June 03, 2014 - Tuesday

Start Time: 5:55 A.M.

End Time: 6:14 A.M.

Title: Solomon’s Officials and Governors

Scripture: 1 Kings 3:1 – 34

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→So King Solomon ruled over all Israel. ² And these were his chief officials: Azariah son of Zadok—the priest;  Elihoreph and Ahijah, sons of Shisha—secretaries; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud—recorder; Benaiah son of Jehoiada—commander in chief; Zadok and Abiathar—priests;  Azariah son of Nathan—in charge of the district governors; Zabud son of Nathan—a priest and adviser to the king;  Ahishar—palace administrator; Adoniram son of Abda—in charge of forced labor.  Solomon had twelve district governors over all Israel, who supplied provisions for the king and the royal household. Each one had to provide supplies for one month in the year.  These are their names: Ben-Hur—in the hill country of Ephraim; Ben-Deker—in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh and Elon Bethhanan; Ben-Hesed—in Arubboth (Sokoh and all the land of Hepher were his); Ben-Abinadab—in Naphoth Dor (he was married to Taphath daughter of Solomon); Baana son of Ahilud—in Taanach and Megiddo, and in all of Beth Shan next to Zarethanbelow Jezreel, from Beth Shan to Abel Meholah across to Jokmeam; Ben-Geber—in Ramoth Gilead (the settlements of Jair son of Manasseh in Gilead were his, as well as the region of Argob in Bashan and its sixty large walled cities with bronze gate bars); Ahinadab son of Iddo—in Mahanaim; Ahimaaz—in Naphtali (he had married Basemath daughter of Solomon); Baana son of Hushai—in Asher and in Aloth; Jehoshaphat son of Paruah—in Issachar; Shimei son of Ela—in Benjamin; Geber son of Uri—in Gilead (the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and the country of Og king of Bashan). He was the only governor over the district.

NOTES:

Ø When God establishes our rule or position, He also provides the people we need to be successful in our mission or role in His Kingdom!  God does not only provide financially, intellectually but even support and people we need to reign in life.  He is the source of all provisions and when He declares you as part of His majestic plan, He Himself, makes sure that we have all we need, including the people in our government.  Hallelujah!  Truly God is in control!

→The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore; they ate, they drank and they were happy. And Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These countries brought tribute and were Solomon’s subjects all his life.  Solomon’s daily provisions were thirty cors^[a] of the finest flour and sixty cors^[b] of meal, ten head of stall-fed cattle, twenty of pasture-fed cattle and a hundred sheep and goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks and choice fowl.  For he ruled over all the kingdoms west of the Euphrates River, from Tiphsah to Gaza, and had peace on all sides.  During Solomon’s lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in safety, everyone under their own vine and under their own fig tree. Solomon had four^[c] thousand stalls for chariot horses, and twelve thousand horses.^[d]  The district governors, each in his month, supplied provisions for King Solomon and all who came to the king’s table. They saw to it that nothing was lacking. They also brought to the proper place their quotas of barley and straw for the chariot horses and the other horses.

NOTES:

Ø When God is with us, everything is provided from the little details to the biggest need!  God showed us in these verses that He provided for Solomon daily, the same He is also doing to us now.  But in most cases we forget because we feel that it is the natural behavior or process of life on earth but we forget that everything works as they are because God allowed it so.  Let us make sure to see God’s daily provisions in our lives.  Taking note of every details.  Solomon’s daily provision was listed on these verses and as you can see, what he received is not ordinary.  He was given provisions daily fit for the greatest king of all on earth.  This is how God provides for us.  He gives us the best of what we need daily from the little details to the biggest ones.  Praise God!

→ God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.  Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.

NOTES:

Ø God’s wisdom is infinite and includes all scopes of studies!  When God gives us wisdom, He gives us a wider sense of understanding on certain scope.  Solomon asked for wisdom and God gave it to him but he was not only wise in making decisions to rule and run God’s people but he was also a lover of science, poetry, etc.  His wisdom was wide because it came from God.  The verses above spoke of Solomon talking about plant life (botany), animal life (zoology), etc.  So God’s wisdom is not limited to wisdom of the spiritual or relationship with Him, but it is wisdom for all aspect as He is the Creator of the Universe!  Praise God that my God has this kind of wisdom so I can be assured to make right decisions when I asked for His guidance.  Praise the Lord!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You because You are my Provider!  Thank You because You take care of what I need in a daily basis and You ensure that my needs are met no matter how small or great it is.  Thank You because when You establish my part in Your kingdom, You ensure that everyone will know it.  Thank You because You provide everything I need to make my role a success and reign in the calling You have given me.  Thank You Lord because Your wisdom is infinite and it covers all aspect.  That’s why I can talk to You of just about anything and everything and I can be assured that You have the answer because You cover all aspect of life and death.  Thank You Jesus for today I learned that I limit Your wisdom, I limit Your capabilities in my life.  Help me to break those limitations I set that I may fully enjoy the fullness of Your wisdom and guidance.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!