1 Kings 8:22-66; Acts 8:14-24; Psalms 129:1-4; Proverbs 28:3-5

OT: “When Solomon finished praying this entire prayer and petition to the Lord, he got up from kneeling before the altar of the Lord, with his hands spread out toward heaven, and he stood and blessed the whole congregation of Israel with a loud voice: “Blessed be the Lord! He has given rest to his people Israel according to all he has said. Not one of all the good promises he made through his servant Moses has failed. May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors. May he not abandon us or leave us so that he causes us to be devoted to him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commands, statutes, and ordinances, which he commanded our ancestors… May all the peoples of the earth know that the Lord is God. There is no other! Be wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord our God to walk in his statutes and to keep his commands, as it is today.”” (‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭8:54-58, 60-61‬ ‭CSB)

Once the Ark of the Covenant was placed in its new home and the glory of the Lord filled the temple, Solomon prayed a prayer of dedication over the temple – asking God to honor His word and to keep His eye and ear on His earthly dwelling place. After his prayer of dedication, Solomon then turned to the people and asked that, through God’s habitation of the Temple, that the people of Israel would be blessed. He asked that God would continue to bless His people with peace and rest, and he asked that God would bless His people with the grace to be devoted to Him, walk in all His ways, and obey His commands. Why did Solomon ask for that blessing? That all the people of the world would know that the Lord is God and that there is no other. Solomon desired for God to bless His people so that the people of God could then become a blessing to the entire world. Now that faithful followers of Jesus Christ are the temple of the Holy Spirit, as the Holy Spirit fully inhabits their lives, He blesses them in the same way. The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The Lord works in His people through the Holy Spirit to both will to do and do His purposes (Philippians 2:13). As we, by abiding in Christ and allowing His Spirit to abide fully in us… as we are transformed more and more into the likeness of Christ, God’s glory becomes more evident in us… that all the peoples of the world would see God’s glory in us and be convinced that the Lord is God and there is no other. God, through His indwelling Holy Spirit, blesses us to be a blessing to the entire world… if we will be wholeheartedly devoted in faith and obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Kings 8:1-21; Acts 8:1-13; Psalms 128:5-6; Proverbs 28:2

OT: “At that time Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, all the tribal heads and the ancestral leaders of the Israelites before him at Jerusalem in order to bring the ark of the Lord’s covenant from the city of David, that is Zion… All the elders of Israel came, and the priests picked up the ark. The priests and the Levites brought the ark of the Lord, the tent of meeting, and the holy utensils that were in the tent. King Solomon and the entire congregation of Israel, who had gathered around him and were with him in front of the ark, were sacrificing sheep, goats, and cattle that could not be counted or numbered, because there were so many. The priests brought the ark of the Lord’s covenant to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the most holy place beneath the wings of the cherubim… When the priests came out of the holy place, the cloud filled the Lord’s temple, and because of the cloud, the priests were not able to continue ministering, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple.” (‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭8:1, 3-6, 10-11‬ ‭CSB)

After the construction of the Temple was complete, King Solomon made arrangements to move the Ark of the Covenant from the tent that King David had provided to the Holy of Holies inside the temple. Solomon was not about to make the same mistake his father made years before, so he made sure that the Ark was carried by the priests and the processional was consecrated with extravagant worship and sacrifice. One the Ark was in place and the priests had left the Holy of Holies, the glory of God filled the temple. The Bible teaches that this historical event was only a shadow of things to come. While David’s son built the temple, God’s Son came to build the temple that God truly desired to inhabit: men and women who were made alive in Christ and completely devoted to Him by faith. The filling of the Temple foreshadowed the day of Pentecost when God’s glory, through the Holy Spirit, filled the disciples and initiated the church… and continues to fill the church and its members today. The Bible teaches that we who are in Christ are now the temple of the Holy Spirit… and all of us who are made alive by the Spirit are individual living stones that are built together into the corporate inhabitation of the Glory of God, otherwise known as the church. What God did with the temple in the days of Solomon, He desires to with us: make us a living, breathing, mobile temple of the Glory of God.

