Solomon Archives – Sonshine's Journal

June 15, 2023June 15, 2023

Compromise

2Chron 8; 1 Kings 9 Compromising Solomon

Solomon conscripted the non-Israelites to work on his projects. God had said to rid the land of them, but instead, Solomon, like his predecessors, conscripted them, much like Joshua had done with the Gibeonites. What is the lesson from this? Just as God said, they would turn their hearts away from God. It happens, not at first, but spiritual fervor slowly died, just like the frog in the pan over the burner.

Solomon moved his wife, not an Israelite, but an Egyptian, into her own home. He said, “My wife must not live in the palace of the King of Israel.” Compromise brings lessoning of obedience to God’s explicit commands. At this time, just as in our own time, God came to Solomon again. He also comes quietly to speak to our hearts. He reminded Solomon of his prayer and his promise to bless him. He also reminded him of the consequences of not heeding these words. When that would take place, even the pagan nations around would ask: Why did the Lord do this? The answer was clear: “they abandoned the Lord their God.” [1Kings 9:8-9]

Is there something you vowed to do before God but out of the ease of the moment, you chose to compromise? Choose ye this day whom you will serve! [Jos 24:15]

September 1, 2022September 1, 2022

Whom do you fear?

Jer 47-49 God gives Jeremiah His words regarding the nations around Judah who worship idols, and the message has bad omens. You will be defeated! God tells Jeremiah this about Moab: “you trust in the things you do and in your riches.” and “Your god Chemosh will go into exile along with his priests and his officials,. Your god Chemosh will go into exile along with his priests and his officials. “[Jer 48:7]

God singles out Moab because of their child sacrifice practices to the idol Chemosh. Today we have the same sin in our nation with the sin of abortion. It grieves the heart of God, and my own heart is grieved.
Solomon wrote that we must fear God, not man, yet men refuse to do that. The most significant and alarming sin is that of pride. “Fearing the Lord is the beginning of discernment, but fools have despised wisdom and moral instruction.” [Prov 1:7]

May I not be found as a fool but as wise.

July 12, 2022July 12, 2022

The Two Paths of Life

Proverbs 1-3 God’s path leads to wisdom if we fear/revere Him. Therefore, the foundational principle is that if we want to be wise, it must start not just with our head but our heart’s knowledge of who He is. He is holy, He is in heaven, and as the author of Eccl so succinctly says: God is in heaven; therefore, let your words be few (I think he means may our words be wisely chosen.)

Prov 1:7 is the overarching principle: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. Thus, Solomon, as the author, reflects on the positive along with the negative. In Prov 3:5-6, he again gives us another overarching principle along with God’s promise: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways, acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

What path am I on or what path are you on? God’s path is clear and to obedient is my desire; is it yours?

March 31, 2022March 31, 2022

Building God’s Temple

1Kings 5-7 The Building of the Temple

King David had gathered much material, but God told him that he would never build this massive structure because he was a man of war, and in war, blood is shed. Although David was obedient to accomplish this, the shed blood is a reminder of where life begins and ends, and it is a grief to God. And thus, God chose Solomon, whom he loved from his conception onward, to build His house. So for seven long years, Solomon conscripted workers and gathered materials for the construction. In the middle of this undertaking, God came to remind Solomon of His promise: He will always be faithful even if we are not! [2Tim. 2:13]

God has blessed you and me beyond what we can understand. We, you and I, are not to forget that privilege given to us. God has called us to accomplish the building of a temple of people that will honor Him, and we do that by discipleship. Where am I being obedient to that command: go and make disciples and teach them to observe all I have commanded.

Who is in the temple of God that we have touched? He has given us the materials. Are we using them for His glory?

June 20, 2021June 20, 2021

What is in your foundation?

Eccl 7 – 12 After 12 whole chapters of pithy sayings, Solomon finally concludes that all that he has found has little of any value. Only what is done for God will pass the test of time and eternity. He poses the last question by asking us to choose what we will build on. Eccl 12:13-14 Wisdom teaches us that “each builder’s work will be plainly seen, for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by fire. And the fire will test what kind of work each has done. For God will evaluate every deed, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”

Paul echoed that same counsel in the first book to the Corinthians, chapter 3. He reminds them that no one can lay any foundation other than what has been laid, which is Jesus Christ. He is the pure and lasting foundation that will weather the storms of life. He is the rock upon which we should build our faith because when the storms of life come, the materials we have chosen will prove to be that which lasts or will fail. He also reminded the Corinthians that each work will be plainly seen and be tested by fire. If we have chosen the suitable materials, they will withstand the fire on “that day” of judgment.

Both authors remind us that what we choose today will either last through eternity or be burned up, even though we will be saved.

What materials have you chosen to add to your foundation?

June 11, 2021June 11, 2021

What will people remember?

2 Chron 2-3, 1Kings 5-6 There is a church in a city in Florida that has sat for years untended and unfinished. Whoever was in charge did not seek peace, and today the courts are in control with no resolution. Recalling that image and the backstory is so unlike the story before us today.

