Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
When Hiram king of Tyre heard that Solomon had been anointed king to succeed his father David, he sent his envoys to Solomon, because he had always been on friendly terms with David.
Solomon sent back this message to Hiram:
"You know that because of the wars waged against my father David from all sides, he could not build a temple for the Name of the Lord his God until the Lord put his enemies under his feet. But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or disaster. I intend, therefore, to build a temple for the Name of the Lord my God, as the Lord told my father David, when he said, 'Your son whom I will put on the throne in your place will build the temple for my Name.'
"So give orders that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. My men will work with yours, and I will pay you for your men whatever wages you set. You know that we have no one so skilled in felling timber as the Sidonians."
When Hiram heard Solomon's message, he was greatly pleased and said, "Praise be to the Lord today, for he has given David a wise son to rule over this great nation."
So Hiram sent word to Solomon:
"I have received the message you sent me and will do all you want in providing the cedar and pine logs. My men will haul them down from Lebanon to the sea, and I will float them in rafts by sea to the place you specify. There I will separate them and you can take them away. And you are to grant my wish by providing food for my royal household."
In this way Hiram kept Solomon supplied with all the cedar and pine logs he wanted, and Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand cors of wheat as food for his household, in addition to twenty thousand baths, of pressed olive oil. Solomon continued to do this for Hiram year after year. The Lord gave Solomon wisdom, just as he had promised him. There were peaceful relations between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.
1 Kings 5:1-12
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
In Chapter 4, we studied how God had made good on His promise to Solomon to grant him wisdom, riches and honor, elevating him above all other kings.
As Chapter 5 opens, another blessing from God to Solomon is revealed…the blessing of peace. We know this from Solomon’s own words as he sent a message to “Hiram king of Tyre” who had sent envoys to Solomon because “he had always been on friendly terms with David”. Solomon said:
“You know that because of the wars waged against my father David from all sides, he could not build a temple for the Name of the Lord his God until the Lord put his enemies under his feet. But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or disaster. I intend, therefore, to build a temple for the Name of the Lord my God, as the Lord told my father David, when he said, 'Your son whom I will put on the throne in your place will build the temple for my Name.' “
Indeed, peace had come on Solomon and his kingdom who experienced “rest on every side”. And so in this time of solitude…a time when there were no adversary or disaster…a time when God’s desire for Solomon to build the temple could be fulfilled.
And so Solomon gave Hiram the following direction:
"…give orders that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. My men will work with yours, and I will pay you for your men whatever wages you set. You know that we have no one so skilled in felling timber as the Sidonians."
As Solomon’s message got to Hiram, we read where it was well received. For Hiram was “greatly pleased” and exclaimed, “Praise be to the Lord today, for he has given David a wise son to rule over this great nation."
So Hiram sent the following word back to Solomon, sealing their deal:
"I have received the message you sent me and will do all you want in providing the cedar and pine logs. My men will haul them down from Lebanon to the sea, and I will float them in rafts by sea to the place you specify. There I will separate them and you can take them away. And you are to grant my wish by providing food for my royal household."
And this is what happened. Hiram kept his end of the bargain, keeping “Solomon supplied with all the cedar and pine logs he wanted. Solomon “gave Hiram twenty thousand cors of wheat as food for his household, in addition to twenty thousand baths, of pressed olive oil”. And as Solomon “continued to do this for Hiram year after year, “peaceful relations” existed “between Hiram and Solomon” as the “two of them made a treaty”. All mostly because the Lord had given “Solomon wisdom just as he had promised him”.
Indeed, these were good times for Israel…times for praise because of all that God was doing.
And friends, we have just as much reason to praise today as they had over 2,000 years ago. For no matter what we might be going through…no matter how difficult circumstances might get…we know that God is working things out for our good. We only need trust Him, believe in Him, have faith in Him and seek His will.
For when we do these things, we can gain wisdom just as Solomon did…wisdom to help us manage good and bad times…wisdom to find solutions to complex issues…wisdom that ever tells us to turn to God and God alone for help, not our own strength and understanding.
Question: Have you taken time to focus on all the ways God has blessed you?
If you do, then I believe that you will echo the words of King Hiram as he exclaimed, “Praise be to the Lord today” and we can add the following word from David in 1 Chronicles 16:34…”for His love endures forever.”
Yes…thanks be to God from whom all blessings flow. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
SEEING GOD'S PROMISES COME TRUE
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
So King Solomon ruled over all Israel. And these were his chief officials:
Azariah son of Zadok—the priest; Elihoreph and Ahijah, sons of Shisha—secretaries; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud-recorder; Benaiah son of Jehoiada—commander in chief;
Zadok and Abiathar-priests; Azariah son of Nathan—in charge of the district officers;
Zabud son of Nathan—a priest and personal adviser to the king; Ahishar—in charge of the palace; Adoniram son of Abda—in charge of forced labor.
Solomon also had twelve district governors over all Israel, who supplied provisions for the king and the royal household. Each one had to provide supplies for one month in the year. These are their names:
Ben-Hur—in the hill country of Ephraim; Ben-Deker—in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh and Elon Bethhanan; Ben-Hesed—in Arubboth (Socoh and all the land of Hepher were his Ben-Abinadab—in Naphoth Dor [a] (he was married to Taphath daughter of Solomon; Baana son of Ahilud—in Taanach and Megiddo, and in all of Beth Shan next to Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth Shan to Abel Meholah across to Jokmeam; Ben-Geber—in Ramoth Gilead (the settlements of Jair son of Manasseh in Gilead were his, as well as the district of Argob in Bashan and its sixty large walled cities with bronze gate bars; Ahinadab son of Iddo—in Mahanaim; Ahimaaz—in Naphtali (he had married Basemath daughter of Solomon; Baana son of Hushai—in Asher and in Aloth; Jehoshaphat son of Paruah—in Issachar; Shimei son of Ela—in Benjamin; Geber son of Uri—in Gilead (the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and the country of Og king of Bashan). He was the only governor over the district.
The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore; they ate, they drank and they were happy. And Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These countries brought tribute and were Solomon's subjects all his life.
Solomon's daily provisions were thirty cors of fine flour and sixty cors of meal, ten head of stall-fed cattle, twenty of pasture-fed cattle and a hundred sheep and goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks and choice fowl. For he ruled over all the kingdoms west of the River, from Tiphsah to Gaza, and had peace on all sides. During Solomon's lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in safety, each man under his own vine and fig tree.
Solomon had four thousand stalls for chariot horses, and twelve thousand horses. The district officers, each in his month, supplied provisions for King Solomon and all who came to the king's table. They saw to it that nothing was lacking.
They also brought to the proper place their quotas of barley and straw for the chariot horses and the other horses.
God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as m measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon's wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than any other man, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Calcol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations.
He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He described plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also taught about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon's wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.
1 Kings 4
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
This was the word of God from 1 Kings Chapter 3:
The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both riches and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 1 Kings 3:10-13
There was little doubt that Solomon had won over God by asking for wisdom when he could have asked for anything. Surely there were a vast variety of options Solomon had to choose from. After all, this was the Maker of Heaven and Earth and everything in, on and above it. Everything was created by God and so Solomon could have chosen anything.
Yet faced with this, we saw where Solomon only asked for one thing.
A discerning heart…one that would grant him the wisdom to properly lead his people…God’s people…Israel.
And so God granted Solomon’s wish…but He vowed to give him more than that. For riches and honor were also to be Solomon’s to the extent that he would have no equal among the other kings. Such would be the blessing God would bring.
Well, in Chapter 4, we see one thing plain and simple. We see how God keeps His promises.
For in Chapter 4, after we read about all of Solomon’s chief officials and district governors, we learn how very blessed God had made the new king of Israel. Let’s look at the ways:
1. “Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These countries brought tribute and were Solomon's subjects all his life…. For he ruled over all the kingdoms west of the River, from Tiphsah to Gaza, and had peace on all sides.”
Solomon’s kingdom was vast with all territory granted to him from God. And from the great esteem he fostered with the countries he ruled, Solomon was well cared for by his subjects who all brought tribute to him.
2. “The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore…”
A powerful kingdom isn’t only about land mass. It’s also about people and the Lord made certain that Solomon would have plenty in his population…as many as sands on the seashore.
3. “…they ate, they drank and they were happy…. During Solomon's lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in safety, each man under his own vine and fig tree.”
We know Solomon was blessed and we can see where his people were as well. For they were happy and safe with plenty to eat and drink. Life was good for them as they shared in God’s bountiful blessing on their king.
4. “Solomon's daily provisions were thirty cors of fine flour and sixty cors of meal, ten head of stall-fed cattle, twenty of pasture-fed cattle and a hundred sheep and goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks and choice fowl...Solomon had four thousand stalls for chariot horses, and twelve thousand horses. The district officers, each in his month, supplied provisions for King Solomon and all who came to the king's table. They saw to it that nothing was lacking….They also brought to the proper place their quotas of barley and straw for the chariot horses and the other horses…God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon's wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than any other man, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Calcol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations…He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He described plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also taught about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon's wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.”
Indeed, Solomon not only was made wiser than his contemporaries but he was also give great riches and honor…because God had promised that he would have it. And God doesn’t break His promises.
Question: How about you? How has God kept His promises in your life? How has He blessed you in special ways through fulfilling His promises?
In my own life, I have written about this often.
For God promised to never leave me nor forsake me. And during those years when I was walking without Him, He never stopped walking with me. And when I was ready to turn back to Him, He wasn’t hard to find because He was right there…the Father waiting for His prodigal to return.
He also assured me that He was a stronghold in times of trouble…a place of refuge where I could be safe from harm. And He was just that after I suffered infidelity in my first marriage, helping me get through the hurt and pain…lifting me up from darkness to light.
And He promised me that I would not perish but have everlasting life if I would just believe and trust in His Son Jesus who had come as the Savior of mankind…who vowed that He would be with me even to the end of the age as He sent me forth to continue His work and make disciples of all nations, making good on that vow by using me in powerful ways every day while speaking His words of truth through these writings.
Yes…God is so good all the time and ever faithful to His promises that He always keeps.
Can I get a witness?
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
So King Solomon ruled over all Israel. And these were his chief officials:
Azariah son of Zadok—the priest; Elihoreph and Ahijah, sons of Shisha—secretaries; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud-recorder; Benaiah son of Jehoiada—commander in chief;
Zadok and Abiathar-priests; Azariah son of Nathan—in charge of the district officers;
Zabud son of Nathan—a priest and personal adviser to the king; Ahishar—in charge of the palace; Adoniram son of Abda—in charge of forced labor.
Solomon also had twelve district governors over all Israel, who supplied provisions for the king and the royal household. Each one had to provide supplies for one month in the year. These are their names:
Ben-Hur—in the hill country of Ephraim; Ben-Deker—in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh and Elon Bethhanan; Ben-Hesed—in Arubboth (Socoh and all the land of Hepher were his Ben-Abinadab—in Naphoth Dor [a] (he was married to Taphath daughter of Solomon; Baana son of Ahilud—in Taanach and Megiddo, and in all of Beth Shan next to Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth Shan to Abel Meholah across to Jokmeam; Ben-Geber—in Ramoth Gilead (the settlements of Jair son of Manasseh in Gilead were his, as well as the district of Argob in Bashan and its sixty large walled cities with bronze gate bars; Ahinadab son of Iddo—in Mahanaim; Ahimaaz—in Naphtali (he had married Basemath daughter of Solomon; Baana son of Hushai—in Asher and in Aloth; Jehoshaphat son of Paruah—in Issachar; Shimei son of Ela—in Benjamin; Geber son of Uri—in Gilead (the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and the country of Og king of Bashan). He was the only governor over the district.
The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore; they ate, they drank and they were happy. And Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These countries brought tribute and were Solomon's subjects all his life.
Solomon's daily provisions were thirty cors of fine flour and sixty cors of meal, ten head of stall-fed cattle, twenty of pasture-fed cattle and a hundred sheep and goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks and choice fowl. For he ruled over all the kingdoms west of the River, from Tiphsah to Gaza, and had peace on all sides. During Solomon's lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in safety, each man under his own vine and fig tree.
Solomon had four thousand stalls for chariot horses, and twelve thousand horses. The district officers, each in his month, supplied provisions for King Solomon and all who came to the king's table. They saw to it that nothing was lacking.
They also brought to the proper place their quotas of barley and straw for the chariot horses and the other horses.
God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as m measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon's wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than any other man, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Calcol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations.
He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He described plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also taught about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon's wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.
1 Kings 4
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
This was the word of God from 1 Kings Chapter 3:
The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both riches and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 1 Kings 3:10-13
There was little doubt that Solomon had won over God by asking for wisdom when he could have asked for anything. Surely there were a vast variety of options Solomon had to choose from. After all, this was the Maker of Heaven and Earth and everything in, on and above it. Everything was created by God and so Solomon could have chosen anything.
Yet faced with this, we saw where Solomon only asked for one thing.
A discerning heart…one that would grant him the wisdom to properly lead his people…God’s people…Israel.
And so God granted Solomon’s wish…but He vowed to give him more than that. For riches and honor were also to be Solomon’s to the extent that he would have no equal among the other kings. Such would be the blessing God would bring.
Well, in Chapter 4, we see one thing plain and simple. We see how God keeps His promises.
For in Chapter 4, after we read about all of Solomon’s chief officials and district governors, we learn how very blessed God had made the new king of Israel. Let’s look at the ways:
1. “Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These countries brought tribute and were Solomon's subjects all his life…. For he ruled over all the kingdoms west of the River, from Tiphsah to Gaza, and had peace on all sides.”
Solomon’s kingdom was vast with all territory granted to him from God. And from the great esteem he fostered with the countries he ruled, Solomon was well cared for by his subjects who all brought tribute to him.
2. “The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore…”
A powerful kingdom isn’t only about land mass. It’s also about people and the Lord made certain that Solomon would have plenty in his population…as many as sands on the seashore.
3. “…they ate, they drank and they were happy…. During Solomon's lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in safety, each man under his own vine and fig tree.”
We know Solomon was blessed and we can see where his people were as well. For they were happy and safe with plenty to eat and drink. Life was good for them as they shared in God’s bountiful blessing on their king.
4. “Solomon's daily provisions were thirty cors of fine flour and sixty cors of meal, ten head of stall-fed cattle, twenty of pasture-fed cattle and a hundred sheep and goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks and choice fowl...Solomon had four thousand stalls for chariot horses, and twelve thousand horses. The district officers, each in his month, supplied provisions for King Solomon and all who came to the king's table. They saw to it that nothing was lacking….They also brought to the proper place their quotas of barley and straw for the chariot horses and the other horses…God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon's wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than any other man, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Calcol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations…He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He described plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also taught about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon's wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.”
