Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from The Global Church of the Nazarene of Lenexa, Kansas, United States for Monday, 8 June 2015 - "Becoming Pharaoh" Scripture: 1 Chronicles 22:6-19

Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from The Global Church of the Nazarene of Lenexa, Kansas, United States for Monday, 8 June 2015 - "Becoming Pharaoh" Scripture: 1 Chronicles 22:6 Then he summoned Shlomo his son and charged him to build a house for Adonai, the God of Isra’el. 7 “My son,” said David to Shlomo, “my heart was set on building a house for the name of Adonai my God. 8 But a message from Adonai came to me, ‘You have shed much blood and fought great wars. You are not to build a house for my name, because you have shed so much blood on the earth in my sight. 9 But you will have a son who will be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his enemies that surround him; for his name is to be Shlomo, and during his reign I will give peace [a] and quiet to Isra’el. 10 It is he who will build a house for my name. He will be my son and I will be his father, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Isra’el forever.’

11 “Now, my son, may Adonai be with you and give you success as you build the house of Adonai your God, in keeping with what he said about you. 12 May Adonai give you common sense and understanding, and may he give you his orders concerning Isra’el, so that you will observe the Torah of Adonai your God. 13 Then you will succeed, if you take care to obey the laws and rulings that Adonai ordered Moshe concerning Isra’el. Be strong, be bold; don’t be afraid or become discouraged!

14 “Now look: despite my difficulties, I have prepared for the house of Adonai 3,300 tons of gold, 33,000 tons of silver, and so much bronze and iron that it can’t be weighed. I’ve also prepared timber and stone, and you can add to it. 15 Moreover, you have plenty of workers — quarrymen, stone-workers, lumbermen, and all kinds of skilled craftsmen to do whatever has to be done with 16 the gold, silver, bronze and iron — they’re beyond number. So get up, and get to work! And may Adonai be with you.”

17 David also ordered all the leaders of Isra’el to help Shlomo his son: 18 “Isn’t Adonai your God with you? Hasn’t he given you rest on every side? For he has put the inhabitants of the land under my power — the land has been subdued before Adonai and his people. 19 Now set your heart and being on seeking Adonai your God. Get up, and build the sanctuary for Adonai, God. Then you can bring the ark for the covenant of Adonai and the holy articles of God into the house that will be built for the name of Adonai.”[Footnotes:

1 Chronicles 22:9 Hebrew: shalom]

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"Becoming Pharaoh" by Author: Josh Broward
In the midst of immense blessing, Solomon lost his way. He seemed to break all God’s decrees and laws.
“The king … must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself” (Deuteronomy 17:16), but Solomon did.
“He must not take many wives” (Deuteronomy 17:17), but Solomon’s 700 wives and 300 concubines are legendary – as well as their result.
“He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold” (Deuteronomy 17:18), but Solomon counted his gold by the ton.
“Do not oppress a foreigner” (Exodus 23:9), but Solomon conscripted 153,600 foreigners as slaves to build the temple (2 Chronicles 2:17-18). Solomon used God’s blessing to become a new Pharaoh over a new Egypt. His oppressive ways eventually tore the kingdom apart.
We face some earth-shaking questions here. What is on the inside of our God-projects? Is it possible that we have turned our calling in upon ourselves? Have we somehow missed God’s way of humble justice? Have we kept God’s blessing for ourselves instead of giving it away to bless others?
Hymn for Today: "It Is Worth All It Cost To Be Holy" by Rhea Miller


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