Monthly Study
May 2023

No God Like You

A Study in 1 Kings

LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way.—1 Kings 8:23

Good leaders are essential to a properly functioning family, church, and society, yet we often suffer under poor leadership. For much of its history, Israel did as well. Even King David was far from perfect! His failures led to crisis, suffering, and pain. The kings that followed were even worse.

This month we will study the book of 1 Kings. But rather than dismiss this portion of Israel’s history as too depressing, we pray that these accounts will urge you toward obedience to God. May this study also result in a great yearning for the return of King Jesus, who leads us in righteousness, shepherds with kindness, and never lets us down. That day is coming!

Your devotional author,
Steven H. Sanchez

Volume 36Edition 5
Managing Editor: Jamie Janosz, Senior Editor: Elena Mafter, Contributing Editor: John Koessler, Writer: Steven Sanchez, Art Director: Lynn Gabalec, Graphic Designer: Rachel Hutcheson, Marketing & Production: Paul B. Currie

About the Author

Steven H. Sanchez

Dr. Steven H. Sanchez is professor of Bible at Moody Bible Institute. His specific areas of study include the Israelite monarchy, the Pentateuch, the Second Temple period, and biblical archeology.

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Devotional Calendar

Podcasts

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The End of an Era
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Investors dislike uncertainty. Who wants to entrust their hard-earned money to an opportunity that is shrouded in mystery? We want clarity if we can get it. As the curtain rises on 1 Kings, we see a great deal of uncertainty about who will sit on the throne of David. Now an old man, King David was too fragile to keep himself warm. More importantly we discover that he had not set his house in order: no one knew who would be king after him. Nature abhors a vacuum and so does politics!
May 1, 2023
A Father’s Final Words
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Isn’t it satisfying when an ending brings clarity? The last minutes of a game inspire a great comeback. The final scenes of a movie explain the plot twist. In the same way, the last days of a life can provide a sense of purpose and reflection.
May 2, 2023
A New King
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Have you ever stepped into a new leadership role only to be met with unexpected opposition? Just because someone gives you a job and a title does not mean you will be welcomed with open arms.
May 3, 2023
A Dangerous Choice
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With his kingship now established, Solomon had to figure out how to rule. Almost innocently, we are told that he made an alliance with Egypt and married Pharaoh’s daughter (v. 1). Alliances were made to bring nations together in peace, provide defense, and encourage trade. Yet, this was a decision that could bring dangerous consequences.
May 4, 2023
Wisdom in Action
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Have you ever been asked to judge a conflict that came down to one person’s word against the other? In moments like these, we long for someone to step in and provide justice. Someone who will declare, “This is right, and this is wrong!”
May 5, 2023
A House for the Lord
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Where does God live? If you knew, would you go visit Him? If He gave you an audience, what would you say?
May 6, 2023
An Unhealthy Pattern
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At times, the book of 1 Kings can be depressing. We watch from the sidelines as Israel disobeyed and rebelled against the God who loved them and provided for them. Our shoulders slump as we see God punish them with increasingly strong punishments.
May 7, 2023
We Have Visitors!
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In today’s world, fame spreads at the speed of light. One viral video can bring a person instant fame. News is pushed to us as it happens. But in Solomon’s day, it took 20 years for Solomon’s reputation to catch the attention of the queen of Sheba!
May 8, 2023
A Compromising Choice
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Sometimes what seems like a small compromise can lead to devastating results. Maybe you’ve taken a short cut to home repair only to discover the resulting damage was far worse than if you’d fixed it the right way at the beginning.
May 9, 2023
Idols and Discipline
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There are some very dramatic examples of God’s punishment for sin in the Bible. In Numbers, the ground opened and swallowed people whole (Num. 16:31–35). In Acts, Ananias and his wife Sapphira were judged for lying and fell down dead (Acts 5:5,10). But in Solomon’s case, God used a different type of discipline.
May 10, 2023
I Will Make It Heavier
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Whenever a new boss takes charge, they make changes. Some of those decisions are welcomed by their employees, others are met with disapproval. After King Solomon died, two men stepped into leader- ship. Solomon’s son and successor, Rehoboam, and his rival, Jeroboam.
May 11, 2023
Your Golden Ticket
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Jeroboam had been given a golden ticket! He had been chosen by God to lead the ten tribes of Israel. Confronted by a prophet in chapter 11, Jeroboam was informed that if he obeyed, God would be with him and build him a house like He did for David. What an amazing opportunity!
May 12, 2023
He Took Everything!
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Parents will often discipline their children by temporarily taking away something they love. For example, a child might not be allowed to play a favorite video game or go to a friend’s house after school. The loss is intended to teach an important lesson. In 1 Kings 14, we see God’s discipline of a king and his kingdom.
May 13, 2023
Like Father, Like Son
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When someone says you take after your father (or your mother), it is usually a compliment. That was not the case for King Abijah. He gets just eight verses to describe his three- year reign over Judah in Jerusalem. He is characterized as a wicked king who followed his father Rehoboam’s example. As a result, he did not enjoy peace; he experienced war with the kingdom of Israel.
