ISSUES IN THE BIBLE
The Wisdom of Solomon
THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON AND RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HOLY ONE
Jesus Christ refers to Solomon’s great wisdom in Matthew 12:42, “The Queen of the South shall rise up with this generation at the judgment and shall condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.” He then goes on to say in Luke 12:27, “Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these.” The context of the 1st verse Jesus compared Solomon’s wisdom, which was considered great by the Jewish leaders and others, to his own and was challenging them as to why they would not believe Him though He was greater than Solomon. And the context of the 2nd was that people should not worry about the physical needs of life because God is more than able to meet them.
In the Old Testament, 1 Kings 3:5-15, God appeared in a dream to Solomon: “In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, ‘ask what you wish me to give you.’ Then Solomon said, ‘Thou hast shown great loving kindness to Thy servant David my father, according as he walked before Thee in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward Thee…And now, O Lord my God, Thou hast made Thy servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in….So give Thy servant an understanding heart to judge Thy people, to discern between good and evil.’ And it was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing…. And God said to him, ‘Behold because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you. And I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days. And if you walk in My ways, keeping My statues and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days.’”
God did bless Solomon richly, so much that Jesus would use him in his comparison to Himself, regarding his wisdom and wealth/provision.
Yet, Nehemiah, in Nehemiah 13:26, would state of Solomon’s later years, “Did not Solomon king of Israel sin regarding these things? Yet among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel; nevertheless the foreign women caused even him to sin.” Tragically, the things of this world lead Solomon, a man of great wisdom and wealth (given to him by God), away from God.
What does God desire? Micah 6:8; “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? In Matthew 6:33 Jesus said, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.”
We must first seek a relationship to God, then wisdom, knowledge, and understanding will come to us in a right context and for Godly purposes. But, let us never sway away from the source of that knowledge. Let us be as Solomon was in his early, but not his later years. Let us seek as A.L. Tozer titled a book, “Knowledge of the Holy.” Let us know Him (God) as a father knows His son or daughter-hand in hand.
God Bless,
John G Leslie
4-24-13
Jesus Christ refers to Solomon’s great wisdom in Matthew 12:42, “The Queen of the South shall rise up with this generation at the judgment and shall condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.” He then goes on to say in Luke 12:27, “Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these.” The context of the 1st verse Jesus compared Solomon’s wisdom, which was considered great by the Jewish leaders and others, to his own and was challenging them as to why they would not believe Him though He was greater than Solomon. And the context of the 2nd was that people should not worry about the physical needs of life because God is more than able to meet them.
In the Old Testament, 1 Kings 3:5-15, God appeared in a dream to Solomon: “In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, ‘ask what you wish me to give you.’ Then Solomon said, ‘Thou hast shown great loving kindness to Thy servant David my father, according as he walked before Thee in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward Thee…And now, O Lord my God, Thou hast made Thy servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in….So give Thy servant an understanding heart to judge Thy people, to discern between good and evil.’ And it was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing…. And God said to him, ‘Behold because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you. And I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days. And if you walk in My ways, keeping My statues and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days.’”
God did bless Solomon richly, so much that Jesus would use him in his comparison to Himself, regarding his wisdom and wealth/provision.
Yet, Nehemiah, in Nehemiah 13:26, would state of Solomon’s later years, “Did not Solomon king of Israel sin regarding these things? Yet among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel; nevertheless the foreign women caused even him to sin.” Tragically, the things of this world lead Solomon, a man of great wisdom and wealth (given to him by God), away from God.
What does God desire? Micah 6:8; “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? In Matthew 6:33 Jesus said, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.”
We must first seek a relationship to God, then wisdom, knowledge, and understanding will come to us in a right context and for Godly purposes. But, let us never sway away from the source of that knowledge. Let us be as Solomon was in his early, but not his later years. Let us seek as A.L. Tozer titled a book, “Knowledge of the Holy.” Let us know Him (God) as a father knows His son or daughter-hand in hand.
God Bless,
John G Leslie
4-24-13
Framing the Worlds by the Words of His Mouth
Framing the Worlds by His Words (The Futility of Origins Research)
Billions of US dollars have been spent on “origins” research. Is the focus, regardless of spin off benefits, worth it? The Bible has much to say on this subject, in both the Old and the New Testament.
Consider what the Bible has to say about the “origins” of the earth and universe.
