Year One, October 16

We Are the Temple of the Living God1

1 Kings 5:1-11; 13-18

1Now Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon when he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram always loved David.

Close friends with a strong bond are rare. It was a happy thing for Solomon that his father passed on to him the love of such a useful ally.

2And Solomon sent word to Hiram, 3“You know that David my father could not build a house for the name of the LORD his God because of the warfare with which his enemies surrounded him, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet.  (Like a good son who honored his father, he does not say that David could not build the temple because he had shed blood, but because he was busy with wars. We should always say the best things regarding our parents.)

4“But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side. There is neither adversary nor misfortune. 5And so I intend to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD said to David my father, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for my name.’ 6Now therefore command that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. And my servants will join your servants, and I will pay you for your servants such wages as you set, for you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.” (The tabernacle, which was temporary, was constructed by Jews only. But the temple, which was to be permanent, is not built without the help of Gentiles. Jews and Gentiles together make up the church that is the temple of God.)

7As soon as Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the LORD this day, who has given to David a wise son to be over this great people.” 8And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, “I have heard the message that you have sent to me. I am ready to do all you desire in the matter of cedar and cypress timber. (We should think very carefully about what we promise. Are we really willing and able to be true to our word? It is good when our hearts are full of liberality toward the work of God even after we have thoughtfully weighed the matter.) 9My servants shall bring it down to the sea from Lebanon, and I will make it into rafts to go by sea to the place you direct. And I will have them broken up there, and you shall receive it. And you shall meet my wishes by providing food for my household.” (Palestine was a fruitful agricultural country, so Solomon would do Hiram a service by paying him from the produce of the land.)

10So Hiram supplied Solomon with all the timber of cedar and cypress that he desired, (When God’s house is to be built, he will certainly find everything he needs for it.) 11while Solomon gave Hiram 20,000 cors (a little less than 2,000 tons) of wheat as food for his household, and 20,000 cors (over one million gallons) of beaten oil. Solomon gave this to Hiram year by year.

13King Solomon drafted forced labor out of all Israel, and the draft numbered 30,000 men. 14And he sent them to Lebanon, 10,000 a month in shifts. They would be a month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the draft. 15Solomon also had 70,000 burden-bearers and 80,000 stonecutters in the hill country, 16besides Solomon’s 3,300 chief officers who were over the work, who had charge of the people who carried on the work. 17At the king’s command they quarried out great, costly stones in order to lay the foundation of the house with dressed stones.

Even the foundation stones were not rugged and rough, but cut and expensive. God would have everything that is done for him done well. He does not care so much for that which pleases human eyes; his delight is with the beauty of those living stones of his spiritual temple that are hidden from view.

18So Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders and the men of Gebal did the cutting and prepared the timber and the stone to build the house. (The stones and timbers arrived at the worksite already prepared. So, “When the house was built, it was with stone prepared at the quarry, so that neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron was heard in the house while it was being built.”2 Here below, the preparing us for heaven is a work of toil and noise, but in heaven all will be rest and quietness. May the Lord prepare us to be built into his temple above.)

^{_______________}

¹ 2 Corinthians 6:16

² 1 King 6:7

Year One, October 15

The LORD Reigns, Let the Earth Rejoice1

Solomon used his wisdom to bring great prosperity to his nation. Israel became a major center of trade and commerce. His royal government was conducted in a very expensive style.

  

1 Kings 4:22-34

22Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty cors (over six tons) of fine flour and sixty cors (over twelve tons)2 of meal, 23ten fat oxen, and twenty pasture-fed cattle, a hundred sheep, beside deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened fowl.

But what is this compared to what is piled high on the table of the King of kings from which all the saints are fed?

24For he had dominion over all the region west of the Euphrates from Tiphsah to Gaza, over all the kings west of the Euphrates. And he had peace on all sides around him. 25And Judah and Israel lived in safety, from Dan even to Beersheba, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, all the days of Solomon. (There was peace where Solomon ruled and there is peace that surpasses all understanding where Jesus reigns.) 26Solomon also had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen. (This was a forbidden luxury. The Hebrew kings were commanded not to acquire many horses.3 Solomon was wrong to do this.) 27And those officers supplied provisions for King Solomon, and for all who came to King Solomon’s table, each one in his month. They let nothing be lacking. 28Barley also and straw for the horses and swift steeds they brought to the place where it was required, each according to his duty.

