Blogging the Bible

Solomon enjoyed many blessings from God, but definitely, the greater blessing was his wisdom. The Bible says, “All the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind” (9:23)

Once again, Solomon was not wise because he has a great ability or powerful personality, but because “God put into his mind”, God gave him wisdom and success.

After Solomon death, he son Rehoboam succeeded him. Everybody would expect that his son might be wise too; instead, he was a very weak man who does not care for people but for his personal goals.

Was Solomon too busy that he did not teach his son how to govern his people? Did he tell Rehoboam that God gave him everything he had? We do not know all this details but one thing is for sure Rehoboam was leading Israel without God and without God wisdom, and because of that his kingdom was divided into two kingdoms.

 How sad is to think that the Queen of Sheba travelled a very long distance just to hear Solomon’s wisdom, but Rehoboam who has access to his father any time never bother to learn from him. New generation can develop its own ideas but they will do well to themselves if they can use the past generation experiences and wisdom.

The dedication of the temple was a great accomplishment among the Israelites. Now they have a stable and wonderful place to worship God. The temple was not a symbol of power but a symbol of humbleness; they recognized that they rely on God and not in themselves. Actually there is a song that is repeated twice in this three chapters, and I think the writer uses it as a reminder for them that everything that happened there was “for He is good, for his steadfast love endures forever” (5:13, 7: 3)

Again after the joyful celebration of the temple’s dedication God came to Solomon for the second time to remind him that he is interested in a close relationship with his people and knowing that they might fail he gave them this remarkable promise: “if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, pray, seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (7: 14)

There always hope for our broken world, all we need is to turn from our “wicked ways” and God the forgiver and healer will restore our lives, families and our communities for his glory.

Is there anything in which you need forgiveness or healing? Come to the Lord and he will restore your life.  

King Solomon is remember as wise man, rich and powerful figure, but also I would like to say that he was not alike many people  today say  “a self-made” guy. He was indeed a great man, but the Bible stated that “God was with him and made him exceedingly great” (1:1) actually God gave him everything he had (1:7-12)

Solomon didn’t make himself a great man, but the Lord “made him exceedingly great” Self-help books and workshops conferences will tell you that you are in charge, that you are the owner of your destiny, but the Bible tells us that is God and God only who can make you great.

 I like the part when king Hiram sent a letter to Solomon with the following statement: “Because the Lord loves his people, he has made you their king” (2:11) Again it is not about Solomon, but about God’s love for his people. The Lord has blessed us with many gifts and abilities, and the reason why he did that is because “he loves his people” yes God loves you, loves me, loves every single person in this world, and because of that he will give us opportunities to be instruments for his glory. 

David passes the torch to his Solomon in these final chapters.  He acknowledges that God has chosen him to rule over Israel but not chosen him to build the Lord’s house.  But David provides everything needed for Solomon to build the temple. In addition in 29 :3-20 David sets the example for his people in giving generously of his own personal wealth for the building and maintenance of the temple.  The leadership followed his example and all gave willingly and generously to the work of the Lord.  But David makes it very clear that the giving is to be expected because he acknowledges that everything they have is from the hand of th Lord (vs. 14). David prays that this desire to willing and generously give to their Lord with loyal hearts will remain forever.

In addition to the  instructions for the building of the temple, David also clearly instructs Solomon to obey all that the Lord has commanded and to follow him all his days. The Lord will bless him if he does and if he does not the Lord will reject him. 28:9,10.  David warns Solomon because the Lord searches every heart anfd understands every motive behind every thought. Wow! There really is no where to hide from G0d.  Solomon heeded his father’s words and obeyed the commands of the Lord and as a result the Lord exalted him even above David and like no other king ever before (29:25).

