NOTES FROM SOLOMON'S SERMON

“So the LORD has fulfilled His word which He spoke, and I have filled the position of my father David, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised; and I have built the temple for the name of the LORD God of Israel. " (2 Chron. 6:10 NKJV).

The words of our verse were spoken by Solomon in a sermon which he delivered at the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. These words speak of the truth of God, the throne from God, and the Temple for God.

Truth of God – “So the LORD has fulfilled His word which He spoke, and I have filled the position of my father David, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised.” Here we have an excellent testimony regarding the Word of God and its reliability. God had promised that Solomon would succeed his father David as king, and it came to pass just as God had promised. We can trust God’s Word. His Word is truth. His Word will not fail. Many have attacked the Word of God and tried to destroy it, but the God’s Word cannot be destroyed or discredited. Folks may lie about the Word, and slander it; but they can never prove it wrong. One cannot fight the Word of God and win.

Throne from God – “And sit on the throne of Israel.” God placed Solomon on the throne of Israel. When David died, there was considerable opposition to Solomon becoming king. However, God had promised that Solomon would be king and he became king. When God calls, He will put us in the place of service as He decrees. People and circumstances may oppose; but if God has called us, it will come to pass.

Temple for God – “I have built the temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel.” Solomon was not put on the throne to simply enjoy high position, power, and great possessions. He was put there to do a work for God, and he did this work in building the Temple. The Temple was to promote the worship and honor of God. Our work for the Lord must do likewise. We are called to our various places of service to promote the worship and honor of God.

(Adapted from Butler Daily Bible Reading)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“God performs what He promises and completes what He commands!”

Anonymous

Word Study

Discipline

In Eph. 6:4 we read, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (NASB).

Discipline is the Greek word paideia (παιδεία = pahee-di'-ah). The word means to provide instruction, with the intent of forming proper habits of behavior, of providing guidance for responsible living, of rearing and guiding a child toward maturity. Paideia is a broad term, signifying whatever parents and teachers do to train, correct, cultivate, and educate children in order to help them develop and mature as they ought.

Paideia has particular reference to child-training, carried out with both firmness and gentleness as needed in each particular case. Originally, paideia referred to instruction of children and evolved to mean chastening because all effectual instruction for the sinful children of men includes and implies chastening.

Paideia is commonly used in Greek literature to mean the upbringing and teaching of children. Such upbringing consisted of teaching general knowledge and various kinds of training aimed at developing discipline and character. If necessary this included chastisement (physical punishment). In both the Septuagint and the New Testament paideia is also used of upbringing a child. God also disciplines the believer and this might include some chastening. However, chastening does not include punishment in the judicial or vengeful sense. Instead it is intended as a means of developing and refining the mind and the will. Therefore, believers can be assured that God’s chastening is not an expression of His wrath, but of His love, wisdom, and care.

Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus

Old Testament Prophecy – That He would be raised from the dead (Psalm 16:10)

New Testament Fulfillment – Matt. 28:5-6; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:5-7; John 21:14

Bible Facts

DNA anticipated (Psalm 139:13-16). During the 1950s, Watson and Crick discovered the genetic blueprint for life. Three thousand years ago, the Bible seem to reference this written digital code in Psalm 139 – “Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.”

Bible Quiz

Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, and revelries are all listed in Galatians 5. These things are known as what in Galatians 5?

**Answer to last week’s trivia: What did the manna that the Israelites received from God taste like? Wafers made with honey (Exodus 16:31).

That’s in the Bible

"As one man”

“So all the people arose as one man, saying, none of us will go to his tent, nor will any turn back to his house” (Judges 20:8 NKJV).

The idea here is people acting in unison. The Benjamite war that is covered in this chapter resulted from the inquiry into the death of the Levite’s concubine in Chapter 19. On request, the Levite explained the circumstances of his concubine’s rape and death, and called for Israel’s verdict. The verdict was unanimous: all the people rose as one man against the town of Gibeah to give them what they deserve by launching an attack.

Did You Know – Christian History

Adam Clarke was born in the townland of Moybeg Kirley near Tobermore in Northern Ireland around 1760. He was a British Methodist theologian and Biblical scholar

Adam was deeply concerned about religion. But at school, Adam showed little desire to learn his Latin. One day teacher and students ridiculed him. Humiliated, Adam took up his book with a new attitude, applying himself as never before. By the time he completed his commentary which took him 40 years, he knew twenty languages, including Hebrew, Persian, and other Middle Eastern tongues.

Adam first heard a Methodist sermon when he was in his late teens. Coming under great conviction, he went into an open field and prayed earnestly for God to save him. He then began telling everyone about Jesus, walking from village to village, asking neighbor after neighbor if he might read the Bible and pray with them. Adam Clarke became a notable Methodist preacher. His chapel was often so crowded, he could only get in by crawling through the window.

Adam Clarke died August 26, 1832. Today, those who know the name of Adam Clarke usually do so because of his Bible commentary. His commentary, based on a deep knowledge not only of scripture, but of its languages, lives on and greatly affected the rise of the sanctification doctrines of American Methodists and holiness groups.

A Little Humor

A Swiss guy, looking for directions, pulls up at a bus stop where two Americans are waiting. “Entschuldigung, koennen Sie Deutsch sprechen?” he asks. The two Americans just stare at him. “Excusez-moi, parlez vous Francais?” he tries. The two continue to stare. “Parlare Italiano?” No response. “Hablan suede’s Espanol?” Still nothing. The Swiss guy drives off, extremely disgusted. The first American turns to the second and says, “Y’know, maybe we should learn a foreign language.” “Why?” says the other. “That guy knew four languages, and it didn’t do him any good.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Christ’s incarnation brought the infinite God within reach of finite men!”