Psalm 74

The Temple is destroyed - Each verse from 1 - 12 could be followed by a hearty "Hasa Diga Eebowai!"

At verse 12, the psalmist (Asaph) gets away from the despair and reaffirms, "Yet God is from old, working salvation in the midst of the earth." He asks God to "Have recard for thy covenant" (20) and not to "forget the clamour of thy foes, the uproar of thy adversaries which goes up continually!" (23)

It's that extra step that the Ugandans in the South Park musical don't take.

Psalm 73

Note: "An upright person, disconcerted by the prosperity of the wicked decides to stay true to God."

28. "But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all thy works."

This one was written by Asaph. From Wikipedia:

He was the grandson of the Israelite prophet Samuel (1 Chronicles 6:24). He and his male descendants were set aside by King David to worship God in song and music (1 Chronicles 15:16-17). He authored Psalms 50, and Psalms 73 to 83.

Psalm 72

"A Prayer for the King and his Reign Petitioning All Kinds of Benefits"

I suppose this would be a good prayer for any leader. Give him (her) righteousness and good judgement

4. May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy . . ."

15 "Long may he live . . ." (no term limits)

18. "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wonderous things." (It's God who does the good, rather than the king (who does good through God)

Psalm 71

"A Prayer for help in old age"

Getting more and more relevant all the time.

3. "Be thou to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress, to save me, for thou art my rock and my fortress."

15. "My mouth will tell of thy righteous acts, of thy deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge.
16. "With the might deeds of the Lord I will come, I will praise thy righteousness, thine alone."

Psalm 70

This is a short one - Notes say it is a "Prayer for Divine Help" and that it is "For Rememberence" or "A Memorial"

Favorite line: Let those be turned back because of their shame who say, "Aha, aha!"

Psalm 69

1 - 18 "Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck." The psalmist is suffering and it reminded me of this Radiohead video (especially from about 2:03 on).



18 - 28 - The psalmist asks for protection from God's enemies.

29 "I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me."

30 - 36 - Praises

This is an excellent psalm for times of great stress.

1 Kings 15

Four Kings - (3 bad/1 good)

In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijam became king of Judah and reigned for three years in Jerusalem. Like his father, he also committed many sins. Yet for David's sake, the Lord allowed Jerusalem to endure. There was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.

In the twentieth year of Jeroboam, Asa, king of Judah, began his 41 year reign. Asa pleased the LORD like his forefather David, banishing the temple prostitutes and removing all the idols his father had made. He also deposed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother, because she had made an outrageous object for Asherah. Asa cut down this object and burned it in the Kidron Valley. There was war between Asa and Baasha, king of Israel. Asa took all the silver and gold remaining in the treasuries of the temple of the LORD and of the royal palace. He entrusted them to his ministers, sent them to Ben-hadad (son of Tabrimmon, son of Hezion, king of Aram, resident in Damascus) and made a treaty, and he in turn broke his treaty with Baasha, king of Israel, that he withdrew from Asa. When Baasha heard of it, he left off fortifying Ramah, and stayed in Tirzah. Then with carried away the stones and beams with which Baasha was fortifying Ramah King Asa built Geba of Benjamin and Mizpeh.

In the second year of Asa, Nadab, son of Jeroboam, became king of Israel for 2 years. He did evil in the Lord's sight, plottin gwith Baasha. Once he was king, he killed off the entire house of Jeroboam, not leaving a single soul to Jeroboam but destroying him utterly.

In the third year of Asa, king of Judah, Baasha, son of Ahijah, began his twenty-four-year reign over Israel in Tirzah. He did evil in the Lord's sight.

1 Kings 14

Jeraboam's son Abijah got sick. He tells his wife to disguise herself and take some goodies to to the prophet Ahijah in Shiloh to find out what will happen to him. The Lord speaks through Ahijah, saying that He exalted him above all and made him ruler of Israel, but because he made for strange gods and molten images, He will bring evil on the house of Jeroboam's line, ending the male line, and when one dies, dogs will devour him in the street. He tells him to go home and when she returns, he will die "and all Israel will mourn him and bury him, for he alone of Jeroboam's line will be laid in the grave, since in him alone of Jeroboam's house has something pleasing to the LORD, the God of Israel, been found." This happens; Jeroboam's reign was 22 years. Rehoboam, son of Solomon, reigned in Judah. He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem.

Judah was evil in the Lord's sight as well. They built high places, pillars, and sacred poles, upon every high hill and under every green tree, and there was a cult of prostitutes.

In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak, king of Egypt, attacked Jerusalem, and he took everything. The gold shields had to be replaced with bronze (not as pretty, but sturdier, I'm sure). There was constant warfare between Rehoboam and Jeroboam. When Rehoboam died, his son Abijam succeeded him as king.

