Sunday- Guest Post By Mrs.Oz

Today's reading from One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Proverbs 11-13:25

Scripture:
Proverbs 12:18
"Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing."

Observation:
We Christians carry on our backs everywhere truth, amazing and profound. We can say something to someone absolutely right on but our method of delivery has everything to do with their hearing Christ in us. Wisdom is characterized by humility in the other verses in today's passages and when we deliver it it needs to reflect that quality. We humans are all on level ground before the cross that has no place for cutting remarks to fellow believers or unbelievers. When I see someone deliver truth with this attitude I struggle with great frustration and I feel it when I do it myself. I love what is said about the way Jesus presented the gospel in these verses:
John 1:14
"And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."
John 1:17
"For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ."

How often we (and remember when I say, we I include myself) carry one around without the other. The sad thing about this is that we damage the gospel when we don't carry them in harmony as Christ did. Our own sin taints this. Pride that we have truth revealed to us (which should instead be humble joy), and this can lead to us feeling we are more spiritual than others to the point of it blotting out our humility all together. Our humble hearts help us stay at the foot of the cross where we belong. They keep us sensitive to the pain of others, the distance they are from God and their blindness because of it. In the body of Christ, pride makes us develop a superiority complex that comes out in our attitudes of delivery of truth. What we say may very well be true at it's core, but if it's not spoken equally with grace it will not be delivered as Christ would have had it be.
Application:
Wisdom is full of grace and truth because wisdom is the character of Christ. Wisdom does not loose it's power in reforming our sinful hearts because it is humble and full of grace, it actually gains power because of this. Man is proud and even we as believers struggle (and I KNOW I do!) with having a proud reaction even when we grow in Christ! It's a spiritual act of discipline just as important as our exercise of the body, to stay humble as God gives us wisdom. Only then can our delivery be as it ought to be. Truth and wisdom are a double edged sword on their own, they divide soul and spirit and judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. We don't need to let our words take on that role that only God's wisdom can do properly. We need to bring healing to the world of sin carrying the amazing grace AND truth of Jesus through His wisdom and minus our cutting remarks to the fallen whether they be the unsaved world or the brother or sister in the Lord we brush up against.
This is a struggle for me always and I need to remember it.

Prayer:
Lord, THANK YOU, that you are full of grace and truth! Thank you that you grant us wisdom through the power of the Holy Spirit of Christ and not from anything glorious coming from within us. Thank you that you have saved us who were lost and that you opened our blind eyes and healed our hurting hearts. Help us to feel the pain that needs healing from wisdom. Guard our hearts and our mouths from pouring forth harsh cutting words that will taint the pure gospel of your truthful grace and work for us. Forgive us for the many times we fail you in this way. Help us get up and shake of the dust and keep running the joyful race ahead of us.

Tomorrow's reading is Proverbs 14-16:33

May 29-Guest post by Pamela

Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Proverbs 8-10

Scripture:
Proverbs 8:10-11
Choose my instruction instead of silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold

for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.

Observation:

Making wise choices and choosing to honour God's instructions will provide us with something worth more than any earthly possession.

Application:

I teach Grade 1 (and just found out that I get to stay!) and I spend vast amounts of my day giving instructions and trying to get my Grade 1 friends to listen to them. My job is to teach them but without their ability to listen to my words, they are missing out on what I want them to learn. God has infinite wisdom, he is our teacher, and He is giving us direction and instruction, but how well are we listening?

This commentary offers these thoughts:

The will of God is made known by the works of creation, and by the consciences of men...The chief difficulty is to get men to attend to instruction. Yet attention to the words of Christ, will guide the most ignorant into saving knowledge of the truth. Where there is an understanding heart, and willingness to receive the truth in love, wisdom is valued above silver and gold.

God knows our tendency to lean towards worldly treasures over eternal ones. He spells it out clearly that we are to value wisdom, knowledge, and His desires over anything else. Listening to instructions from God, our most important teacher, will help us to grow is wisdom. Verse 11 says

for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.

