1 Kings 1

WEEK  6                                         1 Kings 1

MONDAY  Reflections

This chapter begins with a strange tale. A young woman is found to lay in bed with David to prove that he had the strength to rule. The idea was that a young woman might bring him the motivation to show his strength. However, David was not able to consummate the relationship. Her fate is now tied to his kingship, and the kingdom needs to find a new ruler. This information is vital to understand what is happening here and in later chapters. 

In this chapter, Adonijah tries to set himself up as king as he sees his father is unable to rule. Bathsheba makes a plea to David to have Solomon made king first, and he is. The plans of Adonijah are spoiled, and he is called before Solomon on what we would call the charge of treason. Adonijah pleads for his life, and Solomon offers mercy. The condition for mercy is that Adonijah prove he is a worthy man. This means Adonijah mustn't do anything that looks like he might be trying to overthrow Solomon. Solomon might remember the way David ignored Absalom's actions and isn't going to take any chances.

This action of Solomon shows mercy, which is something we can emulate. However, Solomon wasn't going to ignore Adonijah's action in the future. He wasn't going to pretend nothing happened, but he was offering mercy. This is often where some go wrong. They either don't offer mercy/forgiveness, or they aren't watching out when someone has a history of wrongdoing and are caught unaware.

1Ki 1:1-53
(1)  Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.
(2)  Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat.
(3)  So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
(4)  And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not.
(5)  Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
(6)  And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.
(7)  And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.
(8)  But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.
(9)  And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants:
(10)  But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.
(11)  Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?
(12)  Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon.
(13)  Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign?
(14)  Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words.
(15)  And Bathsheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king.
(16)  And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?
(17)  And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.
(18)  And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not:
(19)  And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not called.
(20)  And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.
(21)  Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.
(22)  And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in.
(23)  And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.
(24)  And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?
(25)  For he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king's sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah.
(26)  But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called.
(27)  Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not shewed it unto thy servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?
(28)  Then king David answered and said, Call me Bathsheba. And she came into the king's presence, and stood before the king.
(29)  And the king sware, and said, As the LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress,
(30)  Even as I sware unto thee by the LORD God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day.
(31)  Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live for ever.
(32)  And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.
(33)  The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon:
(34)  And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon.
(35)  Then ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead: and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.
(36)  And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the LORD God of my lord the king say so too.
(37)  As the LORD hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.
(38)  So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.
(39)  And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon.
(40)  And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.
(41)  And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar?
(42)  And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for thou art a valiant man, and bringest good tidings.
(43)  And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king.
(44)  And the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king's mule:
(45)  And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon: and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that ye have heard.
(46)  And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom.
(47)  And moreover the king's servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king bowed himself upon the bed.
(48)  And also thus said the king, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it.
(49)  And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.
(50)  And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
(51)  And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me to day that he will not slay his servant with the sword.
(52)  And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die.
(53)  So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon: and Solomon said unto him, Go to thine house.

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Jeremiah 42

WEEK  5                                          Jeremiah 42

SATURDAY  Reflections

Finally, after destruction and death, the leaders who remain come to Jeremiah for advice. The interesting thing is that the advice is nearly the same as it has been: submit to Nebuchadnezzar, which means stay. I have to wonder if now after Jerusalem has been conquered and destroyed, the people are thinking God might have a different opinion of Nebuchadnezzar. God is saying the same thing he said before: I am with Nebuchadnezzar, so stay where you are. The warning is the same, too: refuse to listen to God, and you're going to face war and death. 

God rarely changes his command. If you are not willing to listen to Him the first time don't think he has changed because circumstances have. 

