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Sunday Morning Bible Study: 1 Kings 3:3-15

Posted on December 5, 2010 by Clark Goble| Leave a comment
By Clark Goble | December 5, 2010

1 Kings 3:3-5 3 Solomon showed his love for the LORD by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places. 4 The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

It is interesting to note how much Solomon loved God. The Hebrew word (ahab) translated as love in the above passage is first used in the Book of Genesis to illustrate the close bond between Abraham and his son Isaac. Solomon is closely bonded to God. Despite this bond, Solomon is not perfect. The passage reveals that he often worshiped God in the “high places.” These places were open-air sanctuaries that the Canaanites used to worship their pagan gods before the Israelites took control over the land. God was adamant that the Hebrews should worship Him in a different manner; so much so that He gave His people explicit instructions to destroy all of the high places (Deuteronomy 12: 1-4). Solomon’s love for God hadn’t prevented pagan worship practices from infiltrating his worship. This is often the case in the current Christian church when good-hearted believers inadvertently incorporate outside influences into their worship practices and beliefs.

Why is it that a God who knows everything would ask Solomon to verbalize what it is he needs? Perhaps it is a test. God is wanting to see if Solomon will ask for something selfish or for something that is according to the will of God. While God knows what Solomon desperately needs, perhaps Solomon himself doesn’t understand it until he is forced to verbalize it.

6 Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. 7 “Now, LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

Solomon is rewarded for his devotion to God. Just as Cain’s offering to God was rejected because of the state of his heart, Solomon’s is accepted. By coming to Solomon in a dream, God is confirming that the king’s heart is in the right place. When Solomon reveals that he is just a “little child,” he is humbling himself before the Lord. This king, who was called wise by his earthly father David, is acknowledging that he is not prepared to rule God’s people. Within Solomons request, we discover the two components that make up wisdom:

  1. A heart obedient to the will of God.
  2. The ability to discern good from evil.

10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”

God was so pleased with Solomon’s humble and selfless request that He went above and beyond in His response. The one condition was Solomon’s obedience. This passage reveals what so many other passages within Scriptures reveal – God often equates obedience with love.  If you are unable or unwilling to be obedient to God, it is very likely that you do not love Him as you should.

15 Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court.

Solomon’s dream is immediately followed by action! Immediately the king travels to Jerusalem and stands before the ark of the Lord. He worships God with two kinds of offerings: burnt offerings that expiate the sins of the Hebrew people and fellowship (peace) offerings that praise God for all He has done for the people and specifically for Solomon.

Conclusion

We must ask ourselves if we have a heart like Solomon’s. Do we desire wisdom. Do we want to discern between the good and the evil in our lives? Are we willing to humble ourselves before the Lord and admit that we are just “little children”? Are we willing to be obedient to God rather than our sinful selves? As Christians we must check the status of our hearts!

Sources

Dr. Constable’s Expository Notes
Explore the Bible Quick Source Leader Guide (Winter 2010-11) by Lifeway
Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible

----> Clark Goble is a disciple of Christ, a husband, father, student, and writer. He welcomes your comments and encourages you to leave one here or email him at cdgobleATgmail.com. You can follow his twitter updates at http://twitter.com/#!/CDGoble
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The Head and the Heart Are Miles Apart

Posted on November 7, 2010 by Clark Goble| Leave a comment
By Clark Goble | November 7, 2010

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29).

Ephesians 4:29 is a simple little verse that is easily understood. There are some who may reduce it to a simple admonition not to cuss, but it really addresses more than that. As Christians, we should only speak words that build up others and benefit them. Additionally, we must avoid “unwholesome talk” which can be defined from the context of the verse as being and talk that does not build up others or serves to tear them down. When I read this verse a couple of weeks ago in preparation for a Bible study class in church, I experienced the familiar tugging of the Holy Spirit. It was a reminder from God that I have often allowed my mouth to speak in an “unwholesome” way. Too often, I am more than willing to tear others down with my speech. Because of the Holy Spirit’s conviction, I have dedicated myself since to praying and meditation on this verse … and even putting it into practice. To my surprise, it hasn’t been too difficult. Only on a couple of occasions have I found myself speaking before thinking. It has actually been a blessing to me that has prepared my heart to worship the Lord. I am thankful for the Holy Spirit’s conviction on the matter and am determined to continue moving in the right direction.

