December 17, 2008 8:14 AM
Sam wrote:
What a Cabul himself!! (Good for nothing, Hiram) How ungrateful (or ungreatful)...full of greatness or metal rods? , Hiram was.
First of all, he was ALLOWED to participate in the greatest construction project of all times, yet he wanted something for it!!!! Amazing. Someone give ME 20 towns, and I'd be VERY full of gratefullness. Hiram reminds me of a lot of people in the world today....expecting something in return when 'helping' someone else out. He was not what is referred today as a 'good samaritan'...he was a greedy, selfish, inwardly-focused individual who should not have been King of Tyre in the first place.
When Tony, Rik and I get together (either all or separately) and help each other out, we do not EXPECT something in return....we just do it because we're friends. One hand washes the other, I believe is a good proverb here. But in Hiram's situation, he EXPECTED something in return---there was no AGREEMENT up front (as far as I could tell) that Hiram would get ANYTHING from Solomon. Back in chapter 5, it says Hiram was a friend of Solomon's and he was PLEASED to be asked to provide the men and materials for the building of this great Temple...but Satan entered his heart later and changed the man.
He may have called the towns Cabul, but it was really HIM that should have had that name. Know anyone like that today? Pray for them!
Also, pray for Tony---bad cold, and worsened by the below zero weather in which he is working this week up north.
And, pray for Rik....see his note from last night...he is also seeking advice. Reply to this
December 17, 2008 8:37 AM
Johnbob wrote:
Cabul is right - Hiram seems to be getting a bit arrogant. Unless another arrangement was made, he was fairly compensated for his goods.
I have prayed for Tony - having a cold is a real drag this time of year - and Rik and put my 2 cents worth regarding the Savannah trip. Reply to this
December 17, 2008 9:13 AM
Johnbob wrote:
I wonder why God chooses to meet with Solomon directly again instead of sending an angel or saying something in a loud voice. I wonder if anyone has chronicled the instances where God met directly with his prophets and kings.
God tells him something really simple - a message we have heard before - the He is God and there is no other god and that as long as Solomon and the Israelites understand and obey that concept, they will never be cut off. And then says that the temple itself can be destroyed if they follow other gods. That is a dose of reality for someone who might have been feeling some pride about what he accomplished.
There are many things in this world that are complex - marriage, emotions, the human body, etc. But having a relationship with God isn't complex - it might be difficult at times given our character, sinful nature, etc. But Solomon's prayer in chapter 8 and God's reply in chapter 9 reiterate what should be our focus - Put God first and obey Him. It is still practical in our lives today and there are multiple new testament scriptures regarding this - like 'Do not obey the desires of your sinful nature' type scriptures. Reply to this
December 17, 2008 9:40 AM
rik wrote:
Honestly I struggle to have any deep thoughts in this chapter (and the last) It is, however, educational to know what solomon did. Reply to this
2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
December 18, 2008 1:23 AM
Rich wrote:
(I wrote this earlier in the day but it seems to have not saved so I am recreating, mainly because I want to just write down my feelings from today again).
I have always struggled with a theme I continue to see in the Old Testament. When God makes a promise he often qualifies his end of the promise with something like I Kings 9:4: "As for you, if you walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws ...."
I think about my life and I do not qualify. In fact, I know of no one who does. Walk before God with integrity of heart and uprightness? Is that completely possible for a man? Even more challenging is the end of the verse. Do ALL God commands and observe (i.e., keep) his laws and commands. Can anyone claim to have ever done this - that is, other than Jesus?
I recall a verse in the Bible that says that all men are liars. And another that all men sin and fall short of the glory of God. And another that says that what we consider our most righteous acts are filthy rags to God. And still another that says that no one is righteous, no not one.
Solomon did not follow ALL of God's commands. So I guess God was released from his promise. This is a great promise that God makes to Solomon (specifically, I shall establish your royal throne over Israel forever). It sounds awesome when you look at this part. But with the qualifier that God puts on the promise, there is no way that it would ever be fulfilled.
