After reading today’s text, I couldn’t help but wonder how/why this downward spiral of leadership over the nation of Israel really started.  Then, I remembered the passage in 1 Samuel when the old prophet was besieged by the people to appoint a king over them.  After laying out all the harm a king would do and predicting they would wish they never asked, the Word states…
19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.” 21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord. 22 The Lord answered, “Listen to them and give them a king.”
How right they were!  It took a little while, but Israel had become just like all the other nations! Boy, I think there is a lesson here for all of us!
- Chris Adomanis

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What did we learn about Baasha as recorded in 1 Kings 15?  What do you think about his role in carrying out the judgment of God upon the house of Jeroboam?  Does this excuse Baasha from personal responsibility?
+ What does it mean in 1 Kings 16:2 when it says God was “provoked to anger” by the actions of Baasha?  Read Psalm 103:7-12 and Exodus 34:1-16.  What do these verses reveal about the actions of Baasha and the character of God?  Can followers of Jesus “provoke” God to anger?  Why or why not?
+ What do you make of God’s judgement upon Baasha or any of the other kings we’ve read about so far?  How would you answer someone who says “this Old Testament God is too harsh” when he deals with sin?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Reflect on your life. Do you justify and continue in some sinful behavior patterns because you believe “God will just forgive me anyway”? Repent and ask for forgiveness for taking too lightly the mercy and patience of God.

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, You are the Most Holy God, who is worthy of our utmost obedience to the commands You have made known so clearly in Your Word.  We all stand “guilty as charged” to neglecting and even downright disobeying what you’ve declared.  We can only plead for mercy and ask for forgiveness.  We thank You for loving us even when we act in such ways.  In Your graciousness, you have provided the solution to our sin by the gift of Your Son Jesus!
1 John 2:1-6:  1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ Who in your circle of influence needs to hear about the God who is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love (Psalm 103:8)?

A passage such as this one has to make you think two things.
1. Huh?
2. Why is everybody doing evil in the sight of the Lord?
While I wish I had more profound knowledge and thought on a section like this, I will shyly admit that I reread and even listened to this passage 3 times and googled "1 Kings lineage" to get a visual, because stuff like this is where I start to get lost. As I read and reread, my mind starts to wander…
What are all these names…? Is there a way for me to understand this better without all the lineage knowledge…? I don’t really get it… Seems like all these guys just have beef with each other and their solution is to kill each other…
You probably get it.
I think what I find myself thinking about most as I read this is how verse 26 and verse 34 are almost word for word the same thing about two different kings: “He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and walked in the way of [his father/Jeroboam], and in his sin which he made Israel to sin.”
Talk about generational curses! Why are they like this? Why don’t they see the error of their ways? What could be so worth it about sin that they keep choosing it? Don’t they know their choices will lead to the corruption of their families, their nations, or the world?
Beat.
Why do we do this, too? What could be so worth it? Why do I choose my comforts and my sin, the very same burdens that Jesus already nailed to the cross, so I could lay it all down and not go back to pick it up? I can hear the Lord asking, “Aren’t you weary of the same patterns?” I bet the kings of Israel were. I bet they wondered why their plans kept going wrong. To answer, the Lord has given much, but I will leave just these:

“To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue. All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
Proverbs 16:1-3

“My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.”
Psalm 119:28

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.”
Isaiah 40:28

- Danielle Parker

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ In verse 29, is King Baasha taking vengeance on the house of Jeroboam on behalf of the Lord Almighty, or on behalf of his own desires? Why might this matter?
+ Reread verse 30– what does it mean that “he made Israel to sin”?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Is it possible that you are making plans that the Lord did not approve of?
+ How might you turn over your plans and your crown to God this week? Hands that are full by gripping tight to old things are hands that can’t receive new things.

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Father, forgive me when I establish my own throne, my own plans, and my own ways. I am weary of carrying what you never intended for me to carry. You say that vengeance is not mine. You say that strength is from You. You say that You establish my ways. I surrender everything I have to You this week, and I believe that You are sovereign and You are good. Wherever I have not allowed You to lead in my life, soften my hardened heart. If I am making my way to destruction by choosing my ways over Your ways, lead me. Isaiah 30:21 tells us "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'". Help me to follow that voice. I love You, O Lord. You are the one my soul loves and trusts in. Thank You for Your grace and Your mercy, Jesus. It’s in Your name that I pray. Amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.

Something about Asa's story feels familiar. Here's a king who takes some pretty bold steps to honor God. He removes idols from Judah and even removes his own grandmother from her position of authority because of her idolatry. That's not easy. But a few verses later, when his kingdom is threatened, Asa takes silver and gold from the temple to secure an alliance with another king. The same man who was willing to confront his own family over faithfulness to God now struggles to trust God when his security is on the line.
I wonder how often we do the same thing. We can trust God in one area of our lives and struggle to trust him in another. We can recognize the idols around us while completely missing the things we've come to depend on. And what's interesting is that Asa's plan actually worked. He got the outcome he wanted. But just because something works doesn't mean it was the right thing to do. Maybe the question isn't simply whether we trust God, but where our trust starts to fall apart. What happens when the things we love, the things we've built, or the things that make us feel secure are threatened? That's usually when we find out what we're really depending on.
- David Bempong

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What stands out to you in this passage? What do you notice about Asa's actions?
+ How does Asa's response to the threat from Baasha compare with the way he dealt with idolatry in Judah?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Where in your life do you find it easiest to trust God? Where do you struggle to trust him?
+ Have you ever made a decision that worked out the way you wanted, but looking back, you wonder whether you were really trusting God?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Father, thank you for being faithful to us even when our trust in you falls short. Forgive us for the times we take matters into our own hands instead of depending on you. Help us recognize the things we've come to rely on more than you, especially when we're afraid or uncertain. Teach us to trust you, not just when it's easy, but when we feel like we have something to lose. In Jesus' name, amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ What is one area of your life where you're learning to trust God more? Share that with someone today and ask them to pray with you.

