If you are like me, you will admit that you could and should be spending more time in prayer. What most of us need is not this reminder, but inspiration. That is what we have in Elijah. Elijah’s example inspires me in the exercises of faith and prayer. In the Kings narrative, we find some wonderful examples of Elijah’s courage and his “insane” prayer life. Yes, Elijah prayed. Yes, we should have an insane prayer life like Elijah. But what saves us and sustains is that God visited us in Jesus! It is Jesus’ insane work, and his insane prayer life that brings us eternal hope and peace. May the life of Elijah inspire us to pray biblically and faithfully, and may his life point us to our great source of hope: the true and better prophet, the ultimate mediator; the King of Kings, Jesus.
Occasionally you hear truth in strange places. In an episode of The Simpson’s, Homer said of the Bible, “All these people are a mess …. except this one guy.” This reminds us that God can save and use anyone. This also reminds us to not put our ultimate hope in mere mortals. People will disappoint you. We all have feet of clay. Yes, Homer Simpson got it right, “All these people are a mess … except this one guy” and that guy is Jesus. In the book of Kings, we see this reality lived out. Many of the individuals in Kings are quite literally “a mess.” But a promised King is coming, who will keep God’s law perfectly. What makes Kings from being a depressing book is the promise that God is going to preserve a remnant, and this ultimate Son of David will come and reign forever. God will preserve “a lamp in Jerusalem” (11:36; 15:4). In this passage of Scripture, we are reminded of this promise.
Solomon has died and his son is to become King in his place, but as we will see this is the beginning of the split of the nation. Jeroboam is initially seen as a new Moses, however, quickly he goes from being the Moses figure to being an Aaron Figure who leads people out of slavery into idolatry! The book of Kings is training us to be disappointed in these kings they start with expectancy, but they end terribly. The Nation needs an Obedient, Wise King who comes a Servant to Lighten the Yoke of His people and leads them in to True Worship. This King is Jesus, the Obedient Son of David, who will take the punishment for disobedient kings and our punishment.
Solomon serves as both example and warning. Like Solomon, we must learn how to responsibly steward God’s gifts. We have a sinful tendency to take good things, and use them wrongly. Sex, money, food, and influence are wonderful blessings when used according for God’s glory, but they can be abused and destroy lives. We should study the nature of his life in order that we may avoid his sins, and to marvel at the One greater than Solomon.
In these chapters, the uniqueness of God, the faithfulness of God, and holiness of God, the grace of God, the mission of God, the warnings of God, a marvelous prayer, and much more soul-strengthening truths about God’s greatness are set before us. Everyone will worship something or someone. Who do you worship? Let us remember that someone greater than Solomon is here. Jesus has come to show us glory of God. Look to the Savior-King-Temple who outshines all the beauties of this world. Behold “the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor 4:6) with the eyes of faith, and be changed by the Spirit of God.
