Day 228..."Solomon put people to work...asking for help at midnight"

We shift to Solomon's reign at II Chronicles begins. Solomon prays to the Lord for wisdom... "Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?” The Lord blesses (because he only asked for wisdom) in many other ways. The temple construction creates quite an economic boom employing 153,600 people. Solomon ponders how majestic it is to build the temple..."But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him?" Isaiah again turns the people away from alliances and fast horses by saying..."Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses,who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong,but do not look to the Holy One of Israelor consult the Lord!" He then exposes the folly of it all..."The Egyptians are man, and not God, and their horses are flesh, and not spirit." The parable of the "friend at midnight" is a very "down to earth" parable. Who has not resented being asked to help someone only to reconsider and do the right thing for a neighbor. Often in these moments of reconsidering...we have our best growth!