Tag: Ecclesiastes

1 Kings 4

1 Kings 4

  • Verses 1-6 are a listing of Solomon’s administrators.

A major sin of Solomon is found in verse six. He uses forced labor, not only from conquered countries but from Israel. We will discuss this at length when we cover 1 Kings 5.13-14 (see our study).

The Word in Life Study Bible (1997) created the following chart

Name Position Responsibilities
Azariah the son of Zadok High priest  Oversaw worship and religious rituals, representing the people to God.
Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha Scribes Similar to secretaries of state or chancellors (1 Kings 4.22–23; 11.3).
Adoniram the son of Abda Manager of the labor force Oversaw Solomon’s numerous construction projects (1 Kings 5.13; 7.1–8; 9.15–19).
Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud Recorder Maintained written historical records of the king’s business and decisions.
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada (see 1 Kings 2.29) Military commander Oversaw the nation’s defenses, including its storage and chariot cities; led the army in military engagements; handled royal police matters (for example, 1 Kings 2.28–35).
Zadok and Abiathar Priests Oversaw religious matters and served as custodians of the Law.
Azariah the son of Nathan General Carried out the military orders of Solomon and Benaiah.
Zabud the son of Nathan Personal confidant Consulted with the king on personal matters.
Ahishar Manager of Solomon’s household Oversaw the palace complex and the needs of Solomon’s extensive court (1 Kings 4.22–23; 11.3).
Adoniram the son of Abda Manager of the labor force Oversaw Solomon’s numerous construction projects (1 Kings 5.13; 7.1–8; 9.15–19).
  • Verses 7-19 are a listing of Solomon’s governors.

In both of these, Solomon realized that he was unable to do all things, so he created a leadership team that would support him. The twelve division of governors are displayed in the map of the growth of Israel under Solomon and his reapportioning of Israel.

  • Verses 20-21 are added to signify the era of peace and prosperity that God introduced through Solomon. It is also given to provide a word of fulfillment of God’s word to Abraham. That word, from Genesis 22.17, states that the descendants of Abraham would be as numerous as the grains of sand on the shore. The borders stretching to Egypt was also a prophecy and a promise given to Abraham in Genesis 15.18.
  • Verses 22-28 depict his kingdom, wealth, and military. As for his horsemen, read Deuteronomy 17.16. Verse 24 describes the zenith of Solomon’s reign.
  • Verses 29-34 display the worldwide fame Solomon and wisdom. He wrote most of the Proverbs. His songs are contained in Psalm 72 andPsalm 127 along with the Song of Solomon. He also wrote the lyrical book of Ecclesiastes. His name became synonymous with wisdom (Matthew 12.42).

The four names that appear here are listed as descendants of Judah in 1 Chronicles 2.6, and two of the men, Ethan and Heman, appear in the superscriptions of Psalm 88 and Psalm 89.

Psalm 127

What we do with our time, finances, and efforts determine the direction of our life and of our family (both present and future). If your time, finances, and effort are based on your desires, your strength, and your understanding, the final outcome may be good but it won’t be great. What are you doing today in light of God’s work and God’s purpose for you?

Psalm 127

This is our first psalm of Solomon or of David for Solomon. He provides wise insight into a home blessed by God. This chapter is also reminiscent of the book of Ecclesiastes.

  • Verses 1-2-If God is not the foundation of the household it will not become that for which God created the family. If you desire more on the family, please post your request. Workaholics are not meant for God’s work. When we do His work, allow Him to create His family, His life in us, we find that His work is not a burden and His work is productive (Matthew 11.29-30). Verse two provides us insight into the makings of the body. God created the body so that it repairs itself while we sleep. Solomon tells us that God provides for us during our sleep. This can be read as God being at work in our work as we rest and it can also be seen as God working in us to rebuild and strengthen us as we rest. Either picture is wonderful.

These verses should be a warning to those who are in school and cram the night before to complete a project that should have been completed over time. A job done for His glory is done as we are physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually healthy. It does not come in a frenzy.

Zechariah 4.6 directs our attention to this truth. We cannot accomplish greatness apart from Him who is great.

