The Chronicler speaks of cities being given to Solomon by Huram reversing 1 Kings. He shows his great respect for the ark when he has Solomon insist that his foreign born wives must not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, for the places to which the ark of the Lord has come are holy. Are there things for which we have such respect or things that we hold as sacred in our society today? The Queen of Sheba’s visit is described as in 1 Kings except the Chronicler sets Solomon on God’s throne as king for the Lord his God, not on the throne as king of Israel. Her words “Howbeit I believed not their words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me: for thou exceedest the fame that I heard.” are reminiscent of a most human quality-seeing is believing. Yet, spiritually we come to realize the believing is seeing. Solomon’s wealth and death are described according to 1 Kings with omission of any detail that would cast Solomon in any light less than the ideal. The Chronicler focuses on the southern kingdom, Judah, and gives us new material about Rehoboam; his building activity, his fortification of the cities as protection against Egypt, immigration of priests and Levites to Judah from the northern tribes and listing of his family members. Three generations: David-Solomon-Rehoboam. Rehoboam inherited a tyrannical reign from Solomon. He is issued an ultimatum by the constituents whereupon he seeks advise from his senior advisors. The Chronicler reports “If you will be kind to this people and please them,…they will be your servants forever.” while 1 Kings reports “If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them,…. then they will be your servants forever.” Servant leadership disappears in 2 Chronicles and will resurface with Jesus. Servant leadership died in institution church. It resurfaced with Vatican II. Has servant leadership moved toward fruition today?
The Chronicler speaks of cities being given to Solomon by Huram reversing 1 Kings. He shows his great respect for the ark when he has Solomon insist that his foreign born wives must not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, for the places to which the ark of the Lord has come are holy. Are there things for which we have such respect or things that we hold as sacred in our society today? The Queen of Sheba’s visit is described as in 1 Kings except the Chronicler sets Solomon on God’s throne as king for the Lord his God, not on the throne as king of Israel. Her words “Howbeit I believed not their words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me: for thou exceedest the fame that I heard.” are reminiscent of a most human quality-seeing is believing. Yet, spiritually we come to realize the believing is seeing. Solomon’s wealth and death are described according to 1 Kings with omission of any detail that would cast Solomon in any light less than the ideal. The Chronicler focuses on the southern kingdom, Judah, and gives us new material about Rehoboam; his building activity, his fortification of the cities as protection against Egypt, immigration of priests and Levites to Judah from the northern tribes and listing of his family members. Three generations: David-Solomon-Rehoboam. Rehoboam inherited a tyrannical reign from Solomon. He is issued an ultimatum by the constituents whereupon he seeks advise from his senior advisors. The Chronicler reports “If you will be kind to this people and please them,…they will be your servants forever.” while 1 Kings reports “If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them,…. then they will be your servants forever.” Servant leadership disappears in 2 Chronicles and will resurface with Jesus. Servant leadership died in institution church. It resurfaced with Vatican II. Has servant leadership moved toward fruition today?
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