Despite all of this, Ephesians 4:29 isn’t what’s really on my mind this morning. More so, I have been contemplating the very act of putting God’s directives into practice in our daily lives. So often we can become consumed with “head knowledge.” In our quest to accumulate as many facts as we can and refute as much bad theology as possible we sometimes forget that God actually expects us to practice what He preaches. My experience with putting Ephesians 4:29 into practice has reminded me that there is a huge difference between embracing God’s Word in my mind as opposed to embracing it in my heart.

Do you believe the Bible? Do you believe it to the point that it actually changes the way you live? Have you ever made a conscience decision to do something different in light of something revealed to you within the pages of the Bible? If not than you may want to ask yourself if you really believe in your heart.

Paul writes in the book of Ephesians that we should role model the attitude of God. We should live our lives as Jesus would because our time is a precious gift from God that shouldn’t be wasted by living foolishly.

As Christians, we should practice what Christ preached before it’s too late.

I love Christ and I want Him to change me; yet far too often I have been happy to accept “head” knowledge in place of a changed heart. Many would say the same is true of the Church in general. We attend every Sunday with no intentions of walking out the doors changed in any way.

Ask God to change you. Ask Him what it is that you need to do differently. Pray, read the Bible, and listen for His response.

It may change your heart.

----> Clark Goble is a disciple of Christ, a husband, father, student, and writer. He welcomes your comments and encourages you to leave one here or email him at cdgobleATgmail.com. You can follow his twitter updates at http://twitter.com/#!/CDGoble
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What Would “I” Do?

Posted on October 28, 2010 by Clark Goble| Leave a comment
By Clark Goble | October 28, 2010

On his wonderful blog “Here I Blog,” Mark Lamprecht hosts a wonderful series titled “What Would You Do Wednesdays!” Each post in the series presents an ethical dilemma of sorts and concludes with the question, “What would you do?”  I recently read through one of the scenarios and offered my humble attempt at an answer. Here is the scenario presented  in Mark’s post, Ethics: Excluding a Single Mother from Church Membership:

The scenario is that a single mother is a member of your local church. For several years she seemed to be living faithfully for Christ. She was present on Sunday morning and often during other church events. It was difficult for her at times and the church even helped her financially and with food when she needed help.

Then, to your surprise she moved in with a non-Christian man!

Church leaders begged her to repent and to move back out and get out of her relationship with this man. She would not. Several months went by.

Finally, it was time to vote as a church. The time had come to affirm or deny whether or not she continue to be included in your local church.

What do you do – affirm or deny her? (Depending on your local church this would mean denying the Lord’s Supper and/or being considered a member until repentance. Cf. Matthew 18:17, 1 Cor. 5:9-13)

If she is denied, but continues to occasionally attend afterward how would you treat her? What would you say to her?

First, I’ll preface my response with this prayer: Lord, I pray that should I err in my response to this scenario that I err on the side of grace and represent Christ and His Word faithfully.

Okay, there are a few points within the scenario that I feel are worth noting. First, this woman is already a member of the church and was voted in as a single mother with all the struggles that apply to such a situation. Despite her struggles, the scenario suggest that she has been faithful in attending church regularly, and I assume that her loyalty has included service within the church family in some capacity. It was after this history the woman has built with her church family that, “To [our] surprise she moved in with a non-Christian man!”

Perhaps I’m reading a little too much into the exclamation point at the end of this last sentence, but it seems to suggest that her actions shocked the congregation to the point that it became scandalous; if so, I would suggest that a healthy church family would turn that scandal into genuine, heartfelt prayer – but this is beside the point.

