1 Kings 8:54-61 – Living a life wholly committed to God

First Kings 8:54 said that when Solomon had finished praying, he arose from his kneeling position, stood before the bronze altar with his hands stretched toward heaven, and proclaimed the benediction. Earlier in this same chapter in verse 22, it was said that he stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven to offer his prayer. Solomon began standing to offer the petition. When he started to pray, he felt the strong need to submit to God. So from the standing position, he went down on his knees. Now that he had finished praying, he got on his feet again to give the benediction.     

He began the benediction by praising God and declaring the faithfulness of God. He had never failed in a single promise that He had made to them through Moses. He acknowledged that God had kept His word and granted the people of Israel, the promised rest in the promised land. It was obvious that they had settled in the land comfortably and peacefully.

In this benediction, Solomon made known three desires in verses 57-60. His first desire was for God’s presence to be with them as their father had experienced. He wished that God would be with them all the time and never leave or forsake them at all. It is not an exaggeration to say that not having the presence of God with us is one of the most miserable experiences. That is why David prayed, in his confession in Psalm 51:11, for God not to cast him away from His presence, nor to take His Spirit away from him. God’s presence is so important to our progress and well-being. We need Him to be with us all the time.

His second desire was that God would incline the hearts of the people toward Him. Notice he began with the heart. It is because this is the center that enables us to commit to walking in obedience to Him, determinedly. When our hearts are out of place, we are less likely to walk obediently or fittingly. That’s why we are exhorted in Proverbs 4:23 to “watch over our heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.”  

Solomon’s third desire was for God to help him and Israel maintain their cause. His desire was not for personal or national prominence but rather that “…all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no one else.” What a noble desire! Like him, we exist to declare the name of the sovereign Lord. It is in Him that we move and live and have our being. Hence, we must live gloriously to reflect Him. The king then rounded up by calling the people to a wholehearted devotion and commitment to walk in the ways of the Lord.

As the desires of Solomon, may our desires also be for God's abiding presence in our life. May we desire to have His presence in every moment of our life. Let's also incline our hearts to walk in His ways, living to declare that He alone is God and there's no one else. Be sure to give God our wholehearted devotion. It will be a delight to Him!   

1 Kings 8:41-53 – Keeping short accounts with God

In 1 Kings 8:46-53, we come to the seventh and final petition that Solomon made in his dedication prayer for the temple. In this petition, he prayed as if he knew that one day Israel would be taken captive to a foreign land. He saw the time when Israel would incur the anger of God and be banished into the hands of their enemies and be taken into exile in a foreign land. Solomon prayed for God to hear their plea for mercy in their captivity when they turned to Him in genuine repentance. He petitioned God to be merciful and restore them to the promised land. 

Solomon's seventh petition to God was made long before the people of Israel were taken into captivity. This petition took on a special significance to the first readers of the books of the Kings because they were written to them. They were in effect experiencing exactly as Solomon had described in this prayer. Thus this petition became a call for them to repentance and to pray. It provided hope and instructions to them on what they could do to mend their relationship with God and be restored to the land.

In verses 51-53, we sense Solomon’s earnestness in his seven petitions. He implored the Lord to take heed to his cry and the future cries of His people. The reason: it’s because they were His covenant people. For of all the people on earth, He Himself had chosen them to be His own. Solomon then reminded God that He used Moses to instruct their fathers, whom He had delivered from their bondage in Egypt. The point is that Israel was God’s covenant people.      

One phrase put in parenthesis in verse 46 is painfully disturbing. It says, “for there is no man who does not sin.” This fact necessitates that whenever we sin, we must quickly repent and mend our relationship with God. It’s the only way to stay true to our relationship with Him. If we do not but continue to walk in our sinful ways, we will have to endure the bitter experience of bondage to sin and the loss of our liberty. Continuous sin always leaves us in a state of utter distress and needless pains. The way to freedom in God is repentance and prayer. When we have a restored relationship with God, we will experience His peace and freedom. If we want to walk in divine favor always, keep short accounts with God. He never fails to forgive!

1 Kings 8:41-45 – Winning souls and spiritual war through prayer.

In his dedication prayer, Solomon made seven petitions. The first four petitions are recorded in 1 Kings 8:31-40 which we have dealt with in our last reflection. The last three petitions are recorded in 1 Kings 8:41-53. In this reflection, we will look at Solomon’s fifth and the sixth petition recorded in verses 41-45

In the fifth petition in verses 41-43, Solomon showed concern for the non-Israelites who would come to know their God. Though they were not God’s covenant people, Solomon prayed that God would also take care of them, answer their cries, and meet their needs. This prayer for them was driven by his desire for the foreigners to know God, to fear Him, and to recognize that the temple was built for the glory of God.  

The sixth petition in verses 44-45 was for Israel to be victorious in any battle or war that they would engage in. Solomon implored the Lord that whenever His people prayed facing the direction of the temple before they adjourned to any God-directed battle, He would hear their prayer and grant them victory.

Two lessons: Firstly, like Solomon who was compassionate towards foreigners, we need to be just as compassionate towards those who have not yet believed in Christ. Like him, our desire should be for them to acknowledge and know the fear of God. Our desire should be for them to know God and experience His loving care. It is great to know that “…in Christ Jesus those who were formerly far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13). This suggests that we must embrace our call to evangelize the lost. Secondly, like Israel whose victory over their enemies depended on obtaining God’s help in prayer, we must also pray for God’s help to have victory in spiritual warfare. We must pray for divine strength to overcome the scheme of the enemies in our walk with God and also the strength to win souls for the glory of God!

1 Kings 8:31-40 – Stay connected with God in prayer

The temple Solomon built was to be a house of prayer. So in 1 Kings 8:31-40, he presented before God the different scenarios that could happen among the Israelites that would need His assistance. In the first petition in verses 31-32, Solomon asked God to help judges like himself adjudicate offenses committed judiciously. He asked that justice be served rightly so that the wicked would be punished and the righteous be freed from guilt and condemnation.

Verses 33-34, Solomon presented his second petition to God. He saw any defeat in war as a way that God would use to punish His people for their rebelliousness. This was in keeping with Deuteronomy 28:25 which says, “The Lord shall cause you to be defeated before your enemies; you will go out one way against them, but you will flee seven ways before them, and you will be an example of terror to all the kingdoms of the earth.” Here he petitioned God to hear the prayers of his people when they turned to Him in repentance. He asked God to accept their repentance and restore them to their land. Solomon showed that he was well acquainted with Moses’ instructions.