29And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore, 30so that Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31For he was wiser than all other men, wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol, and his fame was in all the surrounding nations. 32He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005. 33He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall. He spoke also of beasts, and of birds, and of reptiles, and of fish. 34And people of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.

See how well the Lord fulfilled his promise. He gave him wisdom overflowing.

  

1 Kings 10:14-15; 18-23

14Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents (about 25 tons) of gold, 15besides that which came from the explorers and from the business of the merchants, and from all the kings of the west and from the governors of the land. (He built caravan rest stops and charged the merchants for their use. He also gained great wealth by buying the produce of the East, and selling it to the Western nations.)

18The king also made a great ivory throne and overlaid it with the finest gold. 19The throne had six steps, and the throne had a roundtop, and on each side of the seat were armrests and two lions standing beside the armrests, 20while twelve lions stood there, one on each end of a step on the six steps. The like of it was never made in any kingdom.

But how much more glorious will the throne of our Lord be in the day of his appearing?

21All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None were of silver; silver was not considered as anything in the days of Solomon. 22For the king had a fleet of ships of Tarshish at sea with the fleet of Hiram. Once every three years the fleet of ships of Tarshish used to come bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

23Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.

So again the promise was fulfilled and wealth followed wisdom. Who would not trust a God who is so faithful?

^{_______________}

¹ Psalm 97:1

² These are conservative estimates. The volume of a cor or kor is not certain.

³ Deuteronomy 17:16

Year One, October 14

Give Your Servant Therefore An Understanding Mind1

We will now return to the historical record with the beginning of the reign of Solomon.

  

1 Kings 3:1; 3-15

1Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt. He took Pharaoh’s daughter and brought her into the city of David until he had finished building his own house and the house of the LORD and the wall around Jerusalem. (A questionable beginning. A step full of danger.)

3Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places. (Worshiping at the high places was expressly forbidden.2 But the Lord saw that Solomon’s heart was right and did not treat him harshly in this matter.) 4And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” (Solomon worships God by day and God appears to Solomon by night. The night must be happy when the day has been holy. The king had offered a thousand burnt sacrifices to God and now the Lord rewards him in a divine way with a wonderful gift. “Ask what I shall give you.” God is no less generous to each of us today, for Jesus has said, “Whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.”3)

6And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. 7And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. 8And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. 9Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”

It was a wise choice to choose wisdom. Young Solomon was already wise when he asked the Lord for wisdom. He did not ask for grace. That would have been the best gift of all. But he did choose the second best and his reasons for asking for wisdom should be applauded. He must have given this a lot of thought when he was awake to make such an excellent decision in his sleep.

10It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. 13I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. (The greater includes the less. Wealth and honor may not bring wisdom, but wisdom brings wealth and honor. Let us first seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to us.4 Jesus Christ is infinite wisdom and is the choice of every believer.) 14And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”

15And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants. (Solomon showed his thankfulness by bringing his sacrifices to the right place—to Jerusalem. Our love to God should always lead us to pay closer attention to his commands. Solomon now had a spectacular life ahead of him and for many years he lived it in the right way. Those who begin life by seeking wisdom may expect success.)

^{_______________}

¹ 1 Kings 3:9

² Deuteronomy 12:1-7

³ John 16:23

⁴ A reference to Matthew 6:33

Year One, October 13

Wait In Silence for God Alone1

This psalm is very typical of David. We are in the habit of calling it the ONLY Psalm, because it uses the word “only” or “alone” so often. David rejoiced to place his trust in God “only.”

  

Psalm 62

1 For God alone (or, “for God only”) my soul waits in silence;

from him comes my salvation.

Our salvation comes to us only from the Lord. Therefore we should wait on or depend on him alone. If depending on God is worship, then depending on anything in creation is idolatry. If depending on God only is true faith, then thinking we need others to help us is reckless unbelief. Very few of us avoid this evil way of thinking and really depend on God only.

2 He only is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

Shaken about, but not shaken off our foundation. Moved like a ship at anchor, that swings with the tide, but is not swept away by the current. Nothing keeps the soul secure like a faith that depends on God only. Faith stands alone. Faith is the only string in our bow, the one pillar for our house.

