1 Kings 5:3-5 - "You
know that because of the constant wars my father David had to fight against the
enemy countries all around him, he could not build a temple for the worship of
the Lord his God until the Lord had given him victory over all his enemies. But now the Lord my God has given me peace on
all my borders. I have no enemies, and there is no danger of attack. The Lord promised my father David, "Your
son, whom I will make king after you, will build a temple for me.' And I have
now decided to build that temple for the worship of the Lord my God.
The king of Tyre was a good man. He loved David and respected the choice he
made in making Solomon king. He honored
his friendship with David by sending congratulations to his son. The great pact
of peace that followed joined the two countries together in a simple arrangement….food
in exchange for labor and wood from the high mountains of Lebanon. Solomon wanted the temple built out of the
finest wood ….cedar and cypress trees….wood that would last an eternity….and
retain its beauty and purpose for generations to come.
It only cost Solomon 125 bushels of wheat…and 95 gallons of
pure olive oil…a bargain by today’s standards. The two nations worked together
to fell the trees…tie them into rafts…and float them down the seacoast to a
spot where they could be brought the rest of the way by land. No Israelite was
away from their families for more than a month at a time….because Solomon rotated
the workers in an organized way.
Solomon was proud of the peace he had helped to bring about
in Israel…and the teamwork that he was able to encourage between his country
and Tyre was crucial to Solomon’s ability to complete the promise God made to
his father. Peace brings about quiet…tranquility…freedom…and
those who enjoy it are able to release the energies they would have to use to
fight their enemies …to doing more constructive things…like gathering the wood
to build a temple.
Solomon could have sat on his laurels in the palace and done
nothing…just enjoyed the peace and rest God had given him from all his father’s
hard work. But Solomon had been given
wisdom…and wisdom tells us that peace should be used to do good things…that we
should search out partnerships to try and fulfill the promises we have been
given from God’s word. That must be my lesson today…to not sit around and rest all
summer…for my summer break began today. God
knew that teachers need a long break to replenish the great amount of energy it
takes to teach children all day long for 200 days of the year.
I am not saying that you should never rest… I plan on enjoying
the rocking chair on my porch and traveling to see family I don’t live near…and
possibly make a trip to the beach and dig my toes in the sand in one of those
huge lounge chairs…covered with a big umbrella.
But I know in my heart…from reading this story in 1 kings 5…that part of
my summer needs to be spent seeking out the partnerships that will help me to
do the work God has sent me here to do….reading and studying a little more than
a working school day provides….maybe finishing that book I started writing 3
years ago….maybe even taking a leap of faith to search out a way to get the
devotional book I have written published somehow. The times of peace that God has blessed me
with should be spent seeking out ways to build my relationship with him
stronger…so that others can learn of the power of his great love.
Father…I thank you for the simple revelation this story
brings to my heart. Help me to embrace
the thought of resting in your love…and using the time of peace…taking the
resources you have blessed me with to search out your will in this time of
peace. Take those quiet minutes I spend in my rocking chair on the porch… to
bring to my mind the tidbits of wisdom I need to use my days this summer to
your glory. Show me the pathways to
share what you have given me in writing with the ones who you want it shared
with. Strengthen the relationships I have
with my family … children… and friends.
Show me how to use my time to help you spread the good news of your love
and salvation with others. Amen.
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