150 - Solomon writes Ecclesiastes

Kathleen's thoughts

Ecclesiastes 1,2,34,5
Psalm 49: 1-20


Ecclesiastes
1: 12-18 Wisdom is vain
2: 1-3 Emptiness of pleasure
2: 4_11 Vanity of material wealth
2: 12-26 Result of wisdom and folly
3: 1-8 A time for everything
3: 9-22 Weariness of life
4: 1-16 Oppressions and inequalities
5: 1-7 Warning against rash.

One of my favourite verses here is 3: 1-6

There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven;

a time to give birth and 

a time to die a time to plant and a time to uproot; 

a time to kill and a time to heal; 

a time to tear down and a time to build;

 a time to weep and a time to laugh; 

a time to mourn and a time to dance; 

a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;

 a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing;

 a time to search and a time to count as lost;

 a time to keep and a time to throw away;

 a time to tear and a time to sew; 

a time to be silent and a time to speak

 a time to love and a time to hate;

 a time for war and a time for peace.

Wisdom is what God implants in us as we read his words but God also says Proverbs 3:7 Be not wise in your own eyes.
We need to keep our eyes focused on God. There is so much to learn from the book of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, Solomon gained much but threw it away when he decided to follow his wife's beliefs but through all this God kept his promise to his father David. God's word is true and just!

Blessings
Kathleen.

149 - Solomon backslides

Kathleen's thoughts

Proverbs 29,30
1 Kings 11: 1-40
Proverbs
29: 1-27 More wise words
30: 1-6 The words of Agur
30: 7-9 The way of moderation
30: 10-33 More proverbs

1 Kings 11: 14 The Lord raised up Hadad the Edomite as an enemy against Solomon He was of the royal family in Edom.

1 Kings 11; 23-25 God raised up Rezon son of  Eliada as an enemy against Solomon.

1 Kings 11: 26-40 Jeroboam rebelled against Solomon.

Because Solomon sinned against the Lord worshipping and building idols for his wives.
Ahijah the prophet who was a Shilonite met Jeroboam on the road as Jeroboam was came out of Jerusalem. And he prophesied over Jeroboam and told him what will happen to Solomon because of his sin against the Lord and this is what he told Jeroboam.
I will not take the whole kingdom from his hand but will  let him be ruler all the days of his life because of My servant David, whom I chose and who kept My commandments and My statutes. I will take 10 tribes of the kingdom from his son's hand and give them to you. I will give one tribe to his son , so that My servant David will always have a lamp before Me in Jerusalem, the city I chose for Myself to put My name there. I will appoint you, and you will reign  as king over all you want, and you will be king over Israel.
So Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam, but he fled to Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, where he remained until Solomon's death.

Then Solomon wrote the unhappy condition of backsliders in Ecclesiastes.

Blessings
Kathleen.

148 - Proverbs

Kathleen's thoughts
Gossi
Proverbs 24,25,26,27,28

24: 15-34   More wise sayings
25: 1          Solomon's later proverbs These too are proverbs of solomon, which men of Hezekiah,
                 king of Judah, copied.
25: 2-28     Wise conduct
26: 1-28     other sins
27: 1-27     Other maxims
28: 1-18     Contrast between good and evil
28: 19-28   The way to lasting wealth.

                                                        
Fools...A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like lame legs that hang limp.
Don't answer a fool according to his foolishness, or you'll be like him yourself.
A hateful person...a hateful person disguises himself with his speech and harbours deceit within. When he speaks graciously, don't believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart. Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his evil will be revealed in the assembly.
Wise conduct...It is the glory of GOd to conceala matter and the glory of kings to investigate a matter. as the heaven is high and the earth is deep so the hearts of kings cannot be investigated.
SO...Remove the wicked from the kings presence and his throne will be established in righteousness.
Gossip...Without wood, fire goes out; without a gossip conflict dies down As charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. A gossips words are like choice food that goes down to one's innermost being.
Tomorrow...Don't boast about tomorrow, for you don't know what a day might bring.

God is in control of all our tomorrows. Trust in him, lean on Him and walk in His statues for there is no other way for a prosperous life Luke 6:38 KJV Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Blessings
Kathleen.

147 - Wise sayings

Kathleen's thoughts

Proverbs 20,21,22,23,23, 24:1-14

20: 1-3        Honourable conduct
20: 2-21      Wise counsel
20: 22:30     The way of the Lord
21: 1-31      The importance of justice
22: 1-5        The importance of prudence
22: 6-16      Wise teaching
22: 17-29    The sayings of wise men
23: 1-14      The sayings of wise men
23: 15-25    The blessing of a wise son
23: 23-35    Warnings against vice
24: 1-14      The way of wisdom

Interesting reading today...
Children & Parent...Discipline children and teach them in the way they should go and they will not depart from it.
One of the most powerful proverbs I find is this from 20: 21 WHOEVER CURSES HIS FATHER OR MOTHER HIS LAMP WILL GO OUT IN DEEP DARKNESS.
Being lazy...Don't love sleep or you will become poor; open your eyes, and you'll have enough
 to eat. There is nothing worse that someone being lazy.
The mocker...Drive out a mocker and conflict goes too; then lawsuits and dishonour will cease.
Alcohol... For Those who linger over wine those who go looking for mixed wine...Don't gaze at wine when it is red, when it gleams in the cup and goes down smoothly. In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper. Your eyes will see will see strange things, andyou will say absurd things. You'll be like someone sleeping out at sea or lying down on the topof a ships mast. They struck me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I didn't know it! When will I wake up? I'll look for another drink.
Wisdom for a home...A house is built by wisdom, and it is established by understanding; by knowledge the rooms are filled and with every precious and beautiful treasure.

