Tag Archives: Solomon

Mar 24 2013

Basic Old Testament Facts (Part 1)

A couple of years ago, I was privileged to participate in a Bible study series that concentrated on revisiting and strengthening knowledge of basic Bible facts – literally just hitting the highlights.  Here is part 1 of an outline of part of the Old testament portion of that study that I find useful from time to time for reference.  I hope you find it useful as well.  We may do some more of this with the New Testament later on.

Here are some book and chapter citings, as well as dates of key Old Testament events

In part 2, we will attempt a one or two sentence description of the 39 books of the OT.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
image © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Feb 11 2013

Psalm 119:33-40; Psalm 14 – The Fool Says, There Is No God

heiToday’s reading of Psalm 119 is brought to you by the 5th letter of the Hebrew Aleph-Bet, “He” or “Hei.”   The numeric value is of course, five. The pictograph for Hey looks like a man with his arms raised ().  The meaning of the name “Hey” is “look,” or “behold!”

This stanza, or strophe, brings to us a thought which stands apart from the other eight verses – verse 37 “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things,” which points to the lust of the eyes that has been the ruin of men (and women) for all time.  Proverbs 23:31 warns of looking at wine “when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.”  Isaiah 33:15 reminds that a righteous man “shuts his eyes from looking on evil.”

Verse 36 is cited in  1 Kings 8:58, where Solomon gives his benediction prior to sacrifice before the new temple, and verse 38 may well be pointing to the Davidic promise of 2 Samuel 7:25.

Psalm 14 is almost identical to Psalm 53, and is a “wisdom” psalm in every sense of the word.  The way of the fool, who today would term himself an atheist, is what Coffman referred to when he wrote of the “judicial hardening of man.” What happens when men are hardened? (1) They are blinded (2 Corinthians 4:4), meaning that they are incapable of seeing or understanding the plainest truth. (2) ‘Their foolish heart (the scriptural heart is the mind) is darkened (Romans 1:21), with the meaning that an essential element of human intelligence has been judiciously removed by God Himself. (3) They become vain in their reasonings (Romans 1:21). (4) They become fools (Romans 1:22), and (5) God gives them up (Romans 1:22,26,28).

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Feb 8 2013

Psalms 20-21 – Trust in the Name of the Lord Our God

Megiddo - residence of Solomon's chariot commanders.

Megiddo – residence of Solomon’s chariot commanders.

Psalm 20 is clearly a battle hymn for David.  The suggestion of the absence of chariots and horses points to a time before Solomon (“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God“), for when know that Solomon as king had many of both (1 Kings 10:26). Verse 8′s continuation of the characterization of verse 7 (“They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright”) is a reference to the grace of God, rather than the might of his people.

Psalm 21 is can be divided into two sections at verse 7.  The first half deals with the king’s blessings in the face of his enemies.  The second half, beginning in verse 8 describes God’s vengeance upon them, and his “destroying them” in his wrath.  Verse 13 concludes with praise to God for his strength and power.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Jan 29 2013

Proverbs 12 – The Way of a Fool

Because of the nature of the book of Proverbs, and the impossibly of commenting on all of a single chapter in these short paragraphs,we choose to pick one or two verses on which to focus.. Please see our  previous post on study tips for Proverbs.

Today this blog will focus on a single short verse from chapter 12. verse 15 reads:

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.”  

This has been the plague of men (and women) since  time began; and the more learned we become the worse it gets.  During the cycle of the Judges 17:6 and 21:25 in Israel,  the text says “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”  The people would fall into apostasy over and over again until God rescued them and they would start the cycle all over again.   People worshiped their idols and turned away from God until things got so bad that they ended up crying out to him, and then he would save and deliver them.  This continued throughout the kingship of David and even the author of this book.

Even Solomon allowed the women that he turned to lead him into idolatry.  God often has tolerated foolishness by the self-deception of man since time immemorial and has allowed him to continue to make those kinds of mistakes because we have our own freedom to make our mistakes.The wise man listens to the advice and wisdom of our God, His son, and the Holy Spirit.

We are brought up in a world that teaches our children macro-evolution that we are no more than advanced animals that, this world is all there is, and that the Bible is little more than a book of fables.  So-called educated men make it their purpose in life to convince people who there is no purpose in life.  But His evidence is all around us, including His attributes (Romans 1:20).  We exchange the wisdom of God for the foolishness of man that we call wisdom, in order to justify our own unrighteousness and worship our own idols of sin and depravity (Romans 1:22-23). We tell the child there is no God and that he was foolish to believe there is and then we  wonder why so many lose heart and hope.

We must give true wisdom to our children though God’s word to combat the lies that this world tells them about who we are and where we come from; and teach them where they can go.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Jan 10 2013

Proverbs 8 – The Blessings of Wisdom

An Oxford degree ceremony — the Pro-Vice-Chanc...

