Naaman was a commander in the army for the King of Syria. He was a faithful servant who was favored by the King because the Lord gave him victory and success wherever he went. He was a good soldier, but he was also a leper. During a raid in Israel, Naaman had taken a little girl captive, and she entered into the service of Naaman's wife. This little one was distressed by the condition that Naaman suffered from and was concerned for her mistress.
After serving in Gilgal, Elijah asks his attendant to stay behind while he travels as far as Bethel. It may be that Elijah knew that his days were numbered or perhaps he wanted to spend whatever time he had left in solitude. Normally, Elisha would do his master's bidding, but he must have known that Elijah would soon depart and he had no intentions of letting these finals hours slip away. Three times Elisha made an oath declaring that he would not leave his friend and teacher.
Fire fell from the sky on Elijah's sacrifice and then rain fell from the sky ending a three and a half year drought. Elijah's call for repentance combined with God's demonstration of great power might lead one to the conclusion that this would be followed a religious reformation in Israel. The people certainly had stories to tell, but whether or not their hearts would turn to the Lord was still in doubt.
Three and a half years have passed since Elijah placed a ban on rain and dew in the land of Israel. Elijah has spent many days in Zeraphath with the widow and her son. The Lord tells Elijah that he will soon send rain, so it is time for him to return to Israel and confront Ahab. Elijah obeyed the Lord and left to seek and audience with Ahab.
The nation of Israel has changed. It is divided, and apostasy has started in the northern tribes. The pattern of idolatry and disobedience will continue until Israel becomes ruins. During this process, God sent prophets to proclaim his truth, which generally put the prophets in conflict with the reigning monarch. Every king was faced with the challenges of seeking the welfare of his kingdom and his people. This antagonism is on full display when one reads about the conflict between King Ahab and the prophet Elijah.
Jeroboam led Israel astray with his false worship practices, so God sent a prophet from Judah to denounce these practices. Jeroboam had taken his place at the altar during the inaugural feast that was held in Bethel. A prophet from Judah arrived on the scene, and the celebration was interrupted with a divine warning to Jeroboam.
The relationship between Solomon and the people was strained, to say the least, and now that Solomon had died, the people came to make his son Rehoboam king. It seems that Rehoboam had no opposition to the throne despite the number of wives taken by his father. However, the people did not come just for the formality of the occasion; they came to make a request of the one in line for the throne.
Solomon was the wisest man ever to live, but wisdom is not a savior, and the king loved women more than the Lord. The Bible is an honest book that tells God's story without withholding or hiding failures. The things that happen in the story can be prescriptive or descriptive. Prescriptive things inform people what they should do and how they should live. Descriptive things tell what happened but are not intended to be emulated. Israel's kings took many wives, but this was not God's intention for marriage.
After Solomon had completed the temple, his house, and his other construction projects, the Lord appeared to him again. Although some years have passed, the Lord responds to Solomon's prayer of dedication during a time of tremendous prosperity.
King Solomon summoned the leaders of Israel to be a part of the temple dedication. Thousands of people made their way to Jerusalem to be a part of this momentous occasion. Israel was entering a new stage in her history. The temple would replace the tabernacle of Moses and the worship of their fathers for more than five centuries.
Every nation points to certain events which define them as a people and Israel is no exception. The record of the temple being built starts with establishing a timeline in light of the exodus out of Egypt and Solomon's reign. The temple was a relatively small structure that measured approximately ninety feet long by thirty feet wide, by forty-five feet high. The temple was not intended to hold the entire congregation of Israel; it was a place for the presence of God and the priests who ministered before him.
Solomon loved the Lord, and it was a regular practice for the king to go to the high places to worship the Lord. Solomon went to Gideon to offer burnt offerings, and while he was there the Lord appeared to him in a dream one night, and the young king was told that he should ask for whatever he might desire from God. Solomon's reply is perceptive and humble.
David knew that he had reached his end, so he summons Solomon to offer some final advice for the new king. Solomon draws near to his father to embrace what time he can before his dad leaves this life and steps into the next. David instructs his son to be strong and to show that he was a man capable of leading the people of God. Solomon was to keep the charge of the Lord and by walking in obedience according to the law of Mosses. Obedience would be the way for Solomon to prosper.
Adonijah's deplorable behavior was contributed to through David's lack of discipline, his appearance, his position in the family, and the encouragement of Joab and Abiathar. David had been passive as a father, and it cost him dearly. David may have suffered from fading health and been inactive, but other leaders would not accept this treason. Zadok the priest, Benaiah the general, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the mighty men would not follow this spoiled son.
David waited in Mahanaim to see how the people would respond. The people of Israel were in a dilemma because the king they had chosen was dead and David was basically in exile. The people remembered how David had delivered them from the hands of their enemies, especially the Philistines and they recognized that something would have to be done to reinstate David on his throne formally.
David numbers his forces and organizes them to face his son Absalom who has mustered an army and is intent on killing his father. David divides the army into thirds and places them under the command of Joab, Abishai, and Ittai. David intends to lead his forces, but his men protest the idea, and he submits to their counsel.
David's righteous indignation would soon turn to devastation as Nathan announces that David is the rich man in the story. God gave David the kingdom and delivered him from Saul. God would have continued these blessings, but David despised his word and done evil.
The Bible is an honest book that does not tell the stories of sinless paragons that never fail and do all things well. Instead, the Bible relates the truth of man's depravity and shows the beauty of God's grace. David is God's chosen king, and he is a man after God's own heart, but he is a man. God has given David success in his many endeavors but as we will see David is not immune to temptation and sin.
Israel is united, the kingdom is established, David lives in a home, and the nation is enjoying rest from the surrounding enemies. There is no question that God is with David as Israel enjoys an unprecedented period in her history. One would think that David would be at peace, but that is not the case.
King David gathered the people of Israel to establish something far greater than a capital for the united kingdom. Israel needed to be reminded of who they were and that their identity is found in whose they were for Israel was God's chosen people. Seventy years had passed since the ark of God, the symbol of God's presence had taken its rightful place among the people. David gathers all the chosen men of Israel to bring the ark of God to the capital and reestablish worship as prescribed by God.
