Day 107

In the Sight of the Lord

Read: 1 Kings 14-16

The rest of 1 Kings and the subsequent book of 2 Kings alternates between describing the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah. The Bible provides reliable historical accounts, yet it is not interested simply in facts. It describes how God deals with people in history depending on their response to him.

Rehoboam did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and was punished by losing much of his wealth to the king of Egypt. His son Abijam was king of Judah and “walked in all the sins which his father did” (15:3). Asa his son, however, did what was “right in the eyes of the LORD” and was commended for it (v. 11).

In the northern kingdom, all the kings did what was evil in God’s sight. They continued committing the sin of Jeroboam. They maintained the idol temples in Dan and Bethel. Nadab, the son of Jeroboam, was killed by Baasha who reigned in his place. Elah, the son of Baasha, was killed by his general Zimri while Elah was drunk. When Zimri began to reign, Omri, another general, proclaimed himself king and prevailed. Omri “did more evil” than any king of Israel before him (16:25). His son Ahab did even greater evil. Part of Ahab’s sin was marrying the pagan Jezebel and through her introduced Baal worship. Are you doing good or evil in the sight of the Lord?

PRAYER
Father, help us to ever keep in mind that it is what we do in your sight that counts. In Jesus’ name. Amen.