The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Kings 4:21,
"Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These countries brought tribute and were Solomon's subjects all his life."
Such was life in Israel in Solomon's day! In the previous verse we read, "The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore; they ate, they drank and they were happy."
Life in Israel in Solomon's day was blessed and full. With his neighbors in subjugation to him, Israel had peace on all sides along with a growing economy. A blessed national state. I am reminded of Proverbs 16:7, "When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone's way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them."
What was the cause of the Lord's blessing? Certainly a big part was Solomon's desire for the Lord. We are told Solomon demonstrated this love of the Lord by following his father David's instructions, "Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David..." 1 Kings 3:3.
"Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These countries brought tribute and were Solomon's subjects all his life."
Such was life in Israel in Solomon's day! In the previous verse we read, "The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore; they ate, they drank and they were happy."
Life in Israel in Solomon's day was blessed and full. With his neighbors in subjugation to him, Israel had peace on all sides along with a growing economy. A blessed national state. I am reminded of Proverbs 16:7, "When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone's way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them."
What was the cause of the Lord's blessing? Certainly a big part was Solomon's desire for the Lord. We are told Solomon demonstrated this love of the Lord by following his father David's instructions, "Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David..." 1 Kings 3:3.
Under Solomon's leadership the nation followed the ways of the Lord and applied themselves to the part the Lord provided for them in his agenda of redemption.
All this would change following Solomon's reign. The nation would split and begin to follow the idols of the nations surrounding them. In placing themselves outside of the Lord's intentions for them relative to his agenda, Israel's international stature will be destroyed, her economy wrecked and her relations with other nations becoming a nightmare with conflict all about.
This is all a cautionary tale of what happens when we give ourselves to the Lord's priorities (building a family for himself) but then stray and go our own way. Israel is merely an example of what all mankind does. Our collective sinful nature as people always takes us from the Lord's blessings in directions we really don't want to go in.
Only when a nation aligns itself with what the Lord is afoot doing does it experience the Lord's blessing. The same holds true for any one of us as individuals.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
No comments:
Post a Comment