Indeed, Solomon not only was made wiser than his contemporaries but he was also give great riches and honor…because God had promised that he would have it. And God doesn’t break His promises.
Question: How about you? How has God kept His promises in your life? How has He blessed you in special ways through fulfilling His promises?
In my own life, I have written about this often.
For God promised to never leave me nor forsake me. And during those years when I was walking without Him, He never stopped walking with me. And when I was ready to turn back to Him, He wasn’t hard to find because He was right there…the Father waiting for His prodigal to return.
He also assured me that He was a stronghold in times of trouble…a place of refuge where I could be safe from harm. And He was just that after I suffered infidelity in my first marriage, helping me get through the hurt and pain…lifting me up from darkness to light.
And He promised me that I would not perish but have everlasting life if I would just believe and trust in His Son Jesus who had come as the Savior of mankind…who vowed that He would be with me even to the end of the age as He sent me forth to continue His work and make disciples of all nations, making good on that vow by using me in powerful ways every day while speaking His words of truth through these writings.
Yes…God is so good all the time and ever faithful to His promises that He always keeps.
Can I get a witness?
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Monday, March 23, 2009
USING THE GIFT GOD HAS GIVEN
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Now two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. One of them said, "My lord, this woman and I live in the same house. I had a baby while she was there with me. The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one in the house but the two of us.
"During the night this woman's son died because she lay on him. So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast. The next morning, I got up to nurse my son — and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn't the son I had borne."
The other woman said, "No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours."
But the first one insisted, "No! The dead one is yours; the living one is mine." And so they argued before the king.
The king said, "This one says, 'My son is alive and your son is dead,' while that one says, 'No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.' "
Then the king said, "Bring me a sword." So they brought a sword for the king. He then gave an order: "Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other."
The woman whose son was alive was filled with compassion for her son and said to the king, "Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don't kill him!"
But the other said, "Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!"
Then the king gave his ruling: "Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother."
When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.
1 Kings 3:16-28
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
As Chapter 3 of 1st Kings opened, we read where the Lord offered Solomon the opportunity to choose anything that he wanted and in response to that request, Solomon asked for the Lord to give him a discerning heart.
Well, the Lord answered Solomon’s prayer and granted him the only true kind of discernment…the kind that comes from Him and Him alone. Thus, Solomon’s wisdom didn’t come from his own power but rather from God who granted him discernment as a gift…a gift that we see Solomon soon have to put into use as the chapter ends.
For scripture tells us that “two prostitutes came…and stood before him” with a dilemma. Each took turns stating their side of the case.
The first prostitute said, “My lord, this woman and I live in the same house. I had a baby while she was there with me. The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one in the house but the two of us. During the night, this woman's son died because she lay on him. So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast. The next morning, I got up to nurse my son — and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn't the son I had borne."
And this accusation led the second prostitute to reply, “No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours” to which the first retorted, “No! The dead one is yours; the living one is mine."
And “so they argued before the king”, each standing by their side of the story.
Obviously, one of the women was lying. Either the child did belong to the first prostitute and was stolen by the second prostitute after she accidentally killed her own child. Or the first prostitute’s child died and she claimed the second woman’s as her own.
So how would Solomon determine who was telling the truth?
He used his gift from God.
For only a man granted wisdom and discernment could respond as Solomon did in this case. For after restating the basic tenets of the argument, Solomon asked for a sword before giving the order to “Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other."
Huh? Are you serious Solomon? I mean…no one in their right mind, yet alone someone having the special gift of divine wisdom, could ever predict this thinking that God would actually cut a baby in half and provide a dead half to each person in the dispute. And yet, this is what Solomon did.
How effective was it?
Back to the scriptures. For after Solomon gives his order to kill the child, the “woman whose son was alive was filled with compassion for her son” and she said to him, "Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don't kill him!" while the other woman said, "Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!"
And with that, the case was solved.
For the true mother…the first prostitute…was willing to see her son live even if she had to give him up to the other woman. Such was the depth of her love for him…a love that could only come from his real mother. But the second prostitute…the one who had stolen the child because she had accidentally killed her own...had no true love for him because he wasn’t truly hers. Thus, it was easy for her to want to see him killed so neither woman could have him.
And with this truth now revealed, Solomon “gave his ruling” and said, “Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother." Justice was served and we read where “all Israel heard the verdict” and “held the king in awe because they saw that he had wisdom from God”.
All because Solomon used the gift that God had granted him.
Friends, we all have gifts that have been imparted on us by God.
Some, like Solomon, realize those gifts and maximize the use of them to an end that glorifies God and makes a difference in the lives of others…like the first prostitute and her child.
But some either never seek to fully realize their gifts or realize their gifts and choose not to use them.
Each way is equally wrong and has to be appalling to God…the giver of every good and perfect gift from above. (James 1:17)
So where do you stand?
Are you realizing the gifts God has given and using them to His glory and the good if others?
Or are you squandering all the good He wishes for you to do in His name, disobeying His will to make a difference in His kingdom here on earth?
Trust that the Lord knows which side you’re on. And wisdom should tell us that we shouldn’t err on the wrong side. Not now…not ever. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Now two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. One of them said, "My lord, this woman and I live in the same house. I had a baby while she was there with me. The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one in the house but the two of us.
"During the night this woman's son died because she lay on him. So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast. The next morning, I got up to nurse my son — and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn't the son I had borne."
The other woman said, "No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours."
But the first one insisted, "No! The dead one is yours; the living one is mine." And so they argued before the king.
The king said, "This one says, 'My son is alive and your son is dead,' while that one says, 'No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.' "
Then the king said, "Bring me a sword." So they brought a sword for the king. He then gave an order: "Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other."
The woman whose son was alive was filled with compassion for her son and said to the king, "Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don't kill him!"
But the other said, "Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!"
Then the king gave his ruling: "Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother."
When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.
1 Kings 3:16-28
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
As Chapter 3 of 1st Kings opened, we read where the Lord offered Solomon the opportunity to choose anything that he wanted and in response to that request, Solomon asked for the Lord to give him a discerning heart.
Well, the Lord answered Solomon’s prayer and granted him the only true kind of discernment…the kind that comes from Him and Him alone. Thus, Solomon’s wisdom didn’t come from his own power but rather from God who granted him discernment as a gift…a gift that we see Solomon soon have to put into use as the chapter ends.
For scripture tells us that “two prostitutes came…and stood before him” with a dilemma. Each took turns stating their side of the case.
The first prostitute said, “My lord, this woman and I live in the same house. I had a baby while she was there with me. The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one in the house but the two of us. During the night, this woman's son died because she lay on him. So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast. The next morning, I got up to nurse my son — and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn't the son I had borne."
And this accusation led the second prostitute to reply, “No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours” to which the first retorted, “No! The dead one is yours; the living one is mine."
And “so they argued before the king”, each standing by their side of the story.
Obviously, one of the women was lying. Either the child did belong to the first prostitute and was stolen by the second prostitute after she accidentally killed her own child. Or the first prostitute’s child died and she claimed the second woman’s as her own.
So how would Solomon determine who was telling the truth?
He used his gift from God.
For only a man granted wisdom and discernment could respond as Solomon did in this case. For after restating the basic tenets of the argument, Solomon asked for a sword before giving the order to “Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other."
Huh? Are you serious Solomon? I mean…no one in their right mind, yet alone someone having the special gift of divine wisdom, could ever predict this thinking that God would actually cut a baby in half and provide a dead half to each person in the dispute. And yet, this is what Solomon did.
How effective was it?
Back to the scriptures. For after Solomon gives his order to kill the child, the “woman whose son was alive was filled with compassion for her son” and she said to him, "Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don't kill him!" while the other woman said, "Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!"
And with that, the case was solved.
For the true mother…the first prostitute…was willing to see her son live even if she had to give him up to the other woman. Such was the depth of her love for him…a love that could only come from his real mother. But the second prostitute…the one who had stolen the child because she had accidentally killed her own...had no true love for him because he wasn’t truly hers. Thus, it was easy for her to want to see him killed so neither woman could have him.
And with this truth now revealed, Solomon “gave his ruling” and said, “Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother." Justice was served and we read where “all Israel heard the verdict” and “held the king in awe because they saw that he had wisdom from God”.
All because Solomon used the gift that God had granted him.
Friends, we all have gifts that have been imparted on us by God.
Some, like Solomon, realize those gifts and maximize the use of them to an end that glorifies God and makes a difference in the lives of others…like the first prostitute and her child.
But some either never seek to fully realize their gifts or realize their gifts and choose not to use them.
Each way is equally wrong and has to be appalling to God…the giver of every good and perfect gift from above. (James 1:17)
So where do you stand?
Are you realizing the gifts God has given and using them to His glory and the good if others?
Or are you squandering all the good He wishes for you to do in His name, disobeying His will to make a difference in His kingdom here on earth?
Trust that the Lord knows which side you’re on. And wisdom should tell us that we shouldn’t err on the wrong side. Not now…not ever. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Sunday, March 22, 2009
WHAT WOULD YOU ASK FOR?
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter. He brought her to the City of David until he finished building his palace and the temple of the Lord, and the wall around Jerusalem. The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places, because a temple had not yet been built for the Name of the Lord. Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the statutes of his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.
The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."
Solomon answered, "You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.
"Now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"
The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for — both riches and honor — so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life." Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream.
He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord's covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court.
1 Kings 3:1-15
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Picture this scene.
You have left your childhood years…graduating from school, whether high school or high school followed by college…and now you have moved out into the world as an adult.
You get established, having a job and a place to call home…maybe even having a wife and children. You’re able to get by and life is manageable for you.
One night, when you lay down to sleep, the Lord speaks to you and asks you one question:
“(Your name), Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
Wow! What a dream!
God is speaking to you and asking you what you might want Him to give you. You try and grasp the immensity of this. Because the maker of all things has opened up the opportunity for you to pick what you want.
So what would you ask for?
In our scripture passage today, we see Israel’s new king facing the same matter.
We read where Solomon had made an “alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter”, bringing her “to the City of David until he finished building his palace and the temple of the Lord, and the wall around Jerusalem”. All was well in his kingdom as he “showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the statutes of his father David “with the exception of “sacrifices that were taking place “at the high places”…places where the Canaanites had once conducted pagan worship. But we’re told that the sacrificing and worship took place there “because a temple had not yet been built for the Name of the Lord”.
So all was well in Israel as Solomon “went to Gibeon” to worship the Lord, offering “a thousand burnt offerings on that altar”. And it was there that “the Lord appeared to (him) during the night in a dream” and said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you."
So what did Solomon ask for?
Well, before we get his answer, we see Solomon giving the Lord praise saying:
“You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.”
Solomon acknowledged not only the Lord’s blessings on his father during his rule but also that he was on the throne because it was God’s will for him to be there. In other words, we see Solomon’s humbleness coming through…a humbleness that was saying, “It isn’t about me Lord but about You.”
Solomon follows this by giving a prelude to what he wishes to ask for. Let’s read his words again:
"Now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number.”
We know that Solomon was young when he assumed the throne and in David’s final charge to him, he included the exhortation to be a man…to show a maturity beyond his youth. And Solomon, in this passage does just that.
For when he could have asked for anything from the Lord, he asks to be given “a discerning heart” which he could use to “govern (God’s) people and to distinguish between right and wrong”. And he seals his request by essentially saying, “Who can govern Your people without Your guidance?”
Friends, the same applies today. We can’t have the discernment to do what is right or lead anyone properly unless we seek and follow the Lord’s wisdom in our lives. Solomon realized it and we need to do likewise.
Why?
Because the Lord favors those who seek Him. We know this because scripture tells us as we read how “the Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for (wisdom)”. Solomon didn’t go after material gain for himself. No…he asked for something that would benefit the people he was appointed and anointed to lead. And in return, God rewarded him.
Back to the scriptures where we see the Lord tell Solomon, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for — both riches and honor — so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life."
Solomon didn’t ask for great gain…not for riches or honor…but he received it anyways, not because he wished for it for himself but rather because the Lord wished to bless him with it. Indeed, the Lord honors a humble, obedient servant.
And so it was with Solomon. For as he awoke from his dream, his legacy was about to start and all that he would be remembered and revered for was set in this one dream. We read where Solomon returned to Jerusalem and the first thing he did was worship before having a feast for his court. The Lord had blessed him greatly…and in turn, Solomon paid Him proper tribute.
In this passage, we see the value in humility…in selflessness and in seeking the Father’s wisdom. And in Solomon’s actions and attitude, we get a glimpse of Jesus, who consistently exercised these same principles during His life.
As we continue to move through this Advent season, may we reflect on Christ more and more, embracing all that He was and seeking to walk in His every way. Amen.
Have a blessed week everyone.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter. He brought her to the City of David until he finished building his palace and the temple of the Lord, and the wall around Jerusalem. The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places, because a temple had not yet been built for the Name of the Lord. Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the statutes of his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.
The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."
Solomon answered, "You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.
"Now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"
The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for — both riches and honor — so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life." Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream.
He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord's covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court.
1 Kings 3:1-15
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Picture this scene.
You have left your childhood years…graduating from school, whether high school or high school followed by college…and now you have moved out into the world as an adult.
You get established, having a job and a place to call home…maybe even having a wife and children. You’re able to get by and life is manageable for you.
One night, when you lay down to sleep, the Lord speaks to you and asks you one question:
“(Your name), Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
Wow! What a dream!
God is speaking to you and asking you what you might want Him to give you. You try and grasp the immensity of this. Because the maker of all things has opened up the opportunity for you to pick what you want.
So what would you ask for?
In our scripture passage today, we see Israel’s new king facing the same matter.
We read where Solomon had made an “alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter”, bringing her “to the City of David until he finished building his palace and the temple of the Lord, and the wall around Jerusalem”. All was well in his kingdom as he “showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the statutes of his father David “with the exception of “sacrifices that were taking place “at the high places”…places where the Canaanites had once conducted pagan worship. But we’re told that the sacrificing and worship took place there “because a temple had not yet been built for the Name of the Lord”.
So all was well in Israel as Solomon “went to Gibeon” to worship the Lord, offering “a thousand burnt offerings on that altar”. And it was there that “the Lord appeared to (him) during the night in a dream” and said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you."
So what did Solomon ask for?
Well, before we get his answer, we see Solomon giving the Lord praise saying:
“You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.”
