I Kings 3-4

Dear RTB’ers,

A bit of a delay this morning… We closed on our new-to-us home yesterday afternoon and brought over the “essentials” to spend the night. Then we had a plumber come out this morning to fix a gas leak; he just left and I finally get around to RTB!

So now we leave David behind and focus on Solomon for a while. Today we see Solomon’s wisdom and a quick measure of his wealth. I’ve always been touched by God’s response after He made an offer to Solomon, “Ask what I shall give you.” (vv. 3:5b) When Solomon simply asked for wisdom, God responded generously: Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. (vv. 3:11-13)

There is no doubt in my mind that Carol and I have been abundantly blessed. I was not a person who set many goals in my life; especially I don’t remember any of those “what I wanna be when I grow up” yearnings of any sort. But God has led me from here to there, to this and that, from poverty to (relative) riches, from almost nothing to much more than I could ever have expected! Certainly for Carol and me, I give you also what you have not asked… We are fully blessed!

Blessings.

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See also: May 3 (2023) / I Kings 3-4; II Chronicles 1.

I Kings 2

Dear RTB’ers,

Adonijah, Joab, Shimei – three men, three executions, in every case Solomon taking a measure of revenge against men who in one way or another had turned against his father. In so doing, he strengthened his own kingdom against internal struggles. Although David could have taken more severe action against these three men, he did not choose to do so. I wondered about that. David seemed weak in disciplining his sons Amnon and Absalom, both of whom could have deserved to be executed for their actions. So I wondered…

If we go far forward in our readings to I Chronicles 22 we see more words from David to Solomon than the few paragraphs we read today. Specifically, David charges Solomon to build a temple: David said to Solomon, “My son, I had it in my heart to build a house to the name of the LORD my God. But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have waged great wars. You shall not build a house to My name, because you have shed so much blood before Me on the earth. Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. … He shall build a house for My name. (I Chronicles 22:7-10; see also I Chr. 28:3) We don’t see these words from God back in II Samuel 7, where David first broached the idea of building a house for God, but evidently the notion that he had shed much blood must have stuck with David. Maybe that’s why he could not command capital punishment against men who fully deserved it? Amnon, Absalom, Adonijah, Joab, Shimei – all dead, but none by David’s hand or by his order. Was that because he was tired of shedding blood? Or was it that his shedding blood had prevented him from building that house for God? Any thoughts from you all, or am I just rambling?

Blessings.

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See also: April 19 (2023) / I Kings 1-2.

I Kings 1

Dear RTB’ers,

King David is getting old; who will succeed him? There is no mention in II Samuel of David swearing to Bathsheba that Solomon would be his successor, as Nathan says to Bathsheba in I Kings 1:13 (repeated by Bathsheba in I Kings 1:17 and confirmed by David in I Kings 1:30). So there must have been a clear understanding within the leadership that Solomon would become king. This expectation is further amplified by Adonijah’s invitation to all of David’s sons to join in his coronation, with Solomon excluded. Accordingly, David follows through with Bathsheba’s request and has Solomon anointed as king (vv. 30, ff.).

There remains, then, Adonijah’s attempt to take over the throne. As David’s oldest surviving son (see II Samuel 3:2-4; we assume that Chileab has also died) Adonijah saw himself as the rightful heir. By excluding Solomon from his coronation, he is effectively admitting that he is rebelling against King David’s wishes, but he continues anyhow. Did he not learn anything from Absalom’s ill-fated attempt to usurp David? Why not go directly to the king instead of forming his own plans? Thankfully, in contrast to Absalom’s rebellion, Adonijah’s supporters flee and his rebellion is short-lived. More on Adonijah tomorrow…!

Blessings.

Psalm 72

Dear RTB’ers,

The title, “Of Solomon” in today’s Psalm 72… Could it have been written about Solomon by David, his father? Verse 20 indicates that The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended. Or maybe it was written by someone else about Solomon, or maybe by Solomon himself? We don’t know. What we do know is that this Psalm is about the rule of a good king, a righteous and just king (Psalm 72:1-7) who rules over all the Earth (Psalm 72:8-11) and cares for the poor and needy (Psalm 72:2,4,12-14). He is described in glowing terms (Psalm 72:5-7) with a prayer that this good king be blessed in every way (Psalm 72:15-17). Who else but Jesus can fit this description? May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed! (v. 17) Read it again, folks, with Jesus in mind.

And now we close Book 2 of the Psalms and move on to I Kings.

Blessings.

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See also: June 25 (2022) / Psalm 72.

Psalms 70-71

Dear RTB’ers,

Two psalms today. My Study Bible suggested that Psalm 70 was a lead-in to Psalm 71, since Psalm 71 has no header line. Accordingly, they ascribe both psalms to David. Psalm 70 is only five verses long, but in those five verses David addresses three groups. In verses 2-3 he speaks against his enemies; in verse 4 he rejoices with others who are seeking the God of Israel; then in verse 5 he speaks of his own need. Five verses, three groups addressed. Intriguing.

More than a few of us here in RTB are getting on in our years. Hence I suspect that what jumps out at many of us in Psalm 71 is old age, as mentioned in verses 9 and 18. In both verses the psalmist asks that he not be forsaken; but in verse 18 he goes on to ask the Lord that he may “…proclaim Your might to another generation…” I think that’s a call to us who are advancing in our years – to reach out to the younger people in our congregation, to encourage their faith with our teaching, with the examples that we set, and with our support for their needs, all the while giving God the glory for whatever we do. It is my sense that people are stronger in their faith as they grow older. The rest of you, yes? …no? Your thoughts…?

We see the word “shame” three times in Psalm 71 (vv. 1, 13, 24). In the first the psalmist asks that he never be put to shame, then in the next two verses he asks just the opposite for his enemies, that they be scorned and disgraced. The verses in between those last two “shame” verses are all about the psalmist’s confidence in who God is and his praise for all that He has done, in spite of difficulties that the psalmist has seen in his own life: You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth You will bring me up again. (v. 20) Old-age reflections – God is faithful through it all. A good reminder for all of us!

Blessings.

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See also:

• June 22 (2022) / Psalm 70
• June 23 (2022) / Psalm 71:1-13
• June 24 (2022) / Psalm 71:14-24

Psalm 69

Dear RTB’ers,

Although this Psalm was clearly written by David (or another king) for a particular situation that he (or ______) was facing, from this side of the Cross we cannot help but read it with Jesus’ life, especially His Crucifixion in mind. Our STS authors mention that there are many New Testament quotes from this Psalm. In fact, my Study Bible notes that no Psalm, other than Psalm 22 is more often quoted in the New Testament. Here are a few of those quotes:

• For v. 9a, see John 2:17
• For v. 9b, see Romans 15:3b
• For v. 13b, see II Corinthians 6:2
• For v. 21, see Matthew 27:34, 48 and similar quotes in Mark, Luke, and John
• For v. 22-23, see Romans 11:9-10
• For v.25a, see Acts 1:20a
• For v. 28 “book of life” there are many Revelations references

There are probably more allusions to Jesus’ suffering that I missed. (For example, an allusion, but not a quote, “But I am afflicted and in pain…,” v. 29a). One commentary that I read even said that “…many Christians sing it [Psalm 69] on Good Friday, the day when we remember Jesus’ death.” So I would encourage you to re-read this Psalm, with Jesus and His sufferings at the top of your mind.

Blessings.

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See also:

• June 19 (2022) / Psalm 69:1-12
• June 20 (2022) / Psalm 69:13-28
• June 21 (2022) / Psalm 69:29-36

Psalm 68:19-35

Dear RTB’ers,

The Ark of the God who brings salvation, deliverance from Israel’s enemies (Psalm 68:19-23) has now arrived in Jerusalem (Psalm 68:24-27). The psalmist (David?) presents a picture of the defeated kings of the earth acknowledging Israel’s God and Jerusalem’s temple: Because of Your temple at Jerusalem kings shall bear gifts to You. Nobles shall come from Egypt; Cush shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God. (v. 29, 31) The Psalm concludes with praise to the God who rules over all. Awesome is God from His sanctuary; the God of Israel—He is the one who gives power and strength to His people. (v. 35a) It’s as true today as it was some 3000 years ago!

Blessings.

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See also: June 18 (2022) / Psalm 68:19-35.

Psalm 68:1-18

Dear RTB’ers,

Today, the first half of Psalm 68. Both STS and my Study Bible suggest that the entire Psalm is written for a procession, most likely the bringing of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. Like any other procession, this Psalm has a beginning, a middle, and an ending. Its beginning is the Exodus, Mt. Sinai, and the Wilderness (Psalm 68:7-10). Its middle is the conquest of the Promised Land (Psalm 68:12,14), and its (initial) ending is the establishment of Jerusalem (Mt. Zion) as the “chief” of all the mountains (Psalm 68:15-16). This “ending” of the first 18 verses only sets Jerusalem as God’s holy city. We will read tomorrow of the arrival of the Ark, especially Psalm 68:24-27. For the full story of the journey of the Ark to Mt. Zion, see II Samuel 6 as noted in STS.

Planted in the middle of these historical verses we see David praising the Lord – a common thread in all of David’s psalms: Sing to God, sing praises to His name … His name is the LORD; exult before Him! (v. 4) We also need to mention verse 18, quoted (in part) by Paul in Ephesians 4:8. Paul explains his use of this quote in the next two verses: In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that He had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things. (Ephesians 4:9-10) That is, Paul is connecting the journey of the Ark to Jerusalem with Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension. Those Ephesians verses are more clearly understood when we know the context of those original words in verse 18.

More tomorrow with the rest of this Psalm, with the arrival of the Ark in Jerusalem…

Blessings.

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See also: June 17 (2022) / Psalm 68:1-18.

Psalms 66-67

Dear RTB’ers,

Another two psalms today, both without labels as to who the author might be; the oddity for us is that they are not ascribed to David. Our STS authors and my Study Bible and an external reference all suggest that King Hezekiah might be the author, coming from his victory over the Assyrians. Two of those sources suggest that we read Isaiah 37; the third suggests II Kings 19, a duplicate of Isaiah 37.

I was encouraged by the middle verses of Psalm 66: For You, O God, have tested us; You have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; You laid a crushing burden on our backs; You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet You have brought us out to a place of abundance. (vv. 66:10-12) The author and his people have gone through testing and come out on the other side. He further acknowledges that he was trusting God through it all. I will perform my vows to You, that which … my mouth promised when I was in trouble. (vv. 66:13b-14) It is often difficult to pray with confidence when we are facing difficulties. We often hear that times of testing are there for our benefit, to “refine” us as does hot fire to precious metals. We are asked to see God at work, even when things are not going our way. We need to believe that and to claim two constant reminders – “God is God and I am not” and “Your will be done.” Hezekiah (like David earlier) sets a good example for us.

Blessings.

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See also:

• June 15 (2022) / Psalm 66
• June 16 (2022) / Psalm 67