#passover Patterns:

→God slowly sets the stage then gives His enemies numerous opportunities to repent. When everyone has chosen sides & guilt is established, God moves quickly.
→God's people endure extended tribulation at the hands of the world.
→God's people suffer some of His wrath alongside the world which persecuted them, but they are protected from the full brunt of His wrath.
→When God's wrath has peaked, the world surrenders & He leads His people to freedom.
→Every stage of God's salvation requires faith. God's people don't get to skip tribulation. They must suffer some plagues & witness the rest. Unfortunately, the end of the war is difficult to see from the trenches.
→The enemy always appears more powerful right up until his defeat. Victory requires faith.
→God's victory is certain and all of His enemies will be broken, yet His people still doubt.
→Ultimate salvation & healing occurs only in isolation from the world & complete reliance on YHVH.

#biblepatterns

SERIES L --- THE NATION DIVIDES --- LESSON 04

SOLOMON’S REQUEST

SOLOMON ASKS FOR WISDOM

From 1 Kings 3:1-28; 2 Chronicles 1:1-13

Solomon was now the supreme and unquestioned ruler over all Israel, for Adonai had placed him in firm control of the throne. In time he married one of the daughters of Pharaoh, king of Egypt and made an alliance with the king, Solomon brought the new queen to Jerusalem. She lived in the City of David until Solomon could build his own palace, as well as the temple and the wall around the city. Until the temple was built, the people sacrificed their offerings in high places, where altars had been built on hilltops. Solomon had done all that his father David had commanded, except that he had not yet built the temple. So, he too made his sacrifices in the high places. The most famous high place was at Gibeon, where the tabernacle made by Moses still stood. Another tabernacle had been made by King David in Jerusalem for the Ark when he had brought it from Kirjath-jearim. One day Solomon summoned his judges and army commanders to the tabernacle at Gibeon. He had gone to this high place before, as well as other high places in Israel, making his offerings and burning incense on the incense altars. On this day however, Solomon made a thousand sacrifices on the bronze altar which stood in front of the tabernacle. It was the same bronze altar which Bezaleel the son of Un and grandson of Hur had made while the Israelites were camped by Mount Sinai in the wilderness. That night Adonai appeared to Solomon in a dream. [What gift would you like more than anything?] Adonai inquired. [Ask Me and I will give it to you.] [Adonai, You have been good and kind to my father David and to me,] Solomon answered. [You have made me king, fulfilling Your promise to my father David, letting me rule over a nation with people too numerous to count. My request is for wisdom and knowledge to rule my people well, for who can rule so many people as he should?] Solomon’s request pleased Adonai. [Since you have asked for wisdom instead of riches or honour or a curse upon your enemies or long life, I will not only give you wisdom and knowledge, but I will give you those other things as well. You shall have more honour, riches and fame than anyone else in the world. If you obey Me, as your father David did, I will give you a long life. I will make you wiser than anyone has ever been or will ever be. You will be the greatest king to ever live.] When Solomon awoke, he realized that he had been dreaming. He returned to Jerusalem and went to the tabernacle. Standing before the Ark, he sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. Solomon also gave a great banquet and invited all of his officials. Not long after this, two young women came to ask the king to settle a quarrel. [We live together in the same house,] one of the women said. [Not long ago I had a baby. Three days later this woman had a baby also. Then in the middle of the night, she rolled over and smothered her baby and it died. She got up, took my baby while I was sleeping and laid her dead baby in my arms. When I awoke in the morning, I found her dead baby there. I looked closely at the baby and was sure that it was hers. But she and I are the only ones in the house, so there is no one else to settle this matter.] [No, the dead baby is hers,] said the other woman. [The living baby is mine.] [That isn’t true!] the first woman shouted. [Yours is the dead baby. Mine is the living one.] They argued while King Solomon listened. [One woman says the living baby is hers and the dead baby belongs to the other,] said Solomon. [But the other woman says the opposite is true.] Solomon thought for a moment. Then he gave a command. [Bring me a sword!] he said. When the sword was brought, King Solomon gave another command. [Cut the live baby in two and give half to each woman,] he said. But the real mother cried out, [No! Don’t do that! Give the baby to her but don’t kill it.] The other woman said, [Kill the child. Then it will not belong to either of us.] [Give the baby to the woman who wants us to spare its life,] said Solomon. [She is the real mother.] The whole nation soon heard of the king’s wise decision. Then the people had great respect for Solomon, for they realized that he had YHVH’s great wisdom in him and would be a fair judge.

