Skip to main content

April 6 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 96

We've come a long way from wondering in the desert.  Now, after many battles and years of disarray, God's people are living in peace and the Lord has a house built.

Image result for solomon dedicates the temple wiki commons

DAILY READINGS

1 Kings 8-10 & Psalm 96

DAILY NOTES

1 Kings 8

  • Solomon brings the ark of God to the temple.
  • The temple is dedicated.  Solomon offers a prayer for the occasion.
  • Solomon blesses the people.
1 Kings 9
  • The highlight of this chapter is that God appears to Solomon again (in a dream?).  The line of David will continue through Solomon, assuming he follows the way of God.  The people must also follow.
1 Kings 10
  • The Queen of Sheba visits Solomon to see for herself his wisdom.  She is amazed (breathless).  The two crowns exchange gifts.
  • Some of Solomon's furniture is described as a way to emphasize the grandeur of his reign and the temple.  Notice how "the whole earth" wanted to see Solomon (10:24).

OTHER OBSERVATIONS

Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple demonstrates a trust in God's provision.  Notice how Solomon outlines particular scenarios that we're all sure will happen (when the people sin, a famine comes, etc).  When they happen, if the people repent, Solomon's prayer is that God will hear their prayer and then act accordingly.

There's no holding Solomon back from telling God what he wants God to do.  That's a great way to pray.

Let's realize also that this prayer was probably just as much for the people to receive and know as what they could expect from the Lord as it was for God to hear.  That's always the way of prayer, right?  It's for us, but it's for God, too.

What do you think?  Is your praying more about what you're saying to God or what God is saying to you?

Stay blessed...john
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

February 16 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 47 Before the movie Shrek, the best known talking donkey was Balaam's donkey.  That's what we're reading about today.   Of course, that's only part of the story between Balak and Balaam.   DAILY READINGS Numbers 22-24 & Psalm 47 DAILY NOTES Numbers 22:2 Apparently, Israel is making a name for itself.  The Moabites are terrified and distressed/irritated by the news of what the Israelites are doing. Numbers 22:5-6 Balaam is, apparentely, a diviner with a good reputation.  Balak is "overcome with fear" and his response is to go to Balaam.  Balak knows that "whomever you bless is blessed, and whomever you curse is cursed." Numbers 22:8 This is the recurring theme for Balaam.  He will only say what  God tells him to say.  That is, there's no money back guarantee.  Even if it doesn't align with what Balak wants, Balaam will only give the words that God gives him. There is no indication why Balaam w...
Post a Comment
Read more

April 3 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 93 After today we'll have finished another book of the Bible.  King David's place in the story of God is winding down. DAILY READINGS 2 Samuel 22-24 & Psalm 93 DAILY NOTES 2 Samuel 22 This is a psalm of praise and thanksgiving.  Psalm 18 is a variation of this psalm. 2 Samuel 23 David's reign (and life) are drawing to a close.  These are some of his last words and speak of men that have served under him.   2 Samuel 24 David wants a census of the people.  Since he later sees it as a sin, we can gather that he had prideful purposes for doing so.   The king repents, but also suffers the judgement of the sin.  Technically, 70,000 of the people he just counted suffered. Afterwards, David builds an altar to God. Psalm 93 God's rule over earth is celebrated.  This is what's called an enthronement psalm.  OTHER OBSERVATIONS There's an interesting observation to consider about 2 Samuel 24:1...
Post a Comment
Read more