Who wants to read other books on the how to live and bring up our kids and for our home when God has given it all for us in simple language.

Blessings
Kathleen.

146 - Proverbs continued

Kathleen's thoughts

Proverbs 15,16,17,18,19

15: 20-33 Wisdom the better way
16: 1-5     Warning against pride
16: 6-26   The better way of life
16: 27-33  Warning against violence
17: 1-28    Good conduct
18: 6-9      A fools words
18: 10-14  Warning against pride
18: 15-18  The way of knowledge and justice
18: 19-24  The power of the tongue
19: 1-29    Personal conduct

When you look at the headings of these proverbs one can see life's guidelines and each guideline teaches us to walk in righteousness but also shows us the destruction of disobedience  to God's word.

15: 32 Anyone who ignores instruction despises himself, but whoever listens to correction acquires good sense.
33. The fear of the Lord is wisdom's instruction, and humility comes before honour.

So God gives us the instruction by saying in 16: 3 Commit your activities to the Lord and your plans will be achieved.
The refiners fire...16:16 Acquire wisdom - how much better it is than gold! And acquire understanding - it is preferable to silver.

And remember this 18: 2 A fool does not delight in understanding but only wants to show off his opinions.

17: 3 A crucible is for silver and a smelter for gold, but the Lord is a tester of hearts.

Blessings
Kathleen.

145 - Proverbs The benefits of righteousness

Kathleen's thoughts

Proverbs 11 -15

The benefits of righteousness
The foolishness of quarrelling and wrongdoing
The wicked and the righteous
The wise and the foolish
Watch you words
The rich and the poor
Contrast between wise and foolish
Wisdom, the better way

The chapter in these Proverbs that makes one stop and think is "Watch your words"

13: 3 The one who guards his mouth protects his life; the one who opens the lips invites his own ruin.
I love that scripture from Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you , Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

It's been a good reading today. And those of you who come to this blog I strongly suggest you read the Proverbs and keep it as a guide line for you and your precious family.

Blessings
Kathleen.

144 - Continue of Proverbs - Get Wisdom,

Kathleen's thoughts

Proverbs 6 - 11

The importance of wisdom
The Importance of learning wisdom
The immoral woman
The nature and riches of wisdom
Wisdom (Christ) at the creation
Listen to wisdom (Christ)
Wisdom and foolishness
Solomon's proverbs Chapter 10
The benefits of righteousness

These Proverbs are for one who wants life joy and prosperity and without wisdom your gain is nothing. Over the years in my life I have seen much and gained wisdom as I walked the road with my Lord and Saviour. There have been times when the road has been full of potholes, and as I went along this road the Lord would grab me before I fell into one of them and I can remember grabbing for those outstretched arms Saying "Abba Father" and I have never felt alone in these stressing times. My prayers have been answered so has my sight into dangers has been given but in those moments the Lord has given me the wisdom to do what is right for my family. I am a firm believer in the word and these Proverbs have guided me. I have told my children many times, if you want a good book of guidance for yourself and to teach your children go to the book of Proverbs in the Bible. Yes it is good to read other books but I would rather put my trust in God's word than take what these books on how to bring up my kids.  "Psalm 118: 8 It is better to trust and take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in man." God in His word repeatedly says Train up a child in the way he should go and he won't depart from it. That seed of wisdom you plant in your children will always remain and when it is watered by the springs of living water it will blossom into a child who will fear the Lord   and that is the beginning of wisdom.

Blessings
Kathleen.

143 - Going through the book of Proverbs.

Kathleen's thoughts

Proverbs: 1 - 6
These chapters talk on
Virtue of wisdom
Rewards of wisdom
Trusting God's wisdom
Benefits of wisdom
Warning against adultery
Caution about putting up security
Warning against laziness
Things God hates.

I love the book of Proverbs. It's a book where wisdom prevails and understanding of how God wants the path you walk in to be guided by His word.
Especially in Proverbs 4...Listen my sons, to a fathers discipline and pay attention so that you may gain understanding, for I am giving you good instruction. Don't abandon my teaching. When I was a son with my father, tender and precious to my mother, he taught me and said; Your heart must hold on to my words. Keep my commands and live. Get wisdom, get understanding; don't forget or turn away from the words of my mouth. Don't abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you; lover her, and she will guard you. Wisdom is supreme - so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding. Cherish her, and she will exalt you if you embrace her, she will honour you. She will place a garland of grace on your head; she will give you a crown of beauty. Listen my son, Accept my words, and you will live many years. I am teaching you the way of wisdom; I am
guiding you on straight paths.

James 3:17
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle compliant, full of mercy and good,fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy.

Blessings
Kathleen.

142 - Solomons wealth and wisdom.

