This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&h) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
HERE
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the
books of Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for
COMMENTARY ON GENESIS to the address above.
1KINGS
1 And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.
Not much is said about Solomon's marriage here. But enough is said to give some light to the facts. He married an Egyptian princess. In the remaining verses we are told how much Solomon LOVED the Lord, and worshipped Him. Therefore, we must surmise that this Egyptian princess was converted, because we are told he brought her into Jerusalem, and she remained there. It would not be fit for an unconverted worshipper of other gods to be married to a man of God, and to reside in the city of God.
2 Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days.
3 And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.
Solomon displayed his love for God. In those days, the practice of worshiping in "high places" was a practice that had been handed down since Abraham's day. People built altars and worshipped God.
4 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.
5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
Gibeon, being the central place of worship, was where Solomon demonstrated his love for God the most. There he offered 1,000 sacrifices!
6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
7 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.
15 And 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 up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.
First, Solomon declared his love for God.
16 Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.
17 And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.
18 And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.
19 And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it.
20 And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.
21 And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear.
22 And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.
23 Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.
24 And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.
25 And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.
26 Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.
27 Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.
28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.
God demonstrated to Solomon and to the people that HE had granted this gift of great wisdom. Please continue with us in daily Bible study.
CHAPTER 3
Later, when we are told that Solomon's wives turned him away from the One TRUE God, and turned him to worship other gods, none of those gods mentioned are of Egyptian design.
Solomon married this woman as the result of a treaty he made with the king of Egypt. He did this many times more with other kings and heads of state. Something is to be said about the wisest man in the world marrying 700 times! This seems to be PROOF that even the wisest of mankind do not always act in wisdom!
Not that it is ONLY Jehovah God they are worshipping in those places. There was a central place of worship for all the nation (Gibeon). It was there that the tabernacle stood and the priests served God and the people in worship.
Solomon worshipped everywhere he went. And by this he demonstrated his love for God to the people.
It was there that God appeared to Solomon in a dream. God told him he could ask whatever he wanted.
Now, from verse 2 to this point, we can offer a spiritual observation. Solomon loved the Lord God with all his heart, and demonstrated that love. Therefore, God told him he could ask whatever he wanted.
This is applicable to Christians today. John 14:12-13 tells us that Jesus declared if we BELIEVE in Him and desire to do HIS will, then WHATEVER we ask in HIS name will be granted. IF we truly believe in Jesus, and desire to do HIS will, then our hearts will desire to do HIS work - and we will ask for the power and ability to accomplish HIS will in our lives. THAT will certainly be granted.
Notice the follow up of God's statement to solomon in the following verses.
Second, God granted him the desires of his heart.
Third, Solomon responded in asking that which perfectly corresponded with God's WILL for his life.
Solomon has already proven himself to be a very wise man. He has handled the situations with Adonijah, Joab, and Shemei with great wisdom.
But Solomon does not want to rely upon himself, he desires wisdom which comes from GOD. In comparison to God, Solomon deems himself to be "a little child" (verse 7). He is faced with a task insurmountable for a mere human. It is the task of righteously ruling a "great people" (verse 8). In fact, Solomon states, no mere human could accomplish this task in himself (verse 9).
So - Solomon made know to God that his desire is to have godly wisdom in accomplishing the purpose for which God Himself has selected him. For it was GOD Who chose Solomon to be king!
Today, God has chosen Christians to be leaders of righteousness and morality and decency in the world. We, in response to God's calling, need godly wisdom: wisdom from above. God promises that to ALL Christians who really trust Him and want to do His will in their lives (James 1:5).
God gave Solomon a tremendous gift! He told Solomon that there had never been, and never would be a human with such wisdom as himself! (verse 12)
And, as a reward for asking in God's WILL, Solomon is granted honor and riches (verse 13).
HOWEVER, he is also given an admonishment from God. He must CONTINUE to walk in God's will and way (verse 14).
TODAY - Christian, if you CONTINUE to walk in God's will and way, you will have wisdom from above.
When Solomon awakened from the dream he went before God with "burnt offerings, and ..peace offerings.." (verse 15).
A burnt offering symbolized total consecration and offered a plea for forgiveness. A peace offering was an offering of thanksgiving for the ability to have fellowship with God.
If we consecrate ourselves fully to God, He will grant forgiveness and the ability to have communal fellowship with Him! Now THAT'S where we will find true WISDOM!
"Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32)
Two women were arguing over a child. They both were prostitutes, and lived in the same house. One claimed the other prostitute "overlaid" her child and it died. Then she came and stole her child and left the dead one in its place. The other claimed that the living son was hers, and the dead one belonged to the first. There are no other witnesses. How can a man discern truth between the two?
But God gave Solomon an answer. He challenged the heart of a mother. Solomon called for a sword and said he would divide the child in half. What a gruesome thought! And it was this thought that caused the heart of the real mother to cry out! She said, "NO! Let her take him! Don't let him DIE!"
Now the mother with the dead child showed she had no compassion. She called for the child to be divided!
Solomon gave the child to the rightful mother. The matter was decided with WISDOM - the kind of wisdom that can only come from ABOVE.
THAT'S the kind of wisdom Christians need today! Have YOU asked God for that kind of wisdom?