July 20, 2015
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Solomon's Quiet Time

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Opening Prayer

Holy and Gracious Father, You are present and active, and Your kingdom is still in this world. Pour Your grace and peace over me.

Read 2 Chronicles 1:1-17

[1] Solomon son of David established himself firmly over his kingdom, for the LORD his God was with him and made him exceedingly great. [2] Then Solomon spoke to all Israel-to the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, to the judges and to all the leaders in Israel, the heads of families- [3] and Solomon and the whole assembly went to the high place at Gibeon, for God’s tent of meeting was there, which Moses the LORD’s servant had made in the wilderness. [4] Now David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim to the place he had prepared for it, because he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. [5] But the bronze altar that Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was in Gibeon in front of the tabernacle of the LORD; so Solomon and the assembly inquired of him there. [6] Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the LORD in the tent of meeting and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it. [7] That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” [8] Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. [9] Now, LORD God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. [10] Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?” [11] God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, [12] therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.” [13] Then Solomon went to Jerusalem from the high place at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting. And he reigned over Israel. [14] Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. [15] The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills. [16] Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue-the royal merchants purchased them from Kue at the current price. [17] They imported a chariot from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. They also exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and of the Arameans.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

History, and the history of our lives, often hinge on seemingly small things. We need always to be prayerful and careful about decisions we must make.

Our book opens with Solomon established firmly over his kingdom. We might describe this as an exercise in nation building, with both political rule and public worship centralized in the new capital city. It is a picture of success, glory and impressive size. The ruler speaks to the commanders of thousands, to judges and officials, and he offers a thousand burnt offerings in public worship. When it is all over and the excited crowds have dispersed, the chronicler lets us overhear Solomon’s quiet time. His prayer for wisdom and knowledge to be able to govern well is familiar, and it received divine approval. However, something is lacking from this prayer; it is a request for the skills required to rule, but there is no mention of qualities such as faithfulness and justice, which are so central to the traditions of biblical Israel. Can we detect here the indication of significant change and the small seeds of compromise that would eventually result in catastrophe?

Our suspicions are confirmed when the historian describes the militarization of the state: Solomon “accumulated chariots and horses” from Egypt, which were kept in “chariot cities” (14). Of course, it would be argued then, as it still is today, that those who hold power must defend their people and we should expect defense expenditure to rise, but the writer of Chronicles would have known that the Psalms contain statements such as “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God” (Psa. 20:7, Isa. 31:1). Those of us who belong to nations defended, not by horses and chariots but by weapons of mass destruction, can hardly criticize Solomon’s politics, but his inconsistencies, already visible in this chapter, must give us pause for thought.

Apply

Isaiah predicts that the nations will lay down their weapons, and he asks God’s people to “walk in the light of the Lord” (Isa. 2:4-5). What does that mean for you today?

Closing prayer

Loving God, You call me though the multiplicity of decisions I have to make every day. Grant me Your wisdom in decision-making so that my life will make a difference for You.

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