1Ki 20:23
Then the servants of the king of Syria said to him, "Their gods are gods of the hills. Therefore they were stronger than we; but if we fight against them in the plain, surely we will be stronger than they.
What ignorance!
People always ask, "Where is your God?" And when I replied, "He is everywhere," they don't seem too satisfied with that answer. They need an object of worship. They need something physical. They need to see their gods. But don't they realise that God is Spirit (John 4:24)? Don't they realise that God is God of the universe and everything in it?
When we talk about religion and faith and God, isn't it understood that it is something spiritual? Why do many still insist on the physical? They insist that they see miracles, signs and wonders. They insist that they must grow wealthier and healthier. They insist on prayer water and baptism water, or talisman and crystals. They insist that God be seen.
They insist on their own gods. Created their own gods to suit their appetite. They didn't realise that God is God of everything. He is not just the God of the hills, but also of the valleys, and of the entire universe. Since He created all these out of His own hands.
What ignorance. What shame. What pity. :(
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
1 Kings 19
1Ki 19:4
But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, "It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!"
Have you ever prayed before that you might die? I did. But I think most times, I didn't really mean it. And God knows we are just throwing a tantrum.
Most of those times, I felt that I was carrying more burden than I could bear, to the point that I cannot take it any longer. I wanted to let go. I wanted to go home, to God. I felt helpless and thought that heaven holds more hope for me than life in this world now. I could be what I want to be there, pure and good. And I will be able to do whatever I want to do there, with strength and wisdom. I wanted so much to go there.
But when the words reached the tip of my lips, that I might pray for death, I wasn't quite so sure about it. And I was quite fearful of such a request. Will God's wrath be on me, hearing such a plea from me? One whom He has bought with His own blood. One whom He has so patiently taught and led all the way thus far. One whom I know He has beautiful plans for. Yet one who has just given up and requested to die. If God wasn't angry, He must be sorrowful.
Let us not give up even when we thought that we have reached the limit. Because we have not. God knows how much we can endure and therefore, He wishes for us to be trained up to the best of our abilities. Remember that He will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear and that He will always provide the way out (1 Cor 10:13).
Let us also not remain wilful, thinking that God will always look beyond our immature nature and still help us. The Bible encourages us to move beyond the infancy stage to that of maturity, no longer being fed with spiritual milk but that of solid foods.
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:12-14)
Therefore, let us learn to grow up, in the Lord.
But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, "It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!"
Have you ever prayed before that you might die? I did. But I think most times, I didn't really mean it. And God knows we are just throwing a tantrum.
Most of those times, I felt that I was carrying more burden than I could bear, to the point that I cannot take it any longer. I wanted to let go. I wanted to go home, to God. I felt helpless and thought that heaven holds more hope for me than life in this world now. I could be what I want to be there, pure and good. And I will be able to do whatever I want to do there, with strength and wisdom. I wanted so much to go there.
But when the words reached the tip of my lips, that I might pray for death, I wasn't quite so sure about it. And I was quite fearful of such a request. Will God's wrath be on me, hearing such a plea from me? One whom He has bought with His own blood. One whom He has so patiently taught and led all the way thus far. One whom I know He has beautiful plans for. Yet one who has just given up and requested to die. If God wasn't angry, He must be sorrowful.
Let us not give up even when we thought that we have reached the limit. Because we have not. God knows how much we can endure and therefore, He wishes for us to be trained up to the best of our abilities. Remember that He will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear and that He will always provide the way out (1 Cor 10:13).
Let us also not remain wilful, thinking that God will always look beyond our immature nature and still help us. The Bible encourages us to move beyond the infancy stage to that of maturity, no longer being fed with spiritual milk but that of solid foods.
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:12-14)
Therefore, let us learn to grow up, in the Lord.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
1 Kings 18
1Ki 18:21
And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people answered him not a word.
Don't we often falter between two opinions ourselves? We profess that we believe in Him, but yet often we make decisions and take a path that is not His path. Not the path He would desire us to take.
Elijah put it very simply for us - If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him. It is a either or situation. Either God or Baal. Either God or Mammon. It is either you are walking on the path of salvation or you are not.
I also found the verse below interesting.
And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, "Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened." (1Ki 18:27)
This was Elijah's direct comparison to our God. Our God never keeps His eyes away from us. He won't go away meditating nor will He go on a journey or be sleeping or be too busy for us! The way Elijah mocked the prophets of Baal tickled me. Elijah really knew His God, the God that he believes in. Do we know the God we believe in as well as Elijah did?
We saw later when the fire from God came down to consume the offering, the people seemingly turned back to God, exclaiming "The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!" (1Ki 18:39)
This reminded me of the verse in Matthew 7:21,
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Although the Israelites witnessed the power of the LORD God, and acknowledged Him as being the true God, their hearts were still not inclined to Him. They might have acknowledged Him as God, but they have not yet yielded to Him as their God. Yes, You are the one true God. But whether I want You as my God is another matter altogether.
Some of us do acknowledge God as being the one true God. But do we allow Him to be our God? He is God. But ask yourself, is He my God? Is He my God who accompanies me throughout each day of my life, who talks with me and walks with me?
Or have we allowed some other gods as our gods in our lives, despite acknowledging God as the true God? We are warned against being such people, whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame--who set their mind on earthly things. (Phl 3:19)
May the Lord have mercy on our weakness and help us.
And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people answered him not a word.
Don't we often falter between two opinions ourselves? We profess that we believe in Him, but yet often we make decisions and take a path that is not His path. Not the path He would desire us to take.
Elijah put it very simply for us - If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him. It is a either or situation. Either God or Baal. Either God or Mammon. It is either you are walking on the path of salvation or you are not.
I also found the verse below interesting.
And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, "Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened." (1Ki 18:27)
This was Elijah's direct comparison to our God. Our God never keeps His eyes away from us. He won't go away meditating nor will He go on a journey or be sleeping or be too busy for us! The way Elijah mocked the prophets of Baal tickled me. Elijah really knew His God, the God that he believes in. Do we know the God we believe in as well as Elijah did?
We saw later when the fire from God came down to consume the offering, the people seemingly turned back to God, exclaiming "The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!" (1Ki 18:39)
This reminded me of the verse in Matthew 7:21,
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Although the Israelites witnessed the power of the LORD God, and acknowledged Him as being the true God, their hearts were still not inclined to Him. They might have acknowledged Him as God, but they have not yet yielded to Him as their God. Yes, You are the one true God. But whether I want You as my God is another matter altogether.
Some of us do acknowledge God as being the one true God. But do we allow Him to be our God? He is God. But ask yourself, is He my God? Is He my God who accompanies me throughout each day of my life, who talks with me and walks with me?
Or have we allowed some other gods as our gods in our lives, despite acknowledging God as the true God? We are warned against being such people, whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame--who set their mind on earthly things. (Phl 3:19)
May the Lord have mercy on our weakness and help us.
Friday, July 27, 2007
1 Kings 17
1Ki 17:13
And Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son.
Ahh.. finally reached chapter 17. The chapter when Elijah appeared out of nowhere and received training from God. My favourite chapter of 1 Kings so far.
I guess each of us has our own Brook Cherith to dwell by and our own Zarephath to go to. At Brook Cherith, where we are being shaped by God, living with only the bare minimum, and even relying on ravens to provide us with our daily meals. Are we able to do this? Are we able to live with what God has provided, however little they may seem? Similarly, at Zarephath, where God is trying to mould and refine us, living off a widow, and learning humility. In both situations, the most important lesson that God wanted Elijah (and all of us) to learn is most probably that of full obedience and submission to the word of God.