Solomon acknowledged not only the Lord’s blessings on his father during his rule but also that he was on the throne because it was God’s will for him to be there. In other words, we see Solomon’s humbleness coming through…a humbleness that was saying, “It isn’t about me Lord but about You.”
Solomon follows this by giving a prelude to what he wishes to ask for. Let’s read his words again:
"Now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number.”
We know that Solomon was young when he assumed the throne and in David’s final charge to him, he included the exhortation to be a man…to show a maturity beyond his youth. And Solomon, in this passage does just that.
For when he could have asked for anything from the Lord, he asks to be given “a discerning heart” which he could use to “govern (God’s) people and to distinguish between right and wrong”. And he seals his request by essentially saying, “Who can govern Your people without Your guidance?”
Friends, the same applies today. We can’t have the discernment to do what is right or lead anyone properly unless we seek and follow the Lord’s wisdom in our lives. Solomon realized it and we need to do likewise.
Why?
Because the Lord favors those who seek Him. We know this because scripture tells us as we read how “the Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for (wisdom)”. Solomon didn’t go after material gain for himself. No…he asked for something that would benefit the people he was appointed and anointed to lead. And in return, God rewarded him.
Back to the scriptures where we see the Lord tell Solomon, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for — both riches and honor — so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life."
Solomon didn’t ask for great gain…not for riches or honor…but he received it anyways, not because he wished for it for himself but rather because the Lord wished to bless him with it. Indeed, the Lord honors a humble, obedient servant.
And so it was with Solomon. For as he awoke from his dream, his legacy was about to start and all that he would be remembered and revered for was set in this one dream. We read where Solomon returned to Jerusalem and the first thing he did was worship before having a feast for his court. The Lord had blessed him greatly…and in turn, Solomon paid Him proper tribute.
In this passage, we see the value in humility…in selflessness and in seeking the Father’s wisdom. And in Solomon’s actions and attitude, we get a glimpse of Jesus, who consistently exercised these same principles during His life.
As we continue to move through this Advent season, may we reflect on Christ more and more, embracing all that He was and seeking to walk in His every way. Amen.
Have a blessed week everyone.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Saturday, March 21, 2009
DISCOVERING STABILITY
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
"Now you yourself know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me — what he did to the two commanders of Israel's armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.“
"But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table. They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.”
"And remember, you have with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord: 'I will not put you to death by the sword.' But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood."
Then David rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. He had reigned forty years over Israel—seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his rule was firmly established.
Now Adonijah, the son of Haggith, went to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother. Bathsheba asked him, "Do you come peacefully?"
He answered, "Yes, peacefully." Then he added, "I have something to say to you."
"You may say it," she replied.
"As you know," he said, "the kingdom was mine. All Israel looked to me as their king. But things changed, and the kingdom has gone to my brother; for it has come to him from the Lord. Now I have one request to make of you. Do not refuse me."
"You may make it," she said.
So he continued, "Please ask King Solomon—he will not refuse you—to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife."
"Very well," Bathsheba replied, "I will speak to the king for you."
When Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah, the king stood up to meet her, bowed down to her and sat down on his throne. He had a throne brought for the king's mother, and she sat down at his right hand.
"I have one small request to make of you," she said. "Do not refuse me."
The king replied, "Make it, my mother; I will not refuse you."
So she said, "Let Abishag the Shunammite be given in marriage to your brother Adonijah."
King Solomon answered his mother, "Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? You might as well request the kingdom for him — after all, he is my older brother — yes, for him and for Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah!"
Then King Solomon swore by the Lord: "May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if Adonijah does not pay with his life for this request! And now, as surely as the Lord lives — he who has established me securely on the throne of my father David and has founded a dynasty for me as he promised—Adonijah shall be put to death today!" So King Solomon gave orders to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he struck down Adonijah and he died.
To Abiathar the priest the king said, "Go back to your fields in Anathoth. You deserve to die, but I will not put you to death now, because you carried the ark of the Sovereign Lord before my father David and shared all my father's hardships." So Solomon removed Abiathar from the priesthood of the Lord, fulfilling the word the Lord had spoken at Shiloh about the house of Eli.
When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah though not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the Lord and took hold of the horns of the altar. King Solomon was told that Joab had fled to the tent of the Lord and was beside the altar. Then Solomon ordered Benaiah son of Jehoiada, "Go, strike him down!"
So Benaiah entered the tent of the Lord and said to Joab, "The king says, 'Come out!' "
But he answered, "No, I will die here."
Benaiah reported to the king, "This is how Joab answered me."
Then the king commanded Benaiah, "Do as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so clear me and my father's house of the guilt of the innocent blood that Joab shed. The Lord will repay him for the blood he shed, because without the knowledge of my father David he attacked two men and killed them with the sword. Both of them — Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel's army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah's army—were better men and more upright than he. May the guilt of their blood rest on the head of Joab and his descendants forever. But on David and his descendants, his house and his throne, may there be the Lord's peace forever."
So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up and struck down Joab and killed him, and he was buried on his own land in the desert. The king put Benaiah son of Jehoiada over the army in Joab's position and replaced Abiathar with Zadok the priest.
Then the king sent for Shimei and said to him, "Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there, but do not go anywhere else. The day you leave and cross the Kidron Valley, you can be sure you will die; your blood will be on your own head."
Shimei answered the king, "What you say is good. Your servant will do as my lord the king has said." And Shimei stayed in Jerusalem for a long time.
But three years later, two of Shimei's slaves ran off to Achish son of Maacah, king of Gath, and Shimei was told, "Your slaves are in Gath." At this, he saddled his donkey and went to Achish at Gath in search of his slaves. So Shimei went away and brought the slaves back from Gath.
When Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned, the king summoned Shimei and said to him, "Did I not make you swear by the Lord and warn you, 'On the day you leave to go anywhere else, you can be sure you will die'? At that time you said to me, 'What you say is good. I will obey.' Why then did you not keep your oath to the Lord and obey the command I gave you?"
The king also said to Shimei, "You know in your heart all the wrong you did to my father David. Now the Lord will repay you for your wrongdoing. But King Solomon will be blessed, and David's throne will remain secure before the Lord forever."
Then the king gave the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei down and killed him.
The kingdom was now firmly established in Solomon's hands.
1 Kings 2:5-46
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
As Chapter 2 of 1st Kings opens, David is close to death and so he gives Solomon charges…things to do to ensure he has a prosperous reign.
He then gives Solomon closing instructions that we see at the start of this passage…instructions that take care of what was unfinished business on David’s part. And that unfinished business revolved around how to deal with people who may of may not cause instability during his reign.
The first person David warned about was Joab. Now we have seen Joab do David good such as when he attempted to get David to see the wrong in taking a census of his fighting men. But more often we have seen Joab defy David, taking matters in his own hands and even going as far as murdering if it suited his purposes.
David highlights this fact when he tells Solomon that Joab killed two of his commanders, Abner and Amasa, “shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle” and staining the belt around his waist and sandals on his feet “with that blood”. David concludes his warning to Solomon by advising him to “deal with him according to your wisdom” but not to allow him to “go down to the grave in peace.“
The second person David warned Solomon about was Shimei who you’ll recall cursed David as he fled Jerusalem after the threat of Absalom. Later, Shimei asked for David’s forgiveness and mercy at the Jordan as David returned following Absalom’s death and David took an oath “by the Lord” to not harm him. However, David now tells Solomon to “not consider him innocent” but rather to bring him “down to the grave in blood”.
So what did happen to Joab and Shimei?
Well, let’s observe Joab first.
As we read the scriptures, we see where his fate was tied to Adonijah, who Joab had decided to side with against David. Adonijah entered the scene again after David’s death, this time going to Bathsheba and requesting to marry Abishag, the young virgin who had laid with David to keep him warm after he had gotten older.
And so Bathsheba took the request to Solomon who immediately sensed that Adonijah was up to no good. For you see there was a cultural rule that would have given Adonijah claim to the throne if he married a member of the king’s harem. So Adonijah had not given up trying to become king by whatever means possible. In other words, he had evil intentions and you’ll remember that Solomon had told him earlier that this would lead to his death after he had already pardoned Adonijah once for scheming against him.
So in response to Adonijah’s actions, we read where Solomon swears the following by the Lord:
"May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if Adonijah does not pay with his life for this request! And now, as surely as the Lord lives — he who has established me securely on the throne of my father David and has founded a dynasty for me as he promised — Adonijah shall be put to death today!"
And with that, Solomon “gave orders to Benaiah” and “he struck down” and killed Adonijah.
Well, news traveled fast and found its way to Joab who “fled to the tent of the Lord and took hold of the horns of the altar”. And when Solomon was told of Joab’s whereabouts, he “ordered Benaiah” to "Go, strike him down!" So Benaiah entered the tent where the altar was and told Joab to come out but he refused saying, “No, I will die here."
And so Benaiah took the news to Solomon and inquired about what the king wanted him to do to which Solomon replies:
"Do as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so clear me and my father's house of the guilt of the innocent blood that Joab shed. The Lord will repay him for the blood he shed, because without the knowledge of my father David he attacked two men and killed them with the sword. Both of them — Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel's army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah's army—were better men and more upright than he. May the guilt of their blood rest on the head of Joab and his descendants forever. But on David and his descendants, his house and his throne, may there be the Lord's peace forever."
And with that, Benaiah “went up and struck down Joab and killed him, and he was buried on his own land in the desert”. Meanwhile, Solomon appointed Benaiah as his new commander of the army.
So Joab and Adonijah were eliminated and out of the way. They would trouble Solomon no more. The only adversary mentioned by David who was left was Shimei. Would he seal his doom like Adonijah? The scriptures show us that the answer is yes…but not before Solomon set the stage for Shimei to show himself untrustworthy.
For we read where Solomon sent for Shimei and gave him the following edict:
"Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there, but do not go anywhere else. The day you leave and cross the Kidron Valley, you can be sure you will die; your blood will be on your own head."
The edict was simple. All Shimei had to do was obey it and show he could be trusted and for three years he did remain obedient. But then “two of (his) slaves ran off to Achish and after Shimei was informed of their escape, he decided to saddle his donkey and travel to Achish at Gath” where he found his slaves and brought them back from Gath.
Well, news of Shimei’s trip made it back to Solomon who summoned Shimei and said:
“Did I not make you swear by the Lord and warn you, 'On the day you leave to go anywhere else, you can be sure you will die'? At that time you said to me, 'What you say is good. I will obey.' Why then did you not keep your oath to the Lord and obey the command I gave you?"
And Solomon wasn’t through chastising Shimei. For he added:
"You know in your heart all the wrong you did to my father David. Now the Lord will repay you for your wrongdoing. But King Solomon will be blessed, and David's throne will remain secure before the Lord forever."
And with that, Solomon “gave the order to Benaiah” and he “went out, …struck Shimei down and killed him”.
Another potential adversary was gone.
As we look at the scripture passage, we see where Solomon took a few other actions, replacing Abiathar, who had conspired with Adonijah, with Zadok and showing “kindness to the sons of Barzillai” who stood by David when he fled from Absalom and thus gained access to eat at Solomon’s table.
With this, Solomon had tied up all loose ends from his father’s reign and was now ready to write his own chapter of royal leadership over Israel...a reign he could only hope would be as prosperous as his father’s who reigned 40 years. Indeed, scripture tells us that Solomon’s rule over the kingdom was firmly established…all because he wisely took the necessary steps to bring about stability.
And we can do the same if we trust in the Lord to guide us.
For just as Solomon received instruction from his father as to how he could find stability in his rule by taking certain steps, so too will our Father in heaven instruct us and show us the way. We need only seek Him, listen to Him and obediently follow His expectations. He’ll take care of the rest.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
"Now you yourself know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me — what he did to the two commanders of Israel's armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.“
"But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table. They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.”
"And remember, you have with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord: 'I will not put you to death by the sword.' But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood."
Then David rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. He had reigned forty years over Israel—seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his rule was firmly established.
Now Adonijah, the son of Haggith, went to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother. Bathsheba asked him, "Do you come peacefully?"
He answered, "Yes, peacefully." Then he added, "I have something to say to you."
"You may say it," she replied.
"As you know," he said, "the kingdom was mine. All Israel looked to me as their king. But things changed, and the kingdom has gone to my brother; for it has come to him from the Lord. Now I have one request to make of you. Do not refuse me."
"You may make it," she said.
So he continued, "Please ask King Solomon—he will not refuse you—to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife."
"Very well," Bathsheba replied, "I will speak to the king for you."
When Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah, the king stood up to meet her, bowed down to her and sat down on his throne. He had a throne brought for the king's mother, and she sat down at his right hand.
"I have one small request to make of you," she said. "Do not refuse me."
The king replied, "Make it, my mother; I will not refuse you."
So she said, "Let Abishag the Shunammite be given in marriage to your brother Adonijah."
King Solomon answered his mother, "Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? You might as well request the kingdom for him — after all, he is my older brother — yes, for him and for Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah!"
Then King Solomon swore by the Lord: "May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if Adonijah does not pay with his life for this request! And now, as surely as the Lord lives — he who has established me securely on the throne of my father David and has founded a dynasty for me as he promised—Adonijah shall be put to death today!" So King Solomon gave orders to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he struck down Adonijah and he died.
To Abiathar the priest the king said, "Go back to your fields in Anathoth. You deserve to die, but I will not put you to death now, because you carried the ark of the Sovereign Lord before my father David and shared all my father's hardships." So Solomon removed Abiathar from the priesthood of the Lord, fulfilling the word the Lord had spoken at Shiloh about the house of Eli.
When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah though not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the Lord and took hold of the horns of the altar. King Solomon was told that Joab had fled to the tent of the Lord and was beside the altar. Then Solomon ordered Benaiah son of Jehoiada, "Go, strike him down!"
So Benaiah entered the tent of the Lord and said to Joab, "The king says, 'Come out!' "
But he answered, "No, I will die here."
Benaiah reported to the king, "This is how Joab answered me."
Then the king commanded Benaiah, "Do as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so clear me and my father's house of the guilt of the innocent blood that Joab shed. The Lord will repay him for the blood he shed, because without the knowledge of my father David he attacked two men and killed them with the sword. Both of them — Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel's army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah's army—were better men and more upright than he. May the guilt of their blood rest on the head of Joab and his descendants forever. But on David and his descendants, his house and his throne, may there be the Lord's peace forever."
So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up and struck down Joab and killed him, and he was buried on his own land in the desert. The king put Benaiah son of Jehoiada over the army in Joab's position and replaced Abiathar with Zadok the priest.
