Tag Archive | Solomon

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 165

Jun13

   Day 165—We are in the 6th month of Bible reading and continue with the history of Israel.

 Day 165 – 2 Chronicles 6 – 7, Psalm 136. (More detail on Solomon’s prayer/dedication of the temple and a song.)

After the Shekinah Glory of the LORD filled the temple, Solomon blessed the people and the LORD. (a little more detail than in yesterday’s reading.)

2 Chronicles 6:2 – “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who with his hand has fulfilled what He promised with His mouth.”

6:13-14 – “Then he knelt on his knees in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven, and said, “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like YOU in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart.”

Next Solomon lists many instances when Israel would need the judgment and forgiveness of their God.

Verse 21 – “And LISTEN to the pleas of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. And LISTEN from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, FORGIVE.”

Verse 22 – “If a man sins against his neighbor….. then hear from heaven and act and judge….”

Verse 24 – “If your people Israel are defeated before the enemy because they have sinned against You, and they turn again and acknowledge your name and pray and plead with you in this house…..the hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people…”

Verse 26 – “When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you…. if they pray toward this place and acknowledge your name and turn from their sin… then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants…”

Verse 28 – “If there is famine (pestilence, blight, mildew, locust, caterpillar, plague, sickness) in the land….. whatever plea is made by any man or by all your people Israel, each knowing his own affliction and his own sorrow and stretching out his hands toward this house….. then hear from heaven your dwelling place, and forgive….”

Verse 34 – “If your people go out to battle against their enemies… and they pray to you toward this city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for Your name…. then hear from heaven their prayer and plea, and maintain their cause.

Verse 36 – ‘If they sin against you – FOR THERE IS NO ONE WHO DOES NOT SIN – and You are angry with them and give them to an enemy so that they are carried away captive to a land far or near….. Yet if they turn their heart, repent, plead with you, and pray toward their land, the city, and this house… then hear from heaven…. maintain their cause and forgive your people. 

2 Chronicles 7:1 – “As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices.

“When the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, “For He is good, for His steadfast love (mercy) endures forever.“

Psalm 136 echoes this refrain 26 times after stating the truth about God and all his wonderful acts toward his people through the generations. 

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2 Chronicles 7:11-22  gives God’s response to Solomon’s prayer, with some if/then statements of His own, including a very familiar one about Israel in verse 14. 

"If my people who are called by my name 
humble themselves, 
and pray and seek my face 
and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven 
and will forgive their sin
and heal their land."

Then God reminds Solomon about the opposite. 

Verse 19-20. “But if you turn aside and forsake my statutes and my commandments that I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them…. then I will pluck you up from my land that I have given you, and this house that I have consecrated for my name, I will cast out of my sight, and I will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples.”

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 163

Jun11

   Day 163—We are in the 6th month of Bible reading.

 Day 163 – 1 Kings 7, 2 Chronicles 4. (Solomon’s two building projects: the temple with its furnishings and his own palace complex)

1 Kings 7 begins with how much time King Solomon spent building his palace complex: thirteen years. This is almost twice the time it took to build the temple. There were a couple reasons.

First, Solomon’s father, King David had the plans done, and all the material was collected and ready. Solomon had to do that first for his palace.

Second, the size and number of buildings were greater than that needed for the Temple. Solomon built a Hall of Judgement where he would sit and rule. Behind the Hall was a courtyard that contained his own residence, one for the princess of Egypt and one for his harem. 

1 Kings 7, 2 Chronicles 4. For the Temple and its furnishings, Solomon went bigger and more. The temple itself was three times larger than the Tabernacle (which needed to be portable). The temple had three stories of chambers (Storage? Priest’s rooms?) built on either side, north and south, plus a porch in front with those two huge bronze pillars. 

Instead of one golden candlestick inside the Holy Place, Solomon made ten. He also made ten tables for the shewbread instead of one. Inside the Most Holy Place, he made two statues of cherubim, whose wings spanned over the Arc of the Covenant (almost dwarfed in the 30’x30′ room) and reached to the walls on either side. 

