The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
1 Kings 1-2, Psalms 37, 71, 94
Act 2: God’s Covenant People
Scene 5: Kings and Prophets: God shapes a kingdom people
Background Information: 1 Kings 1-2, Psalms 37, 71, 94
David was a passive father to Ammon and Absalom. His passivity contributed to their early deaths. Now the pattern continues with Adonijah, and it will cost him his life as well. This is not to say that his sons aren’t accountable for their own choices, but rather that the father retains some responsibility as well. As David hands over the kingdom to Solomon, he urges his son to keep the covenant. Of course, he will not do so. Solomon, renowned for his wisdom, will ironically act like a self-indulgent fool. The bloody events in these chapters describe the process of consolidating Solomon’s rule in the face of the ongoing and deep division between the north (Israel) and south (Judah). These actions would provide a temporary but forced unity. This unity would eventually fall apart with the coronation of Solomon’s foolish son. David, writing Psalms as an old man, has lived to see those who prosper apart from obedience to God destroyed. Sadly, this includes several of his own sons. He had seen many violent and wicked people who were at one time flourishing like a well-rooted tree, now gone without a trace. David is bedridden, unable to lead himself, let alone a nation. He cries out from his bed, “God do not abandon me, let me proclaim you to the next generation.” He proclaims, “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart (37:4).” This means something much different to him as an old man than it did as a young man. He has seen the ruin of “getting what the heart desires.” He now knows that when our desire is to delight in the Lord, then God will indeed fulfill that desire. This is the wisdom of age that must be passed down the next generation.
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Pray for Embrace. Pray that women across our nation would choose life. Ask God to move hearts toward life-affirming decisions. Pray that more states would pass legislation that protects the unborn and strengthens the pro-life movement.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call someone now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.