Proverbs 11:22 - Inner Value

Proverbs 11:22

As a ring of gold in a swine's snout,

so is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion. 

Message: Inner Value

Time: Proverbs records multiple individuals as its author with Solomon as the principal author. Solomon died in 931 BC though most think the book was likely in its final form sometime before the end of Hezekiah’s reign in 686 BC. It is a book that instructs people on the path of wisdom. It speaks to all of life and living our lives under the authority and direction of God.

What the Lord is Saying: Interesting verse comparing something that is beautiful with something that is bad and then something that is not beautiful with something that is elegant. The basic idea is these two items combined are two characteristics that don't belong together. Gold in a pig. Beauty lacking discretion. And the two comparisons are two things people all enjoy - riches and beauty. Yet it seems wasteful to add riches to a pig and it should seem wasteful to have beauty added to someone that lacks discretion. 

A pig is an unclean animal. It is an animal by Jewish dietary laws that is not eaten. Gold as a precious metal metaphor represents wealth or something of value or something that is desirable. Thus, that which we desire is placed in something we don't. I Corinthians 15:33 says, "Bad company corrupts good character." Also 2 Corinthians 6:14, "Do not be unequally yoked." Both of these have similar ideas of not mixing value or what we want with what is not valuable. But also here is adding value to something that won't be appreciated. On the flip side we like taking things that appear to be worthless and converting them to value, such as repairing something used rather than replacing it, such as a car or anything. It is great to take something that is used up and giving it more life, but the problem here is being corrupted. 

To lack discretion is to not think before one speaks. This is a person that needs to be careful with their speech. It is a person that needs to be cautious about what they say, especially as it relates to others. We are to value inner beauty. In Proverbs, "Charm is deceitful." Words are more important than looks. What we hear, more important than what we see as far as looks. As I have been reading through the books of Joshua and the Judges, people like Saul and Adonijah were described first about their looks. Their character was not of the importance that stood out but rather their looks and those individuals did not end up leading well. 

Prayer: O God, you are rich in mercy. Your ways are the best ways and here is the reminder that there is more than meets the eye and we should be more focused on inner beauty and inner value and how we speak and conduct ourselves instead of focusing on what simply is pleasing to our eye or even our pocketbook. Redefine this in our lives. Thank you for helping me see the importance of this in my life. Keep showing me. I thank you for the beauty of my wife but it only means something because of how wonderful she is as a person. This is when the beauty really stands out in her because of how caring and loving she is to me and others. Her playful ways. Her discretion to be careful about what she wears and how she presents herself. I am so thankful for her and how you have trained her to be Godly. Help me always to value this and not get so caught up in looks and beauty. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

I Kings 2:28-46 - Joab and Shimei Eliminated

I Kings 2:28-46

So shall their blood return on the head of Joab and on the head of his descendants forever; but to David and his descendants and his house and his throne, may there be peace from the Lord forever. (verse 33)

Message: Joab and Shimei Eliminated

Time: The author of 1&2 Kings (originally 1 book) is not known. First Kings follows the history of this divided kingdom from the death of David around 971 BC through the year 853 BC. First Kings reveals Solomon’s relationship with Yahweh and introduces the prophet Elijah who pronounces judgment on the evil northern king Ahab. Like other books, it helps us to understand the history of Israel and Judah. 

What the Lord is Saying: Previously in Chapter 2 of I Kings, Adonijah wants to sort of usurp Solomon's authority and make a claim once again for the throne this time by cleverly asserting himself to have David's former concubine as his wife, Solomon has him killed but spares Abiathar the priest who was associated and had supported Adonijah. 

Joab is mentioned in verse 28 and this news of Adonijah and Abiathar coming to him. Joab is an interesting fellow. He has been mentioned often in the life of David. Joab had served David for 4 decades as the commander of his army. He had some sort of respect for God throughout this time but at other times he was ruthless and carried out things in a harsh manner. He murdered people like Abner and Amasa right after David had put Amasa in charge and earlier made a covenant with Abner, but Joab wasn't about to share anything with another. David wanted Absalom spared even though Absalom wanted the throne. Joab stepped in and killed Absalom. But Joab disagreed in the census that David carried out which is a good thing to disagree on. Joab has been hard to figure out. 