Rehoboam begins a long line of failure kings in Judah. He and his kingdom gets the “evil in the sight of the Lord” stamp in v22, but it’s really v31 that provides a clue as to his predestined failure: “his mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonite.” If you recall, Solomon’s heart turned away from the Lord and turned instead to his foreign wives and their idol worship (see 1 Kings 11). Being the begotten love child of an Ammonite-Molech-worshipper and the apostate Solomon, Rehoboam likely never knew what true worship of Yahweh looked like. You almost feel sorry for him, but then you go back and look at his foolish misadventures in 1 Kings 12. Unfortunately, there’s really nothing redeemable about Rehoboam… and yet, he is in the lineage of Christ (Matt 1:7).
How many of us, or people we know come from broken or faithless families? It turns out our parents’ stories have a significant impact on our own, sometimes for good and sometimes not. If you come from one of these families that have never exhibited what a heart wholly devoted to God looks like, I’m sorry. Truly. Only God can heal these wounds. I would also invite you into the family of believers, where even those who feel so distant from God can find redemption. God redeemed Rehoboam’s legacy by including him in the lineage of Christ. And He offers redemption to us today which likewise includes us into the family of Christ (we become adopted sons and daughters…co-heirs to the throne). Like Rehoboam we have a choice – choose wisdom. Choose forgiveness. Choose Christ.
- Hayden Van Dyke

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Why do you think Rehoboam’s story is broken into segments and interwoven with Jeroboam’s story? (note: it makes it tough to keep track of all the “-boam’s”!)
+ Why do you think Rehoboam replaced the gold shields with bronze shields?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ What is impeding true worship of God in your life? What can you do about it?
+ If you come from a broken family, how has Christ redeemed you? If you don’t, who in your life might benefit from a story of redemption, or an invitation to a “family of faith”?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Father, I am thankful that you have adopted me into your family. I ask that you guard me from the brokenness of the world, and create in me a clear heart from which to worship you. I lift my family up to you, O Lord. Would you see them, bless them and encourage them today? You are awesome and mighty, my Rock and my Redeemer. Amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ Given the prevalence of broken families in today’s society, think of at least one person who may be suffering the pain of abandonment or apathy from someone that was meant to love them – can you encourage them today?

Today's reading in 1 Kings 14:1–20 is one of the saddest stories in the long and often tragic history of the Israelites. Jeroboam began as an industrious young servant who caught the attention of King Solomon because of his hard work and ability.
Then, through the prophet Ahijah, God revealed that the kingdom would be divided because of Solomon's disobedience and idolatry. Ahijah tore his new garment into twelve pieces and gave ten to Jeroboam, symbolizing the ten tribes that would come under his rule. What an extraordinary beginning!
 Here was a young man given an incredible opportunity to lead God's people. Yet, as we continue reading, we discover how tragically Jeroboam squandered that opportunity.
What does this story mean for us? Where are our idols? Where is our treasure? We may not bow before golden calves, but how often do we place our trust in possessions, recognition, or our own ability to control our lives?
Jeroboam's downfall reminds us how easily the desire for power can replace our dependence upon God. Do we simply profess our faith, or do we wear our faith, allowing others to see Christ in the way we live, love, lead, and serve?
Jeroboam's story is more than an ancient account of a king who lost his way. It is a cautionary tale to examine our own hearts and ask ourselves whether God remains at the center of our lives.
- Eileen Dowd

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Are we Christians in name only, or are we Christians whose lives genuinely reflect Jesus Christ?
+ Take time to discuss with your community group or the Women of Hope or Men of Hope ways you can live out your Christian faith and values, i.e, at home, in the marketplace, etc.

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Many of our church family members have been reading Randy Alcorn’s The Treasure Principle.  It has us thinking how we look at our possessions. Do we give God the glory for what He has given us?
+ Please spend some time looking at where you can honor God through your acts of service, etc.

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, please teach me to walk in your ways and not my own. If I am given an honor, let me be bold to share that what I have been given is from you. May I serve you with joy and humility all the days of my life. In your precious name, Jesus, amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.

1 Kings 13:26-34 is a puzzling passage. The backslidden prophet, whose deceit precipitated the death of the “man of God,” seems to act out of remorse. He retrieved the body; he mourned for him; he called him brother; and he saw to his burial. But he also knew that the “man of God’s” fate proved that his prophecy of judgment against the idolatrous altars of Bethel was absolutely true: a future king would burn the bones of false priests.
Perhaps part of the motive behind the prophet’s directive to be laid with the man of God was self-preservation. In other words, the burial request was likely motivated at least in part by a practical desire to escape the future desecration of his own remains by King Josiah, a judgment that would not be fulfilled for approximately three centuries (2 Kings 23:4-20). Whatever mixture of remorse and self-interest motivated the old prophet, the larger lessons of the account remain unchanged. Two truths stand out in the passage: the personal responsibility of the individual and the infallibility of God’s word.
- Jason Rimmer

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ If someone else leads us astray, where does their responsibility end and where does ours begin?
+ How does this story parallel the serpent’s deception in Eden, and what does each account teach about personal responsibility when we have been deceived?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Have I ever allowed someone else’s words - even someone I trusted - to override what I already knew God required of me?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, help me to keep your Word and commandments above all other influences. Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil. When I falter, lead me back to you and to fellow believers who can speak truth into my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.