NT: “…On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the land of Judea and Samaria… So those who were scattered went on their way preaching the word. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. The crowds were all paying attention to what Philip said, as they listened and saw the signs he was performing. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city… But when they believed Philip, as he proclaimed the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.” (‭‭Acts‬ ‭8:1, 4-8, 12‬ ‭CSB)

Before the stoning of Stephen, the church was primarily located in Jerusalem. After the stoning of Stephen, the members of the church were forced to flee Jerusalem for their own safety. Although they were being persecuted for their faith and had to uproot their lives and seek safety, that didn’t prevent the Spirit-filled church from proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God wherever they went. Not only did they proclaim the good news, they demonstrated the truth of their good news with dynamic power. As the members of the church fled, they left in their path people who were delivered from demonic oppression and possession, people who were once paralyzed but were now freely walking around and able to earn a living, and people who were once enslaved to their sin but were now free from their sin and fully alive in Christ. Church didn’t have to happen in the temple… church didn’t have to happen in the synagogues… church didn’t have to happen in homes. Church happened anywhere a filled temple of the Holy Spirit went. Church isn’t a building. Church isn’t even limited to a corporate gathering of believers. Church happens whenever two or more spirit-filled, living stones, come together in the name of Jesus and proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God through the crucified and resurrected Christ Jesus. That begs the question, ”Who are we?” Are we “Christians” who claim to believe in Jesus, or are we the church… filled with the glory of God and making an impact wherever we go?

1 Kings 7:27-51; Acts 7:51-60; Psalms 128:1-4; Proverbs 28:1

NT: ““You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit. As your ancestors did, you do also. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become. You received the law under the direction of angels and yet have not kept it.” When they heard these things, they were enraged and gnashed their teeth at him. Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. He saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God… They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. And the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” He knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” And after saying this, he fell asleep.” (‭‭Acts‬ ‭7:51-55, 58-60‬ ‭CSB)

When Stephen was asked to defend himself against the false charges leveled at him, he began recounting the history of how God moved through His people, even as His people rejected the ones God chose to work through. Throughout all of the scriptures, a common theme that shows up is Israel’s rejection and rebellion against God’s ways. His point: over all the centuries, nothing had changed, and once again, the Jewish leaders were rejecting the way God was moving and were rejecting the work of the Holy Spirit. What boldness Stephen displayed, to stand before an angry mob and strongly defend the gospel. Some might even say that Stephen’s bold defense was foolhardy… that he would have accomplished more and saved his life by sugar-coating the truth. However, Jesus approved of Stephen’s defense… and even stood to His feet in honor of Stephen and the sacrifice he was about to make. While it may seem that Stephen was a life of potential that was cut way to short – from heaven’s perspective Stephen’s life was a seed that produced much fruit for centuries to come. Stephen’s life was blessed and his death was blessed because of his bold faithfulness. The question to ask is, “Am I more like Stephen, or am I more like Stephen’s accusers?” Am I willing to boldly stand for the word, will, and ways of God, or am I one that fights against God’s ways if they threaten my comfort and my agendas?

Psalms: “How happy is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways! You will surely eat what your hands have worked for. You will be happy, and it will go well for you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house, your children, like young olive trees around your table. In this very way the man who fears the Lord will be blessed.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭128:1-4‬ ‭CSB)

The psalmist used a few different words for blessed – some of which are translated here as “happy.” How (asher) is everyone who fears the Lord. That word refers to the good that comes when people honor and obey the Lord. The man who fears the Lord will be (barak). That word means blessed, praised, saluted by the Lord. The evidence of the blessing is fruitfulness and sustained life. A man who fears the Lord is a man who honors the Lord’s word, will, and ways and would rather offend man’s sensibilities than to offend and grieve the Lord. Stephen was a man that feared the Lord – yet some might say that he wasn’t blessed… it didn’t go well for him… he was stoned to death. That view comes from looking at Stephen’s life from a temporal and earthly perspective. Stephen, however, was blessed (barak) for the Lord stood and saluted him as he gave his life. The evidence of Stephen’s blessedness was the fruit that came from his martyrdom… a gospel that ended up being spread across the known world.

Proverbs: “The wicked flee when no one is pursuing them, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.” (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭28:1‬ ‭CSB)

People who know they are wrong live in constant fear. Though they may appear brazen on the outside, they live in the fear of being found out and exposed. Those who are righteous and true have no fear of being found out and stand with unshakable conviction. Stephen was such a man. He stood in boldness because he stood on the side of righteousness. If we live in the light and keep our lives clean through confession and repentance, we too can stand bold as a lion – even in the face of death.