New Testament: Hebrews 11:1-3; 6, 7 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear….But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him…. By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” KJV In the NASB vs. 3 reads, “By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.”
Old Testament: Gen.1:1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
Terms: (Strong=Strong’s Concordance; NIDOTTE=New International Dictionary of Old Testament Terms)
New Testament Terms
Faith (Strong 4102) “pis’tis, [from 3982 pitho a prim. verb to convince by argument] “persuasion, i.e. credence; mor. conviction (of religious truth)
Substance (Strong 5287) Hupostasis; setting under support…assurance…substance.”
Worlds (Strong 165)”aion;…prop. an age; by extension perpetuity(also past); by impl. the world….”
Framed (Strong 2675)”katartismos…to complete thoroughly...or adjust,…fit frame (make) perfectly.”
Word (Strong 4487) “rhema…an utterance by impl. a matter or topic (espec. Of narration, command or dispute)…”
Are Seen (Strong 991) “A prim. verb; to look at (lit. or fig.):-behold…perceive…regard, see.”
Not (Strong 3361)” me, a prim. particle of qualified negation…” Made (Strong1096) ginomal;…prim verb; to cause to be…”
Which Do Appear (Strong 5315) “phaino;…to lighten (shine)…appear…be seen…”
Old Testament Terms
Beginning (Strong 7225) “re’shiyth…the first place, in place, time, order…beginning.”
God (Strong 430) elohiym…the supreme God…”
Created (Strong 1254) “bara” NIDOTTE says regarding ‘bara’ “Against this background[polytheism], Gen 1:1 appears as a thunderbolt: Israel's god is exclusive creator and sovereign of the entire cosmos (= "heaven and earth," a merismus) and is fundamentally distinguished from his nondivine creation. Moreover, this creation is entirely "good" (Gen 1:4, 9, 12, 31).”
Comment: The universe, in the beginning, was made by the words of God out of a non-material source. Thus it is futile to pursue research into the beginnings (“origins”) of all things for Paul clearly says it is by faith that we will understand that God created the universe. It was by the words of His mouth and that it was made out of something that is not visible. Man will not find a source for the beginning of the universe through the use of science. In Gen 1:1 God created the heavens and the earth. It is man’s obligation to simply acknowledge Him, in faith, as the Creator, for the “fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” Proverbs 1:7. In Hebrews 11:6, 7 Noah is praised for his trust and obedience to God.
God Bless,
John G Leslie
7-15-13
Billions of US dollars have been spent on “origins” research. Is the focus, regardless of spin off benefits, worth it? The Bible has much to say on this subject, in both the Old and the New Testament.
Consider what the Bible has to say about the “origins” of the earth and universe.
New Testament: Hebrews 11:1-3; 6, 7 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear….But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him…. By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” KJV In the NASB vs. 3 reads, “By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.”
Old Testament: Gen.1:1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
Terms: (Strong=Strong’s Concordance; NIDOTTE=New International Dictionary of Old Testament Terms)
New Testament Terms
Faith (Strong 4102) “pis’tis, [from 3982 pitho a prim. verb to convince by argument] “persuasion, i.e. credence; mor. conviction (of religious truth)
Substance (Strong 5287) Hupostasis; setting under support…assurance…substance.”
Worlds (Strong 165)”aion;…prop. an age; by extension perpetuity(also past); by impl. the world….”
Framed (Strong 2675)”katartismos…to complete thoroughly...or adjust,…fit frame (make) perfectly.”
Word (Strong 4487) “rhema…an utterance by impl. a matter or topic (espec. Of narration, command or dispute)…”
Are Seen (Strong 991) “A prim. verb; to look at (lit. or fig.):-behold…perceive…regard, see.”
Not (Strong 3361)” me, a prim. particle of qualified negation…” Made (Strong1096) ginomal;…prim verb; to cause to be…”
Which Do Appear (Strong 5315) “phaino;…to lighten (shine)…appear…be seen…”
Old Testament Terms
Beginning (Strong 7225) “re’shiyth…the first place, in place, time, order…beginning.”
God (Strong 430) elohiym…the supreme God…”
Created (Strong 1254) “bara” NIDOTTE says regarding ‘bara’ “Against this background[polytheism], Gen 1:1 appears as a thunderbolt: Israel's god is exclusive creator and sovereign of the entire cosmos (= "heaven and earth," a merismus) and is fundamentally distinguished from his nondivine creation. Moreover, this creation is entirely "good" (Gen 1:4, 9, 12, 31).”
