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1 Kings 4-8
God Moves
To A New House
Psalm 50:1-18 Who Are The Wicked?
1.“The Mighty One, God, Yahweh, speaks, and calls the earth from sunrise to sunset.2.Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.3.Our God comes, and does not keep silent. A fire devours before Him. It is very stormy around Him.4.He calls to the heavens above, to the earth, that He may judge His people:5."Gather My saints together to Me, those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice."6.The heavens shall declare His righteousness, for God Himself is judge. Selah.7."Hear, My people, and I will speak; Israel, and I will testify against you. I am God, your God.8.I don't rebuke you for your sacrifices. Your burnt offerings are continually before Me.9.I have no need for a bull from your stall, nor male goats from your pens.10.For every animal of the forest is Mine, and the livestock on a thousand hills.11.I know all the birds of the mountains. The wild animals of the field are Mine.12.If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and all that is in it.13.Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?14.Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Pay your vows to the Most High.15.Call on Me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you will honor Me."16.But to the wicked God says, "What right do you have to declare My statutes, that you have taken My covenant on your lips,17.seeing you hate instruction, and throw My words behind you?"18.When you saw a thief, you consented with him, and have participated with adulterers.Observations
50:1-7.This is an essential Psalm for understanding our relationship with God and identifying the wicked. (Hint: they're closer than you think.)
50:4.
God calls heaven and earth as witnesses in the judgment of His people, since heaven and earth were there at the making of the covenant when He gave them the choice of being blessed or cursed.
Deuteronomy 30:19 "I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse: therefore choose life, that you may live, you and your seed;"
50:8-13.
God doesn't need our stuff; He owns it all anyway. We still need to give, especially in the context of a relationship with Him (v14-15).
50:14-15.
People called on God when they were in trouble, often vowing to praise Him at the temple. When He delivered them, they offered a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and fulfilled whatever vows they made; in doing so they would tell what God did for them (like lots of the Psalms do). This honored God, by exalting Him in the eyes of others so they would trust Him, and deepen their relationship with Him.
50:16-18.
God defines the “wicked” as those among His covenant people who don't walk the talk. They recite the law, but don't act righteously nor justly.
Question
Do you know anyone who fits God's definition of wicked?
Application
Religious observance is no substitute for rigorous adherence to God's word, which involves praying for help and proclaiming how He responds, so that He is honored.
Prayer
Gracious Deliverer, thank You for answering when I call, deliver me from external evil and the inner evil of hypocrisy, for Your glory and honor. Amen.
Proverbs 13:21-25 Discourage Sin, Affirm Righteousness
21.“Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.22.A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored for the righteous.23.An abundance of food is in poor people’s fields, but injustice sweeps it away.24.One who spares the rod hates his son, but one who loves him is careful to discipline him.25.The righteous one eats to the satisfying of his soul, but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.“Observation
13:21-25.Sinners are overtaken by misfortune, and their fortunes are transferred to the righteous. Unjust laws are often used by the greedy to oppress the poor, who suffer hunger as a result. Never mistake legality for righteousness. The fact that something is legal doesn't make it right. God has the highest law. Love requires motivating people to do what is right. Neglect of wrong-doing or affirmation without righteousness is wicked, for it entrenches evil-doers in their sin, making it even harder to eradicate. The indulgent parent who spares the rod/discipline hates their child. They are using indulgence as a means of manipulating the child's affections. They are using the child to meet their own needs for being liked. That's child abuse, because they are turning the child into a monster to build their own self worth. The child will suffer the rest of their life from poor parenting until they learn to re-parent themselves (see bottom of outline The Magic Lamp of Self-Esteem on Truthbase.net for the ABC's of repairing the damage and re-parenting yourself). The parent who truly loves their child will discipline (see TOYL Parenting Principles) so they can be affirmed by others and God for being righteous. Then the righteous will eat and be satisfied, while the undisciplined wicked (hypocrite) will crave affirmation and worth for the rest of their life, and never get it. They will hunger in more ways than one, and go on to abuse their children, perpetuating the sorry cycle.
