1 Kings 14

1 Kings 14

Due to Jeroboam’s disobedience, he had previously been punished. That was the role of the first prophet that had been sent Jeroboam’s way. When he decided to continue to ignore God and lead the kingdom in his own sinful ways, God sent more judgment his way. His son fell ill and Jeroboam wanted to know if his son was about to die. So he sent his wife to the prophet, Ahijah, and she was to inquire as to what would happen to their son. As she was making her way to the home of the prophet, disguised so that she would not be recognized, God told Ahijah that she was on her way. He also gave Ahijah the message that he wanted delivered to Jeroboam and his family.


When she entered the house, Ahijah (who was actually blind) knew it was her. He gave her the message from God and declared that their son would surely die. He condemned Jeroboam for not following God’s commands. God had blessed Jeroboam tremendously, choosing to give him the kingdom after it had been torn away from the household of David. God had been with him every step of the way, and yet Jeroboam chose to reject God and create false gods. Because of his disobedience and his unwillingness to turn back to God, God declared that He was going to now tear the kingdom away from Jeroboam and his family as well. Not only this, but God also promised that a day would come when the nation of Israel would be overthrown, and they would be scattered “beyond the Euphrates.” Later in Israel’s history, they were conquered by the Assyrians and taken into exile, to a place beyond the Euphrates. This promise was a fulfillment of the condition God had made back in Deuteronomy under Moses’ leadership. He promised Israel that as long as they obeyed His commands, He would bless them. But if they decided to do things their own way and became disobedient, then He would send judgment upon them. He even mentioned then that judgment would come in the form of an overthrow.

After 22 years as king, Jeroboam’s reign came to an end, and his son, Nadab, took the throne. Israel was once again faced with the choice as to whether they start to follow God again, and they knew the consequences if they decided not to. Meanwhile, Rehoboam was still king in Judah (that is the Southern Kingdom). They continued to live in disobedience to God as well, and God allowed the Egyptians to come in and take away much of their treasures. Whereas much of Solomon’s reign was characterized by times of peace (because of his faithfulness to God), Rehoboam’s reign was filled with war. Not only did he have to deal with the Egyptians, but he was constantly fighting Jeroboam and his brothers to the north. God did not grant the people and the land peace during times of disobedience. So Rehoboam’s reign came to an end as well, and his son Abijam took the throne.

Matt

Today - 33 Miles

One of the songs off of 33 Miles latest CD is "Today," and its lyrics can apply to all of us.  We all have hard times in life, times when we stress out, worry, and wonder if we are going to make it through.  Life is hard, and we all experience troubling times.  But in the midst of those times, we have a choice.  We can either let them control us, or we can turn to God, trusting that He will see us through.  We can either let our lives be ruled by worry, fear, and doubt, or we can turn to God and find our joy in Him as we have faith that He will see us through and give us peace in life because of His great love.  Now, this does not mean that life will be perfect, we will not experience any more pain, and we will go through life with no more problems.  It does mean, however, that there is One we can always turn to when life is hard, and He will work things out for our good, according to His purposes!  So here are the lyrics:

Today

Worry keeps waking me up
Calling me at 3 am
Fear wants to shut me down
Telling me what might happen
Doubt plays with my mind
Trying to twist the truth
All these distractions, beg a reaction,
So here's what I'm gonna do

Right here, right now
I'm living for You and nothing else
Yesterday is history
And tomorrow's gonna write itself
All I got is the moment I'm in
And I don't ever want to waste
This gift, this chance, right here, right now
Today

Joy is what I choose
When my blue turns to gray
Faith is where I turn
When the world says there's no way
And peace is what I find
Resting in your hands
And Your love is more than enough
To keep my heart content

CHORUS

I know that You hold
The things I can't control
So I am letting go

CHORUS

So go out and life life to the fullest.  We do not have to let life control us because we have the One who controls the world living inside of us.  That alone should drive us to proclaim His Word to the nations.  We never know what day might be our last.  So remember that all you have is "this gift, this chance, right here, right now, TODAY."

Matt

1 Kings 13:11-34

1 Kings 13:11-34

One point we did not cover in the opening verses of 1 Kings 13 was what God had commanded the prophet out of Judah to do. While his mission was to go and confront Jeroboam, he had also been commanded to return home immediately and not stay with anyone or eat or drink with anyone during his journey. Jeroboam was not following the Lord, and He did not want His prophet to get caught up in the practices of those from the north. But when the prophet was on his way home, he ran into one of the so called prophets from the north. He was invited to eat with this older prophet, but he quickly denied the offer explaining what God had commanded him to do. However, the older prophet told him that God had given him a different message, and the young prophet from Judah disobeyed God by staying with this other prophet.


As a result of his disobedience, God spoke through the older prophet, predicting the younger prophet’s death. He was told that he would not return to the land of his fathers to be buried. Then, once he left the home of the older prophet, he was attacked by a lion and killed. Many men walked by and saw his dead body, and news eventually traveled to the older prophet that the young man was dead. He then set out and retrieved the body and buried it near his own home.

So what is the lesson from this story? Follow God’s commands. But even more than that, we never have to worry about God giving conflicting stories to separate people. God would not have told the younger prophet not to eat or drink with anyone from the Northern Kingdom and then turn around and tell another prophet differently. God does not lie, and His stories are always true and consistent. The younger prophet should have recognized this and continued on his way home. But he lost trust in God, questioned his beliefs, and paid for it in the end. We can trust God in what He says. His words are true. Scripture is true. If we ever hearing someone saying differently, saying that they have received a new word from God, then we need to question them. Anything that contradicts what God has already stated is a lie, and we must be careful to guard ourselves against them.

As for Jeroboam and the Northern Kingdom, they were continuing to turn away from God. The split in Israel came as a result of Rehoboam’s disobedience, but those who followed Jeroboam were not much better. Although God had ordained for Jeroboam to take the throne in the north, He did not approve of the way they were acting. That is why He had sent the young prophet in the first place, to warn them of the judgment to come if they did not turn back to God. But instead of listening to the words of the prophet, they continued to worship false gods.

Matt

1 Kings 12:25-13:10

1 Kings 12:25-13:10

In the beginning of 1 Kings 12 we saw Rehoboam turning away from God, and as a result, the kingdom was split in two. Jeroboam became the king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, but he did not fare much better. Although God had chosen him for this specific moment and set him up as king, Jeroboam chose not to follow God’s commands. Instead, he became worried that if his people continued to travel to Jerusalem to worship God in the Temple then they would eventually turn back to God and accept Rehoboam as their king again. He feared that the nation would be unified, which would leave him with no place to rule. So instead of allowing his people to worship God as they had all been commanded, Jeroboam created two golden calves (similar to what Aaron had done in Exodus). He told them that these were the gods that had rescued their fathers from Egypt. He then kicked out all of the Levites that were in the north and set up his own priests to serve in this false religion that he had created.


