1 Kings 4; Proverbs 1-2; Psalm 43; Romans 9
God blessed Solomon with exceptional wisdom, granting him material prosperity and peace with surrounding nations. During Solomon's reign, there were virtually no wars, and all the neighboring kingdoms were subject to him (1 Kings 4:24). This was mainly due to God's promises to David, Solomon's father.
The Proverbs of Solomon are a divinely inspired portion of Solomon's writings that the Holy Spirit decided to include in the Holy Scriptures. The purpose of the book is presented right from the beginning. It is written from a father to a son to help him: "...to know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity" (Proverbs 1:2-3).
The book of Proverbs begins with several fundamental values:
- The paramount importance of the fear of the Lord: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge" (Proverbs 1:7).
- The importance of obedience to parents (Proverbs 1:8-9).
- The danger of negative peer influence (Proverbs 1:10-19).
- The importance of wisdom and the right attitude towards it (Proverbs 1:20-33). Wisdom must be heeded (Proverbs 2:1-2) and diligently sought after (Proverbs 2:4). True wisdom will inevitably lead to God and the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 2:5-8). Wisdom will protect from the dangers of life (Proverbs 2:9-15).
- One of the most significant functions of wisdom is to "...save you from the adulterous woman...Her house leads down to death, and her paths to the spirits of the dead" (Proverbs 2:16,18).
Psalm 43 is a continuation of Psalm 42 and speaks of the same theme. The psalmist pours out his soul in his sorrow: "Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?" (Psalm 43:9) and finds comfort in God: "Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God" (Psalm 43:4).
Romans 9, along with the following two chapters, is devoted to the place of Israel and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Having explained in previous chapters that salvation is possible only through the imputed righteousness of God given by grace and received through faith in Jesus Christ, the apostle emphasizes that the history of Israel also had meaning: "theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah" (Romans 9:4-5). Paul continues: "...Not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham's children" (Romans 9:6-7). He then describes how God chose Jacob, who became the son of the promise. The apostle quotes the prophet Malachi: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated" (Romans 9:13).
The central part of the chapter is dedicated to defending God's right to show mercy to whom He wants (Romans 9:14-24). This leads to an explanation of the salvation of the Gentiles, who became children of God by His mercy (Romans 9:25-26). However, Israel is not completely rejected; a remnant will be saved (Romans 9:27).
The Proverbs of Solomon are a divinely inspired portion of Solomon's writings that the Holy Spirit decided to include in the Holy Scriptures. The purpose of the book is presented right from the beginning. It is written from a father to a son to help him: "...to know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity" (Proverbs 1:2-3).
The book of Proverbs begins with several fundamental values:
- The paramount importance of the fear of the Lord: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge" (Proverbs 1:7).
- The importance of obedience to parents (Proverbs 1:8-9).
- The danger of negative peer influence (Proverbs 1:10-19).
- The importance of wisdom and the right attitude towards it (Proverbs 1:20-33). Wisdom must be heeded (Proverbs 2:1-2) and diligently sought after (Proverbs 2:4). True wisdom will inevitably lead to God and the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 2:5-8). Wisdom will protect from the dangers of life (Proverbs 2:9-15).
- One of the most significant functions of wisdom is to "...save you from the adulterous woman...Her house leads down to death, and her paths to the spirits of the dead" (Proverbs 2:16,18).
Psalm 43 is a continuation of Psalm 42 and speaks of the same theme. The psalmist pours out his soul in his sorrow: "Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?" (Psalm 43:9) and finds comfort in God: "Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God" (Psalm 43:4).
Romans 9, along with the following two chapters, is devoted to the place of Israel and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Having explained in previous chapters that salvation is possible only through the imputed righteousness of God given by grace and received through faith in Jesus Christ, the apostle emphasizes that the history of Israel also had meaning: "theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah" (Romans 9:4-5). Paul continues: "...Not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham's children" (Romans 9:6-7). He then describes how God chose Jacob, who became the son of the promise. The apostle quotes the prophet Malachi: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated" (Romans 9:13).
The central part of the chapter is dedicated to defending God's right to show mercy to whom He wants (Romans 9:14-24). This leads to an explanation of the salvation of the Gentiles, who became children of God by His mercy (Romans 9:25-26). However, Israel is not completely rejected; a remnant will be saved (Romans 9:27).
Posted in Reading Bible Together