1 Kings 2:1-3:2 + Acts 5:1-42 + Psalm 125:1-5 + Proverbs 16:25
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Old Testament - Dramatic readings in First Kings today! David's final instructions to Solomon include some strong words about how Joab & Shimei should die. And later in today's readings, these words come to fruition. An image is below for David giving his final instructions to Solomon in today's readings:
In verse 10 in today's readings, we read this simple verse that concludes our readings of David's life (for now... we'll read more about David later in the Bible this year) - "Then David died and was buried in the City of David."
Today we read about Adonijah's request to marry Abishag. You'll recall from yesterday's readings that Abishag took care of David in his old age. She was a virgin, but still considered part of David's harem. And, in those days, to inherit the harem was to inherit the kingdom. (I know, strange stuff to talk about harem's... it was the way it was back then - even though God's plan from Genesis with Adam & Eve was 1 man & 1 woman - not 1 man & many women... us humans - even David - do not always pay attention to God's plans...) So, Adonijah's request to marry Abishag was essentially his attempt to gain back the kingdom again. Hence, Solomon got upset...
Joab proved the maxim of "those who live by the sword, die by the sword." David knew Joab had killed Abner and Amasa and passed on his disdain for Joab to Solomon. Solomon knew Joab was in cahoots w/ Adonijah. Joab was seeking sanctuary at the altar - and there was indeed sanctuary in the Law for those who accidentally killed someone else. There were sanctuary cities. However, Joab's killings of Abner and Amasa could in no way be viewed as accidental. His attempt at sanctuary at the altar did not stand up in Solomon's eyes. Below is a fascinating piece of artwork of Joab running for the altar - with what appears to be a shadow of a person running in the background... As if Joab's past was haunting him & pursuing him? I'm not sure, but an interesting piece of art here on this Joab scene in any case!
It is an interesting thing to read about the blood and deaths caused by some of our fathers of our faith - David & Solomon and the list will go on. I think the thing I take away from all of this is that in the B.C. age, "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" ruled the day. People "got what they deserved" so to speak... It essentially kept the peace in a barbaric age. But, we were fortunate to have Jesus Christ come into our world and be the final sacrifice and change the rules. Jesus died on a cross. Jesus got what WE deserved. He changed the whole eye for an eye Law to a higher law of love & grace. We deserve condemnation. Thanks to Jesus, we are given eternal life through the free gift of faith in his life, death and resurrection. I think it is always important for us to remember that Jesus got what we deserved... this is why Jesus is called Savior!
New Testament - Today in Acts 5 we continue to read about the early church. It's important for us to note that Ananias and Sapphira's sin was that they acted as if they were giving 100% of the proceeds from the sale of their land to the church - when in fact they weren't - so that they would be glorified for this very generous act. The sin wasn't what percentage they were or weren't giving - but that they were acting as if they were giving 100%, which was a lie. In verse 3 we read – “Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?”” One thing of note from this verse is that Satan was active in the hearts of men and women in the early church. After Jesus died, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven, Satan was still on the loose. Do you believe Satan is still on the loose today tempting the hearts of men and women? Do you pray daily for God to “lead us not into temptation, and deliver us from evil?” Do you think this should be a daily prayer? (maybe not in these words exactly, but they are from the Lord’s Prayer, so not a bad choice of words to pray...) Below is a painting of "The Death of Ananias" by the Italian artist Raphael from the year 1515:
I love verse 29 in today's readings, when the apostles are yet again before the Sanhedrin: "But Peter and the apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than human authority." How powerful of a statement is this! And how often in our lives do we truly practice this? Do you obey God rather than human authority? Consistently? Verse 41 brought tears to my eyes: "The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Jesus." This is an incredible thing to consider! The apostles rejoiced that they were given 39 lashes - this is no joke as we all know - because they were proclaiming Jesus. They rejoiced that God had counted them worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Jesus! This is something that should definitely bring tears to all of our eyes. Let us pray that God also counts us worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Jesus!
Bible.org's commentary on today's Act's readings titled "Profession and Possession" is at this link and "The Great Escapes" is at this link.
