Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 14:23-29

Jeroboam II was the 14th king of the northern kingdom of Israel.  He had a long reign of 41 years and enjoyed security, and even the expansion of his kingdom.  It was the most prosperous time in the history of the northern kingdom. 

2 Kings 14;23-29 tell us of the material success of Jeroboam II, while Amos and Hosea … prophets contemporary with him … tell us of the spiritual corruption of Israel during this time.

There was great expansion of territory under the rule of Jeroboam II (2 Kgs 14;25) and God saved the Israelites from its enemies (2 Kgs 14:26,27), but this was a display of divine grace because Jeroboam II "did what was evil in the sight of the LORD" (2 Kgs 14:24).

But beneath the surface of material success was a dark spiritual reality.  The land was filled with lying, murder, theft, adultery, and oppression of the poor (Hos 4:1,2; Amos 4:1).  The people had forgotten God's law (Hos 4:6) … and His omniscience and judgment (Hos 7:2) … and His steadfast love (Hos 11:1-4).  Spiritually speaking, they were 'feeding on the wind.' 

When we turn away from God, we replace Him with water that does not satisfy and bread that does not nourish.  In His mercy God beckons to us "Listen diligently to me, and eat with is good" (Isa 55:2).

Two major subjects converge this Sunday, both with global significance and both governed by a sovereign God.  The first is the impending presidential election and the second is the persecuted church around the world. 

There are many clear Biblical texts that say that when a person gains a position of authority (president, senator, judge, father), he is in that position because God put him there.  "He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings" (Dan 2:21).  ". . . the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will" (Dan 4:17,25,32). 

To know that the Ruler of the nations will use our voting on Tuesday to work His glorious, holy plan comforts us and speaks peace to our souls.  This truth gives us strength, knowing that the future of our country and our individual lives, rests in the hand of our omnipotent God who "works all things after the counsel of His will" (Eph 1:11).

Since 1996, one Sunday in November has been designated the "International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church."  We are commanded in the Bible to "Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body" (Heb 13:3). 

There are great benefits in considering, with both mind and heart, that the church elsewhere is suffering.  First, it makes us bolder to share our faith with others (Phil 1:14).  Second, it broadens our perspective concerning what God is doing in our world and how He is doing it.  Third, it sobers us about our own faith, reminding us that we are in a deadly war and must live disciplined lives (2 Tim 1:8; 2:3).

The Voice of the Martyrs" is a free monthly magazine designed to inform us about the suffering church the world over.  For a free subscription, call    1-800-747-0085.  The Voice of the Martyrs website address is www.persecution.com

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 10:1-25

Is it really worth it to follow Jesus Christ? How does your faith in Jesus affect how you encourage other believers? Believers in the first century were being rejected by their families and even suffered the forfeiture of their property for the sake of following Jesus. Like us today, they needed assurance that following Jesus is worth it all.

Unlike the Old Covenant given to Moses & Israel, the one & only death of Jesus our Messiah fully succeeded in securing full redemption that relieves our guilt-laden consciences and satisfies the ultimate justice & wrath of our Holy God. Salvation has come by grace alone through faith alone in the all-sufficient death of Christ alone. There is nothing that you or I or any human priest can add to the sufficiency of His sacrifice.

Now we can have full confidence in approaching God in worship, knowing that we have a far superior priest who offered a far superior sacrifice for our sins. With such confidence, we must therefore draw near to God with full assurance. We must firmly cling to clear biblical teaching & we must not waver in unbelief. And we must lean hard into gathering with the church for mutual encouragement even more as we anticipate the glorious day of our Lord’s return.

Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 16:13 - 17:6

Jehoshaphat was the 4th king in the kingdom of Judah.  The summary description of his life is given as follows:  "The LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David.  He did not seek the Baals, but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel . . . His heart was courageous in the ways of the LORD" (2 Chr 17:3,4,6).

Although he was one of the better kings of Judah and served God, for the most part, there are incidents in his life in which he was guilty of serious compromise … serious enough that two different prophets confronted him about his actions, declaring to him both God's displeasure and judgment. 

