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timewithgod.blog-city.com — July 2010
1 Kings 3:1-15 Digging Into The Heart Of The Matter
(I've been in Ukraine for 2 weeks, and for most of that time I was unable to commit to daily quiet times or to email them either. I'm so glad God got me up this morning.) It's awfully easy for a Christian to say he's do
(I've been in Ukraine for 2 weeks, and for most of that time I was unable to commit to daily quiet times or to email them either. I'm so glad God got me up this morning.)
It's awfully easy for a Christian to say he's doing well in keeping God's commands, but digging deeper, it's amazing what he might find. Here Solomon agrees to marry the daughter of the king of Egypt (aka Pharaoh) as part of a political alliance. Jews were supposed to marry from within their own people. They also were never to go BACK to Egypt.
Solomon was in the process of building the Temple of the Lord, the Ark was in Jerusalem, but the altar was in Gibeon. This state of flux led many in his kingdom to return to the "high places" for their sacrifices, which were where idols had been worshiped.
God appeared to Solomon in a dream one night, and said to him, "Ask for whatever you want Me to give You." God stopped right there. His interest was for Solomon to see what Solomon would choose to ask for. God had as yet made no promise to give it.
Solomon finally got around to admitting that he felt like a child in a grown-up world - he didn't know how to do what must be done. His request? "Give me an obedient heart ... so I will know the difference between right and wrong."
I've always stumbled over this and really couldn't figure out why until today. It came from God's answer: "You asked for wisdom to make the right decisions. I will do what you asked. I will give you wisdom and understanding..."
Taken at face value, God didn't give him what he asked for. Solomon asked for an obedient HEART. An obedient heart would seem to be one that would always obey the will of the Lord. I know that some may argue that such obedience requires knowledge and discernment. But it doesn't have to. It only requires that God remove one thing from that life - free will. A heart without free will cannot disobey God. Yet God treasures the free obedience of a heart that has free will, because that heart is choosing to obey Him. Chosen obedience is much more meaningful to God than forced obedience.
Thinking over the past two weeks of travel to Ukraine and back, with schedules so hectic and little alone time, I realize just how much I missed my time with You, Father. I also realized how far from having an obedient heart I am. Yes, I showed my love for You by ministering to those You've grafted onto our family tree through adoption. Yes, I spoke of Your love for them and Your working in our lives. But I kept seeing verse 3 flashing in my eyes: "Solomon showed he loved the Lord by following the commands ..." Did he really? What did his following the commands say about his love for God? "I love You, but I want to marry an Egyptian."
I think Solomon saw this. He knew that he wasn't showing his full love for God because he wasn't finding peace through an obedient heart. That's why he asked for it. He knew what he wanted more than anything else - to not have to struggle with sin.
God gave him the best He could give, given that He wouldn't take away Solomon's free will - wisdom to discern with a hefty dose of conscience thrown in. This meant that Solomon would definitely be capable of knowing he was about to sin, but it wouldn't keep him from sinning.
My sidebar talks about the discipline of discernment. It walks through Satan's lies to cause us to doubt ourselves and cause us to sin, and God's countering grace and forgiveness. "We are to believe that as we commit our way unto the Lord and trust also in Him, He brings to pass His will ... we submit ourselves without reservation unto God and resist the devil ..."
There's the crux of it - commit and submit - that's what Solomon was finding lacking in himself and crying out to God to supply. Verse 3 cries out again: "Solomon showed he loved the Lord by ...??"
Father, I've seen this in my own life so clearly these last two weeks. I, too, want what Solomon asked You for. I, too, know that I lack the full ability to commit and submit to You in all things. That makes my heart ache, for it means that I'm not showing You how much I love You as I should. Yes, I can use a lot more discernment, and I ask that You give it. Help me to love You more.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
It's awfully easy for a Christian to say he's doing well in keeping God's commands, but digging deeper, it's amazing what he might find. Here Solomon agrees to marry the daughter of the king of Egypt (aka Pharaoh) as part of a political alliance. Jews were supposed to marry from within their own people. They also were never to go BACK to Egypt.
