May 25th, 2025 Todays Reading
May 25, 2025
Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 10–11; 2 Chronicles 9
Scripture Focus: 1 Kings 10:1, 8–9; 1 Kings 11:1–4, 6, 9–11, 13 (NLT)
1 Kings 10:1, 8–9 (NLT)
“When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame, which brought honor to the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions… How happy your people must be! What a privilege for your officials to stand here day after day, listening to your wisdom! Praise the Lord your God, who delights in you and has placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king so you can rule with justice and righteousness.”
1 Kings 11:1–4, 6, 9–11, 13 (NLT)
“Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh’s daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites. The Lord had clearly instructed the people of Israel, ‘You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.’ Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord. In Solomon’s old age, they turned his heart to worship other gods instead of being completely faithful to the Lord his God, as his father, David, had been. In this way, Solomon did what was evil in the Lord’s sight; he refused to follow the Lord completely, as his father, David, had done.”
“The Lord was very angry with Solomon, for his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. He had warned Solomon specifically about worshiping other gods, but Solomon did not listen to the Lord’s command. So now the Lord said to him, ‘Since you have not kept my covenant and have disobeyed my decrees, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your servants… Even so, I will not take away the entire kingdom; I will let him be king of one tribe, for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, my chosen city.’”
Scripture Observation:
Solomon’s fame had become so great that even distant royalty, like the Queen of Sheba, acknowledged that his wisdom and success were rooted in God’s blessing. She saw firsthand how his rule honored God and brought joy to his people. Solomon’s leadership at that time was a testimony to the greatness of the Lord.
But tragically, Solomon’s heart didn’t remain faithful. Despite God’s direct warnings, he married many foreign women who turned his heart toward their gods. Over time, Solomon abandoned full obedience, allowing compromise to take root. God had appeared to him twice, yet Solomon did not listen. The Lord, grieved by Solomon’s disobedience, declared that the kingdom would be torn from him—though a remnant would remain for David’s sake.
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Devotional Thought:
Solomon began with a heart fully devoted to the Lord. His wisdom and leadership brought honor to God, and even the Queen of Sheba recognized that it was the Lord’s favor that made Solomon and his people so blessed. His reign started with humility, worship, and obedience. The people were happy, the nation flourished, and God’s glory was evident.
But somewhere along the way, Solomon’s heart shifted. He stopped finding his satisfaction in the Lord and started seeking fulfillment elsewhere—especially in relationships that God had warned him not to pursue. He clung to his own desires instead of God’s Word. Though he had once walked in close fellowship with God, he slowly gave his heart to idols, led astray by the very things he thought would make him happy.
Disobedience crept in gradually, but its consequences were devastating. The kingdom would be torn. His legacy, once marked by glory, would be scarred by compromise. Yet even in the judgment, God’s mercy remained—for the sake of His covenant with David.
This reminds us that blessing flows from a heart that walks closely with God. But we must guard that heart. What we refuse to surrender can one day lead us far from the very God who gave us everything.
⸻
Application:
•A strong beginning doesn’t guarantee a strong finish. Stay watchful over your heart.
•Partial obedience is still disobedience in God’s eyes.
•The things we cling to against God’s Word will eventually turn our hearts from Him.
•Our obedience or disobedience affects others—our families, churches, and future generations.
•God’s mercy is still present—but so are the consequences of turning away.
⸻
What About Me?
•Am I still walking in wholehearted devotion to God, or have I allowed compromise to slip in?
•Is there something God has warned me about that I keep holding onto anyway?
•Do I find my deepest satisfaction in the Lord, or am I looking for fulfillment elsewhere?
•How can I realign my heart with God’s Word and finish strong?
⸻
Prayer:
Father, thank You for the sobering reminder in Solomon’s life. You gave him wisdom, favor, and blessings—but his heart drifted when he stopped listening to You. Lord, I don’t want to drift. Keep me close. Help me find my satisfaction in You alone. Show me anything in my life that is leading me away from full obedience to You. Let me not justify compromise or ignore Your warnings. Guard my heart and keep it tender, teachable, and fully surrendered. I want to finish well—not just for my sake, but for those around me who are impacted by my example. Thank You for Your mercy, and for never letting go. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 10–11; 2 Chronicles 9
Scripture Focus: 1 Kings 10:1, 8–9; 1 Kings 11:1–4, 6, 9–11, 13 (NLT)
1 Kings 10:1, 8–9 (NLT)
“When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame, which brought honor to the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions… How happy your people must be! What a privilege for your officials to stand here day after day, listening to your wisdom! Praise the Lord your God, who delights in you and has placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king so you can rule with justice and righteousness.”