COMMENTARY

INCENSE ALTARS

Many Canaanite families kept small incense stands in their homes for private worship, light pottery stands would be carried to the roof where they might gather for evening prayer. One popular style was shaped like a column with a removable bowl on the top. A few hot coals were placed in the bowl and the incense powder sprinkled on them. The thick sweet smoke would rise heavenward, believed to carry prayers on its way. Small stone altars were also commonly found in homes, most were simple blocks with a sunken spot on the top for the incense. Others were designed like miniature houses. Carved birds in the windows and snakes on the sides were symbols of the gods. Scarcely a village in Palestine was without a sacred worship area, called [the high place.] The sacrificial altar formed the centre of these hilltop sanctuaries and many also held large stone incense altars. Before the temple was built, the Israelites also used hilltop worship areas to offer their prayers. Many of their stone altars were cut from limestone, distinguished from all others by triangular stone [horns,] one at each corner. These horns may have been symbols of divine power, but their real meaning is unknown. The altar was the symbol of YHVH’s presence to the Israelites and a place to remember His Covenant. Inside the tabernacle at Gibeon an incense altar stood directly in front of the veil concealing the Holy of Holies, the most sacred area in the sanctuary. Every morning and evening, the priest made incense offering there, called [the altar before Adonai,] it was made of acacia wood overlaid with gold. Only holy incense was used; a special mixture of rich spices and perfumes. These daily offerings brought the [sweet smell] of the people’s prayers continually rising before YHVH.

Have you ever eaten a whole animal? Head, tail, and everything in between? If we could do a full biblical #passover sacrifice today, that's one of the requirements. It's also another pointer to Yeshua.

The Passover lamb of Exodus redeemed us from slavery in Egypt. #yeshua, the Passover Lamb of the New Covenant redeems us from slavery to sin, and redemption is all or nothing. You can't be free from Egypt and stay in Egypt. You can't be freed from sin and also remain in sin. If, having been set free from Egypt, you turn back, you have rejected God's Redeemer.
#pesach

I thought I'd dip WAY back into the archives today, to show you a post from 2009 (six kids) and 2003 (four kids). This was all "pre-Torah." I was thinking about time and priorities back then, too. https://archive.aweber.com/awlist6425868/98ifU

"Be not thou envious against evil men,
neither desire to be with them."

Pr 24

"It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness."

Pr 16

Thought for Today: Sunday April 02:

I have suffered a lot in the past and still even suffer some days now, both of physical and emotional pain. There are even days I think I cannot live, But YHVH saves me every time and He is my faith and hope. We may run, walk, stumble, drive or fly, but I never lose sight of the reason for my journey or miss the chance to see the rainbows on the way. Neither should you loose any hope. Be blessed today friend.