I think sometimes we take obedience for granted. We have the privilege of having the Holy Spirit indwelling with us and we often ignore our convictions. Whether we are hearing “pray with them”, “stand up for your beliefs”, “love that person” or whatever else He may be impressing upon us, we can go the other way. Sometimes we hear the Spirit say “don’t open that app”, “don’t order that food”, or “don’t say that thing.” The Holy Spirit convicts us and we are blessed enough that God doesn’t smite us down on the car ride home.
I recently got news that someone I knew passed away in a tragic accident and met His Saviour sooner than I would have liked to see. He was a faithful man and someone I looked up to. Always obedient to share the Gospel and always encouraging his brothers and sisters in Christ. Our time here on earth is short and we would be mistaken if we wanted to hear anything other than “well done good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23) and I know he met Jesus and had the privilege of hearing those words. We can never know the time when our life will come to an end and we never know what the last thing we do here on earth will be. Will it be obedience even in the face of risk, or will it be disobedience? If I can pull anything out of this passage it would be that we should be praying the God softens our hearts in a manner we can hear and discern what the Holy Spirit is saying, and follow through with obedience, without skipping a beat.
- Quentin Parker

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Why do you think the man lied saying he was a prophet?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ What is one thing you may be delaying your obedience on?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Father, soften our hearts. Send Your Spirit upon us and give us your wisdom as we long to be obedient to You. Thank you for the cross and Your Son’s sacrifice for our sins. God, we believe in You, help our unbelief and convict us of the things we need to be corrected on. We love You and we praise You, in Jesus’s name, amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.

What stands out to me the most in this passage is that despite the sin and idol-making that King Jeroboam has committed, the Lord still shows mercy on him and restores his hand. God did not have to do that, and yet this is just another way we can see His perfect love and perfect justice displayed. A sin was committed, so the judgment, or consequence, was a dried up hand. Yet by asking another man to intercede in prayer before the Lord on his behalf, his request was fulfilled.
Oh Lord, how undeserving we are. Daily we sin, daily we stray, and daily we are restored. Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness”. My prayer for us as the body of Christ is that we remember His mercy, have trust in the fact that His promises are good. May we intercede on behalf of those around us who are spiritually dried up, and trust in God to respond.
- Danielle Parker

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Read verse 6 again. What does it mean to entreat the Lord for favor?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Do you trust that God wants to restore you when you are dried up? What is one way He might be trying to water what has withered within you?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Thank You for your mercy and restoration Lord. Nothing and no one is too far gone to receive Your goodness. Though I am undeserving, You clothe me in love in ways I couldn’t even think to ask for. Help me to love those around me today and to intercede for the people who need You most. I love You, Lord. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen. 

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.

Pride tore the kingdom in two. Ten tribes looked at David's grandson and said, what portion have we in David, calling him the son of Jesse, as if the man's whole legacy could be shrunk to nothing so their rebellion would feel justified. That is how we do it too. We belittle what we are walking away from so the leaving feels smaller than it is.
Rehoboam did not help himself. He sent his tribute collector to the people, and they stoned the man in the street. He talked big when the kingdom felt secure and looked small the moment it didn't. The proud often swagger in prosperity and cower in trouble.
Then a word arrives from God through a prophet: this thing is from me. Rehoboam raised an army and stood down. 2 Chronicles says Rehoboam did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the Lord. He never fixed his heart on what was right. A man who is not fixed will bend toward whoever is loudest.
Jeroboam got the North, and fear got Jeroboam. He worried his people would drift back to Jerusalem, drawn by the temple's beauty and the house of David's pull. So he built two golden calves and told the people they need not travel so far to worship. It looked like convenience. It was idolatry, borrowed from Egypt, dressed up as devotion.
A practical disbelief in God's sufficiency sits underneath every one of our treacherous departures from him. We do not usually announce we are leaving God. We just decide the inconvenient road to him is no longer worth the walk, and we build something closer, easier, ours.
Here is the truth underneath the whole chapter. Rehoboam failed his people through pride. Jeroboam failed his people through fear. Every king Israel would ever crown would eventually fail, because no man ever fixed his eyes on obeying the one true God, so pride and fear set in. We were never meant to find our savior on an earthly throne. We were meant to keep looking, past every king who let us down, to the one King who never would. Jesus did not build a golden calf to make the road easier. He became the living sacrifice, walking the road to Calvary, because no road of our own making could ever reach God.
- Mary Gunther

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ 2 Chronicles says Rehoboam did evil because he “did not set his heart to seek the Lord.” What does it look like to be fixed on what is right, and what happens to a leader who is not?
+ God had already promised Jeroboam a kingdom through the prophet Ahijah, yet he built his own system of worship out of fear. Why do you think a promise from God was not enough to settle him?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Is there wise counsel you have avoided because you already suspect what it will say?
+ Where has fear led you to build a substitute for something God has already promised or provided?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, you are the only King who has never failed me. Forgive me for the times I have heard wise counsel and turned away because it was not what I wanted. Forgive me for the shortcuts I have built out of fear, the small golden calves that promise comfort and deliver nothing. Fix my heart on what is right. Teach me to seek you again and again, through your Word, in prayer, and among your people. Give me the courage to stand when others will not. Thank you for Jesus, who became the living sacrifice and walked the road to Calvary, to deliver me from my sin. Amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ Who in your life is facing a decision right now and could use someone to point them back to Scripture, prayer, and wise counsel?

