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<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">“<b>TWO
ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Jim
& Marie Watt</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Tel:
<a href="tel:253-517-9195" target="_blank">253-517-9195</a> - Email:
<a href="mailto:jmbetter@gmail.com" target="_blank">jmbetter@gmail.com</a></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Web:
<a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/" target="_blank">www.2rbetter.org</a></b></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">October 17, 2012</p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">
<br></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">
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</p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>JUN
12 - 1 KINGS 1-4 - SOLOMON: KINGDOM ESTABLISHED FIRST</b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>1.
1:5-6a (1:1-9, ESV) DAVID: ADONIJAH PLOTS IN HIS DECLINING YEARS.
<font size="3">“Now Adonijah the son of Haggith (Exultation) exalted
himself, saying, ‘I will be king.’ And he prepared f</font><font size="3">or</font><font size="3">
himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. </font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1">6a
</font><font size="3">His father had never at any time displeased him
by asking, ‘Why have you done thus and so?’” </font></b><span style="font-weight:normal">There
is a danger in our declining years. It is good to pass on
responsibility while we are yet alert. David waited too long.
</span><b><i>Hallowed by your :name.</i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="font-style:normal">2</span><span style="font-style:normal">.
1:11 (1:10-27) SOLOMON: PROTECTED BY NATHAN AND BATHSHEBA. </span><font size="3"><span style="font-style:normal">“</span></font><font size="3"><span style="font-style:normal">Then
Nathan said to Bathsheba (Daughter of an oath) the mother of Solomon
(Peaceable). ‘Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith
has become king and David our lord does not know it?’” </span></font></b><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">Thank
God for the prophet Nathan! Apart from him, all the good of David’s
kingdom might have been lost. Father, we thank You for the wisdom You
placed in Nathan. By it he preserved the Kingdom! </span></span><b><i>Your
:kingdom come!</i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>3.
1:34 (1:28-2:11) SOLOMON: ANOINTED AND CHARGED BY DAVID. <font size="3">“And
let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet there anoint him king
over Israel. Then blow the trumpet and say, ‘Long live King
Solomon!’” </font></b><span style="font-weight:normal">What
wisdom are in the words of David with which he charged Solomon! All
of Adonijah’s plans went awry because of Nathan, Bathsheba and
David. Father, we bless You that You look over us in our weakness!
</span><b><i>Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.</i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>4.
2:24 (2:12-25) SOLOMON: EXECUTES ADONIJAH. <font size="3">“Now
therefore as the LORD lives, who has established me and placed me on
the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house, as he
promised, Adonijah shall be put to death today.” </font></b><span style="font-weight:normal">With
what dispatch Solomon acted concerning Adonijah’s request! O
forgive us Father, that we so often fail to discern the seriousness
of a situation; or, seeing it, we fail to act with dispatch! Grant us
too the wisdom of Solomon! </span><b><i>Our :daily :bread Give us
this day.</i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>5.
2:31 (2:26-35) SOLOMON: REMOVES ABIATHAR AND EXECUTED JOAB. <font size="3">The
king replied to him, “Do as he has s</font><font size="3">ai</font><font size="3">d,
strike him down and bury him, and thus take away from </font><font size="3">me
</font><font size="3">and and from my father’s house </font><font size="3">t</font><font size="3">he
guilt for the blood that Joab shed without cause.” </font></b><span style="font-weight:normal">How
</span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">necessary</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
was this action! Forgive us Father, for often being ‘bleeding-heart
liberals’, who fail to apprehend the importance of Your Kingdom
Government and principles! Strengthen us that we fall not into the
temptation of becoming wishy-washy, wimpy leaders. </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">And
forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our debtors.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">6.
</span><span style="text-decoration:none">2:46 (2:36-46) SOLOMON:
EXECUTES SHIMEI. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“Then
the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he went out and
struck him down, and he died. So the kingdom was established in the
hand of Solomon.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">This
make 3 executions and one banishment, all in less that a 4 year
period of time. This </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">had</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
to be done before the building of the </span></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">T</span></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">emple.
Father, we see and perceive You in all of this. </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">And
bring us not into temptation.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">7.
3:5 (3-4) SOLOMON: WISDOM-ENDOWED AND ESTABLISHED. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“At
Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God
said, ‘Ask what I shall give you.’” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">What
a dream! We will not sell You short, O Great Jehovah Father,
concerning Your right to speak to us in </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">dreams</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">,
as You did to Joseph and Daniel (Job 33:14-18). There are 24 dreamers
and 34 recorded dreams in Scripture: 22 in the OT, and 12 in the NT.
</span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">And deliver
us from the evil </span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">one!</span></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><u><b>NOTE</b></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>:
3:9 (3-4) SOLOMON’S REQUEST. </b></span><b><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“Give
your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people,
that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern
this your great people?” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">We
too need Your wisdom, Father!</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">And
what are the chief lessons that we can glean and apply from this
reading for us today?</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Perhaps
one that stands out is the counsel David gave his son Solomon just
before he died. Joab and Shimei required judgment that David was
unable to look after during his life-time. These with Adonijah and
Abiathar were attended to in the 4 years of his reign prior to
beginning the building of the Temple. For us - before beginning
God-given assignments - there are oftentimes tasks to be attended to
prior to taking care of the assignments.</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Then
- all of us could learn from the humility of Solomon asking for
wisdom to rule God’s people wisely - ahead of any other personal
request he might have asked for. God was so pleased with this
request, that He granted it above any ruler prior or since in the
realm of wisdom! As a bonus He added riches in like measure.</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">We
too like Solomon should see the priority of wisdom and understanding
above any other goal in seeking God.</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Solomon
was author of 3 books of the Bible: Song of Solomon in his early
years; Proverbs as a father; and Ecclesiastes as “a looking back”
on his failures, and a closing word on the chief lesson he learned
from his lapses in departing from God’s ways.</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Solomon
means “</span></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">peaceable”
- and God determined that it took a man of “Peace” to build His
Temple, not a man of wars. When Solomon was born (2 Samuel 12:25) God
instructed Nathan to also name him “Jedidiah” - “Beloved of the
LORD.” Certainly in his early and mid-years, Solomon lived up to
this added name. It was only later when he multiplied wives and let
them lead him into worshiping their gods - that the anger and wrath
of the LORD came upon him, leading to the division of the Kingdom
under his son Rehoboam.</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">We
should remember that in later years - we too can be led astray and
depart from the true and pure worship of the LORD. - Jim Watt</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">Our
chapter of Proverbs for the day: 12:14 (12) THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON.
</span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“From </span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">the
fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good, and the work of a
man’s hand comes back to him.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">You
Father, are not ungrateful to pass over unnoticed our labor of love
to You, and to our fellow-man. When we walk by Your Spirit, obeying
His leadings according to the mandates of Your Word, a </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">sure</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
reward comes, and our needs </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">are</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
met! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Hallowed
be your :name!</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><br>
</p>
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