One of my favorite television channels is the History Channel. It’s great for learning about many interesting events in the past, and about the people who helped shaped them. It often baffles me whenever I learn about the mighty Roman empire. In its heyday, it was the world’s only superpower with wealth, health, vast army, and prosperity, and yet, it fell. How can this be? Many historians will point to many outside and inside forces that weakened this mighty empire's pillars, which eventually gave way and brought this empire down. As believers, we know that empires and kingdoms that are run in an ungodly way will eventually come to its ruin. In each epoch of time, history repeats itself in some form or another - kingdoms rise and fall, because it's driven by people whose heart is bent on evil.
There was a time in Israel that it became a superpower. During the reign of King Solomon, Israel became wealthy, healthy and prosperous. People all over the world would come to visit Israel, to do business, and to hear King Solomon’s wisdom. Israel rose to power and became that city on a hill for the world. The Book of 1st Kings tells this story. King Solomon’s compromises with other nations – marrying their women and following their gods set the tone for Israel’s eventual fall. When King Solomon died, his sons divided this great Kingdom into two Kingdoms– Israel to the North and Judah to the South.
The rise and fall of Israel happened in one generation. God had given them a formula to follow if they want to remain successful. God said in Deuteronomy 28: 1, “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.” This formula is for everyone today.
The good news is, even during fall of Israel and the reigns of the ‘bad Kings’ who followed, God remained faithful to Israel. God spoke then through His prophets for Israel to repent, follow His commandments, and serve Him, and He is speaking to us even today to do the same. 1st Kings is a great piece of history and a good case study for all nations to heed.
Prayer: Lord, we come humbly before you and ask for your forgiveness as a nation. We know that we are in the cusp of falling away completely- some say, we have already fallen away as a nation. Help us Lord and guide our people, and especially our leaders to always choose you and your precepts in your Word as our guiding Light! We thank you for your love and faithfulness. We pray this in Jesus' Name. Amen!
There was a time in Israel that it became a superpower. During the reign of King Solomon, Israel became wealthy, healthy and prosperous. People all over the world would come to visit Israel, to do business, and to hear King Solomon’s wisdom. Israel rose to power and became that city on a hill for the world. The Book of 1st Kings tells this story. King Solomon’s compromises with other nations – marrying their women and following their gods set the tone for Israel’s eventual fall. When King Solomon died, his sons divided this great Kingdom into two Kingdoms– Israel to the North and Judah to the South.
The rise and fall of Israel happened in one generation. God had given them a formula to follow if they want to remain successful. God said in Deuteronomy 28: 1, “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.” This formula is for everyone today.
The good news is, even during fall of Israel and the reigns of the ‘bad Kings’ who followed, God remained faithful to Israel. God spoke then through His prophets for Israel to repent, follow His commandments, and serve Him, and He is speaking to us even today to do the same. 1st Kings is a great piece of history and a good case study for all nations to heed.
Prayer: Lord, we come humbly before you and ask for your forgiveness as a nation. We know that we are in the cusp of falling away completely- some say, we have already fallen away as a nation. Help us Lord and guide our people, and especially our leaders to always choose you and your precepts in your Word as our guiding Light! We thank you for your love and faithfulness. We pray this in Jesus' Name. Amen!
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