Devotional

1Kings 18, no one answered!

1Ki 18:21, And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “HOW LONG WILL YOU FALTER BETWEEN TWO OPINIONS? IF THE LORD IS GOD, FOLLOW HIM; BUT IF BAAL, FOLLOW HIM.”…

A TEST TO SEE WHO IS GOD; NEVER MIND THE RICH HISTORY OF GOD’S WORK WITH ISRAEL? HOW THE LORD FEED ISRAEL FOR 40 YEARS, THE CROSSING OF THE RED SEA, THE CROSSING OF THE JORDAN YET, THEY NEED A TEST? A WICKED GENERATION!

Mat 12:39, BUT HE ANSWERED AND SAID TO THEM, “AN EVIL AND ADULTEROUS GENERATION SEEKS AFTER A SIGN, AND NO SIGN WILL BE GIVEN TO IT EXCEPT THE SIGN OF THE PROPHET JONAH.

1Ki 18:22, Then Elijah said to the people, “I ALONE am left a prophet of the LORD; BUT BAAL’S PROPHETS ARE FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY MEN. 

One against 450 baal worshippers! IF GOD IS WITH US WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?

1Ki 18:26, … and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, “O Baal, hear us!” BUT THERE WAS NO VOICE; NO ONE ANSWERED…

Hab 2:18, “What profit is the image, that its maker should carve it, The molded image, a teacher of lies, That the maker of its mold should trust in it, To make mute idols? 

Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them (Psa 115:8). IF YOU PLACE YOUR TRUST IN ANYTHING OTHER THAN GOD ALONE THEN YOU ARE SPIRITUALLY DEAD! TRUST IN THE LORD FOR HE IS GOD!

1Kings 17, the LORD our provider!

1Ki 17:1-3, And Elijah …, said to Ahab, “As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, EXCEPT AT MY WORD.” Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, GET AWAY FROM HERE and turn eastward…

Jas 5:17, ELIJAH WAS A MAN WITH A NATURE LIKE OURS, AND HE PRAYED EARNESTLY THAT IT WOULD NOT RAIN; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 

ELIJAH WAS JUST LIKE US, BUT HE KNEW HIS GOD AND RELIED UPON HIM! WE SHOULD FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE!

1Ki 17:4, 9, And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I HAVE COMMANDED THE RAVENS TO FEED YOU THERE.” … (9) SEE, I HAVE COMMANDED A WIDOW THERE TO PROVIDE FOR YOU.” 

THE LORD HAS HIS WAY OF PROVIDING FOR HIS SERVANTS! HERE WE SEE THAT BOTH THE RAVENS AND THE WIDOW WERE COMMANDED TO PROVIDE FOR HIM! YET THE WIDOW DIDN’T KNOW THAT SHE WAS COMMANDED!

1Ki 17:13, … “DO NOT FEAR; …, BUT MAKE ME A SMALL CAKE FROM IT FIRST, AND BRING IT TO ME; AND AFTERWARD MAKE SOME FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR SON. 

ALL SHE HAD WAS A HANDFUL OF FLOUR AND LITTLE OIL WHICH SHE PLANNED ON EATING WITH HER SON BEFORE DYING OF HUNGER, YET SHE BELIEVE THE WORD OF THE LORD!

Luk 12:24, Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; AND GOD FEEDS THEM. OF HOW MUCH MORE VALUE ARE YOU THAN THE BIRDS? 

1Kings 16, A new low in Israel! Ahab!

1Ki 16:19, because of the sins which he had committed in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, IN WALKING IN THE WAY OF JEROBOAM, AND IN HIS SIN WHICH HE HAD COMMITTED TO MAKE ISRAEL SIN. 

2Ki 17:21, …THEN JEROBOAM DROVE ISRAEL FROM FOLLOWING THE LORD, AND MADE THEM COMMIT A GREAT SIN

Jeroboam long dead, Yet his shameful legacy was used to compare all the other kings of Israel that came after him! WALKING IN THE WAY OF JEROBOAM!

1Ki 16:30-31, NOW AHAB the son of Omri DID EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, MORE THAN ALL WHO WERE BEFORE HIM. And it came to pass, AS THOUGH IT HAD BEEN A TRIVIAL THING FOR HIM TO WALK IN THE SINS OF JEROBOAM … AND HE WENT AND SERVED BAAL AND WORSHIPED HIM.

While Jeroboam setup Idols and said to his people, “HERE ARE YOUR GODS, O ISRAEL, WHICH BROUGHT YOU UP FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT” 1KI 12:28. Ahab straight out served a pagan so called god, baal and worshiped him!

Ps 115:4-8, Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men’s hands. THEY HAVE MOUTHS, BUT THEY DO NOT SPEAK; EYES THEY HAVE, BUT THEY DO NOT SEE; THEY HAVE EARS, BUT THEY DO NOT HEAR; NOSES THEY HAVE, BUT THEY DO NOT SMELL; THEY HAVE HANDS, BUT THEY DO NOT HANDLE; FEET THEY HAVE, BUT THEY DO NOT WALK; Nor do they mutter through their throat. THOSE WHO MAKE THEM ARE LIKE THEM; SO IS EVERYONE WHO TRUSTS IN THEM.