At this point in Israel’s history, neither kingdom was truly following after God. They were not that far removed from the days of David and Solomon, the greatest days in their history. But they allowed sin to creep into their lives. They turned away from God and decided to work things out on their own strength. As a result, Israel experienced some of its darkest days (up to that point in their history). But God had not given up on His children. He rose up a prophet in the South and sent him to Jeroboam to confront his sinful actions. The prophet called him out and warned Jeroboam that if he did not turn back to God then punishment would come. The altars he had built for these false gods would be destroyed. Furthermore, he spoke of a future king of Judah through the line of David that would exercise power and authority over Israel. To show that what he spoke was true, God struck Jeroboam’s hand, and it dried up, and destroyed the altar as He had promised. God had made His point, warning Jeroboam of the things to come.

It appears as if Jeroboam initially understood that he had messed up. He knew that he had sinned against God and asked the prophet to pray that God would heal his hand. His hand was restored to him, and he was allowed to continue to his reign over Israel. This had been a warning for Jeroboam. He now had the choice to take heed to what God had told him. He could either turn back to God or continue to reject Him, but he knew the consequences of turning away. God was trying to get Jeroboam’s attention before something worse came upon them. In the same way, God speaks to us today. Through the Holy Spirit we too are convicted of our sins. He shows us what is right and wrong, and we are then left with the choice to remain in our sin or turn back to God. We must never forget that while God is a personal God, as He lives inside us, He is also the Almighty. He can still bring judgment on us; there are still consequences for our sins. This should be a lesson to us to learn to follow God.

Matt

1 Kings 12:1-24

1 Kings 12:1-24

One of the darkest events in Israel’s history came on the heels of the greatest era in their history. The reigns of David and Solomon were some of the best years for Israel, but when Rehoboam took the throne, it all went downhill. Hearing that Solomon was dead and his son Rehoboam was being anointed as the next king, Jeroboam left Egypt and traveled back to Israel. He knew that God had promised that he would inherit part of the throne, for the nation was about to be divided. So in order to fulfill the word of God, Jeroboam traveled to Israel and confronted Rehoboam.


He and many of the Israelites asked for Rehoboam to lighten up on some of the strict laws Solomon had placed on them. As we saw in 1 Kings 11, Solomon turned from God near the end of his life, and everything went south at that point. Apparently, life became quite hard for the common man in Israel, and they were hoping for relief from Rehoboam. So Rehoboam wisely asked for a few days to think over what he should do. He went to the men who advised Solomon throughout his reign and asked them for advice. They told him to listen to the requests of the people, lighten their load, and they would remain obedient to him for as long as he reigned. But Rehoboam was not satisfied with their advice, so he went to his peers whom he had grown up with. They advised to him to make life harder for the people, and he listened to them.

When Rehoboam gave his report to Jeroboam and his followers, they were obviously upset. They were afraid of what life would be like if it got much worse. They rebelled against Rehoboam, killing men that were close to him and causing him to flee to the safety of Jerusalem. They then turned to Jeroboam and declared him as their king. The only people who chose to remain with Rehoboam were those who lived in Judah. Thus the kingdom had been divided. There were now 2 kings in “Israel:” Rehoboam, who ruled the Southern Kingdom of Judah, and Jeroboam, who ruled the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

Rehoboam became upset at the turn of the events and desired to reunite the kingdom. He wanted the honor of ruling over all the tribes of Israel, so he prepared for war. He gathered men from his country and prepared them for battle, but before they set out God stopped them. He commanded them to remain at home and not fight against their own brothers. He told them that this was His doing and they were not to interfere. Ultimately, this was punishment for their disobedience: for the way that Solomon had turned from God at the end of his life and the way Rehoboam had treated the Israelites. Let it be a lesson to us that God punishes sin. When we turn our backs on God, we can expect the consequences. We are called to be holy, to live for God, and to obey His commands. When we choose to turn away from Him, there will always be consequences. May this passage teach us to follow God.

Matt

1 Kings 11

1 Kings 11

Life was great in the nation of Israel under Solomon’s reign. Through his humble attitude and obedience to God, he had helped Israel become a very wealthy nation. They had no financial worries, they had no political adversaries, and there was peace in the land. The Temple was built during his reign, and God had truly blessed Israel. However, Solomon was not a perfect man. Just like every other person that has ever lived (other than Jesus), Solomon struggled with sin. If you remember, David faltered during his time as king as well.


For Solomon, his struggle was with women. He accumulated 700 wives, not counting his 300 concubines! While the number of wives is definitely an issue that would have most certainly caused problems, an even greater issue was the fact that Solomon was breaking a very important commandment that God had given the people of Israel. God did not want His children taking wives from other nations, knowing that their influence would lead His children astray. By marrying people from other nations, they would be influenced by the gods and customs of those foreign lands. They would be pressured to turn away from God and turn to these false gods that their spouses worshipped. That fear became a reality in Solomon’s life. Since many of his wives were foreigners, he was influenced by their customs and practices. He began to worship these other gods, building altars to them. He turned his back on the one, true God, the God of Israel, and that led to some severe consequences.

Remember that God had continuously told Solomon that as long as he obeyed God’s commands, God would continue to bless him and give him peace in the land. However, if there ever came a day when he turned his back on God, judgment would come. As a result of Solomon’s disobedience, God promised him that the kingdom would be split. While He could not tear the entire kingdom away from Solomon and his sons (for He had promised David that it would always remain in his family), God did promise that it would be split. Solomon’s son would inherit the throne in Jerusalem as promised, but he would not rule over the entire country of Israel.

Opposition began to rise up all around Israel. Nations that David had thoroughly dealt with during his reign began to retaliate, still bitter that they had been defeated by David. Two of these were Edom and a man named Rezon. But there was also opposition from within Israel. God raised up Jeroboam as the one who would help in the division of Israel. He would be given 10 of the tribes of Israel and would reign as their king over what would be known as Israel. Solomon’s son would take what was left, which would include Judah with Jerusalem as its capital. Although this was judgment for Solomon’s actions, God promised Jeroboam that if he would obey God’s commands, then God would bless Jeroboam during his reign as king of Israel.

For Solomon’s reign to have begun so well, he did not finish the race. He stumbled in the end, turning from God, and bringing great judgment on his nation. It is hard to understand how someone who had personally met with God and done so many great things for God could have fallen so hard in the end. But instead of pointing fingers at Solomon, we must think about our own lives. Are we truly following God? Are we keeping His laws as He commanded us? It is easy to blame Solomon, but instead of focusing on him, we must consider where we stand. We should have a spiritual check-up, making sure that we are not faltering at the end of the race as Solomon sadly did.

