and create a right spirit within me. In Your Name, Amen.
1 Kings 10
New Hope Daily SOAP: 1 Kings 10
Pastor Vicki Harrison
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1 Kings 10:23-25, So King Solomon became richer and wiser than any other king on earth. People from every nation came to consult him and to hear the wisdom God had given him. Year after year everyone who visited brought him gifts of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.
This chapter goes into great detail about both the wealth and wisdom of King Solomon. The Queen of Sheba comes to ask him hard questions and see if what she has heard about this man is true. She leaves satisfied that King Solomon is indeed a man of God and wise beyond measure.
The focus verses for today serve as a summary of the entire chapter. Solomon is wiser and richer than any king who came before and any king who came after him. People are amazed by him and Solomon has many visitors who gifted him with even more wealth. God certainly has kept his promise to Solomon.
That being said, rarely does a human being have so much wealth and power without being corrupted by it in some way. Can you name one billionaire that maintained integrity and focus on the right things throughout their entire life? Thus, this begs the question – will Solomon continue to be true to God because of God’s faithfulness to him? Will Solomon stay wise to the end? More to come…
Let’s pray…Lord, Help us stay wise to the end. Help us end our lives strongly, focused on you, living faithfully, and pointing others toward Jesus. On our own, we can’t do this. We need you. More of you, Jesus, and less of me. In Your Name, Amen.
1 Kings 9
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Our scripture reading today is from 1 Kings 9:3-9 (NIV). As always, we recommend you read the entire chapter for more insight.
1 Kings 9:3-9
The LORD said to him (Solomon): “I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.
“As for you, if you walk before me faithfully with integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’”
“But if you or your descendants turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. Israel will then become a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. This temple will become a heap of rubble. All who pass by will be appalled and will scoff and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the LORD their God, who brought their ancestors out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why the LORD brought all this disaster on them.’”
King Solomon was greatly used by God in many ways. He received wisdom and riches from God. He built a beautiful temple because God chose him for that, and God’s presence later dwelt there. Solomon’s dedication of the temple in 1 Kings 8 is a humble, awe-filled occasion marked by thousands of sacrifices and a prayer overflowing with faith and praise. God responded to Solomon’s faithfulness of himself and his nation as He had responded to David (2 Damuel 7) and to Solomon earlier (1 Kings 3). God promised Solomon continued blessings for his undivided faithfulness and praise to our Almighty God.
But, if Solomon, and the subsequent kings, or the people abandoned the Lord’s covenant, God would do three things. He would remove the people from their land, abandon the temple, and make Israel the object of ridicule among all people.
As I read this scripture preparing for today’s SOAP, I realized that this was another covenant between God, and Israel’s people led by Solomon. Another great opportunity for Israel to once again ‘right their ship’ and move forward with God. Solomon would receive the continued blessings of the Lord if he stayed obedient and faithful to only our God.
My mind raced to thoughts of Solomon and the busyness of his days. All the wives, all the children, the major construction projects, his wealth, interactions with foreign leaders and caring for the workers and inhabitants of Israel would surely have been impediments to his covenant. But, how could Solomon not choose to follow God?
I compared Solomon’s life to mine. I realize that I have let the responsibilities of my everyday life negatively impact my walk with God, both in the past, present, and surely in the future. So what’s the difference between Solomon and me (besides his wealth and wisdom)? JESUS! My Lord and Savior stands in the gap for my sins and shortcomings. Through the Holy Spirit, my Godly family, my Connect Group, my pastors, and Christian friends, I am gently (and sometimes firmly) nudged back into the arms of Jesus where I belong. Let’s pray.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for sending your Son to die for our past, present and future sins. Lord, during those times when we ‘nibble my way lost’, our prayer is for your Holy Spirit to direct us back into a right relationship with You. God, renew our souls and use us as an instrument for your glory.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Paul Lancaster
1 Kings 8
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1 Kings 8:10-13, When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled his temple. Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud; I have indeed built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever.”
This is a very theologically significant chapter so if you didn’t get a chance to read the whole narrative, I would encourage you to do so now. We see God’s promise to Abraham, Moses, and David fulfilled with the dedication of the temple. We see the normal pomp and circumstance of a religious building dedication but there is also the amazing presence of God, Solomon’s genuine prayers, and words of both encouragement and warning.
