Proverbs 4-6; Romans 8

It is the story of two women, Sophia and Lilith, wisdom and evil. One travels the streets and public squares calling out for her children to come to her (1:20-33; 4:6-9; 8). The other travels the streets and public squares with a seductive look and sweet talk, seeking to trap the wayward fool (2:16-19; 5:3-6; 7). Sophia is a teacher and Lilith an adulteress—one a lifegiver and the one a destroyer. The difficulty is that they are both beautiful, but in different ways. Lilith engenders lusty desire with her dramatic, but heavy makeup that accentuates her features in such a way that it is hard to take your eyes off her. Sophia, on the other hand, is pure and unadorned, though you realize she has an inner strength and depth that is exceptional. Lilith, the woman with the reputation, though of ill-repute; Sophia, the woman with the principle and honor. Lilith, the fun-loving one; Sophia, the loving one. Lilith, the one who leaves you hungry for more; Sophia, the one who gives you more than you dared desire. Which do you choose? That is the point of Solomon’s metaphorical women (with all those wives and concubines he probably had women on his mind quite a bit). I named them to help highlight the contrasts. Sure God literally wants fidelity in marriage, but more profoundly he is calling for fidelity in life. There is no “torn between two lovers” here. You have to make a choice: faithfulness or promiscuity?

Proverbs 1-3; Romans 7

We have been told that Solomon wrote at least 3000 proverbs (1 Kings 4:32). In the book of Proverbs we have between three and four hundred, plus some more from other wise men. A proverb is a pithy expression of the way life works, gleaned through experience, common sense, and divine insight. Because God’s truth is woven into the very fabric of Creation (Romans 1:20) we can discover insights anywhere and through anyone. Take, for example, Paul quoting the poet and philosopher Epimenides in Titus 1:12 and adding, “This testimony is true.” So look everywhere for wisdom (Proverbs 2:4) and apply it always so that “love and faithfulness will never leave” (3:3) you. This is evidenced in one of the unique qualities of Proverbs: their randomness. The subject matter of the Proverbs has no context and seems to bounce around freely through all aspects of life. But isn’t that the way life comes at us? Life is not as neat and orderly as we like to imagine or hope for. So we read these proverbs one by one, meditating on each, finding their context not in the ancient story, but in our story—interpreting and applying them in the real situations that are our lives.

1 Kings 10-11; 2 Chronicles 9; Romans 6

Solomon had it all, but everything was not enough. As you can see—and as you can attest—the human heart is insatiable. More gold than could be counted, more horses than could be ridden, more cedar than could be carved, more wisdom than could be spoken, more wives than could be pleased and still Solomon yearned for more. Why? Because, like the silver, eventually it all becomes “common” and that renders it of “little value” (10:27, 21). Sadly, Solomon wasn’t wise enough to realize that or he wasn’t humble enough to accept that. So in the end having it all cost Solomon everything…No, I guess that’s not exactly right. In the end it cost God everything. After all, Solomon’s story is our story. All the vain pursuits of our lives, the desperate searches for fulfillment, lead us into selfish “my”opia. Whereas myopia is shortsightedness, spiritual “my”opia is being so nearsighted you can’t see beyond yourself, your perception of God seems fuzzy, and you no longer recognize sin. Only blood drops can heal us—the blood of Jesus who gave himself for us and to us. Are you satisfied now? No? Then lay it all down and focus on the cross until you can see the truth.

1 Kings 9; 2 Chronicles 8; Psalm 136; Romans 5

Does Psalm 136 seem to be a little redundant, kind of like a lot of modern praise music? It is. It is a liturgical psalm that is clearly a call and response reading. In the temple the worship leader would pronounce the words of praise and the congregation would answer, “His love endures forever.” As you read the psalm you can feel its rhythm drawing the crowd into the message, “His love endures forever…His love endures forever…His love endures forever…” And don’t discount the power of repetition. Haven’t you ever stood at a place where you shouted just to hear the echo? It wasn’t merely to hear your own voice, though that is a novelty. What is intriguing is the echo itself, the presence of just the right resonance to cause the words to live again and again. In the temple the spiritual acoustics were just right for hearts to reverberate the message, “His love endures forever.” The leader recounted the kind of mighty acts of God that assured the people, “His love endures forever.” If they allowed themselves to be caught up in the chorus, the worshipers’ smiles would get wider and wider as the message sunk in, “His love endures forever.” Do you ever get bored with that wonderful affirmation, “His love endures forever”? Then going out of the temple those words would be stuck in their minds, “His love endures forever.” No matter what happened outside the temple they could meet it with confidence that, “His love endures forever.” Is that message resonating with you yet? Are the words stuck in your head and in your heart, “His love endures forever”?

