[King]dom Highlight

Where to find this in the Bible: 1&2 Samuel, 1&2 Kings, 1&2 Chronicles

This past week we had the opportunity to study the Kingdom Era of the Bible. The Kingdom Era is a 520 year period that is comprised of the united kingdom of Israel (120 years), under kings Saul, David ad Solomon, as well as the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah (400 years).

Solomon is the last ruler of a united Israel and it is his sins that send Israel down the path they are about to take that leads to exile.

Solomon becomes King of Israel at a very young age, but early on he shows a heart for the Lord. God speaks to him in a dream and grants him one request. he literally could ask for anything. Solomon asks for wisdom, the ability to discern right from wrong, and the Lord is so pleased that he not only grants him wisdom but also riches and glory, things he didn't ask for. As a result, Solomon quickly rises to fame for his immense knowledge and wisdom and becomes the richest and most popular ruler on the planet. People from far and wide would travel to Israel to hear Solomon.

God is pleased with Solomon's devotion to his cause and continues to bless him as long as he adheres to the following commands:
1. Do not marry outside of Israel
2. Do not possess many wives
3. Do not worship other gods/idols
You may be saying to yourself, "Self, whats the big deal about marrying women of other nations?" God knew that if his people married outside the nation that their customs and their practices would slowly cause them to turn away from Him.

However as Solomon grows both in knowledge and fame he starts to let his greatness go to his head. One by one he begins to break the rules that the Lord has placed before him. First he marries the princess of Egypt. From a strategic view, he made a very powerful marriage alliance with Egypt, however he still broke a command from God. But God still continues to bless him. Over time he acquires many wives, 700 to be exact, as well as many concubines, or mistresses (add 300 to that). These women are also not of Israel and as such do not honor or follow the will of God. So Solomon slowly turns away from God and begins worshiping the idols of his wives and concubines.

[1Ki 11:4 ESV] 4 For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.

God disappointment grows for Solomon, as the wisest man in the entire world makes some foolish decisions in his life. Gods disappointment turns to anger and God tells Solomon that when he dies,  so will Israel as he knows it.

[1Ki 11:11-12 ESV] 11 Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, "Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant. 12 Yet for the sake of David your father I will not do it in your days, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son.

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The life of Solomon is one that I think resonates with a lot of us. It's easy for us to follow the Lord when we are weak and vulnerable and have no clear direction in out life. God is a merciful and gracious God and is always there for  us. However, when we are at are strongest, we tent to want to take the reigns away from God and claim that we can get by on our own and that God isn't the most important thing in our lives. We think we have all the answers because of how successful we are and not because of the god that has granted us that wisdom we so desperately desired.

[2Pe 1:3-4 ESV] 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

We must remember that our strength, and wisdom, and pretty much everything else comes from God and that without him we will be miserable, miserable people. Don't believe me? Give Ecclesiastes 1-2 a look. We must also remember that as we gain success and riches and fame that remember who got us to that point in our lives (Hint: IT'S NOT YOU).

Questions? Feel free to leave them in the comments section.

God Bless