I have been using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study for almost a year. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I started writing this blog because the only way I can get myself to read the Bible everyday is to pretend that I am teaching someone about what it says to me. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them. I hope that the Spirit is moving in others through these posts as the Spirit has definitely been convicting me.

     Once the Temple and its furnishings were completed Solomon summoned the elders of the tribes of Israel to Jerusalem. During the Festival of Shelters he had the priests carry the Ark of the Covenant from where it had been in Jerusalem to the Temple. During the celebration, Solomon and the other leaders offered too many sacrifices to count. The priests then carried the Ark into the Most Holy Place of the Temple and placed it there. When the priests withdrew from the Most Holy Place after placing the Ark there a thick cloud filled the Temple. The cloud was so thick that the priests were unable to continue with their ceremony.
     Solomon then prayed a prayer of dedication for the Temple. He declared that the highest heavens were not big enough to contain God, let alone this Temple. However, Solomon said that God had declared that His name would be present in the Temple. Solomon asked God to always hear the prayers of His people when they humbly and earnestly prayed towards the Temple. Solomon asked God to hear their prayers and forgive their sins. Solomon extended his prayer to include all the people of the earth who turn to God. When people turn to God, confess their sin and call on Him, He will answer them. He will judge between the accuser and the accused, punishing the guilty and protecting the innocent. When disaster strikes us because of our sins, if we turn back to God and follow His commands once more, He will answer our prayers and deliver us. When Solomon finished his prayer of dedication for the Temple, he turned to the people and addressed them. He told them to praise the Lord and to be faithful to God. In his comments he included this further prayer, “May He give us the desire to do His will in everything and to obey all the commands, decrees, and regulations that He gave our ancestors.”

     I wish to echo that: May God give me, and all of those who read this, the desire to do His will in everything and to obey His commands.

     Having gone over the history of God’s actions on behalf of the Jewish people and their repeated rejection of God’s messengers, Stephen condemned the Sanhedrin for stubbornness and resisting the Holy Spirit. He told them that their ancestors had persecuted the prophets, going so far as to kill those who predicted the coming of the Messiah. Then Stephen told them that they had betrayed and killed the Messiah Himself. Those present for his trial reacted with anger and hostility. Stephen however looked to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at God’s right hand. Stephen told his accusers and everyone present that he saw the heavens opened and the Son of Man (a term those present would have been aware that Jesus used for Himself) standing at the right hand of God. When they heard Stephen say this, those present covered their ears and started shouting. Then they rushed him, drug him out of the city and began to stone him. While they were doing this they laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul, who, we are told, approved of what they were doing. Stephen cried out to God asking that He receive his spirit and that He not hold this sin against those killing him. In doing this Stephen imitated Jesus when He asked God to forgive those who crucified Him. Can I follow this model which Jesus and Stephen have given us of forgiving those who persecute me? They were willing to forgive those who killed them in an extremely painful manner, how much easier it should be for me to forgive those who have done wrong to me.
     After this the believers were scattered because of persecution with almost all of them fleeing Jerusalem. Saul went from house to house dragging out believers, both men and women and throwing them in prison. The believers who left Jerusalem preached the Gospel wherever they went. Philip went to Samaria (one thing I would like to point out, while it is probable that Philip the Evangelist, or Deacon, was a different person than Philip the Apostle, nowhere is that actually spelled out as being the case). In Samaria, Philip performed many signs. He cast out demons, cured the sick and made the lame to walk. This was a source of great joy in the city of Samaria. There was a man in the city of Samaria who had performed magic, amazing the people of Samaria for many years. His name was Simon and he claimed to be someone great. The people of Samaria referred to him as being the Great One of God. The people of Samaria listened to Simon because of the wonders he performed. However, now they believed Philip as he proclaimed the Gospel and many of them were baptized. Simon himself believed and was baptized. He started following Philip around because he was astounded by the signs and miracles Philip performed. Everything I read about Simon suggests that he did the sorts of things that stage magicians today do. How I would love to see some Christian demonstrate the power of God to some well-known and respected magicians today, such as Penn Jillette or James Randi. I doubt even then that they would believe, but I would like to see what impact it might have if the Holy Spirit were to lead one or both of them to start proclaiming the Gospel.