Solomon was in the process of building the Temple of the Lord, the Ark was in Jerusalem, but the altar was in Gibeon. This state of flux led many in his kingdom to return to the "high places" for their sacrifices, which were where idols had been worshiped.
God appeared to Solomon in a dream one night, and said to him, "Ask for whatever you want Me to give You." God stopped right there. His interest was for Solomon to see what Solomon would choose to ask for. God had as yet made no promise to give it.
Solomon finally got around to admitting that he felt like a child in a grown-up world - he didn't know how to do what must be done. His request? "Give me an obedient heart ... so I will know the difference between right and wrong."
I've always stumbled over this and really couldn't figure out why until today. It came from God's answer: "You asked for wisdom to make the right decisions. I will do what you asked. I will give you wisdom and understanding..."
Taken at face value, God didn't give him what he asked for. Solomon asked for an obedient HEART. An obedient heart would seem to be one that would always obey the will of the Lord. I know that some may argue that such obedience requires knowledge and discernment. But it doesn't have to. It only requires that God remove one thing from that life - free will. A heart without free will cannot disobey God. Yet God treasures the free obedience of a heart that has free will, because that heart is choosing to obey Him. Chosen obedience is much more meaningful to God than forced obedience.
Thinking over the past two weeks of travel to Ukraine and back, with schedules so hectic and little alone time, I realize just how much I missed my time with You, Father. I also realized how far from having an obedient heart I am. Yes, I showed my love for You by ministering to those You've grafted onto our family tree through adoption. Yes, I spoke of Your love for them and Your working in our lives. But I kept seeing verse 3 flashing in my eyes: "Solomon showed he loved the Lord by following the commands ..." Did he really? What did his following the commands say about his love for God? "I love You, but I want to marry an Egyptian."
I think Solomon saw this. He knew that he wasn't showing his full love for God because he wasn't finding peace through an obedient heart. That's why he asked for it. He knew what he wanted more than anything else - to not have to struggle with sin.
God gave him the best He could give, given that He wouldn't take away Solomon's free will - wisdom to discern with a hefty dose of conscience thrown in. This meant that Solomon would definitely be capable of knowing he was about to sin, but it wouldn't keep him from sinning.
My sidebar talks about the discipline of discernment. It walks through Satan's lies to cause us to doubt ourselves and cause us to sin, and God's countering grace and forgiveness. "We are to believe that as we commit our way unto the Lord and trust also in Him, He brings to pass His will ... we submit ourselves without reservation unto God and resist the devil ..."
There's the crux of it - commit and submit - that's what Solomon was finding lacking in himself and crying out to God to supply. Verse 3 cries out again: "Solomon showed he loved the Lord by ...??"
Father, I've seen this in my own life so clearly these last two weeks. I, too, want what Solomon asked You for. I, too, know that I lack the full ability to commit and submit to You in all things. That makes my heart ache, for it means that I'm not showing You how much I love You as I should. Yes, I can use a lot more discernment, and I ask that You give it. Help me to love You more.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
1 Kings 3:16-4:34 When Wisdom's Not Enough
One of Solomon's first "tests" of his new God-given wisdom came when two women asked him to decide which one was the mother of the one child remaining between them after the other child had died. The distraught mother had switched
One of Solomon's first "tests" of his new God-given wisdom came when two women asked him to decide which one was the mother of the one child remaining between them after the other child had died. The distraught mother had switched babies during the night, and it was a spitting match as to who was being truthful.
Solomon correctly discerned that the true mother of the child would be unable to bear seeing it killed and would therefore yield possession of her baby to spare its life. The 600-pound gorilla in the room, however, was the fact that both women were prostitutes. This was behavior clearly against God's commands, and yet having his chance, Solomon had said nothing.
Chapter 4 shows how the headiness of office began to "infect" his God-given wisdom, I think. As is often the case, when others begin to take notice of intelligence or wisdom, their compliments can cause a sort of intellectual arrogance to develop. This can then lead to the need for a steady diet of compliments, and soon there's an extra need for support of these "fans". Solomon seemed to fall right into line, and quickly the bureaucracy grew, along with the need to tax the people heavily to support it.