Then the king sent for Shimei and said to him, "Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there, but do not go anywhere else. The day you leave and cross the Kidron Valley, you can be sure you will die; your blood will be on your own head."
Shimei answered the king, "What you say is good. Your servant will do as my lord the king has said." And Shimei stayed in Jerusalem for a long time.
But three years later, two of Shimei's slaves ran off to Achish son of Maacah, king of Gath, and Shimei was told, "Your slaves are in Gath." At this, he saddled his donkey and went to Achish at Gath in search of his slaves. So Shimei went away and brought the slaves back from Gath.
When Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned, the king summoned Shimei and said to him, "Did I not make you swear by the Lord and warn you, 'On the day you leave to go anywhere else, you can be sure you will die'? At that time you said to me, 'What you say is good. I will obey.' Why then did you not keep your oath to the Lord and obey the command I gave you?"
The king also said to Shimei, "You know in your heart all the wrong you did to my father David. Now the Lord will repay you for your wrongdoing. But King Solomon will be blessed, and David's throne will remain secure before the Lord forever."
Then the king gave the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei down and killed him.
The kingdom was now firmly established in Solomon's hands.
1 Kings 2:5-46
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
As Chapter 2 of 1st Kings opens, David is close to death and so he gives Solomon charges…things to do to ensure he has a prosperous reign.
He then gives Solomon closing instructions that we see at the start of this passage…instructions that take care of what was unfinished business on David’s part. And that unfinished business revolved around how to deal with people who may of may not cause instability during his reign.
The first person David warned about was Joab. Now we have seen Joab do David good such as when he attempted to get David to see the wrong in taking a census of his fighting men. But more often we have seen Joab defy David, taking matters in his own hands and even going as far as murdering if it suited his purposes.
David highlights this fact when he tells Solomon that Joab killed two of his commanders, Abner and Amasa, “shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle” and staining the belt around his waist and sandals on his feet “with that blood”. David concludes his warning to Solomon by advising him to “deal with him according to your wisdom” but not to allow him to “go down to the grave in peace.“
The second person David warned Solomon about was Shimei who you’ll recall cursed David as he fled Jerusalem after the threat of Absalom. Later, Shimei asked for David’s forgiveness and mercy at the Jordan as David returned following Absalom’s death and David took an oath “by the Lord” to not harm him. However, David now tells Solomon to “not consider him innocent” but rather to bring him “down to the grave in blood”.
So what did happen to Joab and Shimei?
Well, let’s observe Joab first.
As we read the scriptures, we see where his fate was tied to Adonijah, who Joab had decided to side with against David. Adonijah entered the scene again after David’s death, this time going to Bathsheba and requesting to marry Abishag, the young virgin who had laid with David to keep him warm after he had gotten older.
And so Bathsheba took the request to Solomon who immediately sensed that Adonijah was up to no good. For you see there was a cultural rule that would have given Adonijah claim to the throne if he married a member of the king’s harem. So Adonijah had not given up trying to become king by whatever means possible. In other words, he had evil intentions and you’ll remember that Solomon had told him earlier that this would lead to his death after he had already pardoned Adonijah once for scheming against him.
So in response to Adonijah’s actions, we read where Solomon swears the following by the Lord:
"May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if Adonijah does not pay with his life for this request! And now, as surely as the Lord lives — he who has established me securely on the throne of my father David and has founded a dynasty for me as he promised — Adonijah shall be put to death today!"
And with that, Solomon “gave orders to Benaiah” and “he struck down” and killed Adonijah.
Well, news traveled fast and found its way to Joab who “fled to the tent of the Lord and took hold of the horns of the altar”. And when Solomon was told of Joab’s whereabouts, he “ordered Benaiah” to "Go, strike him down!" So Benaiah entered the tent where the altar was and told Joab to come out but he refused saying, “No, I will die here."
And so Benaiah took the news to Solomon and inquired about what the king wanted him to do to which Solomon replies:
"Do as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so clear me and my father's house of the guilt of the innocent blood that Joab shed. The Lord will repay him for the blood he shed, because without the knowledge of my father David he attacked two men and killed them with the sword. Both of them — Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel's army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah's army—were better men and more upright than he. May the guilt of their blood rest on the head of Joab and his descendants forever. But on David and his descendants, his house and his throne, may there be the Lord's peace forever."
And with that, Benaiah “went up and struck down Joab and killed him, and he was buried on his own land in the desert”. Meanwhile, Solomon appointed Benaiah as his new commander of the army.
So Joab and Adonijah were eliminated and out of the way. They would trouble Solomon no more. The only adversary mentioned by David who was left was Shimei. Would he seal his doom like Adonijah? The scriptures show us that the answer is yes…but not before Solomon set the stage for Shimei to show himself untrustworthy.
For we read where Solomon sent for Shimei and gave him the following edict:
"Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there, but do not go anywhere else. The day you leave and cross the Kidron Valley, you can be sure you will die; your blood will be on your own head."
The edict was simple. All Shimei had to do was obey it and show he could be trusted and for three years he did remain obedient. But then “two of (his) slaves ran off to Achish and after Shimei was informed of their escape, he decided to saddle his donkey and travel to Achish at Gath” where he found his slaves and brought them back from Gath.
Well, news of Shimei’s trip made it back to Solomon who summoned Shimei and said:
“Did I not make you swear by the Lord and warn you, 'On the day you leave to go anywhere else, you can be sure you will die'? At that time you said to me, 'What you say is good. I will obey.' Why then did you not keep your oath to the Lord and obey the command I gave you?"
And Solomon wasn’t through chastising Shimei. For he added:
"You know in your heart all the wrong you did to my father David. Now the Lord will repay you for your wrongdoing. But King Solomon will be blessed, and David's throne will remain secure before the Lord forever."
And with that, Solomon “gave the order to Benaiah” and he “went out, …struck Shimei down and killed him”.
Another potential adversary was gone.
As we look at the scripture passage, we see where Solomon took a few other actions, replacing Abiathar, who had conspired with Adonijah, with Zadok and showing “kindness to the sons of Barzillai” who stood by David when he fled from Absalom and thus gained access to eat at Solomon’s table.
With this, Solomon had tied up all loose ends from his father’s reign and was now ready to write his own chapter of royal leadership over Israel...a reign he could only hope would be as prosperous as his father’s who reigned 40 years. Indeed, scripture tells us that Solomon’s rule over the kingdom was firmly established…all because he wisely took the necessary steps to bring about stability.
And we can do the same if we trust in the Lord to guide us.
For just as Solomon received instruction from his father as to how he could find stability in his rule by taking certain steps, so too will our Father in heaven instruct us and show us the way. We need only seek Him, listen to Him and obediently follow His expectations. He’ll take care of the rest.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Thursday, March 19, 2009
CHARGED
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son.
"I am about to go the way of all the earth," he said. "So be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go, and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: 'If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.' “
1 Kings 2:1-4
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
In Chapter 1 of 1st Kings, we witnessed the anointing of Solomon as the new king of Israel. David was in his later years and not well enough to continue to hold down the throne and so Solomon was appointed, thwarting the attempt of Adonijah, David’s other son, to steal the kingship away.
Well as Chapter 2 opens, we see where David seeks to give King Solomon final fatherly advice before he dies, charging him with specific instructions. Let’s look at what David urged Solomon to do:
1. Be strong.
David knew all too well that being king was a real challenge. He overcame countless adversaries, including his own son, Absalom, who conspired against him and caused David to have to flee Jerusalem for fear of his life.
There was little doubt that Solomon would face the same kind of challenges during his reign so David exhorted him to “be strong” as he ruled over Israel.
2. Show yourself a man.
It’s estimated that Solomon was around 20 years old when anointed king over Israel. David’s words were meant to encourage Solomon to lead as if he were a man and not a youth. Any perceived vulnerability would open a window of opportunity for an opponent and so David knew it would be important for Solomon to lead maturely in order to find success.
3. Observe what the Lord requires.
There was no gray area here…no room for Solomon to question what he should do. This is because David clearly defined what it would take to observe what the Lord requires.
First, Solomon was to walk in the Lord’s ways. This means that Solomon was to surrender himself to the will of the Lord so he could go where the Lord wanted him to go and do what the Lord wanted him to do. Or in other words, walk in His ways.
Secondly, David told Solomon to keep the Lord’s decrees, commands, laws and requirements. God didn’t leave a whole lot of room for doubt when it came to what He expected. No, instead he gave us clear direction in His word and then illuminated that word through the power of His Holy Spirit. All we need to be concerned with is staying fully obedient to His instruction.
And with that, Solomon had his father’s guidance.
So what would Solomon have to gain by staying obedient to what God expected?
Scripture tells us that he would gain the following:
1. Prosperity in everything he did…where ever he went.
2. Fulfillment of the Lord’s promise to David…that if David’s descendants watched how they lived and walked faithfully before God with heart and soul, then David would never fail to have a man sit on the throne of Israel.
And in Solomon…this promise obviously remained in force.
So Solomon had his charge to go forth with…running orders to help him get started after his father’s death.
But what about us?
Do we have a charge that we are to follow?
The answer is a resounding “YES”!
For you’ll remember the final words of Jesus to His disciples and, in turn, to us before He departed the world to ascend to the right hand of His Father’s throne. Jesus charged us to:
“…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20
Note the key orders here:
1. Go
We’re required to be proactive. Jesus doesn’t expect us to sit and be complacent. He expects us to get out and about to tell others about Him. We are to go.
2. Make…disciples of all nations.
Note how making disciples is our main goal as we go. And this disciple making is not restricted to a certain place or a certain select group. No…we are to make disciples of ALL nations. This means we are to be ready to go ANYWHERE to seek ANYONE with the intention to MAKE disciples. This is the heart of evangelism…charged to us by the Savior.
3. Baptize…in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
As we make disciples and help them personally make the choice to come to Jesus, then we are to baptize them in His name as well as the name of His Father and the Holy Spirit…the Holy Trinity that is Three in One. And as we baptize disciples, we are symbolically helping them relate to Jesus as they go under the water dying to who they once were and arising from the water new and resurrected into a new creation…because this is what we truly become when we accept Jesus into our hearts as Savior…we become a new creation in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
4. Teach…them to obey everything I have commanded you.
Once the disciple accepts Jesus as Savior and experiences the symbolic connection to Christ in baptism becoming a new creation, they are prepared to learn all about Jesus…and we are to teach them…teach them to obey EVERYTHING that He commanded. And to do this, we need to know what He commanded.
Such is the importance in building our own relationship with Jesus each and every day. For how can we teach others about Him and His commands when we don’t know Him ourselves?
We can’t. And this we can’t carry out His charge.
Friends, Jesus gave it all for us, dying on the cross and willingly sacrificing everything He had in this world so he and we could gain access to the Father forever. And we are charged to do likewise…but with one other awesome promise, a promise that Jesus fulfills each and every day in the lives of those who seek and follow Him.
That promise?
“I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Jesus doesn’t charge us and send us out alone. Instead, He walks with us and will do so until the end of the age. We know He will because He said so…and His word is truth.
Question: How well are you carrying out your charge?
Jesus made it clear. Go…Make…Baptize…Teach.
It’s time to get busy my friends. For the harvest is plenty but the workers are few. (Matthew 9:37-38) Jesus stands ready every day to help us reap a bounty as we make disciples. The rest is up to us to give it all up to Him…just as He gave it all up for us. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son.
"I am about to go the way of all the earth," he said. "So be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go, and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: 'If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.' “
1 Kings 2:1-4
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
In Chapter 1 of 1st Kings, we witnessed the anointing of Solomon as the new king of Israel. David was in his later years and not well enough to continue to hold down the throne and so Solomon was appointed, thwarting the attempt of Adonijah, David’s other son, to steal the kingship away.
Well as Chapter 2 opens, we see where David seeks to give King Solomon final fatherly advice before he dies, charging him with specific instructions. Let’s look at what David urged Solomon to do:
1. Be strong.
David knew all too well that being king was a real challenge. He overcame countless adversaries, including his own son, Absalom, who conspired against him and caused David to have to flee Jerusalem for fear of his life.
There was little doubt that Solomon would face the same kind of challenges during his reign so David exhorted him to “be strong” as he ruled over Israel.
2. Show yourself a man.
It’s estimated that Solomon was around 20 years old when anointed king over Israel. David’s words were meant to encourage Solomon to lead as if he were a man and not a youth. Any perceived vulnerability would open a window of opportunity for an opponent and so David knew it would be important for Solomon to lead maturely in order to find success.
3. Observe what the Lord requires.
There was no gray area here…no room for Solomon to question what he should do. This is because David clearly defined what it would take to observe what the Lord requires.
First, Solomon was to walk in the Lord’s ways. This means that Solomon was to surrender himself to the will of the Lord so he could go where the Lord wanted him to go and do what the Lord wanted him to do. Or in other words, walk in His ways.
Secondly, David told Solomon to keep the Lord’s decrees, commands, laws and requirements. God didn’t leave a whole lot of room for doubt when it came to what He expected. No, instead he gave us clear direction in His word and then illuminated that word through the power of His Holy Spirit. All we need to be concerned with is staying fully obedient to His instruction.
And with that, Solomon had his father’s guidance.
So what would Solomon have to gain by staying obedient to what God expected?
Scripture tells us that he would gain the following:
1. Prosperity in everything he did…where ever he went.
2. Fulfillment of the Lord’s promise to David…that if David’s descendants watched how they lived and walked faithfully before God with heart and soul, then David would never fail to have a man sit on the throne of Israel.
And in Solomon…this promise obviously remained in force.
So Solomon had his charge to go forth with…running orders to help him get started after his father’s death.
But what about us?
Do we have a charge that we are to follow?
The answer is a resounding “YES”!
For you’ll remember the final words of Jesus to His disciples and, in turn, to us before He departed the world to ascend to the right hand of His Father’s throne. Jesus charged us to:
“…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20
Note the key orders here:
1. Go
We’re required to be proactive. Jesus doesn’t expect us to sit and be complacent. He expects us to get out and about to tell others about Him. We are to go.
2. Make…disciples of all nations.
Note how making disciples is our main goal as we go. And this disciple making is not restricted to a certain place or a certain select group. No…we are to make disciples of ALL nations. This means we are to be ready to go ANYWHERE to seek ANYONE with the intention to MAKE disciples. This is the heart of evangelism…charged to us by the Savior.
