1Kings 2: 10 - 12, 3: 3 - 14

[Is David's death relevant to this story?]

And Solomon, though he loved the LORD and followed the practices of his father David, also sacrificed and offered at the shrines. The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the largest shrine (3-4). This, and v.2, bring the "high places" to mind: the shrines where the Canaanites worshipped their gods, and which were such an evil temptation for the Israelites. Perhaps this is the intent of the author of Kings; we have to read Chronicles to learn that Moses' tabernacle, with all its furnishings (except the Ark), was at Gibeon (1Chr. 21: 29). As we consider King Solomon's story, remember where the "missing" Ark and the tent(1) over it were (2Sam. 6: 16), and what significance these locations had for Israel(2) and Judah(3).

With David's tent housing the Ark standing in a nearby field, Solomon chose to journey down the mountain, into the valley and up the hill(4) to worship at Moses' tabernacle. The Apostle protested: Is Christ divided? (1Cor. 1: 13) The Hebrew Scriptures seem to be asking: Is God divided? The answer in both cases is "No." But what Paul warned the Corinthian church against, was true at David's time and has survived to today: the worship of God is divided. And I do not mean between Jewish and Christian believers.

Consider what the two shrines-- both truly honoring YHWH-- signify. Moses' tabernacle at Gibeon represents the Sinai Covenant, the Ten Commandments, "the Law". Worship there consists of obedience and bondage. David's tent with the Ark at Jerusalem represents grace, forgiveness and reconciliation. Worship here consists of service and freedom.

Now Solomon was not wrong by any means to go to Gibeon to worship; it was not a profane "high place", and the choice was his freely to make. God respected the king's choice by appearing to him, speaking to him and granting him his wish(5). But consider what YHWH gave him besides a wise and discerning mind (12): riches and glory (13) and long life (14). Now these are conditional, depending on Solomon's obedience: if you will walk in My ways and observe My laws and commandments (14). I wonder what God might have granted him if he had worshipped at David's tent.

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. (Deu. 6: 4, NIV) If this is true, then how is it that there have been-- and continue to be-- two "shrines" before which to worship God? Looking back to Moses' time, we find that the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments were placed inside the Ark (Deu. 10: 5), and that the Ark was put inside the tabernacle (Exo. 40: 21). So during their wilderness wanderings and for centuries after crossing the Jordan, the Israelites assembled before their One God at one shrine, which ended up at Shiloh (Josh. 18: 1). Then, during Samuel's apprenticeship, the Ark was taken out(6) and carried to the battlefield where it was lost to the Philistines(7) (1Sam. 4: 3-11). Later, David retrieved it, brought it up to Jerusalem and enshrined it there (2Sam. 6: 15-16), thus beginning the divided worship of YHWH.

There is much Scripture to be read and thinking to be done in order to derive a comprehensive theology from all this. But the effect is still obvious in the Church-- Jewish and Christian-- today. The question to be wrestled with is not: Which "shrine" is the proper one for the worship of the Lord? But: How do we reunite the two "shrines" to their original state of wholeness and peace?

Psalm 111

Contemplating a single place of worship for the assembled congregation, the Psalmist offers an ideal response to the argument above. More, it is an ideal teaching tool for showing how and why the two "shrines" do belong together. It is God's Word to the Church, and deserves close study.

Here are three factors that I found: (a) both elements are present; (b) neither one is given prominence-- or dominance-- over the other; and (c) they are intermingled, but not set in opposition. What is God's message?

Eph. 5: 15 - 20 [-21] [suggested]

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. (17) We are indeed foolish, worshiping at one "shrine" or the other, rather than at a unified one, which is patently what the Lord's will is. God knows that it is intellectually difficult for us to associate the two; we think in terms of law vs. grace, judgment vs. forgiveness, vengeance vs. mercy. But look again at God's Word.

I am the LORD, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. (Isa. 45: 6b-7, KJV) God is not divided; good and evil alike derive from the same source, the "creator of heaven and earth," which means: of everything that is. In the Lord's mind, it is law and grace, judgment and forgiveness, vengeance and mercy. When we "worship" at only one "shrine", we are "worshipping" only one half of God. To me, that does sound rather foolish.

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (19-21) First, consider the envelope structure: to one another; in your heart; to one another. What might Paul be implying with this? Second, note the reason given for the final instruction: out of reverence for Christ. This defines the verb, Submit, to mean not servile obeisance, but: "Love your neighbor" (Mat. 5: 43; also note v.44) and "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." (Jn. 13: 34)



A major problem arising from divided "worship" is that it has created divisions between "worshippers", which in turn amplified and exacerbated the differences, resulting in a spiral that sucks us relentlessly down by the gravity of our sin, as we discussed last week. This is further evidence of our being foolish. The Apostle's teachings, if we would take them seriously and begin to act in accordance with them within the Church, would go far to break down the dividing wall of hostility (2: 14) which we have built back up after Christ had knocked it down.(8) Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

John 6: 51 - 58

We need to remember that eating meat was not a daily privilege for "the Jews", as it is for us. They lived on grains, vegetables, fruit and fish; meat was a rare and expensive occasion, available even for the wealthy only on feast days(9), when they brought their offerings to the temple(10). Also recall that the "entree menu" was strictly limited. And, of course, that cannibalism was as repulsive to them as it was anathema to YHWH. Now read the lesson.

We know that Jesus was speaking (or John was citing) metaphorically, in spiritual imagery, but we may not presume that "the Jews" should also have understood His words that way. Their objection is most natural, religious, rational and humane. So we cannot consider them foolish on that account.

But "the Jews"-- the entire nation, not just this or that faction-- were foolish because their "worship" was divided. This is evident in the many discussions or disputes that those who chose to "worship" at Moses' tabernacle had with Jesus, who preached at length in favor of David's tent, but not to the exclusion of the other. When considering the totality of our Lord's teaching, we find that His intention was "that all of them may be one" (17: 21).

Beloved, do you "worship" only one half of God? Would you consider the bread by itself, or the wine alone, to constitute a proper and complete communion?

1. 1 This is the tent which David had pitched for it (2Sam. 6: 17) in Jerusalem.

2. 2 Gibeon was a city of Benjamin (Josh. 18: 21, 25), King Saul's tribe.

3. 3 King David had feared going to the tabernacle at Gibeon (1Chr. 21:30) and declared that

the threshing floor of Ornan [Araunah, NIV] the Jebusite (1Chr. 21: 18-28), the future

Jerusalem, would be the site of the House of the LORD (1Chr. 22: 1).

4. 4 Gibeon's name means "hill"; the trip over was about 6 miles.

5. 5 Solomon's request in itself shows that he was not lacking in wisdom before he asked.

6. 6 As it apparently had been on prior occasions.

7. 7 What is the spiritual-religious symbolism of that event?

8. 8 See the lessons on "unity" from Eph. 1: 3-14 and 2: 11-22 (b34 & 35, July 16 & 23, 2000).

9. 9 This does much to explain their great popularity; God is nobody's fool.

10. 10 For them, this was the only "licensed butcher shop" available.

(comments to Phil at ENAPXH@aol.com )