1 Kings 7:1-26; Acts 7:44-50; Psalms 127:3-5; Proverbs 27:23-27

Psalms: “Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord, offspring, a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the sons born in one’s youth. Happy is the man who has filled his quiver with them. They will never be put to shame when they speak with their enemies at the city gate.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭127:3-5‬ ‭CSB)

Children (not just sons) are an inheritance from God to us that should be valued and desired. Not only are they valuable now, but they stake our claim in the future. To own land was to have surety of a future that lasts beyond a natural life. A bow with arrows allowed a warrior to engage in battle from afar. Children allow us to influence and impact a future that is beyond our physical reach. Depending on how well we raise our children, that influence and impact may be good or it may be detrimental. So often, children are seen as a nuisance… a bother… something that prevents me from doing what I want to do now. Rarely do we see children for their impact and influence in the future. This becomes even more real when we consider our faith. Faith in God continues through the ages because we impart our faith to our children. Investing in our children is not frivolous nor a waste of time, and I am so glad that my wife and I set aside immediate gratification to invest fully into our children. Few things bring me more joy than seeing my kids impacting the world around them through the faith that they received from me and then made their own.

Proverbs: “Know well the condition of your flock, and pay attention to your herds, for wealth is not forever; not even a crown lasts for all time.” (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭27:23-24‬ ‭CSB)

As parents, your flock are your kids. Even if you aren’t a biological parent, there is a good chance that there are people younger than you that God has given you influence over. We can’t be passive with the responsibility that God has entrusted us with. We need to pay attention and know what is going on. We need to take an active and intentional role in our children’s lives. We can’t take things for granted and just expect that our kids will take the right paths in life and end up ok – or else we may wake up one day and realize that our “wealth” is gone.

1 Kings 6:14-38; Acts 7:30-43; Psalms 127:1-2; Proverbs 27:21-22

Psalms: “Unless the Lord builds a house, its builders labor over it in vain; unless the Lord watches over a city, the watchman stays alert in vain. In vain you get up early and stay up late, working hard to have enough food — yes, he gives sleep to the one he loves.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭127:1-2‬ ‭CSB)

1 Kings documented that Solomon wrote hundreds of psalms. Only a few are actually included in the book of Psalms. This is one of them. It is also a song of ascents. Solomon was the king that oversaw the building of the first temple. He also built a lot of other things: palaces… places of worship for foreign gods. He knew first-hand what it was like to build something by God’s grace and what it meant to build something that was not graced by God. God created mankind with a will… and that will is quite strong. A lot can be accomplished through mere will power. But if your building and protecting has nothing to do with what God is building and protecting, then your building and protecting, ultimately, is in vain. However, if you are partnering with the Lord’s projects and your will (instead of being set on your agenda) is set on obeying whatever God is calling you to do, your efforts will be fueled by God’s grace – and even in the midst of the work, there will be rest.

Proverbs: “As a crucible refines silver, and a smelter refines gold, so a person should refine his praise.” (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭27:21‬ ‭CSB)

During the refining process, gold and silver are heated to the point of melting so that all of the impurities will float to the service and can be removed. Similarly, trials and tribulations cause the impurities in our lives to come to the surface so that they can be dealt with and removed… impurities like selfish agendas, aversions to authority, impatience, hard-heartedness, etc. As we allow our impurities to be removed through the refining process of our Heavenly Father, our hearts become more and more devoted to the things of the Lord and our praise becomes more and more pure.

1 Kings 5:1-6:13; Acts 7:11-29; Psalms 126:4-6; Proverbs 27:18-20

OT: “The word of the Lord came to Solomon: “As for this temple you are building — if you walk in my statutes, observe my ordinances, and keep all my commands by walking in them, I will fulfill my promise to you, which I made to your father David. I will dwell among the Israelites and not abandon my people Israel.”” (‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭6:11-13‬ ‭CSB)

I love the movie “The Field of Dreams.” In the movie, the main character receives a word, “If you build it, they will come.” So he sets out to build a baseball diamond in the middle of a corn field. Solomon set out to build the Temple of God because of a desire and a word that his father David had received. As Solomon began the years-long project, God spoke to him… Solomon’s efforts around building the temple may draw people – but a shiny new glorious temple would not draw God. More than a building, God wanted Solomon (and thus His people) to build a place for Him in his heart. A beautiful temple without the manifest presence of God is just another building. A life that puts all his efforts into keeping up appearances but doesn’t obey the Lord is as Jesus described, a white-washed tomb. Work for work’s sake accomplishes little to nothing. Yoking up with Jesus and joining Him in His work… keeping His word, observing His will, walking in His ways opens the door for the abiding presence of God and produces fruit that will last for eternity.