Any thoughts on this? I have always been confused about these type of promises in the OT. Reply to this
To Rik---see my response to your q last night on yesterday's blog.
Reply to this
What a Cabul himself!! (Good for nothing, Hiram) How ungrateful (or ungreatful)...full of greatness or metal rods?
First of all, he was ALLOWED to participate in the greatest construction project of all times, yet he wanted something for it!!!! Amazing. Someone give ME 20 towns, and I'd be VERY full of gratefullness. Hiram reminds me of a lot of people in the world today....expecting something in return when 'helping' someone else out. He was not what is referred today as a 'good samaritan'...he was a greedy, selfish, inwardly-focused individual who should not have been King of Tyre in the first place.
When Tony, Rik and I get together (either all or separately) and help each other out, we do not EXPECT something in return....we just do it because we're friends. One hand washes the other, I believe is a good proverb here. But in Hiram's situation, he EXPECTED something in return---there was no AGREEMENT up front (as far as I could tell) that Hiram would get ANYTHING from Solomon. Back in chapter 5, it says Hiram was a friend of Solomon's and he was PLEASED to be asked to provide the men and materials for the building of this great Temple...but Satan entered his heart later and changed the man.
He may have called the towns Cabul, but it was really HIM that should have had that name. Know anyone like that today? Pray for them!
Also, pray for Tony---bad cold, and worsened by the below zero weather in which he is working this week up north.
And, pray for Rik....see his note from last night...he is also seeking advice.
Reply to this
Cabul is right - Hiram seems to be getting a bit arrogant. Unless another arrangement was made, he was fairly compensated for his goods.
I have prayed for Tony - having a cold is a real drag this time of year - and Rik and put my 2 cents worth regarding the Savannah trip.
Reply to this
I wonder why God chooses to meet with Solomon directly again instead of sending an angel or saying something in a loud voice. I wonder if anyone has chronicled the instances where God met directly with his prophets and kings.
God tells him something really simple - a message we have heard before - the He is God and there is no other god and that as long as Solomon and the Israelites understand and obey that concept, they will never be cut off. And then says that the temple itself can be destroyed if they follow other gods. That is a dose of reality for someone who might have been feeling some pride about what he accomplished.
There are many things in this world that are complex - marriage, emotions, the human body, etc. But having a relationship with God isn't complex - it might be difficult at times given our character, sinful nature, etc. But Solomon's prayer in chapter 8 and God's reply in chapter 9 reiterate what should be our focus - Put God first and obey Him. It is still practical in our lives today and there are multiple new testament scriptures regarding this - like 'Do not obey the desires of your sinful nature' type scriptures.
Reply to this
Honestly I struggle to have any deep thoughts in this chapter (and the last) It is, however, educational to know what solomon did.
Reply to this
'STRUGGLE' a bit more....
Reply to this
JB and Sam, good insight.
Philippians 2:2-4
2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Hiram needed to hear this.
Reply to this
(I wrote this earlier in the day but it seems to have not saved so I am recreating, mainly because I want to just write down my feelings from today again).
I have always struggled with a theme I continue to see in the Old Testament. When God makes a promise he often qualifies his end of the promise with something like I Kings 9:4: "As for you, if you walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws ...."
I think about my life and I do not qualify. In fact, I know of no one who does. Walk before God with integrity of heart and uprightness? Is that completely possible for a man? Even more challenging is the end of the verse. Do ALL God commands and observe (i.e., keep) his laws and commands. Can anyone claim to have ever done this - that is, other than Jesus?
I recall a verse in the Bible that says that all men are liars. And another that all men sin and fall short of the glory of God. And another that says that what we consider our most righteous acts are filthy rags to God. And still another that says that no one is righteous, no not one.
Solomon did not follow ALL of God's commands. So I guess God was released from his promise. This is a great promise that God makes to Solomon (specifically, I shall establish your royal throne over Israel forever). It sounds awesome when you look at this part. But with the qualifier that God puts on the promise, there is no way that it would ever be fulfilled.
Any thoughts on this? I have always been confused about these type of promises in the OT.
Reply to this