Kathleen's thoughts

2 Chronicles 9: 20 - 28, 1:14,16-17
1 Kings 4: 16, 10: 26 -29
King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the world in riches and wisdom. All the kings of the world wanted an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. Each of them would bring his own gift Items of silver and gold, clothing weapons spices, and horses and mules.

The amount of chariots 1,400 and 12,000 horsemen. His horses came from Egypt and Kue.
THe stalls for the horses and chariots were 4,000

People came from everywhere, sent by every king on earth who had heard ofhis wisdom, to listen to Solomon's wisdom.

Solomon composed 3,000 proverbs and his songs numbered, 1,005\

Psalm 88: 1-18 A cry for help.
Psalm 89: 1-52  Hymn in time of National trouble

Proverbs 1: 1-6  The value of proverbs.
Proverbs 1: 7-19 Advise to young men.

James 1:5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing and it will be given to him.

Blessings
Kathleen.

141 - Solomon and the queen of Sheba.

Kathleen's thoughts

1 Kings 9: 16-28 2 Chronicles 8: 4-18
1 Kings 10: 1-25 2 Chronicles 9: 1-19

Going back to lesson 132 Psalm 72:15 David's prayer for Solomon...May he live long! May gold from Sheba be given to him. May prayer be offered for  him continually, and may he be blessed all day long.
When I read this then I thought of Queen of Sheba. What did David know about this, it is as if he knew what was going to happen to Solomon.
Queen of Sheba came to Jerusalem with a very large retinue, with camels bearing spices, gold in great abundance, and precious stones.
I also find this amazing in how gold Solomon accumulated Queen of Sheba gave him 4 1/2 tons of gold Solomon's wealth  I stand in awe of it. Can you imagine the throne he made of Ivory and overlaid it with fine gold, the six steps was rounded at the top at the back of throne armrests on either side of the seat and two lions standing beside the armrests. Twelve lions were standing there on the six steps one at each end. Nothing like it had ever been made in any other kingdom.
Solomon's drinking cups were gold, and all the utensils of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold.There was no silver, since it was considered as nothing in Solomon's time.

King Solomon put together a fleet of ships at Ezion-geber near Eloth on the shore of the Red Sea in the land of Edom. So we can see here the Solomon gains prosperity as what his father spoke over him as well as God. because of Solomon asking God for wisdom and so God gave him wealth with the wisdom.

Blessings
Kathleen.

140 - Bride and bridegroom

Kathleen's thoughts

Song of Songs 2: 117, 3:1-11, 4: 1:16, 5: 16, 6: 1-13, 7: 1-13, 8: 1-14

An interesting read - what I gather from it is like a poem of love and one thing we do know that this woman was a Shulamite and that Solomon loved her deeply and that it took quite some time for her to come to terms that Solomon loved her and she was hesitant and eventually married in the end.
I do note that she gives advise quite a few times by saying "Young woman of Jerusalem, I charge you; do not stir up or awaken love until the appropriate time.

Blessings
Kathleen.

139 - Building program completed.

Kathleen's thoughts

2 Chronicles 7: 1-3
When Solomon finished praying, fire descended from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests were not able to enter the Lord's temple because the glory of the Lord filled the temple of the Lord. All the Israelites were watching when the fire descended and the glory of the Lord came on the temple. They bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement. They worshiped and praised the Lord;
For He is good, for His faithful love endures forever.

Can you imagine seeing this, how awesome it must have been to witness the glory of the Lord descending over the Temple.


Then God warns Solomon if he does not obey his statues and commandments and go and serve other gods destruction will fall over Israel and the throne of David.

God said: 2 Chronicles 7: 19-22. However, if your turn away and abandon My statues and My commands that I have set before you and if you go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from the soil that I gave them and this temple that I have sanctified for My name I will banish from My presence; I will make it an object of scorn and ridicule among all the peoples. As for this temple which was exalted, every passerby will be appalled and will say; Why did the Lord do this to the land and this temple? They will say because they abandoned the Lord God of their ancestors who brought them out of the land of Egypt. They clung to other gods and worshiped and served them Because of this He brought all this ruin on them

We wonder why today we have such turmoil in our countries. There are false gods being erected everywhere, people bowing down to them, kissing them and then ask why is there so much unrest?


Psalms 99: 1-9 God the supreme King
Psalm 110: 1-5  A hymn of praise

1 Kings (: 10-14 & 2 Chronicles 8: 1-2 Solomon and Hiram. He was the King of Tyre who supplied the cedar and cypress logs and gold 9,000 tons for his every wish.

1 Kings 9:24 Solomon wife's house. Solomon brought his wife from the city of David to the house he had built for her.

Song of Song 1: 1-17 Love's beginning.
The thought and contemplation. Another evidence of Salomon's wisdom was the fact that he had his priorities in the right order He built a house for God before he built one for himself. When we put God first, the He will take care of our needs.

Blessings
Kathleen.

138 - Solomon's prayer

Kathleen's thoughts

1 Kings 8: 22-26 - 2 Chronicles 6: 12-17 Solomon remind's God of His promises... Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire congregation of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven and Prayed.