Matt

1 Kings 10

1 Kings 10

As Israel continued to prosper under the leadership of Solomon, word spread throughout the world of the riches that were in Israel. Solomon’s fame became a worldwide phenomenon, and stories were being told of all he had done for Israel. Furthermore, the world knew that God was the one who had blessed Israel, and people began making their way to the small nation to see the blessings God had given them. One of these people was the Queen of Sheba who had heard the stories about Solomon, but she was not so sure that they were true.


She went in wanting to test Solomon in order to make sure that the stories she had heard were true. She questioned him constantly, and at the end of their meeting she discovered that the stories did not even tell half the story. She was amazed at Solomon’s wisdom and the riches he had accumulated. She knew that Solomon had truly been blessed by the Lord. While she blessed God for all He had done for Solomon, Scripture is not clear what her standing with God was. Did she become a follower? Did she trust Him in her life? We really do not know. However, she is a prime example of what God wanted out of Israel. When they chose to follow Him, He blessed them. He made them a great nation that stood out, and the other nations took notice. The Queen of Sheba was one who came to check things out, and she was amazed at what she saw, possibly drawing close to God in the process. In the end, this was one moment in Israel’s history where they were doing things right, and the world was taking notice.

The Queen of Sheba left Solomon with great riches that she had brought from her land. In the same way, people from many nations were bringing in gifts to Solomon. The Queen of Sheba was not the only person to travel a great distance just to hear his great wisdom. People from several nations traveled to Israel for that reason alone, and in the process they heard about the Lord.

This leads me to question what our lives look like. Do our lives so stand out in this world that people come to us just to see what is different? Do people take notice of the different type of life that we live (living for God) or do we just blend into the world? Like Israel, our lives should reflect the Lord, and if they do, people will take notice. They will see that we are different, and it may lead them to question why. But we should never leave it up to them to come to us. Jesus commanded us to go. We are to be the ones who initiate those conversations, sharing the Gospel with those around us. Then, when our lives back up what we are preaching, people will take notice, and hopefully they will come to know Christ in the process. So while it is important that we live a holy life that is separate from the world, we must also take the initiative to go and spread the Good News as well.

Matt

1 Kings 8:54-9:28

1 Kings 8:54-9:28

As the dedication of the Temple came to a close, Solomon ended it the same way he had begun. He blessed God once again for all He had done for the nation of Israel and led Israel into another time of worship. Solomon then offered his sacrifice to God, as the Israelites had done the day that the Ark was taken into the Temple. Solomon had been given great wealth by God, and in return Solomon offered up a great sacrifice to God, killing thousands of oxen and sheep. He then sent the Israelites away back to their homes, where life returned to normal. Israel had been on a spiritual high for several days at this point (remind you of a church camp experience?) and were now faced with how they would incorporate this worship and dedication into their everyday lives.


Speaking of church camp, I remember the feeling. After a week of nothing but fellowship, worship, and devotion, you could not help but be fired up for God (if you were a Christian that is). It was a great time to draw near to God, be encouraged and challenged, and make great decisions on how we would go home and live for God. While we would put these ideas into practice, they typically did not last. The world would get us back into our normal routine of life, and we would soon forget all that God had taught us at camp. That is where Israel stood at the end of 1 Kings 8. Would they carry on this desire to follow God and allow it to direct their lives, or would they once again fall to sin and allow it to lead them to destruction?

After the people had returned home, God appeared to Solomon personally, giving him a personal challenge. As king of Israel, Solomon was their great example. His life was in the spotlight, and the people of Israel paid attention to how he lived his life. Therefore, there was a great responsibility resting on his shoulders that he lead Israel down the right path. God reminded Solomon of the promises He had made to Moses, Joshua, David, and the other great leaders of Israel: if they followed His commands, He would bless them, and if they turned away from Him, He would send judgment. He not only reminded Solomon of these two promises but also personally challenged Solomon to make that decision in his own life. If Solomon turned from God, then his example would spread throughout Israel, and it would ultimately lead to God sending judgment on Israel. But if Solomon continued to follow God, so would the Israelites, and God would continue to bless them. While everyone is ultimately responsible for their own actions, God wanted Solomon to understand the importance of his obedience (as it would ultimately influence the direction of his people). So like Israel, Solomon too had a choice. Would he let the spiritual high disappear when life went back to normal, or would he continue to live for God?

The rest of 1 Kings 9 outlines some other accomplishments that Solomon had as king. He was able to rebuild cities, conquer lands, and take control over several of Israel’s enemies. Remember that during Solomon’s reign, God had granted peace to the land of Israel, and they were free from war (as long as they remained obedient to God). Solomon’s wisdom, wealth, and fame were great. God continued to bless Israel, and as we will see in 1 Kings 10, news was spreading about the nation of Israel.

Matt

1 Kings 8:12-53

1 Kings 8:12-53

After the construction was finished and everything had been brought into the Temple, Solomon spoke to the people of Israel, blessing God. He was thankful for all God had done for them. God had promised since the time of Moses that Israel would have a land in which they would dwell, a land that He was going to give them. He kept His promise, and Israel had prospered in that land for generations. David then wanted to build a Temple, a permanent home for God, to replace the Tabernacle. Although God would not allow David to build the Temple, He promised that Solomon would, and once again, He was true to His word. Solomon led Israel in praise to God grateful for the fact that God always keeps His promises.


Solomon then dedicates the Temple, first acknowledging again that God keeps His promises. But that extends beyond the blessings we typically think of. If we are honest, we would probably say that we are quite thankful that God keeps His promises when it is for our benefit. But what about those times when He promises consequences for our disobedience? We tend to not want to think about those instances, but if God keeps His promises, then we must understand that He will not be slack in punishment either. Solomon understood this truth, and he in a sense warned the people of living in disobedience, talking about how it could lead to defeat in battles or hard times for their nation. However, he also knew that if they humbled themselves and turned back to God, then He would hear them, forgive their sins, and return to them. This passage in the middle of 1 Kings 8 seems to parallel the famous verse 2 Chronicles 7:14.

Solomon referred back to the Law of Moses and warned the people of some of the dangers they faced. This Temple was a place of worship and called for obedience. It was a sign of their relationship with the Lord, for that is where He would dwell. Therefore, they should pay careful attention to how they live their lives. They were a people called to be holy, a light to the nations. But if they drifted from God’s Word, there would be consequences. Solomon alluded to defeat in battles, droughts, and famine, stressing the importance of their obedience.

