I Kings 5
Hiram sent his servants to Solomonverse 1
And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to 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
Solomon asks Hiram to provide wood for Tabernacleverses 2-6
And Solomon sent to Hiram
saying
You know how that David my father could not build a house
to 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
But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side
so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent
And BEHOLD
I purpose to build a house to the name of the LORD my God
as the LORD spoke to David my father
saying
Your son – whom I will set on your throne in your room
he shall build a house to MY name
Now therefore command you that they hew me
cedar trees out of Lebanon
and my servants shall be with your servants
and to you will I give hire for your servants
according to all that you shall appoint
for you know that there is not among us any that can skill
to hew timber like unto the Sidonians
Hiram agrees to send wood for foodverses 7-9
And it came to pass – when Hiram heard the words of Solomon
that he rejoiced greatly
and said
Blessed be the LORD this day
which has given unto David a wise son over
this great people
And Hiram sent to Solomon
saying
I have considered the things which you sent to me for
and I will do all you desire concerning timber of cedar
and concerning timber of fir
My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon to the sea
and I will convey them by sea in floats to the place
that you shall appoint me
and I will cause them to be discharged there
and you shall receive them
and you shall accomplish my desire
in giving food for my household
Solomon pays Hiram in food for woodverses 10-12
So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees
according to all his desire
And Solomon gave Hiram
twenty thousand measures of wheat for food
to his household
and twenty measures of pure oil
thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year
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
Solomon raises a work force of Israelitesverses 13-18
And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel
and the levy was thirty thousand men
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
And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand bare burdens
and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains
besides 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
And the king commanded – and they brought great stones
costly stones and hewed stones – to lay the foundation of the house
And Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders did hew them
and the stone squares – so they prepared timber and stones
to build the house
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to 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. (4886 “anointed” [mashach] means painted, spread a liquid, to administer an oil or ointment to, often in a religious ceremony of blessing or dedication or consecration, smear or to draw the handover)
DEVOTION: Friends are important. Here we have a heathen king who had a friendship with King David that was close. He wanted to congratulate his friend’s son as he took over the kingdom of Israel.
He sent ambassadors to Solomon to convey his wishes. While they were there Solomon in his wisdom asked it there could be a working relationship between their two nations.
Solomon needed trees for the building of the Temple which the Sidonians were gifted in providing. They had many trees and were experts in cutting and logging trees.
Solomon would send some laborers to help them bring the trees back to Jerusalem. He was willing to pay whatever King Hiram wanted for the trees and labor. It was a good working relationship between the two kings.
We are not to take advantage of friends. We are to work with our friends if there is a project that needs to be done. We have friends who volunteer to help and others who need to receive something for their labor. We have to use wisdom to know the difference. It is not always easy to figure out what is right between friends.
One of the parts of our testimony is how we treat people. This includes our friends. Some friends are closer than other and will tell us if we are taking advantage of them while others might not say anything and so we need to make sure we are working together to the point that we are not losing our friendships.
Solomon seemed to want this balance in his relationship with this friend of his father. Ask the LORD for wisdom in who you pick as friends and then be a friend to those you have chosen through good times and bad.
CHALLENGE: Don’t be accused of taking advantage of the friendship or not being their when a friend needs you.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 4 But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent. (6294 “occurrent” [pega] means occurrence, chance, an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another, incident, event, or have an appearance of chance)
DEVOTION: Today it doesn’t seem like there is a moment to rest. It seems that we are too busy trying to do as much as we can in the time that we have. We either work too much at our occupation or take all the extra time we have and fill it with other activities so that there is no real rest in our life. Sometimes we even take vacations that are so active that we need to rest when we get home from the vacation.
Here we find that Solomon was king of a nation that his father had fought hard to establish. He had to fight many battles with his neighboring nations because they would come out and challenge him. He didn’t have a choice. So he was considered a man of war in the eyes of the LORD and was not able to build the Temple. He had a desire to build it but was not allowed but told that his son would build it. He started gathering materials for the Temple but never built it.
Now we have Solomon as king and he describes his present condition as one of “peace” on all sides. His dad had fought the battles that gave him that peace. He also stated that there was no adversary or enemy to fight and that there was nothing evil happening in his kingdom.
This was an unusual time period in the history of Israel. It was a time period that the LORD used to build HIS temple in Jerusalem.
When we have or make times of peace in our life it is time period where we can build our relationship with the LORD and with our family. We need to use the time that seems like a “rest period” to collect our thoughts and actions in a way that would honor the LORD.
CHALLENGE: There will always be time period where it seems that there is no peace but that means that we turn to the LORD in prayer and ask for peace even in the midst of a storm.
: 6 Now therefore command you that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with your servants: and to you will I give hire for your servants according to all that you shall appoint: for you know that there is not among us any that can skill to hew timber like to the Sidonians. (3045 “skill” [yada] means know, knowledge, perceive, understand, learn, to realize, or to know how to do or perform something)
DEVOTION: There was a group of people that had a special skill in cutting down trees in Lebanon. They had the trees and learned the best way to cut them down and transport them.
Here we have Solomon preparing to build a Temple to the LORD. He wanted the best material that could be brought to be used in the building of the Temple of the LORD. He knew that there wasn’t anyone in the nation of Israel that had the talent to be able to cut down the trees and transport them to Israel.
So he asked someone who knew how to do the job and agreed to pay him for the job. This was something that needed to be done by skilled laborers not just anyone off the street.
God knows who has the ability to do a special work for HIM. HE picks the individual to do the right job the right way to bring glory to HIM.
We need to realize that we can’t do everything well. We are given gifts of the LORD to do what HE wants us to do. We don’t need to say we are sorry if we can’t do something that requires certain gifts.
Too often we try to do everything and that doesn’t bring glory to the LORD. We have realize what we can do and what we can’t do and allow others to do what we can’t do ourselves.
The church needs individuals who are gifted in certain areas that others are not gifted in. Today we are using a Webmaster to set up our devotional page and sent it out. We know that he has the gift to do this job where others do not have the gift.
I don’t have the gift to work with certain things on the computer but I know individuals who can do the job and I ask for their help. We need to be willing to ask others to do things they can do better than we can.
CHALLENGE: Asking for help is not always easy but it is needed to get some work done the right way in the right timing.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 12 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. (1696 “promised” [dabar] means to arrange, answer, appoint, declare, speak, tell or command)
DEVOTION: The LORD had given Solomon peace on every side. HE had given him rest. Solomon was ready to build a Temple.
When he received word from Hiram from the country of Tyre, he responded by asking for wood from his forests. He complimented Hiram and his people that they were the best hewers of wood.
Hiram asks for food as payment for the wood. Solomon gave his word that he would send the food to Hiram.
Have you ever worked on a building project? We did at my second church. We had one of our men be the construction leader. The problem was that everyone has an opinion. The man chosen as the leader had the most experience in the field but other questions his decisions. It took longer to put the addition up than it should have. Some of the men who thought they knew what they were doing did it wrong and it had to be redone. One of the many blessings during the building project was that a company gave us all of the concrete for the basement. Another blessing was that one of the men in the church gave us all the wood. It was a challenge but the LORD blessed the final outcome.
Now we have Solomon in control of a building project. We are told that the LORD gave Solomon wisdom to complete the project. Wisdom is necessary for getting any project completed.
God keeps HIS arrangements with HIS people. God never lies. God never changes HIS mind. There is no shadow of turning with God. There is no gray area with the LORD. There is right and wrong. HE kept his arrangement with Solomon to give him right thinking regarding the building of the Temple
There are over 2,000 assurances in the Bible. Many of the assurances are made to certain people or people groups but some are made to us. When we read the Word of God we should look for the assurances God has given to us. We know that it is God, which works in us, to do HIS good will once we become a follower of HIM.
What is HE doing in our lives right now? Remember we should never declare something to God that we are not willing to perform. HE never declares something HE is not willing to perform.
Claim the promises that are given to New Testament believers. Encourage others to realize that the LORD makes promises that will improve our service to HIM.
CHALLENGE: Ask for wisdom from the LORD for each project in your life.
: 13 And king Solomon raise a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men. (4522 “levy” [mac or mic] means a gang or body of forced laborers, task-workers, forced service, a group of people forced to work for the government and who are under government control, serfdom, compulsory service, obligatory service, conscription or a tax in the form of forced labor)
DEVOTION: The Israelites who were assigned to work on this project were working four months out of the year with the rest of the time off to do what needed to be done at home. The majority of the work force for this project were individuals who had been conquered by David and had the status of slaves.
There was over 150, 000 slaves that worked on this project under the supervision of the Israelites. It was a major project that lasted for some years. So Solomon organized the work force in a manner that would keep the children of Israel working but still able to keep their home life together.
We need workers to go into the fields to witness to those in other lands as well as witnessing to those here in our nation. The Bible says that the “fields are white unto harvest” in the time of the disciples. This is still true today. There are many people who need to hear the Word of God and the promise of salvation.
All of us are called to be laborers in this field. Not one believer is excluded from this type of service. Some are to do it full time for pay but most are to do it because of their obedience to the LORD.
I have met some people who say that they are not called to do this type of service or are not gifted in this area but that is mainly an excuse because every believer has a area of influence where people are involved and what the people see the Christian do is a witness.
Each time we have an opportunity to use words the LORD will bless those words if we are under the influence of the Holy Spirit. We are to build the kingdom of God in our neighborhood and in our work place and especially in our homes.
Solomon built a Temple to the LORD. We are to build a church that honors the LORD. It takes everyone working together to make HIS kingdom move forward.
CHALLENGE: Remember our bodies are the temple of God today and we are to use them daily to witness for HIM.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)verses 3-5, 7, 12
God – Elohim (Creator)verses 3-5
LORD his Godverse 3
LORD my Godverses 4, 5
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Hiram king of Tyreverse 1-12
Sidoniansverse 6
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Adversaryverse 4
Evilverse 4
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Anointedverse 1
Love (friendship)verse 1
Restverse 4
Purposeverse 5
Complimentverse 6
Blessedverse 7
Wisdomverses 7, 12
Promisedverse 12
Peaceverse 12
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Solomon wants to build the Templeverse 5
Food for lumberverse 11
Solomon makes a league with Hiramverse 12
Solomon organized a work forceverses 13-18
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
DONATIONS:
Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org Also if you can support this ministry through your local church please use that method. Thank you.
QUOTES regarding passage
The institution of tribute or corvee involves involuntary, unpaid labor or other service for a superior power—a feudal lord, a king, or a foreign ruler (Ex 1:11; Est 10:1; Lam 1:1). In Gen 49:15, Jacob’s blessing on Issachar identifies him as bowing to “tribute.” In Egypt, the Israelites find themselves in that position (Ex 1:11).
The subjugation of the Canaanites by Israel after the Conquest was by means of manas (e.g. Deut 20:11; Josh 16:10; 17:13). Under David there was an organized government department charged with keeping the mas functioning (II Sam 20:24).
During Solomon’s reign. mas was extended to include Israelites as well as foreigners and war prisoners (I Kgs 5:13–14 [H 27–28] and the parallels in Chr; but cf. I Kgs 9:22) in the labor force necessary to carry out Solomon’s extensive building programs (I Kgs 9:15). This unpopular measure, and Rehoboam’s refusal to moderate it, was the immediate cause of the secession of the ten tribes and the establishment of the northern kingdom. (Carr, G. L. (1999). 1218 מַס. (R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer Jr., & B. K. Waltke, Eds.)Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. Chicago: Moody Press.)
5:13–18 In order to have enough workers to complete his project, Solomon finds it necessary to institute the unpopular practice of drafting laborers. This imposition on commoners was used by many ancient nations. Even David used forced, or corvée, labor. R. D. Patterson and H. J. Austel explain: “In the list of David’s officials, Adoniram is said to be over the forced labor. This would indicate that David used the corvée system to a limited degree.… Solomon, however, used it extensively. The more splendid the royal court, the greater the demand on the people.” At least those conscripted are allowed eight months at home alongside their four months of forced labor.
Scholars disagree about the identity of the thirty thousand Israelite laborers mentioned in 5:13. Part of the problem stems from 1 Kgs 9:20–22, which describes Solomon’s forced labor, then states, “But Solomon did not make slaves of any of the Israelites” (9:22). Gray, Skinner, Matheney, and others think these two references (5:13–18 and 9:20–22) contradict each other. Keil, Patterson and Austel, and Jones disagree.45 Linguistic analysis may help explain the perceived contradiction, since the text uses different terminology to describe the laborers in 5:13–18 and 9:20–22. In the former text they are called simply “laborers” (mas) while in the latter they are called “servant [slave] laborers” (mas ʿobēd). Apparently, the Israelite workers were required only to toil four months of the year until the task was done. Forced labor does not necessarily entail slavery. On the other hand, foreign workers were permanently assigned to forced labor. (House, P. R. (1995). 1, 2 Kings (Vol. 8, pp. 124–125). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
13. The levy or forced labour is well attested in Syria and Palestine at this time. Forced slave-labour (mas ‘obēd) totalling 150,000 was mainly drawn from the non-Israelite (‘Canaanite’) population, since a Hebrew was forbidden to enslave his fellow (1 Kgs 9:21; Lev. 25:39). The thirty thousand employed away from home for four months a year were temporary conscripts from the Israelites (all Israel) themselves. (Wiseman, D. J. (1993). 1 and 2 Kings: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 9, p. 109). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
13. Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel—The renewed notice of Solomon’s divine gift of wisdom (1 Ki 5:12) is evidently introduced to prepare for this record of the strong but prudent measures he took towards the accomplishment of his work. So great a stretch of arbitrary power as is implied in this compulsory levy would have raised great discontent, if not opposition, had not his wise arrangement of letting the laborers remain at home two months out of three, added to the sacredness of the work, reconciled the people to this forced labor. The carrying of burdens and the irksome work of excavating the quarries was assigned to the remnant of the Canaanites (1 Ki 9:20; 2 Ch 8:7–9) and war prisoners made by David—amounting to 153,600. The employment of persons of that condition in Eastern countries for carrying on any public work, would make this part of the arrangements the less thought of. (Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1 Ki 5:13). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
GLORYING IN THE CROSS
God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Galatians 6:14
The Christian is one who glories in the cross. “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Let us look at this. Paul does not merely say that he admires it, that the cross is simply beautiful and marvelous. No; he does not stand there just admiring it or merely praising it. I want to go further—he does not just believe it. He does not merely accept its message intellectually.
I am going to test you, my friends. The Christian is a man who does not only believe in the cross—he glories in it! What do you mean by that? says someone. Well, I mean the same as the writer (J.Bowring) of the hymn when he says:
In the Cross of Christ I glory,
Towering o’er the wrecks of time;
All the light of sacred story
Gathers round its head sublime.
He rejoices in it. The word that the apostle actually uses here is a very strong one. He says “God forbid that I should boast.” He makes his boast of it. He says these Jews are the people who want to have you circumcised in order that they may boast about their converts. They want to boast in your flesh. They are out for their own success and their own name. “Oh,” says the apostle, “I boast in nothing, and God forbid that I should, save in the cross of Christ.”
A Thought to Ponder
The Christian is a man who does not only believe in the cross—he glories in it!
(From The Cross, pp. 53-54 (by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Kathleen Hunter shared:
I just watched a news commentator shove a microphone in the face of a school principal and ask, “What are we missing? What do children need?” He went on and on about mental illness, the Juvenile Justice System, gun control, education reform, blah, blah, blah.
Folks, none of that mumbo jumbo makes a lick of sense. Here is what children need:
1. Children need a mother and a father who respect each other and work together as a team.
2. Children need a bicycle, neighbors, and cousins.
3. Children need a grandma to bake with and a grandpa to take em fishing.
4. Children need a church, a Sunday School Class, and a truth telling Pastor.
5. Children need a dinner time with home cooked food, prayer, and conversation.
6. Children need Sunday afternoon football and fried chicken.
7. Children need books and coloring pages.
8. Children need summers at the beach and bazooka bubble gum.
9. Children need hotdogs and Fourth of July Fireworks.
10. Children need fire pits, smores, ghost stories, the drive in, and real popcorn.
11. Children need discipline from their parents.
12. Children need chores, a job, a way to earn what they want.
13. Children need education that recognizes mama and daddy as the authority, God as the creator, and the Bible as the roadmap.
This is not about some agenda, this is about our children. Get back to basics: faith, family, & good ole fashioned fun.
Pilate tries Jesus then hands Him over to be crucified.
INSIGHT
Proverbs 20:17 says, “Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.” If ever a man illustrates that truth, Judas does. Some mysterious passion burns in his breast to betray Jesus.
Whether Judas seeks political ambition or mere lust for money, we do not know. But later, his remorse is so great that he throws the money away and hangs himself. We must remember Judas when illicit desire burns in our breast. Such desire always promises more than it delivers; it always turns to gravel in our mouths. (Quiet Walk)
Pleasant Perplexities
“For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.” (Philippians 1:23-24)
As we mature in the Lord, our fear of death recedes into the background and ultimately, as this verse demonstrates, becomes a desire to leave this sin-cursed world behind and pass into the presence of the Creator.
The word choices in this passage are unusual. The verse could be translated “I am held together out of two pressures, a passion to be loosed to be with Christ; which is very much more serviceable for me: but remaining here in the flesh is, out of necessity, more critical for you.”
Thus, the tension of the true saint of God. The more that is known about the joy awaiting us in the presence of our Lord, the less we see earthly values and goals as things to work toward. Yet, the needs of churches, new Christians, troubled souls, and challenges surrounding our lives require a commitment to complete the “course” that God has given us to finish (2 Timothy 4:7).
The Lord Jesus insisted that we not worry about tomorrow because the evil of each day was “sufficient” (Matthew 6:34), since there is trouble enough in the world among those who reject God’s authority (2 Timothy 3:1-7). The evil that surrounds us should motivate us to long for the eternal rest promised to the people of God (Hebrews 4:9).
But to struggle with conflict resolution among the churches adds to the burden. Many in the ministry know this tension, as do most who serve regularly in their own churches. Perhaps our own peace comes when we finally determine that it is “far better” to serve.
(HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
THE PURPOSE OF THE CROSS
The LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6
In the Old Testament the Israelites transferred their guilt to a lamb, and then the lamb was killed, and his blood was offered. Why did Jesus Christ, the Son of God, come? John the Baptist, who went around before Him, gave the answer. John the Baptist had only one sermon, and he kept repeating it, and this was it: “Behold,” he says in essence, “I am not He. I am unworthy to undo the laces of His shoes. Behold, behold, behold, ‘the lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.’”
All the others were types and shadows, indications and adumbrations [foreshadowings]. The Lamb of God has come. God has provided His own sacrifice; it is His own Son—the Lamb of God. This is what happened on Calvary’s tree. God took your sins and mine, and He put them on the head of His own Son, and then He smote Him, He punished Him, He struck Him, He killed Him. The wages of sin is death.
So what was happening on the cross was that God Himself was laying your sins and mine upon His own dearly beloved Son, and Christ paid the penalty of our guilt and our transgressions. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). “The LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). That is what the Father did. What did the Son do? He was passive as a lamb. He did not grumble; He did not complain. He took it all upon Himself. He allowed it to happen. He surrendered Himself deliberately and freely. As the apostle Paul puts it: “Who gave himself for [on behalf of] our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father” (Galatians 1:4).
A Thought to Ponder
On the cross God Himself was laying your sins and mine upon His own dearly beloved Son. (From The Cross, pp. 33-34, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Mary and Mary Magdalene discover that Jesus has risen from the dead.
INSIGHT
It is a momentous morning as Mary and Mary Magdalene walk to the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, intent on anointing the body of Jesus but not knowing how they will get into the tomb. They say to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us?”
Miracle number one: The stone has been rolled away. Miracle number two: An angel is sitting in the tomb to explain to them what has happened. Miracle number three: Jesus is gone; He has risen.
They have two responses. They were amazed! And they report to the disciples all that they have seen.
They expect to deal with death. But they find themselves in the middle of more life than they can imagine. Such paradox is God’s way. He brings life from death. (QuietWalk)
The Father of Spirits
“Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?” (Hebrews 12:9)
Human parents transmit physical characteristics to their offspring, but our spiritual attributes come from God, for He is “the Father of spirits.” Paul recognized that all men are “the offspring of God” (Acts 17:29) and that each man is still “the image and glory of God” (1 Corinthians 11:7)
Thus, our spirit/soul nature, as distinct from our body of physical/mental flesh, has come from God, who created it and united it with our body, evidently at the moment of physical conception in the womb. It is obvious that the “image of God,” man’s spirit/soul nature, could not be transmitted genetically via the “genetic code” and the DNA molecules, for these are simply complex chemicals programmed to transmit only the physical and mental attributes of the ancestors to the children. Nevertheless, the spirit/soul attributes of each person also seem to be associated inseparably with the body from conception onward, continuing so until separated again at death, when the spirit goes “to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8), leaving the body behind.
In the meantime, however, the “image of God” in man is marred by its incorporation in man’s “sinful flesh,” for “the body is dead because of sin” (Romans 8:3, 10). By this union of flesh and spirit, man inherits Adam’s fallen nature as well as his mortal body, and both are in need of salvation. Christ “gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity” (Titus 2:14). Therefore, we, like Paul, can pray that our “whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
Riding the Waves
Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty and your faithfulness surrounds you.
Psalm 89:8
As my husband strolled down the rocky beach taking photos of the Hawaiian horizon, I sat on a large rock fretting over another medical setback. Though my problems would be waiting for me when I returned home, I needed peace in that moment. I stared at the incoming waves crashing against the black, jagged rocks. A dark shadow in the curve of the wave caught my eye. Using the zoom option on my camera, I identified the shape as a sea turtle riding the waves peacefully. Its flippers spread wide and still. Turning my face into the salty breeze, I smiled.
The “heavens praise [God’s] wonders” (Psalm 89:5). Our incomparable God rules “over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, [God] stills them” (v. 9). He “founded the world and all that is in it” (v. 11). He made it all, owns it all, manages it all, and purposes it all for His glory and our enjoyment.
Standing on the foundation of our faith—the love of our unchanging Father—we can “walk in the light of [His] presence” (v. 15). God remains mighty in power and merciful in His dealings with us. We can rejoice in His name all day long (v. 16). No matter what obstacles we face or how many setbacks we have to endure, God holds us as the waves rise and fall. By Xochitl Dixon (Our Daily Bread)
Visit our Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.