1 Kings: Looking Up (Part 1)
I wonder how you approach some of the harder books of the Bible? The ones that are less familiar, and perhaps even confusing. A cursory glance at 1&2 Kings brings you a smattering of similar sounding kings (Pekahiah, Pekah, Azaraiah, Amaziah and who knows how many Jeroboams), and as we read through, we can be left wondering, what’s in this for me? How do I approach this part of the Old Testament without just glazing over at another king, another legacy, and another distant part of history that doesn’t seem to make much difference to my here and now?
Well, as we get going, we need to start by looking up, reminding ourselves of what God says to us:
Come Expecting Delight
We’re told numerous times in the Bible that God’s word is something to delight in. That to have these words in our hands is nothing short of the greatest treasure. And that as we listen to God speaking, it tastes sweeter than honey. And so as we come to this portion of Scripture, reminding ourselves of these truths, we come expectant. We’re expectant that in it, we’ll find riches beyond measure, that over time it’ll taste sweeter than the most delightful treat , and that there will be true joy found in listening to what God is saying. The delight may not be immediately apparent. But that should drive us to dig deeper in our hunt for the gold, confident that as we dig, God is faithful to delight our hearts in the ‘richest of fare’.
Come with humility
And so we dig. But we dig with humility, knowing that we are wholly dependent on the Spirit to reveal to us the riches within this portion of Scripture. And so we pray for his help. And we dig. And we pray. And we dig, trusting that the Spirit will lure us on, as Luther wonderfully reminds us:
“The Spirit reserves much for Himself, so that we may always remain His pupils. There is much that He reveals only to lure us on, much that he gives only to stir us up.”
We’re approaching a part of Scripture that feels under-studied. There aren’t lots of books out there. And it’s not up there on a list of classic sermon series’. But, wonderfully it’s been placed in the canon of Scripture so that we can grasp more of God’s plans and purposes, ultimately revealed and fulfilled in Christ.
And so we come with expectant hearts, and with prayerful humility, trusting that this Word is what we need to hear, and with eager anticipation for what the Spirit will reveal to us, as we work hard to understand what’s in front of us.
