The circumstances surrounding Solomon’s rise to power as recorded here in 1 Kings always seems just a little off to me.  First, his father David encourages Solomon to stay true to the statutes and commandments of God, but he then advises him to “knock off” three men to ensure the establishment of his kingship.  After the Lord bestows great wisdom upon Solomon as a reward for his earnest prayer, he goes out and marries outside the family of faith (the daughter of the Pharaoh) to secure peace with the nation of Egypt.  Earlier here in 1 Kings 9, Solomon rightly repays a debt to King Hiram of Tyre for supplying goods for the building of the Temple, but he pays him by giving him rights to 20 cities located in Galilee.  This land was given by divine decree for the nation of Israel and, therefore, not rightly his to give away.
Solomon’s pursuit of wealth and power and his half hearted attempts at keeping the commands of the Lord continues in the verses we have before us today.  
- Chris Adomanis

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Who were these people drafted into forced labor by Solomon?  What was supposed to happen to them by divine decree?  What do you make of Solomon’s decision to keep them in forced labor instead?
+ What do you make of Solomon offering sacrifices to God on altars he built?
+ Why do you think the author mentions the ship building and the gold that was gathered in verses 26-28?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ How would you describe the trajectory of Solomon’s life through the first nine chapters of 1 Kings?  What has led him down this path in his walk with the Lord?
+ The term “half hearted” is used quite frequently in describing the character of Solomon.  Reflect on times you have been half hearted living as a disciple of Jesus.  What can you do to be more “whole hearted” in your devotion?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, sometimes I am not a disciplined disciple.  I am so often led astray by the wants and desires of my heart that I vacillate and compromise in my attitudes and actions.  Have mercy on me and forgive my half hearted devotion.  Fill me, Holy Spirit, and grant me the power to overcome the enemies of my soul.  Amen.

Matthew 7:24-27:  24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.

About an hour before writing this, my husband and I were having a conversation about what it was like once we encountered Jesus to reflect on our own lives before Him. As we talked about how tragically common it is for people to have deep, dark sin before meeting Him (such as involvement in the new age/occult, sexual sin, addiction, etc.), it also came up that often these things can make us look to goals ahead as "the finish line".
For some, it can be the thought that, "Surely, as soon as God decides I'm ready and gives me my husband/wife, then all my questions about my future will become clear."
For others, "I've worked my whole life for this career, and God will give it to me when I'm ready."
This notion of "finally being spiritually ready" for the blessing we longed so deeply for (before Jesus) becomes a thing within reach once we have a relationship with Him. It's as if God was just waiting for us to realize we should do things His way, and then once we do He'll give us what we asked for. King Solomon's father David wrote it himself: Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)
But what happens when our naiveté, immaturity, or simply the distance between head and heart knowledge keeps us from seeing what God sees? That the true desire of our heart is still gripping to our flesh and blood measure of success? Will you still delight in the Lord if you never get married, never get that job, never buy that house?
In this passage, the Lord promises to uphold his word with King Solomon that was given to King David with a (seemingly obvious) condition: that Solomon must keep the Lord's commands, walk in His ways, act with integrity; and if he doesn't, Israel will be cut off and the house Solomon built left in ruins. No pressure or anything, right...?
So, did King Solomon view the building of the temple as "the finish line"? Did he view that accomplishment, though truly done out of a heart of reverence and worship to the Lord our God, as his "finally finished" moment, where he was then free to build his house?
We must never allow ourselves to believe the lie that at some point in our finite time on this Earth, that God has relieved us from the duty of living for Him, free to now put our own goals or desires first. In a world that focuses so deeply on what is or will be given to us, keep your eyes fixed on remembering Whose life has been given for us.
- Danielle Parker

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ The thought of God's "if you turn aside from me" promise is scary. If not read carefully, we could be tricked into thinking God offers conditional love to Israel. But reread verses 7-8. Does He say He will take away His presence, or the gifts and resources that were entrusted and poorly stewarded?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Do you have your eye on a "finish line" right now? Is there somewhere that you've deceived yourself into believing that there is a person, place, or thing that will help achieve ultimate Earthly satisfaction?
+ If you look back on your life, is there anywhere that you always thought would be the "finish line" and then it wasn't what you expected? What did God teach you about Himself in that season?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, thank You for never leaving nor forsaking me. Thank You that so long as I have You, I have more than enough. I confess to You that sometimes my struggles here on Earth make me believe there is something new You could give me to fulfill my heart. You have already given me the One I need when You sent Your only son to this Earth to live a perfect life, die a death I deserved, and be raised from the dead to purchase my life. That is enough, You are enough. You are the finish line Lord, so help me to run the rest of this race with endurance, and thank You for carrying me when I stumble.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ If you have a particular sin or struggle you have been keeping in, release it to the Lord, and confess it to a trusted loved one. Let God speak through those around you.

This is going to sound morbid, but it's what caught my attention most in this passage. Solomon sacrificed 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep.
Think about that for a second.
A quick Google search said it takes anywhere from 1-3 hours to sacrifice an ox (so call it 30min-1 hour for a sheep). That’s 22,000 hours of sacrifice time. 22,000 hours dedicated to the Lord, with tremendous bloodshed.
Honestly, I have no idea how this pertains to our everyday lives, and sometimes that’s okay. Sometimes, just acknowledging the insane measures Old Testament believers took to honor God is enough.
How many of Solomon’s advisers suggested that, “Hey man, maybe we should stop at the 10,000th ox. I think we’re good.”
But the Lord demands our absolute respect, attention, and time.
22,000 oxen. 22,000 sacrificing hours.
Insane.
- Brandon Beylo

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Where in your life do you need to increase your “sacrifice time”?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ What areas of your life have you not sacrified to God because it would take too much time?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, I pray that you give me a heart like Solomon. Help me to give freely of my time, energy, and talents, regardless of the sacrifice. Because you are worth it.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.