The focus verses today refer to the presence of God filling the Holy Place in the newly built temple. The priests couldn’t finish their service because the glory of God was so powerful.
Obviously, we don’t experience God’s glory in the form of a cloud (I guess we could but I personally haven’t.) We do experience the powerful glory of God in other ways. Because of the Holy Spirit, we can be assured that God’s presence is always with us, closer than our very breath. In fact, there is no place we can go where God’s presence is not. That being said, there are specific times in our lives in which we experience God’s glory and presence in very real ways. These are times in which God’s beauty, grace, and manifold goodness show up in undeniable ways and we know, “Wow, I’ve just experienced God.”
I have experienced God’s glory in various ways. There are some times in which I’m sure God is showing up but I’m simply not paying attention. Other times, it is unmistakable – an answered prayer, a healing, a spiritual conversation or prayer with a stranger, special time with loved ones, a powerful worship service in which God’s Spirit is almost palpable, hearing God’s still-small voice, or even in the beauty of nature. When did you last experience God’s glory? Share this with someone today!
Let’s pray…Lord, We seek you. Show us your glory. Help us be aware of you in our lives. In Your Name, Amen.
1 Kings 7
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I Kings 7:1-4, Solomon also built a palace for himself, and it took him thirteen years to complete the construction. One of Solomon’s buildings was called the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon. It was 150 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. There were four rows of cedar pillars, and great cedar beams rested on the pillars. The hall had a cedar roof. Above the beams on the pillars were forty-five side rooms, arranged in three tiers of fifteen each. On each end of the long hall were three rows of windows facing each other. All the doorways and doorposts had rectangular frames and were arranged in sets of three, facing each other.
What’s interesting, as we read about the construction of the temple, is that Solomon also builds himself a palace. While the temple construction is detailed, Solomon’s personal palace is even more so and it takes nearly twice the time to build. It is larger and thus, most likely more expensive. Remember, he used conscripted labor for his own palace. This can’t help but send up red flags for the reader. While Solomon asked for wisdom, it appears he doesn’t always use it.
The question we will continue to ask as we witness Solomon’s time on the throne, “Is this palace and all of Solomon’s wealth a sign of God’s blessing OR a sign of self-indulgence?” We all would be wise to reflect on this question in our own lives as well.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, We want to be good stewards of all you have given us. Help us use our resources well, in ways that honor you. Give us true wisdom, Lord. In Your name, Amen.
1 Kings 6
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1 Kings 6:11-13, The word of the Lord came to Solomon: “As for this temple you are building, if you follow my decrees, observe my laws and keep all my commands and obey them, I will fulfill through you the promise I gave to David your father. And I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people Israel.”
Throughout the stories of Solomon, there is a pattern that develops. Solomon does some kind of activity and we wait to see if God approves. We can see that here as well. Solomon is building the temple with great attention to detail. Then, in our focus verses, we can see God give his approval. Of course, approval is always dependent on covenant faithfulness. If Solomon keeps the commands of God and walks in obedience, then he will prosper, the temple will remain, and God will be with Israel.
This leads us to an important point. Kings and temples can fall. God is God over everything. God can easily bring down a temple, a monarch, or a whole nation, if they repeatedly disobey. On the contrary, God can protect and expand the territory of a king and a nation if they obey the ways of God. As I read this, I can’t help but think of what is to come. God will make good on his promise: the kings do not stay obedient, the people stray, and the nation will fall.
Let’s pray…Almighty God, We know that you are Lord of all. You are all-powerful and all-knowing, the God of all history. You call us to be obedient. Help us do so, Lord. On our own, we are just like the Israelites. We need you at work within us. Help us grow our roots deep into Jesus so that we can be grounded in YOU and only YOU. Amen.
1 Kings 5
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1 Kings 5:13-18, King Solomon conscripted laborers from all Israel—thirty thousand men. He sent them off to Lebanon in shifts of ten thousand a month, so that they spent one month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor. Solomon had seventy thousand carriers and eighty thousand stonecutters in the hills, as well as thirty-three hundred foremen who supervised the project and directed the workers. At the king’s command they removed from the quarry large blocks of high-grade stone to provide a foundation of dressed stone for the temple. The craftsmen of Solomon and Hiram and workers from Byblos cut and prepared the timber and stone for the building of the temple.