And now in verse 28 it says that "Joab had followed Adonijah" and so this is odd. Solomon sent Benaiah to kill Joab for Joab was to removed "from my father's house [for] the blood which Joab shed without cause. Joab had many times taken matters into his own hands against the wishes of David. Verse 32 mentions Abner and Amasa. 

After this Solomon makes Benaiah the commander of his army and places Zadok as priest in place of Abiathar. 

Shimei is mentioned next in verse 36. Shimei cursed and threw stones at King David while David was fleeing from his son Absalom. David gave him a momentary reprieve but eventually told Solomon he would need to be punished. Solomon tells Shimei to go and live in Jerusalem and build a house there but at some point he will die. He had done evil and it is promised that "the Lord shall return your evil on your own head." Benaiah was eventually ordered to kill Shimei. 

It seems David didn't want to deal with things at times. Joab was effective even though he did things that were wrong, but David didn't deal with them. David had a way of struggling with open acts of rebellion. David and Solomon were great leaders, but they were not perfect. A perfect king was still needed one day and would come in the name of Jesus. 

Summary: Solomon followed through on David's request to have Joab and Shimei killed. 

Promise: From Tabletalk, "We remain utterly dependent on the grace of God for the growth of the kingdom."

Prayer: God your kingdom is always to be respected. I understand Lord you are to be praised and I praise You. And I also know that Jesus is the perfect king. You do great things through all sorts of people. Your kingdom will be established forever. Your will be done and you often work things out, not in the perfect way, but still in the best way only because your people on this earth are imperfect. Jesus is always perfect though and so we submit and surrender to Him always. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

I Kings 2:10-27 - Adonijah's Treachery

I Kings 2:10-27

And King Solomon answered and said to his mother, "And why are you asking Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him also the kingdom -- for he is my elder brother -- even for him, for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah!" (verse 22)

Message: Adonijah's Treachery

Time: The author of 1&2 Kings (originally 1 book) is not known. First Kings follows the history of this divided kingdom from the death of David around 971 BC through the year 853 BC. First Kings reveals Solomon’s relationship with Yahweh and introduces the prophet Elijah who pronounces judgment on the evil northern king Ahab. Like other books, it helps us to understand the history of Israel and Judah. 

What the Lord is Saying: I have seen in this past lessons David giving a charge to Solomon to lead the nation Israel and he has been anointed king. David has provided Solomon all he needs to build the temple and gave a great prayer to God - praising God's name and speaking that all we have is actually from God. 

In verse 13 Adonijah, the fourth son of David, who's mother is Haggith. Adonijah was mentioned in I Kings 1:5 when he believed he should be the king. But Bathsheba disagreed and rallied with Nathan to come against this. Now Adonijah shows up again and Bathsheba wonders if he comes peacefully. He remarks that he was supposed to be king but instead Solomon became king because "it was his from the Lord." So he remarks that while the people he said wanted him to be king, Solomon was chosen because he is from the Lord and the decision is God's. Now Adonijah asks Bathsheba to request from Solomon that his wife be Abishag. Abishag was said to be a beautiful young woman and was the caretaker of David in the last moments of his life. 

Bathsheba then goes to speak to Solomon about this and Solomon wonders why and says, "Ask for him also the kingdom." This seems to be somewhat or a sarcastic response like he is saying, you might as well be asking him to have the kingdom in his charge as well. Solomon is seeing more from this than a simple request of Adonijah and instead sees it as he is doing something to usurp his throne. From this Solomon sentences Adonijah to death and he dies. 

In this outcry Solomon also mentions Abiathar the priest for he also supported Adonijah to be king. But because he carried the ark of the Lord Solomon will spare his life. But he did dismiss him from being priest. 

The request to take Abishag was a serious one. She was basically another concubine of David's though it was said he did not fulfill any sexual action toward her. But still, for a son to take his father's concubine was a serious offense. Absalom had done this previously when he wanted to be king to show everyone in the kingdom that him doing this would be making a claim on the throne. Also removing Abiathar, a descendant of Eli, was also fulfilling a prophecy to remove the descendants of Eli from the priesthood (I Samuel 2:27-36). 

Solomon recognized the significance of anyone challenging his throne. We need to be a people that respect the leaders of thrones and not do things to remove them from their post or assert an idea that they do not belong there. We are to respect the post and the position. There may be things we disagree about and that is all well and good but we need to respect the position and that he is only to removed by means of the government. 

Summary: Adonijah once again comes before Solomon to usurp his authority in hopes of laying claim to the throne. Solomon has him killed but spares the life of Abiathar the priest. 

Promise: Those who sin against God will not escape. 

Prayer: O God, my father. You are king. Your throne is forever and ever. You love righteousness and hate wickedness. Lord, the kingdoms of this earth have been set up by You and we are to respect those kingdom leaders. Help me to do that. Help me to not question leaders but to pray for Your wisdom to be done. Thank you for our country, the United States and setting us up as a kingdom under God. Redirect our leaders to surrender to You always, in everything as they lead us. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

I Chronicles 29:10-30 - Solomon Exalted

I Chronicles 29:10-30

And the Lord highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed on him royal majesty which had not been on any king before him in Israel. (verse 25)

Message: Solomon Exalted

Time: 1 Chronicles has a mystery writer and focuses on David's reign though doesn't repeat David's sin with Bathsheba. It was written in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah or 538-333 BC while the Jews were dispersed throughout Persia, some having returned from Israel. The book lists genealogies, priests, Levites, armies, temple officials, and other leaders of various ministries and devotes significant attention to proper worship of Yahweh and adherence to the regulations of the Law. It focuses on obedience that results in God’s blessing, the priority of the temple and priesthood, and the unconditional promises to the house of David.

What the Lord is Saying: Since chapter 28 of I Chronicles, I have looked at David commissioning Solomon to build the temple, to trust God and be obedient to His commands. He gives Solomon detailed instructions and gives Solomon then a final charge of strength and courage and David speaks to his leaders and they respond with willingness and providing their resources as well in building the temple. David is ready to die. Solomon is ready to carry things on. 

In this chapter, in verses 10 to 19 is a great prayer to God by David. This sounds like a prayer that should be prayed always. 

Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Thine is the dominion, O Lord, and Thou dost exalt Thyself as head over all. Both riches and honor come from Thee, and Thou dost rule over all, and in Thy hand is power and might; and it lies in Thy hand to make great, and to strengthen everyone. Now therefore, our God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious name. 

But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from Thee, and from Thy hand we have given Thee. For we are sojourners before Thee, and tenants, as all our fathers were; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope. O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided to build Thee a house for Thy holy name, it is from Thy hand, and all is Thine. Since I know, O my God, that Thou triest the heart and delightest in uprightness, I, in the integrity of my heart, have willingly offered all these [things]; as now with joy I have seen Thy people, who are present here, make [their] offerings willingly to Thee. O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, preserve this forever in the intentions of the heart of Thy people, and direct their heart to Thee; and give to my son Solomon a perfect heart to keep Thy commandments. Thy testimonies, and Thy statutes, and to do [them] all, and to build the temple, for which I have made provision. 

Wow, this is a great prayer. I must admit, I have not really read this before. I am sure I have but to take a moment and really look at its meaning. It speaks of a greatness of God and a praise of God over all - both in heaven and earth. He is over all. All that is good is from God. He is great. He has power and glory. He has victory. He has majesty. He is head over all. It is his power that makes man great. We owe all to Him. All to Jesus. I surrender.  

I love this phrase, "But who am I." I love that recognition of man in his place. God in his place. And man is completely unworthy. If our lives are indeed a filthy rag, then who am I to think that I decide my salvation. My salvation comes from Thee and in return I offer it back to him in my giving, in my acts of obedience. But it is His and His alone. 

I am a sojourner in this place. A tenant. A dweller and he is my landlord. I am only here because of His mercy. I am only here because of his grace. It is not after all that I have done. It is only because of Him. You bring blessing upon my life because of you grace and mercy, not because of my good deeds or actions or faithfulness. I am faithful because I must be. I must be faithful. I must be this one that loves you and returns my favor to You because You have done so much for me. I return good works to you because I must. I must be faithful and if I ever am not faithful it is because I am listening to the fear pronounced on me by Satan. O Lord, help me to stop listening. 

Lord, let me act and build and do and complete all that you have commanded me to do. Yours is the glory. Yours is the victory. Yours is the power. Yours is the majesty. 

