A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns
A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns
agreed with the settlement, the other objected, offering to withdraw her claim on the child if the child’s life were preserved. Solomon discerned the maternal instincts of the true mother and decided the case in her favor. “And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had rendered; and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice” (v. 28). Whereas David appeared to rule as a benevolent dictator making most of the decisions and being at the center of all action, Solomon appeared to be a better manager and delegated authority to others. David did not seem to have the efficient organization. But Solomon organized and implemented a large organization to administer the affairs of the nation during his reign. This had several positive effects. First, this helped insure an increased standard of living for the people of the land (4:20). Second, it helped insure the security of the kingdom throughout the reign of Solomon (v. 21). Third, it further established Solomon’s reputation for wisdom (v. 30). Finally, it freed up the king so he could devote time to other interests, including the collecting of proverbs and writing of songs (v. 32). THE YOUNG LOVE OF SUCCESS The third of the wisdom books traditionally attributed to Solomon is entitled “The Song of Solomon.” Like his father before him, Solomon had a deep love for music which resulted in his writing a thousand and five songs during his life (1 Kings 4:32). The Song of Solomon is related to Solomon in its introductory verse (Song 1:1) and refers to him by name in the song itself (3:11; 8:11-12). Traditionally, the Song was thought to be a love song written by Solomon when he was a young shepherd in the fields of Bethlehem who was in love with a Shulamite girl. She did not believe or know he was the heir to the throne until he returned to marry her. Therefore, it is a book of pure love. Because the song makes specific reference to themes relating to human sexuality, traditions say the rabbis allowed only males over the age of thirty to read the book. Others say the book was written to all, making human sexuality a part of life. Some historic commentators interpreted the Song of Solomon as an allegory of God’s love for Israel and/or the church. Among the best known devotional commentaries based on this view is J. Hudson Taylor’s volume entitled Union and Communion. Recently, some conservative commentators have suggested the book was not one of Solomon’s love songs but rather the love song of a shepherd and his Shulamite spouse who remained faithful to the one she loved despite the advances made to her by Solomon. Those holding this latter view point to Solomon’s reputation for immoral behavior (3:9-10) and confession of sexual frustration (Ecc. 7:25-29) to suggest it highly unlikely Solomon would express love to the Shulamite in the way the shepherd seems to do in this book. Some holding this second view also see an allegorical interpretation of the book and application to the spiritual relationship between Christ and the believer. The primary application of the book according to all recent commentators is to teach four essential principles which tend to build the relationship between a husband and his wife in marriage. However, the Song of Solomon probably suggests the beauty of love, both physical and emotional. This elevation of love is violated by Solomon in his later life. Evidence shows that he wrote the book early; it was probably among his first writings. The key verse is Song of Solomon 2:7, “Do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases.” This suggests a young person should not stir up sexual passion until a person is ready for marriage fulfillment. The story is simple in its beauty. Solomon and the Shulamite girl fall in love as they work in the field. (Solomon didn’t expect to be king because he was not the firstborn and his mother was not a Hebrew.) Solomon leaves for Jerusalem, and the anguish of separated love is expressed and anticipated. He returns
for her and they visit her home. There she is finally vindicated for all the rebukes she received while growing up. THE WORSHIP OF SOLOMON (1 Kings 5:1-9:9) One of the chief concerns of Solomon early in his reign was the building of the temple his father David had desired to build. The plans had been drawn and much of the supplies for building the temple had been collected by his father David, but God had not allowed David to build the house of God. No expense was spared by Solomon in erecting the temple his father had wanted to build. The finest craftsmen and materials were imported at great expense. Solomon introduced conscription to raise the number of laborers which would be needed for the job. Stones were mined and cut before shipping to reduce the need for on-site cutting of stones. Though Solomon invested huge resources into the building of the temple, it still took seven years to complete the task. Solomon’s temple was one of the marvels and wonders of the ancient world. It was twice the size of the tabernacle and completely overlaid in gold. In later years when the remnant would return to the land after a seventy-year absence the glory of Solomon’s temple would still be remembered. On the completion of this temple, Solomon organized what may well have been the most spectacular dedication service of any religious structure in the history of mankind. Thousands of musicians and singers were a part of the planned music for the occasion. The number of sacrifices offered on this occasion was so great that no attempt was made to count them. But the most spectacular feature of the service was unplanned. God Himself attended the celebration and filled the temple with His Shekinah glory cloud. The people and priests could do nothing but recognize and enjoy the presence of the glory of the Lord. Clearly, that day was among the most spectacular in the long history of God and His people. At a moment like that, it is hard to believe there would ever be a time when Israel might not be enthusiastic in its zeal to worship, serve, and follow God. But God knew that many times would come when His people would rebel against Him. That evening, God appeared to Solomon to warn of a time when Israel might be subject to the judgment of God, and to propose a strategy that would bring spiritual renewal to replace the wrath of God with the blessing of God. Throughout history, the principles revealed by God that evening have been recognized as the key to experiencing revival blessing.
