Author: Dave Dishman (Page 354 of 475)

Solomon shares this beautiful perspective on parenting:

Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.

A full quiver of kids—how many might that entail? I heard a speaker once share his opinion that a “full quiver” meant 5 children, but he did say that was only an opinion.

Not knowing much about archery, or how ancient archers arrayed for battle, I looked up the number of arrows typically carried in their quivers. My quick search points to about 20 – 60, which makes sense when trying to poke holes in your enemy.

But for kids? Sounds outlandish, but easily within reach for Solomon. With hundreds of wives and concubines, Solomon sired loads of children, filling multiple quivers. Not sure that’s sustainable in the long run.

As for me and my wife, three wonderful children originally filled our quiver. Two are now married, and so we’re added another couple of wonderful young people (I can’t help but think of them as more kids). So, our quiver’s at five.

Which points me away from the trivia of full quivers, and toward the truth of Solomon’s words. Children are a gift, a heritage and a reward from the Lord, and I feel amply rewarded.

Psalm 127 in week twenty-five of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Annie Spratt

Hiram, the king of Tyre, worked out a deal with Solomon. Hiram traded lumber—large logs of juniper and cedar—for enough wheat, barley, wine and olive oil to feed his royal household until their bellies burst.

Along with the highly prized lumber, Hiram sent a craftsman, a man named Huram Abi. Hiram described Huram as a man of great skill…able to execute any design given to him (2 Chronicles 2:13-14).

Solomon planned to build a magnificent temple to honor the Lord. To do so, he needed huge quantities of materials, including wood, and Hiram king of Tyre sent the best. But Solomon also needed skilled hands to do the construction, and again Hiram sent the best—Huram Abi.

Which reminds me of Proverbs 22:29, Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings, he will not stand before obscure men.

I’m not sure I’ll ever serve royalty, and I’ve certainly stood before obscure men, but this story reminds me of the value of diligent, skilled work. Getting better and better at my craft pays off. It’s worth my time and effort to work hard and improve.

History tells of the glory of Solomon’s temple. I find it encouraging to read in the pages of my Bible the name of the man who actually built the thing.

2 Chronicles 2 in week twenty-five of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Sander Crombach

Excited about the imminent return of the Lord, several people in Thessalonica stopped working and started waiting. Which sounds pretty spiritual, except that they got hungry, and with no money for food, simply sponged off of everyone else in the church.

I can see how this quickly became annoying. Able-bodied, formerly employed people now showing up daily to partake of my good graces. The working church members grumbled, and their non-believing neighbors looked on with amusement. Strange religion where some work and others just quit and take advantage of their friends.

Paul clarified matters. The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat (3:10).

By turning away these busybodies (Paul’s description), their ensuing hunger helped motivate them back to their old jobs.

I knew of a man once who sold most everything he had, because he heard the Lord tell him to sell it all and give to the poor. Problem was he had a family, and they immediately joined the ranks of the poor and suffered as a result, falling into dependance upon family and church members. I’m not sure that’s the proper application of Jesus’s words to a rich young man.

Similar thought with Paul’s instructions. If you’re fit and able, go to work. Earn your keep and then share with others. Better for you, better for your family, better for your fellow church members, and better for those looking on and still deciding about following the way of Jesus.

2 Thessalonians 3 in week twenty-five of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Adrian Swancar

Solomon launched the nation of Israel on a building spree. Most famously, he built the temple dedicated to the Lord, a wonder of the ancient world. He also built himself a palace, and later a palace for the daughter of Pharaoh, one of his queens.

Solomon built whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon and throughout all the territory he ruled (2 Chronicles 8:6).

So when Solomon looks back on life of construction projects, his thoughts cause me to turn my head. Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain (Psalm 127:1).

Solomon speaks to more than just putting up temples and palaces as he reminds us to remember the Lord as we build our lives. Solomon learned by experience, and failed at times to practice what he preached. Remember, this is the same man who wrote vanity of vanities, all is vanity! (Ecclesiastes 1:1).

From the mouth of experience. As I build in life, as I develop and grow and seek new opportunities, it’s good to keep the words of the wise king in my ears, and trust the Lord to build the house.

Psalm 127 in week twenty-five in reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Sneaky Elbow