Week 86, Day 4: New Rulers
Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 15:1-34
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
It can be challenging to keep track of who is king in Israel and Judah at the same time. A series of short lived kings reign and then there are some long reigning kings. Israel does not have a single good king. Judah has one who follows after David’s footsteps and makes some very good reforms. Jeroboam’s household is punished as was decreed by God. The king who destroyed Jeroboam’s household did so not from a desire to punish evil doers but most likely from a desire to prevent any challengers to his rule but the result is the same. Instead of Jeroboam’s faithful service to God gaining him an enduring house, his household is cut off from Israel.
It is sad to see that although Asa served God faithfully, he still relied upon gentile nations to help deliver him from his enemies hands.
Question: Why do you think God allowed war to be between Israel and Judah?
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Week 86, Day 3: The Falls
Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 14:1-31
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
We have in this chapter the punishment delivered upon both the nation of Israel to the north and the nation of Judah. I want to focus on what happens with Judah. The splendor that Solomon had aquired over 40 years is carried off within the 17 year reign of his son. After the finishing of the temple and the piles of gold and silver that God blessed Israel with, they turned aside to worship these idols. It even includes that they had male cult prostitutes. Their sin was flagrant and rampant. God humbled them by sending the pharoah of Egypt against them. But sadly these things do not seem to turn Judah back to being faithful.
Question; What reasons do you think led to Israel’s extensive departure from serving God? How quickly did this departure happen?
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Week 86, Day 2: Warning Sent
Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 13:1-34
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
God sends a man to speak a word against Jeroboam’s idolatry. Remember that in 11:38 the Lord promised to build Jeroboam an enduring house if he would follow God’s commands. But Jeroboam very quickly leads Israel into open idolatry. A man is sent from God with a message for Jeroboam. No name is given, he was a man of God. It is impressive to see what all happens during this man’s time in Israel. I am impressed that Jeroboam did not sem to make any attempt to change his ways even after his hand had been withered and healed before his eyes and the altar was split. What more evidence did he need? With some people a sign will not change their course. They have set their heart on doing evil and nothing can be said or done to turn them back.
The other account that is interesting to see is what leads to the downfall of the man of God. He knew the command from God. It was clear and understandable. And yet he allowed this false prophet to lead him astray. Such a sad account for this man of God who had begun doing well. He had set out on the task given to him by God. Which must have taken great courage and determination. And yet he did not make it back home because of falling prey to deception.
Question: What warnings do you see for us from what happened to the man of God?
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Week 86, Day 1: The Kingdom is Torn
Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 12:1-33
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
Just as the Lord had spoken, so the kingdom was torn from following the house of David during the reign of Solomon’s son. It took just a little time before the Lord caused events to happen which divided the 10 northern tribes from the southern tribes. There are several lessons that can be learned from this text. Not taking counsel from the young, the ways of false religions (Jereboam set up a feast that was one month after the feast in Judah, it was designed to be “like” the feast in Judah in order to replace it, and appointing priest but not from the Levites), and the need to pay close heed to God’s warnings – how different would things have been if Solomon had just repented and changed his ways.
It is always interesting to see this time in Israel’s history. They had such a glorious rise and then such a quick splintering. The progression into idolatry is appaling to see. It makes me think about how if we are not on guard against false teaching and also actively teaching the younger generations then very quickly people can depart from being faithful to God.
Question: What do you think would have happened had Judah and Benjamin gone ahead and attacked Israel in an attempt to reestablish the rule off Rehoboam?
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Week 85, Day 5: The Departure
Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 11:1-43
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
We have been reading of the gradeur of Solomon’s house and rule. Now we get to the sad part of his life story. He has violated God’s instructions prohibiting marrying foreign wives. At the very beginning Solomon had taken Pharoah’s daughter to be his wife. It is clear that Solomon did not worry about stopping at one foreign wife. He had 700 wives and 300 concubines. We are not told how many of these were foreigners but we know that there were lots based on the nations that were listed. And just like God had warned Israel, the foreign women turned Solomon’s heart away from the Lord. Such a sad state to see a man who had such ability to leave a great lasting legacy to now have pulled down his work with his own hands. God will not allow the kingdom to continue in this state. It will soon be severed and divided. God will allow David’s descendants to remain on the throne over two of the tribes but the others will be placed under the control of Solomon’s servant Jeroboam.
Question: Why do you think Solomon did not heed God’s warning against marrying foreign wives? What lessons can we see in this chapter about those who say that if only God would appear to them in a vision then they could believe (remember Solomon has now had the Lord appear to him twice)?
