1 Kings 10

WEEK   11                                             1 Kings 10

MONDAY  Reflections

Verse 23 sums up this chapter, "So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom." This to me proves one can be wise but not act in wisdom. As the story of Solomon unfolds, I can't help but believe that his wealth and political connections cause him to go from trusting God to trusting himself.

 

It is interesting that Solomon received 666 talent of gold a year. This is the same number as the number of the beast in Revelation. The Pulpit commentary observed this might not be an accident as Solomon's wealth is probably what lured him away from God. What is interesting for me is if I were writing the story I would have the number of the beast come first, but God reveals things differently than we do.

 

This is again a reminder that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10).

1Ki 10:1-29
(1)  And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.
(2)  And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.
(3)  And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not.
(4)  And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built,
(5)  And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.
(6)  And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom.
(7)  Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.
(8)  Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.
(9)  Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.
(10)  And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.
(11)  And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.
(12)  And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king's house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day.
(13)  And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.
(14)  Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,
(15)  Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffick of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country.
(16)  And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of gold went to one target.
(17)  And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three pound of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.
(18)  Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold.
(19)  The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays.
(20)  And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.
(21)  And all king Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.
(22)  For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.
(23)  So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.
(24)  And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
(25)  And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.
(26)  And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem.
(27)  And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore trees that are in the vale, for abundance.
(28)  And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.
(29)  And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means.

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Jeremiah 47

WEEK   10                                        Jeremiah 47

SATURDAY  Reflections

The Philistines had been the bane of Israel's existence from the very beginning. Only under David and Solomon were they held in check. When other nations weren't an issue, the Philistines were still there tempting and fighting. Now, as judgment is going to fall on Judah, it will also fall on the nations of the Philistines. They had watched God bless Israel when Israel obeyed and saw disaster come when they refused. For a time, they even held the ark of God in their midst, but they never fully accepted God. They continued to work against God and His people. Finally, God's judgment was falling, and as bad as it was for Judah, it would mean the complete destruction of the Philistine nations.

 

This reminds me of St. Peter's words, "For it is time for judgment to begin with God's household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:17). I don’t point this out with joy, but actually with sadness. It is a reminder that there are people outside of our sphere of influence who desperately need God.

Jer 47:1-7
(1)  The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza.
(2)  Thus saith the LORD; Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell therein: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl.
(3)  At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses, at the rushing of his chariots, and at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers shall not look back to their children for feebleness of hands;
(4)  Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth: for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor.
(5)  Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself?
(6)  O thou sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still.
(7)  How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it.

Ecclesiastes 6

WEEK   10                                      Ecclesiastes 6

FRIDAY  Reflections

Things might be going good now but you might end up losing everything. You're probably going to want more than you can have and if you get it you'll lose it. So why try?

 

This is my summation of this chapter. As I have mentioned before the teacher is absolutely right if there is only life under the sun. Often people use these woes and vanities as a reason to forsake God. They are also used to prove Christians don't see the world for how it really is. However, this book makes it clear the struggle over the unfairness and seemingly purposeless of life isn't something our faith hasn't dealt with. In all truth, we have and we have done it in poetry no less.

Ecc 6:1-12
(1)  There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:
(2)  A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
(3)  If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.
(4)  For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.
(5)  Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.
(6)  Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?
(7)  All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
(8)  For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?
(9)  Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
(10)  That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.
(11)  Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?
(12)  For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

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Matthew 10

WEEK   10                                            Matthew 10

THURSDAY  Reflections

While looking in this chapter I want to highlight the wisdom of Jesus. In verse 5, Jesus tells the twelve not to go to the Gentiles. Some have seen this as Jesus being racist or looking at it as being because they were not in the church age. However, there is another simpler explanation, they weren’t ready.

The Jews had been taught the scriptures and were looking for the Messiah. The Jews wanted God to do something in their midst. The Gentiles had no concept of a God who was really concerned with how they lived nor were they looking for a Messiah. This meant the Jews would be a far more receptive audience to these newly recruited disciples. I agree with Robert Coleman in his book The Master Plan of Evangelism that Jesus, by sending his future apostles out to this crowd, gave them a training ground that was somewhat receptive to the message.

Jesus spent time training and preparing his disciples. He did not send them out until they were ready. Jesus knew this was the next step. They had listened to him and now he was sending them out to those who would probably be receptive.

Jesus sent his disciples out and once they had reached a level of experience he called them to something deeper. In the same way, Jesus will challenge us to go to the next level of training. This training will be more difficult than what you have faced before but it will bring growth. 

*Coleman, Robert. The Master Plan of Evangelism.  http://a.co/0PjyZCF

Mat 10:1-42
(1)  And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
(2)  Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
(3)  Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
(4)  Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
(5)  These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
(6)  But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
(7)  And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
(8)  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
(9)  Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
(10)  Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
(11)  And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.
(12)  And when ye come into an house, salute it.
(13)  And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
(14)  And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
(15)  Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
(16)  Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
(17)  But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
(18)  And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
(19)  But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
(20)  For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
(21)  And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
(22)  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
(23)  But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
(24)  The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
(25)  It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
(26)  Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
(27)  What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
(28)  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
(29)  Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
(30)  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
(31)  Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
(32)  Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
(33)  But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
(34)  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
(35)  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
(36)  And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
(37)  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
(38)  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
(39)  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
(40)  He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
(41)  He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
(42)  And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

Ecclesiastes 5

WEEK  10                                          Ecclesiastes 5

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

Even as the Preacher/teacher examines life under the sun (just from the human perspective), he recognizes that God isn't to be trifled with. Even without an eternity to look forward to, or to fear if you're in rebellion to God, in this life God is a force to be reckoned with. Solomon's advice is simple (and I greatly paraphrase it ) don't tick God off and enjoy it when He blesses you. 



Ecc 5:1-20
(1)  Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.
(2)  Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
(3)  For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.
(4)  When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
(5)  Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
(6)  Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?
(7)  For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.
(8)  If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.
(9)  Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.
(10)  He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
(11)  When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?
(12)  The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
(13)  There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.
(14)  But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.
(15)  As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
(16)  And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?
(17)  All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.
(18)  Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.
(19)  Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.
(20)  For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.

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