Now that there is peace in Israel, Solomon decides that it is time to begin work on the temple. As you might recall, David had wanted to build a temple for the Lord but God had declined. Instead, God simply wanted David to lead the people. God also made a covenant with David that one of his descendants would be on the throne forever. In the covenant (refer to 2 Samuel 7), God also mentions that one of David’s descendants “will build a house for my name.” That descendant is Solomon.
Thus, Solomon hatches a plan. He makes an alliance of sorts with the King of Tyre who can provide labor and lumber. As we see from today’s focus verses, the men of Israel also had to play a role in the manual labor required for the massive undertaking. Solomon enlists the very unpopular practice of conscription, forced labor, but he does not make slaves of the people. They work in shifts. This required tremendous coordination, management, and skilled labor.
I was trying to think of a more modern equivalent to compare this to, maybe the making of some of the larger cathedrals. What kinds of massive undertakings do you know of that humans have taken to please the Lord?
Let’s pray…Lord, We truly want to please you. While I don’t believe you are calling us to build you a temple or a cathedral, we know you are calling us to make sacrifices and do hard things for you. Give us wisdom and discernment so that we know what our next steps look like. In Your Name, Amen.
1 Kings 4
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Scripture – 1 Kings 4:29, 31b-34 “God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.… And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He described plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also taught about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.
This chapter of 1 Kings describes how Solomon built his organization, amassed his personal and shareholder wealth, compensated his corporate officers (assuming they met their quota or budget), and held court in the presence of the global elite. Today, we might see parallels in some of the biggest tech giants and reruns of “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.” Wow! What a Guy!
But, as we know, Solomon was cruising away from the Word of God, when He told him to “walk in my ways.” (1 Kings 3:14) In truly Adam-esque fashion, Solomon was heading for a fall. It is a reminder that the appearance of success and prominence in this world (or even how many proverbs or songs we can recite) cannot supersede the commitment we make to give our very best effort to God’s commands at all times. We will fail from time to time. We will be nudged back on track by the Holy Spirit, if we will stop, grow quiet in prayer, and listen.
It isn’t the last reminder of this in the Bible. In Matthew 19:16-30, Mark 10:17-31, and Luke 18:18-30, Jesus tells us via his conversation with the Rich Man that through deep faithfulness, trust in God that all things are possible, and sacrifice in the ways this world views as success, we can inherit eternal life.
As a citizen in the wealthiest, most educated, and arguably the most fair and wise country on earth, I think about how easy it is for me to fall into the same trap as Solomon. Perhaps you feel the same.
As we reflect on all of this, here are some considerations:
How can I use my time, talents, presence, and witness to make more and better followers of Jesus, rather than more and better comforts and plaudits for my actions?
How can I become more firmly Rooted in God’s Word, Renewed by the Holy Spirit, and Reaching the world for Jesus?
How can I give up a little more to the benefit of the poor in spirit or in comfort or in safety or in freedom?
How can I help New Hope be the Best Church FOR the Communities We Serve?
Prayer – Lord Jesus, Thank you for your blessed life and sacrifice, and for the salvation you have given us. Thank you for your wisdom, which you graciously shared with us. And thank you for your grace as we struggle and fall short of your plan for us. I confess I am caught up in the wrong things more often than I should be. I am quick to focus on success as we define it in this world, to the detriment of my focus on the lessons you have taught me. Forgive me. I will try to do better. I will strive to pray more, listen more closely to the Holy Spirit, and as James wrote in James 1:22: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive [myself]. Do what it says.” Guide me, please. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Paul Brooks
1 Kings 3
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1 Kings 3:7-14, “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”
It seems that Solomon starts his reign out fairly well. Solomon was following God’s laws, making the appropriate sacrifices, and walking with the Lord. Then, Solomon, recognizing his own immaturity and lack of experience, asks God for a discerning, obedient heart so that he can administer wisdom in his kingdom. This pleases God because Solomon doesn’t ask for selfish favors, but rather the ability to help other people. In response, God grants wisdom, wealth, and fame to Solomon. The only caveat to all this is that Solomon continues to obey God’s commands.
