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#505
100 years ago, men did not do in the light what they did
in the night, but today, they're doing it in the light.
1 KINGS 1, Verses 1-27
Today we go back to the Old Testament to look at more
pictures! 1st and 2nd Kings are a continuation of 1st and
2nd Samuel. King David is a picture of Christ winning the
wonderful victory over Satan and the power of evil;
Solomon is a picture of Christ in peace, prosperity and
wisdom, reigning over the earth in the millennium.
1 Kgs 1:1-4 Different efforts were made to keep King
David alive; all human methods.
1 Kgs 1:5-10 Even after David dies, another of his sons,
Adonijah, rebels and announces himself the new king. You
may remember God said that the sword would never depart
from David's family (because he had sinned -2 Sam.
12:10), so here it falls again. David was a good king but
a poor father. He had never corrected this son. Adonijah
did not want to have with him those who were devoted to
God's king, David.
1 Kgs 1:11-27 Bathsheba and Nathan seem concerned about
their own welfare as well as whether Solomon should be
king.
#506
Satan has power against pretension; against knowledge;
but not against obedience... if we are acting by the
Word, with no will of our own.
1 KINGS 1, Verses 28-53
1 Kgs 1:28-40 King, priest, and prophet (verses 28 and
32) are all together. (In the millennium this will be
Christ's place; He is all three - see Revelation 19:16;
Hebrews 7:21-28). Solomon is proclaimed king of Israel.
About the year 1015 B.C. He reigned for 40 years. God had
chosen him to be a king who would be wise, make righteous
decisions and rule over Israel at the time of its highest
glory, prosperity, unity and peace.
1 Kgs 1:41-53 The news of God's choice brings fear to
those who wanted Adonijah to be king. (He was Solomon's
elder brother). He is another picture of the days which
are yet to come in the tribulation, when the head of the
revived Roman Empire (it is taking shape in Europe now
with 12 nations forming an economic union) is called the
"Beast" (Revelation 13:1). Then there will be
another man, the "man of sin", the
"antichrist" who will try to rule the world.
The Lord Jesus will suddenly appear in the sky, (we
believers with Him), and will overcome both these men
(Rev. 19:19 to 21) and cast alive them alive into hell.
Then the Lord Jesus will be the Ruler of the world for
1,000 years ("E" to "F" on chart). So
in our chapter we see a picture of all this. Doesn't it
thrill your heart to realize that the Lord Jesus will yet
have His right place in this world?
#507
Today, Satan can, and will introduce himself, the moment
that I fail to lean absolutely on God... (Easy to be
seen!)
1 KINGS 2
1 Kgs 2:1-4 What wonderful words for us all to apply to
our life. What God here promises to do to Solomon, He
will do to you too, but it requires obedience to God. Let
Him prove it!
1 Kgs 2:5-9 David had shown mercy to Joab and Shimei, but
these two men did not repent, so their punishment is to
be settled by wise Solomon. And as David remembered their
bad acting, he also remembered the kindness of Barzillai
(2 Samuel 19:31-38).
1 Kgs 2:13-25 No repentance - no blessing! Adonijah knew
who God's choice was - verse 15, but instead of
personally going to Solomon to humble himself in
confession, he sends the king's mother to try to get a
favour for himself.
1 Kgs 2:26-27 Abiathar's faithfulness to David is not
forgotten. But Abiathar had not continued with God's
choice, instead he had sided with Adonijah (chapter 1,
verse 7), and now he loses his favoured place as priest.
1 Kgs 2:28-35 Joab had been the general of David's army,
but he had not acted according to the desires of the
king.
1 Kgs 2:36-46 A simple way to avoid death, but after
three years Shimei no longer remembers the king's words.
This cost him his life. (These two chapters are strong
reminders that our life is going to be reviewed before
God).
#508
My state makes me fall into the snare the enemy has
spread for me.
1 KINGS 3
1 Kgs 3:1 "Made affinity" means he "joined
himself" by marriage with the king of Egypt. This
was Solomon's first step in the wrong course.
"Brought her into the city of David" - she did
not belong in the royal palace. "An end of building
his own house". Solomon placed more importance on
finishing his own house than on the Lord's house.
"The wall of Jerusalem" should have had a more
important place in his thoughts, and it would have kept
Solomon from his first mistake.
