WHAT FLAME ARE YOU IGNITING?(2)

*WISDOM FOR TODAY*

*WHAT FLAME ARE YOU IGNITING?(2)*

*Scripture Treasure.*

Proverbs 17:25  *A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.*

*Insight and Highlight.*

When parents protect rather than discipline their offspring, they lay up stores of wretchedness for the child and themselves.

*Scripture Commentaries.*

David was a beloved of God, but he had some of the Bible's most spoilt and bad children.

David's saga of parenthood was horrible.

He was not a role model. However, rather than bearing fatal consequences of his bad children's recklessness, each of his wayward children bore the consequences of their actions.

David's parent-child relationship may not be described as bad children of good parents or good parents of bad children but may be best described as bad parents of bad children.

David's family was not recorded as a home based nuclear family that involved a father-mother-child relationship.

The closest recorded of a family closeness was when Nathan told Bathsheba to remind David of his promise that Solomon would reign in his stead, 1 Kgs 1 and when Adonijah requested Bathsheba to tell Solomon to give Abishag to him, Adonijah, as wife, 1 Kgs 2.

It was not a two-parent family nor a family unit made up of two parents and their children.

Out of all the children he had, only Solomon was esteemed yet without his failures.

He multiplied wives and bowed to idols. Worst of all, though he ruled a unified kingdom, the nation of Israel was divided into the Northern and Southern Kingdom under his successor-son Rehoboam, 1 Kgs 11 and 12.

Rehoboam's foolishness set the sins of Solomon into motion. His sins were the force behind God's decision to divide the Kingdom.

Sadly, God told Solomon whom He had appeared to twice *"......Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.* 1 Kgs 11:11.

Solomon disappointed God, but he was still the best out of the worst.

While his father was a standard by which other successive kings of Israel and Judah were judged, ref 1 Kgs 11:34, Solomon was sub standard. He was below the usual or required standard, ref Matt 6:29.

Without a doubt, he excelled. He was beloved, 1 Chro 22:9.

1 Kgs 4:32 records  *And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.*

David had no moral courage to caution, correct, or chastise his children because he was also a father who had many flaws.

Adultery and murder were hallmarks of David's, and this was reproduced in Amnon, Solomon, Adonijah, and Absalom.

When David sinned by going into Bathsheba, he violated the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and the 10th commandments.

Sin, when checked, multiplies, and as they multiply, subsequent sins are always greater than the previous.

Sin extinguishes the fire of God, 1 Sam 3:1.

Paul tells us that a little yeast will make the whole dough rise.

He says in Gal 5:9 *A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.*

Somehow, Solomon still remains most adored as a child who was loved by God, who inspired his writings in the Holy Scripture.

It is recognized that he wrote Songs of Solomon at his young age, Proverbs at his middle age, and Ecclesiastes at a much older age.

Unlike the other infamous sons recorded for their bad deeds, Solomon, like the elders, would say, "was born and also re-born himself."

In other words, Solomon rehabilitated himself. The God factor helped him, and it was just grace that saved him.

While good works were recorded about him, none was recorded for Amnon, Adonijah, and Absalom.

David's last word to Solomon fanned and ignited a flame that would ever burn on the throne, 1 Kgs 2:1-4.

David was an example of a father whom the bible hadly record any line of chastening or rebuke over his children, but Solomon strove to be different, though not as perfect as was expected.

You can work on yourself to make the fire burn continually.

Do not be like the other children of David.

You can make yourself better.

Solomon is accredited, but the One greater than Solomon is here. He is Jesus.

He can help you as a parent and as a child.

What flame are you igniting for yourself and your future generation?

*Remorse corner.*

You can save your generation by the works you do. While Solomon is credited with gross violation, his good outweighed his undoing. For the other David's children, there was nothing but misery and collosal losses.

*Call to Word action.*

David had died when Solomon transgressed, but David's legacy still remained good and intact. Truly, the flame that David ignited did not only burn close to the throne, it burned on the throne and still keeps burning.

*The Christian clarion duty.*

The generation of God continued with Solomon, ref Matt 1, but will you allow the flame that was ignited in you to continue to burn or explode?

*Prayer.*

Let my good deeds burn like fire in the hearts of people. Let them not explode in their hearts in Jesus name.

Good morning all, and have a blessed day.

God bless you.