Isaiah 16:5 then a throne will be established in steadfast love, and on it will sit in faithfulness in the tent of David one who judges and seeks justice and is swift to do righteousness.

His throne was established by His steadfast love. We tend to forget that.

Philippians 2:8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

It was His love for us that led Him to obey the will of the Father and die for us on the Cross.

It is not said anywhere in scripture but in my heart I hear, “I would rather die than lose you!”

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

That day in Butler, Pennsylvania a man died because he was protecting those he loved. He did not think of dying, only protecting. He did not know it would cost him his life.

Jesus knew and did it anyway.

The ram caught in the briars did not have a choice as a replacement for Issac when Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son. The passover lamb, perfect, loved and made a member of the household before it was sacrificed, did not have a choice.

Luke 22:42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

There was no reason for Jesus to say this to the Father except for us to hear God’s answer, “There is no other way.”

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

If we cannot love the one who gave His life willingly, what does that say about us?

The answer to that is ugly. “They do not have any love for God.”

I met a man once who declared “There are many paths to God.” So I asked “Which path are you on?” His silence told me he was on none of them.

If all else fails, take the path of love, it’s His Way.

Ecclesiastes 1:13 And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with.

I want to talk about what we get busy doing.

1 Kings 3:5-12

5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” 6 And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. 7 And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. 9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”

10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.

God granted Solomon the wisdom required to rule Israel. God did not grant Solomon the wisdom to rule his own life. All we have to do is read Ecclesiastes to discover the torment of Solomon’s personal life.

Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.

Vanity is defined as emptiness as to results. We get busy trying to make ourselves happy and in the end all our striving ends up being “an unhappy business”.

Solomon used the wisdom granted him to build the greatest and most successful Israel that ever existed. It was his personal life that brought national division and ruin.

1 Kings 11:1-3 Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart.