1 Kings 7:13-22 ~ pomegranates

1 Kings 7:13-22

13 And King Solomon sent and brought Hiram from Tyre. 14 He was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze. And he was full of wisdom, understanding, and skill for making any work in bronze. He came to King Solomon and did all his work.


15 He cast two pillars of bronze. Eighteen cubits was the height of one pillar, and a line of twelve cubits measured its circumference. It was hollow, and its thickness was four fingers. The second pillar was the same.e 16 He also made two capitals of cast bronze to set on the tops of the pillars. The height of the one capital was five cubits, and the height of the other capital was five cubits. 17 There were lattices of checker work with wreaths of chain work for the capitals on the tops of the pillars, a lattice for the one capital and a lattice for the other capital. 18 Likewise he made pomegranates in two rows around the one latticework to cover the capital that was on the top of the pillar, and he did the same with the other capital. 19 Now the capitals that were on the tops of the pillars in the vestibule were of lily-work, four cubits. 20 The capitals were on the two pillars and also above the rounded projection which was beside the latticework. There were two hundred pomegranates in two rows all around, and so with the other capital.

21He set up the pillars at the vestibule of the temple. He set up the pillar on the south and called its name Jachin, and he set up the pillar on the north
and called its name Boaz. 22 And on the tops of the pillars was lily-work. Thus the work of the pillars was finished.

 Bethlehem

Pools Solomon built in Bethlehem. Josephus records them, and the site is actually debated.

Praying for:

Ephesians 5:8b-11
Live as children of light (for the fruit of light consists of all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

Pray for businesses that promote unholy lifestyles to be exposed and shut down and their owners to find Jesus Christ. Ask God to bring in business, commerce, education, and entertainment to the community that would honor Him and bless the people.



Hometowns are an interesting thing.

(God's Throne is surrounded by Emerald Green - His Favorite - so we use this color a lot! Like Baylor does.)

As I said, Hometowns are an interesting thing. David had so much time as child to consider all the Works of God told to David and National Joy in being the People of God. David was sentimental, he was crowned with his old donkey who had endured so much with him. Solomon surely carried the oral stories of David with him, Solomon was also crowned in the mighty Nation riding his donkey, just like his father. And then Solomon did something unusual (more unusual than being crowned from riding a donkey?)

Solomon hired a foreigner to do build the Temple. Moses did not. Certainly not.

Why would Solomon want a foreigner? And then go so far as to Biblically record this man - a foreigner?

Hiram from Tyre. 14 He was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze. And he was full of wisdom, understanding, and skill for making any work in bronze. He came to King Solomon and did all his work.

Hiram was not the only one who was foreign. Boaz was indeed a pillar of Bethlehem. A man extremely godly. A Pillar.

Who married into the family twice. Boaz was Naomi's kinsman. Boaz married Ruth, who was in danger merely for being loyal.

Enter the intriguing reasons why Solomon would want the Pillar to be named Boaz for his great, great grandfather. No songs were sung about Jesse, who was content to let Samuel call the sons anointed future, minus David. Now Boaz, this was entirely different. What would a mighty king bring to a semi-desert? 3 giant pools of water. Not just a donkey, a way a shepherd boy would never be concerned for the flock to be watered.

Possible? Probable? Surely giant ponds could be built many places. Very, very probable. Very yes, from a donkey rider namer of Pillars. Solomon was easing David's pain in life. Probably the only thing Solomon could do to help the people of the present and the shepherd boy his father had been.

What would Solomon have learned this Pillar had to deal with?
Solomon was rather good at solving pain in life - remember the 2 women and one baby.



The events were this Way:

Naomi says she is bitter. Mara. The events of life are always going to be mixed.
Naomi, the joyous grandmother, says she is in a bitter providence of God. However saying God is in charge, an important ingredient in the framework for finding Love, Joy, Peace. Solomon said the Hand of Blessing is the Hand of Woe. Solomon has listened well to the Living Parables in his own life.

What did Jesus do with mixed blessings?
What did Jesus do with this - He says we will always have Trouble in Life.

John's Gospel is orderly to John. The flow of events and their importance. John places the 3rd Chapter, very early, saying Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council and he came to Jesus at night. This is indeed a mixed blessing. Jesus dealt with this as authority, because Jesus is God. Jesus spoke saying, "Are you a teacher of Israel?" Jesus told Nicodemus, "Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God."

Jesus did not run out into the street proclaiming, just like Jesus' brothers
Jesus  tells the truth and waits, like the gentleman the Holy Spirit is. Allowing room for us to discover our feet, our talents, our purpose, our Jesus The Truth, the Son of God.

One of the purposes of life is to discover the Living Parables in our lives. The understanding of what our parents, grandparents and DNA - probably part of the Book of Life - tells in us.

I'd say the Purpose of Life is this:

Father God sets us on our voyage much like the way we send our children to College. Father God waits with Certain Knowledge and joy HE will run to us in our decision to come Home - to Father God.

Talents. What we do with our talents. Samuel Clemens was angered at the thought he owed God any of his Mark Twain thanks. We owe more than that. We owe God some optimism!

Jesus says if we believe what we pray for,
we should have some optimism.

You might say, well not all the news is good and argue some. Even people who face a terminal diagnosis, who have concerns, know that God is going to take care of them, when they believe Jesus is God.

Optimism:
WHAT WILL WE EXPECT from The Lord.
The Providence of the Lord is real.
Straighten up all our paths. Speak the Truth. Give Mercy.

And ask yourselves and tell Father God, what you plan to do with Happiness and the mercies He renews these mornings every day - with Gratitude.

Father God,
I thank You, we live where we may worship as we please. I thank You the soldiers who have fought for us to have freedoms are honored with the Cross Your Innocent Son bore to give me Life for His precious gift to me. And these people who worked for Him.

Glory to Jesus, who gave me life and my name. In Jesus we are chosen, special, precious. I thank my Father God for the innumerable blessings HE willingly and freely gives. I thank Father God I became wiser and had my 6 years of partial blindness removed in the time frame He gave me in this life allowing the wisdom of this surgery. I can see. Thank Jesus.

I thank Father God for the innumerable blessings of having illness recovery for two years , making me realize the joy of a firm foundation in Jesus. We take our health for granted and do not know all the ways He protects us.

I thank God for every opportunity He has given graciously. I thank God I am privileged to live near family. I thank Father God every morning I look out my window and see the variations of sky and light shining on the landscape. I thank Father God, I live in a rather Eden of a place.

I thank God I woke up to see the Light of mankind He has placed here. I pray we wake up and see those who use unkindness to propel themselves forward truly earn no blessing. I pray we realize with joy that Halloween (not my favorite and I don't participate) Candy is not poisonous.

I thank You Father GOD for the new reports of people across this land who witness saving help or sheer Grace - Thank God and Jesus with enthusiasm. I thank God for the news that reports the goodness in mankind.

I give Great Thanksgiving when I feel my day has difficulties - I pray the words of Jesus in The Lord's Prayer and I feel Joy provided. And when I do not, I realize You will help me.

I thank you

Lord, you have searched me and known me!

You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.

You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.

Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
5You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.

Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8If I ascend to heaven, you are there!

If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.


For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.a
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.

My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!

If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.

Jesus will call our name in Heaven, I am covered by His Name and I will Live - Because
of His Vast and Beautiful Mercy and Love.

Thank You, Jesus, and help all of us who pray to live in more optimism expecting You to help. The Joy of the Lord is our Strength.


Amen and Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †