2 Chronicles 19-23

Jehoshaphat is rebuked by Jehu the seer (often a prophet was called a seer in the New Testament) for helping Ahab.  God is mad, but because there is some good in Jehoshaphat, God is really fussing at Jehoshaphat and keeping him on the right path.

Jehoshaphat appoints judges to help him rule......he will not tolerate corrupt judges....they need to be very "God first" in their judgments. Amaraiah is the chief priest.  Zebadiah will be over any matter concerning the king.

Jehoshaphat  defeats Moab and Ammon because he sought the Lord as armies came to attack....Jahaziel has the Spirit of the Lord come upon him and God tells them that they will prevail against the attackers.  Rightly, the Hebrews praise the Lord....you've seen Give thanks to the Lord for his love endures forever, several times in the Psalms.

I liked 20: 35-37....yesterday's reading about the ships seemed so random to me...this was God's judgement over a bad alliance  with Israel again (Israel was still being wicked in God's eyes)

Jehoram succeeds Jehshaphat as king, but was evil.....God didn't want to destroy the whole house of David because of the covenant he had made with David.  Jehoram gets a nasty little bowel disease that he dies from.

The people make Jehoram's brother, Ahaziah the king...he reigned only one year because his mother (Athaliah) encouraged him to do wrong.  Jehu (remember the seer from above) is annointed by God to destroy the house of Ahab, and he does....Athaliah, Ahaziah's mom (Jehoshaphat's Daughter-in-law, who is Omri, wicked king of Israel's granddaughter...this is where the idolatry came in) begins to destroy the whole royal family of the house of Judah, so she can rise to the throne,  but Joash (son of Ahaziah) is saved.

Okey Dokey...did you follow all those relationships?????



Jehoiada the priest shows his strength (it is the priest's job to confront the ruler if they aren't following God's law....it takes him 7 years of Athaliah's rule and idolatrous practices for him to get up the courage) and makes a covenant with the military...they crown Joash king.....Ahaziah is put to death and there is peace as the temple procedures and worship services go from the pagan Baal worship of Athaliah, to what King David had originated.

I don't know about you, but I am exhausted! LOL....

Summary of Kings so far

Northern Kingdoms of Israel (10 tribes)
Capital Shechem, then Tirzah, then Samaria

Jeroboam 1-930BC
(22 years)
Fortified a capital city (Shechem), set up two golden calf-idols, let the nation into sin, allowed anyone to be a priest.

Nadab -909BC
(2 years)

Baasha- 908BC
 (24 years)
Led people in idol worship

Elah-886BC
(2 years)
continued idol worship

Zimri-885BC
(7 days)

Tibni-885BC

Omri 885 BC
(12 years)
Built the capital city of Samaria, had great military power, but continued to lead Israel into idolatry

Ahab 874 BC
(22 Years)
Married Jezebel (a non-jew and extremely wicked woman) worshipped Baal, and suffered three years of famine caused by his consistent disobedience to God

Ahaziah 853 BC
(2 years)
Proposed a joint trade venture with Judah

The Southern Kingdom of Judah (Two tribes)
Capital:  Jerusalem


Rehoboam 930 BC
(17 years)
Built many fortified cities, strengthened the economy (despite tribute to Egypt), followed God for 3 years, but then set up idols and shrines to foreign gods

Abijah 913BC
(3 years)
Despite his wickedness, he called for God's help to win the battle against Israel.

Asa 910 BC
(41 years)
Destroyed pagan altars and rebuilt altar of God, built fortified cities, gained much wealth from plunder of foreign conquest, removed the queen mother for worshiping Asherah, led the people to worship God with their hearts, provided peace on home soil, was greatly loved, and given a beautiful funeral

Jehoshaphat 872BC
(25 years)
Arranged for the marriage of his son to the daughter of Ahab (who made trouble later on), had strong military (kept troops in cities of Israel his father had conquered), collected tribute from the Philistines, worshiped the Lord and destroyed idols, established education, and appointed judges and courts.

Jehoram 853BC
(8 years)
Married a wicked daughter of Ahab, compelled the people to worship idols, and killed all is brothers.

NAMED PROPHETS DURING THIS TIME

Ahijah 934-909....Northern Kingdom

Elijah 875-848....Northern Kingdom

Obidiah 855-840(?)  we will meet him with Jehoram in the Southern Kingdom.

