JUNE 9
1
Kings 5-6
It might help in today's reading to find an
online diagram of the plan of Solomon’s temple.
1 Kings 5
Vs. 1-12 I find it interesting that there was
love between Hiram and David. You don't hear of that between national leaders
today. Keep the name of Hiram in mind. Later he will say some words that will
give us an indication that all was not well.
V. 7 I think Hiram was not only blessed to
see that God had given David a wise son, but notice that Solomon's request is
the focus of his reign. He wanted to build a temple to the Lord. Most kings
with Solomon's wisdom and potential would have wanted to create an empire.
Vs. 13-18 Solomon was an organizing machine.
Who says God isn't into detail?
1 Kings 6
Vs. 1-10 These dates are interesting, and
they have helped conservative scholars pinpoint the times of people and events
in the OT. According to the Bible Knowledge Commentary-OT, p. 499, since
we have the dates of Solomon's reign, these 480 years puts the Exodus in the
year 1446 B.C.
Remember that a cubit is 18 inches or about
one and a half feet. Again, according to the BKC-OT, p. 499, the temple was
only 2700 sq. ft. The stone work took time. The craftsmanship took time. And of
course, overlaying everything with gold took time. But when you think about
rebuilding a temple today with our materials, a 2700 sq. ft. building would be
a piece of cake. And the temple didn’t have electricity or plumbing.
Vs. 11-13 This was God's encouragement to
Solomon during the building of the temple. I wonder if Solomon obeyed the
command to make his own handwritten copy of the law and to read it daily. This
promise is very gracious, but the "down side," if you want to call it
that, would be that Solomon would have to obey.
Vs. 14-36 What I find interesting is that he
refers to Solomon. Apparently he had his hand in the design and the crafting of
almost everything. When we get to Solomon's dedication of the temple, he
will become I and it might sound like he took too much ownership. We'll
see.
Vs. 37-38 This is interesting information. It
seems like something you might need for "Millionaire" or
"Trivial Pursuit," but it will give an interesting slant on things
soon. You wonder, if it only took seven years to build the temple, and if Solomon
reigned for 40 years, what did he do in those other years? For the answer to
that question, we have the story of the end of his life and the book of
Ecclesiastes.
Acts
7:1-29
Vs. 1-29 Now, if you've ever read this
sermon, you know that Stephen is killed at the end of it. If you are like me,
you are tempted to think Stephen was killed because the sermon was so long and
senseless and scatterbrained. But, alas, Stephen, speaking under the guidance
of the Holy Spirit, actually had a point. So here we go. The point of the
entire sermon is in 7:51. Read that, and now, as you read through this for the
next three days, look for alternating descriptions of obedience vs. resistance,
constant change and movement, and the difference between God's grace and doing
stuff in the flesh.
If you want a great description of Stephen's
sermon, read p. 369 of the Bible Knowledge Commentary-NT.
V. 25 This is interesting in thinking about
what Moses did in the book of Exodus. It shows that he was fully aware that God
had put it in his heart to deliver the people of Israel when he killed the
Egyptian. Moses just hadn’t sought God or God’s way.
Psalm
127
Interestingly enough, this psalm is written
by Solomon, the builder. What a coincidence that we'd read this today.
Solomon's early years as king were amazing in
terms of the things he built and said. It is undeniable that he had a heart for
God. That makes what happens to him later absolutely horrific, and it ought to
strike a deep humility into the heart of every disciple. The sickness of sin in
us is so much more powerful than we think.
This psalm was to be sung by the pilgrims
coming up the heights to Jerusalem. Probably, they could see the temple and the
gold and the grandeur of Solomon's Jerusalem. This psalm, then, is a very
mature and godly perspective on their lives and their worship.
Vs. 1-2 Our hope is in God to build our lives
as we follow Him. Our hope is on God to protect us as we follow Him.
Vs. 3-5 The next generation is the true
heritage of the Lord.
If only Solomon would have lived that. As
disciples following Christ in the harvest, these records of the lives of David,
Solomon, and others have been recorded for us to learn from. We need to imitate
the good and to avoid the traps they fell into. For many of us, there will be a
test.
Proverbs
16:28-30
I remember one time after reading this, being
in a three-way conversation; and when one of the people was talking, saying something
I guess I didn't agree with, I looked at the other person and winked. This
verse came immediately to mind. Boy, did I feel bad. I would like to think I'm
not the dishonest man or the man of violence or the
"winker," but in the right (or wrong?) circumstances, I can be.
So, turning the proverb to the positive, an
honest man is not simply passive, but spreads understanding and brings people
together. A man of peace wins his neighbors' trust to lead him in a way that is
good for him. A disciple of Christ is transparently honest, wise as a serpent,
but innocent as a dove, seeking to lead others to Christ and to make disciples,
who make disciples, glorifying the Father by bearing much fruit for Him.
Something like that.
If you’re reading along
and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these
comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in
growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see
the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples,
meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out
and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal
manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us
more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are
only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of
God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are
designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is
that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a
year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples,
disciples making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a
complete description of this model of being and making disciples you can find
it in my book: Simply Disciples*Making Disciples.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
If you would like a more
descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the
Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is the
commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never
hurts.
I am not endorsing any
particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte
Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with
us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their
own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular
tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to
criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has
written to us, as I understand it. Send comments or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
If you would like
documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download these to use on your computer or to
print.
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