Unlocking Your Inner Zelensky: words of wisdom from the speeches of the Ukrainian president?

Unlocking Your Inner Zelensky: Lessons We Can All Learn From an Unexpected Leader by Jessie Asya Kanzer is part self help manual based on the speeches and words of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. The newly elected president was relatively unknown until Ukraine was invaded by Russian forces in February 2022. The world becomes captivated by the inspiring statement he has made with a simple message, “We are all simple people.” Toted as a spiritual leader for our times by the author Unlocking Your Inner Zelensky seeks to highlight the deep philosophical ramifications and supplies life lessons from the president’s words and life. From his highly criticized background as a comedian as he was elected president, the author offers tips on spreading graciousness and how to lose the “it’s all about me” mentality and erase differences in backgrounds. Is Zelensky a man, a leader to look to for inspiration? 

When I was given the chance to read this book, I only knew about Zelensky from what was highlighted in the media. I was curious about the man and why someone would want to emulate him because while many like him, there are many people who call him a “monster.” Kanzer herself has a small part in Zelensky’s life story as she had acted in one of his movies. She self-described herself as a “spiritual nerd” who followed Zelensky for a long time and her admiration for Zelensky is so evident. A lot of the tips are nothing new or groundbreaking. I feel a book about Zelensky as this point is a bit premature. Overall, Unlocking Your Inner Zelensky is nothing spectacular. I think it is a bit too early to hero worship Zelensky. If you are interested, read Unlocking Your Inner Zelensky: Lessons We Can All Learn From an Unexpected Leader. 

Unlocking Your Inner Zelensky: Lessons We Can All Learn From an Unexpected Leader 

is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Proverbs 31 Woman: not a standard of perfection but a goal for a wisdom filled life

Many critics, and even Christian leaders and pastors, have used the Bible to blame women for everything from sexual sins to a man’s fragile ego. From Delilah to Jezebel, there are unfavorable images of men. However, they tend to forget or ignore that the book of Proverbs begins and ends with glowing portraits of women. By the way, there aren’t many glowing descriptions of men in the book of Proverbs either. Proverbs opens with wisdom personified as a woman and ends with the picture of a wise woman. The Proverbs 31 woman represents the fulfillment of life lived in wisdom. A woman who is praised by her husband and children as a woman who surpasses all others. Proverbs 31:10-31 describes the ideal woman, wife and mother. What makes her ideal? Is it too lofty a goal? What does it mean to be a Proverbs 31 woman today? 

Proverbs 3:13-16 states “Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.” This is an abstract picture of wisdom. Proverbs 31:10-31 brings that picture into a more tangible image. This woman is hard-working, enterprising, capable, strong and wise. She is skilled, generous, and thoughtful. She is dignified, God-fearing, serene and a credit to her husband. She rises early to feed her family. She considers a purchase before buying it. She weaves clothes and linens. She works with eager hands. She helps her community. She is a woman who is never idle and uses her time wisely. It asks the question: Are you making good use of the time given to you? 

Unfortunately, the depiction of the Proverbs 31 woman has been used by preachers and critical husbands to point out where ordinary women fail. But they also fail to recognize what the most important attribute of the Proverbs 31 woman is: her fear of the Lord. Charm and beauty are all in the eye of the beholder and have a short shelf life. However, a fear of the Lord and a great faith in Him is the most important aspect of this woman’s life. Job 28:28 says “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.” A bold, all-consuming love for God is the ultimate goal to keep your eye on and when you do, everything else will fall into place. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom as Proverbs 9:10 says “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” To fear the Lord is to be in reverent awe of His holiness and to give complete reverence and honor as the God of great glory, majesty and power. Fear of the Lord builds wisdom and faith. 

Many people would argue that the image of a Proverbs 31 woman is outdated for today. However, I would argue it is still relevant. She is a woman who looks to the future with plans, goals and hope. She lives purposefully. She is wise and knowledgeable. A Proverbs 31 woman makes herself useful. She has strength. Strong morally, spiritually and physically. She puts the best version of herself forward and she supports her husband. When a husband and a wife support and encourage each other, they both succeed. To strive to be a Proverbs 31 woman isn’t just for married women. Single women can emulate her too. To serve others, give generously, be kind and work hard. You don’t have to be married to do that. Overall, a Proverbs 31 woman is strong, smart and successful. She is also generous, kind and finds joy in serving others, even in the mundane. Some days it may be tiring. Do not be discouraged if some days you don’t feel like it. It’s okay to stop, rest and recharge your batteries. Even Jesus took rest and retreated (Matthew 14:13, Mark 1:35, and Mark 6:31 to name a few). 

