Tag Archives: 1 Kings
The Whirlwind of Life
She experienced a whirlwind of emotions.
She was a widow, with a son, in the middle of a famine. Provisions were almost expired; enough was left for one last meal. She was gathering the wood for the cooking fire when Elijah entered her life.
Elijah asked the widow to bring him a drink of water and a piece of bread. She responds in 1 Kings 17:12, “As surely as the Lord your God lives, I don’t have any bread, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son that we may eat it, and die.”
Can you imagine? The widow is in a desperate situation, and she may feel hopeless. But here comes hope.
Elijah encourages her to do as he has directed, and promises the Lord will continue her provisions until the end of the famine. 1 Kings 17:6 records the widow and her son having enough to survive until the famine ended. This storm ended, but another rain cloud was on the horizon.
Some time later her son died. Amid the storm, the widow went to Elijah so he could act on behalf of God. This would have been an emotionally draining whirlwind for the widow; hard times followed by okay times only to be replaced by hard times again. Sadness giving away to happiness only to be broken down by grief. The winds of life tossed and turned the widow.
Perhaps this sounds familiar to your experience. Don’t lose the big take-away of the widow’s story.
Her faith pushed her forward.
It was the widow’s faith which compelled her to feed Elijah and go to him upon the death of her son. Her faith steadied her as the winds swirled around her.
You and I have a friend in Jesus who sticks closer than a brother. His compassion wiped the tears of the widow and held the hand of the man with leprosy. His power was victorious over death. There’s nothing in life that is a match for him.
Allow the Lord to be a part of your storm today.
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The Wisest Conclusion
The conclusion of the wisest man.
The Bible records Solomon was the wisest man to ever live. Upon his request, Solomon was granted wisdom. God granted Solomon wisdom like no other.
1 Kings 4:29-34 says, “God gave Solomon very great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge as vast as the sands of the seashore. In fact, his wisdom exceeded that of all the wise men of the east and the wise men of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone else…. His fame spread throughout all the surrounding nations. He composed some 3,000 proverbs, and wrote 1,005 psalms. He could speak with authority about all kinds of plants from the great Cedar of Lebanon to the tiny Hyssop that grows from cracks in a wall. He could also speak about animals: birds, small creatures, and fish. And kings from every nation sent their ambassadors to listen to the wisdom of Solomon.”
Solomon also had wealth, and he did not lack in provisions.
With his vast wisdom and provisions, Solomon examined the aspects of life. He looked at every path life could take. He tried to find fulfillment in partying and working hard. He tried to find fulfillment in himself and his wealth. He came to the conclusion everything was meaningless unless he pursued the Lord first and foremost.
Solomon writes his final conclusion at the end of Ecclesiastes. In 12:13, Solomon writes, “That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thin whether good or bad.”
Take a moment to reflect on your priorities. How well do they align with Solomon’s conclusion?
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Get Encouraged 