Turn to the Lord

Date: June 19, 2022 Scripture: 1 Kings 11:1-13

Theme: Turn to the Lord

Introduction: Just by way of some highlights from the previous two chapters, 1 Kings 9 begins with the Lord appearing to Solomon again, a second time, and affirming the Lord’s presence with Solomon and the Temple and His faithfulness to bless the Solomon and the people if they obey.

1 Kings 10 emphasizes the splendor of Solomon, both in his wisdom and acquired possessions. Of note, chapter 10 emphasizes that Solomon accumulated gold and horses, specifically forbidden for an Israelite king since one is tempted to trust in the value of these items instead of the Lord (Dt 17:16, 17).

1 Kings 11 marks the conclusion of the stress on Solomon’s life that has occurred since the beginning of this book. Practically, this occurs on account of Solomon’s death. Theologically, … . In the chapter to which we’re going to focus today, there are three things that we see in Solomon’s life and waning reign: Solomon’s apostasy, his adversaries, and his death. Today, I want to encourage us to: Turn to the Lord. (Repeat: You must … Turn to the Lord)

Turn to the Lord instead of your Desires (1 Ki 11:1-2).

Notice how this passage begins with the word ‘loved’.

If we were to forget what we know about this passage and Solomon’s life, we would expect that Solomon loved the Lord, as referenced in 1 Ki 3:3.

However, the passage does not meet our expectations.

Therefore, we’re prompted to inquire what happened to Solomon?

Aside from multiplying wives, is the ethnicity of the women here what matters?

No.

The foreign aspect that is of concern relates to the idolatrous practices that they will introduce which are foreign to strict allegiance to the Lord.

Who is quoted in v. 2?

The Lord spoke this warning to Solomon.

David gave Solomon a similar warning in 1 Ki 2:1-4.

Further, Solomon in his Temple dedicatory address encouraged the people to follow the Lord (1 Ki 8:56-61).

What we see here is Solomon’s intentional neglect of God’s Word as emphasized by the phrase “Solomon held fast to these in love”.

As Solomon was not directed by the truth of God’s Word but by his love for these women, what we see is how Solomon was controlled by his desires.

As Solomon, we’re tempted to follow our desires because they promise satisfaction that is ultimately empty.

Illustrate: cotton candy.

We can’t trust our desires.

Instead, we must trust God’s time-tested word.

The quotation in v. 2 was not new to Solomon’s day.

This was God’s Word that He gave to His people in summarized form.

Thus, generations past had proven these Words of the Lord.

Transition: The only way to provide the best corrective to our sinful desires is to follow God’s trustworthy word. However, our desires are not the only thing in our life that we’re tempted to turn to.

Turn to the Lord instead of ungodly relationships (1 Ki 11:3-8).

Let’s consider the phrase ‘wholly devoted’ (v. 4) and the sister phrase ‘fully’ (v. 6).

We get the sense that Solomon’s heart was devoted to something other than the Lord.

We can understand this because Jesus said that you cannot serve 2 masters Matt 6:24.

Here, Solomon is neither referenced as following the Lord or loving the Lord.

Instead, Solomon is using his construction gifts towards idols and burning incense and sacrificing to them, something he had previously done only for the Lord earlier in 1 Ki 3:3.

Notice, that the standard to which Solomon’s actions are compared in both of these is his father, David. How can David be appealed to as a Godly example if he also had a harem and concubines, committed adultery with Bathsheba and subsequently had Uriah murdered? (2 ways)

Practically speaking, David serves as a warning.

David failed in his relationships.

His example serves to show us how not to approach relationships.

Theologically speaking, David serves as an example of humility in his repentance.

We can recall when Nathan the prophet confronted David’s sin against Uriah and Bathsheba, he repented.

We are reminded that when confronted with our sin, our response is to repent.

We are further called to magnify God’s grace that is ready to forgive sin when we repent.

Because we’re tempted to follow the crowd and their ways, forgetting the failures and successes of those who followed the Lord in the past.

Remember, for all David’s failings, he still instructed his son to follow the Lord in obedience to His Word.

While the crowd around us may be more in our face, we cannot forget those voices of those who have encouraged us to follow God’s Word and their example for good or ill that instructs us to turn to the Lord and abstain from sin.

Transition: We must turn to the Lord instead of either our desires or relationships as evidenced through Solomon’s failures. Yet we must also …

Turn to the Lord for the Lord’s sake (1 Ki 11:9-13).

Because of the Lord’s anger towards sin (vv. 9-11).

How does the Lord justify His anger here (v. 10)?

