Solomon Did What??

Tuesday, July 27, 2010


Scheduled Reading: (Click here to read online; click back in your browser to return here to read the devotional)

• 2 Chronicles 1 - 3
• Psalm 89:48 - 90:2
• Proverbs 18:20-22
• Acts 17:10-31

Selected Passage: 2 Chronicles 1:6


SOLOMON DID WHAT??  

I love how we read the Bible sometimes. (Sarcasm intended). From the beginning to end we tend to gloss over passages or read right through the details in search of morsel hidden among more interesting stories. Today I was on that very familiar path myself. I was blowing right through 2^nd Chronicles 1. Then verse seven caught my attention. God appeared to Solomon and said "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." It is a familiar story for most. Solomon asks for wisdom instead of riches or long life. God gave him all three in huge portions. I figured my nugget for the blog was in the verses to come.

But then I went back to verse 6 and found a nugget there. Most of us are not at all familiar with verse 6. At least I wasn't. Not until today. I know, you need to go back and read verse 6 too. Go ahead. I'll wait. I've even made it easy for you. Click this link: Verse 6.

Did you see that? Solomon offered 1000 burnt offerings on the bronze alter in the Tent of Meeting! I wonder how long that took. I wonder what the offerings were. I don't think he was burning money on that alter. A studious reader can go back into Deuteronomy and comment about the bulls, rams, birds and grain required by the law for this particular sacrifice and how they had to be prepared. I hope you do. It will add a lot to the discussion. But I can’t do it and keep under 400 words!

So why the big deal? Have you ever killed large game - like a deer perhaps? What about a mess of ducks or fish? You can't eat them like they come out of the woods or the marsh! If you want to enjoy the game, you have to dress it out - butcher it. Many hunters give away their game because they do not enjoy cleaning their catch.

 Now have you ever tried to dress out 1000 deer or ducks or fish? No? Me neither. But I imagine you'd have to come in from your hunt mighty early in order to get that many cleaned before nightfall!

My point? We write a check. Or nowadays – we have automatic drafting. That’s our sacrifice. No wonder we don’t hear from God like Solomon did. Some sacrifice.