1 Kings 13

1 - 34 Message of the Prophet from Judah

A prophet from Judah interrupts the festivities by proclaiming the altar an offense to God. The Lord told the prophet not to eat or drink in Bethel, nor return by the way he came. When Jeroboam tempted him, the prophet obeyed God’s command. But, the prophet later disobeyed God and believed a lie. After hearing about the events at the altar, an old prophet finds the man of God and uses a lie to persuade him to come eat and drink at his home in Bethel. The prophet was persuaded and disobeyed God. As a result, he was killed by a lion.

The old prophet’s behavior after he retrieved the man of God’s body is peculiar. The old prophet cried out “Alas, my brother!" After he buried him, he said, "When I die, bury me in the grave where the man of God is buried. Lay my remains beside his." Jeroboam didn't give up his evil ways and therefore his house was cut off and destroyed from the earth.

1 Kings 12

1 - 25 - Secession of Israel

Rehoboam goes to Shechem Israel splits.

My notes: Even in David's time the northern tribes seemed ready to withdraw from Judah. The unreasonable attitude of Rehoboam toward them intensified the discontent caused by the oppression of Solomon and thus precipitated the establishment of a rival monarchy.

26 - 31 - Religious Rebellion

Jeroboam feared reunification of the divided kingdom through worship in the single temple in Jerusalem. To prevent this he encouraged shrines on the high places, and appointed false priests to supplement those of levitical descent. The golden bullocks he installed in two of his sanctuaries, though probably intended as bearers of the invisible Divine Majesty, quickly became occasions for idolatry. Thus Jeroboam caused Israel to sin, and sealed his doom and that of his royal house.

33

"Jeroboam ascended the altar he built in Bethel on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, the month in which he arbitrarily chose to establish a feast for the Israelites; he was going to offer sacrifice."

1 Kings 11

11: 1 - 43 The Sins of Solomon

King Solomon loved many foreign women from nations with which the Lord forbidden the Israelites to marry (Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites) because "they will turn your hearts to their gods" But with 700 wives and 300 concubines, his wives turned his heart to the strange gods. The Lord states that he will take away Solomon's kingdom (but not during Solomon's lifetime).

My notes: "The glorious rise of Solomon, his piety and wisdom, administrative skill and wealth, the extension of his kingdom, his prestige among neighboring rulers, his reign of peace, above all his friendship with God-these are now eclipsed by his sins of intermarriage with great numbers of pagan wives and the consequent forbidden worship of their gods. His construction of temples in their honor merited the punishment of loss of a united kingdom to his posterity, and the opposition of adversaries to himself. Hadad the Edomite rebelled against Solomon at the beginning of his reign. Rezon of Syria established a new kingdom in Damascus; Jeroboam of Israel constituted the greatest threat because of his revolt from within. This threefold threat culminated in the breakup of Solomon's kingdom."

1 Kings 10

1 - 13 Visit of the Queen of Sheba

The Queen of Sheba came to visit Solomon to ask him questions. She arrived with camels and spices, gold and jewels, and Solomon answers her questions. The Queen was breathless at the king's wisdom, temple, workers and holocaust, and she compliments him. She gave the king 120 talents, spices, and jewels. Hiram's fleet was used to bring timber and more precious stones and Solomon made harps and lyres out of it. When Solomon gave the Queen everything she desire, she returned to her country.

14 - 29 Solomon's Wealth

Here is a long list of Solomon's possessions. In a word, he was wealthy.

1 Kings 9

1 - 9 Promise and Warning to Solomon

After the Temple is finished, the Lord appears to Solomon and promises to be there always and that if Solomon is upright and sincere as David was (!) He will establish his sovereignty over Israel forever. If Solomon or his descendants draw away from God, the Lord will cut off Israel and the temple will become a "heap of ruins."

10 - 28 Other Acts of the King

After 20 years, Solomon gave Hiram 20 cities in Galilee. Hiram sends Solomon 120 talents (three million six hundred thousand dollars - that was lot back then).

King Solomon levied forced labor to build the temple. (No Israelites were used - except as supervisors).

Solomon built Millo for Pharaoh's daughter.

Solomon offered three holocausts a year & kept the temple in good shape.

Solomon built a fleet at Eziongeber with seamen who went to Ophir and brought back 420 talents

1 Kings 8

1 - 21 Dedication of the Temple

My notes contextualize this pretty well: The transfer of th Ark of the Covenant into the newly constructed temple building, and the oracle of God's acceptance (1 Kings 9, 3-9), and his act of possession (1 Kings 8, 10-13), constituted the temple's solemn dedication, and made of it the abiding dwelling of God among his people for which David had hoped. The concurrence of the feast of Booths marks an appropriate transition of God's dwelling among nomadic trabes to his permanent abode among a settled people.