- Page 164 and 165: THE WIFE OF MANOAH (Jud. 13:1-25) (
- Page 166 and 167: decaying carcass of the lion as a h
- Page 168 and 169: Delilah sought to learn the secret
- Page 170 and 171: With the compromising Levite and Mi
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- Page 174 and 175: “Then she made a vow and said, `O
- Page 176 and 177: the voice again, he was to remain w
- Page 178 and 179: territory, to Beth Shemesh, then He
- Page 180 and 181: when they would cry out to God beca
- Page 182 and 183: finding the lost asses; however, hi
- Page 184 and 185: a battle and the ensuing loss of li
- Page 186 and 187: Philistines disarmed the nation so
- Page 188 and 189: to mourn until God intervened and s
- Page 190 and 191: valley of Elah. “I defy the armie
- Page 192 and 193: Saul began to view David as a perso
- Page 194 and 195: Samuel were staying, he too began p
- Page 196 and 197: dead. Every legitimate means of dis
- Page 198 and 199: On the death of Saul, David was the
- Page 200 and 201: elieved Joab could be trusted. He p
- Page 202 and 203: that place until the dedication of
- Page 204 and 205: his own bed in Jerusalem rather tha
- Page 206 and 207: David himself had called for the st
- Page 208 and 209: When his cousin Jonadab probed Amno
- Page 210 and 211: attlefields against Absalom, the ot
- Page 212 and 213: enemies of Israel during his reign.
- Page 216 and 217: THE WEALTH OF SOLOMON (1 Kings 9:10
- Page 218 and 219: Though most of the book contains an
- Page 220 and 221: JEROBOAM AND REHOBOAM: The Division
- Page 222 and 223: chance of succeeding, and now it wa
- Page 224 and 225: It took the serious illness of his
- Page 226 and 227: Kingdom of Israel. The political tu
- Page 228 and 229: God. This apostate dynasty would le
- Page 230 and 231: anticipatory sense as the next dyna
- Page 232 and 233: The Man of Like Passion and Power (
- Page 234 and 235: again appear in the sky and the ear
- Page 236 and 237: times before his servant saw a smal
- Page 238 and 239: for the king. “Because you have l
- Page 240 and 241: Rather than call for the surrender
- Page 242 and 243: On another occasion, Elisha raised
- Page 244 and 245: “And it all happened after this t
- Page 246 and 247: In a strange chain of events, while
- Page 248 and 249: different pattern of ministry in se
- Page 250 and 251: that Israel’s captivity really be
- Page 252 and 253: epentance. Even before the Northern
- Page 254 and 255: you shall go up to the house of the
- Page 256 and 257: tree with a saw, cutting the prophe
- Page 258 and 259: FORTY-SIX JEREMIAH: The Collapsing
- Page 260 and 261: (597-586 B.C.) Nebuchadnezzar appoi
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for her and they visit her home. <strong>The</strong>re she is finally vindicated for all the rebukes she received<br />
while growing up.<br />
THE WORSHIP OF SOLOMON<br />
(1 Kings 5:1-9:9)<br />
One of the chief concerns of Solomon early in his reign was the building of the temple<br />
his father David had desired to build. <strong>The</strong> plans had been drawn and much of the supplies for<br />
building the temple had been collected by his father David, but God had not allowed David to<br />
build the house of God.<br />
No expense was spared by Solomon in erecting the temple his father had wanted to build.<br />
<strong>The</strong> finest craftsmen and materials were imported at great expense. Solomon introduced<br />
conscription to raise the number of laborers which would be needed for the job. Stones were<br />
mined and cut before shipping to reduce the need for on-site cutting of stones. Though Solomon<br />
invested huge resources into the building of the temple, it still took seven years to complete the<br />
task.<br />
Solomon’s temple was one of the marvels and wonders of the ancient world. It was twice<br />
the size of the tabernacle and completely overlaid in gold. In later years when the remnant would<br />
return to the land after a seventy-year absence the glory of Solomon’s temple would still be<br />
remembered.<br />
On the completion of this temple, Solomon organized what may well have been the most<br />
spectacular dedication service of any religious structure in the history of mankind. Thousands of<br />
musicians and singers were a part of the planned music for the occasion. <strong>The</strong> number of<br />
sacrifices offered on this occasion was so great that no attempt was made to count them. But the<br />
most spectacular feature of the service was unplanned. God Himself attended the celebration and<br />
filled the temple with His Shekinah glory cloud. <strong>The</strong> people and priests could do nothing but<br />
recognize and enjoy the presence of the glory of the Lord. Clearly, that day was among the most<br />
spectacular in the long history of God and His people.<br />
At a moment like that, it is hard to believe there would ever be a time when Israel might<br />
not be enthusiastic in its zeal to worship, serve, and follow God. But God knew that many times<br />
would come when His people would rebel against Him. That evening, God appeared to Solomon<br />
to warn of a time when Israel might be subject to the judgment of God, and to propose a strategy<br />
that would bring spiritual renewal to replace the wrath of God with the blessing of God.<br />
<strong>Through</strong>out history, the principles revealed by God that evening have been recognized as the key<br />
to experiencing revival blessing.
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