We also saw how God used ravens and a widow to train Elijah. Why ravens, when they are considered as unclean according to Jewish laws? Why widow, when she can barely fend for herself? What was God thinking?
Again, we see that through using these most unimaginable tools in His plan, God is training Elijah to be submissive and to trust in God's provision. Which man can allow himself to go dwell by the brook and be fed by ravens or to go to a widowed woman, requesting for food and lodging? But because these were the commands of God, Elijah humbly accepted.
Sometimes, God will also use ravens and widows to help us in our lives. Those who we least expect to be of any help to us. Yet they are the ones who are there to help us. Often, when we meet with difficulties or troubles, there are people in mind whom we thought can help us, or whom we would love to have their help and concern. But things don't go this way most of the time. Man may fail us (maybe not intentionally, but nevertheless, man can fail us), but God will not. He would have already prepared ravens and widows to provide us with strength to carry on.
Now, about the verse I have chosen for this chapter, as written above.
"But make me a small cake from it first."
What would you have done if you were the widow? Moreover, being a gentile, will she have faith in a God she didn't believe in? Making for Elijah a small cake first could mean using up the handful of flour before she and her son could get to eat for the last time! Why couldn't she feed herself and her son first, then make for Elijah a cake with whatever that is left?
I guess, it is a test of her faith. To see if we will be willing to put the things of God first, before our own matters. And if we are willing to put God first in our lives, God will greatly bless us, like He did to the widow. Are we able to have this kind of faith towards God, trusting in His blessings if we were to put Him first?
Finally, the last verse struck me.
Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is the truth." (1Ki 17:24 )
How wonderful if someone shall come to us and proclaim these words to us! We need not perform great miracles nor revive the dead like Elijah did. But let us, through our daily conduct, convince people of our faith and bring people to God! Let them see Jesus through our speech, our dressing, our conduct. I am sure that the widow kept in mind these manners of Elijah while he stayed in her house, and so it wasn't just the great miracle of reviving her son that made her declare that statement.
Let us strive towards this goal - that one day someone will come to us and say, "Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is the truth."
Thursday, July 26, 2007
1 Kings 16
1Ki 16:7
And also the word of the LORD came by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha and his house, because of all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD in provoking Him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and because he killed them.
"and because he killed them." Remember how God discouraged us against taking matters into our own hands?
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”says the Lord. (Rom 12:19)
It is mine to avenge; I will repay.
In due time their foot will slip;
their day of disaster is near
and their doom rushes upon them.”
(Deu 32:35)
Remember, too, how David did not take matters into his own hand, but spared the life of Saul, trusting in God's plan. Like Saul, the house of Jeroboam was anointed by God to lead Israel, therefore, who had the authority to destroy it except the One who lift it up?
Even though Baasha's deeds fulfilled the word of God, his intentions were not according to God's will, but that of greed and power.
And throughout this chapter, we also see kings rise and kings fall in Israel. And each fall is accompanied by a similar verse as below
because of the sins which he had committed in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he had committed to make Israel sin. (1 Kings 16:19)
Baasha destroyed the house of Jeroboam, only to have his house destroyed by Zimri, who later was pursued by Omri. We see that no nations can stand, away from God (Psalms 127:1).
For this reason, Paul also asked us to, first of all, pray for kings and all who are in authority. (1 Tim 2:1-2)
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
1 Kings 15
1Ki 15:4-5
Nevertheless for David's sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, by setting up his son after him and by establishing Jerusalem; because David did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
"For David's sake." What great honour God bestowed on David. And what did he do to receive such honour? Because he "did what was right in the eyes of the LORD" all the days of his life.
God remembers His righteous children. If we abide in Him all the days of our lives, He will also similarly bestow such honour on us. But not that we deserve such honour because we have remained righteous, for it is only our duty to fear God and keep His commandments. (Ecc 12:13)
Also, because of David's faithfulness, his house was greatly blessed despite all the rampant sins. I think God's mercies will also extend to those we love, if we remain faithful to the Lord.
"The LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem." An ongoing lamp signifies that the lineage of David will never be broken. And eventually we know that it leads to Jesus Christ Himself. Again, what great honour! Simply by remaining faithful and obedient to God.
Also, a lamp in darkness signifies hope, doesn't it? Eventually the lineage of David gave us hope, that is, in Christ Jesus. He came to take away our sins so that we may be reconciled with God. This is our living hope - that He will also come again to receive us into the eternal kingdom.
In our daily life today, we also have a lamp with us - God's word.
Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path. (Psa 119:105)
The Word of God is also our hope. We place our hope in the promises of God and believe that He will bring them to pass.
Nevertheless for David's sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, by setting up his son after him and by establishing Jerusalem; because David did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
"For David's sake." What great honour God bestowed on David. And what did he do to receive such honour? Because he "did what was right in the eyes of the LORD" all the days of his life.
God remembers His righteous children. If we abide in Him all the days of our lives, He will also similarly bestow such honour on us. But not that we deserve such honour because we have remained righteous, for it is only our duty to fear God and keep His commandments. (Ecc 12:13)
Also, because of David's faithfulness, his house was greatly blessed despite all the rampant sins. I think God's mercies will also extend to those we love, if we remain faithful to the Lord.
"The LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem." An ongoing lamp signifies that the lineage of David will never be broken. And eventually we know that it leads to Jesus Christ Himself. Again, what great honour! Simply by remaining faithful and obedient to God.
Also, a lamp in darkness signifies hope, doesn't it? Eventually the lineage of David gave us hope, that is, in Christ Jesus. He came to take away our sins so that we may be reconciled with God. This is our living hope - that He will also come again to receive us into the eternal kingdom.
In our daily life today, we also have a lamp with us - God's word.
Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path. (Psa 119:105)
The Word of God is also our hope. We place our hope in the promises of God and believe that He will bring them to pass.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
1 Kings 14
1Ki 14:9
"but you have done more evil than all who were before you, for you have gone and made for yourself other gods and molded images to provoke Me to anger, and have cast Me behind your back--
For You have cast all my sins behind Your back. (Isa 38:17)
Isn't it interesting? In both cases, something is being cast to the back. Is it God, or your sins?
God never cast us behind His back. He is always with us, watching us. Sometimes, He may be in front and ahead of us. But that's to guide and lead us. Often, He is beside us, walking with us. Do we cast Him behind our backs? I think we do. When we get buried in our daily chores and work and don't remember to pray or have our quiet-time.
God does not want us to cast Him behind our backs because He desires to take first place in our hearts, and in our lives. He wants to help us in our every decision, every problem.
Don't cast God behind our backs. Rather, pray that He cast our sins behind His back. Otherwise, the multitude of our sins will not allow us to stand in front of Him. Pray that He may be merciful and cleanse us of all filth.
1Ki 14:13
"And all Israel shall mourn for him and bury him, for he is the only one of Jeroboam who shall come to the grave, because in him there is found something good toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam.
I like this verse because it reminds me that God looks at the individual. Although Abijah was the son of Jeroboam, God had not blindly destroy the entire house just because of Jeroboam's sins. God looks at every individual's heart to see if they are towards God. And if they are found to be so, God shows His mercy towards them. I think this applies to every household and every church today.
1Ki 14:22
Now Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked Him to jealousy with their sins which they committed, more than all that their fathers had done.
Why use the word 'jealousy'? Apostle Paul also used the words 'godly jealousy'.
For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. (2Cr 11:2)
Indeed, when we commit our lives to Christ through baptism, we become a part of the church, who is the bride of Christ. Our relationship with God should be such an intimate one, that the relationship between a man and his wife is used as an analogy here. And just like how adultery will make the other party jealous, similarly, spiritual adultery (when we commit idolatry) provokes God to jealousy. We are already betrothed to Christ. Let us remain chaste while awaiting His second coming.
