The great work which David began is now finished. He sleeps and his son reigns in his stead sitting on the throne of the Lord.

Sometimes the answer is "No." One of David's greatest desires was "to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, for the footstool of our God." (1 Chronicles 29 v 2) But when he expressed his desire to do so, God said No. "You are not to build a house for my name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood." (v 3) However, David was told that his son Solomon would build the temple, as David desired to do.

It is a credit to David's character that after he had been told "No," he didn't go off, turn his back on the whole project, and sulk. David's enthusiasm never dwindled. Even if he couldn't build the house for his God, he would put his all into preparing for it. David's devoted preparation work for the temple virtually left Solomon with only the job of putting it together.

I wish we all had the same attitude as David, then, when we face negative issues, we would be able to put a positive slant on it, keep up our enthusiasm, and do all we can do, where and when we can. As someone once said, when life hands you lemons, make lemonade!

V.10-19 This beautiful thanksgiving prayer was overflowing with gratitude and delight at seeing the warm and widespread interest that was now taken in forwarding the favorite project of David's life to Solomon. In praying for the continuance of this happy disposition among the people, and in solemnly and earnestly commending the young king and his kingdom to the care and blessing of God.

Vs.6-8 The Israelites had amassed great wealth through their conquests.  However, it was realized that this wealth came from Yahweh (vs. 12,14). 

Therefore, to give back to Yahweh generously and cheerfully was appropriate. 

Do we consider what we possess a gift from Yahweh?  Do we give generously and cheerfully in His service when the occasion arises (2Cor 2:9)?

29:18  We see a contrast between man’s way of thinking – Gen 6:5 and what David desired the people to be like now Solomon was on the throne. Whereas in Genesis 6 their imagination had been ‘evil’ David wants the people’s imagination to be ‘unto’ God.

29:23 We should not underestimate the force of the words ‘the throne of the Lord’ for indeed there was a kingdom of God on the earth with human kings sitting on God’s throne ruling on His behalf. A foretaste of the Kingdom age when Jesus will ‘sit on the throne of his Father David’ – Luke 1:32 What a wonderful end to this books of names and ancestry!

29:10 The phrase ;our father’ and the sentiments of the next verse can be seen in ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ in Matt 6:9-12

V.17 Yahweh triest the heart (KJV); test the heart (ESV).  Yahweh knows all the thoughts of humankind: for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought (1Chron 28:9) (ESV).  See also Luke 8:17.

And so, we should make sure that our inner person matches our outer presentation.  Yahweh is not fooled, even though we might fool others.  Remember, that every evil deed is preceded by an evil thought (Mark 7:21-23).  Therefore, let us take care of what we think.

V.22 Solomon was first made king under challenging circumstances. Adonijah was slyly crowned king with the help of Joab and Abiathar the priest (1Kin 1:7,18). In response to this audacious act, David hurried to make Solomon king (1Kin 1:33,34).

Because of Abiathar’s help in making Adonijah king, he was deposed as high priest and Zadok took his place.

V.27 The  numeral 40 represents a period of trial (e.g. 40 days rain during the flood, Gen 7:4; Moses and Israel 40 years in the desert, Num 14:35; Jesus 40 days of testing in the wilderness, Matt 4:2).

But how was 40 years as king a trial for Solomon? Well, Solomon was given wisdom beyond any other man.  Also, he was given enormous wealth.  Furthermore, his reign was one of prosperity and peace. 

But, with all that, human nature and free will were still at work.  Solomon’s trial was to keep all his fortunes in perspective and to remain loyal to Yahweh his God.  He failed because he gave in to the weakness of the flesh, and brought idolatry into his kingdom (1Kin 11:4-10).  

We can learn a mighty lesson from Solomon.  Whatever our circumstances, rich or poor, learned or not, we must always keep our eyes on the spiritual ball.  We must watch ourselves and take care of Yahweh’s business, or we will lose our reward (2John 1:8).

As we observe world news we can see nations being positioned to fulfil their roles in prophecy.  It is good for us to watch the geo-political heavens in the light of prophecy for it confirms our faith and encourages us.  But, we should also take care of our walk. 

The exciting events of Ezekiel 38 (continued in Ch. 39) will take place in the end times. Christ, who has returned, will save Israel from the invaders. 

We will have been judged by then and those accepted will be with Jesus to deal with the enemy on the mountains of Israel. He could arrive at any time for us. If we intend to be there with Him, let's take care of His business now.

“In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war, ...You will say, "I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people-all of them living without walls and without gates and bars.” NIV
 I am in agreement with the above brethren. It is clear that Israel will be in absolute safety before their attack from the North. This means no Palestinian troubles whatsoever, bars gone, wall(gates) removed…..etc...
Recovered from war (NIV). This is a circumstance after the regathering. They are definitely in War now!!!!
No Bars and Gates…They have to come down first!!! It is no coincidence that the wall is going up now. The LORD is working the scene to draw everyones eyes to the wall. What good would it be to state "no bars, unwalled" if one wasn't in existence prior to that statement. Same logic for the Jews. What good would it be to state "Brought back from the sword" or "gathered out of many people" if they weren't under the sword prior to this statement or weren't scattered.
I think they will get rid of the Palestinian problem themselves…and then the Jews will believe it was done by their own hands-not God’s and so this is why God intervenes and says:
Ezek 39: 26 After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made [them] afraid.
I believe this situation will most likely develop when we are 10 years at Sinai, so we only need to expect only the chessboard being set-up, not the actual playing in our time. Let us take stock now!!!J

Ezekiel 38: The Coming Crisis

The re-alignment of our latter-day nations really does appear to be exactly as God told Ezekiel all those years ago. The recent re-emergence of Russia as a world power, with the support of many of the Middle Eastern Arab nations, plus possibly the Catholic nations of Europe can well be the fulfilment of today’s chapter. They are questioned by the English-speaking nations of UK and USA in Eze 38:13– but what becomes of that grouping we are not told in this chapter – except of-course that we know that King Jesus will spread His control over all the world, so that eventually the nations will not be individual states, but one, like a sea of glass.

