1 Kings 6:37 - 7:1 (ESV Strong's)
In the fourth year the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid, in the month of Ziv. And in the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished in all its parts, and according to all its specifications. He was seven years in building it.
Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished his entire house.
Subject: Priorities
It seems rather plain and simple in the above text that the author of this book is drawing a sharp contrast in regard to how long I took Solomon to build the temple as compared to his own house. It is obvious he took longer to build his own house and that he spent more lumber, gold and excess on his house, as compared to the Temple. His house was almost 2 times the length of the Temple and stories higher. Like all of us in life, Solomon had a poor and unhealthy life-work imbalance. Solomon spent more time on his own life than he did on the work of God. It would be hard pressed to draw any other conclusion from the above passages. The Lord will still bless the Temple (see chapters 8-9). The Lord will still bless Solomon (see chapter 10). Never-the-less, the lesson here is simple: We can often spend so much time on our own comforts and station that we neglect the priority and gravity of the work God has given us.
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Monday, May 30, 2016
Subject: Service To God - Exodus 37-40
Exodus 38:8 (ESV Strong's)
He made the basin of bronze and its stand of bronze, from the mirrors of the ministering women who ministered in the entrance of the tent of meeting.
Subject: Service to God
Who were these women? All we really know of them is contained in this verse about them. Apparently they donated their mirrors (made of bronze) which Bezalel crafted into a basin. Note what this commentator says about the basin and the women:
(UBC OT) The women served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. The bronze basin stood between the entrance and the altar in the courtyard. It was the most vital and active location in the tabernacle. The priests entered the tent daily to attend to the lamps in the holy place. They had to wash their hands and feet in the basin before entering (30:1921). They prepared daily sacrifices at the entrance to the tent, at the basin, for burning on the altar. There they separated meat from the fat, cleaned it and, for many sacrifices, cut it for distribution. Whatever their “service” was, the women were in the midst of the active ministry between the altar, basin, and tent from the beginning.
Perhaps the picture here is that the women gave up a "mirror" which they used to look at themselves, for the purpose of crafting a basin for the use for God. So, something for their vanity became a tool for their service. We can only really serve when we are willing to give the vanity of the flesh an offer it to be used by God. This is the definition of service to God.
He made the basin of bronze and its stand of bronze, from the mirrors of the ministering women who ministered in the entrance of the tent of meeting.
Subject: Service to God
Who were these women? All we really know of them is contained in this verse about them. Apparently they donated their mirrors (made of bronze) which Bezalel crafted into a basin. Note what this commentator says about the basin and the women:
(UBC OT) The women served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. The bronze basin stood between the entrance and the altar in the courtyard. It was the most vital and active location in the tabernacle. The priests entered the tent daily to attend to the lamps in the holy place. They had to wash their hands and feet in the basin before entering (30:1921). They prepared daily sacrifices at the entrance to the tent, at the basin, for burning on the altar. There they separated meat from the fat, cleaned it and, for many sacrifices, cut it for distribution. Whatever their “service” was, the women were in the midst of the active ministry between the altar, basin, and tent from the beginning.
Perhaps the picture here is that the women gave up a "mirror" which they used to look at themselves, for the purpose of crafting a basin for the use for God. So, something for their vanity became a tool for their service. We can only really serve when we are willing to give the vanity of the flesh an offer it to be used by God. This is the definition of service to God.
Sunday, May 29, 2016
Subject: The Gospel - Galatians 1-3
Galatians 1:11-12 (ESV Strong's)
For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
Subject: The Gospel
In today's world we have so, so many "words" of authority. One person states life should be lived "this way" and another says, "that way." We do not live in a society that recognizes the authority of God's Word and God's voice. In the letter to the Galatians Christians Paul was writing to a similar audience. Although they should no better, they were being led astray by false teachers who took the Gospel (salvation by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone) and mixed with it parts of the Jewish law. Paul states that this Gospel he preached was straight from Christ and not an amalgamation of different cultural structures. The Gospel is the good news that Jesus die for us. It is completely on Christ. This message was delivered by Christ, given to Paul, who, in turn, gives it to us. We live in a world that does not recognize the authority of this message. The believe it to be a myth made up to serve the psychological deficiency of our psyche. Note what Peter says:
2 Peter 1:16-19 (ESV Strong's)
For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,
This is the same Peter who would be corrected by Paul in regard to this same subject. He was being led astray by false teaching. We have a true and sure message and need to be careful we are not following false teaching that does not reflect the Gospel.
For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
Subject: The Gospel
In today's world we have so, so many "words" of authority. One person states life should be lived "this way" and another says, "that way." We do not live in a society that recognizes the authority of God's Word and God's voice. In the letter to the Galatians Christians Paul was writing to a similar audience. Although they should no better, they were being led astray by false teachers who took the Gospel (salvation by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone) and mixed with it parts of the Jewish law. Paul states that this Gospel he preached was straight from Christ and not an amalgamation of different cultural structures. The Gospel is the good news that Jesus die for us. It is completely on Christ. This message was delivered by Christ, given to Paul, who, in turn, gives it to us. We live in a world that does not recognize the authority of this message. The believe it to be a myth made up to serve the psychological deficiency of our psyche. Note what Peter says:
2 Peter 1:16-19 (ESV Strong's)
For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,
This is the same Peter who would be corrected by Paul in regard to this same subject. He was being led astray by false teaching. We have a true and sure message and need to be careful we are not following false teaching that does not reflect the Gospel.
