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2 Chronicles 8:1-18; 1 Kings 9:15-10:13; 2 Chronicles 9:1-12; 1 Kings 10:14-29; 2 Chronicles 9:13-28; 2 Chronicles 1:14-17<\/strong><\/span> Today in Second Chronicles chapter 8 we learn that Solomon married the Egyptian Pharaoh\u2019s daughter, which was not pleasing to God and was contrary to God\u2019s Law of not marrying foreigners (in large part because they worshiped foreign gods) as you\u2019ll recall from <\/span>Deuteronomy 7:3-4.<\/span>\u00a0 The Chronicler overall paints a very rosy portrait of both David and Solomon, ignoring many aspects of their sins that we read about in Samuel and Kings.\u00a0 But, it\u2019s interesting the Chronicler mentioned this marriage. Solomon married likely for a military alliance with Egypt.\u00a0 Solomon\u2019s marrying of foreign wives ultimately led to his turning his heart away from God, as we read in <\/span>1 Kings 11:1-11<\/span>.\u00a0 Interestingly, we see that Solomon won\u2019t allow his Egyptian wife to live in David\u2019s palace in verse 11: \u201cSolomon moved his wife, Pharaoh\u2019s daughter, from the City of David to the new palace he had built for her. He said, \u201cMy wife must not live in King David\u2019s palace, for the Ark of the LORD has been there, and it is holy ground.\u201d\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 And so he builds her a brand new palace!\u00a0 Think Solomon knew something was amiss with this situation before God if he wouldn\u2019t let his Egyptian wife live in David\u2019s palace?\u00a0 What about us in our lives today \u2013 when we sin, do we try to \u201ccover it up\u201d or \u201cbuild a pretty palace\u201d to maybe try to distract ourselves or God from our sin?\u00a0 Should we instead just simply confess our sin to God and repent?<\/span><\/p>\n At the very end of Second Chronicles chapter 8 today we read these interesting verses 17-18: \u201cLater Solomon went to Ezion-geber and Elath, ports in the land of Edom, along the shore of the Red Sea. Hiram sent him ships commanded by his own officers and manned by experienced crews of sailors. These ships sailed to the land of Ophir with Solomon\u2019s men and brought back to Solomon almost seventeen tons of gold.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 You will see the port of Elath in the 2nd map below.\u00a0 Then, the big question I had today was where is Ophir?\u00a0 Well, it turns out that Ophir was likely in the land of \u201cSheba\u201d from whence Queen Sheba comes to visit Solomon!\u00a0 So, it is interesting to see how these last 2 verses in chapter 8 lead us to Second Chronicles chapter 9 today where we read about the Queen of Sheba\u2019s visit to Solomon.\u00a0 Below is about the best map I could find with the land of Sheba, and Ophir, in comparison to Israel.\u00a0 The Queen obviously traveled quite a distance in those days to visit Solomon!\u00a0 And I think we can now understand how she learned of Solomon \u2013 he built a fleet of ships and sailed them to her land!<\/span><\/p>\n In Second Chronicles chapter 9 we read about Solomon\u2019s wealth and splendor.\u00a0 I think it is interesting for us to remember that Solomon likely writes the book of Ecclesiastes, which we will read later this year.\u00a0 Ecclesiastes wisely teaches us that living life for one\u2019s own pleasure and for riches is meaningless \u2013 but only living for God makes life worthwhile.\u00a0 I thought about Ecclesiastes when reading about all of Solomon\u2019s wealth today \u2013 and realizing that it would later all by destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar and his army from Babylon.\u00a0 Solomon\u2019s wealth was yes, impressive.\u00a0 But Solomon\u2019s sins and the sins of his descendants eventually took all of it away.\u00a0 Let us never forget that sin kills\u2026\u00a0 Let us never forget that the wages of sin are death.\u00a0 Today in Verses 22 through 24 we read \u2013 \u201cSo King Solomon became richer and wiser than any other king in all the earth.\u00a0 Kings from every nation came to visit him and to hear the wisdom God had given him. Year after year, everyone who came to visit brought him gifts of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>Below is a painting of Solomon in all of his splendor in \u201cThe Queen of Sheba before Solomon\u201d by Nicolas Knupfer, c. 1640:<\/span> I do think map\u2019s can often give us a great overview \/ understanding of what we\u2019re reading about in the Bible.\u00a0 I think now is a good time to show a good map of Solomon\u2019s Kingdom compared to modern day Israel, below.\u00a0 Take a few minutes to really study this map and reflect upon places you recognize from today\u2019s readings and previous day\u2019s readings:<\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video:<\/strong> Today\u2019s readings in First Kings reminded me of Abandon\u2019s song \u201cFeel it in your Heart:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \n
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