Chapter 15 - God's Messengers

Chapter 15 - God's Messengers

1 Kings 17-19

2 Kings 2, 4, 6

Hosea 4-5, 8-9, 14

Amos 1, 3-5, 9

Quicky Quiz:
I remember when I was in school how much I hated quizzes, but I knew that material the best in those classes where we had them.  The reason is that quizzes help reinforce what you learned, and also give a good starting point for the next lesson. They set a foundation on which you can build. So let's start with a quiz. Why? Because unless you cement these answers in your brain, you are gonna get quite confused over the next few weeks.

1. How many tribes were in the Northern Kingdom?

2. Jeroboam was the king over ____________.

2. Judah was part of the Northern or Southern Kingdom?

4. Jeroboam/Rehoboam was a grandson of King David.

3. Israel was the name for the Northern or Southern Kingdom?

4. Rehoboam was king over ____________ .

5. _______ built golden calves for the people to worship.

Did you get them all correct? Awesome! I knew you could do it.

Introduction to the Reading:

If you’ve seen the movie Evan Almighty, you know that it's about a modern day Noah. The newly elected Congressman Evan Baxter (Steve Carell) is excited for his new job, but he doesn't realize God has another plan for him: to build an ark. While light on theology, it's definitely full of comedy: animals overtaking congress, Steve Carell growing a beard overnight, and a delivery from 1-800-Go-4-Wood.

While it is humorous to consider what it would be like if you had to build an ark today, it also raised a serious question for me: what would I do if God spoke to me? What would you do? Slap yourself a few times to see if you were dreaming? Quiver in fear? Wonder if someone drugged you? Pass out? All of the above?

Or I guess another question to ask is: When would you start listening? In Evan Almighty, at first Evan blows God off thinking it can't be real. Then, even though he knows it's God, he doesn't fully get that God really wants him to build an ark. Finally, even after he realizes that God is speaking to him and that he is supposed to build an ark, he doesn't follow God's order to build an ark because it doesn't fit into his plans.

In our reading today we see how people reacted when God did speak. So as we read this week, lets ask these two questions: "When God spoke, how did the people respond?" and "Would I have responded the same way?"

Time to Slow it Down - Top of Page 207 "Now they are trying to kill me too."
"In your face prophets of Baal!" Right? What a total mockery Elijah has made of them, hasn't he? He's got to be riding high on emotions - feeling almost invincible, right? Ahh how fickle our emotions can be. Have you felt that way before: everything is going right and yet you feel so down. To borrow the illustration from the old fairy tale: you're sleeping on pillow top mattresses, and focusing on the pea.

Here Elijah is, with God's help having just awed thousands, including the king - having done quite literally a miracle (by the Lord's power of course) - having the backing of the creator and preserver and ruler of the universe - and how does he feel? Answer: depressed and scared. Can you relate?

So what does Elijah need? See if I were God and Elijah was scared of those who were trying to kill him, I would have shown a little muscle, thrown a few lightening bolts, and said to Elijah, "If they come after you, I’ve got your back!"

But what does Elijah really need to know about our God? Read on to see how God wants himself to be known. Does he want to be known as a God of awesome power? Of ultimate justice? Of terrifying wrath?

Top of Page 208
So what did Elijah need to know about God? His LOVE! The Almighty comes to us in gentle whispers! Have you seen pictures with a little baby in the arms of a muscular man? That's how I picture our relationship to God: the almighty holds back his strength for the sake of those he loves. The fire of God consuming an altar didn't give Elijah peace. What Elijah needed to hear was God's promises: you aren't alone...there will be those who will take up the task after you...I will keep my word!

When You're Done Reading - Thoughts to Ponder:
So, let me ask the question again: If God spoke to you, how would you respond? I'm sure after this lesson in HIStory, we're all thinking, "Well I hope I would have believed God and done what he said." I'm pretty sure we all picture ourselves in the Shunammite's house, and not as a prophet of Baal.

In that case, let me ask yet another question: How have you responded since God has spoken to you? Now before you think that you're supposed to be having visions in the middle of the night, that is not what I mean. Did the Shunammite ever talk directly with God? No! She spoke with Elisha. But that doesn't mean that God didn't speak his word to her. He sent the prophet to speak his word on his behalf.