1 Kings 11:1–4, 6, 9–11, 13 (NLT)
“Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh’s daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites. The Lord had clearly instructed the people of Israel, ‘You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.’ Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord. In Solomon’s old age, they turned his heart to worship other gods instead of being completely faithful to the Lord his God, as his father, David, had been. In this way, Solomon did what was evil in the Lord’s sight; he refused to follow the Lord completely, as his father, David, had done.”
“The Lord was very angry with Solomon, for his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. He had warned Solomon specifically about worshiping other gods, but Solomon did not listen to the Lord’s command. So now the Lord said to him, ‘Since you have not kept my covenant and have disobeyed my decrees, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your servants… Even so, I will not take away the entire kingdom; I will let him be king of one tribe, for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, my chosen city.’”
Scripture Observation:
Solomon’s fame had become so great that even distant royalty, like the Queen of Sheba, acknowledged that his wisdom and success were rooted in God’s blessing. She saw firsthand how his rule honored God and brought joy to his people. Solomon’s leadership at that time was a testimony to the greatness of the Lord.
But tragically, Solomon’s heart didn’t remain faithful. Despite God’s direct warnings, he married many foreign women who turned his heart toward their gods. Over time, Solomon abandoned full obedience, allowing compromise to take root. God had appeared to him twice, yet Solomon did not listen. The Lord, grieved by Solomon’s disobedience, declared that the kingdom would be torn from him—though a remnant would remain for David’s sake.
⸻
Devotional Thought:
Solomon began with a heart fully devoted to the Lord. His wisdom and leadership brought honor to God, and even the Queen of Sheba recognized that it was the Lord’s favor that made Solomon and his people so blessed. His reign started with humility, worship, and obedience. The people were happy, the nation flourished, and God’s glory was evident.
But somewhere along the way, Solomon’s heart shifted. He stopped finding his satisfaction in the Lord and started seeking fulfillment elsewhere—especially in relationships that God had warned him not to pursue. He clung to his own desires instead of God’s Word. Though he had once walked in close fellowship with God, he slowly gave his heart to idols, led astray by the very things he thought would make him happy.
Disobedience crept in gradually, but its consequences were devastating. The kingdom would be torn. His legacy, once marked by glory, would be scarred by compromise. Yet even in the judgment, God’s mercy remained—for the sake of His covenant with David.
This reminds us that blessing flows from a heart that walks closely with God. But we must guard that heart. What we refuse to surrender can one day lead us far from the very God who gave us everything.
⸻
Application:
•A strong beginning doesn’t guarantee a strong finish. Stay watchful over your heart.
•Partial obedience is still disobedience in God’s eyes.
•The things we cling to against God’s Word will eventually turn our hearts from Him.
•Our obedience or disobedience affects others—our families, churches, and future generations.
•God’s mercy is still present—but so are the consequences of turning away.
⸻
What About Me?
•Am I still walking in wholehearted devotion to God, or have I allowed compromise to slip in?
•Is there something God has warned me about that I keep holding onto anyway?
•Do I find my deepest satisfaction in the Lord, or am I looking for fulfillment elsewhere?
•How can I realign my heart with God’s Word and finish strong?
⸻
Prayer:
Father, thank You for the sobering reminder in Solomon’s life. You gave him wisdom, favor, and blessings—but his heart drifted when he stopped listening to You. Lord, I don’t want to drift. Keep me close. Help me find my satisfaction in You alone. Show me anything in my life that is leading me away from full obedience to You. Let me not justify compromise or ignore Your warnings. Guard my heart and keep it tender, teachable, and fully surrendered. I want to finish well—not just for my sake, but for those around me who are impacted by my example. Thank You for Your mercy, and for never letting go. In Jesus’ name, Amen.