Today's Reading - 1 Kings 15:25-16:24, 2 Chronicles 17
Background
Our readings today bounce between the kings of Israel and Judah. In 2 Chronicles we see Jehoshaphat, one of the second tier kings - good but not great. The 1 Kings readings focus on Israel's increasingly evil kings.
Devotional - The Heavenly View
My college was not exactly a fundamentalist stronghold! Professors regularly taught us that the Bible's teachings were inaccurate, biased or historically faulty. I recall my Old Testament professor waxing eloquent (and skeptical) about the Bible's view of Omri and Ahab, two of the kings of Israel. In the text of 1 Kings, there is little good that is said of them. Omri bought a hill from Shemer and built the capital city of Israel there, called Samaria. Ahab, his son, continued after him and is best known for marrying Jezebel, the daughter of the king of Sidon, and a passionate worshiper of Baal.
The professor told us about the exploits of these kings, their impressive building projects and political success. And yet, in spite of all of that, the Bible gives them no respect. None. According to 1 Kings 16:25, Omri did more evil than all the kings of Israel who came before him, until his son broke his record, according to verse 30.
So, the verdict of history is that Omri and Ahab may have been among the most effective and impressive kings of Israel. The verdict of Scripture is very different. According to the Word, they are sinners who lived in idolatry and rebellion. So, what is the difference? Why does Scripture give such a different verdict than history?
According to my professor, the answer was prejudice. The book of 1 Kings was written by those loyal to the kings of Judah and therefore the text records a skewed and negative view of them, refusing to give them credit for their effective reigns. But I think there is something very different at work here. God does not judge the way we do. Heaven's view of our lives, our successes, and failures, our achievements - it's very different than the way we view ourselves or the way the world judges us.
Human beings judge on the basis of power, success, money - those things that can be measured by earthly metrics. By those standards, Omri and Ahab were far more successful than other kings. But that is not how God judges. He looks at faithfulness and obedience. He asks if our hearts are pure and devoted to him. He looks for those who are willing to walk in his ways and serve his purposes. Whether we accomplish great things by earthly metrics is not a significant issue from heaven's view.
So, my professor was wrong. The issue was not Judah's prejudice against the kings of Israel. It was God's view of success. We are not successes for getting rich or powerful or famous. True success is measured in obedience and faithfulness and those things that please God.
Father, may my life be a success in your eyes - faithful, obedience, and persevering in the Word
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