Monthly Archives: May 2013

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

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SOLOMON IN ALL HIS GLORY (Luke 12:27)

Suggested Reading: 1 Kings 9-10

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

The Timna Valley is located in southern Israel in the southwestern Arabah, approximately 30 km north of the Gulf of Aqaba and the port city of Eilat, where Solomon built his fleet of ships for international trade. The area is rich in copper ore, and has been actively mined for at least 3000 years, from the time of Solomon onward. These great rocks are known as Solomon's Pillars.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: 1 Kings 9: 6 & 7a

But if you or your sons at all turn from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them; and this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight.

The first years of Solomon’s reign were glorious. He was busy leading his people into great prosperity, international fame, and peace in the then known world. In Europe, Greece and Rome were just beginning to emerge into prominence. Solomon had it made, except for the matter of obedience to God. God, knowing what would happen, was driving home the absolute necessity of obedience. In this most important matter, Solomon was a failure. Yes, we know that he loved God. In 1 Kings 3:3 we are told that Solomon “loved the Lord.” His actions in these early years would seem to prove that. However, there remained the issue of full obedience.
We do not obey God to get admission to Heaven; we obey God because our entrance into Heaven is secure. Jesus made it totally clear that those who really love Him are those who obey Him. He said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Let’s take a moment for a New Testament reading in John 14: 8-21.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I have sinned and come short of Your Glory. Forgive me for my disobedience. I humbly ask for more grace to obey You more fully than ever. In and through the One who always obeyed fully, my Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

When I visit Solomon’s Pillars (pictured above), my imagination is fired up with the thought of those early miners and the open smelters which were refining copper and other metals. When I visit Solomon’s chariot city of Megiddo, I can almost see the great stables full of huge war horses (pictured below). I’d like to encourage my blog participants to join me this Fall, November 12-26, if at all possible. God willing, we’ll travel to Israel. I’d love to spend those two weeks sharing in person with you at meal times, on the bus, or sitting in the hotel lobby. Let’s discuss the daily thoughts which I expect to be posting on my blog by 1:00 p.m. each day, Israel time (that’s 6:00 a.m. Ontario time). Bring your laptop computers. The hotels and the buses have WiFi. You can find the tour details here.

Have I shared that Norma-Jean and I have moved from our home north of Kingston into an apartment, 1100 square feet, in Burlington, Ontario? Don Simmonds, our Crossroads CEO, says he has lots of work for me to do here in Burlington as long as I have the strength. I want to obey God and those that He has put in authority in the Crossroads Ministry. Actually, I’m excited about the future opportunities, whatever they may be, to serve God well…God being my Helper.

Yours for obedience in doing all God has purposed, now and throughout eternity,

David

P.S. Below are pictures of Elat (“Elath”in our reading -1 Kings 9:26) and a model of Solomon’s chariot city of Megiddo.

Standing in Elat, Israel, looking across the Red Sea (the Gulf of Aqaba). Just beyond the hotel, which is in Israeli territory, you can see the mountains of Moab in Jordan.

Model of ancient Megiddo.