1 Kgs 3:3 But there is hope for better things, because
his heart was right. (The closer we get to the Lord, the
more we will see things in our own lives as He sees them,
whether good or bad.)
1 Kgs 3:4-9 In some things Solomon did what was right;
here is one example. The Lord was pleased.
1 Kgs 3:10-15 Solomon received inner power from God, had
understanding, and was given far more than he could
imagine. He responds with praise and thanksgiving to God,
with God's people in God's appointed place.
1 Kgs 3:16-28 God's wisdom works in a world of sin and
selfishness! (If we walk with God each day, He will cause
us to make right choices for His honour, and others will
see the results).
#509
The more one is in the forefront of the battle the more
he will be exposed to the fiery darts. The more you bear
testimony to God's thoughts, God's mind, and the place
the saints have in God's mind, the more you will be the
object of Satan's attacks.
1 KINGS 4
1 Kgs 4:1-28 Everything was in godly order under God's
king and all the people were happy. These chapters give
us a little picture of the Kingdom of Christ in the
millennium. In that future time Israel (all twelve
tribes) will be happily gathered together around Christ,
their King, and nothing will be lacking - verse 17!
1 Kgs 4:20 We can't pass this verse without a comment. It
seems so much like a wild party or self-indulgence (as we
find said by the foolish men in Luke 12:19). However, it
is really a picture of the future millennium, when
everyone will enjoy personal peace. But for today the
believer is in a world where there is no peace. Instead
we are to be witnesses for a rejected Christ. So the
beautiful verse for us is Romans 14:17; think that over.
1 Kgs 4:29-34 From the greatest to the least, Solomon was
above all and could speak with intelligence on any
subject. Verse 34 reminds us of Zech. 14:16, for Christ
is "the King".
#510
Satan has no kind of power while the soul is walking in
obedience to God's Word.
1 KINGS 5
1 Kgs 5:1-11 Not only is all Israel rejoicing under their
king, but here is a Gentile king happily doing what
Solomon asks! In Christ's kingdom, the whole earth will
obey Him. Luke 2:14 shall be fulfilled.
1 Kgs 5:12-18 Many hands busy at one building. Probably
the most magnificent and costly building ever erected on
this earth. God Himself spoke about it. Read what He said
in chapter 9:3. These words make us realize that the
temple is a picture of the great and glorious reign of
Christ during the 1,000 years known as the millennium.
Though this building was later destroyed, then rebuilt
and destroyed once more, it will again be rebuilt. But
Scripture always speaks of it as one house. Read Haggai
2:9. When the Lord Jesus was on earth, He called it
"my Father's house" - John 2:16.
1 Kgs 5:17 Interesting verse. The stones have three
descriptions. Remembering these words, now turn to Eph.
2:19-22 to see that you (each believer) are a stone in
the temple God is now building. Does that fill your heart
with joy?
#511
It is not the strength of the enemy which I have to
dread, but my own iniquity which enfeebles me.
1 KINGS 6
1 Kgs 6:1-10 This building was more than twelve times the
size of the tabernacle building. The tabernacle had been
made of boards which could be taken down and moved
(necessary for traveling through the wilderness), but
this temple was built of stone, as a permanent building
in the promised land. This temple went up without a sound
from man's tools - verse 7.
1 Kgs 6:11-13 Further blessing for Israel depended upon
Solomon's faithfulness.
1 Kgs 6:14-22 The cedar tree represents the glory of man
at his best. It is all hidden in this temple by being
entirely covered with gold, (divine righteousness). The
"oracle" was the room for the ark - verse 19,
and there was also the alter - verse 22, just as in the
tabernacle, though everything was in larger scale except
the ark.
1 Kgs 6:23-28 Cherubim for the ark are connected with
this room too. In the millennium there will be the
government of the Lord to rule everything perfectly and
judging sins every day. Cherubim (heavenly beings) carry
out God's punishment for sins.
1 Kgs 6:29-36 The tabernacle had a veil of linen in front
of the room in which the ark stood, but in this temple
there are folding doors of wood covered with gold. In
Christianity we believers have no "doors"
keeping us from the presence of God - Hebrews 10:19-22;
but Israel did not and will not have such a favoured
place of liberty.
1 Kgs 6:37-38 The temple is finished.
#512
Satan's devices... God's absolute remedy... our
responsibility to learn both.