Saturday, May 28, 2016
Subject: God's Grace - Luke 7-8
Luke 7:16 (ESV Strong's)
Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!”
Subject: Response to God's grace
Not everyone responds to God's grace the same way. In the above passage Jesus had healed a boy who was dead and was being carried out to his burial site. Jesus touches the boy and he goes from death to life!! (The picture of the Gospel.) The people are seized with fear and begin to glorify God in praise. However, in the following passage, later in Luke's Gospel, there is a completely different response:
Luke 8:37 (ESV Strong's)
Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned.
In this story Jesus has just healed the wild man of Gerasenes. The man was demon possessed. Jesus casts the demon out of the man and sent them into a heard of swine. The man is completely healed. Instead of rejoicing in God's grace the people of the town wanted Jesus to leave. Instead of seeing God reaching down to them, as in the dead boy's restoration of life, these people rejected grace and wanted Jesus to depart. Not everyone responds to God's grace the same. We would think that when seeing God's grace in the life of someone would always solicit joy and a holy reverence. But, that is not so in the hearts of evilness.
Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!”
Subject: Response to God's grace
Not everyone responds to God's grace the same way. In the above passage Jesus had healed a boy who was dead and was being carried out to his burial site. Jesus touches the boy and he goes from death to life!! (The picture of the Gospel.) The people are seized with fear and begin to glorify God in praise. However, in the following passage, later in Luke's Gospel, there is a completely different response:
Luke 8:37 (ESV Strong's)
Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned.
In this story Jesus has just healed the wild man of Gerasenes. The man was demon possessed. Jesus casts the demon out of the man and sent them into a heard of swine. The man is completely healed. Instead of rejoicing in God's grace the people of the town wanted Jesus to leave. Instead of seeing God reaching down to them, as in the dead boy's restoration of life, these people rejected grace and wanted Jesus to depart. Not everyone responds to God's grace the same. We would think that when seeing God's grace in the life of someone would always solicit joy and a holy reverence. But, that is not so in the hearts of evilness.
Friday, May 27, 2016
Subject: Serving God against all Odds!! - Jeremiah 47-52
Jeremiah 51:61-64 (ESV Strong's)
And Jeremiah said to Seraiah: “When you come to Babylon, see that you read all these words, and say, ‘O Lord, you have said concerning this place that you will cut it off, so that nothing shall dwell in it, neither man nor beast, and it shall be desolate forever.’ When you finish reading this book, tie a stone to it and cast it into the midst of the Euphrates, and say, Thus shall Babylon sink, to rise no more, because of the disaster that I am bringing upon her, and they shall become exhausted.’”
Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.
Subject: Serving God against Great Odds!!
Jeremiah is finishing the message God gave him. The final position of the message was to Babylon was that, despite your current reign and victory over all nations, you will soon be destroyed. God is about to bring in another nation that will destroy it. The reason? Because Babylon had, like all these other nations, lifted her head in pride and did not give God glory. This message of doom and destruction, however, was to be delivered to the nation by Seraiah. We don't know a lot about him, but his job was to read the words that Jeremiah penned in this book to the fierce Babylonians. This was not to be an easy task. When God asks us to deliver His word, it is often not easy. They only way Seraiah could do this job was to be completely dependent upon God and to know that God was in charge and large enough to deal with Babylon. This would be an act of faith. He would have to trust that God had, indeed, sent him and that in sending him, God would also enable him to survive. This is an act of faith. We can't deliver God's word without trusting that God is faithful to His Word and to those who deliver it.
And Jeremiah said to Seraiah: “When you come to Babylon, see that you read all these words, and say, ‘O Lord, you have said concerning this place that you will cut it off, so that nothing shall dwell in it, neither man nor beast, and it shall be desolate forever.’ When you finish reading this book, tie a stone to it and cast it into the midst of the Euphrates, and say, Thus shall Babylon sink, to rise no more, because of the disaster that I am bringing upon her, and they shall become exhausted.’”
Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.
Subject: Serving God against Great Odds!!
Jeremiah is finishing the message God gave him. The final position of the message was to Babylon was that, despite your current reign and victory over all nations, you will soon be destroyed. God is about to bring in another nation that will destroy it. The reason? Because Babylon had, like all these other nations, lifted her head in pride and did not give God glory. This message of doom and destruction, however, was to be delivered to the nation by Seraiah. We don't know a lot about him, but his job was to read the words that Jeremiah penned in this book to the fierce Babylonians. This was not to be an easy task. When God asks us to deliver His word, it is often not easy. They only way Seraiah could do this job was to be completely dependent upon God and to know that God was in charge and large enough to deal with Babylon. This would be an act of faith. He would have to trust that God had, indeed, sent him and that in sending him, God would also enable him to survive. This is an act of faith. We can't deliver God's word without trusting that God is faithful to His Word and to those who deliver it.