THERE IS ONLY ONE TRUE GOD SERVE HIM! EVERYTHING ELSE IS THE WORK OF MENS HANDS SACRIFICING TO DEMONS 1COR 10:20

1Kings 15, SEEK THE LORD NOT MAN

1Ki 15:11-12, ASA DID WHAT WAS RIGHT IN THE EYES OF THE LORD, AS DID HIS FATHER DAVID. AND HE BANISHED THE PERVERTED PERSONS FROM THE LAND, and REMOVED ALL THE IDOLS that his fathers had made.

Mat 1:7, Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and ABIJAH BEGOT ASA.

1Ki 15:13-14, Also he removed MAACHAH HIS GRANDMOTHER FROM BEING QUEEN MOTHER, because she had made an obscene image of Asherah. And Asa cut down her obscene image and burned it by the Brook Kidron. ….ASA’S HEART WAS LOYAL TO THE LORD ALL HIS DAYS

His heart was loyal to the LORD But, when Baasha king of Israel came up against him; Asa did not go to the LORD for help he went to the king of Syria!

2Ch 16:7, And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him: “BECAUSE YOU HAVE RELIED ON THE KING OF SYRIA, AND HAVE NOT RELIED ON THE LORD YOUR GOD, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand. 

THE LORD MAKES A PERSON STRONG IF THEY ARE LOYAL TO THE LORD!

2Ch 16:9, For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.” 

IN TIMES OF TROUBLE AND IN TIMES OF PROSPERITY ALWAYS SEEK THE LORD AND RELY ON HIS STRENGTH!

1Kings 14, Fooling ourselves!

1Ki 14:1-2, At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam became sick. And Jeroboam said to his wife, “PLEASE ARISE, AND DISGUISE YOURSELF, that they may not recognize you as the wife of Jeroboam, and go to Shiloh. Indeed, AHIJAH THE PROPHET IS THERE, …

1Ki 14:4-5, … But Ahijah could not see, for his eyes were glazed by reason of his age. Now the LORD had said to Ahijah, “Here is the wife of Jeroboam … when she comes in, that she will pretend to be another woman.“

We may be able to deceive people, but never the LORD! FOR HE KNOWS ALL ABOUT YOU, YET HE STILL LOVES YOU!

Psa 139:2-4, You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.

1Ki 14:6, And so it was, when Ahijah heard the sound of her footsteps as she came through the door, he said, “COME IN, WIFE OF JEROBOAM. WHY DO YOU PRETEND TO BE ANOTHER PERSON? FOR I HAVE BEEN SENT TO YOU WITH BAD NEWS. 

Heb 4:13, AND THERE IS NO CREATURE HIDDEN FROM HIS SIGHT, BUT ALL THINGS ARE NAKED AND OPEN TO THE EYES OF HIM TO WHOM WE MUST GIVE ACCOUNT. 

WE CAN PRETEND AND HIDE OUR TRUE SELVES ALL WE WANT, YET WE DECEIVE OURSELVES! REMEMBER HE KNOWS ALL ABOUT YOU, AND STILL LOVES YOU!

1Kings 12, A foolish son!

1Ki 12:4, “Your father made our yoke heavy; now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.” 

Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, asked advice from the elders who served Solomon.

1Ki 12:8, BUT HE REJECTED THE ADVICE WHICH THE ELDERS HAD GIVEN HIM, and CONSULTED THE YOUNG MEN WHO HAD GROWN UP WITH HIM, who stood before him. 

1Ki 12:11, And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I WILL ADD TO YOUR YOKE; my father chastised you with whips, BUT I WILL CHASTISE YOU WITH SCOURGES!

Job 12:12, WISDOM IS WITH AGED MEN, AND WITH LENGTH OF DAYS, UNDERSTANDING. 

Rehoboam with a few foolish words divided the nation of Israel. Solomon worried about this!

Ecc 2:18-19, … because I must leave it to the man who will come after me. And who knows whether he will be WISE OR A FOOL? Yet he will rule over all my labor in which I toiled ….

1Ki 12:15, So the king did not listen to the people; for the turn of events WAS FROM THE LORD, THAT HE MIGHT FULFILL HIS WORD…

GOD ALLOWED REHOBOAM’S FOOISH HEART TO SPEAK TO HIS OWN DESTRUCTION! IT WAS SOLOMON’S SIN AND REHOBOAM FOLLY THAT DIVIDED ISRAEL, YET GOD WAS IN FULL CONTROL AND FULFILLED HIS WORD!

Psa 118:8, IT IS BETTER TO TRUST IN THE LORD THAN TO PUT CONFIDENCE IN MAN. 

1Kings 11, Solomon turns his heart!

1Ki 11:4, For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David.

Deu 17:17, NEITHER SHALL HE MULTIPLY WIVES FOR HIMSELF, LEST HIS HEART TURN AWAY..

AS WITH ALL MANKIND; SOLOMON PROVED HIMSELF A SINNER AND HAS TURNED FROM FOLLOWING THE LORD!

