1 Kings 16:21-28 Idolatry!

 “Then the people of Israel were divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king, and half followed Omri. But the people who followed Omri prevailed over the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath. So Tibni died and Omri reigned. In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri became king over Israel, and reigned twelve years. Six years he reigned in Tirzah. And he bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver; then he built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, Samaria, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill. Omri did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and did worse than all who were before him. For he walked in all the ways of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin by which he had made Israel sin, provoking the Lord God of Israel to anger with their idols. Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and the might that he showed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? So Omri rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria. Then Ahab his son reigned in his place.” I Kings‬ ‭16‬:‭21‬-‭28‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. The people of Israel were divided into two parts… So Tibni died and Omri reigned: Omri defeated the forces loyal to Tibni, so Tibni died, presumably killed by Omri after the defeat of his forces.

i. “The people of Israel fell into a civil war; yet neither this nor any other of God’s dreadful judgments could win them to repentance; which is an evidence of their prodigious impiety and incorrigibleness, and how ripe they were for ruin.” (Poole)

ii. “The division of the kingdom between Tibni and Omri began in the twenty-seventh year of Asa; this division lasted five years, during which Omri, had but a share of the kingdom. Tibni dying, Omri came into the possession of the whole kingdom, which he held seven years; this was in the thirty-firstyear of Asa.” (Clarke)

b. He built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, Samaria: This became the capital city of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Omri built a capital that was politically neutral (being a new city with no previous tribal associations) and in a strong defensive position (on top of a hill).

i. “Excavations at Samaria… show that Omri was the first builder on the one-hundred-metre-high hill. This site was a good choice, for it was to withstand several sieges.” (Wiseman)

c. He walked in all the ways of Jeroboam the son of Nebat: This makes Omri the sixth king of Israel since the division of the once-unified kingdom. Jeroboam was the first king, and each of the five kings after him followed in the evil ways of Jeroboam.

i. “He seems to have formulated laws [see Micah 6:16], making Jeroboam’s calf-worship, or other forms of idolatry, obligatory throughout his realm, which remained in force till the end of the kingdom, more than two hundred years later.” (Knapp)

ii. In the records of secular history, Omri is one of the more successful and famous kings of ancient Israel. “Omri’s fame as a monarch, while downplayed by the author of Kings, was widely recognized in other places. The Moabite stone, discovered in 1868, refers to him as the conqueror of Moab. Assyrian inscriptions make mention of him as a great warrior. For years the Assyrians referred to Israel as ‘the house of Omri’” (Dilday).

iii. “His name means heaping; by his iniquity he helped to heap up wrath against his dynasty. God executed His indignation thirty-six years later on his great-grandson Joram, to the total extinction of the guilty house.” (Knapp)

(Guzik)

Idolatry!

Idols are a part of history and will remain with us until the day we die. I have wondered what I would be like to grow up Amish? But after watching a series about the Amish and their faith, it definitely wasn’t what I expected. 

Idolatry can be anything that takes away your time from the Lord.

I have to admit I spend too much time watching television and on the internet.

What about you, what is your idol?

Blessings 

What is the definition of idolatry?

1 Kings 16:15-20 Suicide

 “In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri had reigned in Tirzah seven days. And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines. Now the people who were encamped heard it said, “Zimri has conspired and also has killed the king.” So all Israel made Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that day in the camp. Then Omri and all Israel with him went up from Gibbethon, and they besieged Tirzah. And it happened, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the citadel of the king’s house and burned the king’s house down upon himself with fire, and died, because of the sins which he had committed in doing evil in the sight of the Lord, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he had committed to make Israel sin. Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and the treason he committed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?”

‭‭I Kings‬ ‭16‬:‭15‬-‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Zimri had reigned in Tirzah seven days: The man who assassinated Elah, the son of Baasha, did not enjoy a blessed reign. His end came soon.

b. So all Israel made Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that day: This shows that the democratic influence in Israel was greater than is often thought. The people – especially it would seem the army – simply did not want Zimri to reign as king over them. They therefore rejected his authority and appointed Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel.

c. When Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the citadel of the king’s house and burned the king’s house down upon himself with fire, and died, because of the sins which he had committed: Zimri is one of the few suicides in the Bible, along with Samson (Judges 16:28-30), Saul (1 Samuel 31:4) and Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:23).

i. The Bible never approves of suicide. It is sin; the sin of self-murder. Yet we are wrong if we regard it as the unforgivable sin, and anyone who does commit suicide has given in to the lies and deceptions of Satan, whose purpose is to kill and destroy (John 10:10).

