Category: “Listening to God” Devotional

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=2Chronicles+010

 

2 Chronicles Chapter 10 (ESV)

1 Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. 2 And as soon as Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), then Jeroboam returned from Egypt. 3 And they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all Israel came and said to Rehoboam, 4 “Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke on us, and we will serve you.” …

13 And the king answered them harshly; and forsaking the counsel of the old men, 14 King Rehoboam spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.” 15 So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of affairs brought about by God that the Lord might fulfill his word, which he spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

16 And when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, “What portion have we in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Each of you to your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, David.” So all Israel went to their tents. 17 But Rehoboam reigned over the people of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah. 18 Then King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was taskmaster over the forced labor, and the people of Israel stoned him to death with stones. And King Rehoboam quickly mounted his chariot to flee to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

 

REFLECTION:

1. Listening to bad advice will lead to disaster. Rehoboam lost the opportunity to unite the kingdom because he abandoned the counsel of the old men who had stood before Solomon his father while he was alive, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him. He had two mistakes in seeking for advice: 1. He did not seriously consider the advice from those who knew the situation better; 2. He did not ask God for wisdom to discern which advice is better. We tend to follow the suggestion from those who have similar background and age with us because they feel the same way as us. Reflect what criteria you used in deciding which advice from those around you to follow.
2. Rehoboam tried to rule the kingdom with an iron fist and almost lost everything he had. The kingdom was divided because his motive was out of greed and power. He did not have to further control his people because he was already the king. His demand was not based on spiritual discernment but rather selfishness. We can see people who want to gain everything will lose miserably and end up gaining nothing. Reflect if you have greed in your life and how you can learn from the lesson of Rehoboam to let go.

 

PRAYER: 

Come before God humbly and meditate on His unmeasurable wisdom and give Him your praises. Ask God to place wise and godly people in your life who will give your positive influence. Ask God to remove the greed in your heart, teach you to rely on Him and not to seek self-benefit.

 

HYMN:

Christ Our Treasure – youtu.be/TnmxcmAYXgo?si=qEtdmnfB0XVr8oV4

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=2Chronicles+009

 

2 Chronicles Chapter 9 (ESV)

22 Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. 23 And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind. 24 Every one of them brought his present, articles of silver and of gold, garments, myrrh, spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year. 25 And Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots, and 12,000 horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 26 And he ruled over all the kings from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt. 27 And the king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stone, and he made cedar as plentiful as the sycamore of the Shephelah. 28 And horses were imported for Solomon from Egypt and from all lands.

29 Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, from first to last, are they not written in the history of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat? 30 Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. 31 And Solomon slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David his father, and Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.

 

REFLECTION:

1. Israel was prosperous when Solomon was king. Solomon was rich and honorable throughout his life manifesting God’s care for his people and Solomon himself. God’s faithfulness and love are manifested in peaceful times but Christians will also face difficult periods. The perseverance and hope of Christians in difficult periods reflect our faith and obedience to God. Through difficulties, God can also mold our lives manifesting His love for us at a deeper level.
2. As God’s people, we should know how to be in riches or in poverty; how to be in peace or in difficulties (Phil. 4:12). In any case, people should see our love for God through our lifestyle so that God will be glorified. Reflect whether your life is rich or poor? Peaceful or difficult? Could you lead a life glorifying God in any circumstances?

 

PRAYER:

Humbly come before the Lord and thank Him for all the smooth-going and difficulties. Thank Him for molding your life and providing all your needs. Commit to God that you are willing to stay close to Him and glorifying Him through any circumstances.

 

HYMN:

Rejoice – youtu.be/t19ISSmBQ-Q?si=AyF_exCYiIKpluN2

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=2Chronicles+008

 

2 Chronicles Chapter 8 (ESV)

11 Solomon brought Pharaoh’s daughter up from the city of David to the house that he had built for her, for he said, “My wife shall not live in the house of David king of Israel, for the places to which the ark of the Lord has come are holy.”

12 Then Solomon offered up burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of the Lord that he had built before the vestibule, 13 as the duty of each day required, offering according to the commandment of Moses for the Sabbaths, the new moons, and the three annual feasts—the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Booths. 14 According to the ruling of David his father, he appointed the divisions of the priests for their service, and the Levites for their offices of praise and ministry before the priests as the duty of each day required, and the gatekeepers in their divisions at each gate, for so David the man of God had commanded. 15 And they did not turn aside from what the king had commanded the priests and Levites concerning any matter and concerning the treasuries.

