And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. 1 Kings 4:33.
As the years went by and Solomon’s fame increased, he sought to honor God by adding to his mental and spiritual strength, and by continuing to impart to others the blessings he received. None understood better than he that it was through the favor of Jehovah that he had come into possession of power and wisdom and understanding, and that these gifts were bestowed that he might give to the world a knowledge of the King of kings.
Solomon took an especial interest in natural history, but his researches were not confined to any one branch of learning. Through a diligent study of all created things, both animate and inanimate, he gained a clear conception of the Creator. In the forces of nature, in the mineral and the animal world, and in every tree and shrub and flower, he saw a revelation of God’s wisdom; and as he sought to learn more and more, his knowledge of God and his love for Him constantly increased.
Solomon’s divinely inspired wisdom found expression in songs of praise and in many proverbs…. In the proverbs of Solomon are outlined principles of holy living and high endeavor, principles that are heaven-born and that lead to godliness, principles that should govern every act of life. It was the wide dissemination of these principles, and the recognition of God as the One to whom all praise and honor belong, that made Solomon’s early reign a time of moral uplift as well as of material prosperity….
O that in later years Solomon had heeded these wonderful words of wisdom! O that he who had declared, “The lips of the wise disperse knowledge” (Proverbs 15:7), and who had himself taught the kings of the earth to render to the King of kings the praise they desired to give to an earthly ruler, had never with a “froward mouth,” in “pride and arrogancy,” taken to himself the glory due to God alone!
Conflict and Courage p. 191
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Prayer Requests
—–prayers are appreciated as Herman is scheduled for the endovascular procedure today (Thursday 22nd). We will be checking in to ____ at 6AM and after stenting and repairing the celiac artery aneurysm, he will be in recovery several hours before being released to his sister’s place overnight. Thank you for being prayer warriors for us, Karen
—–Please pray for Dakota who is having seizures. V
—–Please, I need prayers for my big sister Jacqueline. God is in control and he will be her surgeon at the time of her surgery. Iris
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Dear Friends,
When we lived in Utah, we often hiked up into the Wasatch mountains. Ronnie Jay and I like to collect rocks, so usually our pockets would be filled with them. One day as we were walking, I turned around and saw Ronnie Jay, who was lagging behind, carrying a rather large rock. It was not a bit pretty and I wondered why he was wasting his time on that ugly rock. Knowing children’s ways, I was sure that he would soon be asking me to carry it, and I had no intention of carrying such a worthless specimen. I told him to put the rock down. He protested a little, but I kept walking and would not listen. Obediently, he put the rock down.
Later, Ronnie Jay sadly told me that what I saw as an ugly, worthless rock, had a perfect fossil of a fish on the side that was next to him. You can imagine how I felt. I have always wanted a fish fossil. I was so sorry that I had not listened to my son’s protests. What I saw as a worthless rock was the very thing I had been looking for all of my life. I was very upset with myself, but it was useless to go back and search for it. My opportunity had passed. That rock was lost forever.
So many people are like that rock. There is nothing on the outside that is attractive. We look at their actions, judge their motives, listen to their words, and consider them worthless, not worthy of our time. How many times we turn others away, because of our attitude. We do not see what is in their heart. We do not understand the trials and heartaches that they have endured. How often they are the very ones who feel their need of something better. Yet, we do not see them as a precious soul, looking wistfully toward Heaven, longing to be delivered from the chains that bind them.
Our Great Redeemer reminds us, “the LORD seeth not as man seeth, for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” 1 Sam 16:7 It is only by looking beneath the surface, that we find the value. When He was upon this earth, our Loving Saviour attracted publicans and sinners to Himself. He did not to join them in their lifestyle, instead, He “drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love” and lead them to His Father in Heaven, Who “so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.” Hosea 11:4, John 3:16,17 They were as unattractive on the surface as Ronnie Jay’s rock, but He saw the value in each one of them. He saw what they could become if they followed Him. Many of those publicans and sinners left their old lifestyle and followed Him. They did not stay in their sins, but came to Him for cleansing.
May we see others as our Great Creator sees them, looking past the rough exterior and seeing the tender heart beneath. May we, through the guidance from the Holy Spirit, help those we meet to accept our Dear Saviour’s great gift of salvation. May we be willing to consecrate all of our actions, all of our words, all of our thoughts, all of our attitudes this day unto the LORD.
Rose