DBRP_175 1KI.1 PSA.119.33-48 JHN.4.25-54

Today we start 1st KINGS!

Like 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings and 1 & 2 Chronicles were originally each one book instead of two. The books of Kings and Chronicles have many similarities. One difference is that the books of Kings seem a bit more secular in their outlook, whereas Chronicles seems to have been written by a priest. Henrietta Mears says that both sets have these things in common: 1. They begin with King David and end with the king of Babylon. 2. They open with the building of the Temple and end with the burning of the Temple. 3. They open with David’s first successor to the throne, Solomon, and end with David’s last successor, Johaiachin, released from captivity by the king of Babylon.

Mears also gives these three rather odd meta messages in these books. I think they might be interesting to look for as we go through:

1. God does not show favoritism. Acts 10:34
2. When our all is on the altar, God never keeps us waiting for the fire.
3. The final captivity was because of disobedience to God. This was clearly prophesied long before.

PSALM 119:33-48

God is telling us how important His Word is! A favorite verse from yesterday’s reading is verse 18: “Open my eyes, so that I may see the wonderful truths in your law.”

We turn for the second time to JOHN 4.

When I have opportunities to pray a blessing over people in Indonesia, I often have prayed John 4:14 for them. Jesus said, “those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

And John 7 says: “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”

Translation notes:
45 [Yet surprisingly,] When he arrived in Galilee, the people there welcomed him, because they had gone to the Passover Festival in Jerusalem and had seen everything that he had done during the festival.
50 Jesus said to him, “[You may go.//Go;] your son will live!” The man believed Jesus' words and went.

 

Check out this episode!