As Rehoboam assumes the throne (1 Kings 11:43), his father Solomon has left many enemies who threaten the kingdom.  Chief among them is Jeroboam, whom Solomon had appointed leader of forced labor of the tribe of Joseph. Solomon sought to kill Jeroboam because Ahijah prophesied that he would become leader of ten tribes of Israel (1 Kings 11:40).  Jeroboam fled to Egypt for safety.
When Rehoboam goes to Shechem to be made king by all Israel, I believe the significance of “all” is that he has been accepted as king by Judah and Benjamin, but not yet by the other tribes. Meanwhile, Jeroboam returned to Shechem when he heard of Solomon’s death, as Shechem is a central city of the tribe of Joseph.  The people called Jeroboam their spokesman as they came before Rehoboam.  Their essential request is to lighten their forced labor, and they say we will follow you.
Rehoboam seeks counsel and follows that of the young men with whom he had grown up.  He makes the hard power play, promising to increase whips to scorpions (iron barbed whips).  It is significant that Rehoboam did not listen to the older men or to the people who wanted to follow if he would take a conciliatory approach.  But, most importantly, Rehoboam did not even seek God, much less listen to him, even though there was a known prophet in Israel.  This set Israel on a path to division and bondage.
"When men trust in men, they often go to the worst kind of advice, and follow the most foolish guidance, because they have forsaken the fountain of living waters." C.H. Spurgeon
- Gary Gunther

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What is the potential connection of Rehoboam’s mother being an Ammonitess and his not seeking advice from God? (1 Kings 14:21)
+ Rehoboam rejected the council of the elders before he sought the council of the young men (1 Kings 12:8-9).  What does this reveal about his desire for advice?
+ Regarding succession to the throne, how are Solomon’s actions in his last days similar to Saul’s, Israel’s first king?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ What are some ways to seek God in your decisions?
+ Just because advice comes from a fellow human being does not automatically mean that it is bad.  How are we to exercise discernment about advice we receive?
+ Who do you go to for counsel and advice?  What makes them reliable?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Father, today I will face many decisions.  Give me discernment to know your ways and to walk in them.  I need your wisdom.  I thank you that you give wisdom to those who ask, and that I may come freely before your throne of grace to receive mercy to help in my times of need.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ What story of receiving direction from God can you share with others?

There's a detail in this passage I keep coming back to. Ahijah meets Jeroboam on the road, takes a new garment, and tears it into twelve pieces.
It's a strange way to deliver God's message. The kingdom Solomon had spent his life building was about to be divided. I don't know about you, but I don't particularly like it when things come apart. Especially things I've poured myself into.
And I don't want to suggest that everything that falls apart in our lives is God tearing it apart. Sometimes our own decisions catch up with us. Sometimes we're dealing with the consequences of someone else's choices. And sometimes things just happen that we can't explain.
But what I find interesting is that even as the kingdom is being divided, God hasn't disappeared from the story. He's still at work. His promises to David haven't been forgotten. Things aren't going the way Solomon imagined, but that doesn't mean God has abandoned his people.
Which makes me wonder if I've confused God's faithfulness with his willingness to keep everything in my life intact.
Maybe a question worth sitting with today is if I’m willing to trust God when things come apart.
- David Bempong

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What does Ahijah do with his new garment, and what does he tell Jeroboam the twelve pieces represent? (vv. 29–32)
+ According to the passage, why is God dividing the kingdom? (vv. 33–34)
+ Even as God announces judgment on Solomon's kingdom, what promises does he continue to make? (vv. 35–39)

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Are you spending more energy trying to hold something together than paying attention to what God might be showing you about your own heart?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Father, it's easy to get so caught up in keeping everything together that I neglect what's happening in my own heart. Show me where I've been drifting, even in ways I haven't noticed. Help me be honest about the things I've been holding on to too tightly. And remind me that even when things don't go the way I expected, you're still at work. Amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ Why do you think it's sometimes easier to keep up appearances than to admit something in our lives needs attention? How can we help one another recognize when our hearts are drifting?

Solomon’s fall is swift and so is God’s judgment. Much like his father David, Solomon’s infidelity affected not only his life but the life of his son (1 Kings 11:12). This is a theme that we can see throughout scripture; one man’s sin can trickle down into the next generation. How might we live if we knew that our actions would affect our children and their children? Thank God that He sent His Son to wash us with His blood.
This passage addresses a difficult subject: does God ever withdraw His blessing? Because Solomon broke the conditional covenant created in 1 Kings 9:1-9, God promises to “tear the kingdom from you and give it to your servant” (1 Kings 11:11). The important distinction here is that because of Jesus, our sin does not separate us from God. He does not withdraw salvation, but in this passage He does revoke part of Solomon’s kingdom. God in His goodness keeps his covenant with David even as raises up adversaries against Solomon for his disobedience (1 Kings 11:13). Let’s sit in that tension today.
- Cara Fowler

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Read 2 Samuel 8:14. How does David’s wartime decisions help you understand this passage?
+ Reread 1 Kings 11:25. What does this passage tell us about what’s to come in 1 and 2 Kings?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ It only took two chapters for Solomon to break his covenant with the Lord. How might our own sin condition be similar to this passage?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, help us to keep our hearts turned towards you. Thank you that You are faithful even when we are not! Amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.