Summary of Kings so far

Northern Kingdoms of Israel (10 tribes)
Capital Shechem, then Tirzah, then Samaria

Jeroboam 1-930BC
(22 years)
Fortified a capital city (Shechem), set up two golden calf-idols, let the nation into sin, allowed anyone to be a priest.

Nadab -909BC
(2 years)

Baasha- 908BC
 (24 years)
Led people in idol worship

Elah-886BC
(2 years)
continued idol worship

Zimri-885BC
(7 days)

Tibni-885BC

Omri 885 BC
(12 years)
Built the capital city of Samaria, had great military power, but continued to lead Israel into idolatry

Ahab 874 BC
(22 Years)
Married Jezebel (a non-jew and extremely wicked woman) worshipped Baal, and suffered three years of famine caused by his consistent disobedience to God

Ahaziah 853 BC
(2 years)
Proposed a joint trade venture with Judah

The Southern Kingdom of Judah (Two tribes)
Ca

1 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 18

Man, 2 Chronicles really adds some detail to 1 Kings 22...we see that  good King Jehoshaphat of Judah, unites himself with a marriage alliance to evil King Ahab of Israel....They visit at royal meetings/senate and plan...Ahab wants to attack Ramoth Gilead  (this is an old City of Refuge in Deuteronomy 4:  43)with Jehoshaphat's help.  It is still occupied by Aram.  Jehoshaphat wants advice and Ahab consults pagan prophets.   Jehoshaphat feels they should ask of the Lord's prophets and they consult Micaiah (wonder if this is the same Micaiah in 2 Chronicles 17:7)....The prophets say that Ramoth will be handed over to Isreal because that is what Ahab wants to hear.    Micaiah sarcastically agrees.....when his tone is challenged, he speaks of his vision in which the prophets would have a lying spirit entice them...(verse 21 "all HIS (not God's) prophets".  Micaiah is slapped in the face and arrested.

Note that in 18: 28, Jehoshaphat ignores God's direction and goes to Ramoth Gilead...he finds himself the target of soldier's that think he is Ahab and screams for help.....The Lord delivers him and a "random" arrow kills Ahab....hmmmmmm....prophecy of Ahab's death is fulfilled.

1 Kings ends with Jehoram succeeding Jehoshaphat as King of Judah and Ahaziah  becoming King of Israel....he is gonna be evil like his Daddy....

1 King 20-21

Ben-Hadad attacks Samaria (capital of Israel, the Northern 10 tribes), not once, but twice.....the Lord allows victory through the Israeli army.  Interesting that a prophet who is not named gives the word of the Lord and victory to Ahab.  The victory is rather ironic, because it is so that Ahab will now that God is Lord.....as the King of Israel, he should have known that...but Jezebel got to him with her pagan gods.

A prophet then condemns Ahab....he has to disguise himself because Ahab tends to avoid prophets....Ahab made the mistake of entering into a treaty with a man whom God had marked to die...the prophet says, "This is what the Lird says:  You have set free a man I had determined should die, Therefore it is your life for his life, your people for his people.


Now Naboth has a vineyard he has inherited and spoiled old King Ahab wants it....Levitical law says that he can keep his ancesteral land.....Ahab goes home to pout and Jezebel says she'll fix it for him.....she goes around the law, has him at a trial, has the witnessess lie, and gets him stoned....(the rocks not the drugs!)  Now, Jezebel has the infamous title of the most evil woman in the Bible.  The Bible uses her name as an example of people who completely reject God (Revelation 2: 20, 21)...word of this gets to Elijah and he prophesizes disaster for the royal family....Ahab humbles himself and God delays the divine punishment...God wants to be merciful!  It is His nature......it is never too late to humble yourself.

1 King 17-19

Elijah, the first in a line of important prophets,  comes on the scene and has to tell Ahab that there is going to be a famine.  Ahab is shocked because Baal is supposed to be a rain producer.....this probably annoys old King Ahab, because God tells Elijah to go hide and that the ravens will take care of him.  God provides!  This is interesting because a raven is an unclean bird, so God provides help where we least expect it...

Then the spring dried up so God provided in another unexpected way...through a widow.....this widow thought she was preparing her last meal, but she trusted Elijah (would you trust a man that spoke to you out of the clear blue like that?)  and her supplies never ran dry.....her son then became ill and died and the widow asks Elijah if he had come to remind her of her sin and kill her son........Elijah begged God to help and he allowed Elijah to bring the son back to life....the woman realizes without a doubt that Elijah is a man of God...