According to the scenario, the leaders of the Church then begged the woman to give up her new lifestyle and repent. Let me affirm that it is their right and duty to offer counsel to the members of their church and motivate others to inspire sanctification among the congregation. I have no problem with the leaders providing pastoral care provided it is done in an edifying manner.

After the leadership has been ignored by the woman for several months the scenario then asserts that the time has come to “affirm or deny whether or not she continues to be included in [the] local church.” This leads me to ask a couple of questions. First, who decided it was time to affirm or deny this woman’s membership? Was it a decision of the leadership or rather brought about by the popular demand of the congregation? I’m not sure if these questions have a bearing on my answer, but I would humbly suggest that a congregation that demands a woman in this situation be affirmed or denied (especially if said congregation finds her actions so shocking that it is filled with scandal and gossip) has problems that run very deep.

Okay, now that I’ve rambled on far too long, I will get to the heart of the presented scenario. Do I affirm or deny this woman’s continued membership within the church? Personally, I would be chagrined that there was a vote in the first place and definitively vote for this woman’s membership to continue; should she be forgiving enough to remain. Here’s my reasoning:

  • Romans 3:23 clearly teaches that all of us are sinners. The only difference between this woman’s sin and the sin of the church’s leadership and other members is that hers has been allowed to become the subject of scandal and gossip. The scenario offers no reason to believe this is the result of anything the woman, or her boyfriend, has done. Rather, it may be appropriate for the leadership to address this issue with the church as a whole.
  • The leadership of the Church and its members have been ordained by Christ to love each other as Christ loves them (John 13:34-35). While there are precedents for “church discipline,” I fail to see how revoking this woman’s membership displays the love of Christ.
  • By revoking this woman’s membership, the leadership of the church is displaying a woeful lack of confidence in the Holy Spirit. Rather than kicking her out of the church, the leadership should remain faithful to preach the Word of God within its services (especially those passages that define marriage and the appropriate roles of men and women) and be confident that the Spirit will convict her. Heck, perhaps they should begin the long process of befriending and ministering to her boyfriend in the confident hope that he will also be saved. This may be a difficult and lengthy process, but the effects of revoking her membership may create a roadblock that keeps her from attending church for a very long time.
  • I believe the church leadership should be grateful to face a situation that allows them model faithfulness to this woman that mirrors the faithfulness of God to believers. Considering there is no indication that this woman has turned her back on her faith; it is evident that she is still within Christ’s flock. John 10-27-29 clearly indicates that nothing (not even this woman’s living arrangements) can pluck a member of Christ’s flock out of God’s hand. Romans chapter 8 teaches that no amount of distress can separate a believer from the love of Christ. If this woman’s sin hasn’t caused Christ to give up on her, who is the church to cast her out?

Next, I’ll respond to the Scriptures referenced (within the scenario) that may suggest discipline in this scenario is warranted:

  • 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 does indicate that the sexual immorality merits expelling a member from the church community; however, verses 1 thru 8 in the same chapter spell out the exact sexual sin Paul is speaking of. Apparently, there was a man within the Corinthian church who had practiced sexual immoralityworse than even that practiced by the pagans by taking his father’s wife as his own lover (verse 1). The question we must ask is if the woman’s sin in our scenario really compares to the sin depicted in 1 Corinthians chapter 5. Is her sin worse than that of the unbelieving world around us? Is her sin really of the same heinous type as that Paul is writing about? I’m not justifying her actions nor arguing that they aren’t sinful; however, I do believe a case can be made that her sin is no more heinous than many of the other sins that can be found in any church. After all, if we kick all the sinners out of church, no one will be left to hear the gospel!
  • Matthew 18:17 does say that if a brother (or sister) refuses to listen he should ultimately be treated as a pagan or tax collector, but this is contingent upon Matthew 18:15 that states, “If your brother sins against you … .” Has the woman in our scenario sinned against anyone in particular within her church? I think it can be argued that her sin is against God rather than any member of the church. If the more sensitive members of the church are “offended” personally by the scandalous nature of her actions, they need to reevaluate the ease with which they are offended.

