1 Kings 15 “Asa Chose Well”

 “So in the twentieth year of Jeroboam the king of Israel, Asa began to reign as king of Judah. He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom. Asa did what was right in the sight of the Lord, like David his father.” (vv.9-11)

Since Solomon's fall, the royal line had been in sin. Now in Asa, there is a ray of light in Judah's line of kings! 

Asa's story here in chapter 15 is an encouraging example for two reasons. First, we see how each of us can choose our spiritual path. Even though our descendants may not have walked with God, we can by His grace. 

Second, God does not give up on His people. No matter how often the royal line had turned their back on Him, God remained steadfast in His promise to His servant David, ‘If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul,’ He said, ‘you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel’ (1 Kings 2:4).

Asa, like David his father, chose well and did what was right in the sight of the Lord. May our hearts desire be the same.

The Truth

“A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)

1 Kings 14 “God’s Judgment Against Jeroboam”

“You have made for yourself other gods . . . you have provoked me to anger and thrust me behind your back.” (v.9)

The root of God’s judgment against Jeroboam is in His declaration against idolatry. As a result, Jeroboam's fate is disastrous: his child will die, all male descendants will be cut off, his dynasty will be destroyed, his house utterly burned, and all of Israel will be taken into exile (vv. 6-16). Although God had shown Jeroboam great grace in raising him up and giving him a kingdom, his failure was this: “You have done more evil than all who lived before you. You have made for yourself other gods . . . you have provoked me to anger and thrust me behind your back” (v.9). 

Jeroboam may have had lots of military and political accomplishments (v.19), but Scripture's assessment is clear: Jeroboam was an utter failure where it counted most. His early choice of idolatry ruined everything. Jeroboam ruled twenty-two years trying to make something of himself and his kingdom (v.20), but in the end it was all misguided. What truly mattered, his walk with God, was neglected.

Today's passage highlights the importance of a heart committed to the Lord, what Scripture sometimes calls a pure heart. None of us is without sin; even David failed miserably but, he was a man after God’s own heart. May we be the same.

The Truth

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)

1 Kings 13 "Jerobam's Demise"

By the word of the Lord a man of God came from Judah to Bethel, as Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make an offering. By the word of the Lord he cried out against the altar: “Altar, altar! This is what the Lord says: ‘A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who make offerings here, and human bones will be burned on you.’” (vv.1-3)

Jeroboam never got the picture, spiritually speaking. As we learned earlier, God brought the king face-to-face with some incredible promises. But evidently, Jeroboam did not consider God's promises worth the necessary obedience on his part. He looked the other way, plunging the northern kingdom into idolatry and false worship that would cling to them for several centuries.

Since Jeroboam rejected God's goodness, God confronted the king with the truth of His judgment through the prophecy of 1 Kings 13. But ""even after this, Jeroboam did not change his evil ways"" (13:33). He rejected God's word and warning. All that was left was for the sentence of judgment to be carried out.

Although the king reigned for twenty-two years in Israel, nothing else he did is recorded. Jeroboam's apostasy, his departure from the truth, brought disaster on his entire family and even on the nation (1 Kings 14:15). His descendants would not even get a decent burial, and Israel itself would one day be uprooted from its land.

Jeroboam's demise, and the damage he left behind, is a graphic example of poor leadership and his refusal to follow God's word or head His warnings. Nations, like people, can be either blessed by God or allowed to suffer the consequences of their own folly. Whether you agree with the governing leadership of our country or not, pray continually for those in authority. For their success or failure will be shared by us all.

The Truth: “I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

1 Kings 12 "Refusing Sound Advise"

And Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king. So it happened, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard it (he was still in Egypt, for he had fled from the presence of King Solomon and had been dwelling in Egypt), that they sent and called him. Then Jeroboam and the whole assembly of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, “Your father made our yoke heavy; now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.” (vv.1-4)

Rehoboam was the only son of Solomon that we know by name. Solomon had 1,000 wives and concubines, yet we read of one son he had to bear up his name, and he was a fool. This demonstrates that sin is a bad way of building up a family. 

Solomon was a great king, but he took a lot from the people. The people of Israel wanted relief from the heavy taxation and forced service of Solomon’s reign, and they offered allegiance to Rehoboam if he agreed to this. When Solomon's son, Rehoboam, was to be crowned king, the people asked him to please lighten the burden Solomon had placed on them. God warned Israel about this in 1 Samuel 8:10-19, when through Samuel He spoke of what a king would take from Israel. After the warning, the people still wanted a king, and now they knew what it was like to be ruled by a taking king.

First he went to the elders that had advised his father. They had been a part of the success of his father and had a track record of giving good advice. They advised Rehoboam to be a servant leader. They told him that if he would indeed lighten their load, they would keep their word and serve him faithfully all their life.

Rehoboam didn't like that advise. He wanted what his father had. Why should he tighten his belt and do with less? He then sought out the advice of the young men he grew up with. They told him what he wanted to hear. He answered the people that he would be harsher than his father. The ten northern tribes drew away with Jeroboam as their leader, fulfilling the word of God (1 Kings 11:31). From this point on in the history of Israel, the name “Israel” referred to the ten northern tribes and the name “Judah” referred to the southern tribes of Benjamin and Judah.

When seeking advise we all have a tendency to look to those who will tell us what we want to hear, and we reject the advice of those who tell us what we would rather not hear. Though age does not always bring wisdom, seek those who demonstrate the fruits of the Spirit. Then go before the LORD and ask for His direction. 