Illustration
To illustrate (gasp!) the danger of affirming rather than disciplining in the face of obvious unrighteousness consider the message being sent and received in the following scenario: Little Johnny throws a rock at his sister, and misses; it breaks the living room window. He tramples the flower bed to find another, which hits her in the face and bloodies her nose. As he comes into the house, he removes his muddy sneakers before storming off to annoy the cat. The mother says: “Good boy Johnny for taking off your sneakers before coming in the house.” What message gets sent to Johnny? “Good boy!” Where's the rod? We should affirm baby steps in the right direction when the person is trying to do what's right. To affirm outward appearances without disciplining an evil, self-willed heart, is to encourage and entrench the wrong behavior. That's not love.
Application
Love affirms only what is honorable, and provides negative incentives to what is unrighteous.
Prayer
Lord, thanks for being the perfect parent and lover; may I pattern my parenting and interactions with others after Your perfect dealings with me. Amen.
1Kings 4-8 God Moves To A New House
These chapters detail (and I do mean detail) Solomon's organization and building of the temple. There are some folks who spend hours studying each faucet of the construction looking for clever things to relate to other parts of the Bible. God would be more pleased if we focused on building loyal dependent obedience to God in our own lives and then taught others to obey all that God has commanded (disciplemaking - Matthew 28:19-20). The major meat to eat is in Chapter 8, so spend most of your time there.
1 Kings 4 The Blessings of Wisdom
1.King Solomon was king over all Israel.2.These were the princes whom he had: Azariah the son of Zadok, the priest;3.Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder;4.and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the army; and Zadok and Abiathar were priests;5.and Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; and Zabud the son of Nathan was chief minister, the king’s friend;6.and Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the men subject to levied labor.7.Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household: each man had to make provision for a month in the year.8.These are their names...20.Judah and Israel were many as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and making merry.21.Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt: they brought tribute, and served Solomon all the days of his life.22.Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and sixty measures of meal,23.ten head of fat cattle, and twenty head of cattle out of the pastures, and one hundred sheep, besides harts, and gazelles, and roebucks, and fattened fowl.24.For he had dominion over all on this side the River, from Tiphsah even to Gaza, over all the kings on this side the River: and he had peace on all sides around him.25.Judah and Israel lived safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.26.Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.27.every man according to his duty.29.God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and very great understanding, even as the sand that is on the seashore30.Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east, and all the wisdom of Egypt.31.For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all the nations all around.32.He spoke three thousand proverbs; and his songs were one thousand five.33.He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall; he spoke also of animals, and of birds, and of creeping things, and of fish.34.There came of all peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.Observations
4:1-6.Solomon's officers were David's or their sons.
4:7-7.
The expenses of Solomon's administration were divided among the twelve tribes, with each being responsible for a month.
4:20-27.
The prosperity and peace of the nation under Solomon's rule was unparalleled, as was the territory over which he had dominion. Note that each had a vine and fig tree, source of wine and celebratory food. Each person in Solomon's administration had a duty to perform.
4:29-34.
The wisdom and understanding God gave Solomon was not just intended to benefit himself or even the nation, but to be a blessing to the whole world as well. People could come to Israel and see the application of God's wisdom in the prosperity of His people. We have excerpts of that wisdom in the book of Proverbs.
Application
When we are loyal to God He blesses with peace and prosperity, so others will seek His wisdom.
Prayer
Lord, guide me in living according to Your wisdom so others will be attracted to You. Amen.
1 Kings 5 Lumber and Levy for the Temple
1.Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the place of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David.2.Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,3.You know how that David my father could not build a house for the name of Yahweh his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until Yahweh put them under the soles of his feet.4.But now Yahweh my God has given me rest on every side. There is neither adversary, nor evil occurrence5.Behold, I purpose to build a house for the name of Yahweh my God, as Yahweh spoke to David my father, saying, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, he shall build the house for my name.’6.Now therefore command that they cut me cedar trees out of Lebanon. My servants shall be with your servants; and I will give you wages for your servants according to all that you shall say. For you know that there is not among us any who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.7.It happened, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, "Blessed is Yahweh this day, who has given to David a wise son over this great people."8.Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, "I have heard the message which you have sent to me. I will do all your desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir.9.My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon to the sea. I will make them into rafts to go by sea to the place that you shall appoint me, and will cause them to be broken up there, and you shall receive them. You shall accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household."10.So Hiram gave Solomon timber of cedar and timber of fir according to all his desire.11.Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil. Solomon gave this to Hiram year by year.12.Yahweh gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a treaty together.13.King Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.14.He sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses; a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home; and Adoniram was over the men subject to the levied labor.15.Solomon had seventy thousand who bore burdens, and eighty thousand who were stone cutters in the mountains;16.besides Solomon’s chief officers who were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, who bore rule over the people who labored in the work.17.The king commanded, and they cut out great stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with worked stone.18.Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders and the Gebalites cut them, and prepared the timber and the stones to build the house.
Observations
5:1-12.Out of love for David and respect for the wisdom (and flattery) of Solomon, Hiram makes a treaty to supply lumber for the temple for God's name. Solomon could have conquered Tyre, but then would have had the expense of the war, and been deprived of the skill of the woodcutters. Free trade is better than conquest.
5:13-18.
Solomon conscripts laborers from each tribe, one month in Lebanon, and two months back home. The ration of supervisors to workers was about 1:55, which implies the people were willing, self-motivated workers.
Solomon says
“Any enterprise is built by wise planning, becomes stronger through common sense and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast of facts” Proverbs 24:3-4 The Living Bible
Application
Good organization and wise, mutually beneficial alliances ensure success.
Prayer
Lord, help me see how working strategically with others better accomplishes Your purposes. Amen.
1 Kings 6 Temple Built
1.It happened in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel...he began to build the house of Yahweh.2.The house which king Solomon built for Yahweh, its length was sixty cubits, and its breadth twenty, and its height thirty cubits...9.So he built the house, and finished it; and he covered the house with beams and planks of cedar.11.The word of Yahweh came to Solomon, saying,12."Concerning this house which you are building, if you will walk in my statutes, and execute my ordinances, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I establish my word with you, which I spoke to David your father.13.I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel."14.So Solomon built the house, and finished it.Observations
6:1-9.After establishing his administration over the land, Solomon begins the task for which God raised him up, taking seven years to do it (6:38). It is also the purpose for which God raised up Israel, to manifest His glory to the world. The temple follows the general pattern of the tabernacle, although not enough details are given to make an exact replica.
6:11-14.
God gives Solomon encouragement with a conditional promise to bless him if he makes knowing and obeying God's revelation a priority. Then God will dwell in the midst of His people, which leads into the next description of the Holy of Holies.
6:15-30.
Like the tabernacle, everything is overlaid with Gold to reflect the glory of God. The temple will eventually be destroyed because of Israel's unfaithfulness. Sigh.
Application
An observant, dependent, and obedient relationship with God is the requirement for Him dwelling in our midst, not a building.
Prayer
God, You dwell with those who abide in Your word, to do it; make my heart, Your home. Amen.
1 Kings 7 Furnishings for the Temple
1.Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house.Observations
7:1-2.Solomon takes 13 years to build his own house, after first building God's. The grandeur of it was designed to be greater than any had seen, to reflect the greateness of God and His servants.
7:13-51.
Like Bezaleel in Exodus 36, God gave Hiram from Tyre (different guy than the king) to oversee the artistic work for the temple.
Application
God gives skill and gold to honor Him, use them both accordingly.
Prayer
God, You are worthy of the best that I have and do. May I never use my talents nor treasure for anything other than Your will. Amen.
