Categoria: News

In the 18th year of Jeroboam Abijah became king of Judah where he reigned for 3 years, but he sadly repeated the sins of his father and made war with Jeroboam.

In the 20th year of Jeroboam Asa became king of Judah where he reigned for 41 years doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He expelled the male shrine prostitutes and abolished all the idols, and he even deposed his grandmother from the pagan post of queen mother cutting down and burning her Asherah pole. Asa made an alliance with the king of Aram ruling in Damascus and thus strengthened his position against Israel. In his old age Asa had diseased feet prior to dying and being succeeded by his son Jehoshaphat.

Nadab, son of Jeroboam, became king of Israel in the 2nd year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned for 2 years. He did evil before God being a case of like father like son. Baasha killed Nadab and replaced him as king, when he reigned for 24 years but doing evil in the eyes of the Lord. He then proceeded to kill Jeroboam’s entire family.

In the 18th year of Jeroboam Abijah became king of Judah where he reigned for 3 years, but he sadly repeated the sins of his father and made war with Jeroboam.

In the 20th year of Jeroboam Asa became king of Judah where he reigned for 41 years doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He expelled the male shrine prostitutes and abolished all the idols, and he even deposed his grandmother from the pagan post of queen mother cutting down and burning her Asherah pole. Asa made an alliance with the king of Aram ruling in Damascus and thus strengthened his position against Israel. In his old age Asa had diseased feet prior to dying and being succeeded by his son Jehoshaphat.

Nadab, son of Jeroboam, became king of Israel in the 2nd year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned for 2 years. He did evil before God being a case of like father like son. Baasha killed Nadab and replaced him as king, when he reigned for 24 years but doing evil in the eyes of the Lord. He then proceeded to kill Jeroboam’s entire family.

 Jeroboam’s son was ill so he sent his wife to consult the prophet Ahijah disguised, taking him bread, cakes and honey. With God’s help the prophet saw beyond her disguise and he prophesied her son’s imminent death. He also spoke out categorically against Jeroboam’s idolatry prophesying disaster for his house with dogs eating men’s bodies in the cities and vultures eating men’s bodies in the country. Ahijah yet prophesied eventual exile for Israel as a result of Jeroboam’s sin. So Jeroboam died after a reign of 22 years and Nadab his son succeeded him as king of Israel.

Rehoboam came to the throne at 41 years of age and he reigned for 17 years, and after his death he was succeeded as king of Judah by his son Abijah. Rehoboam’s reign had been as negative as Jeroboam’s in Israel with widespread paganism and even the use of male shrine-prostitutes and other detestable pagan practices. As a result of such perversity in the 5th year of his reign Shishak king of Egypt ransacked Jerusalem robbing all its gold articles including all the gold shields, so that Rehoboam had to replace them with bronze ones. There was also continual civil war between Israel and Judah.

A prophet came from Judah to rebuke Jeroboam for his rampant paganism and he confirmed his message by the altar being split apart. Jeroboam reacted against the prophet and suffered a withered arm for which he depended on God’s healing. He then invited the prophet to have a meal at his house, but the prophet declined as God had prohibited this. Then an old prophet met with the prophet from Judah and tricked him by lying to eat with him saying that an angel had suggested this. Hence the prophet from Judah ended up disobeying God’s command by default and ended up being killed by a lion as a result and the old prophet buried him. After all this Jeroboam did not change his evil ways but continued unabated in his sinful paganism. 

 Rehoboam went to Shechem to be crowned king, but the people asked for lower taxes and a lighter work load. Rehoboam asked for 3 days to think this over and consult about it. The elders told him to accept what the people requested, but younger men said the opposite saying that in his reign things would be even tougher! When the people received this tough reply they rejected Rehoboam dividing the nation with the 10 northern tribes breaking from Judah and Benjamin in the south with Rehoboam becoming king just of the south.