David’s song of praise to the Lord in 29:10-13 clearly demonstrates that his faith was in the Lord and not in his own power and wealth.  “Yours, O Lord” David says,  is the power and splendor and greatness and everything in heaven and earth belongs to the Lord. Wealth and honor come from the Lord and it is the Lord who exalts and gives strength.  The Lord is the one to be praised.  It was true for David and it is true for us.  All that we have is from the hand of the Lord and it is he who is to be praised and given credit. We must acknowledge this all our lives and teach our children the same.

David may have been a man of war, but he was also a man of great administrative ability. The orderly management of his kingdom is clear from these chapters.  If only he had ordered his earlier moral decisions as well!

One of our friends reading through the bible with us again commented on how much bloodshed there was.  It is important to remember that not all the bible records is necessarily what God wants or approves.  The bible accurately records all sorts of human behavior and activity.  God does not approve of it, but he always uses it for his glory and for our good. David is an excellent example of God’s power, holiness and grace.

David sinned.  Like all of us, he fell short of God’s standards of goodness.  God is holy–perfect, without sin.  And he must punish those who violate his laws.  But he is also gracious–over and over again we have seen his tender heart respond to the sinner who repents.  David was a sinner. David repented.  And God used both David’s sin–his warlike tendencies–to punish the sin of the nations surrounding Israel, and to make God’s power and glory known to the world.  He also used David’s tender heart and talent to help lead the people of Israel and establish the line that would bring the promise of the Savior of the world!  Enjoy the detail, but don’t get lost in it! God is in it, but more important, God uses it.

These chapters give the specific detail of the setting apart of people for particular service in the worship life of Israel. The divisions of priests and the rest of the Levites and the musicians are all listed.  As the new testament records, God gives gifts to all for the building up of the body.  When God asks us to do something, he always provides whatever is required to carry it out.  Skilled workers were supplied for the building of the temple.  The resources necessary were provided by the conquest of their enemies. The service in the temple was provided by the Levites who also served in the tabernacle when they were wandering in the wilderness.  And like David, others were gifted in playing musical instruments and singing in order to provide for a rich and beautiful experience of worship.

David gives wise instruction to his son Solomon, (22:11ff).  David makes it very clear that it is keeping the law of the Lord and being careful to observe the decrees and laws that will bring success.  The promises of God  are always contingent upon doing what God says.  David tells them to build the house as God had instructed but he also reminds them that their major effort is to devote themselves to the Lord. The temple is not an end in itself. It is a means to an end.  The end is the rightful worship of God.  All that God had commanded them to do before and all that he is giving them instruction to do now was for one purpose.  It was to guide them in the proper worship and service of God.  This would result in them being blessed and in all the nations of the earth being blessed through them as the great and merciful God is revealed in the worship life of Israel.

This is true for us today, as well.  The world can see what God is like through our worship. And not just the worship we do in the sanctuary on Sunday morning. But in the worship we do every day of the week when we dedicate all that we do to the  Lord.  When we work hard and others notice, it can be done to the glory of God. When we are kind to neighbors and friends, it can be done in the name of the Lord. When we struggle with illness and pain, but give praise and thanks to God, this is an act of worship and it brings glory to God as it reveals God’s faithfulness to us even through difficult times.  All these are acts of worship and brings blessing into the lives of all those who experience it and see it.  Abraham was blessed to be a blessing. Israel was the people gathered to do the same. And the church is also God’s gathered people who are blessed by his presence and commanded to go out into the world to bring that blessing to others.

The most prominent part of this reading is the “inciting” of David by Satan. The notes from this same passage in 2 Samuel make it clear that there was nothing sinful about counting the army. However, there was no immediate threat, and so what is implied that is sinful, is an act of glorying and pride in the empire that had been accumulated and in the appearance that this is what David was putting his trust in–the number of warriors that he had. David should have known better. He knew that God had routed larger armies and that he had given victory to smaller ones. It was God’s favor that ensured victory and not the size of the army. Joab’s response to David’s requests reveals that Joab knew this was an act against God.

