When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God

In the opening of this letter to the Thessalonians, Paul commends the believers on their patience and faith. He recognizes their suffering and assures them that their faith is in the right place such that those who do not believe will be judged by the Second Coming of Christ. On the other hand those who believed, that event would be welcomed.




2 Thessalonians 1
Greeting

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

God’s Final Judgment and Glory

3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, 4 so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, 5 which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; 6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, 7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe,[a] because our testimony among you was believed.

11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, 12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the world you will[d] have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world

Jesus told them more about the persecution that they may face to prepare them as well as proof that His Words are truth. They may be excommunicated or martyred but their offenders will think of themselves as doing God's work. Jesus also tells that He has to leave in order for the Holy Spirit to come and dwell inside them. He describes the role of the Holy Spirit to reveal things that Himself (Jesus) wants to share with us, which are things given by the Father to Him to us.

Jesus also tells them that very soon, they will become very sorrowful but only a little while later they will rejoice. Jesus was speaking of His crucifixion and His resurrection. He also told them to start asking things from the Father in Jesus' name. Finally Jesus told them plainly that He will leave them soon but told them to be of good cheer because He has overcome the world.




John 16

1 “These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. 3 And these things they will do to you[a] because they have not known the Father nor Me. 4 But these things I have told you, that when the[b] time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.

And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.

The Work of the Holy Spirit

5 “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.[c]

Sorrow Will Turn to Joy

16 “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.”

17 Then some of His disciples said among themselves, “What is this that He says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” 18 They said therefore, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is saying.”

19 Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’? 20 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. 21 A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.

23 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Jesus Christ Has Overcome the World

25 “These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; 27 for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. 28 I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.”

29 His disciples said to Him, “See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! 30 Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.”

31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will[d] have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Their Blood is Sprinkled upon My Garments

The first part pictures the Lord coming in His glorious clothes, yet covered in red. This is presumably the blood of judgement and vengeance. He has brought salvation for some as well as vengeance for others. In the second part, His lovingkindness and mercy is described. He is a Saviour and Redeemer to His people. It also reflects back on the time of Moses when the Lord saved them even though they continuously grumbled against Him.

The final part of the chapter is a plea from the people to God. They call Him, Redeemer from Everlasting. They recognize the Lord as their Father and that they have gone astray. And they ask God not to harden their hearts but instead return to them for their sakes.



Isaiah 63
The Lord in Judgment and Salvation

1 Who is this who comes from Edom,
With dyed garments from Bozrah,
This One who is glorious in His apparel,
Traveling in the greatness of His strength?—
“I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.”
2 Why is Your apparel red,
And Your garments like one who treads in the winepress?
3 “I have trodden the winepress alone,
And from the peoples no one was with Me.
For I have trodden them in My anger,
And trampled them in My fury;
Their blood is sprinkled upon My garments,
And I have stained all My robes.
4 For the day of vengeance is in My heart,
And the year of My redeemed has come.
5 I looked, but there was no one to help,
And I wondered
That there was no one to uphold;
Therefore My own arm brought salvation for Me;
And My own fury, it sustained Me.
6 I have trodden down the peoples in My anger,
Made them drunk in My fury,
And brought down their strength to the earth.”

God’s Mercy Remembered

7 I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord
And the praises of the Lord,
According to all that the Lord has bestowed on us,
And the great goodness toward the house of Israel,
Which He has bestowed on them according to His mercies,
According to the multitude of His lovingkindnesses.
8 For He said, “Surely they are My people,
Children who will not lie.”
So He became their Savior.
9 In all their affliction He was afflicted,
And the Angel of His Presence saved them;
In His love and in His pity He redeemed them;
And He bore them and carried them
All the days of old.
10 But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit;
So He turned Himself against them as an enemy,
And He fought against them.
11 Then he remembered the days of old,
Moses and his people, saying:
“Where is He who brought them up out of the sea
With the shepherd of His flock?
Where is He who put His Holy Spirit within them,
12 Who led them by the right hand of Moses,
With His glorious arm,
Dividing the water before them
To make for Himself an everlasting name,
13 Who led them through the deep,
As a horse in the wilderness,
That they might not stumble?”
14 As a beast goes down into the valley,
And the Spirit of the Lord causes him to rest,
So You lead Your people,
To make Yourself a glorious name.

A Prayer of Penitence

15 Look down from heaven,
And see from Your habitation, holy and glorious.
Where are Your zeal and Your strength,
The yearning of Your heart and Your mercies toward me?
Are they restrained?
16 Doubtless You are our Father,
Though Abraham was ignorant of us,
And Israel does not acknowledge us.
You, O Lord, are our Father;
Our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.
17 O Lord, why have You made us stray from Your ways,
And hardened our heart from Your fear?
Return for Your servants’ sake,
The tribes of Your inheritance.
18 Your holy people have possessed it but a little while;
Our adversaries have trodden down Your sanctuary.
19 We have become like those of old, over whom You never ruled,
Those who were never called by Your name.

Because the Daughters of Zion are Haughty

The first part of this chapter describes God's judgement on Judah and Jerusalem. Their sin had provoked the Lord to anger, and they will become oppressed by others. In the second part, God's people are compared to a woman with haughty looks. God will strike her down with scabs and remove all her ornaments and jewelry. She will be made smelly, bald and wearing sackcloth instead of expensive robes. She will also be desolate. This would be the same judgement that would face Israel.