Meanwhile Jeroboam returned from exile in Egypt and became king of the northern tribes of Israel. However fearing that he would be prejudiced by the people going to worship in Jerusalem he set up alternative worshipping places at Bethel and Dan of 2 golden calves! Jeroboam also built pagan shrines on high places and appointed non-Levite priests. Israel and Judah were in a big mess.

 Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines! He married Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites – all nations for which God had forbidden intermarriage because of the implicit dangers of pagan involvement. And this is exactly what happened. For as Solomon got older he started getting involved with his wives’ pagan religions as he followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and Molech the god of the Ammonites. He built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, for Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites and for all his foreign wives. This greatly angered the Lord as he saw Solomon consistently turning away from him and following other gods. 

So it was that God raised up adversaries against Solomon – Haddad the Edomite and Rezon. Then Jeroboam, rebelled against Solomon. though he had been in charge of his whole work force. One day Jeroboam met Ahijah the prophet of Shiloh who tore his robe into 12 pieces, gave Jeroboam 10 saying these represented the 10 tribes he would now lead in the place of Solomon, leaving Solomon only with the rest. This God did in the light of his apostacy. Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam but he fled to Egypt where he stayed until Solomon’s death. Then after 40 years reign Solomon died and his son Rehoboam succeeded him as king.

The Queen Of Sheba came to visit King Solomon because she had heard so much about him. She came as a doubter, but she left a believer! She came with a barrage of trick questions to test Solomon’s wisdom, but he answered them all. When the Queen of Sheba saw Solomon’s extensive wisdom, luxurious palace, exemplary staff and amazing food she was overwhelmed. She came expecting to find that all the stories she had been told were exaggerated, but the truth was the opposite and “the half had never been told”! The Queen gave Solomon gifts of 4 tons of gold, large quantities of spices and precious stones and he gave her whatever she wanted in exchange. Then she left and returned to her own country.

The chapter goes on to tell us more of Solomon’s colossal wealth with an annual income in gold of 23 tons! He made 200 large shields of hammered gold plus 300 small shields. He made an ivory and gold throne ornamented with lions. All his household goblets and articles were gold and his fleet of trading ships worked on a 3-year cycle bringing in gold, silver, ivory, apes and baboons. Solomon also accumulated 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. 

After Solomon had finished building the temple and palace God appeared to him a second time. The first time had been in 1 Kings 3 when he made him wise. God expressed his pleasure with the temple but made it clear that his priority was man’s heart being of integrity and uprightness. God warned Solomon of the dire consequences of the going after pagan gods which would result in the destruction of the temple and exile from the promised land.

Then the second part of the chapter gives details of Solomon’s use as slave labour of the Canaanite survivors of Israelite extermination. It also tells of Solomon’s giving of 20 towns to King Hiram of Tyre in thanks for his plentiful supplies of cedar, pine and gold during the construction period, but Hiram was not pleased with the gift. The text also gives details of Solomon’s administrative organization. Solomon also built ships on the shore of the Red Sea and their travels brought 14.5 tons of gold to Solomon!

With the temple’s construction completed King Solomon summoned the nation’s leaders to bring up the ark of the covenant to the temple. The commemoration was massive involving an uncountable number of sheep and cattle being sacrificed. The priests then placed the ark beneath the wings of the cherubim in the most holy place and the glory of the Lord filled the place. Solomon praised God for having fulfilled his promise that the son of David would build a temple for the name of the Lord. 

Then Solomon prayed the prayer of dedication of the temple praising God for his covenant of love, whilst recognizing that the great and eternal God cannot be contained in the temple. He asked God to hear his people from the temple and judge them in right or in wrong forgiving their sin. 

When Solomon finished his prayers of dedication and supplication he rose from before the altar and blessed all the assembly in a loud voice praying that God should be with them, may he turn their hearts to him and be fully committed to him.

Then the King and all Israel offered 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats in sacrifice to the Lord as they observed a 14 day festival of dedication to God!