We are quite similar to the Israelites. We too are called to be holy, and God (through His Spirit) dwells inside of us. We are called to be an example to the nations as we go out and preach His word to others. So we must be careful to follow His word, lest we too face the consequences. Although we may not see famine or drought in the ways that Israel faced it, God still judges sin. As His children we should never desire to take His gift of salvation for granted and use it as a license to sin. Instead, we should have an increasing desire to live a holy life as we strive not to sin.

Matt

1 Kings 7:1-8:11

1 Kings 7:1-8:11

After completion of the Temple, Solomon went to work on building his own house. Now you might be shocked to see that it took him 13 years to complete, but I think part of that is due to the fact that Solomon did not live alone. He probably had countless servants, and we know that he had many wives (probably several at this point). So he had to make accommodations for all that lived with or around him. Whereas the Temple was just one main building, extravagant as it was, Solomon’s dwellings were probably much larger. One person that he made provisions for was Pharaoh’s daughter, whom he had taken in previously.


One of Solomon’s final tasks was to make all the various instruments and furnishings that belonged in the Temple. In Exodus, when God outlined how the Tabernacle was to be built, He also gave Moses instructions on what was to go into the Tabernacle (such as instruments that would be used for sacrifices and altars and tables). Solomon once again hired Hiram to help him in constructing these various instruments and furnishings for the Temple. Once they were all completed, Solomon had them all brought inside the Temple, and the Temple was not only built but also ready to use. The people of Israel had a permanent place in which they could go and worship and sacrifice to God.

The final step in this long project was to bring the Ark of the Covenant into the Temple where it belonged. Solomon assembled a great number of men to retrieve the Ark and bring it from the Tabernacle to the new Temple. Along the way, the people of Israel entered into a time of worship as they sacrificed to God. 1 Kings 8 says that the people sacrificed so many sheep and oxen that they could not count how many had been sacrificed. The people of Israel were truly thankful for all God had done for them, and they knew that they were a blessed people. Once the Ark was put in its place in the Holy of Holies, God’s glory filled the room, as He found His place in the Temple.

This scene is such a beautiful picture of what it means to follow God. Although we may encounter various trials in life, we know that God is always with us. He will guide us through any situation in life. He blesses us in ways that we sometimes fail to recognize in the moment, but we should never forget all that He does for us. The people of Israel were so grateful for what God had done for them that they were willing to sacrifice countless sheep and oxen. What are we willing to sacrifice to express our gratitude to God? Do we realize how much He blesses us each day, or do we take those blessings for granted? Just as God dwelt among the people of Israel in the Temple, He dwells inside each of us who are His children. He has sent the Holy Spirit to live inside of us to help guide us through life. Think about that! We have an amazing relationship with our Lord! He dwells within us, guides us through lives, and blesses us beyond measure. Sure life is hard, but we must never forget to praise God and thank Him for all that He does for us on a daily basis.

Matt

1 Kings 5-6

1 Kings 5-6

Preparations for the Temple were finally made in the beginning of 1 Kings 5, and for the people of Israel, the Temple was finally becoming a reality. God had promised David that his son would be the one to build the Temple for the Lord, and God began fulfilling that promise when Solomon began to collect the supplies that he would need to build. Recently, I read through 1 and 2 Chronicles for a project for one of my classes, and as a result, I saw these same stories that we are about to walk through from a different perspective. Like the Gospels, which tell many of the same stories about Jesus (from different perspectives), 1 and 2 Chronicles track the kingship of Israel and Judah. They give us new details that the author of the Samuels and the Kings did not mention. For instance, many of the preparations for the Temple were made by David in his final days. Nevertheless, there was still work to be done before construction could begin, and that is the process Solomon was beginning in 1 Kings 5.


One of the main reasons construction could begin at this point in Israel’s history was due to the fact that there was no war around them. Because of Solomon’s obedience and humility, God had blessed Solomon beyond measure. He gave Solomon a very peaceful reign, free from war, and Solomon used that time to build. Some of the surrounding nations offered to help, like Hiriam who wanted to send Solomon a group of workers. The nations saw the great land that Israel had. They saw that Israel was a people who had been blessed by their God. In some ways, I think these nations wanted a part of what Israel had, which was God’s plan all along. Through Israel, God was trying to reach out to the rest of the nations of the world. So when Israel followed God, the nations took notice and saw God’s blessings as He poured it out on His faithful children.

With the help of Hiriam, Solomon had gathered together thousands of men who would help cut down trees and bring in the wood needed. He also drafted thousands of Israelites who would begin cutting stones and making other preparations for construction. By the end of 1 Kings 5, they were ready to begin construction. The foundation was the laid in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign, and 1 Kings 6 outlines the construction of the actual building. Solomon paid careful attention to the details. Each room was built and decorated according to God’s plan. Although His plans are not as laid out like they were for the tabernacle in Moses’ day, some of the characteristics between the two setups were the same.

The most important part of the Temple was the room in which God Himself would dwell, the Holy of Holies. This is where Moses met with God on occasion in the tabernacle, and it would serve the same function in the Temple. In fact, God promised Solomon that if he would continue to remain obedient to God’s commands as he had done, then God would remain with them forever. He would watch over the people of Israel and continue to bless them as long as they continued to follow Him. This is the same message that we have seen from the days of Moses. When God’s people followed Him, he poured out His blessings, but when they turned their backs against Him, punishment was sure to follow. There would be dark days in Israel’s future, but at this point, Israel was at one of its highest points because they were following God.

Matt

1 Kings 3:16-4:34

1 Kings 3:16-4:34

Although we have seen Solomon handle some tough situations already, the second half of 1 Kings 3 is the first situation we see after God gave him the wisdom he desired. Two women, prostitutes from the same house, came to Solomon in dispute over a young child. They had both given birth within days of one another, and one night, one of the children died (due to the mother sleeping on top of him). That mother switched the babies, so that she would still have a child, and the other mother knew that the dead baby in her arms the next morning was not her child. So they went to Solomon to get the situation resolved.


Solomon listened carefully to the story and knew that there was no way of figuring out who the true mother is. Think about it, they did not have tests that they could take in those days that would tell them who the real parents were. So Solomon commanded that the baby be divided in two, half given to each woman. Now while this seems barbaric, and catches the reader off guard, Solomon got the reaction he was looking for. The real mother spoke out in fear that her son would be killed and offered to give the child up to the other woman in an effort to save his life. The other mother, however, went along with Solomon’s commands and asked for the child to be divided in half. Now, which is the true mother? It is pretty obvious by their reactions, and that is what Solomon was looking for. He gave the child to the woman who spoke up first, knowing that she was the true mother, and the situation was resolved.