Jer 42:1-22
(1)  Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near,
(2)  And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:)
(3)  That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do.
(4)  Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard you; behold, I will pray unto the LORD your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass, that whatsoever thing the LORD shall answer you, I will declare it unto you; I will keep nothing back from you.
(5)  Then they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us.
(6)  Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.
(7)  And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah.
(8)  Then called he Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces which were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest,
(9)  And said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto whom ye sent me to present your supplication before him;
(10)  If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you.
(11)  Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the LORD: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand.
(12)  And I will shew mercies unto you, that he may have mercy upon you, and cause you to return to your own land.
(13)  But if ye say, We will not dwell in this land, neither obey the voice of the LORD your God,
(14)  Saying, No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread; and there will we dwell:
(15)  And now therefore hear the word of the LORD, ye remnant of Judah; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; If ye wholly set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to sojourn there;
(16)  Then it shall come to pass, that the sword, which ye feared, shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, whereof ye were afraid, shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there ye shall die.
(17)  So shall it be with all the men that set their faces to go into Egypt to sojourn there; they shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: and none of them shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring upon them.
(18)  For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As mine anger and my fury hath been poured forth upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem; so shall my fury be poured forth upon you, when ye shall enter into Egypt: and ye shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach; and ye shall see this place no more.
(19)  The LORD hath said concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah; Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have admonished you this day.
(20)  For ye dissembled in your hearts, when ye sent me unto the LORD your God, saying, Pray for us unto the LORD our God; and according unto all that the LORD our God shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do it.
(21)  And now I have this day declared it to you; but ye have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God, nor any thing for the which he hath sent me unto you.
(22)  Now therefore know certainly that ye shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, in the place whither ye desire to go and to sojourn.

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Song of Solomon 4

WEEK 5                                    Song of Solomon 4

FRIDAY  Reflections

Anyone who has been in love can understand the feeling behind these verses. The language sounds strange to many today but praise like beauty is "in the eye of the beholder." Like seeking for the one we love, when compliments and praise cease there is a problem, love is fading. This is true in the spiritual as well as the physical. 

Son 4:1-16
(1)  Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead.
(2)  Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them.
(3)  Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks.
(4)  Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men.
(5)  Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies.
(6)  Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.
(7)  Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.
(8)  Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards.
(9)  Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.
(10)  How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!
(11)  Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.
(12)  A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.
(13)  Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,
(14)  Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:
(15)  A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.
(16)  Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.

Matthew 5

WEEK  5                                               Matthew 5

THURSDAY  Reflections

Many believe, this chapter is the most important teaching in the New Testament, if not the whole Bible. There have been entire books written on just the opening words, "Blessed are the poor in Spirit." However, I won't be looking at that today. What I want to examine is where Jesus is focusing on his concern: what’s on the inside.

 

Jesus’ focus isn't on the world around the disciple or just their actions, but on the heart of the disciple. Jesus makes it clear the poor in Spirit (inside) are blessed, disciples are to be glad (on the inside) when persecuted, hate (on the inside) toward others is equal to murder, love (inside) your enemies.

 

Outward actions come from inward attitudes. Jesus doesn't seem impressed by actions without the correct internal attitude. He condemns what is considered acceptable when what is on the inside is wrong. What makes a person Jesus' disciple is the heart, not the outside.

 

Jesus doesn't dismiss our actions. He wants a pure heart. Jesus makes it clear that the first and most important step is on the inside. This is why Jesus starts with what is on the inside, poor spirit, sorrow over sinful life, humility, desire for righteousness, mercy, purity, etc.

Mat 5:1-48
(1)  And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
(2)  And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
(3)  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(4)  Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
(5)  Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
(6)  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
(7)  Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
(8)  Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
(9)  Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
(10)  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(11)  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
(12)  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
(13)  Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
(14)  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
(15)  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
(16)  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
(17)  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
(18)  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
(19)  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
(20)  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
(21)  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
(22)  But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
(23)  Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
(24)  Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
(25)  Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
(26)  Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
(27)  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
(28)  But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
(29)  And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
(30)  And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
(31)  It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
(32)  But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
(33)  Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
(34)  But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
(35)  Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
(36)  Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
(37)  But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
(38)  Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
(39)  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
(40)  And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
(41)  And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
(42)  Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
(43)  Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
(44)  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
(45)  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
(46)  For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
(47)  And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
(48)  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

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Song of Solomon 3

WEEK   5                                 Song of Solomon 3

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

Why does the person here seek the one they love? Is it because they are driven by love/desire? Maybe, but the issues here seem that the love may not be reciprocal. The lover has other gardens, but true love calls for exclusivity.  

However, when we awaken our love for God, we don’t have to worry about having to seek and hoping he will love us, because God will always be there and he always loves us.

Son 3:1-11
(1)  By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
(2)  I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
(3)  The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?
(4)  It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.
(5)  I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.
(6)  Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?
(7)  Behold his bed, which is Solomon's; threescore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel.
(8)  They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night.
(9)  King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon.
(10)  He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem.
(11)  Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart.

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