Isaiah 3
Judgment on Judah and Jerusalem

1 For behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts,
Takes away from Jerusalem and from Judah
The stock and the store,
The whole supply of bread and the whole supply of water;
2 The mighty man and the man of war,
The judge and the prophet,
And the diviner and the elder;
3 The captain of fifty and the honorable man,
The counselor and the skillful artisan,
And the expert enchanter.
4 “I will give children to be their princes,
And babes shall rule over them.
5 The people will be oppressed,
Every one by another and every one by his neighbor;
The child will be insolent toward the elder,
And the base toward the honorable.”
6 When a man takes hold of his brother
In the house of his father, saying,
“You have clothing;
You be our ruler,
And let these ruins be under your power,”[a]
7 In that day he will protest, saying,
“I cannot cure your ills,
For in my house is neither food nor clothing;
Do not make me a ruler of the people.”
8 For Jerusalem stumbled,
And Judah is fallen,
Because their tongue and their doings
Are against the Lord,
To provoke the eyes of His glory.
9 The look on their countenance witnesses against them,
And they declare their sin as Sodom;
They do not hide it.
Woe to their soul!
For they have brought evil upon themselves.
10 “Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them,
For they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
11 Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him,
For the reward of his hands shall be given him.
12 As for My people, children are their oppressors,
And women rule over them.
O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err,
And destroy the way of your paths.”


Oppression and Luxury Condemned

13 The Lord stands up to plead,
And stands to judge the people.
14 The Lord will enter into judgment
With the elders of His people
And His princes:
“For you have eaten up the vineyard;
The plunder of the poor is in your houses.
15 What do you mean by crushing My people
And grinding the faces of the poor?”
Says the Lord God of hosts.

16 Moreover the Lord says:

“Because the daughters of Zion are haughty,
And walk with outstretched necks
And wanton eyes,
Walking and mincing as they go,
Making a jingling with their feet,
17 Therefore the Lord will strike with a scab
The crown of the head of the daughters of Zion,
And the Lord will uncover their secret parts.”
18 In that day the Lord will take away the finery:
The jingling anklets, the scarves, and the crescents;
19 The pendants, the bracelets, and the veils;
20 The headdresses, the leg ornaments, and the headbands;
The perfume boxes, the charms,
21 and the rings;
The nose jewels,
22 the festal apparel, and the mantles;
The outer garments, the purses,
23 and the mirrors;
The fine linen, the turbans, and the robes.

24 And so it shall be:

Instead of a sweet smell there will be a stench;
Instead of a sash, a rope;
Instead of well-set hair, baldness;
Instead of a rich robe, a girding of sackcloth;
And branding instead of beauty.
25 Your men shall fall by the sword,
And your mighty in the war.
26 Her gates shall lament and mourn,
And she being desolate shall sit on the ground.

Seek God in Early Life

The passage here seem to suggest not being overly cautious. In life, calculated risks are necessary. It talks about being generous and not withhold from those who are in need. We cannot know the outcomes of many things so even if there are signs of caution, we can still proceed with care. But in all, seek God in early life.

The other message is to rejoice, despite the circumstances. Follow our heart and remember there is judgement so avoid evil. Rejoice in spite of everything being vanity.



Ecclesiastes 11
The Value of Diligence


1 Cast your bread upon the waters,
For you will find it after many days.
2 Give a serving to seven, and also to eight,
For you do not know what evil will be on the earth.
3 If the clouds are full of rain,
They empty themselves upon the earth;
And if a tree falls to the south or the north,
In the place where the tree falls, there it shall lie.
4 He who observes the wind will not sow,
And he who regards the clouds will not reap.
5 As you do not know what is the way of the wind,[a]
Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child,
So you do not know the works of God who makes everything.
6 In the morning sow your seed,
And in the evening do not withhold your hand;
For you do not know which will prosper,
Either this or that,
Or whether both alike will be good.
7 Truly the light is sweet,
And it is pleasant for the eyes to behold the sun;
8 But if a man lives many years
And rejoices in them all,
Yet let him remember the days of darkness,
For they will be many.
All that is coming is vanity.
Seek God in Early Life

9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth,
And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth;
Walk in the ways of your heart,
And in the sight of your eyes;
But know that for all these
God will bring you into judgment.
10 Therefore remove sorrow from your heart,
And put away evil from your flesh,
For childhood and youth are vanity.

A Man’s Wisdom Makes His Face Shine

A few main concepts to catch here. One is that it is wise to obey the king's command. Extending this concept is to obey God as the King of Kings - how much more should we obey His commands. Another phrase is "time and judgement" indicating that judgement does not always come immediately but have an appointed time.

The wicked seem to live long and this can encourage the younger generation to do more evil. But the author reminds that judgement is merely delayed and that it is no doubt better to fear God and to avoid wickedness. Again the author encourages one to eat, drink and be merry, and so enjoy the reward from the labour which God has given.




Ecclesiastes 8
1 Who is like a wise man?
And who knows the interpretation of a thing?
A man’s wisdom makes his face shine,
And the sternness of his face is changed.
Obey Authorities for God’s Sake

2 I say, “Keep the king’s commandment for the sake of your oath to God. 3 Do not be hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand for an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him.”

4 Where the word of a king is, there is power;
And who may say to him, “What are you doing?”
5 He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful;
And a wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgment,
6 Because for every matter there is a time and judgment,
Though the misery of man increases greatly.
7 For he does not know what will happen;
So who can tell him when it will occur?
8 No one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit,
And no one has power in the day of death.
There is no release from that war,
And wickedness will not deliver those who are given to it.
9 All this I have seen, and applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun: There is a time in which one man rules over another to his own hurt.

Death Comes to All

10 Then I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of holiness, and they were forgotten[a] in the city where they had so done. This also is vanity. 11 Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. 12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him. 13 But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God.

14 There is a vanity which occurs on earth, that there are just men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.

15 So I commended enjoyment, because a man has nothing better under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry; for this will remain with him in his labor all the days of his life which God gives him under the sun.

16 When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to see the business that is done on earth, even though one sees no sleep day or night, 17 then I saw all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. For though a man labors to discover it, yet he will not find it; moreover, though a wise man attempts to know it, he will not be able to find it.

The Fear of the Lord Leads to Life

Various sayings ranging from various topics in this chapter like before. Themes range from understanding and knowledge, to being kind to the poor, not being lazy, keeping the commandments. But the two themes picked up here are restated below.

Two verses speak of the characteristics and qualities of a wife that is from God and is a blessing to the family. Another set of verses warns against false witnesses.

Wife:
13 A foolish son is the ruin of his father, And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping.
14 Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the Lord.

False Witness:
5 A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies will not escape.
9 A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies shall perish.
28 A disreputable witness scorns justice, And the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.




Proverbs 19

1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

2 Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge,
And he sins who hastens with his feet.

3 The foolishness of a man twists his way,
And his heart frets against the Lord.

4 Wealth makes many friends,
But the poor is separated from his friend.

5 A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who speaks lies will not escape.

6 Many entreat the favor of the nobility,
And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts.

7 All the brothers of the poor hate him;
How much more do his friends go far from him!
He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him.

8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;
He who keeps understanding will find good.

9 A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who speaks lies shall perish.

10 Luxury is not fitting for a fool,
Much less for a servant to rule over princes.

11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger,
And his glory is to overlook a transgression.

12 The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is like dew on the grass.

13 A foolish son is the ruin of his father,
And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping.

14 Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers,
But a prudent wife is from the Lord.

15 Laziness casts one into a deep sleep,
And an idle person will suffer hunger.

16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
But he who is careless[a] of his ways will die.

17 He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord,
And He will pay back what he has given.

18 Chasten your son while there is hope,
And do not set your heart on his destruction.[b]

19 A man of great wrath will suffer punishment;
For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.

20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction,
That you may be wise in your latter days.

21 There are many plans in a man’s heart,
Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.

22 What is desired in a man is kindness,
And a poor man is better than a liar.

23 The fear of the Lord leads to life,
And he who has it will abide in satisfaction;
He will not be visited with evil.

24 A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl,[c]
And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary;
Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.

26 He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother
Is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.

27 Cease listening to instruction, my son,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28 A disreputable witness scorns justice,
And the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers,
And beatings for the backs of fools.

Sing to the Lord a New Song

A psalm of encouragement to praise and sing to God with songs and dance and instruments. God delights in the humble and they will have salvation. The saints here would be the believers.

The praise of God is also a weapon. It can be used against the enemies because in praising God, judgement will come on the wicked enemies. This is also mentioned elsewhere to let the Lord fight the battle for us, as we give it to His hands.


Psalm 149
Praise to God for His Salvation and Judgment

1 Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
And His praise in the assembly of saints.

2 Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;
Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.

3 Let them praise His name with the dance;
Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.

4 For the Lord takes pleasure in His people;
He will beautify the humble with salvation.

5 Let the saints be joyful in glory;
Let them sing aloud on their beds.

6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth,
And a two-edged sword in their hand,

7 To execute vengeance on the nations,
And punishments on the peoples;

8 To bind their kings with chains,
And their nobles with fetters of iron;

9 To execute on them the written judgment—
This honor have all His saints.
Praise the Lord!

For The Enemy Has Persecuted My Soul

The psalmist, David, was most likely in a time of great persecution by his enemies. His appeal to God is based on knowing God is faithful and righteoues. He knows he is not perfect but asks to be delivered from his current situation where he describes "my spirit is overwhelmed within me,
my heart within me is distressed".

He remembers the past, before the time of persecution, where he enjoyed walking with God. And these memories comfort him and remind him that he can trust God. He knows about God's lovingkindness, uprightnessm, mercy and that God's Spirit is good. He invites God to teach him, lead him and revive him and to destroy his enemies



Psalm 143
An Earnest Appeal for Guidance and Deliverance
A Psalm of David.

1 Hear my prayer, O Lord,
Give ear to my supplications!
In Your faithfulness answer me,
And in Your righteousness.

2 Do not enter into judgment with Your servant,
For in Your sight no one living is righteous.

3 For the enemy has persecuted my soul;
He has crushed my life to the ground;
He has made me dwell in darkness,
Like those who have long been dead.

4 Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me;
My heart within me is distressed.

5 I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all Your works;
I muse on the work of Your hands.

6 I spread out my hands to You;
My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah

7 Answer me speedily, O Lord;
My spirit fails!
Do not hide Your face from me,
Lest I be like those who go down into the pit.

8 Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning,
For in You do I trust;
Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,
For I lift up my soul to You.

9 Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies;
In You I take shelter.[a]

10 Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
Your Spirit is good.
Lead me in the land of uprightness.

11 Revive me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake!
For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.

12 In Your mercy cut off my enemies,
And destroy all those who afflict my soul;
For I am Your servant.

He Brought Out His People With Joy

From the Creation in the last psalm, this psalm reminds us of the more personal God who relates to His people. It starts with a call to give thanks to God, sing to Him, glorify Him and remember His works. Then it starts reminding us that God formed a covenant relationship directly with man, through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

It tells the account from Jacob to the injustice done to Joseph, but who finally rose to become a powerful man in Egypt - all part of God's plan. Following this the children of Jacob were oppressed in Egypt, but God miraculously brought them out through Moses and Aaron, and provided for them through their journey in the desert.

The last few verses provide an excellent summary that God was glad and it filled Him with joy to bring His people out of Egypt. And God fulfilled His promise to give them the land of the Gentiles. He also expected them to observe and keep His statutes and law


Psalm 105
The Eternal Faithfulness of the LORD

 1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD!
         Call upon His name;
         Make known His deeds among the peoples!
 2 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
         Talk of all His wondrous works!
 3 Glory in His holy name;
         Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD!
 4 Seek the LORD and His strength;
         Seek His face evermore!
 5 Remember His marvelous works which He has done,
         His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,
 6 O seed of Abraham His servant,
         You children of Jacob, His chosen ones!
       