This might be my favorite passage from 1 Kings – and there’s so many directions you could go with the text. This is a powerful, God-honoring, theologically rich prayer but, what I appreciate about it this morning is Solomon’s plea for God’s ear. Over a dozen times he asks God to listen or hear the prayers of the people in many circumstances. Remember that Solomon asked God for a “listening heart” in 1 Kings 3? Perhaps he asked for a heart that listens because that’s what he believes about his God’s heart.
In what circumstances do you need God to listen today? For whom else might you ask Him to listen? He’s listening. He hears you, and He sees you. He loves you, and just as His presence filled the Temple in Solomon’s Day, so too will His presence fill the heart of anyone who, by faith, calls on His name.
- Hayden Van Dyke

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What are the various prayers Solomon asks the Lord to hear? Why might he be asking for God to listen to those prayers specifically?
+ What else about this prayer and dedication jumps out to you?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Do you believe God is listening to you? How do you know?
+ What is on your heart that you’d like to lift up in prayer to the Father?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, hear our prayer. When I inevitably fall short, hear my cry for help. When my family is in need, hear our pleas for healing and provision. I trust You and know that You are always with me. I love you, Lord. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ For whom can you ask God to listen out for today?

I was not part of the church plant of the newly commissioned and prayed-for Downtown Hope, but my children were. They have told me about the many places the church called home along the way—from the second floor of Kilwin’s, lovingly referred to as “The Upper Room,” to a school, and finally to the building where we now gather.
There is something beautiful about finally coming home. Permanence.
Imagine, then, the enormous gathering of God’s people as the Ark of the Covenant was brought into the magnificent Temple Solomon had built for the Lord.
This was no ordinary day.
The elders of Israel, the heads of the tribes, the priests and Levites, and the people gathered together. Solomon’s generosity was extraordinary: so many sheep and oxen were sacrificed before the Lord that they could not even be counted. The pageantry and worship surrounding this moment must have been unlike anything Israel had ever witnessed.
And then the Ark was carried into the Most Holy Place.
When the priests came out, a cloud filled the house of the Lord. The glory of God was so overwhelming that the priests could not even stand to minister.
Solomon reminded the people that his father, David, had desired to build a house for God. Yet God had another plan. David had been a man of war, and God promised that David’s son—Solomon, a man to whom God would give rest and peace—would build the Temple.
Now that promise had been fulfilled.
Solomon stood before the people and declared:
“I have indeed built you an exalted house, a place for you to dwell in forever.”
—1 Kings 8:13
As I read Solomon’s words, I found myself wanting to bow before the Lord in worship and awe.
The God who revealed His glory in the cloud would, generations later, send Jesus Christ—the Light of the World—to dwell among us.
And because of Christ, God's presence is not confined to a magnificent building or sanctuary. By His Spirit, He dwells with His people. What an extraordinary thought: God has made His home among us and with us.
“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:1)
- Eileen Dowd

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Imagine yourself standing among the people of Israel that day.
You see the priests carrying the Ark. You hear the sacrifices and worship around you. Then the glory of the Lord fills the Temple. What do you think you would have felt?
+ Are there moments in your own life that seemed almost holy in their significance—a child's birth, an answer to prayer, protection during an accident, reconciliation with someone you love, or simply a moment when you suddenly became aware of God's presence? Share one of those moments.
+ Read verse 6 again:
“Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the Most Holy Place, underneath the wings of the cherubim.”
Imagine the unity of God's people as they witnessed the Ark being carried into its permanent place. When have you been awestruck by God's hand in your own life? How did that experience change the way you saw Him?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Where do I turn first when life becomes difficult? Do I turn to God for help, comfort, and direction—or do I try to carry everything myself? What would it look like for me to trust Him more fully today?
+ Do I remember to praise God for the beautiful moments of my life? Think of one blessing you may have begun to take for granted. How could you intentionally thank and praise God for it today?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Thank You for being a God who desires to dwell with Your people. Thank You for the ways You have been present throughout my life—in moments of celebration, in seasons of difficulty, and even in times when I did not recognize Your hand.
Forgive me for the times I have taken Your blessings for granted or looked elsewhere for comfort before turning to You.
Open my eyes to Your presence. Give me a heart that remembers Your faithfulness and praises You for both the extraordinary and ordinary gifts of each day.
And above all, thank You for Jesus, the Light of the World, through whom I can know You and draw near to You.
May my heart be a place of worship, and may my life proclaim:
“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!”
Amen

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ Share with someone this week about a time when you clearly saw God's hand at work in your life.
+ Ask someone you are discipling—or someone who is discipling you: “Where have you seen God's presence or faithfulness in your life recently?” Then take a moment to thank God together.

1. God cares about the details of work done for Him.
Ten basins, ten stands, pots, shovels, bowls, lampstands, tongs, hinges, doors. Though far less dramatic than the killing of Adonijah, the details of the temple’s interior suggest that work offered to God does not have to be spectacular to matter. Hiram’s craftsmanship was part of worship just as surely as the priests’ sacrifices were. Paul writes in Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

2. Preparation precedes worship.
Verses 38–40 emphasize the basins and implements required before the temple could function as intended. Before sacrifice, prayer, and celebration came an enormous amount of preparation. Someone had to cast the bronze, polish it, position it, and make the tools. Much of what enables worship happens before anyone sees it. Similarly, before Jesus shared the Passover with His disciples, Peter and John were sent ahead to make the necessary preparations. Luke 22:13 tells us, “They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.”

3. God is honored by both beauty and utility.
The temple contained magnificent gold lampstands and elaborate decorations, but also shovels, bowls, basins, and hinges. Some things were beautiful; some were simply necessary. All of them belonged in the house of God. This is reminiscent of what Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:20: “In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use.”

4. Finish what God has given you to do.
“Thus all the work that King Solomon did on the house of the LORD was finished.” Again, this brings to mind Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
- Jason Rimmer

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Do I strive for quality workmanship for the unseen work in my life as well as that which is seen and evaluated?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ What work has been assigned to me that is unfinished? Have I prayed for the Master to make it clear to me what that work is?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, help me to see and know the work you have for me.  May I do it for your glory and honor as an act of praise and devotion. Show me how I may be useful in your work here among the people with whom I interact.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ Is there a spiritual mentor with whom I could discuss this passage?

When I read this, I look at the beauty of the temple that Solomon was creating. What was the purpose? To have the Holy Spirit dwell in the building. Now take all of that beauty that a man is putting in for a creation of God’s temple, and imagine what kind of temple God would create for Himself. That is you! In 1 Corinthians 6:19 Paul reminds us of the severity of our bodily stewardship and that we are not our own, but God’s to use as his temple. You are fearfully and wonderfully made, predestined to be a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit as He works in and through you for His holiness and His purposes. We should be thankful everyday for our temples and the beauty of the bodies the Lord has given us!
- Quentin Parker

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What do you think the significance is of 12 oxen with 3 facing in each direction? (verse 25).

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ How can you view yourself as the temple of the Holy Spirit more often?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Father, thank you for today and the air that we breathe. Thank you for your personal touch of design on us as your creation. Thank you that we have the ability to co-labor with you in your plans. God, we believe in you, help our unbelief. In Jesus’ name we pray…amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.

The first thing I noticed reading these verses is the fact that King Solomon spent 13 years working to build his own palace, while only 7 building the Lord’s temple. At first I thought to myself, Now, why couldn’t this have been the other way around so I could just write a good word about giving more time and effort to God first, and less to ourselves?
But then it struck me… Solomon wasn’t rushing through to get to his own glory, but had more urgency for God’s glory. It was dire that not only his people have a place to honor the Lord, but that his Lord God be given a house to dwell in as soon as possible. If I told my parents, for example, “Hey, Quentin and I want to build you a house near us so we can spend more time with you”, we wouldn’t be dilly dallying to get it done. If we want to give this gift in an effort to show our love, we would be doing it to the best of our ability, giving it all our time and effort, and trying to get it ready at the earliest convenience. Perhaps Solomon was willing to spend more time on his palace because when the Lord dwells with you, you don’t have to worry about providing for yourself. You can trust that the God of the Universe, who provides storehouses for the sparrows of the air, will provide a dwelling place for you in perfect timing as well.
Let us continue on in urgency and desperation to spread the name of Jesus. If we now are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, then His temple goes everywhere that we go. Step into every room you enter with that knowledge and confidence. Then remember that even if it takes 13 years (or so, so many more) to build your house, it was in a moment’s notice that He began to dwell in the temple that is the body He’s given you first.
- Danielle Parker

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ The word for for “costly” as it’s written in verses 9-11 is also translated as “precious”, “rare”, or “valuable” in English, though in the original text is the Hebrew word yaqar. This is the same word used in 1 Samuel 3:1 “the word of the Lord was rare (yaqar) in those days”, Psalm 116:15 “Precious (yaqar) in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints”, and many other places. What does it say that the Lord gave materials as precious as His thoughts towards us for Solomon to use in building his palace?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Where could you press on with deeper urgency to build the Lord’s house, trusting that He is building yours for you in due timing?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, thank You for providing all that I need in the timing that I need it. There has never been a moment where You have been late, missing, or absent. I trust that if Your word says that You are dressing the lilies, providing for the sparrows, and care much more for me, then I don’t have to worry about the time it takes to get where You’re taking me. I love You, Lord. Help to focus on Your temple first and to trust the timing You have set aside for me. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.

First there was a Garden. God walked there in the cool of the day, and man walked with him. Then man disobeyed, and the walking stopped.
God did not give up on being with his people. He gave them a tent instead. A portable structure, moved on the shoulders of one tribe, tended by hands trained for the work. Smoke by day. Fire by night. A visible sign that the invisible God had not left.
Now, in our reading, the tent becomes a temple. Seven years of building. Cedar and cypress and gold, gold on the walls, gold on the floor, gold on the very carvings of palm trees and open flowers. Try to picture it. Every surface catching light. Nothing left plain that could be made beautiful instead.
Solomon updated everything he could. Everything except one piece. The ark stayed the same ark Moses built in the wilderness, mercy seat and cherubim unchanged. The setting kept growing more magnificent. The presence inside it did not change at all. That is the point worth sitting with. God's presence is not upgraded by better architecture. It is as real in a tent as it is under gold.
And here is where the story was always heading. Every believer is now a living temple, the Spirit of God dwelling in ordinary flesh. Not carved cedar. Not gold overlay. Us. Our bodies made holy by their union with a soul that belongs to Him. We are wonderfully made, and then made new again, by grace we did not build ourselves.
Solomon's kingdom will unravel. His sons will fail. Empires will come for what he built. But God does not change his mind about wanting to be with us. Garden, tent, temple, and now you. The address keeps changing. God’s desire never has.
- Mary Gunther

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Solomon replaced almost everything in the temple with something more magnificent, except the ark. Why do you think that one piece stayed the same?
+ The ark's mercy seat represented God's presence whether his people met in a tent or a temple. What does that tell you about what God's presence actually depends on?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ If your body and soul are a living temple, what have you been covering the walls with lately, gold or something you would not want anyone to find?
+ Where has your sense of God's nearness been tied to your setting, a place, a service, a good week, instead of to him?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, you have never stopped wanting to be near me. You walked in a garden, you dwelt in a tent, you filled a temple with your glory, and now you have made your home in me. Forgive me for the places in my life I have left untended, the walls I have not let you finish. Change what is unseen in me before you change what everyone can see. Remind me that your presence does not depend on my circumstances staying golden. Build in me a heart that welcomes you the way Solomon built a house that welcomed you. Amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ Who in your life needs to hear that God's presence with them does not depend on their setting looking impressive right now?

As I read passages such as I Kings 6, there is a temptation to lose my way in the cubits, stones and cedar wood, and the recessed windows and the curiosity of the breadth of third story chambers being larger than the lowest story.  God interrupts this construction narrative with a word for Solomon (verses 11-13).  We find our heavenly Father is more interested in how Solomon will build and conduct his life than the temple he will spend seven years and a fortune building.
In verse 12 we find an “if you will… then I will…” promise from God.  Notice the threefold pattern: if you will walk, obey, and keep my statutes, rules, and commandments.  With this threefold “if,” God reinforces that Solomon is to commit to wholeheartedly follow his ways.  Then God promises a threefold result of establishing his word, dwelling with him, and not forsaking.  The dwelling with and not forsaking are promised not only to Solomon, but also to the people of Israel.  Here God provides Solomon the key in answer to his prayer for wisdom in order to lead the people of Israel (I Kings 3).  Solomon gets true wisdom; connect to my wisdom, just follow me.  God’s conditional promise of his presence among his people foreshadows what we find so often in I and II Kings: as goes the king, so go the people.
- Gary Gunther

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What are some ways Solomon could have kept himself focused on God’s ways?
+ How can I keep myself focused on God’s ways?
+ Why does God not make building this temple a top priority?  In addition to 1 Kings 6, see 2 Samuel 7.