     From the very beginning the people of Israel have been persecuted, but God has released them from bondage. God has sent His Son to release all who believe on Him from bondage to sin and sinners. Those who hate the Jews and God’s people will find themselves ignored and despised. No one will call God’s blessings on them nor bless them themselves.

     Better a basic meal with little flavor, eaten in peace than the finest banquet eaten in the middle of argument and strife.

     I have been using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study for almost a year. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I started writing this blog because the only way I can get myself to read the Bible everyday is to pretend that I am teaching someone about what it says to me. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them. I hope that the Spirit is moving in others through these posts as the Spirit has definitely been convicting me.

     David knew that his death was approaching, so he gave his final charges to Solomon. The first part is advice we should all follow. He told Solomon to remember that sooner or later everyone dies. He instructed Solomon to be strong, act with maturity and keep the Lord’s commands and regulations. David told Solomon that God had promised him that if his descendants followed God faithfully they would sit on his throne for all of time. David then went on to give Solomon specific instructions regarding certain people. David instructed Solomon to punish Joab for killing the two men David had appointed to replace him as army commander. He also instructed Solomon to find a way to pay back Shimei for cursing David when Absalom forced him to flee Jerusalem. And David instructed Solomon to be kind and look after the sons of Barzillai of Gilead, who had stood by him when he fled from Absalom.
     Sometime not long after David’s death, Adonijah approached Bathsheba requesting a favor. Adonijah begins his request by telling Bathsheba that all of Israel expected him to become king, but that Solomon became king in his place for such was the will of God. Now, he was requesting that Bathsheba approach Solomon to have Solomon allow Adonijah to marry Abishag, the young virgin who cared for David in his final years. Bathsheba acceded to Adonijah’s request. When she approached Solomon he treated her with utmost respect, as she deserved for getting him crowned king. However, when she made Adonijah’s request for him, Solomon became angry (not particularly at Bathsheba). He explained that this was an attempt by Adonijah to extend his claim to the throne. Considering that Adonijah was Solomon’s elder brother and that he had the support of both Joab and Abiathar, anything which gave him even more claim to the throne was a threat.
     In response to what Solomon perceived (probably accurately) as an attempt by Adonijah to usurp the throne, he ordered Benaiah, the captain of his (and David’s before him) bodyguard, to execute Adonijah. He then ordered Abiathar to give up his role as a priest and return to his home, sparing his life because of his role in transporting the Ark of the Lord and in David’s many campaigns. When Joab heard of Adonijah’s death, he rushed to the sacred tent and grabbed the horns of the altar. When he refused to come out, stating that he would die there, Solomon ordered him executed at the altar. Benaiah carried out Solomon’s order. Solomon then appointed Benaiah as commander of the army.
     Solomon then sent for Shimei and ordered him to build a house in Jerusalem and live there the rest of his days. Solomon told Shimei that if he ever left Jerusalem again, he would be executed. Shimei agreed to Solomon’s command. However, three years later two of his slaves fled to Gath. Shimei pursued them to Gath and brought them back to Jerusalem. When Solomon heard of this he sent for Shimei and sentenced him to death. None of the passages tell us much about Shimei, but he was clearly a man of significant influence. He was someone who felt secure harassing David as he fled Jerusalem, even though David was surrounded by a force of armed men. He was listed as one of the officials who did not support Adonijah’s claim to the throne. And here, Solomon initially sentenced him to something similar to what he told Adonijah to do. All of this suggests that Shimei was a man of influence, who had a power base that could not be freely alienated by the king.