Jehoshaphat attempted to bring spiritual vitality to the people of Judah by dispatching teachers of the Mosaic law and judges to bring justice (2 Chr 17:7-9; 19:5-11).  Under Jehoshaphat's rule the people of Judah experienced prosperity and peace (2 Chr 17:10-19).

Jehoshaphat's weakness was his willingness to align himself with two wicked kings of the northern kingdom of Israel … Ahab and his son Azariah.  He did this through the marriage of his son, Jehoram, to Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab (2 Chr 18:1; 21:1,6), military alliance (2 Chr 18:3), and a cooperative ship-building venture (2 Chr 20:35-37).  Because of this compromise, God's judgment fell on Jehoshaphat     (2 Chr 19:2; 20:37).

The life of Jehoshaphat is a clarion call to us for wholehearted allegiance to God … beckoning us to resist compromise regarding things we ought not compromise.

Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 16:29-33

Ahab was the seventh king of the northern kingdom of Israel.  Much like the first king of Israel, Jeroboam, the name of Ahab became notorious as a standard of wickedness.  Subsequent kings in Israel … and even Jehoram, a king of Judah in the south … were compared to Ahab in terms of his wickedness.

"Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years.  And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him" (1 Kgs 16:29,30).  Ahab's wife was Jezebel and she was completely given to the worship of Baal, the shameful deity of the Canaanites. 

"Ahab did more to provoke the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him" (1 Kgs 16:33).  This summary statement sets the stage for what happens in 1 Kings 20,21.  Upon being besieged by the Syrians, God sends a prophet to tell Ahab that He would save Israel from them.  It is pure divine grace.  Ahab had not sought the Lord's help, but God spared Israel … twice … from the Syrian armies.

Upon Elijah's prophecy of the death of Ahab and Jezebel (1 Kgs 21:17-24), Ahab contritely humbled himself and God postponed widespread destruction in Israel until after Ahab's death (1 Kgs 21:28,29). 

It is the prominent theme of the Bible … the wickedness of the human heart, on the one hand … and the merciful grace of God toward rebels, on the other hand.  Of course, the apex of the display of God's mercy is the giving of His Son, that Jesus might bring us to God by His sacrifice for us. 

There are several references in the gospels to the fact that Jesus spent time in prayer.  Luke 5:16 indicates that as a regular course of action, Jesus slipped away from the crowds (which always seemed to be around) to pray.

The account of the feeding of the 5,000 recounts that the hours preceding the miracle was filled with activity.  The multitudes had followed Jesus and His disciples and He "began to teach them many things" (Mk 6:34).  He also "cured those who had need of healing" (Lk 9:11).  Then came the miracle of the bread and fish.  After such a busy day, "He went up on the mountain to pray" (Mk 6:46).  It sets an example for us not to allow busyness to crowd out prayer.

Luke 6:12-16 recalls the choosing of the 12 apostles.  Before Jesus made the decision concerning whom He would choose for these positions, He spent all night in prayer.  It sets an example for us to pray when we are faced with decisions in our lives.

One of the most memorable occasions of Jesus praying is the night before the crucifixion, knowing what He would face the next day.  He prayed three times in the garden of Gethsemane, at least the first time, for an hour (Mt 26:36-46).  It sets and example for us to pray when we endure the many trials of life. 

When we stop to think about who Jesus is, the notion that He would feel the need to pray is astounding.  He was omnipotent and sinless, enjoying perfect communion with the Father … and yet He was compelled to pray.  It is a great encouragement to us to pray.  If Jesus, being God Himself, prayed to His Father as a matter of course and especially at critical times in His life … how much more essential is it for us to do the same?

Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 12:25-33

Following Solomon's death, the tribes of the northern area of Israel withdrew from the rule of Rehoboam, his son.  No longer was there one, unified kingdom of Israel.  Now, at the hand of God, there would be two separate kingdoms … Israel, with 10 tribes, in the north … and Judah, with 2 tribes, in the south.

The people of the northern kingdom chose a man named Jeroboam to be their king.  Jeroboam was a very capable man whom Solomon had put in charge of the labor force in Israel.  When Jeroboam became king in the northern kingdom, in an attempt to keep the people from relocating in the south, he devised an entire alternative religious system,

He established new worship centers (Bethel and Dan) to rival Jerusalem and the temple.  He formed a new priesthood and a new autumn holiday to rival the Feast of Tabernacles. 