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Subject: Nature of sin and man
Proverbs 1:19 (ESV Strong's)
Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain;
it takes away the life of its possessors.
Subject: Nature of sin and man
There is some confusion among commentators as to the exact meaning of the above proverb. It is actually the third proverb in a "sentence" describing what is going to happen to someone who doesn't heed the warnings of this book. There is confusion surrounding "who" they are referring to. The above proverb is clarified in the ESV that we are referring to "everyone who is greedy for unjust gain.". The key thought is offered that those who desire advancement of possessions will, in the end, be lose their lives to that pursuit. This entire last portion of this chapter is about the wicked who pursue "all precious goods" (verse 13). The want to throw all their possessions into "one purse" (verse 14). They attempt to attack the righteous for the purpose of obtaining their goods. Yet, in the end, the goods own them and not the other way around. This is the nature of sin and the nature of man, without the Gospel. Man wants what man doesn't have. Man wants what others have. Man wants!! Yet, that "want" will eventually own the man. The greedy pursuit of unjust gain (gain obtained without God's blessing and via God's plan) will result in the taking away of your life rather than giving you life. Those who are "owned" by their jobs and careers comes to mind when we read this verse. Their pursuit for a career and success eventually steals their life.
Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain;
it takes away the life of its possessors.
Subject: Nature of sin and man
There is some confusion among commentators as to the exact meaning of the above proverb. It is actually the third proverb in a "sentence" describing what is going to happen to someone who doesn't heed the warnings of this book. There is confusion surrounding "who" they are referring to. The above proverb is clarified in the ESV that we are referring to "everyone who is greedy for unjust gain.". The key thought is offered that those who desire advancement of possessions will, in the end, be lose their lives to that pursuit. This entire last portion of this chapter is about the wicked who pursue "all precious goods" (verse 13). The want to throw all their possessions into "one purse" (verse 14). They attempt to attack the righteous for the purpose of obtaining their goods. Yet, in the end, the goods own them and not the other way around. This is the nature of sin and the nature of man, without the Gospel. Man wants what man doesn't have. Man wants what others have. Man wants!! Yet, that "want" will eventually own the man. The greedy pursuit of unjust gain (gain obtained without God's blessing and via God's plan) will result in the taking away of your life rather than giving you life. Those who are "owned" by their jobs and careers comes to mind when we read this verse. Their pursuit for a career and success eventually steals their life.
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Subject: God's Care - Man's Evilness - Pslam 63-65
Psalms 64:1-6 (ESV Strong's)
Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint;
preserve my life from dread of the enemy.
Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked,
from the throng of evildoers,
who whet their tongues like swords,
who aim bitter words like arrows,
shooting from ambush at the blameless,
shooting at him suddenly and without fear.
They hold fast to their evil purpose;
they talk of laying snares secretly,
thinking, “Who can see them?”
They search out injustice,
saying, “We have accomplished a diligent search.”
For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep.
Subject: God's Care - Man's Evilness
David, no doubt, was in some sort of hot water when this Psalm was penned. It is actually a prayer of David's. It might have been prayed when Saul was plotting against him, despite his loyalty to Saul. It might have been prayed when David's son, Abosolm, was turning the kingdom against his father. Whatever the situation the prayer is reveling in its description of the evilness of man. This plotting against David comes from the heart. A heart that David states comes from the "inward mind and heart of man" and is "deep.". There are some forces at work here and David is praying for God's protection and care. He sees the evilness of man, but he knows the power and character of God. God has, and will, protect him. This is a prayer of faith. David is not relying on his own strength, but on the strength of God and the sovereign power of God. David doesn't know the plot of the wicked, but he knows they plot. He doesn't know the words on their tongue but only that their tongue is bitter and are "like swords." David's prayer confesses their evilness, God's power and David's complete reliance on God's protection.
Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint;
preserve my life from dread of the enemy.
Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked,
from the throng of evildoers,
who whet their tongues like swords,
who aim bitter words like arrows,
shooting from ambush at the blameless,
shooting at him suddenly and without fear.
They hold fast to their evil purpose;
they talk of laying snares secretly,
thinking, “Who can see them?”
They search out injustice,
saying, “We have accomplished a diligent search.”
For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep.
Subject: God's Care - Man's Evilness
David, no doubt, was in some sort of hot water when this Psalm was penned. It is actually a prayer of David's. It might have been prayed when Saul was plotting against him, despite his loyalty to Saul. It might have been prayed when David's son, Abosolm, was turning the kingdom against his father. Whatever the situation the prayer is reveling in its description of the evilness of man. This plotting against David comes from the heart. A heart that David states comes from the "inward mind and heart of man" and is "deep.". There are some forces at work here and David is praying for God's protection and care. He sees the evilness of man, but he knows the power and character of God. God has, and will, protect him. This is a prayer of faith. David is not relying on his own strength, but on the strength of God and the sovereign power of God. David doesn't know the plot of the wicked, but he knows they plot. He doesn't know the words on their tongue but only that their tongue is bitter and are "like swords." David's prayer confesses their evilness, God's power and David's complete reliance on God's protection.
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