Day 17 Reviewed

Proverbs 8 - Isaiah 2

     More of the "paradoxical" coolness of God. "There is one who scatters, yet increases all the more, And there is one who withholds what is justly due, but it results only in want. The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered," (Proverbs 11:24-25, emph. mine). Of course we see this sort of thing all throughout the gospels when Jesus Christ comes and begins teaching, and fulfilling the law. But this is early wisdom of Solomon. God surely did give him the understanding he prayed for!!
     I've been noticing especially passages about "bearing fruit," and "becoming fruitful." This one, for example, "A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words," (Proverbs 12:14). I'm becoming more and more aware of the power of the mouth, the tongue, words, etc!! How interesting and how true -- that what we say can actually have a profound effect on the outcome of our lives.
     "A tranquil heart is life to the body, but passion is rottenness to the bones," (Proverbs 14:30). I love the wisdom of God. It is so unnatural to how I am tempted to think. Yet, so proven!! There is scientific study after scientific study that tells us this same thing :) They may phrase it something like, Lowering stress level reduces heart attacks, etc.
     Another good one, Oooooh so proven in marriage, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger," (Proverbs 15:1). Oh how well things go when I cling to this truth!!

• Proverbs 31

     The peace a woman can bring to the house! A woman has such control over the level of peace her household experiences, I can truly attest! I honesty LOVE this scripture. Not because it is some unattainable standard that I compare myself to, but because it is a beautiful example of the types of things that bring peace to a home...

Her worth is far above jewels...her husbands heart trusts in her...she does him good, not evil...she works with her hands in delight...she brings her food...considers and buys in business...strengthens herself...is not afraid...makes coverings...SMILES AT THE FUTURE...the teaching of kindness is on her tongue...

     I love it! I don't want to be her, I want to be me! The awesome woman God created me to be, not missing out on any of the benefits or good things God has planned! (Remember Ps. 103??) I can live out of that place in my household and the world.

• Ecclesiastes

      I really don't have much to say about Ecclesiastes except for that Solomon makes it clear there is no peace to be found pursuing vain pleasures of the world. My husband and I sat through about half of a terrible, pop-culture movie last night at the theater before we walked out. The characters in the movie could very well be summed up as Solomon does by, CHASING AFTER THE WIND! Fleeting passions, fleeting pleasures. I have a hard time even calling them pleasures, because I have a hard to time believing they can be that pleasurable in the end, when they leave the pleasure seekers more empty than before. It doesn't matter which thing I speak of: alcohol, sex with who/whatever...that's really all I can think of. ha. And how sad! Only two "pleasures" that aren't even pleasures! What else? Maybe food? Lewd games? Talking about gross things? Dirty Jokes? They all seem to go back to alcohol and sex...
     ok ok ok I digress. "So, remove vexation fro your heart and put away pain from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting," (Eccl. 11:10). I guess you could consider these things, at least what pop-culture media calls, the 'prime of life.' Yuck yuck yuck. Prime nothing.
     You want prime passion, read the Song of Solomon and embrace God's love for his bride (church) as a man embraces his wife. This is the real stuff!

     I am my Beloveds and He is mine.

Day 12 Reviewed

2 Chronicles 7 - Ezra 10

• Solomon

     Ooooh, let's talk about Solomon for a while, shall we!? I have really enjoyed reading about this man! As I mentioned before, he had such a heart for his people, and for wanting them to KNOW the true and living God!! It's almost like God and Solomon were a team, desiring the repentant hearts of the people.

"My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now my eyes shall be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place. For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually." (2 Chronicles 7:14-16)

     Solomon was at ease in his heart with his God and wanted all the people to live in that same peace and blessing.
     As Solomon was having the majestic, intricate temple built, he was visited by the Queen of Sheba who had heard about his "fame." When she came to Solomon, "she spoke with him about all that was on her heart," (2 Chronicles 9:1).
     All that was on her heart! What a neat way of putting it! What did this mean? It makes me think that something about what she had heard about Solomon moved her emotionally. Perhaps she wanted the peace and ease of living she saw being experienced by Solomon, and felt compelled enough to ask him for real answers. Whatever it was, Scripture says that, "Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was hidden from Solomon which he did not explain to her," (2 Chronicles 9:2).
     Nothing was hidden from Solomon which he did not explain! Solomon was confident in his God and ready and willing to share the wisdom with anyone who would inquire! What joy! What blessing!
     I feel like this sometimes. I love to share God's thoughts, desires, and intentions with people who are curious. I want them to know, understand, and experience Him! To reap the harvest of blessing in their life!!
     Solomon proves that he truly has this desire for people to know God: his people, Israel, but then, beyond that, anyone, who would seek Him out!!
     The queen calls him blessed and -- this next part amazes me -- she actually blesses him with more!! Spices, expensive stone, gold...she adds to his abundance!! And of course, the king puts it all to good use :)

• Snippets of the Kings

     To King Jehoshaphat it was said, "Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's...stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf," (2 Chronicles 20:15-17). And then..."And the dread of God was on all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. So the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God gave him rest on all sides," (2 Chronicles 20:29-30).
   
     King Uzziah "continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding though the vision of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God prospered him," (2 Chronicles 26:5).

     "And thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah; and he did what was good, right and true before the Lord his God. And every work which he began in the service of the house of God in law and in commandment, seeking his God, he did with all his heart and prospered," (2 Chronicles 31:20).  

Day 11 Reviewed

2 Kings 24 - 2 Chronicles 6

• Jehoiachin

     I just couldn't skip over this, even though the details are a little spotty for me, there was something here too cool to miss.
     I had to do a little additional research to find out more about Jehoiachin, because the books at this point in the Bible jump around from story telling to history, and some is out of order, making it a little harder to follow for a first timer.
     Jehoiachin was a king. He reigned only for 100 days, and was succeeded by his uncle. According to what I looked up, he was the last heir to the Jewish throne! Interesting. He was taken captive to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, and imprisoned for 37 years, until a (new?) king, Evil-merodach redeemed him.
     "And Jehoiachin changed his prison clothes, and had his meals in the king's presence regularly all the days of his life; and for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, a portion for each day, all the days of his life," (2 Kings 25:29-30).
     This struck me as an awesome thing to have said about one's life! Quite simple, but awesome! I won't dwell too much. But to add a detail like, "changed his prison clothes," spoke volumes I think. We know that we have gone to from slave to free in Jesus Christ, but have you changed your prison clothes? Do you wear a garment of praise, of righteousness, of peace, of servitude? Do you sit in the king's presence regularly and allow him to provide for you? Something I need to consider!!

• Record Keeping  (1 Chronicles)

     The lists of recorded generations in the Bible amazes me. I know my parents and grandparents, but beyond that I've never met anyone who came before me. I think I do have a little family history recorded somewhere, but nothing to the extent of generation upon generation! Sometimes I'm tempted to feel like it's just me. Like I didn't really come from anything...but just as recorded here, I come from generations upon generations! I am just the last down a loooong line right now. Gives a little perspecitve, hm? :)

• David passing the Torch

     Along those lines, a quick generational blessing. David tells his son Solomon, "Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake  you until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished," (1 Chronicles 28:20). Such a great lesson, to look for what God has set aside for us to do and even pass that annointing/ blessing on to the next generations, empowering them let God work mightily through them, bearing fruit, in peace, with ease.
     Solomon, for one, picked up this torch and kept it ablaze. He worked on the temple with gusto. Not only was it superb in it's building mechanics, but also in it's dedicated purpose. Solomon prayed and interceded fervently for the people and their interaction with God surrounding the temple. I mean, his prayers were so inspiring, they could be a model for intercession today!! His hearts cry was that through their sin and repentance, and through anyone's interaction with the temple, even foreigners, that they would come to know the true, living God! (2 Chronicles 6).
     It's no wonder he had such powerful prayers, after asking God humbly and earnestly for wisdom and understanding to lead his people well!

Day 9 Reviewed

2 Samuel 12 - 1 Kings 14

     So far, I've pretty much gathered that people were at peace / ease with God, themselves, others, the land, etc., when they trusted God and were obedient in all things - that is, right in their actions.

• David

     Well, King David brings to light some questions for me regarding this theory.
     David seemed a bit rocky in doing right by God. But what always seemed right was his heart. Is heart more important than actions?
     David was a repentant man and acknowledged when he did wrong. When his lust overcame him, and he stole another man's wife, and was finally approached by the prophet Nathan about it, he says without any argument, "I have sinned against the Lord," and the prophet replies, "The Lord has taken away your sin, you shall not die." That did not mean there were not consequences for his actions. David himself determined there should be actions against anyone who sins against God and his fellow man in this way.
     Then suddenly, it seems, David is restored to loving intimacy with his God, bears another son with Bathsheba, now (rightfully) his wife. Solomon - for whom God clearly demonstrates his love and favor.

• Absalom

     I don't have a whole lot to say about this particular son of David and their saga together, but I found it interesting and worth noting. What a terrible situation for David to have one son rape a daughter, another son kill that brother, and then try to forcefully take over David's reign. I'm sure David fretted about what to do. In the end, all was made right, and Solomon succeeds David, possibly one of David's finest 'accomplishments.' On his death bed, David tells his son to:

 "...keep the charge of the Lord your God to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, commandments, his ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn..." (1 Kings 2:3)

• Solomon

     Oh Solomon, the man who sought first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and was given everything! ..."So give Thy servant an understanding heart to judge Thy people to discern between good and evil," (1 Kings 3:9) and God gave in abundance!
     ..."So Judah and Israel lived in safety, every man under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the day of Solomon," (1 Kings 4:25).
     His own palace was plush, and...
     He was chosen to build the very dwelling place of God!!!