1 KINGS 7, Verses 1-22
1 Kgs 7:1-12 The house of the king was over 4 times
bigger than the temple and took Solomon almost twice as
long to build it. (Do we learn something from this? But
in the day when all this is fulfilled on earth, we
believers will be with Christ, sharing not only heavenly
blessings, but His rule over the earth, as "the
bride, the Lamb's wife". Rev. 21:9-27).
1 Kgs 7:7 Here also Solomon gave decisions on all matters
concerning the kingdom. It is all a picture of the reign
of Christ during the millennium, when the Lord shall rule
the world through Israel.
1 Kgs 7:15-22 Two pillars - "Jachin" (meaning
"He will establish") and "Boaz"
(meaning "in Him is strength"), both
beautifully decorated. Christ will fulfill both in His
own blessed Person in the millennium. (He alone can be
the same for us Christians now).
#513
Satan ever seeks to use that which is good to displace
Christ.
1 KINGS 7, Verses 23-51
1 Kgs 7:23-46 One huge bowl about 15 feet across its brim
(it held almost 13 thousand gallons of water) resting on
twelve brass oxen.
1 Kgs 7:47 "Found out" means that the weight
was so great that Solomon could not measure it! Brass, in
Scripture, is a picture of endurance, or testing. (This
verse enables us to understand a little, but never fully,
what Christ endured on the cross. It was only known to
God. See Hebrews 12:1-4).
1 Kgs 7:48-5l What David had prepared, Solomon brings in,
and all is complete. Christ will do the work of
repentance in Israel's heart (Zech. 12:10) and He will
also establish them in His land of promise in peace
(Psalm 29:10-11; Isaiah 32:15-18).
#514
It is not knowing Satan that enables us to discern his
"wiles", but in keeping in God's presence. It
was always so with Christ.
1 KINGS 8, Verses 1-32
1 Kgs 8:2 This was the Feast of Tabernacles (see your
notes on Leviticus 23).
1 Kgs 8:3-4 All was godly order here, according to
Numbers 4.
1 Kgs 8:5 They willingly offered more than they could
count.
1 Kgs 8:6 The only piece of furniture from the tabernacle
which went into the temple.
1 Kgs 8:8 The priests could go into "the holy
place" but not into "the oracle" (the
"holiest of all"), where the ark was. They
could see the end of the staves only, but that was enough
to remind them that God was with them. The rest of the
people of Israel who were "without" (outside
the building) did not see any of this. (Today we who are
Christians are priests and it is our happy privilegeto be
able to go through the veil into the very presence of God
- Hebrews 10:19-22).
1 Kgs 8:10-11 God proved that He was pleased, by having a
cloud (the glory of the Lord) fill the temple. (So it was
with the beginning of the church - Acts 4:31-33).
1 Kgs 8:12-21 The voice of praise and thanksgiving to God
out of a full heart!
1 Kgs 8:22-30 The voice of prayer and supplication to God
out of a dependent heart! Notice the importance of
"the place" where the Lord said His Name would
be. There was only one such place in all Israel and for
all Israel. (Compare Matthew 18:20 and see what "the
place" is for believers today.)
1 Kgs 8:31-32 Individual sins were to be settled "in
the house" (the Temple), if they could not be
settled privately between neighbours - compare Matthew
18:15-17.
#515
Satan knows no more, or less, of the future than we do,
as revealed in God's Word.
1 KINGS 8, Verses 33-66
1 Kgs 8:33-40 Sins of which the people as a whole were
guilty, were also to be forgiven if there was confession
"toward this house". (In 2 Corinthians 7:8-12,
the assembly at Corinth had learned to forgive when there
was confession of the evil done).
1 Kgs 8:46-53 This later happened to Israel. Daniel
chapter 9:4 shows us a man who remembered these verses
about 400 years after Solomon's prayer.
1 Kgs 8:55-61 How dependent Solomon was! (That is the
only safe attitude for us, too).
1 Kgs 8:62-66 If you and I are living with a good
conscious toward God we would be happy just as these
people were! The Lord wants us to be happy every day and
He has told us how we may be happy... by obedience to His
Word.
#516
What a mystery of iniquity it is, that the church should
have been made the nest where Satan has brought forth the
fullness of iniquity of man!