ii. “Suicide is always the ultimate action of cowardice. In the case of Saul, and in many similar cases, it is perfectly natural; but let it never be glorified as heroic. It is the last resort of the man who dare not stand up to life.” (Morgan)

d. In walking in the way of Jeroboam: Zimri only reigned seven days, but in those days, he walked in the way of Jeroboam. God allowed many of the wicked kings of Israel to reign much longer than this, but He was under no obligation to do so. God is within His rights to bring judgment sooner rather than later.

i. “Let Zimri’s end warn intentional regicides and traitors.” (Knapp)

(Guzik)

Suicide

Some say, anyone that commits suicide cant go to heaven because self murder is a sin. But if depression is a mental illness wouldn’t God view it as a sickness? We shouldn’t sit on God’s throne and decide which sin is forgivable and which one is not! I prefer to believe if a person was saved, ie born again and had a mental illness and took their own life that they would be with Jesus because Jesus is love and love forgives much!

“If you know someone who’s depressed, please resolve never to ask them why. Depression isn’t a straightforward response to a bad situation; depression just is, like the weather. Try to understand the blackness, lethargy, hopelessness, and loneliness they’re going through. Be there for them when they come through the other side. It’s hard to be a friend to someone who’s depressed, but it is one of the kindest, noblest, and best things you will ever do.”

Stephen Fry

Do you know anyone that battles depression?

Blessings 

1 Kings 16:8-14 Live Ungodly!

 “In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha became king over Israel, and reigned two years in Tirzah. Now his servant Zimri, commander of half his chariots, conspired against him as he was in Tirzah drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, steward of his house in Tirzah. And Zimri went in and struck him and killed him in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his place. Then it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he was seated on his throne, that he killed all the household of Baasha; he did not leave him one male, neither of his relatives nor of his friends. Thus Zimri destroyed all the household of Baasha, according to the word of the Lord, which He spoke against Baasha by Jehu the prophet, for all the sins of Baasha and the sins of Elah his son, by which they had sinned and by which they had made Israel sin, in provoking the Lord God of Israel to anger with their idols. Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?” I Kings‬ ‭16‬:‭8‬-‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Elah the son of Baasha became king over Israel, and reigned two years in Tirzah: The hope of every king is to pass the throne on to his son and to further a lasting dynasty. Because Baasha was a wicked king, God did not bless his dynasty and his son only reigned two years.

b. And Zimri went in and struck him and killed him in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his place: Even as Baasha gained the throne through assassination, so the son of Baasha was assassinated by Zimri, an officer in the army of Israel.

c. Then it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he was seated on his throne, that he killed all the household of Baasha: This was common practice in the ancient world, and was exactly what Baasha did to the house of Jeroboam (1 Kings 15:29). David’s treatment of the house of Saul was a glorious exception to this common practice.

i. This massacre was an exact fulfillment of the word of the LORD through the prophet Jehu, the son of Hanani (1 Kings 16:2-4).

ii. “In less than fifty years the first two dynasties of Israel’s kings had come to an end and every member of their families been exterminated. God meant to make their doom an example to those who should thereafter live ungodly.” (Knapp)

(Guzik)

Live Ungodly!

Like Alah, before I was born again I was living an ungodly life for me, myself and I. But after being born again I try to live my life for Jesus, but being inperfect doesn’t mean I am sinless but I do strive to sin less. I remember what Jesus said to Nicodemus the teacher of the Jews, “Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’” John‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Are you born of the Spirit or are you living an ungodly life?

Blessings 

1 Kings 16:5-7 Gods Eternal Plan

 “Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, what he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? So Baasha rested with his fathers and was buried in Tirzah. Then Elah his son reigned in his place. And also the word of the Lord came by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha and his house, because of all the evil that he did in the sight of the Lord in provoking Him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and because he killed them.”

‭‭I Kings‬ ‭16‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. The word of the LORD came by the prophet Jehu: Apparently, Jehu had a long career as a prophet. 2 Chronicles 19:2mentions another word of Jehu, the son of Hanani. Some 50 years after this word to Baasha, he spoke to Jehoshaphat the King of Judah.

i. Jehu the Prophet also wrote specific books of history regarding kings of Israel (2 Chronicles 20:34). His father Hanani is also mentioned in 2 Chronicles 16:7-10, where it describes how he suffered imprisonment because he was a faithful prophet in speaking to King Asa.

b. Because of all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD in provoking Him to anger: The Bible tells us that by nature, God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy (Psalm 103:8). Because He is slow to anger, it took a lot of wickedness on the part of Baasha to succeed in provoking Him to anger.

