Friday, July 18, 2014

Solomon Disapoints a Friend (1 Kings 9:10-14)


SPIRITUAL DIARY

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Solomon disappoints a friend 

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                             Reference:  1Ki. 9:10-14; 2Chron. 8:1-2

 

            Message of the verses:  “10 ¶  It came about at the end of twenty years in which Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the LORD and the king’s house 11  (Hiram king of Tyre had supplied Solomon with cedar and cypress timber and gold according to all his desire), then King Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee. 12  So Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him, and they did not please him. 13  He said, "What are these cities which you have given me, my brother?" So they were called the land of Cabul to this day. 14  And Hiram sent to the king 120 talents of gold.”

            “1 ¶  Now it came about at the end of the twenty years in which Solomon had built the house of the LORD and his own house 2  that he built the cities which Huram had given to him, and settled the sons of Israel there.”

 

            This section shows some serious character flaws in Solomon, for one thing Solomon was too extravert when it came to the building of his palace.  For another thing Solomon seems to betray a friend in Hiram who helped Solomon in the building of the temple and also in the building of his palace.  It seems that Solomon had to borrow from Hiram in order to finish the building of his palace and then he gave to Hiram twenty cities as collateral for the loan of 120 talents of gold.  Solomon did not have the right to give these cities away, for they belonged to the Lord and therefore should not have been given to Hiram.  Solomon did pay the loan back, perhaps with the gold that the Queen of Sheba gave to him.  In the eyes of Hiram the cities were good for nothing and he was not satisfied with them, but eventually Solomon got them back and rebuilt them as seen in 2Chron. 8:1-2.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I think that the thing that I can learn from this is not to get in over my head, not to live above my means.  I also have to remember that the things that are in the book of Ephesians are true riches, things that may not seem like it to the world but they are the real riches that I have.  Dr. Wiersbe calls his commentary on Ephesians “Be Rich,” and that book is filled with things that are much more important than gold and silver and the thing about them is that they all belong to me because I am in Christ.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:

 

1.      Trust the Lord to get me to the other sugar mill this morning without trouble with IBS.

2.      Trust the Lord to work out the problems that Sandy and I have, and to heal our relationship.

3.      I give myself to the Lord for worship and service.

4.      Continue to learn to be content no matter what the circumstances that I face. 

 

1/18/2011 6:42:19 AM

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