SOLOMON’S SCORECARD: FINDING HOME

It was a nice summer day in a small town in Argentina when my wife and I were driving around with hit-and-miss directions to find a specific church.  Our daughter had been married the night before and we had been having great fellowship with other Christians all week. She and her now husband worked in a Christian ministry called Word of Life Bible Institute.  It was a nice facility with very good and decent Christians preaching the gospel of Christ.  

The church we were going to was a humble looking building in a neighborhood with marginally built roads and signs.  

Yet, when we walked in, I was more at home than we had been in that last week even though I was a Protestant for thirty years. 

There is no comparison to the mass in the Catholic Church.  What I will illustrate using again the blueprint of Solomon’s temple and court is how it finds a repetitive “rhyme” through the rest of salvation history in the mass (please survey 1 Kings 1-8).  I will work from all parts of the mass: Introductory Rites, Liturgy of The Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist.  

When Solomon had ended his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt-offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord’s house. When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and worshipped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying,

‘For he is good,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.’

Then the king and all the people offered sacrifice before the Lord. King Solomon offered as a sacrifice twenty-two thousand oxen and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. The priests stood at their posts; the Levites also, with the instruments for music to the Lord that King David had made for giving thanks to the Lord—for his steadfast love endures for ever—whenever David offered praises by their ministry. Opposite them the priests sounded trumpets; and all Israel stood.

Solomon consecrated the middle of the court that was in front of the house of the Lord; for there he offered the burnt-offerings and the fat of the offerings of well-being because the bronze altar Solomon had made could not hold the burnt-offering and the grain-offering and the fat parts.

At that time Solomon held the festival for seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from Lebo-hamath to the Wadi of Egypt. On the eighth day they held a solemn assembly; for they had observed the dedication of the altar for seven days and the festival for seven days. On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away to their homes, joyful and in good spirits because of the goodness that the Lord had shown to David and to Solomon and to his people Israel.

Thus, Solomon finished the house of the Lord and the king’s house; all that Solomon had planned to do in the house of the Lord and in his own house he successfully accomplished (2 Chronicles 7:1-11).

1: God’s favor in his substantive presence. 

At the beginning of the mass the priest says:  

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

and the love of God,

and the communion of the Holy Spirit

be with you all.

At the consecration the priest says:

…that this bread and wine may become the flesh and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Fulfilment:3 

2: Divine worship at the highest level possible in the Psalms with much of it written by either David, some sponsored and contemporaneous entity or someone inspired by the unique themes of his life.  This includes an elevation of beauty in holiness.  

After the first reading of the Old Testament there is always a Psalms responsorial.  The Liturgy of the Eucharist is the highest form of worship to the Father, in the Son, in a divine unity (John 17:21).  

Fulfilment:3 

3:  True reverence.

Per the rubric of the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church.  – – -After the priest has reverently consumed the Body and Blood of Christ the communicants come forward in reverent procession, and make a preparatory act of reverence by bowing their head in honor of Christ’s presence in the Sacrament.

Fulfilment:3 

4: Giving thanks to the Lord for his nearness.  

“Thanks be to God.” The response at the dismissal.  Also, the Eucharist is a term that comes from the Greek for thanksgiving (eucharistia).  

Fulfilment:3 

5: Acknowledging the covenant love of God with the Scripture as a key part of that emphasis. 

In what is considered Ordinary Time in liturgical celebration of the mass here are the readings for the Liturgy of the Word part of the mass.

1. Old Testament
2. Psalms Responsorial (occasionally a passage from another Old Testament reading that works like a Psalm. 
3. New Testament non-Gospel reading.
4. Allelulia with content that is usually like a sneak preview of the upcoming Gospel
5. Gospel reading.  Year A is Matthew, Year B is Mark with more significant portions of John, Year C is Luke.  John is mixed in to a lesser extent in Matthew and Luke.  
6. The homily by a priest or deacon reflecting on the readings.  