 Last night the Patos Men’s Fellowship travelled to the town of São Mamede to hold another street service. I always go with them, but I didn’t go this time as I am busy preparing for our journey to England via Portugal a week today. I have also just completed a lot of administrative work too for EAB. The service was led by school teacher Claudivan and Pastor Rafael preached the word.

QPR were knocked out of the Football League Cup yesterday in the first round when they were beaten by Plymouth 3 x 2 despite having been leading by 2 goals at half time. QPR played with a youth team and none of those who played in the league on Saturday played. 

 Last night the Patos Men’s Fellowship travelled to the town of São Mamede to hold another street service. I always go with them, but I didn’t go this time as I am busy preparing for our journey to England via Portugal a week today. I have also just completed a lot of administrative work too for EAB. The service was led by school teacher Claudivan and Pastor Rafael preached the word.

QPR were knocked out of the Football League Cup yesterday in the first round when they were beaten by Plymouth 3 x 2 despite having been leading by 2 goals at half time. QPR played with a youth team and none of those who played in the league on Saturday played. 

Our 15-year-old granddaughter Beatriz (Bia) has been in hospital with gastritis and has been on a drip. Please pray for Bia. Now Alice has gone down with the same symptoms. Please pray for Alice too.

I have just made a wonderful evening meal! Bread and cheese with a bag of crisps, followed by a yoghurt! My culinary skills are amazing! Liz is out with Linda, Elza, Jozinete and Zenaide so I had to engage my survival skills! 💪

We have just got back from the pastors and leaders conference (EDL) at Green Pastures. It was an excellent conference full of the blessing of God and crowned with a real spirit of unity. The only problem that we had was 2 toilets blocked by the roots of trees searching for water in the drought. We gave probationary missionary status to 2 leaders: Ivonete from the state of Bahia where she leads the work, and Guilherme Santos from Campina Grande Catolé who will move to Diamante to work in the 4 churches of that region in January. If anyone would like to give him a motorbike to get around the 4 churches he will work in then we would be very happy and grateful.

The ministry of the word on the 2 nights of the conference from Pastor Moises was really good. On the first night he preached on ‘How to lead and how not to lead’ and on the second night he preached on ‘How to preach and how not to preach’. At the end of the conference Pastor Wostenes led our pastors and leaders in prayer for Liz and I as we embark on a ministry trip to Europe on the 20th.

Yesterday the Championship started its 2025/2026 season with QPR achieving a glorious draw 1 x 1 at home to Preston thanks to an own goal by Preston!

Our 15-year-old granddaughter Beatriz (Bia) has been in hospital with gastritis and has been on a drip. Please pray for Bia. Now Alice has gone down with the same symptoms. Please pray for Alice too.

I have just made a wonderful evening meal! Bread and cheese with a bag of crisps, followed by a yoghurt! My culinary skills are amazing! Liz is out with Linda, Elza, Jozinete and Zenaide so I had to engage my survival skills! 💪

We have just got back from the pastors and leaders conference (EDL) at Green Pastures. It was an excellent conference full of the blessing of God and crowned with a real spirit of unity. The only problem that we had was 2 toilets blocked by the roots of trees searching for water in the drought. We gave probationary missionary status to 2 leaders: Ivonete from the state of Bahia where she leads the work, and Guilherme Santos from Campina Grande Catolé who will move to Diamante to work in the 4 churches of that region in January. If anyone would like to give him a motorbike to get around the 4 churches he will work in then we would be very happy and grateful.

The ministry of the word on the 2 nights of the conference from Pastor Moises was really good. On the first night he preached on ‘How to lead and how not to lead’ and on the second night he preached on ‘How to preach and how not to preach’. At the end of the conference Pastor Wostenes led our pastors and leaders in prayer for Liz and I as we embark on a ministry trip to Europe on the 20th.

Yesterday the Championship started its 2025/2026 season with QPR achieving a glorious draw 1 x 1 at home to Preston thanks to an own goal by Preston!

It took Solomon 13 years to build his luxurious palace which was 46 metres long, 23 metres wide and 13.5 metres high. It had an abundance of solid cedar beams and columns built on high-grade stone blocks. He built a hall of pillars and a hall of judgement where Solomon pronounced his judgements. He built other houses as part of the palace complex including one for his first wife, the first of hundreds! 

Solomon also embarked on furnishing the temple with sumptuous bronze and golden objects. 2 bronze pillars 8.1 metres high by 5.4 metres around were made by Huram who was a craftsman in bronze. One pillar was placed south of the portico of the temple and was called Jakin, and the other massive pillar was put north of the portico and was called Boaz. 

Then Huram made a huge metal bowl for water which held 44,000 litres of water which meant it was called a sea. The sea stood on 12 metal bulls. This water was for the priests to wash themselves. He also made 10 moveable basins each with a capacity of 880 litres. The sea was placed in the south-east corner of the temple, and 5 of the moveable basins were put on the north side and 5 on the south side.

Then finally Solomon made a golden altar and table, 10 golden lampstands, gold floral work, gold dishes, bowls, ladles and censers, and gold sockets for the doors. 

We’re having a long series of online meetings and phone calls with our pastors as we prepare for the Pastors and Leaders Family Conference (EDL) at Green Pastures which starts this Friday. We value your prayers.

Liz is going like the clappers buying food for the conference and taking it to Green Pastures.

Humming birds hover and dart between the flowers around our garden, and Great Kiskadees and Southern Wrens sing in praise of their creator!

On Tuesday night we held a meeting of the Patos church council, together with the leaders of church ministries, so as to align things prior to our UK trip on the 20th. It was a very good meeting discussing the work of the Lord.

I have been to Green Pastures again preparing for the conference.

We’re having a long series of online meetings and phone calls with our pastors as we prepare for the Pastors and Leaders Family Conference (EDL) at Green Pastures which starts this Friday. We value your prayers.

Liz is going like the clappers buying food for the conference and taking it to Green Pastures.

Humming birds hover and dart between the flowers around our garden, and Great Kiskadees and Southern Wrens sing in praise of their creator!

On Tuesday night we held a meeting of the Patos church council, together with the leaders of church ministries, so as to align things prior to our UK trip on the 20th. It was a very good meeting discussing the work of the Lord.

I have been to Green Pastures again preparing for the conference.

Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem took 7 and a half years to construct and this chapter gives all the details of this wonderful undertaking built to honour God and to be the centre of Israel’s religion. Solomon started the work 480 years after Israel left Egypt, during the fourth year of his reign, and it was 27 metres long, 9 metres wide and 13.5 metres high. The text gives great detail of the temple’s design with all its relevant measurements describing its portico, windows, rooms, walls, panels, flooring, doors, inner courtyard, inner sanctuary etc. The principal wood used was cedar and much solid rock was used, though this was entirely prepared at the quarry so that there was no crashing and bashing at the temple. All the interior of the temple was overlaid with gold. In the inner sanctuary a pair of cherubins overlaid with gold were a significant feature being 4.5 metres high. On the walls were carved cherubins, palm trees and flowers. 

Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem took 7 and a half years to construct and this chapter gives all the details of this wonderful undertaking built to honour God and to be the centre of Israel’s religion. Solomon started the work 480 years after Israel left Egypt, during the fourth year of his reign, and it was 27 metres long, 9 metres wide and 13.5 metres high. The text gives great detail of the temple’s design with all its relevant measurements describing its portico, windows, rooms, walls, panels, flooring, doors, inner courtyard, inner sanctuary etc. The principal wood used was cedar and much solid rock was used, though this was entirely prepared at the quarry so that there was no crashing and bashing at the temple. All the interior of the temple was overlaid with gold. In the inner sanctuary a pair of cherubins overlaid with gold were a significant feature being 4.5 metres high. On the walls were carved cherubins, palm trees and flowers. 