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ In what ways or in what areas do I struggle to obey God? Is struggling with sin our lot in life or is there another way?
+ For a New Testament parallel see John 14:15-24 on the relationship of obedience, love and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Father, help me to walk in your ways and to keep my eyes on you.  May I delight to obey your commandments out of my deep and abiding love for you.  When I wander, restore me and fill me with your Holy Spirit.  May I be a light in this world to bring glory to you.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ What story of obeying God and experiencing his blessing do you have that encourages you and would encourage others?

One of the most striking aspects of the Temple construction’s preparation period is the emphasis the author of 1 Kings places on the quality of the materials that Solomon procures for the Temple. The cedars of Lebanon were known for their outstanding quality. As far as building materials went – this truly was as good as it got. So Solomon procures cedars from Lebanon.
He does not stop there. Solomon takes his reverent desire for perfect craftmanship a step further – he enlists the aid of Hiram, the king of Tyre, and the Sidonians, who were Hiram’s subjects. Why?
Solomon humbly answers that question for us himself in his entreaty to Hiram: “there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”
It is not enough for Solomon that the timber is of the highest quality. Every aspect of this project must emanate excellence. This was, after all, a temple for the Most High God.
Verse 17 is the ultimate presentation of Solomon’s instinct for reverent excellence. “At the king's command they quarried out great, costly stones in order to lay the foundation of the house with dressed stones.” One expositor reads this verse as follows: “He would do everything like himself, generously, and therefore would have some of the costliest stones laid, or buried rather, on the foundation – though, being out of sight, worse might have served.”
Even the largely hidden foundation received great, costly, carefully worked stone! Solomon did not reserve costly craftsmanship only for the visible portions of the Temple. Clearly, Solomon is not doing this work for the praise of man, but for the glory of God – why else would one expend this sort of time-consuming and expensive masonry on a foundation that would lay buried and inaccessible until the day the Temple was toppled in 586BC?
In Solomon’s reverent service, we see an image of the gospel church. Christ, our foundation, is an elect and precious stone. Upon this stone, we build our structure of hope, our worship, our service. With Christ, then, as our precious foundation, let our hands and feet produce works that are reverently excellent – regardless of their prominence in the eyes of man.
- Kidus Kebede

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What is the significance of verse 12, and its placement directly after a description of Solomon’s excellent display of diplomacy?
+ Reread verse 7. Notice that this is Hiram, a gentile, glorifying God. Why do we think Hiram chooses to recognize the power of the one true God?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Verse 17 highlights a beautiful concept – faithfulness before God when people are not watching. Are you faithful in your daily work? Does your daily rhythm glorify God? Do you show up to work on time – even if your boss isn’t watching? Do you turn a blind eye when your colleagues struggle, or do you extend a hand of help – regardless of whether leadership recognizes your efforts?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God – have mercy on me, a sinner. Help me glorify you in all that I do, regardless of the work’s prominence in the eyes of man. I know that faithful stewardship of the resources that you have given me – including, but not limited to, my talents, monetary resources, time, and mental bandwidth – glorifies your holy name. Help me produce excellent things with the abilities and resources you have given me. Amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ What are some ways that we can glorify God in our daily rhythms? This doesn’t have to be something that is explicitly church or ministry connected – every avenue of your life can be excellently stewarded for the glory of God!

King Solomon has it all: innumerable people, land, military might, loyal officers, food, and wisdom. This prosperity doesn’t come from Solomon’s own accomplishments but rather from God’s favor and blessings over his life. “People of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon” (v. 34) because it was Godly wisdom. Solomon had it all, yet we will learn later in 1 Kings how his kingdom becomes divided by his arrogance and foolishness.
Every time I read 1 Kings it reminds me how God didn’t intend for Israel to even have a king… He wanted His people to be set apart, yet the Israelites wanted to be like the other nations. God gave them what they wanted, but at a price. While every earthly king will fail us, we know the King of Kings who will never let us down.
- Cara Fowler

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ This passage is full of interesting facts about Solomon’s kingdom. What surprises you most?
+ Why is verse 25 significant? What would peace have meant to Solomon’s people at this time?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Have I become so comfortable living in God’s blessings that I have become arrogant like Solomon?
+ Do you need to pray for God’s wisdom today?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
God I pray you equip us with your wisdom as we go about our days today. We thank You for times of prosperity and also times of struggle because we know we can trust You. Thank you that you are a good and gracious King who will never fail us.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.

I’ll admit, 1 Kings 4 is the kind of passage I’m tempted to skim. It reads like an ancient organizational chart. Officials. Secretaries. Priests. Commanders. Governors.
Everyone seems to have a job. And then we meet Zabud.
“Zabud the son of Nathan was priest and king’s friend.” (v. 5)
I love that. Someone is over the army. Someone keeps the records. Someone oversees the household. And Zabud? He is the king’s friend.
Sometimes our relationship with God can quietly become another job description.
But Jesus says something to his disciples in John 15:15: “I have called you friends.”
Maybe following Jesus was never supposed to become a life of doing things for him while forgetting how to be with him.
So perhaps the question today isn’t, What does the King need me to accomplish? Maybe it’s simpler: Am I becoming a friend of the King?
- David Bempong

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What do you notice about the different roles and responsibilities Solomon gives to the people around him?
+ Why do you think the writer includes the description of Zabud as “the king’s friend”? What stands out to you about that phrase?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Has your relationship with Jesus lately felt more like something you are doing or someone you are being with? What might be contributing to that?
+ What would friendship with Jesus look like in the ordinary rhythms of your life today? Where could you make room simply to be with him?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Jesus, thank you that you invite me into more than work, responsibility, and religious activity. You invite me to know you. Forgive me for the ways I can become so busy doing things for you that I forget to be with you. Teach me to enjoy your presence and to walk closely with you today. Amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.

