Look Inside. Look Around. What do you see? Show me! #11

We've spent the last two days talking about the books of I and II Samuel and their description of the transition from the time of the judges to that of the kings through Samuel, Saul and David.  Like them, the books of I & II Kings were originally one book, which has been somewhat divided into a division of when the ministry of Elijah transitioned into that of Elisa.  Listen to this excerpt from I Kings 16:

21 Then the people of Israel were split into two factions; half supported Tibni son of Ginath for king, and the other half supported Omri. 22 But Omri’s followers proved stronger than those of Tibni son of Ginath. So Tibni died and Omri became king.

23 In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned twelve years, six of them in Tirzah. 24 He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents[a] 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. (I Kings `16)

The nation of Israel was politically divided down the middle. Omri came out on top, and notice his acheivements: He moved the capital to Samaria; he caused the worship of idols to flourish, and it says he "achieved" all sorts of other things. His reign was politically monumental, yet he only gets six verses. His son Ahab was a wimp who whined and complained and chapters on spent on his reign. Why? Because Kings is not so much a book about kings.  What is described is not so much the political, social and economic achievements of the king, as it is their reliance on their relationship with God and their obedience to His commands.  It  whether he lived by or ran from the Covenantal commitment between Israel and God. 

You and I live in a time of great political division, and politics is getting the press, but the real stories are going on behind the scenes in the recording of God's history.  There are much more pressing spiritual battles taking place that will shape the future.  Look inside this book. What do you see about man's heart, about your heart?  Who are you letting speak more into your heart? As we look here, kings come and go, but the prophets are the ones who hold things together.  What are your "achievements" in life - where do you see the glory of God coming through.  It may be tough to take a picture of it, but try - take a picture, post it here or send it to me.  May God help us see what really is going on in history.