SERIES L --- THE NATION DIVIDES --- LESSON 03

SOLOMON THE KING

SOLOMON’S ENEMIES

From 1 Kings 2:12-46

After the death of King David, Solomon reigned as the king of Israel, replacing David on his throne. As time went by, Solomon prospered more and more and his control over the kingdom became more secure. However, Solomon’s half-brother Adonijah made one more attempt to gain control of the kingdom. This is how he did it. One day he approached Solomon’s mother, Bathsheba. [Are you coming in peace or to make trouble?] she asked him. [Peace,] he answered. [I have something I would like you to do for me.] [Tell me what it is,] Bathsheba replied. [Well, you know that at one point the whole kingdom was mine,] Adonijah said. [In fact, the entire nation assumed that I would be the next king. However, things changed and Solomon became king. Now, all I ask of him is that he let me marry Abishag the Shunammite, the young lady who took care of King David. If I ask Solomon, he probably will not let me do it. So will you please ask him for me?] [All right, I will ask him,] said Bathsheba. When Bathsheba went to see King Solomon, he rose to meet her and bowed down to her. Then he had a special seat brought for his mother so she could sit in the honoured place at his right hand. [I have a special request for you,] said Bathsheba. [Please do not refuse me.] [Tell me what it is and I’m sure I will not refuse you,] Solomon answered. [Then let your brother Adonijah marry Abishag the Shunammite,] Bathsheba said. [Why are you asking this for Adonijah?] Solomon responded. [Don’t you realize that you may be asking the kingdom for him? This is a plot to gain power over me. If I grant it, then Adonijah, Joab and Abiathar will try to conquer me.] Then King Solomon made a vow. [May YHVH punish me if I do not execute Adonijah today for trying to overthrow me,] he said. [I vow this by Adonai who has placed me on the throne of my father David, as He promised He would do. Adonijah must die!] Then King Solomon called for Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and sent him to execute Adonijah, which he did. Solomon also called for Abiathar the priest, who had conspired with Adonijah to make him king. [I should have you put to death,] Solomon told him. [But you carried Adonai’s Ark while my father was king and suffered many things with him. Instead of executing you, I am taking you away from your place as priest and sending you back to your home in Anathoth.] In so doing, Solomon fulfilled the prophecy concerning Eli’s descendants, as Adonai had spoken at Shiloh. Joab soon heard that Adonijah had been executed and realized that his own life was in danger, for he had tried to help Adonijah become king instead of Solomon. [He had not however, sided with Absalom when he rebelled against his father David.] Joab ran to the tabernacle and clung to the horns of the altar, thinking he would be safe there. Solomon heard that Joab was there and sent Benaiah to execute him. [Come out of there!] Benaiah called to Joab. [No, you’ll have to kill me in here,] Joab answered. Benaiah wasn’t sure what he should do, so he went back to talk with King Solomon. [Kill him there if that’s what he wants,] Solomon commanded. [Then bury him. This execution will take away the guilt of his murders from me and my father’s household. Joab unjustly killed Abner and Amasa, two men more righteous and noble than he. Adonai will let the guilt of these murders remain on Joab and his family, but peace will remain with David and his descendants concerning this matter.] Then Benaiah went back to the tabernacle and killed Joab beside the altar. Joab was buried in his own house in the desert. After that King Solomon made Benaiah commander of the army in the place of Joab. He also appointed Zadok the priest in Abiathar’s place. Next, King Solomon sent for Shimei, the man who had cursed David as he fled from Absalom. [Build a house for yourself here in Jerusalem,] he commanded. [From now on you are confined to the city. The day you leave Jerusalem and cross the Kidron Brook, you will be executed. You will condemn yourself to death.] [I will do exactly as you say,] Shimei replied. Shimei lived in Jerusalem for about three years. Then two of his servants ran away to Achish the son of Maachah, king of Gath. When someone reported this to Shimei, he saddled his donkey and went to Gath to get his slaves back. As soon as he had found them, Shimei brought them back to Jerusalem. King Solomon soon learned what had happened and summoned Shimei before him. [Didn’t I make you swear before Adonai and solemnly warn you not to leave Jerusalem?] he asked. [You agreed to do this, so why have you broken your promise? Surely you have not forgotten the wicked things you did to my father David. Now it is time for you to be punished for your wickedness, for you have condemned yourself to death. May Adonai keep me and the throne of David secure forever.] King Solomon gave orders to Benaiah, who took Shimei out and executed him. Thus, by eliminating all his enemies, Solomon made himself and his kingdom secure.

COMMENTARY

HORSES AND THEIR GEAR

In ancient times the horse was an animal of war, valued mostly for its strength in pulling war chariots. Only kings and special warrior classes owned their own horses, for them the animal was like a weapon and its popularity grew along with the use of war chariots throughout the Middle East. A warlike group of people from areas east of Mesopotamia was responsible for introducing both horses and chariots. Around 1800 B.C. they invaded northern Mesopotamia and built large horse-breeding farms. With their lightweight chariots and trained animals, they easily conquered Syria and then moved through Palestine into Egypt. The conquered peoples quickly learned to build their own chariots. They began raising horses as well and by 1500 B.C. the horse drawn chariot formed the most important division of Middle Eastern armies. The Israelites discovered the impressive power of a chariot army during the conquest of Canaan. Canaanite kings with armed chariots repeatedly defeated Israelite foot soldiers. Since they had no chariots of their own, the Israelites had no use for captured horses, and Joshua ordered them to cripple any they caught. Not until Solomon’s reign did the Israelites begin to rely on horse and chariot teams. He imported thousands of animals and built stables for them throughout the country. Establishing this powerful chariot force may have been his greatest military achievement. But Solomon did not stop with furnishing horses for his own army. His merchants bought the finest steeds in Cilicia and exchanged them for Egyptian chariots. Horse and chariot teams were then sold to Syria at great profit. From this time on, horses and chariots were an essential part of the Israelite army.

"A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back."

Pr 26