1 Kings 8 Dedicating the Temple
1.Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the princes of the fathers’ households of the children of Israel, to king Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh out of the city of David, which is Zion.4. They brought up the ark of Yahweh, and the Tent of Meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the Tent; even these the priests and the Levites brought up.5. King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who were assembled to him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and cattle, that could not be counted nor numbered for multitude .9. There was nothing in the ark except the two tables of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, when Yahweh made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.10. When the priests had come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of Yahweh,11. so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud; for the glory of Yahweh filled the house of Yahweh.12.Then Solomon said, "Yahweh has said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.13. I have surely built you a house of habitation, a place for you to dwell in forever."14. The king turned his face about, and blessed all the assembly of Israel: and all the assembly of Israel stood.15. He said, "Blessed is Yahweh, the God of Israel, who spoke with his mouth to David your father, and has with his hand fulfilled it, saying...19. Nevertheless, you shall not build the house; but your son who shall come forth out of your body, he shall build the house for my name.’20. Yahweh has established his word that he spoke; for I have risen up in the place of David my father, and I sit on the throne of Israel, as Yahweh promised, and have built the house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.21. There I have set a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of Yahweh, which he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt."22. Solomon stood before the altar of Yahweh in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven;23. and he said, "Yahweh, the God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above, or on earth beneath; who keep covenant and hesed/loyal love with your servants, who walk before you with all their heart;24. who have kept with your servant David my father that which you promised him. Yes, you spoke with your mouth, and have fulfilled it with your hand, as it is this day.25. Now therefore, may Yahweh, the God of Israel, keep with your servant David my father that which you have promised him, saying, ‘There shall not fail you a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children take heed to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.’26. "Now therefore, God of Israel, please let your word be verified, which you spoke to your servant David my father.27.But will God in very deed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can’t contain you; how much less this house that I have built!28. Yet have respect for the prayer of your servant, and for his supplication, Yahweh my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which your servant prays before you this day;29. that your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which you have said, ‘My name shall be there’; to listen to the prayer which your servant shall pray toward this place.30. Listen to the supplication of your servant, and of your people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place. Yes, hear in heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive31. "If a man sins against his neighbor, and an oath is laid on him to cause him to swear, and he comes and swear before your altar in this house;32. then hear in heaven, and do, and judge your servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way on his own head, and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.33. "When your people Israel are struck down before the enemy, because they have sinned against you; if they turn again to you, and confess your name, and pray and make supplication to you in this house:34. then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them again to the land which you gave to their fathers.35. "When the sky is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against you; if they pray toward this place, and confess your name, and turn from their sin, when you afflict them:36. then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of your servants, and of your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on your land, which you have given to your people for an inheritance.37. "If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is blight, mildew, locust or caterpillar; if their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities; whatever plague, whatever sickness there is;38. whatever prayer and supplication is made by any man, or by all your people Israel, who shall each know the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house:39. then hear in heaven, your dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and render to every man according to all his ways, whose heart you know; (for you, even you only, know the hearts of all the children of men;)40. that they may fear you all the days that they live in the land which you gave to our fathers.41. "Moreover concerning the foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, when he shall come out of a far country for your name’s sake42. (for they shall hear of your great name, and of your mighty hand, and of your outstretched arm); when he shall come and pray toward this house;43. hear in heaven, your dwelling place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to you for; that all the peoples of the earth may know your name, to fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by your name.44."If your people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatever way you shall send them, and they pray to Yahweh toward the city which you have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for your name;45. then hear in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.46. If they sin against you (for there is no man who doesn’t sin), and you are angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near;47. yet if they shall repent in the land where