1
KINGS
We thank the Lord for His continuous help and mercy even as
we continue to pray His will through the platforms – He continues to remind us
that He is the Lord of the harvest, and He has so graciously called us to
labour. He has equipped us with the complete gospel – Jesus Christ – which is
ALL that we require.
He expects that we will continue
diligently in the labour, never losing sight and focus – no matter the
distractions within and without!
He comes again and again to remind us of the urgency not to
look back, not to be careless and to know that we have an adversary who is
relentless at wanting/scheming our destruction.
But glory! The battle is the Lord’s; He keeps encouraging
us to focus!
We will now examine the life of King Solomon and trust that
God will teach us and help us to continue diligently.
Solomon’s
reign
as king started with the elimination of his father (David's) enemies – 1 Kings 2.
After this
episode, he sought the Lord for wisdom – 1 Kings
3: 5-10.
The Lord
was pleased with Solomon’s request and gave him much more, including that
Solomon will walk in His ways – 1 Kings 3: 10-15.
Solomon
married the daughter of Pharaoh and also still offered sacrifices on the high
places; even though he walked in the statutes of his father, David – 1 Kings 3: 1-3.
Solomon was a
wise king, had an organised cabinet, had so much provision, lacked nothing – 1 Kings 4. 29-34.
"God
gave Solomon very great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge as vast as the
sands of the seashore. 30 In fact, his
wisdom exceeded that of all the wise men of the East and the wise men of Egypt.
31 He was wiser than anyone else, including
Ethan the Ezrahite and the sons of Mahol—Heman, Calcol, and Darda. His fame
spread throughout all the surrounding nations. 32 He
composed some 3,000 proverbs and wrote 1,005 songs. 33 He
could speak with authority about all kinds of plants, from the great cedar of
Lebanon to the tiny hyssop that grows from cracks in a wall. He could also
speak about animals, birds, small creatures, and fish. 34 And
kings from every nation sent their ambassadors to listen to the wisdom of
Solomon."
Solomon built
a temple to the Lord and also a palace – he was detailed and generous in the
buildings and used the finest and best of materials. The Bible records details
of this construction which lasted twenty years – 1 King 6-7.
After
building and dedicating the temple to God, the Lord appeared to Solomon again,
accepting the consecration of the temple and re-stating His condition for
Solomon to walk in His statutes. The Lord also told him of the consequences of
doing otherwise – 1 Kings 9: 1-9.
The Queen
of Sheba, hearing of Solomon, visited him and was amazed that what she had
seen with her eyes of Solomon’s wisdom and achievements far exceeded what she
had even heard! – 1 Kings 10: 1-10.
After the
Lord’s appearing to Solomon initially to give him wisdom, the Bible does not
record any killings by Solomon or any troubles by enemies towards God’s
people. At the dedication of the temple, Solomon even praised God for
giving rest unto Israel, just as God had promised – 1 Kings 8:56.
Solomon is
recorded as "however" loving many foreign women who eventually turned his
heart away from God – 1 Kings 11: 1-13.
We began to hear of Solomon’s adversaries, only after disobedience! – 1 Kings 11:14-4.
PRAYERS
- Even though Solomon seemed to have started on a wrong foot by killing his father’s enemies, when He sought the Lord, He was ready and willing to direct him the right way – 1 Kings 3:11-13. "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and He will give us the desires of our heart" – Matthew 6:33.
- That
my life in word and deed will bear the mark of complete dedication to
Jesus, the complete gospel. Acts 1:1 – "In my first book I told you, Theophilus, about
everything Jesus began to do and teach." Imagine if
the Queen of Sheba was disappointed with what she saw when she visited Solomon, after hearing so much. May I be a hearer and doer of the word! A true
witness!
- The
Lord will do great signs and wonders, even as the people saw in Solomon in 1 Kings 3:28 – pray that in spite of this, I will remain reverent to Him, not
touching the glory or even forgetting the testimonies of lives coming to
Calvary, healing, rest, etc.
- As
Calvary Christians, the Lord is again reminding me of His standard of
total obedience. In His mercy He comes again and again to me to make it
right. Lord, reveal any loopholes in my life, any "howevers" in my
life. That God will find me completely obedient to Him – no part "offerings" on any other altars!
- These
loopholes cannot be dealt with trivially. Satan, my adversary will use them,
no matter how small, insignificant or even complicated. Lord, help me to
make haste to deal with them. Lord, deal a deadly blow to these loopholes, I pray! The consequences of disobedience are too grave!
- Solomon’s distraction was not sudden. I doubt that he suddenly married 700 wives and had all 300 concubines at once – it would have been gradual. Recall that he initially married Pharaoh’s daughter, then we hear of all the others. Lord, keep us vigilant, firm and alert to prevent 'tares being sown while we sleep'!
- Let’s
take advantage of "now" that the Lord is calling us, there are
distractions even in these times that we live. Whatever will disqualify us
after this entire labour, Lord remove it now from our lives – take me back
to Calvary to see again and again!!!