16 Thus was accomplished all the work of Solomon from the day the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid until it was finished. So the house of the Lord was completed.

 

REFLECTION:

1. Solomon carefully obeyed God’s will in building the temple and offering sacrifice but he disobeyed God’s command forbidding him to enter into marriage with foreign women and thus turned away from God (1 Kings 11:1-2). No matter how spiritual we may think our life is, a little disobedience from God will steer us to the path of destruction.
2. Be vigilant in every aspect of your life especially in your relationship with people and not to leave any chance for sin. Reflect on the principle that a small leak will sink a great ship. Do not belittle any sin no matter how small you think it is.

 

PRAYER: 

Ask God to examine your heart to see if there is any sin you think is trivial or hidden? If there is, repent and ask God for forgiveness. Ask God to mold your life so that you will break away from the bad habits in your life and obey God in all things.

 

HYMN:

Psalm 51 (Have Mercy On Me, O God) – youtu.be/0LxJ52urGB8?si=NBps6CasmUPaHoCT

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=2Chronicles+007

 

2 Chronicles Chapter 7 (ESV)

1 As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 2 And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord’s house. 3 When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” …

11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord and the king’s house. All that Solomon had planned to do in the house of the Lord and in his own house he successfully accomplished. 12 Then the Lord appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice.

 

REFLECTION:

1. It symbolized God’s presence when fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. In Lev. 9:22-24, when Aaron offered the first sacrifice in the tabernacle, fire also came down from heaven. This is the true meaning of temple dedication because only God has the cleansing power to consecrate the utensils. Reflect in your daily life if you are always with God, fill with His glory?
2. After Solomon’s prayer for temple dedication (Ch. 6), it could be a few months or a few years for the construction to complete gradually (7:11). At this time, God told Solomon that He had listened to his prayer. People often expect God to listen to their prayer immediately. If we do not see any effect, we will doubt whether God has listened to our prayer. Indeed, God listens and He also provides. We should trust that God will answer our prayer at a suitable time. Reflect how many of your prayers were answered by God? How many were not answered? Did you wait for God’s answer with patience?

 

PRAYER:

Meditate on God’s holiness and your impurity. Ask God to refine you as refining gold so that you will keep moving forward towards the goal of holiness. Call to God for an unanswered prayer and ask Him to give you patience and obedience in waiting for His will.

 

HYMN:

A Mighty Fortress – youtu.be/6h3Z-JXKK44?si=p6h8K46ACuxaLCCK

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=2Chronicles+006

 

2 Chronicles Chapter 6 (ESV)

4 And he said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who with his hand has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to David my father, saying, 5 ‘Since the day that I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, that my name might be there, and I chose no man as prince over my people Israel; 6 but I have chosen Jerusalem that my name may be there, and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.’ 7 Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 8 But the Lord said to David my father, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart. 9 Nevertheless, it is not you who shall build the house, but your son who shall be born to you shall build the house for my name.’ 10 Now the Lord has fulfilled his promise that he made. For I have risen in the place of David my father and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and I have built the house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 11 And there I have set the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord that he made with the people of Israel.”

 

REFLECTION:

1. Solomon mobilized vast amount of labour and money, and spent a long time to finish building the temple. With this achievement, he could rightly be proud of the labour and effort he contributed. However, Solomon did not take the credit to gain worldly glory but he humbly admitted the temple belonged completely to God. He further emphasized that building the temple was not according to his own plan but rather fully following the sovereign will of God. In fact, every detail of temple construction was under God’s supervision.
2. We should treat ourselves similarly today. When we achieved expected results, we should know that they did not come from our ability or diligence, and we should give glory and praises to God because He is the true reason for all the achievements. Reflect if you have some achievements that satisfied you? Do you really believe these achievements were obtained without God’s hand at work? Give all the glory to God!

 

PRAYER:

Humbly come before God and give Him the glory and praises for your achievements. Ask God to continue to guide you, use you, and help you live a Christ-centred life that will glorify Him.

 

HYMN:

All My Boast Is In Jesus – youtu.be/lHFavEvdYBI?si=3Ao6SpvaQBb2Dw2i

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=2Chronicles+005

 

2 Chronicles Chapter 5 (ESV)

1 Thus all the work that Solomon did for the house of the Lord was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, and stored the silver, the gold, and all the vessels in the treasuries of the house of God.