1 Kings 8: 27-30 & 2 Chronicles 6: 18-21 Solomon pleads for forgiveness

1 Kings 8: 31-32 & 2 Chronicles 6: 22-23  Solomon prays for God's justice

1 Kings 8: 33-40 & 2 Chronicles 6: 24-31 Solomon prays for mercy

1 Kings 8: 41-43 & 2 Chronicles 6: 32-33 Solomon asks God to answer the foreigner's prayer

1 Kings 8: 44-45 & 2 Chronicles 6: 34-35 Solomon prays for victory

1 Kings 8: 46-53 & 2 Chronicles 6: 36-39 Solomon prays for the Israelites

1 Kings 8: 54-61 Solomon prays a blessing and exhortation.

verse 59-61 May my words I have made my petition with before the Lord be near the Lord our God day and night, so that He may uphold His servant's cause and the cause of His people Israel, as each day requires and so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God. There is no other! Let your heart be completely devoted to the Lord our God to walk in His ordinances and to keep His commands, as it is today.

2 Chronicles 6: 40-42 Solomon's final petitions.

Solomon pray is powerful! I could just see this man on bended knees for Israel. It would be wonderful today if all our governments did this for their nation coming before the Lord and praying.

Blessings
Kathleen.

137 - The dedication of the temple.

Kathleen's

1 Kings 7: 51 , 8: 1-11
2 Chronicles 5: 1-14, 6: 1-11
Psalm 115: 1-18, A Psalm of the one true God 114: 1-4 A prayer of thanks 134: 1-3 A call to praise God 136: 1-25

Solomon assembled the Jerusalem elders of Israel and tribal heads along with the ancestral chiefs of the Israelites to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord up from the city of David, that is, Zion. and this they did. The priests brought the ark of the Lord's covenant to its place into the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the most holy place beneath the wings of the cherubim. The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark so that the cherubim formed a cover above the ark and it's poles. Nothing was in the ark except the two tablets that Moses had put in it at Horeb where the Lord had made a covenant with the Israelites when they came out of Egypt.
Then the Levitical singers of Asaph, of heman of Jeduthun and their sons and relatives dressed in fine linen with cymbals, harps and lyres, were standing east of the altar, and with them were 120 priests blowing trumpets. The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the Lord with one voice. They raised their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and musical instruments, in praise to the Lord.
For He is good; His faithful love endures forever.
The the Lord's temple, was filled with a cloud. And because of the cloud the priest were not able to continue ministering, for the glory of the Lord filled God's temple.

Amen
Blessings
Kathleen.

136 - The Temple furnishings

Kathleen's thoughts
Psalm 128: 1-6
How happy is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways!
You will  surely eat what your hands have worked for, You will be happy, and it will grow well for you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house, your sons, like your olive trees around your table. In this very way the ma who fears the Lord will be blessed. May the Lord bless you from Zion, so that you will see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life, and will see your Children's children! Peace be with Israel.

1 Kings 7: 1-50
2 Chronicles 3: 15-17, 4: 1-22

It took Solomon 7 years to complete the temple and with the fine furnishings that was placed in this temple and the precious stones, gold, silver, bronze and embroidered linen. I try to imagine the beauty of this Holy place it must have breath takingly beautiful and then to feel the presence of God, how awesome is that! I tried to picture the reservoir which held 11,000 gallons of water with oxen as it's feet and being 45ft in diameter. Just reading these chapters is mind boggling.

I will leave this verse from Ephesians 5: 25-26 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word.

Blessings
Kathleen.

135 - Solomon builds the temple

Kathleen's thoughts

1 Kings 2: 39-46, 6: 1-37
Psalm 127
1 Chronicles 3: 1-14
Proverbs 31: 1-31

Proverbs 31 is one of my favourite Proverbs. I think most of us know it as "Proverbs 31 woman"

Shimei disobeys Solomon by leaving his place to seek his servants and he had sworn to Solomon he would not leave and that the punishment is fair on him. So Solomon ordered his execution.

Solomon builds the temple - This temple must have been the most exquisite and breath taking building to see. Imagine floors and surrounding walls and Cherubims in pure gold and when the light must have been on them is would have shone and then the presence of the Lord being there. I don't think words can explain the beauty of holiness of this place. And all this has just disappeared? Taking Solomon 7 years to build and the very interesting fact no hammering and chiseling of stone it was all done at the quarry and assembled in silence.

The scripture reading today is one of awe - you can't describe the feeling of wonder knowing the Lords temple is built with all the wonderful precious stones gold silver bronze cedar olive wood and stone.

Blessings
Kathleen.

134 - Solomon prepares to build the temple.

Kathleen's thoughts

1 Kings 3: 16 - 28, 4; 1-28, 5:1-12, 7:13-14, 5:13-18
2 Chronicles 2:18

Solomons judgement between two woman who had babies and the one dies from the mother sleeping on it and that mother steals the baby from the other woman and places the dead baby in her arms. These two woman came before Solomon claiming this baby is theirs and Solomon judges over them by wanting to cut the baby in half and the real mother shouts give the baby to her and the deceased baby's mother agrees by cutting it in half and the wisdom of Solomon knows the real mother by her wanting to spare the child and he gave the baby to the real mother.

