1 Kings 12: Saving Lives

²² But this word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God: ²³ “Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah, to all Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, ²⁴ ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not go up to fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.’” So they obeyed the word of the Lord and went home again, as the Lord had ordered. -1 Kings 11:22-24

God desires peace. Contrary to those who argue gun rights with the passion of a gospel preacher, the Lord wants people to live without war and without violence. Jesus himself taught in his Sermon on the Mount that it is the peacekeepers who are blessed.

In 1 Kings 12, civil was about to break out. Yet God sent one man to speak out against violence. His name was Shemaiah. He obeyed and likely saved thousands of lives.

Has God called you to speak out for peace in a tense situation? Are there lives on the line God is calling you to stand up for, to declare peace to, and to encourage toward a non-violent solution?

If so, do it. You never know what might happen. Maybe the Lord is likewise sending you to save many lives from destruction.

Let’s talk about it on Facebook! Share your thoughts, pictures, or videos on handwriting Scripture.

+++

Dillon Burroughs is the author and coauthor of numerous books and is handwriting a copy of all 31,173 verses of the Bible at HolyWritProject.com. Find out more about Dillon at Facebook.com/readdB or readdB.com.