Recognizing that God could use famine to deal with the sin of His people, Solomon in his third petition in verses 35-36, asked God to hear the prayer of His people when they returned to Him in contrition and genuine repentance. He asked that God send rain upon their land to end their drought and famine.  In addition, he asked God to teach them how they should walk in His good ways.

In the fourth petition in verses 37-40, Solomon returned to focus on the restoration of the land in times of natural disasters. He knew that if they rebelled against God as a nation, they and their land could be affected by famine, pestilences, blight or mildew, locust or grasshoppers, enemy attacks, plagues, and sicknesses. So in these verses, he appealed that God would forgive them, alleviate their condition when they turned to Him in repentance.  Solomon recognized that God alone knew the hearts of His people. His one desire was for his people to fear the Lord and live in their God-granted land, handed down to them by their fathers.  

Obviously, Solomon understood that to ensure the state of personal and national well-being, their relationship with God was vital and prayer would play a key role. From his petitions in these verses, we see how important it is for us also to have a vital relationship with God through prayers. When we pray, we acknowledge our dependence on God and our helplessness without Him. In prayer, we will also be taught to walk in the fear of the Lord. It is important for us to pray without ceasing. Here’s what Max Lucado said about prayer. "Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference." So let us pray! Unceasingly!

1 Kings 8:27-30 – Don’t presume on God

In 1 Kings 8:27-30, we sense that Solomon was humbled by the thought that God would come and dwell in the temple that he had built for Him. While he had the temple built, he dared not presume on God and assume that He would be obliged to dwell there. For he knew that heaven was, and still is, God’s true dwelling place.

The temple Solomon had built in honor of God was no doubt a noble ambition and achievement. But Solomon knew deep in his heart that God had no need for a temple. For He is far too great, far too grand, and far too glorious to be restricted and be confined to a particular place.

So the king humbly pled with God to incline His ears and eyes toward him and the people of Israel as they offer their prayers toward this temple. This is the reason many Jews still pray facing the site of the temple in Jerusalem. Notice in verse 30, Solomon particularly asked God to hear their prayers and forgive. That is because forgiveness is a critical need that we fallen people require most from God.

These verses teach us never to presume on God. We cannot afford to take Him for granted. It is true that God is ever willing to listen to us and forgive us. But guilt always makes us want to avoid God. Yet the one way to remedy the wrong and overcome our guilt is to boldly approach the throne of grace, draw near to God and confess our needs for forgiveness. So Hebrews 4:16 exhorts us saying,  “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” What a promise!

1 Kings 8:22-26 – Keys to answered prayers

In 1 Kings 8:22-53, we have the long dedication prayer that Solomon made to God after the temple was built. He stood at the altar in the courtyard of the temple and offered that prayer. As he was not the priest it was not his place to pray inside the Holy Place or the Most Holy Place. So verse 22 said that he prayed with his hands spread toward heaven before the altar, in the presence of the assembly of Israel.

Solomon begins by asserting that the God of Israel is unique and incomparable. This God has no equal. There is none and never will there be anyone, in heaven above or on earth below who is like Him. There is none that can be compared with Him. He has kept His covenant and shown His lovingkindness to those who have walked with Him wholeheartedly. Solomon thanks God for being the faithful God who has fulfilled all the promises He has made to David. So he asks God to continue to fulfill the promise that He has made to David so that a descendant of his will always sit on the throne of Israel.

Here are three critical keys to effective prayers. Firstly, we need to recognize that the God who answers our prayer has no equal. He is an incomparable God and there is none like Him. It is to this God that we are making our request. Secondly, an effective prayer is one that is asked in alignment with the promises that God has made. Asking in line with the promises of God will ensure that we are praying according to His will. And thirdly, the condition that will unlock prayer answers is our faithfulness and commitment to walk in God’s way. He never fails in His promises!

 

 

   

1 Kings 8:14-21 – Be God’s diligent and responsible workmen

The occasion for 1 Kings 8:14-21 was the bringing of the ark of the covenant to the temple. Solomon now faced the people of Israel, comprising of the elders of the nation, the leaders of the tribes, the heads of the clans, and all the men of Israel. There he blessed the whole assembly. Here the king rehearsed all that the people already knew i.e. what they were experiencing was the plan of God. From all these, he was pointing to God’s continuing love for Israel. The completion of the temple was a declaration of the fulfillment of God’s promise to give them the land. These verses also asserted the covenant God made with David and stressed the presence of God.   

Solomon began by blessing God in verse 15. He then went on to emphasize that God was the initiator of Israel’s ongoing experiences. When they exited from Egypt, choosing a place among the city of the tribes to build a temple to establish His name was not God’s first agenda. His first agenda was to make David king over Israel, His people. Then to build God a temple was David’s intention. Out of gratitude, David had in his heart to build God a temple to honor Him. However, God made it known to him that he would not be the instrument to be used to build it. It would be his son who would be the one that He would use to build the temple. Pointing to himself as the fulfillment of God’s promise, Solomon asserted that he was that son that God had chosen. He did not only succeed David, his father on the throne, but was also used to build the temple for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. Now with the ark in its rightful place, Solomon then affirmed all that happened pointed to the fulfillment of the covenant God had made with the people when He brought them out of Egypt.

More than a fulfillment of Solomon’s or David’s plan, the temple was God’s plan. To accomplish His plan, God uses human instrument. Today, in establishing His Kingdom here on earth, God has given every one of us the privilege to be a part of His Kingdom program. Like Solomon, we must gratefully acknowledge and accept this awesome privilege. Know also that privilege comes with accountability. Hence, we must identify what we are called to do and responsibly engage in the work. Make 2 Timothy 2:15 our motto and be diligent to present ourselves approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. We must be God’s responsible instrument and be found faithful and diligent in our assignments.

     

1 Kings 8:6-13 – A growing and glowing life

In 1 Kings 6:16-23, we saw how the inner sanctuary of the temple was constructed. We learned that in the inner sanctuary, a thirty feet cube much like the Holy of holies of Moses’ tabernacle was constructed.  Solomon also had two massive 15 feet cherubim made with the tips of their outstretched wings touching each other inside this cube. According to 1 Kings 8:6-9, when Solomon had the priest bring the ark of the covenant to the temple, he had it placed underneath the outspread wings of the two cherubim. Thus these cherubim formed a covering over the ark and the poles that were used to carry it. However, we were told that the poles were too long and could be seen from the outside of the confine of this cube. This was much like the throne room of God where the high priest would meet with Him once a year.

Verse 9 tells us that in the ark only the two tablets of stones of the Ten Commandments that Moses placed inside at Horeb were found. There was no mention of the rod of Aaron and the jar of manna. Only the two stone tablets were highlighted to show the connection of Israel to the covenant made with God at Mount Sinai. This could well suggest the importance of God’s Word to us.