In summary, by the information we have been provided in this scenario, a revocation of this woman’s membership is not warranted. While she has sinned, she has not sinned in a manner grotesque enough to warrant discipline; nor has she committed an offense against any particular member of the church. The leadership of the church will be rewarded if they remain faithful to God’s Word and continue ministering to the woman’s needs as there is no doubt she will be in great need of God’s Word considering the choices she is making. Furthermore, considering the situation, there is a great likelihood that God’s power will be made evident as the Holy Spirit convicts the woman; in which case, everyone will know her life was turned around by God alone!

----> Clark Goble is a disciple of Christ, a husband, father, student, and writer. He welcomes your comments and encourages you to leave one here or email him at cdgobleATgmail.com. You can follow his twitter updates at http://twitter.com/#!/CDGoble
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Lessons from Habakkuk: Part 2 (Habakkuk 1:12-2:1)

Posted on October 27, 2010 by Clark Goble| Leave a comment
By Clark Goble | October 27, 2010

As I wrote in part one of this study, I have developed a serious love for the Old Testament book of Habakkuk. Since it has been my experience that most people (even Christians) have never heard of, nor read, this book, I have unofficially labeled it as “the best book of the Bible you have never heard of.” In the first post of this series we studied verses 1-11 and read of Habakkuk’s complaints to God concerning the sins committed by his fellow Jews. In a tone that is remarkably similar to that of Christians today, Habakkuk asked God why there is no justice in the world. God responded by telling Habakkuk he would be amazed by God’s plan for judgment where the nation of Judea was concerned. Just as He has used the Assyrians to judge Israel, God had raised up the army of Babylon to levy judgment upon the people of Judea. In light of this revelation, Habakkuk has further complaints.

Habakkuk’s Second Complaint

12 O LORD, are you not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, we will not die. O LORD, you have appointed them to execute judgment; O Rock, you have ordained them to punish. 13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? (Habakkuk 1:12-13)

Now that Habakkuk is aware of what’s in store for his people, he has serious reservations concerning God’s plan. Habakkuk is stunned that God would use a people as evil as the Babylonians to execute His will. In Habakkuk’s mind, this only serves to complicate the issue as, once again, the wicked are prevailing. As stunning as it seems, God’s revelation to Habakkuk reveals two things concerning the methods He is willing to use to advance His will: First, in God’s sovereign authority over the entire world He is not above using wicked people to advance His will. Secondly, God will use people whether they realize it or not. Certainly, the Babylonians had no clue they were serving the will of the one true God as they advance against Judea. It has been my experience that God still works in this fashion today. As a believer who came to Christ at the age of thirty, I can look back to my days before Christ and recognize the moments when God was working in my life even though I didn’t know it at the time. How amazing it is to serve a God who will “ordain” people to serve Him; even if they fail to recognize and admit it – or even object to it.

Habakkuk then continues his plea to God:

14 You have made men like fish in the sea,  like sea creatures that have no ruler. 15 The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks, he catches them in his net, he gathers them up in his dragnet; and so he rejoices and is glad. 16 Therefore he sacrifices to his net and burns incense to his dragnet, for by his net he lives in luxury and enjoys the choicest food. 17 Is he to keep on emptying his net, destroying nations without mercy? (Habakkuk 1:14-17)

Habakkuk’s plea with God strikes at the very nature of mankind. Within this complaint, there is a veiled accusation; Habakkuk asserts that God has made men like fish in the sea; running about with no direction and at the mercy of the wicked. Habakkuk then astutely observes that the wicked exercise their power over the weak without mercy to the point that they eventually begin to worship their own power and military strength. It is a plot that has been played out throughout history. Wicked rulers accumulate military might for the sole purpose of unleashing it upon the weak.

The last verse in this passage (verse 17) is especially poignant. In his Commentary of the Whole Bible, Matthew Henry writes, “The prophet, in the close, humbly expresses his hope that God will not suffer these destroyers of mankind always to go on and prosper thus, and expostulates with God concerning it?”

