Friday, 27th August 2021
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
Section One V1-19 The Wisdom from Connections and Revelations of the Past
How did Solomon respond to God’s blessings and favours for him? He had the blessings from his father David. When he established his political team, half of the people he used were from his father’s generation. Solomon knew the importance of connecting from the past and building up good relationships with his father’s generation. He treasured what David passed down to him, he had been observing and waiting. Relationships and connections are important, Solomon was able to pick the best people to support him because he had good connections with his father’s followers.
We need to know raising up the next generation is very important, it needs the wisdom from God. Don’t just focus on our current generation but to have the long term lenses from God. Every generation is a treasure and blessing from God. Solomon established twelve governors over all Israel and he had connections with all of them. Solomon had the wisdom to make this arrangement so the twelve tribes of Israel could live in peace with one another.
Section Two V20-28 The Understanding from Living in Peace
The twelve tribes were blessed, their numbers were multiplied and their lives were prosperous. David was appointed to fight the Philistines, and because of David’s faithfulness, in Solomon’s reign, Philistines and even Egyptians brought tribute to him. Solomon didn’t need to fight and his enemies all submit to him. Solomon treasured relationship but on the other hand, because of his relationship with others, everyday there were a lot of people eating with him. His life was luxurious unlike his father David. Solomon’s understanding is from the earth, he ruled as a king but at the same time, enjoyed life as a king. His enjoyment became a burden of the others and created riots later on. Solomon lived in peace and he had his own understanding to live his life. But is this really pleasing to God?
Section Three V29-34 Desire to Know the Profound Mystery of God’s Creation
Solomon had a strong desire to know God more and God also gave him wisdom that’s exceedingly great, above everyone on this earth. Solomon knew his wisdom was from God and he was not satisfied, but had more desires to know God and His Creation. Solomon wanted to understand more because he wanted to have fellowship with God’s creations. Don’t live in our comfort lives, but have a desire to know God more, and to be connected with God’s creations.
Solomon’s thirst for understanding enables him to write the Book of Proverbs for his future generations. He also made many Psalms, which showed his connection and communication with God. Let us also have this thirst and hunger for God, to connect with Him and to understand His Heart. If we don’t know God then we won’t be able to follow Him. By studying the Word of God, we can understand Him more and He will reveal to us what’s the purpose of our lives. God will also give us wisdom and blessings for our next generations.
Worship: From Now till Evermore https://youtu.be/kNnZXzsNYPo
Prayer & Pursuit
Through the life of Solomon, God reminds us the attitude we should use to enter into God’s blessings. Do not use our own understanding but the wisdom of God. So this blessing can be passed on to our future generations. Let us live in the wisdom of God, to have this fear for God, to get rid of all the ‘me’ in our lives, and to turn back to God. Then we can live under the blessings of the Tree of Life.