Do your job, your house, your finances take away from the time spent with God, family, and friends? If so, you are building your house on the sand. Jesus reminds us in John 15.5 that we can do nothing apart from Him. What are you trying to do without His strength and understanding?

  • Verses 3-5-We are called to a great responsibility as parents. God has given us a great and precious gift in our children. If we do not submit our lives to the Lord, and give this example daily to our children, they will not submit to the Lord. Our labor is in vain when we choose our own path. Solomon tells us it leads to destruction.

What we do with our time, finances, and efforts determine the direction of our life and of our family (both present and future). If your time, finances, and effort are based on your desires, your strength, and your understanding, the final outcome may be good but it won’t be great. What are you doing today in light of God’s work and God’s purpose for you?

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Psalm 49

When the harp is laid down, we must ask ourselves the question that the psalmist and countless others have: Do we desire riches more than God? Do we desire luxury and ease more than character? If we do, we are headed for the grave and hell. If we do not, we will find God.

Psalm 49

The origins of this psalm are unknown. What is know is that it was written more as a sermon than a praise or a prayer. This psalm deals with the seeming inequities in the world in terms of monies and is similar yet more thorough than Psalm 37 and Psalm 73. Again it is written by a Korahite (as mentioned in Psalm 44). According to the inscription, it was to be sung. This should remind us that we are to sing psalms, hymns, and teach one another with melodies (Colossians 3.15-17). This psalm is also quite similar to the book of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes in form.

This sermon can be divided into an introduction (1-4), three main points (5-9, 10-12, and 13-15), and a conclusion (16-20).

Verses 1-4-The writer calls for all people to listen to his words. He allows us to see that he has pondered his words and meditated on them a great deal. He has done so enough that he has been able to set them to music. He has been able to provide a solution to an enigma that has plagued the godly for generations. He is going to shed light on the darkness of the understanding of God’s people. He begins his sermon with a pluck of the harp.

Verses 5-9-The writer tells us that wealth cannot save. This is the point of the message. It is also a matter of concern for Jesus. In Mark 10.23-24 and Matthew 16.24-27, He presents this truth to a perplexed group of disciples. We all will die, the rich and the poor, no one will live beyond the time given them by God.

Verses 10-12-These verses are reminiscent of Ecclesiastes as Solomon provides insight into death. All people will die. The fool and the wise, all men are mortal and all will perish like the animals. When we die, we will not be able to cling to our wealth. The grave becomes our home.

Verses 13-15-Jesus points the truth of verse 13 to his disciples as He taught them in Luke 12.20.

Selah -The writer wants us to pause and consider the truth of this and the previous verses. If we all perish, the rich and the poor, what good does it to envy the rich outside of temporary ease and luxury in this life?

The writer continues to describe what will happen to those who trust in wealth and those who trust in God (Matthew 6.24-34). He points out that death will consume those who trust in their riches and that God will ransom or resurrect those who trust in Him.

Selah -The writer wants us to pause and consider the truth of these two verses. It is here the doctrine of the resurrection is presented. It is not a well-known doctrine in the Old Testament. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection because it was not developed enough in the Torah for them to accept it. It is not full developed until Jesus is resurrected and Paul teaches it in 1 Corinthians 15. Depending on how you looked at the first pause above, this should be an eye-opener. The life we live on this earth is short and incomparable to the life we will live throughout eternity. If the momentary pleasures of this world are what you are seeking, you might just miss out on the eternal pleasures of the next world in God’s presence. If you seek God’s presence today, He may bless you with riches or not (see Matthew 6 above). But, He will bless you with eternity with Him. Then, these light and momentary afflictions we experience will seem trivial in light of what He has prepared for us (2 Corinthians 4.16-18).

Verses 16-20-The writer concludes his sermon with a reminder of all that was said. He wants us to ponder: Does it really matter if others become wealthy? When all has been said and done, will it matter that they had wealth for a moment in time? These verses should remind you of the passage from Luke (see above) and Ecclesiastes 3.19.

When the harp is laid down, we must ask ourselves the question that the psalmist and countless others have: Do we desire riches more than God? Do we desire luxury and ease more than character? If we do, we are headed for the grave and hell. If we do not, we will find God.