An Oxford degree ceremony — the Pro-Vice-Chancellor in MA gown and hood, Proctor in official dress and new Doctors of Philosophy in scarlet full dress. Behind them, a bedel, another Doctor and Bachelors of Arts and Medicine. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Solomon begins by personifying Lady Wisdom further, summoning the reader to hear her call.  This is the ultimate of these chapters illuminating the two paths of wisdom and folly, or foolishness. The fact that the “fear of the Lord” is the beginning of all knowledge is again made infinitely plain in this chapter.  “She” begins by further developing the inclusion of righteousness as an integral part of wisdom (verses 6-9), the reasons for seeking it so earnestly (verses 10-11), and the benefits it provides mankind (verses 15-19).

She calls upon all the “children of man” (verse 4) – the simple, the fool, the learned – all who seek wisdom diligently will find it (verse 17).  But again, we are reminded of the difference between mere knowledge and true wisdom – the insight that comes to those who seek it without wickedness, who have prudence, who are just and seek justice, and those who abhor evil and are not full of pride, arrogance, and who avoid perverse speech.  True wisdom does not dwell in those who do not walk in the path that the Lord has made for us, no matter how “intelligent” that person may be.  Verses 8-9 make clear that only those who truly understand these facts will attain that wisdom, and that is so because those facts are clear for them to understand.  The unrighteous cannot have that understanding, and so they are denied true wisdom.

Verses 22 and following detail how wisdom “was” before God created the earth and all things universal, and how he delighted in his creation.  He created all things physical, all things invisible, and even the abstract.  There would not even be any concept of things such as beauty, love, truth, right, wrong, or even the concept of such things as a name or a number, but for the power of the Lord.  And Jesus, the Son, was there and is Himself that wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:22-24, 1 Cor 1:30, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Colossians 1:15-18).

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Jan 4 2013

Proverbs 4 – A Father’s Wise Instruction

Father reads the Scriptures from a scroll to his family as the mother prepares food to eat.

Father reads the Scriptures from a scroll to his family as the mother prepares food to eat.

A quick plea – not for money (this site takes in no revenue, and NEVER will).  We appreciate SO MUCH the WordPress members who click the “Like” button on this blog!  And we certainly want that to continue!  But after finding out we had reached people in 122 countries last year, we decided to give Facebook a try.  We won’t go so far as to say you might help save a soul by clicking the “Like us on Facebook” button you now find on the right side-bar, but it will help our exposure, and who knows what ways God uses us…?

The assumption by some that these words from Solomon were ever intended solely for his own sons is completely shattered in verse one.  In the same sentence that he calls upon the reader (“O sons”) to hear, just exactly what they are to hear is said to be “a father’s instruction” – not your father’s instruction.  He then goes on to say how he received his own instruction from his father.  The Book of Proverbs is replete with the conveyance of the importance of the instruction given to children by a father and a mother.  But the message here is more than that.  It is the timeless wisdom passed on through generations both by earthly father to father, and by our heavenly Father.  God has made Himself known to all, both by His word and through the knowledge that He reveals to us daily in the world He created (Romans 1:18-20, Psalm 19:1-2).

Verse 7 may seem difficult to understand at first, but it simply means that in order to acquire wisdom, we have to work at it.  We have knowledge freely available to us, but wisdom only comes from searching through that knowledge for understanding – insight – and applying it to our lives.  This is true of worldly wisdom, and of the wisdom that comes to us by reverence for our Creator (“fear of the Lord”).  The wisdom and understanding both comes from, and leads to, the pursuit of a righteous and godly way of living, increasing its effectiveness in our lives as we gain it (verses 10-13).

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Jan 2 2013

Proverbs 2 – The Value of Wisdom

English: Judgement of Solomon

English: Judgement of Solomon (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It is generally thought by many that Solomon in these verses that contain the words “my son” is addressing his direct offspring in particular.  While that may certainly be the case, it is good to remember that these are the Spirit-inspired words of God; and they are meant for sons (and daughters) descended from this Davidic line (and that of Abraham) which includes all Christians, as confirmed in Galatians 3:29.

The seeking of wisdom that is being referred to in the verses here is done by getting to know God by studying His word.  If we diligently and earnestly seek that knowledge like the treasure that it is (verse 4), we will gain the understanding that we need.  But it takes more than that – we must apply it to our lives – holding fast and cherishing our integrity like a treasure as well (verse 7), for it is that sort of life, coupled with the thirst for knowledge of Him, that will bring wisdom into our hearts and make that knowledge pleasant to our souls (verse 10).  If we live in an upright manner, with integrity (verse 21) , we will have a home – in heaven – forever.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Dec 31 2012

January 2013 Reading Schedule Posted!

A big thank you to all who have read this blog during 2012!  While this blog is certainly not ever going to be the most popular WordPress “hangout,” we did just receive some statistics that are encouraging.  For example, the post on Peter’s rescue in Acts 12 received 652 views in one day. Not what we expected in the first year!  Thank you!

Here is the link to the 2013 reading schedule for January (January 2013 Reading Schedule).  In 2013, this blog will focus on the “Wisdom Literature” with a unique approach to Proverbs, Psalms, Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, Job, and as a special was to end 2013 the last week in December, the Book of James (often referred to as the “Proverbs of the New Testament”).  The first two weeks (beginning tomorrow 01/01/2013) we will read the first 9 chapters of Proverbs.  Theses chapters introduce the book, and what we actually know as “proverbs” do not really begin until chapter 10.

