I Kings 4
List of Solomon’s officersverses 1-6
So king Solomon was king over all Israel
and these were the princes which he had
Azariah the son of Zadok the priest
Elihoreph and Ahiah the sons of Shisha – scribes
Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud – the recorder
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host
Zadok and Abiathar were the priests
Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers
Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer
and the king’s friend
Ahishar was over the household
Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute
List of Solomon’s governorsverses 7-19
And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel
which provided victuals for the king and his household
each man his month in a year made provision
And these are their names –
the son of Hur in mount Ephraim
the son of Dekar – in Makaz – in Shaalbim
and Beth-shemesh and Elon-beth-hanan
the son of Hesed – in Aruboth – to him pertained Sochoh
and all the land of Hepher
the son of Abinadab – in all the region of Dor
which had Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife
Baana the son of Ahilud
to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo
and all Beth-shean
which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel
from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah
even unto the place
that is beyond Jokneam
the son of Geber – in Ramoth-gilead
to him pertained the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh
which are in Gilead
to him also pertained the region of Argob
which is in Bashan
threescore great cities with walls
and brazen bars
Ahinadab the son of Iddo had Mahanaim
Ahimaaz was in Naphtail
he also took Basmath
the daughter of Solomon to wife
Baanah the son of Hushai
was in Asher and in Atoth
Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah – in Issachar
Shimei the son of Elah – in Benjamin
Geber the son of Uri was in the country of Gilead
in the country of Sihon king of the Amorites
and of Og king of Bashan
And he was the only officer which was in the land
Population of Solomon’s kingdomverses 20-21
Judah and Israel were many
as the SAND which is by the SEA in multitude
eating and drinking – and making merry
And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river
to the land of the Philistines
and to the border of Egypt
they brought presents and served Solomon
all the days of his life
Daily needs for Solomonverses 22-23
And Solomon’s provision for one day
was thirty measures of fine flour
threescore measures of meal
ten fat oxen
twenty oxen out of the pastures
hundred sheep
besides harts – roebucks – fallow deer
fatted fowl
Extend of Solomon’s kingdomverses 24-25
For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river
from Tiphsah even to Azzah
over all the kings on this side the river
and he had peace on all sides
round about him
And Judah and Israel dwelt safely
every man under his vine and under his fig tree
from Dan even to Beer-sheba
all the days of Solomon
Solomon’s stablesverse 26
And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses
for his chariots
and twelve thousand horsemen
Governors provide food for Solomonverses 27-28
And those officers provided victual for King Solomon
and for all that came to king Solomon’s table
every man in his month – they lacked nothing
Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries brought
they to the place where the officers were
every man according to his charge
Wisdom of Solomon manifestedverses 29-34
And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding
exceeding much and largeness of heart
even as the SAND that is on the seashore
And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the
children of the east country
and all the wisdom of Egypt
FOR he was wiser than all men
than Ethan the Ezrahite – Heman – Chalcol – Darda
the sons of Mahol
and his fame was in all nations round about
And he spoke three thousand proverbs
and his songs were a thousand and five
And he spoke of trees – from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even
unto the hyssop that springs out of the wall
he spoke also of beasts
fowl – creeping things – fishes
And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon
from all kings of the earth – which had heard of his wisdom
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 7 And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, which provided victuals for the king and his household: each man his month in a year made provision. (3557 “provided victuals” [kuwl] means to give what is desired or needed, especially support, food, or sustenance, manage, maintain, nourish, or feed)
DEVOTION: Organization skills are needed at all times by those who live today. Solomon knew how to organize a large nation. We have to organize ourselves, our families and our testimony for the LORD.
A division of responsibilities is necessary in every home and in every church. Solomon did things on a larger scale but still we can learn from the way he handled his reign. He had twelve governors who would provide the needs of the king’s household each month. There would never be a time without food and there would not be a terrible strain on one part of the nation.
We need to do the same in our household when we divide the responsibilities between husband and wife and children. There can’t be too much strain on any one person otherwise there will be problems. This is true in a nation as well.
In the church we need to have the division of responsibility taken between the officers and the members. Sometimes there are individuals who are not members who become involved but the first step of obedience in a church is for individuals to be baptized and join the church. There need to be commitment to the local church before there can be an assignment of responsibility.
Too often we don’t hold the members of the church responsible in their area of giftedness. Each believer is gifted by the Holy Spirit to use their gifts to move the kingdom of God along. These gifts have to be used for the glory of the LORD in the local church. No one should be sitting on the sideline while others do most of the work. It is a sad but seeming truth that ten percent of the members in a local church do ninety percent of the work. That is not Biblical. When everyone works together for the growth of the local body of believers there is no confusion and no jealousy.
Solomon set an example for us to follow both in the home and in the local church. We need to divide the responsibilities and not expect just one person to do all the work while the others play. Children need to be taught young to work in the home to help their mother and father. Is this happening in your house? Is this happening in your church?
CHALLENGE: Teaching responsibility is important to the LORD. Training starts at home and works its way into society.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 20 Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry. (8056 “making merry” [sameach] means rejoice, filled with joy, full of or producing joy, merrymaker, glad or delight)
DEVOTION: Now we find a time period of peace in the nation of Israel. Solomon has consolidated his nation. He has set up outposts to protect the nation. He has set up a way to provide for his leaders. He has used his wisdom to judge his nation. There was sense of happiness in the nation.
The nation grew during this time period. The Bible says as the sand of the sea. This is what was promised to Abraham by the LORD. HE told him to look at the stars in the sky and try to number them. HE used the illustration of the sand of the seashore.
It is a description of a time of flourishing as a nation. All the people were eating and drinking and rejoicing. When the LORD gives prosperity is to be shared by all. It is not to be a select few. Sharing times of joy need to be practiced now as well as then.
The new church sold what they had and shared it with each other to make sure no one was without. It was in this spirit that the Holy Spirit worked in the early church. Members helped members. Members witnessed to their neighbors. The church moved forward because the people in society saw that there was a difference between their practices and the practices of believers.
We are not to go with the flow of society but to keep our standard high in our relationship to the LORD. Too many believers have given in to changing their beliefs to fit society instead of the Word of God. Many denominations are following the lead of society rather than the LORD.
Solomon set God as the standard and the people were able to eat and drink and rejoice. This can happen today only when we are faithful to the LORD and to HIS Word. If we keep our standard the LORD, then HE will bless us with times of rejoicing as we find here in Israel.
CHALLENGE: What is our standard today? Are we as individuals keeping the standard the Word of God and the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives?
: 24 For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him. ((7965 “peace” [shalom] means completeness, soundness, tranquil, contentment, well, happy, friendly, safe, health, prosperity, or rest)
DEVOTION: How would we like to have prosperity on all sides of our life? The only one who can give true happiness and rest is the LORD. HE gave this to the children of Israel under the leadership of Solomon. Solomon established himself as king by ridding his kingdom of those who gave his father a hard time. The reign of Solomon was different than his father David. David did the fighting and Solomon reaped the benefit by having safety during his reign.
When there is contentment and safety, more can be done regarding the improvements of life. Solomon established a system where there was food for his reign. He had someone from each tribe provide the food each month. We need to have prosperity in our homes for the children and marriage to improve.
This contentment and rest is what the LORD provides for HIS children. It doesn’t mean that we will be as rich as Solomon but we will be blessed of the LORD.
We need contentment and rest in our churches for our churches to move forward. Division never helps a church move forward for the LORD. God is the only one who can provide the prosperity we need.
Are we looking to HIM for a contentment and safety that passes all understanding on a daily basis? We can trust in HIM to keep HIS word to us. HE is never going to leave us or forsake us!!!
The children of Israel had contentment during the reign of Solomon. Solomon used this time to establish his kingdom. The LORD can give us contentment in our world. HE promises the peace that passes all understanding.
CHALLENGE: Our responsibility is to give thanks for HIS blessings. Do we know that we are blessed????? The LORD wants us to be content with our circumstances NOW!!!!)
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 30 And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. (2451 “excelled the wisdom” [chokmah] means technical skill, accumulated knowledge or erudition or enlightenment, or shrewdness)
DEVOTION: The LORD had given Solomon a FULL MEASURE of WISDOM. He was not only smart but he had the ability to use his knowledge for good for himself and the children of Israel.
God had blessed him to the point that others came to him for his wisdom rather than him going to others. He only had to go to the LORD for more wisdom if he needed it. He had a special relationship with the LORD.
The LORD has promised us wisdom if we ask HIM for it. Too often many of those who are followers of the LORD forget to consult HIM before they make decisions. This is one of the problems with us. We think that we know enough to get us through each day without consulting HIM.
One of the outcomes of our not asking HIM for wisdom each day is that we have to do a lot more confessing of sin than we would if we consulted HIM each day with for HIS wisdom.
God wants to provide for all our needs and wisdom is one of those needs that we have because once we start depending on our wisdom alone, we fail and sometimes we even wonder why we fail.
We need to be teachers of those who are younger in the faith once we have conquered our desire to do everything our own way. If we can learn this and consult the LORD, we will be applying the Word of God properly in all of our decisions.
What a difference it would make if all of God’s pastors and leaders were going to HIM before they make their decisions for the day, month, year. Independence is highly overrated in our society. Dependence on the LORD would cause us to make wise decisions and in turn make those around us make better decisions.
CHALLENGE: Are you going to the LORD each day for wisdom from the Word of God and from our times of prayer with the LORD?
: 34 And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom. (2451 “wisdom” [chokmah] means skillful man, shrewdness, prudence, aptitude, skill in technical matters or good sense)
DEVOTION: The LORD said that there would be no one as wise as Solomon in his generation. It might be true even to this day. As you read the books that Solomon wrote that are included in the Word of God: Proverbs, Song of Solomon and Ecclesiastes.
People came from around his world to hear his aptitude in many matters of interest to people. He would teach them about trees. He would speak proverbs. He would write songs that others would sing. He taught about animals. His interests were many and he was knowledgeable in all those areas. Nothing seemed to stump him when he was asked regarding any matter.
Remember that God promised to give wisdom to those who pray for wisdom and listen to HIM. HE reminds believer that they can ask HIM for wisdom and HE will give it. James 3: 17 states “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”
This is the only type of wisdom that the LORD gives HIS people.
There is another type of “wisdom” in this world that is not of God which is described as earthly, sensual and devilish in the book of James. This type of false wisdom causes envying, strife and confusion in our world. It also leads to evil work.
There are many Christians who are confused regarding their understanding of the Word of God. Could they be looking in the wrong place for wisdom? Or really not caring if they have wisdom?
CHALLENGE: When you are looking for wisdom where do you look? Is your wisdom from above or from the false wisdom of this world?)
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)
Tributeverse 6
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)
Zadok and Abiathar – priestsverse 2
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign)verse 29
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)
Sihon king of the Amoritesverse 19
Og king of Bashanverse 19
Philistinesverse 21
Egyptverses 21, 30
Children of Eastverse 30
Solomon’s wisdom excelled all their wisdom
Ethan the Ezrahiteverse 31
Heman – Chalcol – Darda
Sons of Mahotverse 31
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Peaceverse 24
Safeverse 25
Lacked nothingverse 27
Wisdomverses 29-31, 34
Understandingverse 29
Largeness of heartverse 29
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Solomon – kingverses 1, 7
Had twelve officers over Israel
Provided victual
Dekar in Makaz
Shaalbim
Beth-shemesh
Elon-beth-hanan
Hesed in Aruboth
Sochoh
All the land of Hepher
Son of Abinadab
Dor
Baana – son of Ahilud
Taanach and Megiddo
All Beth-shean to Abel-
Meholah
Beyond Jokneam
Son of Geber
Ramoth-gilead
Ahinadab – son of Iddo
Mahanaim
Ahimaar – Naphtali
Took Basmath –wife
Baanah – son of Hushai
Asher and in Aloth
Jehoshaphat – son of aruah
Issachar
Shimei – son of Elah
Benjamin
Geber – son of Uri
Country of Gilead
Country of
Sihon king of the
Amorites
Og king of Bashan
He reigned from river to land of
Philistines to Egypt
List of provisions for Solomon for
One day give
List of dominion over region given
Had peace on all sides
Forty thousand stalls for horses
Twelve thousand horseman
Lacked nothing
Wisdom and understanding given
by God
Three thousand proverbs
Songs = 1,005
Spoke of many subjects
Israelverses 1, 20, 25
Azariah – son of Zadok the priestverse 2
Elihoreph and Ahiah – sons of Shisha
Scribesverse 3
Benaiah – son of Jehoiada – over armyverse 4
Azariah – son of Nathan over officersverse 5
Zabud – son of Nathan = principal officerverse 5
King’s friend
Ahishar – over householdverse 6
Adoniram – son of Abda over tributeverse 6
Judahverses 20, 25
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
29 The expression “breadth of understanding” means a comprehensive understanding (Keil) and is illustrated by the numerous areas of knowledge in which Solomon was at home (vv.32–33). (Patterson, R. D., & Austel, H. J. (1988). 1, 2 Kings. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job (Vol. 4, p. 55). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
4:29. This additional information about Solomon’s wisdom demonstrates God’s faithfulness in blessing the king as He had promised (cf. 3:12; 5:12). Wisdom is the ability to live life successfully. While Solomon possessed this ability, he did not always apply it to his own life. Thus, the wisest man who ever lived (i.e., with the greatest wisdom) did not live as wisely as many others who preceded and followed him. Having insight into life does not guarantee that one will choose to do what is right. Solomon’s great insight was his ability to see the core of issues (e.g., 3:16–27). His understanding was vast; today he would be described as a man of encyclopedic knowledge. (Constable, T. L. (1985). 1 Kings. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 496–497). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
4:29 In addition to giving Solomon a hearing (3:9) and discerning (3:12) heart, God gave him largeness (or breadth) of heart. All three terms underscore Solomon’s understanding. This verse describes Solomon’s understanding as limitless and immeasurable, like the sand on the seashore, just like the numbers of the Israelites (v. 20). (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (p. 434). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.)
6. The scholar (1 Kings 4:29–34)
King David appreciated and enjoyed God’s created world and wrote hymns of praise about the Creator and His creation, but Solomon looked upon nature more as an object of study. God gave Solomon wisdom and breadth of understanding beyond that of the great wise men of the east, and he was able to lecture accurately about the living things in God’s creation. Ecclesiastes 2:5 informs us that Solomon planted great gardens, and no doubt it was in these that he observed the way plants and trees developed.
Ethan and Heman are mentioned in 1 Chronicles 15:19 as members of David’s musical staff assigned to direct sanctuary worship. Ethan is probably the man also known as Jeduthun who wrote Psalms 39 and 89 (1 Chron. 16:41–42; 25:1, 6), and Psalm 88 is assigned to Heman. These men were also known for their wisdom. Other than 1 Chronicles 2:6, we have no further information about Calcol and Darda.
Most of Solomon’s three thousand proverbs have been lost, for fewer than six hundred are recorded in the Book of Proverbs. Also lost are “the annals of Solomon” (11:41) as well as the books about Solomon written by Nathan, Ahijah, and Iddo (2 Chron. 9:29). We do find many references to nature in Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon, so Solomon’s scientific enquiries did yield spiritual truth and practical lessons for life. He became an international celebrity and important people from all over the known world came to see his treasures and hear his wisdom.
Peace and prosperity reigned while Solomon was king, but no matter how successful things appeared to citizens and visitors, all was not well in the kingdom. During the period between his ascension to the throne and his dedication of the temple, Solomon appears to have walked with the Lord and sought to please him. But Alexander Whyte expressed it vividly when he wrote that “the secret worm … was gnawing all the time in the royal staff upon which Solomon leaned.” Solomon didn’t have the steadfast devotion to the Lord that characterized his father, and his many pagan wives were planting seeds in his heart that would bear bitter fruit. (Wiersbe, W. W. (2002). Be responsible (pp. 35–36). Colorado Springs, CO: Victor.)
Ver. 29. And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, &c.] In things natural, moral, divine, and spiritual, and that not slight and superficial, but exceeding deep, and large beyond expression; and this he had not from the acuteness of his genius merely, nor from his industry and diligence; but by the gift of God, as whatsoever solid wisdom and understanding is in any man, it is from the liberal hand of God, the fountain of wisdom, Jam. 1:5. and largeness of heart, even as sand that is on the seashore; he had a genius and capacity to receive any thing; his knowledge was vast and comprehensive; it reached to and included things innumerable, as the sand of the sea; there was scarce anything under the heavens, or on the earth, and in the sea, but came within the compass of it, as what are after mentioned shew. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, p. 691). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
29–31. Here we arrive at the pinnacle of Solomon’s glory; the wisdom and largeness of heart which the Lord gave him, not simply in human sciences, though here we find he surpassed the most eminent for learning among the Egyptians and Chaldeans; but Solomon excelled in that wisdom which maketh wise unto salvation. And Reader! do observe the expression; it is said that God gave it to him. Yes! it is not to be acquired. It is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord. Zech. 4:6. But Reader! when you have paid all due respect to what is here said concerning Solomon’s wisdom; think only what a shadow the whole of it formed of that, of which the substance is in the person of Jesus, who is emphatically called, by way of summing up his character, Wisdom itself; and in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Prov. 8 throughout. Coloss. 2:3. Oh! thou who art the wisdom of God and the power of God for salvation to thy people! how fully doth all wisdom centre in thy person, and manifest itself in all the saving offices, relations, and characters, by which thou art made known to thy people! and Reader! while you and I are looking up to our only wise God and Saviour, as the apostle Jude his servant justly calls him, let us ask for a portion of that wisdom which maketh wise unto salvation, and that our souls may know the precious assurance, and rejoice in it, that he is made of God to us both wisdom and righteousness, sanctification, and redemption; that all our glorying may be in the Lord. 1 Cor. 1:30, 31. (Hawker, R. (2013). Poor Man’s Old Testament Commentary: 1 Kings–Esther (Vol. 3, p. 32). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)
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!!)
CONFIDENCE IN PRAYER
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
1 John 3:21
This matter of “confidence” is absolutely vital to true prevailing prayer. Let me remind you how the Scripture puts it. Have you noticed that the word boldness is used in connection with prayer in the Scriptures? You often find it in the epistle to the Hebrews: “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (4:16); or again, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:19); or, “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22). Or consider what Paul says in Ephesians 3: “in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by faith” (verse 12). That is the way to pray; if our petitions are to be of any value, we must have boldness and assurance and confidence in our access.
How is this to be obtained? Well, it seems to me that we are here dealing with the answer, and it is a question of sonship. The consciousness of our sonship and the assurance of our sonship is to be determined by our love of the brethren. It works like this: If I am truly loving the brethren, then I remember that I am a child of God. Therefore, when I am before God in prayer I argue like this: “I must think of God now not as my Judge but as my Father.” John goes on to remind us of that in 1 John chapter 4. I do not come to God, therefore, in a spirit of fear, because “fear hath torment” (1 John 4:18). So, assured of my sonship, I know that God delights in me, that God indeed is much more ready to bless me than I am to ask to be blessed.
A Thought to Ponder: I must think of God now not as my Judge but as my Father.
(From Children of God, pp. 128-129 by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
THE OFFENSE OF THE CROSS
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness. 1 Corinthians 1:23
The test of whether someone is teaching the cross rightly or wrongly is whether it is an offense to the natural man or not. If my preaching of this cross is not an offense to the natural man, I am misrepresenting it. If it is something that makes him say “how beautiful,” “how wonderful,” “what a tragedy,” “what a shame,” I have not been preaching the cross truly. The preaching of the cross is an offense to the natural man. So it becomes the test of any man’s preaching.
Or let me put it in terms of the congregation. If this element of offense in the cross has never appeared to you, or if you have never felt it, then I say that you likewise have never known the truth about the cross of Christ. If you have never reacted against it and felt that it is an offense for you, I say you have never known it. It is always an offense to the natural man. Invariably, there is no exception. So if you have never felt it, you have never seen it because you are a natural man. Nobody is born a Christian into this world. We have to be born again to become Christians, and as long as we are natural men and women, the cross is an offense.
So if we have never known this element of offense, either we have not seen it or we have had some misrepresentation of it. The cross is an offense to the mind of the natural man. It cuts across all his preconceived notions and ideas. It was a stumbling block to the Jews for this reason. They were expecting a Messiah to destroy the Roman conquerors. So when they found the One who claimed to be the Messiah dying in apparent weakness upon the cross, they were deeply wounded and offended.
A Thought to Ponder: As long as we are natural men and women, the cross is an offense.
(From The Cross, pp. 45-46, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Jesus is betrayed and arrested.
INSIGHT
Peter is living and reassuring proof that “grace is greater than all our sin.” We struggle, at one time or another, with things in our lives that ought to be corrected but aren’t. We fear that our lives bring a stench to God’s nostrils because we have failed Him so often. But Peter began to curse and swear and deny that he ever knew Jesus. What a colossal sin! Yet, just a few days later (in John 21), Peter is eating with the Lord in perfect fellowship and harmony.
For the Christian, there is no sin so great that God will not forgive. (Quiet Walk)
Risen with Christ
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” (Colossians 3:1)
The wise believer revels in the fact of Christ’s resurrection. Some things in Scripture may be easier to identify with and apply, including Christ’s substitutionary death, but it is the resurrection that gives us power to live victoriously. “Like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).
We have been “crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed” (Romans 6:6). Nevertheless, we are risen with Him, as our text and elsewhere clearly teaches (Romans 6; Ephesians 2:1-10; etc.). This resurrection is an inward one, of course, but our bodily resurrection is also guaranteed by Christ’s bodily resurrection, should we physically die. “Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus” (2 Corinthians 4:14).
Power to serve Him effectively comes through His resurrection, for we have access to the “exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead” (Ephesians 1:19-20). We have authority over all human and demonic institutions through Him who even now operates as head of the living church of His followers.
Perhaps the most precious of all benefits of the resurrection is that “we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens” who is sympathetic to “the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16).
(JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
In the Garden
Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!”
John 20:18
My dad loved to sing the old hymns. One of his favorites was “In the Garden.” A few years back, we sang it at his funeral. The chorus is simple: “And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own, and the joy we share as we tarry there none other has ever known.” That song brought joy to my dad—as it does to me.
Hymn writer C. Austin Miles says he wrote this song in spring 1912 after reading chapter 20 of the gospel of John. “As I read it that day, I seemed to be part of the scene. I became a silent witness to that dramatic moment in Mary’s life when she knelt before her Lord and cried, ‘Rabboni [Teacher].’ ”
In John 20, we find Mary Magdalene weeping near Jesus’ empty tomb. There she met a man who asked why she was crying. Thinking it was the gardener, she spoke with the risen Savior—Jesus! Her sorrow turned to joy, and she ran to tell the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” (v. 18).
We too have the assurance that Jesus is risen! He’s now in heaven with the Father, but He hasn’t left us on our own. Believers in Christ have His Spirit inside us, and through Him we have the assurance and joy of knowing He’s with us, and we are “His own.”
By Alyson Kieda (Our Daily Bread)
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