(REFLECTIONS ON 1 Kings 18:1-46) After three years of famine, Elijah was commanded by the Lord to show himself to Ahab, king of the northern kingdom of Israel. Ahab was greatly influenced by his wife Jezebel, a Sidonian, a worshiper of Baal. She led Ahab and all of Israel to turn to Baal instead of worship […]
(REFLECTIONS ON 1 Kings 17:1-24) As Elijah enters the picture, during a time that the king of Israel, Ahab has led Israel away from the Lord, we see an amazing interaction between the prophet of the Lord and a widow. The stage is first set with Elijah saying to Ahab, 1 “As the Lord, the God […]
(REFLECTIONS ON 1 Kings 16:29-34) 30 Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all who were before him. 31 It came about, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he married Jezebel the […]
(REFLECTIONS ON 1 Kings 16:1-28) In today’s Scripture, we see evil continuing to build in Israel. Yet, while evil increases, there is an opposite movement taking place through the Lord’s word and judgment continuing to remove these evil kings from power. Baasha’s household, who conspired against Nadab to come to power, was dealt with in the […]
(REFLECTIONS ON 1 Kings 15:25-34) In today’s Scripture, Baasha conspired against and killed Nadab, the son of Jeroboam, king of Israel. He then became king in Nadab’s place, striking down all the household of Jeroboam. This was in fulfillment of the Lord’s words through His prophet Ahijah because of the sins of King Jeroboam. 29 It […]
(REFLECTIONS ON 1 Kings 15:1-24) In today’s Scripture, we see the contrast between Abijam, king of Judah, and his son Asa. Abijam walked in all the sins of his father that he had committed before him, and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God, like his forefather David. Asa, in contrast, did […]
(REFLECTIONS ON 1 Kings 14:21-31) 1 Kings 14 begins with the kingdom of Israel divided, split into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. Once united as one heart, with one king, and one God, now divided into two kingdoms with two kings. The northern kingdom of Israel under King Jeroboam was […]
(REFLECTIONS ON 1 Kings 14:1-20) Abijah, the son of King Jeroboam, was sick, and Jeroboam asked his wife to disguise herself so that no one would know her identity. He then sent her to Shiloh to inquire of Ahijah the prophet concerning their son. Although Ahijah could not see because of his old age, the Lord […]
(REFLECTIONS ON 1 Kings 13:1-34) In today’s Scripture, we see a man of God from Judah who came to Bethel by the word of the Lord to speak a prophecy against the altar that Jeroboam used to burn incense. This was because Jeroboam, out of fear and insecurity regarding his kingship, had established alternative altars, priests, […]
(REFLECTIONS ON 1 Kings 12:25-33) 27 “If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will return to their lord, even to Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.” What led to the downfall […]