This situation brought Solomon closer to his people. They were amazed at the wisdom of Solomon and knew that it had come from the Lord. As a result, Solomon’s kingdom began to flourish just as God had promised. He was able to set up his various officials, who were mostly new people (as he had previously killed off most of the officials that David had used). He was also able to extend the borders of Israel, even beyond what David had done. God gave him the lands surrounding Israel, and there continued to be peace in the land. His riches began to accumulate as well. Not only was Israel prospering as a nation, but Solomon was prospering as well. There was nothing that he did not have. God gave him the wisdom that he had desired but also decided to bless him with riches, wealth, fame, and peace as well, because Solomon had chosen to follow and obey God.

Finally, the closing verses of 1 Kings 4 show the kings of the surrounding nations coming to Israel to hear the great wisdom of Solomon. Israel was finally where God had wanted them all along. They were a light to the world, and the nations were coming to them, seeing the great nation that they possessed. As a result, the kings of these surrounding nations could not help but encounter God, the God of Israel. They were able to see all that God had done for Israel, and if they had truly turned to God, He would have provided for them as well. Remember that God was not just the God of Israel. He was the God of all the nations even in the Old Testament, and He was reaching out to all the peoples of the earth then as well. This was one of those great moments where Israel was truly seeking God, and the world took notice.

Matt

1 Kings 3:1-15

1 Kings 3:1-15

As Solomon’s reign really begins in 1 Kings 3, we receive a glimpse into the personal life of Solomon. Up until this point we have seen his interactions with his family and friends. He struggled to gain control of the throne, having to first contest with his brother Adonijah. While grieving the death of his father, David, he also had to make tough choices on what to do with the men who had betrayed him and his father in that struggle for the throne. In the end, he cleaned house and got rid of all the men who had stood by Adonijah’s side. So 1 Kings 3 is the first glimpse we get of Solomon in his everyday life as king of Israel.


Solomon regularly traveled to Gibeon to sacrifice to God, for there was still no Temple in Israel (construction had not yet begun). The magnitude of the sacrifices he made is evidence of the great wealth Solomon had, even at the beginning of his reign. But it was not the magnitude of the sacrifice that mattered. Solomon could have been a peasant giving up one animal and the sacrifice would have meant the same. What was unique about Solomon was his devotion to God. He continued to follow God, even after David’s death. Like young adults today who move away from the home for the first time, we have to decide if our religion is something of our parents or something we have truly taken hold of as well. What role will God play in our life when they are not there to make sure we are still attending Church? The same was true for Solomon. He could have easily strayed from God, not having his father there to make sure he followed the Law. However, this was not true for Solomon (at least at the beginning of his reign). He was truly devoted to God, and that is shown through his sacrificial spirit.

While at Gibeon one day, Solomon received a dream from God where God told Solomon that He would give him whatever he desired. Solomon could ask for anything, and it would be given to him. I cannot help but wonder what I would have asked for. What would have been the first thing that popped into my mind, and it would it have been something that would have glorified God? For Solomon, there was only one choice. He could have asked for money, but as we have already seen, he was pretty much set in that area. Solomon instead asked for wisdom. He knew that his role as king was a tough spot. While it was a prestigious role to have, it also brought on a lot of hard decisions. He had already had to make some of those tough choices when dealing with those left over from David’s reign. So he asked God for wisdom, so that he would be able to discern what the right course of action was in the future.

God was pleased with Solomon’s response, so he granted Solomon’s desire for wisdom. But God went one step further, rewarding Solomon for his humble attitude. Since Solomon did not ask for riches or for his enemies to be taken care of, God promised that He would continue to provide in those areas as well. This would give Solomon a comfortable, peaceful reign as king of Israel. He would live a long life, and ultimately, Israel would be what God had always intended, a lighthouse to the rest of the world. The nations around Israel would see how their God provided for them, and God would be able to reach out to these nations as well. But there was also one condition on Solomon’s request. God told Solomon that he must also be careful to continue to follow the Law, as he had done. When we get comfortable and have everything we need (as Solomon did here), it is easy to become complacent. That is when we are in the most danger, and we must be even more careful to make sure we are continuing to follow God.

Matt

1 Kings 2:28-46

1 Kings 2:28-46

Another person Solomon had to remove from a position of power was Joab. Now if you remember, Joab was one of David’s must trusted men. Joab had come to David’s aid on numerous occasions, and he even confronted David at times when David had drifted from God. But most recently, Joab had killed two men without David’s knowledge. He had been sent out on a task by David, but he did more than David knew. Furthermore, Joab supported Adonijah when Adonijah attempted to take the throne from Solomon. So although he was one of the most trusted men in the kingdom, Solomon could not afford to keep him around. It was too dangerous to keep a man who no longer showed loyalty to Solomon and his men. So Solomon sent Benaiah to kill Joab and ultimately promoted Benaiah to take over control of the army (what was once Joab’s position).


The final person Solomon had to take care of was Shimei, a man who had continuously been disloyal to David. He was upset from the start, blaming David for Saul’s death. He then rejoiced when Absalom declared himself as king. He was glad to see David on the run. Then, at one point during David’s exile, he cast stones at David. So Solomon did not want Shimei anywhere near him and the throne. He commanded Shimei to build himself a house and remain there, never leaving the city. But when two of Shimei’s servants left to go to Gath, Shimei went out after them and brought them home.

When Solomon heard of Shimei’s trip, he summoned him to himself and questioned him. All Solomon knew was that Shimei had been in Gath. So Solomon really had no idea why he had left. Could he be aligning himself with the people there? Was he trying to gain support in order to take out Solomon? Solomon did not know what Shimei was up to, and since Shimei had made a promise in the Lord’s name that he would not leave, Solomon knew that he could no longer trust him.

Once again, Solomon had Benaiah go out and kill Shimei, and with his death, Solomon had cleaned out all the disloyal men and established his own kingdom. David’s reign was nothing but a memory at this point, for many of the men that had served alongside David were dead or had been killed due to their disloyalty. Solomon had a clean start with a whole new batch of men, and he was dedicated to serving God and leading Israel into obedience to His commands. With this fresh start, Solomon was finally prepared to begin construction on the Temple.

Matt

1 Kings 2:1-27

1 Kings 2:1-27

As David approached death, he poured some words of wisdom into Solomon. He understood the importance of following God, obeying the commands He had set forth in the Law of Moses. Furthermore, God had promised David and his descendants that if they would remain obedient, He would continue to bless them, and they would continue to have the throne in Israel. God’s plan all along was to use Israel to reach the nations, and as we continue to walk through 1 and 2 Kings, we will see examples of this (whether for good or bad – mostly bad). But God had selected Israel, made them His people, and wanted to use them as an example for the nations, so that they too would know God. That is why it was so important for the king of Israel to remain obedient to His commands. He was the example for Israel, who was ultimately the example for everyone else.