In conclusion, the perfect image of the Proverbs 31 woman may sound very discouraging. It is a goal or standard to strive for; however, it is important to remember that the most praiseworthy aspect about this woman is her fear of the Lord. The gift of wisdom is from God to preserve, bless and prolong our life. Give thanks for the benefits of wisdom we already have in our lives. We need to seek God to recognize the difference in the “wisdom” of the world and true wisdom from God. While this image is a goal to strive for, do not be discouraged if there are days you do not feel like you live up to this ideal. There are even days when I do not feel I can strive to this goal. Turn to God, seek Him, and rest. He can provide the energy and strength you need. 

The Queen of Sheba: seeking and testing wisdom

 Imagine the wildest stories you have heard about someone. Did you listen in disbelief and proclaim “no way!”? Or would you be intrigued at the fanciful details? The Queen of Sheba is a pagan queen from a wealthy southern country. She has been described as intelligent and wise as well. When she heard the stories of King Solomon of Israel, she wondered if the stories were real. Could a man so wise really exist? So the queen packs up, loaded with gifts, and heads north to Israel. What does she encounter there? How does she determine if the stories were true? What is the significance to gift giving? How do we gain wisdom as we seek God? 

The land of Sheba is said to have been a fragrant land, famous for its perfumes and spices. Modern day historians believe that Sheba was the South Arabian kingdom of Saba (present day Yemen). As part of the trade route, passing caravans would bring items from lands afar as while as stories. The Queen of Sheba heard the stories of King Solomon, the Israelite king who was the wisest man alive. She also heard about the magnificent temple and place the king had built in Jerusalem. The queen was determined to see for herself if the stories were true. She assembled a caravan of camels loaded with spices, gems and gold and made the trip fifteen hundred miles north. There, day after day, the Queen of Sheba was relentless with her questions, each one harder than the next. But nothing was too difficult for King Solomon. She concluded that the stories about his wisdom were true and presented him with the gifts she brought with her. The Queen of Sheba has risen to folkloric Jewish, Islamic and Christian traditions which suggest a sexually relationship between the queen and Solomon that produced a son: Menelik (Ethiopian Christian), Rehoboam (Islam) or Nebuchadnezzar (Jewish) (Fontaine, 1999). 

Many people think that gift giving is a modern phenomenon fueled by our society’s consumerism with societal pressures to give expensive and extravagant gifts. In reality it is not. Gift giving is as old as civilization. For the Purim feast, Jews are told to give a food gift, to ensure that everyone has a meal for the Purim feast (Esther 9:19). The mishloach manot is meant to unite and bring peace and harmony to an often divisive and fractured community (Herzfeld, no date). Even the Magi brought gifts to the child Jesus in Matthew 2:11. Psychologists have shown that the giver, not the recipient, reaps the psychological gains adding truth to the adage that “it is better to give than receive.” There are many psychological benefits such as a decrease in stress, anxiety and depression as well as physiological ones i.e. decrease in pain and blood pressure (Adams, 2021). And gift giving doesn’t have to be a grand gesture or expensive. It could be as simple as slipping your spouse’s favorite snack in their lunch as a surprise or bringing a co-worker their favorite coffee. It is the thought behind the gift, not the cost, that is important. A small gesture to say, “I was thinking of you,” can have a lasting impact. 

Despite her own wealth, prestige and intelligence, the Queen of Sheba sought the man rumored to have more. She came to test him and he did not disappoint. While scriptures do not give us the questions asked or the answers given, we are told that the queen was overwhelmed by Solomon’s wisdom. Even though she was a pagan queen, she knew that Solomon’s wisdom came from God and praises God for the wisdom he had bestowed on Solomon and made him king (1 Kings 10:9). Life often gives us questions that don’t have easy answers or even satisfying answers. When we seek God and his wisdom, he may provide answers to our questions or he may not. Some questions may be answered when we are with him in heaven and not for us to know now while on earth. However, what he will provide is peace and comfort that he is in control and all we need to do is lean on him. Proverbs 3:5-6 says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

In conclusion, the Queen of Sheba set out to visit the wisest man in the world in order to test him. What she discovered was overwhelming and she proclaimed that God had blessed Solomon with wisdom and it was no wonder he was on the throne of Israel. She gave King Solomon extravagant gifts. Gift giving is an old custom which allows us to honor another as well as provide needs for those who are without. Even the smallest gesture can do so much to boost morale and spirits of the recipient as well as the gift giver themselves. Wisdom isn’t always the grand lessons but the smallest pearl of knowledge that directs us through our days. God is a source of knowledge and wisdom. 