3. Baptize…in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
As we make disciples and help them personally make the choice to come to Jesus, then we are to baptize them in His name as well as the name of His Father and the Holy Spirit…the Holy Trinity that is Three in One. And as we baptize disciples, we are symbolically helping them relate to Jesus as they go under the water dying to who they once were and arising from the water new and resurrected into a new creation…because this is what we truly become when we accept Jesus into our hearts as Savior…we become a new creation in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
4. Teach…them to obey everything I have commanded you.
Once the disciple accepts Jesus as Savior and experiences the symbolic connection to Christ in baptism becoming a new creation, they are prepared to learn all about Jesus…and we are to teach them…teach them to obey EVERYTHING that He commanded. And to do this, we need to know what He commanded.
Such is the importance in building our own relationship with Jesus each and every day. For how can we teach others about Him and His commands when we don’t know Him ourselves?
We can’t. And this we can’t carry out His charge.
Friends, Jesus gave it all for us, dying on the cross and willingly sacrificing everything He had in this world so he and we could gain access to the Father forever. And we are charged to do likewise…but with one other awesome promise, a promise that Jesus fulfills each and every day in the lives of those who seek and follow Him.
That promise?
“I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Jesus doesn’t charge us and send us out alone. Instead, He walks with us and will do so until the end of the age. We know He will because He said so…and His word is truth.
Question: How well are you carrying out your charge?
Jesus made it clear. Go…Make…Baptize…Teach.
It’s time to get busy my friends. For the harvest is plenty but the workers are few. (Matthew 9:37-38) Jesus stands ready every day to help us reap a bounty as we make disciples. The rest is up to us to give it all up to Him…just as He gave it all up for us. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
COMING TO THE ALTAR
NOTE: To all my readers…FINALLY I AM IN AFRICA! Thank you all for your prayers! Grace and I appreciate them very much. God bless all of you and thanks for your faithful readership and comments. In Christ, Mark
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they were finishing their feast. On hearing the sound of the trumpet, Joab asked, "What's the meaning of all the noise in the city?"
Even as he was speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, "Come in. A worthy man like you must be bringing good news."
"Not at all!" Jonathan answered. "Our lord King David has made Solomon king. The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites, and they have put him on the king's mule, and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon. From there they have gone up cheering, and the city resounds with it. That's the noise you hear.”
“Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne. Also, the royal officials have come to congratulate our lord King David, saying, 'May your God make Solomon's name more famous than yours and his throne greater than yours!' And the king bowed in worship on his bed and said, 'Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has allowed my eyes to see a successor on my throne today.' "
At this, all Adonijah's guests rose in alarm and dispersed. But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, went and took hold of the horns of the altar. Then Solomon was told, "Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon and is clinging to the horns of the altar. He says, 'Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.' "
Solomon replied, "If he shows himself to be a worthy man, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground; but if evil is found in him, he will die." Then King Solomon sent men, and they brought him down from the altar. And Adonijah came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon said, "Go to your home."
1 Kings 1:41-53
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
As David’s death drew near, little did he know that he would have to take sudden, decisive actions to ensure his throne went to who he (and God) desired…his son Solomon. But the actions of a different son, Adonijah…who schemed behind David’s back to assume the throne…led to David sending Solomon with Zadok the priest, the prophet Nathan, Benaiah, the Kerethites and the Pelethites to Gihon where Zadok anointed him as the new king of Israel. The coronation brought great celebration as the trumpets sounded and people cheered so loudly that the ground shook…and drew the attention of Adonijah and his conspirators as they feasted.
We read that just as Joab had asked about the reason for the loud trumpeting, Jonathan, son of the priest Abiathar, arrived and delivered the news of what had just happened…that David had appointed and anointed Solomon as the new king of Israel, receiving praises from his royal officials afterwards.
Well, the news was not received well because scripture tells us that “all Adonijah's guests rose in alarm and dispersed”, showing just how little allegiance they had to him as they left him to fend for himself. And in his sudden predicament, we read where Adonijah “took hold of the horns of the altar” as he was afraid of his fate now that his brother was king and was aware of his actions.
Why did Adonijah cling to the horns of the altar?
Because the vertical projections from the altar corners were believed to be symbols of hope and refuge…both needed by Adonijah at that very moment. The horns had a secondary symbology…one of atonement…as during sacrifices, the law called for some of the blood to be placed on the horns of the altar to atone for sin. And thus another reason why Adonijah clung to the horns…for he also needed atonement for his devious scheming.
The actions of Adonijah as he realized that his sin had been exposed got me thinking about myself and how I have had and continue to have my sins laid bare by a God who sees everything in, through and around me and exposes my evil ways just as he did Adonijah…driving me to the altar…to the place where I seek atonement and refuge and hope…hope that once again God would exercise mercy upon me and help teach me how to be more like the man He wants me to be.
Maybe you can relate.
So what happened in the case of Adonijah?
Back to the scriptures where we see that word got back to Solomon, the new king of Israel…word that Adonijah was afraid and “clinging to the horns of the altar”. His words quoted to Solomon were ones of a man seeking mercy…and not just any man but Solomon’s own brother.
So what did Solomon do?
He very well could have just ordered Adonijah killed. Such was the severity of the treasonous intentions Adonijah had. But Solomon, who would gain a reputation for his wisdom, allowed Adonijah to dictate his own fate. For if Adonijah would show “himself to be a worthy man” then he would not be harmed…or as Solomon put it, “not a hair of his head will fall to the ground”. However if Adonijah returned to his evil ways, then Solomon promised that he would be put to death.
So the pardon was in place. Adonijah would live to see another day, at least in the short term, and as he came down from the altar and bowed before his brother king…saved by Solomon’s grace and mercy and forgiveness but expected to change and turn from his sin.
This is exactly what happens to us as well as we confess and repent from our own evil ways. We come to the altar and throw ourselves at the mercy and grace of God…hoping to receive His pardon. And pardon is exactly what we receive through our belief and trust in Jesus who shed the atoning blood we need to be made clean at the altar of pardon and hope and refuge.
Friends, this is why our calling to bring the gospel to those who don’t know Jesus is so critical. Because without Jesus, there is no pardon…no full forgiveness…no pardon…and no cleansing of sin. Instead, one remains fully sin-stained and facing condemnation and damnation…without hope or salvation.
Question: Do you or someone you know need to come to the altar of God today?
The Lord awaits with hope, refuge and redemption through His only Son Jesus…the Savior of us all.
Amen.
** Perhaps you have a testimony of when you came to the altar and what you found there when you came before the Lord through Christ Jesus. Feel free to comment and share your testimony of you like.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they were finishing their feast. On hearing the sound of the trumpet, Joab asked, "What's the meaning of all the noise in the city?"
Even as he was speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, "Come in. A worthy man like you must be bringing good news."
"Not at all!" Jonathan answered. "Our lord King David has made Solomon king. The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites, and they have put him on the king's mule, and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon. From there they have gone up cheering, and the city resounds with it. That's the noise you hear.”
“Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne. Also, the royal officials have come to congratulate our lord King David, saying, 'May your God make Solomon's name more famous than yours and his throne greater than yours!' And the king bowed in worship on his bed and said, 'Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has allowed my eyes to see a successor on my throne today.' "
At this, all Adonijah's guests rose in alarm and dispersed. But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, went and took hold of the horns of the altar. Then Solomon was told, "Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon and is clinging to the horns of the altar. He says, 'Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.' "
Solomon replied, "If he shows himself to be a worthy man, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground; but if evil is found in him, he will die." Then King Solomon sent men, and they brought him down from the altar. And Adonijah came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon said, "Go to your home."
1 Kings 1:41-53
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
As David’s death drew near, little did he know that he would have to take sudden, decisive actions to ensure his throne went to who he (and God) desired…his son Solomon. But the actions of a different son, Adonijah…who schemed behind David’s back to assume the throne…led to David sending Solomon with Zadok the priest, the prophet Nathan, Benaiah, the Kerethites and the Pelethites to Gihon where Zadok anointed him as the new king of Israel. The coronation brought great celebration as the trumpets sounded and people cheered so loudly that the ground shook…and drew the attention of Adonijah and his conspirators as they feasted.
We read that just as Joab had asked about the reason for the loud trumpeting, Jonathan, son of the priest Abiathar, arrived and delivered the news of what had just happened…that David had appointed and anointed Solomon as the new king of Israel, receiving praises from his royal officials afterwards.
Well, the news was not received well because scripture tells us that “all Adonijah's guests rose in alarm and dispersed”, showing just how little allegiance they had to him as they left him to fend for himself. And in his sudden predicament, we read where Adonijah “took hold of the horns of the altar” as he was afraid of his fate now that his brother was king and was aware of his actions.
Why did Adonijah cling to the horns of the altar?
Because the vertical projections from the altar corners were believed to be symbols of hope and refuge…both needed by Adonijah at that very moment. The horns had a secondary symbology…one of atonement…as during sacrifices, the law called for some of the blood to be placed on the horns of the altar to atone for sin. And thus another reason why Adonijah clung to the horns…for he also needed atonement for his devious scheming.
The actions of Adonijah as he realized that his sin had been exposed got me thinking about myself and how I have had and continue to have my sins laid bare by a God who sees everything in, through and around me and exposes my evil ways just as he did Adonijah…driving me to the altar…to the place where I seek atonement and refuge and hope…hope that once again God would exercise mercy upon me and help teach me how to be more like the man He wants me to be.
Maybe you can relate.
So what happened in the case of Adonijah?
Back to the scriptures where we see that word got back to Solomon, the new king of Israel…word that Adonijah was afraid and “clinging to the horns of the altar”. His words quoted to Solomon were ones of a man seeking mercy…and not just any man but Solomon’s own brother.
So what did Solomon do?
He very well could have just ordered Adonijah killed. Such was the severity of the treasonous intentions Adonijah had. But Solomon, who would gain a reputation for his wisdom, allowed Adonijah to dictate his own fate. For if Adonijah would show “himself to be a worthy man” then he would not be harmed…or as Solomon put it, “not a hair of his head will fall to the ground”. However if Adonijah returned to his evil ways, then Solomon promised that he would be put to death.
So the pardon was in place. Adonijah would live to see another day, at least in the short term, and as he came down from the altar and bowed before his brother king…saved by Solomon’s grace and mercy and forgiveness but expected to change and turn from his sin.
This is exactly what happens to us as well as we confess and repent from our own evil ways. We come to the altar and throw ourselves at the mercy and grace of God…hoping to receive His pardon. And pardon is exactly what we receive through our belief and trust in Jesus who shed the atoning blood we need to be made clean at the altar of pardon and hope and refuge.
Friends, this is why our calling to bring the gospel to those who don’t know Jesus is so critical. Because without Jesus, there is no pardon…no full forgiveness…no pardon…and no cleansing of sin. Instead, one remains fully sin-stained and facing condemnation and damnation…without hope or salvation.
Question: Do you or someone you know need to come to the altar of God today?
The Lord awaits with hope, refuge and redemption through His only Son Jesus…the Savior of us all.
Amen.
** Perhaps you have a testimony of when you came to the altar and what you found there when you came before the Lord through Christ Jesus. Feel free to comment and share your testimony of you like.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
RECOGNIZING THE TRUE KING
NOTE: To all my readers…I am now in Qatar, arriving early this morning and am awaiting my flight to my new assignment. Please bear with me during this trip as I adjust to new time zones and surroundings. I am currently 7 hours ahead of EST but intend to continue writing every day while sharing the words the Lord places on my heart. Please keep Grace and I in prayer as we endure yet another separation…our final one before I retire. God bless all of you and thanks for your faithful readership and comments. In Christ, Mark
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
When King David was old and well advanced in years, he could not keep warm even when they put covers over him. So his servants said to him, "Let us look for a young virgin to attend the king and take care of him. She can lie beside him so that our lord the king may keep warm."
Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. The girl was very beautiful; she took care of the king and waited on him, but the king had no intimate relations with her.
Now Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, "I will be king." So he got chariots and horses ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him. (His father had never interfered with him by asking, "Why do you behave as you do?" He was also very handsome and was born next after Absalom.)
Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they gave him their support. But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei and Rei and David's special guard did not join Adonijah.
Adonijah then sacrificed sheep, cattle and fattened calves at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah who were royal officials, but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the special guard or his brother Solomon.
Then Nathan asked Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, "Have you not heard that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, has become king without our lord David's knowing it? Now then, let me advise you how you can save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. Go in to King David and say to him, 'My lord the king, did you not swear to me your servant: "Surely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne"? Why then has Adonijah become king?' While you are still there talking to the king, I will come in and confirm what you have said."
So Bathsheba went to see the aged king in his room, where Abishag the Shunammite was attending him. Bathsheba bowed low and knelt before the king.
"What is it you want?" the king asked.
She said to him, "My lord, you yourself swore to me your servant by the Lord your God: 'Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne.' But now Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know about it. He has sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the king's sons, Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant. My lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to learn from you who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. Otherwise, as soon as my lord the king is laid to rest with his fathers, I and my son Solomon will be treated as criminals."
While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. And they told the king, "Nathan the prophet is here." So he went before the king and bowed with his face to the ground.
Nathan said, "Have you, my lord the king, declared that Adonijah shall be king after you, and that he will sit on your throne? Today he has gone down and sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep. He has invited all the king's sons, the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest. Right now they are eating and drinking with him and saying, 'Long live King Adonijah!' But me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon he did not invite. Is this something my lord the king has done without letting his servants know who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?"
Then King David said, "Call in Bathsheba." So she came into the king's presence and stood before him.
The king then took an oath: "As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, I will surely carry out today what I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place."
Then Bathsheba bowed low with her face to the ground and, kneeling before the king, said, "May my lord King David live forever!"
King David said, "Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada." When they came before the king, he said to them: "Take your lord's servants with you and set Solomon my son on my own mule and take him down to Gihon. There have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout, 'Long live King Solomon!' Then you are to go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah."
Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, "Amen! May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, so declare it. As the Lord was with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon to make his throne even greater than the throne of my lord King David!"
So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites went down and put Solomon on King David's mule and escorted him to Gihon. Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet and all the people shouted, "Long live King Solomon!" And all the people went up after him, playing flutes and rejoicing greatly, so that the ground shook with the sound.
1 Kings 1:1-40
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
As we look at the nations of our world today, we see many different forms of government all with their processes for appointing those who would lead their nation. And typically, nations will rise and fall depending on the decisions and actions of those leaders. Stable leadership with effective policies that equally benefit the nation and the people seem to thrive and do well. Conversely, we find that corrupt or ineffective leadership can lead a nation and its people into ruin.