David’s final requests to Solomon were for Solomon to take care of those who had betrayed David in his final days. Some of David’s closest friends and allies had turned on him or betrayed him when times got tough. Although David had promised not to retaliate and had offered forgiveness, he told Solomon that he did not have to hold to those same promises. Solomon could react in whatever way he saw fit. Afterwards, David died, after reigning as the king of Israel for 40 years.

But it was not long into Solomon’s reign before the trouble began. From the start Adonijah thought that he should be the next king of Israel. He was the older brother, and he felt that throne was his. However, God had chosen Solomon to be the next king. So he went to Bathsheba to ask her to ask Solomon if he would grant a certain woman to be Adonijah’s wife. Now I must admit that I am not sure who this woman was or how she was key to this situation, but for some reason this bothered Solomon. First of all, Adonijah knew that it would be hard for Solomon to deny a request made by his mother (and Solomon knew this). Secondly, Solomon feared that he would ask for the kingdom as well, possibly convincing Bathsheba to support him. Whatever the fear may have been, Solomon denied the request and sent Benaiah out to kill Adonijah, removing that threat to the throne.

Another problem Solomon had to deal with was Abiathar, one of the priests. When Adonijah declared himself as king, trying to take the throne before Solomon had a chance, he had gained the support of both Joab and Abiathar. Solomon knew that Abiathar had been faithful to God, even helping in bring the Ark back to Jerusalem, but he did not need a man near him who had been disloyal to him or his father, David. So while Solomon chose not to kill him, he sent him away, back to his home.

1 Kings 2 is filled with situations such as these, and they show the hard decisions Solomon had to make during the first few days of his reign. Solomon is known as the wise king, because he asked God for wisdom (1 Kings 3), but even at the beginning of his reign we see the wise decisions he was making. I am sure it was hard for him to have to clean house in the way he did, removing many men who had been so loyal to David in the past. But when they chose to go against Solomon, and ultimately against David and God, Solomon knew that he could not keep them around. He had to break ties with these men lest they stir up more problems.

Matt

A Look at the Kings

So as I have read through 1 and 2 Chronicles over the last week, I have been able to take a quick glance at the kings of Judah.  We began 1 Kings last week, and I will be picking back up there this weekend, but first I wanted to give a list of the kings from the 2 kingdoms Israel and Judah.  The books of 1 and 2 Kings trace the history of the split monarchy.  1 Kings begins with Solomon's reign, but after his death, the kingdom divides.  Israel is limited to the northern tribes, and Judah is created in the southern tribes.  Jerusalem remains the capital city, but of Judah, not Israel.  These 2 books then shift back and forth between Israel and Judah (and it can be confusing at times).  1 and 2 Chronicles, on the other hand, only follow the kings of Judah.  They start with David and Solomon and then follow their descendants in Jerusalem.  Many of the kings of Israel are mentioned, but only as they interact with the kings of Judah.  As we begin to take a look at 1 and 2 Kings, here is a listing of the kings of Israel and Judah after the death of Solomon.  This list will be a point of reference in the future.

Judah:                           Israel:

Rehoboam                   Jeroboam
Abijah                         Nadab
Asa                             Baasha
Jehoshaphat                Elah
Jehoram                      Zimri
Ahaziah                       Omri
Athaliah (Queen)          Ahab
Joash                          Ahaziah
Amaziah                      Joram
Uzziah                         Jehu
Jotham                       Jehoahaz
Ahaz                           Joash
Hezekiah                    Jeroboam
Manasseh                    Zechariah
Amon                          Shallum
Josiah                         Menahem
Jehoahaz                     Pekahiah
Jehoiakim                   Pekah
Jehoiachin                   Hoshea
Zedekiah

Some of these kings (in both kingdoms) followed God and were blessed, as God had promised them back in Moses' day.  Others decided to abandon the teachings from the Law of Moses and followed other gods.  As a result, they were punished, and they endured the consequences, whether it was  a defeat in battle, a plague, or death.  In the end, both kingdoms would meet their end as they would all be taken into captivity.

Matt

Green Bay Packers - Super Bowl Champions!

Last night was amazing for Packers fans across the nation!  It has been 14 years since our last Super Bowl win, and it was great to return to the title game and take the trophy home again!

I have been a Packers fan for as long as I can remember.  My grandfather has always been a Packers fan, and I picked it up from him when I was a kid.  I still remember the Super Bowl win in 1997 and the close game in 1998, but it was nothing like last night.  I am lot older now, more interested in football.  I understand the game so much more than I did 14 years ago (because I was just a kid then).  So this win was so special!  Couple that with the fact that two guys from my hometown and high school play for the Packers, Chad Clifton and Justin Harrell, and it was the set up for a great moment! 

The road to the Super Bowl was not easy this year.  Although we were a pre-season favorite, and the team was confident that they could make it to Texas, injuries killed us in the opening weeks.  We lost several of our key players in the first few weeks of the season, like Justin Harrell, and we all began to wonder if it would slip through our fingers yet again.  We were 3-3 at the end of Week 6, and with losses within our division, we knew we would have to fight to stay alive.  Knowing our backs were up against the wall, we came out with a streak of wins and helped lead to the firing of 2 coaches... oops!

But injuries were the story of the season, and after his second concussion, Aaron Rodgers was out for half of the Lions game and all of the Patriots game.  Both resulted in a loss, but one key to this season is that we never lost by more than 4 points.  In fact, we never trailed by more than 7 in any of the 20 games!  At that point, we were in playoff mode.  Although we were not in the playoffs yet, we had to win out, beating both the Giants and the Bears (the big rival)!  And we did!

So the playoffs began, and we were at the bottom of our conference.  We had to take the long road, and beat the 3 best teams in the NFC: Eagles, Falcons, and Bears, which we did.  That set us up to play the toughest team from the AFC, the Steelers, placing the NFL's top 2 defenses in the biggest game of the season.  That match-up led to an epic Super Bowl, and as expected, some of the games key moments were results of big defensive plays.

But the Packers could not have made it without #12 Aaron Rodgers!  He put up numbers in the playoffs that were out of this world.  He was calm, focused, and had his eyes on one prize.  Nerves did not get to him.  The hype of the game never bothered him.  He went out last night, as he did throughout all of the playoffs, and played his game!  He led the team to victory and earned his first Super Bowl... along with the "Championship Belt!"