Comment: The universe, in the beginning, was made by the words of God out of a non-material source. Thus it is futile to pursue research into the beginnings (“origins”) of all things for Paul clearly says it is by faith that we will understand that God created the universe. It was by the words of His mouth and that it was made out of something that is not visible. Man will not find a source for the beginning of the universe through the use of science. In Gen 1:1 God created the heavens and the earth. It is man’s obligation to simply acknowledge Him, in faith, as the Creator, for the “fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” Proverbs 1:7. In Hebrews 11:6, 7 Noah is praised for his trust and obedience to God.
God Bless,
John G Leslie
7-15-13
As in the Days of Noah so shall the
Coming of the Son of Man be
“As in the Days of Noah” Worldwide vs. Local Flood
According to the Biblical Scriptures
The Bible in numerous places refers to the coming of the Messiah and the times of Noah and the Flood. Can this give us a perspective of the extant of the Flood? It can.(Scriptures from the King James Version onlinehttp://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/, comments from JGL):
New Testament
Matthew 24
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other....
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
1 Peter 3:18-21
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
2 Peter 2: 4-6
4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly;
Old Testament
Genesis: 6:5-22; 7:23
5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD....
17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.
18 But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.
19 And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.
20 Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.
21 And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.
22 Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.
Chapter 7:23
23 And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.
Comments:
It should be noted that the 2nd coming of Christ and His gathering of the elect (believers in Jesus Christ, Y'shua to Jewish people)) will be from the four corners of the earth and every eye shall see Him. There will be those saved and those condemned “as it was in the days of Noah.” God called all men to account in Noah’s day and only eight were preserved-the others perished, and so will it be in at the return of Christ. Even then, in Noah's day, all the creation that had the breathe of life, except those on the Ark, died during the Flood.
The Flood as worldwide was also associated with God’s ability to bring local judgment on Sodom and Gomorrha. Even now God brings judgment to individuals (Luke 12:16-21 The story of the rich man; and Acts 5:1-5 The story of Ananias and Sapphira) but in the time of Christ’s return it will be worldwide as the Flood was worldwide.
What to Do?
Repent and be saved. Believe in the Creator God who is the judge of all men, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Yet, the scriptures say that whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. Call upon the name of Jesus Christ to save you, and let Him give you a new birth in your spirit. And ask Him to give the Holy Spirit to strengthen and guide you. Find a Christian Church to be involved in. Also see section on How to be Saved on this website: See the first tab "Christian Theology and Evangelism".
God Bless,
John G Leslie 8-18-13
According to the Biblical Scriptures
The Bible in numerous places refers to the coming of the Messiah and the times of Noah and the Flood. Can this give us a perspective of the extant of the Flood? It can.(Scriptures from the King James Version onlinehttp://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/, comments from JGL):
New Testament
Matthew 24
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other....
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
1 Peter 3:18-21
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
2 Peter 2: 4-6
4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly;
Old Testament
Genesis: 6:5-22; 7:23
5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD....
17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.
18 But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.
19 And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.
20 Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.
21 And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.
22 Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.
Chapter 7:23
23 And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.
Comments:
It should be noted that the 2nd coming of Christ and His gathering of the elect (believers in Jesus Christ, Y'shua to Jewish people)) will be from the four corners of the earth and every eye shall see Him. There will be those saved and those condemned “as it was in the days of Noah.” God called all men to account in Noah’s day and only eight were preserved-the others perished, and so will it be in at the return of Christ. Even then, in Noah's day, all the creation that had the breathe of life, except those on the Ark, died during the Flood.
The Flood as worldwide was also associated with God’s ability to bring local judgment on Sodom and Gomorrha. Even now God brings judgment to individuals (Luke 12:16-21 The story of the rich man; and Acts 5:1-5 The story of Ananias and Sapphira) but in the time of Christ’s return it will be worldwide as the Flood was worldwide.
What to Do?
Repent and be saved. Believe in the Creator God who is the judge of all men, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Yet, the scriptures say that whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. Call upon the name of Jesus Christ to save you, and let Him give you a new birth in your spirit. And ask Him to give the Holy Spirit to strengthen and guide you. Find a Christian Church to be involved in. Also see section on How to be Saved on this website: See the first tab "Christian Theology and Evangelism".
God Bless,
John G Leslie 8-18-13