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Week 85, Day 4: Queen of Sheba
Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 10:1-29
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
Word of Solomon’s wisdom has spread wide and far now. We are not told how long it has been since Solomon had been granted wisdom from God but all the promises from God are now being fulfilled. Solomon’s fame and glory have increased tremendously. When the queen of Sheba hears of it she decides to check things out for herself. What she finds is far greater than what she had even heard whisper of. This account lets us have a glimpse into the state of Solomon’s household. What the queen noted and what impressed her gives us more of a view of how impressive Solomon was. Not only his words of wisdom but how his house was managed. The queen notes the dress of his cupbearers, the seating of his servants and his construction works. It is funny to read how the attitude of the queen was won over. She came expecting that what she had heard was not true. And yet when she had all her questions answered and looked at all of Solomon’s work “there was no more spirit in her”. She lost her desire and spirit to argue or fight against the greatness of Solomon. She then gave homage to Solomon.
Question: What aspects of Solomon’s reign would impress you most?
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Week 85, Day 3: The Second Visit
Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 9:1-28
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
After Solomon finishes all the work he desires to do the Lord visits him a second time through a dream (vs. 2). God’s address to Solomon is short and simple. Be faithful to me. It might be easy to glance over this occasion because it is so quickly read through. But consider that God has now spoken again to Solomon. This should be another occasion for Solomon to be strengthen in his service to God. We are not told exactly how long it has been but at least 13 years have passed since it mentions that he has finished building his palace (vs. 1 & 7:1). I speculate that the timing was now for good reason. Solomon’s power has grown tremendously because of the Lord’s blessings, he has had peace all around and now he has completed all the building projects that he desired. We sometimes say absolute power corrupts absolutely. Here God appears to him and gives a warning/ encouragement for him to remain steadfast and true. Many times in our lives we need reminders not to become complacent and unfruitful in serving God. Perhaps this was a way of getting Solomon to look at his spiritual compass and remember which direction he needed to be heading in.
Question: For Christians today, how do we renew our spiritual “heading”? In other words, how do we renew our desire to serve God?
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Week 85, Day 2: Solomon’s prayer
Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 8:1-66
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
As we read here I hope that you can understand the uniqueness and excitement of this occassion. The temple has been completed and now all Israel is called to come for the dedication feast. The holy articles are brought from the tent into the temple. As this is done a thick cloud descends upon the temple and forces the priests to leave. Here is a very visual manifestation of the glory of God filling the temple. Solomon then gets down on his knees, raises his hands to heaven and says a very lengthy prayer on behalf of himself and the people (vs. 54). Solomon voices awe that God would dwell among His people when the highest heaven cannot contain Him (vs. 27). He praises God’s lovingkindness and faithfulness. And Solomon expresses clearly that in order for Israel to maintain security from their enemies and these blessings they must walk after the Lord’s commandments. Solomon then addresses the people and encourages them to incline their hearts towards God and be wholly devoted to keeping His commands. It is easy to understand why the people returned to their tents joyfull and glad of heart.
Question: What happened to turn Solomon away from serving the Lord faithfully? Why should this be a warning for Christians today?
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Week 85, Day 1: The Utensils
Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 7:1-51
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
We are told in this chapter what was King Hiram’s “specialty”. He was a skilled worker of bronze. Solomon had Hiram come and construct all the items for the temple that were made of bronze. The items that he made were both small and massive. He made several of the utensils to be used in the temple service and he also made the bronze “sea”. This was a large basin that was used for cleansing purposes by the priests during their daily work. This was referred to as the sea (vs 23) for very good reason. It could hold 2,000 baths. That is a lot of water. This should tell you about the daily operations in the temple. This water would need to be replenished and cleaned each day. The two pillars that Hiram also made were huge. The bronze used in the temple was without measure. All of this was polished bronze. What a sight it would have been to see.
Question; Why do you think it took Solomon 13 years to build his own house? Does this indicate that he took more care in building his own house than the 7 years to build the temple?
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Week 84, Day 5: Seven Years
Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 6:1-38
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
Solomon began the work on the Temple in his fourth year of reigning. It took only seven years to complete the temple. Seven seems like an appropriate number since it is so commonly used in scripture to indicate completeness or perfection. We are given some details about the work inside the temple. Once completed this would be the only way most Israelites would be able to “see” what is inside. I have never been inside a room overlaid with gold. The sight of the holy place and holy of holies must have been very awe inspiring. While reading this account and being struck by the grandeur of the temple, I couldn’t help thinking about how many kings of Judah would use the temple as their personal piggy bank. When a time of desperation would come, instead of turning to God and imploring Him for aid they would strip the temple of its treasures. I do not know if this included stripping away the gold on the walls or just the vessels and money inside the treasury. Asa, Jehoash, Ahaz and Hezekiah would do such. It is hard to imagine how someone would go into the temple and remove anything simply to pay off their enemies – unless they did not have confidence in Jehovah.
Question: What are Cherubim? Why are they depicted inside the temple?
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