Title: King Omri
Memorize: In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice. Genesis 22:18 (Nkjv)
Bible Reading: 1 Kings 16:21-28 (Nkjv)
[21] Then the people of Israel were divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king, and half followed Omri.
[22] But the people who followed Omri prevailed over the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath. So Tibni died and Omri reigned.
[23] In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri became king over Israel, and reigned twelve years. Six years he reigned in Tirzah.
[24] And he bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver; then he built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, Samaria, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill.
[25] Omri did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and did worse than all who were before him.
[26] For he walked in all the ways of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin by which he had made Israel sin, provoking the Lord God of Israel to anger with their idols.
[27] Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and the might that he showed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
[28] So Omri rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria. Then Ahab his son reigned in his place.
Message:
Omri reigned for 12 years in Israel and the Bible records that he was worse than the kings who reigned before him (1 Kings 16:25). He had to fight for the throne because some of the people wanted a man named Tibni to be king. However, Tibni died during a battle, and Omri seized control of the throne.
Despite how evil Omri was, he was able to purchase a hill called Samaria, which became the capital of Israel and remained so for a long time. The city of Samaria and its surrounding area later became the home of the despised Samaritans during Jesus’ time. This discovery made me remember how God gave us several hectares of land in Osun state, in South-Western Nigeria, for many years, and this later became the base of Redeemer’s University about ten years later.
My dear child, there will be people, skills, and things that God will allow you to have now which will be a blessing to you and generations after you in the future. I pray that you will be sensitive to decipher them and be wise enough to retain them.
Key Point:
God’s blessings are not for you alone
HYMN 17: THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING
1. “There shall be showers of blessing”
This is the promise of love;
There shall be season refreshing
Send from a savior above
CHORUS
Showers of blessing
Showers of blessing we need;
Mercy drop round are falling
But for the showers we plead.
2. “There shall be showers of blessing”
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys;
Sound of abundance of rain.
3. “There shall be showers of blessing”
Send them upon us Oh Lord!
Grant to us a refreshing;
Come now and honour Thy Word.
4. “There shall be showers of blessing”
Oh, that today thy might fall,
Now as to God we are confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!
5. “There shall be showers of blessing”
If we but trust and obey;
There shall be season refreshing,
If we let God have his way.
Bible Reading In One Year: Leviticus 9:7-10:20; Mark 4:26-5:20