Outside, the altar for sacrifice was 30’x30′ and elevated 15′ high. The basin for washing sacrifices was also multiplied in size. This “sea” held 12,000 gallons of water – almost like an above-ground swimming pool.  He made ten bronze carts with smaller bronze basins, each holding 240 gallons, to supply the “sea.”

The only thing left was to bring in the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD.

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 158

Jun6

   Day 158—We are in the 6th month of Bible reading.  We are also reading the 16th book in the Bible this week: PROVERBS.

 Day 158 – Proverbs 13 – 15. (More of Solomon’s general wisdom proverbs)

Chapter 13  again begins with the pride of a father’s wise son. The following pithy, interesting, thought-provoking proverbs cover work, laziness, the mouth or tongue, wealth, and discipline.

13:3 “Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.”

13:4, 11 “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.”    “Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.”    

13:12, 19 “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.”    “A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.”

13:13-14, 24 “Whoever despises the Word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded. The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.”    “Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.”

13:20. “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”

Chapter 14 is eclectic in its topics, but is consistent in its comparisons.  14:1 “The wisest of women builders her house, BUT folly with her own hands tears it down.”  14:4 “Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, BUT abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.” And notice in 14:11 who has a house and who, a tent. “The HOUSE of the wicked will be destroyed, BUT the TENT of the upright will flourish.”

14:17, 29-30 “A man of quick temper acts foolishly…”    “Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.”

And two very familiar proverbs:

14:12 “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”

14:34 “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”

There are many familiar proverbs in Chapter 15 as well, on speaking, praying, cheer, and good temper.

15:1, 4 “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”    “A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.”     

15:13, 15, 30 “A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.”    All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.”    The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones.”

15:16, 17 “Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is that a fattened ox and hatred with it.”

15:8, 29 “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to Him.”    “The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.”

And remember, PROVERBS are general rules on righteous living, NOT promises, prophecy, or law.

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 147 & 148

May27

    Day 147 & 148—We are in our FIFTH month of Bible reading and today we finis the 12th book!   What insights have you gained about God and yourself through reading so far?  Share in the comments section.

(Note: SUNDAY’s and MONDAY’s readings are combined.)

    Day 147 – 2 Chronicles 26 – 29, Psalms 127 (David appoints all who will be in charge of the kingdom as it passes to Solomon.)

Chapter 26. David continues to assign specific work in the Kingdom to men and groups who can handle it. Here, he assigns Gatekeepers, the first line of defense for the City of David. He also assigns men in charge of the treasuries of the house of God, and dedicated gifts.

Interestingly, he assigned “men of great ability” to oversee the tribes east of the Jordan in everything pertaining to God and the king’s affairs.  

Chapter 27. Here, David assigned a standing army of 24,000 for each month, rotating throughout the year (total: 288,000). He also appointed one man to oversee each of the tribes. As for his own property, he appointed men over the treasuries in the country, cities, villages, and towers. Chosen men who oversaw the farms, vineyards, wine cellars, olive & sycamore trees, stores of oil, herds of cattle, camels, donkeys, and flocks of sheep. David also appointed men to “oversee” all his sons (for the LORD had given him many.)  

Lastly, Joab stands as the commander of the king’s army. (David didn’t like him because he killed Absalom and tried to replace him, but the army leader persisted, obeyed the king in everything (even when the king sinned), and was a great military leader.)

Chapter 28.  David assembled all the officials of Israel at Jerusalem.  He tells them how it was in his heart to build a House for the LORD, but that God had given that task to Solomon. He tells how God allowed him to amass all the materials and make the plans.  He also tells them again that young SOLOMON will be the next king of Israel, chosen by GOD! 

David charges Solomon with the task and with obedience to God and then gives him the plans. He reminds him (and the assembled officials there) that “the people will be wholly at your command.”