“Now King Solomon loved many foreign women.”
That word loved catches my attention.
Back in chapter 3, we read that Solomon loved the Lord. Now we hear about these other loves, and we watch where they lead him. The same man who asked God for a listening heart is holding tightly to relationships God warned would turn his heart away.
It makes me wonder: What do we expect love to excuse?
But I love them. But this makes me happy. But I can’t imagine my life without it.
I’ve felt the pull of that kind of reasoning. When we want something badly enough, we can find ways to make it seem okay. We can even stop asking God about it because we’re afraid of what He might say.
The concern here is that these women worshiped other gods. Solomon knew the warning. Still, he clung to them. He was responsible for what he chose to do with his love.
What do we love so much that we’ve stopped asking where it’s taking us? Something we’ve held so tightly that surrender feels impossible.
We can bring that honestly to Jesus. He knows how divided our hearts can be, and He gave Himself for us. His grace gives us courage to name what we’re holding onto and take a step toward faithfulness.
Maybe today’s prayer is simple:
Lord, help me hear You even about the things I love.
- David Bempong

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What do verses 1–8 reveal about how Solomon’s loves shaped his choices and his worship?
+ Why is God angry with Solomon in verses 9–13? How does His response balance judgment with faithfulness to His promises?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ What are you holding onto so tightly that you’ve become reluctant to hear what God might say about it?
+ Where have you used your feelings to justify a choice? What would one step of faithfulness look like today?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Father, You know what I love and what I’m afraid to lose. Help me recognize where my desires are leading me away from You. Thank You for Your grace through Jesus, which gives me courage to be honest. Give me a listening heart and help me follow You, especially where surrender feels hardest. Amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ In a discipling conversation this week, ask: How do you recognize when something you love is beginning to take God’s place in your life?

There are kings, and there are kings. Solomon is the latter. He has it all; wisdom, reputation, wealth, good trade with foreign rulers. Under his rule, Israel has prospered. We know that wealth and prosperity is not owed to us by God, but it is nice when it happens.
It makes you stop and think: what would it be like to get everything you wanted? Would your relationship with the Lord change? It’s the question we should be asking about Solomon. Will all this wealth and earthly success turn his head away from God or keep him closer to God?
- Monica Godfrey

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What is Solomon doing with his wealth?
+ How does the wisdom God gave him impact his relationships with other nations?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ How do you view your finances in light of God’s providence?
+ How do you view your success in light of God’s providence?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, you give all good gifts. Help us to keep You at the center of our lives, whether we have wealth and success like Solomon or not. Give us undivided hearts for you. Amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.

It is hard to imagine the great effort that the queen of Sheba made to come and see King Solomon in person. One can imagine a throng of people and a huge caravan of heavily laden camels and donkeys, making a long journey.
Why? Because the Queen had to know. Was this King all that?
And she wanted others in her sphere of influence to know as well…to see it with their eyes!
The Queen discovered that in fact the King was all that and more!
What lengths are you and I willing to go to see King Jesus this morning? Who might we bring with us? What might we find?
- Kim Williams

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Why did the Queen of Sheba come to see King Solomon according to verses 1, 2, 6, and 7?
+ Why did the queen need to see with her own eyes? How might you relate to this need?
+ What (and who?!) did the Queen bring? What did she observe? What was she given?
+ What surpassed the queen’s expectations during her visit?
+ How might King Solomon be a signpost pointing you and I to Christ in this passage?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ What is keeping you or I from a personal encounter with the King?
+ When you and I take the time and energy to meet with the King, how does He exceed our expectations?
+ How does our knowledge of who God is shape our affections and actions?
+ When is the last time you brought a very great retinue to the King?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
King of Kings and Lord of Lords, you are sovereign over all things. Your wisdom, grace, and abundant generosity is unsurpassed. You alone are worthy of our worship. Give us the courage, curiosity and desire we see in the Queen of Sheba to go great distances to have a personal encounter with You, the Living God. Lord Jesus, give us eyes to see who we can bring with us as we seek You with our whole heart. Thank you for Your promise that when we seek You, we will find you and find You abundantly faithful, full of mercy and grace, wisdom and provision.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ What one idea surprised you in this passage? What encouraged you? Challenged you?

The circumstances surrounding Solomon’s rise to power as recorded here in 1 Kings always seems just a little off to me.  First, his father David encourages Solomon to stay true to the statutes and commandments of God, but he then advises him to “knock off” three men to ensure the establishment of his kingship.  After the Lord bestows great wisdom upon Solomon as a reward for his earnest prayer, he goes out and marries outside the family of faith (the daughter of the Pharaoh) to secure peace with the nation of Egypt.  Earlier here in 1 Kings 9, Solomon rightly repays a debt to King Hiram of Tyre for supplying goods for the building of the Temple, but he pays him by giving him rights to 20 cities located in Galilee.  This land was given by divine decree for the nation of Israel and, therefore, not rightly his to give away.
Solomon’s pursuit of wealth and power and his half hearted attempts at keeping the commands of the Lord continues in the verses we have before us today.  
- Chris Adomanis

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Who were these people drafted into forced labor by Solomon?  What was supposed to happen to them by divine decree?  What do you make of Solomon’s decision to keep them in forced labor instead?
+ What do you make of Solomon offering sacrifices to God on altars he built?
+ Why do you think the author mentions the ship building and the gold that was gathered in verses 26-28?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ How would you describe the trajectory of Solomon’s life through the first nine chapters of 1 Kings?  What has led him down this path in his walk with the Lord?
+ The term “half hearted” is used quite frequently in describing the character of Solomon.  Reflect on times you have been half hearted living as a disciple of Jesus.  What can you do to be more “whole hearted” in your devotion?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, sometimes I am not a disciplined disciple.  I am so often led astray by the wants and desires of my heart that I vacillate and compromise in my attitudes and actions.  Have mercy on me and forgive my half hearted devotion.  Fill me, Holy Spirit, and grant me the power to overcome the enemies of my soul.  Amen.

Matthew 7:24-27:  24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.