1Ki 11:5-6, For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. SOLOMON DID EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, AND DID NOT FULLY FOLLOW THE LORD, AS DID HIS FATHER DAVID.

FOR ALL HIS WISDOM HE BECAME FOOLISH FOLLOWING OTHER, SO CALLED, GODS!

Pro 3:7, Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. 

Isa 46:9-10, … For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’

THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD THE CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH! HE KNOWS THE END FROM THE BEGINNING! SEEK AND OBEY HIM WHO IS WORTHY TO BE PRAISED!

Pro 3:5-6, Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

1Kings 10, Wisdom & Glory of the KING!

1Ki 10:6-7, Then she said to the king: “It was a true report which I heard in my own land ABOUT YOUR WORDS AND YOUR WISDOM. However I did not believe the words UNTIL I CAME AND SAW WITH MY OWN EYES; and indeed the half was not told me. YOUR WISDOM AND PROSPERITY EXCEED THE FAME OF WHICH I HEARD.

The queen of Sheba came from a long way to see and hear Solomon’s wisdom, and she was truly amazed at his wisdom! YET, the true KING is coming with a greater wisdom!

Mat 12:42, … for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed A GREATER THAN SOLOMON IS HERE

1Ki 10:27, THE KING MADE SILVER AS COMMON IN JERUSALEM AS STONES…

Solomon had great wealth, YET THE TRUE KING WILL MAKE SOLOMON’S RICHES AND GLORY LOOK SHABBY IN COMPARISON!

Rev 21:21, The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

THE KING IS COMING AND HE SHALL BE KING OF ALL THE EARTH, NOT JUST JERUSALEM!

Zec 14:9, And the LORD shall be King over all the earth… 

Isa 11:2-4, The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. His delight is in the fear of the LORD, And HE SHALL NOT JUDGE BY THE SIGHT OF HIS EYES, NOR DECIDE BY THE HEARING OF HIS EARS; BUT WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS!

1Kings 9, the LORD appears to Solomon!

1Ki 9:3, And the LORD said to him: “I HAVE HEARD YOUR PRAYER AND YOUR SUPPLICATION THAT YOU HAVE MADE BEFORE ME; I have consecrated this house which you have built TO PUT MY NAME THERE FOREVER, AND MY EYES AND MY HEART WILL BE THERE PERPETUALLY. 

It’s amazing to think that the creator of heaven and earth can hear our prayers! THE PRAYER OF THE UPRIGHT IS HIS DELIGHT Pro 15:8!

Deu 11:12, a land for which the LORD your God cares; THE EYES OF THE LORD YOUR GOD ARE ALWAYS ON IT, FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR TO THE VERY END OF THE YEAR. 

1Ki 9:6-7, BUT IF you or your sons at all TURN FROM FOLLOWING ME, AND DO NOT KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS AND MY STATUTES WHICH I HAVE SET BEFORE YOU, BUT GO AND SERVE OTHER GODS AND WORSHIP THEM, THEN I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them; AND THIS HOUSE which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight. ISRAEL WILL BE A PROVERB AND A BYWORD AMONG ALL PEOPLES.

IT’S A CHOICE GIVEN TO SOLOMON AND A CHOICE GIVEN TO US; TO FOLLOW THE LORD AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS! BUT A BACKSLIDER ONLY HARMS HIMSELF!

Jer 2:19, YOUR OWN WICKEDNESS WILL CORRECT YOU, AND YOUR BACKSLIDINGS WILL REBUKE YOU. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing That you have forsaken the LORD your God, And the fear of Me is not in you,” Says the Lord GOD of hosts. 

THE LORD WANTS TO USE US TO DRAW MORE PEOPLE TOWARDS HIMSELF ONLY IF WE ARE FAITHFUL TO HIM! KEEP WATCH OVER YOUR OWN HEART!

1Kings 8, Dedicating the Temple, Prayer!

1Ki 8:41-42, “Moreover, concerning a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, but has come from a far country FOR YOUR NAME’S SAKE (FOR THEY WILL HEAR OF YOUR GREAT NAME AND YOUR STRONG HAND AND YOUR OUTSTRETCHED ARM), WHEN HE COMES AND PRAYS TOWARD THIS TEMPLE,  

Praying towards the Temple of God which many still do today even though the Temple is no longer standing! Gentiles will come to Israel for we know that there is only one GOD

1Ki 8:43, hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and DO ACCORDING TO ALL FOR WHICH THE FOREIGNER CALLS TO YOU, that all peoples of the earth MAY KNOW YOUR NAME AND FEAR YOU, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is CALLED BY YOUR NAME.

Mal 1:11, …MY NAME SHALL BE GREAT AMONG THE GENTILES; In every place incense shall be offered to My name, And a pure offering; FOR MY NAME SHALL BE GREAT AMONG THE NATIONS,” Says the LORD of hosts. 

1Ki 8:57, May the LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers. MAY HE NOT LEAVE US NOR FORSAKE US, 

HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US FOR THE GENTILES, WHO ONCE WALKED IN DARKNESS, HAVE SEEN A GREAT LIGHT IN JESUS OUR LORD!

Isa 41:10, Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’