Devotion//Omri, the not so great

Israel's King Omri did a lot of good for his people. From a political and economic point of view.

Omri’s claim to fame

Much of the wealth of Israel had roots in the diplomacy and statecraft of Omri. Archeology tells us that Omri conquered Moab and forced it to pay tribute to Israel. He established a close relationship with Phoenica, a trading powerhouse to the north. He solidified that alliance by marrying his son, Ahab, to the Phoenician princess Jezebel.

Omri constructed a new capital city, Samaria. His capitol was centrally located, was easily defended, and was more accessible to commerce.

Omri stabilized the volatile political climate in Israel. He kept foreign invaders at bay. He promoted a religion his people liked better than following the LORD. He stopped fighting with Judah, his brothers in the south. Even the Moabite and Assyrian records praise him. For example, Assyrian documents written well after his death call Israel “the land of Omri.”

Not famous in heaven

But God was not impressed. "Omri did evil in the eyes of the LORD and sinned more than all those before him" is his Spirit's judgment (1 Kings 16:25,26). "He walked in all the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat and in his sin, which he had caused Israel to commit, so that they provoked the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger by their worthless idols."

But what of the political and economic benefits Omri brought to Israel" The Spirit says with a shrug, "As for the other events of Omri's reign, what he did and the things he achieved, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?" (1 Kings 16:25,26).

Significance in the judgment of history -- or in the judgment of our career or the judgment of our personal wealth -- doesn’t impress the one who determines our eternity.

Fame in heaven comes with spiritual wealth

That is why the Savior warns against the foolishness of storing up things for oneself but neglecting to be rich toward God (Luke 12:13-21).

Yes, foolish, indeed, is the one who isn't rich toward the God who in his Son guarantees "we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace" (Ephesians 1:7)