Solomon had previously prayed for wisdom and here we see the evidence of the Lord giving it to him. A difficult case without witnesses is brought to him and he must discern the truth. Solomon’s test reveals who truly cares for the child and Solomon’s decision is one of justice.
Sometimes we also find ourselves in difficult circumstances, struggling to determine the true and right way to proceed. Thankfully, the wisdom God gave Solomon is also available to us if we ask for it and seek the Lord in prayer.
- Monica Godfrey

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What is the dilemma put before Solomon?
+ How does he discern the truth?
+ How is wisdom evident in this account?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Am I pursuing God’s truth, justice, and wisdom?
+ Am I asking the Lord to guide me in difficult decisions in my life?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, we thank you that reverence for You is the beginning of wisdom, and that in You we can access wisdom. Make us people who love your truth, justice, and wisdom. Amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ What is one area of your life where you need God’s wisdom?

Perhaps you have read this story many times. Perhaps you have never read it. Somehow Solomon’s encounter with the Living God, regardless of familiarity, always is fresh, raw, real, remarkable.
It’s incredible that the God of the universe comes to Solomon, a sinner.
It’s incredible that Solomon doesn’t wonder who it is…he knows!
Though Solomon is “dreaming,” Scripture reflects a conversation that is intimate and tangible and unmistakably powerful and abundantly gracious. Solomon understands that his father’s faithful God has just shown up for him personally.
Although Solomon is the earthly king, he knows he is in the presence of someone greater than he. He addresses God accordingly. He doesn’t squander this encounter. He doesn’t explain the miraculousness away. He shares his heart.
He isn’t surprised that somehow God already knows it.
He doesn’t hide…though he could have, others have…he humbles himself. He asks.
The Lord was pleased to give what was right for Solomon, His Kingdom, His people.
Yet Solomon also had something to give…he didn’t wonder what God was asking of him…he knew. Wholehearted worship…not at the high places but with God in Jerusalem as the True King led and Solomon, His servant, followed His lead.
How have you encountered the Living God recently? Did you explain the encounter away, hide, or deny it in the distraction of 2026 high places? Or, like Solomon, have you wholeheartedly welcomed the Lord of the Universe into your life and the life of those you lead? What choice will you make today?
- Kim Williams

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Where was Solomon when he heard from the Lord? What was he doing in this location? How does verse three illustrate that the Lord wanted something more from Solomon in his worship? FYI, the NIV exchanges the word “only” for “except.”
+ How did the Lord communicate with Solomon? What surprised you about this relational communication?
+ As you read how Solomon addresses God in verse six, what quality in Solomon’s nature stands out to you? List some of Solomon’s own words in the text that support your answer.
+ God hears Solomon’s request in verse 9. What does Solomon ask for? Verse 10 makes it clear how the Lord felt about Solomon’s request. What do you see in this and following verses about God’s desire to abundantly answer aligned prayers.
+ What “repentant” action takes place in verse 15? Why is this so significant?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Have you found yourself, like Solomon, worshipping in the wrong places? How have you seen the Lord meet you, even in your disobedience?
+ What was your response to God when He stepped into your life (if not in a dream, through a circumstance, relationship, or His Word? Humility or a desire to hide or defend or something else?
+ God clearly was at work in Solomon’s life. Do you believe that He is still at work in yours?
+ What does it look like in your life to “walk in the statutes of David?” As you meet with God as you are ‘walking,’ what are you asking Him for? How is He answering? What is He asking of you?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
O LORD, my God, and the God of David and Solomon: thank you for your faithfulness over time to your people. Thank you for how you met Solomon even as he sacrificed on the high places. Thank you for meeting me today in my own version of disobedience. Help me see the high places that distract me. Give me strength to repent, to turn to You and your Kingdom wholeheartedly. Give me eyes to see what I really need and the courage to ask for it. Though I am not a king, you have entrusted a part of your Kingdom and your people to me. Give me wisdom and discernment as your servant. Equip me with your resurrection power to walk in obedience to what you have already shown me to further your Kingdom today.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ What did the Holy Spirit bring to your mind and heart as you read this story today? What step is the Father asking you to take boldly as you trust Him. Do you believe that Jesus has the power to help you take this step? How will you join the Trinity where they are working in our generation in your sphere of influence?

Passages like 1 Kings 2 are hard to digest.  Earlier in the chapter, Solomon receives some good advice from his father David as he lay on his deathbed.
Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn. (vv.2-3)
However, David then shares some thoughts about a few people who may cause his son problems as he tries to establish his kingdom.  David, in essence, instructs Solomon to liquidate them.  One such person is Shimei and these verses describe how Solomon deals with him.
- Chris Adomanis

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Read the story of Shimei found in 2 Samuel 16:5-8 and 2 Samuel 19:16-23.  Then, read David’s advice to Solomon concerning Shimei found in 1 Kings 2:8-9 before rereading today’s passage.
   - What was David actually asking Solomon to do with Shimei?
   - What was Solomon actually asking Shimei to do in return for his own “safety”?
   - Did Solomon “do the right thing” in his dealing with Shimei as found in today’s   passage?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Have you ever done something that you considered “within the letter of the law” but you knew, either when you did it or even later in life, it was not the right course of action?  Discuss within your Community Group.

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, we are a sinful people, looking at our own interests instead of how our actions may affect others and, even more importantly, go against Your standards and commands.  Forgive us of our trespasses and lead us in the way of truth.  Amen.
Philippians 2:3-5:  3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus...

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ Who in your circles of influence needs Godly, biblical counsel?  Who needs to hear about a God who is immutable, never changing in nature?  (Numbers 23:19, James 1:17)