About an hour before writing this, my husband and I were having a conversation about what it was like once we encountered Jesus to reflect on our own lives before Him. As we talked about how tragically common it is for people to have deep, dark sin before meeting Him (such as involvement in the new age/occult, sexual sin, addiction, etc.), it also came up that often these things can make us look to goals ahead as "the finish line".
For some, it can be the thought that, "Surely, as soon as God decides I'm ready and gives me my husband/wife, then all my questions about my future will become clear."
For others, "I've worked my whole life for this career, and God will give it to me when I'm ready."
This notion of "finally being spiritually ready" for the blessing we longed so deeply for (before Jesus) becomes a thing within reach once we have a relationship with Him. It's as if God was just waiting for us to realize we should do things His way, and then once we do He'll give us what we asked for. King Solomon's father David wrote it himself: Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)
But what happens when our naiveté, immaturity, or simply the distance between head and heart knowledge keeps us from seeing what God sees? That the true desire of our heart is still gripping to our flesh and blood measure of success? Will you still delight in the Lord if you never get married, never get that job, never buy that house?
In this passage, the Lord promises to uphold his word with King Solomon that was given to King David with a (seemingly obvious) condition: that Solomon must keep the Lord's commands, walk in His ways, act with integrity; and if he doesn't, Israel will be cut off and the house Solomon built left in ruins. No pressure or anything, right...?
So, did King Solomon view the building of the temple as "the finish line"? Did he view that accomplishment, though truly done out of a heart of reverence and worship to the Lord our God, as his "finally finished" moment, where he was then free to build his house?
We must never allow ourselves to believe the lie that at some point in our finite time on this Earth, that God has relieved us from the duty of living for Him, free to now put our own goals or desires first. In a world that focuses so deeply on what is or will be given to us, keep your eyes fixed on remembering Whose life has been given for us.
- Danielle Parker

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ The thought of God's "if you turn aside from me" promise is scary. If not read carefully, we could be tricked into thinking God offers conditional love to Israel. But reread verses 7-8. Does He say He will take away His presence, or the gifts and resources that were entrusted and poorly stewarded?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Do you have your eye on a "finish line" right now? Is there somewhere that you've deceived yourself into believing that there is a person, place, or thing that will help achieve ultimate Earthly satisfaction?
+ If you look back on your life, is there anywhere that you always thought would be the "finish line" and then it wasn't what you expected? What did God teach you about Himself in that season?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, thank You for never leaving nor forsaking me. Thank You that so long as I have You, I have more than enough. I confess to You that sometimes my struggles here on Earth make me believe there is something new You could give me to fulfill my heart. You have already given me the One I need when You sent Your only son to this Earth to live a perfect life, die a death I deserved, and be raised from the dead to purchase my life. That is enough, You are enough. You are the finish line Lord, so help me to run the rest of this race with endurance, and thank You for carrying me when I stumble.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ If you have a particular sin or struggle you have been keeping in, release it to the Lord, and confess it to a trusted loved one. Let God speak through those around you.

This is going to sound morbid, but it's what caught my attention most in this passage. Solomon sacrificed 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep.
Think about that for a second.
A quick Google search said it takes anywhere from 1-3 hours to sacrifice an ox (so call it 30min-1 hour for a sheep). That’s 22,000 hours of sacrifice time. 22,000 hours dedicated to the Lord, with tremendous bloodshed.
Honestly, I have no idea how this pertains to our everyday lives, and sometimes that’s okay. Sometimes, just acknowledging the insane measures Old Testament believers took to honor God is enough.
How many of Solomon’s advisers suggested that, “Hey man, maybe we should stop at the 10,000th ox. I think we’re good.”
But the Lord demands our absolute respect, attention, and time.
22,000 oxen. 22,000 sacrificing hours.
Insane.
- Brandon Beylo

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Where in your life do you need to increase your “sacrifice time”?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ What areas of your life have you not sacrified to God because it would take too much time?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, I pray that you give me a heart like Solomon. Help me to give freely of my time, energy, and talents, regardless of the sacrifice. Because you are worth it.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.

This might be my favorite passage from 1 Kings – and there’s so many directions you could go with the text. This is a powerful, God-honoring, theologically rich prayer but, what I appreciate about it this morning is Solomon’s plea for God’s ear. Over a dozen times he asks God to listen or hear the prayers of the people in many circumstances. Remember that Solomon asked God for a “listening heart” in 1 Kings 3? Perhaps he asked for a heart that listens because that’s what he believes about his God’s heart.
In what circumstances do you need God to listen today? For whom else might you ask Him to listen? He’s listening. He hears you, and He sees you. He loves you, and just as His presence filled the Temple in Solomon’s Day, so too will His presence fill the heart of anyone who, by faith, calls on His name.
- Hayden Van Dyke

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What are the various prayers Solomon asks the Lord to hear? Why might he be asking for God to listen to those prayers specifically?
+ What else about this prayer and dedication jumps out to you?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Do you believe God is listening to you? How do you know?
+ What is on your heart that you’d like to lift up in prayer to the Father?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, hear our prayer. When I inevitably fall short, hear my cry for help. When my family is in need, hear our pleas for healing and provision. I trust You and know that You are always with me. I love you, Lord. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ For whom can you ask God to listen out for today?

I was not part of the church plant of the newly commissioned and prayed-for Downtown Hope, but my children were. They have told me about the many places the church called home along the way—from the second floor of Kilwin’s, lovingly referred to as “The Upper Room,” to a school, and finally to the building where we now gather.
There is something beautiful about finally coming home. Permanence.
Imagine, then, the enormous gathering of God’s people as the Ark of the Covenant was brought into the magnificent Temple Solomon had built for the Lord.
This was no ordinary day.
The elders of Israel, the heads of the tribes, the priests and Levites, and the people gathered together. Solomon’s generosity was extraordinary: so many sheep and oxen were sacrificed before the Lord that they could not even be counted. The pageantry and worship surrounding this moment must have been unlike anything Israel had ever witnessed.
And then the Ark was carried into the Most Holy Place.
When the priests came out, a cloud filled the house of the Lord. The glory of God was so overwhelming that the priests could not even stand to minister.
Solomon reminded the people that his father, David, had desired to build a house for God. Yet God had another plan. David had been a man of war, and God promised that David’s son—Solomon, a man to whom God would give rest and peace—would build the Temple.
Now that promise had been fulfilled.
Solomon stood before the people and declared:
“I have indeed built you an exalted house, a place for you to dwell in forever.”
—1 Kings 8:13
As I read Solomon’s words, I found myself wanting to bow before the Lord in worship and awe.
The God who revealed His glory in the cloud would, generations later, send Jesus Christ—the Light of the World—to dwell among us.
And because of Christ, God's presence is not confined to a magnificent building or sanctuary. By His Spirit, He dwells with His people. What an extraordinary thought: God has made His home among us and with us.
“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:1)
- Eileen Dowd