 7 He is the LORD our God;
         His judgments are in all the earth.
 8 He remembers His covenant forever,
         The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations,
 9 The covenant which He made with Abraham,
         And His oath to Isaac,
 10 And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute,
         To Israel as an everlasting covenant,
 11 Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
         As the allotment of your inheritance,”
 12 When they were few in number,
         Indeed very few, and strangers in it.
       
 13 When they went from one nation to another,
         From one kingdom to another people,
 14 He permitted no one to do them wrong;
         Yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes,
 15 Saying, “Do not touch My anointed ones,
         And do My prophets no harm.”
       
 16 Moreover He called for a famine in the land;
         He destroyed all the provision of bread.
 17 He sent a man before them—
         Joseph—who was sold as a slave.
 18 They hurt his feet with fetters,
         He was laid in irons.
 19 Until the time that his word came to pass,
         The word of the LORD tested him.
 20 The king sent and released him,
         The ruler of the people let him go free.
 21 He made him lord of his house,
         And ruler of all his possessions,
 22 To bind his princes at his pleasure,
         And teach his elders wisdom.
       
 23 Israel also came into Egypt,
         And Jacob dwelt in the land of Ham.
 24 He increased His people greatly,
         And made them stronger than their enemies.
 25 He turned their heart to hate His people,
         To deal craftily with His servants.
       
 26 He sent Moses His servant,
         And Aaron whom He had chosen.
 27 They performed His signs among them,
         And wonders in the land of Ham.
 28 He sent darkness, and made it dark;
         And they did not rebel against His word.
 29 He turned their waters into blood,
         And killed their fish.
 30 Their land abounded with frogs,
         Even in the chambers of their kings.
 31 He spoke, and there came swarms of flies,
         And lice in all their territory.
 32 He gave them hail for rain,
         And flaming fire in their land.
 33 He struck their vines also, and their fig trees,
         And splintered the trees of their territory.
 34 He spoke, and locusts came,
         Young locusts without number,
 35 And ate up all the vegetation in their land,
         And devoured the fruit of their ground.
 36 He also destroyed all the firstborn in their land,
         The first of all their strength.
       
 37 He also brought them out with silver and gold,
         And there was none feeble among His tribes.
 38 Egypt was glad when they departed,
         For the fear of them had fallen upon them.
 39 He spread a cloud for a covering,
         And fire to give light in the night.
 40 The people asked, and He brought quail,
         And satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
 41 He opened the rock, and water gushed out;
         It ran in the dry places like a river.
       
 42 For He remembered His holy promise,
         And Abraham His servant.
 43 He brought out His people with joy,
         His chosen ones with gladness.
 44 He gave them the lands of the Gentiles,
         And they inherited the labor of the nations,
 45 That they might observe His statutes
         And keep His laws.
       
         Praise the LORD!

Rejoice in the LORD, You Righteous

Another psalm of praise of the LORD. It shows how God is above anything on Earth, greater than the lightnings, mountains and heavens. He is definitely above all the idols that pagans worship. For all these reasons, His people rejoice and exalt Him. So we are called to walk in righteousness and rejoice in Him, since He will preserve and deliver them.



Psalm 97
A Song of Praise to the Sovereign LORD

 1 The LORD reigns;
         Let the earth rejoice;
         Let the multitude of isles be glad!
       
 2 Clouds and darkness surround Him;
         Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
 3 A fire goes before Him,
         And burns up His enemies round about.
 4 His lightnings light the world;
         The earth sees and trembles.
 5 The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD,
         At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
 6 The heavens declare His righteousness,
         And all the peoples see His glory.
       
 7 Let all be put to shame who serve carved images,
         Who boast of idols.
         Worship Him, all you gods.
 8 Zion hears and is glad,
         And the daughters of Judah rejoice
         Because of Your judgments, O LORD.
 9 For You, LORD, are most high above all the earth;
         You are exalted far above all gods.
       
 10 You who love the LORD, hate evil!
         He preserves the souls of His saints;
         He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.
 11 Light is sown for the righteous,
         And gladness for the upright in heart.
 12 Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous,
         And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.

O LORD God, To Whom Vengeance Belongs

This starts with a strong call to God for vengeance. It explains the rampant evil and violence perpetrated by the wicked ones, who even think God cannot see them. Then it remind those wicked ones that God the Creator who created us with eyes and ears and gives us knowledge; surely this God will know exactly what we do.

Then an encouragement for those who belong to God. The LORD will not forsake His people. God's judgement will come and will be righteous. God will stop the wickedness and stand up for His people. He will give them comfort.


Psalm 94
God the Refuge of the Righteous

 1 O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongs—
         O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth!
 2 Rise up, O Judge of the earth;
         Render punishment to the proud.
 3 LORD, how long will the wicked,
         How long will the wicked triumph?
       
 4 They utter speech, and speak insolent things;
         All the workers of iniquity boast in themselves.
 5 They break in pieces Your people, O LORD,
         And afflict Your heritage.
 6 They slay the widow and the stranger,
         And murder the fatherless.
 7 Yet they say, “The LORD does not see,
         Nor does the God of Jacob understand.”
       
 8 Understand, you senseless among the people;
         And you fools, when will you be wise?
 9 He who planted the ear, shall He not hear?
         He who formed the eye, shall He not see?
 10 He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct,
         He who teaches man knowledge?
 11 The LORD knows the thoughts of man,
         That they are futile.
       
 12 Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O LORD,
         And teach out of Your law,
 13 That You may give him rest from the days of adversity,
         Until the pit is dug for the wicked.
 14 For the LORD will not cast off His people,
         Nor will He forsake His inheritance.
 15 But judgment will return to righteousness,
         And all the upright in heart will follow it.
       
 16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers?
         Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
 17 Unless the LORD had been my help,
         My soul would soon have settled in silence.
 18 If I say, “My foot slips,”
         Your mercy, O LORD, will hold me up.
 19 In the multitude of my anxieties within me,
         Your comforts delight my soul.
       
 20 Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law,
         Have fellowship with You?
 21 They gather together against the life of the righteous,
         And condemn innocent blood.
 22 But the LORD has been my defense,
         And my God the rock of my refuge.
 23 He has brought on them their own iniquity,
         And shall cut them off in their own wickedness;
         The LORD our God shall cut them off.

In Judah God is Known

This psalm reveals who God is - He who is known in Judah, Israel, Salem, Zion. He is all powerful, glorious, excellent, able to subdue armies of chariots and horses. He is someone to be feared and terrible to be around when angered. He will deliver judgement to earth and deliver the oppressed. He is above all earthly authorities including kings of the earth.


Psalm 76
To the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments.[a] A Psalm of Asaph. A Song.

 1 In Judah God is known;
         His name is great in Israel.
 2 In Salem[b] also is His tabernacle,
         And His dwelling place in Zion.
 3 There He broke the arrows of the bow,
         The shield and sword of battle.  Selah
       
 4 You are more glorious and excellent
         Than the mountains of prey.
 5 The stouthearted were plundered;
         They have sunk into their sleep;
         And none of the mighty men have found the use of their hands.
 6 At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob,
         Both the chariot and horse were cast into a dead sleep.
       
 7 You, Yourself, are to be feared;
         And who may stand in Your presence
         When once You are angry?
 8 You caused judgment to be heard from heaven;
         The earth feared and was still,
 9 When God arose to judgment,
         To deliver all the oppressed of the earth.  Selah
       
 10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise You;
         With the remainder of wrath You shall gird Yourself.
       
 11 Make vows to the LORD your God, and pay them;
         Let all who are around Him bring presents to Him who ought to be feared.
 12 He shall cut off the spirit of princes;
         He is awesome to the kings of the earth.

Give the king Your judgments, O God

The content of this psalm is clearly different to those written by David. This psalm is written by Solomon, and the theme is about asking God to give him good judgement in arbitrating between his people. This was the reason that Solomon asked for wisdom - so he could judge well.

He acknowledges the dominion and righteousness of God. It seems to be describing the glory of God being known to all nations, that their kings shall come and worship God. Perhaps this describes the ideal world or perhaps it is during the reign of Messiah. In addition, in that time, the needy will be taken care of, God will be praised daily and continually, the Earth will have abundance in grain and greenery, and ultimately:
"And men shall be blessed in Him; All nations shall call Him blessed. "

Psalm 72
A Psalm of Solomon.

 1 Give the king Your judgments, O God,
         And Your righteousness to the king’s Son.
 2 He will judge Your people with righteousness,
         And Your poor with justice.
 3 The mountains will bring peace to the people,
         And the little hills, by righteousness.
 4 He will bring justice to the poor of the people;
         He will save the children of the needy,
         And will break in pieces the oppressor.
        
 5 They shall fear You[a]
         As long as the sun and moon endure,
         Throughout all generations.
 6 He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing,
         Like showers that water the earth.
 7 In His days the righteous shall flourish,
         And abundance of peace,
         Until the moon is no more.
        
 8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea,
         And from the River to the ends of the earth.
 9 Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before Him,
         And His enemies will lick the dust.
 10 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles
         Will bring presents;
         The kings of Sheba and Seba
         Will offer gifts.
 11 Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him;
         All nations shall serve Him.
        
 12 For He will deliver the needy when he cries,
         The poor also, and him who has no helper.
 13 He will spare the poor and needy,
         And will save the souls of the needy.
 14 He will redeem their life from oppression and violence;
         And precious shall be their blood in His sight.
        
 15 And He shall live;
         And the gold of Sheba will be given to Him;
         Prayer also will be made for Him continually,
         And daily He shall be praised.
        
 16 There will be an abundance of grain in the earth,
         On the top of the mountains;
         Its fruit shall wave like Lebanon;
         And those of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.
        
 17 His name shall endure forever;
         His name shall continue as long as the sun.
         And men shall be blessed in Him;
         All nations shall call Him blessed.
        
 18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel,
         Who only does wondrous things!
 19 And blessed be His glorious name forever!
         And let the whole earth be filled with His glory.
         Amen and Amen.
        
 20 The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

The Ways of the Wicked

The first part of this psalm describes a wicked person. They have no fear of God and praise themselves for their wickedness. They are liars and they even plot evil when going to sleep.

Then the psalm turn to praising God for his mercy, faithfulness, righteousness and judgement. God is acknowledged for his lovingkindness and how men can put their trust in God. The psalm then pleads with God to continue His lovingkindness toward those who are upright in heart and to keep them from pride and the wicked.



Psalm 36

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD.

 1 An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked:
         There is no fear of God before his eyes.
 2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes,
         When he finds out his iniquity and when he hates.
 3 The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit;
         He has ceased to be wise and to do good.
 4 He devises wickedness on his bed;
         He sets himself in a way that is not good;
         He does not abhor evil.
       
 5 Your mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens;
         Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
 6 Your righteousness is like the great mountains;
         Your judgments are a great deep;
         O LORD, You preserve man and beast.
       
 7 How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!
         Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.
 8 They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house,
         And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.
 9 For with You is the fountain of life;
         In Your light we see light.
       
 10 Oh, continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You,
         And Your righteousness to the upright in heart.
 11 Let not the foot of pride come against me,
         And let not the hand of the wicked drive me away.
 12 There the workers of iniquity have fallen;
         They have been cast down and are not able to rise.