The Lord has given us his Word as well. Pastors and teachers explain why we can trsut God’s Word.  They might not have received visions from God, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t prophets.  A prophet is someone who speaks on God’s behalf.  Every week they share God’s Word with us.  They are God’s representatives to speak his word publicly. 

So let me ask one more time: Since God has spoken to you, how have you responded?

Making it My Own:

In the movie Evan Almighty, the hardest challenge for Evan Baxter isn't building the ark. The elephants carry the logs. The monkeys fetch him nails. God delivers the wood. While it takes time, God sees to it that Evan can finish the ark in time.

What is the hardest challenge for Evan? The hardest challenge is convincing those around him that God is actually speaking to him. At first even he is quite skeptical. Then he has to tell his wife, who thinks he has lost it. Finally, when asked publicly who told him to build the ark, he squeaks out sheepishly, "God."

One of the hardest things for a Christian to do is to tell someone that they are worshiping a false God. In our nation, we are free to worship whomever we choose, but in our culture, we are looked down upon if we tell anyone that what they believe is wrong. Is that much different than Elijah on Mount Carmel? While there was the worship of Baal, the Asherahs, Molech, and countless other gods in Israel, the one thing that could get you killed was saying that there was only one true God. I can't help but connect the parallels to today. I can understand why Elijah was scared!

So what does God want us to do? What did he want Elijah to do? ... Just remember, the God who speaks in whispers has got your back!

Hymn:

God has spoken by His prophets,
Spoken His unchanging Word,
Each from age to age proclaiming
God, the one, the righteous Lord.
Mid the world’s despair and turmoil,
One firm anchor holding fast;
God is King, His throne eternal,
God the first, and God the last.

God has spoken by Christ Jesus,
Christ, the everlasting Son,
Brightness of the Father’s glory,
With the Father ever one;
Spoken by the Word incarnate,
God of God, ere time began,
Light of light, to earth descending,
Man, revealing God to man.

God yet speaks by His own Spirit
Speaking to the hearts of men,
In the age-long Word expounding
God’s own message, now as then;
Through the rise and fall of nations
One sure faith yet standing fast,
God is King, His Word unchanging,
God the first, and God the last.

For further Study:
To see how relevant the message of Amos is to our society today check out this brief Bible study called:

 Is_Prosperity_a_Problem?

Likewise here's a link to a an excellent Bible study on the book of Hosea called How Forgiving Is God?

Chapter 14 - A Kingdom Torn in Two

1 Kings 12-16
Introduction to the Reading: 

I'm sure you have all had to make some tough decisions: what degree to pursue, what job to take, where to live, whether to stay or breakup with that special someone...or get married. Decisions can be even tougher when we realize the impact that they may have on others. Today we hear about some of the decisions that the leaders of God's special nation had to make, how they made those decisions, and God's opinion of their choice. Let's analyze some of those decisions and see if we can't learn from them!

Time to Slow it Down - Page 195:

• What decision did Rehoboam have to make?
• On what did he base his decision?
• Would you have made the same decision if you were in his shoes?
• Was his decision a God pleasing decision (Notice that this is a different question than the one above!)

Top of Page 196:

• What decision does Rehoboam face this time?
• In this instance, what does he base his decision on?
• What do you think his advisers had been telling him to do? What do you think he wanted to do?

Top of Page 197:

• Jeroboam, king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, seeks advice because of what problem?
• What decision does he make? Politically was it a wise decision?
• What is God's verdict of the decision? Why?

Bottom of Page 198:

• What were the consequences for Jeroboam and his family because of his decisions?
• What were the consequences for the people of Israel?

Top of Page 201:

• Do you think Asa gained or lost political popularity because of his reforms? What family troubles do you think resulted when he deposed Maakah?
• Was Asa's life easy or tough because of his decision to follow the Lord as leader?
• Why do you think the book of Kings doesn't record Asa's "achievements, all he did and the cities he built?"

