Solomon's wisdom

2 Chronicles Chapter 8

Twenty years had passed since Solomon was declared king and the great building projects of the Lord's Temple and the royal palace were completed. So he turned his attention to rebuilding the towns that King Hiram had given him and he settled Israelites in them.
He also fought against the city of Hamath-zobah and conquered it too and rebuilt Tadmore in the desert and built towns in the lower Beth-horon region. He rebuilt Baalath and other supply centers and constructed cities where his chariots and horses could be kept.

Some people who lived in the land were not Israelites and were the descendants of the nations that Israel had not completely destroyed. So he used them for his labor force. But he did not use the Israelites for forced labor, but instead assigned them to be his fighting men, officers in his army and commanders of his chariots.

Solomon moved his wife, Pharoah's daughter, from the City of David to the new palace. He knew that she should not live in the City of David where the Ark was kept, for it was holy ground.

Burnt offerings were made to the Lord on the altar Solomon built in front of the Temple. The number of sacrifices varied from day to day and from festival to festival. Solomon used the regulations put down by his father in assigning Levites and gatekeepers. And thus he made sure that all the work relate to the Temple was carried out completely. Later he went to Ezion-geber and Elath, ports in Edom along the Red Sea. Hiram sent him ships commanded by his own officers and they sailed to the land of Ophir with Solomon's men and brought back almost seventeen tons of gold.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Solomon married the Pharoah's daughter to secure a military alliance with Egypt. Not having her live in David's palace indicates that he knew this pagan marriage would not please God. His many other pagan marriages were contrary to God's law (Deuteronomy 7: 3,4). These women worshipped false idols and eventually caused Solomon's downfall.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? We see Solomon's life sliding away because of the pagan lifestyles of his wives. It shows us that even in today's world, no matter how good or spiritual we are, one unsurrendered area can begin the downward spiral. So we must guard every area of our lives, especially our relationships. Guard against sin and don't give it a foothold. This applies to each and every on of us!

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH:
Update on my niece Suzanne, she is healing but her leg was crushed and will take many months of doctoring. She is in a nursing home for rehab care. Pray for her healing. Also Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents. especially her mother whose cancer has returned, and Arlene’s nephew David. Pray for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer. Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS. Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who was given 14 months to live with cancer, but has made it six years. The pain has returned and she needs our prayers.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has 90 percent of her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. She will require long therapy and insurance may soon be a problem since her job was not held for her.
Pray for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues..
Pray for Carolyn’s friend Margaret and her husband who were in a car accident. As elderly drivers they may face a life change which may cost them their independence. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
Pray for the speedy recovery of Sandy in Minnesota who underwent successful brain surgery for a tumor recently.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.