Solomons court - the names given in 1 King 4: 1-19

1 Kings 4 & 5 is Solomon's daily provisions and the agreement with Hiram and treaty with Hiram to supply the craftsman who is skilled in engraving to work with gold silver crimson, and blue yarn. He will work with the craftsmen who are with me in Judah and Jerusalem  Also send me cedar, cypress, and algum logs from Lebanon, for I know that your servants know how to cut the trees of Lebanon. Note that my servants will be with your servants to prepare logs for me in abundance because the temple I am building will be great and wonderful I will give your servants the woodcutters who'd cut the trees 100,000 bushels of wheat flour, 110,000 gallons of wine, and 110, 000 gallon of oil
The King Hiram of Tyre wrote a letter and sent it to Solomon.
Because the Lord loves His people, He set you over them as king. May the Lord God of Israel, who made the heavens and the earth, be praised!

Solomon took a census of all the foreign men in the land of Israel, after the census that his father David had conducted, and the total was 153,000 Solomon made 70,000 of the porters, 80,000 stone cutters in the mountains and 3,600 supervisors to make the people work.

Blessings
Kathleen.

133 - King Solomon

Kathleen's thoughts

1 Kings 2:12 - 38, 3: 1-4
1 Chronicles 29: 23 - 25
2 Chronicles1:13

Solomon sat on the Lord's throne as king in place of his father David.  An interesting verse stating Solomon sat on the Lord's throne! The Lord highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him such royal majesty as had not been bestowed on any king over Israel before him.

1  Kings 2: 13-15 Adonijah is put to death.
1 Kings 2: 28 - 34 Joab is put to death.
1 Kings 2: 26 -27 Abiathar the priest is banished
These men suffered the consequence of their unfaithfulness towards King David.

Solomon marries an Egyptian woman and brought her to the city of David until he finished building is palace, the Lord's temple and the wall surrounding Jerusalem.

Psalm 45: 1-17 A royal wedding song.

Solomon love for the Lord was great by walking in His statues but he also sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night and God asked him "What should I give you?"
Solomon's reply was "Lord my God, you have now made Your servant king in my father David's place. Yet I am just a youth with no experience in leadership. Your servant is among Your people You have chosen, a people too numerous to be numbered or counted. So give Your servant an obedient heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. for who is able to judge this great people of Yours?" What a beautiful request and because of this God gave him wisdom and along side all that riches because of his desire to serve the people of Israel with wisdom and respect. And because of this the Lord blessed him beyond measure.


Blessings
Kathleen.

132 - David goes home to be with the Lord.

Kathleen's thoughts

1 Chronicles 29: 14 - 22
2Samuel 23: 1-7
1 Kings 1- 9, 2: 10

We have come to the end of king David's reign, a man after God.s own heart. I have learnt a lot about this man and how he walked in God's statues but at times failed just like us today, he had trouble with his children but he still loved them no matter what. He loved Israel and mostly he loved God and his praise and worship was continually on his lips through his Psalms. His desire for God's Holy place to be built which he saved up all the necessary building material and decoration right to the most finest of finest part. His instructions to Solomon in the plan was blessed and Solomon was anointed for the second time. Davids last words are found in 2 Samuel 23: 1-7 also known as "The favourite singer of Israel" Davids death is found in 1 Kings 2:10 and he was buried in the city of David.
1 Chronicles 29: 28-30 He died at a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour, and his son Solomon became king in his place. As for the events of King David's reign, from beginning to en, note that they are written about in the Events of Samuel the Seer, the events of Nathan the \Prophet, and the Events of Gad the Seer. along with all his reign his might, and the incidents that affected him and Israel and all the kingdoms of the surrounding lands.

Psalm 37 is one of my favourite Psalms and verse 4 Delight yourself in the Lord and He will grant you the desires of your heart.

Blessings
Kathleen.

131 - David's instructions.

Kathleen's thoughts

1 Chronicles 28: 11-21, 29: 1-13
David continues to give the guide lines and directions for the temple.
David concluded. "By the Lord's ;hand on me He enabled me to understand everything in writing, all the details of the plan. So here we can see that God directs and enables David to write down what was needed in detail what was required of Solomon to build His house. Here we can also see that it is God breathed. The detail of everything that is needed to be done for this Temple is so precise.
right to the weight in gold, silver and bronze in everything. This Temple must have been breathtakingly beautiful, can you imagine the precious stones and the shining of silver and gold. Can you imagine in today's worth of this precious House of God - priceless!
David praised the Lord in the sight of all the assembly. David said, 'May You be praised, Lord God of our father Israel, from eternity to eternity. Verse 11 Now therefore, our God, we give You thanks and praise Your glorious name.


David again writes beautiful Psalms 145: (-21 Hymns of praise 104: 1-35 In praise of the creator 124: 1-8 David speaks of God's protection 133: 1-3 praises brotherly love 86: 1-17 David's prayer for help.

Psalm 133:1 Behold, How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Blessings
Kathleen.

130 - Temple duties.

Kathleen's thoughts

1 Chronicles 26: 1 - 32, 27: 1-34, 28: 1-10, 23:1
Psalm 145: 1-8 David's hymns of praise. I exalt you, my God the King and praise Your name forever and ever...I will praise You every day; I will honour Your name forever and ever...Yahweh is great and is highly praised; His greatness is unsearchable.