2 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers’ houses of the people of Israel, in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion…

7 Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the Most Holy Place, underneath the wings of the cherubim. 8 The cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, so that the cherubim made a covering above the ark and its poles. 9 And the poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the Holy Place before the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen from outside. And they are there to this day. 10 There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets that Moses put there at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the people of Israel, when they came out of Egypt. 11 And when the priests came out of the Holy Place (for all the priests who were present had consecrated themselves, without regard to their divisions, 12 and all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, their sons and kinsmen, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, stood east of the altar with 120 priests who were trumpeters; 13 and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord), and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord,

“For he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever,”

the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.

 

REFLECTION:

1. Why was Solomon so focused on the temple? First the temple is a symbol of God’s sovereignty. Through the temple, God made Jerusalem the centre of worship so that future generations will keep their pure faith unchanged. At the same time, the temple is also a symbol of God’s holiness. People will respect God when they see the beauty of the temple; this is a similar background when the prophets see the great vision. Even more, the temple is the sign of the covenant between God and the Israelites. The temple made the Israelites pay attention to God’s commandments more than the achievement of the kings (the tablets of stone with the Ten Commandments inscribed was placed inside the ark in the temple). The temple is the place where God meets His people, and a symbol of God’s forgiveness for His people. The design of the temple, the utensils and the custom of worship all carried deep meanings to the people of Israel, reminding them the severe consequences of sin, the punishment of impurity and how much they needed the forgiveness of sin. All the above factors give the temple a very important role in the Old Testament. Reflect on these factors if they are still applicable to the church nowadays?
2. The priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord into the Most Holy Place and then they came out. Outside the Most Holy Place is the Holy Place where there was the table for bread, the altar of incense, and the golden lampstand. Normally the High Priest could only enter the Most Holy Place once every year on the Day of Atonement. In this special moment, other priests would enter the Most Holy Place and help move the ark to a new place. When they were entering the Most Holy Place, the Levites would sing praises to God knowing that God was pleased with the new place for the ark (5:13). The first worship service held in the temple began with praise and proclamation of God’s presence and goodness. When we worship God, we should also begin by witnessing God’s love. Through praise, we will prepare our heart, and tell Him our needs. By remembering God’s love and mercy, you can be filled with thanksgiving and praise God every day. Psalm 107 is an example of how David remember God’s eternal love. Meditate if our worship today can reflect the abundance of the worship in the temple before.

 

PRAYER:

Come before God with a thankful heart and meditate on God’s boundless grace and love. Offer to God your deepest worship and praise. Ask God to help us live an abundant life so that as we love one another in the church, it is like living in God’s glorious temple

 

HYMN:

O Lord, My Rock and My Redeemer – youtu.be/yx5BB2J7R-8?si=pYrOBf6ajhsfNwuQ

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=2Chronicles+004

 

2 Chronicles Chapter 4 (ESV)

11 Hiram also made the pots, the shovels, and the basins. So Hiram finished the work that he did for King Solomon on the house of God: 12 the two pillars, the bowls, and the two capitals on the top of the pillars; and the two latticeworks to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the pillars; 13 and the 400 pomegranates for the two latticeworks, two rows of pomegranates for each latticework, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the pillars. 14 He made the stands also, and the basins on the stands, 15 and the one sea, and the twelve oxen underneath it. 16 The pots, the shovels, the forks, and all the equipment for these Huram-abi made of burnished bronze for King Solomon for the house of the Lord. 17 In the plain of the Jordan the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredah. 18 Solomon made all these things in great quantities, for the weight of the bronze was not sought.

 

REFLECTION:

1. We are not familiar with the pots, shovels, and the basins that were made for worship in the temple in ancient times. Today the utensils used for worship are changed but the purpose of worship is still the same at each point in history – to give honour and praises to God. We should never emphasize the worship utensils more than the worship to God. Reflect on what equipment and technique we use for worship today? Do these things really help us in worshipping God?
2. God gave clear instructions on making the utensils in the temple and the skilled workers followed the instructions carefully resulting in great effect. Although we have our own creativity and opinion, we must not disobey God’s will. If we want our spiritual life to grow, we need to learn from the skilled workers in the temple who followed God’s instructions meticulously. Reflect on whether we totally obey God’s will when we work according to God’s command.

 

PRAYER:

Ask God to help you be alert in your church and daily worship that no matter what worship style is adopted, don’t forget the target and focus of worship is God! Ask God to give you wisdom and humility so that you could understand and obey God’s will in your ministries.