2021年8月27日 星期五
潘锡安牧师
所罗门进入神给他的应许、计划后，他是如何回应神所赐的福？我们可以从这一章的记录借鉴所罗门的做法，反思当进入神给我们教会的命定后，我们要如何应对。
一、承先启后的智慧（v.1-19）
所罗门进入神的应许后，有着从父亲上一代来的祝福。所罗门看重他的父亲，他从过往的观察中知道父辈的官员中有哪些是好的，也认识他们的孩子，所以他的领袖班底有很多是大卫时代的长官的后代。我们的教会也是几代同堂，我们不是只看重有能力的大人，我们也看重下一代的孩子。我们今天所做的、所得到的不只是祝福我们这一代而已，而是要祝福下一代，直到千代万代。所罗门有从神而来的智慧，不仅认识那些父亲曾经的忠臣的后代，也看重与他们的关系，所以可以知人善用。神给我们的每一代都是我们宝贵的财产。我们教会的年轻一代被聚集起来也因此可以一起建立关系。所罗门因着这样的智慧，才能在登基之后迅速将以色列建立成富强的国家。我们是否像他这样看重关系而不是只看事工？
所罗门不仅继承父亲的财产，也懂得开拓自己的一片天地。他在“以色列全地立了十二个官吏”，当中很多是与自己关系很好的领袖，派他们管理十二个支派，在各地处理收税的事务。所罗门打破了过去十二支派各自为政的局面，改为中央集中管理，让十二支派不再彼此攻击而是能够合一。
二、安居乐业的聪明（v.20-28）
“犹大人和以色列人如同海边的沙那样多”（V20a），在古代，人数众多就是极大的祝福，所以以色列十二支派是被神祝福的，这也是神对大卫和所罗门的祝福。他们不仅人多，“都吃喝快乐”（V20b）。所罗门不仅管理以色列，又“统管诸国”，使周围的国家“都进贡服奉他”(V21)。当初扫罗王没有按神给他的使命赶出欺压以色列的非利士人，如今所罗门王不费一枪一炮就让国境四围的国家都臣服、进贡与他。
在本书第二章第7节大卫曾嘱咐所罗门要恩待巴西莱的众子，“使他们常与你同席吃饭”。现在所罗门不仅听了父亲的教训，与巴西莱的众子进餐，而且吃得非常丰盛（V22-23）。所罗门因为看重关系，他的席上就有很多“吃客”，他的生活其实很奢华，与简朴的父亲大卫不一样。所罗门王有自己的聪明，但那是属世的方法。当初先知撒母耳曾经警告要立王的以色列人，他们若离开神的带领而立自己的王时，会受到王的管辖。所罗门知道一个王在地上有的权力，他不仅让自己统治的人吃喝快乐，也让自己吃喝快乐 – 然而，这样挥霍反而造成了人民的负担，引发未来的动乱。我们要从所罗门的经历学到功课，当我们进入神的祝福里面后，不要沉醉当中，求神怜悯帮助我们谨慎，让我们不要倚靠自己的聪明反而过度奢华。
三、渴慕对神创造万物的认识（v.29-34）
所罗门不仅对人民感兴趣，他对神所创造的万物也很感兴趣，他有一颗“广大的心”，对世间万物都有一颗渴慕去认识的心。“东方人”对于当时的人来讲是有智慧的人，“埃及人”对于他们来说是技术发达的国民，但所罗门的智慧超过这一切被认为有智慧有能力的人。所罗门想借着神给他的智慧认识神的创造，他在数千年前就开始研究生物地理。他不是停留在享福中，而是有一颗创造者的心，想与神所创造的一切都有关系。我们现在是否只想安逸在自己的家里，还是愿意去认识神所创造的一切？所罗门不仅有兴趣去认识世界，也将自己的智慧写成箴言教导自己的子孙后代，又做诗歌上千首 – 当时的诗歌是人与神的沟通连结，以此也看出他跟神的关系。求神帮助我们对神的创造充满渴慕的心。我们每天参加晨祷、读圣经，才能从中更明白神创造天地的心，不然我们只会凭着一腔热血行事。我们作为神的儿女，若不喜爱看圣经，我们的生命就与神没有关系，不能祝福我们的下一代。神给我们的祝福是透过我们进入下一代，直到千代万代。求神帮助我们愿意花时间在神的话语里扎根！
*追求与回应：
今天在晨祷的时候，神借着列王纪上第4章告诉我们当进入神给我们应许、祝福后要用如何的姿态去面对。我们是否太过兴奋，用自己的方式来进入神所命定给我们的福。求神帮助我们让神所给我们的福不只是停留在我们这一代或是只有一段时间，求神给我们智慧，让我们首先有敬畏神的心。如果我们过去有很多只顾自我的心，让我们对神说，我们不再这样，我们要跟随神，谦卑顺服、舍己利他，活在神的应许之下。让我们在神的同在中，承认自己过去的愚昧，神的怜悯、祝福、应许就会来到。