Route 66:16 That Empty Feeling

Solomon had a long life, and he was from a good family. On top of that, he was the richest and most powerful person in the country. But when he stopped to think about it, none of that mattered.

After a good start, he started to do things like a politician. The easiest way to remain at peace with neighbors was to work closely with them. And in those days alliances could be best achieved by joining the family. More wives meant political stability.

But Solomon found that happiness does not come with power, but with submission to God. Life is too short to spend it without God. In the end, life is to be lived to the fullest by thinking about What God would have us do.

It is surprising how much better things go when joy replaces worry.

Route 66:15 Finding True Love

There should be warnings as we enter the tale of Solomon's first marriage. Like all the others, it seems, this was a political arrangement. In taking the Pharoah's daughter as a bride, young Solomon had found Miss Right.

She was a humble princess, barely noticed among her own people, When she was given to the king of the Jews. She worried that he would forget her among all the others he wed. But, as a picture of the true children of God, her union was pure. All others were mere distractions.

I would councel young people to be very careful when reading the Song. At the very least, look past the imagery to the ultimate husband--Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Route 66:14 Words of Wisdom

The book of Proverbs provides a divinely inspired sampling of the wisdom that Solomon was known for. He reminds us that if we wish to be wise, we must respect God and His word.

From training children to marital harmony to dealing with bosses and/or workers, Solomon and others present wise words to get us through just about any situation.

A good thing to do, at least one month a year, is to read through the book of Proverbs a chapter per day. In 31 days, an overview of the greatest Wisdom literature ever written can change your life. If you then divide the chapters into bite sized pieces, you can repeat the exercise over the course of 11 or 12 months!

I might have a list somewhere that I made. If anyone is interested, comment and I can help you through it.

May the Lord be with you all.

Route 66-13 A Tale of 2 Kingdoms

The united kingdom had a good run. Or maybe not. The best days in human terms were peaceful but ran headlong into a hedonistic orgy on the verge of destruction. David had a hard time, especially after his adultery, but Solomon had it "easy" by just going with the flow. Thousands of women, but only one heir to the throne! A poor choice in heirs, with no apparent rivals in the royal family, leads to a foreordained civil war.

God had set it up, Jereboam came back and Reheboam proved himself to be a tyrant. But Jereboam was an apostate, so not much, If any, good came about from his agreement with God.

From that rough beginning, the two kingdoms went their separate ways. Not one godly king in the north, and only half in the north, led to exile and the end of independence for the nations.

Prophets came along to point the way back to God, but few saw the way. The moral of the story is this, the people of God are nothing without God.

It's a good thing He did not leave it up to us.

Route 66-12 A Twice Told Tale

The story never grows old, especially when the crown has faithful historians. We return from the choir loft to the theater, to sea the story of the great king once again unfold in 1 Chronicles. We know the history is faithfully rendered, for hundreds of names are given as testimony to its truth.

When finally we return to David, we see a warrior whose only flaw seems to be pride. He puts the fate of his people in God's hands, losing a tithe for his arrogance. The chroniclers see the work of Satan as God's servant where the prophets saw only God.

David spends a fortune to get the materials to build the temple. Appointing the worship leaders, he turns the plans over to Solomon with his blessing.

Route 66:11 The Songbook of the King

Some might think of this as a side trip, but as the path tracks through the life of David, one can here the choir singing. It behooves us to stop for a while and visit.

The Psalmist calls us to consider who our companions are along the way. In fact, we are directed to not be side tracked.

Instead, we are to take heed of the enemy while constantly looking to our guide and his guidebook for directions. If we listen carefully we find that when we can't go further, the Guide will give us a ride.

Finally, as we approach our designation, we hear the songs are happy, joyful anthems of praise. We turn and thank our guide and take a complementary copy of the song book.

Route 66:10 Life with the King

It had been quite a life as the crown Prince on the run. Politics back in David's day was a bit like that all over Europe not so long ago. Kings expected to pass down the crown to the first born son. But the prince, David's friend, had been killed in battle along with the king.

Few people knew that Samuel had anointed David  years earlier. But when news reached David, he was aggrieved. His king and his friend were dead.

After the funeral, civil war arose a Saul's surviving son became king over ten of the tribes. When that son was killed, David had the assassin executed and had another state funeral.
It was a hard way to become king. Finally, the nation united again, David fought with the neighbors until his boundaries were secure. Breathing easier, he stayed home and enjoyed life, but at a terrible cost. His sin cost him the blessings, and brought troubles he never really got passed.

As he got older, his grown sons, princes with an eye on the throne, rebelled. Civil war once again threatened. His charismatic son Absalom had the heart of the nation. Things looked bad. Again, an assassin saved the day. Of course, David was not happy.

Finally, the chosen successor, Solomon, was secure as king. David died a worn out old man. Life as a king is not for the weak.

Route 66-9 A Prophet's Life

Life under the judges had been a rough ride, though the interlude in Bethlehem allowed for the weary reader to appreciate what was to come. As we open the "First Books of the Kings", as they are called in the Hebrew bible, we find the priesthood in bad shape. Aging Eli can't control his wayward successors, but takes on a new assistant in a young child loaned to him by a grateful mother.

No one had communicated in any real way with God for years when young Samuel was called in the night. God was audible, but invisible. The boy thought it was Eli at first but then the old priest told him it must be God. So Samuel listened to the voice of God. The message he brought back to Eli was not a pleasant one. It was not a warning, but a prophecy. The House of Eli would fall.

It was not pretty to see the ark used as magic charm. And it didn't work that way. The dreaded Philistines had taken the Ark of the Covenant!! Eli died on the same day when he heard the news that his sons, protectors of the ark, were dead.  His broken heart was aided by a broken neck as he fell off a bench. Samuel would now serve as a priest and judge for the people. But that was not enough for the people. They wanted a king so they pestered Samuel and won the day when God assented to the request with a warning that a king with no respect for God was not a good idea.

Things went from bad to worse with the new King Saul, but the people seemed to content to have their king and champion, a head above the rest. The new king was good for the country for a while, but it did not take long them to fail under a manic monarch. Another king would have to be found. In time, David, the son of Jessie. The old man had many sons, but only David was 'chosen.

The next few years were a blur.  David was anointed, got a job as a court musician and armor bearer, and he got a feel for what Saul was like.  But he then went back to help on the ranch. After saving the whole army from an arrogant giant, everybody got to know the young warrier. David got a new wife, and then lost her, and then ended up on the run.

Meanwhile Samuel just prayed for Saul. There wasn't much left to do. After a long life ministry, after anointing two kings, the old prophet died and was mourned.  David mourned with the rest of Israel while still on the run. He picked up two more wives and then ... he waited.

Samuel showed up one more time before Saul was killed on the battlefield. Or at least everyone thought it was Samuel back from the dead (as a ghost!!). The wily old witch was startled when her incantations worked. Samuel seemed reluctant, but scolded the apostate king and predicted sure death within a day.  Saul and his sons died the next day. The king was dead. Long live the "present and future king"!