1 Kings 17 - Day 445 (link to today's reading)
Scripture: 1 Kings 17:24 Observation: God used Elijah to manifest the Kingdom of Heaven, here on earth. Application: It is only by our faith in God's saving grace that we are saved. Faith is based on our ability to believe and is often substantiated through our experiences. Even though the woman experienced a miracle every day she cooked with the endless supply of wheat and oil, it wasn't until Elijah raised her son from the dead that she believed. Prayer: Lord, please help my unbelief... 1 Kings 16 - Day 444 (link to today's reading)
Scripture: 1 Kings 16:1-20 Observation: Turmoil and instability continue in the northern kingdom of Israel as the leadership abdicated their responsibility to lead. Application: What normally happens to a king who seizes the throne with deception and violence? Yeah, deja vu. The cycle continued to repeat itself throughout Israel's history because the kings of Israel did not repent of their sins and turn to the Lord. Prayer: Lord, draw me close to You... 1 Kings 15 - Day 443 (link to today's reading)
Scripture: 1 Kings 15:11-14 Observation: Asa did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight. Application: Asa was Judah's 3rd king and the great, great, great, great-grandson of David. We're not told how or why he turned to the Lord in 1 Kings 15, but the lesson is that God is there, even in the darkness. Prayer: Lord, reveal Yourself to us... 1 Kings 14 - Day 442 (link to today's reading)
Scripture: 1 Kings 14:1-30 Observation: God punishes Jeroboam (king of Israel) and Rehoboam (king of Judah) for their sins. Application: Our sins separate us from God. As the leaders of God's chosen people, Jeroboam and Rehoboam could have led repented and returned to the Lord but they choose the opposite path. Choose your leaders and who you will follow wisely. Prayer: Lord, I choose You... 1 Kings 13 - Day 441 (link to today's reading)
Scripture: 1 Kings 13:11-26 Commentary: What are we to make of this strange and shocking story? We see a prophet delivering a word which was a lie, and another prophet believing it in spite of the instructions God had previously given him. On one level, the story clearly illustrates the difficulty which is sometimes involved in discerning the true word of God. On another level, it underscores the importance of unswerving obedience. In this connection the man of God continued to be a sign to Jeroboam and to Israel; for his tragic end was a warning that disobedience could lead to death—the death of the whole nation. On a third level, the story shows that prophecy is irrevocable; the word of God has creative power, shaping events and moving them towards its fulfilment. This is the lesson learned by the prophet of Bethel (32). The lesson was, however, not learned by Jeroboam. Events had shown beyond doubt that the altar at Bethel existed in defiance of God’s will, but Jeroboam persisted in his sin (33), a sin which would eventually lead to Israel’s total destruction (34). Bimson, J. J. (1994). 1 and 2 Kings. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., pp. 353–354). Inter-Varsity Press. Application: Sometimes the scriptures just don't make any sense to me. The man of God suffered the consequences of disobeying the Lord, but why didn't the prophet suffer any consequences for lying? Why is God's judgment so swift and precise here but delayed for David and Solomon? Prayer: Lord, help me to understand Your ways... |
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January 2024
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