Week of 12/1/19 - Pages 220 - 232

There was a lot going on in this week’s reading. What I noticed was the way God used his prophets Elijah and Elisha. I was so curious about how and why God had them do the curious things they did. Some of their actions seemed so random and mystical—Elijah rolling up his cloak to strike the river and part the water. Then Elisha uses salt to clear up rank drinking water, calls forth bears, throws flour into a pot to neutralize poison, and makes an axe head float. Without insight into any dialogue between prophet and God, these things seem to come directly from the men themselves. I realized I was thinking of them almost as magicians—like the power came from them instead of God. 

It’s not like God’s use of power makes a whole lot more sense when we’re given insight. No fewer than 400 prophets—Jewish prophets—give Ahab the go-ahead to attack Ramoth Gilead. Micah is the sole dissenter, and only when pressed. We learn that God has allowed, even sought, a spirit to entice Ahab to his doom. What’s that all about? 

It seems that what it’s all about is what it is usually all about: God accomplishing his purpose, his way. We see him totally win Naaman over: the man has to be convinced to swallow his pride and do something he appears to see as not worthy of his time, in water that suffers in comparison to his native waters. But the process makes a devoted follower out of him—and it is to God that he gives the glory, not to Elisha. 

In most of these situations, people have to choose. Ahab and Naaman have the choice to believe the prophets, even when they don’t like what they have to say. Others have the choice to believe that the prophets are sent from God and can help them purify their water, save their son, save their scarce meal. Did the third captain who begged Elijah for his life and the lives of his fifty men have faith, or merely fear? Either way, it was a healthier response than the boys who taunted Elisha.

So, what does this mean for me? To be honest, I want to see cool miracles. I also want to believe that if I were there, I’d place my trust in the Lord, not in the man. Thousands of years later, I’m still called to do the same thing.

Week of 11/24/19 - Pages 208 - 220

As I was reading 1 Kings 15:27 – 22:14, I was struck with the long procession of kings who ruled over Judah and Israel.  Some, like King Jeroboam, did evil in the eyes of the Lord.  Others, like King Asa, did what is right in the eyes of the Lord.  Some of those who did evil in the eyes of the Lord experienced the consequences in their own lifetime.  Others, such as King Ahab, were spared the consequences of their sins in their own lifetimes.  For Ahab, punishment would be visited upon his son instead because Ahab humbled himself before God.  

I really struggled with this – it seemed so unfair.  I imagined people who don’t believe and that criticize God, using scriptures just like this to defend their case.  Certainly, many people believe that bad things happening to ‘good people’ is evidence that God is not to be trusted and many of God’s critics say, “If I could just be God for a day, I would certainly run the show a lot differently (better).”

But here’s the thing.  We are humans, the created creature, reading an account that was inspired by the Holy Spirit – the One who knows the first from the last, who knows how every story turns out.  When God makes decisions on what’s fair, He does it from His own eternal perspective – not ours – and He has infinite knowledge of all things.  Even the most studied scholar has only a finite knowledge, a limited ability to discern what’s true and fair.  Even so, that doesn’t stop most of us from saying things like, “That doesn’t seem fair” or “That doesn’t make sense” – myself included.  Very quickly, I was reminded of God’s reply to Job when he voiced similar demands upon God, followed by the reply that will set any human in our proper place.  “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?...” (Job 38)

In 1 Kings 15:5, there’s a reference that “David had done what was right in the eyes of the Lord and had not failed to keep any of the Lord’s commands all the days of his life – except in the case of Uriah the Hittite.”  We all know this is far from true, yet it’s the way David’s history is being written and remembered here.  In the same way that God records each one of our stories as He will, so too does He deal with others.  All who believe are covered by the undeserved kindness and the ultimate sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.  

One day, from the vantage point of heaven, we will have an enlightened mind to understand from God’s perspective.  Until then, we are fortunate that God does not deal with us according to our knowledge of what is fair, right or just.  Thank God that He remembers us according to His loving kindness and sees us through our High Priest, Jesus Christ.  The next time I’m tempted to pass judgment on what’s fair or not fair, I’ll remember who I am – the created creature – and whom I serve – the Sovereign God, the Alpha and the Omega, the One Who Sees (El Roi).  

Week of 11/17/19 - Pages 195 - 208

There is an amazing backdrop to the portion of this story that I want to focus in on  – God appears to Solomon several times and Solomon can be found kneeling and worshipping the Lord, and with a LOUD voice blessing the entire congregation of Israel. Does it get any better than this?

This section starts out with a big contrast between two promises revealed by the Lord who is essentially telling Solomon if you follow me I will bless you, but if you abandon me I will rip apart your Kingdom. Ouch! Couldn’t be any clearer than that! Only a fool would ignore this warning, right? Maybe like me, you are thinking, well duh of course Solomon is going to take the right course of action. Like a good novel or dramatic juicy TV mini-series I was hooked and could not stop thinking about the outcome as I turned the pages. As the story unfolded I found myself both cheering and aghast at the actions taken by our beloved and wise Solomon! 

                First Promise - The Lord tells Solomon – “If you follow me with integrity and godliness, as David your father did, obeying all my commands, decrees and regulations, then I will establish the throne of your dynasty over Israel forever. For I made this promise to your father, David:  One of your descendants will always sit on the throne of Israel.