David's Song of Victory and Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Enemies

The first part of the Psalm says it all about who the LORD is to David: his strength, rock, fortress, deliverer, strength, shield, salvation, stronghold. David describes his hopeless condition of being surrounded by fierce enemies, then he described the awesomeness of God with the earth shaking and trembling as God came to save David.

David understands how to gain the favour of the LORD, which is by doing right in God's eyes, being blameless, staying away from wickedness, keeping His statutes. He understands that God will save the humble and bring down the proud. God is merciful to those who are merciful.

To David, God is his lamp and shield. David attributes all his being to God, including his strength, his agility, his war prowess. His success in avoiding Saul was attributed to God, so were all his victories against his enemies. From the victories of his conquest to his authority over a vast kingdom and empire of foreign nations - all these David attributed them to God's help. Whether as a leader of his band of misfits, or king over his empire, David had not dwell on his accumulated successes. Instead his continues to be grateful to God and depend on Him as his Rock and Salvation. David saw himself as God's king and God's anointed and no doubt lived for God's purpose.


Psalm 18

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD, who spoke to the LORD the words of this song on the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. And he said:

 1 I will love You, O LORD, my strength.
 2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
         My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
         My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
 3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised;
         So shall I be saved from my enemies.
       
 4 The pangs of death surrounded me,
         And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
 5 The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me;
         The snares of death confronted me.
 6 In my distress I called upon the LORD,
         And cried out to my God;
         He heard my voice from His temple,
         And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.
       
 7 Then the earth shook and trembled;
         The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken,
         Because He was angry.
 8 Smoke went up from His nostrils,
         And devouring fire from His mouth;
         Coals were kindled by it.
 9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down
         With darkness under His feet.
 10 And He rode upon a cherub, and flew;
         He flew upon the wings of the wind.
 11 He made darkness His secret place;
         His canopy around Him was dark waters
         And thick clouds of the skies.
 12 From the brightness before Him,
         His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire.
       
 13 The LORD thundered from heaven,
         And the Most High uttered His voice,
         Hailstones and coals of fire.[a]
 14 He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe,
         Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them.
 15 Then the channels of the sea were seen,
         The foundations of the world were uncovered
         At Your rebuke, O LORD,
         At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.
       
 16 He sent from above, He took me;
         He drew me out of many waters.
 17 He delivered me from my strong enemy,
         From those who hated me,
         For they were too strong for me.
 18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
         But the LORD was my support.
 19 He also brought me out into a broad place;
         He delivered me because He delighted in me.
       
 20 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness;
         According to the cleanness of my hands
         He has recompensed me.
 21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD,
         And have not wickedly departed from my God.
 22 For all His judgments were before me,
         And I did not put away His statutes from me.
 23 I was also blameless before Him,
         And I kept myself from my iniquity.
 24 Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness,
         According to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.
       
 25 With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful;
         With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless;
 26 With the pure You will show Yourself pure;
         And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.
 27 For You will save the humble people,
         But will bring down haughty looks.
       
 28 For You will light my lamp;
         The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
 29 For by You I can run against a troop,
         By my God I can leap over a wall.
 30 As for God, His way is perfect;
         The word of the LORD is proven;
         He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
       
 31 For who is God, except the LORD?
         And who is a rock, except our God?
 32 It is God who arms me with strength,
         And makes my way perfect.
 33 He makes my feet like the feet of deer,
         And sets me on my high places.
 34 He teaches my hands to make war,
         So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
       
 35 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation;

         Your gentleness has made me great.
 36 You enlarged my path under me,
         So my feet did not slip.
       
 37 I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them;
         Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed.
 38 I have wounded them,
         So that they could not rise;
         They have fallen under my feet.
 39 For You have armed me with strength for the battle;
         You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.
 40 You have also given me the necks of my enemies,
         So that I destroyed those who hated me.
 41 They cried out, but there was none to save;
         Even to the LORD, but He did not answer them.
 42 Then I beat them as fine as the dust before the wind;
         I cast them out like dirt in the streets.
       
 43 You have delivered me from the strivings of the people;
         You have made me the head of the nations;
         A people I have not known shall serve me.
 44 As soon as they hear of me they obey me;
         The foreigners submit to me.
 45 The foreigners fade away,
         And come frightened from their hideouts.
       
 46 The LORD lives!
         Blessed be my Rock!
         Let the God of my salvation be exalted.
 47 It is God who avenges me,
         And subdues the peoples under me;
 48 He delivers me from my enemies.
         You also lift me up above those who rise against me;
         You have delivered me from the violent man.
 49 Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles,
         And sing praises to Your name.
       
 50 Great deliverance He gives to His king,
         And shows mercy to His anointed,
         To David and his descendants forevermore.

Psalm of Judgement Against the Wicked

David opens up the Psalm with praise to God, as we should also open our prayers. The theme to me seems to be about the righteous judgement of God over wickedness. God has prepared a throne of judgement, He will judge the world in righteousness. Yet at the same time, He is a refuge for those who need and trust in Him, "He does not forget the cry of the humble".

Although the judgement seems to be aimed against nations in this passage, it can also be applied to individuals. There is wickedness among individuals, there are also individuals who surrender and trust God. The chapter ends by asking God to put fear in them "That the nations may know themselves to be but men" - implying that men has thought of themselves as something more.



Psalm 9

To the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Death of the Son.”[a] A Psalm of David.

 1 I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart;
         I will tell of all Your marvelous works.
 2 I will be glad and rejoice in You;
         I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.
       
 3 When my enemies turn back,
         They shall fall and perish at Your presence.
 4 For You have maintained my right and my cause;
         You sat on the throne judging in righteousness.
 5 You have rebuked the nations,
         You have destroyed the wicked;
         You have blotted out their name forever and ever.
       
