Monday, May 17, I Kings 13
Vv. 21-24 — Why did God bring such a harsh judgment on His prophet? It’s because he publicly disobeyed God (vv. 8, 9, 18-19). That undermined respect for God’s Word. This is a warning not only for pastors and teachers, but also for parents. Our actions and words in opposition to God’s Word undermine respect for God’s Word on the part of our children.
Tuesday, May 18, I Kings 14
- 10-12, 17-18 — Jeroboam’s life was a disaster. Every unbeliever’s life is a disaster. No matter how outwardly good they may have been, to reject God and spurn His plan of salvation, a sneak preview of an unbeliever’s end in hell is God’s harsh, butter dealing with Jeroboam. In contrast, the Christian, through faith in Jesus, experiences, instead, God’s incomprehensible love and assurance of eternal life.
Wednesday, May 19, I Kings 15
Vv. 11-13 — The saying, “Like father, like son,” didn’t apply to Asa. How was he able to be so different from his father? It’s possible that his mother trained him in God’s Word, as Timothy’s mother did for him (II Tim. 1:5). Asa’s end isn’t as happy as his beginning. (Read II Chron. 16) To prevent that from happening to us we need to let that Word of God dwell in us richly every day until the day we die. (Col. 3:16)
Thursday, May 20, I Kings 16
Vv. 24, 25, 30 — Evil and wickedness reached its climax in King Omri and his son, Ahab. The city of Samaria built by Omri, became the capital of Northern Israel. It replaced Tirzah. In Jesus’ day, the area north of Judah up to Galilee was named after the capital Omri built While anti-Christian forces grew and ruled Northern Israel, God didn’t forsake his faithful followers there. In the next chapters we’ll see how Elijah strengthened their hope that God was still in control, and that, trusting in the Lord and His promise of the coming Savior, their future was safe.
Friday, May 21, I Kings 17
- 9 — Elijah was a bright spot in an otherwise bleak spiritual picture in Israel. When the brook dried up, the Lord sent Elijah to the home of a widow in Zarephath. We might not think much of that until we realize that God sent His prophet outside of Israel to be cared for! The widow was a Gentile.
Vv. 15, 20-24 — God’s sending Elijah to the widow of Zarephath was mutually beneficial to both. Not only did everyone have food to eat, but the widow came to recognize Elijah as a prophet and to appreciate the words he spoke about the Lord to be the truth. We, too, have opportunities to share God’s Word of eternal life with others. Do we reach out to people like the widow of Zarephath with the Gospel, the good news of eternal salvation?
Saturday, May 22, I Kings 18
Vv. 38-39 — There probably have been times we’ve said, “I wish I could see such a display of God’s power as Israel saw at Mount Carmel.” We have! We’ve personally experienced in our lives something even more amazing than that. That is the awesome, mighty power of the Gospel that changes us, who come into this world spiritually dead, and makes us alive in Christ with the hope of eternal life.