     In yesterday’s passage, Barnabas sold a field and brought the money to the apostles to use to help those in need. Following that a man named Ananias, along with his wife, named Sapphira, sold some property and brought part of the proceeds to the Apostles, claiming it was the full amount. Peter immediately confronted him about this. Peter makes clear that Ananias’ sin was not keeping part of the money from the sale. His sin was his attempt to gain credit for being more generous than he actually was. Peter told Ananias that he had lied not just to men, but to God. When Ananias heard what Peter had said, he immediately fell down and died. Some of the young men present covered his body, carried it out and buried him. Everyone who heard the story was terrified.
     Three hours later, Sapphira came in. She had not yet heard what had happened to her husband. Peter asked they had sold the land for the amount which Ananias had claimed. Sapphira answered that, yes, that was the price. Peter then asked her how she could have agreed to test the Spirit of God in that manner. The men who had buried her husband were at the door and they would bury her as well. She immediately fell to the floor dead. The young men who had just buried her husband came in, took her body out and buried it next to her husband. Fear came over the entire Church and everyone else who heard what had happened.
     This passage reminds me a point I bring up with some frequency. When the Bible tells us things like “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” it really means fear. This is not the fear of a mugger or of a fire, although it has some elements in common with that. Some have postulated that it is the fear of offending someone whom one loves, and that is certainly a large part of it. But I am convinced that when the Bible tells us about the importance of the fear of the Lord, it is talking about the fear which gripped the Church in this passage. This fear was composed of the fear of offending someone whom one loved along with the fear of the consequences of one’s actions. It is possible to put too much emphasis on the fear of God, but I believe that currently Christians in the U.S. have too little genuine fear of God. I have too little genuine fear of God.
     Luke goes on to tell us that the many miracles and signs among the people. The believers were meeting regularly in a particular part of the Temple, but no one dared meet with them just to find out what their meetings were about, even though the believers were held in high esteem. Despite the attempts by the authorities to isolate the believers, more people were becoming believers every day. The miracles were such that people were bringing the sick in from the villages around Jerusalem and laying them in the street in the hope that Peter’s shadow might fall on them. Luke tells us that they were all healed. When I read this passage, I think about what a difference it would make if we today had that kind of faith. The problem is that we do not have enough genuine fear of God, as a result we have too much fear of man. When our fear of God reaches the point where it should be, we will realize that there is no reason to fear man.
     Which brings us to what happened next. The chief priests had the Apostles arrested and placed in jail. That night, a messenger of God opened the jail, brought them out and told them to go to the Temple and preach the Gospel. At daybreak the Apostles entered the Temple and began to teach. When the chief priests convened the Sanhedrin, they sent to the jail for the Apostles. Those sent returned and reported that the jail was locked and the guards were at the doors, but when they opened the cells the Apostles were gone. The captain of the guard and the chief priests were at a loss. About this time, someone came and reported that the men they had arrested were in the Temple courts teaching the people. The chief priests sent the Temple guards to bring the Apostles to them, but peacefully because they were afraid the people would stone them.
     When they were brought before them, the high priest told the Apostles that they had been told not to teach in Jesus’ name and here they were doing so again. To which Peter replies that they would obey God rather than any human authority. Peter continued that God had raised Jesus, whom the chief priests had killed, from the dead and honored Him in order to bring Israel to repentance.
     When the Sanhedrin heard this they were furious and wanted to put the Apostles to death. A teacher of the law named Gamaliel stood up and asked that the Apostles be put outside for a short time. He then addressed the Council, telling them that several other messianic preachers had risen up in the recent past. They had each attracted a large group of followers. Yet after each was killed, their followers were scattered and the movement they had started came to nothing. Gamaliel thus advised the Sanhedrin that their best course of action was to do nothing Because if this was merely a human movement, in a short time it would dissipate and amount to nothing. On the other hand, if this movement was of God there was nothing they could do to stop it. They would merely find themselves fighting against God.
     The council listened to Gamaliel’s advice. They had the Apostles flogged and then left them go after warning them against ever speaking in the name of Jesus again. Then Luke tells us something interesting. The Apostles left the high council rejoicing over the fact that God had found them worthy of being flogged for the name of Jesus. This is such an amazing thing. Rather than being disheartened and discouraged by the pain that was inflicted on them, they were encouraged and made more passionate. I will postulate once more that the reason they reacted to this the way they did was because they had an appropriate fear of God, which made anything people could do to them pale in comparison. To go with that fear of God, they also had a sense of God’s wondrous love for them that gave them a joy so great it completely overwhelmed the suffering they experienced.