 6 O enemy, destruction are finished forever!
         And you have destroyed cities;
         Even their memory has perished.
 7 But the LORD shall endure forever;
         He has prepared His throne for judgment.
 8 He shall judge the world in righteousness,
         And He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness.
       
 9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed,
         A refuge in times of trouble.
 10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You;
         For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.
       
 11 Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion!
         Declare His deeds among the people.
 12 When He avenges blood, He remembers them;
         He does not forget the cry of the humble.
       
 13 Have mercy on me, O LORD!
         Consider my trouble from those who hate me,
         You who lift me up from the gates of death,
 14 That I may tell of all Your praise
         In the gates of the daughter of Zion.
         I will rejoice in Your salvation.
       
 15 The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made;
         In the net which they hid, their own foot is caught.
 16 The LORD is known by the judgment He executes;
         The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands.
Meditation.[b]  Selah

       
 17 The wicked shall be turned into hell,
         And all the nations that forget God.
 18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten;
         The expectation of the poor shall not perish forever.
       
 19 Arise, O LORD,
         Do not let man prevail;
         Let the nations be judged in Your sight.
 20 Put them in fear, O LORD,
         That the nations may know themselves to be but men.  Selah

Trusting God for Deliverance; God Entrusting Creation to Man

This is an example of David praying to God for deliverance against a fierce enemy. David starts by asking God to deal with him first, if there was any evil or wickedness in him - just as we should ask God to help us examine ourselves first. Then David expresses his confidence in a just God who will punish the wicked. This is trusting that justice is not for us but for God to decide and execute. The prayer-song is finished off by praising God.

The next Psalm praises the Majesty and Almightiness of God - the creator of the Heavens and the moon and the stars. Then the well known rhetorical question:

"What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?"

Then a revelation of man in relation to other of God's creation. In terms of intelligent beings, man is created a little lower than the angels but yet God has crowned man, perhaps not angels, with glory and honour. In terms of God's physical creation, man is given dominion over it. In other words, God has entrusted the physical world totally to man to look after it, which includes the Earth and all the animals. This is also mentioned in Genesis. Note that dominion was not given for man to rule over another man.

Psalm 8

To the Chief Musician. On the instrument of Gath.^[c] A Psalm of David.

 ¹ O LORD, our Lord,
         How excellent is Your name in all the earth,
         Who have set Your glory above the heavens!
        
 ² Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
         You have ordained strength,
         Because of Your enemies,
         That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.
        
 ³ When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
         The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
 ⁴ What is man that You are mindful of him,
         And the son of man that You visit him?
 ⁵ For You have made him a little lower than the angels,^[d]
         And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
        
 ⁶ You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
         You have put all things under his feet,
 ⁷ All sheep and oxen—
         Even the beasts of the field,
 ⁸ The birds of the air,
         And the fish of the sea
         That pass through the paths of the seas.
        
 ⁹ O LORD, our Lord,
         How excellent is Your name in all the earth!

Psalm 7

A Meditation^[a] of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite.

 ¹ O LORD my God, in You I put my trust;
         Save me from all those who persecute me;
         And deliver me,
 ² Lest they tear me like a lion,
         Rending me in pieces, while there is none to deliver.
        
 ³ O LORD my God, if I have done this:
         If there is iniquity in my hands,
 ⁴ If I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me,
         Or have plundered my enemy without cause,
 ⁵ Let the enemy pursue me and overtake me;
         Yes, let him trample my life to the earth,
         And lay my honor in the dust.  Selah 
        
 ⁶ Arise, O LORD, in Your anger;
         Lift Yourself up because of the rage of my enemies;
         Rise up for me^[b]to the judgment You have commanded!
 ⁷ So the congregation of the peoples shall surround You;
         For their sakes, therefore, return on high.
 ⁸ The LORD shall judge the peoples;
         Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness,
         And according to my integrity within me.
        
 ⁹ Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end,
         But establish the just;
         For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds.
 ¹⁰ My defense is of God,
         Who saves the upright in heart.
        
 ¹¹ God is a just judge,
         And God is angry with the wicked every day.
 ¹² If he does not turn back,
         He will sharpen His sword;
         He bends His bow and makes it ready.
 ¹³ He also prepares for Himself instruments of death;
         He makes His arrows into fiery shafts.
        
 ¹⁴ Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity;
         Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood.
 ¹⁵ He made a pit and dug it out,
         And has fallen into the ditch which he made.
 ¹⁶ His trouble shall return upon his own head,
         And his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown.
        
 ¹⁷ I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness,
         And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

Joash Turns Away from God

Joash the boy king was anointed by Jehoida the priest after a coup against his grandmother Athaliah. It is interesting to see that Joash did all the right things of God when Jehoida was alive. One of the big tasks of Joash was to rebuild the temple. The custom from Moses' time of taxing the people to pay for the building of the temple was reinstated by Joash who ordered the Levites to do the collection. The work on the Temple was needed due to gross neglect during Athaliah's reign as well as the theft of articles to serve the idols. The money collected was enough for the rebuilding as well as making the gold and silver articles in the temple.

However, after the death of Jehoida the priest, various leaders of Judah led Joash astray and they began to serve the idols and turned away from the LORD. Zechariah, Jehoida's son, was sent by God to warned Joash but he was stoned to death. God used the Syrians to attack Judah and although the Syrians had a smaller army, they managed to defeat Judah and looted the Temple. The wounded king Joash was then murdered by his own people who remembered the injustice that happened to Zechariah. God's justice was swift in this case of removing the king of Judah as he was no longer fit for his position.