Verses 10-11 tell us that once the ark was placed in the Holy of holies, the glory cloud of God filled the place until the priests could not stand to minister. With the cloud of His glory filling the temple, His presence also filled that place. So awesome was the sight that Solomon felt satisfied and elated. He took it as God’s approval. For God who dwelt in the thick cloud had descended and now dwelt in the lofty house that he had built for Him. The temple would mark God’s invisible presence among them.

The three critical elements that underscored Israel’s relationship with God were His presence, His Word, and His covenant. These are also the three critical elements in our worship and walk with God that we must not overlook. We need to seek His ever-abiding presence in our life. We need to be intimately acquainted with His Word. And we need to nurture an ongoing relationship with Him, constantly and consistently. Seek not only to grow in the Lord but also to glow for the Lord!

 

1 Kings 8:1-5 – Is God at the center of our lives?

The last we read of the Ark of the Covenant was in 1 Kings 3, where we were told that Solomon encountered the Lord in a life-changing dream. Verse 15 said that after the dream, he made a journey to the city of David where the Ark was housed and offered a burnt and peace offering.

Now that he had the temple built, 1 Kings 8:1 tells us that Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, the chiefs of the 12 tribes, and the heads of the clans of all the sons of Israel at Jerusalem for the purpose of bringing the Ark from Zion, the city of David to the temple at Mount Moriah. In addition to the leaders of the nation, tribes, and families, we are told in 1 Kings 8:2 that all the men of Israel also gathered for the occasion. This tells us that Solomon had a broad base of support from the leaders to the common people of Israel.    

In 1 Kings 6:38, we learned that the temple was completed on the eighth month, the month of Bul. But according to 1 Kings 8:1, Solomon only had the ark brought up to the temple in the month of Ethanium, the seventh month, which was 11 months later. Why did Solomon choose to bring the Ark only 11 months later? This was when the Feast of Booths or the Feast of Tabernacle would soon be celebrated. It was a significant feast, a time of national gathering. It was to commemorate the people of Israel's early wandering years from the wilderness into the promised land. It was to be a recollection of how God protected them and saw them through the journey. Solomon had strategically chosen this time of the nation’s celebration to bring the Ark to the temple to be housed permanently.   

First Kings 8:3-8 said that with the leadership assembled, the priests and the Levites carried the ark and the holy utensils of the tent to the temple. It was a grand occasion and the people celebrated. Verse 5 had this to say, “And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who were assembled to him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen they could not be counted or numbered.”

The Ark of the Covenant had been a symbol of God’s presence. It was the obvious and wise thing then for Solomon to want the Ark to be brought to the house there. What good would a temple be, without the presence of God? Similarly, what good would a church be without the presence of God’s Spirit? For that matter what good would worship be when God is absent?  To bring it closer home, what good would our living be without God being at the center of it all? Is God at the center of our lives? If not, what must we do? Make the necessary alignments, and make sure He is on the throne of our hearts!    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Kings 7:48-51 – God our source in life

First Kings 7:48-51 tell us that Solomon had all the internal furnishings of the temple made. They correspond with the fixtures that were in the Tabernacle that Moses made years earlier. Verse 48 describes the first two items. First was the golden altar of incense. This was much like the one described in Exodus 30:1-4. This was the table where incense was offered. It is a symbol of the prayer that was daily offered to the Lord. The second was the table of shewbread or known as the bread of the presence. Though not mentioned, we take it that on the table would be 12 pieces of bread representing the twelves tribes of Israel, ever before the presence of God. It speaks of the Lord’s presence and provision. He would not only be present with His people but would also provide for them.  

Verse 49 refers to the golden lampstands and the accompanying golden articles for the lampstands. In Moses Tabernacle, only one was made. But here we are told that Solomon had ten made. This verse just refers to the golden lampstands that Solomon had made. But we know that each lampstand was intricately made most probably like the one during Moses’ time. Exodus 25:31-40 give details of how intricate the lampstand was. Solomon made ten and placed five on the left and five on the right to provide light for the inner sanctuary. The lampstand which was made like a tree also speaks of the tree of life and the glory of God. In verse 50 we are told that Solomon also had all the articles as well as all the hinges of the doors made of fine gold.   

Finally, in verse 51, Solomon had all the items, the silver and gold that David had dedicated to God brought to the treasuries of the temple. Details of how he got his silver and gold could be found in 2 Samuel 8. Suffice to say that they came from nations that David had subdued.  

The lessons we can learn from this passage will be similar with those we have drawn from the furnishings of the Tabernacle of Moses. Here’s just a few: the table of incense shows us how we need to pray if we are to progress with the Lord. The table of shewbread tells us that we are ever before the presence of God, our provider. The golden Lampstands made like a tree tell us that Jesus is the source of life and light. The gold speaks of how precious He is to us. How can we ever live victoriously without Jesus? Truly apart from Him we can do nothing. So we must draw near to Him each day and be strengthened for the challenges of life!         

1 Kings 7:40-47 – Using our talents to glorify God

For ceremonial use in the temple, First Kings 7:40 tells us that Hiram’s fourth project was to construct smaller basins, shovels, and sprinkling bowls. Then in verses 41-45 we are given a listing of the bronze work that Hiram had made.  They were the pillars, the capitals, the complex designs surrounding the two capitals, the Sea, the ten bronze lavers complete with the stands, and as well as the shovels and the bowls mentioned in verse 40.  All the utensils that he made were of polished bronze. Verses 46-47 rounded all that Hiram had made by saying that he had them cast at the plain of Jordan because the ground there was more suitable for these works.

Hiram, whose father was from Tyre and mother, a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, was endowed with wisdom and understanding in bronze work. His intricate work of constructing underscored his unusual talent. He was a craftsman who stood among God’s uniquely gifted personalities such as Oholiab and Bezalel from Moses’ era. This is what 1 Kings 7:14 said of Hiram. “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.”

He had the talent and was willing to be used to complete all the work required of his capability. The point is that he used his talent for the task he excelled best. If God’s work is to be gloriously completed, we need talented and willing people. Are we hiding our talents? We must rise up, be like a “Hiram” and willingly give of our talents to serve the purpose of God. Ephesians 2:19 says, “For we are His (God) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Whatever talents and gifts we have, are we putting them into building and completing the grand tapestry of God? For to whom much is given, much will be required!  

