Throughout the bible, there have been a variety of different characters, both good and bad, that have helped in understanding God’s law, His expectations of the people, and the promises He delivers. Whether it be through prophetical oracles, short stories, myths, or genealogy stories, these bible passages have depicted to readers the messages that God intended for the people and His establishment of a divine kingdom. One passage that contains a meaningful message is that of 1 Kings 3:1-15. These 15 verses help establish a greater understanding of a promise made by God to Solomon, son of David and King of Israel, after his father’s reign. The overarching theme of this passage contains the importance of wisdom over superficiality or material …show more content…
Before we get to analyzing and inspecting such passage, however, it is necessary that we get an understanding of what occurs before this selected passage. In the few chapters before, we receive an explanation of King David’s old age and the need for the new King. Solomon, Bathsheba’s son, is given the throne with the help of the prophet Nathan, despite his brothers’ attempts to take over the kingdom. Directly before the selected passage, Solomon is seen protecting the security of his throne by eliminating any of the people he considered threats, including Joab, Shineih, and Joab. This composes the 2nd major unit of the Solomon story. Once the overall theme of the selected passage is given, Solomon shows his proper use of the three gifts God presented him with, by bringing good to the people. The story of his first use of the wisdom acquired composes the 4th major unit of Solomon’s story, and through this, the people were able to witness King Solomon’s great …show more content…
This is especially significant because it prompts God to grant him two more gifts: riches and lasting honor. It is evident that this passage reflects the Deuteronomic understanding of the covenant agreements between God and the people. God first appears before Solomon as result of his father, David’s exclusive loyalty and love for God, and Solomon’s own loyalty and love. Because Solomon takes into account God’s approach towards him (evident through God’s gift of succession of the kingdom to Solomon), he presents God with great loyalty. As a result of this ongoing loyalty and worship, God appears before Solomon with knowledge of his desire to govern the people correctly. And because of his commitment to rule over the Israel kingdom and his self-doubts over his own ability to rule, another divine approach is shown: God’s gift of wisdom along with the addition of personal riches and glory. In effect, Solomon is given a condition that will allow him to also possess a long life: walking in God’s way and ensuring that he follow the commandments and God’s
The book called Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison, deals with many real life issues, most of which are illustrated by the relationships between different family members.
Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon tells the life story of Milkman and his family. The novel is well written and complex, while talking about several complex issues such as race, gender, and class. Although the novel makes reference to the several issues, the novel primarily focuses on what people’s desires are and their identities. Specifically through the difference between Macon Jr. and Pilate, Morrison illustrates that our most authentic desires come not from material items, but from our wish to connect with others.
Solomon, a slave, had been a leader when he worked in the cotton fields in the South. One day he decided to fly back to Africa with his youngest son, Jake, leaving behind his wife Ryna and their twenty other children.
Song of Solomon opens with the image of attempted flight, as Robert Smith, ironically an agent of the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance company, promises to "take off from Mercy and fly away on my own wings" (3). Pilate (P...
...ticle, Solomon has an unpleasant attitude of blaming others and complaining about the issue without proposing any real solutions. It also seems that he divides people into two categories: readers (good) and non-readers (bad), and he look down upon those who do not read. This will cause the readers to be emotionally uncomfortable and to reject his arguments and opinions because of the bias behind it.
Solomon's silver watch contained multifaceted significance with regard to his character and it's effect on Livvie--it represented prestige and wealth, control and obsession, and a life of dark retreat. For Solomon the watch represented the prestige and wealth that were rarely attained by colored people. "For he was a colored man that owned his land and had it written down in the courthouse." (P. 85) Yet the watch also had another dimensionCit meant control over his life and his possessions, including Livvie.
Song of Solomon tells the story of Dead's unwitting search for identity. Milkman appears to be destined for a life of self-alienation and isolation because of his commitment to the materialism and the linear conception of time that are part of the legacy he receives from his father, Macon Dead. However, during a trip to his ancestral home, “Milkman comes to understand his place in a cultural and familial community and to appreciate the value of conceiving of time as a cyclical process”(Smith 58).