God tells Elijah to go back to Ahab.....Elijah tells Ahab to call on the Baal prophets to bring rain and they cannot....Elijah builds an altar with 12 stones (significant of an undivided kingdom) for sacrifice and calls on the Lord for rain....it happens and Elijah kills the prophets of Baal....as a result, he has to go hide again....he goes to Horeb, a holy mountain of God where Abraham had to obediently try and sacrifice his son....he has had enough and falls into a deep depression.....sometimes this is the way the devil attacks immediately following a huge spiritual high....the Lord nurtures him and gives him perspective and appears to him.
Elijah has to annoint three people..Hazael, king of Aram is an enemy king that will be used to punish Israel for its sin.  Jehu is going to be the next king of Israel and the pagans are going bye-bye.  Elisha is called to assist Elijah.  It is significant that the wealthy farmer slaughters is oxen because he has just ended his livlihood as a farmer.

1 King 15:25-16:34; 2 Chronicles 17

I can't help but think of "Jumpin'  Jehoshaphat" when I read about this king of Judah...he continues the cycle and God is with him as Jehoshaphat follows God's ways..he even had the people taught in the ways of the Lord again....remember that the common folk couldn't read in those days,  nor had they really taken the time to have any religious education during the time of spiritual decline in Asa's reign......

I see some foreshadowing in verse 3 of 2 Chronicles 17 when it says "The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because IN HIS EARLY YEARS he walked in the ways his father David had followed...

1 King 15: 1-24; 2 Chronicles 13-16

1 Kings and 2 Chronicles work together to spell  out detail....the Northern kingdom, Israel and the Southern Kingdom, Judah, continue to battle.   Isreal has evil kings that cause the people to sin in the eyes of the Lord, so you see that reigns are not blessed and are a very short time.  Eight kings reigned in Israel during the 41 year reign of Asa in Judah.  The Lord loves David and most of the reigns are compared to his because even though David sinned, he had a close personal relationship with God and was fully committed to Him.

Asa is highlighted because he is a King of Judah that gets rid of evil worship....he even deposed his grandmother from her position of queen mother because she had made an Asherah pole.  There was peace in the kingdom of Judah as a result.  During a battle in which the Cushites attacked, Asa prayed to the Lord and defeated the Cushites.  The Lord delivered them.

During the last years of Asa's reigns he sought help from Ben-Hadad, king of Aram instead of the Lord.  Asa bribed him for help with the temple treasures and it seemed to work.  Hanani, the seer had to confront Asa and tell him that God wasn't pleased, and instead of Asa repenting, he was mad that he was challenged and threw Asa in jail.

Key verse for Asa:  For the eyes  of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.....

Asa has a disease of the feet....again he doesn't seek God but turns only to physicians....much of this malady has been debated by scholars.  It may have been gout, but that was very uncommon....It may have been gangrene......The NSRV says that a disease of the feet is a euphemism for the sexual organs indicating that he had venereal disease.  He had something "cruddy" because scripture tells us that he had to be cremated (he was on a bier and burned) .

Why all this stuff about Kings?  Remember that God had set things up perfectly, but the people demanded a king like all the other nations had, so God allowed it.   Problem is that these Kings are human. How easy it is to stray from God when your "human-ness" gets in the way and you listen to the wrong direction.  Note the cycles that when one is in the will of God, there is peace.   When against the will of God, there is judgement.  The cycle continues over and over again and this is what we are to take note of......we fall in the same cycles.....

2 Chronicles 10-12

Here is another account of how the kingdom became divided..there is the revolt against Rehoboam....the taxes were too heavy a burden for the people and Rehoboam took the wrong counsel.  There is a huge spiritual downslide...Judah and  Benjamin are fortified and they are ready for war....the word of the Lord comes to Shemaiah, the prophet, that God does not want them to fight.   They return home.  The priests and Levites support Rehoboam-Rehoboam lives in Jerusalem which is the capital of Judah....for three years, Judah was secure because the priests did the sacrifices and walked in the ways of the Lord.

