During close fellowship with Jesus, one can never say with certainty where events are unfolding: in the world not yet transfigured, or in the Kingdom. So it is in the account of feeding the multitude who listen to Him with five loaves and two fish. The laws of the untransfigured world do not, of course, allow such a thing. But on the other hand...
During close fellowship with Jesus, one can never say with certainty where events are unfolding: in the world not yet transfigured, or in the Kingdom. So it is in the account of feeding the multitude who listen to Him with five loaves and two fish. The laws of the untransfigured world do not, of course, allow such a thing. But on the other hand, those before us are still ordinary people who, for now, are only listening to Jesus, and it is not yet known which of them will be ready to follow Him.
How, then, did they find themselves in the Kingdom? The only answer to this question is probably the mention of the breaking of bread performed by the Savior. The breaking of bread is an ancient Jewish rite whose roots go back at least to the age of the captivity, and perhaps to still earlier times. This rite was evidently always domestic, originally a family rite and later, after the emergence of religious brotherhoods, both a family and a fraternal rite. At all times it was regarded as a continuation of the Temple sacrifice, as its domestic dimension complementing the communal dimension. The original meaning of every sacrifice, even a pagan one, let alone a Yahwistic sacrifice, came down to communion with God: everyone always regarded the sacrifice as a shared meal of God—or, among pagans, of the gods—and human beings. The faithful prepared the meal and invited God to the table so that He Himself might sanctify it and bless those assembled. So it was at gatherings in the Temple, and so it was at gatherings in the home. Now the One who brought the fullness of the Kingdom into the world performs the breaking of bread.
It is not surprising that everyone who takes part becomes, at least for the duration of the gathering, an inhabitant of the Kingdom. With Christ, God's presence is revealed in all possible fullness, and the Kingdom becomes the most certain reality. Such participation is of course only the first step, only the beginning of the journey. Yet this experience is very important, because it enables everyone who has lived through it to understand what the Kingdom is not in words but in reality, and to make a decision based not on other people's stories but on personal experience.
3 Solomon marries Pharaoh's daughter, Ki1 3:1.
His religion, Ki1 3:2-4.
His prayer for wisdom, and the answer, Ki1 3:5-15.
He decides the dispute between the two harlots, Ki1 3:16-28.
3:6 Truth - In the true worship of God, in the profession, belief, practice and defence of the true religion. So truth here containsall duties to God, as righteousness doth his duties to men, anduprightness the right manner of performing both sorts of duties.With thee - That is, in thy judgment, to whom he often appealed as thewitness of his integrity.
3:7 Child - So he was in years: not above twenty years old; and withal (which he principally intends) he was raw and unexperienced, as a child, instate affairs. Go out, etc - To govern my people, and manage affairs.
3:8 In the midst - Is set over them to rule and guide them.A metaphor from the overseer of divers workmen, who usually is in the midstof them, that he may the better observe how each of them discharges hisoffice. Chosen - Thy peculiar people, whom thou takest special care of,and therefore wilt expect a more punctual account of my government of them.
3:9 An understanding heart - Whereby I may both clearly discern, and faithfully perform all the parts of my duty: for both these are spoken ofin scripture, as the effects of a good understanding; and he that lives inthe neglect of his duties, or the practice of wickedness, is called afool, and one void of understanding. Discern - Namely in causesand controversies among my people; that I may not through mistake, orprejudice, or passion, give wrong sentences, and call evil good, orgood evil. Absalom, that was a fool, wished himself a judge:Solomon, that was a wise man, trembles at the undertaking. The moreknowing and considerate men are, the more jealous they are of themselves.
3:13 All thy days - Whereby he signifies that these gifts of God were not transient, as they were in Saul, but such as should abide with himwhilst he lived.