I KINGS

The following comments are from Navigator's and Quiet Time Diary journals. One verse will be entered, then the comment, then the date.

1:34    "And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there as king over Israel, and blow the trumpet and say, 'Long live King Solomon!' "

    David was old and not able to rule as king any longer, and one of his sons (not Solomon) decided to take over without permission. Bathsheba reminded David of his promise that Solomon, her son, would be the next king. David kept his promise and declared Solomon king. Like David, I believe God will keep His promises. (DRM 12/31/06)

1:53b    ". . . And Adonijah came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon said, Go to your home."

    Adonijah had set himself up to be king, but King David had other plans - that Solomon would succeed him in the throne. God certainly honored King David to the end. (DRM 7/21/88)

2:2,3    (David said to Solomon) "I am about to go the way of all the earth," he said. "So be strong, show yourself a man, ³and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, . . . 

    This set of verses should be an inspiration to all believers, to show us what we should do and that we should always honor the Lord. (DRM 7/22/88)

2:6    So act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray hair go down to Sheol in peace.

    David's final instructions to Solomon were related to various people and how they should be treated after Solomon became king. I chose this verse to show that David thought Solomon had wisdom - even before Solomon asked God for it. He probably had some, but got much more after asking God to supply his needs. (DRM 1/1/07)

3:2    The people were still sacrificing on the high places, because there was no house built for the name of the LORD until those days.

    The "high places" were generally where some people worshipped the false god, Baal. To have the people perform sacrifices to the true God, they needed a "home" for Him. Solomon was having this house built at the time, so it appears that God did not hold this sin against the Israelites.
    Some of the sins that I (we) commit I am not aware of (e.g.) I could have said something that someone took a wrong/different way than intended - and I never knew it. The best thing to do is to ask forgiveness daily for all known and unknown sins. (DRM 12/9/11)

3:9    "So give Thy servant an understanding heart to judge Thy people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Thine?"

    Solomon's request to God is shown here. He only asked for one thing: discernment or wisdom on how to rule. God granted Solomon's desire and gave him other things too. Perhaps my problem is that I ask for more than one thing! I must learn to let Him decide what I will receive and just concentrate on the "main thing." (DRM 1/2/07)

3:14    And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life. (God speaking to Solomon)

    What a great reason to obey the rules of the Lord! Solomon had been very obedient to the Lord, and God asked Solomon what he would like. Solomon asked only for wisdom to rule and the Lord granted much more. 
    I know that I do not have a "guarantee" of a long life, but I can serve the Lord for all the days that He grants me. I must continue to trust in Him to show me the way. . . (DRM 11/5/87)

3:19, 20    "And this woman's son died in the night, because she lay on it. 20So she arose in the middle of the night and took my son from beside me while your maidservant slept, and laid him in her bosom, and laid her dead son in my bosom."

    This interesting story shows a little about how people lived in Solomon's time. Why there was no man mentioned is not revealed. Still, Solomon's decision (v. 27) on who should keep the living child was an example of the wisdom God gave him. I can pray that God will also use me in some way. (DRM 1/3/07)

4:25    During Solomon's lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in safety, each man under his own vine and fig tree. 

    What a difference from David to Solomon! David's wars vs. Solomon's peace. It must have been a great time for all of the Israelites! (DRM 7/23/88)

4:30    And Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the sons of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.

    At some point there was the great library in Alexandria, Egypt - but I don't know if it was in Solomon's time or not. Still, this verse - statement shows some of how God granted Solomon's prayer request. He can do the same for us (me)! (DRM 1/4/07)

5:12    The Lord gave Solomon wisdom, just as he had promised him. There were peaceful relations between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.

    Solomon had asked the Lord for wisdom, and the Lord provided it.
    Whenever we pray to the Lord for anything, we should pray in an attitude of expectation and not doubt. (DRM 7/24/88)

6:8    The doorway for the lowest side chamber was on the right side of the house; and they would go up by winding stairs to the middle story, and from middle to third.

    This section describes the building of "the house of the Lord" (v.1) At first I wondered if this stairway was circular; but think that is a newer invention. Winding can be square. Still, the purpose of the house is to honor God, as it should be in every house today. (DRM 1/5/07)

6:38    In the eleventh year in the month of Bul, the eighth month, the temple was finished in all its details according to its specifications. He had spent seven years building it. 

    The temple was an impressive structure from the details in this chapter. I was amazed at the amount of gold that seemingly covered everything in the temple. (DRM 7/25/88)

7:1    It took Solomon thirteen years, however, to complete the construction of his palace.

    This chapter describes the detail of Solomon's palace and furnishings. Certainly God gave him a vast amount of riches! (DRM 7/26/88)

8:10    When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord. 

