May 18

Are you absolutely sure there was no TV when Solomon was alive?? Because all this talk about how fools cannot be seperated from their folly leads me to believe that he had seen the Jerry Springer show!! Or many of the other dozens of shows that exhault stupidity, selfishness and do-anything-for-your-one-moment-in-the sun. I always wonder why it's not just enough to BE stupid.....do you have to go on national TV and let EVERYONE know?

All kidding aside, this was kind of therpuetic reading. I hadn't realized until reading it it's context, how much of this Solomon had experienced. Look at his own brothers. So often with a wayward/"foolish" family member, we wring our hands and are distraught over the situation. And not that we should not try to bring them to a place of wisdom.....but sometimes it just becomes clear- it 'ain't gonna happen'. That's the time to focus on your own life and spiritual developement and quit beating a dead horse so to speak. Always pray and thank God that He is working and take every opportunity to have a positive impact. But, bottom line- God has given us all free will- and if God can't change them, there is no sense in letting it negatively affect our lives. I've seen people get so wrapped up in a wayward person's life (and alsmot got there myself a few times) that they are no good to themselves or the kingdom. I loved the verse about not even a mortum and pestal (not sure if I said that right- but you know the pharmacy thing that they crush pills with) can seperate a fool from his folly. Hmm...that's pretty graphic.

And Solomon had exerienced the goods and bads a childrearing also. It appears David counseled and disciplined Solomon and not his brothers. Look at the difference in outcome. However, we are soon to embark on a long line of bad kings that follow Solomon, so I'm not so sure that he followed his own advice.