But once again, David shows why he is called “a man after God’s own heart.” For David’s sin, God gives him three choices of punishment: being swept away by his enemies, a plague, or a famine. David chooses the plague because to “fall into the hands” of the Lord is better than to fall into the hands of the enemy because David says, “the mercy of the Lord is very great.” And that merciful heart is revealed once again in very 15 of chapter 21. Even in the act of judging Israel for their sin, the Lord is “grieved” because of the calamity and brings and end to the judgment.

Matthew 10:28 records the words of Jesus who said the same. We should not fear what man can do to us. We need to fear God who has power not only over our bodies, but our souls. And what a blessed promise it is to know that God desires to be merciful. God wishes than none should perish, but all come to repentence (2 Pe. 3:9). It was true in David’s day and it is true today. It is better to fall into the hands of God than any other hands when we fall there in repentance acknowledging our sin and seeking help to follow what the Lord has commanded.

Chapter 17 parallels what we read in 2 Samuel chapter 7. God reveals to David that he is not the person to build the temple, but that his son will build it. And God promises to establish the throne of David forever. This is an incredible promise. Obviously, the meaning is much deeper than what David understood. It is not only about the earthly kings and kingdoms, but we know that Jesus was from the tribe of Judah, the line of David, and that Jesus became prophet, priest, AND king over all. It is in Jesus that the “throne of David” is established forever. And it is in Jesus that the “house of God” is established through the kingdom of God that is not made with hands. Hebrews chapter 9 describes this reality clearly. And the purpose is clear in the Old and New Testament records–the purpose was to make the glory of the Lord known to all the earth.

The key to David’s success is found in 18:6 and14-17. The Lord was with David wherever he went and David did what was just and right for all his people. In the previous verses we also learn that he dedicated all that he gained in battle to the Lord. He did not keep it for himself, but gave it to its rightful owner and conqueror–the Lord. In this way, David demonstrated to the people that the conquest was the Lord’s and not his own. David was true to the purpose of God in giving him victory over his enemies. It was for the glory of God, not the glory of David.

Chapter nine is an interesting story. David attempts to reciprocate a kindness and the act is misinterpreted by poor counsel and it results in great bloodshed and conquest of the Ammonites.

In all the goings on of Israel the Lord continues to show favor on them through the reign of David. This is still true today regarding the source of our blessings. It is the favor of the Lord that gives us all good things. James 1:17 tells us that every good and perfect gift comes from the Father. All that we have is from his hand. Our victories are from him and our ability to handle defeat also comes from the Lord. It is his favor that is most important in life. Like David we need to seek to do what is just and right and to follow all that we know the Lord has commanded. The rest is up to the Lord!

In chapter 16 we can see that the psalms resulted from real life experiences. When we get to reading the psalms it is obvious they are prayers and songs and praises and cries to the Lord through all the circumstances of life.

The defeat of David’s enemies and the return of the Ark to Jerusalem are cause for celebration and thanksgiving.  David’s gift for music and lyric are used to help the people give thanks to God for all that he has done for them.  Verses 8 -36 are similar to the 96th, 105th and 106th psalm recorded in the Book of Psalms. These praises (Hebrew) or  songs (Greek) were used in the worship life of the people as they understood and responded to God’s activity among them. There are many types of psalms. These are psalms of praise.

I love what David does that is described in verse 17. In addition to Asaph and his associates who were employed to minister before the Ark and Zadok and his fellow priests left to serve before the tabernacle, David also designated those whose sole purpose was to give thanks to the Lord! Heman and Jeduthun “and the rest chosen and designated by name” were assigned to do nothing but give thanks because God’s love endures forever!  Perahps we need to do the same.  What would our worship and fellowship be like if we designated people by name to give thanks to God?

In our tradition of worship we designate greeters and ushers and musicians. Maybe we should designate others to encourage and lead us in giving thanks. Especially given our recent rededication service, we have much to give thanks for.  We have seen how quickly the Israelites turned away from giving thanks. I think we are no different. In Colossians 3:15-17, Paul says that, giving thanks, we are to encourage and admonish one another with prayers and songs.