Photo credit: Laura Lee Moreau
The first mention of rest in the Bible is when we learn that God rested after He had finished creating the earth. Mankind was the last of His works, so Adam’s first day was a day of rest – resting in the finished work of the Lord.
Fast forward to Solomon. David was told that he wouldn’t have the privilege of building the temple, because he had been a man of war, and had shed much blood, but his son, Solomon, whose name means peace would be the one to do it.
Fast forward to Solomon. David was told that he wouldn’t have the privilege of building the temple, because he had been a man of war, and had shed much blood, but his son, Solomon, whose name means peace would be the one to do it.
But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest,
and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side.
His name will be Solomon, and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign.
1 Chronicles 2:29
and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side.
His name will be Solomon, and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign.
1 Chronicles 2:29
Solomon’s privilege was to live in the good of his father’s work. King David’s victories had purchased peace and prosperity for his son. He had gathered all the materials ready for the building of the temple, according to detailed instructions given to him by the Lord, and established its worship patterns.
Solomon’s responsibility was to live in the good of his father’s provision, build the temple, and maintain peace for himself and his countrymen. The results are documented: the temple was uniquely magnificent, the prosperity of the kingdom attracted visitors from all over the world, and the land was war-free during his reign. (Sadly, Solomon was enticed away into idolatry later in his reign and brought judgement upon his people. However, the fact remains that his whole life was a life of rest, because of the legacy left by his father.)
King David of course is a type of Christ. Jesus paid with His own blood so that we could live in peace. We too are called to live in the finished work of One who has gone before. The battle against the Kingdom of darkness has been won, we get to live in the good of it. And there is a new temple being built, whose architect and builder is God, a living temple whose foundations are peace and rest.
Jesus paid such an enormous price so that we could be free, let’s take time this week to meditate on the cross - His finished work – so that we can live in the good of it.
Solomon’s responsibility was to live in the good of his father’s provision, build the temple, and maintain peace for himself and his countrymen. The results are documented: the temple was uniquely magnificent, the prosperity of the kingdom attracted visitors from all over the world, and the land was war-free during his reign. (Sadly, Solomon was enticed away into idolatry later in his reign and brought judgement upon his people. However, the fact remains that his whole life was a life of rest, because of the legacy left by his father.)
King David of course is a type of Christ. Jesus paid with His own blood so that we could live in peace. We too are called to live in the finished work of One who has gone before. The battle against the Kingdom of darkness has been won, we get to live in the good of it. And there is a new temple being built, whose architect and builder is God, a living temple whose foundations are peace and rest.
Jesus paid such an enormous price so that we could be free, let’s take time this week to meditate on the cross - His finished work – so that we can live in the good of it.
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