David continues to see to the temple by dedicating the Temple guards, administrative duties,  the Temple treasurers. Seeing to the military force Chiefs of the twelve tribes, overseers and officers.

David addresses the people.
David assembled in Jerusalem all the leaders of Israel; the leaders of the tribes, the leaders of the divisions in the king's service, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds and the officials in charge of all the property and cattle of the king and his sons, along with the court officials the fighting men and all the brave warriors.Then King David rose to his feet and said. :Listen to me, my brothers and my people.
It was my heart to build a house as a resting place for the ark of the Lord's covenant and as a footstool for our God. But God said to me, You are not to build a house for My name because you are a man of war and have shed blood.
He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the Lord's kingdom over Israel. and it is he that is to build My house and My courts for I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be his father. I will establish his kingdom forever if he perseveres in keeping My commandments and My ordinances as he is today.
As for you, Solomon, my son, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind for the Lord searches every heart and understands the intention of every thought. If you seek Him He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever. Realize now that the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong, and do it

It remind's me of the scripture Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: KJV
Blessings
Kathleen.

129 - David's preparations for the Temple

Kathleen's thoughts

1 Chronicles 22: 1-19, 23: 2-6, 24-32, 24: 1-31, 25: 1-31

I found this reading amazing in how David prepared for the temple of God. Over the years of collecting gold, silver, bronze, iron, timber, and stone. David had thought of every detail in the preparation of this building right down to the builders and stone masons.
Because God had told him not to build it because he had shed so much blood on the ground before but a son of his will be born and he will be a man of rest. God said He will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies, for his name will be Solomon, and I will gibe peace and quiet to Israel during his reign. He is the one who will build a house for My name. He will be My son, and I will be his father. I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.
A powerful word from the Lord and a beautiful blessing over Solomon from his father in verse 11...Now, my son, the Lord be with and prosper you in building the house of the Lord your God, as He has spoken concerning you. 12...Only may the Lord give you wisdom and understanding as you are put in charge of Israel, that you may keep the law of the Lord your God...Then you will prosper if you are careful to keep and fulfill the statutes and ordinances with which the Lord charged Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and of good courage. Dread not and fear not; be not dismayed.
David had collected 3,775 tons of gold, 37,750 tons of silver. Imagine his store house with all this in it! It must have been breath-taking!
Before his David's death he even placed those who were to serve and be priests of God's house the musicians every little detail David thought of for the Lords house. And so the names were announced who were served in this reading.
Solomon was greatly blessed by his father and his work was sure cut out for him.

Blessings
Kathleen.

128 - Solomon becomes King

Kathleen's thoughts

Psalm 30: 1-12 A Psalm of thanksgiving. 5..For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favour, a lifetime. Weeping may spend the night but there is joy in the morning.
Psalm 33: 1-22 A Psalm of praise. Love verse 12 Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord the people He has chosen to be HIs own possession!

Here is food for thought about horses used as a buffer and shield... verse 17 The horse is a false hope for safety, it provides no escape by its great power.

1 Kings 1: 1-53
And so king David reaches a age where is he cold all the time and by the sounds of it bed ridden from age so they sought him a care giver who attended him and laid with him to keep him warm. But he was never intimate with her. and her name was Abishag the Shunammite

Adonijah son of Haggith kept on exalting himself saying "I will be king" but never once did the king reprimand him. he was born after Absalom. He also conspired with Joab and with Abiathar the priest. they supported him but Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet Shimei Rei and David's warriors did not side the Adonijah.

Nathan said to Bathsheba who was Solomons mother what was happening that Adonijah was wanting to be king and was gathering the people to his annnointing as king. But Nathan told Bathsheba that she must go before the king and tell him and say that "Myh Lord, you swore to your servant by the Lord your God, Your son Solomon is to become king after me, and he is the one who is to sit on my throne/ Now look, Adonijah has become king, And my lord king, you didn't know it. He is doing sacrifices, and has not invited us, At that time she was speaking with the king Nathan the prophet arrived and he confirmed it with the king what Adonijah was doing and he asked David if he said he was to become king.And King David responded Call in Bathsheba for me . The king swore an oath and said As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life from every difficulty, just as I swore to you by the Lord God of Israel' Your son Solomon is to become king after me.
So King David ordered for Zadok the priest Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada . David said have my son Solomon to ride on my own mule, and take him down to Gihon. There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him as king over Israel. You are to blow the ram's horn and say "Long live King Solomon" and then you to come up after him and he is ts to come in and sit on my throne. And so Benaiah son of Jehoiada replied to the king; "May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, so affirm it"
And so Solomon was anointed king and the ram's horn was blown and all the people proclaimed "Long live King Solomon!" All the people followed him playing flutes and rejoicing with such great joy.

Adonijah submits to King Solomon. He was afraid of Solomon, so he got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar. It was reported to Solomon what he was doing so Solomon said if he is a man of character then not a single hair of his will fall to the ground, but if evil is found in him he will die. Adonijah submits to Solomon and Solomon tells him to go home.

Blessings
Kathleen.

127 - David numbers the people

Kathleen's thoughts

2 Samuel 21: 15 - 22 & Chronicles 20: 4-8 Are about the battles between David and the Philistines and the descendants of the giant in Gath killed by David and his soldiers.