 

HYMN:

The Heart of Worship – youtu.be/bHEn1eZBDq4?si=1gywqkbK11qNEAWB

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=2Chronicles+003

 

2 Chronicles Chapter 3 (ESV)

1 Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to David his father, at the place that David had appointed, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 2 He began to build in the second month of the fourth year of his reign. 3 These are Solomon’s measurements for building the house of God: the length, in cubits of the old standard, was sixty cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits. 4 The vestibule in front of the nave of the house was twenty cubits long, equal to the width of the house, and its height was 120 cubits. He overlaid it on the inside with pure gold. 5 The nave he lined with cypress and covered it with fine gold and made palms and chains on it. 6 He adorned the house with settings of precious stones. The gold was gold of Parvaim. 7 So he lined the house with gold—its beams, its thresholds, its walls, and its doors—and he carved cherubim on the walls.

8 And he made the Most Holy Place. Its length, corresponding to the breadth of the house, was twenty cubits, and its breadth was twenty cubits. He overlaid it with 600 talents of fine gold. 9 The weight of gold for the nails was fifty shekels. And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold.

 

REFLECTION:

1. Solomon built a permanent temple on Mount Moriah to replace the tabernacle at Gibeon which had followed the Israelites wandering in the wilderness. On Mount Moriah, God stopped Abraham from killing Isaac as a sacrifice. The land was originally a threshing floor and David bought it to build an altar. Jesus Christ once said, “the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father… the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.” (Jn. 4:21-23). According to Jesus’ saying, reflect on where the temple should be built today?
2. Why did Solomon build and decorate the temple in glorious splendor? Although no one could build a dwelling place that is worthy of God, Solomon wanted the temple to have the most honoured design. The process of construction and the work of the skilled worker is itself an act of worship. Although people could encounter God and pray to God in a simple church, it is not wrong to build a beautiful worship place. Reflect on what principle Solomon employed in justifying the large cost in building the temple? What choices we have to make in building our church building today?

 

PRAYER: 

Quiet before God with a fearful heart. Express your deepest thank and praise to God in spirit and in truth. Ask the Holy Spirit of truth to guide you and give you wisdom so that you can see the grace of God in your daily life; and that everything you do will become actions that worship and glorify God.

 

HYMN:

I will offer up my life – youtu.be/ihUko9M6dpA?si=9k7rV_VlI636WaA6

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=2Chronicles+002

 

2 Chronicles Chapter 2 (ESV)

1 Now Solomon purposed to build a temple for the name of the Lord, and a royal palace for himself. 2 And Solomon assigned 70,000 men to bear burdens and 80,000 to quarry in the hill country, and 3,600 to oversee them. 3 And Solomon sent word to Hiram the king of Tyre: “As you dealt with David my father and sent him cedar to build himself a house to dwell in, so deal with me. 4 Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of the Lord my God and dedicate it to him for the burning of incense of sweet spices before him, and for the regular arrangement of the showbread, and for burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths and the new moons and the appointed feasts of the Lord our God, as ordained forever for Israel. 5 The house that I am to build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods. 6 But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him? 7 So now send me a man skilled to work in gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and in purple, crimson, and blue fabrics, trained also in engraving, to be with the skilled workers who are with me in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided. 8 Send me also cedar, cypress, and algum timber from Lebanon, for I know that your servants know how to cut timber in Lebanon. And my servants will be with your servants, 9 to prepare timber for me in abundance, for the house I am to build will be great and wonderful. 10 I will give for your servants, the woodsmen who cut timber, 20,000 cors of crushed wheat, 20,000 cors of barley, 20,000 baths of wine, and 20,000 baths of oil.”

 

REFLECTION:

1. We should try our best to prepare a comfortable place for worship as a witness for God’s glory. At the same time, we must know that God is greater than any building and He will not be limited to a man-made temple or environment. Therefore, we should not only value the worship venue but more importantly emphasize worshipping God in spirit and in truth. Worship should be the core of our Christian life. Reflect on how much time and effort we spend on worshipping God today?
2. Why did Solomon recruit the skilled workers from other countries? It was because although the Israelites were good at agriculture, they did not know much about metallurgy hence Solomon has to import skills from abroad. God allows us to use human expertise to accomplish His mission. He gives talent and gifts to Christians and non-Christians, this is God’s Common Grace. When we work together with non-Christians, we should know that God gives people talents according to His will. We should be like Solomon who valued their professional skills, more importantly we should find an opportunity to share God’s salvation with them. Reflect what we should be mindful of when we co-work with non-Christians.

