The Lord Loved Him

I was recently struck by how many times we read in the Bible "The Lord loved him". Maybe this does not strike you as earth shattering, but I am sure it mattered greatly to the one whom the Lord loved. The Lord loved him. Powerful, enduring words that affected a man's life.

"she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon:

and the LORD loved him."

"And Solomon loved the LORD,"

2 Samuel 12:24, 1 Kings 3:3

I was thinking of this, wondering Why? Why did the Lord love Solomon. David and Bathsheba had a baby, and they named him Solomon (meaning "peace".) Then with no further explanation, God records for us that he loved Solomon -- even when Solomon was a tiny baby. In the next verse, we even read that the Lord sent word by way of Nathan the Prophet that he (the Lord) had named the baby Jedidiah (meaning "beloved of Jehovah".)

Why did the Lord love this little baby? Would Solomon grow up to please the Lord in all things? Was Solomon of a pure heritage? No, we know neither of these reasons to be the case. David and Bathsheba's story is one of sad betrayal and murder. Solomon's story started and ended well (see Ecclesiastes), but the middle was not well. (1 Kings 11).

No, however way I turned this over, I had to admit: The Lord loved him. Period. No explanation, no reason why, simply a pure truth. The Lord loved him.

I couldn't help but think how we complicate matters of love. Needing to know Why when someone tells us they love us, needing to know when they first loved us, needing to know again and again that they still love us. Maybe it should be enough that we are loved?

I am glad God doesn't give us long explanations or many little reasons. I am glad God loves us. Purely and Simply Loved.

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying,

Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love:

therefore with lovingkindness

have I drawn thee. Jer 31:3