06/05/08: 1 Kings 20
One of Israel's king's greatest errors was when stupid King Ahab let King Ben-Hadad live. Ahab even made a treaty with Ben-Hadad (1 Kings 20:32). This displeased God immensely (20:42). The future negative ramifications for Israel, due to this foolish decision, would be devastating.
06/04/08: 1 Kings 19
However, God does not abandon those who are faithful to carry out the duties He has assigned to them. God sent an angel to feed Elijah twice. That in itself is miraculous. But what I find even more stupendous is the fact that, after eating and drinking what the angel had brought him, Elijah was able to travel forty days and nights until he reaches his destination (1 Kings 19:5-8). It was much like how God provided, supernaturally, for Elijah, the widow, and her son in 17:17-24.
It makes me think of the last days of darkness and tribulation, which I believe are on the immediate horizon. When hope and expectation are dashed to the ground, God still will find a way to provide for those who believe in Him, are faithful to Him, and will pray for His supernatural intervention.
06/02/08: 1 Kings 14
Jeroboam's son became ill (1 Kings 14:1). The reason was because Jeroboam had made idols out of metal to other gods (1:9). These are God's main "pet peeves": seeing His people having other gods before Him, and seeing them worshiping idols (Exodus 20:3,4). The penalty of this would be that Jeroboam's son would die (1 Kings 14:12).
Interestingly, speaking of the son who would die, God said, "He is the only one belonging to Jeroboam who will be buried, because he is the only one in the house of Jeroboam in whom the LORD, the God of Israel, has found anything good" (1 Kings 14:13). This probably was a foreshadowing of the Son of God, Jesus, who would die because He was "good" and would be found worthy to die for the sins of the people. So when good people die, even though we don't feel they are deserving of death, sometimes we simply don't understand what is going on inside the mind of God (Isaiah 55:8,9).
Interestingly, speaking of the son who would die, God said, "He is the only one belonging to Jeroboam who will be buried, because he is the only one in the house of Jeroboam in whom the LORD, the God of Israel, has found anything good" (1 Kings 14:13). This probably was a foreshadowing of the Son of God, Jesus, who would die because He was "good" and would be found worthy to die for the sins of the people. So when good people die, even though we don't feel they are deserving of death, sometimes we simply don't understand what is going on inside the mind of God (Isaiah 55:8,9).
06/01/08: 1 Kings 8
15-53 has a dual fulfillment. First of all, Solomon was the literal son of David. As prophesied (1 Chronicles 17:11-14), he built the first temple of God. But this temple was a foreshadowing of the ultimate Temple of the future.
Jesus, the Messiah, also is considered to be the son of David (Matthew 1:1, 9:27, 12:23, 15:21,22, 20:29-31, 21:9, 22:41,42). When He returns, He will build the Millennial Temple, from which He will rule and reign for 1,000 years.
Jesus, the Messiah, also is considered to be the son of David (Matthew 1:1, 9:27, 12:23, 15:21,22, 20:29-31, 21:9, 22:41,42). When He returns, He will build the Millennial Temple, from which He will rule and reign for 1,000 years.
05/22/08: 1 Kings 2
When Adonijah asks for Abishag, why is that an offense?
Ted: Abishag had been chosen to be King David's companion, in his old age, to attend to all of his immediate needs, including keeping him warm at night. (His wife Bathsheba no longer did this, evidently because she was about as old as David was and probably required her own personal attendants to help her get by.) Abishag would have been able to tend quickly to minor emergencies that David might have had in the middle of the night, probably give him baths, feed him, and other things. For all intents and purposes, she was his concubine, but without the sex.
Now, remember that another son of David, Absalom (older half-brother of Adonijah), had lain with his father's concubines. This was an insolent sign of his domination of his father and was done as a demonstration and assertion that he was the new king (2 Samuel 16:20-22).
Likewise, Adonijah also had wanted to be king. He even was acting as king (1 Kings 1:9-11). However, due to intervention by Nathan and Bathsheba (1:11-27), King David named Solomon as king (1:32-35). Thus, after David died, Adonijah made one "last-ditch" effort to usurp Solomon's throne (besides majorly dishonoring his dead tather) by trying to take David's concubine, Abishag, to be his wife. Instead, Adonijah was struck down and died (1:25).
This would seem to be a good example of the importance of honoring one's parents, to which seems to be attached the provision of long life in the land (Exodus 20:12). On the contrary, Adonijah DIShonored his father, and soon thereafter he died.
Ted: Abishag had been chosen to be King David's companion, in his old age, to attend to all of his immediate needs, including keeping him warm at night. (His wife Bathsheba no longer did this, evidently because she was about as old as David was and probably required her own personal attendants to help her get by.) Abishag would have been able to tend quickly to minor emergencies that David might have had in the middle of the night, probably give him baths, feed him, and other things. For all intents and purposes, she was his concubine, but without the sex.
Now, remember that another son of David, Absalom (older half-brother of Adonijah), had lain with his father's concubines. This was an insolent sign of his domination of his father and was done as a demonstration and assertion that he was the new king (2 Samuel 16:20-22).
Likewise, Adonijah also had wanted to be king. He even was acting as king (1 Kings 1:9-11). However, due to intervention by Nathan and Bathsheba (1:11-27), King David named Solomon as king (1:32-35). Thus, after David died, Adonijah made one "last-ditch" effort to usurp Solomon's throne (besides majorly dishonoring his dead tather) by trying to take David's concubine, Abishag, to be his wife. Instead, Adonijah was struck down and died (1:25).
This would seem to be a good example of the importance of honoring one's parents, to which seems to be attached the provision of long life in the land (Exodus 20:12). On the contrary, Adonijah DIShonored his father, and soon thereafter he died.
05/22/08: 1 Kings 1
Bathsheba came to King David, told him that Adonijah had proclaimed himself king, and pointed out to David that he had promised her that Solomon would succeed him as king. Then David told her that, indeed, Solomon would be king. Bowing and kneeling before the king, Bathsheba said, "May my lord King David live forever!"
I believe that, in fact, King David will live forever, once he is resurrected at the end of the age. I also believe that he will be the king of Israel again, with Jesus reigning as King of the World. All of this is explained here:
http://www.tedmontgomery.com/bblovrvw/C_13b.html#David_the_king
I believe that, in fact, King David will live forever, once he is resurrected at the end of the age. I also believe that he will be the king of Israel again, with Jesus reigning as King of the World. All of this is explained here:
http://www.tedmontgomery.com/bblovrvw/C_13b.html#David_the_king
