It makes depressing reading – a lot of bad news from the north (1 Kings 14:16), a lot of bad news from the south (1 Kings 14:22). Many people wondered, ‘Will there be peace in my lifetime?’. Sadly, the hostilities continued for a very long time (15:6). Were there no glimmers of hope? Was there no light at the end of the tunnel? Had God given up on the situation? There is a Word of hope: ‘The Lord will raise up for Himself a king…’ (1 Kings 14:14). There is good news. God is raising up ‘an army of ordinary people, a kingdom where love is the key’. What part can God’s ‘ordinary people’ play in His extraordinary purpose? – A very important part: ‘The Church is here for healing of the nations’ (Songs of Fellowship, 20, 216). Can there be healing? Yes! – if there is love. Don’t give up hope: ‘May the God of hope…’(Romans 15:13)!
