Tag: 1 Kings

Turned Heart

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And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice

1 Kings 11:9 (ESV)

I have always been fascinated by the life of David and the continual references throughout the Bible to his faithful trust in the Lord and the steadfast hope of his heart. David was by no means a perfect person who followed the Lord without sin, but he is continually referenced as the standard of having a heart that was wholly true to the Lord his God. David for me is the reference point for how to lead a life of humility that keeps coming before the Lord in repentance and faith. So when Solomon is presented in the story, there is an expectation and a hope that he will follow in the footsteps of David and lead with a heart wholly true to the Lord. What we see is that Solomon was blessed beyond measure in success, wisdom, and peace. Solomon was lacking no earthly blessing in his life. He was even blessed to have the Lord himself appear to him not once, but twice. Solomon was given everything that we ask for ourselves. He is a picture of me.

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Arise and Eat

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Journal Entry // August 30, 2022

And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” (ESV)

1 Kings 19:5

At this point in the story Elijah has concluded that his journey as a prophet is at an end or maybe that he wants it to be at an end. So when his life was threatened, he ran and hide himself. In his hiding place, he asked that the Lord take his life as he had had enough and was ready to be finished. So, in his despair and fear he sought isolation and in his isolation he sought for an escape from the frightful thoughts that only brought anxiety. The escape he found was in sleep. He lay down and slept under the broom tree. The Lord sent an angel to feed and encourage him, but Elijah once again chose sleep once he was fed. The Lord sent an angel a second time to feed him in preparation for his next journey. You can see that Elijah is at the end of his mental and physical limit or at least he believes he is at the limit. The Lord wants to stretch him more and begins preparing him for the journey even when Elijah himself will not. The kindness and goodness of the Lord is on display for Elijah to awaken and rejoice. Yet, Elijah chooses to escape through sleep and there avoid any action or responsibility that is required of him.

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Walk As You Were Taught

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Journal Entry // August 23, 2022

Now therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father what you have promised him, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.’ (ESV)

1 Kings 8:25

I have always found comfort in the life of David because of passages like this one in 1 Kings where Solomon is praying to the Lord at the dedication of the temple. This promise that the Lord made to David is filled with many points of interest to meditate on, but I find the last portion to be so intriguing and challenging. The example that the sons of David should follow was the life of David. As I have just finished reading through the life of David in 1 and 2 Samuel, I find this promise interesting as David did not live a perfect life. By no means did he live a perfect life. Yet, the thing that David did well was humility and repentance. David’s steadfast trust in the Lord and the understanding of his weakness and dependence upon the Lord is the model his sons should emulate. Not only them but me as well.

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