Slices
Prepare
Reflect on the words of Deuteronomy 32:3,4: ‘I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.’
Bible passage
23 In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned for twelve years, six of them in Tirzah. 24 He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver and built a city on the hill, calling it Samaria, after Shemer, the name of the former owner of the hill.
25 But Omri did evil in the eyes of the Lord and sinned more than all those before him. 26 He followed completely the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat, committing the same sin Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit, so that they aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, by their worthless idols.
27 As for the other events of Omri’s reign, what he did and the things he achieved, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 28 Omri rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. And Ahab his son succeeded him as king.
Ahab becomes king of Israel
29 In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel for twenty-two years. 30 Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. 31 He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. 32 He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. 33 Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than did all the kings of Israel before him.
Explore
Look through the second half of 1 Kings 15 and chapter 16. Notice how many kings of Israel rule during the 41-year reign of Asa, King of Judah. Try to work out how you would sum up what goes wrong with each of them. Not surprisingly, such blatant rebellion against God arouses his anger. In what ways is Ahab worse than the rest (vs 31–33a)? As a result, he has the dubious reputation of doing even more to provoke God than all the kings of Israel before him (v 33b). Add to that his marriage to the wicked Jezebel, who worships the false god Baal, and it’s easy to see trouble brewing…
Why was idolatry so significant? Check out God’s very specific command in Exodus 20:3–6, as well as Deuteronomy 4:39 and 10:17. Nearly all the kings we’ve read about today have no regard for God’s Law and worship idols. God’s people during this time are ruled (mostly) by corrupt leaders.
Today’s verses are a reminder of the fragility of our world, where stability and peace are not necessarily guaranteed. However, God is sovereign. Ultimately, his purposes will be fulfilled. We can trust him, whatever happens!
Respond
Think of your own nation. Thank God for the faithfulness of any Christian leaders you may have. If you can’t think of any, pray that God will raise up leaders who will stay true to him through thick and thin.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: 2 Kings 21,22; 2 Corinthians 9
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for Holidays and Missions Coordinator Claire Baines as, along with the rest of the Holiday and Missions team, she supports serving volunteers as well as the children and young people who attend events (and their parents). Pray that this will result in well-run events across the summer, enabling many to grow in faith.
Because a strong start begins with smart preparation
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