INTERNET BIBLE STUDIES
Hebrew History Part 14
We continue our studies this week as we study "Solomon Made King Over Israel"
Introduction:
In our last study, we saw God give Israel a new King in David. We saw the great leadership that David gave the nation, but saw sin bring heartache in to Davids life. Because of his sin with Bathsheba and his failure to repent and seek God, the prophet Nathan came and confronted David. The sword was never to depart from Davids house the rest of his life. We saw much sorrow and trial in Davids latter years. This week, we study about Davids son, Solomon.
David had several sons and after David became ill and to the point of death, he ad to make a decision as to who would take his place as King over Israel.
1 Ki 1:5 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
1 Ki 1:6 And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.
1 Ki 1:7 And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.
1 Ki 1:8 But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.
1 Ki 1:9 And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants.
Adonijah was the son that decided to exalt himself and take over the king. But when we decide things without consulting with God, things do not always work out our way. After David learned what Adonijah was up to, he gave Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet instructions to anoint Solomon as King over Israel.
We see that after this, that Adonijah feared greatly.
1 Ki 1:50 And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
While Adonijah made a mistake, I think he should be commended for coming to the Tabernacle to seek help from God. As pointed out Wednesday night in our study, there were two different people who came and grabbed hold of the horns of the altar. The other one being Joab.
1 Ki 2:15 And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother's: for it was his from the LORD.
We see later that Adonijah states to Bathsheba that the kingdom was Solomons because it was from the Lord that Solomon was to be king. We may make decisions and sometimes question why God places certain ones in certain places, but we know God knows who will be faithful to do the job. Solomon went on to be one of the best kings ever over the nation Israel.
1 Ki 2:1 Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,
1 Ki 2:2 I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and show thyself a man;
1 Ki 2:3 And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:
1 Ki 2:4 That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.
David gave his son some good advice. First he was to show himself a man. And in verse 3, he was commanded to walk in the way of the Lord, to keep his statutes, His commandments, His testimonies, and the judgements as written in the law of Moses. All of us would do good to follow this fathers advice. Most of all, we should follow the teachings of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
You notice that if he would do these things, then he would prosper. And the promises of God promised to David would continue through Solomons kingship.
Solomon had a great beginning as king. He was known as a man of wisdom, probably the wisest man that ever lived outside of the Lord Himself.
2 Chr 1:7 In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.
2 Chr 1:8 And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast showed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead.
2 Chr 1:9 Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.
2 Chr 1:10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?
2 Chr 1:11 And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:
2 Chr 1:12 Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.
I wonder if God came to us and asked us to ask whatever we would want, how many of us would seek wisdom. It may not seem to be too important, but I tell you that to know God and to know Him intimately is perhaps the greatest thing that we will ever experience here on earth. And the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom We see that God appeared unto Solomon in a dream and asked him what he desired. Solomon used great discretion in his choice.
1 Ki 3:5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
1 Ki 3:6 And Solomon said, Thou hast showed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
1 Ki 3:7 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
1 Ki 3:8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
1 Ki 3:9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
God granted his request, and Solomon became one of the wisest Kings to ever reign. We see the depths of his wisdom in the decision he made concerning the two mothers who came to him about the baby.
1 Ki 3:16 Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.
1 Ki 3:17 And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.
1 Ki 3:18 And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.
1 Ki 3:19 And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it.
1 Ki 3:20 And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.
1 Ki 3:21 And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear.
1 Ki 3:22 And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.
1 Ki 3:23 Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.
1 Ki 3:24 And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.
1 Ki 3:25 And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.
1 Ki 3:26 Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.1 Ki 3:27 Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.
1 Ki 3:28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.
When God gives us wisdom, others take notice. When we seek Gods Will in everything we do, in how to help others, in how to live righteously in this world who knows nothing of God, people take notice of how you have wisdom greater than those that are not living close to God. As Solomon grew in wisdom, the queen of Sheba came to visit, and stated that not one half of Solomons wisdom had been told her.