Solomon realized that now in peaceful days he could concentrate on building the temple in Jerusalem so he made an agreement with King Hiram of Tyre, who was a friendly neighbour, for him to provide cedar and pine logs from Lebanon for the construction, with Solomon providing labour to work with that of Hiram, and all the salaries being paid by Solomon. Solomon paid Hiram with vast quantities of wheat and oil. The workforce was very large with a core group of 30,000 men working in shifts of 10,000 with the timber cutting, one month on two months off. Then there were 70,000 carriers, 80,000 stonecutters as well as 3,300 foremen. It was a massive workforce.

 Solomon’s kingdom was well organized. Zadok, Azariah son of Zadok and Abiathar were priests; Elihoreph and Ahijar were secretaries; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; Benaiah was army commander in chief; Azariah son of Nathan was coordinator of the district officers; Zabud was the King’s personal adviser; Ahishar was in charge of the palace and Adoniram was in charge of the slaves. Solomon also had 12 regional governors who were responsible for providing supplies for the King and his household a month at a time. The governors were Ben-Hur, Ben-Deker, Ben-Hesed, Ben-Habinadab, Baana son of Ahilud, Ben-Geber, Ahinadab, Ahimaaz, Baana son of Hushai, Jehoshaphat son of Paruah, Shimei and Geber.

Solomon’s reign was one of peace and prosperity in which the people were happy, and even neighbouring countries paid him tributes. Solomons daily provisions were 6.6 kilolitres of fine flour, 13.2 kilolitres of meal, 10 stall-fed cattle, 20 pasture-fed cattle, 100 sheep and goats plus deer, gazelles, roebucks and choice fowl. All this was per day! Solomon had 4,000 stalls for chariot horses and 12,000 charioteers.

Solomon’s wisdom and insight was outstanding, surpassing all far and wide, making him famous even amongst the surrounding nations. He composed 3,000 proverbs and over a thousand songs. He also taught biology including plant life, animals, birds, reptiles and fish. International visitors were many coming to hear his wisdom and knowledge.

 Solomon’s kingdom was well organized. Zadok, Azariah son of Zadok and Abiathar were priests; Elihoreph and Ahijar were secretaries; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; Benaiah was army commander in chief; Azariah son of Nathan was coordinator of the district officers; Zabud was the King’s personal adviser; Ahishar was in charge of the palace and Adoniram was in charge of the slaves. Solomon also had 12 regional governors who were responsible for providing supplies for the King and his household a month at a time. The governors were Ben-Hur, Ben-Deker, Ben-Hesed, Ben-Habinadab, Baana son of Ahilud, Ben-Geber, Ahinadab, Ahimaaz, Baana son of Hushai, Jehoshaphat son of Paruah, Shimei and Geber.

Solomon’s reign was one of peace and prosperity in which the people were happy, and even neighbouring countries paid him tributes. Solomons daily provisions were 6.6 kilolitres of fine flour, 13.2 kilolitres of meal, 10 stall-fed cattle, 20 pasture-fed cattle, 100 sheep and goats plus deer, gazelles, roebucks and choice fowl. All this was per day! Solomon had 4,000 stalls for chariot horses and 12,000 charioteers.

Solomon’s wisdom and insight was outstanding, surpassing all far and wide, making him famous even amongst the surrounding nations. He composed 3,000 proverbs and over a thousand songs. He also taught biology including plant life, animals, birds, reptiles and fish. International visitors were many coming to hear his wisdom and knowledge.

On Sunday I led the monthly communion service in Patos, Sacha, Marina and Fábio led the worship and Sacha preached. It was a lovely service.

Yesterday we went to the wake of a 59-year-old motor-taxi driver who was the father of Michele and grandfather of Letícia who are members of our church.