Thus far in our study of the Old Testament, we have found this true with Israel. You’ll recall that for the longest time following creation, God had been the King over His nation Israel and inserted chosen leaders to guide His people as needed.
Well, that lasted through the period of judges but then something happened that drastically altered the way Israel would be governed. The people decided to have a king rule over them.
And so God, seemingly always ready to allow His people to have their way just to show them how much they need His, allowed Israel to have what they wanted. And so Saul was anointed and appointed king of Israel.
And just as God had predicted…it didn’t work out too well. In fact, we read where God grieved over even selecting Saul in the first place…such was His disappointment at the way Saul turned out.
So God went with a second choice and you’ll remember that he sent an equally grieving Samuel to anoint a new king…a king who would begin as a young shepherd boy…and end up in the family tree of the Messiah. This king was, of course, King David.
Well, as we open up this new Old Testament, 1st Kings, it seems only fitting that we begin with David, now up in years and on the decline health-wise.
Chapter 1 opens with David “old and well advanced in years”. In fact, he “could not keep warm even when they put covers over him”. And so his servants looked for a “young virgin to attend the king and take care of him” and selected Abishag who was “very beautiful”. Her role was not sexual in nature. In fact, scripture tells us that David had “no intimate relations with her”. No…Abishag was only there to “lie beside” David to keep him warm.
So here’s what we know up to now. David is up in years and needs a young virgin to attend to him and keep him warm in bed. Truly, David’s time of reign is coming to a close.
Given this fact, we read about one of David’s sons, Adonijah, who decided to “put himself forward” and show his desire to take his father’s place as king. And so he “got chariots and horses ready with fifty men to run ahead of him” and also gained the support of Joab, the commander of the army, and Abiathar, the priest.
There was just one very big problem with Adonijah’s plan.
David had already selected his successor and it would be Solomon.
Well, not everyone decided to side with Adonijah. For we read where Zadok the priest, Benaiah, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei and David's special guard stayed loyal and remained on David’s side.
This didn’t stop Adonijah from beginning to take steps to the throne. For he “sacrificed sheep, cattle and fattened calves at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel” and “invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah who were royal officials” to the feast. But for those who chose to stay on David’s side, no invitation was extended…not to “Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the special guard or his brother Solomon”.
Would anything stop Adonijah’s plan from succeeding?
Well…we see in our passage where the prophet Nathan wasn’t ready to concede and began to take steps to derail Adonijah’s attempted power grab.
For Nathan went to David’s wife and Solomon’s mother, Bathsheba, and asked, “Have you not heard that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, has become king without our lord David's knowing it? Now then, let me advise you how you can save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. Go in to King David and say to him, 'My lord the king, did you not swear to me your servant: "Surely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne"? Why then has Adonijah become king?' While you are still there talking to the king, I will come in and confirm what you have said."
The plan was simple. Bathsheba was to tell David about what Adonijah was up to and protest his actions given that David had already vowed that Solomon would succeed him. Nathan would then enter and back up Bathsheba’s account with the hope that David would take positive actions to appoint Solomon as king.
And the plan worked out just as they had planned.
For as Bathsheba shared her account and Nathan reinforced it, we read where David reaffirms his oath saying, “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, I will surely carry out today what I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place."
And so David called on Zadok the priest and Benaiah, giving the following order:
"Take your lord's servants with you and set Solomon my son on my own mule and take him down to Gihon. There have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout, 'Long live King Solomon!' Then you are to go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah."
And this is just what happened. For Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah were joined by the “Kerethites and the Pelethites” as they “went down and put Solomon on King David's mule and escorted him to Gihon”. Once there, Zadok “took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon” as king after which a trumpet sounded and the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!"
Scripture tells us that the celebration was so great with “all the people…playing flutes and rejoicing” that “the ground shook with the sound”.
Israel had a new king…the right one who would lead them into the future.
Our scripture today, the first of many that we will look at in the two books of Kings, highlights the importance of ensuring we look to the right leader in life. And I can tell you with all certainty that the leader we need to follow is not any man or woman of the world. No, the only leader we are to follow in life is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords…the Eternal Leader and Savior of us all…the only One through which we can find ourselves to His Father and ours (John 14:6).
Of course, I’m talking about Jesus Christ.
Question: Are you recognizing the true King…the true King of your life and the true King of this world?
As we continue to move through this Lenten season, let us once again surrender and reaffirm our Savior…our Redeemer…our King Jesus…who reigns over us from God’s right hand and will come again to reign supreme over Creation at God’s appointed time.
All honor, glory and praise to our King Jesus…now and forever! Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
When King David was old and well advanced in years, he could not keep warm even when they put covers over him. So his servants said to him, "Let us look for a young virgin to attend the king and take care of him. She can lie beside him so that our lord the king may keep warm."
Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. The girl was very beautiful; she took care of the king and waited on him, but the king had no intimate relations with her.
Now Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, "I will be king." So he got chariots and horses ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him. (His father had never interfered with him by asking, "Why do you behave as you do?" He was also very handsome and was born next after Absalom.)
Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they gave him their support. But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei and Rei and David's special guard did not join Adonijah.
Adonijah then sacrificed sheep, cattle and fattened calves at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah who were royal officials, but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the special guard or his brother Solomon.
Then Nathan asked Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, "Have you not heard that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, has become king without our lord David's knowing it? Now then, let me advise you how you can save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. Go in to King David and say to him, 'My lord the king, did you not swear to me your servant: "Surely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne"? Why then has Adonijah become king?' While you are still there talking to the king, I will come in and confirm what you have said."
So Bathsheba went to see the aged king in his room, where Abishag the Shunammite was attending him. Bathsheba bowed low and knelt before the king.
"What is it you want?" the king asked.
She said to him, "My lord, you yourself swore to me your servant by the Lord your God: 'Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne.' But now Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know about it. He has sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the king's sons, Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant. My lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to learn from you who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. Otherwise, as soon as my lord the king is laid to rest with his fathers, I and my son Solomon will be treated as criminals."
While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. And they told the king, "Nathan the prophet is here." So he went before the king and bowed with his face to the ground.
Nathan said, "Have you, my lord the king, declared that Adonijah shall be king after you, and that he will sit on your throne? Today he has gone down and sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep. He has invited all the king's sons, the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest. Right now they are eating and drinking with him and saying, 'Long live King Adonijah!' But me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon he did not invite. Is this something my lord the king has done without letting his servants know who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?"
Then King David said, "Call in Bathsheba." So she came into the king's presence and stood before him.
The king then took an oath: "As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, I will surely carry out today what I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place."
Then Bathsheba bowed low with her face to the ground and, kneeling before the king, said, "May my lord King David live forever!"
King David said, "Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada." When they came before the king, he said to them: "Take your lord's servants with you and set Solomon my son on my own mule and take him down to Gihon. There have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout, 'Long live King Solomon!' Then you are to go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah."
Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, "Amen! May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, so declare it. As the Lord was with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon to make his throne even greater than the throne of my lord King David!"
So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites went down and put Solomon on King David's mule and escorted him to Gihon. Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet and all the people shouted, "Long live King Solomon!" And all the people went up after him, playing flutes and rejoicing greatly, so that the ground shook with the sound.
1 Kings 1:1-40
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
As we look at the nations of our world today, we see many different forms of government all with their processes for appointing those who would lead their nation. And typically, nations will rise and fall depending on the decisions and actions of those leaders. Stable leadership with effective policies that equally benefit the nation and the people seem to thrive and do well. Conversely, we find that corrupt or ineffective leadership can lead a nation and its people into ruin.
Thus far in our study of the Old Testament, we have found this true with Israel. You’ll recall that for the longest time following creation, God had been the King over His nation Israel and inserted chosen leaders to guide His people as needed.
Well, that lasted through the period of judges but then something happened that drastically altered the way Israel would be governed. The people decided to have a king rule over them.
And so God, seemingly always ready to allow His people to have their way just to show them how much they need His, allowed Israel to have what they wanted. And so Saul was anointed and appointed king of Israel.
And just as God had predicted…it didn’t work out too well. In fact, we read where God grieved over even selecting Saul in the first place…such was His disappointment at the way Saul turned out.
So God went with a second choice and you’ll remember that he sent an equally grieving Samuel to anoint a new king…a king who would begin as a young shepherd boy…and end up in the family tree of the Messiah. This king was, of course, King David.
Well, as we open up this new Old Testament, 1st Kings, it seems only fitting that we begin with David, now up in years and on the decline health-wise.
Chapter 1 opens with David “old and well advanced in years”. In fact, he “could not keep warm even when they put covers over him”. And so his servants looked for a “young virgin to attend the king and take care of him” and selected Abishag who was “very beautiful”. Her role was not sexual in nature. In fact, scripture tells us that David had “no intimate relations with her”. No…Abishag was only there to “lie beside” David to keep him warm.
So here’s what we know up to now. David is up in years and needs a young virgin to attend to him and keep him warm in bed. Truly, David’s time of reign is coming to a close.
Given this fact, we read about one of David’s sons, Adonijah, who decided to “put himself forward” and show his desire to take his father’s place as king. And so he “got chariots and horses ready with fifty men to run ahead of him” and also gained the support of Joab, the commander of the army, and Abiathar, the priest.
There was just one very big problem with Adonijah’s plan.
David had already selected his successor and it would be Solomon.
Well, not everyone decided to side with Adonijah. For we read where Zadok the priest, Benaiah, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei and David's special guard stayed loyal and remained on David’s side.
This didn’t stop Adonijah from beginning to take steps to the throne. For he “sacrificed sheep, cattle and fattened calves at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel” and “invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah who were royal officials” to the feast. But for those who chose to stay on David’s side, no invitation was extended…not to “Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the special guard or his brother Solomon”.
Would anything stop Adonijah’s plan from succeeding?
Well…we see in our passage where the prophet Nathan wasn’t ready to concede and began to take steps to derail Adonijah’s attempted power grab.
For Nathan went to David’s wife and Solomon’s mother, Bathsheba, and asked, “Have you not heard that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, has become king without our lord David's knowing it? Now then, let me advise you how you can save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. Go in to King David and say to him, 'My lord the king, did you not swear to me your servant: "Surely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne"? Why then has Adonijah become king?' While you are still there talking to the king, I will come in and confirm what you have said."
The plan was simple. Bathsheba was to tell David about what Adonijah was up to and protest his actions given that David had already vowed that Solomon would succeed him. Nathan would then enter and back up Bathsheba’s account with the hope that David would take positive actions to appoint Solomon as king.
And the plan worked out just as they had planned.
For as Bathsheba shared her account and Nathan reinforced it, we read where David reaffirms his oath saying, “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, I will surely carry out today what I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place."
And so David called on Zadok the priest and Benaiah, giving the following order:
"Take your lord's servants with you and set Solomon my son on my own mule and take him down to Gihon. There have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout, 'Long live King Solomon!' Then you are to go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah."
And this is just what happened. For Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah were joined by the “Kerethites and the Pelethites” as they “went down and put Solomon on King David's mule and escorted him to Gihon”. Once there, Zadok “took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon” as king after which a trumpet sounded and the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!"
Scripture tells us that the celebration was so great with “all the people…playing flutes and rejoicing” that “the ground shook with the sound”.
Israel had a new king…the right one who would lead them into the future.
Our scripture today, the first of many that we will look at in the two books of Kings, highlights the importance of ensuring we look to the right leader in life. And I can tell you with all certainty that the leader we need to follow is not any man or woman of the world. No, the only leader we are to follow in life is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords…the Eternal Leader and Savior of us all…the only One through which we can find ourselves to His Father and ours (John 14:6).
Of course, I’m talking about Jesus Christ.
Question: Are you recognizing the true King…the true King of your life and the true King of this world?
As we continue to move through this Lenten season, let us once again surrender and reaffirm our Savior…our Redeemer…our King Jesus…who reigns over us from God’s right hand and will come again to reign supreme over Creation at God’s appointed time.
All honor, glory and praise to our King Jesus…now and forever! Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Monday, March 16, 2009
MAKING RESTITUTION
NOTE: To all my readers…I am still in Kuwait and am awaiting my flight to my new assignment. Please bear with me during this trip as I adjust to new time zones and surroundings. I am currently 7 hours ahead of EST but intend to continue writing every day while sharing the words the Lord places on my heart. Please keep Grace and I in prayer as we endure yet another separation…our final one before I retire. God bless all of you and thanks for your faithful readership and comments. In Christ, Mark
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
On that day Gad went to David and said to him, "Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite." So David went up, as the Lord had commanded through Gad. When Araunah looked and saw the king and his men coming toward him, he went out and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground.
Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?"
"To buy your threshing floor," David answered, "so I can build an altar to the Lord, that the plague on the people may be stopped."
Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take whatever pleases him and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. O king, Araunah gives all this to the king." Araunah also said to him, "May the Lord your God accept you."
But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing."
So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them. David built an altar to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the Lord answered prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.
2 Samuel 24:18-25
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
As 2nd Samuel ends, we find David place himself and Israel in a tough situation because he had put his faith in the wrong places…ordering a census so he could feel confident in the large number of fighting men at his disposal instead of simply acknowledging that all his might and power came from God alone.
And so after David confessed his sinfulness, God offered David three options through the prophet Gad…each with a consequence attached. You’ll recall that David chose to have Israel suffer a plague for three days and this led to 70 thousand of his people dying before God stopped His destructive angel just before he attacked Jerusalem. It was at this point that David asked for mercy upon his people…arguing that he and his family should be the ones suffering because it was his sin that angered God.
As Chapter 24 ends, we find David seeking to reconcile things with God to end the plague and restore his people…and the reconciliation starts and ends with a return to worship…to giving God full honor and glory and praise above all things. It’s what David needed to do…and it’s what we are required to do as well when we need to get right with God.
We see where the prophet Gad goes to David and tells him to “Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite" and David obeys as the Lord commanded.
When David went to Araunah, we read where he bowed before his king and wondered why David had come. David tells Araunah that he was there to buy his threshing floor to “build an altar to the Lord” so that “the plague on the people may be stopped”. And with that, Araunah doesn’t hesitate to give David what he wanted…for free. He was willing to sacrifice whatever David needed to build the altar and offer the proper sacrifices to God for reconciliation, only hoping that the Lord might accept him.
But David had one problem with Araunah’s offer. He refused to take it for free and insisted to pay for everything because he would not “sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." And so “David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them” before building “an altar to the Lord there” and sacrificing “burnt offerings and fellowship offerings”. His actions led to the Lord answering “prayer in behalf of the land” by stopping “the plague on Israel”.
