13 April 2014 - The Kingdom Divides

After being king in Jerusalem for forty years, Solomon died

Per First Kings eleven, his son Rehoboam did then preside

But when the people asked him to lighten their heavy load

He ignored his elder advisers and the people he did goad

By saying he would make their load heavier and with more pain

The people of Israel were upset and did more than just complain

Except for the tribe of Judah, they did against him all rebel

This fulfilled God’s promise, First Kings twelve does tell

The rest of Israel decided to name Jeroboam their new king

Per First Kings twelve, he feared what the future might bring

So he made two golden calves, one in Bethel and one in Dan

Hoping the people would support him instead of God’s plan

The people worshipped the calves and it was indeed a sin

Jeroboam even appointed priests who were not Levite kin

Therefore “this was the sin of the house of Jeroboam that led”

“To its downfall and…destruction”, First Kings thirteen said

13 April 2014 - ENCS

The "Cross Words" series today Joseph Bonifacio did continue

He referred to Luke chapter twenty three, from verse thirty two

Jesus said "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do"

Even as He was being ridiculed and abused by more than a few

 

By calling "Father", despite being under physical and emotional stress

Jesus affirmed that God is with us no matter the hardship or the mess

He also showed that at all times, His first instinct was just to pray

Whether He was teaching or resting or facing His crucifixion day

 

Jesus said "forgive them" despite that they were doing to Him

He prayed for the people who wanted to tear him limb from limb

By doing so, He was showing us how we should try to live

No matter who does what to us, we should always forgive

 

But there are limits to human forgiveness, Pastor Joseph said

It might be what we can forgive, or who, or how often instead

Peter asked if forgiving seven times is enough, per Matthew eighteen

But in verse twenty two, Jesus' answer "seventy times seven" is seen

 

His words are powerful because a "forgiveness scarcity" is how we think

But as Jesus showed by forgiving us, this concept is just out of sync

"To let things slide" sounds good but leaves us with an open wound

But restorative power comes with forgiveness, to which all can be attuned

 

Jesus forgave the rulers and soldiers before they did ask

For us to do likewise seems to be a reasonable task

The power to heal and restore result from a forgiveness surplus

Which Jesus released to all from the cross, Joseph did discuss

 

But when faced with a situation, can we say what Jesus did say?

We should, since Jesus forgave us so for our sins we do not pay

But, Joseph did then say to us, that before we can forgive like Christ

We must receive His forgiveness, which has always more than sufficed

 

He continued by saying what we did to Jesus is the greatest debt

So whatever others do to us we should readily forgive if not forget

For this world to work, we need both forgiveness and healing

If we do not forgive, we may face consequences unappealing

 

In conclusion, about the topic of forgiveness Joseph had these words to say

"Imperfect people having perfect relationships because made new every day"

11 April 2014 - Solomon: Temple and Temptation

When Hiram heard about Solomon, per First Kings five

He was pleased for with David the relationship did thrive

To Hiram, a message about a temple Solomon did send

Saying that to build one for God was what he did intend

For there were no more wars and Israel was finally at rest

It was the right thing to do, for the nation was blessed

Solomon asked Hiram that cedars from Lebanon be cut

Hiram said Solomon was a very wise man, not some nut

Solomon “devoted [himself] to study”, per Ecclesiastes one

While king of Israel, he explored by wisdom all that is done

He said that he had seen all the things done under the sun

And concluded that all of them were meaningless, even if fun

“There is a time for everything”, per Ecclesiastes three

And under heaven, there is “a season for every activity”

“”A time to be born and a time to die”, it does reveal

A time to plant and to uproot, to kill and to heal

To tear down and to build, to laugh and to weep

To mourn and to dance, also to sow and to reap

To keep and to discard, to be silent and to speak

To love and to hate, to be bold and to be meek

“Two are better than one”, it says in Ecclesiastes four

By working together, they can achieve so much more

They can help each other out in times of trouble

For their combined strength is more than double

Per Ecclesiastes twelve, “Not only was the Teacher wise”

“But also he imparted knowledge” to people of every size

He found the right words and “wrote what was upright and true”

Without change, the proverbs he wrote told everyone what to do

“The conclusion of the matter” is that God should be feared

Man’s duty is to keep the commandments that appeared

Per First Kings eleven, Solomon loved women from many a nation

Although doing so broke God’s orders and risked His condemnation

“As Solomon grew old, [to other gods] he wives turned his heart”