David’s life and all he had done sent a powerful message to King Hiram of Tyre. Although a pagan king, he noted that the God of Israel was the God of the heavens. David’s life had left a powerful message that those who seek the Lord will be blessed and be a blessing to others. Although David was a man of war, he sought peace with his people and those nations surrounding him. James’ words come to mind: “And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” [Jam 3:18]. That is the backstory of how God prepared for the new Temple and how God opened the doors of heaven to bless Solomon with materials and men to build it.

There is a life lesson here for us. God uses men to do the work, but first, He prepares the heart. We may not be the one who sees the fruit of our work, but others do. What message will my life leave for those who will follow me?

July 14, 2020

Study God’s Word to Gain Wisdom

Proverbs 13 Some sheep/children are teachable, and some will refuse correction. Solomon was a teachable child, “Solomon demonstrated his loyalty to the Lord by following the practices of his father David,” [1Ki 3:3] However, his son was incorrigible. We have all heard this saying: “Don’t do as I do but do as I say.” Perhaps in hindsight, Solomon is saying, do not lose heart; I have placed before you the wisdom I have gleaned to raise a wise child even though my own son did not accept that truth.

Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, chose to flounder with fools rather than walk with the wise. He was spiritually deaf, as many are today. They wish to have their ears tickled rather than heed God’s counsel. The principle is clear: A wise son (daughter) accepts his father’s discipline, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

Today, Parents must hide God’s word in their hearts. The hidden treasures will guide you to understand the type of child God has placed in your care and how to raise them properly in the ways of God. When you are diligent, you can claim this promise from 2Peter 1:4 “Through these things, he [God] has bestowed on us his precious and most magnificent promises,” so that by you can share the nuggets of truth to the next generation, as Psalm 78 tells us. As part of your parenting routine: “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” [2Tim 2:15]

Which child are you raising? You can know by studying the book of Proverbs.

July 13, 2020

Can we know the right path to follow?

Prov 8/9 Are you a people watcher as you walk down the path of life? Solomon must have been. He pondered and realized there are two tracks of life (foolish and wise) and he personifies both. Solomon has observed: Vs. 32: Blessed are those who keep my [God’s] ways. Vs. 34 Blessed is the one who listens, watches, and waits.

As Solomon observed, he saw the contrast. The foolish follow Dame Harlot, as Solomon calls her. [Proverbs 7: 27] Followers of Dame Harlot find that “Her house is the way to the grave, going down to death’s chambers.”The wise are pursuing Lady Wisdom. The path of Dame Harlot leads to deception and darkness. The way of Lady Wisdom leads to honesty and light.

Learn from Solomon. Observe people’s decision-making process. Those who choose to follow and heed Lady Wisdom find that her path leads to blessings, and life eternal. ” I will love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me.” [Proverbs 8:17] Lady Wisdom says: “For the one who finds me (wisdom) find life and receives favor from the Lord. But the one who does not find me brings harm to himself;” [Prov 8:35]

It could not be any clearer: Prov 1:7 “Fearing the Lord is the beginning of moral knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 9:10 “The beginning of wisdom is to fear the Lord, and acknowledging the Holy One is understanding.” Thus as Dr. Constable notes:

“Wisdom and godliness are practically synonymous.”

Beloved, Are you following Dame Harlot or Lady Wisdom?

July 11, 2020

How to Become Wise

Today we begin our walk through the book of Proverbs. Beloved, know this truth that will guide you step by step through life: “It All Begins with Fearing the Lord“

Every person has a life journey that ultimately leads to everlasting comfort and peace or eternal destruction. Proverbs is in the Holy Scriptures to help us understand the meaning of life through practical examples and also riddles.

Solomon will instruct us how to discern the fool and the wise man. Thus, Proverbs is a book to garner the unbeliever’s attention to see how he is wallowing in his foolishness and how to turn from his wicked ways to become wise. “Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.”

The book of Proverbs will help us learn three things: wisdom, moral instruction (correction or discipline), and how to discern wise counsel. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding and acknowledge him in all your ways…”

As we walk through Proverbs, allow the Holy Spirit to train you practically to discern good and evil.

Thus today we choose [Prov 1:7] as our verse for today:

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of discernment or knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

What verse jumped out at you as you read, and what verse are you meditating on for today?

February 16, 2016

Fool for Satan’s Sake or Wise for Christ’s Sake?

proverbs 4 wisdom2a The author of Hebrews reminds us we must be trained by experience as we gather wisdom from those who are themselves mature, in fact, the aged, or the elder amongst us. They have learned to discern both good and evil and now are passing on that to the next generation as the psalmist said to do. [Ps 78] Daily we are in a spiritual battle against unseen foes and need both our armor and wisdom to defeat this deadly foe. We find it in the Word of God which is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness. [2Tim 3] God’s promise is sure; He is always ready to give his children wisdom.[James 1]

Solomon knew this well for that is the one gift he asked of the Lord. Two times he reminds his children, and us, that it begins when one actively listens with mind and body. Just like our heavenly Father, Solomon tells his children that they are to listen so that they may gain discernment which is being able to judge between good and evil. They are to acquire wisdom which is the supreme gift and to do that they must lay hold of his words and hide them in their hearts. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” [Ps 119]

But why is wisdom so critical? Without wisdom, we are fools for Satan’s sake. With wisdom, we are wise for Christ’s sake.

Read this also here: https://www.facebook.com/bible.org/