2Samuel Ch.22-24;1Kings Ch.1-8

King David was a skilled musician, he wrote many of the Psalms in the Bible, and he wrote to express his passionate love for God. Recall David is known as the man after God’s own heart. He writes, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation…The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; his word was on my tongue….When one rules over men in righteousness, he is like the light of morning at sunrise.”(2Samuel23:2) David describes God as rock, fortress, deliverer, refuge, shield, horn of salvation, stronghold, savior and lamp. He names some of God’s characteristics: Saving, worthy of praise, angry against enemies, rescuing, rewarding, seeing, faithful, shrewd, powerful, strong, perfect, pure, giving, gentle, preserving and living. As I read the Bible, I can see with my own eyes, and feel with my own heart that God is all of this and so much more. Loving others unselfishly is what we are to give of ourselves as workers for God, but our faith should only reside in the One who is truly worthy.

Did God cause David to sin? Often times we may wonder why the same scenario tempts us, or why “bad things happen to good people”. God does not cause people to sin, but he does allow sinners to reveal the sinfulness of their hearts by their actions. God presented the opportunity to David in order to deal with a disastrous national tendency. David chose his punishment that came most directly from God when given a choice, knowing God’s great mercy. Being punished by God is still far better than taking your chances without him. Although David sinned greatly, he also achieved more than any other leader or King. A look into David’s success must observe the kind of men who followed him; his “Mighty Men”. They showed great loyalty; greatness is often inspired by the quality and character of leadership. His men were driven to greatness by the personal qualities of their leader. David inspired them to achieve beyond their goals and meet their true potential. Who was David’s leader? God’s leading David gave him the insights and wisdom to pass to his own men. There is no one that can lead you to excellence and utilize your gifts as your Creator can.

1Kings1-8

This book contrasts the lives of those who seek God’s guidance and those who do not. The start of this book is a United Kingdom. David was in his final days and Solomon, his son with Bathsheba, was God and David’s choice for the next King. Solomon was a botanist, zoologist, architect, poet, and philosopher. He was the wisest King in the history of Israel but his many pagan wives ultimately led him astray from God in the worship of idols. Wisdom, power, and achievement do not ultimately come from any human source; they are from God. . Don’t allow your personal desires distort God’s word, for your effectiveness lies upon listening and obeying God. We tend to become what we worship. The forces that led to Israel’s decay are the same forces we struggle with today; greed, jealousy, lust for power, weakening of marriage vows, and superficiality in our own devotion to God. Unless we serve only God, we become slaves to whatever takes its place. Ever consider why the proliferation of entitlement mentality rules the young generations? Taking a hard look at who they worship might be a start. “Celebrities” and Reality TV, the push for fame and fortune, the technology world, immediate self-gratification, and lack of grounded and loving parenting and here comes the birth of future generations. Scary. What will it take to open the eyes of the blind?

Adonijah, son of David, decided to seize the throne without David’s knowledge. David’s curse from his many sins continued to haunt him with his children. David lived for God, but still had problems in family relationships. He was accustomed to people following his orders as King, but why would he expect his children to manufacture faith upon his request? Moral and spiritual character takes years to build, requiring consistent time and attention with patient discipline. It’s sometimes easy to get caught up in our big projects, and even when we follow God, it is so crucial to balance our time so that our other God-given responsibilities don’t suffer; especially at the cost of our children. Solomon was crowned rightful King of Israel and spared his brother for his mistake. David’s final words to Solomon before his death stressed the need to make God and his laws the center of personal life and government in order to preserve the kingdom.

The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”(1Kings3:5) Then Solomon said, “Give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong…The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this…So God said to him, ‘Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked, I will give you a wise and discerning heart…Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for-both riches and honor-and if you walk in my ways and obey my statues and commands as David did, I will give you a long life.”(1Kings3:9-14) This conversation between God and Solomon is a true example of God’s love for us when we surrender and open our hearts to Him. Because Solomon was not greedy and praying for super-power for personal gratification, but humbly requested what he needed to serve God well, the Lord answered his prayer and even gave him what he did not ask for. The Holy Spirit speaks on our behalf, for He knows the desires of our hearts, and when we accept God to govern our whole heart, He will give us all we need and far beyond the awareness of even our very own desires. To ask for God’s will in prayer is a powerful prayer according to Pastor Miles McPherson, saying to the Lord “I only want what YOU want for me.”

“God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.”(1Kings4:29) God gifted Solomon with unsurpassed wisdom; however, wisdom is only effective when it’s put into action. Solomon had begun a bad habit early in his reign. He made a pact with Egypt and married the Pharaoh’s daughter and she became the first of hundreds of wives he married for political gain. Solomon, although the wisest man to ever live, made mistakes and his example shows us how easy it is to know what is right and yet not do it. Effective leadership can be nullified by an ineffective personal life. Knowing what actions are necessary doesn’t mean much without the will to follow them through. Solomon didn’t learn the value of repentance until later in life. The last decade of his life we see a man in bitter existence for he sought meaning in life apart from God. The happiness we find in the opportunities and successes of this life is temporary. How many of us want something so badly and once we get it, our flame fizzes out and we see for ourselves that happiness in materials or selfish desires is short-lived? The more we expect our successes to be permanent, the faster they are gone. Balance your pursuit of life’s possibilities with reliable fulfillment of your responsibilities.

Solomon builds a temple for the Lord. When David offered to build a temple, the Lord said no through the prophet Nathan. God wanted a peacemaker and not a warrior to build his house of prayer. Solomon’s temple was a beautiful sight, taking 7 years to build. “But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!”(1Kings8:27) Though the heavens cannot contain God, he is willing to live in the hearts of those who love Him! The God of the universe takes up residence in his people. One way I feel the Holy Spirit’s presence is for no rhyme or reason, a vibration flows from my heart to the top of my head and throughout my entire being. In reading those words that the God which nothing greater can be thought, wants to live inside my heart gives me a sense of peace and utter happiness beyond words.

“Be near to the Lord our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other. But your hearts must be fully committed to the Lord, to live by his decrees and obey his commands.”(1Kings8:59) God chose Israel to be a blessing to the whole world. This blessing found its fulfillment in Jesus, descendant of Abraham and David, the Messiah for all people, Jews and non-Jews. Jesus became the light of world and completed what the Israelites failed to do because sadly, the Israelites own sin and spiritual blindness prevented them from reaching out to the rest of the world with God’s love.

Solomon gives good guidance on basic requests for prayer. 1) For God’s presence. 2) For the desire to do God’s will in everything. 3) For help with each daily need. 4) For the desire and ability to obey God’s decrees and commands. 5) For the spread of God’s kingdom to the entire world.