In the last part of this chapter, we get a glimpse into Solomon’s new wisdom being tested. It’s a very famous story so be sure to read through it if you didn’t already. Solomon administers justice with compassion.
Let’s pray…Lord, We all need your wisdom and discernment. Help us be aware of you at work in our lives and help us make wise and compassionate decisions in a way that point others toward you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
1 Kings 2
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1 Kings 2:2-6, “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’
“Now you yourself know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood he stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.
David is about to die and provides some advice to his son, Solomon, the new king of Israel. It’s troubling advice, as he provides spiritual wisdom quickly followed by political strategizing that will lead to bloodshed. The first part of his advice is Godly and sounds like the wisdom of a man after God’s own heart: Follow God’s laws and walk in obedience to him and then you will prosper. But the second half of David’s advice is about securing the kingdom. All sense of faithfulness is now gone out the window: Avenge your father, kill those people who have done us wrong, and ensure your place on the throne. Hmmm… On the one hand, David tells Solomon to follow God and keep Torah. On the other, he tells Solomon to avenge, kill, and break Torah.
Over the past few months, we have walked through all the Scriptures that detail David’s life. Overall, he was a faithful man who rarely wavered from following the Lord. He definitely had some rough patches though, in which he fell away and sinned horrifically against God and other people. But he was always repentant and turned back toward God. Over this last little portion of his life, however, it seems that David consults God less and in many ways has grown angry and bitter.
What can we learn from King David’s life? He is referred to as a man after God’s own heart. He wrote many of the Psalms which we read over and over again and use in worship and song. He loved God and his allegiance was undeniable. On the other hand, he was a human king and there were many times in which lust, fear, and arrogance ruled the day. What do you take away from these months of studying King David?
Let’s close with a prayer from the 23rd Psalm, written by David many years earlier:
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen.
1 Kings 1
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1 Kings 1:38-40, So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon mount King David’s mule, and they escorted him to Gihon. Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!” And all the people went up after him, playing pipes and rejoicing greatly, so that the ground shook with the sound.
Today, we begin the book of 1 Kings, which functions kind of like a sequel to 2 Samuel. There isn’t conclusive evidence as to who actually wrote 1, 2 Kings. Tradition credits Jeremiah as the author but there is little indication that is true. What we do know is that the book was written before the Jews went into exile by someone very familiar with Deuteronomy, as well as other historical texts related to the monarchy. Thus, it could have been any of the prophets. The general theme seems to be that Israel’s well-being is intricately related to their obedience to the covenant and their ability to listen to God’s prophets.
What’s the gist of chapter one? David’s history of poor/permissive parenting is continuing to cause problems. King David is now very old and sick. He’s weak. Thus, one of his sons, Abdonijah, decides to take control of the throne. Abdonijah doesn’t ask for his father’s permission or his blessing; he manipulates the situation to ensure that he gets to be king. His arrogance is a bit appalling but seems in line with David’s other sons. Abdonijah recruits powerful people to support him. This whole scene creates a serious issue. David had promised Bathsheba that their son, Solomon, would be king. The way things were going, it wouldn’t be long before Abdonijah had Solomon killed to ensure that he would have no rivals for the throne.
Both Bathsheba and Nathan the prophet step in to inform King David. They have to move quickly. David summons equally powerful men to support Solomon. Then, they place Solomon on David’s own mule as a sign that he is the next king. Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint Solomon as king and he is placed on David’s throne.
Keep in mind that the previous kings were not chosen this way. With both Saul and David, the prophet Samuel communicated God’s choice for king. With Solomon, things are different. This is to signal the beginning of the Davidic dynasty, which will eventually culminate with Jesus Christ. God has kept his promise to David.
Let’s pray…Lord, we thank you because you are a God who keeps his promises. We are incredibly grateful for how you have intervened throughout human history so that we could be reconciled to you through Jesus Christ. You are so very good. In Your Name, Amen.
