Journey Of The Seed - Catch The Bible's Big Picture In 60 DaysSample
THE BIG ‘IF’
[Scheduled Reading: 1 Kings 11]
Today’s reading is just one single chapter - 1 Kings 11. The story of Israel is getting ready to experience a stunning reversal of fortune.
God gave Solomon wisdom, wealth and kingdom rule unlike ever seen on earth.
During Solomon’s reign, God visited him in a dream for a second time and affirmed the Davidic promise to Solomon - that David’s kingdom would endure forever (see 1 Kings 9).
But there was a big “IF” attached.
IF Solomon served and obeyed God, his kingdom would endure. But IF he turned from God, Israel would be torn from its land and the famous temple would be demolished.
Look back at 1 Kings 9 and notice the big “IF’s”:
4And as for you,if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my rules, 5 then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’
6 But if you turn aside from following me, you or your children, and do not keep my commandments and my statutes that I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, 7 then I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them, and the house that I have consecrated for my name I will cast out of my sight, and Israel will become a proverb and a byword among all peoples. 8 And this house will become a heap of ruins. (1 Kings 9:4-8.)
Tragically, Solomon failed the test. He chose the 2nd of the Big “IF’s.”
Even in all his vast wisdom, he made devastating choices and turned away from God and toward the gods of his foreign wives.
God initiated Israel’s decline and removed His hand of favor and prosperity from Israel.
Israel’s decline is one of the saddest reversals in biblical history. And it was triggered by Solomon’s walk-away from God.
Do you remember my call-out chapters from Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28?
God warned the Israelites that his blessings were conditional. If God’s children obey – they can expect prosperity. If they disobey God – curses.
Solomon’s downfall was a direct outcome of this working conditional promise for the children of Israel.
Shocking…stunning…sad.
Scripture
About this Plan
Grasp the overall Bible story in 60 days! This reading challenge takes you from Genesis to Revelation with four important features: (1) focus on the Seed - the ancestry from Adam to Jesus, (2) a daily Bible reading plan yielding about 33% of the Bible, (3) daily guidance and insights, (4) discussion points for you and your family. (Approximately 20-25 minutes reading/listening per day.)
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