Year of the Bible: Part Six of Twelve Sampl

More Than a Pinky Promise

God’s promises are more than a pinky promise (simple or childlike) because they are divine and unfailing. Even though God promised David that his son, Solomon, and the rest of his descendants would be on the throne forever, the Lord couldn’t let Solomon compromise the principles and values He had for His chosen people. God would not take Solomon off the throne to keep His promise, but He didn’t ignore the issue that Solomon was building altars for other gods. How would God fix this problem without breaking His promise?

God used Ahijah to inform Jeroboam about the future separation of Israel into two kingdoms—the kingdom's unity would die with Solomon, and Jeroboam would reign over the majority of Israel. In Ahijah’s message from the Lord, we can tell how serious God is about upholding His promise. Referring to Solomon, God spoke through Ahijah and said, “His son will have one tribe so that the descendants of David my servant will continue to reign, shining like a lamp in Jerusalem, the city I have chosen to be the place for my name” (1 Kings 11:36 NLT). The integrity of God’s character was never compromised, even in a compromised culture.

God certainly establishes His name with His promises, and in His great love, these promises can also benefit you. It is no coincidence that David’s royal line of descendants led to Jesus, who remains on the throne forever. Through Jesus Christ, God’s promises are available for you. God’s unshakable integrity reassures us that He is reliable. In no way will God ever break His promises. You can always count on God because His promises are more than a pinky promise.

Question: Are promises important to you? How does it feel when they are kept or broken?

Prayer: Ask the Lord to lead you into Godly integrity, especially in circumstances that may cause you to compromise. Also, thank Him for laying out all the principles and values we need to represent Him.