Most importantly the Eucharist is a sacrifice in the New Covenant coming from the perpetual and unique sacrifice on Calvary.  

Fulfilment:3 

6: Consecrated leadership.

Validly ordained bishops, priests and deacons are tied tangibly through the laying on of hands in what is called Holy Orders. This can be traced back all the way to Jesus Christ. 

Fulfilment:3 

7: Complimentary and ordered response by the laity. 

Throughout the mass there is singing, bowing, offering, confessing (maxima culpa) and saying to the priest “and with your spirit”.  All Christians the “chosen priesthood” as Peter wrote in his first papal encyclical (1 Peter 2:8-9).  

Fulfilment:3

8: Balance of fasting and feasting.

Throughout the year.  We have Lent Season.  Advent Season coming up to Christmas has traditionally been like a micro-Lent.  There are numerous feast days.  

Fulfilment:3 

9: The king and the assembly accomplish what they were supposed to do.  

Christ is present in the Eucharist.  When matter, form and delegated authority are properly exercised as Christ instituted in the Upper Room a valid and licit mass occurs. Yes, a priest can celebrate mass alone, but that is definitely not the norm.  100% times of all masses Christ is present as an objective reality.  

Fulfilment:3 

The next points are especially for the beginning year or so for Solomon. In viewing these details properly through Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition we can see how they are unveiled in a new way in the Christian context by further examination.    

10: A prominent factor of the queen mother and her intercession.  “So Bathsheba went to King Solomon….The king rose to meet her, and bowed down to her….and had a throne brought for the king’s mother, and she sat on his right” (1 Kings 2:19).  

I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,

all the Angels and Saints,

and you, my brothers and sisters,

to pray for me to the Lord our God.

Fulfilment:3 

11: Someone was placed to be in charge second to the king.  This is comparable to a president’s chief of staff or Vice-President.  An example of this for Solomon is Ahizar. He was Chief of the Household/ Prime Minister (1 Kings 4:6).  He is a servant to “the Lord’s Anointed”.  This office was occupied several times going forward in the Davidic dynasty.  

Be pleased to grant her peace,

to guard, unite and govern her

throughout the whole world,

together with your servant N. our Pope

and N. our Bishop,

and all those who, holding to the truth,

hand on the catholic and apostolic faith.

Fulfilment:3 

12: Prominence of a priest and prophet in partnership with the installing of the anointed king.  “They made David’s son Solomon king a second time; they anointed him as the Lord’s prince, and Zadok as priest” (1 Chronicles 29:22b).  Also 1 Kings 1:8. Before Solomon we see Samuel who was both a priest and a prophet who anointed Saul and David personally.  

Christ is honored as priest with the clerical priest acting en persona Cristi with priests as extensions of Christ’s reign.  “How many true priests are there in the world? One.  Jesus” (Fr. Mike Schmitz “Praying The Mass Like Never Before” https://youtu.be/YpUp6zSGCb4).   

Fulfilment:3 

13: Emphasis of the Ark of The Covenant (2 Chronicles 5:2-10) in the carrying of God’s word and the Holy Spirit coming upon it in a powerful way.   

The tabernacle holds the Eucharist in it.  Whenever the Eucharist is inside it there is a candle lit because there especially God is with us. And until the Eucharist dissolves in the body, Christians receiving the Christ this way are tabernacles as well. 

Fulfilment:3 

14: In the prayer of dedication access to the nations outside of Israel are affirmed.  

1 Kings 8:41-43

In a way this can be seen in the gathering itself.  “Catholic” has a figurative meaning of universal.  Worldwide, the Catholic Church by and large is very inclusive.  It has 23 “particular churches” in it with the Latin Rite of Roman tradition being only one.  The others have what they call Divine Liturgy with default languages being Arabic, Aramaic, Chaldean, many Slavic languages, and some India-based ones called St. Thomas Christians.  This is not taking into account the hundreds of languages used under the Latin Rite.  