3 How long will all of you attack a man

to batter him.

like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?

4 They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.

They take pleasure in falsehood.

They bless with their mouths,

but inwardly they curse.     Selah.

The world is full of flatterers, but they secretly plan against our success. Let us run quickly away from them, to the only certain hope of the saints. “If God is for us, who can be against us?”2

5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,

for my hope is from him.

Knock at no other door except that of your God. God is one. Let your hopes look toward him only. The eye that sees only God will be filled with the light of understanding.

6 He only is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

7 On God rests my salvation and my glory;

my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

Notice how David brands his own initials on every title he gives to God. He rejoices in my hope, my rock, my salvation, my glory, and so on. There are seven my’s in two verses and there can never be too many.  The faith that applies divine blessings personally is the faith we all need.

8 Trust in him at all times, O people;

pour out your heart before him;

God is a refuge for us.     Selah.

God has shown the fullness of his love to us. We should show our emptiness to him. Turn your soul upside down in his presence and let your innermost thoughts, desires, sorrows and sins be poured out like water. To keep our misery to our self just increases our hopelessness. The end of our deep distress is close when we freely acknowledge it to the Lord.

9 Those of low estate are but a breath;

those of high estate are a delusion;

in the balances they go up;

they are together lighter than a breath.

Humans, whether great of small, are still only humans, and humans are dust. To trust what the majority thinks is foolishness, to depend on the advice of the famous is madness. To be controlled by the Lord’s counsel is the only sanity.

10 Put no trust in extortion;

set no vain hopes on robbery;

if riches increase, set not your heart on them.

This is a difficult rule. Worldly wealth is a slimy thing and is too likely to stick to the heart. Maybe this is why so many of the saints are poor. Perhaps the Lord is protecting them from being tempted by growing riches. Our hope must be in God alone. Placing our confidence in the treasures of this life is as hopeless as trying to bottle the wind.

11 Once God has spoken;

twice have I heard this:

that power belongs to God,

Do not look to people or their money for power. God is all powerful. Those who are wise will look only to him for help.

12 and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.

For you will render to a man

according to his work.

The Lord gives us the strength we need for each day. All power is his and he will provide as much as our work requires. Let us go to God for our needs and to him only.

^{_______________}

¹ From Psalm 62:5

² Romans 8:31

Year One, October 12

O LORD My God, You Are Very Great!1

This is another of David’s grandest psalms. Our space forces us to include only a few comments.

  

Psalm 104

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul!

O LORD my God, you are very great!

You are clothed with splendor and majesty,

2 covering yourself with light as with a garment,

stretching out the heavens like a tent.

3 He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters;

he makes the clouds his chariot;

he rides on the wings of the wind;

4 he makes his messengers winds,

his ministers a flaming fire.

5 He set the earth on its foundations,

so that it should never be moved.

6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment;

the waters stood above the mountains.

He is probably referring to the great flood of Noah’s day.

7 At your rebuke they fled;

at the sound of your thunder they took to flight.

8 The mountains rose, the valleys sank down

The force of the water was so great that mountains were pushed upwards, causing valleys to sink lower.

to the place that you appointed for them.

9 You set a boundary that they may not pass,

so that they might not again cover the earth.

10 You make springs gush forth in the valleys;

they flow between the hills;

11 they give drink to every beast of the field;

the wild donkeys quench their thirst.

12 Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell;

they sing among the branches.

13 From your lofty abode you water the mountains;

the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.

14 You cause the grass to grow for the livestock

and plants for man to cultivate,

that he may bring forth food from the earth

15 and wine to gladden the heart of man,

oil to make his face shine

and bread to strengthen man’s heart.

16 The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly,

the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.

17 In them the birds build their nests;

the stork has her home in the fir trees.

18 The high mountains are for the wild goats;

the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.

Each place has its creature and each creature its place. Even the loneliest spots on earth abound with wildlife.

19 He made the moon to mark the seasons;

the sun knows its time for setting.

20 You make darkness, and it is night,

when all the beasts of the forest creep about.

21 The young lions roar for their prey,

seeking their food from God.

22 When the sun rises, they steal away

and lie down in their dens.

23 Man goes out to his work

and to his labor until the evening.

Night and day each have their purpose. The wheels of providence2 never stand still.