BP have made their biggest oil and gas find in 25 years off the coast of Santos in southern Brazil. As a result BP’s shares rose by 1.4% in London. It’s a small world!🌎

I have just booked our Christmas choir, which every year comes to us from our Catolé church in Campina Grande, to present a Christmas Cantata in Patos on Sunday, December 14th. On Saturday, 13th, they will present the cantata at our Conceição church. I am having to book things well ahead as we will only be back from Europe on November 8th.

The BBC has published a very interesting update on the Zika virus which occurred in 2015/2016 which caused 2,000 infected mothers to give birth to children with various deformities including reduced sized skulls. The virus transmitted by the mosquito was 75% in the north-east of Brazil and nobody knows why the virus disappeared. Please pray for the hundreds of mothers who still battle on with their children. 

Ex-Brazilian president Bolsonaro has been put under house arrest, as well as being electronically tagged, because he disobeyed restrictions placed on him by the court. Bolsonaro is under investigation for planning a coup d’état and planning the murder of the current president and the current supreme justice of the high court.  

On Sunday I led the monthly communion service in Patos, Sacha, Marina and Fábio led the worship and Sacha preached. It was a lovely service.

Yesterday we went to the wake of a 59-year-old motor-taxi driver who was the father of Michele and grandfather of Letícia who are members of our church.

BP have made their biggest oil and gas find in 25 years off the coast of Santos in southern Brazil. As a result BP’s shares rose by 1.4% in London. It’s a small world!🌎

I have just booked our Christmas choir, which every year comes to us from our Catolé church in Campina Grande, to present a Christmas Cantata in Patos on Sunday, December 14th. On Saturday, 13th, they will present the cantata at our Conceição church. I am having to book things well ahead as we will only be back from Europe on November 8th.

The BBC has published a very interesting update on the Zika virus which occurred in 2015/2016 which caused 2,000 infected mothers to give birth to children with various deformities including reduced sized skulls. The virus transmitted by the mosquito was 75% in the north-east of Brazil and nobody knows why the virus disappeared. Please pray for the hundreds of mothers who still battle on with their children. 

Ex-Brazilian president Bolsonaro has been put under house arrest, as well as being electronically tagged, because he disobeyed restrictions placed on him by the court. Bolsonaro is under investigation for planning a coup d’état and planning the murder of the current president and the current supreme justice of the high court.  

On Sunday I led the monthly communion service in Patos, Sacha, Marina and Fábio led the worship and Sacha preached. It was a lovely service.

Yesterday we went to the wake of a 59-year-old motor-taxi driver who was the father of Michele and grandfather of Letícia who are members of our church.

BP have made their biggest oil and gas find in 25 years off the coast of Santos in southern Brazil. As a result BP’s shares rose by 1.4% in London. It’s a small world!🌎

I have just booked our Christmas choir, which every year comes to us from our Catolé church in Campina Grande, to present a Christmas Cantata in Patos on Sunday, December 14th. On Saturday, 13th, they will present the cantata at our Conceição church. I am having to book things well ahead as we will only be back from Europe on November 8th.

The BBC has published a very interesting update on the Zika virus which occurred in 2015/2016 which caused 2,000 infected mothers to give birth to children with various deformities including reduced sized skulls. The virus transmitted by the mosquito was 75% in the north-east of Brazil and nobody knows why the virus disappeared. Please pray for the hundreds of mothers who still battle on with their children. 

Ex-Brazilian president Bolsonaro has been put under house arrest, as well as being electronically tagged, because he disobeyed restrictions placed on him by the court. Bolsonaro is under investigation for planning a coup d’état and planning the murder of the current president and the current supreme justice of the high court.  

Solomon begins his reign as King sealing a political alliance with Egypt by his marriage with the Pharoah’s daughter. Then the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at Gibeon, and God asked him what he most wanted. Solomon didn’t ask for longevity, power or wealth. He asked for wisdom. He said that he needed “a discerning heart” to govern the people as he recognized his youth and lack of experience. God was pleased with his request and said he would give him a wise and discerning heart as well as riches and honour which he had not requested. God said he would also give him longevity as long as he walked in his ways and obeyed his commands. 

