Saturday, June 14, 2014

The Worshiper PT-3 (1 Kings 3:10-15)


12/14/2010 11:31:37 AM

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY

 

My Worship Time                                                                              Focus:  The Worshiper PT3

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  1Kings 3:10-15

 

            Message of the verses:  My plans are to try and finish this third section today as it has two more sub-points.

 

            Approbation (verses 10-13):  “10  It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. 11  God said to him, "Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, 12  behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you. 13  "I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days.”

            It was because Solomon asked for wisdom so he could lead the people of God and be closer to God for one of God’s attributes is wisdom, that the Lord not only gave this great wisdom to Solomon but also gave to him the things that he did not ask for things like wealth and honor and I believe that Solomon lived to the age of seventy years old which was surely a long life especially during the period he live in, and besides I don’t see any of the kings of either Judah or Israel who lived past seventy.

            Dr. Wiersbe writes the following in his commentary on this section:  “God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him.”

 

            Obligation (verses 14-15):  “14  "If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days." 15  Then Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and made peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.”

            The covenant that the Lord made with Solomon was a conditional covenant for if Solomon disobeyed that Lord then some of the blessings would be forfeited and that is exactly what happened.  Dr. Wiersbe points out that the Lord spoke to Solomon personally four times and the last time was for discipline while the others were on obedience.  For all of the wisdom that the Lord gave to Solomon he fell because of his worship of idols, something Israel would not get over for a very long time.  At the beginning of Solomon’s rule he “knew that he was second in command.  It was when he started to forget that basic truth that he got himself into trouble.”

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  There are many things that I can learn from the life of Solomon and many of them are from the books that he wrote like many of the Proverbs, and the two other books that he penned.  I can also learn from the mistakes that he made and in my opinion the biggest thing that Solomon forgot was that the Lord is Holy and he also needed to be holy, but it seems he forgot, and this is one thing that I don’t ever want to forget.  Solomon wrote on different occasions that “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.”  The fear of the Lord is mentioned on many occasions in the book of Proverbs.  This is one thing that I am lacking and need to correct.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:

 

1.      Remember to fear the Lord for that is the beginning of knowledge.

2.      Trust the Lord to guide my path today.

3.      Trust the Lord to continue to teach me contentment.

4.      Remember the battle that I am in and put on the spiritual armor.

12/14/2010 11:57:17 AM

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