Last night was epic, amazing, and one night Packers fans will never forget.  Championship #13, Super Bowl #4, belongs once again to the Green Bay Packers, and the trophy is back home where it belongs!  The 2010-2011 season is one that I will not soon forget.  There were some amazing plays, amazing moments, and it all culminated in one last amazing game!

Matt

Remembering February 5, 2008

It is that time of year again, the day when I sit back and remember all the events that unfolded the night of February 5, 2008.  What was easily one of worst and scariest days of my life turned out to be one of the greatest. It was an extremely warm day for West Tennessee.  When we are used to cold weather, and possibly even snow, throughout much of January, February, and March, the 80 degree weather was quite concerning.  We all knew that storms were on the way, but we did not know what would transpire that night.  No one ever thinks that the big storm is actually going to hit the city in which you live, much less the block that you live on.  But for those of as Union University that night, our worst nightmare came true.  One of the EF-4 tornadoes spawned from that monster storm system tore right through our campus, through the heart of our resident life section.

So many thoughts went through my head at that moment.  There was fear.  There was peace.  There was the concern for the loss of life as well as injuries.  I did not know where some of my closest friends were.  I was with a roommate that I had only know for about a week, and he has now become a very close friend.  We did not know if all we had was destroyed, for my room was just above my head at the time.  Then, we had to go to into survival mode.  Where do we go now?  Where will we find safety?  Are there any buildings left on campus that we can take refuge in?  As we began to meet up with friends and realize that they were safe, we also began to worry about those we had not yet heard from.  Some were trapped under the rubble.  Some had not made it to safety yet.  Some were still in their rooms.

But God protected us.  He saw us through the entire night.  No lives were lost that night thanks to Him!  He provide us with safety in the largest building on campus.  He sent our professors and members of our churches to campus to take us to their homes for the night.  He sent the system on through, and the cool temperatures that followed were amazing!  The storm was over.  But then, a million more questions came.  Now what?  What's left?  Will we have school again?  Is the semester over?  What did I lose tonight?  The next morning began a massive recovery project led by our president, Dr. Dockery.  Under his leadership, plans were put in motion.  Personal possessions (what was left) were retrieved and distributed.  Dorms were torn down.  Construction began.  The semester restarted 2 weeks later.  Then, by August, we had our dorms back, and now 3 years later, there is no evidence of the storm on campus.

There is so much to be thankful for through the events of that night and the days that followed.  All those who had been trapped and injured recovered.  By the middle of the semester, everyone was out of the hospital, and no lives had been lost.  God truly protected us.  Although it has been 3 years, the events of that night seem just as real today as they did then.  I can still see it in my mind, hear the sounds, feel the emotions, and remember the fear as well as the peace.  It is something I will never forget and do not want to forget.  I do not want to forget how great God was to us that night.  I do not want to forget his love, power, and protection.  I do not want to forget the strength he gave us to make it through the night physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

This blog is a direct result of the events that happened that night.  It is the reason I began writing.  What started as a website where I could post updates about the storm and the rebuilding project that followed has transpired into so much more.  And for a walk down memory lane, take a look at this old post where I compiled my writings from the last 3 years (2008-2010)...

February 5, 2008

Matt

A New Semester

Well it is a new semester out here at Southeastern, and I think it will be a much busier semester as well.  I have multiple papers to write this semester, ranging from personal thoughts on theology to biographies about historical figures and from research papers to exegetical papers (involving a close study to the original Greek).  I hope that it is not too overwhelming, but there is always that fear in the first few weeks of class.  On top of all of that, I also have several books to read.  One positive aspect about the semester is that several of my books do not have a reading schedule, so I can take it at my own pace.  I am currently in the middle of several of my books, having read the first few chapters of 3-4 different books already.

On top of school, I am also involved in a local church.  Between Sundays and Small Group, I should stay fairly busy there as well.  Plus, I hope to see about helping out on Wednesday nights in the coming weeks as well.  Then there is the job search.  I have currently applied to a few jobs in the area and will probably be applying to a few more in the coming days, hoping to find a simple part time job that can help pay my rent.  That will be the "last piece of the puzzle," and I should be set once a job falls into place.

So it is an exciting semester.  School should be great, and I enjoyed all of my classes so far.  I really enjoy the church  I have been attending and cannot wait to see what God has in store as I continue to go there and get involved in various ways.  And when a job falls into place, I will finally be settled in here in Wake Forest in a more comfortable financial situation.

A quick heads up for those of you who have been following along with my daily thoughts on Scripture (Biblical Reflections):  Although I started 1 Kings yesterday, I cannot say when I will return to that text.  One of my projects this semester is to write a paper on 1 and 2 Chronicles, looking at two main themes: God's sovereignty and human responsibility.  I have read several chapters of 1 Chronicles today, and will be working my way through my initial reading of these two books this weekend.  I hope to be done by mid-week, and then I will pick back up with 1 Kings 2 and continue working my way through that book.  So do not think that I have given up on 1 Kings, I just have to take a break while I work on this other project for a few days.

So that is my life right now.  School, church, and work (hopefully).  The good news is that Spring Break is about a month away!  It will be a great week of rest and work, but a good break is always needed.

Matt

1 Kings 1

1 Kings 1

It was time for the power in Israel to shift, and a new king was about to take the throne. David was an old man at the beginning of 1 Kings, and his death was just around the corner. From the opening verses it seems as if David had contracted some type of illness. Furthermore, he was unable to take care of himself. So some of his men sought out a young woman to stay with him, to be his servant and be a source of comfort to him. Although this situation could have been a great source of temptation for David, as it is somewhat similar to his situation with Bathsheba, David did not fall to temptation. Their relationship appeared to be a woman taking care of an old, sick man.


While David lay in bed, unable to get out like he once had, chaos was brewing in Israel. Knowing that the king was about to die, Adonijah, another one of David’s sons, decided that it was time for him to step up as the new king. Although God had chosen Solomon to follow David, Adonijah felt like he should be the one to take the throne. He was able to convince powerful men to support him, some of David’s closest men. One of these men was Joab. But there was another group of people who were not happy about Adonjiah’s instance on taking the throne. The priest Zadok, the prophet Nathan, Bathsheba, and the mighty men mentioned at the end of 2 Samuel, were all in support of Solomon taking the throne. They knew that he was the one God had chosen.

So Nathan and Bathsheba went in to see David and tell him of what had happened. They explained how Adonijah had set himself up as the new king of Israel and expressed their concern that they would all become outsiders in the kingdom. They knew that God had chosen and Solomon and that David had declared Solomon as the next king. They wanted to make sure that those plans had not changed. David understood their concerns and assured them that he had not changed his mind. Solomon would indeed be the next king of Israel. So he gathered together those whom he trusted the most, such as Zadok and Nathan, and told them to send Solomon out into the city and declare him as king. They were to anoint him to make it official, and then Solomon would take David’s throne over Israel and Judah.