He references how Solomon turned from the Lord.

This is an intentional act on Solomon’s part.

What do we call this?

Unfaithfulness/betrayal/infidelity.

The tragedy of this is that Solomon knew what he was doing.

What a frightening thing to consider that we are capable of justifying sin even though God has given us His Word (sink in).

Notice the result of God’s anger towards sin (v. 11).

The Lord removes some of the tribes of Israel and divides the nation in two.

What we’re seeing is how the result of sin leaves one desolate, or leaves them without certain things.

The nation is going to be divided and thus unable to fulfill God’s design to be a whole nation occupying the land and drawing the nations to Himself.

The point of taking something away was to jar the people into recognizing the wrong of their circumstances that would lead them to conclude how wrong they had acted and repent of sin.

We can understand this for there are natural consequences that can accompany certain sinful lifestyles.

We cannot conclude that certain natural consequences are directly related to the sin of another.

However, each of life’s circumstances provides an opportunity to rely on the Lord to use His Spirit through the Word to point out sin that we need to repent of as it surfaces.

Because God is gracious (vv. 12-13).

He graciously gives His time through His presence.

We see God’s abundant grace here for the Lord appeared to Solomon twice, as emphasized by v. 10.

We can identify with this for the Lord has appeared to us through Jesus Christ.

He graciously gives His Word.

This refers to both the writings of Moses and the Lord’s direct communication to Solomon in the two appearances.

We can rejoice because we have God’s authoritative Word preserved for us as the Bible.

He is graciously generous.

In 1 Ki 9, the Lord promised the establishment of Solomon’s royal house over Israel for obedience and destruction of Israel if they didn’t obey.

See, the Lord could have just destroyed Israel for Solomon’s sins of idolatry right on the spot.

Instead, the Lord splits the kingdom and gives the ruling house of David another tribe to lead instead of just Judah.

The Lord chose to be generous in the midst of this discipline that He was exercising against Israel.

He is graciously faithful to His promises.

This is abundantly displayed in His references to David.

Thus, we can trust the Lord whenever He makes a promise.

Transition: The characteristics of the Lord’s graciousness are set against the gods that Solomon chose to worship: Ashtoreth was hideously known for immoral practices, thus robbing people of their purity and Milcom was known for abhorrently robbing people of their offspring through child sacrifice. The Lord does not take but is gracious even in the face of the sin of His people. Why would anyone want to turn to anything other than the gracious Lord?

Turn to the Lord in Repentance (1 Ki 11:14-40).

Notice, there’s a pattern between each of these incidents.

The Lord raised up both Hadad the Edomite in the South, Rezon of Aram in the North.

By implication, this was also the Lord’s doing in Jeroboam’s life on account of two things.

The same context of being included in the adversaries to Solomon.

The encounter with the prophet Ahijah who he will subsequently attempt to kill.

Thus, we see the Lord’s sovereign control over the lives of His people and others.

An extended narrative about the Lord’s providence to raise these individual’s to prominence.

Each of these narratives is connected by the Lord’s sovereign response to sin in the lives of His people.

What do adversaries do?

They oppose others, keeping them from either being productive, comfortable, or both.

We see that the Lord raises up these adversaries on account of Solomon’s sin.

The activity of the adversaries results in what we can largely define as defeat.

Hadad and Rezon caused some sort of trouble for Solomon that disturbed the peace.

Jeroboam is described as rebelling and signifies concerns associated with division in Israel.

The lack of peace and division among God’s people indicates that there’s something seriously wrong that should have otherwise prompted the people to seek the Lord.

The Lord raises up adversaries to oppose God’s people to prompt humble reliance on the Lord which may lead to repentance as necessary.

We must remember that this is the Lord who loves Solomon (2 Sm 12:24).

Rather than questioning the choice of the Lord to raise up adversaries, we’re drawn to consider just how awful sin truly is!

Sin is so awful that the Lord would raise up adversaries to prompt repentance.

Sin is more awful than the harm adversaries can cause.

Conclusion: vv. 41-43 emphasize 3 things about Solomon’s life: acts, wisdom, and length of reign in Jerusalem. However, these are merely presented as a statement. In other words, there’s no evaluation of these items. The purpose of this is to provide the evaluation ourselves based on the prior content contained in these 11 chapters. Thus, as we have considered these 4 truths today concerning our desires, relationships, heart, and humility, this open-ended invitation to evaluate Solomon prompts us to evaluate our own lives. Let’s guard ourselves with God’s Word, Godly examples, exclusive faithfulness to the Lord and repentance in the face of sin.