Bible Pathway - May 21, 2010
Highlights:
Solomon began his reign with a humble attitude. Two of his first recorded acts were to make affinity by marrying Pharoah's daughter (I Kin. 3:1), and to offer a thousand burnt offerings on the altar to the Lord. He then gathered . . . a thousand and four hundred chariots, and. . . . made silver and gold . . . plenteous (II Chr. 1:14-15). Solomon . . . began to build the House of the Lord (I Kin. 6:1; II Chr. 3:1).
Solomon's kingdom was unequaled in wealth and splendor: Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly (1:1). It may seem strange for one to possess such wealth and wisdom and not desire to please the Lord as David did. But possessions give a false sense of security and self-sufficiency which robs some of spiritual insight and the true values of life. The prophet Jeremiah confessed: O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps (Jer. 10:23). The Scriptures teach that the Word of God is the Source of true wisdom for daily direction. All of us need to realize we are to: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart. . . . Be not wise in thine own eyes (Prov. 3:5,7). When we have a desire to do His will, the Spirit of Christ — the Living Word — guides our thoughts and actions.
Of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. . . . For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God (I Cor. 1:30-31; 3:19).
Eventually, Solomon loved many strange woman. . . . For it came to pass . . . that his wives turned away his heart after other gods (I Kin. 11:1,4). The wisest and most wealthy man on earth did evil in the sight of the Lord . . . and turned from the Lord God of Israel (11:6-9). Jesus told of a successful farmer who said: I will say to my soul . . . take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be (Luke 12:19-20)? This man was no fool as a farmer, but he gave himself the wrong advice when he congratulated himself on his worldly attainments.
Having food and raiment let us be therewith content (I Tim. 6:8). All Christians have a far more important purpose in life to occupy their time with than to accumulate material possessions. Obviously there is a limit. Solomon witnesses to the danger of self-sufficiency. We are living in days of excessive evil to which one is continually exposed.
Thought for Today:
The time is short . . . they that have . . . be as though they had none . . . they that buy, as though they possessed not; and they that use the world, as not abusing it; for the fashion (form) of this world passeth away (I Cor. 7:29-31).
Christ Revealed:
By the thousand burnt offerings of Solomon (II Chr. 1:6). We can be thankful that the one perfect offering of Christ on the cross did away with the need for many and continual individual offerings. He died unto sin once (for all) (Rom. 6:10; Heb. 10:10-12,14).
Word Studies:
2:2 told out =b> assigned; 2:7 cunning =b> skilled; can skill to grave =b> has skill to engrave; 2:14 find out every device =b> execute any design; 2:16 floats =b> rafts; 3:1 affinity =b> alliance by marriage to Pharaoh's daughter; 3:5 cieled =b> paneled; 3:10 of image work =b> fashioned by carving; 3:16 oracle =b> Holy of Holies.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for International Broadcasts in honor of Linda Kennon • Assistant to the Executive Director of the IBRA in our Washington DC Branch: Terry Hall • Government Official: Sen. George LeMieux (FL) • Country: Kyrgyzstan (4.7 million) eastern central Asia • Major languages: Kirghiz and Russian • Religious freedom • 75% Muslim; 20% Russian Orthodox; 5% Other (Jewish, Buddhist, Catholic, Protestant) • Prayer Suggestion: Ask the Lord for wisdom as you read His Word, and it will be given to you (James 1:5).
Optional Reading: 1 Corinthians 8
Memory Verse for the Week: John 1:5