 

1 Kings 7:27-39 – Living a progressively sanctified life

In 1 Kings 7:23-26 was the description of how Hiram made the huge bronze tank known as the Sea. First Kings 7:27-39 describe his third project. He had ten elegant moveable bronze lavers complete with stands made. They were made smaller than the Sea so that they could be placed around the temple.

Here’s a simple version of verses 27-37 which describe how the stand was made. Each of the stands was made like a six feet square cart, four and a half feet in height. On the side panels of each stand were cast lions, oxen, and cherubim. On top of each cart-like stand was a circular cradle to hold the bronze basin. Each stand also had four wheels complete with rims, axles, and spokes.

Verses 38-39 then describe the ten bronze basins. Each removable basin was about six feet in diameter and had the capacity of storing 230 gallons of water.  The ten bronze basins were then mounted each on ten cart-like bronze stands. They were placed five on the right side of the temple and five on the left. The Sea was placed on the right side of the temple facing eastward.  

The function of the bronze lavers was for the priests to purify themselves before and after they had performed the sacrifice. One lesson can be drawn from the function of the lavers. It is God’s call to live a sanctified life. Sanctification as we know is the process that we all need to undergo after becoming a child of God. We are justified by the blood of Christ, but we need the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in our walk with Him. Justification frees us from the penalty of sin. Sanctification is the process that progressively frees us from the hold and power of sin. Water as we know is one of the symbols of the Holy Spirit. As the Old Testament priests who needed the water to cleanse themselves in the service of God, we need the cleansing work of the Holy Spirit in our Christian journey.  Romans 8:1 tells us that our victory in life is for us to walk every day by the Spirit of the Lord. Then we will experience the principle of life in Christ Jesus, setting us free from the principles of sin and death. Let’s live a progressively sanctified life!           

1 Kings 7:23-26 – The call to walk in holiness

First Kings 7:23-26 describe Hiram's second project. He fabricated a circular basin-shaped tank called “the Sea”. This was like the brass laver described in Exodus 30:18-20 which was made for the Tabernacle. Like the laver, the Sea would contain water for the priest to cleanse before and after the sacrifice. The diameter of this bronze basin was about fifteen feet, its height eight feet, and its circumference fifty feet. Under the rim, it was decorated with two rows of brass gourds cast together with the Sea.

Verse 25 tells us that the Sea rested on twelve oxen. Three of them facing north, three facing west, three facing south and three facing east. They could well represent the 12 tribes of Israel or Solomon’s twelve administrative districts. The Sea was said to contain about 2,000 baths of water which would be approximately 11,500 gallons.

The water of the Sea was for the priests to purify and cleanse themselves before they enter the presence of God. This speaks of the priest needing to be cleansed before they could enter the presence of God. Peter’s letter tells us that we believers are God’s royal priests. Thankfully, we are cleansed not by water but by the precious blood of Christ. Positionally, Christ’s blood had already cleansed us once and for all. But daily we still need to apply the cleansing power of the blood of Christ so that we will be empowered to walk in holiness. We are to live a life that is holy before God moment by moment. For God desires that we be holy even as He is holy. Let us take the exhortation of 1 John 1:7 & 9 seriously and walk in the Light as Jesus Himself is in the Light. Then we will have fellowship with one another. And as we do, the blood of Jesus will continually cleanse us from all sin. And “if we confess of sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Let us walk in holiness!

 

 

 

1 Kings 7:13-22 – Only the best for God

First Kings 7:13-51 return to talk about how the temple was furnished. He engaged Hiram, whose name reminds us of King Hiram mentioned earlier, to help furnish the temple. He was a man of mixed descent and the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali. His father was a man from Tyre. And he was skillful, wise with a unique ability with bronze work. He also reminds us of Bezalel and Oholiah introduced in Exodus 31, whom Moses engaged to do the furnishing of the Tabernacle. The choice of using Hiram tells us that the best and appropriate person must be secured to do the work of God. Like him, each of us is endowed with different talents, skills, and gifts. We must always deploy the man for the work that is commensurate with his ability. Do not try to fit a square peg into a round hole so to speak or try to get someone to broom where he is not gifted.  

Verses 15-22, describe the two elaborate bronze pillars at the front porch of the temple, each about 30 feet in height. Simply put, on top of each pillar was a bowl-shaped capital much like a bud of a lily fixed to the pillar by seven interwoven networks of chains. Each capital on top of the pillars was also decorated with bronze-shaped pomegranates. The pillars were even named. One was called Jachin meaning “He establishes”, and the other Boaz, meaning “strength.” The pillars speak of the stability and security of Israel because it was God who had established and granted strength to the nation.

Lessons: Only the very best talent for God. We must give God the best and not the leftovers. The best talent and the wisest must be deployed for the advancement of God’s work. Like the way the building of the pillars were so intricately made solid, Christians must stand solidly for the Lord, fully adorned with characters that reflect the glory of the Lord.       

1 Kings 7:1-12 – Don’t be self-indulgent

In between the building of the temple for God and the furnishings, 1 Kings 7:1-12  took a detour to talk about the construction of Solomon’s palace. The first thing mentioned about the construction of the palace complex was the length of time it took to build it. In contrast with the construction of the temple which took seven and a half years, the construction of his palace complex took thirteen years, almost twice the time to build. However, it must be said that he only built the palace complex after the temple was built. It took him a total of slightly over 20 years to build the temple and the palace complex.

Grant it that more time was needed to build the palace because it was slightly bigger than the temple. First Kings 7:1-12 briefly describe the five annexes of the palace complex. Verses 2-5 refer to the “House of the Forest of Lebanon and the hall of pillars.” The beams and chambers were paneled with cedarwood. The windows and door frames were artistically made probably also from cedarwood. Then verse 7 refers to the “Hall of Judgment” where Solomon would judge and settle disputes brought before him. Verse 8 tells us that he had a palace built for himself and another one for Pharoah’s daughter whom he had married. We cannot get away from the fact that he built an impressive palace complex using quality stones and cedar.  

Though the Bible leaves no doubt that God had given Solomon great wisdom, it also shows us that he was self-indulgent. The problem with self-indulgence is that there can be no end to it. The craving of the human flesh and carnal desire is insatiable. If not tempered by self-control, one can lose control and becomes totally unrestrained. Self-indulgence always comes with a cost. If we don’t reign over it, we will pay more than we are willing to pay. The good news is that if we nurture a Spirit-filled, Spirit-led life, we will cultivate the fruit of self-control.  