More precious than rubies. This link makes this comment about rubies:

Throughout most of recorded history, ruby has been the world's most valued gemstone. Even diamond was considered common in comparison to the supreme beauty and value of this glowing red gem.

Silver, gold, and rubies are just a commodity and can only be enjoyed for a moment. However, submission to our Heavenly Father can offer an even greater reward that lasts forever.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, You are a wise and knowledgeable techer. Thank you for your desire to teach us. It is our desire to grow in wisdom and knowledge but we occasionally get side tracked and need your help to stay on task. Make us strong against the temptation to place anything ahead of growing closer to You. Help us to understand the huge difference between temporary and permanent. Thank you for who You are and for helping us to become more like You. Amen.

Tomorrow's reading is Proverbs 11-13:25

May 28th

Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Proverbs 5-7

Scripture
There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked shcemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. Proverbs 6:16-19

Observation
God hates haughtiness, lying, murdering, scheming, eagerness to do wrong, a false witness, stirring up dissension.

Application
We often tend to put sin into categories - big sins and little sins. And it is true that there are more serious consequences for some sins than others, both for ourselves and those around us.

And yet, this passage also reminds us that sin is sin.

God hates haughtiness? God hates lying? God hates stirring up dissension? I'm not a murderer, I'm not a schemer, I'm not eager to do wrong and I have not been a false witness (well, maybe as a kid getting another kid in trouble - but I dare say I'm guilty of the other 3 at at least one point in my life. None of these are things I do on a regular basis, but I don't think there is a human on this planet that hasn't lied at least once.

But lying is in the same list as murder. Sin is sin.

We can't excuse our sin because it's a "little" one. It's either right or wrong.

Though there are some genuine gray area in life, I think we try to make the black and white issues appear gray in order to excuse our little sins. But guess what? We don't get to decide what's right and what's wrong. Society would certainly try to convince you of that fact. But it's a lie. As always, we need to go back to the Word. We need to study it, we need to meditate on it, we need to know and understand what it says so that we will not be swayed by popular opinion or secular worldview or anything else.

Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for Your Word. Thank You that You have given us the truth, that You ARE truth. Thank You that You have laid things out for us, that You have made your expectations clear. Give us a thirst for Your Word. Help us to treasure it, and to mine it as for precious diamonds. Help us not to be content with "small" sin in our lives. Help us to root out anything that hinders our relationship with You. Amen.

Tomorrow's passage: Proverbs 8-10

May 27th

Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Proverbs 1-4

Commentaries on today's passage
Proverbs 1:7-33 The Two Ways by Bob Deffinbaugh
Proverbs 1:7-9 Do Not Forsake Your Mother's Teaching by John Piper
Proverbs 4 Get Wisdom by John Piper

There are just so many verses that jumped out at me! I'm disappointed that we're going to fly through the Proverbs in just 8 days.

Here are just a few of them that stood out from today's passage....

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Prov 1:7
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the table of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Prov 3:3-4
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Prov 3:5-6
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Prov 3:27
Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Prov 4:7
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Prov 4:23

So much good stuff in here!

A few comments I'd like to make.

First of all, it is very clear that wisdom is something that we can strive for. It is a gift of God, and yet it also is something we need to work hard for - it will require effort.

There are numerous blessings or benefits of wisdom mentioned in the Proverbs - long life, prosperous life, favor with God and people, success, health, riches, honour, peace, pleasure, protection, etc. So - if you don't have those things does it mean you are not wise enough? That you have not searched for understanding? No, not necessarily. These are not guarantees, they are general principles. In a perfect world, all who strive for wisdom would receive all the blessings and benefits of wisdom. But we do not live in a perfect world. Often, wisdom does have benefits in this life, but sometimes sin intervenes and blessings have to be delayed until Jesus' return.