Chapter 29. David challenges the assembly that the task of building the Temple is great and Solomon is young. He tells of the huge offerings he himself has given and asks, “Who then will offer willingly, consecrating himself today to the LORD?”   As one, they come forward with huge offerings for the treasury for the House of the LORD.  Then everyone REJOICES greatly.

David blesses the LORD in their presence. “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens, and in the earth is yours. YOURS IS THE KINGDOM, O LORD, and You are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all. In Your hand are power and might, and in Your hand, it is to make great and to give strength to all.  And now we thank You, our God, and praise YOUR GLORIOUS NAME.”

“O LORD, our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building You a house for Your holy name comes from Your hand and is all Your own.”     “Grant to Solomon my son a whole heart that he may keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, performing all, and that he may build the palace for which I have made provision.”

Then the whole congregation made Solomon, the son of David, king a second time, and they appointed him as Prince for the LORD.

Psalm 127 is a psalm written by Solomon.  “Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.  Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” 

King David’s death is mentioned at the end of 2 Chronicles, but we’ll see a little more of him in 1 Kings.

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    Day 148 – Psalms 111 – 118 (Psalms of assents and praise written by others)

111. “I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart.”    “Holy and awesome is His name! The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: all who practice it have a good understanding.”

112.  “Blessed be the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments!    “It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice.”

113. “Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised.”

The above reminds me of the modern song “10,000 Reasons” by Matt Redman —

Verse 1
The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning;
It’s time to sing Your song again.
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me,
Let me be singing when the evening comes.

Chorus
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
O my soul, worship His holy Name.
Sing like never before, O my soul.
I’ll worship Your holy Name.

114. “Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turns the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a spring of water.”

115.  “Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name give glory for the sake of your mercy and your faithfulness.”    “Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases.”    

116. “I love the LORD because He has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy, because He inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call on Him as long as I live. The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. Then I called on the name of the LORD; ‘O LORD, I pray, deliver my soul!’ Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; our God is merciful.”

“For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling;…”    “What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me?”

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints…“

117. “Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol Him, all peoples!”

118. “Out of my distress, I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?  The LORD is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.”    “The LORD is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation..”

“I shall not die, but I shall live and recount the deeds of the LORD. The LORD has disciplined me severely, but He has not given me over to death.”   “I thank You that You have answered me and have become my salvation.”

“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 145

May24

   Day 145—We are in our FIFTH month of Bible reading. Are you loving God more each day? What are you learning about Him?  Share in the comments section.

   Day 145 –  1 Chronicles 23 – 25, (David “setting his house in order”)

Surprise! We will be reading more genealogies today (and in chapters 26-27)

These genealogies are specific to the tribe of Levi and are part of King David’s plans for the “House of God” that he so yearns to build.  His son, Solomon, will do it, but David took pleasure in making the plans and collecting the building materials. And now, he revels in setting up the care, maintenance, and worship in the Temple once it is finished. 

Chapter 23. “When David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel,” reads verse one.  That’s all. But we’ll read much more about Solomon’s coronation later.  For now, David’s heart and eyes are on the future House of God (which I think he can “picture” perfectly in his mind’s eye).

He gathers all the leaders in Israel, the priests and Levites, and presents his plans.  There are 38K Levites.  “Twenty-four thousand of them will be in charge of the work in the house of the LORD.” Another 6K will be officers and judges, 4K will be gatekeepers, and the remaining 4K will offer praises to the LORD with instruments and songs. 

He then goes into detail, including the names of tribe leaders and their descendants. 

Chapter 24. “The divisions of the sons of Aaron were these. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no children, so Eleazar and Ithamar became priests.  With the help of Zadok of the sons of Eleazar and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar (priests during David’s time), David organized them according to the appointed duties in their service.”

Chapter 25. “David and the chiefs of the service also set apart for the service the sons of Asaph, and of Herman, and of Jeduthun (Ethan), who prophesied (wrote inspired songs) with lyres, with harps and with cymbals.” 