1 Kings 6:14-38 – Make God our focus in life

First Kings chapter six began by saying that  Solomon started to build the temple for God 480 years after the exodus. We were told earlier that the woods for the building were provided by Hiram, the king of Tyre. From verses 14-28, the author then described the interior of the temple. After briefly saying that the walls were covered with cedar panels and the floor was laid with cypress, he went on to describe the Holy of holies or the most holy place. It was a cube of 30 feet in length, breadth, and height located at the rear third of the temple. This would be the most important part of the building where the Ark of the covenant would be housed. Like the rest of the interior, this cube was overlaid with gold.   

Verses 23-28 describe the construction of the two cherubim. Like the cherubim that God had sent to guard the garden of Eden after the fall of man, Solomon also had two cherubim, each fifteen feet high constructed, as if to guard the Holy of holies. These cherubim were overlaid with gold. Their wings were constructed outspread with the tips of one cherub touching the tips of the wings of the other. The purpose was to emphasize the presence of the Holy God in the temple where the Ark would be placed. Then verses 29-36 describe the interior of the other two-thirds of the building. It was also overlaid with gold. On the walls and the inner walls were carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and budding flowers. As the building was for God, Solomon sought to make it as attractive as he knew how.  

In verses 37-38, we learn that the temple was built approximately in seven and a half years. This would become the most important building Solomon ever built. Unfortunately, it was destroyed by the Babylonians during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar in the period of the exile. But it was also the time that the Israelites would rebuild it after the exile. It was a symbol of Israel’s relationship with God, for worship was the central activity of the life of the nation.   

Solomon had certainly built a beautiful temple for God. His desire was worthy of our admiration. Today we too want to build beautiful churches and design great programs to honor God. However, whatever we do, we must never shift our attention from God to the buildings or the programs we will design.  God must always remain the central focus in our lives. We must never make the peripherals our focus. Hence, we must make God the main focus of our lives. Be sure to make the main thing the main thing in life! 

 

1 Kings 6:11-13 – Obedience releases God’s blessing

One important criterion in leading a God-pleasing life is obedience. It was a great desire for Solomon to want to build a temple for God’s name. However, what’s more important to God was for him to be faithful to the covenant He had made with Israel. All of Solomon’s desires would be in vain if he did not live a life of covenant faithfulness. So in the middle of his building the temple, he received a word from the Lord. Here we are not told by what means God sent the word to Solomon. We surmise that God probably sent the message to him through a prophet. It is important that we are open and receptive to God whenever He speaks. Perhaps one of the most miserable moments in our walk with God is when He is silent, and no word comes from Him. It behooves us to be quick to listen and ever quicker to obey.

The message to Solomon was captured in 1 Kings 6:12-13. God revealed that His blessing to him and the people of Israel was conditional. They would experience His promise made to David if Solomon faithfully kept God’s way and walk according to His commandments. Notice the promise was not that God would dwell in the temple, but that He would dwell among them and not forsake them. For all Solomon’s good intenti0n in building God a wonderful temple, everything would come to naught if he were not faithful to obey all the instructions and commandments that God had given.   

Obedience to God and His Word has and will always be a determining factor in an effective life. Any person's usefulness to God and His kingdom’s work is only as effective as he or she remains faithful to Him. When disobedience to God is the way of a person’s life, he would soon find himself or herself redundant and be replaced by one who will faithfully obey God. On the other hand, God's approval and presence will attend to those who will walk in constant obedience to Him and His word.  The outcome of one’s life is very dependent on one's obedience to God. That's because being obedient is the way we express our trust in and love for God. So, remain obedient at all costs!

 

1 Kings 6:1-10 – Building a glorious life for God

Solomon began the construction of the temple in the fourth year of his reign, about 480 years after the children of Israel left Egypt. This would roughly be about seven generations after the exodus. In comparison to today’s standard, the temple was not a very large building. However, it served as another evidence of God’s promise to take the people into their promised land.

The temple was approximately 95 feet in length, 33 feet wide, and  49 feet in height. The size of this temple was twice that of the Tabernacle which  Moses had constructed. Unlike the Tabernacle, this temple had more features. Unless we are architects, engineers, or designers, it would be hard to visualize that building. Suffice to say that by the modern standard it was a beautiful three-story building with a porch about the size of the width of the temple. There were windows, chambers or rooms, corridors, doorway, and winding stairs. Verse 7 made clear that the stones were prepared at the quarry so that there was no sound of hammer, axe, or iron tool, heard in the construction of the temple. The temple was not only beautiful but also a functional building.

Here's a lesson we can draw from the temple that Solomon built for the glory of God. Unlike Moses’ tabernacle which was a temporary temple, Solomon’s temple was a more solid, permanent, and lasting building. Paul’s assertion in 1 Corinthians 3:19 and 6:19 is that our bodies are the temples of God. And if our bodies are the temples of God, like Solomon’s temple we must make it solid and lasting. We must build our lives on the solid foundation of Christ and His Word. We must build our lives for the glory of God! As we are building our lives, remember that a lasting life doesn’t come easy because what comes easy doesn’t last. So take time and effort, use the right material, and build a Word-abiding, God-honoring life!   

1 Kings 5:13-18 – Being Kingdom builders

The work of nation-building was not a small feat. Solomon not only had his palace and the temple but also other governmental buildings to build. Where could he find so many laborers for these projects? First Kings 5:13-18 said that he had a conscripted force. This was a type of national service, where these men would give three months a year to serve the nation. Adoniram who was earlier mentioned in 1 Kings 4:6 was again mentioned in 1 Kings:5:14. He was the person assigned to look after this conscripted force.   

The laborers conscripted were 30,000 men. On a rotational basis, 10,000 of them would be sent to work in Lebanon.  Then they would serve back home for two months. Besides these conscripted Israelites, verse 15 said that Solomon also had a total of 150,000 servers, probably made up of people from the nations he had conquered. These served as transporters and stonecutters under 3,300 supervisors assigned to look after them.

The word "house" in verses 17-18 refers to the temple Solomon wanted to build for God’s name. He demanded that quality stones be hewn to lay the foundation of the house. Verse 18 concludes this chapter by saying that Solomon’s workers, Hiram’s workers, and the Gebalites, the inhabitants of Gebal, collaborated to prepare the stones and the timbers for the building of the house of God.   

Like building the temple, building God’s Kingdom also requires laborers. And we are all enlisted to build the Kingdom. Let us be conscious that we are all kingdom builders. The Lord Jesus in Matthew 9:37-38 said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” Will we respond to this call and be enlisted into God’s occupational force on earth to build His Kingdom? Know also that the church is the gathering of Kingdom builders. This church is built with the living stones of men. Like the quality stones that were used to build the foundation of the temple, will we be the quality living stones that Jesus can use in the building of His church? Remember, this Kingdom is for all eternity!

