Bent Oak Church

Every church exists in a particular place with particular people. A church is not abstract and neither is the gospel. God's kingdom comes not just into church services but into office cubicles, bedrooms, and around dinner tables. But like a tree growing roots into the ground, the gospel often does its work slow but faithfully.

1 Kings ends with the final appearance of Ahab. He is determined to attack Syria and reclaim his land. Enlisting the king of Judah, things seem to be coming back together. Could Ahab have finally found his way, God's way?But soon enough, Ahab reveals his true self. He is doing everything he can to avoid the word of God and his prophets.

This week we continue with Ahab's story, but this time the story turns more personal. Ahab is frustrated by his inability to purchase a nearby vineyard. His frustrations reveal more of his character and the concluding prophetic word links his character with his idol worship. We become like what we worship.

Chapter 20 turns our attention to Ahab. He has been characterized by passivity and timidity, constantly tossed around by other's advice. That pattern continues into war, but through God's miraculous victory, Ahab appears to find new courage.But an unnamed prophet soon exposed his courage for the same underlining fear. The prophet shows us the character and source of true courage.

How could Elijah go from running in optimism to running in fear? Elijah became so frustrated that he abandoned Israel and prayed that God would end his life. It's remarkable that the Bible offers us inside looks at the struggles of these remarkable Biblical heroes. Elijah was a man just like us. And God would not abandon him. Elijah would soon discover that he was not alone. He never was.

Elijah's showdown with the prophets of Baal is one of the most familiar stories from 1 Kings. But there is more to the story than we may have realized. Elijah's prayer was that Israel might recognize that God was changing the hearts of his people.

After three years of drought, Elijah was called back to Israel. But before his dramatic showdown with the prophets of Baal, Elijah meets Obadiah. While Elijah had been faithful in obscurity, Obadiah was attempting a similar faithfulness in the halls of power. But Elijah's appearance creates a temptation for Obadiah, one he finally overcomes. 

Out of the long line of degenerating kings steps the prophet Elijah. His boldness makes him the target of Abab and one of the most important voices in Israel. But he is on the run. And God sends him to the most unlikely place for help. Elijah must be saved by a widow and her son. 

Chapters 15 and 16 are transitions between the stories of David, Solomon, and Reheboam and the coming stories of Elijah. The chapters seem to be summary statements about a line of Israel and Judah's kings. But upon a closer look, each king is evaluated by a single feature. It is not their achievements, wealth, or power. They are evaluated by their heart.

We've seen how Israel's kings continue to grasp for control. And we've seen how the more they attempt to maintain control the more God thwarts their attempts. But these kings live like we so often do. When their lives fall apart, they go on pretending everything is perfectly under control.