References

Adams, Renee (Mary 28, 2021). 5 Reasons Why Gift Giving is Important. Hoppy Poppie. 

https://hoppypoppie.com/5-reasons-why-gift-giving-is-important/. Retrieved February 15, 2022. 

Fontaine, Carol R (December 31, 1999). Queen of Sheba: Bible. Jewish Women’s Archives. 

https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/queen-of-sheba-bible. Retrieved February 14, 2022. 

Herzfeld, Rabbi Samuel (no date). Why Do Jews Send Mishloach Manot on Purim? My Jewish Learning. https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/purim-gifts/. Retrieved February 15, 2022. 

The Wise Woman of Abel: what is wisdom?

Wisdom is sought by many, but only a few find it and apply it. Many think they are wise but few truly are. Greek poet Sophocles (496-406 BCE) said “Wisdom outweighs any wealth.” And Roman statesman Lucius Annaeus Seneca (5 BCE - 65 CE) stated that no man is wise by chance. The wise woman of Abel is a short story told in 2 Samuel 20:14-22. In a few verses, she is able to avoid innocent bloodshed and destruction of her city. While her faithful city is infiltrated by a rebellious leader, she shows wisdom and courage in the faces of grave danger. She acts quickly and decisively to save the citizens of her city from King David’s besieging army. What were the events that led to the siege of her city? How was she able to use wisdom? What is wisdom? And what does wisdom entail? 

Hostilities were high between the “people of Judah” (David’s tribe of origin in the south) and “the people of Israel” (the ten northern tribes) following David’s suppression of Absalom’s revolt (2 Samuel 19:41-43) (Camp, 1999). The wise woman’s story begins in 2 Samuel 20:14 when Sheba from the tribe of Benjamin attempted to revolt against the king. Joab, the king’s commander, chased him to Abel Beth Maacah in the north. The city was a walled fortified city and served as protection for the surrounding areas. Sheba hides in the city as Joab sets up siege ramps in preparation to take the city. Before he calls for the siege, a woman appears on the wall requesting to speak to the commander. She gives a simple speech in which she reminds the commander that Abel Beth Maacah is a faithful and peaceful city known as the “mother of Israel” (2 Samuel 20:19). Joab demands that Sheba be handed over and he’ll leave the city alone. The woman then states Sheba’s head will be thrown over the wall. She rallies her fellow citizens to act and soon Sheba’s head came over the wall (2 Samuel 20:22). 

Wisdom is often difficult to define because it can encompass so much. Merriam-Webster defines wisdom as “knowledge that is gained by having many experiences in life” or “a good sense or judgment.” Psychologists tend to define wisdom as the integration of knowledge, experience and deep understanding as well as a tolerance of the uncertainties of life with a sense of calm. Three components have been identified that are often found in wise individuals. First, cognitive components. This is where knowledge and experience play a role. Wise individuals often engage in intellectual humility. Intellectual humility is recognizing and owning one’s intellectual limitations while pursuing deeper knowledge, truth and understanding. There is also an open-mindedness component in which wise individuals are usually receptive to a wide variety of ideas, arguments and information. Even if they could eventually reject these ideas, arguments and information, they will, at least, consider it before making their final decision. Second, reflective components. The ability to examine one’s self and situations. Wise individuals have the ability to engage in perspective-taking which involves seeing a situation through the perspective of another. Third, prosocial components. This is where benevolence and compassion are involved. The wise woman of Abel certainty had the citizens of Abel in mind when she found the courage to confront Joab and negotiate a peaceful resolution.