Henry continues to compare Habakkuk 1:17 with Psalms 74:22, “Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.”

What Habakkuk does next is a lesson for all of us:

1 I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint. (Habakkuk 2:1)

Habakkuk removes himself from others and waits in solitude for God’s answer to his plea. Consider the imagery in this verse. “Standing watch” and “stationing himself on the ramparts” elicits images of the night watchmen diligently looking out for the ensuing army. In Judea, ramparts were mounds of earth outside the city walls where watchmen would stand guard as the first line of defense against invasion. In this verse, Habakkuk is intentionally placing himself in a quiet, solitary place in order to hear from God. Despite his complaints and pleas, Habakkuk is expressing incredible faith in his God. He has asked a question and he expects an answer. The prophets actions in this passage are not unlike the Messiah’s who frequently sought out solitude to pray and communicate with the Heavenly Father:

12One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. (Luke 6:12)

In addition, Christ advised that the rest of us follow suit:

5“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. (Matthew 5:7)

There are so many distractions in today’s world that compete with God’s voice for our attention; music, television, computers, cell phones. If we truly expect to hear from God, we must model Habakkuk’s behavior and seek solitude and quiet.

Principles for our Christian Lives from Habakkuk 1:12-2:1

  • We should recognize God’s will cannot be resisted: God uses many methods to execute His will; He is not above manipulating the wicked and the ignorant. The Lord is in control!
  • When seeking God’s Word, we should intentionally seek solitude and quiet: As believers who are save by Christ, we should be confident that God wants to communicate with us. This communication will often necessitate that we seek solitude and quiet our minds in the confident hope that God will speak to us.

In the next lesson, we will study God’s response to Habakkuk’s plea.

Related Post: Lessons from Habakkuk: Part 1 (Habakkuk 1:1-11)

----> Clark Goble is a disciple of Christ, a husband, father, student, and writer. He welcomes your comments and encourages you to leave one here or email him at cdgobleATgmail.com. You can follow his twitter updates at http://twitter.com/#!/CDGoble
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Book Review: Remember Why You Play by David Thomas

Posted on October 25, 2010 by Clark Goble| Leave a comment
By Clark Goble | October 25, 2010

Book Review of Remember Why You Play by David Thomas

Remember Why You Play is a can’t miss read for fans of high school football. The author, David Thomas, chronicles a season played by Faith Christian High School in Grapevine, Texas and does a wonderful job of depicting how coach Kris Hogan and his staff combine faith and knowledge to effect great change in the lives of their students. Along the way, only the most calloused reader will resist falling in love with the players that comprise the Faith Lions. The story culminates in a game between the Lions and the Gainesville State Tornadoes, a team comprised of incarcerated juvenile offenders. Although many are familiar with the story, I will resist the urge to spoil the ending and simply write that the act of love that occurs during this game should serve to edify and inspire Christians everywhere.

If I am being honest, there are moments throughout the book that I feel Thomas is guilty of falling in love with his subjects a little too much. Consider the following passage:

“At age six in a baseball game, Hogan and his unbeaten team were locked in a duel against a pitcher who had held them scoreless. So the next time the pitcher came to bat, Hogan drilled him in the ribs with a fastball. To make sure the opponent knew Hogan’s pitch had been on target, Hogan looked at the player when he reached first base and winked. Sore and rattled, the pitcher became hittable for Hogan and his teammates, and they rallied to win the game.”

I’ve seen a few six year olds play baseball and would like to go on record stating that this scenario is either severely romanticized or that there are some little league coaches in Texas that need fired. Regardless, if Thomas is guilty of loving his subjects to the point of losing his objectivity, I am sure he comes by it honestly. I must admit that I was in love with the Faith Lions by the end of the book as well.

Apparently, this book is being made into a movie due out next year and I am sure it will be the next big “Christian” movie; do yourself a favor and read the book first.

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