they are carried captive, and turn again, and make supplication to you in the land of those who carried them captive, saying, ‘We have sinned, and have done perversely; we have dealt wickedly’;48. if they return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies, who carried them captive, and pray to you toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city which you have chosen, and the house which I have built for your name:49. then hear their prayer and their supplication in heaven, your dwelling place, and maintain their cause;50. and forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions in which they have transgressed against you; and give them compassion before those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them51. (for they are your people, and your inheritance, which you brought out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron);52. that your eyes may be open to the supplication of your servant, and to the supplication of your people Israel, to listen to them whenever they cry to you.53. For you separated them from among all the peoples of the earth, to be your inheritance, as you spoke by Moses your servant, when you brought our fathers out of Egypt, Lord Yahweh."54. It was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication to Yahweh, he arose from before the altar of Yahweh, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread forth toward heaven.55. He stood, and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying,56. "Blessed be Yahweh, who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised. There has not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by Moses his servant.57. May Yahweh our God be with us, as he was with our fathers. Let him not leave us, nor forsake us;58. that he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his ordinances, which he commanded our fathers.59. Let these my words, with which I have made supplication before Yahweh, be near to Yahweh our God day and night, that he may maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel, as every day shall require;60. that all the peoples of the earth may know that Yahweh, he is God. There is none else.61. "Let your heart therefore be perfect with Yahweh our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day."62.The king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before Yahweh.63. Solomon offered for the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to Yahweh, two and twenty thousand head of cattle, and one hundred twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of Yahweh.64. The same day the king made the middle of the court holy that was before the house of Yahweh; for there he offered the burnt offering, and the meal offering, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar that was before Yahweh was too little to receive the burnt offering, and the meal offering, and the fat of the peace offerings.65. So Solomon held the feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt, before Yahweh our God, seven days and seven days, even fourteen days.66. On the eighth day he sent the people away; and they blessed the king, and went to their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that Yahweh had shown to David his servant, and to Israel his people.Observations
8:1-11.The ark and vessels are brought up to the temple and God's glorify visibly fills the temple in the form of a cloud.
8:12-26.
Solomon attributes his completion of the temple to the fulfillment of God's promises to David (in the first part of the Davidic Covenant 2Sam 7), and then turns attention to the covenant which is in the ark, in the most holy place of the temple, which is reflected in the second part of the Davidic Covenant, blessing for continued obedience.
8:27-32.
Solomon asks God to hear his prayers and those of His people when they pray and to forgive them when they sin; justify or vindicate the righteous when they are contending with the wicked.
8:33-43.
Solomon also asks God to hear, forgive and relent from judgment when people are reaping the consequences of their sin, and they repent, confess, and pray. He also asks God to teach them the way to avoid judgment. In short to render to everyone according to their ways (8:39) so they may fear Him all their days. He makes a similar request for foreigners, so that all might know and fear the God of Israel.
8:44-53.
Solomon even asks God to hear the prayers of repentance by His people when their sin is so repeated that are being disciplined by being removed from the land, according to the curses of Deuteronomy 29.
8:54-66.
Solomon blesses the assembly and God and asks that He incline/stretch out their hearts toward Him (by His blessings) so that they will walk in His ways, so all the earth might know that He is the one and only God.
Digging Deeper
God in a nutshell: God is worthy of the best we can give Him. He always fulfills His promises so we will have our hearts turned toward Him and will walk in His ways. His plan for bringing all peoples of the earth to Himself hinges upon the obedience of His people. He not only wants to dwell in their midst, but He will always hear the prayers of people who repent, turn from their sin and turn to Him wholeheartedly, even when being disciplined for their sin. God's goal is not that we wallow in our sin, but that we confess and forsake it, and get back in His good graces. He teaches His people to follow His ways if their hearts are rightly related to Him (that means we fear and wholeheartedly seek His will).
Us in a nutshell: Blessing His people is God's plan to reveal Himself to the world. Our sin, springing from a heart set on the wrong things, stymies the process. When we repent, confess, and pray to God, He forgives and relents from our discipline, so we will walk in His ways. Fearing God is necessary, serving Him with all our heart and soul. As Solomon said:
1 Kings 8:57 "May Yahweh our God be with us 58 that He may incline our hearts to Him, to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments 59 that He may maintain the cause of (bless) His people 60 that all the peoples of the earth may know that Yahweh, He is God. There is none else. 61 "Let your heart therefore be perfect with Yahweh our God, to walk in His statutes, and to keep His commandments."