Fulfilment:3 

In taking a step back, the first many years of Solomon had several distinctives that could be broadly seen in the following:  

15: Divine wisdom either directly through Solomon or someone very much tied to his theological and anthropological standard.  We see this in several books of the Old Testament like Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.  This is an elevation of truth both in theology and godly understanding of anthropology especially through the family.  This is an elevation of truth.  This does not relay on the ongoing personal holiness of Solomon or others involved.

From the Early Church Fathers to the Scholastic Fathers like Aquinas to many mystics who taught intuitively about prayer there have been many philosophical and scientific developments in the Catholic Church (The Scientific Method, Louis Pasteur, Fr. George Lametre.

Fulfilment:3 

16: A blessing on the “son of David”. 

This is the only time in this whole examination of the mass that I would score anything less than 3.  I would say 2 for bordering on explicit due to how when these words were used in the gospels it is right next to the words “Hosanna to the Son of David”.  

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

Fulfilment:2 

I have written much about how Christians share in the royal, prophetic and priestly roles but that is not all.  In the mass, the gathering of Christians are in the most sacred way that can be done together as the Bride of Christ.  In some cathedrals the altar has a canopy over it reminiscent of that which is over an antique bed for a married couple.  

A holy consummation comes in the convection of the Eucharist. Christ is the Bridegroom and we are the Bride.  

SOLOMON’S SCORECARD: ACTS

It is hard to follow a great act like whoever followed The Beatles in their Ed Sullivan show debut in America.  

It would seem likewise for the early Church.  After all, Christ was the ultimate “hard act to follow”.  

But Jesus laid out a plan so The Church would be and do greater in the sum of its parts by the Holy Spirit. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father (John 14:12).

We can examine the early days of the Church per the book of Acts in light of Solomon’s temple and court.  Using again the blueprint of Solomon dedication of his temple and royal court (2 Chronicles 7:1-11, 1 Kings 1-5), we can see God “rhyming” through the work of the Holy Spirit. I will score as 1 is implied, 2 implicit/explicit, 3 is explicit. 

1: God’s favor in his substantive presence.  

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:1-4).

And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31).

Fulfilment:3 

2: Divine worship at the highest level possible in the Psalms had much written by either David, some sponsored and contemporaneous entity or someone inspired by the unique themes of his life.  This includes an elevation of beauty in holiness.  

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” (Acts 13:2).

But this I admit to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the law or written in the prophets (Acts 24:14).

Fulfilment:3 

3:  True reverence.

Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” …. So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls (Acts 2:37,41).

Fulfilment:3 

4: Giving thanks to the Lord for his nearness.  

“Breaking bread” was a euphemism of communion (Acts 2:42).  The Eucharist is “thanksgiving”. 

“After he had said this, he took bread; and giving thanks to God in the presence of all, he broke it and began to eat” (Acts 27:35).

Fulfilment:3 

5: Acknowledging the covenant love of God with the Scripture as a key part of that emphasis. 

Peter’s sermon in Acts 2.  Several other sermons in Acts.  

Fulfilment:3 

6: Consecrated leadership.

Luke 1 mentioned Zechariah serving in the temple one week due to drawing a lot (Luke 1:9).  Luke wrote Acts in the beginning of his second book that Matthias replaced Judas as an apostle. There was a priestly context since they too used lots (Acts 1:23-26).

Fulfilment:3 

7: Complimentary and ordered response by the laity. 

Throughout Acts.  

Fulfilment:3 

8: Balance of fasting and feasting.

Fasting- – -Acts 13:2-3, 14:23.  Feasting- – -Acts 2:46.  

Fulfilment:3 

9: The king and the assembly accomplish what they were supposed to do.  

Throughout Acts. 

Fulfilment:3 

The next points are especially for the beginning year or so for Solomon. In viewing these details properly through Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition we can see how they are unveiled in a new way in the Christian context.    

10: A prominent factor of the queen mother and her intercession.  “So Bathsheba went to King Solomon….The king rose to meet her, and bowed down to her….and had a throne brought for the king’s mother, and she sat on his right” (2:19).  