24 O LORD, how manifold are your works!

In wisdom have you made them all;

the earth is full of your creatures.

25 Here is the sea, great and wide,

which teems with creatures innumerable,

living things both small and great.

26 There go the ships,

and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it.

27 These all look to you,

to give them their food in due season.

28 When you give it to them, they gather it up;

when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.

29 When you hide your face, they are dismayed;

when you take away their breath, they die

and return to their dust.

30 When you send forth your Spirit, they are created,

and you renew the face of the ground.

God oversees all things, great or small. He has not left the world to mere laws and forces of nature. He is always working everywhere. Let us see his hand in all things and adore him.

31 May the glory of the LORD endure forever;

may the LORD rejoice in his works,

If the Lord rejoices in his works, we would not be wise to close our eyes to nature’s beauties or think they just happened by some huge accident.

32 who looks on the earth and it trembles,

who touches the mountains and they smoke!

33 I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;

I will sing praise to my God while I have being.

34 May my meditation be pleasing to him,

for I rejoice in the LORD.

35 Let sinners be consumed from the earth,

and let the wicked be no more!

For they alone damage creation and spoil the Maker’s handiwork.

Bless the LORD, O my soul!

Praise the LORD!

^{_______________}

¹ Psalm 104:1

² Providence  - Usually, when used with a capital “P” it refers to God; when used with a lower case “p”, it refers to God’s will, his divine intervention, and his predetermination (predestination).

Year One, October 11

Bless the LORD, O My Soul1

Before we proceed to the reign of Solomon, we must read two or three of David’s most familiar psalms. We only regret that we do not have time to read them all in our family worship. However, in our private devotions, we should study every one.  They are all more precious than fine gold. Today, we will read one of the sweetest and best known.

  

Psalm 103

Of David.

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul,

and all that is within me,

bless his holy name!

Music from the heart is the most precious music. When we praise the Lord it should rise up from deep within us.

2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits,

We have poor memories when it comes to good things. Still, let us try to remember them when we praise the Lord.

3 who forgives all your iniquity,

who heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit,

who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

5 who satisfies you with good

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The sweet singer threads a few of the best pearls of mercy on the string of memory, then places them around the neck of gratitude, where they sparkle as she sings the joyful praises of her God.

6 The LORD works righteousness

and justice for all who are oppressed.

No person in need will ever plead their case to the Lord and be disappointed. Woe to those who oppress the poor.

7 He made known his ways to Moses,

his acts to the people of Israel.

8 The LORD is merciful and gracious,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

9 He will not always chide,

nor will he keep his anger forever.

His very love will cause him to chasten2 us at times, but the hand of discipline is soon withdrawn.

10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,

nor repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west,

so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

What a glorious fact. The east is infinitely distant from the west and so our sin is removed an infinite distance from us. In fact, it is washed away. It disappears and is forgotten forever.

13 As a father shows compassion to his children,

so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.

At their best, children need their father’s compassion. At their strongest, they are defective and weak.

14 For he knows our frame;

he remembers that we are dust.

We are not iron, and not even clay, but dust held together by a continuous miracle.

15 As for man, his days are like grass;

he flourishes like a flower of the field;

16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,

and its place knows it no more.

17 But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,

and his righteousness to children’s children,

18 to those who keep his covenant

and remember to do his commandments.

Children who reject the Lord will not be saved because their parents are. Living unsaved in a Christian home will only increase the judgment against them. Their parents cannot remove their guilt. They must accept the Lord’s promise for themselves personally or they will have no place in heaven.

19 The LORD has established his throne in the heavens,

and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Bless the LORD, O you his angels,

you mighty ones who do his word,

obeying the voice of his word!

21 Bless the LORD, all his hosts,

his ministers, who do his will!

22 Bless the LORD, all his works,

in all places  of his dominion.

Bless the LORD, O my soul!

The psalmist was so full of praise that he wanted all of creation to join him in glorifying the Lord. But he did not forget that the most important thing is that our own soul adores the Lord. He concludes, as all good composers do, with his main point. Let our motto be today and every day, “Bless the Lord, O my soul.”

^{_______________}

¹ Psalm 103:1

² chasten, chastening or chastisement - The act of discipline which may include scolding, criticizing or pain inflicted for the purpose of correction or moral improvement.