Of course, when it's not your money, it's much easier to spend, and thus began Solomon's very lavish lifestyle. He was already backing down from what he'd asked of God: "I ask that You give me an obedient heart, so I can rule the people in the RIGHT way and will know the difference between right and wrong."
It's not enough for us to gain wisdom in only one field of specialty. When God gives discernment, it is to be used for every area of life. We must also be careful not to fall victim, as Solomon did, to the notion that if something has the ability to materially improve my situation, then it must be from God.
Father, help me to use the discernment that comes from You for its most important function - the ability to say "no" to the good stuff when I feel You directing me otherwise. Help me not to fall victim to the trap of Satan that more is always better.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Solomon correctly discerned that the true mother of the child would be unable to bear seeing it killed and would therefore yield possession of her baby to spare its life. The 600-pound gorilla in the room, however, was the fact that both women were prostitutes. This was behavior clearly against God's commands, and yet having his chance, Solomon had said nothing.
Chapter 4 shows how the headiness of office began to "infect" his God-given wisdom, I think. As is often the case, when others begin to take notice of intelligence or wisdom, their compliments can cause a sort of intellectual arrogance to develop. This can then lead to the need for a steady diet of compliments, and soon there's an extra need for support of these "fans". Solomon seemed to fall right into line, and quickly the bureaucracy grew, along with the need to tax the people heavily to support it.
Of course, when it's not your money, it's much easier to spend, and thus began Solomon's very lavish lifestyle. He was already backing down from what he'd asked of God: "I ask that You give me an obedient heart, so I can rule the people in the RIGHT way and will know the difference between right and wrong."
It's not enough for us to gain wisdom in only one field of specialty. When God gives discernment, it is to be used for every area of life. We must also be careful not to fall victim, as Solomon did, to the notion that if something has the ability to materially improve my situation, then it must be from God.
Father, help me to use the discernment that comes from You for its most important function - the ability to say "no" to the good stuff when I feel You directing me otherwise. Help me not to fall victim to the trap of Satan that more is always better.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
1 Kings 5 -- When You Build A House, Count The Cost
Solomon called on Hiram, king of Tyre, one of his father's allies, when he decided to start work on the Temple. He wanted cedar trees from Lebanon for paneling the interior of the Temple and for supports. Although it almost sounds lik
Solomon called on Hiram, king of Tyre, one of his father's allies, when he decided to start work on the Temple. He wanted cedar trees from Lebanon for paneling the interior of the Temple and for supports. Although it almost sounds like Hiram was overjoyed to be asked to help, it actually was going to be a profitable venture for him. Not only was David going to pay Hiram's men to cut the lumber, but also, in exchange for the lumber, David would be providing 125,000 bushels of wheat each year and 115,000 gallons of pure olive oil each year to Hiram's household. That meant that substantial Israelite resources (both materials and labor were leaving the country as part of the cost of the Temple.
There was also a matter of the workforce: It says Solomon forced 30,000 men to work in rotating "1 month on/2 months off" shifts in Lebanon cutting timber. Also, he forced 80,000 men to cut stones in the hill country and 70,000 to transport the stones to the building site. Additionally, there were 3,300 men supervising all those workers. So 183,300 men were initially used to gather the resources to build a Temple that would fit nicely in my front yard (admittedly, the courtyard around the Temple would take additional space).
Again, I question Solomon's use of his God-given wisdom. It sounds like modern-day government gone crazy with spending. My commentary noted from other chapters that part of the forced laborers were slave laborers, consisting of Gentiles living among the Israelites, but when those proved insufficient, Solomon drafted Israelites, though they were paid laborers. My commentary said, "This eventually would cause bitter resentment and it became a major cause of the division of the kingdom."
A final note in my commentary sure seemed to back up what I've felt as I've read this chapter: "How necessary it is to have divine wisdom in all matters, and not to ride rough-shod over the sensitivities and welfare of others."