     Those who trust in God will be secure, nothing will be able to shake them. God will surround them like a wall of mountains that cannot be penetrated by those wishing them ill. God will do good to those who are good and whose hearts are in tune with Him. But God will banish those who turn to crooked ways. Is my heart in tune with God?

     Today’s proverb is a little bit scary. It tells us that there is a path that seems to be right but which leads to death. How can we tell whether the path we are following is the one that is truly right, or is merely the one which seems to be right? The answer is that we need to not rely merely on what we think is right, but instead study the word of God to determine what He says is right. All too many times people rely on what appearances tell them about what is right and wrong, rather than turning to God for guidance.

     I have been using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study for almost a year. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I started writing this blog because the only way I can get myself to read the Bible everyday is to pretend that I am teaching someone about what it says to me. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them. I hope that the Spirit is moving in others through these posts as the Spirit has definitely been convicting me.

     When David got old, he was unable to keep warm, even when under many covers. His retainers found a pretty young virgin named Abishag to care for David and sleep with him to keep him warm. She came and took care of him, but he did not have sexual relations with her. About this time, David’s son Adonijah decided to make himself king. Adonijah was the next oldest after Absalom. The passage tells us that King David had never disciplined Adonijah, not even so much as questioning his actions.
     Adonijah spoke with Joab, the commander of David’s army, and Abiathar, one of David’s chief priests and they agreed to support him. This is noteworthy and suggests that it was past time for David to abdicate in favor of one of his sons since both of these men had been loyal retainers to David throughout his life (although Joab had gone against David’s wishes on several occasions to protect his own interests). However, several other key figures among David’s closest advisers refused to support Adonijah’s plan to become king. These included Zadok, the other chief priest and Benaiah, the captain of David’s bodyguard. David’s bodyguard followed the lead of their captain.
     Adonijah went to a place of some significance a short distance outside of Jerusalem (the actual significance of the location is lost to time, although there is speculation). There he offered sacrifices and held a feast. He invited all of his brothers and the royal officials of Judah. except for his brother Solomon, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah and the king’s bodyguard. Nathan went to Bathsheba and told her that Adonijah was about to crown himself king without David’s knowledge. He told her to go to David and remind him of his promise to make Solomon king (although this is the first place that we actually see a reference to such a promise) then ask David why Adonijah has become king. Bathsheba went in to see David and said to him what Nathan had told her to say. While she was speaking to the king, Nathan was announced. Nathan came in and told David that Adonijah had declared himself king while offering sacrifices and after inviting some, but not all, of David’s advisers to join him. Nathan then asked David if he had indeed decided that Adonijah should become king after him without telling his advisers. Nathan’s recount of what Adonijah was doing intentionally reminded David of what Absalom had done.
     David immediately summoned those of his advisers who had not joined Adonijah and told them to take Solomon to the spring that was the main water source for Jerusalem and crown him king. They were to have Solomon ride on David’s own mule to the spring and back. They were to sound the ram’s horn and have the people cry out “Long live King Solomon!”. Then bring Solomon back and seat him on David’s throne. They followed David’s instructions and when they blew the ram’s horn everyone in the city celebrated. The description calls to my mind the way cities today celebrate when one of their major professional sports teams win the championship.
     Adonijah and his guests heard the noise from the city as they were finishing their banquet. Joab head the ram’s horn and asked what the cause of all the commotion was. While Joab was still speaking, Jonathan, Abiathar’s son (who had delivered the message about Absalom’s plans to David) arrived. Adonijah was sure that Jonathan would have good news. Instead Jonathan told him that David had had Solomon crowned king and seated on the throne, and that the city officials were congratulating David on making Solomon king. When Adonijah’s guests heard the news, they fled in a panic. Adonijah himself was afraid of what Solomon would do to him, so he fled to the sacred tent and grasped the horns of the altar. Solomon received word that Adonijah was seeking sanctuary at God’s altar and asking Solomon to vow not to kill him. Solomon sent word to Adonijah that he promised not to harm a hair on his head for so long as Adonijah remained loyal.
     There is a lot of stuff in this passage. The first is that we have further evidence that David was not a very good father. He had failed to discipline his older sons. All of the problems with Absalom could have been avoided if David had properly disciplined his sons, as well as the situation in this passage. In addition, when we look at this passage, we see that David had become to old and infirm to rule, but was unwilling to relinquish the throne (or perhaps none of his advisers were brave enough to suggest that course of action to him). It was only when yet another of his sons attempts to usurp the throne and David realizes that he is unable to lead the battle to defend his throne this time that David abdicates in favor of Solomon.
     There is one final point about this that I want to make. There is no place in the Bible where it tells us that David promised to that Solomon would succeed him as king. However, in this passage we have Bathsheba “reminding” (at Nathan’s prompting) David that he made such a promise. I don’t know if David made such a promise and the Bible just does not record it, or if Nathan and Bathsheba were taking advantage of David’s advanced age and less than sharp mental faculties. It is worth noting that the bulk of David’s most trusted advisers refused to support Adonijah’s efforts to become king.