Adonijah and his party heard the commotion in the city and wondered what was happening. After they received word that David had chosen Solomon to be king, and not Adonijah, they all dispersed and went their separate ways. Adonijah was really upset, and he feared that Solomon would seek his life because of what he had done. But Solomon made a deal with Adonijah, promising that he would not hurt him as long as Adonijah proved himself to be a worthy man. Solomon was willing to give Adonijah a second chance, forgetting all that Adonijah had done to him, how he had excluded him and tried to take the throne from him. While this could have been a dangerous move, allowing someone who was in a sense an enemy to live, it showed Solomon’s loving and forgiving nature. He was willing to trust that Adonijah would keep his word, but if Adonijah broke that promise, Solomon also promised that he would be killed.

In the end, David was proud to see his son, Solomon, take the throne. He thanked God for allowing him to see that day and rejoiced that God had once again kept His promises. Again, let us not forget to thank God for the blessings He gives us each day. David never ceased to praise God for what He had done. May our prayers not be so inwardly focused on what we think we need, but outwardly focused as we praise God, the One who is always by our side giving us exactly what we need each day.

Matt

2 Samuel 24

2 Samuel 24

There are times in all of our lives when pride gets the best of us. We become proud of our accomplishments and we want everyone to know how great of a job we have done. David experienced a similar time in 2 Samuel 24. Near the end of his reign, David was curious as to how many people were in the land, so he had Joab go out and number the people. Joab questioned David on his intentions but in the end did as David had requested. It took Joab a little over 9 months to travel through all the tribes of Israel, and when he returned he reported that there 1.3 million people living in Israel and Judah. Now the word that is used here is “men,” and it speaks of men who could draw up a sword. So there is a strong possibility that Joab only numbered the men. If that is the case, we can then assume that there could have been as many as 3-4 times as many people. That number could easily jump to over 4 million Israelites at this point in history. So we see that during the time of David’s rule, Israel had not only conquered large portions of the Promised Land (land they were supposed to conquer when they first entered), but they also grew by a large number. As king during this time period, David was proud of his accomplishments.


However, God was not pleased with what David had done. God had been the one who had poured out His blessings on the land of Israel. He had chosen David to rule, and He had given David everything he needed to do so effectively. It greatly displeased God to see David taking credit for something that He had done for not only David but Israel as well. David also recognized his mistake and knew that he had had the census taking to boost up his own pride. So he went to God in repentance, and God came back with punishment. But what is interesting in this story is that God gave David a choice of three different consequences. He could choose between a famine that would affect the whole country for 3 years, a plague that would affect the whole country for 3 days, or he could flee for 3 months once again being pursued by some of his enemies.

In the end, David left the choice up to God but did ask that He not punish the others for his mistakes. 70,000 Israelites died as a result of the plague that God sent to the land, but He spared Judah and the city of Jerusalem upon David’s request. David then went and offered sacrifices to God in a spirit of worship and repentance. He asked God to life the plague from the land and spare the rest of his kingdom. David was truly broken before God over what he had done, and by coming in the right attitude to God, God heard his requests and lifted the plague.

Like so many of our lives, David’s life was filled with spiritual highs and lows. There were times in which he obeyed God completely. He did everything that he was commanded to do, and he was a great example to his people. Then there were times when David allowed sin to control his life. He faltered when he saw Bathsheba, did not make wise decisions when dealing with his children, and he let pride control him near the end of his life.

You may wonder how a man who was so close to God could fall so quickly. I have wondered the same thing in my own life. We have these great moments where we draw so close to God, we begin following Him so closely, and then we allow sin to creep back in and take over. We eventually find our way back to God, but then we regret the time we wasted. There really is no answer to this problem except to say that we are human, and as long as we live on this earth, we are going to struggle against sin. But one last lesson we can learn from David is the importance of repentance. We are going to sin, but we should strive not to; however, when we do mess up in life, we should always turn to God in repentance. He is always there waiting for us to turn back to Him, and He will forgive us of those sins. But remember that repentance is not just saying “sorry” for what you have done and doing it again the next day. Repentance is making a choice to turn away from that sin as you try to live for God.

Matt

2 Samuel 23

2 Samuel 23

The next to last chapter of 2 Samuel begins with what it calls the last words of David. Now this does not mean that the story of David is over. David will be around for the first few chapters of 1 Kings, and later when we begin reading the Psalms, we will see him again. But the opening verses of 2 Samuel 23 record what was known as his last words, where he again shows his gratefulness to God for all He had done for him in his life. David was thankful that God had made the everlasting covenant with him, and although he did not know what the ultimate result of that covenant would be (Jesus), he did know that his son, whom God had already chosen, would be the next king in Israel.


The rest of 2 Samuel 23 lists David’s mighty men. These 37 men were those who stood by David throughout the many trials he had endured. Some were eventually killed themselves, like Uriah, whom David had murdered. But these were men that David trusted at different points in his life. During times of trouble, such as when the Philistines began to attack Israel near the end of his life, David depended on men such as these to lead his men into battle. Whether it was due to his need to go into hiding or the fact that his age had caught up to him, David had at times given these men charge of his armies. He trusted that they would do the job and do it correctly, and these men were able to accomplish great things for David and for Israel.

Although we have come across many of their names during our read through of 2 Samuel, some of these names I do not recognize. It is possible that this is the first and maybe even only time that they are ever mentioned in Scripture. In comparison to David, they were not big names in Israelite history, but that does not mean that they were any less important. David would never have been the great king that he was had it not been for great men like these. He needed men who he could trust, men who would be willing to lay their life down for their country and their king. It was because of these men that David was able to do some of the great things he did as king.

These men should be a great encouragement to us. For one, even the greatest people need help. So we should never think that we can live life on our own. We need close friends that we can depend on, friends that will have our back when life is hard, but also friends who will be willing to confront us when we are in the wrong. Secondly, we should never be ashamed of our position in life. Most of us will never have a great position of authority, but that does not mean that we are any less significant. God has a plan for every one of us, and He can use all of us in mighty ways. We just have to be willing to obey His commands and follow Him. God uses ordinary people all the time, and He can and will use us if we are willing. Think about David, who has become known as one of the greatest men to ever live. He was a young shepherd boy in an ordinary family in Bethlehem. His family was just an ordinary family, and yet God called him at a very young age for a monumental task. Why was David such a great king? Because he listened to God and obeyed His word. As a result, God was able to use David in mighty ways.

Matt