Wednesday August 12th, 2015 1 Kings 2:10-12;3:3-14
Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of his father David. (verse 3)
For a man determined to begin his reign on the right foot so to speak, Solomon has actually begun with a sinful act. He has offered sacrifices on what the chronicler of the book of 1 Kings calls the “high places,” where the nation was not authorized to worship. We learn that God prevented this because he wanted to keep the religious codes of the nation pure, since the unifying influence of the Temple was not yet present. Implicit in Solomon’s calling himself a little child (verse 7) is his confession of wrongdoing. God forgave him for his misstep.
Nevertheless, Solomon’s priorities were wise ones. He wanted to keep his relationship with God in the state it had been in the best years of David. It was for this reason that he asked for wisdom to rule justly.
Although we have neither the authority nor the responsibility of Solomon, his example invites us to look over our own priorities. Do we invite God’s input into and blessing on our varied activities? Do we ask forgiveness for our missteps?
O Lord, guide us aright in setting our priorities. Help us make your first things our first things. Amen. — AEA
Contributed by Starting off on the Right Foot
For a man determined to begin his reign on the right foot so to speak, Solomon has actually begun with a sinful act. He has offered sacrifices on what the chronicler of the book of 1 Kings calls the "high places," where the nation was not authorized to worship. We learn that God prevented this because he wanted to keep the religious codes of the nation pure, since the unifying influence of the Temple was not yet present. Implicit in Solomon's calling himself a little child (verse 7) is his confession of wrongdoing. God forgave him for his misstep.
Nevertheless, Solomon's priorities were wise ones. He wanted to keep his relationship with God in the state it had been in the best years of David. It was for this reason that he asked for wisdom to rule justly.
Although we have neither the authority nor the responsibility of Solomon, his example invites us to look over our own priorities. Do we invite God's input into and blessing on our varied activities? Do we ask forgiveness for our missteps?