 

 

 

 

1 Kings 5:7-12 – Be godly influencers on the world

Solomon’s request to Hiram was met with great joy and goodwill. The latter’s immediate response was to give praise to God for Solomon. He acknowledged his wisdom and credited his ascension to the throne as the fulfillment of God’s will. We may not know if the friendship he had with David had resulted in him believing in Israel’s God. But we know that David had indeed left an impression in his life for him to bless the LORD so spontaneously.  

First Kings 5:8-12 record for us Hiram’s response to Solomon. After he had blessed the LORD, he wrote a letter to Solomon accepting his request for assistance. He even went a step further by detailing how he would have the cut cedar logs transported. He would gather the cut cedar logs, made them into rafts, and had them floated to the destination Solomon would specify. He even offered to dismantle the rafts at the port of call to make it easier for the servants of Solomon to carry them to where the temple would be built. Hiram here made two amendments to the terms he was given. Firstly, he would provide the logs, but his servants would not be working together with the Israelites. Secondly, he requested food for his royal household instead of giving wages to his men for he refused to take advantage of Solomon’s offer. The terms were set. So verse 11 detailed the amount of food Solomon would send to him year by year. Verse 12 then reiterate that Solomon’s wisdom was given to him by the LORD. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon as they sealed the covenant.

In these verses, we have a lesson on leaving a godly influence on others. Hiram’s action was a result of the impact David had made on him. So he initiated the goodwill toward Solomon on account of his friendship with David. His life must have been influenced by David quite a fair bit. In the same way, like David, we must live a life that will bear witness for God. We must conduct our lives in such a way that God will be praised by the people who associate with us. Undeniably, how we conduct our lives is important. We must seek to demonstrate godly character not to impress but to influence others. Bear in mind that what we are will speak louder than what we say. The best way to live a godly life is to live a Spirit-filled and Spirit-led life. Today we are ambassadors of Christ in the world. And we must be His redemptive agents and godly witnesses to impact the world for Him.             

1 Kings 5:1-6 – Good friends are assets in life.

In 1 Kings 4, we learned that many of the surrounding nations had a cordial relationship with Israel. David had subdued them during his reign. Part of Solomon’s wealth came from the tributes paid by those nations. In 1 Kings 5:1-12, Hiram the ruling king of Tyre, the capital of Phoenicia, was highlighted. Second Samuel 5:11 tells us that he once sent messengers with cedar trees, carpenters, and stonemasons to build a house for David. In other words, he had a friendship with Israel since the days of David. Now when he learned that Solomon had succeeded his father on the throne,  he formally sent representatives to congratulate him. This was most likely done to maintain the mutually beneficial relationship they had with Israel.

Seizing the opportunity, Solomon then solicited Hiram’s help. He wrote a letter acknowledging that the latter had once helped his father to build his house. Now he asked him to  accord the same assistance to build a temple for God.  Notice that in his request, Solomon made known that David was unable to build the temple because of the war he had to fight. He also made it unmistakably clear that it was God who had enabled him to bring about the rest that Israel now enjoyed. Since they were enjoying peace all around, he wanted to fulfill the desire of David by building the temple. This desire was not something new. For God had made it known to his father that it would be him, Solomon, who would be used to build it. So he made the request to Hiram asking that he provide cedar from Lebanon, helpers, and expertise to assist him and his servants in this project. Solomon promised to pay for the services of the personnel that Hiram would send to help in the project.  

Some lessons to take away from these verses. Firstly, we learn about gratitude. Solomon was grateful for the blessings that he and Israel enjoyed. And in response to the blessings God had shown, he would like to build a temple in His name. Are we grateful for all the blessings we have received from God? If we are, we must nurture a God-honoring life to testify of His goodness. Secondly, just like the friendship Hiram had with David, we too need friends in life. Good friends can give us help in times of need. A friend in need is a friend indeed. Jesus calls us His friends. Thirdly, in Solomon’s willingness to pay Hiram for the services that would be rendered, we learn not to take friendship for granted. We must not take advantage of a friend’s kindness. Remember to reciprocate kindness. The best way to have friends is to be one. 

1 Kings 4:29-34 – Sustain wisdom by staying connected to God

God kept His promise and blessed Solomon richly. In 1 Kings 4:29-34, we see a summary of his accomplishment with His God-given wisdom. The discernment and wisdom he had were unsurpassed. So insightful was he that his wisdom was said to be greater than the sons of the East as well as those in Egypt. His wisdom was also greater in comparison with the known sages such as “Ethan the Ezrahite, Heman, Calcol and Darda, the sons of Mahol”. With this divinely endowed gift, Solomon’s fame spread far and wide.

We saw his wisdom in how he resolved the impasse presented by the two prostitutes, each claiming the live son to be theirs. Then we also saw his administrative and organizational abilities on display. He astutely managed the whole country to ensure provisions for the central government as well as his family. Solomon not only had great discernment and administrative skills, verse 32 tells us that he also had great artistic skills. He had written 3,000 proverbs and 1005 songs, many of which were found in the Books of Proverbs and the Song of Songs. Verse 33 shows us that he also had wide knowledge relating to botany, and animals of all sorts, whether they be land, air, or sea creatures. With such wisdom, verse 34 reveals that his fame spread far and wide. Kings everywhere who had learned of his wisdom would send their envoys to inquire and learn from his insight.

The source of true wisdom like that of Solomon’s can only be traced to God. It was superior in quality and large in quantity. God did not give him in drips and drabs because the depth of God’s wisdom is immeasurable. Besides, we can see that Solomon’s wisdom was not only productive, but also practical, and irresistibly attractive. How wonderful it would have been if he had stayed focused and kept his heart connected to God. Then he would not have pandered to his carnal desires. But for all the wisdom granted him, he unwittingly succumbed to his propensity. He allowed his carnal desire rather than his will to please God dominate his life. For us, we learn a lesson from his life. We take it as a call from God to keep our hearts and eyes faithfully fixed on Him. We take heed to Solomon’s words given in Proverbs 4:23. We must “watch over our heart with all diligence, for from it flows the wellspring of life.” 

1 Kings 4:20-28 – Wise Stewardship

Israel was stable and prosperous under Solomon. God had indeed fulfilled the promise He made to Abraham years earlier. First Kings 4:20 began this portion of Scriptures by saying that the number of people of Israel and Judah combined was said to be as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore. And not only was the population huge, but the citizens were also living a joyful life - drinking, eating, and rejoicing. Under the reign of Solomon, Israel had dominion over many of the surrounding nations. To sustain such a huge population of joyful people living in prosperity suggests that Solomon's system of running the country was working. Part of his prosperity came from the tributes paid by the surrounding nations that David had subdued. First Kings 4:21 said that those nations served Solomon all the days of his life.