Another thing I had not noticed before - and likely reading chronologically is what triggered this thought for me - in the beginning of chapter 4, King Solomon is telling his son (and us!) about his father's teaching. King David instructed his son very clearly on the importance of striving for wisdom. He said "Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she wil watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honour you. She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor." Proverbs 4:4-9 Is it any wonder that Solomon asked God for wisdom? He was listening to the instruction of his father!

And how do we get wisdom? In John Piper's sermon, he indicates five ways to get wisdom - we must desire wisdom, we must study God's word and other great books on theology and biblical interpretation (he puts forth a challenge in this sermon - on average, if you would spend 15 minutes each day reading a book, you could read 20 books in a year. He guarantees that if you commit to doing that, you will not be the same person in a year from now!), we must pray to God for wisdom, we must think of the shortness of this life and the infinite life of the next, and we must come to Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. Prov 1:7-9
John Piper's sermon on these verses is absolutely excellent and I highly recommend reading it in it's entirety. Here are his main points (for those that are too short on time)....

First of all, the family is God's idea (mother, father, children) and it is for His glory.

Secondly, the family is a school. Though we may receive support from Sunday School teachers, friends, grandparents, mentors, etc - raising our children in the Lord is our responsibility as parents and we will be held accountable for the job we did, as well as who we entrusted our children to.

Third, the foundation of the family and of the family school, is the fear of the Lord. God is to be central.

Fourth, the responsibility belongs to both mothers and fathers. Neither is exempt from the awesome responsibility of training our children. And the rewards are eternal!

Fifth, children are to listen to their parent's instruction while they are young and at home, and they are not to forsake their teaching once they have left home.

Sixth, hearing their father's instruction and not forsaking their mother's teaching will result in rewards for our sons and daughters - gifts and prizes around their necks.

The family, as a home and as a school was God's idea, for His glory, as a way to teach and instruct our children how to live in this world with a godly perspective. When children honour their parents by listening and not forsaking their teaching, they will be rewarded.

Tomorrow's passage: Proverbs 5-7

May 26th

Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is 1 Kings 4:1-34; Psalm 72 and Psalm 127.

Commentaries on today's passage
Psalm 72 - Conceptions of Davidic Hope by Greg Herrick
Psalm 127 - A Word for Workaholics by Bob Deffinbaugh and Don't Eat the Bread of Anxious Toil by John Piper

I'd like to focus on Psalm 127. Both of the above commentaries were an excellent read. I especially liked how Bob Deffinbaugh tied in the last half of the psalm with the first half - since at first glance they seem so unrelated.

Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. Psalm 127:1 This verse tells us that no matter what work we are doing - whether it's building a house, guarding a city, or washing the dishes - if we are doing it with the wrong motives, relying on our own strength instead of in God, if we are doing it anxiously, then it's being done in vain and is useless.

In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat - for he grants sleep to those he loves. Psalm 127:2 This verse seems to be a warning against workaholism, as well as anxiousness and not trusting fully in the Lord to provide for us. The NASB says for He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.

John Piper summed up these two verses very well....
So don't eat the bread of anxious toil, because no matter how hard you work to achieve anything, God has lifted off your back the final responsibility for its success, and God can accomplish more good for those who trust him while they sleep than they can accomplish with anxious labor while awake. (from above commentary)

Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him. Like arrows in teh hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is teh man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate. Psalm 127:3-5

The first tie in to these verses from the first few is that children are a gift from God, a blessing that he gives us during our rest - after all, children are often conceived in bed, when we rest - not when we toil.

Secondly, children are a gift of God, a reward. As Bob Deffinbaugh explains...

A man may toil to build a house, but by giving us children God builds our home. The watchman stands guard to provide security and protection, but the children God gives provide a greater security. Solomon poetically describes them as arrows in the hand of a warrior (v. 4). The children born in a man’s youth are strong and well established by the time he has reached old age. His quiver full of children will look after the aged man and his wife......The man who puts too much stock in his labor is the man who has failed to understand the grace of God. In His grace God has provided man with a time of rest and relaxation. And in His grace God has made provision for many of our needs through the gift of children. Contrary to the thinking of the workaholic, God’s gifts are not acquired by feverish efforts, burning the candle at both ends, but by resting in His grace.....We, sadly enough, have reversed our priorities from that given in this Psalm. Many have come to view children as a curse and work as the means of finding fulfillment and security.