Father, I need a hefty dose of divine wisdom right now. There are upcoming decisions that I will be involved in, and I want to make sure that I've heard from You on them. Don't let me trust my own wisdom. I need Yours. Please grant it to me, Father.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
There was also a matter of the workforce: It says Solomon forced 30,000 men to work in rotating "1 month on/2 months off" shifts in Lebanon cutting timber. Also, he forced 80,000 men to cut stones in the hill country and 70,000 to transport the stones to the building site. Additionally, there were 3,300 men supervising all those workers. So 183,300 men were initially used to gather the resources to build a Temple that would fit nicely in my front yard (admittedly, the courtyard around the Temple would take additional space).
Again, I question Solomon's use of his God-given wisdom. It sounds like modern-day government gone crazy with spending. My commentary noted from other chapters that part of the forced laborers were slave laborers, consisting of Gentiles living among the Israelites, but when those proved insufficient, Solomon drafted Israelites, though they were paid laborers. My commentary said, "This eventually would cause bitter resentment and it became a major cause of the division of the kingdom."
A final note in my commentary sure seemed to back up what I've felt as I've read this chapter: "How necessary it is to have divine wisdom in all matters, and not to ride rough-shod over the sensitivities and welfare of others."
Father, I need a hefty dose of divine wisdom right now. There are upcoming decisions that I will be involved in, and I want to make sure that I've heard from You on them. Don't let me trust my own wisdom. I need Yours. Please grant it to me, Father.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
1 Kings 6 & 7 -- All That Building For What?
Rather than getting lost in the architectural details of the Temple and Solomon's palace, I just noted the main descriptions. The Temple's footprint covered 2700 square foot. One third of that would only be entered by one man, one
Rather than getting lost in the architectural details of the Temple and Solomon's palace, I just noted the main descriptions. The Temple's footprint covered 2700 square foot. One third of that would only be entered by one man, one day each year. The other two thirds, if I'm reading it right, were adorned with a 15' circular aboveground bowl that held 11,000 gallons of water, plus ten bronze bowls on stands that were 6' by 6' each, as well as other assorted accessories. The sheer size of that large bowl meant that if it were centered left to right, only 7.5' would remain on each side of it. All told, this wasn't a "house of worship" as we know it. Not just anyone could come inside. Instead, it was where they believed God was to reside, and every day priests would burn incense and offer the mandated sacrifices to God. It took seven years to build this Temple that few would ever enter.
It reminds me of the "coldness" of the fabulous churches in Kyiv, Ukraine, and St. Petersburg, Russia - St. Isaac's, St. Michael's, St. Sophia's, St. Alexander's and others. When I entered them, it was apparent that silence was expected. Reverence was the byword. Women covered their heads with shawls. It would have been unthinkable to raise my hands and shout out, "Praise God!" When I'd departed, I didn't feel that I'd been in a church so much as in a museum. I hadn't worshiped.
Father, I'm glad we don't have the Temple now. It seems that it might get in the way of true worship of You. We'd be tempted to gaze adoringly at the gold and stone, rather than centering our thoughts on You. We'd be tempted to consider our own worthiness at being allowed to enter rather than thinking about how unworthy we are to receive Your grace. Help me to remember this each time I'm in church. You are Who it's all about, and let me not get hung up on anything or anyone else.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
It reminds me of the "coldness" of the fabulous churches in Kyiv, Ukraine, and St. Petersburg, Russia - St. Isaac's, St. Michael's, St. Sophia's, St. Alexander's and others. When I entered them, it was apparent that silence was expected. Reverence was the byword. Women covered their heads with shawls. It would have been unthinkable to raise my hands and shout out, "Praise God!" When I'd departed, I didn't feel that I'd been in a church so much as in a museum. I hadn't worshiped.
Father, I'm glad we don't have the Temple now. It seems that it might get in the way of true worship of You. We'd be tempted to gaze adoringly at the gold and stone, rather than centering our thoughts on You. We'd be tempted to consider our own worthiness at being allowed to enter rather than thinking about how unworthy we are to receive Your grace. Help me to remember this each time I'm in church. You are Who it's all about, and let me not get hung up on anything or anyone else.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
1 Kings 8 -- When God Shows Up
Solomon finally completed the Temple, and it was time to put it to use. The Ark of the Covenant was moved into place in the Holy of Holies. What happened next really caught my eye this morning: "When the priests left the Hol
Solomon finally completed the Temple, and it was time to put it to use. The Ark of the Covenant was moved into place in the Holy of Holies. What happened next really caught my eye this morning:
"When the priests left the Holy Place, a cloud filled the Temple of the Lord. The priest could not continue their work, because the Temple was filled with the glory of the Lord."
