The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
1 Kings 20-21
Act 2: God’s Covenant People
Scene 6:Kings and Prophets: God divides the kingdom people.
Background Information: 1 Kings 20-21
1 Kings 20:11 is one of the few wise things to come from Ahab’s mouth. “The one who puts on his armor should not boast like one who takes it off.” Ahab’s army defeated the vastly superior army of Aram, but it was clearly because the Lord gave them victory. God gave Ahab victory, but Ahab threw away that gift by restoring King Ben-hadad to a place where he could continue to lead his people in rebellion to God and against Israel. God alone has claim on the lives of men. His judgement on these people was to demonstrate that he was the Lord of heaven and earth (1 Kings 20:28). To make the one true God known to the nations was the calling of Israel. The nations were held in bondage to dark idolatry. They believed in multiple provincial gods who ruled in specific locations. The world needed to know that there was one God; they needed to be free from the curse of idolatry. Ahab believed he was smarter than God. He did what was right in his own eyes. God rebuked Ahab through a prophet using what is called an “enacted parable.” He disguised himself as a war injured soldier in order to get access to the king and to deliver the message of God. The parable described a soldier entrusted to guard a prisoner of war with his own life. Of course, the parable pointed at Ahab; now he would pay with his life for his rebellion. The narrative jumps from national warfare to personal pettiness. Ahab demanded some land near his palace, but for the owner, Naboth, to surrender it would have been a violation of the covenant. The land was given to his family by God, and he could not simply sell it or give it away. Ahab’s wife proved to be a match for his wickedness as she falsely accused Naboth and set up his murder. They broke the commandment against murder under the false pretenses of keeping the command against blasphemy. This is the kind of silly game human sin leads people to play. In these stories of national warfare and personal pettiness, the common denominator is breaking God’s covenant. They do what seems best rather than obey God. The stories describe how the Northern kingdom is doomed for destruction. They flaunt God’s patience and, by their sin, demand his judgment. Reading these stories is like walking a long, dusty road without water. The more we read, the more our thirst for Jesus, the good and obedient King, builds inside us.
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Pray that our youth would open up and share with their friends, asking for accountability so they can maintain the depth of their walk with Jesus.
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.