Rehoboam marries and appoints one son, Abijah to be the heir apparent.  Sadly, temptation and pride strike Rehoboam.  He abandons the way of the Lord and the prophet Shemaiah tells Rehoboam that Pharoah Shishak will take the kingdom.   The King and his officers humble themselves and the Lord takes mercy and doesn't destroy them, but they must bear the consequences of their sin.  The treasures are taken.....The shields of gold are taken and Rehoboam must replace them with a cheaper bronze.  ( Kind of  ironic that Rehoboam was going to tax his people even more heavily than his father did, and now all his glorious treasures of the kingdom are taken away.....a taste of his own medicine, perhaps?) If Rehoboam had been fully committed to the Lord with constancy, things may have been different....are we fully committed to the Lord?    God has a grand plan for us; will we live life as he wants us to?

Here is a neat thing from a commentary that gives some archaeological evidence as it relates to Shishak.....I love when the Lord does this, because He doesn't HAVE to prove anything to us, but sometimes He teases us a bit and rewards faith...

So he came up against Shishak. Shishak came up against Jerusalem, and then more or less bought him off. They took all of the gold that was in the temple, the golden shields and all of these things that Solomon had placed there, and they gave them unto Shishak, the king of Egypt. More or less just bought him out, and he plundered the city of Jerusalem of all of its gold, returning to Egypt.

Now the archaeologists discovered in 1939 in Egypt an account of this invasion of Israel or Judah. In the archaeological account there that they have discovered, it declares that they took a 169 of the cities of Judah. They also found the sarcophagus in which Shishak was entombed. And it was encased in silver. Actually, it was a silver sarcophagus encased in gold, solid gold. Probably the same gold that he took from the temple in Jerusalem that Solomon had established there. So it's an interesting sort of confirmation from the archaeologist's spade of what God's Word declares did indeed take place.

1 King 12-14

Wow!  So much stuff in these chapters.  In chapter 12, Rehoboam takes the wrong counsel.  His father, Solomon had taken a lot from his people in terms of forced labor and taxes.   The people were appealing to Rehoboam to ease the load...sadly, Rehoboam decides to be even harsher.  The people become upset and it is time for the words that the Lord spoke to Jeroboam to be fulfilled (1 King 11:29)....Jeroboam gets 10 tribes, the Northern ones which will be referred to as Isreal, and Rehoboam gets the combined Judah/Ben.  The Kingdom is now divided.

Jeroboam doesn't want to go worship at the three ordained festivals in case of attack, so he builds his own places of worship....Here come some golden calves.   You just know that the Lord has an aversion to golden calves based on that little incident with Moses and the 10 commandments.

OK, I really had to research Chapter 13 because the man of God gets punished because of a lie and I didn't get that....

so... a man of God (he is  never named), is sent by God from Judah to rebuke Jeroboam.  In about 350 years, Josiah (from Judah) will take over and get rid of all the anti-God  worship practices.  Because this is a future prophecy, it is confirmed by two signs...King Jeroboam hands withers....instead of listening to the messenger, the King tried to silence him.   Then the altar split and the ashes were poured out.   King Jeroboamn doesn't repent.

Now there is an old prophet in Bethel (this means that not every godly person had left for Judah) and he lies to the man of God.  He tells him he is a prophet and that an angel said he could eat with him, so the man of God does.....as I understand it, the man of God had a hard test and he failed it.  God never contradicts himself in His dealings with His servants.   The man of God was killed; however the lion didn't eat the body and just stood by it.  Apparently, this signifies divine judgement.  The man of God is not buried with his fathers, but the older prophet buries him in his own grave.

Chapter 14 is the prophet Ahijah's prophecy against Jeroboam.    Jeroboams son is sick and dies...he is the only one of Jeroboams son's that will be buried because he is the only one in the family that the Lord found anything good.

Rehoboam is no better..Abijah will succeed Rehoboam as king and Nadab will succeed Jeroboam as king.

Proverbs 30-31

Who is Agur, I ask you?   Not much is known about him except that he was a wise teacher.  He knows that every word of God is flawless (30:5)

Note that he doesn't want poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, "Who is the Lord?

Do you think this is what happened to Solomon?

Then there is Psalm 31...
The Wife of Noble Character

I am telling you that this woman does not exist!!!  She is an ideal to strive for....but there is no way someone this noble lives or lived on the earth...thoughts?

Hey, a really good business is "31"....this is a monogramming business and I have several friends involved in selling the stuff.... I have bought lots of gifts, but it is based on the Proverbs 31 Woman.  Andie Mewborn at the library sells it.

