December 13, 2024 1 Kings 9:15-24
December 13, 2024 1 Kings 9:15-24
15 And this
is the account of the forced labor that King Solomon drafted to build the
house of the Lord and
his own house and the Millo and the wall of Jerusalem and Hazor
and Megiddo and Gezer 16 (Pharaoh king of
Egypt had gone up and captured Gezer and burned it with fire, and had
killed the Canaanites who lived in the city, and had given it as dowry
to his daughter, Solomon's wife; 17 so Solomon
rebuilt Gezer) and Lower Beth-horon 18 and
Baalath and Tamar in the wilderness, in the land of Judah, 19 and
all the store cities that Solomon had, and the cities for his chariots,
and the cities for his horsemen, and whatever Solomon desired to
build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion. 20 All
the people who were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the
Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of the people of Israel— 21 their
descendants who were left after them in the land, whom the people of
Israel were unable to devote to destruction—these Solomon drafted to
be slaves, and so they are to this day. 22 But of
the people of Israel Solomon made no slaves. They were the soldiers, they were
his officials, his commanders, his captains, his chariot commanders and his
horsemen.
23 These
were the chief officers who were over Solomon's work: 550 who had
charge of the people who carried on the work.
24 But Pharaoh's
daughter went up from the city of David to her own house that Solomon had
built for her. Then he built the Millo.
Another interesting
passage. Solomon had numerous captives serve as servants. He built up the city
of Jerusalem. He collected numerous chariots and horsemen. He chose to do
things his way. He married an Egyptian woman who was Pharoah’s daughter. God
simply wanted obedience from Solomon and the Israelites. We see in the book of
Psalms that David also warned: “Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but
we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God.” (Ps. 20:7). Solomon fell into
sin and was impressed with his great wealth. He no longer fully depended on God
for his provisions.
Are we similar to Solomon
and his sins? Are we depending on God for our provisions? Take some time today
to reflect on your relationship with the great provider.
Debbie Walker
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