Thurs.’s Devo - Solomon’s Prayer

Read: 2 Chronicles 1:1-3:17; Romans 6:1-23; Psalm 16:1-11; Proverbs 19:20-21 Solomon called all the leaders of Israel to Gibeon where the Tabernacle was to seek the Lord about what to do next. David had brought the Ark earlier. Solomon sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings on the bronze altar. *** That night, God appeared to Solomon and asked him what he wanted. Solomon asked for discernment and wisdom to lead the people of God. God was pleased with Solomon’s request and added riches, honor and fame to it. He would be wiser and wealthier than any other king before him. *** Solomon built up a huge army of chariots and horses and warriors. He began building the Temple and his own palace enlisting 70,000 laborers and 80,000 men to quarry stone in the hill country. These were from the foreigners living in Israel. Three thousand and six hundred men were over them as foremen. *** Solomon sent a message to King Hiram at Tyre to send him cedar logs as he had for his father, David. He told him that he was building a Temple to God who was greater than any other god and he would need lots of timber. He also asked for master craftsmen to work with the metal and cloth. In return he would send wheat, barley, wine and oil. King Hiram was elated. He had an abundance of wood but needed grain and oil and wine. It was a great trade for both. He sent him Huram-abi whose mother was from the tribe of Dan and his father from Tyre. He was a master craftsman in metal work and cloth. *** The building of the Temple began during the fourth year of Solomon’s reign. The dimensions of the temple was 90’ x 30’. The Most Holy place was 30’ x 30’ and was overlaid with 23 tons of gold. Even the nail were made of gold. The angels that stood on either side of the Ark had wingspans 15 feet each that touched each other and filled the whole room. The entrance of the Most Holy Place had a curtain of linen which was decorated with blue, purple and scarlet thread and embroidered with cherubim. *** The front of the Temple had two pillars 27’ tall with capitals extending another 7.5’. There were two pillars at the north and south entrance of the Temple. The one at the south was called Jakin meaning “He establishes” and one at the north named Boaz which means “in Him is strength”. *** Paul answers the question about sin. If we have died with Christ and resurrected a new person then we are not the sinners we used to be. Sin has no more power over us, we were set free from sin. Death has no more power over us either. So we should not let sin control our bodies. We are free to give ourselves totally to God and be instruments of righteousness. If we choose to sin then we choose to go back under the power of it as our master. It is our choice to be a slave to sin or a slave to righteousness. Being a slave to sin involves shame and fear. Its wages are death. Being a slave to righteousness rewards us with eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. *** Lord, may we be your slaves of righteousness and inheritors of your great promises and eternal life. May we, like Solomon request discernment and wisdom above riches and honor.