Category Archives: Wise

Courage / Fear, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Humility, Pride, Repenting from Sin, Wise

Pride Goes Before Destruction

How does Yahweh feel about pride?

Proverbs 16:18-19

5Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; assuredly, he will not be unpunished.

18Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.

 19It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly
Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

The scripture warns about pride. We see Satan rebelled against Yahweh out of pride. Pride is offensive to the LORD and it is quite simply a routine path to getting yourself in trouble.

2 Kings 14:1-16

Amaziah Reigns over Judah

      1In the second year of Joash son of Joahaz king of Israel, Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah became king. 2He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jehoaddin of Jerusalem. 3He did right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father; he did according to all that Joash his father had done. 4Only the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. 5Now it came about, as soon as the kingdom was firmly in his hand, that he killed his servants who had slain the king his father. 6But the sons of the slayers he did not put to death, according to what is written in the book of the Law of Moses, as the LORD commanded, saying, “The fathers shall not be put to death for the sons, nor the sons be put to death for the fathers; but each shall be put to death for his own sin.”

      7He killed of Edom in the Valley of Salt 10,000 and took Sela by war, and named it Joktheel to this day.

      8Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us face each other.” 9Jehoash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thorn bush which was in Lebanon sent to the cedar which was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ But there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trampled the thorn bush. 10“You have indeed defeated Edom, and your heart has become proud. Enjoy your glory and stay at home; for why should you provoke trouble so that you, even you, would fall, and Judah with you?”

      11But Amaziah would not listen. So Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah. 12Judah was defeated by Israel, and they fled each to his tent. 13Then Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and came to Jerusalem and tore down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate, 400 cubits. 14He took all the gold and silver and all the utensils which were found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasuries of the king’s house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.

Jeroboam II Succeeds Jehoash in Israel

      15Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his might and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 16So Jehoash slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son became king in his place.

Amaziah “did right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father”. He did some things well, but it appears he could not break through the man made cultural traditions he grew up with that involved worship in the high places. Either he did not acknowledge it or he was not willing to deal with it because it was hard. He experiences victory and let’s it go to his head. What was he hoping to accomplish with war against Israel? Why call them out? The King of Israel even tried to stop him, but to no avail.

Pride seems to have filled Amaziah and he picked a fight that was unwise. He lost and so did Judah with him. It was totally unavoidable.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to have a humble spirit before you and before men. Please help me not to be prideful. Let me be content with what you provide and rejoice in it. Let me not covet what others may have or feel that somehow I have to prove my worth to others. Let me focus on pleasing you and being fulfilled and satisfied in that. Help me to see any areas where I am not walking in your ways and grant me the wisdom and courage to change, even when it is very hard. Guide our leaders to seek after righteousness in all their ways. Help them see clearly your path from the path of wickedness. Please grant these requests to all those who are called by your name for your honor and glory. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Arrogance, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Prophecy, Submitted / Servant, Teachable, Through Prophets, Unteachable / Foolish, Wise, Worldliness

God’s Messengers Often Look Different Than We Expect

Sometimes the ones that Yahweh uses are not exactly what we expect. We must take care to judge not based on our own eyes, but on what our Father values.

John the Baptist is an excellent example, but even today, we need to be careful in what bias we may have in deciding who is or is not serving the LORD. There are many in fancy suits and big churches who serve only themselves and claim the name of Yahweh. There are many others who meet in homes and do not lead large congregations that are truly serving the LORD.

Matthew 11:7-19

Jesus’ Tribute to John

      7As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8“But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ palaces! 9“But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet.

10“This is the one about whom it is written,
‘BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU,
WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.’

11“Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force. 13“For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14“And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come. 15“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

      16“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to the other children, 17and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ 18“For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ 19“The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

There is, of course, much that could be unpacked and considered in this scripture, but what strikes me the most is how it highlights that we should take great care in how we evaluate and accept messengers of the Father. They are not always packaged as we might expect. In fact, it is often the opposite. We must look past our own bias and expectations from perspective of man and seek to see through the perspective of the Father.

It also highlights how human nature has not changed. Some people will find excuses to dismiss God and His messengers regardless of how they come. Some rejected John because he did not drink. Others mocked Jesus because He did. We should avoid be arrogant and thinking “this will never happen to me”. Instead, find humility and pray for the LORD to open our eyes to see as He does.