This is a beautiful psalm - reminding us to trust in God's grace, in God's strength and to value the blessings He gives us in our children, to realize that they are our priority and our blessed responsibility.

I found a very interesting post in a blog I read occasionally which I think is very appropriate to this psalm as it encompasses work, children and parenting (specifically mothering) - here is a snippet....

the widespread exodus of mothers out of the home have implications we can barely grasp. A societal problem is never a symptom of just one disease, but it’s hard to think of a more destructive shift than that of mothers leaving her domestic realm in droves.

And here is where tomatoes are thrown. Which is why so few people are willing to say what needs to be said…that mothers have a full time, very important job already and when they abdicate that responsibility, we all pay for it.

“It’s my business”. Actually, it’s not. The character of a child, multiplied exponentially, becomes the character of society. That affects me greatly. It affects you. It affects us on a personal level when we are left in the wake of familial distress, and it affects us on a much larger level as we deal with economic effects and the influences of those who lead our country. We do not live autonomously!

So back around….dear mothers, we have a hard job. Some days I feel like giving up. I’m sure you do too. It would be easier to let someone else do this work. But it’s not about what’s easiest. It’s about what’s best. For us, for them and for everyone. You’re not just feeding babies, or keeping a clean house or sweeping up Cheerios.

Every little moment you are planting, watering and weeding around those tender seeds of character which will one day either grow to flourish and give life all around it, or become a needy, sucking vacuum that depletes the life around it.

Rule your realm.

As of tomorrow we're moving into the Proverbs. It's going to be really hard to cover 4 chapters per day here - you could literally focus on one verse per day! Definitely different verses will jump out at each of us - could provide some good discussion and insight.

Tomorrow's passage: Proverbs 1-4

May 25 - Miriam

Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is 2 Chron. 8:1-18; 1 Kings 9:15 - 10:13; 2 Chron. 9:1-12; 1 Kings 10:14-29; 2 Chron. 9:13-28; and 2 Chronicles 1:14-17.  For less flipping - 1 Kings 9:15 - 10:29 and 2 Chron. 8:1 - 9:28; 2 Chron. 1:14-17.

One reads or hears it alluded to occasionally about King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba having had an affair, or having been married, or having had a son together.  I've never done any research about it, as it has little relevance for me, but I was interested upon seeing that her visit was included in today's passage, to see what it said about this in the Bible.  It was a rather dry account, actually - of some interest, but not overly illuminating.  I did a little Googling and it seems that the Bible and the Qu'ran (or Koran) both have similar accounts about the meeting of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.  It would seem that the main source of the "rumours" (if you want to call them that thousands of years later) is the Ethiopian account, which claims that the son of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba founded a royal dynasty that ruled over Ethiopia for 2900+ years (reference from Wikipedia; other internet sources).  A little sketchy, in my opinion, but apparently they have a detailed account of the relationship. 

Regardless of all that, it would seem obvious that they did, in fact, meet and converse together.  I would assume that her visit was a lengthy one, given the fact that best estimates put the journey from where she lived to Jerusalem at 6 months travel by camel each way.  One doesn't travel on a camel for six months, stay for a week, and then leave again for another 6-month trek. 

The thing that stood out to me was the verse that said "Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for him to explain to her."  In the little bit of reading I did about her, it says that not only did she rule her kingdom, which was reputedly large, although what exactly it encompassed is a matter of some debate, but she was also interested in astronomy and philosophy.  It would indicate that she was an intelligent woman.  I also read that at the time riddles were a common thing for people to engage in, whether as game-play or a passtime, or for purposes of determining someone's knowledge or ignorance, or maybe all of the above.  Some of the accounts I read mentioned her asking him not only all types of questions, but many riddles as well.  And he was able to answer all her questions.  I am DREADFUL at riddles, and I can't even answer all of my boys' questions, and they are 3 and 5!  Now some of that is because I can't explain something to them in a way they are currently capable of comprehending, but sometimes, I just don't know.  It seems obvious that King Solomon definitely was blessed or gifted with considerably more knowledge and wisdom than the common man.  When God gives a gift, he gives abundantly!

