Friday,
The Lord appears to Solomon again. What choice will Solomon make this time?
The first time was in Gibeon where Solomon had gone to sacrifice and worship God. When God appeared to Solomon he gave him the option to ask for anything and that is when Solomon asked for wisdom – which btw pleased God. Now the Lord comes to Solomon again and tells him very plainly – He is pleased with the Temple, and with Solomon as long as Solomon walks before God in uprightness as David did. This tells me that God is not expecting Solomon to be perfect, David certainly made his share of mistakes (murder, adultery…) But David never wavered in his love for God. He never worshiped any other Gods. So Solomon has the blessing from God that his father David had and God also warns him that should he not stay faithful, there will be consequences. What are they? Israel will be cut off from the land, God will reject the temple, disaster will come upon them and all who pass by will be appalled by what has happened. (Spoiler Alert – they don’t follow and He sends them into captivity). Actually by the end of the chapter (although 20 years have passed) Solomon starts to fall from grace. And God will keep his promise. It is something that we can be sure of. God always keeps his promises, whether blessings or curses. The choice for us is to be obedient and reap his blessings (eternal life with Him in Heaven) or suffer the consequences – eternal punishment.
This made me think of a song I learned in Sunday School (which was eons ago) “One door and only one and yet its sides are two, inside and outside on which side are you? I’m on the inside on which side are you?” So where do you stand?
Staying true to the Lord!
Pastor Kathy