40 Weeks of your Life: 1 Kings
06-22-2006
by Vicky Beeching

There is a lot of over lap between Kings and Chronicles (which will be our next reading assignment). So when you read Kings, take in all the details, as you'll notice that although Chronicles tells similar stories, often they are presented from different angles and perspectives. If God ever repeats Himself, we know it's for a good reason and to add emphasis to what He is saying. So having two similar texts means there must be important things for us in their pages!

The book begins with a sad portrait of David as an old man. Our hero is about to die, and make way for the next character to take centre stage - Solomon. We see much mercy here, as he was the child born to David and Bathsheba… God is always able to take our mistakes and somehow work them out for good. Through David's genuine repentance, God was able to step in. He took the shameful birth of Solomon and from it created the wisest ruler in the history of Israel.

Solomon builds the Lord a Temple, and we see the details and care he put into every part of its construction and furnishings. The Queen of Sheba visits from a far land, and is awestruck by the great blessings and wealth that God had showered upon Solomon. However this proved to be his downfall and in chapter 11 we see him turn away from the lord. God had instructed him not to marry foreign women, but he did so anyway and gradually his heart drifted away from Yahweh.

The Kingdom of Israel was then divided; broken up because of sin and disobedience. It became the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah - each with their own leadership. It's a reminder that God longs for unity and to heal the divisions in our midst.

In the lists of different leaders and stories, Elijah shines as a man sent by God. He was a prophet and raised up a successor - Elisha who will appear in 2 Kings). Elijah reminds me that God always sends help at the needed time!