THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH GOOD MEN...BECOME ONE
The Sons of Solomon is an ecumenical prayer habitus of catholic Christian men worldwide who
1. Pray the Psalms
2. Ponder the Proverbs
3. Carry a bible and crucifix
Read the Psalms of the Diaspora each day
| Morning | Mid-day | Vespers | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| 123, 125, 127 | 124, 129 | 126, 128 | 130, 131 |
Why these psalms?
- All the psalms are God's divine proximity. He wrote them for you to pray and to know that in Jesus the answer will always be “Yes”.
- These are the prayers of pilgrims journeying home to the city of God. Pray them every day for a year and you will see the impact of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in your life, church, and community
Jesus is LORD
The name of God is usually translated as LORD (all capital letters) in the Old Testament. This maintains a tradition present in the Septuagint, the Greek version of the Old Testament from which the New Testament authors regularly quote. Therefore, when you find this name in the Psalms, Proverbs, and throughout the Old Testament, remember whose name it is...
“and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is LORD to the glory of God the Father” Philippians 2:11
“that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is LORD and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved” Romans 10:9
“No one can say that ‘Jesus is LORD’ except by the Holy Spirit” 1 Corinthians 12:3b
Do not be afraid to confess the name of Jesus as the LORD of the Old Testament.
Those who trust in Jesus Christ are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. Psalm 125: 1
He is your God.
He is your Lord.
“Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either. He who acknowledges the Son has the Father also” 1 John 2:23
Ponder a Proverb Daily
God wrote a book about wisdom. It says those who read it will be wise. Those who would rather listen to folly, not so much...
How could I start?
Starting in Chapter 10, read one verse a day:
- Translate the proverb into your own words.
- Carry that thought with you on a piece of paper for a day.
- Pray that you might use the thought in a conversation.
- Leave the note alone for a week, then read it again and repeat the process.
Whether you consider a chapter, a verse, or a single Hebrew word...get Wisdom
STRUCTURE OF PROVERBS
BOOK 1: GET WISDOM
Proverbs 1– 9
Solomon’s key words and concepts
BOOK 2: THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON
Proverbs 10-24
“So that your trust may be in Jesus Christ”
BOOK 3: THE BOOK OF HEZEKIAH
Proverbs 25-29
Proverbs of Solomon that Hezekiah’s men copied
BOOK 4: RIDDLES OF AGUR
Proverbs 30
“What is His Son’s name, if you know?”
BOOK 5: A VIRTUOUS WIFE
Proverbs 31
“Her worth is far above rubies”
Carry a bible and crucifix with you
Let the image of the Perfect Man be your spiritual focus.
It may make you uncomfortable.
You may suffer abuse from an enemy;
You may have to explain it to a friend;
You may meet a fellow Christian when a stranger encourages you.
This discipline doesn’t help us escape the troubles of this dying world, but reminds us of our life in Jesus Christ so we can boldly run our race in faith.
Do I have to do this all the time, even at work?
No. We absolutely reject legalism.
“You are no longer under law, but under grace” Romans 6:14
This discipline is for your benefit, even as healthy eating and regular exercise benefit your body now.
Pray for wisdom and prudence, then do what is beneficial for your immortal soul.
Additional Discipline
Psalm 119
Read 8 verses of Psalm 119, 3-7 times a day.
- Psalm 119 contains the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, each letter having 8 verses.
- Meditate on a new letter each day, cycling through the psalm.
- Since you carry your bible with you, this can conveniently be done anywhere...stoplights, coffee breaks, queues of any kind, or with your other SoS psalms.
Red-Letter Reader
Meditate on one verse of Jesus' words daily
- Receive the mind of Christ, as you speak aloud and meditate on the very words our savior spoke while ministering on this earth.
Principles
Sons of Solomon:
- Confess the Three Ecumenical Creeds
- Pray the prayers God gave us to pray
- Seek together the wisdom that is from above
It is neither doctrinal fellowship nor a communion.
It is a discipline.
THE PATRIARCH PRINCIPLE
ALL AUTHORITY EXISTS AS GIVEN:
FROM ABOVE
↓
TO BELOW
↓
FOR THE SAKE OF
THOSE FURTHER BELOW STILL.
The Patriarch is the head, the father, the king. He stands up to lead and leads as long as required of him. He does not rule with an iron fist but according to the godly example of kingship set forth by his LORD and King. His task is to lead and govern, to care for and support his brothers, because someone must.
Do you feel yourself unworthy to be a Patriarch?
Are you a father? You are a Patriarch.
Are you a husband? You are a Head.
Are you a man? You are a King.
Patriarchy is the extension of God’s vocations of father and king. Within any gathering of catholic Christians there must be a head. There must be one to guide, to bear responsibilities, to ensure good order. There must and will be a Patriarch. So man up. Build a brotherhood with those around you. Encourage your brothers with the words of life. Support one another in times of trouble and rejoice together in times of joy. If God has blessed you with Christian brotherhood, share it. If not, a noble task is before you
DUTIES OF A MAN
HALLOW GOD’S NAME
†
REFLECT HIS KING
†
WALK WITH HIS FATHER
DUTIES OF A KING
SAVE HIS PEOPLE
†
SACRIFICE HIS WORDS
†
RESIST HIS TEMPTATIONS
†
OWN HIS FORGIVENESS
You are the Patriarch,
until there is another.
There must always be one.
Dead men cannot die.
