1 Kings 9 -- More Cracks Starting To Appear

The Lord appeared to Solomon again, and He said, "I have heard your prayer ... You built this Temple, and I have made it a holy place.  I will be worshiped there forever and will watch over it and protect it always."

Of course we know that the Temple isn't standing today.  It was destroyed.  Yet God had made this promise.  That can only mean one thing -- it was a conditional promise, so there's a big "but...." coming.

"But you must serve me as your father David did ... You must obey all I have commanded and keep my laws and rules.  If you do, I will make your kingdom strong ... But you and your children must follow Me and obey the laws and commands I have given you.  You must not serve or worship other gods."

God knew Solomon's weakness and warned him ahead of time.  He knew Solomon's heart -- the way he was collecting wives and concubines and becoming influenced by them. My commentary said, "These activities also reveal Solomon's character and expose some of the areas of weakness that later produced a bitter harvest.  Gradually, Solomon became more interested in prices than in values, and in reputation rather than character, and in the splendor of the kingdom rather than the good of the people and the glory of the Lord."

More of these weaknesses will show up in the next chapter.

Father, You know me better than I know myself, and You know what's coming and whether I will be tempted by it or remain strong.  Help me to trust Your wisdom and Your love for me, and keep me from letting Satan exploit my weaknesses to draw me away from You.  Keep me close, even when I might not want to be. 

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

1 Kings 8 -- We're In There

The Temple was completed and Solomon had the Ark brought from the Holy Tent and placed in the Holy of Holies.  God's presence then inhabited the room and the priests couldn't even continue their work because the presence of God was so palpable!  Much later, God's glory would come to earth "in the person of Jesus Christ, but sinners crucified the Lord of glory.  When Jesus returned to heaven, the cloud of glory accompanied Him and the temple was left desolate," my commentary said.  "Since the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost, God's glory has resided in each of God's children individually, as we as in the church local and the church universal."

"There is a mystery about God that humbles us, because we don't always understand Him and His ways, but this mystery also encourages us to trust Him and rest upon His Word."

"Solomon realized that God's willingness to dwell with His people was wholly an act of grace."

In verses 41-43, there is a reference to all of us:  "People who are not Israelites ... will hear about Your greatness and power.  They will ... pray ... then hear from Your home in heaven, and do what they ask You.  Then people everywhere will honor You and respect You."

Wow, Father!  To think that I was on Your mind even back then!  Thank You for loving me and wanting me to discover You and come near to You.  Draw those I love closer to You even now.  Let them see Your power and Your great love for them, even in their sin.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

1 Kings 6-7 -- Not Just About A Building

Solomon built the Temple according to specifications given by God.  I've always marveled that the basic building, without its courtyards, would almost exactly fill the front yard of my own home, yet it would tower 4.5 stories high!

My commentary made a very important point:  "God took the consequences of David's two worst sins -- a piece of property and a son -- and built a temple!  'But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.' ... It is an encouragement to us to go on serving God after we've repented and confessed our sins.  Satan wants us to think that all is lost, but the God of all grace is still at work."

Father, there's nothing left of that temple, but You've established Your temple now in my body and You live in my heart.  Thank You for these reassurances and for promising never to leave me or forsake me!

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

1 Kings 5 -- God Uses Unbelievers

My commentary brought up an unexpected topic this morning.

"Solomon conscripted 30,000 to labor on the temple ... These men were Jewish citizens and were not treated like slaves ... Even though the conscription involved a very small portion of the male citizens, the Jewish people resented Solomon taking 30,000 of their men to work in Lebanon four months of the year.  This critical attitude helped to strengthen the people's revolt against Rehoboam and to precipitate the division of the nation after Solomon's death," my commentary noted.

It also made a very important point:  "Hiram's workers in Lebanon were not worshipers of the Lord, and the aliens in the land of Israel were not Jewish proselytes, yet God used both of these groups of outsiders to help build His holy Temple.  'The Lord would have all men be saved,' but even if they aren't believers, He can use them to fulfill His purposes.  He used Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian army to chasten Israel, and called Nebuchadnezzar 'My servant' and He used Cyrus king of Persia to set Israel free and help them rebuild their temple.  This should encourage us in our praying and serving, for the Lord can use people we least appreciate to get His will done on earth.  God can even work through unconverted government officials to to open doors for His people or meet the needs they might have.

Father, I watched You do this very thing in my own life with officials in Ukraine during my two adoption trips!  You are an incredible God who is sovereign over all people.  Seeing You work like that builds my faith even more!

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

1 Kings 4 -- Solomon's Supposed Wisdom Starts Leading To Stupidity

To the world, this chapter likely stirs ambitions of others to achieve what Solomon achieved and to rebuild such a fantastic lifestyle, but the wisest man on earth couldn't see how this established order was instituting the decay of his nation.

Solomon established a bureaucracy that did exactly what Samuel had warned -- it exacted a heavy toll on the people who had to support it.  Solomon set up 12 districts, not along tribal boundaries but including all captured lands as well.  My commentary wondered if this was done "to minimize tribal loyalty and eliminate some of the tension between Judah and the northern tribes.  Instead, the plan only aggravated the tension, particularly since Judah wasn't included in the redistricting program.  Being the royal tribe that contained the royal city, Judah was administrated separately."

