obedience to God – Page 5

1 Kings 12:21-24 – Just Like That

There will be no peace in any soul until it is willing to OBEY the voice of God --D.L. Moody

Let’s fight! That was Rehoboam’s go-to solution. He learned in our last reading that he had some competition as king. He pulled a good number of troops together. And then God spoke. Just like that.

God used a prophet to bring this message! “Do not fight against your relatives, the Israelites. Go back home, for what has happened is my doing!” That was a bold and direct message. Nobody could infer anything different than what God intended, “Stop!”

1 Kings 11:1-13 – Too Big for His Britches

Read 1 Kings 11:1-13

jeans hanging on a clothes line extended between buildings

After all the good things we’ve been reading about Solomon in the last several passages, this may have come as a bit of a surprise. What was Solomon thinking? Did he think he was “untouchable” by God? Did he not realize his disobedience “might” have a consequence or two?

More on that to come, I’m sure. How can one man have that many women? Is that being heroic or too big for his britches? Not sure where that old saying came from. Google defined it simply “behaving as if you are more important than you really are.”

1 Kings 1:28-48 – True Succession

Read 1 Kings 1:28-48

benches surrounded by orange and yellow leaves of fall season

Realizing his own avoidance or possibly forgetfulness, David rises to the occasion here and finally proclaims the new king. We see a climax in this reading as the “true” succession will now take place. David’s other son, Adonijah, will soon learn he jumped the gun and is not the rightful heir to the throne. After all, it is God who gifted the people with a king. It was up to God who was “up next.” David obediently sets up Solomon to be the next king.

David said to his wife, Bathsheba, “As surely as the Lord lives, who has rescued me from every danger, your son Solomon will be the next king and will sit on my throne this very day, just as I vowed to you before the Lord, the God of Israel.” David doesn’t waste any time. He knows he needs to take fast action before the people desert him again and follow Adonijah. It is Solomon’s time to shine.

2 Samuel 5:17-25 – The Lord Bursts Through

Read 2 Samuel 5:17-25

Two people holding hands, at night, looking at what looks like an explosion in a city in the distance ahead of them

Just like that! King David’s reign is off to a great start because the Lord bursts through! In David’s own words, “He burst through my enemies like a raging flood!” The Philistines fell twice! Each time, David consulted with God first. God responded. David obeyed.

The pattern is predictable. When we ask God for something, he will answer. Sometimes the answer isn’t what we expect. For instance, David was probably pretty surprised when God gave him a game plan that was totally a sneaky, “take by surprise” kind of move. But David didn’t question it or think he had a better way. We sometimes think we have the better way, don’t we?