A Shoot From the Stump of JesseЗразок

God Keeps His Promise “He [King Abijam] walked in all the sins that his father did before him, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his [fore]father. Nevertheless, for David's sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, setting up his son after him, and establishing Jerusalem” (1 Kings 15:3-4) The books of Kings and Chronicles record what happened to David’s royal family line over the following centuries. The behavior of his descendants was evaluated against David’s example. Some kings “walked in sin," while others “did what is right in the eyes of the Lord, as [their] father David had done." Every individual, including every Israelite king, is accountable for their own behavior. In the end, it is their personal relationship with the Lord God that will decide their eternal destination: whether to spend eternity in God’s presence or in hell. However, today’s verses show that God kept His promise to David even though king Abijam lived in sin. Abijam was successful and received God’s blessing despite his behavior. This is a special example of God’s promise in the Ten Commandments to show “steadfast love to thousands [or: to the thousandth generation] of those who love Me and keep my commandments” (Exodus 20:6). King Abijam received God’s blessing, not that he deserved it. It was an expression of God’s grace and faithfulness. Can you think of blessings you did not deserve, but received nonetheless?