The Truth: “When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2) 

1 Kings 11 "Solomon's Heart Turns"

"But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites—from the nations of whom the LORD had said to the children of Israel, “You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David.” (vv.1-4)

After all the praise, admiration, and grandeur of the first ten chapters, today's reading begins with Solomon breaking a solemn command of God (vv.1-2). By explicitly disobeying God's commands about taking wives from the surrounding pagan regions (Deut.7:3-4), a slow change begins to occur in Solomon’s heart - it was no longer wholly devoted to the LORD and was turned “after other gods.”

Our text says, "When Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods." Age did not make Solomon wiser. He seemed to be wiser in his youth, and old age hardened the sinful tendencies that were present in his younger days. Age and experience should make us more godly and wise, but they do not automatically do so.

This turning away did not happen overnight but rather his singular love for God was slowly replaced with other loves. A heart once devoted to the Lord had become a divided heart. Solomon's failure to heed God's explicit commands not only resulted in this divided heart but, eventually, a divided kingdom (vv. 10-11).

This is a tragic example of the power of the lust of the flesh. Because of lust, Solomon found himself in a place where he never thought he would find himself. He found himself burning incense at the altars of depraved pagan gods. He found himself at the altar of child sacrifice unto the god Molech. This is the power of lust – it can capture us in a spell, in a fog of spiritual confusion until we do things we never thought we would do.

The difference between David and Solomon was not that one was holier that the other, for they both were sinners, it was the status of the heart. David’s heart was always toward the LORD but, Solomon’s heart turned after others gods.

Today's passage reminds us that, when an earthly love replaces our love for God and we find ourselves “clinging” to other things for our full satisfaction, we need to change our priorities.

The Truth:  “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.” (Mark 12:30) 

1 Kings 10 "Solomon's Wealth"

"King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings.” (v.23)

Today’s passage catalogs Solomon’s vast accumulation of material wealth, political success, and military strength. He had thriving revenue streams, a luxurious palace, and incomparable wisdom, 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses—imported from Egypt (vv. 28-29). Everything any ruler could possibly want, King Solomon had. All his blessings came from God. 

Sheba (also known as Sabea) was where modern-day Yemen is today (Southern Arabia). We know from geography this was a wealthy kingdom with much gold, spices, and precious woods. History also tells us that they were known to have queens as well as kings. This was a long trip – up to about 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers). She (The Queen of Sheba) probably came as part of a trade delegation (1 Kings 10:2-5), but there is no doubt that she was highly motivated to see Solomon and his kingdom. She came to Solomon and Israel at their material zenith. The great prosperity, splendor, and wisdom of Solomon’s kingdom were internationally famous.

Verse 1 implies that Solomon's fame was only in connection with “the name of the Lord.” However, Solomon forgot this. Because of his great wealth, Solomon had reached a point where he no longer had to depend on his God for anything, which ultimately led to his downfall. 

Solomon, with all his great wisdom, should have heeded his father’s words: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (Psalm 20:7).

And come what may, so should we.

The Truth: “He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like foliage.” (Proverbs 11:28)

1 Kings 9 "Solomon's Prayer Heard"

And the Lord said to him: “I have heard your prayer and your supplication that you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built to put My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.” (v.3)

Here in chapter 9 the LORD acknowledges to Solomon that He has heard his prayers and supplications. We could stop right there and get tremendous encouragement out of this passage concerning God’s ear to our prayers. However, the main focus of this passage is God’s response to Solomon’s prayers. The LORD promised to establish Solomon’s kingdom if, “he walked before Him as his father David walked in integrity of heart” (v.4).

What does this mean? Well, it certainly doesn’t mean Solomon must be perfect because David was far from it. He sinned over and over again. What it does mean is that Solomon must have a heart for the LORD and His Word, follow Him and no other, then the promise given by God to his father David would be continued through him (v.5).

This should be very encouraging to us. First of all, God hears our prayers. We may not receive an answer to our liking or in our timing but, He hears us. Secondly, we don’t have to be perfect, Jesus covered that base for us with His blood on Calvary. Finally, if our hearts are toward Him and His Word, and we do not leave Him to serve other Gods, He will be faithful to His promises toward us as well.

The Truth: “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:2-3)

1 Kings 8 "Solomon's Prayer"

"Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven; and he said: “LORD God of Israel, there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts. (vv.22-23)

Solomon did not dedicate the temple from within the temple. It would be inappropriate for him to do so, because he was a king and not a priest. The Holy Place and Most Holy Place were only for chosen descendants of the High Priest. Therefore, he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven. This was the most common posture of prayer in the Old Testament. Many modern people close their eyes, bow their head, and fold their hands as they pray; but the Old Testament tradition was to spread out the hands toward heaven in a gesture of surrender, openness, and ready reception.

After the completion of the temple, Solomon had the ark of the LORD brought from the city of David and placed it in, “the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, under the wings of the cherubim” (v.7). Scripture goes on to tell us that when the priests came out of the holy place, "the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord” (v.10-11).

Solomon then rightly recognized that which the LORD had told Moses, “I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat” (Leviticus 16:2). This physical manifestation of God’s presence here in chapter 8 not only confirmed that the LORD was with His people but also spoke to His glory and power leaving Solomon to testify, “There is no God in heaven above or on the earth below like YOU.”

As Moses, David, and Solomon all came to realize in their time, there is no God like our God, is just as true today for us in our time.

The Truth: “Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; Nor are there any works like Your works.” (Psalm 86:8)