1 King 10-11; 2 Chronicles 9

The Queen of Sheba (me) visits  Solomon to test his renowned knowledge.  He passes the tests with ease. The Bible discusses all of Solomon's splendor...a throne was amazing...goblets were gold...nothing was silver because it wasn't valuable in that time.  He had so many chariots and horses......was this good or bad? See Deuteronomy 17: 14-20.....

Major emphasis was on Solomon's riches  because in Old Testament times this was evidence of God's blessing.

Chapter 11 discusses Solomon's wives....these are pagan women that introduced worship of idols...now let's stop a  minute...700 wives?   When would you actually see your husband?  300 concubines?  Clearly, "political" matches.  I love this study note:

For all his wisdom, Solomon had some weak spots.  He could not say no to compromise or to lustful desires.  Whether he married to strengthen political alliances to to gain personal pleasure, there foreign wives led him in to idolatry.   You may have strong faith,but you also have weak spots-and that is where temptation usually strikes.  Strengthen and protect your weaker areas because a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.   If Solomon, the wisest man, could fall, so can you....

AMEN AND I SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE.........I hate Satan!!!!


The adversaries then arise....the time of peace that Solomon enjoyed when he was in God's will is over.

Rehoboam, Solomon's son succeeds him.

Chasing the Wind image

"Chasing the Wind" is representative of futility in the Bible.....

Ecclesiastes 7-12

Have you noticed how "under the sun" is repeated?  This is the extent of Solomon's world as he knows it.
This may mean that Solomon had an idea that there are some things that happen in human experience, and some that happen elsewhere....remember that there was not much understanding of the concept of eternal life in the Old Testament.

Solomon continues with the thought that everything that we have is nothing without God.  Everyone has death in common, regardless of what he gains or loses in life.

The final and compelling conclusion of this book is in 12: 13
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man.....

Have you read this before?  I guarantee you have!!!!!!

1 Samuel 22:  To obey is better than sacrifice

Genesis 17:9  The God said to Abraham, "As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your desccendents after you for the generations to come"

Give me more citations from Scripture...it is so easy to find.....

Ecclesiastes 1-6

The word "Ecclesiastes" is taken from the Hebrew word "to gather" but is often taken to mean "Preacher" or "teacher".  This is Solomon....therefore, this is all human opinion versus the Divine opinion that we normally get.

Solomon observes, and his text is kind of like a journal.  He truly has everything from  a material possession point of view.  He observes that this is nothing.....it means nothing.....one can't take possessions with them when they die....this was also written later in Solomon's life.  Solomon was looking back on his life and we will find as we read further, that much of his life was actually lived apart from God.

The purpose of this book is to spare future generations the bitterness of learning through their own experience that life is meaningless apart from God.

Many find that Ecclesiastes is bitter and negative....but Solomon failed to heed his own advice and that really could make one bitter.  After all, God had given him the ultimate gift of wisdom and even with that, Solomon had a downward spiral.

You'll read about chasing after the wind.....this is what the pursuit of things that are not God will do.

I know Ecclesiastes best for the "seasons" in Chapter 3....there is a time for everything.  The ultimate purpose for this is found in verse 14.  God does it so that men will revere him.

Have you ever heard verse 12 were it says  "a cord of three strands is not quickly broken"....generally that third person is God and I have heard this quoted in marriage scripture....Man, Wife and God.

Proverbs 27-29

Proverbs 27 15:16 brings up that old nagging wife.....we have heard about this at least twice before....do you think that Solomon had a nagging wife that this kept coming up?  We know he had many wives.  Nagging in and of itself is a form of torture!  It really hinders more than it helps...we are supposed to surprise people with words of patience and love

I like verse 19...As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man....what you feel eventually comes out in words or actions, and the Lord knows your heart.

Scholars think that chapters 28-29 have a different tone.....there are contrasts between the just and the wicked, the rich and poor, and the self-disciplines versus the one who lacks self control.  Some scholars think that chapters 25-27 and chapters 28-29 were originally two separate collections of sayings.

Now we know that culture changes.  Kings had the authority in this time of the Israelites Old Testament....I like what I found in my Wesley study Bible (founder of the Methodist tradition)

Authority


In the 18th century, authority was something people took for granted, especially since democratic principles and societies were only beginning to rise.  Kings and queens, barons and earls were civil authorities; bishops and priests were church authorities.  Most people were destined, by birth, to live under the authority of others.  But for John Wesley, the primary authority was Jesus Christ, whom we know through Scripture, including the witnesses of the NT.  Thus, Scripture is of primary importance in the Wesleyan tradition.  We live our lives by following Christ's example.  Based upon the authority of Christ and the Bible, Wesley created unusual expressions of authority within Christian community.  His societies, classes and bands were often led by laypersons, including women whom, in Wesley's society, had limited rights and authority.  The Methodist  movement used lay preachers to carry out the work of spreading scriptural holiness across the land. Yet this authority was always held accountable in love.