When You're Done Reading - Thoughts to Ponder:
We don't know who the author of the Book of Kings is. We don't know when it was written. The book never states its purpose either. But perhaps we can learn something from what isn't said. What do I mean by that? Well let's take a look at the king of Israel named Omri. Do you remember reading about him? Probably not because he's just briefly mentioned in the commentary in our reading. From a political historian's perspective, however, Omri would have been a world figure. He established a dynasty, made Samaria the capital city of Israel, According to archaeology, he subjugated the Moabites. Even long after his death, Assyrian records refer to him and his reign. Why does our book just mention him in passing? Well because that's what the Scriptures do. In fact, the Bible only spends six verses on his reign and sums it up by saying that he, "did evil in the eyes of the Lord and sinned more than all those before him" (16:25). See, the Scriptures aren't focused on the political achievements of these leaders, their administrative decisions and accomplishments, or their worldly fame and reputation. After reading today, what determined if a king was successful or not? It was whether they followed the Lord or not!

Making it My Own:
So what makes you successful? Have you made the right decisions in life? Have you chosen the right career, right investments, right schools for your kids? How would the world rate your decisions? What do your friends or family think of your accomplishments? How do you analyze your life? It makes us nervous making decisions because we know we haven't always made the right decisions in the past. As we look back, we sometimes are saddened by our decisions. Yet you know what I find comforting, even in these dark days of the Book of Kings? "Nevertheless, for David's sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and by making Jerusalem strong" (Page 199). In spite of all the bad decisions - no I should say terrible decisions we have read about, God still manages to make sure the Upper Story is still playing out. What do I mean? In spite of the fact that things are falling to pieces, God's plan to bring a Savior through David's descendants is still as strong as ever. Can our failures cause God's promises to fail? Never! When you look back on your life and think, "What if..." As you analyze all the different ways your life could have played out, you may realize that life could have been very different, but the end result is always the same: God sticks with me; God loves me.

Prayer/Hymn:
1789-1855 Text by Josiah Conrad

From:  THE HANDBOOK TO THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL

St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1942)p.32

1. Lord, 'tis not that I did choose Thee;

That, I know, could never be;

For this heart would still refuse Thee

Had Thy grace not chosen me.

Thou hast from the sin that stained me

Washed and cleansed and set me free

And unto this end ordained me,

That I ever live to Thee.

2. 'Twas Thy grace in Christ that called me,

Taught my darkened heart and mind;

Else the world had yet enthralled me,

To Thy heavenly glories blind.

Now my heart owns none above Thee;

For Thy grace alone I thirst,

Knowing well that, if I love Thee,

Thou, O Lord, didst love me first.

Chapter 13 - The King Who Had It All

1 Kings 1-8, 10-11
2 Chronicles 5-7
Proverbs 1-3, 6, 20-21

Introduction to the Reading: When you get to announce to someone that you’ve received a promotion, they may likely ask you, “Are you getting a decent raise?... That’s good!”  But you have to wonder why we always assume that having a raise is a good thing.  It’s not bad to have a raise.  Nor would any of us ask our employer to pay us less.  But why is it pretty much always assumed that a raise is a good thing?

Today we learn about Solomon - arguably the wealthiest person ever. But what made him truly wealthy? What impact did earthly wealth have on him? Solomon is a fascinating case study in what happens when one person "has it all." Of course, just like when you see the billboards with the lottery jackpots along the freeway, you can't help but ask yourself, "What would I do if I were in his shoes?"

Time to Slow it Down - Middle of Page 183
Even today, some 3000 years later, it is still recognized that  Solomon's greatest wealth - what truly made him wealthy beyond just physical riches - is that he was a man full of wisdom and knowledge.

There is a difference between wisdom and knowledge, though. You can be smart, as Solomon was about the animals and birds, reptiles and fish (p.179), and yet not have "street smarts." Then there is wisdom which has been defined as "Knowledge applied." Solomon had both, as it evident in his proverbs. They aren't just facts about the world, but how we are to live and interact with the world. Take a moment and pick three proverbs that you like the most. Then, more importantly, take a minute or two to discuss or think about how they apply to your life....

Now that you've reviewed some of the proverbs, I have one more question: what additional characteristic of his wisdom made it stand out from that of others? I'd say it was the source of his wisdom! He even acknowledges it, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge..." (p. 179). This wasn't just any knowledge, but knowledge applied - and knowledge from God. How do we get such knowledge? If you've been reading The Story with us, you've been looking right at it: God's word, of course! "For the LORD gives wisdom: from his mouth come knowledge and understanding" (p. 179).

