• 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.

• David’s song of praise celebrates God’s awesome greatness and his power in salvation – delivering us and giving us victory over our enemies.
• God’s Spirit enabled him, and now enables us, to reign in life.
• David’s mighty men are noted for their loyalty, faith and strength.
• King David is not perfect and makes mistakes: God’s judgement comes on Israel because he takes a census without consulting the Lord.
• The plague is stopped by the building of an altar on the threshing floor.
• There remains political intrigue and conflict in his family but Solomon becomes king.
• There is both grace and judgement in David’s last words to Solomon, who asks for wisdom to rule, and is given wealth also.
• Solomon begins by ruling and judging wisely and becomes famous for his prosperity and wisdom. He now commits himself to his main task of building and furnishing the Temple with the best of everything.
• The Ark is brought to the Temple and God’s glory fills it. Solomon’s prayer of dedication makes it clear that the Temple is primarily to be a place of prayer, though sacrifices are made there.
• God’s word to him promises that if they follow his ways, he will establish Solomon’s descendants as a royal dynasty. If not, he will uproot Israel, disaster will come upon them and the temple will become a mockery.

NT: Once again we are reading this week of the event that is central to our salvation – the death of Christ on the cross.

• Luke’s account includes the promise of paradise for the repentant thief on the cross.
• After the resurrection, his conversation with two of his disciples shows him opening the Scriptures to them and opening their eyes so that they can understand how he is the fulfilment of all that is spoken of in the Scriptures.
• He stresses the importance of them staying in the city until the Holy Spirit clothes them with power.
• John’s gospel begins and is obviously taking a different approach to the other three. Jesus is introduced as the eternal Word of God, one with God, who has been made flesh and come into the world.
• He is the light of the world and there is life in him.
• He brings spiritual new birth.
• John the Baptist is the witness to the light. He points to Jesus as the Lamb of God.
• Jesus calls his first disciples and prepares them for amazing things, including seeing heaven come to earth.

During his lifetime, Absalom had built a monument to himself in the King’s Valley, for he had said, "I have no son to carry on my name." He named the monument after himself, and it is known as Absalom’s monument to this day.  (2 Samuel 19:18  NLT)

How sad! The man who would be King was left with a lifeless monument instead of living sons. In seems to me that we can choose in our lifetimes to either try to make a name for ourselves - build a monument to our own glory - or we can have something of true, lasting spiritual value that we simply aim to pass on to natural and spiritual sons (and daughters) as an inheritance that will enable them to serve God’s purpose in their generation and contribute to the advance of God’s purpose through all generations.

• As he hints at his own divinity, Jesus warns the people about following religious leaders.
• He then prophesies of the future, mainly about the fall of Jerusalem but also encompassing all future persecution and hardship that his disciples may have to suffer.
• He promises to be with them and help them, and also gives them hope that all such suffering will ultimately culminate in his return. We are therefore to look forward to our coming salvation.
• Now the events that will lead to the cross that secures our salvation begin.
• Significantly, at the last supper Jesus is thinking of his coming Kingdom; the disciples however show their continuing misunderstanding as they argue about who would be greatest in the Kingdom.
• Before the Sanhedrin, Jesus admits to being the Son of God and before Pilate he accepts title of King of the Jews. Of course, Pilate does not realise that Jesus is such because he is King of the whole world!

• Prefiguring Jesus, the Son of David, King David is a conquering king and establishes a great kingdom that foreshadows God’s spiritual Kingdom.
• Significantly, he conquers Jerusalem, and establishes it as the city of David, often referred to as Zion in the Psalms and the prophets. This points towards the church as the city of God and it is therefore significant that one of the first things he does is to get the Ark of the Covenant there.
• He also desires to build a temple, a house for God, but God promises him rather sons and heirs – a continuing dynasty. This also points to the church as a temple made up of sons of God – living stones.
• Among all his great conquests, there is evidence of David’s frequent expressions of grace and kindness even to his enemies.
• We are shown his weaknesses and his great sins, but also his genuine repentance.
• We witness the tragedy that he suffers in his family as a result of his sin, including the death of a son and the estrangement from his rebellious son, Absalom.
• Absalom wants to be king and steals the heart of the people but his rebellion is very costly in terms of human life. Such is the cost and consequence of not accepting God’s anointed leaders, and of people wanting to set themselves up as king.
• Although David’s Kingdom is great he is constantly dealing with rebels and enemies.

NT: As we approach the end of Luke this week, among other thigs you might want to note:

• Religious leaders continue to challenge Jesus. As he hints at his own divinity, he warns the people about following religious leaders who are a stark contrast to the poor widow who puts all she has into the offering.
• Jesus then prophesies of the future, mainly about the fall of Jerusalem but also encompassing all future persecution and hardship that his disciples may have to suffer. He promises to be with them and help them, but also gives them hope that all such suffering will ultimately culminate in his return. We are therefore to look forward to our coming salvation.
• But now the events that will lead to the cross that secures our salvation begin -  the last supper, Gethsemane, betrayal, arrest and trials.
• Significantly at the last supper Jesus is thinking of his coming Kingdom; the disciples however show their continuing misunderstanding as they argue about who would be greatest in the Kingdom.
• In his trial before the Sanhedrin Jesus admits to being the Son of God and, before Pilate, accepts title of King of the Jews. Of course, Pilate does not realise that Jesus is such because he is King of the whole world!

Please note that the glossary is gradually expanding so that increasingly you will be able to click on words that as they appear in the postings and this will add to you enjoyment of your reading.

 Keep going - you are doing well for getting this far.