Then comes a famous example of Solomon’s wisdom in action as 2 prostitutes disputed a child. For both had babies, but one died. The dispute was that one woman accused the other of having swapped the living baby for the dead one and the dispute was brought before Solomon to sort out, but that wasn’t easy as there were no video replays in those days! Then came Solomon’s wise test of love as he ordered the living child to be chopped in half with each mother having half. The deceitful woman was happy to agree to this but the true mother resisted and asked for the living baby to be given to the liar. Thus Solomon discovered who the true mother of the living baby was and gave it to her, and the people held Solomon’s wisdom in awe.

 On the eve of his death David summons Solomon to be a strong man walking in the ways of the Lord by upholding the covenant with God. David also tells him to execute justice on those who betrayed him: Adonijah, Joab and Shimei. Then David died and was buried in Jerusalem. He had reigned as King for 40 years.

Solomon, having assumed the throne and consolidated his position, eliminated the 3 men suggested by David and thus removed from his pathway potential rivals and those who had created serious problems for David. First of all Solomon had Adonijah executed after he had become further infuriated by him for asking for the beautiful Abishag as his wife. As Abishag had spent David’s final years with him Solomon clearly saw the request as a symptom of his old usurping ambitions.

Next to be executed was Joab whose reaction to Solomon’s removal of Abiathar from the priesthood brought about his downfall doubtless owing to a guilty conscience. Finally Solomon had Shimei killed for having disobeyed the command of house arrest that he had given him. So the kingdom was now firmly in King Solomon’s hands. 

David was now very old so his son Adonijah took his chance to usurp the throne and make himself king without David’s knowledge or backing. David was busy being cared for by a beautiful girl called Abishag who used to lay with him to keep him warm though no sex was involved. Adonijah received the backing of many people which they celebrated in a great feast. However Nathan the prophet and Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon, went to David to let him know what was going on. David reacted re-confirming his oath to make his son Solomon has successor. So David had Solomon ride his mule, which was an important gesture, and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed Solomon as David’s successor blowing the trumpets and with the people shouting ‘Long live King Solomon’! And Solomon was seated on the throne. When word reached Adonijah his party dispersed and he quickly sought clemency from King Solomon. However Solomon made it clear that clemency would depend on how he behaved. So Adonijah bowed before Solomon and then went home.

This chapter starts with a tremendous conundrum as God incites David to count the fighting men of Israel and Judah and then ends up punishing them for exactly this which resulted in the death of 70,000 people!

Anyway, the count took 9 months and 20 days to complete the census of fighting men which showed that there were 800,000 able-bodied men in Israel that could handle a sword, and there were 500,000 in Judah. David recognized his sin in having conducted the census and asked forgiveness. Then God gave 3 options of punishment to David for having carried out the census and David opted for the 3 days of plague which killed 70,000 people. 

So David purchased a threshing floor and there he built an altar for the Lord where he sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord. Hence God answered prayer and the plague on Israel was stopped.

This chapter starts with a tremendous conundrum as God incites David to count the fighting men of Israel and Judah and then ends up punishing them for exactly this which resulted in the death of 70,000 people!

Anyway, the count took 9 months and 20 days to complete the census of fighting men which showed that there were 800,000 able-bodied men in Israel that could handle a sword, and there were 500,000 in Judah. David recognized his sin in having conducted the census and asked forgiveness. Then God gave 3 options of punishment to David for having carried out the census and David opted for the 3 days of plague which killed 70,000 people. 

So David purchased a threshing floor and there he built an altar for the Lord where he sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord. Hence God answered prayer and the plague on Israel was stopped.

Yesterday I saw a large flock of Common Waxbills at Green Pastures. There were hundreds of them. I also saw Cactus Parakeets, many Chalk-browed Mockingbirds and one Great Kiskadee. 