When You're Done Reading - Thoughts to Ponder:
"Solomon showed his love for the LORD by walking according to the statutes of his father David, except that..." 1 Kings 3:3

For a while everything went well. If anyone could be said to "have it all" it was Solomon. Not only that...but he used that wealth and prestige to bring glory to God. In one of his proverbs, Solomon wrote, "Honor the Lord with your wealth" (p. 180), and that is exactly what he did. The temple he built was an architectural wonder of the world. People came to see it just because it was so magnificent. While they visited, though, they got to hear for whom it was built. Some may wonder why put so much money into building a church. "It's just a building," they say, "Why not use that money instead to do evangelism." Fair enough, but sometimes people come to see the buildings, and in the process hear the story.

In addition, Solomon's wisdom brought attention to the Lord. Hiram, king of Lebanon, said, "Praise be to the LORD today, for he has given David a wise son to rule over this great nation" (p. 184). The queen of Sheba came to see for herself about what she had heard and said, "The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true...Praise be to the LORD your God!" (p. 190) What a wonderful example for us! When we are blessed...when we get a raise, promotion, an award, recognition...whenever we might consider taking praise...may we direct the praise where it is due. Jerusalem under Solomon's rule was truly a light on a hill: like a lighthouse guiding the way home, all who heard about what was happening there were guided to the Lord.

"Except that..." 
And then we hear those words. You can't help but sigh and shake your head. "He had it all!" you feel like screaming. While outwardly things looked magnificent, inwardly Solomon's faith life was in shambles. The physical structures may have been sound, but his faith was on shaky ground. No longer was he, "Fearing, loving, and trusting in God above all things" as Luther explains the First Commandment. Jesus warned that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

The problem is, who is a rich man? Am I rich with what I'm making now? How about next year, when I get a 3 percent raise at work? How about the year after that when I get a 5% raise? Or the year after that when I get a 2% raise?  Maybe you've heard the illustration of the frog in the pot. If you drop a frog in hot water, it will hop right out. If you put a frog in cold water, and slowly warm the kettle...it will relax in there until it's boiled. We don't notice it, but when does a gift from God turn into a turning up the heat on the stove? When do we forget that this is all from God's hand, and start to trust in our wages and forget the giver? Can you name some other things in life that also "raise the temperature" so to speak? You see, I think the small changes - the small increases in wealth or prestige or fame - are almost more of a temptation because you don't notice them as much. There are more times along the line in which you're tempted to think, "Yeah, the work of my hand has done this." There are more chances for the blessings themselves to lure us away from the Lord. King Solomon's many wives led him to worship other gods - false gods. What has lured you away from the Lord this last week?

But as Solomon's father David learned, the Lord does not forsake us. He wants to have a relationship with us. He wants us to repent, to turn to him, and to trust in his love and forgiveness. We may not have a church as glorious as Solomon's temple, but when it comes down to it, God has chosen an even greater temple. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:16, "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" God wants to live in you! He has washed you in his blood and made you a fitting home for his Holy Spirit. He doesn't want to be found hidden in a cloud, he wants to be revealed in you. When people see you, he wants them to learn about him. And when this world is destroyed, he wants to live with us forever. "And I heard a loud voice from the throne say, 'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.' (Rev. 21:3-4)"  Then we can truly say, "We've go it all!"


Prayer/Hymn:
One thing's needful; Lord, this treasure
Teach me highly to regard.
All else, though it first give pleasure,
Is a yoke that presses hard.
Beneath it the heart is still fretting and striving,
No true, lasting happiness ever deriving.
This one thing is needful; all others are vain -
I count all but loss that I Christ may obtain.

Wisdom's highest, noblest treasure,
Jesus, can be found in you.
Let me find in you my pleasure;
Make my will and actions true,
Humility there and simplicity reigning,
In paths of true wisdom my steps ever training.
If I learn from Jesus this knowledge divine,
The blessing of heavenly wisdom is mine.

For those who like more:

• Read Luke 10:38-42. What distracts you, even though well intentioned, from the one thing that is truly needful?
• A fly through of one artist's concept of Solomon's temple: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFnWTz-7I0E