One of my favorite verses on wisdom is Proverbs 3:13-18 which describes the blessings one receives when they find wisdom and gains understanding. How does one find wisdom? Essentially wisdom sees the big picture rather than the small picture directly in front of us. Wise living starts with fearing the Lord. Fear the Lord is not being afraid of Him; but, the deep respect and reverent humility for God’s majesty, recognizing Him as the Creator (Stilley, 2014). Wisdom grows with receiving God’s word. Psalm 19:7 says “The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.” God’s word imparts wisdom to the humble, to those who exercise a childlike submission to Him and follow His commands. We often must ask for wisdom. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” This idea reminds me of the Serenity Prayer. Written by American theologian Reinhold Neibuhr (1892-1971), the simple prayer asks for the wisdom to know between what can be changed and what cannot. 

What made this story special? The men in the story took the stereotypical, macho approach to seek and destroy. Yet one woman sought a peaceful solution to spare the many innocent lives who would have been in harm’s way. Joab only saw his immediate goal: to capture Sheba. The wise woman of Abel saw the bigger picture of many innocent lives lost and a city destroyed just for one man. Wisdom often comes with knowledge and experience. Cato the Elder (234-149 BCE) once said that the wise learn from fools while fools rarely imitate the success of the wise. Wisdom comes from asking for it in prayer and seeking it through God’s word. From my own experience, wisdom comes from always seeking knowledge, to never stop learning because there is always something more to know and discover. Wisdom also takes courage and bravery to stand up against all odds. 

References

Camp, Claudia V. (December 31, 1999). Wise Woman of Abel Beth-Maacah: Bible. Jewish Women’s Archive. https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/wise-woman-of-abel-beth-maacah-bible. Retrieved December 28, 2021. 

Stilley, Lloyd (January 1, 2014). Sermon: The Wisdom of God - Romans 16, 1 Corinthians 1. Lifeway. https://www.lifeway.com/en/articles/sermon-wisdom-god-romans-16-1-corinthians-1. Retrieved December 28, 2021. 

Rebekah: a warning against parental favoritism

This month’s study is on Rebekah. Her story is filled with initiative and strength as well as a warning against parental favoritism. She was hard-working and generous. Her faith was so great that she left her home to marry a man she had never met or seen. Rebekah would be like her mother-in-law, Sarah. Her heart would be divided between faith and doubt. She believed in God’s promise but also believed it involved her intervention. Yet she played favorites between her sons and failed to trust God fully for the promises he had made. She would favor one child over another, and she would deceive her husband to help her favored child. In many ways, Her story is told in Genesis 24, 25:19-34, and 26:1-28:1-9. What was her story? Why was her initiative her greatest strength? How was her parental favoritism a lesson to us all? 

At a well outside the village of Nahor, approximately 500 miles northeast of Canaan, a young woman named Rebekah was fetching water when she was approached by a stranger. She offered him a drink, as it was the custom, but she did something extraordinary. She offered to water the stranger’s 10 camels as well. This stranger was on a mission. He had been sent by his master, Abraham, to find a wife for Abraham’s son, Isaac. He had to look for certain criteria. He knew he had found the one God wanted for Isaac in Rebekah. She quickly agreed to marry Isaac and later would give birth to twin sons, Esau and Jacob. Esau was favored by Isaac and Rebekah favored Jacob. Years later when Isaac was old and blind, Esau was sent hunting to prepare Isaac a meal in exchange for a blessing. Rebekah overheard this exchange and began to devise a way for Jacob to receive the blessing instead. Since Jacob was born at Esau’s heel (Genesis 25:26), she believed that Jacob should have been the firstborn and deserved the blessing. Following his mother’s plot, Jacob disguised himself to trick his father into thinking he was Esau and receive his blessing. When Esau found out, he vowed revenge for his stolen blessing and essentially his birthright as the eldest son. To save Jacob’s life, Rebekah, then persuaded Isaac to send Jacob find a wife among her brother, Laban’s daughters.