Proverbs 25-26

Now we move into wisdom for leaders.  The NSRV says that the collections that make up these chapters may have originally been designed for the training of diplomats and bureaucrats at court.  Hezekiah's aides copied these and we will get to this King in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles...he ended up restoring the temple after his evil father Ahaz nailed the temple door shut.

Chapter 26 deals with how to relate to fools.  (don't you love it~!).  We can't take a fool seriously and try to  reason with his empty arguments...they'll just try to win for the sake of winning.  Chapter 26:9 shows us that normally a stick of a thorn gets our attention so that we take it out before it infects us.  A drunkard can't feel the stick and can become infected.....a fool can't feel the sting of a proverb to apply it so that it helps their life.

I've heard 25:21-22 over and over:

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to  eat;
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.

Paul references this in Romans  12: 20.....God will avenge and repay our enemy...it isn't our job...Christian living is peaceful........I always have to remember this because I would much prefer to slap my enemy.

1 King 9; 2 Chronicles 8

The Lord appears to Solomon a second time ( I wonder how He appeared and if He was in the cloud) and reminds Solomon that if he follows God's decrees that the House of David will rule forever....Israel will be cut off if they don't follow the decrees....

One could say that Solomon had achieved the pinnacle of his greatness.....he was known for construction...

Rather a random thing was Hiram, king of Tyre's comments about twenty towns that Solomon gave him...he wasn't pleased with them and we don't know if Solomon is being unfair or not...Scripture doesn't tell us.  Note the foreshadowing.....Pharaoh's daughter, Solomon's wife of a political alliance is mentioned.   Solomon doesn't want her to live where the ark of the covenant is......does he think God would disapprove of his wife?  Stay tuned!

Psalm 134/146-150

Psalm 134 is the last song of ascent.....the people had made it to the temple as part of their pilgrimage of rememberance..

Psalm 146-150 all begin with "Praise the Lord".....man is false hope; God is true hope...he is the true provider...

We can praise God in so many different ways and 149:3-5 gives us some suggestions of how to do it.


I love how Psalm 150 ends:

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord...that is you and Me!

2 Chronicles 6-7; Psalm 136

Well shoot!  I thought we had finished the Psalms, and lo and behold, here is Psalm 136....what do you think the message is, due to the repeated words?

I loved 2 Chronicles reading as we see more about the dedication of the Temple.....repeatedly, Solomon talks to "God who dwells in Heaven".......Solomon wants God to dwell in the temple and the cloud of His Glory comes to earth.....BIG STUFF....God came to His creation with his created.....if the people follow His ordinances, His presence will remain with them.  KEEP this IN MIND for future reading....and remember, God always warns first.....He gives us a chance to make the right choice, but he is a JUST God and will do what He says He is going to do.

1 King 8; 2 Chronicles 5

And then the Ark of the Covenant is moved to the temple.  I noted that the Ark contained only the stones with the 10 commandments.  I wonder what happened to the jar of manna and the Aaron's budded staff?

This is where God's presence will dwell on earth.  It is a conditional promise as Solomon points out...if the people don't follow

God's requirements, His presence can leave.    Thank God we have the Holy Spirit in us as believers...we don't want God's presence leaving us...EVER!!!!

Can you imagine being a part of this temple's dedication?  120 priests sounding trumpets.  Then the temple of the Lord was filled with a cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God.....God showed himself to His people and accepted his dwelling place.....Awesome!!!

1 King 7; 2 Chronicles 4

And the temple gets furnished.  Some of the worship implements are wild this day and age....The Sea, for example was for the priests' ceremonial washings...there were pots, shovels and sprinkling bowls...it was all about the sacrifices....

The Jewish people would be coming to the temple for festivals 3 times a year, so the temple had to accommodate huge amounts of people.

1 King 5-6; 2 Chronicle 2-3

After all of David's planning, Solomon gets to build the temple.  God didn't want a warrior building a house of prayer, though the warrior certainly had a purpose to God's plan.  There was  now peace in the land....

