Quoting Bible verses for our own personal agenda and out of context is harmful and arrogant. The billboards that read “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind” is misleading and misrepresents the Creator. The lax attitude of believers and the failure to hold those who mislead others accountable to Biblical authority have allowed the world to accept evil as normal. Proverbs 29:2, “When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.”
"A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit."
Mt 7
Thought for Today: Friday March 31:
It does not matter what your circumstances are today, it is better to pursue behaviour that is above reproach, because then you will be respected for your actions. And always remember, it is an extraordinary and beautiful thing that Elohiym, in creation, works with the beauty of matter; the reality of things; the discoveries of senses, all five of them, so that we, in turn may hear even when the grass is growing and see a faces springing to life in love and laughter.
SERIES K --- ISRAEL’S GOLDEN AGE --- LESSON 22
SOLOMON MADE KING
PLANS FOR THE GREAT TEMPLE
From 1 Chronicles 28
At a certain time King David called together all of the leaders of Israel for a great assembly in Jerusalem. These included the military leaders, leaders of the tribes, officers who served the king, and those in charge of his property. In fact, everyone who was truly important in the land was assembled. When the people were assembled, King David arose and spoke to them. [Listen to me, my brothers,] he said. [I had planned to build a great temple where the Ark of the Covenant could be placed permanently. But Adonai said I should not build it because I am a warrior and have shed much blood. Even so, Adonai chose me from among all my family to be king over Israel. He chose Judah as the tribe to rule the land, my father’s family to be the royal family, and me to be the king. From the many children Adonai gave me, He chose Solomon to be the next king. He told me that Solomon would build the temple, for Adonai has chosen him as His son. Adonai said also that if Solomon obeys His Commandments and does what He wants, He will let his kingdom continue forever.] Then King David spoke to his son Solomon, charging him to be faithful to Adonai: [In the sight of all Israel and its leaders today, my son Solomon and in the presence of Adonai, I urge you to follow the Commands of Adonai so that you may rule this good land all your life and leave it for an inheritance for your children to rule forever. My son Solomon, know Adonai and serve Him with all your strength, for He searches all hearts and knows every plan and thought. If you seek Him, you will find Him. If you forsake Him, He will forsake you forever. Pay attention! Adonai has chosen you to build His temple. Therefore, be strong and do what He wants.] King David handed the plans for the temple to his son Solomon. These were detailed plans of the building, treasuries, upper rooms, inside rooms and the sanctuary where the Ark of the Covenant would be placed. The plans showed the outer courts, the surrounding rooms for the treasuries of the temple and the treasuries for the gifts which prominent people had given. The plans gave the work which the priests and Levites were expected to do in the temple, as well as all the equipment to be used in the temple. The king also weighed gold and silver for the various articles, including the gold for the golden lamp stands and their lamps, silver for the silver lamp stands and their lamps, gold for the table on which the Bread of the Presence would be placed, as well as other golden tables and silver tables. He also had the gold weighed for the golden hooks with which the meat of the sacrifice was handled and for the basins, jars and bowls. He weighed also the silver for the silver bowls. Then he weighed the gold for the incense altar and for the golden cherubim which covered the Ark of the Covenant. [Adonai has written all these instructions with His hand,] David told his son Solomon. [Be strong and courageous, and do the work. You must not be afraid of the task, for Adonai will not leave you until the temple is completed. The priests and Levites will help you, and others will volunteer to provide their skill for any kind of work. Yes, even the leaders of Israel and the entire army are at your command.]
COMMENTARY
THE NUMBER FORTY IN THE BIBLE
The number forty is used in connection with almost every important period of Bible history. In Noah’s day the rains fell forty days and nights and after forty days Noah sent out a raven. Isaac and Esau were forty years old when they married. Moses was on Mount Sinai forty days and nights and later prayed forty days for Israel. The spies scouted Canaan forty days and the Israelites wandered in the wilderness forty years, a year for each day the spies were in Canaan. Moses’ life fell into three periods of forty years each. The history of the judges sometimes ran in forty-year cycles. Saul, David and Solomon each reigned as kings of Israel for forty years. Elijah travelled for forty days and nights to reach Mount Horeb. Ezekiel symbolized Judah’s exile by lying on his right side forty days. Jonah warned Nineveh that in only forty days it would be destroyed. Moshiach fasted in the wilderness forty days and nights. After His resurrection He appeared to His followers for forty days. The Hebrews used numbers differently from the mathematics of the modern world. They were not meant as an exact measurement. The number forty was sometimes used to mean a particular period of time. That was probably the case, for example, with Ezekiel’s lying on his right side and Moshiach’s appearances after His resurrection. The term [forty years] sometimes means a generation. That was true of the three periods of Moses’ life; his life was said to span three generations; and also, of the history of the judges. Numbers often carried a symbolic meaning. The fact that forty is an important number in the major periods of Bible history connects them to one another. Sometimes it serves to relate the Old and New Testaments to each other. Moshiach’s forty days in the wilderness, for example, may suggest a spiritual kinship with Moses’ forty days on Mount Sinai; a way of saying that the new Moses had come.
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