Read: 1 Kings 9:1-10:29; Acts 8:14-40; Psalm 130:1-8; Proverbs 17:2-3
The Lord came to Solomon a second time when he had completed the building of the Temple. He told him that his name, his eyes and his heart would always be there. If they continued to walk with him God would establish their kingdom on earth forever but if they turned from following him, he would cut Israel out of the land and this house would be cast out of his sight and only be a memory.
Solomon had two houses built: one for God and one for himself. These two houses were a picture of who Solomon was. Solomon was a fragmented soul who was caught between this world and following after God. Solomon greatly erred when he gave Hiram 20 cities in his land and when he built a house for the Pharoah’s daughter. He was inviting other gods into his land. Hiram hated his cities because the world will never love or understand the things of God unless they have a hungry heart.
Pharaoh took the city of Gezer from the Philistines after burning it to the ground and presented it to his daughter, Solomon’s wife. Solomon rebuilt the town of Gezer. It meant “a piece”. He also built up Beth-horon which means “house of hollowness”. We can see Solomon slowly slipping into vanity and the potholes of riches. Another city he built was Baalath which means “mistresship”. He probably put his mistresses here. All these were in the wilderness which is the place of “lost”.
Solomon was ripe for the visit of the Queen of Sheba. He unwisely showed her all his wealth and treasures because he had been overtaken with pride and glory. She lavished him with spices which heightened his senses and gold and precious stones which appealed to his eyes. He gave her anything she wanted out of his treasury because he had lost his discernment.
Solomon was given great discernment which he traded for the world’s wisdom. He accumulated things and valued chariots and horses and armies so by his own power he could protect himself. He had left God far behind and reduced him to a ritual.
In Acts, Peter and John were sent to Samaria, because they were hungry for the Good News. They came and preached Jesus and the Holy Spirit. When they laid their hands on the people, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. When Simon, the ex-New Ager saw this, he wanted to buy their power. They explained that the Holy Spirit was not for sale and that his heart was evil in this matter. He needed to repent. Simon asked that they pray for him. We never hear about Simon again so I don’t know if he truly repented or not.
Phillip met the eunuch from Ethiopia which is the land of Sheba where the queen we read about today came from. Some believe that he was a descendent of Solomon and the queen. I don’t know but I do know this: he was hungry for God. He had traveled all the way to Jerusalem just to celebrate the feast of Pentecost. He got his own Pentecost.
God told Phillip to go to his chariot and listen to what he was reading. He was reading Isaiah 53 which is all about Jesus dying on the cross for our sins. Philip was able to explain to the eunuch the meaning of the scripture and baptize him right there. Then Philip was translated to Azotus which was Ashdod, the place that the fish god, Dagon had to bow to the ark of the Lord in Samuel 5:3.
There are great adventures in store for the body of Christ in this season. We just have to believe and do the impossible.
Lord, help us to be like children and not doubt.
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