Luke 24
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Luke 24:30-32, When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
After the resurrection, some of Jesus’ disciples head home, sorrowful and dejected. They are walking to the town of Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They have dedicated the last few years of their life to following Jesus and now it’s all over. He’s been killed. They’ve heard that the tomb is empty but at this point, they don’t understand what’s happened. I picture them walking slowly, dragging their feet a bit, shoulders slumped over. They have no idea what’s next, as their whole lives have now been turned upside-down.
A man approaches them. It’s Jesus but they don’t see it yet. They tell the man all about Jesus of Nazareth and what had happened to him over the past several days. The man spoke boldly, teaching them all about the Scriptures and how they point to how the Messiah must suffer and die. When the man acts as if he needs to head in a different direction, these disciples insist that he come a stay the night with them.
It’s that evening, as Jesus breaks bread with these men, that their eyes are opened and they see the resurrected Lord. It’s clear now. I love how it’s in the table fellowship, in the breaking of bread, in communion, that they see Jesus Christ.
When we celebrate communion together as a family of faith, we also have the opportunity to see the resurrected Lord, to experience his presence in a powerful way, to allow the power of God to break into our lives and church. Think about the last time you received communion. Did you think about it this way? The presence of the resurrected Lord is there. He is there. Do we choose to see him?
Let’s pray…Jesus, Help us see you. Help us experience the power of the resurrection. More of you and less of me. Amen.
John 20
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John 20:1-10, Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
He is Risen!!! Happy Easter Sunday! My prayer for each of you is that you can experience resurrection hope today in a very powerful way. Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Death has been defeated. Hope is alive.
Today’s Scripture is some of my favorite. Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed. She went to get Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved (most likely John, the author). They rushed to the tomb. Jesus’ body was no longer there but the strips of cloth used to wrap his dead body were still present.
John went inside. He saw and believed. Think about those words. He had been walking with Jesus for three years. John saw miracle after miracle, healing after healing, feeding after feeding. But none of it made sense. It now makes sense. What Jesus said would happen has happened. The cross did not have the final word. Jesus Christ defeated death and darkness. He overcame the world. God’s power was demonstrated in such an awesome way; it’s really hard to even wrap our brains around it.
The transforming power of God was at work then and is still at work today! The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives within us as believers. There is power in that, friends! We are resurrection people. We believe that what was dead can be brought to life. We believe that we are new people in Jesus Christ. We believe that we are raised with Christ. We believe that there is so much more to this world than meets the eye.
How have you seen resurrection power at work in your life?
Let’s close today with a hymn (feel free to sing!)…
Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!
John 18-19
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John 19:12-16, From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.” When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon.
“Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.
But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”
“Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked.
“We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.
Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.
These chapters detail Jesus’ time in the garden, his arrest, trial, and his time before Pontius Pilate. There is a fair amount of text here but do your best to read through both chapters.
Even Pilate, the Roman official, recognizes that Jesus has done nothing wrong. He truly wants to free Jesus; the text indicates that Pilate is somewhat scared of Jesus. But the Jewish officials are desperate to get rid of Jesus. They are blinded by fear, jealousy, and contempt. In an attempt to get Pilate to cooperate with their plans, they threaten to report him to Caesar. After all, Jesus claimed to be king and anyone who made such a claim would be considered a threat to the emperor. The great irony here is that the Jews are essentially presenting themselves as better Roman citizens than Pilate, the Roman official. When it’s convenient for them, they are happy to use the pagan Roman government to get their way. They will sacrifice their own ethics to ensure that Jesus is killed.
The thing about sacrificing our ethics is that it’s a slippery slope, is it not? These Jewish officials were probably very pious men. They thought they were doing the right thing. Jesus was saying blasphemous things and he didn’t follow their rules. They needed to step in and take care of it. But gradually their dislike of Jesus became hate. They so badly wanted him gone that they were willing to do anything, break their own laws, disobey Torah, simply to get rid of him. They were willing to do anything, no matter how shady it was or low they had to go.
Has your hatred of another person ever made you compromise your own values? We think we are so much better than these Jewish officials but I think sometimes we are just like these Jewish officials. Dig deep today, friends. Examine your own heart.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Forgive us for the times in which we have sacrificed our own morals and values to punish another person. If we have hate in our heart, Lord, reveal that to us right now. Help us get rid of it, Lord. Take it from us. Create in us a clean heart, O Lord, and renew a right spirit within us. Amen.