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MAY 28
In vv.30–33, the healed man demonstrated more spiritual insight and common sense than all
of the religious authorities combined who sat in judgment of Jesus and him. His penetrating wit
focused in on their intractable unbelief.His logic was that such an extraordinary miracle could only
indicate that Jesus was from God, for the Jews believed that God responds in proportion to the
righteousness of the one praying (Job 27:9; 35:13; Pss.66:18; 109:7; Prov.15:29; Is.1:15; see 14:13,14;
16:23–27; 1 John 3:21,22).The greatness of the miracle could only indicate that Jesus was actually
from God.
“You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” (v. 34). The Pharisees were
incensed with the man, and their anger prevented them from seeing the penetrating insight that
the uneducated healed man had demonstrated. The phrase also revealed their ignorance of
Scripture, for the Old Testament indicated that the coming messianic age would be evidenced by
restoration of sight to the blind (Is. 29:18; 35:5; 42:7; Matt. 11:4,5; Luke 4:18,19).

May 28

3:7 little child. Since Solomon was probably
1 Kings 3:1–4:34 only about 20 years of age, he readily admit-
ted his lack of qualification and experience to
Now Solomon made a treaty with Pharaoh be king (1 Chr. 22:5; 29:1).
3 king of Egypt, and married Pharaoh’s
daughter; then he brought her to the City of 3:8 a great people. Based on the census,
David until he had finished building his own which recorded 800,000 men of fighting age
house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall in Israel and 500,000 in Judah (2 Sam. 24:9),
all around Jerusalem. Meanwhile the people the total population was over 4 million,
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sacrificed at the high places, because there approximately double what it had been at the
was no house built for the name of the LORD time of the conquest (Num. 26:1–65).
until those days. And Solomon loved the
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LORD, walking in the statutes of his father Da- 3:9 an understanding heart. Humbly admit-
vid, except that he sacrificed and burned ting his need, Solomon sought “a listening
incense at the high places. heart”to govern God’s people with wisdom.
Now the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice
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there, for that was the great high place: Sol- 3:10 pleased the Lord. The Lord was delight-
omon offered a thousand burnt offerings on ed that Solomon had not asked for personal
that altar. At Gibeon the LORD appeared to benefits—long life, wealth, or the death of his
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Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, enemies.
“Ask! What shall I give you?”
6 And Solomon said: “You have shown great
mercy to Your servant David my father, asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the
because he walked before You in truth, in life of your enemies, but have asked for your-
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righteousness, and in uprightness of heart self understanding to discern justice, behold,
with You; You have continued this great kind- I have done according to your words; see, I
ness for him, and You have given him a son to have given you a wise and understanding
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sit on his throne, as it is this day. Now, O LORD heart, so that there has not been anyone like
my God, You have made Your servant king you before you, nor shall any like you arise
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instead of my father David, but I am a little after you. And I have also given you what you
child; I do not know how to go out or come in. have not asked: both riches and honor, so that
8 And Your servant is in the midst of Your peo- there shall not be anyone like you among the
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ple whom You have chosen, a great people, kings all your days. So if you walk in My ways,
too numerous to be numbered or counted. to keep My statutes and My commandments, as
9 Therefore give to Your servant an under- your father David walked, then I will lengthen
standing heart to judge Your people, that I your days.”
may discern between good and evil. For who 15 Then Solomon awoke; and indeed it had
is able to judge this great people of Yours?” been a dream. And he came to Jerusalem and
The speech pleased the Lord, that Sol-
10 stood before the ark of the covenant of the
omon had asked this thing. Then God said to LORD, offered up burnt offerings, offered peace
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him: “Because you have asked this thing, and offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.
have not asked long life for yourself, nor have 16 Now two women who were harlots came to
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