Unlike his father David, from God’s ways Solomon did depart

God told Solomon that He was angry that Solomon did not obey

As a result, after his death his kingdom would be taken away

8 April 2014 - Solomon: The Wisest King

As David was ready to die, in Second Kings two

He told his son Solomon important things to do

He said, “Be strong, show yourself a man”

“Keep His…commands” as best as you can

“So that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go”

“If your descendants…walk faithfully”, the kingdom will grow

So then, as per First Chronicles twenty nine

Solomon sat on the throne and did just fine

All of Israel to King Solomon pledged their submission

“The Lord highly exalted Solomon” in everyone’s vision

God appeared to Solomon one night, per First Kings three

The Lord said to him, “Ask whatever you want [from] me”

Solomon was wise and showed great humility on his part

He therefore asked God to give him “a discerning heart”

So he would be able “to distinguish between right and wrong”

God was pleased that he had not asked for wealth or life long

With “a wise and discerning heart” Solomon was thus blessed

God said that in this way, as a king, he would be the best

In addition, God gave him riches and honor and many things

“So that in [his] lifetime [he would] have no equal among kings”

The Israelite people were numerous, per First Kings four

They ate and drank and had a lot to be thankful for

Solomon ruled over all of the kingdoms in the region

“These countries brought tribute” to him that was legion

“God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight”

“He was wiser than any other man”, be it day or night

To all the surrounding nations, his fame did thus spread

He wrote thousands of proverbs and songs, it is said

“Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom”

For he would teach about everything to them who did come

In Proverbs one, Solomon wrote about their purpose and theme

“For attaining wisdom and discipline”, “words of insight” teem

“For…doing what is right and just and fair”

To the simple, giving prudence and care

And to “let the wise listen and add to their learning”

To provide guidance for those who are discerning

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge”

True wisdom and discipline are worth more than college

In Luke eleven, Jesus said “this is a wicked generation”

For they asked for signs, but will only get condemnation

“The Queen of the South…came…to listen to Solomon’s wisdom”

But “now one greater than Solomon” to earth has come

6 April 2014 - ENCS

Pastor Joshua Harris started the "Cross Words" series

Focusing on the last words of Christ, not just theories

Matthew twenty seven verse forty six was the core text today

"My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" Jesus did say

Everyone can all relate at one level to feeling forsaken

When bad things happen or a loved one's life is taken

 

But for Jesus, whose life's purpose was prophesied in Matthew one

We often forget that He spent His first thirty years as a human's son
Although Jesus was perfect and therefore knew everything

To His parents Mary and Joseph, He willingly was submitting

 

To Matthew twenty six and twenty seven, Pastor Josh did revert

There were so many examples of how Christ Jesus was hurt

His betrayal by Judas, his disciples sleeping while he prayed

The disciples leaving Him, being ridiculed, tortured, and flayed

Peter denying Him three times, criminal justice being perverted

And then three hours of darkness when Jesus was deserted

So Jesus is the only person who can say He knows how we feel

Because no matter what our situation, He experienced it for real

 

Similarly, God had to watch this happen to His beloved Son

It was not fair at all, but for our sake it really had to be done

At the time of Jesus' death, the temple curtain was ripped in two

Symbolizing that everyone was now saved, not just the select few

Jesus took on all of the world's sin and pain and hurt

So we will never be forsaken by God, Pastor did assert

We should have confidence when talking with God, per Hebrews ten

Thanks to Jesus the High Priest, no intermediary will be needed again

We should have "full assurance of faith" with our hearts sprinkled clean

For on our collective behalf, Jesus did on the cross sacrificially intervene

 

In conclusion, 'let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess"

Pastor said that our only real response to God should be "yes"

4 April 2014 - David: The Shepherd King (part two of two)

God spoke to David, per Second Samuel seven

Through Nathan, a prophet God sent from heaven

God said that He would make David’s name great

And give him rest from enemies who did Israel hate

God promised the kingdom would pass to David’s son

Who would build a temple that would be rivaled by none

And even when the son did wrong despite being clever

David’s “house and [his] kingdom will endure forever”

“The Lord is my shepherd” David wrote in Psalm twenty three

To green pastures and beside quiet waters “He leads me”