Tomorrow's reading is 1 Kings 4:1-34; Psalm 72 and Psalm 127.

May 24th

Today's passage from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is 1 Kings 8:54-66; 2 Chronicles 7:1-10; 1 Kings 9:1-9; 2 Chronicles 7:11-22; 1 Kings 9:10-14 or 1 Kings 8:54-9:14 and 2 Chronicles 7

Today's passage consists of Solomon's prayer for the people, the dedication of the temple and God's second appearance to Solomon.

I'd like to focus on both Solomon's prayer and God's word to Solomon.

Solomon's prayer is a great pattern for our own prayers....

1) Plea for God's presence. May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our fathers; may he never leave us nor forsake us. 1 Kings 8:57
2) Pray for the desire to do God's will in everything. May he turn our hearts to him 1 Kings 8:58a
3) Pray for the desire and ability to obey God. to walk in all his ways and to keep the commands, decrees and regulations he gave our fathers. 1 Kings 8:58b
4) Pray for help with each day's need. that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day's need 1 Kings 8:59
5) Pray for the spread of God's kingdom to the entire world so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other. 1 Kings 8:60

It actually bears some strong similarities to the Lord's prayer....

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses As we forgive those who trespass against us And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever and ever Amen

Solomon's prayer is followed by a very strong reminder - But your hearts must be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time. 1 Kings 8:61

Solomon's warning to the people is virtually the same as God's message is to Solomon when He appears before him again. God reminds Solomon of the blessings that will come with obedience as well as the consequences of disobedience.

And, of course, both God's words and Solomon's prayer for the people, are totally applicable to us today. Following God brings blessings and rewards (not necessarily material) and turning away from Him brings suffering, punishment and eventually destruction. We need to choose daily to follow God.

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23

Unfortunately, as we know, Solomon did not heed God's words, or take his own advice. Sin is deceptively attractice. If the wisest man in the world can fall prey to Satan's trickery, no one is unsusceptible. We must always be prepared to fight this spiritual battle, and to support each other and pray for each other, as the body of Christ.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world
and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Therefore put on the full armor of God,
so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground,
and after you have done everything, to stand.
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,
with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,
with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Ephesians 6:10-18

Tomorrow's passage: 2 Chronicles 8:1-18, 1 Kings 9:15-10:13, 2 Chronicles 9:1-12, 1 Kings 10:14-29, 2 Chronicles 9:13-28, 2 Chronicles 1:14-17 or, with less flipping, 1 Kings 9:15-10:29, 2 Chronicles 8:1-9:28, 2 Chronicles 1:14-17

Sunday- Guest Post by Mrs. Oz

Today's passage from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is: 1 Kings 8:1-11, 2 Chronicles 5:1-14, 1 Kings 8:12-21, 2 Chronicles 6:1-11, 1 Kings 8:22-53, 2 Chronicles 6:12-42. For less flipping read 1 Kings 8:1-53 and 2 Chronicles 5-6.

I read these passages and enjoyed them but just could not zero in on what was worth highlighting or expounding upon. So, I read them again (well, at least one of the versions of them as they do pretty much duplicate). As I read I realized I was starting to think of the prayer as it applied to me, the temple of the Holy Spirit. What got me thinking this was the commentary on Solomon's prayer by Matthew Henry, specifically his opening comments on the prayer:

"In this excellent prayer, Solomon does as we should do in every prayer; he gives glory to God. Fresh experiences of the truth of God's promises call for larger praises. He sues for grace and favour from God. The experiences we have of God's performing his promises, should encourage us to depend upon them, and to plead them with him; and those who expect further mercies, must be thankful for former mercies. God's promises must be the guide of our desires, and the ground of our hopes and expectations in prayer."