^“All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren” (Acts 1:14). 

This was shortly before the Holy Spirit descended for the public birth of The Church. The mother of the ultimate Son of David joined her intercession in unity with Christ and the Church.  

Fulfilment:2 

11: Someone was placed to be in charge second to the king.  This is comparable to a president’s chief of staff or Vice-President.  An example of this for Solomon is Ahizar. He was Chief of the Household/ Prime Minister (1 Kings 4:6).  This office was occupied several times going forward in the Davidic dynasty. See especially the “key” mentioned in Isaiah 22:25-35.   

The one time where Peter seemed to share footing with James in Jerusalem he defined and declared something and James provided next step administrative guidance (Acts 15).

There are other important details to consider in Peter’s conciliar statement.  There was significant debate on salvation at the Council of Jerusalem with Paul and Barnabas not succeeding in resolving it (Acts 15:2-5). They were at an impasse with the literal pharisaic Christians.  Who could break it?

And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. …..And all the assembly kept silence; and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles (Acts 15:7-8, 12).

Why was there no silence before instead of dissension?  Why listen to Barnabas and Paul now?  Because Peter the prime minister of the king had only then spoken.  

Fulfilment:3 

12: Prominence of a priest and prophet in partnership with the installing of the anointed king.  “They made David’s son Solomon king a second time; they anointed him as the Lord’s prince, and Zadok as priest” (1 Chronicles 29:22b).  Also 1 Kings 1:8. Before Solomon we see Samuel who was both a priest and a prophet who anointed Saul and David personally.  

By virtue of the work of Christ and power of the Holy Spirit all of the new Christians that day became priests, prophets and royalty (1 Peter 2:8-9).  This work was also passed by chrismation by the apostles and those who had priestly faculties.  To receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament was a sign one is anointed king.  In the New Covenant “there is neither male nor female” (Galatians 3:28) so men and woman could know royalty in Christ as described below (Philip the evangelist was a deacon in Samaria and only able to do other things).  

Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as yet the Spirit had not comeupon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-17).

Fulfilment:3 

13: Emphasis of the Ark of The Covenant (2 Chronicles 5:2-10) in the carrying of God’s word and the Holy Spirit coming upon it in a powerful way.   

Mary also served in a unique role in salvation history as being the Ark of the Covenant.  She carried the God- Man while the other Ark of the Covenant carried God’s presence in a less personal way.  

^“All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren” (Acts 1:14). 

This was shortly before the Holy Spirit would descend from heaven for the public birth of The Church. She bore witness in a unique way. 

Fulfilment:3 

14: In the prayer of dedication of the temple access to the nations outside of Israel are affirmed.  

‘Likewise when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a distant land because of your name—for they shall hear of your great name, your mighty hand, and your outstretched arm—when a foreigner comes and prays towards this house, then hear in heaven your dwelling-place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and so that they may know that your name has been invoked on this house that I have built (1 Kings 8:41-43).

In taking a step back, the first many years of Solomon had several distinctives that could be broadly seen. 

While Peter was still saying this [sharing the gospel and his vision], the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.  For they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can anyone forbid water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days (Acts 10:44-48).

Fulfilment:3 

15: Divine wisdom either directly through Solomon or someone very much tied to his theological and anthropological standard.  We see this in several books of the Old Testament like Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.  This was an elevation of truth both in theology and godly understanding of anthropology especially through the family. This does not rely on the ongoing personal holiness of Solomon or others involved.

They declare God’s wisdom.  See Acts 17 when Paul conversed with philosophers on the truth of the resurrection.  One convert was Dionysius the Areopagite (another word for elite philosopher) who we know from Church history later became a bishop.  

Fulfilment:3 

16: A blessing on the “son of David”.

“Brethren, I may say to you confidently of the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne, he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you see and hear (Acts 2:29-33).