First Kings 4:22-25 reveal the amount of material resources required to sustain the nation. Yet he was able to ensure that the people were at peace and living a great life. Verses 22-23 detail what Solomon’s provisions for a day amounted to. Just imagine that described amount, and then multiply them by 352 days a year. That’s how much was required to sustain the government every day for a year. The land was at peace and living in security suggest that people were contented with the way the nation was being run. Militarily speaking, verse 26 said that Solomon owned “…40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots and 12,000 horsemen.” The number of the stalls of horses for the chariots is probably a scribal error. In 2 Chronicles 9:25, the number of horses was stated as 4,000. From the calculation 4,000 seems a more accurate figure. This discrepancy, however,  has no theological implication hence it is inconsequential.   

The 12 deputies assigned over the 12 districts were each doing a fine job. Verse 27 suggests that each month one would meet up with Solomon for a meal and to give their account. And when each of them met him, each would bring their dues of “barley and straw for the horses and swift steeds to the place where it should be, each according to his charge.” After the meeting, the deputies would leave with nothing lacking.

For the moment everything seemed rosy and fine. We will learn later how this would take a toll on the people. But this is a subject for future discussion. One lesson we glean from these verses is that prosperity is a good thing to have in life. But it must not be one’s primary focus in life. God wants to prosper us but not at the expense of our relationship with Him. We need to hold prosperity and spirituality in tandem. What is more important is to learn how to handle the material blessings God has granted us so that we will not allow them to overtake our love for God.  Material possession is a neutral thing. It is neither good nor bad. But when we become obsessed with it, we run the risk of compromising our connection with God. Jesus said, “what does it profit a man to gain the whole world but loses his soul.”

Another lesson is found in the last five words of verse 28 that say, “each according to his charge.” These words describe how the deputies discharged their assignment. They were each given responsibility for a district. It was required of each to collect the taxes to be brought to the king for the sustenance of the central government. According to verse 28, they obviously had discharged their responsibilities well. What about us? We are all given talents and gifts for the building of God’s kingdom. How are we using them for the purpose of advancing the work of God? Remember we will have to give an account to our Lord. So let’s steward our talents and gifts wisely now. Then we will be able to hear the words of Jesus, “Well done, My good and faithful servant.”

 

1 Kings 4:7-19 – Organize for effectiveness

The land Solomon was left to rule was an extensive stretch. This was the promised land that God had promised to Abraham and one that Moses was excluded from because of a moment of disrespect for God. This was the stretch of land that Joshua had led the children into and distributed the portions to each of the 12 tribes of Israel. It was David who had largely subdued the land and left it to Solomon to continue ruling. Thankfully, with the God-given wisdom, Solomon managed it wisely. In 1 Kings 4:7-19, we see the wisdom of Solomon in administering the land.   

We are told that Solomon assigned 12 deputies. They are better seen as district governors to supervise the raising of revenue to support the central government. In these verses, their names, and the areas they were assigned to were specified. Each of these deputies was responsible to provide for the king’s household for a month. With each deputy providing a month of supplies, the provision of the royal household would be ensured for a whole year.   

In these verses, we also realize that two of the deputies were Solomon’s sons-in-law. They were Ben-Abinadab (verse 11) and Ahimaaz (verse 15). Being family members, the risk of them sabotaging the king’s plan would be unlikely. Then we also realize that the assignment of the areas was not proportionate. Some were given larger areas, others were given less. Solomon had probably assigned the task based on their capability. Those with a larger capacity were given a larger portion of responsibility.    

To govern such an extensive stretch of land and ensure loyalty and unity among such a group of diverse people would be impossible to do without wisdom. From these verses, we can detect Solomon’s administrative skills and orderliness. We can see that Solomon was not only an organizer but also a great administrator. Regardless of who we are, whether we are managers, parents, workers, students, yes, even pastors, we need to learn how to organize and administer our lives for effectiveness and efficiency. We need to plan carefully, schedule diligently, and journal for improvement faithfully. It is said that charity begins at home. We will not be able to lead others if we are not able to lead ourselves. Effectiveness requires that we lay hold of our personal life first. Learning to lay hold of our lives incrementally will build effectiveness ultimately. 

1 Kings 4:1-6 – Collaborating with faithful men

In 1 Kings 4, Solomon’s God-given wisdom was used in nation-building. He began to set people in the respective offices. He placed appropriate people into positions for effectiveness.

Due to the importance of the priesthood, the first name on the list of 1 Kings 4:1-6 is Azariah the priest. The reason he was mentioned before his father Zadok could well be that he served as a priest for the larger part of Solomon’s reign. He had succeeded his father Zadok, who was mentioned with Abiathar as the priest in verse 4. Abiathar as we know was the priest who supported Adonijah in the latter’s attempt to seize the throne. First Kings 2:26 said that Solomon had banished him to Anathoth. Why then was he included in the list of names here? We suspect that he was retained because of the delicate political situation in the early years of his reign.  

Solomon had two secretaries. They were Elihoreph and Ahijah. They are like the Permanent Secretaries we have in our Prime Minister’s office. One, he assigned to run the matters pertaining to his home, and the other to help him deal with foreign correspondence. He also had a recorder in the person of Jehoshaphat.  As a recorder, he was to help to transmit and explain the king’s command. He was the king’s connecting person with the public.  

Benaiah and Zadok were both rewarded for their part in helping Solomon to the throne. The former became the commander of his army. The latter was a priest together with his son Azariah. Two of Nathan’s sons were also given prominent positions. The first, who shared the same name as the priest Azariah, was made supervisor of the officers or deputies who looked after the different districts in the kingdom. Zabud, the other son of Nathan, was a special counsel to the king. Solomon wisely took the advice of his father by rewarding faithful people and punishing opponents. Two more persons help to complete the list. Ahisar took care of household matters and matters in the palace, while Adoniram was the supervisor of the people who were conscripted to serve in the palace.    

For success in our service to God, we need to surround ourselves with trustworthy and capable people. None of us can advance God’s work alone. All good leaders know that they must delegate responsibility and grant authority to get the work of God done. This reminds us of Paul’s advice to Timothy. “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” We need to seek out faithful men, impart what we have learned so that God’s work can advance.   

