How do you follow the Greatest King of Israel?? … the Great King David!
* A man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22)
* Greatest among warriors! (1 Samuel 18:7)
* 40 years of experience ruling the kingdom!
* Loyal, devoted subjects!
* Honored & respected by surrounding nations.
How do you follow such a reign?? The book of 1 Kings opens with the transition of power passing from King David to his son, Solomon. How overwhelming!!
God appeared to Solomon at this pivotal time of transition (1 Kings 3:5-14). We get a glimpse of Solomon’s heart as he stood on the threshold of taking over the kingdom: “O LORD my God, You have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. Give your servant a discerning heart to govern Your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.” – 1 Kings 3:7-9
God was pleased with Solomon’s request, and God answered! The first half of the book of 1 Kings is the account of the fabulous and prosperous reign of King Solomon.
“God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. … He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He described plant life from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also taught about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.” – 1 Kings 4:29-34
* Solomon followed God wholeheartedly!
* Under Solomon’s reign the Temple was built (1 Kings chapters 5-8)
* The nation of Israel experienced a time of unparalleled peace and prosperity!
Obedience to God results in blessing!
However, at the height of Solomon’s fabulous and successful reign … he allowed compromise to creep in.
1 Kings 11:1-4 – “King Solomon loved many foreign women … He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines, and his wives led him astray. As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God.”
Alas … disobedience to God results in consequences!
God spoke to Solomon: “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decree, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you …” – 1 Kings 11:11
And so it happened.
The nation of Israel was torn apart in civil war! Disobedience results in consequences!
The 10 northern tribes of Israel split apart, choosing to be ruled by their own line of kings, and choosing Samaria as their capital city. The 2 southern tribes of Judah continued to be ruled by kings from David’s line. Jerusalem continued to be their capital city.
The remaining events of the book of 1 Kings can be summed up by the final closing verses of the book: “He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, because he walked in the ways of his father who caused Israel to sin. He served and worshipped Baal and provoked the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger, just as his father had done.” – 1 Kings 22:23
The book of 1 Kings shows in vivid detail how unchecked sinful behavior is passed from parent – to child – to child … to the 3rd & 4th generations (Deuteronomy 5:9) … as king – after king – after king continued to pass along to the next generation willful sinful behavior.
So … where can Jesus Christ be seen in the book of 1 Kings?
* Of course Jesus is the ultimate King of Kings who will one day rule in perfect Righteousness! (Isaiah 9:6-7; Psalm 89:14; Revelation 15:3-4)
* Jesus can also be seen in the Wisdom of Solomon. Jesus was filled with wisdom! Jesus’s life and ministry were characterized by wisdom! (Isaiah 11:1-4; Luke 4:18-19; Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 2:46-47; Proverbs 8:22-30)
