Reflections on I Kings 17-18

God raises up Elijah. Observe:

Provision – God provides for Elijah during the drought through a brook and ravens. But then the brook dried up. Are you trusting in God or the brooks that he gives you? God then provided for Elijah through a widow in Sidon, the center of Ball worship. How has God provided for you in unlikely ways?
Battle of the Gods – Baal is the god of rain, but God’s prophet Elijah says it won’t rain, and it doesn’t. Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal to a contest, and Baal again loses. There is only one true all-powerful God. Are you trusting in him or limping between God and something else?

Reflections on II Chronicles 13-16

Two good kings, Abijah and Asa, reign in Judah.

Rely on God – Abijah’s army won the battle because they relied on God (13:18). When another army came against Asa, he relied on the Lord and was victorious (14:11-12). Yet in Asa’s later years, he failed to rely on God (16:7-8). Who are you relying on? Who do you look to?
Revival – Asa rid Judah of idols. He repaired the altar of the Lord and the people made sacrifices to the Lord. They made a covenant to seek God with all their hearts. Are you seeking God this way? What sacrifices do you make for God? What idols do you need to get rid of?

We see here a contrast between several kings in Judah and Israel. Consider:

Heart – Abijam’s heart was not wholly true to the Lord (15:3), but Asa’s heart was (15:14). How would you describe your heart? What other things compete for your heart? What would it look like to have a heart wholly true to God?
Right and Wrong – Asa did what was right in God’s sight (15:11), but Israel’s kings did what was evil in God’s sight (15:26, 34; 16:25, 30). Where do you see this contrast in our world today? In your own life?

Rehoboam becomes king, and Israel divides. Note:

Heart for God – The Northern Kingdom strayed from God, so those who set their hearts to seek the Lord left their homes and came to Judah so they might offer sacrifices to God at the temple (11:16-17). Have you set your heart to seek the Lord? Would you be willing to leave your home behind?
Evil heart – Once Rehoboam’s reign was secure, he abandoned the law of God and led Israel to do the same. He did not set his heart to seek God. Does your heart stray when your situation seems secure? Is there someone whose influence is leading you astray?

The kingdom splits into two, and both parts walk away from God. Observe:

Folly – Rehoboam has the opportunity to reign as king over all of Israel, but he accepts bad advice and loses most of the people. Compare the advice from his two sets of counselors. Why is one set of advice good and the other bad? How can you know good advice from bad? Where do you seek advice? Where should you seek advice? Why might you seek advice from older godly people?
Idolatry – God gives Jeroboam an opportunity to lead the northern kingdom, but Jeroboam leads the kingdom into idolatry. Judah, the southern kingdom, also enters into idolatry. Is someone leading you to live for or trust in something other than God? Are you wandering from God into idolatry? What idols are calling your name?

The temple is finished and dedicated. Note:

Praise for God’s Love – As the ark was placed in the temple, the Levitical musicians were praising and thanking God for his steadfast love (5:5). The people bowed down and worshipped God “for his steadfast love endures forever” (7:3). The priests offered sacrifices and the Levites offered praises to God – “for his steadfast love endures forever” (7:6). How has God shown his love to you? Take some time now to praise him!
Heart – God knows your heart. You should walk before him with all of your heart. When you sin, you are to turn your heart back to God. Does this describe you? What does God know about your heart?
Humble Prayer – When the people strayed, God instructed them to humbly pray to him, seeking his face, and turning from their wicked ways, and God would hear them and forgive them (7:14). How have you strayed? Will you humble yourself? Will you seek his face?

Solomon becomes king, seeks wisdom, and begins work on the temple. Observe:

Heart for Wisdom – When God told Solomon to make a request, Solomon asked for wisdom. His heart desired wisdom to do the work God had called him to do – to lead God’s people. Does your heart desire wisdom to do the work God has called you to do? Will you ask God for wisdom?
Great God – Solomon writes to the king of Tyre about his plans to build a temple for God. He describes God as greater than all other gods. The heavens cannot contain him, let alone a house. But Solomon is building a house to offer sacrifices to God. Ponder the greatness of God in Solomon’s descriptions. As God’s temple today (see I Corinthians 6:19-20), what offerings will you to make to this God?

David leaves a charge for Israel and Solomon, and prays to the Lord. Consider:

Heart – Solomon is to serve God with a whole heart. The people give to the temple with a whole heart. God searches and tests the heart – what does he see when he looks at your heart? Are you serving and giving to the Lord with a whole heart? Join David in asking God to direct your heart more to him.
Prayer of Praise – David praises God for his many glorious attributes. Reflect on the attributes of God in 29:10-13, and then offer up your own prayer of praise to God.

David prepares for building the temple and organizes the Levites. Note:

Seek the Lord – As part of his instructions to the leaders of Israel, he tells them to set their minds and hearts to seek the Lord. Have you set your mind to seek the Lord? What would that look like? Have you set your heart to seek the Lord? What would that look like?
Praise – David assigns some of the Levites to sing and play instruments in praise to the Lord. They were to praise and thank God every morning and evening. What does your “praise life” look like?

David continues to subdue his enemies, but then sins.

Trust – In II Samuel, Joab was known for his vengeful actions. Here we see him in a different light. In battle, he trusts God to do whatever seems good to the Lord (19:13). Do you have that kind of trust in the Lord?
Obedience – In chapter 21, David tells Joab to count the people – something David was not to do. Joab resists, finding the David’s sinful command to be abhorrent. Joab finally does grudgingly do it – an act of disobedience to God, but he still stands above David in this matter. Do you find sin abhorrent to you? Do you seek to obey God no matter who tells you otherwise?