May 14, 2023
All by Myself
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Little children will sometimes reject help, insisting, “I can do this all by myself.” While a desire for independence can be admirable, it became a problem for King Asa. Asa had taken over for Abijah as King of Judah, and we may sigh with relief that he was a righteous ruler! His zeal to follow the Lord led to religious reform for the whole nation. He disciplined his own mother because she was worshiping an idol and reestablished Temple worship.
May 15, 2023
A Chain of Sin
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We would like to think that we learn from our mistakes. Unfortunately, we often repeat them again and again. In 1 Kings, we witness a generational chain of sin where no one seemed to learn from failures.
May 16, 2023
Fame for the Wrong Reasons
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In 1846 Austen Henry Layard discovered the Black Obelisk which contained the earliest known depictions of a biblical figure. It depicts King Jehu, described as a son of Omri. The monument was carved by the Assyrians and found far from the land of Israel. Why would the name Omri be known beyond Israel’s borders?
May 17, 2023
A Pivotal Moment
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In his article, “Evolving Ideas of Sin,” Rich Barlow observes: “’Sin’ is in the eye of the beholder, and our society is richly multiperspectival: we don’t have a single definition of anything, ‘sin’ included.” What happens when we do not believe God defines right and wrong?
May 18, 2023
Who Is in Charge?
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In the 1930s, the Dust Bowl battered the southern plains of the United States. High winds and choking dust were sweeping across farmland from Texas to Nebraska for nearly six years, killing people and livestock and devastating crops.
May 19, 2023
God Raises the Dead
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There are many things in life that the modern world has learned to control. We can genetically modify crops. We are able stop disease. We can explore outer space. But we have yet to resurrect people from the dead! While it is true that we can sometimes resuscitate a dying person, after a certain point, even our highest medical skills fail. That
May 20, 2023
Behind Enemy Lines
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If someone threatened your life, what would you do? Some people would flee while others might give up. We all like to think that we would take a brave stand against the enemy.
May 21, 2023
The Choice on Mount Carmel
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While we might not witness outright idol worship in modern society, we do see people put their faith in unusual sources. Superstition haunts the sporting world. An athlete might wear the same hat or even the same pair of socks, hoping to ensure a winning streak. But is this trust warranted?
May 22, 2023
It’s Not About You
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If you are discouraged, today’s Bible reading is one you need to hear. We meet up with God’s prophet Elijah after the victory on Mt. Carmel. What an incredible day it was! God showed up in power, and the false prophets were defeated. Then why was Elijah so discouraged?
May 23, 2023
Who Will Do This?
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Who do you look to when you need help? When we were children, we thought our parents could always save the day. But as adults, we realize that our parents or our boss cannot solve every problem we encounter. Their power is limited.
May 24, 2023
A Victorious God
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Have you ever heard someone say, “You believe what you want, and I’ll believe what I want. We are both right”? As Christians, our belief that God is the one and only true God, directly contradicts the all-gods-are-equal philosophy.
May 25, 2023
Pity Party
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If you’ve ever held a pity party for yourself, you aren’t alone. It is easy to get so wrapped up in our own emotions and our own feelings. Even worse, we can let those emotions hurt others. In 1 Kings 21, we find King Ahab feeling very sorry for himself.
May 26, 2023
Sin Conflicts
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Psychologists have a term called “cognitive dissonance”—when what a person believes contradicts what they do. For example, a person may say they want to avoid debt, but then apply for a third credit card. The level of dissonance grows when belief and actions are far apart.
May 27, 2023
Pull Back the Curtain
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In The Wizard of Oz, Toto draws back a curtain only to discover that the Great and Powerful Oz is just an ordinary man speaking into a microphone. In 1 Kings 22, we are given a look behind the curtain, to see God in action. Who is running the show in Israel?
May 28, 2023
A Costly Alliance
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When someone has an effective way with words, we say they have a silver tongue or are a slick talker. Both phrases could be used to describe King Ahab. In yesterday’s reading, the Israelite king persuaded his Judean ally Jehoshaphat to put on his royal robes and join him in battle, while Ahab disguised himself as an average soldier (22:30). The enemy mistakenly identified Jehoshaphat as Ahab and pursued him (22:32). This decision almost cost him his life!
May 29, 2023
Whom Do You Trust?
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Where we go for information reveals whom we trust. Children turn to their parents instinctively. Researchers consult the most reputable journals. Scientists use the best instruments. When Ahaziah was in trouble, his choice was to consult Baal. Why did the new king consider Baal to be the best source of information about his future?
May 30, 2023
Our Forever King
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As we conclude our study of 1 Kings, you may wonder if anyone in a power position is ever worthy of the title. This book records a history filled with defeat and disappointment. There are bright spots indeed, but overall, this was a dark time in Israel’s history.
May 31, 2023