“He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake”

Even if a walk in “the valley of the shadow of death” I may take

“I will fear no evil, for You are with me”

“Your rod and…staff”, comforting they be

“You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows”

“Goodness and love will follow” wherever He goes

In John ten, “I am the good shepherd” Jesus did say

For his sheep, the good shepherd will his life lay

In Second Samuel eleven, David sent his army out

Both the Ammonites and Rabbah they did rout

But in Jerusalem, in his palace David did stay

From his roof, a beautiful woman he saw one day

He sent for Bathsheba and together they did sleep

News of her pregnancy from Uriah David tried to keep

He had Uriah come back to give him a report

But since the army was fighting, Uriah did retort

He would not return to his house or lie with his wife

Saying “I will not do such a thing” in his entire life

So instructions to Uriah’s field commander David sent

And therefore into a dangerous position Uriah went

“Some of the men in David’s army fell”; Uriah also died

When his wife Bathsheba heard the news, she cried

After mourning, she married David and bore him a son

But the Lord was displeased with what David had done

To Nathan in Second Samuel twelve, his sin David did confess

The Lord decided to spare David’s life out of His goodness

After confessing to Nathan, David wrote Psalm fifty one

Asking for mercy from God for what he had done

“For I know…my sin is always before me” and is not right

“Against you, I have…done what is evil in Your sight”

“Surely I was sinful at birth” as with everyone is the case

“You desire truth…and teach me wisdom in the inmost place”

“Blot out all my iniquity…and create in me a pure heart”

“From your presence” do not allow me to be apart

4 April 2014 - David: The Shepherd King

Per First Samuel sixteen, for Saul Samuel did still mourn

But God said the next king to Jesse already had been born

To meet Jesse and all of his sons, Samuel did his part

The Lord said to look not at the outside, but at the heart

Through Samuel, God rejected sons one through seven

The youngest was in the field but was chosen by heaven

So Samuel took the horn of oil and did David anoint

For David, the Spirit of the Lord would not disappoint

Saul and the Israelite army in the Valley of Elah did camp

To face the Philistines and Goliath, a nine foot tall champ

Over one hundred twenty five pounds his armor did weigh

Goliath challenged the entire Israelite army every single day

The winner would rule over the nation of whomever died

“Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified”

Despite his age, young David volunteered to Goliath fight

Saul said that he would be no match for the giant’s might

But David had killed a bear and a lion while tending sheep

And was confident that safe the Lord God would him keep

In regards the “uncircumcised Philistine” who did God defy

David was very confident that at God’s hand he would die

Saul’s armor and helmet were far too unwieldy for the boy

So only took his sling and five stones – and God’s joy

David and Goliath approached each other in the field

David solo; Goliath had someone carrying his shield

Goliath saw David was a boy and did him despise

Because he seemed unarmed and due to his size

Goliath insulted David and by his gods did curse

David replied with promises that were not terse

He said that God would let him cut off Goliath’s head

So that all would know the victory was God’s instead

And so it transpired, in line with the plan of the Lord

David killed Goliath and cut off his head with a sword

“One in spirit with David” Saul’s son Jonathan did become

Into his house, Jonathan made David more than welcome

Whatever Saul sent David to do, he did exceedingly well

“This pleased all the people”, chapter eighteen does tell

Women came out to sing and play tambourines with their hands

“Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands”

This greatly angered Saul as the refrain definitely did him gall

He figured that David would end up with the kingdom and all

So from that day forward, on David Saul kept a jealous eye

Saul turned out to be an evil-spirited jealous vindictive guy

Saul told many to kill David in First Samuel nineteen

But Jonathan’s fondness for David was clearly seen

He warned David and told him to go into hiding

He talked with his father, even risking a chiding

Saul listened to his son and promised not to harm David

Then Jonathan called David from the place he had hid

David killed more Philistines when war broke out

They “fled before him” as his force led to a rout

But an evil spirit came across Saul, who had a spear

David eluded Saul and escaped, for his life he did fear

In First Chronicles ten, the Philistines again did attack

Israel was pressured, as David’s strength they did lack

Saul was wounded and his three sons had all died

He asked his aide to kill him because he could not hide

In the end, Saul died when he fell on his own sword

Then the Israelites fled away from the Philistine hoard

“Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord”

So David became king without raising his sword