Interreligious Reading Group Thread

Ok, we're going to be reading a chapter a week from Sunday.
So from every Wednesday feel free to share your thoughts on the chapter.
What do you like and/or what do you don't like?
Feel free to debate the issues the chapter brings up, but do in a respectful manner.
Remember there is no right or wrong opinion as this is a free interreligious group.

Since there was no objection during the week we'll be reading the story and writings of Solomon first. So that will mean reading 1 Kings 1 first.

I encourage you not to post until Wednesday since it might discourage others who are falling behind on their reading.

 

I think this going to be interesting to read about Solomon since I've never read it myself. I know the basics of the story since I was read to me from children's books when I was a kid, but this will be the first time I've read it for myself. I read 1 Kings 1 yesterday and here's my thoughts:

Reading the first few verses I was reminded of Ecclesiastes 4:11 where it says, "If two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?" I remember once reading that those who sleep alone are more likely to catch colds and having sex and kissing is a great way to prevent colds. Back in King David's and Solomon's days seemed to understand this.

It seems like the people were expecting David to have sex with the young women since were looking for someone who was 'beautiful' but it didn't happen. But this scenario seems to suggest at the end of his life he didn't have a good relationship with his wives. Why couldn't Bathsheba or another wife be the one who looked after him? The interaction between David and Bathsheba seem not that of a loving relationship, he seems to treat her like another subject and she treats him like he's just her king. Maybe it was the culture back then, but to me their relationship seems rather cold. Maybe what we read here is the consequences of having an affair, maybe things would be better if he had resisted the temptation of having sex with her. Maybe a lesson from this chapter could be when temptation knocks on our door we should remember the negative things that could occur if we give in. What do you guys think? What do you think of this chapter?

 

Both David's and Bathsheba's relationship does seem like that of a servant and a king. You could be on to something about it relating to the culture back then. I read the first few lines thinking that David learned from his lesson with Bathsheba and her husband and that he was no longer interested in relationships and put his focus squarely in what God wanted him to do in a possible attempt (IMO) to redeem himself for his past. That was my interpretation of the first few lines.

 

Yes. A good question to ask ourselves when choosing a SO is if there's anything beyond their looks that you like. I would say physical attraction is a good thing in a relationship but there needs to be more than just that.

It reminds me of how David treated Mephibosheth. For all their faults David and Solomon were good at showing mercy. I'm assuming Adonijah never appears in the story again. When I first read it I was wondering if he was planning on attacking Solomon at a later stage, but maybe I read it wrong. I really wanted to read chapter 2 because I don't know what happens next.

 

But that's the conundrum. It's sorta difficult IMO to find a person who is both physically attractive and mentally compatible with you in a relationship. Also I think that Solomon's decision not to kill Adonijah was an indication of the great compassion that I believe made him suitable to be king.

 

What do you mean by mentally compatible?

 

I meant personality wise.

 

I've actually heard of Christians who get married to someone they're not attracted because they believe that God wants them to get married. I actually listen to a sermon once where the Preacher said you should marry the person you fall in love with, you should marry the person God has chosen for you. I think such teaching is nonsense and unwise. I think there needs to be at least some physical attraction.

 

Ok. Well I've met women who look good and have good personalities. But I would say that a good character is more important than a good personality.

 

I agree. There must be some sort of physical attraction.

 

TBH I thought that character and personality were the same thing. Aren't they?

 

No, personality is how a person is and character is who a person is. So being quiet or charismatic is personality and being honest or kind is character.

 

Ok thanks for explaining.

 

Just so everyone knows we're on 1 King 2 this week. Feel free to share your thoughts when you've read it.

 

Really in the Bible's narration there's not much feeling - it's more of a matter of fact in it's telling of what takes place. But yes, this chapter is disturbing imo. There's so much killing here and I don't fully understand the reason for such things taken place - I guess it's people trying to gain power but I don't get it. I may have more of an understanding if I had read 1 & 2 Samuel more recently. In this chapter Solomon seems to be bit like some sort dictator going around seeing that this person and that is killed. Really at times the Old Testament seems like A Games of Thrones to me (except there's not as much sex and no flying dragons). Having said that I think it's important to remember this is an ancient piece of writing, in a different culture, so the way they viewed things was different to how we view things today.

 

1 Kings 3 this week.

I'll share my thoughts tomorrow.