1 KINGS 9
1 Kgs 9:1-9 The reason why Israel has had terrible
trouble for the last 2500 years! (Hosea 3:4).
1 Kgs 9:10-14 In chapter 5, Solomon had given Hiram all
that was agreed upon. These 20 cities were an additional
gift, but Hiram called the gift "Cabul" which
means "of no value". Hiram apparently did not
appreciate receiving some of the promised land of Israel,
thinking more highly of his own city of Tyre.
1 Kgs 9:15-23 There was a difference between the
Israelites and those of the nations who had previously
controlled the land. In Matthew 17:24-27, the Lord Jesus
points out this difference to Peter. But then He had
Peter pay the tribute money, because at that time the
Gentiles were in control.
1 Kgs 9:25 In the millennium, the sacrifices will be
carried on again under the direction of Christ, Israel's
King. (The church will never participate in them, for we,
the church, will be in heaven at that time).
1 Kgs 9:26-28 Solomon's fame is beginning to spread
further through his servants.
#517
If I am walking as born of God... and as having on the
whole armour of God... the flesh being kept in the place
of death... then Satan can have no effect on me. 1 John
5:18
1 KINGS 10
1 Kgs 10:1-3 His fame reaches the ears of a queen over
1400 miles away in Southern Arabia. His fame is in
connection with the Name of the Lord. Even though a
queen, she must take the learner's place before king
Solomon. (What a picture of Christ Who will be King of
kings and Lord of lords!)
1 Kgs 10:4-9 She not only paid attention to Solomon's
words and works, but she carefully watched every move of
his servants and how they were dressed!
1 Kgs 10:10-13 She gave to him. (Believers have the
privilege of giving to the Lord, as well as giving
ourselves, and what we possess). But then he gave to her.
(The Lord will be the "Giver" and we the
receivers).
1 Kgs 10:14-22 Solomon's wealth was so great that silver
was not even thought about - verse 21!
1 Kgs 10:23-29 This is what will be true of Christ in His
kingdom on earth during the millennium.
#518
Christendom and Israel, both have refused the true
Christ... both are to receive the false one... the
Antichrist.
1 KINGS 11
1 Kgs 11:1-8 But... what a sad word! Could it be that
this man would depart from following the Lord Who had
blessed him so greatly? Yes. (And so may we if we are not
on guard.) "Strange women" means that they were
not Israelites. (If we keep company with unbelievers,
that is what they will do to us - verse 4).
1 Kgs 11:9-13 Solomon did not stop being a believer, but
he is now a disobedient believer, and so the Lord takes
away the honour Solomon had as God's leader among His
people. This is what is called the "government"
of God. See also Gal. 6:7.
1 Kgs 11:14-25 Two trouble makers now appear. (The
believer's failures are what give strength and
opportunity to our enemies.) Hadad was related to Israel.
Rezon was a Gentile.
1 Kgs 11:26-40 We will be reading quite a bit about this
young man. He had some good ways - verse 28, and some bad
ways - verse 26.
1 Kgs 11:41-43 Only 3 kings, Saul, David and Solomon
reigned over the united kingdom of Israel through their
adult life. Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel
for forty years. The next King Who shall reign over a
united Israel is the Lord Jesus Himself! (Read Psalm
48:2). And He will be King for 1,000 years!
#519
It is well to remember that the spreading of what is evil
is natural; whereas the spreading of the truth requires
the power of God.
1 KINGS 12, Verses 1-20
1 Kgs 12:1-5 Rehoboam, Solomon's son, had a good
beginning with "all Israel".
1 Kgs 12:6-11 But he soon begins to slip, by not
listening to those older and wiser than he.
"Scorpions" - verse 11, (a kind of whip with
knotted points).
1 Kgs 12:12-15 Rehoboam used rough, harsh talk, and we
shall see the results. But the Lord was using all this to
bring about what He had planned and written in chapter
11:26 to 32 and because of verse 33.
1 Kgs 12:20 The promise of chapter 11, verse 37, was said
privately to Jeroboam. The ten tribes did not hear that,
but here they fulfill it and rebel against God's king.
#520
Discerning false doctrine is very difficult; it requires
the distinguishing the substance from the artifices with
which it is sought to justify it... to hide it under the
appearance of truth.