Psalms - Psalm 125 has great verses in 4 & 5: "O LORD, do good to those who are good, whose hearts are in tune with you. But banish those who turn to crooked ways, O LORD. Take them away with those who do evil. And let Israel have quietness and peace." I love that closing line - let us have quietness and peace! What a great prayer. Don't we all wish for quietness and peace in our lives? One thing I'll recommend - which I am trying so hard to learn myself - is to take a Sabbath day of rest each week. Just rest. Just be peaceful. Just be with God. One day a week. It will dramatically change the other 6 days of your week without a doubt. Will you join me on this quest for quietness and peace in our lives by taking a Sabbath day of rest once each week?
Proverbs - Proverbs 16 verse 25 today teaches us: "There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death." This is a great reminder that it is so important for us to pay attention to what path we are on! Really, examine the path you are on this very day... where is it ultimately leading you? To Life or death?
Worship Video: Today's readings reminded me of Colton Dixon’s song "Made to Fly:"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KRRCQ9bcAc
Did you know you were made to fly? Click here to fly!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." Proverbs 16:25 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray that you are examining the path you are on today, and every day. Pray that you are not on a worldly path that lead to death, but on the path that leads to eternal life. Pray that you are on Jesus' path, following in the footsteps of your Savior.
Comments from You & Questions of the Day: Back to Acts 5 verse 41 again: "The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Jesus." Have you ever suffered dishonor for the name of Jesus in your life? Will you rejoice if indeed someday you do suffer dishonor for the name of Jesus? Is it proper for a Christian to want to actually suffer dishonor for the name of Jesus? Should we want this? Expect this? Seek this? Rejoice in this? Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
God bless,
Mike
p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our One Year Bible readings at this link.
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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
1 Kings 2-3:2
Boy O Boy, the Bible is great reading. The charge to Solomon by his father is better than a scene out of the Godfather. First, the conditional promise of God is passed down. Then the drama unfolds. I can picture David near the end of his life weak and frail speaking in a hushed tone so that Solomon would have to listen intently, rehearsing the crimes committed by his nephew Joab and the curses Shimei called down on David as he fled Jerusalem. However, there was also a blessing to be bequeathed upon Barzillai who took care of David during that awful time.
Everyone was about to reap what they had sown, for better or worse. And in a short time Joab and Shimei would reap the whirlwind for their deeds. Solomon wrote in Proverbs, There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death (14:12; 16:25, clearly no one sets out in life to cause their own death by the choices they make, yet bad choices lead to unintended ends.
There is a saying, or at least there use to be, said by the young, “Are you stuck on stupid?” Adonijah could be asked that question. After having his first plot to become king foiled, he attempts to go through the back door like a stealth bomber flying under the radar, he uses Solomon’s mother to attempt access to the kingdom. He even states in his justification for asking to marry Abishag, that as the oldest son, he had rights to the throne; however, God had other plans. So in his statement he lets us know that he is fighting against God’s choice of leadership.
Why do we fight against what God wants? In doing so we are in a loosing battle. Even if we run to the “Temple” and grab hold of the horns of the alter pleading our case and begging for our life, God’s will “trumps” any plan, desire or manipulative plot we can think of.
In today’s reading, we also get a glimpse of Solomon’s slow slide down the slippery slope of following God half-heartedly. He marries the daughter of Pharaoh. Solomon did not follow his own wisdom, “When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him. (Proverbs 16:7)”, or did Solomon write this Proverb after experiencing the fruit of trying to make his own alliances.
Acts 5:1-42
Just a little humorous side note to the story of Ananias and Sapphira, has anyone caught on that it was the “Youth” ministry that buried both him and his wife? Try building your Youth ministry today on that job. Well young folks we have been assigned to bury the folks that drop dead in our midst because they have sinned against the Holy Spirit. Yikes!
Psalm 125:1-5
The first verse of this Psalm gives a big clue that there is another reality, eternity:
1 Those who trust in the LORD are as secure as Mount Zion;
they will not be defeated but will endure forever.
Enduring forever is impossible if one considers life on this earth as all there clearly this writer saw past what he could sense with his senses. The Psalmist who wrote this absolutely believed there is an eternity that exists in the spiritual realm, and that realm is more real that what we can perceive with our five senses.
