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
No comments:
Post a Comment