1 KINGS 12, Verses 21-33
1 Kgs 12:21-24 These two tribes had to submit to the Lord
in the sorrowful split that had taken place, for all the
people were guilty.
1 Kgs 12:24 There is a remarkable statement in the middle
of this verse... "this thing is from Me" (Has
something happened in your Christian life that has been a
real sorrow to you? Remember, you have not been placed
where you are by chance. He has allowed it so that you
might learn that the best friend is Jesus. When we are in
difficulties or trials, the closer we get to the Lord,
the more we will understand that the Lord is saying to
us, "this thing is from Me").
1 Kgs 12:25-33 He knew very well where God's centre still
was (11:27 and 38), but his own self-importance was
getting in the way of obedience to the Lord. The results?
He made false centers of worship and his own arrangements
in those places. What does the Scripture say of this
human division - verse 30? Christ is God's Centre, and
His Name alone. The Word of God is the only source of
true teaching as to worship and Christian order in the
assembly.
#521
It is only when we can say that every other child of God
belongs to the same church that we do, that we are on the
ground (foundation) of the church of God.
1 KINGS 13, verses 1-10
1 Kgs 13:1-3 The Lord sends His messenger with a serious
warning to those who were gathering in a false centre at
Bethel. (When you have read these 3 verses, turn to 2
Kings 23:16-18, to see that what is said here was carried
out there about 350 years later!)
1 Kgs 13:4 The king was out of his place in being at an
altar. (Those who are in a wrong place of worship today
also lose their discernment of what God requires). The
king is angry, and immediately God causes his arm to be
withered.
1 Kgs 13:6 Godly kindness to one who did not deserve this
mercy.
1 Kgs 13:7-10 A real test for the man of God after he had
performed this miracle on the disobedient and rebellious
king.
#522
Clericalism is Judaism adapted by human devices to a
faith from which it is essentially different and to which
it is radically opposed.
1 KINGS 13, Verses 11-34
1 Kgs 13:11-19 The man of God cannot rest on his past
faithfulness. He had the Word of God, and God Himself
could not have given the angel opposite directions. The
man of God disobeys through a deceiving prophet
(religious teacher).
1 Kgs 13:20-22 (If we know the will of God but do not put
it into practice (obey) we will lose out in our soul.
1 Kgs 13:23-32 The prophet mourned his death. But he made
no move to get out of that false centre at Bethel. (Do
you say, yes, I know that denominations and divisions
among God's people are wrong and that all Christians
should be gathered only to the name of the Lord Jesus? If
yes... are you carrying this out?) This is the real way
to bringing glory to the Lord.
1 Kgs 13:33-34 Even after all this, Jeroboam goes on with
his own planning.
#523
God sanctifies the disappointments of our life if we have
an ungrieved spirit about them at the time.
1 KINGS 14
1 Kgs 14:1-5 He continues his schemes, but the Lord is
not fooled and neither is the Lord's servant who stayed
in the right place.
1 Kgs 14:6-16 God tells Ahijah who the woman really is!
God told him a lot more as well. Awful message, but who
did Jeroboam have to blame? What a mercy is verse 13. The
child was not old enough to be personally guilty of his
father's bad ways, so the Lord takes the child to Himself
out of that sinful house (see Matthew 18:10-11, 14.)
1 Kgs 14:17-20 Two deaths.
1 Kgs 14:21 The Lord tells us again where His one centre
was.
1 Kgs 14:22-24 But it is important to notice that those
who were at the place where the Lord had put His Name,
were also unfaithful.
1 Kgs 14:25-31 The Lord allowed the king of Egypt to
attack Jerusalem and even to break into the house of the
Lord and take away its treasures. Notice that the king
makes more shields, but to defend whose house? (When we
do not value Christ as our one gathering Centre, the Lord
sometimes allows the enemy to rob us of our treasures).
#524
In general, when we think that we are judging
circumstances, it is God Who is judging us... judging our
state.
1 KINGS 15
1 Kgs 15:1-8 Rehoboam's son now becomes king of Judah. He
follows in his father's steps and has no heart to please
or obey the Lord. Notice the length of his reign.
1 Kgs 15:9-15 Faithful king, especially in his own house
with his unfaithful parents. A real encouragement to any
whose parents are not saved.