1 Ki 10:1 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.
1 Ki 10:2 And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.
1 Ki 10:3 And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not.
1 Ki 10:4 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built,
1 Ki 10:5 And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.
1 Ki 10:6 And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom.
1 Ki 10:7 Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.
Solomons wisdom continued to increase until he excelled all the men of the East.
1 Ki 4:29 And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.
1 Ki 4:30 And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.
Not only was Solomon a man of wisdom, but like our Lord, he was a humble man. As he stayed close to God and sought His Will, he increased in knowledge.
While Solomon reigned, the nation of Israel was truly blessed. It was a time of prosperity with much security due to the military strength. Trade with other nations increased, but not all was not perfect. Seeds of destruction began to be sown during his reign.
Solomon was glorified because God had promised that to him plus riches because of his wise choice of Wisdom as his desire from God.
1 Ki 3:13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
We know how much David had wanted to build a house for God, but we saw last week that God told David that he could not build it due to the blood on his hands from all the wars he had taken part in. But Solomon, Davids son, was the one that was granted this privilege.
1 Chr 28:2 Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building:
1 Chr 28:3 But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.
1 Chr 28:4 Howbeit the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel:
1 Chr 28:5 And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.
1 Chr 28:6 And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.
1 Chr 28:7 Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.
1 Chr 28:8 Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the LORD, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the LORD your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever.
1 Chr 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
1 Chr 28:10 Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do
We know that this promise that the son would build God a house had a two fold prophecy. The first being Solomon would build the temple, but the second and much greater son, Jesus, would build the Church.
1 Ki 6:38 And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it.
Solomon completed the house of God, the Temple, in 7 years. Finally, God had a permanent place to place His name. On the day of the dedication of the temple, we see the Shekinah glory of God filling the house.
1 Ki 8:10 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD,
1 Ki 8:11 So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.
I thought of how similar this was as to the day of Pentecost when Jesus baptized the church with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit filled the church that day.
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Acts 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
In order for Solomon to get this small nation on the culture map, he had to do several things. He limited individual freedom, he forced labor, and he taxed heavily. Sounds a lot like America today, does it not. And this beginning of doing things his way, was the beginning of his turning away from God. Anytime we start worrying about where we stand in contrast to others as far as possessions or status goes, we are not in synch with the mind of God. God desires us to have the heart of Jesus, and Jesus was not concerned for the things of earth. These things all pass away, but the things we do for God, have eternal value.
Solomons Heart is Turned away from God.
1 Ki 11:1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;
1 Ki 11:2 Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.
1 Ki 11:3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
1 Ki 11:4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.
We see Solomon going the way of man. Man from the physical side has lusts and desires that are harmful to the spiritual man if not kept in check. We see Solomon loving many strange women, and these were women not of the nation of Israel, but from foreign nations. God had commanded that they not do this. What would be likely to happen if you start living with people who dont know your God? Either you will convert them to your God, or they will pull you away to their God. Unfortunately for Solomon, these many wives turned his heart from God and in his latter years, he served idols. Verse 4 say his heart was not perfect with the Lord as was his father Davids.
Many years before Solomon, God had warned the people not to take strange wives from other countries.
What happens when we disobey God? We pay the price, either by bondage or consequences.
1 Ki 11:4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.
We see after turning away from God, Solomon does evil in the sight of God. That is the way Satan works. He lures us away with a small thing, and pretty soon we are cold and indifferent about God.
1 Ki 11:6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.
We need to learn from this example that no matter how smart we are, we must guard our hearts. Satan is out to destroy everyone of us. If he cant destroy us, he will try and destroy our families. If he cant get to them, then he will destroy our testimony where we will be ineffective in witnessing. We must be on guard everyday.
1 Ki 11:9 And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,
1 Ki 11:10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.
We see God was angry with Solomon because he did not keep his commandments. You and I have that same responsibility today, and that is to keep Gods commandments.
1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
IV. The Death of Solomon
We see that after many years, 40 in total, that like all men, Solomon died.
1 Ki 11:41 And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon?
1 Ki 11:42 And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.
1 Ki 11:43 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.
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