Uzzah and the Arc of the Covenant

[amadeus]

What an important example Solomon was.....given godly wisdom, his reign was one of peace for Israel, but as the privileges of his kingship opened up opportunities to indulge his love of women, those who worshipped foreign gods were permitted entry into his palace as he chose his wives and concubines by their physical attributes rather than their spiritual ones. In his later life the influence of 1,000 women many of whom were not in sync with the worship of his God, drew his heart away and he ended his life in disgrace.

Even so... People today seem to forget or ignore that God is no respecter of persons. We cannot really expect to repent once in the middle of our physical lives [prior to the end] and expect God to do more for us than He did in the times of Solomon and others who lived prior to the physical life of Jesus.

So it’s not how we begin the race for life, but how we end it. Constancy is required to keep Jehovah’s commands in all respects for the whole of our lives.

Yes, it is the end that matters. Our trial here is not done while we still draw physical breath.

If the wisest man in Bible history can lose his standing with God because of thinking too much of himself and his own desires, what about us?

Aye... much is given, much is required.

Contrast Solomon with Manasseh....the most wicked man in Bible history....his reign was a shameful one as he offended Jehovah with everything he did.....but on becoming a prisoner in the depths of a dark dungeon, he came to his senses and fell to his knees begging Jehovah’s forgiveness......Jehovah granted him his request and restored him to his place as King...thereafter, he tried his best to undo all the wrong things he allowed into Israel’s worship.

Not many see the difference of those two kings. The one who repented at the end is the one who was finally able to please God.

God does not fall for crocodile tears, so he saw a genuine desire in Manasseh’s heart to repent of all the evil things he had done. He ended his life in faith and was a good influence for his grandson Josiah who would later become king at the tender age of 8, after the death of his wicked father.

Amen!

We can often learn more by the mistakes of others, as well as from the faithful course of the ones who showed courage in their obedience.

Give God the glory!