Fulfilment: 3

SOLOMON’S SCORECARD: NATIVITY NARRATIVES

“History does not repeat.  But it does rhyme”.  This great proverb is worth considering if one looks at certain kinds of phenomena including the spiritual kind that occurs systematically.

With that in mind I propose a thought experiment with a score card.  Imagine that King Solomon were taken in a time machine from about 1000 BC to the year 0.  He learns Aramaic and is told that “something greater than Solomon is here” (Matthew 12:42).  The catch is that if he is looking for this fully realized “son of David” that it may not appear at first like his own experience of royal court and holy temple but is valid. I would tell him to look for certain things that may not have a flashiness but have related meaning to points of his temple dedication (2 Chronicles 7:1-11) and general reign.  

Next consider a hypothetical scorecard:

Explicit fulfillment- – 3

Bordering on explicit fulfillment- – – 2

Implicit fulfillment- – 1

Not any apparent fulfillment at all- – 0.  

Dear reader, I am aware that I will “play” Solomon on the scorecard and am are that I am not infallible.  I ask that you keep an open mind as I draw some connections and over time suggest the appropriate ramifications on what it means to the Christian believer of today.   

1: God’s favor in his substantive presence- – 

‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
    and they shall name him Emmanuel’ which means ‘God with us’ (Matthew 1:23)

^“And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28).

The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. (Luke 1:35).

This last verse is important.  Episkiazō is a word that was used in Exodus 40:35 for the cloud of God’s glory overshadowing the Ark of the Covenant.  It was in the time of Moses with the Ark.  The Ark is strangely described in this context in the life of David nearly repeated verbatim by Mary’s cousin Elizabeth.  

Consider the words of Solomon’s father David who said about the Ark of The Covenant which carried Gods presence. “And why is this granted me, that the ark of the Lord would come into my care” (2 Samuel 6:9)? Note that Elizabeth resided in the hill country of Judea and Mary resided with her there for three months.  Note also that David had the Ark reside in the house of Obed-Edom, who lived in the same area, for three months.  Elizabeth stated, “And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me” (Luke 1:43)?  

Fulfillment- – 3

2: Divine worship at the highest level possible in the Psalms with much of it written by either David, a contemporaneous entity or someone inspired by the unique themes of his life.  This includes an elevation of beauty in holiness.  

Mary’ Fiat in Luke at the Annunciation 1:46-55

Zechariah’s Prophecy 1:68-79

Simeon’s Prophecy in The Temple 2:28-32

Anna’s Exhortation Luke 2: 36-38

                                                                        Fulfillment- – -3

3:  True reverence.  “

Mary stated, “May it be done unto me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).

Anna’s consecrated life in the temple worshipping and serving day and night for decades before seeing baby Jesus (Luke 2:37).

                                                            Fulfillment- – -3

4: Giving thanks to the Lord for his nearness.  

‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace among those whom he favors (Luke 2:14)!

Fulfillment- – -2

5: Acknowledging the covenant of love of God with the Scripture as a key part of that emphasis. 

The genealogies (Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38) Matthew’s content had repeated references to 14 with works like Roman numeral but in Aramaic spelling “David”.  

Content of Mary’s Fiat as well as commentaries for Zechariah, Anna, Simeon, Elizabeth

Fulfillment- – 3.

6: Consecrated leadership (Zechariah was a priest) Though not a leader, Anna lived a consecrated life most of her adulthood. And John the Baptist was consecrated in the womb when he was filled with the Holy Spirit.  – – – Fulfilment 3

7: Complimentary and ordered response by the laity Simeon and Anna (Luke 2:28-38), The Shepherds, The Magi.  – – Fulfilment 3

8: Balance of fasting and feasting.  Various hardships and blessings. Fulfilment 2. 

9: The king and the assembly accomplish what they were supposed to do.  Fulfilment 1.  

10: A prominent factor of the queen mother and her intercession.  “So Bathsheba went to King Solomon….The king rose to meet her, and bowed down to her….and had a throne brought for the king’s mother, and she sat on his right” (2:19).  Adonijah was a brother of Solomon who asked for her intercession.