There are two verses in this passage that the Lord highlights to me as I read and meditate on these words. The first is 1 Kings 2:15, “[Adonijah] said, “You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel fully expected me to reign. However, the kingdom has turned about and become my brother's, for it was his from the Lord.”
When I was a kid… and then a teenager… and then a young adult… My mom has said the same thing to me my whole life.
“You know what I always say… We plan, and God laughs.”
Let me be honest, I am–to this day–still learning to ask the Lord to give me wisdom and strength to deal with rejection and changes in my plans. Ever since I could remember, I had a plan for my life. I was going to do something with music, then specifically musical theatre, then specifically Broadway. I auditioned for every show I could, I went to college for my Acting degree, I sent out many professional auditions. At the same time, I also always knew I wanted to get married, have children, be a stay-at-home mom (because my SAHM was so amazing, it’s all I could think I could give to my kids one day to do a fraction of the job my own mother did). As I expressed these plans to loved ones, I remember being asked, “How are you going to act and travel and also be stay-at-home with your kids? What if your husband isn’t okay with it?” and “That’s great, but what if acting doesn’t work out?” While fair questions, I always thought, “I don’t have a plan B–  because if I did have a plan B, when this gets too hard or scary, I’ll let myself give up. This just has to be it, and I have to succeed.”
Then senior year of high school, supposedly my big finale in my school, I didn’t get the lead I thought I’d get. Then when I got into my dream school and dream musical theatre program, we couldn’t afford it and I had to turn it down. Then when I went to Towson on an acting scholarship, 3 of my 7 semesters there were over Zoom. Then later on when I got a job teaching Creative Writing & Drama at Wiley H. Bates Middle School, I left because I really believed in my plan to act professionally. Every step that I had meticulously planned to go one way, went another.
Yet I can look back, saying and truly meaning, “Thank You Father, that where I expected me to reign, You turned the kingdom about; for the plans You had for me are greater.”
At my ripe old age of 26 [cue 91% of the people reading this laughing at me], I still feel surprised when my plans don’t work out. I still get anxious that I’ve done something to deserve punishment. I still ask God why and wonder if He’s abandoned me because He won’t show me why the minute I ask. But that segues right into the second passage that stands out to me. In 1 Kings 2:26, King Solomon says, “Go to Anathoth, to your estate, for you deserve death. But I will not at this time put you to death, because you carried the ark of the Lord God before David my father, and because you shared in all my father's affliction.”
All I can think is that, all of these plans of what I wanted or what I thought was better, the Lord told me no because He had something greater, because He did. Everything I have and experience now is so much greater than any plans I had 10 years ago, 5 years ago, or even 3 months ago. And yet, “for [I] deserve death”. He spares my life because He didn’t spare His own Son’s life. Even in this verse, Solomon grants something that the priest did as the reason he would spare his life, saying “because you shared in all my father’s affliction”.
The Father has reversed the roles through the life, death and resurrection of His Son for us. Though we deserve death, though we have done nothing to deserve being spared, Jesus carried us. God inspires the apostles Paul and Peter to write:
“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” Romans 8:16-17
“But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:13
“For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.” 2 Corinthians 1:5
Man spares life according to what another has done to benefit us, God spares us according to what He gave up for us.
- Danielle Parker

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Do you read this passage and hear a story about things you would “never do”? Or do you relate to anyone here?
+ Why do you think Adonijah sends Bathsheba on his behalf? Does this parallel how Jesus advocates for us to the Father?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Where are you still clinging to your own plans? Are you okay with your plans being changed or turned upside down?
+ When’s the last time you looked at your own plans and asked God what’s His and what’s yours?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, help me to choose in the afflictions of Christ. Help me to have the wisdom, grace, and mercy to treat others according to what You have done for me, not according to what they have done to me. I release all of my plans to You, for I can see now and understand ahead that nothing you withhold from me is out of spite, but out of love. Nothing You give to me is for the sake of burdening me, but for the sake of stretching me. The comfort zone and the growth zone cannot coexist, so help me to choose righteous growth in every season, every moment, every relationship. Strengthen me where I am weak, and break me where I think I’ve got this on my own. Your word assures me that the plans You have for me are good, prosperous, and hopeful. Thank You, Lord. It’s in the name of Jesus that I pray, amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ Who can you ask to hold you accountable to offering your own plans to the Lord?

I have two daughters, and I know that the first four verses are David’s instructions to his son. But regardless of gender, these are terrific commandments. Imagine living your life with these charges in your head:
+ Walk in His ways
+ Keep His statutes
+ Be strong
+ Show yourself
How much stronger would the church be? We’ve talked a lot about the church as a collection of broken sinners, individuals within a broader community. How much different would the church look if those individuals walked strong in the confidence of Christ, keeping His statutes and standing firm in His ways?
What’s stopping us?
- Brandon Beylo

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ David offers a textbook example of how to live at the end of your life and the power of the spoken word to the ones you love.

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ What are some ways you can instill this type of encouragement to your loved ones and friends?
+ How can we stand firm in His statutes during our everyday, quiet life? At work, at home, etc.

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, thank you for sending your Son to die on the cross for our sins. I pray that you give me the strength to Stand Firm in your Statutes. Help me to never be ashamed of the Gospel, of your story, and of who you are in my life.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.

King David, flawed though he may have been, was a man after God’s own heart. And so, naturally, he would like to have his successor, his son, likewise follow after Yahweh. What we see in these first couple chapters of Kings, and in particular this passage, is two very different brothers.
Let’s look at Adonijah. Earlier in chapter 1 (vv. 5-10) we see Adonijah, the rightful next born heir, declare “I will be king” (1:5), he then sacrifices animals (notice there is no affirmation that these sacrifices were made “unto the Lord”), and gathers together his friends and allies to presumably celebrate his self-proclaimed ascent to the throne.
Now consider Solomon… no selfish declaration of his kingship (even though David had likely told him he would be heir), no sacrifices for show, and instead of gathering the military leaders and those who David had warned against, Solomon stands with the priests and the prophets.
Adonijah would soon be put to death. This is not something the horns of the altar would defend against. And Solomon would be gifted immeasurable wisdom.
The Lord established Solomon’s throne where Adonijah sought to establish himself.
The question I often ponder: am I desiring, pursuing or resting on my own achievements, or I am handing the reins to the eternal King?
When we let go and trust in the word of the Lord, like David and Solomon, we find peace and sometimes even a reward.
Final note: look who David called upon to make sure he was doing the wise thing… his wife, his priest, and his prophet (who represented the mouthpiece of God). Before he died, David said, in the midst of his people, “blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who has granted someone to sit on my throne this day, my own eyes seeing it.” It wasn’t his legacy, it was simply the Lord upholding his end of the covenant.
- Hayden Van Dyke

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ How does King David ensure that Solomon’s coronation is recognized as legitimate and sanctioned by God?
+ Contrast Adonijah’s reaction to Solomon’s coronation with how his supporters reacted. What does this reveal about his leadership?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ In what areas of your life are you tempted to say "I will be king" (like Adonijah) by taking matters into your own hands rather than waiting on God's timing?
+ Solomon offered Adonijah mercy based on whether he would "show himself a worthy man." How can you extend grace and mercy to someone in your life while still maintaining healthy, wise boundaries?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
O Lord, King of Kings, without you, I am dust in the wind. Would you reveal to me where I try to make much of myself and help me instead to glorify you? Show me where I need to let go. Father, I thank you for the people in my life who can give me wisdom when I’m unsure – people I know hear from you and pray for me. I pray for those people right now: God help me to speak the truth in love to them. And finally, thank you for your son, Jesus Christ, who is the perfect King – the one who can sit at the right hand of the Father, and invites us to sit at His feet. It’s in His name that I pray, amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ Ask your friend or loved one to help you see what throne you might be trying to establish in your own life. Have them hold you accountable.

