The Holy Bible - First Kings

The Holy Bible is a collection of books. So I have split them up. I will read it in 1 year, every day ~15 minutes of reading.

Why read it?

It’s a sacred chronicle that tells the story of Israel’s monarchy, from its golden days to its darkest moments. It’s like a rollercoaster ride of glory and grief, and it’s all written by the Spirit of God himself.

You’ll meet Solomon, the son of David, who was incredibly wise and wealthy. He brought Israel to its peak, but later on, he made some silly mistakes. This book is a reminder that God loves us and wants us to obey him, but it also shows us the dangers of worshipping idols.

It talks about how the kingdom was divided and how prophets spoke God’s truth to a people who were wandering off the path. If you read 1 Kings, you’ll learn about God’s righteous judgments and His gentle call to repentance. It’s a treasure trove of wisdom that can help us understand the cost of forsaking God and the hope that still exists in His mercy.

Favourite quote

In 1 Kings 8:56, a verse of incredible strength and beauty shines through. Solomon, at the dedication of the temple, says something truly remarkable.

Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.

In the presence of all of you, I want to share some words that speak to the unwavering faithfulness of God. His promises are as sure as the rock, and we can trust them completely. So, let’s raise our eyes to the one who keeps His word, and let’s know that He’ll be with us for a thousand generations to come.

What I Loved

Oh, there’s one part of 1 Kings that really gets to me, and it’s Solomon’s prayer at the temple’s consecration in chapter 8. You know, when the king, all decked out in his fancy clothes, fell to his knees before the Lord and asked Him to listen to the cries of His people, I’m just blown away by how humble and reverent he was. Solomon didn’t care about himself or his own glory, he just wanted what was best for Israel. He was pleading with the Lord to help His people. “When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name… then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people” (1 Kings 8:33-34). This moment shows a king who understood how weak we are and how powerful God is. It makes me think about my own prayers, so I can pray with so much faith and hope for others.

Key Takeaway

The main message of 1 Kings is this: God is a jealous God, and He won’t let His people worship anyone else. But He’s always ready to welcome those who come back to Him with a pure heart. Solomon’s reign started off well, but he got caught up in foreign wives and their idols, and the kingdom fell apart after he died. But even when people turned away from God, God still sent people like Elijah to bring Israel back to righteousness. This book reminds us to stay away from the temptations of this world and to only worship God. He’s always fair and merciful, and He’ll keep His promise to those who seek Him.