Division: A Study in 1 KingsSample

What does it say?

The reigns of several kings of both Israel and Judah are summed up according to the good or bad they did in the Lord’s eyes.

What does it mean?

The passage we read today reports that God Himself chose each of these kings. When they honored God (as in the case of King Asa), God honored them and blessed them with long and fruitful reigns. God was displeased when they dishonored Him, especially when they fought with each other and promoted the worship of false gods. Accordingly, their historical record depicts them as useless and unsuccessful during those times. God intended Israel to be a peaceful nation, fully loving Him and one another. However, their actions often turned into sibling rivalry with God’s people turning away from their God.

How should I respond?

Everything rises or falls with leadership. Nations, communities, businesses, and families either thrive under a strong leader or suffer when an ineffectual leader is in charge. Followers of Christ in positions of leadership have a responsibility to honor the Lord with their decisions as well as the example they set. In what places do your actions influence others? How can you promote unity or encourage people around you to look to the Lord for strength and direction? The decisions you make this week may have a profound spiritual effect on your circle of influence. How do you want to be remembered?