Psalm 19

Do you see God’s work in creation (1-6), through His Word (7-11), and in your life (12-14)? This is where He is at work. Take time today to notice His work in your world, in your heart.

Psalm 19

This is a creation Psalm. It speaks of God’s majesty in creation and how He created it to show His majesty and glory. Many have suggested that if there is a God who created all this, why did He create the Universe to be so huge for so puny a creation as man. Some have answered this question by saying that God created man an inquisitive creature and that God created this universe for man’s exploration. A better response would be that the universe is not created for man to explore, although he can, does, and should, but that it was created to display the majesty of God per this Psalm. This would explain why it is so huge and complex.

Verses 1-4-David is expressing how creation shouts the glory of God (cf. Romans 1.19-20 and 10.18). This is called general revelation. Here God makes known His ways to all mankind. Many have taken this verse and attempted to show how the stars proclaim God’s glory. If you were to look at the original constellations, it would go from the Virgin to the Lion (Virgo to Leo), which shows the first coming of Christ in the virgin birth all the way to the second coming of Christ in power to rule. How do you see it?

Verses 5-6-When all the world would say the earth was flat, these verses proclaim it was round (cf. Ecclesiastes 1.5)

Verses 7-10-The heart of this chapter comes to the front, not in creation but in the Word of God. This is special revelation where God makes His will known to those who submit to Him and His Word. Each stanza in this poem refers to the same concept: God’s Word is what we need to live this life that He created us to live. It is His Word that gives us direction, wisdom, understanding, guidance in righteousness, and it is to be desired above life itself.

Verses 11-13-David, as Paul would later state in Romans 6.12-14, tells us our reward is found in keeping God’s Word. In so doing we will be blameless in our walk. No one will be able to accuse of wrong doing and sin will not be our master. There are two types of sinning mentioned here. One is the sin of ignorance. Even though we don’t know it is sin, if we commit it, it is still sin. Second is the sin of willful defiance. This is where we know it is wrong and still choose to do it. There is a third, not mentioned here, and it is when we know what we should do but refuse to do it (James 4.17). Which of these is your greatest struggle?

Verse 14-The entire purpose for having this special revelation is for us to meditate on it day and night. Meditation means for us to study all day long. To chew the cud as a cow would. We read a portion of Scripture, contemplate it, later on reconsider it, and still later consider it. It becomes a daylong process. When our mind is on His Word all day, that word will dominate our thinking, our words, and our actions. Are you meditating on God’s Word or merely reading it? Think about 2 Timothy 2.15-26 in its entirety. When our focus is on His Word we escape the schemes of Satan.

Hebrews 1.1-4 provides a summary of this Psalm.

Do you see God’s work in creation (1-6), through His Word (7-11), and in your life (12-14)? This is where He is at work. Take time today to notice His work in your world, in your heart.

If you have time today, about 45 minutes, watch Indescribable by Louie Giglio.

Psalm 10

If our society reflects what the members of the society do or allow to happen, then what does our society say about the church? About our God? What can we do about it?

Psalm 10

See Psalm 9 for explanation.

Verses 1-2-This verse appears to be the antithesis to Psalm 9.16. However, David is asking for God to come and do what He has been known to do–protect the persecuted and afflicted.

Verses 3-4-Psalm 14.1states it all: Only a fool would say there is no God. We may not say it, but are we so greedy for gain and power that we live it? (See our study of Psalm 14 and Psalm 53).

Verses 5-6-Those who do not know God should be more frightened about life than they are. Psalm 49.11, Ecclesiastes 8.11, and Revelation 18.7 all attest to this truth.

Verses 7-11-When people live this way, their society becomes like them (Psalm 55.10-11). The characteristics of the people become the way of life for the society in which they live.

Verses 12-18-David calls God to action much like He did in Psalm 9.12. Micah 5.9 presents this truth as well. God will vindicate Himself and His cause. He is the helper of the helpless (2 Timothy 1.12). This would include you and me.

If our society reflects what the members of the society do or allow to happen, then what does our society say about the church? About our God? What can we do about it?