1 KINGS 1:1-53
1 Kings and the first 1/2 of 2 Chronicles go together. Originally 1-2 Kings were one book, corresponding to the whole book of 2 Chronicles. 1 Kings covers about 120 years, from the death of King David to the death of King Jehoshaphat.
1 KINGS: Covers the glorious reign of Solomon, and the dividing of the Kingdom after his death, and the history of the Divided Kingdom. Key in this book is the ministry of the prophets, especially Elijah.
SOLOMON: Solomon's greatest achievement was the building of the Temple for God. BUT, the title of his biography could be "How to Lose it All." His moral deterioration led to the division of the Kingdom. All forms of human government fail without God. God's throne is above all earthly thrones and is immovable in the midst of the ever-changing governments of man. God's throne is permanent and stable, while the throne of man is increasingly failing.
ADONIJAH: "I will be king...." David's oldest living son, age 35, was self-willed and unbroken and David had spoiled him rotten. Joab the army general, and Abiathar the high priest, sided with him in the plot against David and Solomon. DAVID: He is 70 years old now, and wrote in Psa 71: "Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come." David foiled Adonijah's plot with the help of Bath-sheba, Nathan the prophet, Zadok the high priest, Benaiah the soldier, and the Pelethites and Cherethites. "And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom."
MORE DRAMA: Joab and Adonijah were killed. Abiathar was replaced by Zadok. Just wait until you find out why Adonijah was killed!
RESPONSE: When we have plenty, are being blessed, and things are going well for us, we must be more persistent in our pursuit of God. It is a dangerous time for us. We can NEVER "let down". We draw closer to God when we go through troubles and pressure. We cling more tightly when we FEEL our need. But, when things go well - watch out! I think this is what happened to Solomon. He got independent. We must never lose our dependence on God - don't ever think we can do this without Him.
ACTS 4:1-37
EQUIPPING THE CHURCH BY THE HOLY SPIRIT: Acts 1-7
Acts 1 - Restoring Order.
Acts 2 - Giving of Holy Spirit, being "baptized" into Community.Acts 3 - The Name of Jesus
Acts 4 - Boldness of the Holy Spirit: The word "boldness" appears three times in this chapter (v.13, 29, 31). The disciples asked for boldness and got more of the Holy Spirit! When Peter and John were tossed into jail for preaching, their reply was, "Should we obey you or God?" After being released, they were right back to the streets to preach again! RESPONSE: That's what I need - more boldness to speak the Word in public. "Lord, behold their threatenings..." Be filled AGAIN with the Holy Spirit. They were! And they spoke with "great power" and God's "great grace" was upon them all.
PSALM 124:1-8
FIFTH STEP: PSALM 124: God is FOR US. Going from "head-knowledge" to experience is tough. But, we learn to walk God's way with God, IN CONTEXT. The world would "swallow, overwhelm, sink, or snare us" - but "we are escaped" because our help is "IN THE NAME OF THE LORD."
PROVERBS 16:24
What are "pleasant words"? First of all, they are the words which "Wisdom" speaks. Words of comfort, strength or encouragement (1 Cor 14:3). Psa 19:10 says that the words that are "sweeter than honey and the honey-comb" are "the commandments of the Lord." They not only "taste good" but are healing to the inner man as well as to the body.
RESPONSE: Knowing and loving God MUST be done IN CONTEXT of daily living, or else God and His Kingdom are IRRELEVANT. One of the first things we must be confident of, though, is that GOD IS FOR US. We have to instruct our hearts to believe it, because "the old sinful nature within us is against God" (Rom 8:7 TLB). This is part of the adventure of being God's people!
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