 

PRAYER:

Come before God with a reverent heart. Meditate on God’s greatness and omnipotence and praise Him. Give thanks to God for saving you, guiding you and giving you the blessing and gift of eternal life (Eph. 2:8). Thank God for giving you various gifts and talents. Commit yourself to God that you are willing to serve Him with your gifts and talents throughout your life.

 

HYMN:

Offering – youtu.be/6Kigh5Er4Pk?si=3Xn1OFwh7Yz191r4

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=2Chronicles+001

 

2 Chronicles

Introduction

In the fifth century BC, many Judeans were returning from exile to the southern part of the land of Israel. They faced great difficulties: their capital city and temple had been destroyed, foreigners had moved in, and they were no longer ruled by their own king. But the books of Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah insist that God’s people can still fulfill his purpose. They must form a unique society centered on the worship of God in a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem. (These books are really one long book, telling a continuous story; one can see, for example, how the end of 2 Chronicles overlaps with the beginning of Ezra.)

The book presents a sweeping chronicle of Israel’s history, beginning with a long genealogy or ancestor list. Going all the way back to Adam, it situates the people of Israel among the nations and reminds them of their calling. Special attention is given to Judah, ancestor of the royal line of David, and to Levi, ancestor of the priests and temple attendants.

The second main part describes the kings who ruled in Jerusalem down to the time of the exile. David receives more attention than others, but many details of his life told elsewhere are left out. The focus is on his military campaigns and his elaborate plans for the temple in Jerusalem. The reason is clear when we see that David was not permitted to build the temple because he was a warrior. God wanted a man of peace to build the place where all nations would come to pray. The honor therefore fell to David’s son Solomon. More space is devoted to him than to any king besides David, describing his construction of the temple and the splendors of his reign.

The final part of the book relates the experiences of the returned exiles. The memoirs of Ezra and Nehemiah, leaders of the second generation of returned Judeans, are incorporated into the history. These leaders helped create a distinct community by forbidding intermarriage with the surrounding peoples, and they directed the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls. Included here is a description of a great covenant renewal ceremony led by Ezra and Nehemiah.

An important theme of the entire history—which can appropriately be called a temple history—is that pure worship is offered on God’s terms, not ours. God has chosen Israel to welcome the nations into true worship. Through all the ups and downs of history he is working to bring this purpose to fulfillment.

 

www.bible.com/zh-TW/bible/111/1CH.INTRO1.NIV

 

2 Chronicles Chapter 1 (ESV)

6 And Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before the Lord, which was at the tent of meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.

7 In that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.” 8 And Solomon said to God, “You have shown great and steadfast love to David my father, and have made me king in his place. 9 O Lord God, let your word to David my father be now fulfilled, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?” 11 God answered Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked for possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked for long life, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like.” 13 So Solomon came from the high place at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem. And he reigned over Israel.

 

REFLECTION:

1. Intelligence and wisdom are different. Wisdom is the insight and discernment to make the right decision while intelligence (or knowledge) is the skill to deal with the daily work. King Solomon used the wisdom he asked from God not only to build the temple according to David’s plan but also to build a stable economic foundation for the country. Today many people want to be smart but lack great wisdom. Reflect what kind of wisdom God expect you to have in living your life today?
2. God’s promise to Solomon: “Ask what I shall give you” (1:7) will uplift our heart. Solomon put the needs of the people first. He asked for wisdom instead of treasures for he knew that the most important treasure for a king is wisdom. Later Solomon wrote in Proverbs “Wisdom is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.” (Prov. 3:15). God gave Solomon wisdom in former times and the same God will willingly give us wisdom nowadays. Imagine if God said to you what he said to Solomon in verse 7, how would you reply?
3. Solomon could ask for anything but he only asked God for wisdom to govern the people. God was pleased with his choice of priorities and also give him treasures, abundances and honour. Jesus also talked about priority in life. If we seek God first, all the things we need shall be added unto us. His promise does not mean that we will be as rich as Solomon but the wisdom He gives will help us lead a life that honours Him when we seek God first. Do you believe that if you seek God first then all the things you need shall be added unto you (Matt. 6:33, Lk. 12:31)?

 

PRAYER: 

Come before God humbly and ask God to give you wisdom so that you will understand the true place of wealth and honour in God’s Kingdom. Ask God to give you greater faith and how you can seek God first in your life.

 

HYMN:

Knowing You (All I Once Held Dear) – youtu.be/x3SnaCDE2lM?si=jovWC_YSqaJzEN-2