The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
1 Kings 15:25 – 16:34, 2 Chronicles 17
Act 2: God’s Covenant People
Scene 6: Kings and Prophets: God divides the kingdom people.
Background Information: 1 Kings 15:25 – 16:34, 2 Chronicles 17
The Northern Kings continually anger the Lord through their rebellion, but the “badness” of these kings becomes exponential. The last two kings before God sends the prophet Elijah are said to have done more to anger the Lord than all the kings that went before them. During the time period of just two kings in the south, Asa and Jehoshaphat, there are seven kings in the north. The southern kings are not perfect, but relative to the kings of the north they are exceptional.
Jehoshaphat is one of the good kings in Judah. He will make some bad decisions just as David did, but he compared favorably with David because of the overall trajectory and outcome of his life. Though he assumed the throne a hundred years after the death of David, it was common to call a key ancestor the “Father” of the generations that came later. Look carefully at 2 Chronicles 17:3-6, and you will see again the pattern of God’s grace and human obedience at play. The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, bringing him wisdom and success, because he walked in the ways of David. Jehoshaphat did not turn to idols, but instead sought the Lord and walked by his commands, so the Lord established his kingdom. We are not saved by our own effort; it is fully a gift of grace. However, what is true for the Kings of old is still true for us: obedience brings the blessings of God. Our obedience, just like the best kings of Judah, will be imperfect, but as we mess up, fess up, and move on God will be with us because we will be with God. This doesn’t mean God will give you all you might want, but it does mean that you will increasingly experience the presence, purpose, and power of God in your life. Nothing could be better than this.
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Pray for the youth at camp that don’t know Christ yet. May they hear the Gospel as it is presented. Pray that the Holy Spirit would open their eyes to understand the choice before them, and they would choose to follow Jesus wholeheartedly.
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.