1 Kgs 15:16-24 But he did not continue faithfully when
outsiders threatened him. (Be careful about how far you
go in your relationship with unsaved neighbours,
school-mates or business people).
1 Kgs 15:25-34 Those who followed Jeroboam. God never
forgot what Jeroboam had done in leading Israel away from
God's centre - verses 26-34. And not one king of those 10
tribes ever did "what was right in the sight of the
Lord", because they always opposed that one centre
and encouraged the division of God's people.
#525
We can know what to do in circumstances, but we shouldn't
be guided by them.
1 KINGS 16
1 Kgs 16:1-7 Basha reaps his own punishment because of
his bad example before the 10 tribes.
1 Kgs 16:8-14 Sorrow through strong drink (it is a sin
against God to get drunk - Gal. 5:21).
1 Kgs 16:15-20 He was the king for just 7 days, and then
lost his life, because he plotted the death of another -
compare 1 John 3:14.
1 Kgs 16:21-28 What a reputation this fellow had - verse
25. He did better than all before him - he was a success
- but it was all evil in God's eyes!
1 Kgs 16:29-34 But Ahab went even further, deliberately
marrying a wicked woman of the Gentiles, worshipping
heathen gods, and then setting up a heathen idol
("grove" - verse 33).
#526
Every believer has to learn what he is through the
circumstances in which he is placed.
1 KINGS 17
1 Kgs 17:1 "Elijah" means "Whose God is
Jehovah". The ten tribes had been led further and
further from the Lord by their kings, until Ahab actually
turned them to open idolatry. So Elijah is a rebuke to
Ahab and the 10 tribes, and he suddenly speaks up.
1 Kgs 17:2-6 He was not popular and had to hide himself,
but the Lord took care of him.
1 Kgs 17:7-16 It was humbling for him to be fed by a
widow woman, off in a corner outside the land of Israel.
But he is obedient, and blessing comes to this Gentile
home as a result.
1 Kgs 17:17-24 God, in Whom is the power of resurrection,
shows this power in a Jew for a Gentile. (So is God's way
today in giving eternal life to us Gentiles, who were
dead in trespasses and sins).
#527
May we know the joy of having Jesus wipe away the tears
from our eyes, and know that it is more blessed to have
Him wipe away our tears than to have no tears to wipe
away.
1 KINGS 18
1 Kgs 18:1-6 "Obadiah" means "Servant of
Jehovah". He risked his job to save some of the
Lord's servants from his master's wife. These 100
prophets are a picture of the remnant of Israel (after we
believers are in heaven) who will be preserved in the
awful persecutions by the Antichrist.
1 Kgs 18:7-8 Obadiah may have feared the Lord, but he was
serving a wicked, idolatrous king. Therefore he had no
courage to tell the truth to king Ahab. Obadiah knew the
good things of this earth, Elijah knew the good things of
heaven.
1 Kgs 18:17-20 How hardened was Ahab! How courageous was
Elijah! (verse 15 tells why).
1 Kgs 18:21-24 Elijah asks a good question - verse 21.
The disobedient people, following a sinful leader, are
silent and then answer insincerely.
1 Kgs 18:25-29 The false teachers have no power, and only
make fools of themselves in the presence of God's
servant.
1 Kgs 18:30-39 The false prophets had made their own
altar - verse 26, but Elijah restores and uses the altar
of the Lord. This altar and the sacrifice represent
Christ in His death on the cross, suffering under the
fire of God's judgment against sin, and alone bringing
glory to the Name of Jehovah on behalf of all 12 tribes
of Israel (the whole nation - 12 stones).
1 Kgs 18:40 All the false teachers die.
1 Kgs 18:41-46 Showers of blessing through God's servant
- so will it be in the millennium; punishment first, then
blessing (see Psalm 72, especially verse 6).
#528
There is no bitterness, even in the deepest sorrow,
unless the will is at work. It is the working of the will
that brings the bitterness.
1 KINGS 19
1 Kgs 19:1-9 Every picture of Christ in the Scriptures,
falls short. Poor Elijah runs for his life from this
wicked woman, instead of leaning on the Lord's power. But
the Lord graciously cares for His failing servant,
strengthening him for what he could not do himself.
1 Kgs 19:10-12 Now it is the Lord's turn to ask a
question. Elijah's answer showed that he had become proud
of his faithfulness. The Lord's answer - a still (soft)
small (gentle) voice.
