Short Reflection from 1 Kings 1-22

[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!

Short Reflection from 2 Samuel 15-24

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (LRAU) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

𝟚 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟝:𝟚𝟛

"While all the country was weeping with a loud voice, all the people passed over. The king also passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over toward the way of the wilderness."

It must have been a very emotional and memorable scene! There are such comparable moments in our life too, I suppose!

 

𝟚 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟞:𝟙𝟡

"Besides, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father's presence, so I will be in your presence."

A very big declaration but a lie. Beware of people who are very convincing! But if one is convincing, how will we doubt, huh? Interesting!

 

𝟚 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟟:𝟙𝟜

"Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, ‘The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.’ For the LORD had ordained to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the LORD might bring calamity on Absalom."

David sent Hushai for such strategy. Hushai made use of his reputation to save David. God was with this strategy to let Absalom fall.

God works through human agents!

 

𝟚 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟠:𝟙𝟜, 𝟛𝟛

"Then Joab said, ‘I will not waste time here with you.’ So he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak."

"The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!"

Hmmm! What has become of the friendship between Joab and Absalom? Absalom set Joab's field on fire and Joab speared him to death.

Compare that to the enduring love of David. Absalom did everything to kill David, he even raped all of David's wives (concubines) in front of all. Yet, David would want to die on behalf of Absalom.

David was upset and perhaps angry with the conspiracy of Absalom, but he wouldn't forsake his love for his son.

That's something God has for us too. He will never forsake us. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. David was just wishing to die for his wicked son. Jesus actually died for us!

May we all have an enduring love for one another!

 

𝟚 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟡:𝟚𝟠

"For all my father's household was nothing but dead men before my lord the king; yet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right do I have yet that I should complain anymore to the king?"

I like this guy Mephibosheth. He has no complaints, only gratefulness.

 

𝟚 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟚𝟘:𝟚𝟚

"Then the woman wisely came to all the people. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, each to his tent. Joab also returned to the king at Jerusalem."

There were some instances where the people refuse to deliver the culprits and fight along with them. It takes wisdom and courage to deliver even the culprit to the other party.

 

𝟚 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟚𝟙:𝟟

"But Abishai the son of Zeruiah helped him, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, ‘You shall not go out again with us to battle, so that you do not extinguish the lamp of Israel.’"

The mighty giant (Goliath) killer David was also just a human who needed help and protection from other men. This time, this smaller giant was about to kill him.

We need each other!

 

[7:08 am, 28/06/2022] S.R: 𝟚 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟚𝟚:𝟛𝟙

"As for God, His way is blameless; The word of the LORD is tested; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him."

God doesn't commit any mistakes. God doesn't deceive anyone. God doesn't rejoice in the death of the wicked or the suffering of the ungodly; He wants them to repent and enjoy His forgiveness.

God plans and actually does everything good. Happy is the one who doesn't find fault in God!

 

𝟚 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟚𝟛:𝟚𝟛

"He was honored among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David appointed him over his guard."

We are equal before God as humans. We are (should be) equal before the law too. But we aren't equal in most things in the world. And that's alright and (should be) good.

There are some who are mightier, smarter, braver, and more hardworking. There have to be classes of people. Yes, even those who get more respect and less respect, more salary and less salary, more attention and less attention, more work and less work.

Socialism (Marxism) is not a seriously thought philosophy. We all know it's not the quantity of work, it's the quality of work that matters most.

 

𝟚 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟚𝟜:𝟙𝟚, 𝟙𝟜, 𝟙𝟟

"Go and speak to David, 'Thus the LORD says, ‘I am offering you three things; choose for yourself one of them, which I will do to you.’'"

"Then David said to Gad, ‘I am in great distress. Let us now fall into the hand of the LORD for His mercies are great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man.’"

"Then David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel who was striking down the people, and said, ‘Behold, it is I who have sinned, and it is I who have done wrong; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let Your hand be against me and against my father's house.’"

Human justice at its best is still injustice. When they are victims they exacted harsher punishment, when they are the perpetrators, they settled for lenient compensation.

Relying on God is much better, safer, and right!

Short Reflection from 2 Samuel 1-14

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (LRAU) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

[8:26 am, 07/06/2022] S.R: 𝟚 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟙:𝟚𝟜

"O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, Who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel."