Through David’s actions, we see where returning to the Lord’s favor from sin required sacrifice…but not just in the form of burnt or fellowship offerings but in the sacrificing of his heart and his resources. David did not accept a free ride back to the Lord’s favor but showed through his actions that he was willing to lay down whatever was needed to make restitution, saving himself and his people in the process.
Question: Where are you in your faith journey with the Lord today? Have you walked away from Him and allowed sin to get a foothold? Are you in need of reconciliation…in need of returning to the Lord and His favor?
If so, then you need to follow David’s lead and return to the Lord in worship, coming to His altar giving Him all your honor, glory and praise…and willing to pay whatever price to do so…to make any sacrifice that He desires.
For just as God surrendered His all for us by sacrificing His only Son Jesus to make restitution for our sins, so too does He require us to lay it all down for Him.
This Lenten season, as we reflect on this great sacrifice of Jesus, may we be convicted and drawn to a deeper sense of sacrifice in our own lives…willing to lay ourselves down for the Lord fully and surrender ourselves to His will. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
On that day Gad went to David and said to him, "Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite." So David went up, as the Lord had commanded through Gad. When Araunah looked and saw the king and his men coming toward him, he went out and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground.
Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?"
"To buy your threshing floor," David answered, "so I can build an altar to the Lord, that the plague on the people may be stopped."
Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take whatever pleases him and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. O king, Araunah gives all this to the king." Araunah also said to him, "May the Lord your God accept you."
But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing."
So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them. David built an altar to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the Lord answered prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.
2 Samuel 24:18-25
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
As 2nd Samuel ends, we find David place himself and Israel in a tough situation because he had put his faith in the wrong places…ordering a census so he could feel confident in the large number of fighting men at his disposal instead of simply acknowledging that all his might and power came from God alone.
And so after David confessed his sinfulness, God offered David three options through the prophet Gad…each with a consequence attached. You’ll recall that David chose to have Israel suffer a plague for three days and this led to 70 thousand of his people dying before God stopped His destructive angel just before he attacked Jerusalem. It was at this point that David asked for mercy upon his people…arguing that he and his family should be the ones suffering because it was his sin that angered God.
As Chapter 24 ends, we find David seeking to reconcile things with God to end the plague and restore his people…and the reconciliation starts and ends with a return to worship…to giving God full honor and glory and praise above all things. It’s what David needed to do…and it’s what we are required to do as well when we need to get right with God.
We see where the prophet Gad goes to David and tells him to “Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite" and David obeys as the Lord commanded.
When David went to Araunah, we read where he bowed before his king and wondered why David had come. David tells Araunah that he was there to buy his threshing floor to “build an altar to the Lord” so that “the plague on the people may be stopped”. And with that, Araunah doesn’t hesitate to give David what he wanted…for free. He was willing to sacrifice whatever David needed to build the altar and offer the proper sacrifices to God for reconciliation, only hoping that the Lord might accept him.
But David had one problem with Araunah’s offer. He refused to take it for free and insisted to pay for everything because he would not “sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." And so “David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them” before building “an altar to the Lord there” and sacrificing “burnt offerings and fellowship offerings”. His actions led to the Lord answering “prayer in behalf of the land” by stopping “the plague on Israel”.
Through David’s actions, we see where returning to the Lord’s favor from sin required sacrifice…but not just in the form of burnt or fellowship offerings but in the sacrificing of his heart and his resources. David did not accept a free ride back to the Lord’s favor but showed through his actions that he was willing to lay down whatever was needed to make restitution, saving himself and his people in the process.
Question: Where are you in your faith journey with the Lord today? Have you walked away from Him and allowed sin to get a foothold? Are you in need of reconciliation…in need of returning to the Lord and His favor?
If so, then you need to follow David’s lead and return to the Lord in worship, coming to His altar giving Him all your honor, glory and praise…and willing to pay whatever price to do so…to make any sacrifice that He desires.
For just as God surrendered His all for us by sacrificing His only Son Jesus to make restitution for our sins, so too does He require us to lay it all down for Him.
This Lenten season, as we reflect on this great sacrifice of Jesus, may we be convicted and drawn to a deeper sense of sacrifice in our own lives…willing to lay ourselves down for the Lord fully and surrender ourselves to His will. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Sunday, March 15, 2009
PLACING OUR FAITH IN THE WRONG PLACES
NOTE: To all my readers…I am still in Kuwait and am awaiting my flight to my new assignment. Please bear with me during this trip as I adjust to new time zones and surroundings. I am currently 7 hours ahead of EST but intend to continue writing every day while sharing the words the Lord places on my heart. Please keep Grace and I in prayer as we endure yet another separation…our final one before I retire. God bless all of you and thanks for your faithful readership and comments. In Christ, Mark
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, "Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report back to me so that I may know how many there are."
But Joab replied, "May the Lord multiply his troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all my lord's subjects? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?"
The king's word, however, overruled Joab; so Joab left and went throughout Israel and then came back to Jerusalem. Joab reported the number of the fighting men to David: In all Israel there were one million one hundred thousand men who could handle a sword, including four hundred and seventy thousand in Judah.
But Joab did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, because the king's command was repulsive to him. This command was also evil in the sight of God; so he punished Israel.
1 Chronicles 21:1-7
_____________________________________________________
Again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He incited David against them, saying, "Go and take a census of Israel and Judah."
So the king said to Joab and the army commanders with him, "Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and enroll the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are."
But Joab replied to the king, "May the Lord your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?"
The king's word, however, overruled Joab and the army commanders; so they left the presence of the king to enroll the fighting men of Israel.
After crossing the Jordan, they camped near Aroer, south of the town in the gorge, and then went through Gad and on to Jazer. They went to Gilead and the region of Tahtim Hodshi, and on to Dan Jaan and around toward Sidon. Then they went toward the fortress of Tyre and all the towns of the Hivites and Canaanites. Finally, they went on to Beersheba in the Negev of Judah.
After they had gone through the entire land, they came back to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.
Joab reported the number of the fighting men to the king: In Israel there were eight hundred thousand able-bodied men who could handle a sword, and in Judah five hundred thousand.
David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the Lord, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O Lord, I beg you, take away the guilt of Your servant. I have done a very foolish thing."
Before David got up the next morning, the word of the Lord had come to Gad the prophet, David's seer: "Go and tell David, 'This is what the Lord says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for Me to carry out against you.' "
So Gad went to David and said to him, "Shall there come upon you three years of famine in your land? Or three months of fleeing from your enemies while they pursue you? Or three days of plague in your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should answer the One who sent me."
David said to Gad, "I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for His mercy is great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men."
So the Lord sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord was grieved because of the calamity and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, "Enough! Withdraw your hand." The angel of the Lord was then at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
When David saw the angel who was striking down the people, he said to the Lord, "I am the one who has sinned and done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Let Your hand fall upon me and my family."
2 Samuel 24:1-17
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
As Chapter 24 opens, we find David making a decision he later wishes he would have never made.
The decision revolves around David ordering a census to be taken of “Israel and Judah” but not all people were counted. Rather, only those who were of age and able to fight were to be included.
How David came to order the count is interesting to say the least. If you only read 2nd Samuel, Chapter 24, then you would be led to believe that it was the Lord who “incited David against (Israel)”. But as we see in other places in the scriptures, particularly as we read the gospels, there are often parallel texts that offer a different perspective and help us reach a deeper level of understanding.
Such a passage can be found in 1st Chronicles, Chapter 21, where we read how Satan was the one who “rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census”. And so David did just that.
So why would one passage say that the Lord incited David while the other attribute it to Satan?
Well, we have seen before in the scriptures where the Lord is the Lord of all, having power over good and evil. And so as David was on the brink of sinful behavior, the Lord didn’t stop that sin from happening but instead allowed Satan to enter in and lead David to order the count.
Now, not everyone was onboard with David’s idea. We have seen before where a voice of reason has entered in and changed the heart of one about to make a bad choice. In this case, the voice comes in the way of Joab who sees that David’s plan is one that is ill-advised as he says to David:
"May the Lord multiply his troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all my lord's subjects? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?"
Joab highlights the root problem with David’s order. For any success that Israel had in battle wasn’t as a result of the number of troops that were sent forth to fight but rather because the Lord was with them when they went. In fact, we saw in Chapter 23 where single mighty men had great success fighting alone…all because they had the Lord on their side who was leading them to victory.
And so David’s desire to count all his men was done more out of a desire to boast about power in sheer numbers of soldiers instead of faith in the only One needed to win in any battle…and that was faith in God.
How often do we make the same mistake as David and place our faith in the wrong places?
Maybe we feel prideful in our longevity…boasting in the number of years we have lived because we have taken care of ourselves or have done this or that, choosing to take credit for our longevity instead of attributing it to the Lord’s mercy and grace and providence.
Maybe we have found success in the work place and have climbed the ladder, receiving monetary gains and promotion along the way. And as we share our successes with others, we tell them about how hard we have worked to set ourselves apart from the competition and get to where we are. But in doing this, we forget to attribute our successes to God’s blessing and provision.
Or maybe, we have reached financial wealth through any of a number of means. Perhaps, we have invested wisely and followed the advice of financial advisors. Or maybe we have enjoyed a hefty inheritance, receiving a bounty from our deceased loved ones. And no matter how we may have found our fortune, we become care-free and not having to worry about the bills anymore or where our next meal might come from. In fact, we get so caught up in our good fortune that we lose sight of our Good Master…the One through which it all came from.
Yes…it’s very easy to fall into the hands of sin and Satan, allowing ourselves to be blinded by pride and self accomplishment…and in doing so, failing to give the Lord the glory He deserves.
Well, as we have seen and will continue to see, if we don’t give God the attention He deserves, then He’ll get our attention and show us the wrongs of our ways.
For as David overrules Joab’s voiced concerns and sends Joab off to do the census, we read where his command was not only repulsive to him (Joab) but also “evil in the sight of God”.
And so God chose to punish Israel…but as we will see, He did it in a very interesting way…one that would teach David a valuable lesson.
For after the “end of nine months and twenty days”, Joab returned from the census and reported to David that “the number of the fighting men…were eight hundred thousand…who could handle a sword”. In Judah, there were “five hundred thousand”. Now as we look at the 1st Chronicles account, we will see that the numbers are different and this can be attributed to different people giving the accounts. What we need to stay focused on is the intent of David to take pride in the size of his fighting force instead of his relationship with God.
So what often happens when we do wrong in life…when we choose sin over obedience?
We become convicted of our wrongs…and as we see, this happened to David.
For we read where David becomes “conscience-stricken” after the census and this led him to turn to the Lord and confess, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O Lord, I beg you, take away the guilt of Your servant. I have done a very foolish thing."
David had taken the first necessary step in reconciling himself with the Lord…confessing his wrongs. But as we have seen and all have experienced ourselves at some level, the Lord will often discipline us to teach us a life lesson and help us to not make the same mistake twice.
In David’s case, the discipline would be costly.
For after David’s confession, the Lord sent a message to him through the prophet Gad, giving David three penalties to select from. David had willingly made a decision to sin and take the census…and now he would have another decision to make from three options that each brought hardship from God.
The three options…
The first involved famine…three years worth that the Lord would send over Israel.
The second involved David himself, covering three months through which he would have to flee from the pursuit of his enemies…something David was familiar with since he had done that before.
The third choice again involved all of Israel but was of a shorter duration…three days of plague which would come upon Israel.
Note that David did not have the option of none of the above. He would have to select one of the three choices presented. No doubt it was a tough decision to make…and thus no wonder why Gad would finish his message from God by saying, “…think it over and decide how I should answer the One who sent me."
What would you do if given these options?
After I thought about it, I decided I would choose to go through three months of pursuit by my enemies. After all, I (putting myself in David’s place) had made the decision to do the census in the first place. It was my choice that led to the Lord’s disfavor and so why would I place any penalty on my people. No…I would face the consequences for my actions.
Well, we see where David doesn’t quite see things the same way. For after pondering his options, he says to Gad, "I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for His mercy is great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men."
David had faced the pursuit of enemies before. He knew it wasn’t any fun and as we see, wasn’t willing to go through it again. Instead, he decides to throw himself and Israel “into the hands of the Lord” and into His mercy that David affirms is great.
Maybe David thought that his decision would cause the Lord to show leniency…that the Lord in His great mercy might spare the people of Israel for David’s action.
But that’s far from what happened. David decided to allow Israel to face God’s judgment for his sin and this is exactly what happened in the way of the three days of plague that the Lord sent on Israel “from that morning until the end of the time designated”. When all was said and done, a heavy price would be paid for David’s sin…as “seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died”. And the destruction didn’t stop until the Lord deemed it to stop, ordering His destroying angel to withdraw his hand as he “stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem”. The Lord had exercised mercy but not before many had perished.
Now…imagine that you’re David. You have witnessed 70,000 of your people struck down by plague…all because you had sinned…all because you chose to have the plague come.
How would you feel?
Well, I suspect we would feel just as David felt. For as he witnessed his people die, David cried out to the Lord saying, “I am the one who has sinned and done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Let Your hand fall upon me and my family."
Now David chose to take personal accountability for his actions. But it was too late. A heavy price had already been paid.
And this is just what happens sometimes when we willingly decide to sin…when we decide to place our faith in the wrong places and when we decide to take credit for matters that deserve credited to God.
Too often, others get hurt and face the consequence that belonged on us.
This Lenten season, let us ponder this point as we get set to journey again to the cross with Jesus…to the place where He bore the cost of our poor choices and sinfulness…dying where we should have died for the sins we should have died for.
And as we reflect on this, may we surrender our will to the Lord so that all we do in word, thought or deed, might be in accordance with His will for us…a will that will always lead us to do right…a will that will always ensure that our decisions are His decisions…a will that will always ensure that we place our faith in the only right place…in Him.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, "Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report back to me so that I may know how many there are."
But Joab replied, "May the Lord multiply his troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all my lord's subjects? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?"
The king's word, however, overruled Joab; so Joab left and went throughout Israel and then came back to Jerusalem. Joab reported the number of the fighting men to David: In all Israel there were one million one hundred thousand men who could handle a sword, including four hundred and seventy thousand in Judah.
But Joab did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, because the king's command was repulsive to him. This command was also evil in the sight of God; so he punished Israel.
1 Chronicles 21:1-7
_____________________________________________________
Again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He incited David against them, saying, "Go and take a census of Israel and Judah."
So the king said to Joab and the army commanders with him, "Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and enroll the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are."
