Today’s Reading: Psalms 97, 119

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. – Psalm 119:11

The word that comes to my mind when I read this verse is “holiness”. I hide God’s word in my heart so that I can live out the holiness He is calling me to. To settle comfortably into a life of sin would be to sin against a God who loves me – who created me with a plan to live in relationship with Him. But if I choose to let my sinful nature lead the way, that sin is what separates me from God because God is holy.

It truly is the desire of my heart to experience God, to remain close to Him every day for the rest of my life. I get so frustrated with myself when I allow sinful attitudes to settle into my heart or when I speak words that I know are not from God. How can I grow stronger in my faith and more consistently reflect the holiness of God? The psalmist gives us a great answer to that question in Psalm 119:105.

HIS WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET ON THIS JOURNEY OF HOLINESS; IT IS A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH.

Help me understand the meaning of your commandments,
and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds.
I weep with sorrow; encourage me by your word.
Keep me from lying to myself; give me the privilege of knowing your instructions…
Teach me your decrees, O Lord; I will keep them to the end.
Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions;
I will put them into practice with all my heart.
Make me walk along the path of your commands, for this is where my happiness is found.
Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money!
Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.
Reassure me of your promise, made to those who fear you.
Help me abandon my shameful ways; for your regulations are good.
I long to obey your commandments!
Renew my life with your goodness. – Psalm 119:33-40

God’s word encourages me when I am sad.
God’s word reveals truth to me when I am trying to convince myself of what I want to be true.
God’s word reminds me of the value in God’s plan.
God’s word reassures me of His promises and I am renewed!

HIS WORD IS ALIVE AND ACTIVE IN MY LIFE TODAY.

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. – Hebrew 4:12

God has done more than just hand us His word. He continues to use His word to teach us and to give us understanding. Obedience comes from these teaching moments with God and these teaching moments create more obedience. Every day that we spend time in God’s word, we are growing stronger in our faith and living out our surrender to His holiness. We walk along the path of holiness and find happiness in following His ways.

How I delight in your commands! I love them!
I honor and love your commands.
I meditate on your decrees. – Psalm 119:47

Truly, I love your commands
more than gold, even the finest gold. – Psalm 119:127

WHEN WE FALL IN LOVE WITH HIS WORDS, WE RESPOND WITH A SONG OF COMMITMENT.

Lord, you are mine!
I promise to obey your words!
With all my heart I want your blessings.
Be merciful as you promised.
I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws.
I will hurry, without delay, to obey your commands.
Evil people try to drag me into sin, but I am firmly anchored to your instructions.
I rise at midnight to thank you for your just regulations.
I am a friend to anyone who fears you — anyone who obeys your commandments.
O Lord, your unfailing love fills the earth; teach me your decrees. – Psalm 119:57-64

You made me; you created me.
Now give me the sense to follow your commands…
For I have put my hope in your word…
Now let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant.
Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live, for your instructions are my delight…
My eyes are straining to see your promises come true. – Psalm 119:73-77,82

Oh, how I love your instructions!
I think about them all day long.
Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide.
Yes, I have more insight…I am even wiser…
Your commandments give me understanding… – Psalm 119:97-104

Your laws are my treasure; they are my heart’s delight…
Your word is my source of hope. – Psalm 119:111,114b

Thank you for the inspiration and encouragement we daily receive from your word, Lord. Today we hide your words in our heart so that your holiness can penetrate our soul. May your Word continue to shed light on the path before us, daily forming us into the person you created us to be so that we can be set apart for your purpose and plan. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Psalms 112, 113, 116, 118

I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy.
Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! – Psalm 116:1-2

He loves you and He hears you. There is nothing going on in your life that He is unaware of – no detail missed by Him. He is bending down and listening. Enter into His presence and share your heart with Him. You will find kindness and mercy. THE LORD IS FOR YOU!

Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Please save me!”
How kind the Lord is! How good he is!
So merciful, this God of ours.
The Lord protects those of childlike faith;
I was facing death, and he saved me.
Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me.
He has saved me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
And so I walk in the Lord’s presence as I live here on earth!
I believe in you, so I said, “I am deeply troubled, Lord.” – Psalm 116:4-10

In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free.
THE LORD IS FOR ME, so I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me?
Yes, THE LORD IS FOR ME; he will help me.
I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. – Psalm 118:5-9

God is for you! He is aware of everything going on and loves you deeply. It is better to go to Him and take refuge than to look to other people for answers. It is better to cry out to Him than to trust in earthly authority and leadership. When we enter into His presence and pray to Him, bending down to listen He answers us. He saves us from death. He wipes the tears from our eyes and keeps our feet from stumbling.

