I KINGS
Today, I'm reading in I Kings and here are a few thoughts I want to share with you:
1) TWICE AS MANY TIMES- In I Kings 11:9, it says: "And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice," Though it is true that God only appeared unto Solomon twice, it was still twice as many times as any other god had done. Solomon's heart was turned away from God to serve other gods, none of which had ever, would ever, nor could ever appear unto him. Only the LORD God could appear unto him, because only the LORD God was God! There are no others! So he turned to gods he could never have a relationship with from the LORD God who had blessed him and spoken to him. Now in verse 3, we see: "and his wives turned away his heart." Most men leave a church because of their wife. That is a fact that almost every time, and any Pastor can tell you that. Solomon left God because of his wives, and it cost his son the kingdom! Stay true to God where you are at and serve Him faithfully. He will speak to you, if you will listen!
2) SHISHAK king of Egypt- In I Kings 11:40, Solomon sought to kill Jeroboam who ran to Egypt to Shishak, king of Egypt. There he stayed unto the death of Solomon, and then came back to be made ruler of the Northern Kingdom, the 10 tribes of Israel. Rehoboam, Solomon's son will reign in his stead, and be left with only the tribe of Judah, and some from Benjamin. In the fifth year of Rehoboam's reign, Shishak will come and take all of the gold and silver in the city of Jerusalem, and the temple that Solomon built. This is all recorded in chapter 14. You see, Jeroboam had told Shishak about his problems with Solomon and shared the wealth that was Solomon's as well; so that later, he came after it when his weak son was in power.
3) GOD COMMANDED- In I Kings 17, we see God has commanded twice that his prophet Elijah be fed and taken care of. In verse 4, "I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there." And, in verse 9, "I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee." Here is what is interesting to me: They probably never knew they were commanded, but acted in accordance with the will of God because God had commanded it! The widow woman never acted like she had any command from God to give up her last bit of meal and oil, but God had! And thus, she did! I wonder how many times, God has commanded someone to be a blessing to us and they didn't even know it, but we knew that it was indeed a blessing from the LORD? Remember this: God commands.... and all obey!
4) THE GOD OF HILLS AND VALLEYS- In chapter 20 of I Kings, we see that the Syrians are attacking Israel. God speaks to Ahab and delivers him twice in this chapter. Not because Ahab is worthy, he is rotten to the core; but, because Syria has said that God could not deliver Israel so God does it to show His greatness, not Ahab's. They fight in the hills and the Syrians are overcome, so they figure that God is the God of the Hills, but certainly not of the Valleys. Well, they find out that God is the God of the Hills and the Valleys! In verse 28, it says: "Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD." God is God when you are on the Mountain Top, and God is God when you are going through the valleys of life. Never forget dear child of God, that God is always God, and will be with you through Hills and Valleys!!
Well, Hope you have a blessed day dear friend. Look to the LORD and see what great things He has in store for you today. Listen to His voice, follow His promptings, rest in His arms! Pastor Mike Mutchler
1) TWICE AS MANY TIMES- In I Kings 11:9, it says: "And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice," Though it is true that God only appeared unto Solomon twice, it was still twice as many times as any other god had done. Solomon's heart was turned away from God to serve other gods, none of which had ever, would ever, nor could ever appear unto him. Only the LORD God could appear unto him, because only the LORD God was God! There are no others! So he turned to gods he could never have a relationship with from the LORD God who had blessed him and spoken to him. Now in verse 3, we see: "and his wives turned away his heart." Most men leave a church because of their wife. That is a fact that almost every time, and any Pastor can tell you that. Solomon left God because of his wives, and it cost his son the kingdom! Stay true to God where you are at and serve Him faithfully. He will speak to you, if you will listen!
2) SHISHAK king of Egypt- In I Kings 11:40, Solomon sought to kill Jeroboam who ran to Egypt to Shishak, king of Egypt. There he stayed unto the death of Solomon, and then came back to be made ruler of the Northern Kingdom, the 10 tribes of Israel. Rehoboam, Solomon's son will reign in his stead, and be left with only the tribe of Judah, and some from Benjamin. In the fifth year of Rehoboam's reign, Shishak will come and take all of the gold and silver in the city of Jerusalem, and the temple that Solomon built. This is all recorded in chapter 14. You see, Jeroboam had told Shishak about his problems with Solomon and shared the wealth that was Solomon's as well; so that later, he came after it when his weak son was in power.
3) GOD COMMANDED- In I Kings 17, we see God has commanded twice that his prophet Elijah be fed and taken care of. In verse 4, "I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there." And, in verse 9, "I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee." Here is what is interesting to me: They probably never knew they were commanded, but acted in accordance with the will of God because God had commanded it! The widow woman never acted like she had any command from God to give up her last bit of meal and oil, but God had! And thus, she did! I wonder how many times, God has commanded someone to be a blessing to us and they didn't even know it, but we knew that it was indeed a blessing from the LORD? Remember this: God commands.... and all obey!
4) THE GOD OF HILLS AND VALLEYS- In chapter 20 of I Kings, we see that the Syrians are attacking Israel. God speaks to Ahab and delivers him twice in this chapter. Not because Ahab is worthy, he is rotten to the core; but, because Syria has said that God could not deliver Israel so God does it to show His greatness, not Ahab's. They fight in the hills and the Syrians are overcome, so they figure that God is the God of the Hills, but certainly not of the Valleys. Well, they find out that God is the God of the Hills and the Valleys! In verse 28, it says: "Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD." God is God when you are on the Mountain Top, and God is God when you are going through the valleys of life. Never forget dear child of God, that God is always God, and will be with you through Hills and Valleys!!
Well, Hope you have a blessed day dear friend. Look to the LORD and see what great things He has in store for you today. Listen to His voice, follow His promptings, rest in His arms! Pastor Mike Mutchler
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