King James Bible Study – [Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.]
Date: Sunday, June 12, 2022
Chapters: I KINGS 5-7
Study: God Gave Them Up
Hello My Friend,
As I was reading the chapters for today, I imagined what it would have been like to live in the days of Solomon, the architecture of the buildings, roads, and structures were so strong and durable. And here we are a few millenniums later, with more technology, yet a month after they pave a road it looks like it has not been done in years. Does it not seem like the smarter the world gets the lazier it becomes and more foolish? And I do not have to tell you that the smarter it gets the more dangerous and corrupt it becomes. I still cannot believe that they are literally trying to transplant a womb inside of a man, and as angry as that makes me, I can only imagine how God feels about it. And what came to mind is this passage.
[Romans 1:26-28 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;]
The funny thing is that when I first started praying this morning, I said to God that I did not have much to say to Him and apologized for that, then four pages later (I write out my prayers) I realized that I had a lot to say. God, had given me some insight into how His mercy endures until it is time for Him to cut them off and walk away. When you think about the billions of people on earth and all that have come and gone since God created the earth you wonder sometimes how God does have so much patience and mercy with people who have no concern for Him whatsoever. Then God has this odd way of showing that to you by placing people in your lives (or crossing your path) who try your patience and mercy. Well, that is similar to how God deals with all people. While God wants every soul to be saved, His concern is not on the reprobates, it is on His people, [Matthew 9:12-13 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. 13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.]
Those who admit to Jesus that they are broken sinners who need Him, are the only ones that get His attention. Again, God loves every soul that He creates and wants them all to be saved, but if they are not willing to admit that, then He rather focus on those who do. As we return to the reading of 1 Kings, the account of the first permanent building that Solomon would build for God is also given. Notice how Jeremiah goes into more detail about Solomon’s conversation with Hiram.
[1 Kings 5:1-5 And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David. 2 And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying, 3 Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the LORD his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet. 4 But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent. 5 And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name.]
[so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.] Can you imagine a time of rest where we have no adversaries or evil befalling us? I swear that I stuck in this loop that I cannot get out of, and for the life of me, have no idea what the problem is. That was when it occurred to me that all of God’s stuck in this same loop because of all the evil going on right now. God is going to protect us and take care of us one way or another, and while we may not understand why we are dealing with the things we are dealing with, we can find rest, and that, of course is with Jesus, [2 Corinthians 12:8-10 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.]
I tell you what, we certainly cannot do this alone, and as much as we do not want everyone to know our problems, it truly does take a village. We are the body of Christ, when one of us suffers, we all suffer, and the same thing goes for rest, and if we want rest, then we need to come together as one, and I mean all of God’s people. Hiram, gladly accepted Solomon’s proposal one; he was David’s son, and two; he made a wise decision. Again, Solomon would not have been able to pull this off on his own, he knew he needed help, and watch what else he does, he did not place the entire burden on one group of people, they took shifts.
[1 Kings 5:12-16 And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together. 13 And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men. 14 And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses: a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home: and Adoniram was over the levy. 15 And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains; 16 Beside the chief of Solomon’s officers which were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.]
[threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens,] Yes, those who are stronger in their faith are to support the weaker in faith, even if we have things going on as well. Think about it this way, [Romans 15:1-3 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. 3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.]
Do you think that Jesus did not have burdens when He was here in the flesh? He had people trying to kill Him everywhere He went. Not to mention He was not born in the wealthiest of families, and yet He carried all of our burdens, and still does when He does not have to at all. Well, Solomon and Hiram gathered everything together, and set everyone in order, and then construction on the temple began.
[1 Kings 6:1-4 And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD. 2 And the house which king Solomon built for the LORD, the length thereof was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits. 3 And the porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits was the length thereof, according to the breadth of the house; and ten cubits was the breadth thereof before the house.]
[in the four hundred and eightieth year] Four hundred and eighty years, that is how long Israel had stepped foot off Egypt and headed toward the promised land. That means that it literally took them four hundred and forty years to get where and had not really had any rest since Joshua led the pack. God never said that He works quickly, and yet to Him one day is as a thousand. Notice as Jeremiah continues to describe the construction of the temple that they had no tools inside.
[1 Kings 6:7-9 And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building. 8 The door for the middle chamber was in the right side of the house: and they went up with winding stairs into the middle chamber, and out of the middle into the third. 9 So he built the house, and finished it; and covered the house with beams and boards of cedar.]
[so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool] Each piece of wood, stone, and metal, all the way down to the engravings, was constructed outside of the building and placed inside, perfectly together without one tool necessary. And that is what you call some talent, but with all that talent, guess who was watching what was going on? It was God, and He had something to say to Solomon.
[1 Kings 6:11-14,37-38 And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying, 12 Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father: 13 And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel. 14 So Solomon built the house, and finished it. 37 In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of the LORD laid, in the month Zif: 38 And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it.]
[Concerning this house which thou art in building,] You can build a thousand churches for God, but that does not mean one thing to Him unless we are following His instructions. Catholic churches are some of the most beautiful and extravagant churches in the world, but God is not in them, likewise temples and masques. God, does not dwell in nor does He have any doing at all for buildings that have no desire to live by His instructions, He dwells, in believers. So, we are the ones who bring God into the building, [1 Corinthians 3:16-19 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.]
Boy, those are some strong and what should be eye opening words, and this is exactly why many will stand before Jesus and He will tell them that He never knew them. The temple itself was never built to contain God, Solomon himself said that, it was a temporary place for believers to go to worship, and reconcile with God according to His commands. And with many hands, it was complete in seven years. Solomon, also had his own house built as well as a few others, which took longer to build.
[1 Kings 7:1-3,7-8 But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house. 2 He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon; the length thereof was an hundred cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits, upon four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars. 3 And it was covered with cedar above upon the beams, that lay on forty five pillars, fifteen in a row. 7 Then he made a porch for the throne where he might judge, even the porch of judgment: and it was covered with cedar from one side of the floor to the other. 8 And his house where he dwelt had another court within the porch, which was of the like work. Solomon made also an house for Pharaoh’s daughter, whom he had taken to wife, like unto this porch.]
[Solomon made also an house for Pharaoh’s daughter,] This is more proof that Solomon’s marriage with the Egyptian kings daughter was due to some arrangement, and not really that he fell head over heals in love with her. Although she was separated from him, he did have seven hundred wives from different countries so he must have had some that he desired as this did play a huge part in his latter years when he started worshiping other gods, [1 Kings 11:3-4 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. 4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.]
He did not turn his heart away from God completely, but it was not perfect, and that is what caused problems for his son when he would take over as king. There is a very good reason why we need to remain separated from those of different beliefs, and I would go as far as to say different beliefs in the Christian faith, not all Baptists believe the same thing and that can be just as bad as false religion. I have this thing in me that I will give a person chance after chance, but when they cross over that line, I will cut them off completely. God, actually pointed out to me that He is the one that does that, He tells us when it is time to cut them off.
[2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.]
Today’s Prayer: God, You know how much evil is taking place all over the world today, we, who are Your saved, born again believers may not understand why we are in the midst of the evil, but we do understand that You have a plan and a purpose for our pain, and we will be blessed through it. Jesus, thank You, for being my pillar, for being the one who sustains me, supports me, and keeps me from falling, Lord, Lead us and guide us, cover us under Your precious blood, give us Your power, wisdom, and strength to stand up to this season of evil. Teach us, grow us, fill us with Your mercies, grace, and love toward one another, open each and every heart to come together so that we can release Your power to be the pillar that You need us to be that gives support to the lost, those lost in their way, and those who need to renew their faith. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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