365 Reflections

Solomon has come to the completion of his work to establish both the Temple of God and his own palace in 2 Chronicles 8. The text makes clear that Solomon was well established by the Lord and his kingdom, as promised, was strong and blessed. 2 Chronicles 8:1–2, 6 (ESV) At the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the house of the LORD and his own house, 2 Solomon rebuilt the cities that Hiram had given to him, and settled the people of Israel in them... 6b ... and whatever Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion. But later in the passage, there's a hint of impending compromise in Solomon's life. An interesting notation occurs in verse 11: 2 Chronicles 8:11 (ESV) Solomon brought Pharaoh’s daughter up from the city of David to the house that he had built for her, for he said, “My wife shall not live in the house of David king of Israel, for the places to which the ark of the LORD has come are holy.” Solomon's kingdom ...

David's family is broken. Amnon is murdered by Absalom who flees from the capital and lives in exile as a result of his vengeful act. Joab, the whiley commander coordinates a plan to get Absalom back home and sends a woman from Tekoa to trick King David into returning his son. 2 Samuel 14:2–3 (ESV) And Joab sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman and said to her, “Pretend to be a mourner and put on mourning garments. Do not anoint yourself with oil, but behave like a woman who has been mourning many days for the dead. 3 Go to the king and speak thus to him.” So Joab put the words in her mouth. Now the words Joab gives this woman contain a fake parable filled with half-truth relevance to the situation between David and Absalom intended to manipulate the King into returning his estranged son. The plan works and Absalom is restored: 2 Samuel 14:21–22 (ESV) Then the king said to Joab, “Behold now, I grant this; go, bring back the young man Absalom.” 22 And Joab fe...

One of the parts that makes me laugh during the trial of Christ is what happens to Pilate and Herod. Luke 23:12 (ESV) And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other. Even as He's falsely accused tried and condemned to an unjust death, Jesus brings people together. Think of it... a Jewish king and a Gentile watch-dog are suddenly... friends!? What is going on? I think I know the answer... The cross is coming! The cross means reconciliation. It means enemies can now be made friends. Yes, Pilate and Herod, but more importantly YOU and God! We are by our very nature at odds with God. The reason is because we are born in sin and filled with self from the very day of our birth. The opportunity for us to reach up to Him in goodness is beyond us completely. God reached down in Christ and through His death made peace between us by wiping our sins away! But this uniting of Jewish king and Gentile ruler was ...