[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (BRU) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]
[8:18
pm, 12/06/2022] S.R: 𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟙:𝟜𝟡
"Then
all the guests of Adonijah were terrified; and they arose and each went on his way."
Hopefully,
we don't follow a presumptuous leader and end up like this!
𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟚:𝟚𝟘
“Then
she said, ‘I am making one small request of you; do not refuse me.’ And the
king said to her, ‘Ask, my mother, for I will not refuse you.’”
But
he did refuse! Wisdom is more important.
𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟛:𝟙
"Then
Solomon formed a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took
Pharaoh's daughter and brought her to the city of David until he had finished
building his own house and the house of the LORD and the wall around
Jerusalem."
It
wasn't right nor wise for him to marry the heathen, yet God still answered his
prayer. God indeed is more merciful and forgiving and loving than we can ever
imagine. But don't test God in sin! Sin always has consequences.
𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟜:𝟚𝟝
"So
Judah and Israel lived in safety, every man under his vine and his fig tree,
from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon."
When
the leader was good, wise, and powerful, the kingdom prospered.
𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝟝:𝟙𝟚
"The
LORD gave wisdom to Solomon, just as He promised him; and there was peace
between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a covenant."
When
there were war and conquest, the king because of God's blessing could even have
a good business deal with others and build the temple!
Seek
God's wisdom!
𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟞:𝟙𝟙-𝟙𝟚
"Now
the word of the LORD came to Solomon saying, ‘Concerning this house which you
are building, if you will walk in My statutes and execute My ordinances and
keep all My commandments by walking in them, then I will carry out My word with
you which I spoke to David your father.’"
Indeed,
what good is the magnificent temple if God is not in it? What good is any
church if Jesus is not her head? What good is mission organization and strategy
if the Lord is not with it?
𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟟:𝟜𝟟
"Solomon
left all the utensils unweighed, because they were too many; the weight of the
bronze could not be ascertained."
When
we think and talk and compare riches of wealth, remember King Solomon. He
didn't even ask for it btw!
𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟠:𝟚𝟟
"But
will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven
cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built!"
Indeed,
God is bigger than anything we can give Him. No praise, no worship, no
offering, nothing is too much for God.
𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟡:𝟞-𝟟
"But
if you or your sons indeed turn away from following Me, and do not keep My
commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, and go and serve
other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land which I
have given them, and the house which I have consecrated for My name, I will
cast out of My sight. So Israel will become a proverb and a byword among all
peoples."
The
God of the Bible hardly reveals anything without a word of warning! Preachers
do well to proclaim the word of God with a warning!
𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟙𝟘:𝟚𝟛-𝟚𝟜
"So
King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and in
wisdom. All the earth was seeking the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom
which God had put in his heart."
This
is what God does for whomever He pleases to bless. May God be our strength,
refuge, and joy!
[1:01
pm, 26/07/2022] S.R: 𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟙𝟙:𝟙𝟜
"Then
the LORD raised up an adversary to Solomon, Hadad the Edomite; he was of the
royal line in Edom."
God
raised up adversaries for King Solomon when he went astray. There's a promise
of grace when we walk with the Lord, but the way of transgression is hard. Btw,
for those who are beloved of God, even adversaries and hard things in life are
chastisements to come back to God and enjoy life. It's not a punishment to harm
us or to humiliate us.
𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟙𝟚:𝟙𝟘
""The
young men who grew up with him spoke to him, saying, "Thus you shall say
to this people who spoke to you, saying, 'Your father made our yoke heavy, now you
make it lighter for us!' But you shall speak to them, 'My little finger is
thicker than my father's loins!'""
Guys,
if you are still young (below 40) there's not much wisdom among your friends.
Maybe they really want your downfall too in envy. Be prudent to take counsel
from your elders.
𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟙𝟛:𝟙𝟠
"He
said to him, "I also am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by
the word of the LORD, saying, 'Bring him back with you to your house, that he
may eat bread and drink water.'" But he lied to him."
People
can lie in the name of God. Yeah, even those who are pastors. And yes, they can
deceive anyone easily. Yeah, they can deceive even the pastors and those who
are scripturally knowledgeable. That's why we need to walk with God all the
time, which includes praying, trusting, delighting in God.
𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟙𝟜:𝟛
"Take
ten loaves with you, some cakes and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell
you what will happen to the boy."
Jeroboam
knew the goodness of God. That's why he sent his wife to the man of God. This
knowledge, assurance he had was given by the Lord to fear (honor) God and lead
him to repentance, but he kept it to excuse himself and to keep sinning against
God.
The
worst atheist, the person who complained the most against God knows that God is
good, at least good enough to tolerate him to even hate God.
𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟙𝟝:𝟙𝟜
"But
the high places were not taken away; nevertheless the heart of Asa was wholly
devoted to the LORD all his days."
There
are certain things we cannot purge completely in this dispensation of God on
earth. In the new heaven and earth, it shall be purged completely.
𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟙𝟞:𝟛𝟜
"In
his days Hiel the Bethelite built Jericho; he laid its foundations with the
loss of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates with the loss of his
youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which He spoke by Joshua
the son of Nun."
Jericho
wasn't meant to be set up again. But there will be people who always want to go
against God in the most unnatural way. They shall pay the price.
𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟙𝟟:𝟙𝟞
"The
bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according
to the word of the LORD which He spoke through Elijah."
What
a great confirmation of God's Providence! Trusting God to provide for our needs
is one of the greatest and the constant struggles of all Christians. We need to
remind ourselves of this verse again and again!
𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟙𝟠:𝟛
"Ahab
called Obadiah who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD
greatly)"
A
powerful wicked king Ahab has someone working under him who is a servant of
God. Indeed, God is more powerful than him.
𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟙𝟡:𝟞
"Then
he looked and behold, there was at his head a bread cake baked on hot stones,
and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again."
Humans
are weak. The disciples of Jesus found themselves sleeping again in the garden
of Gethsemane. Elijah was lying down again. He has to be woken up. Are we
sleeping again?
𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟚𝟘:𝟜𝟚
"He
said to him, "Thus says the LORD, 'Because you have let go out of your
hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore your life shall go
for his life, and your people for his people.'""
The
king should not extend a friendship over such a wicked king. Toleration of
wicked people or things is evil.
𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟚𝟙:𝟛
"But
Naboth said to Ahab, ‘The LORD forbid me that I should give you the inheritance
of my fathers.’"
Look
at his courage to stand up against the king. Of course, it costed him his life,
but still, then, the Lord required vengeance for his blood!
Fear
God and you shall not fear any man.
𝟙 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝟚𝟚:𝟚𝟛
"Now
therefore, behold, the LORD has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all
these your prophets; and the LORD has proclaimed disaster against you."
If
we associate with compromised people, they will hurt us too. The mafia,
gangster understood that very well, btw!