Bible Reading Challenge Week 20 Day 3

Our reading challenge for the day is 1 Kings 21-22. I’ll hit a few highlights. You make comments too and fill in the gaps. What strikes you as specially significant?

1 Kings 21 - We have an example of how Ahab’s cruelty was spurred on by Jezebel. She urged him to evil. While Ahabe repented, Jezebel did not. In his mercy God suspended his penalties until Ahab’s death.

1 Kings 22 - As Israel and Judah act in alliance against syria ahab meets his end and the Syrians take the day. God’s judgment falls on the unfaithful people of Judah and Israel.

Whenever we look to government for solutions to our spiritual struggles we are disappointed. May we rather look to the civil realm for civil situations but to the Church for moral and spiritual help.

Bible Reading Challenge Week 19 Day 5

Our reading challenge for the day is 1 Kings 6-10. I’ll hit a few highlights. You make comments too and fill in the gaps. What strikes you as specially significant?

1 Kings 6 - God affirms Solomon’s work of building a temple, but he emphasizes the more important work of living a life according to God’s commands.

1 Kings 7 - We see after all of Solomon’s work on the temple that he spends more time and effort on his own palace.

1 Kings 8 - Filling the temple and consecrating it is an elaborate state affair, full of sacrifices and reverence. It is centered on God’s work to forgive his people and to bring them to Jerusalem, both the center of state authority and the place where God has made himself accessible. See the theme of repentance and forgiveness.

1 Kings 9 - God again appears to Solomon telling him to walk before Him in integrity. The promise of God here is conditional, based on Solomon’s obedience.

1 Kings 10 - Solomon’s greatness and wisdom is known through the world. yet we see him continuing to consolidate his power, being more like the kings of whom Samuel had warned. What do we do with riches and power?

Bible Reading Challenge Week 19 Day 4

Our reading challenge for the day is 1 Kings 1-5. I’ll hit a few highlights. You make comments too and fill in the gaps. What strikes you as specially significant?

1 Kings 1 - In David’s old age his son Adonijah decided to assert himself as king. David’s supporters ask that David should confirm Solomon as king.

1 Kings 2 - David charges Solomon to remain faithful to God. He also makes a number of requests that Solomon should defeat certain people who were disloyal. Though Solomon may have wanted peace and good will, he used force to assert his authority. Compare this to Jesus, who refused to assert his power at the expense of others, choosing to make peace through his death on our behalf.

1 Kings 3 - God appears to Solomon. Solomon asks for wisdom. God promises that and more.

1 Kings 4 - As Solomon grows in wisdom, wealth and power he also becomes remarkably like the kings Samuel had warned of.

1 Kings 5 - Solomon appears faithful as he sets about building the temple. Yet his motives are mixed, just like ours. Even as we grow in grace, let us guard our hearts, that we may be pleasing to God.