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Imagine yourself standing among the people of Israel that day.
You see the priests carrying the Ark. You hear the sacrifices and worship around you. Then the glory of the Lord fills the Temple. What do you think you would have felt?
+ Are there moments in your own life that seemed almost holy in their significance—a child's birth, an answer to prayer, protection during an accident, reconciliation with someone you love, or simply a moment when you suddenly became aware of God's presence? Share one of those moments.
+ Read verse 6 again:
“Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the Most Holy Place, underneath the wings of the cherubim.”
Imagine the unity of God's people as they witnessed the Ark being carried into its permanent place. When have you been awestruck by God's hand in your own life? How did that experience change the way you saw Him?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Where do I turn first when life becomes difficult? Do I turn to God for help, comfort, and direction—or do I try to carry everything myself? What would it look like for me to trust Him more fully today?
+ Do I remember to praise God for the beautiful moments of my life? Think of one blessing you may have begun to take for granted. How could you intentionally thank and praise God for it today?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Thank You for being a God who desires to dwell with Your people. Thank You for the ways You have been present throughout my life—in moments of celebration, in seasons of difficulty, and even in times when I did not recognize Your hand.
Forgive me for the times I have taken Your blessings for granted or looked elsewhere for comfort before turning to You.
Open my eyes to Your presence. Give me a heart that remembers Your faithfulness and praises You for both the extraordinary and ordinary gifts of each day.
And above all, thank You for Jesus, the Light of the World, through whom I can know You and draw near to You.
May my heart be a place of worship, and may my life proclaim:
“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!”
Amen

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ Share with someone this week about a time when you clearly saw God's hand at work in your life.
+ Ask someone you are discipling—or someone who is discipling you: “Where have you seen God's presence or faithfulness in your life recently?” Then take a moment to thank God together.

1. God cares about the details of work done for Him.
Ten basins, ten stands, pots, shovels, bowls, lampstands, tongs, hinges, doors. Though far less dramatic than the killing of Adonijah, the details of the temple’s interior suggest that work offered to God does not have to be spectacular to matter. Hiram’s craftsmanship was part of worship just as surely as the priests’ sacrifices were. Paul writes in Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

2. Preparation precedes worship.
Verses 38–40 emphasize the basins and implements required before the temple could function as intended. Before sacrifice, prayer, and celebration came an enormous amount of preparation. Someone had to cast the bronze, polish it, position it, and make the tools. Much of what enables worship happens before anyone sees it. Similarly, before Jesus shared the Passover with His disciples, Peter and John were sent ahead to make the necessary preparations. Luke 22:13 tells us, “They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.”

3. God is honored by both beauty and utility.
The temple contained magnificent gold lampstands and elaborate decorations, but also shovels, bowls, basins, and hinges. Some things were beautiful; some were simply necessary. All of them belonged in the house of God. This is reminiscent of what Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:20: “In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use.”

4. Finish what God has given you to do.
“Thus all the work that King Solomon did on the house of the LORD was finished.” Again, this brings to mind Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
- Jason Rimmer

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Do I strive for quality workmanship for the unseen work in my life as well as that which is seen and evaluated?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ What work has been assigned to me that is unfinished? Have I prayed for the Master to make it clear to me what that work is?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, help me to see and know the work you have for me.  May I do it for your glory and honor as an act of praise and devotion. Show me how I may be useful in your work here among the people with whom I interact.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ Is there a spiritual mentor with whom I could discuss this passage?

When I read this, I look at the beauty of the temple that Solomon was creating. What was the purpose? To have the Holy Spirit dwell in the building. Now take all of that beauty that a man is putting in for a creation of God’s temple, and imagine what kind of temple God would create for Himself. That is you! In 1 Corinthians 6:19 Paul reminds us of the severity of our bodily stewardship and that we are not our own, but God’s to use as his temple. You are fearfully and wonderfully made, predestined to be a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit as He works in and through you for His holiness and His purposes. We should be thankful everyday for our temples and the beauty of the bodies the Lord has given us!
- Quentin Parker

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What do you think the significance is of 12 oxen with 3 facing in each direction? (verse 25).

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ How can you view yourself as the temple of the Holy Spirit more often?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Father, thank you for today and the air that we breathe. Thank you for your personal touch of design on us as your creation. Thank you that we have the ability to co-labor with you in your plans. God, we believe in you, help our unbelief. In Jesus’ name we pray…amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.