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Blessed, Obeying God, Promises, Provider, Purposeful / Intentional, Seeking God, Submitted / Servant, Wise

YHWH Blesses Those Who Honor Him

Solomon honored the Creator and walked in His statutes and commandments and he was blessed in a truly magnificent way. YHWH told him he would get not only wisdom, but wealth and fame and He delivered big time. Solomon continued to honor YHWH in how he lived in obedience, that was his part.

We will not all see this kind of wealth, wisdom, and fame, but we can count on the fact that if we honor  YHWH and submit our lives to him we will be blessed. It may not be financially, but having a close relationship with our Creator in itself is a wonderful blessing. Seek Him. Spend time with Him. Rejoice in Him and don’t try to coast along with the bare minimum to check a box, like going to church or reading the Bible. We need to have the right attitude and enthusiasm. We need to walk out His instructions in all aspects of our lives.

When we do see and experience His blessing in our lives, no matter what size, remember to give Him thanks and praise and not just pat yourself on the back for what a good job you did to achieve it.

1 Kings 10:14-29

Wealth, Splendor and Wisdom

      14Now the weight of gold which came in to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold, 15besides that from the traders and the wares of the merchants and all the kings of the Arabs and the governors of the country. 16King Solomon made 200 large shields of beaten gold, using 600 shekels of gold on each large shield. 17He made 300 shields of beaten gold, using three minas of gold on each shield, and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. 18Moreover, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with refined gold. 19There were six steps to the throne and a round top to the throne at its rear, and arms on each side of the seat, and two lions standing beside the arms. 20Twelve lions were standing there on the six steps on the one side and on the other; nothing like it was made for any other kingdom. 21All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None was of silver; it was not considered valuable in the days of Solomon. 22For the king had at sea the ships of Tarshish with the ships of Hiram; once every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold and silver, ivory and apes and peacocks.

      23So King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. 24All the earth was seeking the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart. 25They brought every man his gift, articles of silver and gold, garments, weapons, spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year.

      26Now Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen; and he had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, and he stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 27The king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and he made cedars as plentiful as sycamore trees that are in the lowland. 28Also Solomon’s import of horses was from Egypt and Kue, and the king’s merchants procured them from Kue for a price. 29A chariot was imported from Egypt for 600 shekels of silver, and a horse for 150; and by the same means they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of the Arameans.

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Blessed, Faith / Trusting God, Promises, Purposeful / Intentional, Wise

Use the Gifts that YHWH Gives for His Glory

Let us remember that Solomon asked YHWH to bless Him with wisdom so that he could rule YHWH’s people wisely. It was not selfish motives. YHWH blessed him abundantly and said because of the unselfish motives, he would also have wealth and fame, etc. When our Father says He will, He does. 1 Kings 10 tells us of how widely the fame and wealth and wisdom of Solomon was becoming known. And perhaps another key point is that he was through his actions bringing honor to YHWH’s name.

We each may be blessed by YHWH with different talents in different levels. Do not use Solomon as your baseline for whether or not you have a gift. Many have gifts in more humble portions, but gifts to be used for our Father’s glory all the same.  We are not to simply use our gifts for selfish gain. We are to be good stewards of what He gives us, whether small or large. If we are faithful in small things, He will entrust to us larger things. (Reference parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30.)

1 Kings 10:1-13

The Queen of Sheba

      1Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions. 2So she came to Jerusalem with a very large retinue, with camels carrying spices and very much gold and precious stones. When she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart. 3Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was hidden from the king which he did not explain to her. 4When the queen of Sheba perceived all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, 5the food of his table, the seating of his servants, the attendance of his waiters and their attire, his cupbearers, and his stairway by which he went up to the house of the LORD, there was no more spirit in her. 6Then she said to the king, “It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. 7“Nevertheless I did not believe the reports, until I came and my eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. You exceed in wisdom and prosperity the report which I heard. 8“How blessed are your men, how blessed are these your servants who stand before you continually and hear your wisdom. 9“Blessed be the LORD your God who delighted in you to set you on the throne of Israel; because the LORD loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, to do justice and righteousness.” 10She gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and a very great amount of spices and precious stones. Never again did such abundance of spices come in as that which the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon.

      11Also the ships of Hiram, which brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir a very great number of almug trees and precious stones. 12The king made of the almug trees supports for the house of the LORD and for the king’s house, also lyres and harps for the singers; such almug trees have not come in again nor have they been seen to this day.

      13King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire which she requested, besides what he gave her according to his royal bounty. Then she turned and went to her own land together with her servants.

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Blessed, Help / Serve Others, Wise

The Wisdom of Solomon, a Gift from YHWH to the People

It is easy to look at a very familiar story and lose sight of exactly how wise Solomon was because we are so familiar with the outcome. To really appreciate it we must imaging ourselves in his place, not knowing who’s child it was. Would we imagine such a bluff as to say we would cut the child in two?

I am also intrigued to think a level deeper. These are two harlots. That is someone steeped in sexual sin… a prostitute. Solomon did not put them both to death for their sin, perhaps it did not even come up. He remained focused on the matter at hand and judged wisely for the best interest of the child. The point is that he took time to guide justice for all, not just wealthy or righteous.

Solomon used his gift of wisdom not just for personal gain but for the benefit of YHWH’s people. We should use our gifts likewise, whatever they may be.

I will admit as a side note, I would like to have seen the woman who was lying be held accountable for her deception. It is not mentioned here. Perhaps she was. It may just be it is not really the point of the story.

1 Kings 3:15-25

Solomon Wisely Judges

      16Then two women who were harlots came to the king and stood before him. 17The one woman said, “Oh, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house; and I gave birth to a child while she was in the house. 18“It happened on the third day after I gave birth, that this woman also gave birth to a child, and we were together. There was no stranger with us in the house, only the two of us in the house. 19“This woman’s son died in the night, because she lay on it. 20“So she arose in the middle of the night and took my son from beside me while your maidservant slept, and laid him in her bosom, and laid her dead son in my bosom. 21“When I rose in the morning to nurse my son, behold, he was dead; but when I looked at him carefully in the morning, behold, he was not my son, whom I had borne.” 22Then the other woman said, “No! For the living one is my son, and the dead one is your son.” But the first woman said, “No! For the dead one is your son, and the living one is my son.” Thus they spoke before the king.

      23Then the king said, “The one says, ‘This is my son who is living, and your son is the dead one’; and the other says, ‘No! For your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.’” 24The king said, “Get me a sword.” So they brought a sword before the king. 25The king said, “Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other.” 26Then the woman whose child was the living one spoke to the king, for she was deeply stirred over her son and said, “Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him.” But the other said, “He shall be neither mine nor yours; divide him!” 27Then the king said, “Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him. She is his mother.” 28When all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had handed down, they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Humility, Learning To Pray Effectively, Proverbs (Wisdom & Folly), Submitted / Servant, Wise

Solomon’s Unselfish Prayer

Solomon in is early days serves as a model for humility and a right attitude about his role as king. He clearly identifies himself as servant, submitted to YHWH, and responsible to lead His people well. As such, when YHWH approaches him for a gift of Solomon’s choosing, Solomon chooses a gift that will help him honor YHWH and serve His people.

Let us learn from Solomon in our prayers as we ask YHWH for help. Look beyond selfish, short term desires and longer term to be able to serve and honor YHWH more effectively and fulfill whatever ministry He has chosen for us.

1 Kings 3:5-15

5In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, “Ask what you wish Me to give you.”

Solomon’s Prayer

      6Then Solomon said, “You have shown great lovingkindness to Your servant David my father, according as he walked before You in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward You; and You have reserved for him this great lovingkindness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 7“Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8“Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted. 9“So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

God’s Answer

      10It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. 11God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, 12behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you. 13“I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days. 14“If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days.”

      15Then Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and made peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Help / Serve Others, Peace / Rest, Strife, Wise

Politics in the Family or at Work? Seek Godly Trusted Advisors.

We are not promised peace in this world, even as followers of YHWH, even submitting to Yeshua. We may experience “politics” in our family and our workplace. 1 Kings 1 records an example of this type of complexity that King David faced in his old age.  Previously we saw a rebellion with Absalom. Now we see another son claiming the place of king, replacing David. The family is all stirred up and so are many others. People are picking sides. David is helped by wise advice and quick action on the part of some close advisors. It is good to have godly counsel we can rely on.

1 Kings 1

David in Old Age

     1Now King David was old, advanced in age; and they covered him with clothes, but he could not keep warm. 2So his servants said to him, “Let them seek a young virgin for my lord the king, and let her attend the king and become his nurse; and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may keep warm.” 3So they searched for a beautiful girl throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king. 4The girl was very beautiful; and she became the king’s nurse and served him, but the king did not cohabit with her.

      5Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” So he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen with fifty men to run before him. 6His father had never crossed him at any time by asking, “Why have you done so?” And he was also a very handsome man, and he was born after Absalom. 7He had conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest; and following Adonijah they helped him. 8But Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.

      9Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and fatlings by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En-rogel; and he invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king’s servants. 10But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, and Solomon his brother.

Nathan and Bathsheba

     11Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, “Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king, and David our lord does not know it? 12“So now come, please let me give you counsel and save your life and the life of your son Solomon. 13“Go at once to King David and say to him, ‘Have you not, my lord, O king, sworn to your maidservant, saying, “Surely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ 14“Behold, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”

      15So Bathsheba went in to the king in the bedroom. Now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering to the king. 16Then Bathsheba bowed and prostrated herself before the king. And the king said, “What do you wish?” 17She said to him, “My lord, you swore to your maidservant by the LORD your God, saying, ‘Surely your son Solomon shall be king after me and he shall sit on my throne.’ 18“Now, behold, Adonijah is king; and now, my lord the king, you do not know it. 19“He has sacrificed oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the sons of the king and Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant. 20“As for you now, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21“Otherwise it will come about, as soon as my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be considered offenders.”

      22Behold, while she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in. 23They told the king, saying, “Here is Nathan the prophet.” And when he came in before the king, he prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground. 24Then Nathan said, “My lord the king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne’? 25“For he has gone down today and has sacrificed oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king’s sons and the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest, and behold, they are eating and drinking before him; and they say, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ 26“But me, even me your servant, and Zadok the priest and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and your servant Solomon, he has not invited. 27“Has this thing been done by my lord the king, and you have not shown to your servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”

      28Then King David said, “Call Bathsheba to me.” And she came into the king’s presence and stood before the king. 29The king vowed and said, “As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress, 30surely as I vowed to you by the LORD the God of Israel, saying, ‘Your son Solomon shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place’; I will indeed do so this day.” 31Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground, and prostrated herself before the king and said, “May my lord King David live forever.”

      32Then King David said, “Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.” And they came into the king’s presence. 33The king said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord, and have my son Solomon ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon. 34“Let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there as king over Israel, and blow the trumpet and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35“Then you shall come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne and be king in my place; for I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.” 36Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, “Amen! Thus may the LORD, the God of my lord the king, say. 37“As the LORD has been with my lord the king, so may He be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David!”

Solomon Anointed King

      38So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride on King David’s mule, and brought him to Gihon. 39Zadok the priest then took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!” 40All the people went up after him, and the people were playing on flutes and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth shook at their noise.

      41Now Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, “Why is the city making such an uproar?” 42While he was still speaking, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came. Then Adonijah said, “Come in, for you are a valiant man and bring good news.” 43But Jonathan replied to Adonijah, “No! Our lord King David has made Solomon king. 44“The king has also sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites; and they have made him ride on the king’s mule. 45“Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon, and they have come up from there rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar. This is the noise which you have heard. 46“Besides, Solomon has even taken his seat on the throne of the kingdom. 47“Moreover, the king’s servants came to bless our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon better than your name and his throne greater than your throne!’ And the king bowed himself on the bed. 48“The king has also said thus, ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who has granted one to sit on my throne today while my own eyes see it.’”

      49Then all the guests of Adonijah were terrified; and they arose and each went on his way. 50And Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, and he arose, went and took hold of the horns of the altar. 51Now it was told Solomon, saying, “Behold, Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon, for behold, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’” 52Solomon said, “If he is a worthy man, not one of his hairs will fall to the ground; but if wickedness is found in him, he will die.” 53So King Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and prostrated himself before King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.”

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Humility, Pride, Teachable, Wise

The Role We Should Fill Often Changes As We Age

It was brave of David and good leadership to go into battle with his men. However, the men recognized that perhaps the time for him to be physically in battle had passed and he should remain more protected. It certainly shows a bit of aging on David’s part, as he was a mighty warrior. We all slow down a bit as we age.

It is good that he had loyal group of men supporting him to protect and help him as well as advise him to stay more protected. It is good that he listened to them. We too should look to consider wise advice from those around us we trust. Let us not be too proud to let others help us and for us to fill a different role than perhaps we did when we were younger. Clearly we see the men see David’s value and want to preserve it. To say David should take a different role, less in the direct battle, is not to say his value has diminished. Quite the opposite. His value was still very clear.