2 Chronicles 24

Joash Repairs the Temple

 1 Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 Joash did what was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 3 And Jehoiada took two wives for him, and he had sons and daughters.
4 Now it happened after this that Joash set his heart on repairing the house of the LORD. 5 Then he gathered the priests and the Levites, and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather from all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that you do it quickly.”
However the Levites did not do it quickly. 6 So the king called Jehoiada the chief priest, and said to him, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and from Jerusalem the collection, according to the commandment of Moses the servant of the LORD and of the assembly of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?” 7 For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken into the house of God, and had also presented all the dedicated things of the house of the LORD to the Baals.
8 Then at the king’s command they made a chest, and set it outside at the gate of the house of the LORD. 9 And they made a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to bring to the LORD the collection that Moses the servant of God had imposed on Israel in the wilderness. 10 Then all the leaders and all the people rejoiced, brought their contributions, and put them into the chest until all had given. 11 So it was, at that time, when the chest was brought to the king’s official by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, that the king’s scribe and the high priest’s officer came and emptied the chest, and took it and returned it to its place. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance.
12 The king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the service of the house of the LORD; and they hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the LORD, and also those who worked in iron and bronze to restore the house of the LORD. 13 So the workmen labored, and the work was completed by them; they restored the house of God to its original condition and reinforced it. 14 When they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada; they made from it articles for the house of the LORD, articles for serving and offering, spoons and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada.

Apostasy of Joash
 
15 But Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, and he died; he was one hundred and thirty years old when he died. 16 And they buried him in the City of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God and His house.
17 Now after the death of Jehoiada the leaders of Judah came and bowed down to the king. And the king listened to them. 18 Therefore they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served wooden images and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of their trespass. 19 Yet He sent prophets to them, to bring them back to the LORD; and they testified against them, but they would not listen.
20 Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He also has forsaken you.’” 21 So they conspired against him, and at the command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the LORD. 22 Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which Jehoiada

Death of Joash
 
23 So it happened in the spring of the year that the army of Syria came up against him; and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the leaders of the people from among the people, and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus. 24 For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men; but the LORD delivered a very great army into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash. 25 And when they had withdrawn from him (for they left him severely wounded), his own servants conspired against him because of the blood of the sons[a] of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed. So he died. And they buried him in the City of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings.
26 These are the ones who conspired against him: Zabad[b] the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith[c] the Moabitess. 27 Now concerning his sons, and the many oracles about him, and the repairing of the house of God, indeed they are written in the annals of the book of the kings. Then Amaziah his son reigned in his place.

Lord Reminded Solomon to Walk in His Ways

Te LORD appeared a second time to once again lay down the covenant promises of blessings and curses. The content of this covenant has been repeated many times in the Bible and yet we see man failing to uphold it. Essentially God requires Solomon and us in general to live according to his ways including this commands, statutes and judgement and He will continue to defend the throne of Israel. But if the king and the people forsook God, then they will be removed from the land, to such a degree that people will ask why God did such a thing to his own people - and the answer would be because they had forsaken God.

It is interesting that the chapter records the disagreement between Hiram and Solomon. When the Temple was completed, as well as the Palace, Solomon gave Hiram some land. But Hiram was not pleased with the land and told Solomon about it. At this stage, it is unsure what the full consequence of this agreement was.

A few other points was that Solomon seemed to have established a temporary peaceful relationship with Egypt, especially through the union of Pharaoh's daughter and Solomon. In addition it was mentioned that the local inhabitants of the land which Israel had not destroyed completely, they went into forced labour for Israel. These people included: Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

1 Kings 9

God’s Second Appearance to Solomon

 1 And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished building the house of the LORD and the king’s house, and all Solomon’s desire which he wanted to do, 2 that the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as He had appeared to him at Gibeon. 3 And the LORD said to him: “I have heard your prayer and your supplication that you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built to put My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. 4 Now if you walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments, 5 then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’ 6 But if you or your sons at all turn from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, 7 then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them; and this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight. Israel will be a proverb and a byword among all peoples. 8 And as for this house, which is exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and will hiss, and say, ‘Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?’ 9 Then they will answer, ‘Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore the LORD has brought all this calamity on them.’”

Solomon and Hiram Exchange Gifts
 
10 Now it happened at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the LORD and the king’s house 11 (Hiram the king of Tyre had supplied Solomon with cedar and cypress and gold, as much as he desired), that King Solomon then gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee. 12 Then Hiram went from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him, but they did not please him. 13 So he said, “What kind of cities are these which you have given me, my brother?” And he called them the land of Cabul,[a] as they are to this day. 14 Then Hiram sent the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold.

Solomon’s Additional Achievements
 
15 And this is the reason for the labor force which King Solomon raised: to build the house of the LORD, his own house, the Millo,[b] the wall of Jerusalem, Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer. 16 (Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up and taken Gezer and burned it with fire, had killed the Canaanites who dwelt in the city, and had given it as a dowry to his daughter, Solomon’s wife.) 17 And Solomon built Gezer, Lower Beth Horon, 18 Baalath, and Tadmor in the wilderness, in the land of Judah, 19 all the storage cities that Solomon had, cities for his chariots and cities for his cavalry, and whatever Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
20 All the people who were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, who were not of the children of Israel— 21 that is, their descendants who were left in the land after them, whom the children of Israel had not been able to destroy completely—from these Solomon raised forced labor, as it is to this day. 22 But of the children of Israel Solomon made no forced laborers, because they were men of war and his servants: his officers, his captains, commanders of his chariots, and his cavalry.
23 Others were chiefs of the officials who were over Solomon’s work: five hundred and fifty, who ruled over the people who did the work.
24 But Pharaoh’s daughter came up from the City of David to her house which Solomon[c] had built for her. Then he built the Millo.

26 King Solomon also built a fleet of ships at Ezion Geber, which is near Elath[d] on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom. 27 Then Hiram sent his servants with the fleet, seamen who knew the sea, to work with the servants of Solomon. 28 And they went to Ophir, and acquired four hundred and twenty talents of gold from there, and brought it to King Solomon.