Rebekah was an initiator. She got the ball rolling. When she saw an opportunity, she acted even if it was not always right. It was Rebekah’s initiative that caught the attention of the stranger. While it was common courtesy to offer a drink to a stranger, it was an added generosity to offer water to the camels (Genesis 24:19-20). Her story also is evidence of how initiative can be misdirected. She knew that God’s plan would be channeled through Jacob and not Esau as Genesis 25:23 says, “the older will serve the younger.” So, Jacob became her favorite and she planned ways to ensure Jacob overshadowed his brother. Meanwhile, Isaac preferred Esau, perhaps because he was the older son. Whatever the reason, it may have caused conflict between Isaac and Rebekah. She may have felt justified to deceive her husband and allow Jacob to her the greater blessing. Most of the time we try to justify the things we choose to do, like Rebekah felt she was justified to help Jacob in fulfilling God’s plan. We are responsible for our action and must be cautious about our motives. Are we trying to follow God’s plan or follow our own desires into what we think is God’s plan? Initiative and action are admirable and right when they are informed by God’s word and wisdom.

Parental favoritism hurts families. The story of Rebekah, Isaac and their sons is an example of how it can tear apart a family. We see that favoritism again with Jacob as he favors his son, Joseph, over his other sons (Genesis 27:3) and caused tensions between the siblings (Genesis 37:4). Parental favoritism is said to occur in one-to-two-thirds of American families (Shira, 2009). There are several factors that lead to parental favoritism including gender, birth order and personality. Parental favoritism is problematic when there are consistent and arbitrary differences in treatment (Shira, 2009). The long-term effects of parental favoritism are largely negative as unfavored children are more likely to struggle with intimate relationships and depression as well as have a weakened self-esteem. They become people pleasers to get attention and develop a chronic need to feel special. “Perceived favoritism from one's mother still matters to a child's psychological well-being, even if they have been living for years outside the parental home and have started families of their own” according to Karl Pillemer, a Cornell University researcher (Bryner, 2010). Parental favoritism can be avoided, according to Pillemer, by avoiding “obvious remarks about favoritism, or comparing one child to the other in discussions” (Brynner, 2010). Most parents worry about showing favoritism while other parents may use it to gain cooperation or compliance from the unfavored child.

In conclusion, Rebekah was a woman who saw a need and would move into action to fulfil it. While she was generous to a stranger, going above and beyond the common courtesy, her initiative would cause issues in her family as she felt the need to intervene in fulfilling God’s plan. She is also a cautionary tale against parental favoritism. Favoring one son over the other lead to a sibling strife that would last for generations. It also taught Jacob to favor one child over his other children. The lasting effects of parental favoritism can be evident into adulthood. Initiative and action can be a great assent. However, we need to evaluate our motives behind our proposed actions. Are we answer the call of God’s will? Or are we following a more selfish motive? As parents, we need to be aware of any perceived favoritism as it may have lasting effects.

References

Bryner, Jeanna. (June 28, 2010). Mom's Favoritism Stings, Even for Adults. Live Science. https://www.livescience.com/8385-mom-favoritism-stings-adults.html. Retrieved May 13, 2020.

Shira, Ilan. (January 10, 2009). When Parents Play Favorites. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-narcissus-in-all-us/200901/when-parents-play-favorites. Retrieved May 13, 2020

Proverbs: the book of wisdom

Proverbs. The book of wisdom. There are so many wise sayings in this book which cover every aspect of life. From moral behavior to life values to correct conduct. The proverbs are instructions to live a godly and wisdom filled life. Many of them we are very familiar with like “spare the rod, spoil the child” (Proverbs 13:24) and “pride goes before the destruction” (Proverbs 16:18). The Hebrew word for proverbs is mashal which translates as a parable with a moral lesson. The proverbs are often written in couplets and constructed in three ways: contrasting, comparison, and complementary.

First, contrasting proverbs use the keyword “but,” to give meaning and an application between the different statements. For examples, Proverbs 12:4 says “A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.” The word “but” gives distinction to a wife of noble character versus a disgraceful wife. To be noble is to have or show fine personal qualities or high moral principles and ideals. To be virtuous, strong, and diligent is bring honor to her husband. Thus, to be a crown is to be an honor and beautify her husband. The contrast or opposite of a noble wife is a disgraceful wife who essentially poisons his life. She deprives him of his strength, honor and by not being a helpmate, his life. Another example of a contrasting proverb is Proverb 15:28 “The heart of the righteous man weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.” This proverb speaks of the important of thinking about what you want to say before actually saying it. A righteous man will think about the impact of his words while a wicked man would just say them without regard to the damage it may cause.

