Sermon Notes + 6.1.2025
A Lamp in Jerusalem
1 Kings 15:1-24
Dr. Tony Chute, Lead Pastor
Overview: The brief reign of Abijam is characterized by disobedience to the Lord as he walks in the sins that his father did before him. Nevertheless, God’s grace shines through as He provides a lamp in Jerusalem through Asa, a descendant of David whose heart is wholly true to the Lord. Asa demonstrates a heart for the Lord by putting away the male cult prostitutes, removing all the idols that his father had made, and removing the queen mother due to her idolatrous practices. Despite his intention to do what is right, Asa still finds himself unable to take away the high places. He also finds himself in the difficult position of procuring peace for his people by seeking aid from a foreign power. The fact that Asa was unable to bring about complete reform in Judah does not take away from his overall characterization as a man who did what was right in the eyes of the Lord; rather, it demonstrates the limits to what can be accomplished in a fallen world even by those who yearn for righteousness.
01. God’s heart toward His people is one of blessing. Even when sin abounds, His grace abounds much more.
02. Our hearts should be wholly true to the Lord. Even when sin abounds, His grace enables us to overcome.
03. Our hearts will sometimes veer away from the Lord. Even when sin abounds, our sufficiency is found in Christ.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION & DISCOVERY
1. How does the author of 1 Kings summarize the reign of Abijam in verse 3? What does the reference to David suggest about Abijam’s opportunity to chart a different course, other than the one he followed? What does this statement suggest about the need for us to choose the right influencers in our lives?
2. Why did God provide a “lamp in Jerusalem” (verse 4)? What does this phrase suggest about the darkness of sin in Judah? How does the image of light against the backdrop of darkness speak to the work of Christ in the world and the role of the church? See John 1:5 and Matthew 5:14 for further insight.
3. What does the provision of a lamp in Jerusalem reveal about God’s grace? Does God give grace reluctantly or willingly? Did Judah deserve grace or judgment at this time? Note how God’s grace is ever present in the Bible through such passages as Isaiah 9:2 and Romans 5:18-21.
4. How did Asa demonstrate a heart wholly true to the Lord (verses 9-15)? How difficult was this for him to do at a time when people were comfortable with the sins of his father? What areas of your life need to be given over to the Lord? How can you be a lamp in a darkened world?
5. In what ways does Asa’s life fall short of God’s command to trust in Him entirely? (See 2 Chronicles 16:7-12). Compare Asa’s shortcomings with the exception in David’s obedience in verse 5. How do their failures to trust the Lord entirely point to the need for a greater king who will follow God’s commands without exception? Take time to thank God for His gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, the sinless Savior (Hebrews 4:15-16; 1 Peter 2:22).
For Further Reading: John Stott, Life in Christ: A Guide for Daily Living (Baker, 2003)