2 Chronicles 6-7; Psalm 135; Romans 4

The deaf and dumb idols of Psalm 135 (vv 15-17) are such a stark contrast from the Living Lord, the God of fire and glory, in the temple. The warning (or invitation) is clear: you become what you worship (v 18). We are created in the image of God. While sin has distorted that image, it can be restored through worship—bowing down before the Lord and letting God be God, letting the Creator re-create us. Otherwise we will be further defaced and dehumanized by the dead objects of our devotion. And that will leave us…well…dead—not speaking, not seeing, not hearing, not breathing—not living. That is why so much of God’s Word sounds urgent, almost desperate. God’s heart is broken when he sees his best and beautiful divine creations chasing after human creations. He yearns passionately for us to turn to him. That is the only way to explain his motive in coming among us as one of us. Solomon prayed, “But will God really dwell on earth with human beings?” (2 Chronicles 6:18). It seemed impossible since God can’t be contained by the heavens or the earth. Yet, with God all things are possible. So, yes, God really did come to dwell on earth as Jesus—the Jesus who spoke good news and healed the dumb, the Jesus who listened to the cries of the needy and healed the deaf, the Jesus who peered into the hearts of people and healed the blind, the Jesus with skin on who healed the lepers, the Jesus who was holy and cast out demons, the Jesus who was pure and was nailed to a cross for our sins, the Jesus who died and rose to eternal life, the Jesus walked the earth and said, “Follow me.” Isn’t that Lord more exciting, more inviting, more intriguing than golden idols or American Idols or crystals or anything else in all the world? Praise the Lord!

1 Kings 8; 2 Chronicles 5; Psalm 99; Romans 3

Solomon is clear that the temple is not literally the dwelling place of God, but that in no way discounts the importance of the temple. We live and define our lives in the dimensions of time and place. That means God cannot relate to us in some abstract way; to have a relationship with us he gets tangible, entering into particular time and particular place to encounter us. We have read about his voice being heard and his presence in clouds and a pillar of fire and even his willingness to enter a wrestling match. When his glory filled the temple the priests couldn’t perform their duty—that’s how palpable the Presence is. The Lord doesn’t love in general; the Lord loves in particular. The Lord doesn’t love conceptually; the Lord loves concretely. If you have children you love them all because you love each one. The Irish used to refer to the “thin places” where the overlap of heaven and earth seemed especially clear, like only a veil of separation. We all have those people and places and events that seem “thin” when we are particularly touched by God. We need those to remember what kind of God this is that we worship: a God who gets personal, a God who gets real, a God who “became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).

1 Kings 7; 2 Chronicles 4; Psalm 98; Romans 2

Interjected into the middle of the record of the temple construction is an account of Solomon’s palace (1 Kings 7:1-12). The very first insight we get is that it took Solomon seven years to build the temple, but thirteen years to build his palace. He also built a palace for his Egyptian wife. These verses serve as a literary distraction, having little to do with the subject at hand. And that is probably the point: it is a hint that Solomon may get distracted from the work of God, as well. Instead of all his attention being on God, instead of building his kingdom around God, his heart is divided, so he will not always walk in the way of the Lord. He will give glory to the Lord, but he is not averse to getting glory for himself. We will read how this plays out in Solomon’s life but we won’t point an accusing finger—we may be too much like Solomon. Look at us? We are told that we are the temple of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16). Are we focused on the temple being pure and undefiled and dedicated completely to the Lord or does our house and making a living—making a name for ourselves—get all the attention? Be truly wise and confess the truth. Then rededicate the temple to God.