Second, comparison proverbs express the meaning and application of two similar statements. The keywords to look for here is “as/so” and “better/than.” For example, Proverbs 15:17 states “Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.” Having a meal with meat was a symbol of your wealth and social standing. Here God is saying it is better to eat a simple meal and be surrounded by love than eating a complex meal and be surrounded by not so loving feelings. A meal surrounded by love also sits better in the stomach and digests well. Imagine eating a complex meal surrounded by negative feelings, the body will react and the food doesn’t sit well in the body as it digests. Another example, Proverbs 27:19, “As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.” When I read this proverb, I see it as just like water, a nature’s mirror, reflects, a man’s heart is reflected in his face. So if the heart is loving and caring, you will be able to see it in the face. If the heart is cold and cruel, the face will reflect such a heart.

Third, complementing proverbs is when the meaning and application comes from the way the second statement complements the first. The keyword to look for is “and.” For example, Proverbs 19:20 “Listen to advice and accept instructions, and in the end you will be wise.” This proverb tells us to be willing and open to advice and instruction and the lessons learned will be wisdom for later in life. Even if you don’t follow the advice, being open to listening to advice allows you to hear different aspects and avenues you can take. Of course, when you trust the person giving the advice helps with being open to the advice. Another example, Proverbs 17:27, “A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.” This proverb highlights benefits of keeping quiet. Sometimes it is the best policy to keep quiet when you really don’t have anything to say. Keeping silent allows you to listen and learn. Pausing to listen and learn, before speaking, can lead to something important to say. Pausing before speaking can also help saying words you may regret in the future.

In conclusion, the book of Proverbs is a book filled with wisdom for life. Quick lessons to heed and follow. Once you understand the structure of a particular proverb, you can understand the advice it offers. Remember that contrasting proverbs use the word “but” and contrasts two opposing behaviors. Comparison proverbs use the word combinations of “as/so” and “better/than” and compare two opposing behaviors or situations. And Complementary proverbs use the word “and” and applies two behaviors or situations which are compatible. 

First and Second Kings: lessons from the lives of the kings

First and Second Kings is the story of the kings of Israel and Judah. It is the story of how David’s kingdom was split into two and the actions of the kings which followed him. Some of the kings did right in the eyes of the Lord and others did incredible evil. For the purpose of this post, I will profile three kings: Solomon, the wisest king, Ahab, the evil king and Hezekiah, the reformer king. There many important lessons to learn from the lives of these men. For each king, I will highlight one important lesson. The lesson of how your personal life can invalidate effective leadership. The lesson of how selfishness can lead to great evil. And the lesson of how reforms can be short-lived when plans aren’t made to preserve them for the future.

Everyone is familiar with Solomon. The wise king who discovered a way to determine who the mother was the surviving child was (1 Kings 3:18-28). The wise king who the Queen of Sheba traveled from afar to challenge him (1 Kings 10:1-13). The son of King David and his wife, Bathsheba, Solomon was God’s choice for David’s heir. Despite his wisdom, his effectiveness as a leadership was nullified by his ineffective leadership in his personal life. Solomon had the sense to recognize his need for wisdom; however, by the time he asked for wisdom, he already a habit that would make his wisdom ineffective in his own life. First, he sealed a pact with Egypt by marrying the daughter of the Pharaoh (1 Kings 3:1). Solomon would continue to marry foreign wives despite the Lord’s command not to intermarry with other nations (Exodus 34:16). Solomon would marry 700 women from Egypt, Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidonia, and Hittites. His wives led him astray. As he grew old, his wives were able to turn his heart to other gods. The Lord tells Solomon that since his has not kept His commands, the Lord will tear apart the kingdom (1 Kings 11:11), which occurs after Solomon’s death, the kingdom is split in two: the kingdom of Israel and the kingdom of Judah. Due to Solomon’s lack of leadership in his personal life, it began to effective his leadership in the kingdom. To which the kingdom was split in two and would be at odds for generations. Even leading the people into exile because the wise king didn’t have the commitment to apply his wisdom in his personal life and resist the temptations which led him away from his devotion to the Lord.

