Read: 1
Kings 11
In his youth, Solomon loved Yahweh. He built the
temple, offered extravagant sacrifices and followed the Law. However, there
were seeds of compromise in his heart. Now, in his later years, his heart is
fully turned from God. After pushing boundaries with his first wife, the
Pharaoh’s daughter, Solomon marries other foreign women. He has “seven hundred
wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart
away” (v 3). Solomon has broken each of the commands God laid out for Israel’s
king (Deuteronomy 17:14-20). He has directly disobeyed God’s command (v 1-2)
and is now facing the Lord’s anger (v 9). God had previously warned Solomon
against rebelling. Now the royal line will not remain intact for Solomon’s son
(v-11-13). It is only because of David’s righteousness that one tribe will
remain in Solomon’s line.
God responds to Solomon’s disobedience by raising
up adversaries: Hadad the Edomite and Rezon, son of Eliada (v 14, 23). We are not told what Hadad did to
Solomon, but we know that Rezon led a band of marauders (v 24). God is
sovereign. Both of these adversaries had grievances that began in the time of
David (v 15-17 and 24). It has been a decade since David’s death and God is
just now allowing these men to cause trouble for Solomon. God protected Solomon
while he was faithful. Now that Solomon has stirred up God’s wrath, God is
allowing these adversaries as punishment.
The key curse brought by Solomon’s disobedience was
a division of the kingdom. The ten northern tribes will be given to one of Solomon’s
servants (v 11), a disgraceful legacy for the king. Before Solomon’s death, his
servant Jeroboam meets the prophet Ahijah. Ahijah prophesies that Jeroboam will
be the servant to take control of the ten tribes (v 30-39). At this, Solomon
seeks to put Jeroboam to death, but Jeroboam flees to Egypt for refuge (v 40).
Solomon reigned over Israel for forty years. For
much of that time he was praised as wise, industrious and majestic. However, in
the end his heart proved unfaithful. He turned from Yahweh to foreign gods. He
chose to follow his fleshly desires instead of God’s perfect laws. In Solomon’s
judgment we see that our disobedience cannot cancel out God’s faithfulness. God
promised that a member of David’s line will sit on the throne in Jerusalem
forever. He grants that Judah will remain in control of the Southern Kingdom
(along with Benjamin), while the remaining ten tribes will split off. Solomon
ended his life in disgrace, but David’s promise will be fulfilled. Through
David’s line, the Messiah will be born. He will be the eternal King, reigning
over Israel (and the whole earth) forevermore.
Prayer and
Journaling
1. Spend some time in confession today. Ask God to
search your heart and root out any sinful thoughts, motives, or actions that
may prevent you from finishing your life faithfully before Him.
2. We must take God seriously. He fulfills His
promises of blessing and He fulfills His warnings of judgment. Is there any
area where you have ignored God’s warnings? Confess and repent of this. Commit
to following through on what God has shown you.
3. Do you believe, even in a hidden corner of your
heart, that your imperfection can prevent God from working? Ask God to speak to
you about His sovereignty today.
