January 4, 2025, 1 Kings 15:25-34

January 4, 2025, 1 Kings 15:25-34

25  Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years.  26  He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin which he made Israel to sin. 27  Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him. And Baasha struck him down at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, for Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon.  28  So Baasha killed him in the third year of Asa king of Judah and reigned in his place.  29  And as soon as he was king, he killed all the house of Jeroboam. He left to the house of Jeroboam not one that breathed, until he had destroyed it, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite.  30  It was for the sins of Jeroboam that he sinned and that he made Israel to sin, and because of the anger to which he provoked the LORD, the God of Israel.

31  Now the rest of the acts of Nadab and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?  32  And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 33  In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha the son of Ahijah began to reign over all Israel at Tirzah, and he reigned twenty-four years.  34  He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin which he made Israel to sin.

 

Nadad, the son of Jeroboam, followed in his father’s footsteps by continuing to worship other gods and hardened his heart towards God.  As the scriptures continue, we see Baasha killed Nadad and becomes king killing all the house of Jeroboam.  So how should one expect Baasha to lead Israel during his reign?  Since he assassinated Nadad, one can only expect his leadership would be filled with wickedness and far from the heart of God.  And so it was as Baasha’s reign was full of both spiritual and political decline.  In a world filled with spiritual decline, it can be hard to stay focused and put Jesus first and foremost. 

 

Recently we found ourselves enjoying a TV series with a great storyline but as the series continued, sexual impurity and language slowly crept in resulting in us turning the TV off.  How do you insulate yourself against moral decline and surround yourself with thoughts and of Jesus and his Word? 

 

Jesus shared we were to be in the world but not of the world.  Think about how you can witness in a world filled with evil and stay fully committed and surrendered to God’s will. 

Seek wisdom from God as you pursue a life filled with Jesus over everything. 

 

Robin Adams