Yesterday afternoon I conducted the wedding of Murilo and Karol and everything went off beautifully. I included in the ceremony, as a surprise, a poem about the couple written by a poetess friend, and it went down very well. I also used the game of chess as a metaphor in my talk to the couple as Murilo and his father are keen chess players. I encouraged Murilo to always value and protect “his queen”, and encouraged Karol to care for the “pawns” (kids!) equally even if they have 8 as in chess! Sacha and Marina did the vocals for the ceremony and Rogério, Netinho, Rogaciano and Ricardinho provided the backing.

Yesterday I saw a large flock of Common Waxbills at Green Pastures. There were hundreds of them. I also saw Cactus Parakeets, many Chalk-browed Mockingbirds and one Great Kiskadee. 

Yesterday afternoon I conducted the wedding of Murilo and Karol and everything went off beautifully. I included in the ceremony, as a surprise, a poem about the couple written by a poetess friend, and it went down very well. I also used the game of chess as a metaphor in my talk to the couple as Murilo and his father are keen chess players. I encouraged Murilo to always value and protect “his queen”, and encouraged Karol to care for the “pawns” (kids!) equally even if they have 8 as in chess! Sacha and Marina did the vocals for the ceremony and Rogério, Netinho, Rogaciano and Ricardinho provided the backing.

Yesterday I saw a large flock of Common Waxbills at Green Pastures. There were hundreds of them. I also saw Cactus Parakeets, many Chalk-browed Mockingbirds and one Great Kiskadee. 

Yesterday afternoon I conducted the wedding of Murilo and Karol and everything went off beautifully. I included in the ceremony, as a surprise, a poem about the couple written by a poetess friend, and it went down very well. I also used the game of chess as a metaphor in my talk to the couple as Murilo and his father are keen chess players. I encouraged Murilo to always value and protect “his queen”, and encouraged Karol to care for the “pawns” (kids!) equally even if they have 8 as in chess! Sacha and Marina did the vocals for the ceremony and Rogério, Netinho, Rogaciano and Ricardinho provided the backing.

This chapter contains the final oracle of David which is a poem of praise to God thinking back over his reign and over his mighty warriors. David remembers God’s covenant with his house and the positive results of righteous rule. The oracle defines the ideal king as one who rules in righteousness and the fear of God, bringing light to the people as sun after the rain. And David compares the righteous ruler with a wicked one whom he describes as a thorny bush which is hard to handle. 

Then David goes on to recall some of his most valiant warriors like Josheb-Basshebeth who killed 800 men in one go! Next he cited the case of Eleazar son of Dodai who stood his ground against the Philistines even when his fellow Israelites retreated, and he fought so hard that his hand froze to his sword! Next was Shammah who took his stand in the middle of a field. Then comes Abishai who killed 300 with his spear and next comes Benaiah who killed 2 of Moab’s best men and also killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day, and killed a huge Egyptian. He ends up listing more warriors who were less famous. It is interesting to notice that the last warrior listed is Uriah the Hittite who was the husband of Bathsheba.

This chapter contains the final oracle of David which is a poem of praise to God thinking back over his reign and over his mighty warriors. David remembers God’s covenant with his house and the positive results of righteous rule. The oracle defines the ideal king as one who rules in righteousness and the fear of God, bringing light to the people as sun after the rain. And David compares the righteous ruler with a wicked one whom he describes as a thorny bush which is hard to handle. 

Then David goes on to recall some of his most valiant warriors like Josheb-Basshebeth who killed 800 men in one go! Next he cited the case of Eleazar son of Dodai who stood his ground against the Philistines even when his fellow Israelites retreated, and he fought so hard that his hand froze to his sword! Next was Shammah who took his stand in the middle of a field. Then comes Abishai who killed 300 with his spear and next comes Benaiah who killed 2 of Moab’s best men and also killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day, and killed a huge Egyptian. He ends up listing more warriors who were less famous. It is interesting to notice that the last warrior listed is Uriah the Hittite who was the husband of Bathsheba.