The New Covenant gives us a whole, further developed and incredibly more intimate meaning of "the temple" of God. It makes Solomon's statement even more incredible as well:

"But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!"

Not only is it mind blowing that Almighty God would choose to dwell on little, tiny earth (in comparison to the massive universe and again, this is making me have Louis Giglio flashbacks:), and not only in a GLORIOUS, ASTOUNDING temple, but in me and you! The Spirit dwells in men now who have repented and turned to Him. So, I thought it worth reading Solomon's prayer again thinking of it in the light of the temple of the body. It does not all apply so the parts that don't I've left out and the others I've embellished to gain the picture without changing the truth of the overall message. I'll start in verse 27 of the prayer and I've highlighted changes. Every time you read "temple" refer to yourself.

"But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple (you) have built! Yet give attention to your servant's prayer and his plea for mercy, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day. May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which you said, 'My Name shall be there,' so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays (for) this place. Hear the supplication of your servant when (I) pray (for) this (temple). Hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.
(omitted vs.32)
"When (I) have been defeated by an enemy because (I) have sinned against you, and when (I) turn back to you and confess your name, praying and making supplication to you in this temple, then hear from heaven and forgive (my) sin and bring (me) back to (my inheritance in you).
"When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because (I) have sinned against you, and when (I) pray (for) this (temple) and confess your name and turn from (my) sin because you have afflicted (me), then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servant. Teach (me) the right way to live, and send rain on (me) (blessing me again because of my) inheritance.
"When (bad things, or hard times) comes to the (me), or (loss), or (disaster) or when an enemy besieges (me) in any of (my) (dwellings), whatever disaster or disease may come, and when a prayer or plea is made by (me or believers around me)— aware of the afflictions of (my) own heart, and spreading out (my) hands toward this temple- then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive and act; deal with (me) according to all (I do), since you know (my) heart for you alone know the hearts of all men, so that they will fear you all the time they live (remembering their inheritance in you too).
As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people but has come from a distant land because of your name- for men will hear of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm—when he comes and (acknowledges you and seeks you because of) this temple, then hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do (I), and may know that this house (you) have built bears your Name.
"When (I) go to war against (my) enemies, wherever you send (me), and when (I) pray to the LORD (regarding) the temple (you) have built for your Name, then hear from heaven (my) prayer and (my) plea, and uphold (my) cause.
"When (I) sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with (me) and give (me) over to (the consequences of my actions), (which) captiv(ate and imprison me) , far away or near; and if (I) have a change of heart (while being) held captive, and repent and plead with you in (this state of burden) and (I) say, '(I) have sinned, (I) have done wrong, (I) have acted wickedly'; and if (I) turn back to you with all (my) heart and soul, and pray to you (remembering my inheritance in you), toward the (dwelling) you have chosen and the temple (you) have built for your Name; then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear (my) prayer and (my) plea, and uphold (my) cause. And forgive (me), who (has) sinned against you; forgive all the offenses (I) have committed against you, and to show (me) mercy; for (I) (am) your(s) and your inheritance, whom you brought out of (sin), out of that iron-smelting furnace.
"May your eyes be open to your servant's plea, and may you listen to (me) whenever (I) cry out to you. For you (chose) (me) to be your own inheritance, just as you declared through your servant Moses when you, O Sovereign LORD, brought our fathers out of Egypt."

I tried, like I said to keep it very accurate. It was significant to read it this way for me, I hope it is for you.
Tomorrow's passage is: 1 Kings 8:54-66; 2 Chronicles 7:1-10; 1 Kings 9:1-9; 2 Chronicles 7:11-22; 1 Kings 9:10-14

May 22nd

Today's reading from One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is 1 Kings 7 and 2 Chronicles 3:15-4:22

Today's passage focuses on the building of Solomon's palace as well as the furnishings for the temple.