But Joab replied to the king, "May the Lord your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?"
The king's word, however, overruled Joab and the army commanders; so they left the presence of the king to enroll the fighting men of Israel.
After crossing the Jordan, they camped near Aroer, south of the town in the gorge, and then went through Gad and on to Jazer. They went to Gilead and the region of Tahtim Hodshi, and on to Dan Jaan and around toward Sidon. Then they went toward the fortress of Tyre and all the towns of the Hivites and Canaanites. Finally, they went on to Beersheba in the Negev of Judah.
After they had gone through the entire land, they came back to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.
Joab reported the number of the fighting men to the king: In Israel there were eight hundred thousand able-bodied men who could handle a sword, and in Judah five hundred thousand.
David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the Lord, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O Lord, I beg you, take away the guilt of Your servant. I have done a very foolish thing."
Before David got up the next morning, the word of the Lord had come to Gad the prophet, David's seer: "Go and tell David, 'This is what the Lord says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for Me to carry out against you.' "
So Gad went to David and said to him, "Shall there come upon you three years of famine in your land? Or three months of fleeing from your enemies while they pursue you? Or three days of plague in your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should answer the One who sent me."
David said to Gad, "I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for His mercy is great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men."
So the Lord sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord was grieved because of the calamity and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, "Enough! Withdraw your hand." The angel of the Lord was then at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
When David saw the angel who was striking down the people, he said to the Lord, "I am the one who has sinned and done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Let Your hand fall upon me and my family."
2 Samuel 24:1-17
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
As Chapter 24 opens, we find David making a decision he later wishes he would have never made.
The decision revolves around David ordering a census to be taken of “Israel and Judah” but not all people were counted. Rather, only those who were of age and able to fight were to be included.
How David came to order the count is interesting to say the least. If you only read 2nd Samuel, Chapter 24, then you would be led to believe that it was the Lord who “incited David against (Israel)”. But as we see in other places in the scriptures, particularly as we read the gospels, there are often parallel texts that offer a different perspective and help us reach a deeper level of understanding.
Such a passage can be found in 1st Chronicles, Chapter 21, where we read how Satan was the one who “rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census”. And so David did just that.
So why would one passage say that the Lord incited David while the other attribute it to Satan?
Well, we have seen before in the scriptures where the Lord is the Lord of all, having power over good and evil. And so as David was on the brink of sinful behavior, the Lord didn’t stop that sin from happening but instead allowed Satan to enter in and lead David to order the count.
Now, not everyone was onboard with David’s idea. We have seen before where a voice of reason has entered in and changed the heart of one about to make a bad choice. In this case, the voice comes in the way of Joab who sees that David’s plan is one that is ill-advised as he says to David:
"May the Lord multiply his troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all my lord's subjects? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?"
Joab highlights the root problem with David’s order. For any success that Israel had in battle wasn’t as a result of the number of troops that were sent forth to fight but rather because the Lord was with them when they went. In fact, we saw in Chapter 23 where single mighty men had great success fighting alone…all because they had the Lord on their side who was leading them to victory.
And so David’s desire to count all his men was done more out of a desire to boast about power in sheer numbers of soldiers instead of faith in the only One needed to win in any battle…and that was faith in God.
How often do we make the same mistake as David and place our faith in the wrong places?
Maybe we feel prideful in our longevity…boasting in the number of years we have lived because we have taken care of ourselves or have done this or that, choosing to take credit for our longevity instead of attributing it to the Lord’s mercy and grace and providence.
Maybe we have found success in the work place and have climbed the ladder, receiving monetary gains and promotion along the way. And as we share our successes with others, we tell them about how hard we have worked to set ourselves apart from the competition and get to where we are. But in doing this, we forget to attribute our successes to God’s blessing and provision.
Or maybe, we have reached financial wealth through any of a number of means. Perhaps, we have invested wisely and followed the advice of financial advisors. Or maybe we have enjoyed a hefty inheritance, receiving a bounty from our deceased loved ones. And no matter how we may have found our fortune, we become care-free and not having to worry about the bills anymore or where our next meal might come from. In fact, we get so caught up in our good fortune that we lose sight of our Good Master…the One through which it all came from.
Yes…it’s very easy to fall into the hands of sin and Satan, allowing ourselves to be blinded by pride and self accomplishment…and in doing so, failing to give the Lord the glory He deserves.
Well, as we have seen and will continue to see, if we don’t give God the attention He deserves, then He’ll get our attention and show us the wrongs of our ways.
For as David overrules Joab’s voiced concerns and sends Joab off to do the census, we read where his command was not only repulsive to him (Joab) but also “evil in the sight of God”.
And so God chose to punish Israel…but as we will see, He did it in a very interesting way…one that would teach David a valuable lesson.
For after the “end of nine months and twenty days”, Joab returned from the census and reported to David that “the number of the fighting men…were eight hundred thousand…who could handle a sword”. In Judah, there were “five hundred thousand”. Now as we look at the 1st Chronicles account, we will see that the numbers are different and this can be attributed to different people giving the accounts. What we need to stay focused on is the intent of David to take pride in the size of his fighting force instead of his relationship with God.
So what often happens when we do wrong in life…when we choose sin over obedience?
We become convicted of our wrongs…and as we see, this happened to David.
For we read where David becomes “conscience-stricken” after the census and this led him to turn to the Lord and confess, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O Lord, I beg you, take away the guilt of Your servant. I have done a very foolish thing."
David had taken the first necessary step in reconciling himself with the Lord…confessing his wrongs. But as we have seen and all have experienced ourselves at some level, the Lord will often discipline us to teach us a life lesson and help us to not make the same mistake twice.
In David’s case, the discipline would be costly.
For after David’s confession, the Lord sent a message to him through the prophet Gad, giving David three penalties to select from. David had willingly made a decision to sin and take the census…and now he would have another decision to make from three options that each brought hardship from God.
The three options…
The first involved famine…three years worth that the Lord would send over Israel.
The second involved David himself, covering three months through which he would have to flee from the pursuit of his enemies…something David was familiar with since he had done that before.
The third choice again involved all of Israel but was of a shorter duration…three days of plague which would come upon Israel.
Note that David did not have the option of none of the above. He would have to select one of the three choices presented. No doubt it was a tough decision to make…and thus no wonder why Gad would finish his message from God by saying, “…think it over and decide how I should answer the One who sent me."
What would you do if given these options?
After I thought about it, I decided I would choose to go through three months of pursuit by my enemies. After all, I (putting myself in David’s place) had made the decision to do the census in the first place. It was my choice that led to the Lord’s disfavor and so why would I place any penalty on my people. No…I would face the consequences for my actions.
Well, we see where David doesn’t quite see things the same way. For after pondering his options, he says to Gad, "I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for His mercy is great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men."
David had faced the pursuit of enemies before. He knew it wasn’t any fun and as we see, wasn’t willing to go through it again. Instead, he decides to throw himself and Israel “into the hands of the Lord” and into His mercy that David affirms is great.
Maybe David thought that his decision would cause the Lord to show leniency…that the Lord in His great mercy might spare the people of Israel for David’s action.
But that’s far from what happened. David decided to allow Israel to face God’s judgment for his sin and this is exactly what happened in the way of the three days of plague that the Lord sent on Israel “from that morning until the end of the time designated”. When all was said and done, a heavy price would be paid for David’s sin…as “seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died”. And the destruction didn’t stop until the Lord deemed it to stop, ordering His destroying angel to withdraw his hand as he “stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem”. The Lord had exercised mercy but not before many had perished.
Now…imagine that you’re David. You have witnessed 70,000 of your people struck down by plague…all because you had sinned…all because you chose to have the plague come.
How would you feel?
Well, I suspect we would feel just as David felt. For as he witnessed his people die, David cried out to the Lord saying, “I am the one who has sinned and done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Let Your hand fall upon me and my family."
Now David chose to take personal accountability for his actions. But it was too late. A heavy price had already been paid.
And this is just what happens sometimes when we willingly decide to sin…when we decide to place our faith in the wrong places and when we decide to take credit for matters that deserve credited to God.
Too often, others get hurt and face the consequence that belonged on us.
This Lenten season, let us ponder this point as we get set to journey again to the cross with Jesus…to the place where He bore the cost of our poor choices and sinfulness…dying where we should have died for the sins we should have died for.
And as we reflect on this, may we surrender our will to the Lord so that all we do in word, thought or deed, might be in accordance with His will for us…a will that will always lead us to do right…a will that will always ensure that our decisions are His decisions…a will that will always ensure that we place our faith in the only right place…in Him.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Saturday, March 14, 2009
THE MIGHTY MAN
NOTE: To all my readers…I am currently in Kuwait and am awaiting my flight to my new assignment. Please bear with me during this trip as I adjust to new time zones and surroundings. I am currently 7 hours ahead of EST but intend to continue writing every day while sharing the words the Lord places on my heart. Please keep Grace and I in prayer as we endure yet another separation…our final one before I retire. God bless all of you and thanks for your faithful readership and comments. In Christ, Mark
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
These are the names of David's mighty men:
Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter.
Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. Then the men of Israel retreated, but he stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.
Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel's troops fled from them. But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.
During harvest time, three of the thirty chief men came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. David longed for water and said, "Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!" So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord. "Far be it from me, O Lord, to do this!" he said. "Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?" And David would not drink it.
Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.
Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them.
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, who performed great exploits. He struck down two of Moab's best men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear. Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty men. He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
Among the Thirty were:
Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem, Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa, Abiezer from Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite, Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the ravines of Gaash, Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
the sons of Jashen, Jonathan son of Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite, Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, the son of Hagri, Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah, Ira the Ithrite,
Gareb the Ithrite and Uriah the Hittite.
There were thirty-seven in all.
2 Samuel 23:8-39
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
As anyone studies history, they will read about the exploits of men and women that made a difference. For it seems that there is always some who stand out from the masses…those who deserve distinguished recognition.
As Chapter 23 of 2nd Samuel concludes, we see this take place in the documentation of “David's mighty men”.
We read about Josheb-Basshebeth who was “chief of the Three”, raising “his spear against eight hundred men” who he “killed in one encounter”.
We read about Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite who was with David as they “taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle”, standing his ground while striking down the Philistines “till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword”.
We read about Shammah who took a stand in the middle of a fields as Israel’s troops fled before defending the ground and striking the Philistines down.
We read about Abishai who “raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed” and became a commander.
We read about Benaiah, a “valiant fighter…who performed great exploits” as he “struck down two of Moab's best men”. Scripture tells us he “also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion” as well as a “huge Egyptian” who he killed with the Egyptian’s own spear. His efforts led to David putting him in charge of his bodyguard.
Indeed, this passage gives us an account of many brave warriors in David’s time. It also though gives full credit where credit is due. For no matter how many mighty men David had at his disposal, none were as important as THE mighty Man…the Lord.
We see this mentioned in the scripture passage twice as the Lord is attributed to have brought about great victory to Eleazar and Shammah. In truth, it could of and should have been attributed to every man listed. For no victory is attained while completing the Lord’s purpose without the Lord ensuring that victory happens. Not then…not now…not in the future.
The Lord is THE mighty Man…and the One who should always be given the honor, glory and praise as He brings about victories in the lives of His people.
Question: Have you been blessed with victories in life? Have you been used in ways that have led to victorious events?
If so, who have you attributed credit for those victories?
To others?
To yourself?
Or have you given credit in the only place where credit is truly due…to the Lord through which all victories are ordained and accomplished as he works through the lives of His people. To a Lord who gave His only Son to die on the cross of Calvary to not only defeat sin but then death after His resurrection…His victory over the grave paving the way for all of us to follow if we only believe and trust Him as our Savior.
Friends, indeed we serve THE mighty Man…THE One who brings about all victories in life.
Have you thanked Him for this today?
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
These are the names of David's mighty men:
Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter.
Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. Then the men of Israel retreated, but he stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.
Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel's troops fled from them. But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.
During harvest time, three of the thirty chief men came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. David longed for water and said, "Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!" So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord. "Far be it from me, O Lord, to do this!" he said. "Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?" And David would not drink it.
Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.
Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them.
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, who performed great exploits. He struck down two of Moab's best men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear. Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty men. He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
Among the Thirty were:
Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem, Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa, Abiezer from Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite, Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the ravines of Gaash, Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
the sons of Jashen, Jonathan son of Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite, Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, the son of Hagri, Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah, Ira the Ithrite,
Gareb the Ithrite and Uriah the Hittite.
There were thirty-seven in all.
2 Samuel 23:8-39
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
As anyone studies history, they will read about the exploits of men and women that made a difference. For it seems that there is always some who stand out from the masses…those who deserve distinguished recognition.
As Chapter 23 of 2nd Samuel concludes, we see this take place in the documentation of “David's mighty men”.
We read about Josheb-Basshebeth who was “chief of the Three”, raising “his spear against eight hundred men” who he “killed in one encounter”.
We read about Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite who was with David as they “taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle”, standing his ground while striking down the Philistines “till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword”.
We read about Shammah who took a stand in the middle of a fields as Israel’s troops fled before defending the ground and striking the Philistines down.
We read about Abishai who “raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed” and became a commander.
We read about Benaiah, a “valiant fighter…who performed great exploits” as he “struck down two of Moab's best men”. Scripture tells us he “also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion” as well as a “huge Egyptian” who he killed with the Egyptian’s own spear. His efforts led to David putting him in charge of his bodyguard.
Indeed, this passage gives us an account of many brave warriors in David’s time. It also though gives full credit where credit is due. For no matter how many mighty men David had at his disposal, none were as important as THE mighty Man…the Lord.
We see this mentioned in the scripture passage twice as the Lord is attributed to have brought about great victory to Eleazar and Shammah. In truth, it could of and should have been attributed to every man listed. For no victory is attained while completing the Lord’s purpose without the Lord ensuring that victory happens. Not then…not now…not in the future.
The Lord is THE mighty Man…and the One who should always be given the honor, glory and praise as He brings about victories in the lives of His people.
Question: Have you been blessed with victories in life? Have you been used in ways that have led to victorious events?
If so, who have you attributed credit for those victories?
To others?
To yourself?
Or have you given credit in the only place where credit is truly due…to the Lord through which all victories are ordained and accomplished as he works through the lives of His people. To a Lord who gave His only Son to die on the cross of Calvary to not only defeat sin but then death after His resurrection…His victory over the grave paving the way for all of us to follow if we only believe and trust Him as our Savior.
Friends, indeed we serve THE mighty Man…THE One who brings about all victories in life.
Have you thanked Him for this today?
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
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