Preparing for the Lord's Day
Kingdoms in Conflict
When I was in college, we called it being "the heavy". The heavy was the person who was willing to take a light conversation and turn it into a more serious topic. The heavy was the guy who pointed out that we needed to pray before we ate our takeout pizza. The heavy was the guy who shared a word of Scripture when we were about to play Goldeneye. The heavy was the guy who took a chance encounter with a stranger to share the gospel. In short, he was the person who was willing to make the situation awkward so that the reality of God and His Word was recognized.
In our passage for this Sunday Jehoshaphat, King of Judah is willing to step up and be the heavy. Ahab has made plans to attack Syria to reclaim the town of Romath-Gilead. Ahab has invited Jehoshaphat to take part in his scheme. And Jehoshaphat has accepted. However, before they set off on attacking Syria, Jehoshaphat suggests that they seek a word for the Lord. He submits to the reality that God is the one who is ultimately in control. Since God is in control it is important to seek his wisdom.
The remainder of our passage is Ahab’s desperate attempts to ignore the word of the Lord. While Jehoshaphat is willing to be the heavy, Ahab does everything in his power to run away from God’s wisdom and power. And what we will see is that to walk in wisdom we must obey not ignore God’s word. To come prepared for the sermon, take time this week to read and to meditate upon 1 Kings 22, Psalm 19, Matthew 21:44; 24:35, John 10:9, Romans 7:7-12, and Westminster Confession of Faith 1.
As we gather to worship our loving Father this Lord’s Day, we will join our hearts in song, singing the Hymn of Praise “Tell Out My Soul”, the Acclamation of Praise “Jehovah’s Perfect Law” and a new song for our Hymn of Response “The Romans Doxology.” Let us come to worship this Sunday prepared to hear God’s Word, to receive it in faith, to love and treasure it in our hearts, and to practice it in our lives that we may continue to glorify and enjoy Him!
Sermon Information
Text: 1 Kings 22:1-40
Title: Lessons in Ignoring the Word of God
- Act without considering God’s Word
- Look for only approval in God’s Word
- Overlook all rebuke in God’s Word
- Suppress the messenger of God’s Word
- Manipulate God’s Word
- Without the Holy Spirit try to obey God’s Word