As the scene opens, we find that “when King David was very old, he could not keep warm even when they put covers over him” (1 Kings 1:1).  He had aged prematurely, for scholars say he was only 70 at the time of this writing.
How often families are stirred to action when the patriarch is feeble; and so, with the case of David’s oldest son, Adonijah, who made an attempt to get his father’s throne.
Yet God had other plans.  Nathan, the prophet, gave religious training to Solomon. In fact, he loved Solomon so much that he gave him the name Jedidiah, which means “loved by the Lord” (2 Samuel 12:25).  So Nathan approached Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon, to tell her what Adonijah was preparing to do:
12 Now therefore come, let me give you advice, that you may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. 13 Go in at once to King David, and say to him, ‘Did you not, my lord the king, swear to your servant, saying, “Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne”? Why then is Adonijah king?’ 14 Then while you are still speaking with the king, I also will come in after you and confirm your words.
And so the story goes that Solomon became king, at only 19 years of age.  We will learn how Solomon leads his kingdom throughout our time in 1 and 2 Kings, but for now, how wonderful is the hand of God that he works through us to procure his story, or what we know as History, through Jeremiah, who most scholars believe wrote 1 and 2 Kings.
- Eileen Dowd

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What do we learn about David’s condition at the beginning of the chapter, and why does his weakness create an opportunity for Adonijah?
+ What does Adonijah’s statement, “I will be king,” reveal about his heart? Where do we see the difference between pursuing what we want and waiting for what God desires?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Where might I be tempted to say, like Adonijah, “I will…” without first asking, “Lord, what do you want?
+ Is there an area of my life where personal ambition, recognition, control, or pride may be competing with obedience to God?
+ Who are the “Nathans” in my life - people who are willing to tell me the truth even when it is difficult?  Am I willing to listen to them?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, please direct my steps this week. Before I establish any plans, my prayer is that I will put my trust in your purposes and will courageously obey you. In Jesus’s name, amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.

Biblical miracles may be categorized in at least two ways: purpose and type. Examples of purpose include restoration (e.g., healing the blind; cleansing the lepers) and judgment (e.g., the plagues of Egypt; the withered fig tree). Examples of type include the suspension of natural law (e.g., walking on water; parting the Red Sea) and creative provision (e.g., the widow's oil; feeding the five thousand). Ultimately, miracles reveal God's sovereignty and dominion over all creation.
In this passage from John, the disciples witness Jesus appearing in a locked room without entering through the door (i.e., the miracle's type is the suspension of natural law). And its purpose? Divine revelation. That leads to the next question: Why?
Why did our Savior appear in this way?
Here are three compelling answers, though there are certainly others.
1. To demonstrate the transformed nature of the resurrection body.
Many theologians, including Augustine and Thomas Aquinas, viewed Jesus' appearance in the locked room as evidence that His resurrected body was truly physical while also possessing the glorified qualities of the new creation.
2. To reveal that no barrier can prevent Christ from coming to His people.
John Calvin emphasized that the locked doors highlight Christ's sovereign ability to be present with His fearful disciples despite every human obstacle, particularly as they are commissioned to share the Gospel.
3. To demonstrate continuity with the crucified Jesus.
Jesus shows them His hands and His side so they may know that the One who entered the room is the same Jesus who was crucified, not an apparition.
I confess that I would love to have witnessed that moment. What believer wouldn't? Perhaps John included this account not to satisfy our curiosity about the mechanics of the miracle, but to deepen our confidence in the identity of the One who performed it. The same Lord who could not be kept out by locked doors could not be held by the grave and no barrier can keep Him from accomplishing His purposes today.
- Jason Rimmer

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What would witnessing this miracle have done for my courage and conviction to spread the Gospel?
+ Do I trust the veracity of the scripture enough for it to bolster my courage and conviction today, so many years after the miracle?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, grow my faith as I repeat the words of Thomas, “my Lord and my God!” Let disbelief and doubt be far from me. Bring your words to the forefront of my thoughts. Give me courage to share knowing that we serve a risen Savior who is in the world today and always.  Amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ With what friend or mentor could I discuss this passage?

I remember being a kid in Sunday School and hearing this phrase, thinking: “what on earth is Jesus talking about salt for?” Salt wasn’t just flavor for people’s food, but a preservative for it; a valuable resource for those who had access to it. We have to put ourselves in an “ancient mind” so to speak to understand a world that might not have a refrigerator, or a light fixture at midnight. Salt and Light are necessities in the same way our electricity is. It's dependable. I usually don’t have to think twice about hitting my light switch to make sure I don’t stub my toe, or having a cold glass of milk from the fridge. Jesus calls us to be not only a luxury to those around us, but dependable and valuable so our actions point only to Him. Our actions point others to Christ! Let's not waste that opportunity. Don’t hide His love from the world!
The second half of each set of statements is a warning. Don’t lose your saltiness. Don’t lose your brightness. This sounds similar to Galatians 6 when Paul is encouraging the church in verse 9 to “not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up”. Let us not lose our functionality as Christians because we grow complacent. During the day I teach people firearms safety and marksmanship and I always tell my students “There is no such thing as an accident with firearms, only complacency and lack of training”. When we are complacent we fail to follow through on the things we ought to do, which is a recipe for us to stumble. We have to remember that the things Jesus teaches aren’t instructions for the sake of instructions, He instructs because He knows what is best for us! We should seek training in godliness (1 Timothy 4:8) so we can prevent complacency, keep our saltiness and finish well (2 Timothy 4:7).
- Quentin Parker

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Why do you think this portion of the Sermon on the Mount was given immediately after the beatitudes?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ What is one way you might have “lost your saltiness”? How can you get it back?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Father, thank you for the breath of life and the ability to worship you in all we do. Show us the ways we can be the light as you call us to be. Convict us and sanctify us as we lean into your Word and instruction. Thank you for being the author and perfector of our faith. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.

