THE STORY OF JESUS: 1 Kings 1-3
“At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream.” (1 Kings 3:5)
Gibeon was an important ‘high place’, where God did NOT want His people to go.
High places were unregulated sacred spaces where unholy worship occurred.
These high places were one of the ways Solomon did not obey God (1 Kings 3:3).
Yet God asks him there, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” (1 Kings 3:5)
I know I repeat this often, but these stories reveal God’s grace, not human goodness.
Do not read the bible stories for morality lessons on how to live.
‘Be like David, have multiple wives, find a young virgin to keep you warm at night.’
‘Be like Solomon, marry for political gain, get revenge on your dad’s enemies’
The hero in these stories is God, not David or Solomon or any other human.
God knows the weakness and failure in our lives, yet He still works with us.
God meets us in the places we should not be, and offers us hope.
We see human nature at its best and worst in the bible, just like we do in ourselves.
But through it all, we see God’s nature at its best, especially in Jesus.
As a Jesus follower, I am NOT an example of how to live… look to Jesus!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, these stories are a humbling reminder of how mixed up my own life is. Thank You for meeting me where I am, to help me be where You want me to be!