Psalm 1, Verse 1 and 2 in Biblia Hebraica Stut...

Psalm 1, Verse 1 and 2 in Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

After those two weeks, we will settle into a schedule that adds variety to the five days per week of reading these books.  Each Monday in the first half of the year, we will read 8 verses of the longest chapter in the entire Bible – the 119th Psalm (with other, shorter Psalms included on many of those days).  This is a great Psalm that praises God and His word; and it is very rich in inspiration.  We will take a second look at these verses (and other Psalms) in the second half of the year from a fresh perspective. On Tuesdays, we will be reading from Proverbs with a similar approach.

On Wednesdays, we will be reading what are commonly called “lament” Psalms.  These are tremendously valuable in helping us with learning to call upon the Lord when life becomes very difficult, and even as tragedy and pain come our way.  Thursdays, we will read from the Book of Job, and on Fridays, we will be reading from other Psalms.

We will take a break at the end of June through July, and read through Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon in their entirety, gaining much value learning about life, service to God, and the relationship of husbands and wives to each other.  Then we will resume the previously outlined schedule.

We are looking forward to what promises to be a very rewarding experience in God’s word in 2013!

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Dec 30 2012

Looking to new Schedule \ Weeks 51 and 52 summaries posted

In Solomon's early years as king, when he built the Temple, he was a very godly man, offering a prayer of devotion to dedicate his finished Temple (1 Kings 8:22-61; 2 Chronicles 6:12--7:3).

In Solomon’s early years as king, when he built the Temple, he was a very godly man, offering a prayer of devotion to dedicate his finished Temple (1 Kings 8:22-61; 2 Chronicles 6:12–7:3).

In 2012, we have gone from the creation in Genesis to the end of Revelation studying the highlights of the Bible as the one story that it is (one chapter a day). What a year it has been!  This week, we will take a break from our reading in God’s word on Monday, and begin the new schedule of studying the “Wisdom Literature” in 2013 on New Year’s Day.  It is going to be a great year, and another very unique and, we trust, rewarding reading experience. We expect to see the completed schedule before Monday, and will post it then.  But we have reason to believe that we will start out in the Book of Proverbs.

We credit Solomon with the writing of Proverbs (we won’t debate the possibility of additional authors here), Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon in particular, but much “non-inspired” literature is attributed to this king as well.  And we know that to be fact from what we are told in passages such as 1 Kings 4:29-34.  This passage starts with the great wisdom that God gave him (“And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore) as a result of his request, which pleased the Lord (1 Kings 3:10-12).  Solomon reigned as king from about 970 – 931 B.C., and was the last king before the kingdom divided.

Summing Up

Each weekend, I post a small PDF of one week of chapter summaries (on the website’s “Summaries” page), current to the beginning of the previous week.  I have posted the summaries for Week 51 (December Week 3) and for Week 52 (December Week 4) of the schedule I have followed this year – the final two weeks for 2012!  The first of these short PDF documents contains condensed comments about Hebrews 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, and the second about Hebrews 11, and Revelation 4, 5, 21, and 22 with hyperlinks to the ESV version of each chapter for listening or reading, and join the summaries for other weeks already posted there.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
image © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Jun 12 2012

1 Kings 12 – The Kingdom Divided

Solomon’s son Rehoboam becomes king, but makes huge mistakes.  The life under Solomon had become hard labor – so much so that it seemed not much different from the slavery to Pharoah.  So the people come to Rehoboam asking him to lighten their load.  He foolishly listens to the counsel of the young men who had grown up with him, and ends up telling the people who had complained that he would make things harder for them (verses 13-14).  This also reminds of Pharoah’s response to Moses and Aaron in Exodus 5:1-21.

The United Kingdom of Solomon breaks up, with ...

The United Kingdom of Solomon breaks up, with Jeroboam ruling over the Northern Kingdom of Israel (in green on the map). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This leads to the division of the kingdom (verse 16).  Rehoboam tries to recover using his taskmaster, Adoram, but he is stoned to death and Rehoboam flees to Jerusalem.  Rehoboam assembles Judah and the tribe of Benjamin to try to regain the rest of the kingdom, but God sends word through Shemaiah for all the people not to fight against their relatives because “this thing is from me.”  So war is averted, and the people return to their homes.

But Jeroboam was fearful because the temple was in Jerusalem that people would return there to worship, and their hearts would be swayed to serve the house of David – Rehoboam.  So he fashioned golden calves and worship places at Dan and Bethel, telling the people (just as Aaron did in Exodus 32:4) “Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt” (verse 28).  He also appointed priests who were not Levites.  This idol worship would be their downfall, and lead to their later exile, as the their minds had already begun to confuse the one true God with the rites of idol worship.  Many perversely saw themselves as worshiping Jehovah through these idols!  He even instituted his own feast in verse 33.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.