Day 164 – June 13, 2021
Scriptures: 1 Kings 9-10, 1 Corinthians 10 “For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.” (1 Corinthians 10:33) Solomon’s ultimate downfall will be that he does not look to the good of many, but himself. Making commonplace the riches of the world, he lives in direct betrayal of a seemingly benign thing. He receives several thousand horses from Egypt. It wouldn’t be a big deal, if it weren’t for the book of Deuteronomy, and a clear warning: “The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.”” (Deuteronomy 17:16) It wasn’t a one-time thing, it was constant: “Year after year, everyone who came brought a gift—articles of silver and gold, robes, weapons and spices, and horses and mules. Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills. Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue—the royal merchants purchased them from Kue at the current price. They imported a chariot from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. They also exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and of the Arameans.” (1 Kings 10:25–29) We hold up Paul as an exemplar in the Christian faith, one to follow as he follows Christ. He had the right to do anything, but he disregards that right, for the sake of the community of believers. It may have been good for him, but at what expense to others? Solomon, receiving horses from Egypt, while at the face of it, doesn’t seem that bad. But God declares the people of Israel are not to return to Egypt. For God, he is instructing his people that they’ve left that world and way behind. But the power of Egypt keeps drawing them back. Consider today what we are drawn to that God calls us away from? Leave Egypt, leave sin and death. Consider others over yourself. It may be seemingly benign, but a return to an old way might do us harm. For Paul, he encourages the believers to leave the old life and live a new life in Christ. I invite you to do the same! Jordan
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AuthorJordan Ickes, Minister of Etna Green Church of Christ. Archives
December 2022
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