Proverbs 16:25
Oops didn’t realize I referenced this Proverb in the Old Testament reading. The ability to do that is proof to me that the Bible confirms its own words.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
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Listening to the end part of the OT reading today just reminded me once more of God's wrath, judgement and our position (now) before Him. The portion relating to Shimei in particular is a strong reminder in my view:
42 So the king sent for Shimei and said to him, "Did I not make you promise by the Lord and tell you of danger, saying, 'You will know for sure that on the day you leave and go anywhere, you will die'? And you said to me, 'What you have said is good.' 43 Then why have you not kept the promise of the Lord? Why have you not done what I told you?" 44 And the king said to Shimei, "You know in your heart all the bad things you did to my father David. So the Lord will return your sin upon your own head. 45 But good will come to King Solomon. The throne of David will keep its place before the Lord forever." 46 So the king told Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he went out and killed Shimei.
When I read this, I initially thought it was a shade unfair. Ok so Shimei had been warned of the consequences of his actions, but the judgement being carried out in some ways seemed somewhat harsh given the guy returned. I initially assumed it was only meant if he left the city on the run so to speak. The fact that he returned, knowing that death sentence hung over him, implies that either he had assumed the same, or he was mad and willing to accept that outcome, which makes little sense to me given the circumstances. But what it really made me think about yet again, is how much more God has laid a similar death sentence judgement on our lives also (for what many perceive to be just living a 'good' life! if you get my drift), and how we have so little comprehension of how big a thing that truly is. I wonder what Shimei would have said, if Solomon having pronounced the judgement to him, said, "Oh but it's okay - you don't have to die after all, I'm going to let my son die in your place, and let you go on living your life as normal"!! Because for us, that's what it has come down to - and it's just so sad that even as Christians I think we can be rather blase about our salvation. Having received it, whilst grateful, some of us think that somehow its our right, and we're okay now so we don't need to really take stock of our lives any more. And while I'm not a big "once saved, always saved" fan, I do think God expects us to continually be aware of what He has done for us, and not just sit back in proud arrogance of 'our' faith, and 'our' salvation.
You can probably tell after all that, that this is an area He has been speaking to me about a lot lately. And I have to say initially I didn't think I had any problems with my attitude, but over time, did come to recognise that I was literally under a death sentence which although removed, still carries a judgment which I will yet undergo with Jesus, and I cannot afford to thus become complacent about my standing before Him. That's why I contended in one of my earlier posts that Pride has to be one of THE biggest problems within the Body and it's really no wonder given how it managed to bring down the magnificent angel "who was the anointed cherub that covereth;" Eze 28:14.
Truly loving how each of us here gets a different spin on each of the passages, and thanks again to Mike for provoking thoughtful topics! Have to think more about today's one :)).
Romayne
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Yes, we are called to suffer. The Word of God says that all who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. IITim3:12
Lisa
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1 Kings 2:45 "But may I, King Solomon, receive the Lord’s blessings, and may one of David’s descendants always sit on this throne in the presence of the Lord.”
Acts 5:29 “We must obey God rather than any human authority".
Acts 5:41 "The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Jesus."
Psalm 125:3 "The wicked will not rule the land of the godly, for then the godly might be tempted to do wrong".
Do you believe Satan is still on the loose today tempting the hearts of men and women? Do you pray daily for God to "lead us not into temptation, and deliver us from evil?" Do you think this should be a daily prayer? ~ Oh yes, I do believe Satan is still on the loose. He has nothing to loose so he's willing to do anything to get us off our path with God.
Mae
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I love that the apostles rejoiced in their condemnation. I have before, I am honored. Sometimes i dont rejoice, but over all, i wish i was persecuted for Christ's sake more! Its a huge honor imo! America has a lot of freedom n we dont experience persecution here, like they do in Sudan or other countries. i think the more persecution, the stronger the faith. thats why there are so many weak, lukewarm Christians today, we have it too easy. just a thought.
Acts is a awesome book!
I love this ps.
"Those who trust in the LORD Are like Mount Zion, Which cannot be moved, but abides forever."
"There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death." I've heard this verse sooo man times in sermons and stuff. Its very powerful, true, and sad! I think the world is pretty much living wat is right in their eyes. We have no righteous of our own, only Jesus' imparted to us! Its God's grace, nothing of our own that we can boast. i know this but then i get down on myself sometimes, oh i said/did the wrong thing, i'm not a good witness, etc..keep thinking of myself when its not me at all. I know it, yet at the same time give myself too much credit. I just need to trust and obey God and not worry about the results, about the things "I" can do. our i can rephrase it to make myself seem more humble "the things God can do through me". I have a long way to go! if that makes sense
Jenny
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I especially love the part in Acts 5:23 today when the jailer says, "We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside."
What a great 'echo' this has with the empty tomb!!
I.e., for those who trust in Christ, the doors of death swing two ways... they open freely because of what he did for us. But for those who do not know and trust him, those same doors remain "securely locked... guards standing at the doors".
Art
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1 Kings 2:1-3:2
As I began reading today’s Old Testament passage the Words of Jesus came to my head:
And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. (Mat 5:29-30)
The words, “value,” and “purpose” flooded my mind as I read the two chapters. God’s purpose for David was to subdue Israel’s enemies (be fruitful …multiply …subdue …have dominion). Solomon’s purpose was to build up God’s kingdom. The purpose of God requires people who are committed to that purpose even if they don’t know they are. Joab, although he was a man who conformed to the God’s purpose for Israel under the kingship of David, he was not a man committed to God’s purpose as Israel moved to another level, moving from a kingdom of war into a kingdom of peace. As long as David’s purpose conformed to Joab’s commitment to David, Joab was loyal. But when that commitment needed to be transferred from David to God, Joab would not, could not follow.
Because there were men who were in leadership position who conformed to David’s purpose, which was God’s will, but not to Solomon’s purpose they had to be cut off—“if your right hand offend thee, cut it off.” There are people in our lives who conform to the purpose of God by “accident” for a period of time yet are not committed to God’s purpose. As we move from level to level those people and the things that so easily beset us the ones we have grown familiar with, who and what may have helped us achieve our purpose at one level, cannot come with us as we go to the next
Judas was needful for Jesus as one of the twelve as long as Jesus’ ministry on the earth lasted. However, when it was time for Jesus to go back to the Father, just as Jesus’ purpose on the earth was to end, Judas’ purpose, the betrayal of Christ, would come to fruition, Judas could not go into the next level. Judas had conformed to the Will of God, but he had no commitment to the Will of God.
What we commit to and what we conform to is determined by the “value” we give to the Word of God. If what we value goes against the Will of God, then we conform to God’s will until we get what we value. It is only when we Commit to the Will of God that we gain what is truly valuable. That commitment will conform us to His will instead of us trying to conform His Will to what we value which will fail: whether in the long or short run.
Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the Scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
(Mat 21:42-44)
Grace and peace,
Ramona
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I once met a young man in India who told me many stories about what his life was like as a Christian living in a very fundamentalist Hindu community. One of the things that has stayed with me was his story of spending the day on the streets talking to people about Jesus with some friends. After a few hours they had created quite a stir in the community, he smiled as he remembered the people they had reached that day, then he said to me; "Guess what happened next" and I anticipated a story of some great miracle but he said, "We got on a bus to go home and we got to be beaten up for Jesus!" I was stuck by his genuine joy in the midst of real suffering. He eventually opened a church in the midst of this area where the relatives of those inside would surround the church during services and shout and throw rocks as they met inside. His testimony certainly challenged me to think differently then I had about persecution. He said to me, please don't pray that the persecution will stop but rather that we will have the courage to continue in it, for in this Jesus is glorified.
Barbara
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Mike, just read "Little Evils, Little Sins" and it was excellent. So much truth in this short blog. Thanks for the recommendation.
Barbara, Great story !!
Billy
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Psalm 125
I really liked Tom Dooley's reading this scripture and commenting on it.
Jerusalem is a symbol of security and stability. Pilgrims felt safe there and as a citizen I am safe there too. Trusting in the Lord means believing in his Sovereignty and submitting to him. There is a sactity of trust that will put me on the path of righteousness. The message is that God has made me safe so I can live a separate life to let people see my works that glorfy Him. Thinking of Jerusalem this way has given me a new perspective and understanding on the way I live.
Robert
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Today 1st Kings..I started reading 2nd Kings 2 & 3 and got way off with Elijah & Elishah then had to back track. Solomon delivered on his promises made with his dad toward those that opposed them. Unfortunately some wrongs were made right. I know that had to be hard for him. He wasn't a killer or executer but here he is crushing it.
Acts 5 the sadness of lies..you can lie to anyone..yourself , family, job, can't lie to the holy spirit. That one is most deadly as we saw today. How many times were we so close to being over the edge. It's scary.
Dee