The excesses of Solomon's reign, particularly in supporting his household of 700 wives, 300 concubines, their children and his numerous officers put a heavy toll on the common people, who had to be taxed to pay for it.  This would start the feelings of rebellion toward such entitlement.

One other thing my commentary noted:  "David appreciated and enjoyed God's created world and wrote hymns of praise about the Creator and His creation, but Solomon looked upon nature more as an object of study ... Solomon didn't have the steadfast devotion to the Lord that characterized his father, and his many pagan wives were planting seeds in his heart that would bear bitter fruit."

I'm thinking less and less of Solomon's wisdom with every chapter I read!

Father, help me not to turn a blind eye to things in my own life that might be developing as Solomon's problems did.  I don't want worldly wisdom, but godly wisdom to be able to view the world as You do.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

1 Kings 3 -- A Good Start Doesn't Guarantee A Good Finish

"King Solomon was among the wisest fools who ever wore a crown," according to Frederick Buechner.  "Nobody pointed to Solomon as a good example of a godly ruler."

"David risked his life on the battlefield to defeat enemy nations ... Solomon made treaties with other rulers by marrying their daughters ... Yet Moses in the law warned the Jewish kings not to multiply wives."  God had separated the Jews from other nations to obey Him and be a light to the Gentiles, but Solomon was doing his best to consort with them ... "The price he paid was too high," my commentary said.

"Solomon violated the law of Moses, not only by marrying many wives, but also by multiplying horses and depending on chariots.  Contrary to God's command, Solomon went back to Egypt for both!  The king was required to copy out for himself the book of Deuteronomy, and we wonder how Solomon responded when he read the command about wives and horses."

Solomon and his officers traveled to Gibeon as an act of consecration.  God spoke to him there in a dream.  In His grace, God said, "Ask!  What shall I give you?"  "Solomon saw himself as a youthful leader who desperately needed wisdom and asked God for the wisdom to rule the nation that God would give him an understanding heart ... Solomon wanted a hearing heart ... to the O.T. Jew, hearing meant obeying."

God was pleased and also gave him the things he didn't ask for.  In verse 14, "The Lord was careful to remind Solomon that his obedience to God's covenant and his devotion to the Lord were keys to his future blessings ... It's unfortunate that Solomon with all his wisdom forgot this part of the agreement and gradually drifted into sin and disobedience, and God had to chasten him."

When Solomon asked God to give him an obedient heart, I suppose that he felt that he sure didn't have one at the time, or else he might not have asked.  Since God was pleased that Solomon had asked this, perhaps He agreed.

Father, I too need wisdom and discernment right now.  I also need an obedient and hearing heart, since it seems that You are leading me down a new path, and I want to obey.  Open my heart and mind to Your will and wisdom and walk with me through this.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

1 Kings 2 -- Not Vengeance But Righteousness

My commentary explained that the first acts of Solomon as king after David's death were not acts of vengeance.

David was a realist and he conveyed information to Solomon before his death because "he wanted to be certain that the new kingdom didn't inherit old problems.  Some of his first words to Solomon were, 'Put the Lord first,' and 'Be strong and show yourself a man.'  Solomon was a young man who had lived a sheltered life, so he needed this admonition."

"David knew that there were perils lurking in the shadows in the kingdom and he warned Solomon to act immediately and deal with two dangerous men ... Joab had asserted his own will and been guilty of murdering innocent men ... Joab killed Abner because Abner had killed Asahel.  Joab also killed David's son Absalom, even though he knew David wanted him taken alive.  He murdered Amasa, whom David had appointed leader of his forces, and he supported Adonijah in his quest for the throne," my commentary said.

Solomon also had to deal with a former supporter of Saul who had cursed David -- Shimei.  He placed him under house arrest, warning him never to leave Jerusalem, to which Shimei agreed, but three years later he broke the agreement and Solomon ordered him killed.

Solomon's half-brother Adonijah had set his sights on the throne but finally supported Solomon out of fear.  However, he asked Solomon's mother to intercede with Solomon and grant him ownership of the young woman who'd kept David warm during his last years.  What seemed like a harmless request had huge implications, because possession of the former king's concubines amounted to possessing the throne, and Solomon ordered him killed.  My commentary said that his death "was the final payment of the fourfold debt David had incurred" from his statement to Nathan.

Solomon also removed Abiathar as high priest, for he had supported Adonijah.  This fulfilled the prophecy given to Eli that his family would not continue in the priesthood (1 Sam. 2:27-36).

Here's the real take away from the events of this chapter:  "It's important to understand that Solomon wasn't simply acting in revenge in the place of his father David.  Solomon explained that the death of Joab took away the stain of innocent blood that Joab had shed when he killed Abner and Amasa.  The shedding of innocent blood polluted the land (Num. 35:30-34) and the victim's blood cried out to God for vengeance ... Solomon was indeed a man of peace and he achieved that peace by bringing about righteousness in the land."

Father, help me and those I love to obey Your will and never find ourselves out of it.  Remind us of the importance of righteousness and obedience, and help us to obey.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford