Tag: A chapter a day

“Bring me a sword.” So a sword was brought to the king. Then he said, “Cut the living child in two, and give half to one woman and half to the other!”

The scripture tells us that Solomon loved the LORD, and humbly asked that he might be given wisdom to rule the nation of Israel. The LORD granted his request and gave him an abundance of wisdom. This familiar story is, I’m sure, just one example where the God-given wisdom of Solomon rendered justice for the people.

“So Benaiah son of Jehoiada returned to the sacred tent and killed Joab, and he was buried at his home in the wilderness.”

King Solomon ordered Benaiah to kill Joab—this was at the direction of David as he lay on his deathbed. Joab was slain even though he had fled to the sacred tent to grab on to the horns of the altar.

“And the king repeated his vow: “As surely as the LORD lives, who has rescued me from every danger, your son Solomon will be the next king and will sit on my throne this very day, just as I vowed to you before the LORD, the God of Israel.”

David’s allegiance to the LORD God did not waver, even to the end.

“He grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them. The LORD protects all those who love him, but he destroys the wicked.”

The LORD God is wonderful. The LORD God is awful (awe-full).

“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. Yes, joyful are those who live like this! Joyful indeed are those whose God is the LORD.”

Blessed be the LORD, who loads us up with blessings!

“Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God.”

You are my God. You always were, even when I didn’t know it. You are now, even though at times I do not rejoice over that truth as I should. And most wonderful of all, you ever will be.

“When their leaders are thrown down from a cliff, the wicked will listen to my words and find them true. Like rocks brought up by a plow, the bones of the wicked will lie scattered without burial.”

In that day, the righteous God of the universe will judge the wicked and all those who reject Him. Some are judged (and severely so) in this life.

“But I know the LORD will help those they persecute; he will give justice to the poor.”

The LORD, of course, can do this by himself. He can accomplish this through human agents (and often does). And, in eternity, he does whatever is left undone.

O LORD, fill my heart and strengthen my hands.

“O LORD, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you? Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose you? Yes, I hate them with total hatred, for your enemies are my enemies.”

David hates the enemies of God, but what about his enemies? Isn’t he supposed to love them?

“Though the LORD is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud.”

O to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer, this is my constant longing and prayer. It’s no wonder His name is Wonderful.