Gabriel addressed Mary with “Hail” first which was typically used with royalty (Luke 1:28).  

“And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me” (Luke 1:43)?

Fulfilment:2.

11: Someone was placed to be in charge second to the king.  This is comparable to a president’s chief of staff or Vice-President.  An example of this for Solomon is Ahizar. He was Chief of the Household/ Prime Minister (1 Kings 4:6).  He is a servant to “the Lord’s Anointed”.  This office was occupied several times going forward in the Davidic dynasty.  

Fulfilment:0 (but stay tuned for future blogs).

12: Prominence of a priest and prophet in partnership with the installing of the anointed king.  “They made David’s son Solomon king a second time; they anointed him as the Lord’s prince, and Zadok as priest” (1 Chronicles 29:22b).  Also 1 Kings 1:8. Before Solomon we see Samuel who was both a priest and a prophet who anointed Saul and David personally.  

The roles of Zechariah in Luke 1(priest) Luke 1:5-22, 57-79; Simeon and Anna (prophets) Luke 2: 25-38

Fulfillment: 3.

13: In the prayer of dedication access to the nations outside of Israel are affirmed.  

‘Likewise when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a distant land because of your name—for they shall hear of your great name, your mighty hand, and your outstretched arm—when a foreigner comes and prays towards this house, then hear in heaven your dwelling-place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and so that they may know that your name has been invoked on this house that I have built (1 Kings 8:41-43).

The visit of the Magi. (Matthew 2:1-12).

Simon said “I have seen his salvation.  The light of the Gentiles…” (Luke 2:32). 

Fulfillment: 3.  

In taking a step back, the first many years of Solomon had several distinctives that could be broadly seen in the following:  

14: Divine wisdom either directly through Solomon or someone very much tied to his theological and anthropological standard.  We see this in several books of the Old Testament like Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.  This is an elevation of truth both in theology and godly understanding of anthropology especially through the family.  This is an elevation of truth.  This does not relay on the ongoing personal holiness of Solomon or others involved.

The nature of the Virgin birth, Joseph’s desire not to harm Mary, Jesus growing in submission to both “in wisdom” (Luke 2:52).

Fulfillment: 2.

15: A blessing on the “son of David” for Solomon. Joseph then Jesus referred to that way.  Fulfillment: 3.

Overall Score: 36.  80%.  

Conclusion: Salvation history does indeed rhyme.  And it teaches when it rhymes.  This is only the first New Testament narratives examined with The Solomon Scorecard. 

Party of Many

CHAPTER FOUR

Not all gatherings are divine.  Some are get-togethers of people who have only goals that are shallow and of this earth.  Some people in religious contexts gather seeking The Deity or Higher Power as they understand and are truly open form something deeper.  Yet some gatherings are mixed in intent. But traditional, mystical Christianity proposes believers gather in God’s presence to encounter God in intimacy and grace.

We see intimacy and grace in the Christmas story when God makes a meeting of species. The angel Gabriel came to human Mary passing on a divine proposal. But later there is another divine gathering but of two humans with a resolutely divine purpose when Mary came to her relative Elizabeth.  Mary carries Jesus and Elizabeth carries likewise in her womb John the Baptis who would prepare the way for Jesus.

This group of seen and unseen shine as a gathering is one called out due to directions from above. The meaning in the Greek is ecclesia.  Ecclessia is where we get church or iglesia in Spanish.  To an observer with the carnal eye it is a meeting of two women who may have lumps in their bellies.  To a divine observer there was more than two by far, as we will see, with women of great significance to salvation history. The divine can indeed be manifest among the humble.  So Mary came to her because there was a call above her to show this.  In their respective callings they created environments in their obedience of right praise by the merits of Christ present in the flesh and the Holy Spirit being poured out on flesh.   

