Solomon’s Steps

Psalm 111 / 1 Kings 3:3-14

Solomon’s Source

God is the initiator, not a Jeanie

God is Pleased

God is the source

Encyclopedias

Wisdom & Wealth, Protection

Big things, Small things

Matthew 10:29–30 “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.”

God has made us greater than the sparrows. HE alone is THE source for you, your family, your job, our relationships

Solomon’s Insufficiency

Solomon was in a position of great authority

1 Kings 3:6–7 “And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. 7 And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in.”

Solomon didn’t know how to judge rightly

1 Kings 3:7 “And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in.”

Solomon was in an impossible position

1 Kings 3:8 “And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude.”

My family seems to be falling apart, and there’s nothing I can do.

Solomon’s Steps

Solomon began well, but did not finish well

Psalm 111:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!”

1 Kings 10:23–24 “Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. 24 And the whole earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind.”

1 Kings 3:3 “Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places.”

1 Kings 11:9–13 “And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice 10 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods. But he did not keep what the Lord commanded. 11 Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant. 12 Yet for the sake of David your father I will not do it in your days, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13 However, I will not tear away all the kingdom, but I will give one tribe to your son, for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem that I have chosen.””

We know the paths that Solomon took; the good and the bad.

The real question is what will your steps be?

Who will you follow?

To what or whom will you turn as a source, a resource?

Proverbs 9:4–6 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks sense she says, 5 “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. 6 Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.””

Matthew 11:28–30 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.””

To turn to true and abiding wisdom, to come to Jesus as refuge, means coming to Him as Savior and Lord

It requires an admission of insufficiency:

God, this is too much, and I cannot do it. I cannot hold up all these people. I cannot even hold myself up sometimes.

I CANNOT save myself. I have tried.

I CANNOT navigate my circumstances. I have tried.

It requires a pledge of fealty:

JESUS is Lord

HE is my most fundamental Identity

HIS WORD is the standard for right and wrong

HIS WORD is the source of wisdom

HIS path is where I will follow