Light shines in the darkness for the godly… – Psalm 112:4a

He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump.
He sets them among princes, even the princes of his own people!
He gives the childless woman a family, making her a happy mother. – Psalm 113:7-9

THE LORD IS FOR YOU!

We serve a God who sees the hurts and needs of His people. He reaches down and cares for them through the generous love of the godly. He creates in them a natural desire to be generous with others. It is through us that God meets the needs of others. It is through others that God meets our needs.

Light shines in the darkness for the godly.
They are generous, compassionate and righteous.
Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly.
Such people will not be overcome by evil.
Those who are righteous will be long remembered.
They do not fear bad news:
They confidently trust the Lord to care for them.
They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.
They share freely and give generously to those in need.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.
They will have influence and honor. – Psalm 112:4-9

THE LORD IS FOR YOU!

Let us draw into God’s presence and take refuge in Him so that He can strengthen us and prepare us to be His hands and feet in the lives of others. THE LORD IS FOR YOU! Until we have entered into His presence and allowed Him to heal us and fill us with His Spirit, we are not ready to help others. We need to first go to Him and then allow Him to send us.

Open for me the gates where the righteous enter, and I will go in and thank the Lord.
These gates lead to the presence of the Lord, and the godly enter there.
I thank you for answering my prayer and giving me victory!…
This is the day the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it. – Psalm 118:19-21,24

Today’s Reading: Psalm 85, 62, 95; Proverbs 8

Like his father, Solomon was a poet. God gave both father and son the gift of eloquently expressing their emotions and telling the story of where they were at in their intimate walk with God. He put a new song in their heart and powerful words to express their amazement of how wonderful God is. Solomon, the wisest of all men in the land, spoke beautifully of how each one of us can be wise if we listen closely to what God has to say:

Listen as Wisdom calls out!
Hear as understanding raises her voice!…
“Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you.
Everything I say is right, for I speak the truth…
My advice is wholesome…
My words are plain to anyone with understanding,
clear to those with knowledge.” – Proverbs 8:1, 6-9

And in the words of his father, David:

I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying,
for he speaks peace to his faithful people. – Psalm 85:8a

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED IF GOD IS SPEAKING TO YOU?

Have you ever experienced a moment when you wondered if you were hearing from God? There are times when we miss out on opportunities to hear God because we do not step out of our busy schedules to just sit still and listen. Or perhaps God is speaking to us but we do not recognize His voice. Consider this great advice from Oswald Chambers:

Get into the habit of saying, “Speak, Lord,” and life will become a romance. Every time circumstances press in on you, say “Speak, Lord,” and make time to listen. Chastening is more than a means of discipline – it is meant to bring me to the point of saying, “Speak, Lord.” Think back to a time when God spoke to you. Do you remember what He said?… As we listen, our ears become more sensitive, and like Jesus, we will hear God all the time. [https://utmost.org/the-dilemma-of-obedience/]

Those words resonate with my heart’s desire to be close to God. Many times in my life I have been challenged to think of my relationship with God as any other relationship in my life. In order to draw closer to someone, we must spend time with that person and communicate with them, both listening and speaking. This makes sense but the intimacy we have with God is so much deeper than any other relationship.

I love how Oswald Chambers describes the life of listening to God as a romance. The more we listen, the more we will hear from God; the more we hear from God, the more sensitive we become to His voice and the more easily we recognize Him.

This brings to mind one of my favorite worship songs — The More I Seek You, written by Zach Neese and sung by Kari Jobe. This song has a melody that stays in your head – a song that gets stuck in your heart, causing you to desire to recline on the Savior and hear His heartbeat.

The more I seek you, the more I find you. / The more I find you, the more I love you. / I wanna sit at your feet, drink from the cup in your hand. / Lay back against you and breathe, hear your heartbeat. / This love is so deep, it’s more than I can stand. / I melt in your peace, it’s overwhelming. / The more I seek you, the more I find you. / The more I find you, the more I love you.

