In the Lord’s Sight

Yahweh wanted to be King of His people and make a place for them. They rejected Him, and He warned them. He gave them what they wanted, and they became enslaved like everyone else. In 1 & 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles, people are faced with choices. Would they continue to reject the Lord and create their own high places of worship, or return to the Lord and His rightful place of worship? Would they do what was right IN THE LORD'S SIGHT as written in His word, or what was evil IN THE LORD'S SIGHT that seemed to work in the world? We face the same choices today...IN THE LORD'S SIGHT. #1kings #2kings #2chronicles #2023

Starter

• What do you tend to TURN to for help, comfort, and confidence? When that doesn’t seem to work, what do you tend to TURN to?

Pray

Lord we thank You that You see all things. Help us to trust your plan for this world now, the world that you are currently building, and the new world you will bring when You return. As we look at the Kings of Your people and your people’s response from ages past, help us to see you and see ourselves. May we strive to understand our standing in Your sight as our King. May we long for the day when we will stand with all your people In the Lord’s Sight. Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do. Thank you for turning toward us. Help us to TURN our hearts and our lives toward You. Amen

Study Questions

God had made a people of His own from Abraham. He had delivered them from slavery, subdued their enemies, and had brought them into the land that he promised them. However, because of their unwillingness to listen to God, his prophets, and his judges they asked for a king. God wanted to be their King. However, they rejected The Lord as King because they wanted an earthly King and earthly benefits now like it seemed all the other people of the earth had. They wanted an earthly king to do for them and provide for them what only God can. For 430 years, God allows his people to experience the reality of having what they wanted, an earthly King. God in his mercy and plan uses these kings to point His people to their need to repent and TURN to Him.

READ 2 Chronicles 7:12-15, 1 Kings 11:1-4, 9-19, 23-24

1. What things turned Solomon’s heart away from God? How is this just as relevant for us today?
2. What things do these passages say that God uses to get our attention and cause us to TURN (repent) back to Him?
3. The Scriptures are clear that most of the time people will not TURN to God, even if He appears to them twice like Solomon, unless he raises things up against their personal comfort and kingdoms? Why?
4. How is the the encouragement of 2 Chronicles 7:12-15 similar and different under the new covenant with Jesus and His new temple, new Jerusalem, and new earth that are coming?
5. READ Matthew 5:3-12 The word happy is a synonym for the word blessed. How do the blessings that Jesus lists here helpful to keep us TURNING to Him instead of other things?

As you read the next set of verses, keep in mind that God doesn’t call enemies friends. He does not call evil good or good evil. He tells us that neighbors are not just those in proximity, but they are those who do the will of God instead of fleshly desires. He says there is a difference in our actions between brethren and non brethren.

READ Matthew 5:43-45, Leviticus 19:17-18, Luke 10:36-37, Romans 13:8-10, 14, Jeremiah 29:4-9

1. How do you struggle to TURN to God to live out these verses without compromising the truth and not trying keeping the peace like Solomon?

READ 1 Kings 11:26-12:15

1. Because of Solomon’s desire to build a vast kingdom at all costs, what was the result? How should this be a critical lesson to us?
2. How do we see relationships today get all messed up and TURN like those in these passages?