Plans

O. T. #775  "Plans"
June 16, 2016
1 Kings 9-Part 3


LET IT GLOW

In relation to the recent tragic shooting Florida, I wanted to share this. Our local airport has a direct flight to Orlando. This morning, I heard on the radio of the compassion shown to a grandmother flying on it to attend her grandson's funeral, one of the 50 who was killed in the horrible rampage killing there. The two stewardesses decided to give their passengers the opportunity to express their condolences to the grandmother by passing around a piece of paper on which they could sign their names in support. The hour and half flight produced pages of messages of encouragements to this hurting woman. Also, on the way off the plane, every passenger took time to speak to or hug this hurting heart. Now is that love? I'm sure it helped her feel that she was not alone in her pain. Through this I learned that  we can show Jesus' love and compassion if we are only looking for the opportunity.

Now, turning to the Word, we pick up in verse 15 where Solomon had forced labor in the construction of the Temple, royal palace, buildings, wall of Jerusalem, and cities of Hazor, Megaiddo, and Gezer.
Let's focus on the city of Gezer:

• King David never completely subdued the Philistine cities, so Egypt felt free to invade Philistia even while David ruled. Possibly the Egyptian king felt he overreached in the invasion and gave Gezer to Solomon.
• Pharaoh, king of Egypt, had attacked and captured Gezer, killing the Canaanite population and burning it down. (verse 16)
• He gave the city to his daughter as a wedding gift when she married Solomon.
• Solomon rebuilt the city of Gezer.
• Control of Gezer permitted Israel to control the coastal north-south trade route and one of the approaches from the coast to Jerusalem. Pharaoh was forced into an unusual, perhaps humiliating, marriage alliance in which he gave an Egyptian princess to a foreign king.

Sounds like Solomon had some good plans. God planned out all of His creation and carried them out. Do we ask God to establish our plans? Do we carry out our plans to completion and for His glory?


LET IT GROW

What else did Solomon do?

• He established supply centers and towns where he stored the chariots and horses.
•  He built everything he desired in Jerusalem and Lebanon, as well as throughout his entire realm.
• There were still foreigners living in the land, so they were made labor force.
• He assigned men available to be Israel's fighting army, officers, government officials, commanders of his chariots, and supervisors for his projects.
• He moved his wife, the Pharaoh's daughter into her new house.
• Solomon presented burnt offerings during the appointed times.
• He built a fleet of ships; Hiram sent experienced crew men to sail with Solomon's men in order to protect the shipment of gold (16 tons).
• Luxury items and goods were sent on the trade routes, establishing a world trade international system.

It sounds like Solomon used his God-given wisdom to establish the wealthiest kingdom for Israel at that time. Did he seek God's will and direction? We don't read it in the Word, but who else would give him those ideas/

Do we ask God for directions and His leading us in our projects? Do we ask for His wisdom along the way?

LET IT GO

Lord, You are the creative one, so lead me in the ways that will honor You.

Establish my plans, Jesus.

May You receive glory in all I do.