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.
"As for you, if you walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, 'You shall never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.' “
"But if you or your sons turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. Israel will then become a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. And though this temple is now imposing, all who pass by will be appalled and will scoff and say, 'Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?' People will answer, 'Because they have forsaken the Lord their God, who brought their fathers out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them — that is why the Lord brought all this disaster on them.' "
1 Kings 9:4-9
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
As Chapter 9 of 1st Kings opened, we saw where God answered Solomon’s prayers from Chapter 8 during the dedication of the temple after appearing to him. You’ll recall that God told Solomon that he had “heard the prayer and plea…made before (Him)”, “consecrated (the) temple which (Solomon)…built, by putting (God’s) Name there forever” and would always have His eyes and heart in the temple.
God followed these words with others…intended to ensure Solomon knew that there were conditions that needed followed in order to ensure all God promised would remain in place. These conditions would not only ensure that God would sustain His promises but also serve as requirements for Solomon’s success as well as those sons who would lead after.
Let’s take a look at the specific requirements God gives Solomon because they are equally applicable to you and I today.
1. Integrity.
“As for you…walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness…” (verse 4)
God expected Solomon (and He still expects us as well) to walk before Him in integrity and uprightness. In other words, God expects His people to exercise honesty, adhering to His expectations and will and way. And not just some of the time but all of the time…so we might be found walking and living in a way that is unwavering, incorruptible and conscientiously scrupulous.
2. Action.
"As for you…do all I command…” (verse 4)
Note that word “do”…a word spoken by God…a word that called Solomon and us to take action…to do all that He commanded. And note that second word, “all” for it’s an absolute. In other words, all is a word that is all encompassing. There are to be no exceptions because God gave none. He expects His commands to be followed…for us to do what He tells us to do. And we can only do that when we are proactively seeking Him and then carrying out His expectations…and doing so with the utmost integrity and uprightness.
3. Obedience.
"As for you…observe my decrees and laws…” (verse 4)
Depending on what translation you read, you’ll find the word “observe” replaced by “obey” or “keep” or variations on those two words. Regardless which word is used, the intent remains the same. God expects all His people…Solomon…the people of Israel…and us to be obedient to His decrees and laws. That’s why He put them in place…so that they might be obeyed and conformed to without exception as they draw us to a place of integrity, uprightness and proactive service.
So God gave three clear requirements…integrity, action and obedience.
What was Solomon to gain by adhering to those requirements? What will we have to gain by doing likewise?
Let’s go back to the scriptures.
For God said this:
"As for you, if you walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, 'You shall never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.' “ (verses 4-5)
God offered a classic if/then statement to Solomon. If Solomon walked before Him in integrity of heart and uprightness as his father had and do all He commanded and observed His decrees and laws, then God would establish Solomon’s royal throne over Israel forever.
In other words, Solomon and his descendants would find eternal success if they only conformed to God’s requirements.
But what if they didn’t?
Well, then they wouldn’t find success but instead fall into failure.
Here again is the word of God:
"But if you or your sons turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. Israel will then become a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. And though this temple is now imposing, all who pass by will be appalled and will scoff and say, 'Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?' People will answer, 'Because they have forsaken the Lord their God, who brought their fathers out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them — that is why the Lord brought all this disaster on them.' " (verses 6-9)
Again, another if/ten statement from God. For if Solomon or his sons would turn away from Him, choose to not obey His commands and decrees and go off to serve and worship other gods, then God would cut off Israel from the land He gave them…the promised land…and would reject His consecrated temple. The once beloved Israel would now be disgraced…a byword and object of ridicule among all people who when asking why all this has happened would be told, “Because they have forsaken the Lord their God, who brought their fathers out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them — that is why the Lord brought all this disaster on them.”
And with that, God had clearly laid out the ground rules for Solomon. If he and his successors wanted to succeed, then they only need exercise integrity and uprightness while doing all He commanded and following His decrees and laws obediently.
So too is it with us.
For as we walk through life and look for how we can be successful, we only need look to the One who makes that success possible…the One through which every good and perfect gift comes (James 1:17)…the One who requires us to show integrity as we do what He wants us to do while obediently following His decrees and laws.
Because if we choose to not do this…
Well, let’s say it would be far better for us to learn from the mistakes of Israel and just obey. For God expects nothing less and that’s all the more reason any of us need.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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