Davide writes Psalm 36: 1-12 and speaks about man's wickedness and God's goodness.

2 Samuel 24: 1- 25 and 1 Chronicles 21: 1- 6, 27: 23-24. 27: 7-13, 21: 14-17, 21: 18-30
David  numbers the people.
The Lords anger burned against Israel again, and it stirred up David against them to say "Go, count the people of Israel and Judah.
So the king told Joab the commander of the army to go through all the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beer-sheeba and register the troops so I can know their number. Joab asked the king why he wants to do this. Joab obeyed the king and did what was required of him. There were 800,00 fighting men from Israel and 500,000 men from Judah.
What I found odd that in Samuel and Chronicles the Numbers vary in Chronicles in Israel were 1,100,000 swordsmen and in Judah itself 470,000 swordsmen but he did not include Levi and Benjamin in the count because the king's command was detestable to him.  in 1 Chronicles 27: 23-24 David didn't count the men aged 20 or under, for the Lord had said He would make Israel as numerous as the stars of heaven. Joab son of Zeruiah began to count them, but he didn't complete it There was wrath against Israel because of this census, and the number was not entered in the Historical Record of King David.
David's conscience trouble him after he had taken a census of the troops "I have sinned greatly in what I've done. Now , Lord because I've been very foolish please take away your servant's guilt

And in so doing David had a choice which was given to him by God.
Do you want three years of Famine to come on your land, to flee from your foes three months while they pursue you, or to have a plague in your land three days; So David thought this over and answered Gad I have great anxiety. Please let us fall into the Lord's hands because His mercies are great but don't let me fall into human hands.
And so the plague began but Gods mercies on David was great and relieved him of his anquish and David built a altar sacrafice before the Lord



Each person should do as he has decided in his heart not out of regret or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver 2 Chr. 9:7 and the Lord forgave David.

Blessings
Kathleen.

126 - Israel and Judah quarrel.

Kathleen's thoughts

2 Samuel 19: 31-43, 20: 1-26, 21: 1- 14
Psalm 29; 1-11, 65: 1-13
29 is a Psalm that honours God's majesty and Psalm 65 is of thanks giving.

The readings today ... David wanted Barzillai to cross over at the river Jordan and to come and live with him in Jerusalem but he asked the king to stay as he was 80 years old and wanted to die in the place where he lived so he offered Chimham to cross over with him and so this all took place and the king went on to Gilgal and Chimham went with him. So all of Israel's and all the troops of Judah escorted the king.
Then Israel quarrels with Judah
Now a wicked man who's name was Sheba son of Bichri happened to be there and he blew the ram's horn and shouted. We have no portion in David, no inheritance in Jesse's son Each man to his ten, Israel. So all the men of Israel deserted David and followed Sheba. But the men from Judah remained loyal to the king.
When David entered his palace in Jerusalem he took the 10 concubines that he had left behind to take care of the palace and placed them under guard and was never intimate with them until they died.

Joab kills Amasa. Amasa was sent by the king to summon the men of Judah within three days but he took longer than he should have so David said to Abishai  Sheba will do more harm to us than Absalom so take your lord's soldiers and pursue him and doing his duty he found Amasa and went up to kiss him and in the process of doing this he took his sword and stabbed him in his stomach and killed him and he then went on to find Sheba  and they found that he was in Abel of Beth-maacah and he was ready to attack the place when a woman shouted for Joab to come to her and to stop trying to bash the walls down. So Joab went to her and she said to him why are you trying to destroy a city that is like a mother in Israel and why would you devour the Lord's ;inheritance. Joab said he did not want to destroy it but there is a man named Sheba son of Bichri who has rebelled against the king so deliver this one man and I will withdraw from the city so the woman replied she would and she would throw his head over the wall to him and she did this so Joab blew the ram's horn.
During David's reign there was a famine for three years so David inquired of the Lord. and it was because of the blood shed by Saul and his family when he killed the Gibeonites. And so David sorted this out
The Gibeonites avenged
David took the bones of the seven male descendants of Saul's family that was hung and the bones on Saul and his son Jonathan and buried them in the tomb of Saul's father Kish.

David right to the end was faithful to Saul and his family. What a service it is just a pity that Saul could not see the love he had for him and his family.

A gentle answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath' Prov 15:1

Blessings
Kathleen.

125 - David the King

Kathleen's thoughts

Psalm 10: 1-18. 122: 1-9, 92: 1-15

2 Samuel 18: 19-33 19: 1-30
David learns of Absalom's death and his mourning is so severe that it disturbs Israel because of what Absalom had done to him he was told to pull himself together by Joab and be king to the nation and be glad he has his crown restored.
David pardons Shimei.
David returns to Jerusalem and he regains his seat as King of Israel.

David writes some beautiful Psalms one is for justice  and praise of Jerusalem  and songs of praises. The righteous thrive like a Palm tree and grow like a cedar tree in Lebanon.  Planted in the house of the Lord, they thrive in the courtyards of our God. David was always praising our Lord God he breathed it walked it and sang it. Just from reading the word his life with the Lord was I would say spent on his knees in worship and praise. I must admit too that he walked in a lot of forgiveness, what a gentle man to have done this.

