How Wise Was Solomon?

Solomon's Court

 

'So be strong, act like a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: walk in obedience to Him and keep His decrees and commands, His laws and regulations...' 1 King 2:2-3

The wisdom of King Solomon was dramatically evident by the judgement he made on the custody of a child disputed by two mothers. It is a well-known account of sound judgement found in the Bible in 1 King 3:16-28. 

Two women living in the same house gave birth to a child each but one died soon after. The two mothers claimed the living baby as their own, resulting in a child custody dispute brought before the king. Solomon called for the living child to be cut into two giving each half to the mothers. The false claimant did not contest the verdict agreeing that if she could not have the baby then no other person should. In contrast the true mother, protested against this action and asked for the child to be kept alive and be given to the other woman. The King declared her to be the true mother because she was prepared to give up her claim if it meant that the child could be kept alive.    

This was a moment of profound wisdom that marveled many and became an epitome of sound judgement. That wisdom came from God. Early in King Solomon's reign, God asked the King what he wanted and Solomon replied,  

'Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?' 2 Chronicles 1:10

God answered, 

"Since this is your heart's desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you." 2 Chronicles 1:11-12a

It was a brilliant and unselfish request from Solomon, so much so that God promised Solomon great wealth and prestige along with wisdom. 

"And I will give you wealth, possessions and honour, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have." 2 Chronicles 1:12b  

Under Solomon's wise leadership Israel reached its zenith but it all went wrong subsequently. The strong united kingdom broke into two under Solomon's successors, decayed until the Jews were driven from their land first by the Assyrians (733 BC) later by the Babylonians (598 BC). Finally, in AD 70 with the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple by Rome, the remnant Jews were scattered. The State of Israel ceased to exist until 1948 when it was established after the British Mandate of Palestine.

Why did Solomon self-destruct? Kevin and Lynette Teo (Ref 1) in analysing 1 King 11:1-11 gave the reasons

• Distraction. Solomon had many wives and concubines, nearly 1000 in all, many of them foreigners. It was recorded that these wives led Solomon astray. 

'As Solomon's grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been.' 1 King 11:4

• Disobedience. Solomon was disobedient in having many foreign wives and of worshipping other gods and idols. He built places of worship to these other gods causing God to be angry with him

 'Although He had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord's command.' 1 King 11:10

• Drift. In time, Solomon drifted and turned away from God. His beliefs and faith became nominal and compromised.

'So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done.' 1 King 11:6

• Decline. Solomon's relationship with God went downhill. It is not only in his actions but in his attitude too. Thus the kingdom that was established by his father King David went into a tailspin decline.

'So the Lord said to Solomon, "Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinate." ' 1 King 11:11

Kevin and Lynette put it plainly and bluntly, "The wisest man on earth became the greatest fool."

What about us? The Christian Life begins with Salvation but it should continue to Sanctification. Like Solomon we can start off well but many falter in a continuing journey to righteousness by being distracted and disobedient. To avoid the pitfalls of a compromised Christian Life, let us wisely learn from the Solomon blunder.

The journey of sanctification requires a undivided devotion for God as the hymn 'Be Thou My Vision' articulates. Notice how Kristyn Getty sang with much prayerfulness. Isn't this like the prayer of Solomon at the start of his reign?

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art

Thou my best thought, by day or by night

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light

Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true word

I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord

Thou my great Father, and I Thy true son

Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one

Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise

Thou mine inheritance, now and always

Thou and Thou only first in my heart

High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art

High King of heaven, my victory won

May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's sun

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall

Still be my vision, O ruler of all

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall

Still be my vision, O ruler of all

   

Lionel

Ref1: Kevin and Lynette Teo, Passion with Purpose: A weekly devotional 38.2 2023/6

The Hand On The Plough

'No man, having put his hand on the plough, and looking back is fit for the Kingdom of God.' Luke 9:62

Jesus was speaking about commitment when he made this 'hand on the plough' comment. He was teaching the disciples to follow him unconditionally. There should also be the element of sacrifice. Just prior to this comment, there were several followers who upon being invited to follow Jesus made specific requirements and conditions; clear indications that they were unprepared to surrender their prior lives.

Luke Chapter 9 recorded that Jesus specifically laid down the conditions to become disciples. 

• Be Serious   Discipleship is a serious matter. It is not to be taken frivolously. There are to be no half measures. We cannot place conditions to following Jesus, it is an all or none decision.

'Then He said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for my sake will save it." ' Luke 9:23-24

Jesus warned, 

"Foxes have dens and birds have nests but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head." Luke 9:58  

• Surrender All.  There must be complete surrender to Jesus Christ, complete obedience and a willingness to part with all ambitions and aspirations including all our possessions.

 "What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?" Luke 9:25

• Be Sanctified   Our lives will be set apart and we begin the journey to holiness. We are called to be a living sacrifice; complete, consecrated and clean. 

'Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship.' Romans 12:1

"Total commitment is the only rational course to take when you really see who God is. Nothing else makes any sense. Halfway commitment is irrational. To decide to give part of your life to God and keep other parts for yourself—to say “Everything is yours, Lord, BUT this relationship, this business deal, this pleasure”—is beyond spiritual logic." - Kent Hughes

For many of us, total commitment is a very difficult choice to make. So many Christians remained nominal and non-committed. It is not an easy thing to surrender our lives to Jesus, we are afraid to lose control.

In 1896, John W DeVenter wrote 'I surrender All.' He struggled to give up control of his life, and wrote:

“For some time, I had struggled between developing my talents in the field of art and going into full-time evangelistic work. At last the pivotal hour of my life came, and I surrendered all. A new day was ushered into my life. I became an evangelist and discovered down deep in my soul a talent hitherto unknown to me. God had hidden a song in my heart, and touching a tender chord, He caused me to sing.” 

All to Jesus I surrender,

1. All to Him I freely give;
   I will ever love and trust Him,
   In His presence daily live.
   • Refrain:
     I surrender all,
     I surrender all;
     All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
     I surrender all.
2. All to Jesus I surrender,
   Humbly at His feet I bow;
   Worldly pleasures all forsaken,
   Take me, Jesus, take me now.
3. All to Jesus I surrender,
   Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
   Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
   Truly know that Thou art mine.
4. All to Jesus I surrender,
   Lord, I give myself to Thee;
   Fill me with Thy love and power,
   Let Thy blessing fall on me.
5. All to Jesus I surrender,
   Now I feel the sacred flame;
   Oh, the joy of full salvation!
   Glory, glory, to His Name!

Lionel

Ref: Keith Gambill, Totally Committed to Christ and My Church, Faithlife Sermons.

https://sermons.faithlife.com/sermons/231063-totally-committed-to-christ-and-my-church

Servant Leadership: The Basin & the Towel Ministry

The Great Famine in Ireland

'In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus Christ himself said: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." ' Acts 20:35

A Singapore Straits Times article (ST 22 June 2012), quoted Chen Show Mao, then a Singapore Member of Parliament, "The substance of servant leadership is about putting people at the centre of policies. The style is persuading people to come along. You no longer can say, look I am the leader, follow me. You are the leader but you’re also a servant."

Similarly, Singapore's Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong reminded MPs of their responsibility to uphold the spirit of service to the people and work hard on their behalf. (ST 28 May 2011)

These days, politicians and bureaucrats tend to make decisions based on the hard and cold statistics of gross national products as measures of growth and success. Over time, such decision making processes can become models for what is considered good for the country without paying due consideration for the real needs of the citizens.

We should learn from history. One example of the callous righteousness of decision making was the handling of the Potato Blight and Great Famine in Ireland by the government of Great Britain in the mid-19th Century.

The British government of the day failed the Irish people miserably. Great Famine relief decisions were based on prevailing economic and governance theories without regard and consideration for humanitarian needs. Historians reported that in 1846 to 1852 the new administration headed by John Russell of the Whig party applied their “laissez-faire” theory of minimal government intervention.

At a time of an unprecedented national catastrophe, the political wisdom shifted from governmental relief intervention towards leaving the crisis to evolve naturally, to be influenced by 'market forces'. Saving the starving was not the government's job but that of local landlords and that of charities. The Whig government withheld food and relief works, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without any work, money or food.

Some people even justified their inactions by promoting the view that the famine was the result of divine judgment - an act of Providence. A leading exponent of this belief was Sir Charles Trevelyan, the British civil servant who was chiefly responsible for administering the Irish relief policy throughout the famine years. In his book, The Irish Crisis, published in 1848, Trevelyan implied the famine to be a sharp but effective remedy to the 'Irish problem' of Great Britain.

During the famine, approximately 1 million people died and a million more emigrated from Ireland. The government could be more gracious and merciful in the making of crucial political and economic decisions. Perhaps, the scale and magnitude of the disaster and misery could have been averted.

On 1 June 1977, a different leader Prime Minister Tony Blair issued a statement that some have taken to be an apology 150 years later. He acknowledged the "deep scars left by the events of the Great Famine that began in 1845; that one million people should have died in what was then part of the richest, most powerful nation in the world is something that still causes pain as we reflect on it today. Those who governed in London at that time failed their people through standing by while a crop failure turned into a massive human tragedy."

Today, more than ever before, countries need leaders who will consider the dignity of the people when deciding what is good for the country.

Jesus Christ spoke of the need for humility in leaders towards followers. Masters should know how to respect servants rather than lord over them. Leaders should serve the followers. He taught and demonstrated this by the washing of His disciples’ feet.

“He poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” John 13:5, 12-16

These are the attributes of humility and servitude that characterise servant leadership. Instead of being a slogan to be used during times of election, servant leadership should become a guiding principle for current and future leaders - the leaders of countries, corporations and churches.

There is an example that all who are called to be leaders especially church leaders can follow, Jesus Christ, the 'Servant King.'

From Heaven, You came helpless babe

Entered our world, your glory veiled

Not to be served but to serve

And give Your life that we might live

This is our God, The Servant King

He calls us now to follow Him

To bring our lives as a daily offering

Of worship to The Servant King

There in the garden of tears

My heavy load he chose to bear

His heart with sorrow was torn

"Yet not My will but Yours", He said

Come see His hands and His feet

The scars that speak of sacrifice

Hands that flung stars into space

To cruel nails surrendered

So let us learn how to serve

And in our lives enthrone Him

Each other's needs to prefer

For it is Christ we're serving

This is our God, The Servant King

He calls us now to follow Him

To bring our lives as a daily offering

Of worship to The Servant King

Lionel

Updated 1st Published 27 June 2012

Make God Discoverable

Les Eclarieurs Lighthouse in the Beagle Channel, Tiera del Fuego

 

'In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.' Matthew 5:16

Do you know that we are to make God discoverable? This was the central message I received from the sermon by Rob Watkins, a fellow passenger, entertainer ventriloquist and an evangelist, at an Inter-denominational Worship Service onboard the Sapphire Princess cruise ship on 22 January 2023. We were enroute to Antarctica.

Rob Watkins shared that he realised God can be discovered in 3 ways

• General revelation. This is through the beauty of God's creation and the wonders of Nature. All of the Christian 'seafarers' at the worship service are waiting to be confronted by the wonders of the Antarctica, its landscape and the fauna of the Southern Ocean. Have you ever experienced, standing before the Niagara Falls or at edge of the Grand Canyon, the overwhelming sense of the presence of God?

• Special revelation. Jesus Christ is God incarnate and comes alongside us revealing the nature of God to us. The Holy Spirit resides within us and helps us to sense the presence of God within us. The Triune God becomes evident to us. The Bible reveals God to us on a daily basis as we read God's Word, illuminating our minds and spirits.

• Relational revelation. This is where Christians can make God discoverable by being a good Christian witness to our family, friends and contacts. We are lights that shine and help others visualise God not only through the eyes, but in the soul and spirit. Jesus said that we are the lights of the world, 

'You are the light of the world - like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.' Matthew 5:14 (NLT)

 

 'In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they may see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven.' Matthew 5:16 (CEB) 

The Matthew 5:16 text highlights our responsibilities in this relational revelation 

• The Place where our light should shine - Before men. Our Christian lives are to be lived in the presence of those around us, before many witnesses. We become transparent so that the Holy Spirit who lives within us shines forth as a testimony that God exists and works in our lives.

• The Process by which our light shines - Our good deeds. The things we do everyday out of love and with joy, bringing peace will be the things that people see and be inspired

• The Purpose for our light to shine - To glorify God. The good that we do should not point to ourselves but to God. God is the source of all goodness, the motivator of all good deeds.   

The lights of this world in the persons of all of us point towards God. We become ambassadors for Christ. The apostle Paul implored,

'So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, "Come back to God!" 2 Corinthians 5:20

On the 25 Jan 2023, we left the Argentinian town of Ushuaia at the most southern tip of Patagonia and headed head for Cape Horn prior going on to Antarctica. The Captain told us that the pilots on board refused to disembark at Cape Horn because of stormy weather. We may not proceed for the planned scenic cruising at Cape Horn as the waves and swells may be as high as 6 feet. On the 26 Jan 2023 we crossed the Drake Passage between two areas of more stormy seas but through the fog caused by the cold clockwise Antarctic current and the warmer South Atlantic current. 

I am reminded of the sailors that accompanied Magellan, Francis Drake and many other explorers and sea-captains who attempted to round the Cape. How the sailors must have feared the raging waves. How important the lights from the many lighthouses, now present in the various channels, in Tierra del Fuego are for guidance and safety.   

There is a song, 'Let the Lower Lights be Burning' that explains the reason why Christ compels us to have our lights shining; our lights, our testimonies point the way to Christ like beacons for salvation of souls. In the event of life's shipwrecks Christ is the main light shining from lighthouse and we Christians are the lower lights holding our lanterns guiding many to the safety and salvation in Christ.  

Brightly beams our father's mercy

From his lighthouse evermore

But to us he gives the keeping

Of the lights along the shore

Let the lower lights be burning

Send a gleam across the wave

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman

You may rescue, you may save

Dark the night of sin has settled

Loud the angry billows roar

Eager eyes are watching, longing

For the lights along the shore

Let the lower lights be burning

Send a gleam across the wave

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman

You may rescue, you may save

Lionel

Blessed To Be A Blessing

 

'May our sons flourish in their youth like well nurtured plants

May our daughters be like graceful pillars, carved to beautify a palace.

May our barns be filled with crops of every kind.

May the flocks in our fields multiply by the thousands, even tens of thousands, 

And may our oxen be loaded down with produce

May there be no enemy breaking through our walls

No going into captivity, no cries of alarm in our town squares' Psalm 144:12-14

Today, 22 January 2023 is Chinese New Year, ushering in the year of the Rabbit. Both Pat and I are born in the year of the rabbit which comes along every 12 years in the Chinese Lunar calendar. We wish everyone 新年快乐，万事如意,  xīn nián kuài lè, wàn shì rú yì meaning Happy New Year and May All Go Well With You.

The Lunar New Year celebration is filled with rich customs and meanings. Over the years it dawned on me that these customs are symbols of the passing on of blessings year after year such as in the CNY greeting above. In Chinese traditional thought, there  are the "four blessings" which are happiness (xi 喜), success or prosperity (lu 禄), longevity (shou 寿), and good fortune (fu 福). 

After greeting our elders during Chinese New Year in the Peranakan (Straits-born Chinese) tradition, the elders are blessed by the young ones with the phrase, 'Panjang, Panjang Umur'; best translated by Mr Spock's Vulcan greetings 'Live Long and Prosper.' The elders will in turn wish the younger ones with phrases like '生意兴隆' (booming business), '学业进步' (progress in studies), ' 步步高升 ' (to rise steadily).

Such blessings project the blessings of a Good Life which is from the Lord and well noted in the verse below.

'Yes, joyful are those who live like this!

Joyful indeed are those whose God is the Lord.' Psalm 144:15

Another CNY tradition is the giving and receiving of Ang Paos or red packets of money given to children and youths. More than just the giving of money or wealth this popular tradition connotes the passing on blessings and instilled from an early age, the virtue of generosity. We are blessed to be a blessing!

This requirement for Christians to be generous to one another and especially to the poor and needy, is mentioned several times in the Bible and especially in Malachi 3:8.

Nicky Gumbel wrote in the 'Bible in One Year Day 350,' "The prophet accuses them of robbing God by their failure to get their giving sorted out. He urges them, 'Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,' says the Lord Almighty, 'see if I do not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.' This shows how important your giving is in God's eyes. Prioritise giving to the church you attend. If the church community gives generously, then you can expect that God will throw open the floodgates and pour so much blessing that we will not have enough room for it."

We are prone to think of giving only in monetary terms and perhaps the Ang-Pao of CNY and our tithes and offerings during church service help anchor this thought. But God blesses us with much more than just riches and wealth. Every gift, every talent, every act of kindness comes from God and we are to reciprocate this same kindness to others.

'Each of you has been blessed with one of God's many wonderful gift to be used in service to others. So use your gift well.' 1 Peter 4:10 

“I will bless you,” God says to Abraham, “and you will be a blessing. . . . and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” Genesis 12:2-3.

God spoke these words to Abraham and laid down a principle for us to follow. Abraham's benefit is not the end of God's purpose. God will bless him so that he might be "a blessing to others." Think about the blessings God has given us and how we can use them to bless others. 

Ask the Lord to 'Make Me a Blessing.' 

Out in the high-ways and by-ways of life,

Many are weary and sad;

Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,

Making the sorrowing glad.

 

Make me a blessing, Make me a blessing --

Out of my life May Jesus shine;

Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray,

Make me a blessing to someone today.

 

Tell the sweet story of Christ and His love,

Tell of His power to forgive;

Others will trust Him if only you prove

True, every moment you live.

 

Give as 'twas given to you in your need,

Love as the Master loved you;

Be to the helpless a helper indeed,

Unto your mission be true.