The majority of the information in this novel has to do with Solomon’s own experiences. As a slave, Northup was cut off from sources of other news of the nation. The ...
We see from this passage that Solomon is a loving devoted husband and father. He understands the relationship between a father and his children. Solomon appears through this writings to have been a good father.
Understanding the concept of individual identity necessitates some comprehension of the motif of flight in Song of Solomon. Flight in the novel alludes to the African-American pursuit for an identity. Before Milkman is born, the novel introduces the scene of Robert Smith, an inconspicuous insurance agent who commits suicide by leaping off the cupola of Mercy Hospital – “flying off on his own wings.” Milkman’s search for an identity begins as ...
This phrase is later repeated three more times, in Judges 18:1, 19:1, and 21:25. Since the phrase is repeated several times, it emphasizes the need for a king to govern the people and lead them in better ways. The Davidic covenant also exemplifies this positive view, since God showed favor on David and his descendants. God said that King David’s descendants are God’s sons, and that the LORD will establish a “royal throne forever”, as in a line of kings until the end of time (2 Sam. 7:13). God also promises to give David “rest from all your enemies” (2 Sam. 7:11) and a place for his people to live (2 Sam. 7:10). Just like Abraham, King David is promised descendants, blessings, and land. Hezekiah, another good king of Judah, was also viewed favorably. In the LORD’s sight, Hezekiah did what was right, just like David (2 Kgs 18:3). 2 Kings 18: 5 also states that “and neither before nor after [Hezekiah] was there anyone like him among all the kings of Judah.” Unlike Solomon, Hezekiah observed the commandments and thus, “the LORD was with him, and he succeeded in all he set out to do” (2 Kgs 18:7). Therefore, the Deuteronomistic History looks favorably upon kings, since the need for a king is stated multiple times in Judges, and kings like David and Hezekiah are looked upon with favor by God and the people
...hard to understand fully because of its comprehensive metaphoric language and the difference in culture from present day. It is also sometimes hard for us to understand God's actions because we think of him simply loving and caring rather than ruthless and violent. We need to understand that the creation of mankind is taking place in the recordings of these scriptures and so things may not be as customary as we would like to think. I believe that God has a plan for everyone. And, in the case of Saul, he had a plan to take away his kingdom in order to pass it on to David so the formation of history could continue. I also think this passage, like many other passages from the Bible, has a message linked to it, a lesson to the story if you will. The lesson is to prove that God's unlimited power must never be taken for granted or there surely will be hell to pay.
In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
The passage I selected, 1 Samuel 1:28, tells the story of the birth of Samuel and begins with a story about Samuel’s mother, Hannah, who prays for a child during the family’s annual pilgrimage to worship at Shiloh. Eli, the priest at Shiloh, hears her prayer and tells Hannah that her prayer will be answered. Hannah promises the Lord that if she is granted a child, she will return him to the Lord and his life will be dedicated to the Lord’s work. The birth of Samuel was the first step in Gods plan to give Israel deliverance from their Philistine enemies. Samuel evolves as an important figure in telling the story of the Israelites’ move from the judges’ leadership to the establishment of a kingship.
After listening to what Macon has to say about Ruth, Milkman realizes he knows nothing for himself. Much of what he learns and knows come from what other people tell him. Having an identity-crisis, Milkman becomes motivated to start living by his own accord and to discover life and who is is for himself. The theme transcends throughout Song of Solomon: identity should only be created by the individual. The feeling of self-discovery is universal, and anyone can feel the want at any time. Most people have asked themselves at least once, “who am I?” Conflict between a person and a society is the common impetus for change, such as how Milkman fought his father. Where some people may accept what other people view of them as their identity, many others will go on great odysseys in order to figure out their identity for