It mentions that it took 7 years to build the temple and 13 years to build the palace. This does not necessarily mean that Solomon wanted his palace to be better than the temple. We need to keep in mind that there had been extensive preparations for the temple by King David, and none for the palace. As well, there was some urgency in the building of the temple - trying to get it done as quickly as they could. Again, this was not the case with the palace.

I think it shows that Solomon's priorities were in the right place by building the temple first.

Solomon constructs all the details of the temple as per God's instructions. There are numerous cases in the Bible where people failed to follow all God's instructions and paid the price for their incomplete obedience, which is the same as disobedience. Things were done the way God wanted it done.

I think that's something that's really important for us to remember about how we live our lives today. It doesn't matter if we think that something is the right thing to do. Our standard of right and wrong needs to come from God's word. Anything short of that is simply unreliable, unstable guess work.

Tomorrow's passage: 1 Kings 8:1-11, 2 Chronicles 5:1-14, 1 Kings 8:12-21, 2 Chronicles 6:1-11, 1 Kings 8:22-53, 2 Chronicles 6:12-42. For less flipping read 1 Kings 8:1-53 and 2 Chronicles 5-6

May 21 ~ tammi

Today's passages from the One-Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan are 1 Kings 3:16-28, 1 Kings 5:1-18, 2 Chronicles 2:1-18 and 1 Kings 6:1-13, 2 Chronicles 3:1-14, 1 Kings 6:14-38.

Today's passages contain the intriguing story of Solomon's startling "cut the baby in half" verdict that seems to establish in everyone's mind that God has, indeed, blessed him with great wisdom, but the reading focuses mainly on the building of the great temple in Jerusalem. The permanent place of worship that the Israelites have dreamed of having since they left Egypt almost 500 years earlier; the one David had all the plans for, but wasn't allowed to construct because of all the blood on his hands.

It must have been an incredible structure!!

What's really quite extraordinary (you know, other than its size, its decor, its building materials... and oh yeah, the fact that it was designed by GOD HIMSELF!) is that the rocks were all prepared at the quarry so that no hammers or chisels were needed at the actual building site ~ someone on that jobsite had some mad math skillz!! That requires serious precision!

As the daughter of a home-builder, I can recall countless times my dad came home annoyed that the company comissioned to design and construct the rafters hadn't made them the right size. This was a constant source of frustration for him! Partly because it slowed him down, but partly because my dad just happens to BE a math genius. He would have preferred to design and create the trusses himself (because then they would have been done perfectly the first time!), but of course, that would have cost the client more, so it usually didn't happen that way.

So I can really appreciate how detailed and precise the plans for this temple must have been, and how very carefully they were followed by the stone masons. David Guzik explains the significance of the 'silent' building site:

i. This speaks to the way God wants His work done. The temple had to be built with human labor. God did not, and would not, send a team of angels to build the temple. Yet Solomon did not want the sound of man's work to dominate the site of the temple. He wanted to communicate, as much as possible, that the temple was of God and not of man.

ii. This speaks to the way God works in His people. Often the greatest work in the Kingdom of God happens quietly. Yet the building site of the temple was only quiet because there was a lot of noise and diligent work at the quarry.

iii. This speaks to God's work in the church. "But why is this so particularly marked? Is it not because the temple was a type of the kingdom of God; and the souls of men are to be prepared here for that place of blessedness? There, there is no preaching, exhortations, repentance, tears, cries, nor prayers; the stones must be all squared and fitted here for their place in their New Jerusalem." (Clarke)

What a great picture of the way God is working in our lives now ~ hammering and chiseling away at us while we're still in the quarry, shaping and sanctifying us...


...so that someday, when we enter the eternal House of God, we will be exactly the way He designed us. Perfect and holy, fit for permanent residence in His glorious presence.








Tomorrow's passages: 1 Kings 7:1-51 and 2 Chronicles 3:15-4:22.