365 Reflections

Solomon's aspirations for the Temple of God are admirable. He uses the best materials and the most sacred style of construction to send a message to the nation and the world that the HOUSE of the Lord deserved the highest priority. Sadly, the story of Solomon takes a sad turn just after the details of the Temple's construction are finished. Notice how the text quickly moves on to discuss Solomon's work on his own home and several others adjoining buildings for himself plus his queen's own residence in 1 Kings 7. The first hint at the problems occurs with the last verse of 1 Kings 6 and the first verse of 1 Kings 7: 1 Kings 6:38–7:1 (ESV)   And in the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished in all its parts, and according to all its specifications. He was seven years in building it. 1 Solomon was building his own house thirteen years , and he finished his entire house. There is a tendency for those who work hard...

When construction begins on the Temple in 1 Kings 6 the Lord interrupts the work's description to speak to Solomon about what he's undertaking. Here's what the Lord says: 1 Kings 6:11–13 (ESV) Now the word of the Lord came to Solomon, 12 “Concerning this house that you are building, if you will walk in my statutes and obey my rules and keep all my commandments and walk in them, then I will establish my word with you, which I spoke to David your father. 13 And I will dwell among the children of Israel and will not forsake my people Israel.” A few things should catch us in this passage: First, God interrupts what Solomon is DOING to make sure Solomon understands that what's in his heart is far more important than what his hands perform. This is what God wants from all of us. The greatest commandment is not the do things for the Lord but the Love the Lord our God will all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. In the end, the Lord wants us to love Him. Thi...

1 Kings 6:1 (ESV)  In the four hundred and eightieth year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the house of the LORD. Solomon goes into great care to erect the Temple of God in Israel. It is a new day for the nation as the tabernacle tent is replaced by an ornate and finely tuned house of worship for Israel. The temple's dimensions are double the tabernacle of Moses meaning the whole structure would be quadruple the size. While this structure pales in comparison to today's buildings and churches, in the ancient world, it was impressive. Yet the most impressive thing about the construction of this house is not it's size but how it was formed. Look at verse 7: 1 Kings 6:7 (ESV) When the house was built, it was with stone prepared at the quarry, so that neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron was heard in the house while it was...

Solomon's kingdom becomes an exhibit to the world of the gracious hand of the Lord upon His people and His chosen king. When Solomon decides to begin construction on the Temple, he reaches out to the foreign King, Hiram for lumber. The relationship gets off to a wonderful start. 1 Kings 5:7–8 (ESV) As soon as Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the Lord this day, who has given to David a wise son to be over this great people.” 8 And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, “I have heard the message that you have sent to me. I am ready to do all you desire in the matter of cedar and cypress timber. We have here God's desire for Israel from the beginning. That they be a light to the Gentiles and an example to the world of what life with the Lord looks like. Hiram is impressed with Solomon's wisdom. He offers to help him and in fact, will do more than Solomon requests. Instead of requiring shared labor, Hiram will have his people do all ...

Solomon's reign is described succinctly here: 1 Kings 4:20–21 (ESV)  Judah and Israel were as many as the sand by the sea. They ate and drank and were happy. 21 Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life. The promise made to Abraham is now fulfilled. It took hundreds of years and many generations but Israel is now as numerous as the sand on the sea. Sadly, it will not stay this way but we should take note of what went into making this happen: Godly LEADERSHIP. It began with Moses, then Joshua, some good Judges, Samuel and David, now Solomon. In the end, people need leaders who will guide them along the path God has laid out for them. Here we see the "provision" (ate and drank) of Israel, and the emotional well being of Israel (happiness) connected to the wise RULE of Solomon. The purpose of leadership and authority is to care...

The very next moment after Solomon's request for wisdom to govern God's people is answered he is presented with a choice of immense proportions. 1 Kings 3:16–22 (ESV) Then two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. 17 The one woman said, “Oh, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house, and I gave birth to a child while she was in the house. 18 Then on the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. And we were alone. There was no one else with us in the house; only we two were in the house. 19 And this woman’s son died in the night, because she lay on him. 20 And she arose at midnight and took my son from beside me, while your servant slept, and laid him at her breast, and laid her dead son at my breast. 21 When I rose in the morning to nurse my child, behold, he was dead. But when I looked at him closely in the morning, behold, he was not the child that I had borne.” 22 But the other woman said, “No, the living child is mine, and the dead chi...

I want to spend a little more time looking at Solomon’s request for wisdom and the Lord’s response. For in this moment we are given a spiritual truth we may overlook. 1 Kings 3:10-11 (ESV) It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 And God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right,... The Lord is pleased with Solomon’s request for wisdom for the sake of God’s people. But the Lord is also pleased with the fact that Solomon does NOT ask for wealth, riches or fame. Note the both/and of this moment. Yes. There are prayers we don’t pray that please God. Now I don’t want us to get anxious here. We are also commanded to pray about everything (Philippians 4:8). But let’s remember Solomon is already king and very wealthy. His request for more wealth would have been beyond the pale. Why ask for more of what you already have? Sol...

1 Kings 3:6–9 (ESV) 6 And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. 7 And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. 9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” There's a lot to learn from Solomon's words to God's "blank check" moment. Let us not forget this is a dream. Dreams have a lot to say about who we are and how we see the wo...

Sometimes I struggle to believe a verse of Scripture. Are you the same? One that sticks out for is from James 1. James 1:5 (ESV) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. I love that verse. I also have a hard time believing it. When I ask God for wisdom (or anything for that matter), I'm inclined to believe He's holding my sins in a cup ready to use them against me in a celestial court so that I realize I'm worthy of nothing and I shouldn't even bother asking. Yet that's NOT what it says. I am choosing to believe a lie in that case. The scripture clearly affirms that God gives without reproach! And notice, "to all" ! He's the Giver who doesn't find fault. Another translation reads just that way: James 1:5 (NIV) If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault , and it will be given to him. Now, here in 1 Kings 3, we...

Let's get something straight about peace. It does not come without blood. People can talk all they want about being nice and bringing a calm to the world but it's all a bunch of nonsense if someone does not execute swift punishment on the evildoer and deter further insurrections with a strong righteous hand executing justice. Without blood, World War 2 does not end. Without blood, terrorist plots are not thwarted. Without blood, the ego-maniacal dictators destroy millions of lives unfettered. Solomon's reign begins in blood. Which is interesting since his name literally means, "Peaceable." Yet his own father sets him on a course for the swift judgment of those notable names who were thorns in his side. 1 Kings 2:5–6 (ESV) “Moreover, you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner the son of Ner, and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, avenging in time of peace for blood that ha...