IT IS WHILE LISTENING FOR A WORD THAT WE HEAR THE LORD SPEAK TO US.

Thank you, Lord, for loving me enough to draw me closer to you. I thank you for the experience of resting in your presence and simply drinking from your cupped hand. Teach me to recline and trust you at all times, finding my hope in only you as I listen to your heartbeat. Amen.

Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will not be shaken.
My victory and honor come from God alone.
He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
O my people, trust in him at all times.
Pour out your heart to him,
for God is our refuge. – Psalm 62:5-8

And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!”
And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.” – 1 Samuel 3:10

Come, let us worship and bow down.
Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God.
We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care.
If only you would listen to his voice today! – Psalm 95:6-7

Speak to me, Lord. I’m listening.

Today’s Reading: Psalm 40, 52, 70

Oh Holy God! I stay amazed. / You are so much more than words could ever say. / Oh Holy God! I pour out my praise / On the One who never ceases to amaze [https://gatewayworship.com]

These are lyrics to the song Stay Amazed by Gateway Worship, and they are the song my heart is singing today. Our God is amazing, but consider how easy it is for us to get so used to that idea that we stop celebrating it. We can easily get so accustomed to the concept that our God is awesome that we don’t stop to really consider just how incredible He is. What if we were to recognize how amazing God is and then stay there! What if we were to stay amazed?!!

OUR GOD IS AMAZING

He is more than words can say, yet the Psalmist did a great job of putting the wonderful attributes of God into words. Let’s read the words of Psalm 40 this morning as if we were hearing these things for the first time. Let’s celebrate our wonderful God and STAY AMAZED all day long!

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the Lord.

Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord,
who have no confidence in the proud
or in those who worship idols.
O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us.
Your plans for us are too numerous to list.
You have no equal.
If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,
I would never come to the end of them.

You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings.
Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand –
You don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.
Then I said, “Look, I have come.
As is written about me in the Scriptures:
I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.”…

Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me.
Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me…

But may all who search for you
be filled with joy and gladness in you.
May those who love your salvation
repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!” – Psalm 40:1-9, 11, 16

OUR GOD IS GREAT

But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God.
I will always trust in God’s unfailing love.
I will praise you forever, O God, for what you have done.
I will trust in your good name in the presence of your faithful people. – Psalm 52:8-9

But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you.
May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “God is great!” – Psalm 70:4

“God is so great – higher than the heavens, higher than the farthest stars.” – Job 22:12

Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!…
Give to the Lord the glory he deserves!
Bring your offering and come into his courts.
Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor.
Let all the earth tremble before him. – Psalm 96:4a,8-9

OUR GOD IS HOLY

O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you? – Psalm 77:13

Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. – Psalm 103:1

Lord, we stand before you AMAZED! You are great and you are holy! Your wonderful deeds are too numerous to recite, your love beyond unfailing. Lord, we praise you for what you have done and we join our voices together to say we trust in your good name. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Psalm 96, 98, 108 and 149

Sing a new song of praise to him…and sing with joy. – Psalm 33:3

Today is a new day. It’s not just any other morning. It’s a new day with new opportunities and a fresh chance to experience God in a new way! It is a special day with a unique purpose woven into God’s greater plan. It’s everything you need it to be. Today is God’s day and THE SHOW IS ABOUT TO BEGIN.

Sing a new song to the Lord! Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Sing to the Lord; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves…Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! – Psalm 96:1-2,4a

I love having a new song to sing to the Lord! I love when my worship reflects what my heart is feeling and I get lost in the “dance”. One of my favorite new songs in 2022 has been Wouldn’t It Be Like You by Bryan and Katie Torwalt. If I listen to it in the morning, I find myself humming it all day. My heart connects with the lyrics in the bridge: Help me be like Mary / Laid down, pouring out / I won’t miss You in a crowd / Cause I love Your voice / And I know the sound / Jesus if it’s You / On the water, in the cloud / I’ll be the first one to walk out / Cause I love Your voice / And I know the sound

WHAT IS YOUR SONG?

I love songs of salvation that celebrate that point of change in our life. What song do you sing because of the place God has saved you from and the wondrous place to which He has brought you? God wants us to continue to sing his praise about the salvation we have experienced. He wants us to share our salvation experience so that others can see that our God saves!

Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has done wonderful deeds. His right hand has won a mighty victory; his holy arm has shown his saving power!…Shout to the Lord, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy! – Psalm 98:1,4

Sing a song of praise today for all of the wonderful things God has done in your life since you gave your heart to Him. From what has He delivered you? In what ways has He made a difference in your life? How has He shown Himself to you and in what ways has He been faithful?

SING A NEW SONG.

I will sing a new song to you, O God!…Yes, joyful are those who live like this! Joyful indeed are those whose God is the Lord. – Psalm 144:9a,15

Let’s sing a song of joy to the Lord today. My prayer is that all those around us today will sense that we have been in the presence of God by the joy that we show. If God has saved us, if God has delivered us, if God has healed us, if God has done wonderful things in our life, let our joy be evident!

Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing his praise in the assembly of the faithful…Let the faithful rejoice that he honors them. Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds. Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands… – Psalm 149:1,5-6

WHAT SONG IS YOUR HEART WRITING?

If you were going to write a song today, what would the lyrics say? Perhaps that is what God is calling you to do today – to write a song or a poem or a love note to Him. What would your new song say?

Sing a new song to the Lord! Sing his praises from the ends of the earth!…Let the people of Sela sing for joy; shout praises from the mountaintops! Let the whole world glorify the Lord; let it sing his praise. — Isaiah 42:10,11b-12

Sing a NEW song! What is God doing in your life now – today? What is your most recent story of God’s faithfulness? It is great when we can tell the stories of the wonderful things God has done in our life but how wonderful to share a new and fresh song of what God is DOING.

What will God do today? I eagerly anticipate to hear from God today or to see Him in action – to feel His presence and be filled with His Spirit. What NEW song will God give me today? Will it be a song of praise or a song of salvation, a song of struggle or a song of commitment? I sit in expectation as I wait for the show to begin.

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 11; 2 Chronicles 7:11-22; Psalm 39

King Solomon asked for wisdom and was blessed by God with wisdom and so many more blessings. God was generous with Solomon, equipping him to lead well and blessing His people through Solomon’s leadership. Yet Solomon lost his focus on the source of everything good in his life. 1 Kings 11:6 says that Solomon “refused to follow the Lord COMPLETELY as his father, David, had done.”

INSISTING ON OUR OWN WAY

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).

Immediately my heart feels conviction at these words. How often have I desired what God has NOT given me instead of resting content in what He has given? I could easily change this verse to say, “Yet Sherry insisted on _____________ anyway.”

IT’S HARD NOT TO GET WHAT I WANT.

Maybe it is because I am the youngest child in my family. Maybe it is because I am a stubborn and determined person. Maybe it is because I am a sinner in need of our Savior. Anyone with me? My nature is to want to manipulate and beg and stubbornly hold onto desires when God has already told me “No”.

In response to Solomon’s unfaithfulness, God reduced the reign of his descendants to only one tribe. He then placed Jeroboam on the throne of the other ten tribes and God’s generosity was poured out on someone else besides Solomon. Solomon’s selfish decision divided God’s people. Some were still under the reign of Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, and some were now under the reign of King Jeroboam.

God had laid out clear expectations to help Solomon avoid a fall, and He gives us the same:

“And I will place you on the throne of Israel, and you will rule over all that your heart desires. If you…
° Listen to what I tell you and
° Follow my ways and
° Do whatever I consider to be right, and
° If you obey my decrees and commands as my servant David did,
THEN I will always be with you.” — 1 Kings 11:37-38a

FOLLOW MY WAYS

God brought me to a familiar passage again today, a passage in 2 Chronicles. These verses popped off the page, giving me a good way to end my morning coffee time and begin my day:

“I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices. At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy — a place where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart.” – 2 Chronicles 7:12-16

SEEK MY FACE

Here is that dance of life between God and man once again. 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. These verses we just read in 2 Chronicles are so powerful. He is God! 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.

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

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.

Today may I hear you say, “YOU ARE DEAR TO MY HEART!”