My commentary noted: "As soon as the ark (typical of Christ) was given its proper place, the glory cloud, signifying the divine Presence, filled the Temple. The priests were not able to carry on their duties because the glory of the Lord filled the house."
They had somehow derived an "order of worship" that they planned to follow, and they were in the middle of doing it when God showed up. How inappropriate it would be to continue with human plans when the divine Ruler of the universe is present in such a palpable way!
In the same way, in my life there are times when I'm doing things my own way. When God shows up and demands my attention, the only thing I can do is say, "Yes, Lord."
Father, thank You for showing up this morning. That You for stopping what I was doing by Your very Presence and for leading me to see what You want from me. As Solomon prayed that day, "When we pray .... Hear from Your home in heaven, and when You hear, forgive us."
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
"When the priests left the Holy Place, a cloud filled the Temple of the Lord. The priest could not continue their work, because the Temple was filled with the glory of the Lord."
My commentary noted: "As soon as the ark (typical of Christ) was given its proper place, the glory cloud, signifying the divine Presence, filled the Temple. The priests were not able to carry on their duties because the glory of the Lord filled the house."
They had somehow derived an "order of worship" that they planned to follow, and they were in the middle of doing it when God showed up. How inappropriate it would be to continue with human plans when the divine Ruler of the universe is present in such a palpable way!
In the same way, in my life there are times when I'm doing things my own way. When God shows up and demands my attention, the only thing I can do is say, "Yes, Lord."
Father, thank You for showing up this morning. That You for stopping what I was doing by Your very Presence and for leading me to see what You want from me. As Solomon prayed that day, "When we pray .... Hear from Your home in heaven, and when You hear, forgive us."
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
1 Kings 9-10 Was Solomon TOO Wise For His Own Good?
God is so wise. Back in Deuteronomy 17:16-17, He'd warned all the kings of Israel: "The king must not have too many horses for himself, and he must not send people to Egypt to get more horses, because the Lord has told you, "
God is so wise. Back in Deuteronomy 17:16-17, He'd warned all the kings of Israel: "The king must not have too many horses for himself, and he must not send people to Egypt to get more horses, because the Lord has told you, "Don't return that way again." The king must not have many wives, or his heart will be led away from God. He must not have too much silver and gold."
Yet Solomon unwisely chose to ignore God's wisdom: "King Solomon also built cities ... for his chariots and horses ... The ships brought back 32,000 pounds of gold to King Solomon ... The Queen of Sheba gave the king about 9,000 pounds of gold ... Every year Solomon received about 50,000 pounds of gold ... King Solomon made 200 large shields of hammered gold. He also made 300 smaller shields of hammered gold. The king built a large throne of ivory and covered it with fine gold ... All of Solomon's drinking cups, as well as the dishes ... were made of pure gold ... So Solomon had more riches and wisdom than all the other kings on earth ... Solomon had 1400 chariots and 12,000 horses ... He imported horses from Egypt..."
God takes up the question of the women in Chapter 11, but it's apparent that Solomon had gone crazy in trying to amass the largest fortune the world had ever known - all in direct opposition to God's word. God warned him again in chapter 9: "But you and your children must follow me and obey the laws and commands I have given you." God even knew Solomon had a weakness that he was not yet even aware of and warned him early on about it: "You must not serve or worship other gods." Solomon probably thought, "I'll never do that!" Solomon's love of wives though was about to get him in trouble with this one as well.