And then in verse 20 of this chapter "David said to all the assembly, 'Now bless the Lord your God." And everyone did that. And then they made sacrifices the next day. They did all with gladness. Solomon is designated as king and anointed. "All the sons...pledged allegiance." David reigned for 40 years. All is written here and other places about David. 

Summary: David offers a beautiful prayer praising God and confirming all of our riches are from God. Then Solomon is anointed king again. 

Promise: I am to pray and seek the character of God in my prayers and not simply my list of what I want or feel like I need. 

Prayer: O God, thank you much for this prayer and this great reminder of how I am to pray, lifting up your holy name and thanking you for your dominion and power and glory and victory and majesty. Lord, I need to do more of this. I need to speak your words back to you. I will proclaim the name of the Lord and praise the greatness of my God. (Deuteronomy 32:3). Your name is Great. Your ways are great. Today in speaking to people I shared my testimony and you my experiences you confirmed through your holy scripture. Thank you for confirming my feelings. For my feelings being confirmed by Your words. Your words in Your scripture are everything. They are complete. There is nothing more that is needed. Thank you for its riches. All that I have God is yours and everything I have to give is simply me giving back to you what you have given me. Lord, help me to see your greatness more on this earth. You are over all. Your riches and honor are Yours. O Lord, my sin has darkened me. I deserve your wrath and your anger. In me is no health because of your wrath. I am a filthy rag. It is only by your grace I am made worthy. There is nothing of good in me apart from you. You created goodness and placed your people in a garden of goodness. I corrupted it. There is nothing but goodness with You. Lord, I am selfish. I am embattled with selfishness and me first thinking. Too often I train myself to want rest and relaxation and then I get into it too much. Help me to stand firm in you. Forgive me for my sin and my wayward ways. Lord, give me a greater love and compassion for others. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Mark 8:15 - Watch Out for the Leaven of Herod

Mark 8:15

And He was giving orders to them, saying, "Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." 

Message: Watch out for the Leaven of Herod

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying: It is interesting to see how metaphors are used in the Bible. The dictionary definition of a metaphor is "a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable." It is figurative not literal. Thus, "time is a thief" means to say that like a thief that steals is time that steals moments from us. Or "Life is a roller coaster" means to say that life has ups and downs and can be compared to the ups and downs of a roller coaster. Thus, a metaphor takes one idea and places it into a picture or word picture to help us better understand. 

Thus, in this verse, "leaven" is a familiar item in baking. It is used to cause dough to rise. Leaven is a fermenting agent. It is a substance that makes the dough rise by producing gas and makes bread or baked goods, light and fluffy. Baking powder is a type of leaven, and something that I like, and use when I make biscuits as it makes the biscuits stand up and fluffy instead of being dense and flat. 

The leaven changes the original substance. It makes it different from the original. Puffs it up. It spreads. It changes everything.

For the Israelites, during the exodus, when they left Egypt, they had to leave quickly. They didn’t have time to let their bread rise so they baked unleavened bread. The Israelites time in Egypt was marked by bondage. They were being corrupted. Their time in Egypt started out being good for they went there to escape a famine but over time they were enslaved, Egypt wanted to control them and eventually Pharaoh ordered Hebrew boys to be killed. It began to be a place where they lost their identity as children of God, separating themselves from God's promise. 

Once they were freed from Egypt, the Israelites began to celebrate through commemorations specific things that they were doing at the time they left. One of those was having unleavened bread. In many instances, leaven is representing sin, or corruption or bondage. There are events when the Israelites will remove any form of leaven from their midst and commemorate their exodus. 

As such, in today's text Jesus is speaking to a large crowd and the disciples and says, "Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." Leaven here is not bread, but instead Jesus is saying beware of the corruption of the Pharisees and of Herod. Beware of what they represent and it spilling over into your life. Beware of what they are saying. 

In Mark 6:14-16, Herod is finding about Jesus from others. When people heard of Jesus in that day, it caused them to go to the source or go to Jesus and hear from him directly. Herod instead conjured up his conclusion of Jesus based upon what he heard and concluded with that Jesus is a risen John. Jesus warns his followers of listening to others. Instead go to the source.  

The other problem with Herod is he was only interested in an intellectual understanding. He was not moved to repentance. When we embrace Jesus we experience a heart change. It is not a change based upon what someone tells me I am to change, it is based upon what I want to change. I am called a new creature. 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."

I have been conversing with some folks close to me. They actually seem to have a good understanding of Jesus and dying on the cross, but they have pointed out to me that they are not hip on making a life change or feeling like they are being told that they need a life change. They only want to go to school, they don't want to live in the real world. They don't want to repent and change their ways. They want the "get of jail free" card only. 

Summary: Jesus warns his followers to focus only on His words and not what others are saying about him. 

Prayer: O God, thank you for giving us this book and the richness of it. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

TABLETALK - July 2019

2019 looks at the history of Old Testament Israel showing that the failures and successes of the Israelites led to the coming of Jesus, the Savior who redeems us from sin and empowers us by His Spirit to bear spiritual fruit in obedience to Him. 

January 2019 (October 25, 2024 - January 23, 2025) - Joshua 1-14 - How the Lord brought Israelites into Canaan

February 2019 (January 24, 2025 - July 6, 2025) - Joshua 15 to Judges 11 - God calls his people to finish driving out the inhabitants of Canaan, but they fail. God disciplines them and saves them from destruction. 

March 2019 (July 7, 2025 - August 24, 2025) - Judges 12 to I Samuel 1 - God's people may fall into great sin, but there is always a righteous remnant. 

April 2019 (August 25, 2025 - January 20, 2026) - I Samuel 2 to I Samuel 17 - Israel transitions from the eras of the judges to the monarchy. And also see Israel's ongoing conflict with the Philistines. 

May 2019 (January 21, 2026 - February 19, 2026) - I Samuel 17 to 2 Samuel 5 - David is on the run between his anointing and his assumption of the throne of Israel. 

June 2019 (February 20, 2026 - March 12, 2026) - 2 Samuel 6 to 2 Samuel 15 - David begins his 40 year reign of Judah/Israel.

July 2019 (March 13, 2026 - April 14, 2026) - 2 Samuel 16 to I Kings 2 - David is protected from Absalom’s revolt and Solomon succeeds him as king. 

2 Samuel 16:1-14 - David on the Run - David leaves Jerusalem, encounters Ziba and Shimei who both seems to want something ill of David and David responds not by dismissing them but with a trust in God for whatever He wills. 

2 Samuel 16:15-17:23 - Ahithophel’s Counsel Defeated - Ahithophel betrays David siding with Absalom in a coup to make Absalom king. But Hushai gets the information communicated to David. 

2 Samuel 17:24-18:18 - Absalom Defeated - David prepares for battle toward Absalom and his army. Justice and mercy are central in sparing Absalom's life, but Joab seizes an opportunity to kill him and Absalom's rebellion is defeated. 

2 Samuel 18:19-33 - David Laments Absalom's Death - The battle has ended and Ahimaaz, a priest and a Cushite want to deliver the results to David and yet our vague in announcing the demise of Absalom, but David figures it out and laments. 

2 Samuel 19:1-23 - David Returns to Jerusalem - Joab encourages David to show his people they are important and to gain their acceptance he appoints Amasa as commander of his army. 

2 Samuel 19:24-43 - Signs of Trouble to Come - David is heading towards Jerusalem, crossing the Jordan, bringing Chimham along but there is a rift between the tribes of Judah and Israel. 

2 Samuel 20 - Sheba's Rebellion - Sheba now rebels and the Northern Tribe, but Joab begins to cut off the supplies in a fortified city and a woman comes forward to mediate and Sheba's head is cut off and delivered to Joab.

2 Samuel 21 - Blood Atonement - A famine has been in the land for 3 years because Saul's attacking Gibeonites who had a previous covenant with Joshua. In return, 7 men are hanging providing a blood atonement and the famine ends and then wars with the Philistines occur but David's men conquer them. 

2 Samuel 22:1-20 - David's Song of Deliverance - The author of 2 Samuel starts to conclude the life of David by offering here a song of praise with God as David's deliverer, fully expressing God's intervention in David's life.

2 Samuel 22:21-31 - The Righteousness of David - David continues his song to God showing how his righteous living results in good outcomes. 

2 Samuel 22:32-51 - Kindness to the Lord's Anointed - God stabilizes me. I am only strong because of God. David is one of his chosen one's, but not all are chosen. David praises God. I give thanks to Him. 

2 Samuel 23-24 - David's Last Words - David mentions last words about characteristics of a Godly king and then also lists out all of the men that assisted him in establishing his kingdom. 

I Chronicles 21:1-6 - David's Census - Under God's sovereign will, Satan incites David to count his people to prepare his army. Joab objects but this counting will result eventually in the building of the temple. 

I Chronicles 21:7-22:1 - The Temple's Location Identified - The consequence David's pride in doing the census is the falling of 70,000 men of Israel, and then David builds an altar on threshing floor which will be the location of the temple. 

I Kings 1:1-27 - Who Will Be King? - David is old in age and struggling in his health. Meanwhile, his son Adonijah self proclaims himself as the next although Nathan and Bathsheba confirm that Solomon, as promised, is to be king. 

I Kings 1:28-53 - Solomon Anointed King - In response to Adonijah trying to be king, David proclaims Solomon as king, has him ride in on a mule, sit on his throne and the people respond while the supporters of Adonijah flee and David has mercy on him. 

1 Kings 2:1-9 - Guidance to Solomon - David concludes his life by giving a great charge to Solomon to follow God, walk in His ways, and carry on the promise God made to David - to remain faithful. 

I Chronicles 22:2-19 - The Temple Builder - David, close to death, charges Solomon to build the temple, after gathering the material and labor groups for the building, stating the Lord will be with him. 

I Chronicles 23 - Numbering the Levites - The Levites were designated by David as God's people responsible for service in building and overseeing the temple, some being priests. 

I Chronicles 28:1-19 - David's Final Charge to Israel - David commissions Solomon to build the temple, to trust God, be obedient to His commands and gives him detailed instructions on the inside building of the temple and its attributes. 

I Chronicles 28:20-29:9 - David's Final Temple Guidance - David gives Solomon a final charge of strength and courage and speaks to the leaders and their respond with willingness and providing their resources as well in building the temple. 

I Chronicles 28:20 - 29:9 - David's Final Temple Guidance

I Chronicles 28:20 - 29:9

Then David said to his own son Solomon, "Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God, my God is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished." (verse 20)

Message: David's Final Temple Guidance

Time: 1 Chronicles has a mystery writer and focuses on David's reign though doesn't repeat David's sin with Bathsheba. It was written in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah or 538-333 BC while the Jews were dispersed throughout Persia, some having returned from Israel. The book lists genealogies, pr+iests, Levites, armies, temple officials, and other leaders of various ministries and devotes significant attention to proper worship of Yahweh and adherence to the regulations of the Law. It focuses on obedience that results in God’s blessing, the priority of the temple and priesthood, and the unconditional promises to the house of David.

What the Lord is Saying: Previously, in chapter 28, David commissions Solomon to build the temple, to trust God, be obedient to His commands and gives him detailed instructions on the inside building of the temple and its attributes. 

Solomon has a big responsibility. Most thought probably that David would be building the temple, but instead Solomon has the responsibility. I think of Joshua who would be responsible for taking the people into the promised land when it seemed like this would be Moses role. And just like Joshua in chapter 1 being told to "be strong and courageous" Solomon hears the same words from David. God will be with him. Yes, he is told to respond to the Lord with obedience but there is also this promise that "the lord God, My God is with you." God is there with us. 

And David tells him that "every willing man of any skill will be with you in all the work for all kinds of service." In addition to God being with him, men will be with him. God works through us and God works through others to accomplish his purposes. 

David speaks "to the entire assembly" as chapter 29 begins and records. He lets them know of the great project and the great provision of material. The people see the need and "offered willingly." The people rejoiced in this manner. They received a great joy in also providing in a willing manner. 

Let us do the same and contribute to the church our works, our actions and our funds. God is doing a great work and we have the opportunity to be involved. As we do, we will be blessed.

Summary: David gives Solomon a final charge of strength and courage and speaks to the leaders and their respond with willingness and providing their resources as well in building the temple. 

Promise: Let us generously support the work of the church as Christ builds His kingdom on earth.

Prayer: God, you are doing a great work. Let me be strong and courageous and let me and others be willing to be involved and get excited about this great work. Thank you for the church and our opportunity to be involved. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.