Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 1-11

Although God took the life of the baby conceived in David’s adulterous relationship, God chose to bless their marriage and gave them many more children. Out of all of his wives and all of his children, God chose the next son born to David and Bathsheba to be David’s successor as king. They named this son Solomon, but God gave him the name Jedidiah, which means “beloved of the Lord”. With this name, God expressed his special love for Solomon and revealed His plan to use this baby in a special way. Solomon would build God’s Temple — God would be his Father and Solomon would be God’s son.

David had some powerful words of advice for his son and for all of us who are called to do a work for the Lord: “Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors INTIMATELY. Worship and serve him with your WHOLE heart and a WILLING mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. So take this seriously. THE LORD HAS CHOSEN YOU to build a Temple as his sanctuary. Be strong, and do the work…. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. HE will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly.” – 1 Chronicles 28:9-10, 20

TAKE COURAGE AND GROW UP. THE LORD HAS CHOSEN YOU. NOW BE STRONG AND DO THE WORK.

What great advice for Solomon and what great advice for us today. God may not answer every prayer the way we want him to, but take courage and grow up. We may fast and plead with God only to lose someone we dearly love. But don’t be afraid or discouraged — the Lord our God is with us! What He has called us to do, He will equip us for. What He has asked us to do, He will provide for – whether earthly materials or strength to face the day. He can give us the wholehearted desire to serve and obey Him, according to HIS plan and HIS will, regardless of the circumstances around us.

God offered him the opportunity to ask for ANYTHING and Solomon asked for wisdom. Solomon could have asked for something for himself and instead he asked for something that would help him serve God and his people better. Solomon’s request was selfless and generous. God’s response matched Solomon’s as He generously gave him very great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge as vast as the sands of the seashore… He was wiser than anyone else (1 Kings 4:29-31).

Solomon took 20 years and many resources to build a gorgeous physical place for God to dwell and for God to be worshiped. Solomon knew that God was too big and too great to be contained in any one place, but he desired to CREATE A HOLY ATMOSPHERE where God would be honored. The Temple was completed, as well as the royal palace, and the Lord was pleased. God took this building made by men and set it apart as holy. God’s name would be honored in this place, and God would watch over it.

Solomon was a great leader and accomplished much during his reign as king. After taking twenty years to build the Lord’s Temple and his own royal palace, Solomon went on to rebuild the towns across the land. He assigned roles and responsibilities across the kingdom, establishing clear expectations and layers of leadership.

After hearing about Solomon’s wisdom and success, the Queen of Sheba came to visit. She brought spices, gold, and precious jewels, but she also brought a lot of hard questions. She was impressed with Solomon’s answers, but she was also amazed by his palace, the food that was prepared, the organization of his team, and the splendid clothing worn by his entourage. She gave praise to the God of Israel, recognizing that all of this was a gift from God.

Solomon’s wealth continued to increase over the years. He built a huge throne for himself out of ivory and gold. There were six steps going up to the throne; each step had a figure of a lion on each side. The grandeur of this throne was like no other that had ever been built.

God had given Solomon so much (wisdom, riches and honor) yet Solomon desired what God had not given him. The Lord had specifically instructed Solomon not to marry foreign women because they would turn his heart to their gods and away from the one true God. “Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord” (1 Kings 11:2b-3).

God is sovereign and He is good. We are meant to let Him take the lead in our relationship with Him. But like the Israelites and King Solomon, we often pull out of His arms in a desire to do our own thing or in a gesture of pouting over God’s response to our requests. At times He may bless us and at times He may take away His blessings in order to get us to once more call out His name, humbling ourselves and submitting to His lead (2 Chronicles 7:12-16).

We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.
We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it.
And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.
Rescue me from my rebellion. – Psalm 39:6-8a

LORD, RESCUE ME FROM MY REBELLION SO THAT I CAN DO THE WORK TO WHICH I HAVE BEEN CALLED.

Father God, you are the source of everything good in my life! You have my attention! Today I choose to follow you COMPLETELY. May I not insist on anything in my life that is not what You desire for me. Please change the desires of my heart to match what you desire. Please give me wisdom as I listen to what you tell me and follow your ways. Give me a spirit of obedience to do whatever YOU consider to be right. Lord, this morning I humble myself before you and seek your face. Please forgive me, open your eyes to me and be attentive to my prayer. May your name be forever honored through my life.