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 10; 2 Chronicles 9:1-28; Psalm 49

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 exclaimed to the king, “Everything I heard in my country about your achievements and wisdom is true! I didn’t believe what was said until I arrived here and saw it with my own eyes. In fact, I had not heard the half of it! Your wisdom and prosperity are far beyond what I was told. How happy your people must be! What a privilege for your officials to stand here day after day, listening to your wisdom! Praise the Lord your God, who delights in you and has placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king so you can rule with justice and righteousness.” – 1 Kings 10:6-9

SOLOMON’S LEADERSHIP CAUSED OTHERS TO PRAISE GOD.

When the Queen of Sheba saw all that Solomon had accomplished, she gave praise to the God of Israel. She recognized Solomon’s wisdom as being a gift from God and his wealth as being a result of God’s generous blessings. She credited God for all that Solomon was accomplishing, and for his ability to rule the people with both justice and righteousness.

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. He drank from cups of solid gold. Once every three years, Solomon sent ships to bring back gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks. He had 1,400 chariots and 4,000 stalls to house his 12,000 horses.

So King Solomon became richer and wiser than any other king on earth. Kings from every nation came to consult him and to hear the wisdom God had given him. Year after year everyone who visited brought him gifts of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules. – 2 Chronicles 9:22-24

IT IS GOOD TO FIND SATISFACTION IN GOD ALONE.

Solomon had all this wealth and lived extravagantly, yet it was not enough. He allowed his heart to stray from his love for God to his love for women. With 700 wives and 300 concubines, Solomon allowed his heart to turn away from the Lord, and he began to worship the gods these women brought into his household. King Solomon had accomplished so much and was known for his great leadership, but he lost his favor with God because he was unfaithful. Peace was replaced by conflict, and ten of the tribes of Israel were given to Jeroboam, whom Solomon had hired to lead his labor force (1 Kings 11).

What will you do with the blessings God has bestowed on you? What will your response be to the applause and accolades that come from your accomplishments? Will all God has given you be enough? Let’s commit today to be satisfied with the opportunities God has given us, finding satisfaction in His plan for our lives. Let us faithfully follow God with integrity and godliness, recognizing that there is nothing in this world worth letting our hearts stray from the One who created us for His purposes.

Those who are wise must finally die,
just like the foolish and senseless,
leaving all their wealth behind.
The grave is their eternal home,
where they will stay forever.
They may name their estates after themselves,
but their fame will not last.
They will die, just like animals.
This is the fate of fools,
though they are remembered as being wise. – Psalm 49:10-13

How often do we find ourselves unsatisfied with all that God has blessed us with? We look at what others have in comparison to how little we have, rather than praising the Lord for how faithfully He has taken care of us. We want more but today’s scripture reminds us that more will never be enough. We were created to find satisfaction when we walk in relationship with God; nothing is sweeter than allowing God’s presence to fill the empty corners of our heart.

Father, thank you for the reminder today that you have called us to respond to leadership opportunities with humility. May you be glorified through our actions and may others see our giftings as a reflection of who you are. May we look for your approval rather than hungering for the applause and accolades of man. We recognize today that the physical blessings of this world can be a distraction from all that you want to bless us with. May we be faithful to depend on you, finding our joy in things that have eternal value rather than the pleasures of this earthly life. May nothing distract us from our worship of you and you only. Amen.

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 9; 2 Chronicles 8; Psalm 26

“Solomon did not deviate in any way from David’s commands concerning the priests and Levites and treasuries.” – 2 Chronicles 8:15

The Temple was complete, 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.

“As for you, if you will follow me with integrity and godliness, as David your Father did, obeying all my commands, decrees, and regulations, then I will establish the throne of your dynasty over israel forever…But if you and your descendants abandon me and disobey the commands and decrees I have given you, then I will uproot Israel from this land that I have given them. I will reject this Temple that I have made holy to honor my name. I will make Israel an object of mockery and ridicule among the nations. And though this Temple is impressive now, all who pass by will be appalled and will gasp in horror. They will ask, ‘Why did the Lord do such terrible things to this land and to this Temple?’ And the answer will be, ‘Because the people abandoned the Lord their God…’” – 1 Kings 9:4-9a

FOLLOW ME WITH INTEGRITY AND GODLINESS

God is looking for integrity in those He calls into leadership. He is looking for those who will be honest in their dealings with others, and who will demonstrate strong moral principles. He designed the relationship between God and man to result in godly living, not produced by man’s righteousness but God’s. This was true in the days of David and Solomon, and it remains true today.