2 Samuel 21:15-21

  15Now when the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David went down and his servants with him; and as they fought against the Philistines, David became weary. 16Then Ishbi-benob, who was among the descendants of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred shekels of bronze in weight, was girded with a new sword, and he intended to kill David. 17But Abishai the son of Zeruiah helped him, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, “You shall not go out again with us to battle, so that you do not extinguish the lamp of Israel.”

      18Now it came about after this that there was war again with the Philistines at Gob; then Sibbecai the Hushathite struck down Saph, who was among the descendants of the giant. 19There was war with the Philistines again at Gob, and Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. 20There was war at Gath again, where there was a man of great stature who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; and he also had been born to the giant. 21When he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimei, David’s brother, struck him down. 22These four were born to the giant in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

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Marriage, Purposeful / Intentional, Self Control, Wise

Keep a Watchful Eye for Sin, Even While Things Are Going Well

Keep a watchful eye for sin as it may come creeping into your life. Sometimes we are more aware to look when we feel there is trouble or difficulty, as if it is a warning sign that we are in sin and being disciplined. However, sometimes we can have sin start creeping into our lives while things are going well and while we are actually in other ways walking in the path the LORD has for us.

David was very righteous in some ways, patiently waiting on the LORD, not killing Saul when he could have. Trusting and seeking the LORD for key decisions. However, even as his power grew and he moved closer to becoming king of all Israel, he was continuing to acquire more and more wives. It appears from today’s passage that he had at least six. This is not the way YHWH intends for marriage to be. He intends it to be one man and one woman.

I have previously posted about how marrying multiple wives seemed to be socially acceptable to some of our faith fathers. It leads to trouble in all cases.  It caused trouble for Abraham and his household and also for Jacob. There is jealousy and the ability to be a good husband and father is weakened. David has significant problems internal to his family as we will read later on, including one son who displaces him briefly from the kingship. We also see how David’s wandering eye ends up leading him into sin with Bathsheeba and then Uriah.  Solomon ultimately drifts into paganism because of his multiple pagan wives.

The point of this post, however, is to highlight that we should take care even when things are going well to avoid letting sin and Satan get a foothold in our lives where he can lead us toward sin in the future.

2 Samuel 3:1-5

The House of David Strengthened

      1Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; and David grew steadily stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker continually.

      2Sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; 3and his second, Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur; 4and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; 5and the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David at Hebron.

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Greed, Help / Serve Others, Kindness / Gentleness, Money / Finances / Wealth, Wickedness / Evil, Wise

Not All Who Offer Advice Are Wise

The Amalekites raided the city of David and his men while they were away. They took spoils including women and children. David sought the LORD and followed guidance to pursue and YHWH delivered victory. Some of the men were tired and could not continue the pursuit the whole way.

After the victory, we see Satan at work trying to divide David’s men through greed. Rather than simply rejoicing that they had recovered what was taken, some of the wicked among them tried to convince David to return nothing but the family members to the portion of the men who did not complete the journey. These were men that had fought together for awhile. This was not some great plunder from a raid they carried out, but simply recovering what was taken. David took a good course of action and kept his men together.

Let us also look after one another and not only ourselves and ask YHWH for wisdom like David had in this situation to know the right decision to make when we have people advising us based on their own self interest.

1 Samuel 30:21-31

The Spoils Are Divided

      21When David came to the two hundred men who were too exhausted to follow David, who had also been left at the brook Besor, and they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him, then David approached the people and greeted them. 22Then all the wicked and worthless men among those who went with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away and depart.” 23Then David said, “You must not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us, who has kept us and delivered into our hand the band that came against us. 24“And who will listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike.” 25So it has been from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.

      26Now when David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the spoil to the elders of Judah, to his friends, saying, “Behold, a gift for you from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD: 27to those who were in Bethel, and to those who were in Ramoth of the Negev, and to those who were in Jattir, 28and to those who were in Aroer, and to those who were in Siphmoth, and to those who were in Eshtemoa, 29and to those who were in Racal, and to those who were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to those who were in the cities of the Kenites, 30and to those who were in Hormah, and to those who were in Bor-ashan, and to those who were in Athach, 31and to those who were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were accustomed to go.”

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.