    This cloud was also known as the glory of the Lord and is written about throughout the Bible. The confidence of knowing God is with you continues in Christians. (DRM 7/27/88)

9:6, 7a    But if you or your sons turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, ⁷then, I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them. . .

    This passage was given by the Lord to Solomon. I feel that it is important in that the Israelite nation eventually was cut off and for these reasons. (DRM 7/28/88)

10:3    Solomon answered all her (Queen of Sheba's) questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her. 

    This is an example of Solomon's wisdom (that Solomon asked for in 1 Kings 3 ) and the encouragement that God will grant requests to the faithful.

11:3    And he (Solomon) had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away.

    What would cause Solomon to do this? He lived and observed how his father, David, lived for the Lord God - and still went in another direction (v.6). Probably it was the influence of the wives - as they tried to bring him to their various religions (v. 1-2). Temptations will be great in life - it's hard to keep a pure heart before the Lord. (DRM 1/6/07)

11:4    As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 

    Wow, this matches really well with 1 Kings 9:6, 7a above! Later in 1 Kings 11, the Lord told Solomon that He (God) would tear his (Solomon) kingdom away from his (Solomon) son. [v. 11 + 12] (DRM 7/30/88) 

12:8    But he (Rehoboam) forsook the counsel of the elders which they had given him, and consulted with the young men who grew up with him and served him.

    Solomon died after ruling 40 years, then Rehoboam became king. When the Israelites (v.3) came through Nebat, (v.2) Rehoboam decided not to accept the advice of the elders, but people his own age instead. In a similar way, I should ask for spiritual advice from my spiritual elders - who aren't necessarily physically older than me, as I was born-again later in life. (DRM 1/7/07)

12:15    So the king (Rehoboam) did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from the Lord, to fulfill the word the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.

    This slightly confusing chapter shows exactly how the Lord fulfilled his "promise" to break apart the kingdom (in Chp. 11). I should always learn from these historical facts that God honors those who honor Him. (DRM 7/31/88)

12:28    So the king [Jeroboam] consulted, and made two golden calves, and he said to them, "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem; behold your gods, O Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt."

    Jeroboam was the king of Israel an Rehoboam was the king of Judah. The kingdom had just separated, and king Jeroboam didn't want his citizens to go to Jerusalem in Judah to worship, so created the golden calves as a substitute. Israel drifted away from God after that. (DRM 1/8/07)

13:4    When King Jeroboam heard what the man of God cried out against the altar at Bethel, he stretched out his hand from the altar and said "Seize him!" but the hand he stretched out toward the man shriveled up, so he could not pull it back.

    This chapter was really interesting and showed how God can plan an important part in all men's lives. Again I should learn not to turn from God's will when He directs me to do anything! (DRM 8/1/88)

    God wanted Jeroboam to know that "the man of God" (v.1) was sent by the true God. Jeroboam didn't like the prophecy, then came this verse. Jeroboam asked to be restored, and he was healed again. Truly God does miracles to get our attention - if our eyes are open. That would have convinced me. (DRM 1/9/07)

13:18    And he said to him, "I also am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, 'Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.' " But he lied to him.

    The problem of one prophet lying to another is what this section (13:11-25) is about. I have a similar problem with other believers who do the same to me. I never seem to know who to believe.
    This really shows our sin nature; and none of us is perfect. The only One to listen to is God=Jesus=Holy Spirit! (DRM 1/10/07)

14:15b    He (God) will uproot Israel from this good land that he gave to their forefathers and scatter them beyond the River, because they provoked the Lord to anger by making Asherah poles. 

    God can show wrath for disobedient followers as this verse shows. I need constant reminders of this so not to go astray - even a little bit! (DRM 8/2/88)

15:16 + 15:32 {same words}    There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel throughout their reigns.

    This historical chapter tells about at least 4 kings. Two from Judah and two from Israel. The evil kings did not honor the Lord, the others did. (DRM 8/3/88)

16:31    And it came about, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal King of the Sidonians, and went to serve Baal and worshipped him.

    This verse is a reminder that faith is not inherited from one generation to the next. A parent can show their children the faith he/she has, but the child has to make their own decision. Certainly King Ahab (v. 30) did not have the faith of his ancestor, David. The end of Christianity is always just one generation away. (DRM 1/11/07)

16:34    In Ahab's time, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho. He laid its foundations at the cost of his firstborn son Abiram, and he set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, in accordance with the word of the Lord spoken by Joshua son of Nun.

    All the kings of Israel listed in this chapter (5) were evil in the eyes of the Lord. This king Ahab rebuilt Jericho at the cost of two sons. Joshua warned against this in Joshua 6:26. (DRM 8/4/88)

17:4    You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there. 

    Another verse that shows that trusting in God will fulfill all your needs. I need these many verses and interesting stories to illustrate how God will provide for His people. (DRM 7/2/87)

17:15, 16    So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and she and he and her household ate for many days. ¹⁶The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke through Elijah.