22 - 66 Solomon's Prayer

Solomon prays to the Lord for justice and in praise. Then he offered a sacrifice of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. Then there was a great festival. (It sounds as if they ate well!) "On the eighth day he dismissed the people, who bade the king farewell and went to their homes, rejoicing and happy over all the blessings the LORD had given to his servant David and to his people Israel." (66)

1 Kings 7

1 - 12 Building the Palace

Solomon spent 13 years constructing his palace. It is described as being very large and opulent.

13 - 51 Furnishing the Temple

My notes: "The two hollow bronze columns, Jachin and Boaz, stood free to the right and left of the temple porch. The names are related to God's power (Boaz) [I always thought that meant "Outlet Mall" - K] founding (Jachine) the temple and his people. (15-21)" Then . . . "The sea . . . rested on 12 oxen: this was a large circular tank containing about 12,000 gallons of water."

When it was completed, Solomon dedicated offerings of David, putting gold and silver into the temple treasuries.

1 Kings 6

1 - 38 Building the Temple

480 years after the Israelites departed Egypt, in Solomon's fourth year as king, construction began. (My Notes: "Construction of the temple is here paralleled in importance with the founding of the nation after the departure from Egypt. In both, God is the central figure who chose Israel as his people, and now chooses the place where his temple should be built. The year given is a round number, 480, which corresponds to twelve generations. The fourth year of Solomon's reign = c. 968 B.C.)

The specs of the new temple are given. (My notes: The sanctuary of the holy of holies reserved for the Lord is the innermost part of the temple. Here through his presence he dwelt as on a throne between the cherubim above the ark of the covenant.) Solomon used the cedar and gold and put many nice carvings inside. It took about seven years to complete it.

1 Kings 5

1 - 14 Solomon's Royal State (Continued)

Solomon has quite a spread - lots of land, supplies and chariot horses. He's also the wisest man in land (3000 proverbs & 1005 songs) He knew a lot about plants and animals, and people came from all the earth to hear him.

15 - 32 Preparation for the Temple

Solomon writes to Hiram that since his father's enemies are gone, he will be able to build a temple. Hiram agrees to supply the lumber. In return, Solomon gives Hiram's family wheat and oil, and there is peace between them. Solomon consecrates 30,000 workers, 70,000 carriers and 80,000 stonecutters, 3,300 overseers. Large blocks are quarried for the foundation.

1 Kings 4

1 - 6 Chief Officers of the Kingdom.

Solomon was king over all of Israel, and then we have a list of officials. (Cool names like Zadok, Jehoshaphat, and Adoniram (superintendent of the forced labor - I'd hate to be on his bad side).

7 - 19 Solomon's Royal State

Solomon had twelve commissaries for all Israel who supplied food for the king and his household, each having to provide for one month of the year.

My notes: "The administration of the kingdom thus initiated by Solomon continued in its main features for the duration of the monarchy in Israel and Judah.

1 Kings 3

1 - 15 Wisdom of Solomon

Solomon marries the daughter of Pharaoh. Solomon goes to Gibeon to sacrifice and the Lord speaks to him: "Ask something of me and I will give it to you." Solomon asks for "an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong." (This is a good thing to pray for). The Lord gives him "a heart so wise and understanding that there has not been anyone like you up to now, and after you there will come no one to equal you." Oh, and he also gives Solomon riches, glory, and a long life.

16 - 28 Solomon's Judgment

Here is the famous story of two women who are fighting over a child, and Solomon orders the child cut in half. He declares the child's mother is the one who protests.

1 Kings 2

1 - 11 David's Last Instructions and Death

Before he dies, David is reminded of God's Promise: "If your sons so conduct themselves that they remain faithful to me with their whole heart and with their whole soul, you shall always have someone of your line on the throne of Israel." (2 Sam. 7: 11-16) The length of David's reign was 40 years (7 in Hebron and 33 in Jerusalem).

12 - 46 The Kingdom Made Secure

After Solomon's Ascension to the throne, Abinijah asks Bethsheba to persuade Solomon to grant Abishag the Shumanite as his wife. Instead, Solomon as Abinijah put to death. My Notes: "Abishag had been the concubine of King David. His successor, Solomon, inherited his father's harem. When Adonijah requested Abishag as his wife, he was subtly undermining the security of Solomon's throne and exposing himself to the suspicion of insurrection." Solomon lets Abiathar the priest go back home to Anathoth. Then Solomon has Joab struck down at the tent of the Lord. Solomon puts Shimei under house arrest in Jerusalem. When Solomon discovers that Shimei has gone to Gath, he has him executed. (This all reminds me of the last few minutes of The Godfather when Michael has to prove himself more ruthless than his father.)