Psalms: “Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy. Though one goes along weeping, carrying the bag of seed, he will surely come back with shouts of joy, carrying his sheaves.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭126:5-6‬ ‭CSB)

Somehow, believers have gotten a skewed understanding of revival and restoration. When the Jews were allowed to return to Israel, much work had to be done to see the land and the people become fruitful again. First on their list was rebuilding the temple, and that required work… but it was work that was done “not by might nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord.” For the land to be fruitful, the laborers had to reclaim the land from the affects of decades of inattention. They had to plow the fields and plant seeds. Believers seem to think that revival doesn’t require work… we just ask God for revival, He sends it, and we get to bask in its glory without lifting a hand. To experience the manifest presence of God and the multiplied blessing of a revived and unified church, work must be done – but it’s not work for work’s sake. It is humbling ourselves, yoking up with Jesus, and joining Him in the work that He is doing… reclaiming our lives from years of spiritual inattention, plowing up fallow ground, planting good seed, honoring God’s word, obeying the Lord’s commandments, walking in His ways. Then, we will reap the harvest with shouts of joy.

Proverbs: “Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and whoever looks after his master will be honored.” (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭27:18‬ ‭CSB)

Those who don’t work will not receive the blessing of fruit – they will receive the fruit of their lack of labor: lack. Those who do not serve their master will not receive the Master’s honor.

1 Kings 4:1-34; Acts 7:1-10; Psalms 126:1-3; Proverbs 27:17

Psalms: “When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Our mouths were filled with laughter then, and our tongues with shouts of joy. Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord had done great things for us; we were joyful.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭126:1-3‬ ‭CSB)

This psalm is a song of ascents. It recounts the time, after the Babylonian Exile, when the Jews were allowed to return to their homeland and begin rebuilding Jerusalem. For generations, Israel grew more and more idolatrous and grew farther and farther from the Lord God – until finally they were removed from their land to spend 70 years in exile. After that 70 year time period, God moved in the heart of a pagan king and the Jews were allowed to return to begin again. These first three verses describe the unbelievable joy that was experienced at that time. So unbelievable were the turn of events, that even the surrounding pagan nations could not explain what was happening, and had no choice but attribute it to God. When I read this psalm, I think of the church. Like the nation of Israel, many who claim to be believers in Christ have allowed “idols” to usurp Christ’s preeminence. While we may not worship named gods like Baal or Ashtoreth or Molech, believers in America have given their worship to the American economy, the American dream, the Federal government, political parties, etc. Many times we are more concerned with upsetting those things than grieving the heart of God. I wonder if the tide is beginning to turn. I wonder if the things we have placed our hopes and trust in have failed us enough, that we will stop making them our primary focus. I wonder if believers are beginning to realize that the only sure hope for peace, contentment, abundance, and joy is found through surrender to the God of All and His Son Jesus Christ. Oh, when the church in large part comes to their senses and repents of their wayward ways and turns back to the preeminence of Christ… when the church in large part is revived and restored… what joy will fill our hearts… and all those who watch will have no other rational choice but to say, “The Lord has done great things for them.”

Proverbs: “Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another.” (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭27:17‬ ‭CSB)

The word for sharpen means to be intellectually alert. In order to remain alert and not get dragged into the cesspool of worldliness and carnality, we need friends that will challenge us and call us out when we are stepping into something we shouldn’t. When I say friends, I don’t mean social media friends that you can easily unfriend or stop following if they say things you don’t like. I mean a true friend that loves you and cares for your wellbeing – that is willing to say tough things to you when you need to hear them. Friends that are willing to speak the truth, but speak it in love. Friends that don’t just say what you want to hear, but say what you need to hear. If we just surround ourselves with people that think the same way we think and never challenge us, we will grow intellectually and spiritually dull and will get sucked into the black hole of darkness. For the church to experience revival, we need to get out of our echo chambers and allow ourselves to be convicted by the Holy Spirit through the word of God and the voice of true God-fearing friends.

