December 2, 2021
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in 1 Kings? Here’s today’s reading:
1 Kings 9 (NIV)
The Lord Appears to Solomon
1 When Solomon had finished building the temple of the Lord and the royal palace, and had achieved all he had desired to do, 2 the Lord appeared to him a second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon. 3 The Lord said to him:
“I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there........Continue Reading
God appears to Solomon again and reminds him the He has such awesome plans for him and his descendants as long as they continue to obey and follow Him. He also reminds him of what could befall them if they do not!
God blesses obedience. That’s just the way He works.
Continued today enjoying Luke chapter 9.
“And he said to them all, “If you want to come with me, you must forget yourself, take up your cross every day, and follow me.”
Luke 9:23 GNTD
https://bible.com/bible/69/luk.9.23.GNTD
It is sad knowing how it will all turn out and yet how clearly God makes it. It only makes sense that God would bless obedience. He would be inconsistent with His own character if He did otherwise. And so God makes clear that His presence with them will be predicted on them following Him. And yet how patient He was with them along the way and only after multiple warnings did he actually send them to foreign lands. And even then, He did not truly abandon them.
Not sure what to make of Solomon giving this king of Tyre who helped with material for the temple towns that weren’t worth their weight in gold….It is bad form not reciprocate the generosity of others. But Solomon continued to be blessed and organized his labor force to maximize productivity.
God meets Solomon again. I wonder, when God speaks and meets with Solomon, David, Moses, etc. how do they see Him? It says that no man has ever seen God, yet, the Bible says these men saw him. Was it Jesus they met with, I wonder.
Solomon apparently gave Hiram a lame gift. I was wondering if it was really lame or if that was just Hiram’s perception? Cabul means: binding, other definitions say limiting or sterile.
I imagine God did not appear in a face to face interaction, but in spirit letting it be known that His presence was with them and then interacting with them in that context. Almost like the burning bush without the fire….
1 Kings 9 God laid out his plans very clearly to Solomon on how he would bless him if he followed his instructions.