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I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. (I Kings 3:13) |
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| Archived Manna: | |
Dear
Friend,
If you do not already have a habit of gathering daily manna the first thing in the morning (we can look at the example given to us in Exodus 16 and find the pattern for make it a habit. Establish your life and your schedule to allow you the necessary time to do your daily collection first thing every morning to give you the strength to make it through the day. And remember that today’s manna will not be sufficient for tomorrow; tomorrow’s manna must be collected tomorrow morning. Saturday, March 22, 2025
Today's Passage : Today's Passage: Solomon 8 — Prayer for Wisdom Bible Verse:1 Kings 3:1-15 "Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt. He took Pharaoh’s daughter and brought her into the city of David until he had finished building his own house and the house of the Lord and the wall around Jerusalem. The people were sacrificing at the high places, however, because no house had yet been built for the name of the Lord. Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places. And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, too many to be numbered. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil.” It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies: Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” Editor’s Note: See “Today in Daily Prayer,” below, if you are interested about translating the Old Testament. " Message:
The story of Solomon asking the Lord for wisdom is well-known and doesn’t need much comment. Solomon was indeed wise, so much so that over 50% of what Christians call the “Wisdom Books” of the Old Testament were authored by him: The Song of Solomon, the vast majority of Proverbs, at least one of the Psalms (Psalm 72), and Ecclesiastes.
There are two themes from Proverbs that are especially relevant to Solomon’s wisdom. First, the starting point of the book: “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of all knowledge [wisdom]”, which is repeated several times (e.g. Proverbs 1:7, 9:10). The concept is discussed at length and informs the entire book. But “fear”, a rather poor attempt to approximate the meaning of the Hebrew word yirah, does not mean “being scared.” Although it encompasses a healthy understanding that God punishes the wicked, it more accurately connotes a profound respect and reverence. God does not want us trembling in a corner all our lives; He wants us to live life in confidence and boldness, worshipping Him and following His holy ordinances.
Bible land of milk and honey
“A land flowing with milk and honey.”
Secondly, Proverbs seeks to prove that wisdom leads to gain. Solomon’s life is an object lesson to that very effect. Where he is wise, his reward is great, and since he is the king, his reward blesses his subjects as well. Where his wisdom fails, it causes setbacks and even disaster.
Oddly, this same passage shows a degree of disobedience to God. Notice the word “only” (also translated “except”) in the second paragraph. Sacrificing in high places, that is, worshipping and sacrificing on the tops of hills or structures, is a practice associated with paganism and idolatry. But God apparently — if you will excuse the slang — cuts young Solomon some slack. As we will see in the next chapter, it is possible that the Lord tolerated such sacrifice because He had not yet designated a permanent location for worship.
Gibeon, the site of the primary action in today’s Scripture, was the highest of high places but, unlike most, was apparently a lawful location for an altar. So Solomon’s great sacrifice was righteous. Gibeon was one of the special Levitical cities. (Specific cities were designated for the residence and support of priests, who were from the Tribe of Levi and thus called Levites.) David had located the tabernacle (the tent built by Moses for worship) in Gibeon, even though he moved the Ark to Jerusalem. (1 Chronicles 16:39.)
The marriage to Pharaoh’s daughter is even more problematic. A commandment, given to Moses and incorporated into the fundamental law of Judaism, forbade marrying foreign women (especially the tribes of Canaan — Exodus 34:11-16.)
Here, again, it seems that God forgave Solomon’s marriage to the Egyptian princess; for although he will have trouble with foreign wives in the future, she does not appear to be the cause of any of it. Some have speculated that she gave up idolatry and practiced Judaism. And a marriage to an Egyptian or Edomite seems to be less offensive than a marriage to a woman of any other tribe. (Deuteronomy 23:2-8.)
But we need to be careful inferring divine forgiveness of Solomon. For Solomon’s disobedience will eventually destroy unified Israel.
Meditation : Prayer : Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. |
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