Choose

1 Kings14:24
"And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel."

The history of a nation or a people is vital to their survival. On several different occasions, God laid out a choice for Israel - life or death. Choose who you will serve - the One True God or the false idols. Then He laid out exactly what would happen depending on the choice they made.

God was not ambiguous or unclear about what the consequences of unfaithfulness to Him would be. And Israel turned their back on Him over and over again. Was it because of rebellion? Or had they chosen to forget what God has said? Or perhaps a combination of the two and pride, thinking that they knew better than God.

Whatever the cause, God lays out the same choice to you and I everyday - choose. He makes very clear and obvious that following Him means taking up our cross and suffering, but just as clear is the never ending horror of rejecting Him. And yet His yoke is easy and His burden is light. He will never leave or forsake you and He has gone to prepare a place for you.

Today, what do you choose?

My Servant David

1 Kings 14:8-9
"And rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it thee: and yet thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes; But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back:"

Here we see God holding up David as an example of what it means to truly follow God wholeheartedly. David was far from perfect, however his heart was following God.

We see in Jeroboam a stark contrast and God says that his evil is beyond all those who came before. It appears from the passage that the reason for this great condemnation is Jeroboam's reasoning behind his actions. God says he did it "to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back..."

Jeroboam made his own gods to spite the One True God. How desperately wicked is the heart of man that he could turn so wickedly against the Creator Who gave him the breath he uses to curse God. But for the grace of God go you and I.

I must examine my heart daily. Am I seeking to follow God and fulfill His commands? How can I bring my heart into subjection to God today?

Old Mistakes, New Problems

1 Kings
     "If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah. Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt."

      Again, we see a king who doubted God, but instead of using that doubt to motivate his seeking for God, he sought counsel from man instead of God. Jeroboam did that "which he had devised of his own heart".
      In this story we see the need to constantly draw closer to God and seek Him in every situation. In this story we also see the need to remember our history. We can only speculate that Jeroboam knew the history of Israel, the story of Aaron and the golden calf. Either he was completely ignorant or completely desperate and willing to disregard the consequences. Neither is a good situation to be in.
      Knowledge and peace comes from only one place - God Almighty. Am I seeking Him today? What in my past will keep me from mistakes in the future?

For David's Sake

1 Kings 11:12-13
      "Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen."

     God's hands of judgment was stayed for David's sake. Solomon had forsaken the God Who had blessed him beyond imagination and he deserved punishment. However God's mercy was extended because of the memory of His servant David.
      That is incredible, that the life and actions of an imperfect human can have an impact on God and the lives of those not yet born. It begs the question, what if David had forsaken God like Solomon did?
      Do I see my life as a legacy? Do I attempt to look ahead to what my present actions will cause in the future? Would God show mercy for my sake?

His Heart Was Not Perfect

1 Kings 11:4

"For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father."

When we think back on the life of David, the first thing that comes to mind is generally not perfection of heart. He was an adulterer, had Uriah killed and caused much destruction by numbering the people against God's will.

Contrast that with Solomon who has no recorded blot in his life until "when he was old". Also, Solomon was the one who built the temple, while David spent his life engaged in war.

However, as God told Samuel,

1 Samuel 16:7

"But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."

When Solomon sinned, we have no record of any remorse. Apparently, Solomon seared his conscience until it stopped "bothering" him.

When David sinned, we know from the Psalms how completely it destroyed him on the inside, knowing that he has broken fellowship with His Heavenly Father. We see his desperate longing for renewal, to be made clean and pure again. We see his utter rejection of the sin and how much he despised it.

God saw Solomon's heart. God saw David's heart. God sees your heart.

David was not perfect but his heart's direction was completely towards God and His law. Sin in David's life was a mistake not a way of life. It was a stumble, a falter, not his daily walk.

What does God see when he looks at my heart?

They Shall Hear

1 Kings 8:42a

"(For they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy strong hand, and of thy stretched out arm;)..."

How was it that Solomon foresaw people turning to the One True God? He prophesied that they would hear of His great name, His strong hand and outstretched arm. Why would they hear of this? Because when God works, humans instinctively know it is supernatural, and occurrences like that do not go unnoticed.

Why would Solomon think God would be working? The previous verses make it clear - God would be working in miraculous ways because His people would be praying. Their prayer for forgiveness, their prayers for God's listening ear, would be heard and God would respond and act. This would in turn cause people to ask questions, giving His children a chance to testify and witness of His power. This evidence of God's power would have a magnetic result, causing strangers and foreigners to come from far lands seeking to know this God Who answers prayer.

But this will never happen if God's children are not fervently praying, waiting for Him to respond. And then when He does as He promised, we must tell others, testify, witness of His powerful hand and outstretched arm.

Do I pray? Do I see answers to my prayers? Am I testifying to God's power in my life? Am I looking for those who come from afar?

Forsaking Counsel

1 Kings 12:8
      "But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:"

     Rehoboam's folly in this instance was not forsaking the wisdom of his father's advisors. His folly was in forsaking the real source of his father's wisdom.
      Due to Solomon's vast number of wives and concubines, it is doubtful he was a very engaged or interested father in the lives of his children. We read in Proverbs admonitions that Solomon gave to "my son" regarding wisdom and walking in the fear of the Lord. The later part of Solomon's life however was not a demonstration of this wisdom preached throughout Proverbs. As they say, actions speak louder than words.
      Rehoboam had to have known about his father's encounter with God and how God has blessed him. However we see his first act as king was the epitome of foolishness. This is because he sought the wisdom of man and did not look to God.
      We've seen how generous God is at all times, always promising blessings when His commands are followed. We've seen man's utter disregard of this law of the universe. Would my first act as king after Solomon have been seeking early wisdom? Or tearing down the places of false god worship?