This week I have been reading prior to 1 Kings Ch 17 to understand more the context of Elijah and Ahab.
The book opens with King David and the passing of his reign to his son Solomon.
King Davids anointing came about through a Prophet, and the Prophet was sent to Bethlehem due to another mans disobedience. God rejected Saul from being king, due to his disobedience.
1 Kings Ch 15 v5, states that David did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
Solomon was the product of Davids repentance, and of the grace of God despite a faithful mans life having been taken before his time. This has a parallel with Jesus having laid down his life for a guilty world caught in the act of sin, and attempting not only to hide its sin but willing to hide sin at the expense of an innocent mans life.
So right from the start of the book of kings we have spiritual principles. God had permitted a mandate of kings, but if you did not walk in obedience to his commandments you would not have the seal upon your reign of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
The Lord speaks to Solomon that he will tear the kingdom from him as he has not walked in obedience, but that one tribe shall be given to his son for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem that I have chosen.
Jeroboam is given a mandate from God to reign over the ten tribes of Israel and is given the same covenant promises as those to David.
That which the prophet spake to Jeroboam comes to pass, and so he ought to have had confidence in the Word and faithfulness of God.
Tragically, Jeroboam makes a fatal mistake! It is a fatal mistake that manifest the man of sin and the original fall of man. Jeroboam places his own position, intellect and ability to plan before worship, not just in his own heart but also other peoples.
Like Adam, Jeroboam is drawn away to be like a god, making his own decisions rather than trusting in another’s faithful provision. Considering, the prophetic Word given to him and its outworking we realize how deep rooted sin is in the human psyche. Given a commission, status and authority from God, Jeroboam exchanges it all for fear, torment and fig leaves.
That the people of Israel would have gone up to worship still in Jerusalem ought to have filled Jeroboams heart with Joy. It ought to have lifted a burden from himself. It ought to have liberated him into a freedom that enabled him to be a part of Gods corporate body and masterplan. When the living God, not idols, is the centre of are worship its truth sets us free. Free from the guilt of trespasses and sins and free from a fear of are fellow man.
Jeroboam lost all sight through his temporary office of the eternal realm of God. Yes, the word spoken to him carried a generational mandate and blessing, but that man is called to Worship God throughout eternity is a sure word of all prophesy, ‘Worship God’.
God then speaks to Jeroboam through two further prophetic words from two different prophets. That his son Abijah is taken by the Lord due to that which is good in him, is a tribute also to all that had been good in his Father. It is the only legacy of the original prophetic word spoken to him by the prophet Ahijah, and reveals that God chose Jeroboam due to his willingness to pass on the mandate and blessing of God onto his children. Ahijah had been honored by this child’s naming, and Ahijah ascribed it as being according to the original mandate of Gods creation: And God saw that it was Good! Light is a source manifested by another receiving life, the worship of God is liberty.
Asa comes to the throne of Judah and does what is right in the eyes of the Lord.
Rehoboam regretfully, ignored the wisdom of his fathers advisors.
In Asa’s decision to rid the land of the abomination of cult prostitution, we see that the Lords truth is not merely custom passed down and retained. No, Gods laws are absolutes and another generation can always discover the truth in whose image man has been made. It’s not that Asa was influence by elders or by younger advisors that is the defining point here, but rather that he did what was ‘right’, their is right and wrong.
1 Kings Ch 16 v10-18. When we consider Julias Caesar and the crossing of the Rubicon, and his demise in the senate of Rome, we see how Israel without the blessing of God, without the centrality of Gods Word and the Worship of God, descends into the same abyss of the sinful man. And do not democratic societies, and governments have precisely the same self destructive potential.
Yet, a promise is given to a man in captivity, a man taken out into Babylon according to the sure Word of prophesy spoken, 1 Kings Ch 14 v15. And he is shown a new kind of kingdom established by a different kind of King and man. He is shown one who is not corrupted by Gold, silver and brass, but one who truly reflects the nature of his Father, establishing an eternal kingdom that shall not pass away.
Elijah, appears on the scene at a time that couldn’t be worse, but Jesus was born at such a time as this!
Ahab more wicked than all the kings who have preceded him. The Pantheon of the Gods combining with Roman & Greek pottery/art revealed the moral deprivation of a cruel mandate of rule.
Elijahs singular prophetic ministry lasts three and a half years, and then it is passed onto the next generation. And hope is given after that of a victory that gives life even to those dead in their trespasses and sins – 2 Kings Ch 12 v21.
And Paul is sent by God to appear before Caesar.
There is a grace from God for every age of man, but it is only found in the man who became a curse who did no wrong, and was lifted up upon a tree at Calvary.
The lamb of God, slain before this world. The unity of the brethren, harmony with one another, of different tribe and race – found at the Cross, where the man of sin was carried into a garden tomb (The temple had deep foundations of stone but its interior was decked with wood). For Judah, Israel, and all afar off! And did not the persecution that arose go out to the dispersed tribes of Israel, and Pauls ministry to the gentiles. Like the Prophets of old, to open men’s eyes to see, all that is good, Gods provided sacrifice.
Worship of God, through the lamb of sacrifice – its a communion for mankind that is essential for all that is GOOD.
O taste and see that the Lord is good.
Note:
1 Kings Ch 6 v14, v38. Ch 7, v22 v51 – Tis Finished.
I didn’t find typing these notes up very easy but grateful that I did get some penned, as the day has been a great blessing, locally and afar. Starting, at are local service with an exhortation on 1 Kings Ch 8 by the leader of the meeting. Due to reflections here and on what he said, during the worship locally thoughts were on the lamb as a type of flesh sacrifice, and the veil being torn in Christ. Conscious that the Lord was ministering to me in these reflections, and to the Cross and his nailed hands and his garment-rob, specifically.
As I was struggling in my room to get going with penning some notes. I went to are kitchen and worked at the higher elevated table which helped. This is a very rare thing for me to do. We have some bird feeders outside are kitchen windows. They are only very slowly going down, and I have not seen a bird feeding at one for many months, which I blame on the Magpies. While making a cup of tea, a bird was feeding on one hanging from the window porch roof about 30cm from the kitchen sink. Normally they always fly off if you venture into that half of the kitchen. As the kettle is a little distance from sink, I was able to watch this bird feeding for a considerable time, making sure I did’t move. Their was actually a distinct sense of Gods presence watching this bird feed. I’ve never seen one ever hang on the short pole for so long, feeding multiple times and stretching a wing out in motionless flight, and switching sides to feed so that the other wing could be done in same manner.
eternalrays 