1 Kings 3:3-28; Acts 6:7-15; Psalms 125:4-5; Proverbs 27:15-16

OT: “The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there because it was the most famous high place. He offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask. What should I give you?” “…Lord my God, you have now made your servant king in my father David’s place. Yet I am just a youth with no experience in leadership… So give your servant a receptive heart to judge your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours?” Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had requested this. So God said to him, “Because you have requested this and did not ask for long life or riches for yourself, or the death of your enemies, but you asked discernment for yourself to administer justice, I will therefore do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again. In addition, I will give you what you did not ask for: both riches and honor, so that no king will be your equal during your entire life. If you walk in my ways and keep my statutes and commands just as your father David did, I will give you a long life.”” (‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭3:4-5, 7, 9-14‬ ‭CSB)

Solomon began his reign well. He took his father’s charge to him seriously and endeavored to walk in the ways of King David. Though the Ark of the Covenant was in Jerusalem, the rest of Moses’ tabernacle, including the altar and all the tabernacle furnishings, were at the high place in Gibeon – so Solomon went there to consecrate his kingship to the Lord. Later that night, God told Solomon to ask Him for what he (Solomon) desired. As Solomon considered his youth and lack of experience, and considered the vast responsibility that was ahead of him, Solomon didn’t ask for anything that would benefit him – he asked for what would most benefit the people he was called to lead: he asked for a wise and discerning heart. That pleased the Lord greatly. By Solomon keeping primary things first, God not only gave him the wisdom that he asked for, he also gave Solomon the secondary things that he didn’t ask for… but all of it hinged on Solomon’s faithfulness to God’s word, will, and ways. Similarly, Jesus taught us that if we seek first the Kingdom, then all the secondary things that we need and desire will be given to us. If, on the other hand, we seek secondary things first, in the end, we will end up with neither the secondary nor primary things. What are we pursuing? Are we pursuing the purposes of the kingdom and the wisdom that comes from God, or are we pursuing power, prosperity, influence, creature comforts, etc. before the desires of the Lord?

NT: “Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from some members of the Freedmen’s Synagogue, composed of both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, and they began to argue with Stephen. But they were unable to stand up against his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking.” (‭‭Acts‬ ‭6:8-10‬ ‭CSB)

The encouraging truth about Stephen is that he was an ordinary guy. He wasn’t an apostle… he didn’t travel around with Jesus, hear Jesus’ teaching, and witness Jesus’ miracles. He wasn’t an educated religious leader. He was, most likely, a Greek Jew… a Jew by ethnicity, but a Greek culturally. Yet this normal guy (an outsider of sorts) was full of grace, power, and wisdom by the Holy Spirit… to the point where he (not the Apostles) was performing great signs and wonders and spoke with wisdom that no one could refute. James 1:5 says, “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God — who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly — and it will be given to him.” That was true of Stephen. He was no one “special,” yet he apparently asked God for wisdom, and through the fullness of the Holy Spirit, that wisdom was given to him generously. The same can be true of us who place our faith in Christ: the same wisdom that was given to Solomon of old… the same wisdom that Jesus walked in… the same wisdom that was given to Stephen is available to us if we ask for it in faith.

1 Kings 2:26-3:2; Acts 6:1-6; Psalms 125:1-3; Proverbs 27:14

NT: “In those days, as the disciples were increasing in number, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution. The Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching the word of God to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” This proposal pleased the whole company. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a convert from Antioch. They had them stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.” (‭‭Acts‬ ‭6:1-6‬ ‭CSB)

As the Jerusalem church grew, they began to experience growing pains. Hellenistic Jews were Jews that were not from Israel and most likely did not speak Aramaic or Hebrew – they were Greek speaking Jews who had grown up in a Greek-influenced culture. They were “outsiders” and began to feel left out. By this time, the church in Jerusalem had reached “megachurch” status and was too large for the Apostles to effectively manage all of it’s activities. Instead of trying to continue doing everything themselves, they determined to equip others in the body for the work of ministry. The qualifications for these new delegates: they needed to have a good reputation, be full of the Spirit, and full of wisdom. Too many times, churches leave the work of ministry to the pastor – and the expect the pastor to be a spiritual super man. That is not how Jesus desires for His church to be organized. Ephesians 4:11-12 explained that Jesus gave leadership roles to some, not so that the few would do everything, but that the few would equip the rest of the church for the work of ministry. That is exactly what the Apostles did: they remained in their equipping role of prayer and the ministry of the word, while they laid hands on and empowered other qualified men to oversee the work of ministry. The crisis was averted and the church was able to keep growing and meeting the needs of the community.