Father, I know all of us can be just like Solomon. We think that we're the exception - that we can handle it when others can't. But You are wise and You warn us, saying "No, you can't!" Still we try our best, in our human pride, to prove You wrong. I'm the same way. Father, give me the wisdom and the ability to agree with You and to recognize MY weaknesses and to keep away from them as You intended for Solomon to do. Don't let me tell myself lies and set myself up for failure as Solomon did.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Yet Solomon unwisely chose to ignore God's wisdom: "King Solomon also built cities ... for his chariots and horses ... The ships brought back 32,000 pounds of gold to King Solomon ... The Queen of Sheba gave the king about 9,000 pounds of gold ... Every year Solomon received about 50,000 pounds of gold ... King Solomon made 200 large shields of hammered gold. He also made 300 smaller shields of hammered gold. The king built a large throne of ivory and covered it with fine gold ... All of Solomon's drinking cups, as well as the dishes ... were made of pure gold ... So Solomon had more riches and wisdom than all the other kings on earth ... Solomon had 1400 chariots and 12,000 horses ... He imported horses from Egypt..."
God takes up the question of the women in Chapter 11, but it's apparent that Solomon had gone crazy in trying to amass the largest fortune the world had ever known - all in direct opposition to God's word. God warned him again in chapter 9: "But you and your children must follow me and obey the laws and commands I have given you." God even knew Solomon had a weakness that he was not yet even aware of and warned him early on about it: "You must not serve or worship other gods." Solomon probably thought, "I'll never do that!" Solomon's love of wives though was about to get him in trouble with this one as well.
Father, I know all of us can be just like Solomon. We think that we're the exception - that we can handle it when others can't. But You are wise and You warn us, saying "No, you can't!" Still we try our best, in our human pride, to prove You wrong. I'm the same way. Father, give me the wisdom and the ability to agree with You and to recognize MY weaknesses and to keep away from them as You intended for Solomon to do. Don't let me tell myself lies and set myself up for failure as Solomon did.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
1 Kings 11 -- "I KNOW, but ..."
When my son isn't doing what I've asked him to do, he always answers with, "I know, but..." That seemed to be the case for Solomon, too, in this chapter. God had said, "You must not marry people of other n
When my son isn't doing what I've asked him to do, he always answers with, "I know, but..."
That seemed to be the case for Solomon, too, in this chapter. God had said, "You must not marry people of other nations." Solomon said, "I know, but..." The Bible says it plainly, "Solomon loved MANY women who were not from Israel. He loved the daughter of the king of Egypt, as well as the women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon...." He eventually had 700 wives and 300 slave women to bear his children. "Solomon fell in love with these women," it says. But I think what he'd fallen in love with was lust. And it took him where he'd never dreamed he would go - into idolatry. For his desire for these women led to a desire to please them. They wanted places to worship their gods and Solomon complied. It wasn't long until he began to worship their gods as well.
What did God think about all this? "The Lord was angry with Solomon, because He had commanded Solomon not to follow other gods. But Solomon did not obey the Lord's command."
"I know, but ..." It only shows how little we do know.
Father, I'm just as bad about this as my son. I find myself saying the same thing when I sin or am tempted to sin against You. It's a shame that none of us knows as much as You do, for we'd know that You have our very best interests at heart. Stop me when I say to You, "I know, but ..." Remind me of what You've shown me this morning.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
That seemed to be the case for Solomon, too, in this chapter. God had said, "You must not marry people of other nations." Solomon said, "I know, but..." The Bible says it plainly, "Solomon loved MANY women who were not from Israel. He loved the daughter of the king of Egypt, as well as the women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon...." He eventually had 700 wives and 300 slave women to bear his children. "Solomon fell in love with these women," it says. But I think what he'd fallen in love with was lust. And it took him where he'd never dreamed he would go - into idolatry. For his desire for these women led to a desire to please them. They wanted places to worship their gods and Solomon complied. It wasn't long until he began to worship their gods as well.
What did God think about all this? "The Lord was angry with Solomon, because He had commanded Solomon not to follow other gods. But Solomon did not obey the Lord's command."
"I know, but ..." It only shows how little we do know.
Father, I'm just as bad about this as my son. I find myself saying the same thing when I sin or am tempted to sin against You. It's a shame that none of us knows as much as You do, for we'd know that You have our very best interests at heart. Stop me when I say to You, "I know, but ..." Remind me of what You've shown me this morning.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
1 Kings 12 -- A Mind Of His Own
Jeroboam wasted no time in turning from the Lord, despite God's personal message to him and God's setting him up as Israel's first king while Solomon's son Rehoboam became king over Judah. God had told Jeroboam in the previou
Jeroboam wasted no time in turning from the Lord, despite God's personal message to him and God's setting him up as Israel's first king while Solomon's son Rehoboam became king over Judah.
God had told Jeroboam in the previous chapter: "I will make you rule over everything you want ... and I will always be with you if you do what I say is right. You must obey all My commands."
He first violated his part of the agreement by running away to Egypt to flee Solomon. There, he was indoctrinated into idol worship, so that when he returned upon hearing of Solomon's death, he found it quite easy to totally renovate the religion his people had followed for ages. He rearranged the religious calendar, doing away with the Feast of Tabernacles in the 7th month, instead instituting a new feast in the 8th month. He set up golden calves to be worshiped at Bethel and Dan, afraid that his people might reconnect with Solomon's dynasty if they often traveled to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple. He presented offerings himself rather than having the priests do it, and he made priests from tribes other than Levi. That kind of rebellion is a setup for failure, as Jeroboam will soon discover.
Father, that seems so obvious when we look back with hindsight, yet it is very similar to the way I rebelled against You after college, thinking that I knew better. Thank You for forgiving my ignorance and lack of wisdom. Please help me to see it coming if there ever is a next time, and help me not to even consider such rebellion again.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
God had told Jeroboam in the previous chapter: "I will make you rule over everything you want ... and I will always be with you if you do what I say is right. You must obey all My commands."
He first violated his part of the agreement by running away to Egypt to flee Solomon. There, he was indoctrinated into idol worship, so that when he returned upon hearing of Solomon's death, he found it quite easy to totally renovate the religion his people had followed for ages. He rearranged the religious calendar, doing away with the Feast of Tabernacles in the 7th month, instead instituting a new feast in the 8th month. He set up golden calves to be worshiped at Bethel and Dan, afraid that his people might reconnect with Solomon's dynasty if they often traveled to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple. He presented offerings himself rather than having the priests do it, and he made priests from tribes other than Levi. That kind of rebellion is a setup for failure, as Jeroboam will soon discover.
Father, that seems so obvious when we look back with hindsight, yet it is very similar to the way I rebelled against You after college, thinking that I knew better. Thank You for forgiving my ignorance and lack of wisdom. Please help me to see it coming if there ever is a next time, and help me not to even consider such rebellion again.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
1 Kings 13 & 14 -- No Room For Disobedience
I seem to remember that the bad news just continues to pile up as these chapters progress, and it gets tough to find anything good to pull out of them. But there is a lesson for those who become "messengers of God" here. God
I seem to remember that the bad news just continues to pile up as these chapters progress, and it gets tough to find anything good to pull out of them.
But there is a lesson for those who become "messengers of God" here. God had directed a man of God from Judah to travel up to Israel to deliver word to King Jeroboam in Bethel. Jeroboam was offering sacrifices to idols as the man arrived. The prophet told the king that God would someday decree that a king named Josiah would sacrifice the idolatrous priests on that same altar. A sign was given to prove that the message was from God, and the man of God prepared to head home.
Jeroboam offered him a meal and a gift, but God had already warned the man not to eat or drink anything while in Israel, and even to return by a different route so that there'd be no hint of the slightest tolerance for Jeroboam's evil reign.
The man began his trip home, but on the way, an old prophet near Bethel lied to him, saying that an angel told him to prepare a meal for the man of God. God then punished the man of God by having a lion kill him as he continued his trip.
My commentary said, "If this seems harsh or severe, we should remember that God deals more strictly with those He loves, with those who are His spokesmen, and with those who are greatly privileged." How this ought to cause each of us to reconsider disobedience to what God commands, since He loved each of us enough to give His own Son for our sins.
Father, I know that I often take sin and disobedience way too lightly. There are also times when I sense that You are wanting me to be Your spokesman and I fail to speak up. Please remind me at those times of this man who obeyed but who didn't obey fully. As Ronnie Hill says, 97% obedience equals 100% disobedience. We simply have to do the math. There's no room for error.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
But there is a lesson for those who become "messengers of God" here. God had directed a man of God from Judah to travel up to Israel to deliver word to King Jeroboam in Bethel. Jeroboam was offering sacrifices to idols as the man arrived. The prophet told the king that God would someday decree that a king named Josiah would sacrifice the idolatrous priests on that same altar. A sign was given to prove that the message was from God, and the man of God prepared to head home.
