Pastor Bob DuPar
June 9, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

1 Kings 5:1-6:38; Acts 7:1-29; Psalm 127:1-5; Proverbs 16:28-30.

Observation

What a fantastic political climate for Solomon as the new king:

“But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or disaster.”

Wouldn’t our presidential candidates love that kind of environment as they go into office next January?

Seven years is a long time to build a temple, but given the technology of that day and lack of power tools and equipment – that was probably pretty fast.

Joseph did not lead an easy life but Acts 7:9-10 speaks to his success, “God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles.”

The NIV version of Acts 7:20: “At that time Moses was born, and he was no ordinary child,” loses something in its translation of the Greek. The word for “ordinary” better translates as “beautiful, or chosen for a special mission.”

Psalm 127:1 is one of my favorites: “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” The Hebrew word for “house” also means “family” which gives this Psalm a whole different flavor, especially in light of the verses which follow.

Finally, Proverbs 16:28 provides a warning and a true test of character:

“A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.”

Application

Proverbs labels many of us as perverse (evil) who consider ourselves to be good. That’s how seriously God takes dissension and attacks to Christian unity. Gossip has the destructive power of separating close friends. One word, a careless conversation, a betrayal of trust, an inappropriate joke, all have the ability to taint intimacy between friends with the corrosive residue of doubt, mistrust and guarded self-disclosure.

Prayer

“God, help me to be a true friend - one who promotes unity and who strengthens relationships rather than one who tears them down.”