Through 2024, every member of the Thirst Collective – Thir.st, Salt&Light, Stories of Hope, 还好吗 hhm.sg, Living Room, Collective Studio – has committed to reading the Bible from cover to cover.
We thought it’d be cool to pick out reflections and insights from our team’s readings to share with you. This time, dive deep into 1 Kings with us!
1 Kings 1: Adonjiah sets himself up as King
Juleen, Salt&Light
“Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened cattle by the Serpent’s Stone, which is beside En-rogel, and he invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the royal officials of Judah,” (1 Kings 1:9, ESV)
When God instituted sacrifices in Leviticus, they were primarily for atonement of sin so that the Israelites could continue to come before a holy God. But, gradually, sacrifices were perverted for selfish reasons. Adonijah’s sacrifices were not in worship of God but for his own benefit. They were merely a ritual to transact favour for his ambitions.
It makes me think about my service for the Lord. Am I serving (offering sacrifice) for my own benefit? Or do I have a heart of true worship when I serve?
1 Kings 3: Solomon asks for wisdom
Felicia, 还好吗 hhm.sg
“God, the Master, was delighted with Solomon’s response. And God said to him, “Because you have asked for this and haven’t grasped after a long life, or riches, or the doom of your enemies, but you have asked for the ability to lead and govern well, I’ll give you what you’ve asked for—I’m giving you a wise and mature heart There’s never been one like you before and there will be no one after…. And if you stay on course, keeping your eye on the life-map and the God-signs as your father David did, I’ll also give you a long life.” (1 Kings 3:10-14)
May I love God for who He is, more so than for what He can give me.
Even though God gave Solomon a wise and discerning heart, his life shows me that God can bless – but it’s also up to us to follow His ways so we can finish our race well.
If even the wisest man ever alive could falter and miss his mark, how much more should I stay awake and learn to humbly follow Jesus and watch my heart before Him?
1 Kings 5: Preparations for building the temple
Nicole, Thir.st
“When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the Lord this day, who has given David a wise son [to be king] over this great people.” (1 Kings 5:7, AMP)
It’s important to maintain good diplomatic relations with other countries, and I think Singapore has been doing well in that aspect. Thank God for His favour over our land.
In another view, this also extends to us having good relations with non-Christians around us (where we are a blessing to the larger community) but of course, not at the expense of our value system.
1 Kings 8: Solomon’s prayer of dedication
Eunice, Thir.st
“As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name — for they will hear of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm — when they come and pray toward this temple, then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.” (1 Kings 8:41-43)
There are still so many people in the world who have yet to even hear about God. Praying that the Church will remember that God loves all His children dearly and that we will be able to reach the ends of the earth.
1 Kings 10: Building the pillars/captivated by Jesus
Peck Sim, Salt&Light
The Queen of Sheba in 1 Kings 10 is an archetype of a person who is captivated by Jesus:
- First she hears (1)
- Then she came to Him to see for herself (1)
- And she opened herself to Him (2)
- And the King answered all the questions not just on her mind but on her heart (3)
- She saw, she heard and she believed, and she was captivated by His magnificence (4, 5)
- She sees He was even better experienced than heard (7)
- When she encountered Him, she worshipped with her lips and with her gifts (7-10)
- And the King gave her the desires of her heart (13)
- She went back and no doubt told everyone else about Him (13, 24)
1 Kings 13: The man of God and the prophet
Edric, Thirst Collective
The story of the man of God and the prophet is just tragic. They should have been perfect together. 1+1=3. Instead, 1+1=0.
The man started well. His intentions never wavered. Even when he fell short it was because he thought it was a word from an angel. A sin of omission – failing to check in and discern.
The prophet started well. He heard from God. Why did the prophet lie? Having done so, why would he then regret the lie?
Most importantly, what does all this mean? Who are they a reference to, or a metaphor of? And how do we avoid going down their path?
1 Kings 16: The kings of Israel
Christine, Salt&Light
Evil as defined by God is the turning away from Him to other gods, the outright disobedience to this one commandment. And with this comes judgement.
The power struggles of Israel are so sad it is almost comical. Reigns of just two years, or seven days.
Against this, is the long reign of King Asa of Judah who did what was right in God’s eyes. Their power and their reign are determined by God.
1 Kings 19: The Lord appears to Elijah
Christina, Thir.st
There is great comfort to be found in the account of God asking Elijah to eat, sleep, repeat when he was at his lowest point in life.
Elijah had no more drive and desired to die. But God, who was all-knowing and all-powerful, didn’t say much else except to send him care and sustenance.
Sometimes in difficult times we may be tempted to rush to find solutions, seek help, and we spend so much time agonising over our problems.
But God’s solution is tender, simple and compassionate in this case – eat, sleep and repeat.
We could all do with some bread baked over hot coals and a jar of water today.
1 Kings 21: Naboth’s Vineyard
Weiming, Thir.st
Reading this chapter made me feel so unjustified for Naboth. He could’ve sold his vineyard for a fortune but he refused because he wanted to obey God. In the end, he was murdered for it.
Logically and emotionally speaking, Ahab’s dirty act would not find forgiveness or grace from me even when he was repentant, but yet at the end of the chapter, God still chose to show some grace to Ahab when he seemed truly repentant for his wrongdoing.
It’s a humbling read and we truly have a God of mercy and grace.
- What struck you most through your reading of 1 Kings?
- How can you apply this biblical truth or principle to your daily life?
