Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem
When complainers have nothing to complain about, they invent stuff. We see this with distressing frequency as "social justice warriors" dredge up incidents from the dim past in order to discredit iconic figures from history. Perhaps it is meant to distract people from the current situation, or from The Truth, but it is usually silly. The one that instantly comes to mind is the banning Kate Smith's version of "God Bless America" because of a supposedly "racist" song she sang very early in her career (never mind that Paul Robeson (a Black Man and an avowed communist), recorded the very same song, and that it was anti-racist irony, it didn't matter. These incidents distract from the REALLY bad things that people are CURRENTLY doing, and, of course, the dead can't defend themselves so they are an easy target.
The truly egregious nature of these accusations is that the person being accused could never have predicted that was common and accepted in their own culture would become unacceptable a century later. The shifting sands of popular culture provide no anchor for human behavior, and what works fine in one century can be thoroughly excoriated in the next.
Jesus said that a house must be built upon a rock, with a firm foundation. A house built upon sand will crumble in the first storm that comes its way. That is why God gave us His law, which can be condensed into The Ten Commandments and further into "The Two Greatest Commandments" (Matthew 22), which are "Love God with your whole heart, and love your neighbor as yourself."
It is also why Our Founders framed the Constitution. While there have been Amendments over the years, it is purposely very difficult to amend. This is a good thing, because "moral relativism" is the most unstable shifting philosophy in existence!
Now you may wonder why I am bringing this up. Well, let's look at today's Passage. There are two words that jumped out at me. They are "forced labor". YIKES! Was Solomon using "forced labor" to build God's Holy Temple? I pondered this. Was I being blinded by my own cultural prejudices? Was forced labor acceptable at the time and Solomon wasn't being a jerk about it? Was I applying my own 20th Century Standards unfairly to Solomon?
Well, God reached out to me in my distress on this issue. First, He sent me to 2 Chronicles 10:11. In this chapter, Solomon's son Rehoboam tells the people that he is going to be even MORE oppressive than his father had been:
‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! 11Although my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. Although my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.’”
This nasty reply caused rebellion and the splitting of the entire kingdom in two. Clearly, slavery, oppression, and forced labor were as obnoxious in Solomon's Day as they are to you and me.
But, Solomon was supposed to be WISE! This doesn't make sense. Well, my "Epistle Bookmark" for today was in James 3. Here is what I read this morning:
(Two Kinds of Wisdom)
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
James clearly shows us that there are two kinds of wisdom, that from the world and that from God. His description is so detailed that we can see just what kind of wisdom Solomon was practicing when he commanded "forced labor"!
Come and Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV)
God Bless America!
Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.
This Symbol Represents Christians in The Middle East, who desperately need our Prayers.
Hallelujah and Amen
ML/LTOS