The first thing I noticed reading these verses is the fact that King Solomon spent 13 years working to build his own palace, while only 7 building the Lord’s temple. At first I thought to myself, Now, why couldn’t this have been the other way around so I could just write a good word about giving more time and effort to God first, and less to ourselves?
But then it struck me… Solomon wasn’t rushing through to get to his own glory, but had more urgency for God’s glory. It was dire that not only his people have a place to honor the Lord, but that his Lord God be given a house to dwell in as soon as possible. If I told my parents, for example, “Hey, Quentin and I want to build you a house near us so we can spend more time with you”, we wouldn’t be dilly dallying to get it done. If we want to give this gift in an effort to show our love, we would be doing it to the best of our ability, giving it all our time and effort, and trying to get it ready at the earliest convenience. Perhaps Solomon was willing to spend more time on his palace because when the Lord dwells with you, you don’t have to worry about providing for yourself. You can trust that the God of the Universe, who provides storehouses for the sparrows of the air, will provide a dwelling place for you in perfect timing as well.
Let us continue on in urgency and desperation to spread the name of Jesus. If we now are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, then His temple goes everywhere that we go. Step into every room you enter with that knowledge and confidence. Then remember that even if it takes 13 years (or so, so many more) to build your house, it was in a moment’s notice that He began to dwell in the temple that is the body He’s given you first.
- Danielle Parker

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ The word for for “costly” as it’s written in verses 9-11 is also translated as “precious”, “rare”, or “valuable” in English, though in the original text is the Hebrew word yaqar. This is the same word used in 1 Samuel 3:1 “the word of the Lord was rare (yaqar) in those days”, Psalm 116:15 “Precious (yaqar) in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints”, and many other places. What does it say that the Lord gave materials as precious as His thoughts towards us for Solomon to use in building his palace?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Where could you press on with deeper urgency to build the Lord’s house, trusting that He is building yours for you in due timing?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, thank You for providing all that I need in the timing that I need it. There has never been a moment where You have been late, missing, or absent. I trust that if Your word says that You are dressing the lilies, providing for the sparrows, and care much more for me, then I don’t have to worry about the time it takes to get where You’re taking me. I love You, Lord. Help to focus on Your temple first and to trust the timing You have set aside for me. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.

First there was a Garden. God walked there in the cool of the day, and man walked with him. Then man disobeyed, and the walking stopped.
God did not give up on being with his people. He gave them a tent instead. A portable structure, moved on the shoulders of one tribe, tended by hands trained for the work. Smoke by day. Fire by night. A visible sign that the invisible God had not left.
Now, in our reading, the tent becomes a temple. Seven years of building. Cedar and cypress and gold, gold on the walls, gold on the floor, gold on the very carvings of palm trees and open flowers. Try to picture it. Every surface catching light. Nothing left plain that could be made beautiful instead.
Solomon updated everything he could. Everything except one piece. The ark stayed the same ark Moses built in the wilderness, mercy seat and cherubim unchanged. The setting kept growing more magnificent. The presence inside it did not change at all. That is the point worth sitting with. God's presence is not upgraded by better architecture. It is as real in a tent as it is under gold.
And here is where the story was always heading. Every believer is now a living temple, the Spirit of God dwelling in ordinary flesh. Not carved cedar. Not gold overlay. Us. Our bodies made holy by their union with a soul that belongs to Him. We are wonderfully made, and then made new again, by grace we did not build ourselves.
Solomon's kingdom will unravel. His sons will fail. Empires will come for what he built. But God does not change his mind about wanting to be with us. Garden, tent, temple, and now you. The address keeps changing. God’s desire never has.
- Mary Gunther

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Solomon replaced almost everything in the temple with something more magnificent, except the ark. Why do you think that one piece stayed the same?
+ The ark's mercy seat represented God's presence whether his people met in a tent or a temple. What does that tell you about what God's presence actually depends on?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ If your body and soul are a living temple, what have you been covering the walls with lately, gold or something you would not want anyone to find?
+ Where has your sense of God's nearness been tied to your setting, a place, a service, a good week, instead of to him?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, you have never stopped wanting to be near me. You walked in a garden, you dwelt in a tent, you filled a temple with your glory, and now you have made your home in me. Forgive me for the places in my life I have left untended, the walls I have not let you finish. Change what is unseen in me before you change what everyone can see. Remind me that your presence does not depend on my circumstances staying golden. Build in me a heart that welcomes you the way Solomon built a house that welcomed you. Amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ Who in your life needs to hear that God's presence with them does not depend on their setting looking impressive right now?

As I read passages such as I Kings 6, there is a temptation to lose my way in the cubits, stones and cedar wood, and the recessed windows and the curiosity of the breadth of third story chambers being larger than the lowest story.  God interrupts this construction narrative with a word for Solomon (verses 11-13).  We find our heavenly Father is more interested in how Solomon will build and conduct his life than the temple he will spend seven years and a fortune building.
In verse 12 we find an “if you will… then I will…” promise from God.  Notice the threefold pattern: if you will walk, obey, and keep my statutes, rules, and commandments.  With this threefold “if,” God reinforces that Solomon is to commit to wholeheartedly follow his ways.  Then God promises a threefold result of establishing his word, dwelling with him, and not forsaking.  The dwelling with and not forsaking are promised not only to Solomon, but also to the people of Israel.  Here God provides Solomon the key in answer to his prayer for wisdom in order to lead the people of Israel (I Kings 3).  Solomon gets true wisdom; connect to my wisdom, just follow me.  God’s conditional promise of his presence among his people foreshadows what we find so often in I and II Kings: as goes the king, so go the people.
- Gary Gunther

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What are some ways Solomon could have kept himself focused on God’s ways?
+ How can I keep myself focused on God’s ways?
+ Why does God not make building this temple a top priority?  In addition to 1 Kings 6, see 2 Samuel 7.

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ In what ways or in what areas do I struggle to obey God? Is struggling with sin our lot in life or is there another way?
+ For a New Testament parallel see John 14:15-24 on the relationship of obedience, love and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Father, help me to walk in your ways and to keep my eyes on you.  May I delight to obey your commandments out of my deep and abiding love for you.  When I wander, restore me and fill me with your Holy Spirit.  May I be a light in this world to bring glory to you.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ What story of obeying God and experiencing his blessing do you have that encourages you and would encourage others?