     While Peter and John were preaching in the Temple after healing the lame man, they were confronted by the chief priests, the captain of the Temple guard and some of the Sadducees. Peter and John were arrested and put in jail overnight, since it was already evening by this time. Luke tells us that many of those who had witnessed the healing and heard their preaching believed, raising the number of believers to 5,000, not counting women and children.
     In the morning they are brought before the ruling body of Jerusalem. Luke specifically tells us that it included several of the key players in the trial of Jesus. The council demanded to know by what power they had healed the man. Peter boldly asked them if they were standing trial for healing a man, for helping someone? He then went on to tell them that he would happily tell them how the man came to be healed. The man had been healed through the power of Jesus’ name. Peter reminded them that they had crucified Jesus and told them that God had raised Him from the dead (once again, we have Peter pulling no punches, making no effort to sugar coat the role his audience played in Jesus’ death). Peter concluded his statement by telling them that salvation comes only through Jesus (for those who think that any of the major religions will do, because they all teach the same thing, this passage–and several others–explicitly rejects that idea).
     The council was amazed at the boldness which Peter and John displayed before them and had them put out to discuss the situation. The council was unable to reach a decision about what to do with Peter and John. They decided to warn them against preaching any more in Jesus’ name. They called Peter and John back in and gave them a strict command to stop preaching, or even talking, about Jesus. Peter replied asking them if they thought they should obey them rather than God? The council made further threats against them and then released them. The council was afraid there would be a riot if they did anything more serious because the people were all praising God for the wondrous healing that had taken place.
     When Peter and John recounted the story to the other believers, the others praised God. They asked God to glorify His name with healing power and miraculous signs. They asked God to hear the threats that had been made and to give them the boldness to preach His word. Once more the believers were filled with the Holy Spirit.
     Today’s passage concludes by telling us that there were no needy people among the believers because those who had wealth shared it with the apostles to give to those in need. We have here the first mention of Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement” and was not his given name, but rather a nickname). This passage always brings to mind something my father said that I believe he based on this passage. “There is nothing wrong with Christians being on welfare, and there is nothing wrong with Christians being millionaires. But there is something wrong when one congregation has some members on welfare and some members who are millionaires.” He made it very clear that if that happened he was not going to lay fault on one or the other in advance. It was something that would have to be judged on a case by case basis. Those of us who have resources above and beyond what we need to meet our basic expenses should be looking for ways that we can help those who are struggling to pay their bills (although that does not necessarily mean paying those bills for them, although it might). And those of us who are struggling to pay our bills should be willing to share that with our brothers and sisters in Christ and accept both their advice and help to get us out of that situation.

     Let us praise God for everything about our lives and think about what could have happened if God had not been on our side. When we face trials and troubles we should remember:

     This proverb is a reminder that we should speak kindly and graciously because such an approach will improve the health of both ourselves and those to whom we speak. But more importantly, speaking kindly and graciously will help make the hearts of those with whom we speak more receptive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.