by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
I Kings 3-5
Solomon begins his reign with everything going for him.
There is peace all around and his country is unified and strong. In fact, very strong and prosperous. Solomon’s provision is abundant and his military might is also.
Good times for the nation of Israel.
God gives Solomon a dream in which he sees himself asking for wisdom – an understanding heart to judge between good and evil. A wisdom to lead the people in God’s way. In the dream, God is happy at the request and promises to give Solomon, not only wisdom, but riches and long life also. As Solomon awakens, it’s as if he had asked these things himself, and all of these blessings begin to come to him. God gives him great wisdom – so much so that he becomes famous for his ability to discern and rule justly.
There is one hint, however, that things will not always go so well. I Kings 3:3 says, “Now Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David, except he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.” It’s a tiny mention, but it’s important in the long run.
The high places were altars put on the hills around the land. They were like substitutes for the Ark of the Covenant and the real altar of God. I little bit of compromise was there.
Still, with that tiny mention of compromise, Solomon is pursuing God. He begins to make provision to build a house for his Creator. The vision for the famous Solomon’s Temple is beginning to take shape.
Only the best materials for God’s temple. The finest timber, the most beautiful rocks, the finest all the way around.
Luke 20:1-26
Once again the scribes and pharisees try to trick Jesus, but they just can’t do it! His wisdom is beyond anything they have ever seen. There is no trick question which can be a “gotcha” moment for the Son of God. He always has a discerning answer to their questions.
“They watched Him and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order that they might catch Him in some statement, so as to deliver Him up to the rule and authority of the governor.”(v. 20) “But He detected their trickery and said…” (v.23) They just didn’t realize who they were dealing with!
In verses 9-18, Jesus tells a parable, which is really a prophecy for the Jews. He speaks of a vineyard planted by a man who went on a journey. At harvest time, he sent back slaves for some of the produce, but the slaves were beaten and sent away. (These slaves are a type for the prophets).
Then the vineyard owner said ,”I’ll send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.”(v.13). Yet the vine-growers killed the only son, thinking the inheritance would be theirs.
The owner of the vineyard would now come and take the vineyard away from them and give it to others.
What is Jesus saying? He is saying that Israel has been God’s vineyard – His special nation, cared for and tended with love. Yet the caretakers of this vineyard have not honored the prophets, and now they haven’t honored His Son. There was about to be a change of dispensation.
After the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, the vineyard (God’s planting on the earth) would go into the hands of Christians. Those who believe on Jesus would now be God’s covenant people.
In this new covenant, there would be no difference between Jew and Gentile. The new covenant would be based on a relationship with God through Jesus, His Son.
The Jews were “rejecting the cornerstone of God’s building,” Jesus. (v.17)
Now those of us who receive Jesus as our Savior are part of the new building – or the new covenant, and ours is a better covenant than the first one.
We are such a blessed people!
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
I Kings 1-2
Those transitions are rough, aren’t they? There is always someone waiting in the wings to take over the kingdom. So Adonijah tries it this time, and at first, looks like he is succeeding.
But wait, God has another plan.
When we are reading all of this history, with all of its bloodshed, it’s important to remind ourselves why these people are so important to God. His plan is working even when it doesn’t look like it.
The real reason that these Israelites are so important is that through His covenant with Abraham, God has been raising up a strong nation for His purpose. That nation will eventually bring the Savior of the world into the earth. In order to do that, He has brought the law and His prescriptions for walking in His way.
Even though he isn’t a perfect man – not by a long shot – David is God’s man, and he has certain attributes which are desirable in a man of God. One of those attributes is that he keeps his word.
As David charges his son, Solomon, to take over the throne, he reminds him of his responsibility.
“Keep the charge of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn.”(2:3).
So the throne is passed to Solomon, the son of Bathsheba. This in itself is interesting, isn’t it? Bathsheba is the one with whom David had had an adulterous relationship.
The choice shows God’s mercy. David had repented for this great sin, and the sin was forgiven.
When God forgives us, we are truly forgiven. The slate is washed clean, and we are ready for our new assignments.
He is indeed a faithful and merciful God to those who are in covenant with Him.
Luke 19:28-48
Do you have “ears to hear and eyes to see?” Are you tuned into God’s Spirit so that you can understand spiritual things?
That’s what the Pharisees lacked in the days of Jesus.
As He stood upon the hill above Jerusalem, Jesus wept. Sorrow filled His heart because the Jews didn’t “recognize the time of their visitation.”(v.44)
You might say, “Why didn’t they?” These Jews were scholars who studied the scriptures. They thought that they knew God’s Word. Why didn’t they recognize the Day?
It has to do with the heart of man. They approached the Word with an attitude of pride, and not humility. They wanted to draw attention to themselves as they demanded the place of respect. They honored men more than God. They weren’t tuned in to God’s Spirit.
Today we have the same. There are men and women who are supposedly representing God, who are actually enemies of the cross.
Wow! Those are tough words!
Tough, but true. Instead of listening to God and representing His Word, these people are filled with human wisdom – and not God’s wisdom. They change the Word to suit their own pleasures – and as such, put themselves in a higher place than they should.
Today, Jesus is not here in body, but He is in Spirit. His Holy Spirit lives in the heart of men and women who have received Him, and He is teaching His own, when they will listen.
I want to be a listener, don’t you? I want to hear from God’s Holy Spirit and receive His Word. I want to know what He is saying to me, and I want to take heed to those Words.
I want to be able to recognize the days in which we are living – and to make the most of them.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
II Samuel 23-24
First in this passage we encounter a listing of the Mighty Men of David. Just a reminder as to where these men came from – they were those who were in debt, in distress, and discontented when they came to David. The Lord has truly been with them as they have grown in their ability and position.
Then we come to something very interesting. David counts the people.
In this day and age, it seems that counting the people would be a valid request to make. Yet with David, this was a sin. Why would that be?
Joab has the answer to that question when he says, “Now may the Lord your God add to the people a hundred times as many as they are.” In other words, when God is leading the army of David, a few can do what hundreds could do in the natural.
Throughout the Bible we see small numbers – or seemingly insignificant people – being chosen by God to do great things for Him. The reason: He shows that with Him all things ar possible. Natural limitations are not there when God is involved.
That’s our Father’s way. He loves to prove Himself to His people in many different ways.
In our lives today, He is the same. If we really trust Him and believe in Him, we will see many impossible situations turn possible. We will see “impossible” people turn their lives to Him and change. We will see “impossible” diseases healed. We will see “impossible” accidents deliver no harm. And on and on.
Our God is limitless in His power. The limit is in our faith.
I want to count on Him to do a lot with a little, don’t you? My focus is not in the numbers or natural abilities; it’s in my Father’s mighty power.
Luke 19:1-27
We each have our talents. We each have our place in God’s kingdom – and our purpose designed by Him.
It’s so easy to look around and think that we are not important. In this day of celebrity mania, with many sitting in the bleachers watching others live their lives, that “unimportant” tag seems to beckon us.
However, our Creator sees it differently. He sees who He created us to be – an important part of His kingdom, and He wants us to develop who we are. We are all significant in His eyes.
So what part do you play? Only you and God can settle that for sure, but you do have a part. So whatever that part is, it should be played to the fullest.
In the church, all of the gifts are needed. There are exhorters and encouragers, teachers, those good at hospitality, or maintenance, or cleaning. When everyone is making their contribution, there’s a flow to the work.
Or maybe your part is played to the community as a whole – in leadership or as a volunteer.
Let’s develop our gifts and be found faithful using them – all as our Father designed.