Mark 11: 25 And whenever you stand praying if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your wrongdoing.

Blessings
Kathleen.

124 - Absalom is slain.

Kathleen's thoughts

Psalm 40: 13-17, 69: 1-36, 70: 1-5,120: 1-7, 121:1-8
121... I raise my eyes toward the mountains where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip your Protector will not slumber. Indeed, the Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep. The Lord protects you; the Lord is a shelter right by your side. The sun will not strike you by day, or the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all harm; He will protect your life. The Lord will protect your coming and going both now and forever.

2 Samuel 18: 1-18 In this chapter I could see David standing at the gate as his soldiers marched through them to pursue Absalom and I can hear the anguish in Davids voice. "Treat the young man Absalom gently for my sake" A fathers cry for his son, How sad is that, a broken man but he had no option but to defend Israel because he was anointed to do so.
There were a lot of causalities that day 20,000
Absalom was riding on a donkey when he happened to meet David's soldiers. When the mule went under the tangled branches of a large oak tree Absaom's head got caught in the tree but the mule under him kept on walking so he was suspended in midair. One of the men saw Absalom and told Joab - Joab gets angry with this man and wanting to know why he did not kill him and the mans reply was " I would not raise my hand  against the king's son for we heard the kings command to you. Job got angry and ended up spearing Absalom 3 times into his heart. Then Joab blew the rams horn.
They took Absalom and threw him into a large pit in the forest piled stones and left.

Blessings
Kathleen.
For when I am weak then I am strong. 2 Cor: 12:10

123 - My Grace is sufficient for you!

Kathleen's thoughts

Psalm 4: 1-8, 42: 1-11, 43:1-5, 55: 1-23, 71: 1-24, 28: 1-9, 143: 1-12

When I read these Psalms today it made me think of life in general. How we all suffer from what David is going through! Being depressed because of the situation he is in and then crying out to the Lord and you feel as though the Lord is not hearing your cry. I can so relate to it and yet within my deepest moments I know when I am quite I hear my Masters voice. David's anguish here is so strong and he continues to cry out to the Lord but he also sings praises all the time. 40: 1 I waited patiently for the Lord, and He turned to me and heard my cry for help 2. He brought me up from a desolate pit, out of the muddy clay, and set my feet on a rock, making my steps secure. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.
42: 1 As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for You, God. I thirst for God, the living God.

2 Samuel 17: 25-26 Absalom continues to pursue David.
2 Samuel 17: 27-29 And here God is looking after David and provides for him.

My Grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness; 2 Cor. 12: 8-9

Blessings
Kathleen.

122 - The fool says in his heart there is no God

Kathleen's thoughts

Psalm 22: 19-31. 14: 1-7, 53: 1-6., 39: 1-13 These Psalms are about prayer, praise, man's wickedness and David crying out to God to guard his ways that he may not sin with his tongue.
It must have been a very hard road for David to travel knowing his own flesh and blood was against him and trying to take his crown from him. But as God says "Touch not my anointed" And here Absalom was not listening. He knew that his father was anointed by God. David must have been a broken hearted father.

2 Samuel 15: 31-37 David sends Hushai his personal adviser to Jerusalem to spy on Absalom.

2 Samuel 16: 1-23 David and Ziba who was  Medphilosheth's servant and David asked him Where is your masters son? the king asked. His reply was He's staying in Jerusalem for he said, "Today, the house of Israel will restore my father's kingdom to me.
Shimel the son of Gera who belonged to the family of Saul's household. The cursed him as he approached and threw stones at David.. David being a king who served the Most High God walked by with integrity for he knew who he was in God.
Absalom enters Jerusalem and meets up with Hushi.
Absalom asks advise from Ahithophel in how to conquer king David. Ahithophel told him to sleep with his fathers concubines in the sight of all Israel and it will show that you have become repulsive to your father, everyone with you will be encouraged then Ahithophel also advised Absalom in order to pursue David is to gather 12,000 men and that night he will attack him while he is weak and it will cause him to panic  and all  the people with him will scatter and I will strike down only the king and bring all the people back to you.
So Absalom told Hushai the plans and Hushai said that was a bad idea as David was a warrior an experienced soldier. The king won't be sleeping with his men he will be hiding in one of the caves. so Hushai told Absalom to gather from Dan to Beersheba and that he must personally go into battle. Then we attack David wherever we find him. and so Absalom took Hushai's advise but in the mean time Hushai sent a message via the priests Sadok and Abiathar that they must send someone to tell David. So this they did by sending a girl to pass that information to Jonathan and Ahimaaz who were staying at En-rogel and they in return will pass that information to David but in the process of all this they were spotted by a young man who then informed Absalom. So the two men left quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard and lowered them into it andhis wife put a cover over it and some straw. Absaloms servants came looking for them and asked the woman where Ahimaaz and Jonathan was and she told them they had passed by toward the water. when they had left the men climbed out the well and went informed king David. When Ahithophel realized that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkeys and when and set his affairs in order and hung himself and was buried in his father's tomb.
David had arrived at Manhanaim by the time Absalom crossed the Mordan with all the men of Israel.

I love this scripture... Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. Matthew 5: 11-12

Blessings
Kathleen.