1 Kings 13, 14

In spiritual fervency, saints sometimes give “Words from the Lord.” Hint: not all words from the Lord are WORDS FROM THE LORD. In chapter 13 we read of a man whose words of prophecy blistered King Jeroboam and Israel with rebuke. He accurately predicted the rise of Josiah and the judgement upon the false worship taking place. He was a true prophet. His words came to pass.

Isaiah’s prophecies of Christ took eight centuries to come to pass, but they did. Daniel’s prophecies of the end times already have and are YET to be fulfilled.

Speaking for God is a heavy thing. The true qualifier is faith. When God gives the faith to speak, SPEAK. If His Heavenly Commodity is not present, don’t presume that it is. People are listening.

Don’t suppress the Spirit, and don’t stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don’t be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what’s good. Throw out anything tainted with evil. [1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 The Message]

1 Kings 11, 12

David was a Godly king. Solomon started well, but was led astray by his MANY wives and concubines. His son Rehoboam made the monumental mistake of heeding the advice of his young contemporaries. They suggested laying a much heavier tax burden upon the kingdom. This created a schism that split the kingdom, giving opportunity for Jeroboam to become king of a huge portion of the people. Later invasions by the Assyrians and Babylonians marked the end of Israel’s prominent position in the region.

Forsaking the Lord and His principles usually marks the end of His favor and causes division and unrest. Nations are wise to follow Godly leaders who honor Him.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord … [Ps. 3:12]

1 Kings 9, 10

God challenged Solomon to walk in integrity to perpetuate the blood line of kings. We know this was prophetic of Christ who was in this same bloodline. The Lord specifically challenged Solomon to walk as his father David did. He had the great benefit of seeing integrity displayed in the home.

In my years as a Christian school leader, I became so aware that the students brought the culture of the home to school with them. We endeavored to bring correction to undesirable behavior, but their true bent had already been established. It was being lived out before them daily by their parents.

Christian leaders are wise to target the culture of the home to establish children in integrity. Habits of Godliness should be instituted from day one.

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. [Eph. 6:4]

1 Kings 7, 8

Upon the completion of the temple Solomon brought the entire nation of Israel together to dedicate it. There was a cloud of God’s glory that emanated from the holy place so thick that the priests couldn’t even complete their ministry duties. Solomon then stood before the altar and spread out his hands to heaven to pray to the Lord as recorded in chapter 8. At some time during the prayer he evidently assumed a kneeling posture also. He also encouraged the people to stretch out their hands to the Lord as they prayed (v. 38).

My favorite worship recording right now is the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir singing Ps. 34. At the conclusion, Carol Cymbala spreads out her hands to the Lord as His glory fills the room. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfW2mkkMTAg

When you pray, spread out both hands to the Lord. Instantly you will experience a measure of His glory. It will encourage you.

Paul said, “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” [1 Tim. 2:8]

1 Kings 5,6

Every piece of construction material for Solomon’s temple was precision crafted off-site and fitted together at the location of the structure. Not even the sound of a hammer was heard. The forethought and craftsmanship was of the very highest quality. Nothing was too good for God’s house.

New Testament Christians are the building materials God is fitting together to build His Church. Through the processing of His Holy Spirit, our lives are being quarried and refined to precisely fit with the lives of other Christians we have fellowship with. Occasionally, we have friction with them. That’s the process by which God is smoothing out the rough edges so we will fit and find our place in His House.

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. [1 Pet. 2:5]

1 Kings 3, 4

God said to Solomon, “Ask for whatever you want Me to give you.” Solomon wisely asked for a discerning heart to provide wise judgment in ruling the nation. God was impressed with his request, so much so that He decided to additionally bequeath wealth and honor to the young king. He had it all!

It’s much easier for God to grant requests that are in keeping with His Kingdom objectives rather than selfish, temporal desires.

When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. [James 4:3]

1 Kings 2

Loyalty is an admirable quality, however blind loyalty to a person can have negative consequences.

When David was nearing death, he advised the new king Solomon about leaders still living who brought guilt upon the family for their treasonous acts. Joab was the prime culprit since he had shed the innocent blood of both Amasa and Abner. Joab had been both loyal and disloyal to David. Upon David’s recommendation, Solomon had Joab’s life taken for his transgressions.

Blindly following a leader when they error can lead to heresy. Our loyalty should be to the Lord and His Word. Men will fail. Christ Jesus will NEVER FAIL.

Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. (Conversely, if I fail to follow Christ, don’t follow me.) [1 Cor. 11:1]

2 Sam. 24; 1 Kings 1

David’s oldest son Adonijah declared himself the new king of Judah and Israel when David was old and near death. This caused a division in the nation’s leaders. One element knew God’s hand was not upon Adonijah to be the next king. The prophet Nathan approached David along with Solomon’s mother Bathsheba to appeal that Solomon should be the true king. Having already promised this, David complied and had the young man’s authority confirmed for all to see. He went on to reign for 40 years.

2 Sam. 20-23

Chapter 22 is a compilation of David’s tributes to the Lord. It reveals David’s trust, his penchant for integrity, and his keys to the many victories God gave him. In all matters apart from the Bathsheba incident, David proved to be an exemplary leader and example of God’s blessings when you do things right.

This gives us a template for prayer for contemporary leaders. With God’s grace and the Holy Spirit’s leading, Godly men and women today can likewise testify to the victories God will give them. The standard needs to be held high.

2 Sam. 18, 19

Absalom had chased his father David from Jerusalem and had proclaimed himself king. God protected the exiled king from certain death by giving the young usurper bogus advice to wait before pursuing his father. David and his entourage escaped.

When Absalom did attack David’s men, he lost his life by getting his long hair caught in a tree. The symbol of his beauty and his pride was his downfall.

His father grieved bitterly at the news of his son’s death. He feared him, but he loved him. Even in the heightened tension of the overthrow, David exclaimed, “Be gentle with the young man.”