The Lord Appears to Solomon Again
[ READ ] 1 Kings 9:1–14
The Lord Appears to Solomon
1 As soon as Solomon had finished building the house of the Lord and the king's house and all that Solomon desired to build, 2 the Lord appeared to Solomon a second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon. 3 And the Lord said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your plea, which you have made before me. I have consecrated this house that you have built, by putting my name there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time. 4 And as for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my rules, 5 then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’ 6 But if you turn aside from following me, you or your children, and do not keep my commandments and my statutes that I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, 7 then I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them, and the house that I have consecrated for my name I will cast out of my sight, and Israel will become a proverb and a byword among all peoples. 8 And this house will become a heap of ruins. Everyone passing by it will be astonished and will hiss, and they will say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?’ 9 Then they will say, ‘Because they abandoned the Lord their God who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt and laid hold on other gods and worshiped them and served them. Therefore the Lord has brought all this disaster on them.’”
Solomon's Other Acts
10 At the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the Lord and the king's house, 11 and Hiram king of Tyre had supplied Solomon with cedar and cypress timber and gold, as much as he desired, King Solomon gave to Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee. 12 But when Hiram came from Tyre to see the cities that Solomon had given him, they did not please him. 13 Therefore he said, “What kind of cities are these that you have given me, my brother?” So they are called the land of Cabul to this day. 14 Hiram had sent to the king 120 talents of gold.
1 As soon as Solomon had finished building the house of the Lord and the king's house and all that Solomon desired to build, 2 the Lord appeared to Solomon a second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon. 3 And the Lord said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your plea, which you have made before me. I have consecrated this house that you have built, by putting my name there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time. 4 And as for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my rules, 5 then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’ 6 But if you turn aside from following me, you or your children, and do not keep my commandments and my statutes that I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, 7 then I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them, and the house that I have consecrated for my name I will cast out of my sight, and Israel will become a proverb and a byword among all peoples. 8 And this house will become a heap of ruins. Everyone passing by it will be astonished and will hiss, and they will say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?’ 9 Then they will say, ‘Because they abandoned the Lord their God who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt and laid hold on other gods and worshiped them and served them. Therefore the Lord has brought all this disaster on them.’”
Solomon's Other Acts
10 At the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the Lord and the king's house, 11 and Hiram king of Tyre had supplied Solomon with cedar and cypress timber and gold, as much as he desired, King Solomon gave to Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee. 12 But when Hiram came from Tyre to see the cities that Solomon had given him, they did not please him. 13 Therefore he said, “What kind of cities are these that you have given me, my brother?” So they are called the land of Cabul to this day. 14 Hiram had sent to the king 120 talents of gold.
About an hour before writing this, my husband and I were having a conversation about what it was like once we encountered Jesus to reflect on our own lives before Him. As we talked about how tragically common it is for people to have deep, dark sin before meeting Him (such as involvement in the new age/occult, sexual sin, addiction, etc.), it also came up that often these things can make us look to goals ahead as "the finish line".
For some, it can be the thought that, "Surely, as soon as God decides I'm ready and gives me my husband/wife, then all my questions about my future will become clear."
For others, "I've worked my whole life for this career, and God will give it to me when I'm ready."
This notion of "finally being spiritually ready" for the blessing we longed so deeply for (before Jesus) becomes a thing within reach once we have a relationship with Him. It's as if God was just waiting for us to realize we should do things His way, and then once we do He'll give us what we asked for. King Solomon's father David wrote it himself: Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)
But what happens when our naiveté, immaturity, or simply the distance between head and heart knowledge keeps us from seeing what God sees? That the true desire of our heart is still gripping to our flesh and blood measure of success? Will you still delight in the Lord if you never get married, never get that job, never buy that house?
In this passage, the Lord promises to uphold his word with King Solomon that was given to King David with a (seemingly obvious) condition: that Solomon must keep the Lord's commands, walk in His ways, act with integrity; and if he doesn't, Israel will be cut off and the house Solomon built left in ruins. No pressure or anything, right...?
So, did King Solomon view the building of the temple as "the finish line"? Did he view that accomplishment, though truly done out of a heart of reverence and worship to the Lord our God, as his "finally finished" moment, where he was then free to build his house?