“During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah,  where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.  When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,  cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.  And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled” (Luke 1:39-45).

traveled to the hill country….. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord[n] should come to me?—–  These lines show this great fellowship to be a case of the “Old is revealed in The New” (Augustine of Hippo).  These details have been pointed out by Scott Hahn in Hail, Holy Queen and Tim Staples in Behold Your Mother as closely related to an Old Testament story.  When the Ark of The Covenant went to the hill country of Obed-Edom and then to King David he said closely parallel wording to that of Elizabeth. What we see here is a special recognition of the presence of God in a place that is out of the way but yet appointed. Mary would be the new Ark of the Covenant.  Mary serving as a handmaid of the Lord stands as one who bridges the Old Testament to the New Testament.  And for Christians there is an opportunity in humility to engage in right praise as vessels unto God. 

and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit,  cried out in a loud voice—— In this line is a layer of worship in spirit and truth (John 4) that speaks of a new Ark of The Covenant and its proper devotion.  The Old Testament was written in Hebrew and translated into Greek.  The New Testament was generally written in Greek including Luke. In the Old Testament the term “cried out” is used many times but there was one word for it that was used only when the Ark of the Covenant, an object that was sanctified and filled by the presence of God, was used.  This word was used seven times in the Old Testament and used only once in the New—-right here.  True this conversation was originally in Aramaic but Luke has a way with words in translation for a theological purpose.  As to our devotional purpose we can see the presence of Jesus as both divine and inherently a worship event. But notice what is crucial here: Elizabeth cried out in praise because she was filled with the Holy Spirit. 

filled with the Holy Spirit,…. the infant in my womb leaped for joy—- This confirms even more for us that this gathering, or church, on this front yard in Judea is bigger than two.  We know from other scriptures that the Holy Spirit is a person.  That makes three.  We know the Holy Spirit fills people and not things so John makes four.  And if John is a person in the womb then so is Jesus so that makes a party of five.  We can apply right there that in a valid church gathering there should be an openness to life in all its forms and the filling of the Holy Spirit.  We see this repeated by Luke in his sequel, Acts, in how the early established church had that experience. It is fitting that Mary was one of that party of 120 on the day of Pentecost.  She knew the difference surely between goosebumps and the Holy Spirit. 

Blessed are you who believed—– This is the last but not least mark of true church we can get and if we are not careful we will miss it.  Mary is not to be understood as a model of faith because she was a bullseye target for the Holy Spirit to conceive Jesus and be an incidental vessel.  She is known in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition to be one who believed because she cooperated in her faith and works with God’s will.  This shows the mark of a true church to be obedient to God’s will in pursuit of holiness. The theme we get so much in the Bible is that, “believe,” is a pregnant word that assumes a corresponding action to what God asks.. 

If ones experience of God’s kingdom begins and ends with sitting in complacency  and prioritizing personal happiness then it is not God’s kingdom but a kingdom of self. In this passage we see that the Holy Spirit indwells by how we infuse grace and a resolved manner of obedience.  Today we can ask, are we caught up with the gatherings and mentalities of the world in our religious communities that hinder us from those what is divine?

Most blessed are you among women—  When we are blessed it is to be a blessing and of the type that counters the evil of the world quite assertively.  If we get out into a truly blessed mindset, we can be a light in the world that casts out darkness.  This term is also used in the Old Testament for women that nail or cut off the head of the enemy literally (Jael, Judith).  If you are in sync on the details above, how does one not take the fight to the enemy with spiritual weapons?  We do that by continually relying on God’s grace and applying such grace in simplicity.  Mary in her yes, with humility, shows a submission to God that changes the world. 

Years later Paul saw it this way saying, “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal” (2 Corinthians 10:4).Paul goes further in the implication for how Christians engage in warfare in basic principles. Later he wrote, “For while your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, I want you to be wise as to what is good, and simple as to what is evil; then the God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you” (Romans 16:19-20).

The Simple Party of Five

Not all gatherings are divine.  Some are get-togethers of people who have only goals that are shallow and of this earth.  Some people gather seeking The Deity as they understand and are truly open to what will happen.  Some gatherings are mixed in intent. Maybe wanting God but on very tight terms. But true openness to gather in God’s presence is always an encounter with God in intimacy and grace.

