WISDOM
Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 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).
In Jerusalem, attached to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, is the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Here, an Ethiopian nun does bead work to support her church.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 9:23
And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
The people of Ethiopia believe that their Queen, the Queen of Sheba, who visited Solomon, became pregnant as a result of a relationship between her and King Solomon. Menelik, their son, became their first great King, and the people converted to the religion of Judaism as a result. A New Testament reading for today may be the story of the Ethiopian who was the minister of finance for another “Queen of Sheba” whose name was Candace (Acts 8:26-40). The Ethiopian treasurer, who was Jewish, had made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and on his way back home God miraculously brought the Deacon Philip to witness to him of Jesus. He was reading from the Prophet Isaiah as he travelled, probably Isaiah 53, and as Philip explained God’s plan of salvation, the official believed in Jesus and was baptized. As a result, the Church of Ethiopia was born. A majority of the Jewish people in that country became Christian. It is so to this day.
What a sad turn of events in the second chapter of today’s reading. There are some things one can only learn by living long enough. Solomon’s advisors were probably in their sixties and seventies. By ignoring their advice, King Rehoboam lost the ten northern tribes, and the Kingdom was divided. War between the north and the south was narrowly avoided. How sad! Our choices have consequences! Let us choose to pray fervently as David and Solomon did. There is no record of Rehoboam praying for wisdom, as did his father. Instead of asking God for guidance, King Rehoboam asked his boyhood friends for counsel and followed their advice. The history of Israel is proof of the consequences of poor choices.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I pray for the wisdom to listen carefully to the guidance of those who pray much and who know how to hear Your answers to their prayers for wisdom. I need You every day to provide me with an understanding of Your will in all things. In Jesus’ Name I ask for Your wisdom, Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Someone has said that every movement for good or evil in the history of the world can be traced to the decision of one person. Rehoboam’s decision to listen to friends of his age rather than the elders of Israel resulted in the beginning of the disintegration of a great nation. The decisions of Philip and the Ethiopian treasurer resulted in good things.
When Crossroads ministry took on the challenge of helping the Ethiopian people during the famine of the 1980s, I had many experiences that impacted my life. One of these was standing on a street in Addis, the capital city, and hearing a young priest calling the people back to God. He said that the government had turned away from the God of their fathers to communism and atheism, and the famine was God’s judgment as a result. Whether this was true or not, God knows. However, I was tremendously impressed by the fearlessness of that young man. I do believe that God heard the prayers of the Ethiopian people, and a part of His provision was that the partners and viewers of 100 Huntley Street responded so very generously. Canada’s ambassador to Ethiopia at the time said in a speech to the Empire Club at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto, “100 Huntley Street and their supporters saved the lives of at least 50,000 people from death by starvation.” On pages 77, 78 & 79 of my book, This Far By Faith, there is an amazing Ethiopian story. I would like to see this book in the hands of as many people as possible (click here for ordering).
Yours for seeking diligently for God’s will in our decisions,
David
Beyond the courtyard of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Jerusalem, you can see the steeple of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
One of the doorways into the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
Thank you for the wealth of information in today’s message, David. Thank you saints for your gracious prayers.
Psalm 106:9 He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.
Heb. 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
A Red Sea Place
Have you come to the Red Sea place in your life,
Where in spite of all you can do,
There is no way out, there is no way back,
There is no other way but through?
Then wait on the Lord with a trust serene
Till the night of your fear is gone;
He will send the wind, He will heap the floods,
When He says to your soul “Go on.”
And His hand will lead you through – clear through –
Ere the watery walls roll down,
No foe can reach you, no wave can touch,
No mightiest sea can drown;
The tossing billows may rear their crests,
Their foam at your feet may break,
But over their bed you shall walk dryshod
In the path that your Lord will make.
In the morning watch, ‘neath the lifted cloud,
You shall see but the Lord alone,
When He leads you on from the place of the sea,
To a land that you have not known;
And your fears shall pass as your foes have passed,
You shall no more be afraid;
You shall sing His praise in a better place,
A place that His hand has made.
Annie Johnson Flint
Thanks for the very nice poem, I wish I had the type of mind that I could commit it to memory, it’s very uplifting.
Hope you’re feeling better today Beverlee .
Enjoyed the song you posted yesterday and poem on the Red Sea
today. Just wanted to let you know that you are in my prayers as you deal with spinal problems and anticipated surgery. May God’s healing hand be upon you. Samuel
I Will Stand By YOU Rascal Flatts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrN7kxmhT2s
So amazing!!
Love the poem and song that you posted today Beverlee… Beautiful…
Bless you dear sister in Christ.
Surprising to me is the boats that went out and returned every three years with treasures including apes and baboons! I wonder what they wanted them for? Solomon had wonderful benefits from serving God at the time of this writing. I would like to have that wisdom not for the wealth so much as ability to make good choices.
I was wondering the same thing, I don’t think you can eat apes or baboons and they probably wouldn’t make very good pets
Blessings and prayers for all my fellow bloggers today.
You are right Pastor David. We have to be careful of our choices.! Consult God in ALL things.
I agree you are right David we have to be careful with our choices and follow what
God wants us to do. I hope you are feeling better today Beverlee God Bless every
one on our blog
Pray for wisdom…
Proverbs 4: 5-8 (King David is speaking to his sons)
Get wisdom, get understanding…
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you…
Obviously Solomon took this to heart…
To my knowledge there is no scripture suggesting that King Solomon taught his offspring similarly. To bad…
Lord Jesus I pray for your wisdom every day and in every moment. I ask this in your name. Amen!
Have a great day blog friends…
How true are your words Rev. David…the choices we make are of great importance…good or evil!! Thank you for this blog.
Thank you bloggers for your input and prayers.
Have a Blessed day in the Lord! Amen!!
In choosing…the greatest of choices is to turn to God, in all our ways to acknowledge Him and He will direct our path…Lord God my desire is to go your way in all my ways today and always. Keep my heart in tune with You Jesus…In Your Mighty Name I pray. Amen!!!
And may the Peace that passes all understanding guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Thank You Lord God Almighty. Amen!!
Thank you David for your admonition to seek wisdom in all our decisions. Love your poem Beverlee. God bless you dear sister as you seek Him concerning your operation. On my first trip to Israel, we went to an Ethiopian Church; our leader was the preacher and a dear Ethiopian sister beside me gave me her pillow to lean my head on, on the back of the chair ahead of me as I was so sick, I couldn’t hold my head up. Thought she was one of the refugees. Such kindness. Please pray for my brother-in-law John(Kathy’s husband) as he had his other hip replaced in Fredericton today. Thanks so much. Lastly, I can imagine Solomon wanting apes, baboons and perhaps big birds around his courtyard to entertain people. God bless all of you!
Lord I pray for John, for a quick recovery and perfect adjustment in the use of his hip; Jesus you are the greatest healer and I pray for your intervention on John’s behalf. Thank You Jesus!!!