Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt by marrying Pharaoh’s daughter. Solomon brought her to the city of David until he finished building his palace, the LORD’s temple, and the wall surrounding Jerusalem. However, the people were sacrificing on the high places, because until that time a temple for the LORD’s name had not been built. Solomon loved the LORD by walking in the statutes of his father David, but he also sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there because it was the most famous high place. He offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask. What should I give you?”
And Solomon replied, “You have shown great and faithful love to your servant, my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, righteousness, and integrity. You have continued this great and faithful love for him by giving him a son to sit on his throne, as it is today.
“LORD my God, you have now made your servant king in my father David’s place. Yet I am just a youth with no experience in leadership. Your servant is among your people you have chosen, a people too many to be numbered or counted. So give your servant a receptive heart to judge your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours?”
Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had requested this. So God said to him, “Because you have requested this and did not ask for long life or riches for yourself, or the death of your enemies, but you asked discernment for yourself to administer justice, I will therefore do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again. In addition, I will give you what you did not ask for: both riches and honor, so that no king will be your equal during your entire life. If you walk in my ways and keep my statutes and commands just as your father David did, I will give you a long life.”
Then Solomon woke up and realized it had been a dream. He went to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant, and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he held a feast for all his servants.
Then two women who were prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. One woman said, “Please, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house, and I had a baby while she was in the house.
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Each week, we’re reminded that experiencing God happens best through Scripture alongside others—join us for worship today at one of our five campuses and grow together in faith. Today’s sermon is titled, "Solomon."
In preparation for today’s sermon, read this blog from the Story of Scripture team at Dallas Theological Seminary.
Solomon—Learning the Test of Success
“...[Solomon] was not wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his God, as his father David had been.” 1 Kings 11:4
The narrative in 1 Kings 5–8 shows how by this time, everything pointed to the pinnacle of success (i.e., God’s favor) upon Israel. There is peace with Israel’s neighbors, the nation is experiencing unqualified wealth, influence, and a substantial role in the affairs of the Ancient Near East.
Most importantly, we learn that Solomon has built the Temple. Now, the Lord has a place where he can dwell with his people—on his terms!
What could go wrong? A lot!
Spoiler alert: It does go wrong.
During King Solomon’s reign, the outward signs of success continue to manifest: expansion, wealth, influence, peace, and geopolitical stability. But something isn’t right. And that something is internal—of the heart. Solomon’s heart.
We begin to see that Solomon’s heart turns toward the very things God warned him about.
Solomon scales his kingdom through horses, wives, and wealth. The importance of his own kingdom begins to rival God’s importance in Solomon’s life. His personal pursuits begin to overshadow the centrality and importance of the Temple, namely, God’s presence.
And he even builds places for other gods (e.g., 1 Kings 11:7-8).
Solomon “was not wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his God, as his father David had been.” as 1 Kings 11:4 explains what has gone wrong.
Where his father David had to learn the test of failure, Solomon—and the nation he leads—are learning the test of success. And this lesson has consequences!
In essence, the message of 1 Kings 9:6-8 to Solomon is: if you turn from me to serve other gods, I will cut off Israel from the land and reject this temple, making it a heap of ruins.
What is the take away from Solomon’s story? Few of us have the riches he amassed, the political power, or the wisdom and favor with others that he experienced.
Neither success nor failure is the problem. The real issue is the state of our hearts.
When life is just working for us—when we are enjoying stability, increasing influence, and provision—it is easy for our hearts to shift from dependence on God to an expectation that he must always come through for us. But perhaps even worse, as we can begin to engage in our own projects, building our own version of the kingdom, we can simply expect God to bless it. Why wouldn’t he?
Because the LORD says, “I will not give my glory to another.” Isaiah 48:11
Ask God for the opportunity to learn wisdom from someone farther along in their walk with God.
If you are also following the BibleProject’s One Story That Leads to Jesus reading plan, complete today’s reading.