A Light in the Darkness: Lesson 2, Day 2

Our text for this week is: 1 Kings 16: 29 - 17:1



Today look again at 1 Kings 16:34. It seems to be such a bizarre insertion of this random fact. However, we know that God is not random ... and the things in His word have purpose, even when we do not fully grasp the purpose. Let's try and put this "random" fact in the context of our study.



Remember, Israel has been on a slow, spiral decline spiritually since the days of Solomon. Even though Solomon's kingdom was splendid in the ways of the world, idolatry was setting its tentacles firmly in the hearts and minds of people, led by their king. Jeroboam, in spite of the splendid promises he had received from God (see them in 1 Kings 11: 37 - 38), fueled by fear, led the people of Israel further from God. What follows is a list of kings that led their people (actually, God's people!) on a downward spiral away from God and into the embrace of idolatry. We learn that King Ahab actually considered the "sins of Jeroboam" to be trivial, of no consequence. We watch him establish a state religion, the worship of Baal, to replace sole devotion to Jehovah, the God of Israel. He placed a temple and altar to Baal in the heart of the capital, Samaria. Was this all his own idea? I suspect not. My guess is that the ideas came from his wife, Jezebel. She was an avid, devoted Baal worshipper.



Into this scene appears verse 34. Perhaps the writer of this chronicle inserts the information about Hiel and Jericho to show the readers how far the people had gone from believing the God of Israel. Here was Jericho (which has been inhabited most of the years since its fall to the Israelites some 500 years before) with its walls still down. No one had taken it upon themselves to rebuild the magnificent walls of this fortress city.



Jericho was the first city that the Israelites conquered when they entered the land of Canaan under Joshua. If you don't know the story ... it makes interesting reading! Go to Joshua 6 and read about it. I want us to focus on verse 26 of Joshua 6. The walls are down, the city is conquered, and we read ...

At that time Joshua pronounced this solemn oath: Cursed before the Lord

is the man who undertakes to rebuild this city, Jericho:

'At the cost of his firstborn son will he lay its foundations;

at the cost of his youngest will he set up its gates.'

Five hundred years have passed. The Israelites, if they remember their history, no longer believe that God is God ... and that God means what He says ... and that God's promises are sure. And so the words of God are forgotten or ignored, the walls of Jericho go back up. But at a terrible cost ... two sons' lives forfeited.

What do we learn for ourselves from this inserted fact? I confirm with you today ... and say alongside the people of God through the ages ... these four truths:

1. Jehovah is the one God


2. Jehovah expects my devotion and worship, and I freely give it


3. Jehovah is the epitome of "faithfulness"


4. Jehovah's promises will come to fruition - not on my time-table - but they will be.

As you close your study time today, reflect on the faithfulness of God.

Faithful: "maintaining allegiance to someone or something; constant; loyal" (New World Dictionary of the English Language)

God is "faithful" (translate 'allegiance to, constant, loyal') to ME!

Faithful: "firmness, steadiness, fidelity. The Old Testament often uses this word as an attribute of God, to express the total dependability of His character or promises." (Encyclopedia of Bible Words)

God is "faithful" ... I can totally, without reservation or question, trust His word!

Turn and read aloud ... Deuteronomy 7:9 ... then 1 Corinthians 1:9 ...

And sing with me ... "Praise God from Whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." Amen