1 Kings 7 "Solomon Sent For Hiram"

“And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyer. He was a widow’s son from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze; and he was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill for doing any work in bronze. So he came to King Solomon and performed all his work.” (vv.13-14)

Coming to the completion in the construction of the temple of God, there was only one man Solomon considered for the job, Hiram of Tyer. This man was half Israeli and half Gentile, and he was the best craftsman around. Solomon hired him to do all his work. Our text tells us he was filled with wisdom and understanding, skilled for doing any work in bronze. Therefore, to honor God, His Glory and splendor, Solomon sent for the best.

As we read through verses 17-51, it becomes very clear why Hiram was chosen. His skill and attention to detail, pointed others to God’s majesty through his work. One could not look upon the temple and not see the glory ascribed to it. Similarly, each of us has been given a talent, a skill, a measure of wisdom and understanding, which can be used to point others to His Glory as well.

Ask God to help you use those gifts and abilities to point others to the Glory of His name. 

The Truth: “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name.”  (Psalm 29:2)

A Veterans Day Message

 Veterans Day began as Armistice Day to commemorate the end of fighting in World War I on November 11, 1918 at 11 a.m., known as the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Armistice Day was made a legal holiday in 1938, primarily to honor World War I veterans. The honor was extended to all veterans by an Act of Congress in 1954. In 1968, Congress approved the Uniform Holiday Bill so that Veterans Day and several other national holidays would be bumped up to a weekend to create a three-day holiday. The decision angered many veterans and the original date of November 11 was restored in 1975.

Veterans Day, a day to honor those who served in all American wars, is often confused with Memorial Day, a day of remembrance to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. This may be due to the fact that, at 11 a.m. on November 11, a combined color guard representing all military services executes "Present Arms" at the tomb of the unknown soldier, the nation's tribute to its war dead.

"We must remember that many who served in our military never lived to be called veterans. We must remember many had their lives changed forever by experiences or the injuries of combat. All veterans are examples of service and citizenship for every American to remember and to follow." -- President George W. Bush, Oct. 30, 2001

Thank you to all who made the decision to serve and have placed themselves in harms way to uphold our freedoms. May God continue to bless our soldiers, veterans and our Nation.

Matthew 6 "Seek First God's Kingdom"

 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (v.33)

This choice – to seek first the kingdom of God – is the fundamental choice everyone makes when they first repent and are converted. Yet every day after that, our Christian life will either reinforce that decision or deny it. However, if one must worry, we are told in verse 34 to, "worry only for the things of today." 

Most of our worry is over things that we have absolutely no control over anyway, and is therefore foolish as well as harmful. Jesus reminds us of the importance of living for the present day. It isn’t wrong to remember the past or plan for the future; to some degree both of those are good. Yet it is easy to become too focused on either the past or the future and to let the day and its own trouble be ignored. 

I believe God wants us to remember the past, plan for the future, but live in the present. I pray that he will give us all the strength to do just that. 

The Truth: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:34)

1 Kings 6 “Solomon Began The Work”

 “And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD.” (v.1)

The four hundred and eightieth year: This marking point shows just how long Israel lived in the Promised Land without a temple. The tabernacle served the nation well for more than 400 years. The prompting to build the temple was more at the direction and will of God than out of absolute necessity. This was also when the actual construction began. Solomon probably started to organize the work right away. There is some evidence that it took three years to prepare timber from Lebanon for use in building. If Solomon began the construction of the temple in the fourth year of his reign, he probably started organizing the construction in the very first year of his reign.

Yet the work was carefully organized and planned even before Solomon became king. 1 Chronicles 28:11-12 tells us, “Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the vestibule, its houses, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner chambers, and the place of the mercy seat; and the plans for all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, of all the chambers all around, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries for the dedicated things.” 

The writer of 1 Kings never tells us exactly where the temple was built, but the writer of 2 Chronicles tells us that it was built on Mount Moriah (2 Chronicles 3:1), the same place where Abraham went to sacrifice Isaac and Jesus would be crucified (on another part of the hill).

Back in 1 Kings 5:5, we saw how Solomon purposed to build the temple. Now we see him actually beginning the work. Many people, including myself, at one point or another have said, “I’m going to do this” or “I’m going to get involved in that.” We’ve purposed to do something but have never begun the work. 

As Solomon has rightly shown us, we must both purpose and begin, if we are going to complete the work God has for each of us to do. 

The Truth: “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” (Romans 11:29)

1 Kings 5 "Jews And Gentiles Build The Temple"

"And Hiram (the Phoenician king of Tyre) sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the things which you sent to me for: and I will do all you desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir.” (v.8)

King Solomon had purposed in his heart to, “build a house unto the name of the LORD his God" (v.5). But he recognized that his people were chiefly employed in husbandry, and in feeding cattle. They were not skilled in mechanic arts, in the cutting down of trees, and the hewing of timber. Therefore, he hired the best woodcutters in the region from king Hiram of  Tyre, a gentile.

Although it is true that king Hiram reached out to king Solomon first (v.1), probably wanting to keep a close political/economic tie with king David’s son, it was Solomon who took advantage of their expertise and abilities. He also created a trade partnership which benifited both parties and lasted for many years.

This speaks to us in a very practical way. While some might say we must stay within the body to “get the job done," wisdom dictates, there is often a time and place to seek expert help outside the body of Christ from nonbelievers. And in so doing, benefit from others knowledge and expertise.

The Truth: “Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7) 

1 Kings 4 “God’s Faithfulness”

“Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand that is on the seashore in abundance.” (v.20)

First Kings 4 demonstrates the faithfulness of God to His promises. In the description of Solomon's kingdom, Scripture uses language that echoes the promises God made long ago. 

The people, “as numerous as the sand on the seashore” (v. 20), speak of God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 22. The vast borders of the kingdom, echo God's promise of land in Genesis 15. Finally, the abundance, peace, and exaltation of Israel (vv.22-28), match up with God's promises to Israel in Deuteronomy 28. 

Yes, 1 Kings 4 shines as a banner of God's faithfulness and stands as proof to all, that He is faithful.

The Truth: “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.” (Deuteronomy 7:9)

1 Kings 3 "Solomon Given Great Wisdom"

At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?” And Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” (vv.5-9)

This remarkable visitation from God happened to Solomon in a dream. This is one of the more significant dreams in the Bible. In it, God asks Solomon, "What shall I give you?" God seemed to offer Solomon whatever he wanted. This wasn’t only because Solomon sacrificed 1,000 animals (v.4); it was because his heart was surrendered to God, and God wanted to work something in Solomon through this offer and his response.

Before responding to God’s offer and asking for something, Solomon remembered God’s faithfulness to both David and now to Solomon himself. He then comes to God in great humility, knowing his inadequacies and the difficult tasks of leadership he faced, he asked God for "an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil" (v.9). Wow! Solomon already understood that a key component of leadership is wise and just discernment. A quality lacking in many leaders today.

Our text goes on to say God was pleased by what Solomon asked for, in that he knew his great need for wisdom, discernment, and understanding. God was also pleased by what Solomon did not ask for, in that he did not ask for riches or fame or power for himself. Therefore God not only answered Solomon’s prayer, He also answered it beyond all expectation. Though Solomon did not ask for riches and honor or a long life, but God gave him those anyway. (vv.10-15). 

Then Solomon awoke: It was a dream, but it was at the same time also a message from God. God answered Solomon’s prayer and made him wise, powerful, rich, and influential. His reign was glorious for Israel. At the same time, his end was tragic. We can fairly say that Solomon wasted these gifts God gave him. Though he accomplished much, he could have done much more – and his heart was led away from God in the end (1 Kings 11:4-11).

The Truth: "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us." (1 John 5:14) 

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. (John 15:7)

 

1 Kings 2 "David's Charge To Solomon"

Now the days of David drew near that he should die, and he charged Solomon his son, saying: “I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man. And keep the charge of the LORD your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn; that the LORD may fulfill His word which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul,’ He said, ‘you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’ (vv.1-4)

David, son of Jesse – Israel’s greatest king, apart from the Messiah – recognized that he was but a man and shared the common destiny of all the earth. Knowing he would soon pass from this life, David gave a final charge to Solomon his son, “Observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in his ways.” 

Here David is instructing Solomon to obey God and His Word above all else. Since Solomon was a man of faith, David called him to act upon that faith in obedience. King David also referred Solomon to God’s commands as, “written in the Law of Moses” (v.3). Thus signifying the importance for him to study and know God’s Word.

David had a general reason to exhort Solomon to obedience, but he also had a specific reason, bases on a specific promise of God. God promised David that as long as his sons walked in obedience, they would keep the throne of Israel. This was an amazing promise. No matter what the Assyrians or the Egyptians or the Babylonians did, as long as David’s sons were obedient and followed God with all their heart and with all their soul, God would establish their kingdom. He would take care of the rest.

We may envy the sons of David because they had such a promise, but we have a similar promise from God. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, then all these things shall be added to us. God promises that if we put Him first, He will take care of the rest in our life as well. 

A wise man will walk in God's ways, study and know His Word, that he may succeed in all that he does and wherever he turns.

The Truth: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24)