The beginning of the temple starts 480 years after God delivered his people from Egypt.....it is the fourth year of Solomon's reign.  The temple is built with dressed stone, which means there is no hammering or chiseling at the site.  This will be a more permanent structure for God's presence than the the tabernacle....If the people follow God's law, His presence will stay with them.  Note that this is a conditional promise....the people have to DO SOMETHING (obey).

Do you realize now, that we can approach God on our own as believers (trick question, believers in what)?  There is no need for a high priest to go to the Holy of Holies......Jesus is our High Priest...we can approach God's throne boldly ON OUR OWN....aren't you glad you live on this side of the cross?

Solomon worked with Tyre because the Isrealites worked agriculture very well...they didn't know the craftsmanship or materials like Tyre did.  A trade agreement was organized.  The lumber from Lebanon is supposed to be exceptional.  Do you see where Lebanon is on the map?  Major Middle East.......Did you note that Solomon worked with "forced labor" (see 5:13)...should be interesting.  My NSRV points out that this has some foreboding since forced labor was the issue with the Isrealites in Egypt.  My NIV is favorable to Solomon and points out that it is great that he worked with a rotation system so that people could be with their families which is a bigtime value.  Should be interesting to see how this plays out.

Proverbs 22-24

Remember that the book of Proverbs describes life the way it should be.  It doesn't dwell on the exceptions.

You might have a section that is "Sayings of the Wise" right after  22:16.....it is thought that Solomon did not author these.  My NSRV says that these are a collection of sayings that come from an earlier Egyptian wisdom collection called Instruction of Amenemope written around 1200 BC....much of this deals with the protection of the poor and the dangers of idolatry.

Do you just love 23 29: 35.....even then there was alcoholism potential.....apparently, Israel produced some great wine.

Proverbs 19-21

Notice how similar that 19: 5 and 19:9 are

A false witness will not go unpunished
and he who pours out lies will not go free (will perish)

Then there is the famous one in verse 21
Many are the plans in a man's heart,
but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails....

This is when I think that the Lord chuckles at our intentions sometimes....or even when there is an evil king/dictator/president....no matter what, the Lord is in control.

Notice in verse 20 how similar 10 and 23 are

Differing weights and differing measures-
the Lord detests them both   and

The Lord detests differing weights,
and dishonest scales do not please him.

All the verses above, deal with dishonesty and how the Lord hates it.

Chapter 21:
All a man's ways seem right to him
but the Lord weighs the heart
(sounds like Mitzi saying in Bible Study, "The Lord knows your heart"

and the verses that sound similar are
9 and 19

Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife

Better to live in a desert
than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife.

Strife robs relationships of joy.....

Proverbs 16-18

In his heart a man plans his course,
but the Lord determines his steps.

And the "famous" proverb:
Pride goes before destruction
a haughty spirit before a fall.....

Pride is a hard one...it is when we think we know best...in the midst of it all, we might not realize that we are experiencing pride....they don't anticipate stumbling blocks that might make them fall....Good question to ask...who is getting the glory?

There is a way that seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death....

yep, eternal life or death?     Your way, the world's way, or God's way?

Proverbs 13-15

We hear about instruction and discipline.  God loves us enough to discipline us (like father to his children), rather than going astray.  If we don't take advice, we are foolish...

He who spares the rod hates his son,
but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.

Wise and foolish characteristics are contrasted.

What's your favorite Proverb in this section?

Proverbs 10-12

I am back from Annual Conference in Montgomery, so let's catch up!

Just a suggestion....the first time I went through Proverbs, my husband and I would pick one for each other and write it on an index card each morning.....we got to where we kind of  looked for what would be selected for us....it got us through the chapter together and made it relevant to our daily lives.

We see lots of contrasting with the righteous and the wicked.....these are general truths, not promises....the righteous will experience some hardships...did  you notice all the "tongue" and "lying lips" proverbs?  

Truthful lips endure forever,
but a lying tongue lasts only a moment......truths are timeless.....look how the Bible applies to everyone, even today.

The Lord detests lying lips,
but he delights in  men who are truthful.

Proverbs 7-9

In chapter 7, Adultery comes up again......sexual sin is such a temptation that Solomon is inspired to warn against it again.  Senses are appealed to.....but "her house is a highway to the grave"    Yikes!

