Musings and Contemplations

Luke 2:10-11 ESV
Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

1 Kings 3:5-14 NLT
That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”
Solomon replied, “You showed great and faithful love to your servant my father, David, because he was honest and true and faithful to you. And you have continued to show this great and faithful love to him today by giving him a son to sit on his throne. Now, O Lord my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”
The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom. ¹¹ So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies—I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have! And I will also give you what you did not ask for—riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life! And if you follow me and obey my decrees and my commands as your father, David, did, I will give you a long life.”

Warren Wiersbe
At the beginning of his career, [Solomon] had a sincere love for the Lord and wanted to put Him first in his life. When God gave Solomon the privilege of asking for anything he wanted, he asked for wisdom and an understanding heart; and God answered his prayer. Furthermore, God gave him all the other blessings too. Of course, if Solomon wanted to enjoy these blessings, he would have to walk in obedience to the Word (vv. 13–14).^[1]

The Gospel Way Catechism Question #37
What is the Kingdom of God?
The kingdom of God is the redemptive rule of God through his people over his creation – a reign already present, though not yet in fullness. We do not build the kingdom; yet by grace we are drawn into the work of God to remake the world under Jesus the King.

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me seven swans a-swimming.

The Seventh Day of Christmas:
Seven Swans A-Swimming
The seven swans a-swimming represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.[2]

J. I. Packer
A spiritual gift is an ability in some way to express, celebrate, display, and so communicate Christ. We are told that gifts, rightly used, build up Christians and churches. But only knowledge of God in Christ builds up, so each charisma (a specific manifestation of charis or grace, God’s active and creative love) must be an ability from Christ to show and share Christ in an upbuilding way.[3]

O God of my delight, Thy throne of grace is the pleasure ground of my soul. Here I obtain mercy in time of need, here see the smile of thy reconciled face, here joy pleads the name of Jesus, here I sharpen the sword of the Spirit, anoint the shield of faith, put on the helmet of salvation, gather manna from thy Word, am strengthened for each conflict, nerved for the upward race, and empowered to conquer every foe. Quicken me, stir me, fill me with holy zeal. Strengthen me that I may cling to thee and not let thee go. May I never forget that thy eye always sees, thy ear always hears, thy recording hand always writes. May I never give thee rest until Christ is the pulse of my heart, the spokesman of my lips, the lamp of my feet. Amen.[4]

Fullness of Grace

^[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1993), 1 Ki 3.
[2] https://www.dynamiccatholic.com/advent/twelve-days-of-christmas.html
[3] J. I. Packer, Concise Theology, p. 227.
[4] The Valley of Vision, p. 150.