On the Precipous of Destruction (Sermon Draft)

Introduction

Dreams, Desires and Destruction

The Text

1 Kings 9:6–9 ESV

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, 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. 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?’ 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.’ ”

Deuteronomy 17:16–20 ESV

Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’ And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold. “And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.

Matthew 12:42 (ESV)

The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings Solomon’s Wisdom (10:1–13)

you know far more than the queen of Sheba, the Ninevites, or even the religious leaders of Jesus’ day because you have the whole Bible. Don’t be resistant or indifferent! You must listen and believe or face the consequences. Seek Jesus. Study His Word—even if you have to travel far, make sacrifices, relocate, get up early, or stay up late. Hear Wisdom and the good news of His kingdom. You have no excuse. Paul says, “All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him” (Col 2:3). So come to Him and pay homage to Him, for there is no one else like Him.

Psalm 72 (ESV)

Of Solomon.

Give the king your justice, O God,

and your righteousness to the royal son!

May he judge your people with righteousness,

and your poor with justice!

Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people,

and the hills, in righteousness!

May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,

give deliverance to the children of the needy,

and crush the oppressor!

May they fear you while the sun endures,

and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!

May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,

like showers that water the earth!

In his days may the righteous flourish,

and peace abound, till the moon be no more!

May he have dominion from sea to sea,

and from the River to the ends of the earth!

May desert tribes bow down before him,

and his enemies lick the dust!

May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands

render him tribute;

may the kings of Sheba and Seba

bring gifts!

May all kings fall down before him,

all nations serve him!

For he delivers the needy when he calls,

the poor and him who has no helper.

He has pity on the weak and the needy,

and saves the lives of the needy.

From oppression and violence he redeems their life,

and precious is their blood in his sight.

Long may he live;

may gold of Sheba be given to him!

May prayer be made for him continually,

and blessings invoked for him all the day!

May there be abundance of grain in the land;

on the tops of the mountains may it wave;

may its fruit be like Lebanon;

and may people blossom in the cities

like the grass of the field!

May his name endure forever,

his fame continue as long as the sun!

May people be blessed in him,

all nations call him blessed!

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

who alone does wondrous things.

Blessed be his glorious name forever;

may the whole earth be filled with his glory!

Amen and Amen!

The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.

Work out if Solomon wrote this prayer?

Luke 12:13–21 ESV

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” ’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings Solomon’s Wealth (10:14–29)

The wealthy aren’t charged to become poor but rather to learn how to use their wealth, treasure God above all, and serve others faithfully

What is the purpose of the author?

I have seen and recognise that there seems to be an undercurrent, as if the author was aware of something more than simply asserting Solomon’s great wealth and wisdom. If we are to understand Solomon and his downfall we are to view it in light of Deuteronomy 17 and his disobedience to not exalt himself more than he ought to. If we are to find an application to our own lives we are to view it in light of the fact that we are governed by the Law of Christ (Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” ) And so it comes to light that the quote above becomes the foundation upon which we ought press into practical spaces we are to be sacrificial.

The question then arises what are the key area’s we are to be sacrificial?

Philippians 2:5–12 ESV

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

This helps notice that while Solomon in all his splendour was considered one of the greatest, richest and most wisest kings to ever live. He pales in comparison to Jesus who carries far more splendour wealth and grandeur and yet found Himself sacrificially laying it down for the sake of the World which He ruled.

Quote from ESV Expositional Commentary

The details of the throne are typical of the period, but the fact that “the like of it was never made in any kingdom” makes it clear that Solomon not only is a king like the kings of the other nations but in many ways surpasses them.

Did Queen Sheba miss the point?

Should her assessment be found to be the right assessment of Solomon’s Wealth?

It seem to me that while she rightly recognised God’s blessings, she could not see the impending doom that awaited Solomon for his flagrant disobedience.

Sometimes the gentile eyes are not discerning what God is actually presenting.

How often do we trust the words of the World when assessing the work of God?

Is Sheba a trustworthy source of praise?