    If I was in the same situation as the woman here, and at my final flour - I doubt that I'd have given it to the stranger. It seems that her faith is/was stronger than mine. Perhaps she knew he (Elijah) was a man of God? Still, this is a great example of faith - and it was rewarded when her son was brought back from the dead. (v.22) (DRM 1/12/07)

18:7    Now as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him, and he recognized him and fell on his face and said, "Is this you, Elijah my master?"

    I don't remember many or any other times when two Old Testament prophets (writers of our Bible) met, but it probably occurred. My question is, would I know Moses or Elijah or Obadiah if they came to me in a dream - or even Jesus? How would I know if they were angels? It would have to be based on what they said, which must be God honoring. (DRM 1/13/07)

18:24    "Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, He is God." And all the people answered and said, "That is a good idea."

    Elijah had a plan - which God probably gave him - to show all the sons of Israel (v. 20) who indeed is the King, the Lord God. It was to be a showdown between Baal and God, and the people thought it was a good idea. Wouldn't it be great if we could update this and show the world today something similar? (DRM 1/14/07)

18:33    Then he arranged the wood and cut the ox in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, "Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood."

    Elijah was both bold and confident. He was sure that God was on his side, so confidently put water on the offering three times (v. 34). Elijah spoke with boldness and the Lord sent the fire (v. 38) to show that He is the true God. How I would like that confidence and closeness to Jesus=God and to show others that He truly exists. (DRM 1/15/07)

18:38    Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.

    Elijah had warned Ahab, king of Israel, that no rain would fall in Israel in Chp. 17; after three years of drought, Elijah called everyone to show them who was Lord. This verse showed who is Lord of all. (DRM 8/5/88)

18:46    Then the hand of the LORD was on Elijah, and he girded up his loins and outran Ahab to Jezreel.

    God had just used Elijah to work two miracles for His glory, and here is a third that I never noticed. The fire from Heaven accepted the sacrifice (v. 38), the rain came (v. 45) after the long drought - and now Elijah was able to outrun a chariot (v. 44) with superhuman speed. God truly is a miracle worker! (DRM 1/16/07)

19:12    After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

    Tonight this passage was referred to at church. The minister said that Elijah underwent a transformation, but I could not find that in this chapter.
    This verse shows me that God can (and does) produce Earthquakes and fires etc., but when He speaks it usually will be as a gentle whisper. 
    It seems easy to see God's works, but it is much harder to listen to His voice and obey! (DRM 12/24/87)

19:20    And he [Elisha] left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, "Please let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you." And he said to him, "Go back again, for what had I done to you?"

    In some ways, the calling of a prophet was different in Elijah's time. God instructed Elijah who to call or anoint (v. 15-16) into different positions. There was a human connection via the prophet. Today it seems to be a direct call from God=Jesus to the chosen person. The question seems to be, "did I really hear that?" (DRM 1/17/07)

20:28b    . . . the Lord says: "Because the Arameans think the Lord is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the Lord.

    In the Old Testament it seems that God always wanted people to know He was the Lord. For believers today, everything that happens should indicate to us what the power of the Lord is. (DRM 8/6/88)

21:7    And Jezebel his wife said to him, "Do you now reign over Israel? Arise, eat bread, and let your heart be joyful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite."

    The king wanted the vineyard next to the palace, but Naboth wouldn't sell it to him. He was disappointed and told his wife, Queen Jezebel. She had a scheme to kill Naboth to get the vineyard - and went through with it . The king got the vineyard. This makes me think of David and Bathsheba and nothing is right here. It's all sin. (DRM 1/18/07)

21:18    "Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria; behold he is in the vineyard of Naboth where he has gone down to take possession of it."

    In those days, kingdoms were small walled city-states, I think - and not like countries of today. It seems hard to imagine finding a king today in his vineyard and walking up to talk to him  with no security. Times have changed, but the evil heart of King Ahab and his wife Jezebel still exists in some people today - until confronted by the Lord (v. 27) and turn from their ways.

21:29    "Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me (the Lord)? Because he humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son."

    God is merciful. To those who honor and respect Him for His desires, they will be dealt with much better than those who deny Him. (DRM 8/7/88)

22:5b    ". . . First seek the counsel of the Lord."

    This chapter tells of war and how two kings wanted to seek the Lord's blessing before going into battle. 400 prophets told them to go and success would come, but one prophet said NO, don't go . . . you'll die.  The one prophet was right and the king died; but this chapter meant something to me by the fact that the Lord truly guides everyone's life and should be counseled for advise on everything. We must know WHO to counsel with. (DRM 4/6/87)

22:34    Now a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel in a joint of the armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn around and take me out of the fight; for I am severely wounded. "