Category: 1 Kings

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Solomon had the help of very able men in the ordering of the kingdom. His first great task was the building of the Temple. This is a theme that the New Testament highlights – the building of the true Temple to the Lord, the building not made with hands, but with living stones – we who believe and follow.

SJA Notes

* Dear Lord God, we would sing to You a new song, a call on all the earth to sing to You! To bless Your Name, to tell of Your salvation from day to day.

“Judah and Israel were as many as the sand by the sea. They ate and drank and were happy.”

As David was like Jesus the conquering king, Solomon is like Jesus the king of peace and prosperity.

We today await the new heavens and the new earth, the holy city, God dwelling with us as our God, we as His people – Together in unity.

But at this time in Israel’s history they had earthly peace and prosperity such as never before, and not ever since.

We know Solomon did stray from God, but in this passage he points us to Jesus. He ruled with God’s justice, and he presided over God’s people at a time when there was peace from all enemies, and great temporal wealth in abundance.

We can be encouraged for us today, that in Jesus – A far greater king that Solomon – we have Him in the _now_, and we have the promise of the _not yet_.

When we invest in Jesus, we put our treasure in heavenly things, in moneybags that do not grow old (and are not temporal, but eternal).

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Luke 12:34

As we read about Solomon and the peace and wealth Israel experienced during his reign, we can wrestle with the deeper and fuller realities we see and experience ourselves through a life with Jesus as our King.

He has our hearts, He is our treasure!

* Gracious King, Lord in Heaven,

Please help us to invest in the right things, the things of heaven.

Thank You Lord God for Your love for us.

Please help us to love You better today, and to show that love to those around us.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Solomon makes a good beginning. His request for wisdom to rule God’s people with equity, rather than a long-life, wealth or victory over his enemies brings God’s commendation! Administering justice in family, church or society takes wisdom from God!

SJA Notes

* Dear God, let us make a joyful noise to You, the rock of our salvation! Let us come into Your presence with thanksgiving, making a joyful noise to You with songs of praise!

“It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked his.”

God is pleased when we humbly ask Him for wisdom!

Solomon started well.

But what is wisdom?

Solomon tells us in Proverbs 9,

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,”

Wisdom begins with a holy fear of God.

Growing is wisdom is becoming more like Jesus, being sanctified. Choosing at each point to live how God wants us to and not how the world does.

Wisdom is the beatitudes in practice, the fruit of the Spirit being grown in us; wisdom is us writing God’s law upon our hearts while the Spirit writes it better on our hearts, being good soil, growing as a branch of the vine, bearing much fruit.

Where can we find wisdom?

God has given us His word.

In the book of James ch 1 we read,

“But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”

* God Almighty,

Thank You for Your word, for Your wisdom that You teach us from it.

Please help us to fear You today, and so discover Your wisdom.

Please help us to be more like Jesus.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

The two books of Kings outline the history of Solomon’s line. David’s line through Solomon peters out! This is the tragedy of Solomon’s history. What did David make clear to Solomon in verses 2-4?

SJA Notes

* God of vengeance, shine forth! Rise up, O judge of the earth, repay to the proud what they deserve!

“So the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.”

In this passage we have David going the way of all things, the end of his life here on earth.

Solomon’s reign begins with three murders.

Adonijah – The brother who wanted to be king instead of Solomon.

Joab – The army commander who split blood under the king’s covenant of peace.

Shimei – Who cursed and mocked and threw stones at the king when David was at the lowest point (Absalom having stolen the hearts of Israel).

Abonijah. Joab. Shimei.

They were put the death, and God’s word tells us that the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.

Three men dead.

But really, there are four in this passage.

Because David died as well.

And as we read through the scriptures, the first half of the old testament particularly, we can often glaze over at the speed at which the years run by.

But that sense of speed, it can be a helpful thought to plumb – That even the best king amongst humans, David, couldn’t live forever. He grew old. He died.

We know that the establishment of the kingdom in Solomon’s hands did not last. Within a generation there was a sundering.

So what can we say but that we need a king that lives forever!

We need a kingdom that is established in eternity!

Praise God that we have these things in Jesus.

Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

* God Above,

Thank You for Jesus, who is the FOREVER KING, whose kingdom shall never end.

Thank You that You have established Your word in our hearts, building Your kingdom continually through the ages.

Thank You for Your love for us.

Please sink us in self that we might rise in You.

Amen.