We must never allow ourselves to believe the lie that at some point in our finite time on this Earth, that God has relieved us from the duty of living for Him, free to now put our own goals or desires first. In a world that focuses so deeply on what is or will be given to us, keep your eyes fixed on remembering Whose life has been given for us.
- Danielle Parker
For some, it can be the thought that, "Surely, as soon as God decides I'm ready and gives me my husband/wife, then all my questions about my future will become clear."
For others, "I've worked my whole life for this career, and God will give it to me when I'm ready."
This notion of "finally being spiritually ready" for the blessing we longed so deeply for (before Jesus) becomes a thing within reach once we have a relationship with Him. It's as if God was just waiting for us to realize we should do things His way, and then once we do He'll give us what we asked for. King Solomon's father David wrote it himself: Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)
But what happens when our naiveté, immaturity, or simply the distance between head and heart knowledge keeps us from seeing what God sees? That the true desire of our heart is still gripping to our flesh and blood measure of success? Will you still delight in the Lord if you never get married, never get that job, never buy that house?
In this passage, the Lord promises to uphold his word with King Solomon that was given to King David with a (seemingly obvious) condition: that Solomon must keep the Lord's commands, walk in His ways, act with integrity; and if he doesn't, Israel will be cut off and the house Solomon built left in ruins. No pressure or anything, right...?
So, did King Solomon view the building of the temple as "the finish line"? Did he view that accomplishment, though truly done out of a heart of reverence and worship to the Lord our God, as his "finally finished" moment, where he was then free to build his house?
We must never allow ourselves to believe the lie that at some point in our finite time on this Earth, that God has relieved us from the duty of living for Him, free to now put our own goals or desires first. In a world that focuses so deeply on what is or will be given to us, keep your eyes fixed on remembering Whose life has been given for us.
- Danielle Parker
[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ The thought of God's "if you turn aside from me" promise is scary. If not read carefully, we could be tricked into thinking God offers conditional love to Israel. But reread verses 7-8. Does He say He will take away His presence, or the gifts and resources that were entrusted and poorly stewarded?
+ The thought of God's "if you turn aside from me" promise is scary. If not read carefully, we could be tricked into thinking God offers conditional love to Israel. But reread verses 7-8. Does He say He will take away His presence, or the gifts and resources that were entrusted and poorly stewarded?
[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Do you have your eye on a "finish line" right now? Is there somewhere that you've deceived yourself into believing that there is a person, place, or thing that will help achieve ultimate Earthly satisfaction?
+ If you look back on your life, is there anywhere that you always thought would be the "finish line" and then it wasn't what you expected? What did God teach you about Himself in that season?
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Do you have your eye on a "finish line" right now? Is there somewhere that you've deceived yourself into believing that there is a person, place, or thing that will help achieve ultimate Earthly satisfaction?
+ If you look back on your life, is there anywhere that you always thought would be the "finish line" and then it wasn't what you expected? What did God teach you about Himself in that season?
[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, thank You for never leaving nor forsaking me. Thank You that so long as I have You, I have more than enough. I confess to You that sometimes my struggles here on Earth make me believe there is something new You could give me to fulfill my heart. You have already given me the One I need when You sent Your only son to this Earth to live a perfect life, die a death I deserved, and be raised from the dead to purchase my life. That is enough, You are enough. You are the finish line Lord, so help me to run the rest of this race with endurance, and thank You for carrying me when I stumble.
+ Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, thank You for never leaving nor forsaking me. Thank You that so long as I have You, I have more than enough. I confess to You that sometimes my struggles here on Earth make me believe there is something new You could give me to fulfill my heart. You have already given me the One I need when You sent Your only son to this Earth to live a perfect life, die a death I deserved, and be raised from the dead to purchase my life. That is enough, You are enough. You are the finish line Lord, so help me to run the rest of this race with endurance, and thank You for carrying me when I stumble.
[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ If you have a particular sin or struggle you have been keeping in, release it to the Lord, and confess it to a trusted loved one. Let God speak through those around you.
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ If you have a particular sin or struggle you have been keeping in, release it to the Lord, and confess it to a trusted loved one. Let God speak through those around you.
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