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Psalm 83; 1 Chronicles 29:23-25; 2 Chronicles 1:1; 1 Kings 2:13-3:4; 2 Chronicles 1:2-6; 1 Kings 3:5-15; 2 Chronicles 1:7-13<\/strong><\/span> Ever feel like the Psalmist in Psalm 83 verse 1 \u2013 \u201cO God, don\u2019t sit idly by, silent and inactive!\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 I think the beauty of the Psalms is seeing some of our human emotions expressed so well.\u00a0 Considering this verse \u2013 I don\u2019t think that God is ever sitting idly by, silent or inactive.\u00a0 I believe God is a Living God who is always with us.\u00a0 But, perhaps sometimes God\u2019s perceived silence in our lives is for a purpose that we may not fully understand now, but will later.\u00a0 If God seems very \u201csilent\u201d to you now, I would encourage you to pray to God \u2013 and really listen in your prayers \u2013 don\u2019t just speak.\u00a0 \u00a0I believe you\u2019ll soon hear Him\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n Today we begin the book of Second Chronicles!\u00a0 Are you ready to read about the reign of King Solomon?\u00a0 Let\u2019s go!<\/span><\/p>\n ~Second Chronicles~<\/em><\/strong><\/span> Today in 1 Kings we read about Adonijah\u2019s request to marry Abishag.\u00a0 You\u2019ll recall from yesterday\u2019s readings that Abishag took care of David in his old age.\u00a0 She was a virgin, but still considered part of David\u2019s harem.\u00a0 And, in those days, to inherit the harem was to inherit the kingdom.\u00a0 (I know, strange stuff to talk about harem\u2019s\u2026\u00a0 it was the way it was back then \u2013 even though God\u2019s plan from Genesis with Adam & Eve was 1 man & 1 woman \u2013 not 1 man & many women\u2026 us humans \u2013 even David \u2013 do not always pay attention to God\u2019s plans\u2026)\u00a0 \u00a0So, Adonijah\u2019s request to marry Abishag was essentially his attempt to gain back the kingdom again.\u00a0 Hence, Solomon got upset\u2026\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n Joab proved the maxim of \u201cthose who live by the sword, die by the sword.\u201d\u00a0 David knew Joab had killed Abner and Amasa and passed on his disdain for Joab to Solomon.\u00a0 Solomon knew Joab was in cahoots w\/ Adonijah.\u00a0 Joab was seeking sanctuary at the altar \u2013 and there was indeed sanctuary in the Law for those who accidentally killed someone else.\u00a0 There were sanctuary cities.\u00a0 However, Joab\u2019s killings of Abner and Amasa could in no way be viewed as accidental.\u00a0 His attempt at sanctuary at the altar did not stand up in Solomon\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 Below is a fascinating piece of artwork of Joab running for the altar \u2013 with what appears to be a shadow of a person running in the background\u2026 As if Joab\u2019s past was haunting him\u00a0& pursuing him?\u00a0 \u00a0I\u2019m not sure, but an interesting piece of art here on this Joab scene in any case!<\/span><\/p>\n It is an interesting thing to read about the blood and deaths caused by some of our fathers of our faith \u2013 David & Solomon and the list will go on.\u00a0 I think the thing I take away from all of this is that in the B.C. age, \u201ceye for an eye, tooth for a tooth\u201d ruled the day.\u00a0 People \u201cgot what they deserved\u201d so to speak\u2026\u00a0 It essentially kept the peace in a barbaric age.\u00a0 But, we were fortunate to have Jesus Christ come into our world and be the final sacrifice and change the rules.\u00a0 Jesus died on a cross.\u00a0 Jesus got what WE deserved.\u00a0 He changed the whole eye for an eye Law to a higher law of love & grace.\u00a0 We deserve condemnation.\u00a0 Thanks to Jesus, we are given eternal life through the free gift of faith in his life, death and resurrection.\u00a0 I think it is always important for us to remember that Jesus got what we deserved\u2026 this is why Jesus is called Savior!<\/span><\/p>\n Today in 1 Kings chapter 3 we read about King Solomon asking for wisdom from God!\u00a0 It is of note that Solomon is estimated to be about 20 years old in this chapter \u2013 he was born about half way through David\u2019s 40 year reign.\u00a0 So, he is a very young king.\u00a0 In verse 5 we read these words from God to Solomon \u2013 \u201cAsk for whatever you want me to give you.\u201d<\/em> In verses 7 through 9 we will read this amazing response from Solomon to God \u2013 \u201cO LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?\u201d<\/em> Solomon could have asked God for anything \u2013 more wealth, more power, more strength, more whatever, but he simply asked for wisdom. Why? Because he wanted to govern God\u2019s people well and distinguish between right and wrong. Amazing. How would you or I answer this question today? What if God came to you today and said the same thing to you from verse 5 \u2013 \u201cAsk for whatever you want me to give you.\u201d<\/em> What would you ask for? Would you ask for Wisdom? If so, God offers this to you and me now. Where? I believe wisdom is offered to us through study of the Bible and by living in a loving and right relationship with God. We can receive the gift of God\u2019s wisdom today! If we would answer this question from God differently \u2013 maybe wanting more money, or power, or whatever \u2013 do you think we might forfeit gaining wisdom? So, again, what if God were to say to you right now this same statement he said to Solomon? \u201cAsk for whatever you want me to give you.\u201d<\/em> What do you ask for?\u00a0 Below is a wonderful portrait by artist Guy Rowe of the young King Solomon praying for wisdom:<\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video:<\/strong>\u00a0 Today\u2019s readings in 1 Kings 3 reminded me of Michael W. Smith\u2019s song \u201cThe One Thing That Really Matters:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \n
~ Click here to read today\u2019s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~<\/span><\/em>
~ Listen to today\u2019s Scripture with <\/em>The ESV Bible<\/em><\/span> ~<\/p>\n
Author<\/span>: Unknown
Date<\/span>: Fifth century B.C.
Content<\/span>: Second Chronicles contains the history of Judah that was begun in First Chronicles. It deals with the glory of Solomon\u2019s reign, with a special emphasis being placed upon the glory of the temple. This emphasis is made because a priest point of view pervades the book. The remaining kings of Judah are discussed, with a stress upon how the religious affairs of the nation were going. Hezekiah is given mention because during his reign an extended revival took place. The destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the people to Babylon are described, and the book ends with the Persian king\u2019s decree to let the people return home.
Theme<\/span>: Judah\u2019s history is described from a religious point of view in this book. The righteous kings are commented on and the evil kings are named so that all can see who is responsible for the rise and fall of the nation. The religious leaders and their ultimate failure to remain true to God added to the sin of Judah \u2013 until God allowed his own chosen people to plunge themselves into ruin, as an example for all time that God will not tolerate sin. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers \u201cThe One Year Bible Companion\u201d pp. 7-8) <\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n