Essential 100

Week Eight: The Fall of Israel

[To listen to an audio recording,  click here]

36.    David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:1—12:25)

“What I do in my personal life is nobody’s business but my own.” Agree? Disagree? Why?

What do you learn from Nathan about how to respond when the people you care about make bad choices?

37.    King Solomon (1 Kings 2:1—3:28)

How would you honestly answer if God said to you, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you”?

What are the greatest sources of wisdom in your life?

38.    Solomon’s Temple (1 Kings 8:1—9:9)

What makes worship come alive for you?

What would you change about the worship services you’ve attended? Why?

39.    Elijah and the Prophets of Baal (1 Kings 16:29—19:18)

What do you do when you feel spiritually dry?

What things give you a sense of personal and spiritual renewal?

40.    The Fall of Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:1-30)

What have you learned from the “disasters” in your life?

Have you ever felt closer to God during a tough time in your life? In what way?

Pastor's Meditation for the Week:

What Would You Ask For?

“The Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, ‘Ask for whatever you want me to give to you.’” I Kings 3:5

Think about it. Imagine it. What if that happened to you?  When you think about this what goes into gear first, your heart or your mind? Perhaps it was the heart. Maybe you would ask the Lord for healing for someone you love. Maybe it would be the predominate wish of all Miss America contestants, “Peace on Earth.” Maybe it would be the gift of inner peace for your self. Or perhaps it was your mind that went into gear first. I want to have more knowledge and skill. Or maybe it would be, I want something practical like all my bills paid and a retirement secured.  What would you ask for? Would you have a long Santa list?

Solomon asks, “So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours? I Kings 3:9

A wise and discerning heart is the request.  It is a selfless request asked by a person who not only sees the enormous task of governing his people but who humbly realizes that the responsibility will be overwhelming if he is not given the help of the Lord. He knows he need’s the wisdom of God to rule is people. Wisdom is the ability to sensitively apply knowledge to a situation in order to bring about change that will result in positive growth for the persons involved.

The Lord is pleased to grant the request and Solomon is considered as one of the wisest men who have ever lived.

I wonder how different the outcomes would be in the difficult situations of our lives if our very first prayer would be, “Lord give me a wise and discerning heart”? It seems to me that the Lord would honor this request and things would probably turn out a lot better than we could ever hope. I would challenge you to ask the Lord for a wise and discerning heart this week as you face difficult situations and see what a difference it will make in your life. 

Blessings in Christ, Pastor Jim