1 Kings 15:25-32 slowly and repeatedly.
The main content of the text: Nadab, who became king of Israel, walks in the ways of Jeroboam and does evil in the eyes of God. God judges Nadab and the entire household of Jeroboam through Baasha.
Verses 25,26 God Nadab, who succeeded Jeroboam as king of northern Israel, reigns for only two years. Unlike Asa in southern Judah, who resolutely left the path of his ancestors Solomon, Rehboam, and Abiam, Nadab walked the path of his father Jeroboam. His father could not have been unaware of the warning he had received from the prophet, and even though his brother died as a result of the pre-emptive judgment (14:17), he thought it was not a big deal and did not change Jeroboam’s religious policy one bit. Even though God gives warnings, are there any sins that you are unable to cut off because you are comfortable and familiar with them? God makes you receive a fair reward for your actions.
Verses 28-30 God fulfilled the judgment (14:10,11) that came upon Jeroboam through the prophet Ahijah. Baasha, who became king by staging a coup, not only killed Nadab, but also attacked Jeroboam’s entire house to eliminate his troubles, leaving no one behind. From a human perspective, it is a cruel act, but on the other hand, it shows how thoroughly the Word of God is fulfilled. Jeroboam’s dynasty ended after only two generations, and subsequent dynasties would also fail to achieve political stability, “like a reed shaking in the waters” (14:15). There are only two ways. We can either follow the path of David, who lived before God by completely obeying the Word, or you can leave the Word, worship idols like Jeroboam, and assimilate into Canaanite culture.
What lesson does God give me?
Verses 27,30 Nadab internally angered God and drove the people down a path of sin, but he could not stand the Philistines invading his land and went out to fight. The first thing he had to fight against was not the Philistines, but his own unbelief, which involved idolatry and not fearing God. Are you too busy with the mountain of problems before your eyes, putting your relationship with God on the back burner?
Verses 31,32 There was a war going on between Asa in southern Judah and Baisha in northern Israel. They focused on consolidating their power base and expanding their territory, but God was always looking for people who had the same heart as David.
Community Prayer – God of love, help me put down the idols in my heart and follow you with all my heart.
Prayer for the nations – Let us pray that God will protect the Israeli hostages taken to Palestine and open the way for Palestinians in the Gajwa area to receive daily necessities. Let us also pray that this war does not spread into a Middle East war and is quickly resolved peacefully so that innocent people do not lose their lives and Palestinian refugees can settle in a safe place.