1 Kgs 19:13-14 He is not humbled, but keeps on with his
pride.
1 Kgs 19:15-18 So he loses his place as the Lord's
prophet. (Serious words for any who would be servants of
the Lord today).
1 Kgs 19:19-21 (Singleness of heart is needed to be a
follower of Christ). Elisha was learning faithfulness in
his work at home, but he almost let his parents come
between him and following God's servant. (Christ must
have the first place in our hearts).
#529
God never leaves the conscience of His children in the
enemy's hands.
1 KINGS 20
1 Kgs 20:1-6 Ahab had no power over enemies because he
had turned away from the Lord (first step downward) and
gave himself over to the Gentiles (second step). This
lead to the encouraging of the ungodly to try to go
further in taking everything of value (third step).
1 Kgs 20:7-21 Ahab tries to bluff his way out of the
difficulty - Verse 11, but he only makes things worse. An
unnamed servant of the Lord delivers the Lord's message
of mercy. Would this humble Ahab?
1 Kgs 20:26-34 Israel's power was in the Lord - verse 28,
not in their own abilities. Does the victory produce
obedience? Is making a covenant (agreement) with the
Gentile king honouring the Lord?
1 Kgs 20:35-43 Ahab is exposed by a man who understands
God's thoughts. God insists on the separation of His
people from the ungodly. Those who treat this lightly
will bring on themselves the heavy hand of the Lord. Ahab
will not even now admit his wrong, but goes home heavy
(sullen) and displeased (vexed).
#530
Redemption from Egypt brings us into the desert. If we
have not God there... we have nothing.
1 KINGS 21
1 Kgs 21:1-3 Another faithful man in Israel. Naboth would
not give up his inheritance from the Lord. How could
money or some other piece of ground replace what God had
chosen for him?
1 Kgs 21:4 Same words said of Ahab here as the last verse
of chapter 20. Worse to come.
1 Kgs 21:5-16 Terrible act by Ahab's wicked wife. The
leaders of that city were under the power of this woman.
But God recorded it all.
1 Kgs 21:17-26 And God will punish evil doers according
to what He has seen.
1 Kgs 21:27-29 Ahab finally humbles himself, and the Lord
shows that He sees this too. The punishment must come,
but in mercy the Lord says He will give a little relief
in his own lifetime.
#531
There is nothing in the wide world, or of it, which can
refresh the new man, any more than there is in heaven to
satisfy the old.
1 KINGS 22, Verses 1-28
1 Kgs 22:1-4 If the words of Ahab, king of the 10 tribes,
were bad in chapter 20:4 (with a Gentile), these words
(in verse 4) of the king of Judah to Ahab are worse!
1 Kgs 22:5-8 Jehoshaphat, in a wrong association, has a
troubled conscience. Ahab is satisfied with the advice of
those who told him what he wanted to hear. But there is
another faithful man whose advice is not wanted.
1 Kgs 22:9-12 Can 400 men be anything but right? Is it
true that "in numbers there is strength"? These
were the reasonings of the mind, but not God's thoughts.
1 Kgs 22:13-18 Is the truth of God ever "evil"
- verse 18? To the person unwilling to follow God, it is.
1 Kgs 22:19-28 The servant of God knows what kind of a
spirit is behind the 400, and he plainly tells them all.
He is like the Lord Jesus Who suffered such terrible
treatment from His own people, without being delivered by
God (see Lamentations 3:30 and Matthew 26:67-68).
#532
The marks of Egypt appear in Abraham's family, when they
were no longer seen in him. What marks are we leaving on
our children?
1 KINGS 22, Verses 29-53
1 Kgs 22:29-33 Jehoshaphat almost loses his life because
of his wrong association.
1 Kgs 22:34-40 It looked like an "accidental"
shot, but God will see to it that His Word is fulfilled
in every way.
1 Kgs 22:41-50 There were some things Jehoshaphat failed
to do (God does not miss anything in our lives), but at
least he seems to have learned his lesson with Ahab -
verse 49. And he did do some good things which are also
written down - verse 46. God is writing up His people -
Psalm 87:6 - (what is He writing down about us?)
1 Kgs 22:51-53 Another king of the 10 tribes - another
sad story of "like father, like son".
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