Rev. George Miller
Nov 26, 2025
1 Kings 5:1-5
Last week we saw David have a “Snooze”
moment right before he was anointed King.
After that it was “snooze” no more: he
faces off with Goliath, is the target of Saul’s rage, is in a constant state of
fleeing, fighting, and family drama.
When he dies, his son Solomon, seeker of Wisdom,
is crowned.
Solomon has administrative gifts, makes
sure folks are fed, and citizens feel happy.
His ability to think and speak clearly gains world-wide admiration.
The result- King Solomon and the country are
at rest; there’s no chaos, controversy, threat of war.
Solomon and the people are on “Snooze” and
they’re loving it.
Do you know what happens when someone is on
“snooze,” well fed, safe, and happy?
They relax.
They get to create- Bake bread. Paint in shades
of greens and watercolor. Put together
LEGOs.
When someone is on “snooze” they get to
play- sing songs; dance the salsa; sip wine with the girls or their favorite
gays.
When someone is on “snooze” they become truly
present; getting
to go the parade and see the Mayor handing
candy out to the kids; writing cards to military members;
finally going through that box of photos that’s
been there for years.
When someone is on “Snooze” their synapses
move like God’s breathe over the waters and there is light and life and love.
King Solomon and the well fed, happy nation
in on “Snooze” and THAT’S when he realizes “Now is the
time to build God’s Temple.”
With this relaxed energy of “The Snooze,”
King David can harness his heavenly wisdom.
He reaches out to King Hiram up north, and
says “Hey, I have an idea and an opportunity that will benefit us, and all of
our citizens.”
“I’m going to build my God a Temple, and I
want to use your people and your cedars to do it. They will work with my
people, and I’ll make sure that every year you’ll get a full year’s worth of groceries.”
It's the most brilliant partnership.
King Hiram is located on the Mediterranean
trade route with access to the best trees, artisans, woodworkers, and ship
makers.
King Solomon is located inland with minerals,
political contacts, trade routes, wheat and wine in abundance, and enough livestock
to offer the best BBQ.
Basically, Hiram is the King of the Sea
and Solomon is the King of Land. Their coming
together is such a natural alliance, but it took “The Snooze” for that to happen.
In the process, the Temple is built, over
180,000 jobs are created, resources are shared, people are fed, local
businesses are thriving, and peace continues for 25 years.
When the nation North of you is being fed
and the nation South of has work, it’s hard to be at war.
The power of “The Snooze.” Of being at a time and place of peace. Sabbath.
Everyone can breathe.
Create. Play. Envision. Establish relationships. Bless
others.
Hmmm…sounds like something familiar- a
concept we have discussed; the concept of the Kingdom of Heaven being right
here, right now…on Earth.
It's a concept the Prophets of the Old
Testament fully understood.
Today, our Adult Ed hears a timely presentation
from our guest, J-Mo, speaking on Isaiah 58.
From the slide presentation J-Mo graciously
shared, Elijah spoke of sharing bread, avoiding the chaos of unkind words, not
putting unfair burdens on others.
These acts stem from rest and right living,
resulting in needs met, bodies healthy, being watered like a garden…and
transformed.
Jesus also shows what that peace, that Sacred
Snooze looks like.
Jesus embodies what happens when people
come together in rest and share resources, when folks work together and partnerships
are created.
Jesus, embodying the Call of the
Commandments and the Wisdom of the Prophets, showed that when we stop with the
struggles, stop with the strife, we become part of a “collective effervescence.”[i]
Think of the Wedding Banquet, as Jesus
co-creates wine with Mary, the servants, and the steward.
Think of that heavenly meal on the lush, green
grass, where a generous child shared what they had so Jesus could bless, disciples
could hand out, everyone was satisfied and left-overs gathered.
Think of how Jesus’s ability to rest, be
present, be kind, made space for interaction with a Samaritan at the well, folk
living with disabilities, a woman who did not behave as expected, people from
other places, even giving bread to the one betraying him.
That Snooze, that peace is so essential to
Kingdom Work and establishing heavenly foundations.
Think of St. Lucas, founded by those who
left a land where the King wanted to control God.
When the time was right and things seemed
calm, there was the idea to build a nearby church, creating jobs, wisely using resources,
moving as one.
King Solomon had cedars from Trye sent
down-shore, but when it came time for us
to build a new building, we had limestone from the local quarry brought uphill.
St. Lucas UCC founded on the legacy of
Christ; was able to create, play and collaborate, supporting Caroline Mission,
Deaconess Hospital, Lydia’s House.
From that place of being focused on God’s
heart, we’ve been there for Good Samaritan, Cape Albeon, Emmaus Homes.
Today we have blood drives, provide food
for Lindbergh students, and have a part in feeding malnourished kids in Kenya.
In doing so, we are playing a role in making
Heaven here on earth; and we are fed by the heritage of our ancestors.
King Solomon and the people experienced a
time of restful calm.
They were able to create, play, come
together, build alliances, bless local business, ensure everyone was fed, and
put their focus onto God.
Great things can happen; Heaven happens,
when we embrace God’s wisdom, find ways to create and cultivate, ease the burdens
and enjoy the awe of what God can do.
For that, let us say “Amen.”
[i]
“Collective
Effervescence” is a phrase from the AAA Magazine titled “Awe For All.” According to psychologist Dacher Keitner , there
are 8 different typed of awes. “Collective
Effervescence” is feeling connected to
something larger than yourself within a group, often during large events.
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