Thursday,   June 19
Reading for today:   1 Kings 7 and 2 Chronicles 4

Today we read about the furnishings that Solomon had built, and the man he commissioned to do the work.   Just a couple of quick thoughts...
The author points out that Solomon spent more time building his house than he did the temple.  He also mentions a wife from Egypt...that wasn't allowed for Israelites.  They had to marry from their own religion/descendants.    I doubt anyone thought much about it at the time, including Solomon.   But looking back it's easier to see where the actual departure from what God wanted really began.    It sort of reminds me of the time I was trying to thread a needle.  I tried and tried and couldn't seem to get the thread to go through the needle..at the last minute it always drifted off to the left or right.   Then I put on a pair of glasses and realized that there was an almost imperceptible hair of string that was preventing the process.   I made sure that the hair was in alignment, and the thread went through quite easily.   Solomon's actions might betray a "wild hair" that will later result in his unwillingness to live in accordance with God's laws.

A brief second thought:   Solomon is now the wisest man who ever lived.  And he recognizes that even with all his wisdom there are people who are better equipped to do certain tasks.   He sends for a man to help cast and decorate the bronze work, and by all accounts that fellow was more skilled than Solomon (at that particular task).   It is a function of wisdom to recognize that you aren't good at everything, and that others can do some jobs better than you.   When you allow that to happen, everyone benefits.

Be blessed,

PR