38:5  The association of Persia – modern day Iran – with Libya – is most interesting against the background of comments made by both countries in 2005 about Israel and how that nation should not exist. The president of Iran made a number of vitriolic comments about Israel and political leaders in Libya sent on record assenting to the truth of what Iran’s president had said. Of course these comments about Israel are not new. The Arabs have been saying them since the nation was re born in 1948.

38:17 God is in control of the invader though we learnt – Ezekiel Eze 38:11 – that he thought it was all his won idea!

38:8  The land that is ‘brought back from the sword’ is speaking of Israel dwelling peacefully.

If you would like a brief overview considering the return of Jesus and the sequence of events after He has returned, please e-mail me for a copy of: The Return of Jesus and End-Time Prophecy.

38:4 Whilst Gog will have the evil thought and desire to come against Israel we see clearly that God is in control. It is He who ‘will bring thee forth’.

38:10 ‘evil thought’ might seems to be a general description of God’s thoughts however it is exactly the same Hebrew that is used to speak of Haman’s ‘wicked device’ – Est 9:25 linking the two ideas. Haman wanted to eliminate the Jewish people.

Notice also the way in which things to do with Shechem - where Jesus was at the well - are alluded to in this chapter

V.21 Jesus answers that it is not where one worships that matters, but, the attitude of heart and mind is what matters. It is not the the "where", but the "how" and the "what" that is important.

V.24  Tells us about Yahweh and how He must be worshipped.  Worshipping the invisible God in spirit and in truth necessarily excludes the works of the flesh (Gal 5:19-21). These works must be replaced by the fruit of the spirit (vs. 22-25). 

Note that one component of the works of the flesh is idolatry.  We associate idolatry with the worship of false gods made of wood, stone etc. in which we would never engage.   It should be noted, however, that idolatry is equated by Paul with covetousness, something in which we are more likely to be engaged (Col 3:5).

4:42 Notice that the Samaritans saw ‘Christ’ as the ‘saviour of the world’. To the Samaritans a saviour / Christ for only Israel would have been of little value.

FAITH IS A GIFT THAT GROWS AS WE USE IT

John 4:53 - "he himself believed, and his whole house"

4:5 In saying that it was ‘the sixth hour’ we appreciate that Jesus sat on the well at mid day – the hottest part of the day. It was normal for the water to be collected early in the morning in the cool. This lady came at mid day which in itself indicated she did not fit in with the other women.

4:27 In saying that ‘we’ know who we worship Jesus is echoing the words he had spoken to Nicodemus - John 3:11

V.2  It would not have been proper for Jesus to baptize anyone. Those who would have been baptized by the Master might have valued their baptisms over baptisms by His servants, the disciples.  Besides, Jesus was (and is) the central figure of baptism, and any hint of favoritsm or ego would be counterproductive to the Gospel (Acts 2:38; 8:12).

4:6 Jesus being ‘weary’ indicates that he shared our weaknesses. Simply getting tired is a consequence of sharing Adam’s nature. Whilst we might use weariness as a reason for taking things easy this was not so with Jesus The woman arrives and a discussion follows. Jesus does not excuse himself on the basis of weariness, he simply started to preach – and as a consequence was refreshed by the time the disciples returned. Do we excuse ourselves from involvement in activities on the basis of weariness or, because of weariness join in activities knowing that we will be spiritually uplifted by the activity?

EFFECTIVE FAITH

Faith is believing without seeing. The writer to the Hebrews puts it this way: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Heb 11:1)

An excellent example of faith shown in this way was that of the royal official whose son was sick. He wanted Jesus to come to his house to heal the boy, but instead Jesus simply said, "You may go. Your son will live." (John 4:50) Many others would have hung around insisting that Jesus see, touch and speak to the boy to make him better, after all, this is what had happend to everyone else. But not this man. Of him we read, "The man took Jesus at his word and departed." (v.50) There was no sign, no anouncement, no voice from heaven or flash in the sky, there was nothing except a word from Jesus and the action of faith.

The royal official and his son were not the only ones to benefit from such a great display of faith. As the royal official explained his story, "He and all his household believed." (v.53)

While our individual faith and our answers to prayer might seem a very personal thing, we, like the royal official, can turn people to God by simply sharing with them the way God has worked in our lives and showing our example of undoubting faith.

So let's take Jesus at his word and step out in faith, showing our trust in him in action. Then, when we share what God has done for us, others may also put their trust in him.

4:22 The discussion in which the woman at times tries to evade Jesus’ questions and comments does revolve around fundamental truth. Jesus is careful in his questioning and discussion not to be confrontational. However he still makes the point about where salvation emanates in no uncertain terms. We must take care to, whilst avoiding confrontation, still present the clear true gospel.