Psalms: “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion. It cannot be shaken; it remains forever. The mountains surround Jerusalem and the Lord surrounds his people, both now and forever.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭125:1-2‬ ‭CSB)

This psalm is a song of ascent that would have been sung by Jewish pilgrims as they ascended into Jerusalem and climbed the slope of Mount Zion to reach the temple. The imagery of the surrounding landscape would have made this psalm become real to the singer. Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion… lifted up for all to see, stable and unshakable, and defended by mountains on every side. What a great word for us now, when it seems like so many things around us are being shaken… when people and systems we placed trust in are proving to be fallible… when much or our current experience is draped in uncertainty. If we place our trust primarily in the Lord… if we keep our eyes on Jesus… if we don’t get distracted by the noise of the storms all around us, we will not be shaken and we will be protected on every side.

1 Kings 2:1-25; Acts 5:12-42; Psalms 124:7-8; Proverbs 27:13

OT: “As the time approached for David to die, he ordered his son Solomon, “As for me, I am going the way of all of the earth. Be strong and be a man, and keep your obligation to the Lord your God to walk in his ways and to keep his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees. This is written in the law of Moses, so that you will have success in everything you do and wherever you turn, and so that the Lord will fulfill his promise that he made to me: ‘If your sons take care to walk faithfully before me with all their heart and all their soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’” (‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭2:1-4‬ ‭CSB)

In King David’s parting words to Solomon, his son and heir to the throne, he said be strong and be a man. Then David went on to tell Solomon how to be a strong man. It wasn’t lift weights and become yoked… it wasn’t become a valiant warrior… it wasn’t play sports… it wasn’t drive a big truck… it wasn’t be attractive to the ladies… it wasn’t any of the things that we use to define manhood on our culture. David said, to be a strong man, keep your obligation to the Lord, walk in His ways, honor His word, and obey His will. That is the mark of a strong man: someone who is humble and submitted to God. When you honor and obey God, everything else that you need will fall into place.

NT: “Many signs and wonders were being done among the people through the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon’s Colonnade. No one else dared to join them, but the people spoke well of them. Believers were added to the Lord in increasing numbers — multitudes of both men and women. As a result, they would carry the sick out into the streets and lay them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them. In addition, a multitude came together from the towns surrounding Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed. Then the high priest rose up. He and all who were with him, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. So they arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail… After they brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin, and the high priest asked, “Didn’t we strictly order you not to teach in this name? Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people… When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered the men to be taken outside for a little while. He said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful about what you’re about to do to these men… So in the present case, I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this work is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him. After they called in the apostles and had them flogged, they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be treated shamefully on behalf of the Name. Every day in the temple, and in various homes, they continued teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.” (‭‭Acts‬ ‭5:12-18, 27-29, 33-35, 38-42‬ ‭CSB)

Even though the Apostles and their community of believers were severely threatened by the religious leaders, they continued (by the power and fullness of the Holy Spirit) to proclaim the name of Jesus and demonstrate the truth of their gospel message through amazing signs and wonders. They didn’t proclaim Jesus’ name as an act of protest. They did so out of an act of obedience. They weren’t disobeying the law – they were ignoring threats… much like Nehemiah continued building the wall around Jerusalem even after he was threatened. Because the Apostles were obeying God, they had a good reputation among the people. The religious leaders disliked them – not because the apostles were purposefully making themselves a spectacle, but because the religious leaders were jealous. Because the Apostles obeyed God, they put themselves on the side of the unfailing and unshakable will and purposes of God. Did they face trials? Were they arrested? Were they publicly flogged? Were they eventually killed? Yes, they were… but because they obeyed God, they became history makers and changed the world… and God’s purposes that began in and through them have yet to be overthrown.