Jeroboam offered him a meal and a gift, but God had already warned the man not to eat or drink anything while in Israel, and even to return by a different route so that there'd be no hint of the slightest tolerance for Jeroboam's evil reign.
The man began his trip home, but on the way, an old prophet near Bethel lied to him, saying that an angel told him to prepare a meal for the man of God. God then punished the man of God by having a lion kill him as he continued his trip.
My commentary said, "If this seems harsh or severe, we should remember that God deals more strictly with those He loves, with those who are His spokesmen, and with those who are greatly privileged." How this ought to cause each of us to reconsider disobedience to what God commands, since He loved each of us enough to give His own Son for our sins.
Father, I know that I often take sin and disobedience way too lightly. There are also times when I sense that You are wanting me to be Your spokesman and I fail to speak up. Please remind me at those times of this man who obeyed but who didn't obey fully. As Ronnie Hill says, 97% obedience equals 100% disobedience. We simply have to do the math. There's no room for error.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
1 Kings 15 & 16 -- The Downward Spiral Continues
It starts to get tiring hearing over and over in these chapters how each succeeding king of Israel "did what was wrong in the eyes of the Lord." Yet Israel had rejected God and in doing so had set itself on a spiraling descent into ob
It starts to get tiring hearing over and over in these chapters how each succeeding king of Israel "did what was wrong in the eyes of the Lord." Yet Israel had rejected God and in doing so had set itself on a spiraling descent into oblivion. They brazenly worshiped idols and over and over the new king would completely wipe out the family of the previous king to prevent a revolt.
God remained true to His word with Judah. While Israel was not being ruled by its fourth dynasty (unrelated ruling family), Judah was still being ruled by the descendants of David. Though many kings in Judah sinned against the Lord, every so often a good ruler would step in, like Asa, and clean house once more. Judah didn't know it, but these "idolatry purges" were adding years to the life of the nation.
I know that God expects us to do the same in our own lives. It's call repentance. He reveals to us our weaknesses -- the sources of sin in our lives - and shows us His desires for us. Our sorrow leads us to repentance, drawing us back to Him. This cycle doesn't have to be repeated as it often was in Judah's history. Instead, we can learn from our mistakes and place our dependence upon God, Who has the strength and the willingness to help us avoid temptation and sin if we will only stop and inquire of Him before we sin. The Bible assures us that no temptation is too great and that God always offers a way of escape.
Father, I'm glad that You didn't sugarcoat events in the Bible. You tell the story, warts and all, so that we can see the benefits of living for You, with You as Lord or Boss of our lives. I need Your help, strength, and guidance every day to resist Satan. Don't let me be blinded by his efforts to separate me from You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
God remained true to His word with Judah. While Israel was not being ruled by its fourth dynasty (unrelated ruling family), Judah was still being ruled by the descendants of David. Though many kings in Judah sinned against the Lord, every so often a good ruler would step in, like Asa, and clean house once more. Judah didn't know it, but these "idolatry purges" were adding years to the life of the nation.
I know that God expects us to do the same in our own lives. It's call repentance. He reveals to us our weaknesses -- the sources of sin in our lives - and shows us His desires for us. Our sorrow leads us to repentance, drawing us back to Him. This cycle doesn't have to be repeated as it often was in Judah's history. Instead, we can learn from our mistakes and place our dependence upon God, Who has the strength and the willingness to help us avoid temptation and sin if we will only stop and inquire of Him before we sin. The Bible assures us that no temptation is too great and that God always offers a way of escape.
Father, I'm glad that You didn't sugarcoat events in the Bible. You tell the story, warts and all, so that we can see the benefits of living for You, with You as Lord or Boss of our lives. I need Your help, strength, and guidance every day to resist Satan. Don't let me be blinded by his efforts to separate me from You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
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