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OT: Sadly, at the beginning of our readings this week, Solomon’s reign declines.

• He becomes proud in his wealth and success, he treats people carelessly, marries many wives and accumulates horses and chariots against God’s express demand as it displays trust in military strength rather than in God.
• God’s judgement is a rebellion against his son and successor leading to the division of the kingdom.
• The two kingdoms - of Israel and Judah – continually fail to follow God’s ways. There are occasional good kings, especially in Judah - like Asa and Jehoshaphat - but even they are not as wholehearted as David, and most, especially in Israel, are evil men who encourage idolatry.
• So the kingdoms are filled with almost constant wars, political intrigue, rebellion and assassinations.
• Against this backdrop of ungodly leadership, there arises the important figure of the prophet. Many prophets are used to confront the kings, announce God’s judgement and call the people back to faithfulness to God’s covenant.
• The prophets are men of God but they are shown to have human failings too.
• The main one is Elijah who confronts the worst Israelite king, Ahab. We see Elijah working mighty miracles and displaying amazing courage, but we also see his depression and despair until God restores him.
• Right at the end of his life Elijah is still confronting ungodly kings and choosing his successor, Elisha, who sees his spiritual father taken up to heaven on chariots of fire.

NT: As we continue to read the the gospel of John this week read of the first of the number of miraculous signs that point to who Jesus is.

• The first of these signs is his changing water into wine at Cana.
• John also shows him challenging religious leaders, and clearing the Temple, but he also takes time to explain things to the Pharisee, Nicodmemus. He points out the essentially spiritual nature of the Kingdom and the need to be born of the Spirit in order to understand it, let alone enter it.
• John the Baptist exalts Jesus as the bridegroom. The church, of course, is the bride.
• Jesus also takes time to talk to ordinary people and even social outcasts, such as the Samaritan woman to whom he offers the water of life and gives insight into the nature of true worship. Many people put their faith in him.
• There is a second miraculous sign of healing but the religious leaders get angry that he heals on the Sabbath. He challenges them as to what is in their heart, which is shown by their failing to accept him even though there is much that testifies as to who he is.
• He claims to be the Son of God, one with and yet distinct from the Father, and obedient to and dependent on the Father.
• He again shows his miraculous power through the feeding of 5,000 and walking on water.