In Proverbs 1:7, Solomon advises us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. That's a bit of advice that sounds nice but feels like it's not particularly practical. Be that as it may, nothing could be further from the truth. After all, it's when we fear the Lord that we realize our places in the whole scheme of things. ... [Continue Reading]
A Fresh Start (1 Kings 9; 2 Chronicles 8)
The finishing of the Temple and the kingship of Solomon was a time for renewal of the Covenant between Israel and her God. The Lord appeared to Solomon to remind him of the agreement that was made a long time ago between God and Abraham - that the nation would be blessed as long as it remained on a path that was faithful Him. For the sake of His integrity, ... [Continue Reading]
Giving Thanks (2 Chronicles 6-7)
I wish I could have been present when the fire from the Lord came down and consumed the burnt offerings and sacrifices given by Solomon and when the glory of the Lord filled the temple. What an incredible experience that must have been! The response of the people at that point is worth noting: they bowed to the ground and gave thanks. It seems like our ... [Continue Reading]
No Matter How Far You Go (1 Kings 8; 2 Chronicles 5)
Solomon's prayer of dedication for the Temple reminded the Israelites of a very important characteristic about God: no matter how much you have messed up or how far you have walked in a direction away from Him, He is always ready to forgive. During my years of working in the church, I've heard people say, "God couldn't forgive me," or "God ... [Continue Reading]
Riches Beyond Imagination
When we read about Solomon's palace, it's easy to question, Did he really need to make it that big? I mean, honestly, when do we reach a level of satisfaction and say enough is enough? Couldn't the resources that God gave to Solomon have been used for other means? Was an enormous palace really the best use of the ... [Continue Reading]
A Home for God? (2 Chronicles 2-3)
When Solomon set out to build a temple for the Lord, he realized that he was undertaking an enormous task. After all, he realized that he worshipped the greatest God, so how could he possibly build a temple for One who cannot even be contained by the highest heaven? The truth is that he couldn’t. Solomon built an amazing temple, but God did not confine ... [Continue Reading]
The Proper Time… (1 Kings 5-6)
I’ve heard it said that timing is everything. David had it in his heart to build a home for the Lord, but that was not God’s plan for him. So David did what he could to gather the materials for his son Solomon, and during Solomon’s reign, the Temple was finally built. The process took Solomon seven years, but it was a sight to see and is considered one ... [Continue Reading]
The Love of Appreciation (Song of Songs 5-8)
I have to confess that I was having a really hard time deciding what to write about today, and then I talked with a pastor here in Brasil, Ricardo, and he gave me the ideas behind this post. I want to be sure to give credit where credit is due. :-) As you read through Song of Songs, you read about a couple who is deeply in love with each other but who also ... [Continue Reading]
Do Not Awaken Love… (Song of Songs 1-4)
Many in our world today would find their lives much more fulfilling and less full of sorrow if they heeded Solomon's words in Song of Songs 2:7b, "Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires." We live in an age of sexual experimentation when young people are encouraged to enjoy sexuality when they feel they're ready to handle it. And so ... [Continue Reading]
The Best Prayer (1 Kings 3-4; 2 Chronicles 1)
Solomon’s situation certainly was interesting. After all, he had, in a sense, fought out his brother to take the place of king over the nation of Israel. And he was a young man. He would be ruling over those who were much older and who had much more knowledge and experience than he. So what would he need to be a successful ruler? He ... [Continue Reading]
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