King Ahab was ruler over the kingdom of Israel. If there were one word to describe Ahab, I would use selfish. He was so used to getting his way, he would pout and become depressed when he didn’t. The best example of this is when he desired a vineyard and when the owner, Naboth, refused, Ahab “went home, sullen and angry” (1 Kings 21:4). Jezebel, his wife, then sets Naboth, up to be killed leaving his land for the taking (1 Kings 21: 8-16). Sullen and angry would be used to describe Ahab in 1 Kings 20:43 after he fails to defeat the king of Aram. He also blamed the prophet, Elijah, for his troubles rather than his own actions. He surrounded himself with people who encouraged him to do what he wished, regardless of the consequences. He only listened to the prophets when they brought good news and his propensity to listen to the majority leads to his death. Ahab is an example of a childish man who only wanted to hear “yes” when making decisions. He took advice which should have been ignored when weighed against God’s commandments. Selfishness can lead to great evil, either by the person himself or by others in response. The best example of this would be Ahab’s wife, Jezebel. She did great evil in response to her husband’s selfishness. Not only did she set up Naboth to be killed but she also killed thousands of God’s prophets (1 Kings 18:4), when she threatened to kill Elijah after he killed her prophets of Baal and being a general thorn in their side for his prophecies against them (1 Kings 19:2). Jezebel ranks as the evilest woman in the Bible. Ahab is the selfish king who did not consider the consequences of his actions, only his own desires.

King Hezekiah is the reformer king. A king who had a close relationship with God when kings around him and before him did not. He removed anything that could be used as an idol and restored the temple as a place of worship. Passover was celebrated for the first time in generations and a revival swept the kingdom of Judah. After Hezekiah received a letter from Sennacherib, king of Assyria, who tried to discourage his faith that God will protect Jerusalem, Hezekiah does something other kings did not. He prayed. My favorite verse of his prayer is in 2 Kings 19:19, “Now O Lord, our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God.” Hezekiah’s prayer is an example of his faith in God. He was not afraid to approach God with his request for protection and deliverance. However, while he focused on the present problems, he did not take measures to ensure his reforms would be in place for the future. While he removed the images and practices of paganism from the kingdom, he did not think of the future, long after he was gone, for the kingdom to continue on their path with God. Due to his success and prosperity, Hezekiah became proud and failed to credit God’s blessings when envoys of Babylon came to the kingdom (2 Kings 20:12-13). He proudly showed off his wealth and treasures. Isaiah prophesied that the wealth of Judah would be carried off to Babylon and Hezekiah’s descendants would be carried off as well (2 Kings 20:16-18). This prophesy came to pass as Nebuchadnezzar laid waste to Jerusalem and the kingdom of Judah was no more (2 Kings 25). While he restored God as the source of worship in Judah, Hezekiah soon became prideful which led him to ignore plans for the future to ensure that future generations would carry on his reforms.

First and Second Kings is filled with the stories of the good, bad and evil kings of Israel and Judah. King Solomon was known as the wisest king of all but he failed to put his wisdom to practice in his own life. This lack of attention to his personal life caused him to be led away by his pagan wives and caused his kingdom to be split into two. King Ahab was a selfish man who desired what he could not have and in order to please him, his wife did great evil. King Hezekiah failed to provide for the future because he was shortsighted by his present success. To apply the lesson of these three men would be: wisdom needs to be applied to all aspects of life, selfishness can have disastrous consequences and keep future generations in mind while working on the problems of today. 

Love sayings: quotes about love, men, women and marriage

Love Sayings wit and wisdom of romance, courtship and marriage by Bradford G. Whaeler is a collection of quotes covering various topics from love through the ages, to dating to women, men and pets. Throughout the various quotes are beautiful paints and photographs by various artists.

The quotes cover everything from ancient philosophers, like Plato (424/423 BC – 348/347 BC) who said “If women are expected to do the same work as men, we must teach them the same things” and Ovid (43 BC -17 AD) who said “Whether they give or refuse, it delights women just the same to be asked.” Famous quotes by Woody Allen, Zsa Zsa Gabor and other celebrities who bring their own insights to love and marriage. Zsa Zsa Gabor is quoted, “Husbands are like flies. They go out if left unattended.” The some quotes are thought provoking, some are humorous and others are crude and blunt but each gives a unique perspective on the various aspects of love.

Love Sayings is a great book filled with insightful quotes and beautiful pictures. The pictures and paintings are from various artists from all around the world. I’ve featured a few of my favorites with this post. The book also features brief biographies of each artist.  

Love Sayings: wit and wisdom of romance, courtship and marriage

is available on Amazon

for free on the Kindle

and

$24.95 for paperback