"but you have done more evil than all who were before you, for you have gone and made for yourself other gods and molded images to provoke Me to anger, and have cast Me behind your back--
For You have cast all my sins behind Your back. (Isa 38:17)
Isn't it interesting? In both cases, something is being cast to the back. Is it God, or your sins?
God never cast us behind His back. He is always with us, watching us. Sometimes, He may be in front and ahead of us. But that's to guide and lead us. Often, He is beside us, walking with us. Do we cast Him behind our backs? I think we do. When we get buried in our daily chores and work and don't remember to pray or have our quiet-time.
God does not want us to cast Him behind our backs because He desires to take first place in our hearts, and in our lives. He wants to help us in our every decision, every problem.
Don't cast God behind our backs. Rather, pray that He cast our sins behind His back. Otherwise, the multitude of our sins will not allow us to stand in front of Him. Pray that He may be merciful and cleanse us of all filth.
1Ki 14:13
"And all Israel shall mourn for him and bury him, for he is the only one of Jeroboam who shall come to the grave, because in him there is found something good toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam.
I like this verse because it reminds me that God looks at the individual. Although Abijah was the son of Jeroboam, God had not blindly destroy the entire house just because of Jeroboam's sins. God looks at every individual's heart to see if they are towards God. And if they are found to be so, God shows His mercy towards them. I think this applies to every household and every church today.
1Ki 14:22
Now Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked Him to jealousy with their sins which they committed, more than all that their fathers had done.
Why use the word 'jealousy'? Apostle Paul also used the words 'godly jealousy'.
For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. (2Cr 11:2)
Indeed, when we commit our lives to Christ through baptism, we become a part of the church, who is the bride of Christ. Our relationship with God should be such an intimate one, that the relationship between a man and his wife is used as an analogy here. And just like how adultery will make the other party jealous, similarly, spiritual adultery (when we commit idolatry) provokes God to jealousy. We are already betrothed to Christ. Let us remain chaste while awaiting His second coming.
Monday, July 23, 2007
1 Kings 13
1Ki 13:22
'but you came back, ate bread, and drank water in the place of which the LORD said to you, "Eat no bread and drink no water," your corpse shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.'"
Aiyah, eat bread and drink water only. Why make such a big fuss over it? Hungry leh...
Why did God command the man of God not to eat bread and drink water at Bethel? Why did God pass such a harsh judgment on him when he failed to obey His commandments?
We know that after Jeroboam became king over Israel, he led the people to worship idols. One golden calf was set up in Bethel and sacrifices were made at the altar there. God commanded the man of God, who came from Judah, not to eat bread nor drink water at Bethel perhaps because He does not wish for him to have any kind of fellowship with the people there, who had turned away from God to idolatry. It was a simple, straightforward request - do not eat or drink there. But we saw later that he could not keep it.
I believe, at the end of the day, God was testing the man's obedience. God wants to see if the man can obey God in the smallest things, as basic as eating and drinking. If one desires to do great things for God, he should start with the small things and make sure they are done well first. For if even the small matters are not taken care of properly and responsibly, how can one do big things?
Now, why such a harsh punishment? Being buried away from the tomb of one's fathers and among strangers instead is one of the greatest humiliation one can suffer. Why was God so harsh on a man of God? After all, he did the work of God. The only thing that was done wrong was to believe in the old prophet and went to eat and drink at his place.
But the man of God should have remembered that the word of the LORD is not contradictory. How could he have been told of one thing, but the prophet of another, if God has indeed spoken to both? He should have faith in the word that was given to him directly by God!
We must also remember that judgment begins in the house of God (1Pe 4:17). God might be harsher on us because we, being children of God, have already come to know of His Word and Truth. So, all the more there is no excuse for our disobedience!
'but you came back, ate bread, and drank water in the place of which the LORD said to you, "Eat no bread and drink no water," your corpse shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.'"
Aiyah, eat bread and drink water only. Why make such a big fuss over it? Hungry leh...
Why did God command the man of God not to eat bread and drink water at Bethel? Why did God pass such a harsh judgment on him when he failed to obey His commandments?
We know that after Jeroboam became king over Israel, he led the people to worship idols. One golden calf was set up in Bethel and sacrifices were made at the altar there. God commanded the man of God, who came from Judah, not to eat bread nor drink water at Bethel perhaps because He does not wish for him to have any kind of fellowship with the people there, who had turned away from God to idolatry. It was a simple, straightforward request - do not eat or drink there. But we saw later that he could not keep it.
I believe, at the end of the day, God was testing the man's obedience. God wants to see if the man can obey God in the smallest things, as basic as eating and drinking. If one desires to do great things for God, he should start with the small things and make sure they are done well first. For if even the small matters are not taken care of properly and responsibly, how can one do big things?
Now, why such a harsh punishment? Being buried away from the tomb of one's fathers and among strangers instead is one of the greatest humiliation one can suffer. Why was God so harsh on a man of God? After all, he did the work of God. The only thing that was done wrong was to believe in the old prophet and went to eat and drink at his place.
But the man of God should have remembered that the word of the LORD is not contradictory. How could he have been told of one thing, but the prophet of another, if God has indeed spoken to both? He should have faith in the word that was given to him directly by God!
We must also remember that judgment begins in the house of God (1Pe 4:17). God might be harsher on us because we, being children of God, have already come to know of His Word and Truth. So, all the more there is no excuse for our disobedience!
Sunday, July 22, 2007
1 Kings 12
1 Ki 12:26-27
And Jeroboam said in his heart, "Now the kingdom may return to the house of David:
"If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn back to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and go back to Rehoboam king of Judah."
This chapter records the start of how Israel began to turn to other gods under the leadership of Jeroboam. It also records the time when the people of God split into two camps.
It amazed me to see how people can turn away from God for one's own benefit (利益). Have I ever commited such a thing? Because of political power that he wanted to hold on to, Jeroboam decided to turn the people's hearts toward false gods instead. Have he not remembered what was told to him?
'Then it shall be, if you heed all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build for you an enduring house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you. (1 Kings 11:38)
Only the house that is built on the Lord can stand. This applies to a nation of people as well. Christ should always be our foundation, which we then build on. Did Jeroboam not know that? It was told so explicitly to him!
If you walk in My ways, then I will build for you an enduring house.
How could he be so blinded to think that his golden calves will secure his kingship instead? It made me wonder, have I ever done such a thing against God?
Acts 19 records a similar event, when one can oppose the gospel for one's own benefit. Demetrius, worried about his livelihood, stirred up the people's hearts against Paul and the gospel. Because he wanted to secure his business and livelihood, because of his own benefit, he chose to oppose the gospel.
Sometimes, in our attempt to secure the things in our lives, we might have unknowingly gone against God and His will. We may be trying to secure our grades, our careers, or even the ones we love. In this pursuit of security and our own benefit, we forgot that God is our security, our stronghold.
Let us keep in mind this following psalm which David wrote in response to how God had delivered him from the hands of his enemies.
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
(Psa 18:2)
Let us remember how he had not attempt to secure his life through his own means, when he made the choice not to kill Saul in the cave, but had entrusted his life to God . He knew that Saul was the anointed king of God and understood that he cannot lift his hand against the Lord's anointed. In trying to secure his own life, he had not gone against God, but had trusted in Him.
God will secure us and our days ahead. 他必定稳固我们。Do we trust Him with that?
But whoever listens to me will dwell safely,
And will be secure, without fear of evil."
惟有听从我的，必安然居住，得享安静，不怕灾祸。
(Pro 1:33)
The root word of "secure" here means to be peaceful or at ease. The security of God gives us no worries for tomorrow.
And Jeroboam said in his heart, "Now the kingdom may return to the house of David:
"If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn back to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and go back to Rehoboam king of Judah."
This chapter records the start of how Israel began to turn to other gods under the leadership of Jeroboam. It also records the time when the people of God split into two camps.
It amazed me to see how people can turn away from God for one's own benefit (利益). Have I ever commited such a thing? Because of political power that he wanted to hold on to, Jeroboam decided to turn the people's hearts toward false gods instead. Have he not remembered what was told to him?
'Then it shall be, if you heed all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build for you an enduring house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you. (1 Kings 11:38)
Only the house that is built on the Lord can stand. This applies to a nation of people as well. Christ should always be our foundation, which we then build on. Did Jeroboam not know that? It was told so explicitly to him!
If you walk in My ways, then I will build for you an enduring house.
How could he be so blinded to think that his golden calves will secure his kingship instead? It made me wonder, have I ever done such a thing against God?
Acts 19 records a similar event, when one can oppose the gospel for one's own benefit. Demetrius, worried about his livelihood, stirred up the people's hearts against Paul and the gospel. Because he wanted to secure his business and livelihood, because of his own benefit, he chose to oppose the gospel.
Sometimes, in our attempt to secure the things in our lives, we might have unknowingly gone against God and His will. We may be trying to secure our grades, our careers, or even the ones we love. In this pursuit of security and our own benefit, we forgot that God is our security, our stronghold.
Let us keep in mind this following psalm which David wrote in response to how God had delivered him from the hands of his enemies.
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
(Psa 18:2)
Let us remember how he had not attempt to secure his life through his own means, when he made the choice not to kill Saul in the cave, but had entrusted his life to God . He knew that Saul was the anointed king of God and understood that he cannot lift his hand against the Lord's anointed. In trying to secure his own life, he had not gone against God, but had trusted in Him.
God will secure us and our days ahead. 他必定稳固我们。Do we trust Him with that?
But whoever listens to me will dwell safely,
And will be secure, without fear of evil."
惟有听从我的，必安然居住，得享安静，不怕灾祸。
(Pro 1:33)
The root word of "secure" here means to be peaceful or at ease. The security of God gives us no worries for tomorrow.
Friday, July 20, 2007
1 Kings 11
1Ki 11:39
'And I will afflict the descendants of David because of this, but not forever.'
How beautiful this sentence is to me! God's love is ever so exceedingly abundant. He always provide a way out, amid the disaster we have created. He never seek to destroy us completely. It is His will and desire that all man may come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved.
When Soloman sinned against God by following after false gods, God had to chasten him. But at the same time, we see God's mercies and love in this.
"I will chasten him with the rod of men, but my mercy shall not depart from him (2 Sam 7:14-15)."
We saw that the punishment was not immediate; his kingdom will only be taken away from the hands of Soloman's son. Although this was on account of David, it was also a gracious act towards Soloman.
Sometimes, when we have sinned, the punishment from God does not come immediately as well. It is not that God is not watching, or that we don't deserve the punishment. God is justice. Surely, we will be chastened. I think the non-immediacy of the punishment is a grace to us, that we may learn to appreciate God's love and mercy.
Also, we saw that the punishment was not a complete one.
1Ki 11:13
"However I will not tear away the whole kingdom; I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen."
God's bountiful mercy left a back road (后路) for the house of David. And we know that our Messiah, Jesus, came forth from the house of David. God always leave a way for us to return back to Him. He is not heartless. God's punishment to His people has always been for one reason: It is to call us back to repentance, and back to God. So, He will definitely leave behind a trail for us to go back to Him.
When we are chastised today, do we bother to look for that trail leading back to God? Or do we remain in our murmuring and refuse to move anywhere?
This also reminded me of how temptations are never beyond what we can bear and how He will definitely provide a way out of it (1 Cor 10:13).
Remember also that we do not at all deserve such grace. Do you feel that Soloman deserve that one tribe which God had so mercifully left for the house of David after all that He had done against God? I do not think so. Yet, for His chosen race, for all mankind, for His great plan of salvation, because of His abundant love and mercies, He has showered grace upon grace on us. Do we even realise this? Or have we been receiving His grace in vain?
God will afflict us when we have done wrong, but it is not forever. He will not take away everything from us, leaving us naked and hopeless. Just like how the Israelites could wander in the wilderness for 40years without any tear in their sandals. I cannot believe that God loves us so much that in the midst of afflictions due to our sins, He is actually still preparing the way for our deliverance. God will always prepare a way of hope, and in 1 Kings 11, this hope lies in the descendant of David, our Lord Jesus.
'And I will afflict the descendants of David because of this, but not forever.'
How beautiful this sentence is to me! God's love is ever so exceedingly abundant. He always provide a way out, amid the disaster we have created. He never seek to destroy us completely. It is His will and desire that all man may come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved.
When Soloman sinned against God by following after false gods, God had to chasten him. But at the same time, we see God's mercies and love in this.
"I will chasten him with the rod of men, but my mercy shall not depart from him (2 Sam 7:14-15)."
We saw that the punishment was not immediate; his kingdom will only be taken away from the hands of Soloman's son. Although this was on account of David, it was also a gracious act towards Soloman.
Sometimes, when we have sinned, the punishment from God does not come immediately as well. It is not that God is not watching, or that we don't deserve the punishment. God is justice. Surely, we will be chastened. I think the non-immediacy of the punishment is a grace to us, that we may learn to appreciate God's love and mercy.
Also, we saw that the punishment was not a complete one.
1Ki 11:13
"However I will not tear away the whole kingdom; I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen."
God's bountiful mercy left a back road (后路) for the house of David. And we know that our Messiah, Jesus, came forth from the house of David. God always leave a way for us to return back to Him. He is not heartless. God's punishment to His people has always been for one reason: It is to call us back to repentance, and back to God. So, He will definitely leave behind a trail for us to go back to Him.
When we are chastised today, do we bother to look for that trail leading back to God? Or do we remain in our murmuring and refuse to move anywhere?
This also reminded me of how temptations are never beyond what we can bear and how He will definitely provide a way out of it (1 Cor 10:13).
Remember also that we do not at all deserve such grace. Do you feel that Soloman deserve that one tribe which God had so mercifully left for the house of David after all that He had done against God? I do not think so. Yet, for His chosen race, for all mankind, for His great plan of salvation, because of His abundant love and mercies, He has showered grace upon grace on us. Do we even realise this? Or have we been receiving His grace in vain?
God will afflict us when we have done wrong, but it is not forever. He will not take away everything from us, leaving us naked and hopeless. Just like how the Israelites could wander in the wilderness for 40years without any tear in their sandals. I cannot believe that God loves us so much that in the midst of afflictions due to our sins, He is actually still preparing the way for our deliverance. God will always prepare a way of hope, and in 1 Kings 11, this hope lies in the descendant of David, our Lord Jesus.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
1 Kings 10
1Ki 10:6
Then she said to the king: "It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom.
What brave words! Having to admit another person's strength over ours is aways something I am sure everyone finds hard to do, yet Queen of Sheba had the humility and courage to accept the truth.
This incident of the gentile queen of Sheba and how she seeks of Soloman's wisdom is also an analogy of how we come to seek Jesus in the last days. I saw my friend's testimony in the story of Queen of Sheba.
"came to test him with hard questions."
My friend was at first still skeptical when she finally decided to come back to church, and I remembered her many questions that she brought up.
"she spoke with him about all that was in her heart."
I saw how she sincerely sought after the answers to those questions, not just to challenge.
"So Solomon answered all her questions"
And I thank God that He provided someone to answer all her queries patiently.
I was most touched by her sms that night, thanking me and telling me how all her questions were answered. I could really see God's guiding hand in all these.
Similarly, I believe that if we come with a heart to seek the truth, and also have the courage and humility to accept the truth once we have been made known the truth, God's blessings will come right after, like how the queen was blessed.
"Now King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired, whatever she asked, besides what Solomon had given her according to the royal generosity."
The problem with the world today is: we are too smart for our own good, or at least, we think we are smart. This has caused us to be unwilling to admit when someone is better or greater than us. Precisely because the Christian message is that there is Someone out there bigger and greater than us, who is sovereign over us, that some are put off by it.
But why?
Come and hear. Have your hard questions ready, with a heart not to challenge but to receive answers, and come. Pour out your hearts and have your questions amazingly answered by God. And when you have come to a realization of the truth, do not dismiss it, but accept it and exclaim, "It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom!"
It is really a test of humility here. Remember that the queen of Sheba was a queen. She was a queen from another land, yet she was ready to accept the fact that Soloman was the wisest and wealthiest king ever lived!
Queen of Sheba was also known as the queen of the South. From blueletterbible.org, Matthew Henry commentary says that '"Our Saviour calls her the queen of the south, for Sheba lay south of Canaan." We also remember Jesus' words here.
Matthew 12:38-42
Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You."
But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
"For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
"The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.
"The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.
If even a gentile queen can travel such a distance to seek after the wisdom of Soloman, how much more should the people of God seek after the Anointed one, who is far greater than Soloman! Yet, the Pharisees and scribes were blinded. Today, we are the people of God. Let us be careful not to commit this same mistake, lest we shall also be condemned. Let us always remember to seek Christ and His glory.
Another interesting point to note is how people of outside Israel all seemed to have heard of the LORD God. Even as far as Sheba, the queen had heard of "the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD". Remember also Rahab (Joshua 2:9-13)? What do you make of this?
Then she said to the king: "It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom.
What brave words! Having to admit another person's strength over ours is aways something I am sure everyone finds hard to do, yet Queen of Sheba had the humility and courage to accept the truth.
This incident of the gentile queen of Sheba and how she seeks of Soloman's wisdom is also an analogy of how we come to seek Jesus in the last days. I saw my friend's testimony in the story of Queen of Sheba.
"came to test him with hard questions."
My friend was at first still skeptical when she finally decided to come back to church, and I remembered her many questions that she brought up.
"she spoke with him about all that was in her heart."
I saw how she sincerely sought after the answers to those questions, not just to challenge.
"So Solomon answered all her questions"
And I thank God that He provided someone to answer all her queries patiently.
I was most touched by her sms that night, thanking me and telling me how all her questions were answered. I could really see God's guiding hand in all these.
Similarly, I believe that if we come with a heart to seek the truth, and also have the courage and humility to accept the truth once we have been made known the truth, God's blessings will come right after, like how the queen was blessed.
"Now King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired, whatever she asked, besides what Solomon had given her according to the royal generosity."
The problem with the world today is: we are too smart for our own good, or at least, we think we are smart. This has caused us to be unwilling to admit when someone is better or greater than us. Precisely because the Christian message is that there is Someone out there bigger and greater than us, who is sovereign over us, that some are put off by it.
But why?
Come and hear. Have your hard questions ready, with a heart not to challenge but to receive answers, and come. Pour out your hearts and have your questions amazingly answered by God. And when you have come to a realization of the truth, do not dismiss it, but accept it and exclaim, "It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom!"
It is really a test of humility here. Remember that the queen of Sheba was a queen. She was a queen from another land, yet she was ready to accept the fact that Soloman was the wisest and wealthiest king ever lived!
Queen of Sheba was also known as the queen of the South. From blueletterbible.org, Matthew Henry commentary says that '"Our Saviour calls her the queen of the south, for Sheba lay south of Canaan." We also remember Jesus' words here.
Matthew 12:38-42
Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You."
But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
"For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
"The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.
"The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.
If even a gentile queen can travel such a distance to seek after the wisdom of Soloman, how much more should the people of God seek after the Anointed one, who is far greater than Soloman! Yet, the Pharisees and scribes were blinded. Today, we are the people of God. Let us be careful not to commit this same mistake, lest we shall also be condemned. Let us always remember to seek Christ and His glory.
Another interesting point to note is how people of outside Israel all seemed to have heard of the LORD God. Even as far as Sheba, the queen had heard of "the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD". Remember also Rahab (Joshua 2:9-13)? What do you make of this?
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
1 Kings 9
1Ki 9:6
"But if you or your sons at all turn from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them,
"If you at all turn from following Me,..."
Just a little turn, does it matter?
It does.
Not because God is being rigid. He had already told us the road is narrow, the door is narrow. One small little slight turn can cause you to miss the right road, and miss the door. Can you risk it? God is being merciful, by warning us beforehand.
Pro 4:25-27
Let your eyes look straight ahead,
And your eyelids look right before you.
Ponder the path of your feet,
And let all your ways be established.
Do not turn to the right or the left;
Remove your foot from evil.
Set your eyes on the path straight ahead. The heavenward path. The only one path, that Jesus Himself had tread before us. Do not turn away from following Him on this path. Yield to the Holy Spirit's calling and you shall have the strength to walk in it.
Isa 30:21
Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
"This is the way, walk in it,"
Whenever you turn to the right hand
Or whenever you turn to the left.
"But if you or your sons at all turn from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them,
"If you at all turn from following Me,..."
Just a little turn, does it matter?
It does.
Not because God is being rigid. He had already told us the road is narrow, the door is narrow. One small little slight turn can cause you to miss the right road, and miss the door. Can you risk it? God is being merciful, by warning us beforehand.
Pro 4:25-27
Let your eyes look straight ahead,
And your eyelids look right before you.
Ponder the path of your feet,
And let all your ways be established.
Do not turn to the right or the left;
Remove your foot from evil.
Set your eyes on the path straight ahead. The heavenward path. The only one path, that Jesus Himself had tread before us. Do not turn away from following Him on this path. Yield to the Holy Spirit's calling and you shall have the strength to walk in it.
Isa 30:21
Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
"This is the way, walk in it,"
Whenever you turn to the right hand
Or whenever you turn to the left.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
1 Kings 8
1 Ki 8:18-19
"But the LORD said to my father David, 'Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well that it was in your heart.
'Nevertheless you shall not build the temple, but your son who will come from your body, he shall build the temple for My name.'
Sometimes, we may have great plans for God. Since these plans only serve to magnify His great name, we become confident that God will surely give us the thumbs-up. However, we must remember that sometimes God has even better plans that we may not be able to see at that point in time. We have to trust in His guidance, like how Elijah was willingly guided by God to Brook Cherith and Zarephath.
Instead of going to Ahab straightaway, it was God's will for Elijah to first receive training. Though this was not made known explicitly to Elijah, he was able to fully submit to God's directions no matter how absurd it must have seemed to him.
A man's heart plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.
Proverbs 16:9
Therefore, no matter how much we feel that our plans for God must be pleasing to God, we must still first seek after His will. It is nevertheless good that we have such hearts to please Him.
1Ki 8:59
"And may these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the LORD, be near the LORD our God day and night, that He may maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day may require,
"As each day may require." Interesting phrase to me. Something that was dawned upon me lately too. God's provision and grace comes "as each day may require." And as I had shared during one bible study, sometimes God's grace seemed 'barely enough'. I read a commentary somewhere about the widow in 1 Kings 17. Have we ever thought about how the flour in the bin and the oil in the jar was never used up? Did the flour and oil increase greatly on the first day? Or perhaps the increase was only gradual and minimal each day, just enough for every day's food?
It was a very thought-provoking point. And I will go with the latter scenario. To the widow, it must have seemed like what God had promised to bless was 'barely enough' each time she went to the flour and oil. But yet, amazingly, days passed and they are still living well. Similarly, God's provision for us today may seem 'barely enough' but it is enough to last us through our days. (: Because man tend to see into the future and think "How can this be enough to last me for XXX years?", therefore they would feel that God is not providing for their needs. But who can see further than our God? He surely knows better than us! And surely, compared to Him, we are considered short-sighted.
Therefore, God's provision and grace comes to us as each day requires, and we need to trust that this is enough. Don't look at the 'barely filled' bin and jar and then look beyond the day and start murmuring that tomorrow you will not have enough. What is in the bin and jar is enough for today. The Bible says, "do not worry about tomorrow", for Manna will be rained down tomorrow again, feeding and nourishing us as we need, day by day.
Through this 'barely enough' provision, God is trying to teach us how to rely on Him and to stay close to Him, day by day.
Monday, July 16, 2007
1 Kings 7
This chapter records the temple's furnishings in great details. I tried to read between the lines, trying to ponder about questions like why this particular material, or design, or man? But I am unable to reach any conclusion. It would perhaps require greater in-depth study for questions like those.
In any case, probably we can still talk about the lavishness of the temple and its intricate details as a whole. Why did the Bible records such intricate details about the temple? Don't it remind you of Noah's ark and how God has specifically instructed Noah to build the ark according to the given dimensions? Perhaps this similar record of the details of the temple serves to bring out this point again - that the house of God should be built according to God's specific dimensions? So applying to today's situation, the Church should also build itself up according to God's teachings and commands, which is in the Bible.
But something else was prompting me that it isn't really the same as the case of Noah's ark. Firstly, God has not exactly given instructions to Soloman on these exact dimensions or materials to use, right?
Had a mini-discussion with a brother and this is what we gathered. It may be that God is still pleased with the lavishness of the temple, and that is why it is given a place in the Bible. Building a really grand church for God when we can afford the resources does reflect how much we esteem the house of God and I am sure God accepts this kind of offering. However, at the end of the day, I think God is neutral about such material lavishness.
Let us look at what was God's response to Soloman after the temple was dedicated.
1Ki 9:8
"And as for this house, which is exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and will hiss, and say, 'Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?'
My NIV version goes like this, "And though this temple is now imposing, all who pass by...". I hope I am not making a superficial analysis here, but what I seemed to gather was that God kind of didn't care about the luxuriance of the temple. He did acknowledge its grandeur, but He reminded Soloman that at the end of the day, it is the people's hearts that matter.
As long as they kept their hearts towards God, God will be with them. But once they turn their hearts away to serve other gods, God will "cut off Israel from the land which (He) have given them; and this house which (He) have consecrated for (His) name (He) will cast out of (His) sight."
So, at the end of the day, though God may be pleased with the grand building we dedicate as a house of God, He is really looking for the spiritual lavishness that we can offer up to Him.
In any case, probably we can still talk about the lavishness of the temple and its intricate details as a whole. Why did the Bible records such intricate details about the temple? Don't it remind you of Noah's ark and how God has specifically instructed Noah to build the ark according to the given dimensions? Perhaps this similar record of the details of the temple serves to bring out this point again - that the house of God should be built according to God's specific dimensions? So applying to today's situation, the Church should also build itself up according to God's teachings and commands, which is in the Bible.
But something else was prompting me that it isn't really the same as the case of Noah's ark. Firstly, God has not exactly given instructions to Soloman on these exact dimensions or materials to use, right?
Had a mini-discussion with a brother and this is what we gathered. It may be that God is still pleased with the lavishness of the temple, and that is why it is given a place in the Bible. Building a really grand church for God when we can afford the resources does reflect how much we esteem the house of God and I am sure God accepts this kind of offering. However, at the end of the day, I think God is neutral about such material lavishness.
Let us look at what was God's response to Soloman after the temple was dedicated.
1Ki 9:8
"And as for this house, which is exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and will hiss, and say, 'Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?'
My NIV version goes like this, "And though this temple is now imposing, all who pass by...". I hope I am not making a superficial analysis here, but what I seemed to gather was that God kind of didn't care about the luxuriance of the temple. He did acknowledge its grandeur, but He reminded Soloman that at the end of the day, it is the people's hearts that matter.
As long as they kept their hearts towards God, God will be with them. But once they turn their hearts away to serve other gods, God will "cut off Israel from the land which (He) have given them; and this house which (He) have consecrated for (His) name (He) will cast out of (His) sight."
So, at the end of the day, though God may be pleased with the grand building we dedicate as a house of God, He is really looking for the spiritual lavishness that we can offer up to Him.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
1 Kings 6
1Ki 6:12
"Concerning this temple which you are building, if you walk in My statutes, execute My judgments, keep all My commandments, and walk in them, then I will perform My word with you, which I spoke to your father David.
Likewise, today our church must be established and built up according to the exact dimensions as instructed by the Lord. In the same manner as it took them seven years to complete the temple, today our church's growth will also take time. It is a process, but it must be a ever forward-moving one, pressing on heavenward.
Not much thoughts today, used up most of my inspiration for the preparation of 1 Kings 17. Thank God though. :]
"Concerning this temple which you are building, if you walk in My statutes, execute My judgments, keep all My commandments, and walk in them, then I will perform My word with you, which I spoke to your father David.
Likewise, today our church must be established and built up according to the exact dimensions as instructed by the Lord. In the same manner as it took them seven years to complete the temple, today our church's growth will also take time. It is a process, but it must be a ever forward-moving one, pressing on heavenward.
Not much thoughts today, used up most of my inspiration for the preparation of 1 Kings 17. Thank God though. :]
Friday, July 13, 2007
1 Kings 5
1Ki 5:12
So the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as He had promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty together.
I was reminded of what happened to Issac in Genesis 26. How he had wisdom from God not to enter into a dispute with those who quarrelled with him. And finally, God blessed him greatly and even caused his enemies to come and make a peace treaty with him.
It is written in Proverbs that
"When a man's ways please the LORD,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him." (Pro 16:7)
Indeed, I guess this was also what happened to Soloman in 1 Kings. I also find that this kind of falls under the subset of the following verse.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Mat 6:33
It would be most pleasing to God if we were to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. And then, He shall add "all these things" to us, which includes peace with enemies.
Let us never forget to always seek to please God first, and not men.
So the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as He had promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty together.
I was reminded of what happened to Issac in Genesis 26. How he had wisdom from God not to enter into a dispute with those who quarrelled with him. And finally, God blessed him greatly and even caused his enemies to come and make a peace treaty with him.
It is written in Proverbs that
"When a man's ways please the LORD,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him." (Pro 16:7)
Indeed, I guess this was also what happened to Soloman in 1 Kings. I also find that this kind of falls under the subset of the following verse.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Mat 6:33
It would be most pleasing to God if we were to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. And then, He shall add "all these things" to us, which includes peace with enemies.
Let us never forget to always seek to please God first, and not men.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
1 Kings 4
Even though the front portion of this chapter simply listed Soloman's officials and governors, I had many different small thoughts toward the latter portion.
"sand on the seashore"
Notice how this phrase is used twice in this chapter to describe two different things - the people of Judah and Israel, and Soloman's "largeness of heart" (v20, 29). I was pondering over the reason for the use of the sand as an analogy. What is so significant about the sand on the seashore?
Just some brief and shallow analysis here. Perhaps further deeper study can be done on the sand on the seashore and a sermon may even be written on it? Anyway, it came to me that the sand on the seashore is always in contact with the water that comes onto shore. When a wave breaks at the shoreline, the swash may beat against the sand, unsettle them and the backwash may even pull them along back into the waters. But we see that, the sand on the seashore stays where they are.
Similarly, the people of God should be as resilient as the sand on the seashore. No matter how the tides of the world may beat against us, unsettle us and even pull us, we must stay rooted to our positions. From another angle, I also see that God's wisdom is eternal and does not fade away. No matter how the world may attempt to change and twist His word, His truth stands firm, unchanged.
Next, this phrase intrigued me as well. "each man under his vine and his fig tree" (v25). I remembered that in Micah 4:4, this same phenomenon was also mentioned. What a lovely thought, to have every man seated under his own tree and enjoy the peace of God! I really cannot wait for that day. Micah 4:4 never fails to plaster a big smile on my face every time I read it. It's like kind of cute... :X
Finally, the last verse caught my attention.
1Ki 4:34
And men of all nations, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom, came to hear the wisdom of Solomon.
If people were so attracted by Soloman's wisdom, how much more would they be attracted to God, if they knew about the wisdom of God! Sigh.. But man often only trust in what they can see. They failed to see that the wisdom of Soloman was given by God. But imagine the day when people flock from all over the world just to hear the wisdom of God.. how marvelous a thought that is to me. (:
Oh. and actually I am kind of envious of Soloman when I read the following verse.
1Ki 4:33
Also he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree of Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall; he spoke also of animals, of birds, of creeping things, and of fish.
I hope that in time to come, my writing skills can also improve such that I can talk about anything I want!
Writer's note: Sorry that I did not stick to the one-bible-verse-a-day format for today's entry :S
"sand on the seashore"
Notice how this phrase is used twice in this chapter to describe two different things - the people of Judah and Israel, and Soloman's "largeness of heart" (v20, 29). I was pondering over the reason for the use of the sand as an analogy. What is so significant about the sand on the seashore?
Just some brief and shallow analysis here. Perhaps further deeper study can be done on the sand on the seashore and a sermon may even be written on it? Anyway, it came to me that the sand on the seashore is always in contact with the water that comes onto shore. When a wave breaks at the shoreline, the swash may beat against the sand, unsettle them and the backwash may even pull them along back into the waters. But we see that, the sand on the seashore stays where they are.
Similarly, the people of God should be as resilient as the sand on the seashore. No matter how the tides of the world may beat against us, unsettle us and even pull us, we must stay rooted to our positions. From another angle, I also see that God's wisdom is eternal and does not fade away. No matter how the world may attempt to change and twist His word, His truth stands firm, unchanged.
Next, this phrase intrigued me as well. "each man under his vine and his fig tree" (v25). I remembered that in Micah 4:4, this same phenomenon was also mentioned. What a lovely thought, to have every man seated under his own tree and enjoy the peace of God! I really cannot wait for that day. Micah 4:4 never fails to plaster a big smile on my face every time I read it. It's like kind of cute... :X
Finally, the last verse caught my attention.
1Ki 4:34
And men of all nations, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom, came to hear the wisdom of Solomon.
If people were so attracted by Soloman's wisdom, how much more would they be attracted to God, if they knew about the wisdom of God! Sigh.. But man often only trust in what they can see. They failed to see that the wisdom of Soloman was given by God. But imagine the day when people flock from all over the world just to hear the wisdom of God.. how marvelous a thought that is to me. (:
Oh. and actually I am kind of envious of Soloman when I read the following verse.
1Ki 4:33
Also he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree of Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall; he spoke also of animals, of birds, of creeping things, and of fish.
I hope that in time to come, my writing skills can also improve such that I can talk about anything I want!
Writer's note: Sorry that I did not stick to the one-bible-verse-a-day format for today's entry :S
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
1 Kings 3
1Ki 3:9
"Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?"
Soloman's prayer for wisdom to govern God's people greatly pleased God. He had not asked for long life nor wealth nor for the life of his enemies. We see later in verses 13-14 that God grant him more than what he had asked for.
"And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days."
Soloman's prayer for wisdom was in line with God's will. He knew what was most pressing at that moment for God's house. He knew that he needed wisdom from God in order to be a good governor.
Today, what do we pray about? Do we know what is the most pressing issue in the house of God? Do we take time to pray about them?
Last night's prayer, I went forward to pray. I was feeling troubled and had so much to pray for. As I prayed, I found that my list was simply endless. I found myself then asking God, "God, how can I ever finish praying? How shall I pray?"
That was when this verse came to me, amazingly.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Matthew 6:33
How could I have forgotten about this? It was just so simple. In my prayer, as long as I seek after God's will, He will be pleased and He will add all the other things to me. Just like what He gave to Soloman.
I might not have necessarily been praying for the things of the world, but nevertheless the endless list of matters pertaining to God also tired me in my prayer. I was feeling discouraged and feeling doubtful if this was the right way to pray, until that verse came to me. I think I might have been losing my faith in prayers and God was reassuring me that as long as I first seek after His kingdom and righteousness, He will add all the rest to me. A brother told me that God also could be reassuring me that it is worthwhile thinking about the matters of God. Quite true... since I was feeling tired and slightly discouraged at that point in time.
So, remembering how God granted Soloman all those things and remembering also Matthew 6:33, what do you pray for today?
"Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?"
Soloman's prayer for wisdom to govern God's people greatly pleased God. He had not asked for long life nor wealth nor for the life of his enemies. We see later in verses 13-14 that God grant him more than what he had asked for.
"And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days."
Soloman's prayer for wisdom was in line with God's will. He knew what was most pressing at that moment for God's house. He knew that he needed wisdom from God in order to be a good governor.
Today, what do we pray about? Do we know what is the most pressing issue in the house of God? Do we take time to pray about them?
Last night's prayer, I went forward to pray. I was feeling troubled and had so much to pray for. As I prayed, I found that my list was simply endless. I found myself then asking God, "God, how can I ever finish praying? How shall I pray?"
That was when this verse came to me, amazingly.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Matthew 6:33
How could I have forgotten about this? It was just so simple. In my prayer, as long as I seek after God's will, He will be pleased and He will add all the other things to me. Just like what He gave to Soloman.
I might not have necessarily been praying for the things of the world, but nevertheless the endless list of matters pertaining to God also tired me in my prayer. I was feeling discouraged and feeling doubtful if this was the right way to pray, until that verse came to me. I think I might have been losing my faith in prayers and God was reassuring me that as long as I first seek after His kingdom and righteousness, He will add all the rest to me. A brother told me that God also could be reassuring me that it is worthwhile thinking about the matters of God. Quite true... since I was feeling tired and slightly discouraged at that point in time.
So, remembering how God granted Soloman all those things and remembering also Matthew 6:33, what do you pray for today?
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
1 Kings 2
1Ki 2:37
"For it shall be, on the day you go out and cross the Brook Kidron, know for certain you shall surely die; your blood shall be on your own head."
My blood shall be on my own head. I found this sentence interesting. It is telling me that I am to be held accountable for whatever happened to me.
That day I took a cab to church. It cost me 12bucks!! But I hope it was well worth it. The cab auntie started chatting with me on religions and beliefs. And her stand was that she was got to see it, in order to believe in it. Like how she saw her brother's spirit, not just once, but two times. She told me that she has got no feeling while she attended church in her younger days. And she also asked me the most important question. She commented, "If your God is so powerful, so loving, why can't He make everyone turn towards Him and worship Him?"
I told her that precisely God loves us, so He wouldn't compel us to do what we are not willing. He wants us to turn towards Him, on our own accord. He wouldn't want robots. Most importantly, we have to open our hearts to Him.
And then as I read to this portion of 1 Kings 2 when King Soloman was instructing Shimei, I can't help but see some similarities between this incident and our relationship with God.
"Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and dwell there"
God wants us to establish ourselves in His Church and to dwell in His house.
"and do not go out from there anywhere."
He desires that we do not stray away from His house, lest we be corrupted by the world.
"For it shall be, on the day you go out and cross the Brook Kidron, know for certain you shall surely die"
If we do not heed His word, and cross the line, "we shall surely die".
"your blood shall be on your own head."
Therefore, it isn't God who is being merciless, but we are the ones who did what we deserve.
Let's see what is Shimei's response.
"The saying is good. As my lord the king has said, so your servant will do."
Isn't this what we always tell God as well on the day of our baptism? We promise Him that we can most definitely fulfill all that He has commanded. We also felt that we understood what it meant to be held accountable for our own actions. Perhaps we can really do it, but soon we realised that we can't. For Shimei, it took only three years before he went against what he had promised the king. He went away from Jerusalem to bring his slaves back from Gath. I am not sure if this constitutes a trivial event, but many times, haven't we went away from God for other trivial matters?
And what has Shimei got to say about that? Nothing.
We note that there was no account of his response anymore. Nothing he said matters anymore, because we must remember that this was Shimei's second chance from the king already. Shimei ought to have been punished previously (2 Sam 16:5-14), but by the king's grace, he was allowed to live, as long as he stay in Jerusalem and "do not go out from there anywhere". But since he couldn't even keep that covenant, he therefore was killed.
Remember also that when Jesus shed His blood for us on the cross, this was a second chance to us. We ought to have died, ought to be destined for eternal condemnation. But God's grace was so bountiful that we are given this second chance again.
As long as we abide in His truth and in His Spirit, we can be saved. But if we choose to go away, out of His grace, what else can He do? What else have I to say? My blood shall be on my own head.
"For it shall be, on the day you go out and cross the Brook Kidron, know for certain you shall surely die; your blood shall be on your own head."
My blood shall be on my own head. I found this sentence interesting. It is telling me that I am to be held accountable for whatever happened to me.
That day I took a cab to church. It cost me 12bucks!! But I hope it was well worth it. The cab auntie started chatting with me on religions and beliefs. And her stand was that she was got to see it, in order to believe in it. Like how she saw her brother's spirit, not just once, but two times. She told me that she has got no feeling while she attended church in her younger days. And she also asked me the most important question. She commented, "If your God is so powerful, so loving, why can't He make everyone turn towards Him and worship Him?"
I told her that precisely God loves us, so He wouldn't compel us to do what we are not willing. He wants us to turn towards Him, on our own accord. He wouldn't want robots. Most importantly, we have to open our hearts to Him.
And then as I read to this portion of 1 Kings 2 when King Soloman was instructing Shimei, I can't help but see some similarities between this incident and our relationship with God.
"Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and dwell there"
God wants us to establish ourselves in His Church and to dwell in His house.
"and do not go out from there anywhere."
He desires that we do not stray away from His house, lest we be corrupted by the world.
"For it shall be, on the day you go out and cross the Brook Kidron, know for certain you shall surely die"
If we do not heed His word, and cross the line, "we shall surely die".
"your blood shall be on your own head."
Therefore, it isn't God who is being merciless, but we are the ones who did what we deserve.
Let's see what is Shimei's response.
"The saying is good. As my lord the king has said, so your servant will do."
Isn't this what we always tell God as well on the day of our baptism? We promise Him that we can most definitely fulfill all that He has commanded. We also felt that we understood what it meant to be held accountable for our own actions. Perhaps we can really do it, but soon we realised that we can't. For Shimei, it took only three years before he went against what he had promised the king. He went away from Jerusalem to bring his slaves back from Gath. I am not sure if this constitutes a trivial event, but many times, haven't we went away from God for other trivial matters?
And what has Shimei got to say about that? Nothing.
We note that there was no account of his response anymore. Nothing he said matters anymore, because we must remember that this was Shimei's second chance from the king already. Shimei ought to have been punished previously (2 Sam 16:5-14), but by the king's grace, he was allowed to live, as long as he stay in Jerusalem and "do not go out from there anywhere". But since he couldn't even keep that covenant, he therefore was killed.
Remember also that when Jesus shed His blood for us on the cross, this was a second chance to us. We ought to have died, ought to be destined for eternal condemnation. But God's grace was so bountiful that we are given this second chance again.
As long as we abide in His truth and in His Spirit, we can be saved. But if we choose to go away, out of His grace, what else can He do? What else have I to say? My blood shall be on my own head.
Monday, July 9, 2007
1 Kings 1
1Ki 1:45
"So Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon; and they have gone up from there rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar. This is the noise that you have heard."
This is the noise that you have heard. These words shook me a little. While God's will is being carried out in one area and rejoicing is taking place, do we put down the wrongdoings that we are engaged in and join them instead?
Perhaps because evangelistic meeting is just this weekend, and so my thoughts are more inclined towards this. I took a step back and wondered... while our church's evangelistic meeting is taking place and there is lots of worshipping and praising of His name with hymns and prayers, are there passerbys who stop by and hear the noise and wonder what is going on?
There might be people who pondered, "Why is the city in such a noisy uproar?" (1Kings 1:41). These people need someone to tell them, in order for them to understand what they have heard. Just like Adonijah and co needed Jonathan son of Abiathar to report to them what was really happening - God's will, today these people need us to report to them what is God's love and grace as well.
Remember that we can hear, but do not understand (Matthew 13:14). We need someone to open our eyes. But when we indeed hear something, do we even stop to ponder over it or simply move on with life's vanities? It is good to know that Adonijah and co stopped to wonder about the uproar and not simply indulged in their folly. At the realization of their mistake, they ended their wrongdoings and submitted to God.
I pray for more people to hear, to stop and to ponder. I pray also for people to report to them, and let God open their ears.
"Restore Life"
Special Evangelistic Meeting
@ Telok Kurau Church (32 Lorong H)
13th July 2007 (Friday)
14th July 2007 (Saturday)
15th July 2007 (Sunday)
730pm
"So Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon; and they have gone up from there rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar. This is the noise that you have heard."
This is the noise that you have heard. These words shook me a little. While God's will is being carried out in one area and rejoicing is taking place, do we put down the wrongdoings that we are engaged in and join them instead?
Perhaps because evangelistic meeting is just this weekend, and so my thoughts are more inclined towards this. I took a step back and wondered... while our church's evangelistic meeting is taking place and there is lots of worshipping and praising of His name with hymns and prayers, are there passerbys who stop by and hear the noise and wonder what is going on?
There might be people who pondered, "Why is the city in such a noisy uproar?" (1Kings 1:41). These people need someone to tell them, in order for them to understand what they have heard. Just like Adonijah and co needed Jonathan son of Abiathar to report to them what was really happening - God's will, today these people need us to report to them what is God's love and grace as well.
Remember that we can hear, but do not understand (Matthew 13:14). We need someone to open our eyes. But when we indeed hear something, do we even stop to ponder over it or simply move on with life's vanities? It is good to know that Adonijah and co stopped to wonder about the uproar and not simply indulged in their folly. At the realization of their mistake, they ended their wrongdoings and submitted to God.
I pray for more people to hear, to stop and to ponder. I pray also for people to report to them, and let God open their ears.
"Restore Life"
Special Evangelistic Meeting
@ Telok Kurau Church (32 Lorong H)
13th July 2007 (Friday)
14th July 2007 (Saturday)
15th July 2007 (Sunday)
730pm
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