David didn't rewrite history. He didn't diminish the works of Saul. He eulogised him! If David could eulogize Saul, if David could ask the people to honor Saul, is there anyone I cannot eulogize? In the words of Steve Lawson, we can even eulogize the devil: that he is consistent.

 

𝟚 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟚:𝟙𝟜

“Then Abner said to Joab, ‘Now let the young men arise and hold a contest before us.’ And Joab said, ‘Let them arise’”

Hmm! What a gory scene! Can't imagine it. And the Scriptures didn't shy away from such event!

 

𝟚 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟛:𝟚𝟟

"So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the belly so that he died on account of the blood of Asahel his brother."

I have observed that almost every leader has someone who is like Joab, and how devastating they can be. And I say this not in sympathy with them but as an indictment. David wasn't wise or brave enough to change his commander.

 

𝟚 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟜:𝟠

"Then they brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, ‘Behold, the head of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life; thus the LORD has given my lord the king vengeance this day on Saul and his descendants.’"

They thought they were doing something great in the will of God. But David wasn't pleased with them.

 

𝟚 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟝:𝟙𝟚

"And David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel."

Great things have been often done by those who believed God has called them.

 

𝟚 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟞:𝟡-𝟙𝟘

"So David was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, ‘How can the ark of the LORD come to me?’ And David was unwilling to move the ark of the LORD into the city of David with him; but David took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite."

It looks like a protest against God. I am afraid I have done like that sometimes.

 

𝟚 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟟:𝟙𝟠

"Then David the king went in and sat before the LORD, and he said, ‘Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far?’"

Let's learn to be grateful like David.

In this circumstance, David was disappointed because he wasn't allowed to build the house for God. He desired, planned, and was excited to build. The Lord forbade him, saying he was disqualified.

However, in the goodness of God, his son shall build the house of God. Actually, this is better because it means the kingdom will go on prosperous even after his death. Because if there's war and threat around the kingdom will not have the resources and strength to build the temple. In a sense, it was a double assurance about the prosperity of his descendants and the building of the temple.

God is good and great! Learn to recognize His greatness and goodness, and be grateful to Him!

 

𝟚 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟠:𝟙𝟝

"So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered justice and righteousness for all his people."

Surely, David wasn't a perfect man, but his reign was well-commended. We need leaders like him.

But we need to honor leaders too. That includes forgiving their mistakes, overlooking their blunders sometimes, and speaking well of them.

 

𝟚 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟡:𝟞

"Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and prostrated himself. And David said, ‘Mephibosheth.’ And he said, ‘Here is your servant!’"

I am still thinking about what to learn from this verse, or from this chapter for that matter! It happens, sometimes. 😬🙃

 

𝟚 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟘:𝟛

"the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, ‘Do you think that David is honoring your father because he has sent consolers to you? Has David not sent his servants to you in order to search the city, to spy it out and overthrow it?’"

Suspicion. Picking a fight with someone he cannot win.

Trust, Humility, Kindness are virtues even if they lead to death!

 

𝟚 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟙:𝟚𝟟

"When the time of mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house and she became his wife; then she bore him a son. But the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of the LORD."

Indeed, God overlooks our sins. Yet He also doesn't overlook our sins. So, let's not play with sins. And let's be quick to repent of sin unto God!

 

𝟚 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟚:𝟜

"Now a traveler came to the rich man, And he was unwilling to take from his own flock or his own herd, To prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him; Rather he took the poor man's ewe lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him."

One of these days, I shall write a poem on this. This is a very relevant parable.

The rich robbing the poor!

 

𝟚 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟛:𝟚𝟙

"Now when King David heard of all these matters, he was very angry."

David was a sinner in the lowest category of this kind, so, where would he draw moral courage to confront this wickedness?

Our sin will make us disqualify to correct others!

 

𝟚 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟜:𝟚𝟚

"Joab fell on his face to the ground, prostrated himself and blessed the king; then Joab said, ‘Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, O my lord, the king, in that the king has performed the request of his servant.’"

Joab didn't know what his alliance with Absalom would do to them. Were they partners in crime? What led this seemingly beautiful friendship to turn out to be later on?

Absalom would set the field of Joab on fire, and Joab would spear Absalom to death!

Beware of making friends with people of ill reputation!