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.

Solomon wisely continued to nurture the relationship his father, David, had built with King Hiram, which resulted in timber, gold and craftsmen to help with the many building projects. Hiram sent ships and a crew of sailors to take Solomon’s men to Ophir, where they obtained almost seventeen tons of gold. Solomon gave twenty towns in the land of Galilee to King Hiram, who had done so much for him, but the king was disappointed with the quality of the gift and described the towns as worthless.

At first glance, it seems like we have found a weakness in Solomon’s leadership and integrity; it appears like he has insulted Hiram with an inadequate gift. But looking back, we are reminded that he had already paid Hiram the amount requested (1 Kings 5:8-11). Each year he sent the king 100,000 bushels of wheat for his household and 110,000 gallons of pure olive oil. That was the agreed upon payment and he had fulfilled his side of the agreement. The gift of 20 towns was over and above the contracted price. 1 Kings 9:27-28 go on to describe the continued, mutually beneficial working relationship between King Hiram and King Solomon.

INTEGRITY AND GODLINESS ARE INDICATORS OF GOOD LEADERSHIP

It is a privilege to be called up to a leadership position; it also comes with a great amount of responsibility. But the Lord has equipped us through His scripture and through the filling of the Holy Spirit to glorify him through our position of leadership. He has taught us to live a life of godliness and to lead with integrity. May we live each day with the awareness of His unfailing love and with the blessing of His great mercy towards us.

Declare me innocent, O Lord,
for I have acted with integrity;
I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me.
Test my motives and my heart.
For I am always aware of your unfailing love,
and I have lived according to your truth.
I do not spend time with liars
or go along with hypocrites.
I hate the gatherings of those who do evil,
and I refuse to join in with the wicked.
I wash my hands to declare my innocence.
I come to your altar, O Lord,
singing a song of thanksgiving
and telling of all your wonders.
I love your sanctuary, Lord,
the place where your glorious presence dwells.
Don’t let me suffer the fate of sinners.
Don’t condemn me along with murderers.
Their hands are dirty with evil schemes,
and they constantly take bribes.
But I am not like that; I live with integrity.
So redeem me and show me mercy.
Now I stand on solid ground,
and I will publicly praise the Lord. – Psalm 26:1-12

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 5-8; 2 Chronicles 2-7:10; Psalm 84

CREATE A HOLY ATMOSPHERE

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

These New Testament verses come to mind as we study this passage in 1 Kings of the beautiful, elaborate temple that Solomon built for God. 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.

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord.
With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God.
Even the sparrow builds her nest and raises her young at a place near your altar.
O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God! – Psalm 84:1-3

EXPERIENCE THE PRESENCE OF GOD

Oh, how incredible it is to experience the presence of God! I understand Solomon’s desire to create an atmosphere where the Spirit of God is invited to dwell. What a blessing to enter into a place of worship and be surrounded by the God who is worthy of our praise! I can relate to the words in Psalm 84 — the desire to be in His sanctuary, whether that is at church or in my own quiet time each morning.

When the temple was completed, Solomon dedicated it to the Lord and prayed:

“O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven above or on the earth below. You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion. You have kept your promise to your servant David, my father. You made that promise with your own mouth, and with your own hands you have fulfilled it today…”

“But will God really live on earth? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built! Nevertheless, listen to my prayer and my plea, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you today. May you watch over this Temple night and day, this place where you have said, ‘My name will be there.’” – 1 Kings 8:23-24,27-29

Solomon went on to pray to God for justice, protection, provision, healing, growth, deliverance and forgiveness. Then he prayed, “May your eyes be open to my requests and to the requests of your people Israel. May you hear and answer them whenever they cry out to you” (1 Kings 8:52).

INVITE THE HOLY SPIRIT TO DWELL WITHIN

How generous God is to allow us into a relationship with Him — a relationship in which we are heard and our prayers are answered. This passage speaks to the earthly temple we build within ourselves as we create a place where the Holy Spirit can dwell, a holy atmosphere where God can be honored. As we open our hearts to God’s will in our lives, He comes in and finishes the work. With His hands, He creates something beautiful and elaborate out of our plain, earthly lives.