1 Kings 3:16-28 – Wisdom from above is available to us

The story recorded in 1 Kings 3:16-28 is one of the well-known stories that affirmed God’s gift of wisdom and discernment to Solomon. The story tells of two prostitutes each having given birth to a son. One of them was careless and unknowingly smothered her son to death. She then took her dead baby and switched it with the baby belonging to the other prostitute, while she was asleep. Now both the women came to Solomon claiming that the baby who was still alive was theirs. In the absence of witnesses, this was a difficult case to solve. At a time where DNA testing technology had not been developed, what was Solomon going to do? This was where Solomon’s God-given wisdom and discernment were put to the test. Would he be able to satisfactorily resolve the unusually perplexing issue?

Verses 24-28 give us a glimpse of the wisdom and wit that Solomon possessed. He could discern that the genuine mother would prefer her son to be alive no matter what. So he wisely tested the maternal affection of the mothers to see how each of them would respond when the son’s life was threatened. He asked for a sword to be brought to divide the son who was alive into two, so that the mothers could each have half of that son. Of course, the mother who had given birth to her son would prefer him alive than dead, even if it meant having to part with him. On the other hand, the mother who did not give birth to the baby was nonchalant. For she did not care even if the child was dead because the live baby was never hers. After all her own child was dead, so it made no difference to her.  Her cruelty was exposed by Solomon’s wise actions.  

The real mother of the son who was alive showed deep compassion for him. So she spoke to the king asking that her son be given to the other prostitute. She would rather see him alive than have him dead. That gave Solomon the cue of who the real mother was. He saw through the different responses of the women. Wisely, he then gave his judgment and returned the son to the compassionate woman. When Solomon’s action was known, his fame spread throughout Israel and the people respected and feared him. For they saw that the wisdom of God was upon him.  

Wisdom as we have discovered is more than knowledge. It is the ability to discern from the knowledge one has acquired and then to translate it into appropriate action. The Bible in Proverbs 3:13 said, “How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding.” In our complex world, we need wisdom to be able to distinguish what’s important and what’s not, between the peripheral and the core. Thankfully, God promises to give us that wisdom. The God given wisdom according to James 3:18 “…is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy, good fruit, unwavering. without hypocrisy.” We can have such wisdom. All we need to do is to ask God for it. For in James 1:5, He invites us to ask for His wisdom saying, “if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” Ask God for this wisdom, and live life without regret!

 

 

1 Kings 3:10-15 – God has a dream for us

Solomon’s humble request for a discerning heart pleased the Lord. So in 1 Kings 3:10-15, He responded to his request. Though he could have asked for anything such as long life or riches for himself, or for the destruction of his enemies, he did not. Instead, he asked for wisdom and discernment to be a just and wise ruler. God was so pleased that He granted Solomon’s request and gave him unsurpassed wisdom. There would be no one before him or after him, who would ever equal his wisdom. Even though he did not ask for honor or wealth, he would be given both. He would be both rich as well as famous. However, there was a condition that God expected of him to keep. He must “…walk in God’s ways, keeping His statutes and commandments, as…David walked, then God will prolong his days.”

Remember that all that had transpired was in a dream. Solomon encountered God in that dream.  So verse 15 tells us that when he woke up, he realized that it was a dream. It was not just any ordinary dream but a life-changing one. Solomon apparently accepted it. As a signal of his acceptance of all that God would grant him, he came to Jerusalem before the Ark of the covenant and offered burnt offerings and made a peace offering. There he also held a feast of celebration for all his servants. Solomon did all these to seal the agreement

More than a function of the mind, the dream that Solomon had was an encounter with God. It changed his life and work forever. What is a dream? Does God still communicate to us through dreams? According to the dictionary, a dream is a series of thoughts, visions, or feelings that happen during sleep. And yes, God still communicates to His people through dreams. The Word of God had shown that this was one of God’s means of communication with his servants of old. And in Acts 2:17, we are told that in the last days, “…old man shall dream dreams.” Bear in mind that God is sovereign, and the Spirit of God can still bring a message to His people through dreams. And because we already have the Bible as our main guide, any dream must be interpreted in the light that God had already revealed in the Word of God. The next time we have a dream, seek God for an interpretation. He may have a life-altering message to help us make a difference in life. Don’t just dismiss it! 

1 Kings 3:6-9 – The quest for a discerning heart

First Kings 3:6-9 record for us the response of Solomon at the invitation of God, who offered to give him whatever he would request. Though young, he was sensible. So he did not abuse God’s gracious offer. Instead of releasing a whole list of things for personal aggrandizement, he began gratefully by acknowledging God’s faithfulness. He recalled how God had shown great lovingkindness to David, his father, who had walked before Him in integrity. The late king had purported to be faithful to the covenant duties expected of him. He was considered to have lived a life of truth, righteousness, and uprightness of heart toward God.

How so? For all the mistakes David had committed, four things made him worthy of the description of him in verse 6. Firstly, he had a heart after God. The Bible explicitly said so. David was passionate about the things of God. This can be seen in many of the Psalms he had written. They reflected how deeply he yearned for God. Secondly, he was a fervent worshipper of God. Exuberantly and with great energy, he would express his unrestraint worship toward God. Thirdly, he was quick to repent when shown his sin. David was not afraid to face the consequences of his sins before God, regardless of the depth of the pain he would have to face. Psalms 32 and 51 reflect how deeply he repented and acknowledged his failures, and how grateful he was to God for His forgiveness. Fourthly, David had never at any given time turned to idols for solutions to the problems he encountered. In good time or in bad, in sunshine or in rain, David never pivoted to other gods. No matter what happened to him, he would always turn to Yahweh, His God.

Continuing, Solomon then saw his meteoric rise to the throne as God’s faithfulness to His covenant with David. He acknowledged that he was on the throne because God was fulfilling His covenant promise to David. He had promised David to always put one of his descendants on the throne. Solomon knew that he became king because it was in God’s plan. So in humility, he admitted his inexperience and inadequacy to rule. He confessed that the task was too overwhelming. Thus he humbly asked for a discerning heart to understand the people he had to rule. He wanted to be able to distinguish between right and wrong. He knew that unless he had a listening and obedient heart, he would not be able to judiciously administer justice.

Two lessons cannot be ignored in our reflection of these verses. The first lesson teaches us to be faithful to God by walking before him wholeheartedly, truthfully, righteously, and uprightly. We learn from the examples of David to set our heart on God. We must love Him wholeheartedly, worship Him fervently, repent when we fail him, and stay faithful to Him, never pivoting to serve gods of our own making. Then we must also seek to have a discerning heart. We not only want to be able to discern between what is right and what is wrong, but also between what is right and what is almost right. That is true discernment. Discernment is cultivated when we actively listen to His instructions and obediently act on them. Make time to nurture our relationship with God! It is so very vital!