His sinful legacy was so effective that he became the standard of wickedness.  Subsequent kings were compared to him.  They are said to have "walked in the way of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin" (cf. 1 Kgs 22:52).

Jeroboam rejected the word of God, given in the Mosaic Law.  When someone rejects the authority of the Bible, there are no restrictions to harness the wicked impulses of the heart.  It is a dangerous and destructive way to live.  Let us learn to say, "I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life" (Psa 119:93).

Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 12:12-20

At the end of his life Solomon became idolatrous, having been influenced by his many foreign wives.  God was angry with him and the penalty was that Solomon's son, Rehoboam, would not be able to rule over all of Israel.

The nation would, in fact, be divided into two kingdoms.  Rehoboam would be given only one tribe of the 12 Jewish tribes, namely the tribe of Judah.  The tribe of Benjamin would eventually join Judah in the formation of a southern Jewish kingdom. 

The summary of Rehoboam's life is as follows:  "When the rule of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him.  . . .  And he did evil, for he did not set his heart to seek the LORD" (2 Chr 12:1,14). 

Though Rehoboam's heart did not seek God, there were times when Rehoboam obeyed God (1 Kgs 12:21-24) and times when he humbled himself before God (2 Chr 12:6,12).  Rehoboam's life was characterized by a fundamental rejection of God, while appealing to God in times of need.  It is a common response of an unbelieving heart, but Christians still have the same tendency.  How easy it is to be passionate about God when we suffer, but careless and half-hearted when we feel strong.  May God help us to pursue Him bothin times of pleasure and pain.  

Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 11:1-13

In our modern vernacular, we would say that Solomon 'had it all.'  He had money.  He had fame.  He had power … and honor … and position.  He had the best food … the best clothes … women at his beck and call … a luxurious house … 4,000 horses … 12,000 horsemen … and a kingdom of peace.

In Ecclesiastes 2:9,10, Solomon said, "I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem.  Also, my wisdom remained with me.  And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them.  I kept my heart from no pleasure."

Having asked for wisdom, Solomon had also been granted unsurpassed wisdom from God.  "I now do according to your word.  Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you" (1 Kgs 3:12).

Solomon's long prayer at the dedication of the temple he had built for God is contrite and God-exalting (cf. 1 Kgs 8:22-53).  God appeared to Solomon on two occasions in a dream (cf. 1 Kgs 3:5; 9:1).

The tragedy of Solomon's life is recorded in 1 Kings 11:4 … "When Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father."

The warning of the life of Solomon is that, in spite of spiritual graces, the heart's neglect of eternal realities will lead to the withdrawal of divine blessing, at the least, and eternal ruin, at the worst.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 119:161-168

Saul was the first king of Israel and he ruled for 40 years, but on more than one occasion he was grossly disobedient to God (cf. 1 Sam 13:1-14;    15:1-33).  The result of this rebellion was that God gave the kingdom of Israel to David (1 Sam 13:14; 15:28; 16:1). 

David is described in 1 Samuel 13:14 as "a man after God’s own heart."   What it means to be a person after God’s own heart is made clear in Acts 13:22, where the Lord says - "I have found in David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will."  To be a man or a woman after God's own heart is to be someone who is whole-heartedly obedient to Him. 

In the Old Testament, David is the standard of obedience for Israelite kings.  Subsequent kings are compared to him and are described as being obedient like David was (cf. 1 Kgs 15:11; 18:3; 22:2) or being disobedient in not following David's example (cf. 1 Kgs 11:4; 15:3; 16:2).

But what was the root of David’s obedience?  How can we learn to be whole-hearted like he was?  The wellspring of David’s obedience was that he found pleasure in God’s commands.  "I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart" (Psa 40:8).  "O how I love your law!  It is my meditation all the day" (Psa 119:97).

And the deepest root of David's delight in God's commands is his delight in God Himself.   ". . . in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand there are pleasures forevermore" (Psa 16:11b).  "I love you, O LORD, my strength.  The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my rock in whom I take refuge . . ." (Psa 18:1,2).