                Second Promise - But if you or your descendants abandon me and disobey the commands and decrees I have given you, and if you serve and worship other gods, then I will uproot Israel from this land that I have given them. I will reject this Temple that I have made holy to honor my name and I will make Israel an object of mockery and ridicule among the nations. And when people ask why I did this, the answer will be “Because his people abandoned the Lord their God, who brought their ancestors out of Egypt, and they worshiped other gods instead, and bowed down to them. That is why the Lord has brought all these disasters on them.” 

It took 20 years for King Solomon to build the Temple and his palace. Solomon earned a reputation for bringing honor to the name of the Lord which eventually brought him to the attention of the Queen of Sheba.

The Queen of Sheba arrived with many gifts and was full of flattery for Solomon. Solomon became very wealthy and was known throughout the land as having extraordinary wisdom. We would see over time that Solomon had a great weakness for women. In Solomon’s old age the women turned his heart to worship other gods instead of being completely faithful to the Lord his God, as his father, David, had been. Solomon did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, he refused to follow the Lord completely. 

-   I wonder if he thought his partial allegiance was enough? 

-   Or did he give himself credit for all his former accomplishments and years of faithfulness, so now he could slide?

It made me think about our lives today. Oh sure we are not building a Temple or ruling a nation but God still desires us to live a life of integrity and godliness. I know I have been guilty of obeying Him in some things and then not in others. How different is that from King Solomon who gave the Lord only partial allegiance in his later life? 

Questions to ask ourselves:

1)      Is a life of integrity based only on circumstances and feelings?

2)      Is Godliness a characteristic that changes from day to day?

3)      Do past good deeds absolve us from obedience today?

4)      What is His promise for each of us today? 

Week of 11/10/19 - Pages 186 - 195

480 years after the people of Israel were rescued from their slavery in Egypt, Solomon began the construction of the temple.  This was probably the greatest achievement during his reign.  This process entailed 153,000 workers, 8,000 quarriers, 70,000 loadbearers and 3,300 overseers, spanning 7 years!  Quite an endeavor!

After Solomon completed the temple, he gathered all Israel, along with the priests, Levites and leaders to bring the ark of the covenant to the Lord’s house.  (I Kings 8:1-9)  On that day God displayed His glory among His people.   I can only imagine what it would have been like to witness this spectacular display of God’s glory.  Normally, God dwelled in the thick darkness (8:12), in a place where no one could see Him.  But now, God had come down to be with His people in the place built for His Name and presence.  God was so near and real that day that even the priests had to stop what they were doing.

On that day, Israel received the blessing of God Himself.  This is the greatest blessing that God can give to His people---His presence.  In fact, we see all through the Bible that God’s intention has always been to dwell among His people.

We can imagine how the Israelites must have felt and the emotions that were involved in seeing God’s glory fill the temple.  The sight of the finished temple would not only have drawn their attention and affections towards God, but seeing God’s indwelling would have added to that experience resulting in genuine worship.  

Fast forward to today, 2019.  The same should be true of Christians today as well.  As Christians, we are now the temple of God on earth.  God indwells us and fills us as His missional people.  God calls us and chose us for the purpose of representing Him on the earth.  No matter the place, be it in prayer on the bedroom floor or sitting in the pew at church listening to a sermon, we should expect and anticipate God’s presence and glory to manifest in our lives.  I think it is amazing to imagine that very majesty indwelling in me!  Humbling to say the least!

2 Corinthians 6:16 “And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.”

Week of 11/13/19 - Pages 176 - 186

The book of Kings begins with the transition of Israel’s throne from David to his son Solomon.  However, while David was still king, one of his other sons, Adonijah, began boasting that he would make himself king.   A power struggle ensues and I am left wondering if it was man’s scheming and taking advantage of an aged king that brought Solomon the kingship.  Yet, I conclude like King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon did many years later that, “the Most High (i.e., God) is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.” (Daniel 4:32)

On separate occasions during this turmoil, both Adonijah and Joab, the commander of the army, fear for their lives and run to the altar and hold onto the horns.  The altar is significant for two reasons: (1) it is the closest physically that a non-Levite could get to God, and (2) the altar is where a man’s sin is atoned for by a sacrifice.  The men were imploring Solomon to have mercy because God is merciful.  What were the outcomes?

 - Adonijah receives mercy and Solomon sends him home with a warning.  Adonijah continues with his scheming and ends up losing his head over a hot girl.

 - Joab, because of his treachery, becomes an example of Jesus’ statement, “those who use the sword will be killed by the sword.” (Matt 26:52)

Why did God choose Solomon to become David’s successor?  Remember what God said when he selected David to be king, “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  (1 Samuel 16:7)  We get an indication of Solomon’s heart in the dream where God appeared to him.  Solomon acknowledged that he needed God’s help in governing the people and asked for a discerning heart and ability to distinguish between right and wrong, rather than asking for long life, wealth, or success.  Apparently, he was granted his desire, as evidenced by his wise ruling regarding who was the mother of the child.  And, he also received long life, wealth, and success.

Jesus said, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matt 23:12) and, “Seek first [God’s] kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things (provision for our daily needs) will be given to you as well.” (Matt 6:33)  I don’t need to try to get ahead or insist on my own way, yet that is what comes naturally.  Only God can change my heart.