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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Saturday, 22 October 2022:
1 Kings 2:3 — Keep the charge of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn.
David’s dying wish for his son was that he would obey God. Compare this to the king’s summation of life in Ecclessiastes: “Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:12-14) Also, compare this with Joshua’s formula for life success: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8) Finally, compare David’s wish for his son with the secret of Ezra’s success: “…for the good hand of his God was on him. For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.” (Ezra 7:8-10) How important is it for you to know God’s word, obey God’s word, and teach God’s word?
1 Kings 2:5, 6 — Moreover, you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner the son of Ner, and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, avenging in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war, and putting the blood of war on the belt around his waist and on the sandals on his feet. Act therefore according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.
David asked Solomon to settle the score with Joab (and Shimei), something David never had the moral courage to do himself. Your inheritance to the next generation should not be problems you refused to solve.
1 Kings 2:8, 9 – “And there is also with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse on the day when I went to Mahanaim. But when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord, saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’ Now therefore do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down with blood to Sheol.”
David never really forgave Shimei the son of Gera, though outwardly he presented grace — “And the king said to Shimei, ‘You shall not die.’ And the king gave him his oath.” (2 Samuel 19:23) Have you ever offered forgiveness but inwardly harbored resentment? True forgiveness and grace is from the heart. God judges the heart. Don’t expect grace and forgiveness from God when you refuse to give it to others from your heart, not superficial forgiveness but wholehearted, complete forgiveness – “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14-15)
1 Kings 2:17 — Give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.
Adonijah’s request revealed his ambition to be king over Solomon. His requests to the king exposed what was really in his heart. Similarly, our prayers before the Lord reveal what is really most important to us. Jesus said, “Whatever you ask in my name [in accordance with my will], this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:13) Do your prayers requests reveal what God wants or what you want? Is your desire “thy will be done,” or “my will be done”? When you want what God wants, God will absolutely give you what you want, your prayers will be answered in the affirmative. When your prayers are misaligned with God’s will, He will use the conversation to change your heart. Either way, your prayers are essential to your relationship. Communication is key to any relationship.
1 Kings 2:22 — And why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also….
Adonijah, by asking for Abishag, was actually attempting to leverage more political power against Solomon. Solomon saw through this ploy, realizing that Adonijah could never be trusted. Again, our prayers reveal weather or not we want to be the king of our lives or serve the King of our lives. There can be only one sovereign.
1 Kings 2:32 — The LORD will bring back his bloody deeds on his own head.
Again the biblical theme — God treats you the way you treat others.
1 Kings 2:32 — He attacked and killed with the sword two men more righteous and better than himself.
Just because you are righteous doesn’t mean God will protect you from persecution, even death. Your reward is fellowship with Jesus, now and forever more. Isn’t that enough to make your joy complete?
1 Kings 2:36-46 — Again, Solomon did not just exact revenge on Shimei but rather sought justice and mercy, giving Shimei a chance to prove himself. Shimei failed the test. One might use this outcome to justify David’s lack of forgiveness, but David had condemned Shimei prematurely.
Listen to this message on Psalm 121 delivered by Voddie Baucham: https://www.blueletterbible.org/audio_video/popPlayer.cfm?type=sa&id=92113168394&rel=SermonAudio/Baucham,%20Voddie
Psalm 121:2 – My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Faith comes from a true understanding and appreciation of who God is and what He has promised. If you have placed your trust in the Creator of all things who has promised to love you, what do you have to worry about?
Proverbs 22:1 — A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.
You must choose character over prosperity. Character may bring you prosperity, but prosperity will not bring you character.
Proverbs 22:3 – The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.
Inevitable consequences are not hard to predict or see coming if you are willing to listen to wisdom.
Proverbs 22:4 – The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.
God will honor humility. Daniel, along with many others in the Bible, demonstrated this truth as you will read.
Proverbs 22:6 – Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
God will train you up in the way you should go. You won’t always like the training, but you will rejoice over the outcomes. Following the example of our Loving Father, parents play a critical role in God’s plan and must train their children for Christlikeness.
During your formative years, did your parents train you in godliness (discipleship)? If not, your battle against ingrained habits of sinfulness is more difficult, but fortunately, the Holy Spirit empowers you to have the fruit of self-control. Don’t convince yourself that you can’t help what you do. On another note, what habits are you instilling in your children which will form the way they think and act? Is God’s word the beginning and end of your conversations?
Proverbs 22:7 – The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
You cannot be a wholly faithful servant to God if you have made yourself a slave to men. Jesus was clear that no one can serve two masters. If you are in financial debt, a portion of your labors no longer resources God’s work but rather another kingdom’s agenda, and you have limited what you can do for the Lord. God does not want His people to be enslaved by debt. Avoid all debt because God’s people should not be slaves to the world.
Proverbs 22:9 — Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
Do you have a bountiful eye that brings you blessings? God blesses the giver – it’s a promise. Conversely, Proverbs 22:16 explains that that path the poverty is to oppress the poor in order to serve yourself.
Proverbs 22:11 – He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.
Your mouth reflects what is in your heart and affects all your relationships. Gracious speech is the mark of a pure heart.
Proverbs 22:15 – Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
Punishment provides incentive where you lack self-discipline. This is for your own good and the good of those who would be victimized by your selfishness. It is always better to have internal discipline than to get external discipline.
Proverbs 22:19 – That your trust may be in the Lord….
This is humility and faith. You will not trust who you do not know and love. Proverbs says that the Bible was given to you that you would grow to know Jesus, to love Him, and to trust Him. Pour into your Bible daily and grow in humility, faith, hope, and love. Remember, the goal of the Bible is not to make you more moral and successful, it is to bring you into oneness with Jesus and conformity to His image, that you would truly “know” Him and make Him known.
Proverbs 22:21 – …to make you know what is right and true, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?
The Bible is provided to show you what is “right and true,” but it is also provided so you can share with others what is right and true.
Proverbs 22:26 – Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts.
Avoid getting entangled in commitments to the ungodly. Don’t make promises you cannot keep.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 22 October 2022: Make your top priority today to forgive anyone in your life you haven’t forgiven and to ask for forgiveness from anyone you have offended, whether they know it or not.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 