1 Kings 1:28–37 ‘Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.’ (v30)
For some Christians, reading the Hebrew Bible can feel like a foreign country where there’s seemingly a lot of laws and retribution without the grace of the New Testament God.
If that’s you, spending a month in 1 and 2 Kings could prove reassuring as we glimpse the loving and holy God who longs for His people to stay true to Him.
God never gives up on those He loves, but keeps calling them back to Himself through His prophets.
Originally written as one book, the historical account of Israel’s monarchy from David to the Babylonian exile was split into 1 and 2 Kings because it wouldn’t all fit onto one scroll.
Most likely written during the Jewish people’s exile in Babylon, it explains why God’s people were removed from the Promised Land.
And it categorises Israel’s kings by whether they had ‘done good or evil in God’s sight’; that is, did they lead the people to God or away from Him?
We start our journey during the last days of the second king of Israel, David, whom God called a man after His own heart (Acts 13:22).
Although David promised his son Solomon to be the next king, another son, Adonijah, plotted to take the throne. But God sent the prophet Nathan to warn David of Adonijah’s scheming, and so David’s (and God’s) succession plans were kept intact.
David could trust God to protect him from the evil of others. We too can look to God for help, shelter and peace over the legacy we’re leaving.
A Prayer To Make:
‘Father God, help me to understand Your Word and to apply it to my life. Inspire me through Your Spirit to know Your truth and grace. Amen.’
An Action To Take:
Give some thought to what legacy you will leave behind, considering what positive steps you could take to bless those around you.
Scripture To Consider:
Deut. 6:5–7; Ps. 78:1–4; Matt. 6:20–21; 2 Tim. 4:6–8