David then lists all those who did the work and their duties in “music ministry,” as well as the order in which they would serve. 

The King was nothing but organized in this! 

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 143

May22

   Day 143—We are in our FIFTH month of Bible reading, and today, we finish our ELEVENTH Book (2 Samuel).   Are you loving God more each day? What are you learning about Him?  Share in the comments section.

   Day 143 –  2 Samuel 24, 1 Chronicles 21 – 22, Psalm 30. (Census, judgment, alter/temple, joy)

What exactly incited King David to call for a census of all his military men?  2 Samuel seems to say that the LORD (in His anger) did, while 1 Chronicles says that Satan did. Both instances began with Israel’s sin, which is important when the consequences fall. 

Perhaps God, in His anger against Israel, allowed Satan to put the need to see how big his army was in David’s mind. Israel and her king needed to trust ONLY in the LORD  for victory in battle and not in the amount of military power that had.

Interestingly enough, Commander Joab confronted the king and said a census was NOT a good idea. But David, who didn’t like Joab anyway, ignored his advice and sent him throughout Israel with an abacus.

The tally numbers also seem to conflict. 2 Samuel‘s number could be the amount of standing army soldiers, and 1 Chronicles could also include all men of military age, whether seasoned or not. 

Also, 1 Chronicles mentioned that Joab hadn’t gotten to the tribes of Benjamin and Levi when God stopped the process.  (The Levites wouldn’t stand in battle, but only in defense of the Tabernacle and its contents.) 

In either case, the whole thing displeased God, and he sent His Seer, Gad, to David to give him three choices as to the consequences of showing this lack of trust in Him.  (And NO, this is not like having a Genie in a bottle.)  For one thing, the choices were horrific.  1) 3 years of famine, 2) 3 months of devastation by their enemies, and 3) 3 days of pestilence/plague.  What a choice!!

David chose #3 for the shorter duration and because he would rather trust himself in the hands of God than the hands of the Philistines, etc. And the Angel of the LORD killed 70,000 men in Israel. (soldiers?) But the Angel stopped when He came to Jerusalem and allowed the king to offer burnt (sin) offerings on the threshing floor of a Jebusite (People who held Jerusalem before David conquered it.) 

After seeing the Angel of the Lord, the Jebusite and his sons ran and hid, but then he fearfully approached the King and offered his threshing area, his oxen, and all the wooden implements to use in his offerings.  But David refused the offer and insisted on buying everything. “I will not take for the LORD what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” (2 Samuel – 50 shekels for the oxen and implements & 1 Chronicles – 600 for the land)

It reminds me of Abraham, who was looking for a burial place for his wife, Sarah. He did not accept the land as a gift but insisted on paying for it. Both that land and the area David bought became a permanent possession.

This purchased area would become the site of Solomon’s magnificent Temple. (Currently, the Dome of the Rock (“threshing floor”) sits on top of it.)

2 Chronicles.  This chapter flows from the previous verses about that area in Jerusalem, which would become the place where Solomon would build a House for the LORD. David was not allowed to build it because he was a man of war and bloodshed, while Solomon, who was a man of peace, could.  Meanwhile, God allowed David to make the plans and collect all the materials needed, from great stones and cedar trees to the iron nails for the doors, clamps, etc.

King David even called his young son and charged him with the task, telling him that the LORD would be with him and establish his royal throne in Israel forever. “Now my son, the LORD be with you, so that you may succeed in building the house of the LORD you God as He has spoken concerning you. Only may the LORD grant you discretion and understanding, that when He gives you charge over Israel, you may keep the law of the LORD your God…..  Be strong and courageous. Fear not; do not be dismayed. With great pains, I have provided for the house of the LORD.”

Psalm 30. “O LORD my God, I cried to You for help, and You have healed me. O LORD, you have brought up my soul from the grave.; You restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.  Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment, and His favor is for a lifetime.  Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”   “O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.”