c. In being like the house of Jeroboam, and because He killed them: In 1 Kings 16:2God said that He lifted Baasha out of the dust and set him as ruler over Israel. In doing this, God used Baasha to bring judgment upon the house of Jeroboam; yet God did not cause Baasha to do this, so He rightly judged Baasha, even though God used the wickedness of Baasha in bringing judgment upon Jeroboam.

i. God did not need to coerce a reluctant Baasha to conspire against and assassinate Nadab the son of Jeroboam. That wicked desire was already in the heart of Baasha. In using Baasha to bring judgment on the house of Jeroboam, God only needed to let Baasha do what he wanted to do. Therefore, it was proper of God to judge Baasha for something that ultimately furthered God’s eternal plan.

ii. “God is ever represented in Scripture as doing those things which, in the course of his providence, he permits to be done.” (Clarke)

(Guzik)

God’s Eternal Plan

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Life is short and the Lords thoughts towards us bear reinforcing, “thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

We as Christian’s have a hope that the world doesn’t, knowing this earth is not our home!

BIBLE, basic instructions before leaving earth!

I look forward to going to heaven! Do you?

Blessings 

Gods eternal plan!

1 Kings 16:1-4 Looks Upon the Heart!

 “Then the word of the Lord came to Jehu the son of Hanani, against Baasha, saying: “Inasmuch as I lifted you out of the dust and made you ruler over My people Israel, and you have walked in the way of Jeroboam, and have made My people Israel sin, to provoke Me to anger with their sins, surely I will take away the posterity of Baasha and the posterity of his house, and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. The dogs shall eat whoever belongs to Baasha and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the fields.””

‭‭I Kings‬ ‭16‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. I lifted you out of the dust and made you ruler over My people Israel: 1 Kings 15:27 tells us that Baasha was head of a conspiracy to kill Nadab, the son of Jeroboam. It tells us nothing of God’s hand with Baasha, but here we learn that behind-the-scenes God moved even through the conspiracy of Baasha against Nadab.

i. “Baasha was of plebian stock, yet his name, he who lays waste, tells only too accurately what kind of a ruler he proved himself to be.” (Knapp)

b. You have walked in the way of Jeroboam… I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam: Because Baasha was a wicked king after the pattern of Jeroboam, he would face the same judgment as Jeroboam and his house. This had special relevance to Baasha, because he was the instrument of judgment God used to bring justice to the house of Jeroboam.

i. “God, who looks upon the heart, sees him but as an assassin for the accomplishment of his ambitious designs, slaying king Nadab and the entire house of Jeroboam.” (Knapp)

c. You have walked in the way of Jeroboam… I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam: Baasha was not a blood descendant of Jeroboam, but he was a spiritual descendent of this great idolater of the northern kingdom. Because he walked in the way of Jeroboam, the house of Baasha would face the same judgment as the house of Jeroboam.

d. The dogs shall eat whoever belongs to Baasha and dies in the city: This same judgment was promised and fulfilled against the house of Jeroboam (1 Kings 14:11). It was considered a special disgrace to have your dead corpse desecrated and kept from proper burial. (Guzik)

Look’s Upon the Heart!

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.””

‭‭I Samuel‬ ‭16‬:‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

What would the Lord see if He looked upon our heart at this moment?

I love what the Lord said about David! “And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭13‬:‭22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

If the Lord looked at my heart I pray He would say that I was, 

a man after His own heart, who will do all My will!

Would that be your prayer too?

Blessings 

1 Kings 15:33-34 Testimony

 “In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha the son of Ahijah became king over all Israel in Tirzah, and reigned twenty-four years. He did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin by which he had made Israel sin.” I Kings‬ ‭15‬:‭33‬-‭34‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Baasha the son of Ahijah became king over all Israel: As expected with a man who came to the throne through assassination, Baasha was a wicked man and ushered in a dreadful period for Israel, both spiritually and politically.

b. He did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam: The summary puts it simply. Though Baasha was not a genetic descendent of Jeroboam (having murdered his family), he was certainly a spiritual descendent of Jeroboam. (Guzik)

Testimony 

When our days are over, what will our testimony be? 

He did evil in the sight of the Lord or will it be, good and faithful servant? 

I am striving for the latter but when I meet Jesus face to face I am sure that I will wish I had done more. My acts won’t be written about in the bible but will be left with a generation or two and then forgotten. 

For the last two years my wife and I have been leading a twelve step recovery bible program at our church. One of the guys had regressed during an ice storm and I had sensed something was wrong. I paid him a visit with a week’s worth of groceries and food gift cards from our church. I helped him clean up, encouraged and loved on him with the love of Jesus. Last Sunday I saw him at church with his wife and he looked well, had changed jobs and was planning on moving. 

Sometimes we just need to be there for a brother or sister when in need.

What will your testimony be?

Blessings