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.”
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.
Oh to have the courage & anointing of the man in Addis Abba! In many countries today, the situation is similar. To speak out the Truth can (& often does) bring imptisonment & even death. Lord, give us Your Wisdom to accomplish Your plans. So much turmoil in the world & in our cities today.
The good news is spread one person at a time. Some plant, some water, but God causes the seed to grow.
Please, Lord God, give us courage and boldness to go, preach, and make disciples.
That is your will and mission for your church, Father, and You also tell us whatever we ask according to your will, You will do. So we ask that You will open the doors for your gospel to go out, that You will give us the words to speak, that we will present your gospel clearly, and that You will be glorified in and through your church throughout the world. We praise You, dear Father, because You are incomparably great!
In Jesus’s eternally-gracious name, amen
It only takes a spark…
https://youtu.be/uXkrpPoL9JQ
Amen Rob, thank you for that song, yes “it only takes a spark to get the fire going”
Amen
I have a prayer request for the healing and complete restoration for my Uncle Bill. Please, will you pray for him.
May God Bless you !
Diane 🙂
Please, Lord God, heal and restore Bill, as You have done for so many. Be glorified in this family, we ask in Jesus’s great and loving name, amen
Amen, agreeing in prayer with you for your Uncle Bill, for the Lord’s Highest and Best in his life, thank you Jesus!!
Correction, agreeing with Bob’s prayer for Diane;s Uncle Bill!
TY Lord that we can come to You with ALL our needs and concerns! Lord You healed the blind man, the leper, You healed broken hearts when You walked on earth! we TY Lord! we TY over and over!
We bring Diane’s Uncle Bill to You Lord for complete healing and restoration from the tip of his head to the bottom of his feet! We pray and command in Jesus Name for healing and restoration to come into Uncle Bill’s life! May he feel completely healed! May everyone give You, Lord, all the GLORY, HONOUR,PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING!
You Lord God our Healer and Provider and You desire that we are happy and healthy! TY Lord, TY amen amen amen
Wow! Amen! God is good! He is still our Healer!
May the Mainse family be greatly blessed this day! May all who have ever posted a blog be greatly blessed! May all who have health issues be healed today in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord and Saviour! May all who are waiting for test results hear “good news” May God bless all who have families; May God bless and keep safe all who are traveling; May God give strength to those in the Missions fields; serving the Lord in any way they are able!
May God bless our leaders in our homes,churches, our communities, our provinces, our country and our neighbours in other countries! Lord bless these leaders with wisdom, with grace, with humbleness….
TY Lord for this day; forgive us our sins we we have forgive those who have sinned against us!
Help us Lord to be a blessing to others!
In Jesus Name amen
Thank you SAH, what a beautiful prayer…. I joined in praying with you!
Thank you Sah for this beautiful prayer.
God bless you.
Amen
Joined in prayer with you Pastor David; thank you for the photos.
Life is made up of choices, both good or bad; There truly is wisdom in those who have been there, breaking ground, so to speak.
I pray this Lord’s Day was a blessed one for all;
The message brought forth in our service was on “discouragement” and what it is and how to be lifted out of it. Discouragement comes from disappointments in the past. Cure for discouragement “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” Prov. 3:5-7″
“turn your scars, into stars” “rejoice in the Lord always” “give thanks”
“pray without ceasing”