Can God be contained in one simple place? No and isn’t that wonderful! Our God is so great and we are so unworthy of His presence, yet He shows unfailing love to us when He meets with us and creates within us something holy. And then He places His signature on His artwork – My name will be there.

So this morning my prayer echoes Solomon’s — a prayer for justice, protection, provision, healing, growth, deliverance and forgiveness. Thank you, O Lord, for your faithfulness and for the unfailing love you show to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion. With confidence I know that you will keep your promises — that the promise you make with your mouth, you will fulfill with your own hands.

A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God
than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.
He gives us grace and glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.
O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, what joy for those who trust in you. – Psalm 84:10-12

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 3-4; 2 Chronicles 1

SOLOMON NEEDED GOD’S HELP TO STEP INTO THIS NEW ROLE

“Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?” – 1 Kings 3:9

Solomon understood the enormity of the task before him and humbly asked God to make him all he needed to be for this position of honor and authority among God’s people. He knew what he lacked was wisdom, so he asked God for wisdom. His father David had praised the God who could examine hearts and find integrity (1 Chron 29:17), and Solomon knew he needed the ability to find this same kind of integrity in the hearts of God’s people as they came to him to settle disputes.

Today’s scripture passage tells us about two prostitutes who came to King Solomon to have him settle an argument. Both women had given birth only three days apart. One woman accused the other woman of switching their babies during the night after she had accidentally rolled over on her own baby and suffocated it. The women stood before Solomon arguing over who was the mother of the living baby (1 Kings 3:16-22).

Integrity in the heart of a prostitute — that is what Solomon was looking to find. Prostitutes were the most despised class of women in the Israelite community. For Solomon to even agree to meet with these women demonstrated that he was kind and just. He could have rejected them for being pregnant outside of marriage, but he took the time to hear their story and extend a helping hand.

They were alone in this world, no one to even witness the births and testify to whose child was whose. They were cast off from their families, used by men and then abandoned. Yet Solomon had the gift of an UNDERSTANDING HEART and he took time to listen to their story and meet their needs. Solomon’s greatest desire was to help his people, so God gave him the WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE he requested (2 Chronicles 1:11-12).

Then the king said, “Let’s get the facts straight. Both of you claim the living child is yours, and each says the dead one belongs to the other. All right, bring me a sword.” So a sword was brought to the king.

Then he said, “Cut the living child in two, and give half to one woman and half to the other!”

Then the woman who was the real mother of the living child, and who loved him very much, cried out, “Oh no, my lord! Give her the child — please do not kill him!”

But the other woman said, “Alright, he will be neither yours nor mine; divide him between us!”

Then the king said, “Do not kill the child, but give him to the woman who wants him to live, for she is his mother!”

When all Israel heard the king’s decision, the people were in awe of the king, for they saw the wisdom God had given him for rendering justice. – 1 Kings 3:23-28

The actions of the baby’s mother revealed her heart. She loved her child enough to give him up. Solomon heard the love of a mother in her reaction and gave her back her child. Compassion, understanding, wisdom and justice.

WHAT GOD HAD CALLED HIM TO DO, GOD EQUIPPED HIM TO DO!

God gave Solomon very great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge as vast as the sands of the seashore. In fact, his wisdom exceeded that of all the wise men of the East and the wise men of Egypt. – 1 Kings 4:29-30

When I read through this story of the two prostitutes, I think of all the incredible birthmothers I have met over the years. God’s love is reflected in the passionate cries of a mother who would do anything to give her child a chance at life, even if it means she does not get to be a part of the rest of his story. God’s mercy can be seen in the love of a mother who selflessly chooses a different life for the baby she cherishes. When I look at Solomon’s compassionate heart as he took the time to listen to her story, I see the reflection of the God who knows everything about us and cares deeply about our future.

Lord, give us this kind of compassion and understanding for others. Help us to seek justice and search for integrity. Give us insight and lead us into these kinds of moments today. Give us today all we need to be used by you in the lives of those around us. Equip us with the compassion needed to care enough to listen to the stories of those who are in need of justice. Fill us with the understanding we need to help them. Give us your wisdom – not for our own glory but for yours! We love you, Lord. Amen.

Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding.
Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures.
Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God.
For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. – Proverbs 2:3-6