In chapter 8, wisdom calls again.....the Bible loves to contrast concepts and we continue to have the contrast of folly (foolishness) and wisdom.....the colorful example that Solomon uses is to personify them as women and you can really get the contrast between the two.

Wisdom is more precious than riches (specifically rubies in verse 11).  I love how in verse 22 it says "The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works"........wisdom has been around (like Jesus) before creation.  It is the safe way that leads to life (eternal) and death.  Verse 35 states that "whoever finds me finds life".

Chapter 9 shows the invitations of both ladies (wisdom and folly)...both have set out a banquet for us to taste....wisdom begins with knowing God and to have an actual relationship with him...in other words...you have to GO TO THE BANQUET.   Don't let yourself get sidetracked with earthly things.....then verse 13 has the woman  Folly seducing people to her false banquet with "stolen water and food eaten in secret"    All her guests are in the depths of the grave......I'd advise NOT attending that  banquet!  So in conclusion:  be sure to read your invitation carefully, so that you know what banquet you should attend!!!!

Proverbs 4-6

I like the fact that David may have had some influence on Solomon, so that there was a firm foundation on how Wisdom is so important that Solomon selected this as his gift from God. 4:7 states:  Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.  Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

There are many references to paths.....Solomon encourages one to stay on the straight path, the path of the righteous rather than the path of the wicked.  It all boils down to a choice that you make.....

4:25  Let your eyes look straight ahead,
fix your gaze directly before you,
Make level paths for your feet
and take only ways that are firm
Do  not swerve to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.

5: 21   For a man's ways are in full view of the Lord,
and he examines all his paths......

Adultery doesn't work!   Sex that isn't within marriage erodes trust....Should be interesting to see what you think about all the pagan wives that Solomon will take for political alliances!

Don't be afraid of discipline...the Lord disciplines the ones he loves.....He knows we will stumble, and He wants us back on the right path.  Solomon should know because he searched everywhere for happiness.

Question for you:  where is this path you have read about ultimately lead?

Do you realize that we finished reading Psalms????

Yee ha!    I am so proud of your "stick with it"   attitude!!!!!   It will be so worth it to read the Bible all the way through!!!!

Proverbs 1-3

So, what is a proverb?  The NIV defines it as a short, concise sentence that conveys a moral truth....the word "proverb" comes from a Hebrew word that means "to rule or govern" and these sayings, reminders, admonitions provide profound advice for governing our lives.

What is the difference between wisdom and knowledge?    Knowledge is having the facts and wisdom is actually applying those facts to life.

Wesley says that wisdom is a gift from God. Wisdom begins with a fear of the Lord....this is not being in fear of punishment, but having an awe and respect for God

The key verse is Proverbs 1:7...The fear of the Lord is the beginning of  knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.......

See, there is always a choice...we can follow our way (that is actually pride and thinking our way is better than God's) or God's way, where he is in charge.

The purpose of Proverbs is to impart wisdom for godly living.

Remember that Solomon requested wisdom from God, so he knows what he is talking about.  Note that Solomon repeats, "Listen, my son to your father's instruction"

Wisdom is shown as a woman in 1: 20 (how fitting, huh?)...it is giving wisdom human characteristics to be more creatively understood.

Song of Solomon

HMMMMM.....scholars differ on this book of the Bible.  Some say that it is about Christ (the bridegroom's) love for His bride (the church)....
Some say that it is King Solomon's love for a girl....

It was hard for me to get some of the poetic love language because of the culture differences, but it does speak of a perfect love and sex that is to be a gift within a marraige....it is about the "physical delights of love"  According to the Wesley study Bible, it is a fantasy that explores erotic lve and the growing personal commitment between the  lovers as they overcome separation and oposition to their relationship. 
As such, it reflects an ideal of the love between men and women in general and mirrors the ideal relationship between human beings and God......

So...apparently it is both....a  littlen allegory, and a little human love...

The NSRV translates 1: 5 to, I am black and beautiful

The NIV  translates to dark and beautiful, and the study notes say that it is because she is poor and had to tend fields so she was tan.....

Wesley (founder of the Methodist denomination) feels that the bride is the church....

5:1 is actually about making love.... 

There are fantasies and dreams and partings and reconciliations....

I remain confused at the imagery in 8:10 in which "my breasts were like towers"    study notes say that "her towering breasts signal physical maturity and readiness for love"  Yikes.....I guess it is good that I didn't get love notes with imagery!!

So, Christ's love for the church, human love, or both?