Isaiah opens Chapter 6 with a vision of the Lord seated on His throne, surrounded by seraphim calling to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” Their voices shake the thresholds, and the temple fills with smoke.
Isaiah doesn’t immediately respond by gleefully shouting, “Here I am! Send me!” Overwhelmed by God’s holiness, he instead laments, “Woe is me!” He recognizes that he is “a man of unclean lips” living among “a people of unclean lips.”
A seraph touches Isaiah’s mouth with a burning coal and declares that Isaiah’s guilt has been taken away and his sin atoned for. The very lips Isaiah confessed as unclean are now cleansed by God and will soon be used to speak His Word. Grace comes before mission.
It is then that Isaiah hears the Lord ask, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Not yet knowing what God will ask of him, Isaiah makes himself available: “Here I am! Send me.” God’s grace moves Isaiah from “Woe is me!” to “Here I am! Send me.”
Centuries later, John tells us that Isaiah “saw his glory and spoke of him,” referring to Jesus (John 12:41). Through Christ, our guilt is taken away; we are reconciled to God! We don’t serve to earn God’s acceptance; we serve because we have already received His grace. God sends us to live on mission in the places He has already put us—our homes, workplaces, neighborhoods, church, and city.
- Jenna Connor

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What does God do for Isaiah before asking, “Whom shall I send?” Why is that order important?
+ What does Isaiah’s response, “Woe is me!” reveal about what happens when we truly see God’s holiness?
+ How does God’s grace move Isaiah from “Woe is me!” to “Here I am! Send me”?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ What keeps you from fully embracing God’s grace? What would it look and feel like for you to say to Him “Here I am! Send me”?
+ How might God be calling you to live on mission right where you are?  Where has He already placed you—at home, at work, in your neighborhood, church, or community?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Father God, I fall short of your perfect holiness, but through Jesus Christ you have cleansed me and forgiven my sins.
Help me to remember that I do not serve to earn your love, but because you love me, saved me, and made me your own.
When I feel inadequate or uncertain about what you would have me do or where you want me to go, please help me to persevere and follow through with whatever mission(s) you have for me.
Mold me into a disciple who is available to you, and ready to say “Here I am! Send me.”
I ask these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.

God's call to Abraham did not end with Abraham. "I will bless you... and you shall be a blessing." That one small word, “and”, changes everything. The blessing was never a destination. It was a pipeline.
Abraham stood against his family, his culture, his whole known world, and left everything familiar behind. His father's household had already answered one call and left Ur, but they stopped at Haran. Halfway felt like enough. God did not let it be enough, because the blessing God had in mind could not be contained in Haran. It had to keep moving, all the way to Canaan, and beyond, to all the families of the earth.
Sarah was barren. Rich in silver, rich in livestock, but empty where it mattered most. How could a people be a blessing if there was no offspring? Barrenness is a metaphor for hopelessness. Abraham was unqualified, standing in the one place hope could not reach on its own. And it was there, before any evidence, before any son, that God spoke blessing over him.
This is how grace works. The blessing comes first. The fruit comes later. God did not wait for Abraham to prove himself useful before promising to bless the nations through him. He blessed a barren, unqualified man and then sent him out to be poured out.
Under it all, one promise: a son. Isaac, born of grace, points us to another Son. Jesus left His Father's house, gave up the ultimate security, and became homeless and fatherless so that the blessing could reach us too.
We have been blessed. Not so it would stop with us, but so it would move through us.
Who is waiting on the other side of your obedience?
- Mary Gunther

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ God tells Abraham, "I will bless you... and you shall be a blessing" (v.2). Why do you think blessing was never meant to end with Abraham?
+ Abraham was blessed before he had done anything to earn it, while he was still barren of any evidence that God would come through. What does that order, blessing before result, teach us about grace?
+ Verse 3 says, "all the families of the earth shall be blessed" through Abraham. How does this one promise stretch all the way from Genesis to Jesus?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Where has God blessed you, materially, relationally, spiritually, that you have quietly kept for yourself instead of passing on?
+ Paul says God comforts us so that we can comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Who around you needs the specific comfort or blessing you've already received from God?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Father, You blessed Abraham not so the blessing would stop with him, but so it would flow through him to every family on earth. Forgive me for the times I have received Your blessings and held them tightly, as if they were mine to keep rather than mine to share. Show me who is waiting for the comfort, provision, or hope You have already given me. Remind me that just as You made Abraham a blessing, and just as You sent Jesus, the ultimate blessing, to the nations, You have made me a blessing too. Give me eyes to see the barren and hopeless places around me, and courage to carry Your grace to them. In Jesus' name, Amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ Who is one person you could bless this week simply because God has first blessed you? Tell someone what you're planning to do, and do it.

One thing that struck me as I read this passage is the flow of thought between verses 1 and 2.  In vs. 1 Jesus sends out his disciples and in vs. 2 he commands them to pray for the Lord to send out workers, the very thing he is doing. As I pray for laborers or perhaps for financial support for a missionary, or help for someone in need I also ask myself where or in what way am I part of the answer to that prayer?
As Jesus sends his disciples he instructs them.  One bit of guidance is to not go from house to house (Luke 10:7).  If a stranger came into town the custom was for each neighbor to invite the stranger to dine and stay with them.  A stranger who was interested in the finest fare or most comfortable lodging could accept an offer and if a better one was presented could “trade up” to a better arrangement.  The implication of this passage is that Jesus’s disciples were to be moving from town to town.  They were not supposed to be looking for comfortable places to remain.  As we share the Good News with others a present day application could be to “keep the main thing the main thing” which is reaching others and not our personal gain or comfort.
- Gary Gunther

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What word or phrase in this passage grabs my attention?  Why?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Am I praying for workers for the expansion of God’s kingdom?
+ Where am I or can I be a part of answering the Father’s call for workers?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord of the Harvest, send workers into the fields which are white for harvest. Show me the area where my gifts can be best used.  Enable me to love others with the same love you have shown me.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ When the disciples returned they came with joy, Luke 10:17.  What story do you have that encourages you and would encourage others?