A factor we can see in a true gathering in God is in the meeting of species like when the angel Gabriel came to human Mary passing on a divine proposal. Case in point of two humans with a resolutely divine purpose is Mary coming to her relative Elizabeth.  Mary carries Jesus and Elizabeth carries John who would prepare the way for Jesus. In this gathering is a calling and a called out gathering in the Greek is ecclesia.  Ecclessia is where we get church or iglesia in Spanish.  To an observer with the carnal eye it is a meeting of two women who may have lumps in their bellies.  To a divine observer there was more than two by far, as we will see, with women of great significance to salvation history.

“During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah,  where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.  When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit,  cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.  And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled” (Luke 1:39-45).

traveled to the hill country….. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord[n] should come to me?—–  These lines show this great fellowship to be a case of the “Old is revealed in The New” (Augustine of Hippo).  These details have been pointed out by Scott Hahn in Hail, Holy Queen and Tim Staples in Behold Your Mother as closely related to when the Ark of The Covenant went to the hill country of Obed-Edom and then to King David who said parallel wording to that of Elizabeth. What we see here is a special recognition of the presence of God in a place that is out of the way but yet appointed.

and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit,  cried out in a loud voice—— In this line is a layer of worship in spirit and truth (John 4) that speaks of a new Ark of The Covenant and its proper devotion.  The Old Testament was written in Hebrew and translated into Greek.  The New Testament was generally written in Greek including Luke. In the Old Testament the term “cried out” is used many times but there was one word for it that was used only when the Ark of the Covenant, an object that was sanctified by the presence of God, was used.  This word was used seven times in the Old Testament and used only once in the New—-right here.  True this conversation was originally in Aramaic but Luke has a way with words in translation for a theological purpose.  As to our devotional purpose we can see the presence of Jesus as both divine and inherently a worship event whether quiet or not.

filled with the Holy Spirit,…. the infant in my womb leaped for joy—- This shows us that this church on this front yard in Judea is bigger than two.  We know from other scriptures that the Holy Spirit is a person.  That makes three.  We know the Holy Spirit fills people and not things so John makes four.  And if John is a person in the womb then so is Jesus so that makes a party of five.  We can apply right there that in a valid church gathering there should be an openness to life in all its forms and the filling of the Holy Spirit.  We see this repeated by Luke in his sequel, Acts, in how the early established church had that experience.

Blessed are you who believed—– This is the last but not least mark of true church we can get and if we blink we will miss it.  Mary is not to be understood as a model of faith because she was a bullseye target for the Holy Spirit to conceive Jesus and be an incidental vessel.  She is known in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition to be one who cooperated her faith and works with God’s will.  This shows the mark of a true church to be obedient to God’s will in pursuit of holiness. The theme we get so much in the bible is that believe is a pregnant word that assumes a corresponding action to what God asks.

If ones experience of God’s kingdom begins and ends with personal happiness then it is not God’s kingdom but a kingdom of self. In this passage we see that the Holy Spirit indwells, all are counted with a culture of life and we come with resolved manner of obedience.  I frequently ask “What’s stopping us?”  Today I ask, are you caught up with the gatherings and mentalities of the world that would prevent you from those that are divine?

Most blessed are you among women—  If we get out into a higher mindset, we can be a light in the world that casts out darkness.  This term is also used in the Old Testament for women that nail or cut off the head of the enemy literally (Jael, Judith).  If you are in sync on the details above, how does one not take the fight to the enemy with spiritual weapons?  We do that by continually relying on God’s grace and applying such grace in simplicity. 

Years later Paul saw it this way saying, “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal” (2 Corinthians 10:4).Paul goes further in the implication for how Christians engage in warfare in basic principles.

“For while your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, I want you to be wise as to what is good, and simple as to what is evil; then the God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you” (Romans 16:19-20).